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Lots of love for Laverne Transgender actress and activist draws large crowd >> pg. 3
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WEDNESDAY, MARCH 12, 2014
VOLUME 107, ISSUE 82
Western offers response to low prof wages Sessional professors claim pay barely covers living
Bill Wang GAZETTE
ALL WORK AND NO PAY. Eric Lohman, an adjunct professor in the Faculty of Information and Media Studies, joined in with a number of others to express concerns over low-pay for sessional and part-time faculty via Twitter.
Aaron Zaltzman ASSOCIATE EDITOR It may not have been the best birthday greeting Western has gotten, but Warren Steele and Eric Lohman’s comments on Twitter are representative of a growing concern for Western’s faculty. The two took to Twitter on Western’s Founder’s Day to air some grievances they have as adjunct professors — namely, low pay and insufficient job security. The comments were met with little response from the university — neither professor has heard anything beyond a single tweet from Western’s account, and when asked for their response, the university’s comments on the matter were brief. “As a university we certainly respect the right of individuals and groups to have their opinions
and voice them,” Keith Marnoch, Western’s director of media relations, said. “With regards to those specific opinions, I would say that issues of that nature are generally handled during contract negotiations, and I assume that will continue to be the case.” Steele said that the university had not yet reached out to him about the tweets. “I have not received a response from the university,” he said. Both Steele and Lohman explained the reasons they took to Twitter to express their concerns. “Given the lack of progress in recent years, and the deaf ears on which our concerns continue to fall, I thought it was time to communicate our plight publicly,” Steele said. “There isn’t really any internal mechanism in place for us to air these grievances,” Lohman said.
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“Taking to Twitter for me was mostly out of frustration that there really isn’t anywhere for us to go or anybody who’s going to listen to us about this,” he continued. Lohman, like a growing number of university lecturers, is an adjunct professor, rather than a tenured or tenure-track professor. These professors are hired on a contract for either a certain length of time or to teach a certain amount of courses. According to Alison Hearn, the president of the University of Western Ontario Faculty Association, these contract positions entail significantly lower pay than tenured professors, as the going wage for a course is roughly $7,200, subject to tax and other deductions. The situation is only slightly better for term-based contract positions. “Even someone on a contract for
a year would only make between $40,000 and $60,000, which is better,” Hearn said. “But if you’re an academic you want to do research, and only tenured professors are paid to do so.” Also problematic in these positions is the low job security, as the contracts can change or be eliminated every year. “These employees can’t have lives, plan their future or plant roots here,” Hearn explained. The issue of adjunct positions is widespread and growing across Canadian universities. Hearn explained the positions, which are major money-savers for institutions, have occupied a greater percentage of teaching jobs as universities deal with funding cuts. Even worse, existing tenure positions that become vacant are not being replaced, she said.
As the problem grows, so does the aggravation. “At some point you get frustrated and taking it to whoever will listen,” Lohman said. UWOFA appears to be listening, as Hearn said increased pay and job security for adjunct professors will be a major pillar in upcoming negotiations between the association and Western. “Western is in good financial shape, so there is no reason why Western has to pay these people badly and not give them job security, as well as not replace tenure track positions,” Hearn said. “We’re not going back to the old days, but the question is how can we better protect our members now by getting them more job security and better wages.” — With files from Richard Raycraft
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thegazette • Wednesday, March 12, 2014
Caught on Camera
CROSSWORD By Eugene Sheffer
Bill Wang GAZETTE
MAN VS GOOSE. As warmer weather returns, a gaggle — flock of geese that is not in flight — was spotted surveying the campus for students donning down-filled jackets. 140311
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News Briefs
Students want more experiential learning, study says The Ontario Undergraduate Student Alliance released the results of the province-wide survey they launched in November in a report published yesterday. “Increasingly, students are looking for greater access to high-impact learning opportunities, including co-ops, undergraduate research projects, and paid internships,� Amir Eftekarpour, OUSA president, said in a release. “Students recognize that the hard skills acquired through high-impact learning compliment their academic instruction in the traditional classroom, while also easing their transitions into the labour market.� Nearly half of the 9,000 students surveyed — 48 per cent — said they had participated in at least one form of “high-impact learning,� or experiences that allow them to “learn by doing,� such as a co-op placement or research assistantship. The survey also asked whether students thought all internships should be paid. Nearly two-thirds of students responded “yes,� with 63 per cent. Thirty-two per cent selected “It depends on the type of internship,� and 3 per cent each said either “No� or “I don’t know.� Twelve per cent of the total respondents said they had participated in at least one unpaid internship during the course of their education. Survey respondents were also asked where they thought universities should be focusing their resources, out of three choices: Training for instructors, increased research opportunities for faculty and students, or smaller class sizes. A plurality of students preferred instructor training, with 39 per cent, while 27 per cent preferred increased research opportunities and 25 per cent called for smaller classes. Nine per cent chose “I don’t know.� The report concluded that most students seem to want more opportunities in experiential learning, and said OUSA would bear these statistics in mind in their future advocacy efforts. — Julian Uzielli
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. Š 2002 by Kings Features Syndicate, Inc.
