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University Students’ Council Report Card Tuesday, April 9, 2013
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>> Council’s grade*
>> Council’s comments
>> Gazette’s grade
ADAM FEARNALL President
TONY AYALA Vice-president finance
MYURI KOMARAGIRI Vice-president campus issues
ALYSHA LI Vice-president university affairs
JEREMY SANTUCCI Vice-president communications
ERIN UBERIG Vice-president student events
B+ B+ AB B B-
“The most visible vice-president. Transparent to council. Full of heart and passion.” “Out of my four years at Western, Tony was by far one of the most transparent executive members, his door was always open, and if he wasn’t in his office, he was most likely at one of the operations trying to see how we can better serve students.” “She’s extremely passionate about the campus issues portfolio. Her passion is extremely apparent when she speaks about the services under her portfolio.” “She gives her coordinators freedom to run their own services and does whatever she can do to help implement their visions. She separates her personal feelings and professional life very well.” “An expert in her portfolio, she’s refined and full of knowledge and compassion.” “Frankly, it has been yet another year where the UA is not present in the USC office, or at Western for that matter. Most of the time her door is closed and she is off at […] meetings. She is very approachable when she is around and is always willing to talk to you.” “Jeremy has done a lot of foundational work in the portfolio in terms of setting strategic plans for the future.” “Did not provide council with any notice before large decisions, resulting in an inability for councillors to address their constituents with major concerns.”
“The least visible vice-president by far. Doesn’t let students or councillors into the process.” “Props to Uberig for putting her foot down and making the necessary changes, even when they may seem unpopular. She could have worked on supporting her coordinators a bit better, but all events seemed to go off really well this year.”
>> Gazette’s comments
B-
Fearnall had big ideas this year, but it’s disconcerting almost all of them were a complete surprise. He challenged the administration in Western Untold, revamped USC elections and separated the board of directors from the executive council. His legacy is safe in the USC revamp, but the multi-faith move and allegations of elections committee bias leave a stain not easily forgotten.
A
Ayala impressed the Editorial Board this year with a clear focus on transparency and accountability during his term. Ayala took his responsibility to perform due diligence extremely seriously, and had no problems addressing the USC’s issues. Most importantly, his budget took heavy fire, but ultimately stood unaltered after hours of council debate.
“A leader, humble, quiet, but strong in his convictions.” “Although Adam may have accomplished parts of his platform, he was not transparent and did not seem as though he even cared about accomplishing what he was elected to do. It seemed as though this year was focused on one thing – changing the structure of the board and elections.”
Volume 106, Issue 97
B B B B+
Komaragiri’s passion for her portfolio was obvious to anyone who cared to look, and made her extremely well-liked by council. Further, she gave solid support to her stakeholders. However, the miscommunication that led to the defunding of Holy Book Day and her failure to adequately consult the faith groups during the proposed multi-faith move were errors in judgment that should not have occurred. Li spent much of her time away from Western in her role as Ontario Undergraduate Student Alliance president. This left the UA portfolio feeling neglected this year. However, OUSA accomplished a lot, such as a lower Ontario tuition cap and a number of policy papers that were passed into legislation. These accomplishments will hopefully benefit all students in the province, making Li’s term worthwhile. While Santucci did a very good job pursuing various avenues to keep students informed, some of the USC’s biggest issues this year can be traced to poor communication. From the sophing selection issue, to the multi-faith debacle, to the USC website’s lack of transparent navigation, a distinct lack of communication played a key role in many of the USC’s failings.
Uberig brought home the goods this year. Charity Ball tripled last year’s donations and events seemed to run like clockwork under her guidance—at the very least, there were fewer complaints this year. She took substantial criticism for her part in changing the soph selection process, and while it could have been handled better, the need to deal with rampant nepotism was a crucial one.
*Calculations were based upon feedback received from 54 members of council. Councillors, senators and governance members were asked to grade each executive member, while coordinators and commissioners graded solely the president and the executive member who oversaw their position. The letter grades were converted to scaled numbers and the average for each position was calculated.
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thegazette • Tuesday, April 9, 2013
Caught on Camera
Crossword By Eugene Sheffer Andrei Calinescu GAZETTE
BEATS A SWAN. Western’s Paper Art Club displayed their colourful artwork in the University Community Centre yesterday.
Breaking the cycle Project highlights relationship violence Jesica Hurst News Editor After working as a residence advisor and then as a full-time professional out of the office of residence education and programs at Western’s housing department, Cameron Arksey, a Western graduate and managing director of the Londonbased creative services agency WARPAINT Media, decided that while the university does a good job at focusing on topics of consent and sexual health in young relationships, more attention on the health of the relationship is necessary. Because of this, he recently started Break the Cycle—a project he hopes will bridge the gap between youth and young adults, and bring awareness to the issue of relationship violence. The 23-yearold would like to produce a short video and resource kit, specifically aimed at post-secondary students. “Unhealthy relationships and violence are much more widespread than most young adults probably think, and if unhealthy patterns are not addressed early on, how will these people know they are a serious problem?” Arksey asked. “The video is meant to speak to a young, techsavvy audience who consume much of their media online, [or] in the form of quick, compelling visuals. If the video gets even one person to start thinking about the issues, visit the website to seek more information or connect with local resources, then the project is worth it.” Even though Arksey has received a lot of positive response so far, there
Solution to puzzle on page 7
Ritchie Sham Gazette
is still a long journey ahead to make this video a reality. The entrepreneur needs to raise $18,000, and is looking for the community’s help. “Of course, I welcome any and all moral support [that] individuals or organizations can offer, but my main goal for support is financial, only because there is a real cost to getting the materials created at a quality I believe they need to be for people to really take Break the Cycle seriously,” he explained. “The professional services for these materials will come at a significant cost to myself unless I can elicit monetary support from the communities for which they are intended or in-kind donation from creative partners themselves.” “It would be ideal to receive funding from community organizations related to or interested in the issues of domestic violence or sexual assault, but then again, I
think the topic of ending violence in relationships should be important to every social services agency and educational organization.” For students who wish to help with this campaign, Arksey welcomes anyone to share network connections or resources that could help by emailing breakthecycle@ warpaintmedia.ca. However, he also said students can help by spreading the message. “Students can be especially helpful because, as I know from my own Western experience, they are a powerful, intelligent and communityminded people,” he said. “I invite them to share with each other, their families and partners that violence in relationships is an important issue to them.” “Whether it be as a result of this campaign or not, mere awareness and discussion of the topic is a first step to success.”
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The Cryptoquip is a substitution cipher in which one letter stands for another. If you think that X equals O, it will equal O throughout the puzzle. Single letters, short words and words using an apostrophe give you clues to locating vowels. Solution is by trial and error. © 2002 by Kings Features Syndicate, Inc.
73 SHU3H3Z[\K`3IYLHR 3^ P[O3ZVTL3[HRL V\[8 *3 OLJR3V\[3[OL3NYLH[3KLHSZ3 3V U3MVVK3PU3[OL3*V\WVUZ3 3: LJ[PVU3PU3`V\Y3>LZ[LYUPaLY
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thegazette • Tuesday, April 9, 2013
Lance jousts against UW student union Cam Smith News Editor It’s clear the University of Windsor’s student government doesn’t love The Lance a lot. Last week, the 85-year-old student newspaper was told to halt the presses by the University of Windsor Students’ Alliance after accruing a $24,000 disputed deficit, which the UWSA board of directors deemed unacceptable. However, on Monday night, The Lance announced the paper would reinstate print publication for its April 17 issue and a new operating strategy would be submitted for approval. If passed, print publication could return. However, the decision behind the initial decision is still a pressing concern for many staff members. Assertions have been made this decision was due to recent articles published by The Lance, critical of the government. Notably, in their most recent print issue, the front page featured the article Electile Dysfunction: Multiple allegations of corruption plague the UWSA. “The board of directors for the UWSA made a decision to order us to cease all print operations immediately. Now that was decided last Wednesday evening—our article about the elections hit newsstands on Tuesday,” Jon Liedtke, features editor for The Lance and author of the elections article, explained. “I think the timing is highly suspect. I can definitely understand how people would want to make that inference.” Liedtke noted the board of directors’ decision to shut down operations of The Lance was made without consulting any of its staff. In fact, the paper didn’t even find out until after the decision had been made.
“I only found out about it because I was at an elections ratification meeting and people who had made the decision were speaking about it,” he said. “Actually, they didn’t even reach out directly—it was the general manager of the UWSA [who approached us], not the board of directors, who made the decision.” The UWSA’s board of directors has denied accusations of press censorship, instead stressing the constraints on the budget the paper represented. “The board was made aware, at the last meeting, that The Lance was losing quite a bit of money this year. Because The Lance is a subsidiary of the UWSA, the deficit it incurred would have to be absorbed by the UWSA’s overall budget,” Jamal Mohamud, a member of the board of directors, explained. “This budget had been severely constrained and had undergone cuts across the board, making the absorption of a several thousand dollar deficit a rather difficult endeavour.” Regarding the lack of notice to The Lance, Mohamud explained time constraints prevented The Lance from being adequately notified about the board’s decision. “Unfortunately, due to time constraints, a decision had to be made as quickly as possible,” he said. Students have also come to the support of their paper, with a Facebook page titled ‘Save the Lance’ springing up garnering hundreds of ‘likes’ since its inception two nights ago. “The amount of ‘likes’ and outcries of support we’ve got in the last couple of hours has been amazing,” Caroline Jacobson, creator of the page, explained. A decision is expected to be reached regarding the future of The Lance by next month.
Brescia principal reappointed Herb Richardson Gazette Staff Colleen Hanycz has been the principal at Brescia University College since 2008. Last week, she was reappointed by the school’s Council of Trustees for a second term. “I have almost completed five years at Brescia, and there are many exciting projects that are just beginning now, so having the opportunity to spend four more years at this institution is a real privilege and an honour,” Hanycz said. Such projects will include the development of a new residence and dining pavilion, new academic programs and increased international awareness of the campus. The process of appointing and reappointing principals is undertaken by Brescia’s Council of Trustees, who perform annual reviews for their employees, often bringing in staff, faculty and students to speak their minds. “Some reviews were full 360-degree reviews where students, staff and faculty were invited to meet with the head of our Council of Trustees,” Hanycz
recalled. Hanycz said she was particularly excited to be able to continue working with students at Brescia.
The best aspect about working at Brescia is having the privilege of serving the women we serve here as our students. —Colleen Hanycz
Principal of Brescia University College
“The best aspect about working at Brescia is having the privilege of serving the women we serve here as our students,” Hanycz said. “They are exceptional young women, they are dynamic, they are engaged, they are committed to leadership and they are committed to making this community better.” “To me, being able to work alongside these women, and see them grow truly inspires me and convinces me that our future is in very good hands.”
On campus > TEDx
TEDx impresses yet again
Andrei Calinescu GAZETTE
IT WAS THIS BIG! Rob Stewart, director of Sharkwater, talks about his new film, Revolution, at TEDxWesternU Friday.