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thegazette • Wednesday, March 12, 2014
Trans activist speaks out Laverne Cox calls for trans acceptance
The Gazette wants YOU! We’re hiring editors for 2014–15 for: • Sports • Graphics • Illustrations • Photography Come visit us in UCC Room 263 or email iain@westerngazette.ca for more information
AT TENTION
Kevin Hurren OPINIONS EDITOR There is a state of emergency for far too many transgendered people, accoriding to Laverne Cox, the actress and trans advocate who spoke at Western on Monday night. About 500 students attended the talk in the Mustang Lounge. Cox, recognized by many from the Netflix hit Orange is the New Black, justified such a claim by pointing to the high percentages of unemployment, harassment, suicide and physical violence that plagues the transgendered community in the United States and around the world.
To be vulnerable in front of other people, to live truthfully and authentically — that means having the audacity to live with an open heart. I think that’s one of the most courageous things someone can do. — Laverne Cox
Actress and transgender activist
“I stand before you as a proud African-American, transgendered woman,” Cox began in her speech, going on to explain the importance of claiming such identities. But embracing these two aspects of herself hasn’t always been easy. Cox chronicled her long journey of non-conforming gender performance at an early age to her medical transition, describing the challenges that both she and other trans women face on a regular basis. Trans women, she explained, are in danger of not only transphobia, but also homophobia and sexism. As such, Cox argued that we collectively need to deal with larger identity politics before we are able to put an end to transphobia.
“We have to create spaces of gender self-determination if we really want to be free,” she said, encouraging the crowd to combat any kind of gender policing and to address issues of cross-difference with love and empathy. In addition to discussing trans struggles, Cox also addressed the hardships that black women face — an aspect of her experience that she hasn’t always acknowledge since she first appeared on television in the 2008 series, I Want to Work for Diddy. “I talk more about race now than I did six years ago,” said Cox in an interview after the lecture. “In the beginning I was nervous about alienating people and not having an audience and so I didn’t want to exacerbate that by talking about race.” Since then, Cox said has gained the confidence to tackle such topics, understanding the importance of having difficult conversations in order to enact real change. Taking part in difficult conversations, however, takes courage, she said. “In the etymology of courage, there is ‘cour’ which means ‘heart’ – so to have courage really means to have an open heart,” explained Cox, who was the 2013 recipient of the Anti-Violence Project’s Courage Award. “To be vulnerable in front of other people, to live truthfully and authentically — that means having the audacity to live with an open heart. I think that’s one of the most courageous things someone can do.” After the presentation, Cox took questions from an eager crowd. In addition to touching on her current project — a documentary about a trans woman in the male prison system, titled Free CeCe — and the challenges that the trans community faces in athletics, Cox was asked about the buzz around Jared Leto’s Oscar-winning portrayal of a trans woman in Dallas Buyers Club. Having a rich background in the performing arts, Cox explained that just as trans actors should be challenged to play cis-gendered characters (meaning characters whose genders match their birth sex), so too should cis actors be given the chance to explore their range. That said, she added that this isn’t quite happening, and more trans performers should be given
the same fortunate opportunities she’s had in media. “I’ve had a lot of love,” Cox said. “So many people have got to see themselves reflected in media […] and it’s been wonderful.”