Andrei Calinescu & Naira Ahmed Gazette Staff
On Friday, Western held its second TEDx conference with 100 student delegates in attendance. TEDx conferences are local, self-organized speaking events taking place all across the globe, from Delhi to Dallas. This year’s theme was ‘Impact. Innovation. Insight.’ The diverse lineup spread ideas from many fields. Among the acclaimed speakers were Rob Stewart, the filmmaker behind Sharkwater, Jesse Hirsh, a renowned freelance journalist, Todd Reichert and Cameron Robertson, aviation pioneers and builders of the first human-powered, flappingwing aircraft and Western cognitive neuroscientist and musician Jessica Grahn.
In keeping with tradition, TEDxWesternU challenged conventional wisdom and proposed paradigm shifts for a better future. Attendees learned fourth graders can achieve world peace, most of us tie our shoelaces incorrectly, Google and Facebook are increasingly defining us and carbon credits are counterproductive. Western neuroscientist Grahn conclusively showed exposing a fetus to Mozart in utero has no effect on intelligence—only on the parental pocketbook. Stewart delivered a jarring warning that climate change and overfishing are threatening the future of humanity, and underscored the need for sustainability. Innovations with far-reaching implications were introduced, from green building cooling solutions to high-speed bicycles capable of more than 100 kilometres an hour.
The talks and videos were generally rich with content, and though discussions among delegates were not facilitated as in 2011, there was a healthy amount of discourse during the breaks. The material was thought-provoking. It struck a chord with everyone watching and those who missed out should view the recordings as soon as they become available. In comparison to TEDxUWO, held at London’s prestigious Grand Theatre downtown in 2011, TEDxWesternU was organized at Western’s Paul Davenport Theatre in Talbot College. However, many TEDxUWO veterans did not feel the environment resonated with the event this year. Beyond the narrower halls, the school environment did not do justice to such a high calibre event, and lessened chances of networking and meeting new people.
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thegazette • Tuesday, April 9, 2013
Arts&Life
tuesdaytweet @Alesso: London I’m speechless !! Thank you so fuckin much!!
Speakers seek souper sustainable solution Bradley Metlin Gazette Staff “People come together and [are] basically surrounded by a local, sustainable bowl of soup,” says Shannon Kamins of LondonSOUP, a new, local event Kamins is a recent Western graduate and an organizer of the local, micro-funder business incubator event. LondonSOUP is scheduled for Sunday, April 14 is much more than just a bowl of steaming soup, as local businesses will be presenting their ideas with a focus on local food and sustainability. “There will be four businesses presenting their pitch,” Kamins says. LondonSOUP looks to provide a grant of $1,000 to someone with a strong, sustainable idea. Participation is welcome from new businesses starting up, or even a company that’s been in business for a couple months and need money to execute an idea. Kamins explains they’ve had a great response. “Anyone with an idea—from academics, to artists, to entrepreneurs will be [participating].” The one hurdle potential businesses hunting for a grant must
Sean Meyer, London Community News
A BOWL OF IDEAS. On April 14, local businesses will be meeting at APK Live to give presentations on ideas focused on local food and sustainability.
clear is the idea of sustainability. Whether it’s economic, social or environmental—the idea must present a sustainable feature. The event began, according to
Kamins, when she met three others—Meriel Cromarty, Patricia van Diepen and Gary Zavitz—at a local food forum. “After the event, the four of us
decided to get together to see what we could offer to London. That’s what sparked the idea—we want to bring some community togetherness and have an event where
people can get together and network and enjoy a bowl of soup,” Kamins explains. Networking is an important element of the event and will likely draw people in. Kamins notes she is expecting several business owners to come out and see some of the ideas that businesses are pitching. “It seems like there’s quite a buzz surrounding it—we expect a wide range of people,” she says. “It’s really for anyone,” she states. “The people in the audience could be business entrepreneurs, they could be students, they could be someone who just wants to go out in London and have an event to go to. It’s going to be really open.” The organizers hope LondonSOUP will become a bi-monthly event where local Londoners can come, enjoy some soup and democratically determine the “next big sustainable thing,” and potentially be rewarded with a $1,000 grant. The event is ultimately clear and fluid with its intent and ideas. “We see the connection between energy, food and sustainability,” Kamins concludes. LondonSOUP will take place at 5:30 p.m. on Sunday, April 14 at the APK. Tickets are $10 and are available online.
A revolutionary truth Diyin Deng Contributor
“Jewel” —Gold & Youth
GGGGF Revolution Director: Rob Stewart Starring: Katharina Fabricius, Felix Finkbeiner, David Hannan Rob Stewart, an award-winning biologist, photographer and filmmaker, starts a ‘revolution’ in his follow-up to his acclaimed documentary, Sharkwater. Sharkwater (2006) was motivated by Stewart’s goal to stop the finning of sharks for delicacies. It was met with international success. While giving seminars and going to festivals across the globe to promote Sharkwater, an audience member raised a particular question that changed everything—Why protect sharks from being eaten if they will all eventually die out from ocean pollution?’ Stewart was aghast—in his dedication to save the sharks, he failed to see the whole picture. While he was working hard to keep sharks from becoming food, the very environment sharks live in was becoming more hostile and inhabitable through a process called ocean acidification. Stewart realized that in order to save the sharks, their whole ecosystems must be saved. He was, as quoted, “in way over his head.” This would be the inspiration to his 2013 award-winning documentary, Revolution. Here, Stewart makes interdisciplinary analysis of diverse topics from the disappearing coral reefs to Canada’s lack of
file photo
environmental policies. Revolution put a creative twist on the typical ‘save-the-animals’ theme. The film’s goal is not to protect endangered animals, but rather, the long-term preservation of humans on earth—running with the tagline, “Save the humans.” Unfortunately, this is where it becomes a bit of a slippery slope. Stewart’s statement that humans will be extinct may garner some disbelief and resistance. This statement also threatens to label this film as yet another doomsayer. The film provides rich insights about the world and helps show the unforeseen consequences of humanity’s daily actions. Revolution doesn’t let people off by putting all the blame on the government and corporations. It instead forces viewers to confront the reality that everyone has a responsibility to protect the environment. Throughout the film, one will witness an extreme apathy that continues to suppress many dedicated
environmentalists and advocates. The question ‘What does it take to move people?’ was a recurring theme throughout the film. For Stewart, the answer lies with today’s youth. He is amazed by the energy of the many youth activists he encountered, and is convinced the youth will be the driving force behind a revolution for a sustainable future. Stewart effectively harnesses his award-winning photography skills to capture the hope and resiliency of people on footage. Revolution isn’t a film lamenting the hopeless state of the world, it is a symbol of hope, and a record of the growing community of people around the world who join forces against what Stewart coined the ‘Greatest war of all time,’ a fight to save the future. Revolution is an ongoing story of dogged perseverance that empowers us to protect the future with our own hands. Revolution will hit theatres this Friday.