Solution to puzzle on page 8
STUDENTS USING SERVICES FOR STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES We would like to remind you that you must meet with a counsellor at Services for Students with Disabilities (SSD), in the Student Development Centre, to arrange academic accommodation for your 2013/2014 winter courses. If you have not yet requested accommodation for your courses, and you wish to use accommodation for April 2014 exams, you must meet with a counsellor by Friday, March 21st. If requested after this date, accommodation for April 2014 exams cannot be arranged by Exam Services. To book your appointment please call
519-661-2147
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Haida Liu GAZETTE
TRANS ACTIVIST ACTIVATES TRANS ACTION. Transgender activist and actress Laverne Cox came to Western on Monday night to speak to a crowd of 500 students about her personal experience and how to end transphobia. Cox recently appeared in the Netflix series Orange is the New Black.
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thegazette • Wednesday, March 12, 2014
Arts&Life
wednesdayword Oeuvre Noun. The works of a painter, composer, or author regarded collectively.
The Great Beauty holds true to its title Conrad Floryan GAZETTE STAFF GGGGH The Great Beauty Director: Paolo Sorrentino Starring: Toni Servillo, Carlo Verdone, Giovanna Vignola “It’s a great city, but you wouldn’t want to live there.” The Great Beauty proves this dubious maxim in its portrayal of contemporary Rome as a seducing but ultimately disappointing mirage. It’s the snobby sister movie of The Wolf of Wall Street, and nearly as debaucherous. Upon his 65th birthday, journalist and affluent socialite Jep Gambardella (Toni Servillo) begins to reevaluate his life. Although he thrives along the smart set, the lavish parties, voluptuous conquests and opulent apartment with a terrace overlooking the Colosseum are unfulfilling. A wry smile betrays world-weariness, as Jep is wise enough to realize that his lifestyle is barren but he hasn’t figured out a better alternative, so he’s settled on enjoying his superficial orgy through a prism of humour. The revelry is emphasized by circus accouterments; a magician
Courtesy of Medusa Film
makes a giraffe disappear, and Jep’s editor is a wig-sporting dwarf (Giovanna Vignola). The circus motif underscores the film’s debt to Federico Fellini’s oeuvre, particularly 8 ½ and La Dolce Vita. Like Fellini, director Paolo Sorrentino blends reality with memories and fantasies to fashion a multifaceted fever dream. Sorrentino and cinematographer Luca Bigazzi have crafted an extravagantly stylish picture. Sweeping camera moves, blazing
lighting and meticulous composition result in a cinematic Bellini that will leave even the most sober viewer with a hangover. Sorrentino has a knack for creating movie magic, like when Jep is staring longingly at his bedroom ceiling and it turns into the Mediterranean Sea. The dashing style aptly mirrors the ravishing on-screen proceedings and thematic underpinnings — a posh marriage of style and substance. A classic narrative is eschewed
in favour of loosely connected vignettes that critique contemporary Roman society. The scattershot format grows tedious after a while, but this is a work of art that’s meant to challenge as well as entertain. A largely funereal soundtrack signals the death of Rome as a romantic paradise. It’s now a tourist trap, and even the residents live like tourists. Rome is supposed to be the home of spiritual enlightenment, but even the church is portrayed as mostly smoke and mirrors.
The cardinal — soon to be pope — Jep beseeches for illumination responds only with cooking advice. Jep feels old, like most of the characters in the film. Their life is a party that has lasted until 5:00 a.m., and weary guests are starting to go home. Rome is so gorgeous that it’s become addicted to artificial beauty. Jep and his friends are miserable because they’re trapped in a hallow charade. The Botox, chic attire, and condescending repartee only thinly veil a glum existence. To counter the unsatisfying present, there is a lingering sense of nostalgia. Jep is transfixed by memories of his first love, and he gazes wistfully from his terrace down on children frolicking through the gardens in the adjacent convent. It dawns on him that the trappings of the high life — women, food, beautiful art — are just white noise that distract from the simple pleasures that thrive in childhood. At least a second viewing is required to appreciate this rich film. This viewing would occur after a long break to decompress following the initial heady experience. Until then, it’s a great movie, but you wouldn’t want to see it again too soon.