May 14 marks the release date for Canadian band Gold & Youth’s debut album Beyond Wilderness. Colin Stewart, the same gentleman responsible for engineering Dan Mangan’s and The New Pornographer’s music, produced the 11-track album. It is mixed by Gareth Jones, who is noted for working with Depeche Mode and Grizzly Bear. “Jewel,” the first single off Beyond Wilderness, takes the listener back to the 1980s, and is actually quite reminiscent of Depeche Mode’s older tracks. Its alternative synthpopstyle and melancholy lyrics seem to belong in an outdated, dark night club—however, modern electronic elements give an otherwise alienating musical texture some familiarity. This nostalgic, trance-like tune effectively takes older musical styles and gives them a new spin. “Jewel” is well-balanced with a quick beat and lilting vocals to create a track that is undeniably hypnotic. —Sumedha Arya
“Feel This Moment” —Pitbull ft. Christina Aguilera
It’s been 28 years since the Norwegian synthpop band A-ha brought us the toe-tapping, charttoping single “Take on Me.” The song won six awards, and it’s clear that Cuban-American rapper Pitbull likes to have winners on his team. After all, the melody from “Take on Me” is an integral part of Pitbull’s new track, “Feel This Moment.” As the fourth single from his seventh studio album Global Warming, Mr. World-Wide himself brings his usual smooth and cool guy lyrics to A-ha’s underlying beat. Pitbull, the ultimate collaborator, doesn’t just sample from A-ha but also features Christina Aguilera in the track. Though Aguilera’s role doesn’t go far beyond the chorus, her powerful voice molds the song into a fun track to get down to. The trio comes together to offer a song that will stay in your head, lift your mood, and, of course, make you feel this moment. —Kevin Hurren
file photo
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thegazette • Tuesday, April 9, 2013
Student to bike across Canada for Alzheimer’s
Sumedha Arya Arts & Life Editor When Soojeong Choe’s grandfather passed away from Alzheimer’s disease in 2011, Choe found it difficult to speak to anyone about his loss—he remained silent for a month. The first time Choe began to speak about his experience losing a loved one to Alzheimer’s was at his high school’s Alzheimer’s club, a club which he founded. Since that time, Choe has discovered that remaining silent about Alzheimer’s is not an option. In an effort to raise awareness and research funds for Alzheimer’s disease, the most common form of dementia, Choe initiated fundraisers at York Mills Collegiate’s Alzheimer’ Club—the club raised over $1,200 for the Alzheimer Society of Toronto while Choe was involved. Last summer, Choe raised £1,400 for the U.K. Alzheimer Society by biking from London, England to Paris. “When I was biking from London to Paris, I was thinking about my grandfather 100 per cent,” Choe said. “He was my childhood friend. I miss him a lot.” Now, Choe has a greater mission in mind—he plans to bike 500 km from Toronto to Vancouver to raise both funds and awareness for the Alzheimer Society of Canada. “I would say 95 per cent of people have never witnessed a nursing home before. It’s sad that most
of society doesn’t know how bad Alzheimer’s disease is,” Choe says of the public’s lack of knowledge of Alzheimer’s severity. Laura Berljawsky, marketing and communications coordinator for the Alzheimer Society of Canada, adds it’s in everyone’s best interest to become more aware of Alzheimer’s risk factors and warning signs—especially because of Alzheimer’s increasing prevalence. “Without a cure in sight, eventually each of us will be affected through diagnosis or caring for family or friends with the disease,” Berljawsky says. Choe specifically tries to educate young adults about Alzheimer’s disease by running awareness campaigns at high schools alongside members of the Alzheimer Bike Campaign. Recently, however, his chief focus has been on preparing for the gruelling road ahead by acquiring money for his trip, publicity for his mission and endurance for long days on a bike. To spread word of his bicycle campaign on campus, Choe created a video of him biking on a spin bike for eight hours, covering 160 km at a speed of 20 km/hour. The video received 30,000 views on Facebook, hundreds of shares and heartfelt feedback from individuals who had lost family to Alzheimer’s, pledging to support Choe with his goal. Choe has already received $2,500 —chiefly from friends and acquaintances—but he predicts the trip will cost at least $4,000. The money will go toward motels and gas expenses, as he plans for someone to accompany him with a car packed with supplies. To finance his trip further, Choe is partnered with Arbonne and Atomic, two skin care product companies, and Nutrilite, a dietary supplement company
Courtesy of Soojeong Choe
which will provide Choe with protein bars and vitamins. Choe will advertise for these companies and any profits the companies make as a result will go toward funding his campaign. In the meantime, Choe has been focused on improving his strength and cardiac fitness. As part of his training, Choe attends spin classes three to four times a week. He is currently an apprentice spin instructor at the Western Student Recreation Centre. “I’ve never been this fit. But I’m no professional biker—I’m
a recreational biker,” he says, acknowledging his upcoming trip will still be a physical challenge. Yet Choe passionately believes the challenge will pay off. He gives the example of two Western students, Taylor Scholz and Willy Konantz, who made a similar trip last year to raise funds for prostate cancer and raised $250,000. “They said to really try to get the word out and have close connections to the organization you are raising funds for,” Choe says of the advice he gleaned from speaking to Scholz and Konantz.