Drunk? Put the phone down Effects of drunk dialing can be problematic Robert Nanni Jr. GAZETTE STAFF The Silence of the Lambs (1991) A thrilling masterpiece, The Silence of the Lambs is required watching for anyone who loves superb performances and an expertly paced film. Clarice Starling (Jodie Foster), a rookie FBI agent, is hunting an at-large serial killer whose modus operandi is skinning women. The key to his apprehension lies in the hands of another captured serial killer, Dr. Hannibal Lecter (Anthony Hopkins), a renowned psychiatrist and serial killer. Jodie Foster delivers the best performance of her career, full of nuance and subtlety. Clarice is a multifaceted character and throughout the film Foster hits each of the beats effortlessly. Anthony Hopkins, who only occupies 16 minutes of film time, completely controls every frame. Manipulating Clarice with ease, Dr. Lecter is expertly performed by Hopkins. The thematic brilliance of The Silence of the Lambs is evidently clear from one of the earliest shots that show Clarice in an elevator surrounded by taller men. She is a woman in a man’s world, striving to succeed. Her success lies in preventing a man intent on making a suit made from female skin from murdering his next victim. The whole film hinges on Clarice’s journey for redemption and fulfillment and it’s a brilliantly told story. When looking to the structure of the film, it’s
fast-paced and throttles its audiences constantly with plot turns. While there are thoughtful underlying elements, The Silence of the Lambs is still a thoroughly entertaining thriller. It’s a rare film in that it’s a thrilling movie to watch, yet still garners critical attention. In addition, the film is cinematically significant in that it is one of three films in history to win “the big five” Academy Awards. Winning Best Picture, Best Director, Best Actress, Best Actor and Best Adapted Screenplay, The Silence of the Lambs has been cemented in cinematic records. It’s easy to be passionate about a film so thoroughly gripping. When heading way back to The Silence of the Lambs, be prepared for an intelligent story of redemption that is paced masterfully. — Bradley Metlin
Courtesy of Orion Pictures
Drunk dialing: The process of drinking enough alcohol to develop the courage to contact a past romantic interest. These conversations often involve barely comprehensible messages of, “Baby I love you” and “What do you mean you’ve moved on?!” Following sobriety, this ultimately leads to embarrassment and regret. In 2011, Amber Ferris and Erin Hollenbaugh published a study in the Ohio Communication Journal outlining some explanations for this behaviour. Based on their exploration of 433 20-year-olds, the researchers concluded that inhibition, entertainment, confession of emotion, and sexuality are common factors of drunk dialing. Confirming this phenomenon is Terri-Lynn Oliver, an Ingersoll addictions counsellor who treats patients suffering from the consequences of alcohol abuse. As such, she offers possible explanations for the role of alcohol in drunk dialing. “Alcohol decreases our inhibitions,” Oliver explains. “It makes us vulnerable — less likely to act with a sense of consequence, more likely to act without a filter.” Many people drink, get drunk and do not have the urge to ring up a past lover. Despite this, many drunk dialers continue to do this to themselves and to the people they care about. “Completion is closure,” Oliver explains. She believes that drunk dialing
Taylor Lasota GAZETTE
happens when people have unfinished business in relationships “When someone drunk dials, it’s less about alcohol and more about getting closure,” Oliver says. There are two common possibilities when someone drunk dials a past love interest: They either express their remaining feelings of love, or their lingering feelings of sadness and anger. However, it is hard to distinguish whether these feelings are an honest reflection of the individual. “I think that the language we use is sometimes not necessarily indicative of how somebody feels,” Oliver says. “But there is some truth that lowered inhibitions lead to acting on immediate feelings.” Perhaps drunk words are not always sober thoughts, but they can still cause quite an issue for both parties of the drunk dial. One solution to this problem is Drunk
Lock, an example of the various smartphone apps that prevent this sort of embarrassment. Drunk Lock makes the user answer a series of math questions before unlocking his or her phone, based on difficulty settings preset by the user — easy, average, hard and college-level math. If even one question is answered incorrectly, the phone refuses to unlock (except in the case of emergency calls) and the drunk dial is postponed. Oliver credits the app’s developer, claiming that the app “makes you think about your actions for a longer period of time.” She also says “anything that makes you think, delays your response — it has to be a positive thing.” Although the experience may be uncomfortable, annoying or straight-up mortifying, drunk dialers are people too, and can only really be blamed for having emotions.