Choe’s own goal is to raise $20,000 for the Alzheimer Society of Canada. While he acknowledges obstacles to achieving this goal— finding a driver to accompany him, getting more companies to become invested in the project—he remains hopeful he will see his goal come to fruition. “I’m just hoping to try and make a difference,” he says. “Students today care about issues like health care. They can make a difference,” Berljawsky adds. “We think Soojeong is a great role model for other students.”
Showcasing young talent
Look here on Tuesdays for special Western student deals on food and entertainment from London businesses
Courtesy of Victoria Slight WHO LET THE DOGS OUT. Victoria Slight’s photo of a man walking his dog as part of a collection of images and videos examining the mundane of everyday life.
Rida Ahmed Contributor First-year students in the Advanced Foundations Studio Class will have a chance to showcase their talents by putting on their first visual arts show—In Medias Res—at the APK this week. The two sections of the class will be showcasing their work in the form of photographs and videos. “The photographs are meant to depict a sound moment, something natural, to tell a story in a picture,” explains Julide Cakiroglu, the class’s TA who helped organize the event. “The video project worked with everyday actions, [and] put them in a scenario where they were out of place. The ideas they were looking at were ritual, routine, duration and performance. All students were trying to find narratives in everyday
life and the value it has.” Cakiroglu’s own love of art started at the age of five, and although she started her university career with psychology, Cakiroglu switched into art programs and found her place. Having been a part of and organizing many art shows in the past, Cakiroglu thought putting on an art show in the London community would be an excellent experience for all the students. “It would be great to get feedback from the London community,” says Cakiroglu, who has been inspired by some of the students’ work. The students explored many issues within the theme of “the everyday” in mind. “[ The pieces] represent moments that have this narrative expansion kind of quality, they can just keep going,” Cakiroglu says. “It’s just these simple everyday scenes
with all this potential. Human actions in nature put in opposition with our actions in the city. You can expect to see raw, insightful work from both classes.” “I feel like a lot of [the students] took risks and were ambitious, conceptually they all really challenged themselves,” she adds. Cakiroglu urges everyone including students, faculty and the London community, to see not only the students’ art show, but any artistic endeavour. “I think it’s good to go to art shows in London, but I think it’s also good to see young people and their work because they have fresh eyes. It’s a cool perspective to see.” Both classes will be showcasing their work at the APK from Tuesday, April 9 to Thursday, April 18, with an opening reception on tonight from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m.
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thegazette • Tuesday, April 9, 2013
Opinions
Rage is the only quality which has kept me, or anybody I have ever studied, writing columns for newspapers.
—Jimmy Breslin, American journalist
Future of Lance deserves more than cursory glance The Lance, the weekly student newspaper for the University of Windsor, was informed quite suddenly last week they had published their last issue, after the University of Windsor Students’ Alliance voted to temporarily cease the printing of the publication before the year was even out. Citing a disputed deficit of $24,000, the decision means the 85-year-old publication may never return to stands. Fortunately, at a meeting Monday night, it was decided the newspaper would be allowed to move forward with a print edition of their Aril 17 issue, and, following the submission of a new operating strategy, full printing could be reinstated. Regardless, the move certainly raises fears the paper is being silenced for its content. The decision came after The Lance ran a story detailing alleged mishandling and corruption in the UWSA student election. That the decision was made behind closed doors certainly does nothing to alleviate these fears, nor does the fact The Lance staff was never consulted on the judgment. For now, The Lance is only ceasing print publication, while still remaining online, but if printing isn’t reinstated, this does not mean it will continue to operate at the same capacity. Editorial quality will suffer from a diminished presence, as will readership without free papers to encourage impulse pick-ups. One curious note does seem to be the lack of public protest by Lance staff. Maybe not every group of editors can mount a national media campaign to save their paper, but the lack of response suggests Lance staff may be unable to fight back meaningfully. Of course, it’s important to consider The Lance lacked adequate both time and now a vessel to deliver their message to the masses. Even if the decision was made for financial reasons, it certainly demonstrates The Lance doesn’t seem to be a high priority for the UWSA. While deficits need to be addressed, they don’t justify scrapping a service like the student newspaper. In those cases, it is up to the student government to cover the loss with reserve funds, and for both parties to allocate an appropriate amount of money in the next budget. No budget is perfect, and responsible student governments are expected to maintain emergency cash reserves for just such an occasion. Though the UWSA claimed their initial decision was a temporary way to stem the financial bleeding of the paper, this still leaves significant concerns about the financial situation of the organization. If their budget cannot accommodate a loss of $24,000, it is clear the UWSA has much more serious problems than one expensive paper. —The Gazette Editorial Board
thegazette
Volume 106, Issue 97 www.westerngazette.ca
Gloria Dickie Editor-In-Chief Nicole Gibillini Deputy Editor Cam Parkes Managing Editor
Contact: www.westerngazette.ca University Community Centre Rm. 263 The University of Western Ontario London, ON, CANADA N6A 3K7 Editorial Offices: (519) 661-3580 Advertising Dept.: (519) 661-3579
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In the Nic of Time
@Lutzifer5 @uwogazette you should rename the article: How to Dress like a Bandwaggoner.
Camopticon
Nicole Gibillini Deputy Editor
Cam Parkes Managing Editor
Facebook is charging users to message celebrities? I’m sorry, what? That seems a bit unreasonable. But let’s calm down for a second. Facebook’s most recent money-grabbing attempt is only in the experimental phase right now—one the company is currently trying out in 36 countries. According to The Guardian, Facebook is charging users there up to 11 pounds, or about $17, to private message celebrities and other people outside their circle of friends. While the idea seems bizarre, especially for a free social networking site, it’s not entirely surprising. This experiment is a sign Facebook may not be doing too well, and is trying to find additional sources of income. This move is especially timely now that the social networking is on the stock exchange. But to all you celebrityobsessed stalkers out there, I say relax. Let’s look into the hypothetical future. If this fee were to become permanent, there are other free mediums by which you can attempt to contact high-profile people—Twitter being one example. And if you are truly that passionate about contacting people outside of your circle, famous people in particular, then Facebook’s fee is a small price to pay. The company also notes the pre-paid message would go directly to the recipient’s inbox, as opposed to the “other” folder, which receives communication from outside senders—which could increase the changes of your message reaching the celebrity you’re trying to contact. If this experiment becomes controversial, which it probably will, the likelihood of the messaging fee becoming a company-wide policy is slim. But if it’s enforced, and you don’t like it, then simply don’t use it. Alternatively, you can say bye to Facebook for good, and use one of the other many social networking sites out there. But seeing as this fee is only in the test stages, it’s not worth getting worked up over. If it turns into something bigger, and Facebook users are so willing to spend some money to get in touch with high-profile people, then let them.
Honestly, I don’t even know why it’s necessary to present this argument, but here it is. Facebook has started charging some U.K. users up to £11 to send messages to celebrities, and people outside their circle of friends. Can no one see what an idiotic idea this is? Let’s take the example of Olympic swimmer Tom Daley. For the low price of £10.68 ($16.58) a user can send a message to Tom. Thats great and everything, but why the hell would you waste that money? First of all, there’s no guarantee Daley would even respond. And think about it—someone like him probably has better things to do than sit around on his Facebook all day, replying to the thousands and thousands of messages he’s likely to receive. And secondly, even if you were to get a response, how can you possibly know it’s Daley himself responding? Personally, I wouldn’t pay to send a celebrity a message, but if I were the type of person to do that, I wouldn’t be satisfied with a response from some social media person employed by them. Another point—how do we even know that our message goes to who Facebook says it goes to? If celebrities have private Facebooks (and they do) why would they suddenly allow anyone with some extra cash to spam them? Do they get a percentage of the cut? Or—and this would bring up some ethical issues—is Facebook merely ignoring their privacy and passing on messages to make an extra buck? Even more concerning, though, is the implication that, if this trial were to be implemented nationwide, all users would have to pay to message someone they’re not friends with. I think that’s a ludicrous notion. Just yesterday I messaged someone I wasn’t Facebook friends with to confirm some details for a story. She doesn’t know me, and undoubtedly would not want to be Facebook friends with me for that reason. This simple back-and-forth affair would have cost me $3.31. Seriously, if you want to contact a celebrity, and they’re worth contacting, just tweet them. It’s easy,and free.
Editorials are decided by a majority of the editorial board and are written by a member of the editorial board but are not necessarily the expressed opinion of each editorial board member. All other opinions are strictly those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the USC, The Gazette, its editors or staff. To submit a letter, go to westerngazette.ca and click on “Contact.” All articles, letters, photographs, graphics, illustrations and cartoons published in The Gazette, both in the newspaper and online versions, are the property of The Gazette. By submitting any such material to The Gazette for publication, you grant to The Gazette a non-exclusive, world-wide, royalty-free, irrevocable license to publish such material in perpetuity in any media, including but not limited to, The Gazette‘s hard copy and online archives.