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thegazette • Wednesday, March 12, 2014
The Pursuit of Misery? Applications for Gazette Editor positions are now available. Apply in UCC Room 263
Kelly Samuel GAZETTE
Conrad Floryan GAZETTE STAFF It’s conventional wisdom that humans pursue happiness and seek to avoid misery. So why do so many people seem complacent in their despair? Is happiness overrated? People who have been unhappy for a while are reluctant to change the status quo because there’s comfort in familiarity, even if that means being miserable, according to Varinder Dua, associate professor of psychiatry at Western. Unless a person is experiencing severe distress that spurs them to make changes, it’s more comfortable to simply tolerate despair through coping mechanisms like denial and substance abuse. “The fear of the unknown is a factor because they don’t know what they will be getting into,” Dua says. “The devil they know is better than the devil they don’t.” Happiness can be intimidating because it sets up expectations that a person will be able to maintain a fulfilling life. Spiritual teacher Marian Williamson famously wrote: “Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure.” People feel hesitant to rise to their full potential at the risk of disrupting their social environment. Finding contentment is so difficult because much of the negative habits that cause despair are problematic to change since they
are ingrained in childhood and reinforced throughout adulthood. “People can find happiness after struggling through one issue but then something new comes up in their life that they’re challenged about,” explains Emily Beeckmans, a psychotherapist in London. “And they revert back to those old coping mechanisms.” Becoming happier requires challenging negative core beliefs. Once these beliefs are established, they are difficult to change. “What we think is what we feel. So basically if there is a core belief that you’re not entitled to be happy or loved then we continuously play out our core beliefs,” says Linda Libis, a local counsellor and therapist. Mental illness can further exacerbate the already challenging journey to self-fulfillment. It’s a crucial point, as one in six Canadians required mental health care in 2012 according to Statistics Canada. Beekmans explains that these mental health issues may be a factor which causes difficulty in finding emotional stability and inner peace that is so essential to happiness. But if finding inner peace is so challenging, why even bother? There are after all some notable advantages to being unhappy. “People around you don’t expect you to achieve, and people at work don’t give you extra things to do,” Libis explains. “Munchausen is a type of
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condition where people will chronically be crying wolf, whether it’s through illness or tragedy to get attention to reinforce that they’re valued,” Beeckmans says. It’s crucial to note that happiness is subjective. Society perpetuates a conventional template for contentment as someone who is expressive, social, and successful, but this is a limited view that doesn’t apply to everyone. People could be pursuing the wrong goals. “There are people who come across as angry or cynical all the time but that’s just how they perceive the world and they go about it,” Beeckmans says. Often times the anguish experienced while struggling to develop a more fulfilling life is greater than the initial suffering. Dua believes too often people seeking happiness are simply lazy. “In this day and age when we are looking for quick fixes, people are looking for a pill or mantra to make them happy when happiness is actually a state of inner being; it’s not something that just falls into your lap,” Dua says. “You have to put effort into it.”
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thegazette • Wednesday, March 12, 2014
Opinions
All my life affection has been showered upon me, and every forward step I have made has been taken in spite of it.
– George Bernard Shaw
PDAin’t nobody got time for all of that Abracadabra Al-Azem
Nusaiba Al-Azem SPORTS EDITOR Last week, The Gazette’s Caitlin Martin Newnham wrote about the benefits of public displays of affection, but the only people who enjoy public displays of affection are those engaging in the smooching. If these couples bothered to surface for air and observe their environment, they would realize that everyone within eyesight is extremely uncomfortable. I’m not saying all forms of affection in public should be tossed. Some gestures are cute, comforting and sweet. A couple holding hands, a peck on the cheek, even a chaste kiss can all be tasteful and adorable. But when the duo starts to move into NC-17 territory, these affectionate touches are wholly inconsiderate of anyone nearby. At the end of the day, a public display of affection is just that: A display. If it’s in public, whether or not you intend it, the action is meant for public consumption. It speaks to the strength of a couple’s relationship when, in front of friends or family or strangers, they are able to substitute their tonsil-hockey time for friendly banter. Being able to be friends in public is much more welcoming and
inviting to other, and it’s a testament to the versatility of the relationship that when environments change the couple can adapt too. You could even take the argument as far as to claim that PDA is a form of sexual harassment. That may sound farfetched — after all, what I do is my own business, right? And if you’re uncomfortable, that’s your own issue, right? No. That’s not right. When you’re in a workplace and a coworker or sleazy boss tries hitting on you, their actions are indisputably grounds for sexual harassment, but they don’t even have to go so far as to hit on you. If somebody in your workplace is making unwarranted sexual references, they essentially coerce you in a sexual nature. If the Big Boss Man keeps referring to sexual acts in front of Sally, not even necessarily about Sally, but just about sex in general — that could be grounds for sexual harassment. Likewise, when you’re in public and there are two people engaging in unwarranted activities of a sexual nature, they are inviting you into this behaviour by choosing to do so in public. How is that any different than unwanted sex talk from Big Boss Man Bob? What it comes down to is that if you’re engaging in public displays of affection, you need to realize that you’re not the first person in history to have discovered a libido or found somebody wildly attractive. However, show some restraint in public, if only because good things come to those who wait.