Gazette Composing & Gazette Advertising Ian Greaves, Manager Robert Armstrong
Karen Savino Diana Watson
Gazette Staff 2012-2013
Iain Boekhoff, Danielle Bozinoff, Jaclyn Carbone, Mary Ann Ciosk, David Czosniak, Megan Devlin, Jonathan Dunn, Andrew Evans, Chelsey Gauthier, Ross Hamilton, Danny Huang, Amanda Law, Logan Ly, Jared MacAdam, Sarah Mai Chitty, Sarah Manning, Bradley Metlin, Kaitlyn Oh, John Petrella, Sarah Prince, Chen Rao, Herb Richardson, Nathan Robbins-Kanter, Lily Robinson, Jeremiah Rodriguez, Katie Roseman, Jasleen Sembhi, Nathan TeBokkel, Jacqueline Ting, Bill Wang, Caroline Wang, Kate Wilkinson, Zoe Woods, Kartikeya Vishal, Usman Zahid, Mason Zimmer
News Alex Carmona Jesica Hurst Cam Smith Aaron Zaltzman Arts & Life Sumedha Arya Brent Holmes Kevin Hurren Sports Richard Raycraft Jason Sinukoff Ryan Stern Opinions Ryan Hurlbut Associate Kaitlyn McGrath
@Danika_So @uwogazette I know this is in the Opinions, but why not try something less firstworld-problemy next time - legitimize yourself as a paper. @Kaddywhak ‘Real Life Best Game of All.’ Thanks @uwogazette but I’ve already played foursquare, and it sucks. @pcraig3 Maybe it’s time to start thinking about alternatives to London’s cramped buses: maybe angkots? @uwogazette #ldnont Follow and tweet your thoughts to @uwogazette Letter to the Editor
Postal outlet needs to stay To the Editor: I am writing to in support of the University Students’ Council’s Canada Post outlet to stay open in 2014 and beyond. During my visit to the postal outlet, I was informed the outlet will be closing by January 2014. This would greatly impact my communications—I use the campus post office to process my OSAP loans, buy stamps and packaging, send parcels and cards out for birthdays and Christmas, stay in touch with my grandparents, who do not have email access, file income tax and more. I do not have a car, and do not live near the post office. The campus post office is readily available to me as a student each day, and I use it regularly—two to three times a month. Many Western students share my situation. We urge the USC to reconsider the closure of our postal outlet. —Autumn Gambles MSc. Geography, II
Photography Andrei Calinescu Ritchie Sham Cameron Wilson Graphics Naira Ahmed Mike Laine Illustrations Christopher Miszczak Liwei Zhou Online Julian Uzielli Web Cameron Wilson Video Chris Kay
• Please recycle this newspaper •
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thegazette • Tuesday, April 9, 2013
Homophobia does not have a place in sports Athletes must step up to change pro sport’s culture The Tables Have Sterned Ryan Stern Sports Editor Attending a sports game is often marketed as a family experience. The Toronto Blue Jays have previously used slogans such as, “Stay up past your bedtime” and have promotions, like Junior Jays Saturday. In some aspects, yes, sports games are family-friendly events, but I believe the homophobic culture that often surrounds sport is unacceptable, but can be easily fixed.
It isn’t uncommon to hear the casual fan react to a play with the automatic response of “That was so gay” or attempt to get a player’s attention by screaming, “Hey, Pedroia! You are such a fag!” These calls are unacceptable in any environment, whether it is familyfriendly or slightly more explicit. With marriage equality being a prevalent issue in America, the environment of sports is still an unfortunate breeding grounds for this hate speech. When cut recently, Baltimore Ravens linebacker Brendan Ayanbadejo confirmed he had been in contact with up to four players who have expressed they may become the first athletes to come out in a team sport.
With homosexuality’s place in competitive team sports inevitable, it is time for professional sports— specifically the athletes and fans— to embrace it. This exposure to homosexuality in sports comes at a pertinent time in the MLB season. With Jackie Robinson Day around the corner, and the release of the biographical movie 42, it is ridiculous to believe intolerance like this still exists. Just as Robinson was no worse an athlete because of the colour of his skin, the first—and every subsequent—homosexual athlete will be no worse because of their sexual orientation. Sports needs more role models like Ayanbadejo, and Minnesota Vikings punter Chris Kluwe, in
order to break the stereotype of homophobia in sports. Just like Robinson’s ascension to the top of the sport, it will take outside influences for a homosexual athlete to be accepted into professional sports. Just as Robinson had Pee Wee Reese to support him through the hardships, it will be essential for athletes to support their potential future—or current—teammates to support each other in order for the culture of homophobia to change for good. So next time you attend a game, think of the precedent the drunk teenager beside you is setting when he calls Derek Jeter a faggot. Hopefully, 60 years from now, we will look back at professional sports and scold the bigot-filled culture.
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**5 BDRMS, DIFFERENT styles, all steps to campus. Modern building with huge kitchens, tons of cupboards and counter space, centre island with barstools. Spacious bedrooms and huge closets. Call Sam anytime at 519-495-7661.
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4 BDRM NEW Red Brick townhouses, apartments and single homes for rent. Features 5 appliances, huge rooms and closets, open concept kitchen/living room, and free parking. Located in great student areas. Call Yan: 519-495-5363.
OXFORD & RICHMOND 2 bdrm apartment 2nd floor house, hardwood floors, spacious living rm, balcony, 9ft ceilings, heat/water, dishwasher, washer/dryer on premises, free parking. Avail May 1. $950.00. Bruce 416-806-7456, rockfordj2000-spaceman@yahoo.ca
5 BEDROOM BROUGHDALE behind Med/Syd front Gates. Modern, open-concept, kitchen island/barstools, side-by-side stainless steel fridge. Large rooms (no basement room), 50” flat-screen, fireplace, dishwasher, lots of parking. $450/room. 416-835-5293, enmars@hotmail.com.
SHORT TERM ACCOMODATION 1 to 3 rooms available until August 2013. Modern, spacious, very clean house. 5 appliances, parking, bus, shopping nearby. Call Cathy 519-657-7000 or 519-657-6911.
WEB DESIGNER/GRAPHIC Designer - A Circle of Hope Therapy Centre in Lucan is looking for a volunteer Web Designer and a Volunteer Graphic Designer to assist staff with revisions to our web site. If interested in showing off your talent and creativity we will gladly promote your work. Please contact: Diane Kelly, A Cirle of Hope Therapy Centre, 33727 Roman Line, R.R. #3 Lucan, Ontario. Email: d.kelly.acircleofhope@gmail.com or call 519-227-0233.
1 & 2 PERSON apartments on Western Road. Seeking quiet, non-smoking, serious students with no pets. 8-month contract possible. $400-$700 per person includes utilities, coinless-washer/dryer, free parking and 24/7-management. 519-673-1843. 2 BEDROOM APARTMENTS available. Hardwood floors, large common area, and newly renovated kitchen. Right on the #2 Dundas route; closest 2 bedroom to the heart of campus. Contact Sam today 519-495-7661.