Dear Life
Your anonymous letters to life Dear Life, How the hell did I get into graduate school? Dear Life, What has the USC done this year? Dear Life, Why does Marcie call Peppermint Patty “sir?” Dear Life, It’s Lousy Smarch essay writing season. Dear Life, Why are the street names on campus never used and are pretty much irrelevant? Dear Life, I really don’t like the new Facebook. I don’t understand why it always has to change? Dear Life, Laverne Cox was amazing! So glad such an inspiring figure came to speak on campus. Dear Life, I want MC Hammer pants. Dear Life, Don’t stand so, don’t stand so close to me. Dear Life, Am I popular yet? Dear Life, So tell me exactly why Google has so many pictures of me?
Naira Ahmed GAZETTE
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Volume 107, Issue 82 www.westerngazette.ca
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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.
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thegazette • Wednesday, March 12, 2014
Sports
saywhat? “George… don’t screw this up, it’s a big show.”
>> Current Hockey Night In Canada host Ron MacLean advised incoming host George Stroumboulopoulos at a press release Monday
Rundown >> Western Mustangs men’s hockey goaltender Josh Unice has signed a contract with the Gwinnett Gladiators of the East Coast Hockey League > The Gladiators belong to the nation’s premier “AA” hockey league, and are affiliated with the Phoenix Coyotes of the NHL.
Strombo is wrong call for HNIC honours Rogers should not replace MacLean for iconic show Abracadabra Al-Azem
Nusaiba Al-Azem SPORTS EDITOR I am a die-hard hockey fan. I’ve been watching Hockey Night in Canada for as long as I can remember. Even before I liked the sport, I would begrudgingly allow my older brother to change the channel from my cartoons to long-time host Ron MacLean loudly announcing whom the Leafs would be playing that night. After 20 years of religiously following HNIC, I understand just how important tradition is to the show and to hockey fans in general. Ron MacLean taught me the basics of hockey, he nurtured my love for the sport, and he has by far earned his credibility in the hockey world. That’s why it comes as such a disappointment that Rogers has already begun meddling with CBC’s hockey broadcasting program. On Sunday night, TSN’s hockey broadcaster Bob McKenzie tweeted that there was a good chance CBC personality and talk-show host George Stroumboulopoulos will be named the new host for HNIC next season. On Monday, Rogers held a press conference and made it official. While Rogers Communications Inc. has already indicated that the beloved HNIC segment, Coach’s Corner, featuring Don Cherry and Ron MacLean, will be given a twoyear contract extension and retain the two hosts, it is attempting to sell the new cornerstones of hockey broadcasting as Daren Millard, Jeff Marek, Cherry, MacLean and of course, Strombo. MacLean, after 28 years of being HNIC’s main host, will now anchor a Sunday night show entitled Hometown Hockey Community Celebration. The new show is a clear attempt on the part of Rogers to use MacLean’s good
Caitlin Martin Newnham GAZETTE
name to generate a hockey fan base on Sundays too. Stroumboulopoulos is no hockey legend, let alone a decent hockey broadcaster. In lieu of hundreds of qualified hockey personalities, Rogers seems to be extending the honour of hosting one of Canada’s most prized shows unto former Much Music VJ and host of music radio show The Strombo Show. Sure he spent his first four years in the business as a sports reporter, but is that really enough for this job? I’m not saying that experience is the only merit that should govern decisions like these, but I see no reason to fix something that’s not broken. Ron hosts a great show, and it seems to be working for the majority of Canadians who tune in every Saturday. Four out of
six Gemini nominations given to the show resulted in the coveted award, and, in my opinion, they were mainly due to MacLean’s efforts. In 1992 and 1994, he won the Best Sports Broadcaster award, and in 2004 and 2006 he earned the Best Host or Interviewer in a Sports Program or Sportscast. The man is clearly good at what he does. As an aspiring journalist and avid hockey fan, I am in awe of him. Even his response to the clear demotion was one of class and professionalism. He assured fans that he was getting a good fouryear contract out of it, and that he was honoured to be a part of the new community aspect of hockey television on Sunday. Ron MacLean is a professional who embodies the spirit of hockey. Stroumboulopoulos, on the