3 BEDROOM HOUSE. 602 Middlewoods Cres. Hardwood floors, 2 full bathrooms, 6 appliances, A/C, free parking, and more. Near UWO, mall, bus stops. $425 inclusive, flexible leases. Sama 519-5207510, srahimia@uwo.ca. 3 BEDROOM MODERN townhouses close to Masonville area. Close walk to campus and steps to major bus route. Spacious bedrooms and close to all amenities. Contact Yan to book a viewing: yanl@londonproperty.ca.
3 BEDROOM TOWNHOUSE 1/2 rent over summer. $1200/month including utilities. Wharncliffe/Oxford. 5 appliances, very quiet, 150ft from bus stop. Many updates. Ted 519-697-5746, Ken 877-582-9004.
UPCOMING EVENTS ENVIRONMENT AND SUSTAINABILITY Society presents Green Ball - Friday, April 12 starting at 9 pm at the Wave Restaurant and Bar, 2nd Floor, UCC. Ticket price $10. Ticket sales every Wednesday (Apr 3 & 10) in front of Taylor Library, 11 am to 1 pm. Semi-formal, 19+ event. Proceeds go to rare Charitable Research Reserve.
WANTED 5 BEDROOM HOUSES and townhouses on all sides of campus. Free parking, free maintenance and fulltime property management. Units are rented on a first come first serve basis. Call Yan at 519-495-5363. 6 BDRM. #1 student rentals. Newly built red bricks in all the best locations! Includes 5 appliances, huge, spacious rooms with massive closets. Parking and 24 hour property management included. These ones always go fast so call soon. Call Sam 519-495-7661, samm@londonproperty.ca
2 BEDROOMS TO RENT IN A 3 BEDROOM TOWNHOUSE . $425/month including utilities. Wharncliffe/Oxford. 5 appliances, very quiet, 150ft from bus stop, parking. Many updates. Pat 519-701-0959, Ken 877-582-9004.
EMPLOYMENT GYMWORLD GYMNASTICS - is looking for coaches. Flexible hours. Start right away! Bus from campus. Call 519-474-4960 or email info@gymworld.ca.
LOVING COUPLE WHO has struggled with infertility for a long time, is in need of an angel of African descent to donate some of her eggs so that we can become a family. Serious inquiries...Please email: val@soft-infertility.com.
VOLUNTEERS WANTED ONTARIAN CANNABIS USERS for harm reduction research needed. You have the chance to take part in our lottery. For further information and to participate in the study, visit www.camh.ca/cannabis-study
WESTERN NAVIGATORS- COMMUNITY Meetings on Wednesdays, Room 59, UCC at 6:30 pm. We are a growing Christian community that is eager to discover who God is and how He fits into our lives. We challenge and strengthen our faith through lively discussion dinners, small groups, campus events and volunteering. Come and add your own individuality to this growing Nav community. For more information, contact Tim Bartja, tbartja@uwo.ca or visit www.navigators.ca/western.
6 BDRM. **#1 student rentals** Newly built red bricks in all the best locations. 5 appliances included. Huge, spacious rooms with massive closets, and parking included. Call Yan anytime at 519-495-5363. 6 BEDROOM BROUGHDALE behind Med/Syd front Gates. Modern, open-concept, kitchen island/barstools, side-by-side stainless steel fridge. Large rooms (no basement room), 50” flat-screen, fireplace, dishwasher, lots of parking. $385/room. 416-835-5293, enmars@hotmail.com. 63 WOODWARD AVE. $425 utilities incl. Two storey, 4+ bedroom, two bathroom, red brick house located minutes from central bus routes to Western, 7 min. from Western campus. Hardwood throughout. Dishwasher and free laundry. Lots of parking, nice fenced-in yard. Must come & check it out! Two bedrooms left to fill. Contact local landlord Mindy @ 519-777-3508.
PUT YOUR SUDOKU SAVVY TO THE TEST! To solve a sudoku, the numbers 1 through 9 must fill each row, column and box. Each number can appear only once in each row, column and box. You can figure out the order in which the numbers will appear by using the numeric clues already provided in the boxes.
For solution, turn to page 2
GOOD VALUE & MANAGEMENT3 to 4 bedroom houses available. Very clean and modern. 5 appliances, spacious rooms, close to shopping, bus, parking, restaurants and fitness centre. $425.00 per student. 519-657-7000 or 519-657-6911. OXFORD & RICHMOND 1 bdrm basement apartment in 5 unit house, electric/heat/water, washer/dryer on premises, free parking. Avail May 1. $675.00. Bruce 416-806-7456, rockfordj2000-spaceman@yahoo.ca
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519-473-7867 Close 556 Wonderland Rd. North to campus 519-681-7867 677 Wharncliffe Rd. South
Christopher Miszczak Gazette
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3-6 BDRM HOUSES and town homes for rent. Large, modern units, and close to campus. Everything you could ask for, with 5 appliances, free parking, spacious bedrooms/common rooms and full-time maintenance. Call Sam at 519-495-7661, samm@londonproperty.ca
ORDER YOUR FLOOR WEAR TODAY !
Room 267, U.C.C. purpledoor@uwo.ca
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Sports
thegazette • Tuesday, April 9, 2013
factattack Both Louisville teams making the national championship finals marks the third time a school’s men’s and women’s basketball teams will play for national championship in the same season— the other two being the ’99 Duke and the ’04 UConn teams.
Rundown >> Former Mustangs defensive back Harold Mutobola signed a free agent contract with the Hamilton Tiger Cats of the CFL > The fifth-year senior was named to the Ontario University Athletics first team all-stars for his breakout 2012 season.