other hand, is a decent talkshow host (granted, not decent enough to maintain his hourlong talk series on CNN entitled Stroumboulopoulos), and I’ll give him credit where credit is due: He knows his stuff when it comes to music. In terms of hockey, though, he is no more than a glorified fan — one that has been gifted one of sportscasting’s greatest honours despite his meagre four years as a sports reporter. You don’t just throw your kids into the deep end before putting them in swimming lessons, but apparently Rogers seems to think Stroumboulopoulos can stay afloat. If, during the pre or post-game shows, I wanted to hear critical analysis of the tunes blasting in the stadium, sure, I would flip the channel to hear good ol’ George
talk about the things he knows. But I don’t want to hear that in game seven of the Stanley Cup (or any other game for that matter). I want to hear somebody who has more hockey experience than I could imagine, and I want to see the faces that I associate with hockey. I know Rogers is trying to pass off Stroumboulopoulos joining the crew as the hockey “dream team,” but I, along with many other Canadians, am only experiencing this as a nightmare. If this is what Rogers is doing prior to the 2014–15 season — when they officially own the rights to NHL coverage for the next 12 years — I shudder to think of what will become of Canada’s gem, the staple of my childhood and one of our best traditions: Hockey Night in Canada.
Mustangs add former Blues’ OC to staff Flaxman and 30 new recruits added to Mustangs Daniel Weryha SPORTS EDITOR Thirty new players and the hiring of the newest addition to the Mustangs football team’s coaching staff were announced to Mustangs fans everywhere on March 6 at the team’s 2014 unveiling event. Tom Flaxman, formerly of the University of Toronto Varsity Blues football team, was hired in 2012 to serve as the Blues’ offensive coordinator. He will be joining the Mustangs in a role that has yet to be
clearly defined. This season, Flaxman’s offence proved resilient despite the team’s 4–4 record. The Varsity Blues ranked sixth with 2,609 passing yards and 11th in total yards in the Canadian Interuniversity Sport. Since being hired as head coach of the Mustangs, Greg Marshall served as the offensive coordinator. Although Flaxman’s role is unclear, Marshall will continue to serve as the team’s offensive coordinator as announced at the unveiling. Flaxman’s role is expected to be far
more multifaceted. Both Flaxman and Marshall were unavailable for comment, but both spoke to westernmustangs.ca last week. “Tom was the offensive coordinator at Acadia and the University of Toronto. We hired Tom because of his work ethic, because of his personality, and I know him and trust him,” Marshall said to westernmustangs.ca. “Loyalty and those characteristics are vital in coaching. Tom’s going to be recruiting for us, he’s going to help right now on the
defensive side, help with special teams, but he’s got outstanding character.” Along with Flaxman, the Mustangs introduced 14 defensive players, 15 on the offensive side of ball, and one kicker. This year 22 players were recruited from Ontario, five from Quebec and two from the West. “We feel that we’ve got a real strong class,” Chris Bertoia, Mustangs’ recruiting coordinator and offensive line coach, said to westernmustangs.ca. “Each and
every year there’s needs you have to address, linebacker and the offensive line were the two focal points and I think we’ve addressed those needs. That being said we still have our teeth into a few potential blue chippers that are yet to make their decision, a few potential transfers that are possibly coming in as well, things will come out as they will later on but we’re really happy with our recruiting class.” Out of the 30 recruits, the >> see MUSTANGS pg.8
8•
thegazette • Wednesday, March 12, 2014
Mustangs unveil the 2014–15 recruiting class >> MUSTANGS continued from pg.7
Mustangs boast 14 players recently nominated as regional all-stars for their performance in the 2013–14 season. With the loss of linebackers Pawel Kruba and Sean Blake, the team has recruited eight new linebackers to help fill the void. With
Loyalty and those characteristics are vital in coaching. Tom’s going to be recruiting for us, he’s going to help right now on the defensive side, help with special teams, but he’s got outstanding character. — Greg Marshall
Mustangs’ head coach
the CFL draft still ahead, questions continue to surround Western’s topranked Beau Laundry, who is listed as number seven on the scouting bureau’s top 10. The Mustangs risk the chance of losing another piece of their veteran linebacker core, leaving the workload behind for a young group to be highlighted by fourth-year senior Preston Huggins, who finished the season with 43 tackles and an interception that he returned for a touchdown against Queen’s. While the rookies will not be expected to have an immediate impact, the departure of so much talent will effectively leave space for young players to step up. Flaxman, Marshall and the Mustangs will return to action on September 6 as they kick off their Ontario University Athletics regular season on the road at York to take on the Lions.
Jonathan Dunn GAZETTE
HERE COMES THE BOOM! The Western Mustangs finished the 2013 season with a perfect 8–0 record, and walked away with a Yates Cup championship with their win over the Queen’s Gaels. With the addition of 30 young recruits, the Mustangs will look to make another expected run at the Yates Cup and perhaps even the a berth to the Vanier Cup final in their upcoming season.
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WESTERN CAMPUS CLEAN Up Tuesday, April 1. Open to all students, staff and faculty. Meeting Point: Concrete Beach (Sunshine), or Mustang Lounge (Rain). Times: 10:30am, 11:30am and 12:30pm. Participants will receive a free BBQ lunch. Many prizes will also be available including gift cards and a Western blanket. Interested in participating? Send an email to sustainability@uwo.ca, indicating which time slot works best.
SPACIOUS HOME 5 minute walk, large rooms, 21/2 baths, dishwasher,laundry, A/C, parking (4), large back yard, x-furniture optional, $2,400 incl. utilities, lease suitable for 4-6 people. Carlos 519-438-2864, czigrovi@uwo.ca
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5 BEDROOM HOUSES and apartments right on bus route to campus and downtown. Great locations. Huge rooms and closets. Most have all new appliances including washer/dryer and dishwasher. Call Stephen @ 226-236-4409 or email stephenn@londonproperty.ca with questions or to book a tour. 5 BEDROOM HOUSES and townhouses for rent on all sides of campus. All places have free parking, free maintenance and full time property management. Units are rented on a first come first serve basis. Call Stephen at 226-236-4409, stephenn@londonproperty.ca 5 BEDROOM HOUSES and townhouses for rent on all sides of campus. All places have free parking, free maintenance and full time property management. Units are rented on a first come first serve basis. Call Zach at 226-973-9044, zachs@londonproperty.ca. 5 BEDROOMS IN the famous Redbrick apartments and townhouses right next to campus and downtown. Great locations. Huge rooms and closets. Including washer/dryer and dishwasher. Call John @ (226) 973-9346 or email jmiles@londonproperty.ca with questions or to book a tour. 6 BDRM HOUSES on all sides of campus. Most feature 5 new appliances, spacious rooms and huge closets, open concept kitchen/living room, and free parking. Act fast-these won’t last! For more information call Zach at 226-973-9044. 6 BDRM. * *#1 student rentals* * Newly built red bricks in all the best student. 5 appliances included. Huge, spacious rooms with massive closets. 24 hour emergency maintenance and parking included. These ones always go fast so call soon. Call Stephen anytime at 226-236-4409.
ADD A SPLASH of colour to your running calendar and join us at Colours of Hope 5k. Western Cancer Research and Technology Transfer (CaRTT), Partners in Experiential Learning (PEL) and the Canadian Cancer Society, are hosting a fundraising colours 5K run/walk at Western on Saturday, March 15, 2014. For more info go to www.cancer.ca/coloursofhope THE VISUAL ARTS faculty’s Advanced 4th Year Studio Seminar class welcomes you to Said No One Ever, an exhibition featuring some great art by emerging local talent. The show runs from March 18-21st, at the London Arts Project, 203 Dundas St. Opening reception is from 6-8. Be there or be square!” TIPS ON HOW TO AVOID BEING PHISHED 1. Never respond to emails that request personal financial information. Reputable companies don't ask for passwords or account details in an email.
09 2DR CIVIC. Car Proof, Certified, 48,521km. $12,000. Tinted windows. Summers/Winters with rims. Sun roof, air, manual trans., power locks, mirrors, windows. Please call after 6:00 pm. (519) 657-6959. bsmall@rogers.com
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 3