Wednesday, November 21, 2012

w w w .w e sterngazette.c a • @uw ogazette

Lucky number seven Mustangs men’s hockey team badgers a win out of Brock. >> pg. 7

thegazette Reliving our childhood since 1906

Wednesday, November 21, 2012

today high 12 low 2

tomorrow high 12 low 6

canada’s only Daily Student Newspaper • founded 1906

Volume 106, Issue 44

The Science Guy receives charged reaction

Q&A > Bill Nye Gazette: What are your main goals with this lecture? What message are you trying to convey?

Bill Nye: To convince some

fraction of the audience that climate change is a very serious issue. We’re at a turning point in history, and I want them to change the world. The bigger fraction, the better.

Gazette: You were a childhood hero for so many of us—did you have a ‘Bill Nye’? Did you have an inspiration?

Bill Nye: It’s crazy. It’s crazy! We had Don Herbert, who was Mr. Wizard. Mr. Wizard was a show that started in the 1950s, but really flourished in the 1960s. I grew up with him. I always say, Don Herbert sent humankind to the moon. The engineers and scientists that worked during the Apollo era watched his show.

Gazette: There is a large discrepancy between the number of men and women in the sciences—men having the majority. Why is that, and how can it be combatted?

Andrei Calinescu GAZETTE

SCIENCE RULES. Students lined up for hours last night to see Bill Nye, famed for his television show Bill Nye the Science Guy, speak at Alumni Hall.

Cam Smith News Editor At 5:30 p.m. yesterday—over two hours before Bill Nye was scheduled to start speaking—students, faculty and London residents filled the sidewalk outside of Alumni Hall. Lab coats, goggles and scientific paraphernalia of all kinds were speckled amongst the eager and buzzing crowd.

Before the event began in earnest, Nye hosted a meet and greet with the Science Students’ Council, shaking hands and chatting with members.

The Science Guy himself finally took the stage shortly after 7 p.m., wearing a blue suit and a signature bow tie—his famous theme song blasted in the background. The scientist was greeted with raucous applause and a standing ovation from a packed hall as he launched into his speech about furthering scientific interest amongst students.

Nye discussed topics ranging from sundials to geology, and weather to astronomy. Most importantly, Nye talked about our place in the universe, and our role in the preservation of our planet, in light of climate change.

“The reason [climate change] is happening is because there’s more heat energy in the atmosphere. It’s not evaporating into the air like it used to because there are more carbon dioxide and greenhouse gasses in the air,” Nye explained.

“There was a Tornado in Brooklyn, New York—this stuff didn’t used to happen, let alone in February.”

You guys have lived through some extraordinary things. I want you all to change the world.

—Bill Nye

Science guy

He noted this greenhouse effect is exactly what has rendered Venus an uninhabitable and hostile planet.

“We do not want to be Venus.

Venus has so much carbon dioxide that the greenhouse effect, the happy thing that keeps Earth warm enough, has run away,” Nye said.

Nye advocated for the existence of climate change, and encouraged skeptics to seek evidence. Nye used his signature humour to engage the audience and prove his point time and time again.

“If the guy has got the blood on his shoe, and the carpet fibres, he was in the room with the dead guy.

That’s CSI,” Nye explained, indicating the evidence was clear for climate change.

For people doubtful of climate change, Nye advised them to seek evidence as he did, by visiting an ice core storage facility that allows scientists to look at ancient bubbles trapped inside the ice so they can see the composition of the atmosphere at various periods in Earth’s existence.

“It’s much easier than reading the rings on a tree,” Nye explained.

In conclusion, Bill reminded everyone it is up to this generation to be aware of the dangers of climate change, and do our best to subvert it.

“You guys have lived through some extraordinary things,” Nye said. “I want you all to change the world.”

Nye concluded by advocating for science literacy, encouraging

technical innovation and reminding everyone how minute they are in the grand scheme of things, as well as the capacity of human imagination.

With your brain, you can imagine [anything].

You can know and appreciate nature, your place in space, and, dare I say it, change the world.

—Bill Nye

Science guy

“With your brain, you can imagine [anything]. You can know and appreciate nature, your place in space, and, dare I say it, change the world,” Nye concluded.

Most importantly, with his classic wit, poignant metaphors and passion for the information he was providing, Nye proved, once again, science still rules.

Bill Nye: The reason for it is not

clear, but women’s role in the workforce has changed dramatically in my lifetime. Science is a human idea—I claim the best idea humans have ever had, and so, half of the humans in science ought to be women. It wasn’t that long ago my mother could not get an American Express card. She was not allowed to have her own credit because she was my father’s wife. I remind women today—it wasn’t that long ago.

Do not take that for granted […].

Gazette: How did you establish the archetypal Bill Nye wardrobe? The bowtie, the lab coat— where did that come from?

Bill Nye: I remind everybody about lab coats—they are very useful! You don’t spill stuff on yourself as much, this is not extraordinary. Machinists wear leather aprons, cooks wear aprons, chefs wear chef coats and hats, and they’ve got mittens—this is not extraordinary.

Anyways, the bow tie does not slip into your soup. It does not flip into your flask. It’s actually just a more practical form of neckwear.

—Cam Smith

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thegazette • Wednesday, November 21, 2012

Caught on Camera

Crossword By Eugene Sheffer

Andrei Calinescu GAZETTE

WE’RE ALL IN THE MOOD FOR A MELODY. A student de-stresses by playing a keyboard, located in the University Community Centre atrium, as part of Mental Health Awareness Week.

News Briefs

Water woes Solution to puzzle on page 8

Unforeseen complications forced the Wave restaurant to close its doors for a short period last night, due to a lack of hot water throughout the University Community Centre. The Wave had to shut down just after 5 p.m. because of the unplanned shut-off, which was related to the repair project on Concrete Beach. It reopened at 6 p.m.

“At about 1 p.m., we were noti-

fied that the water was off and that some of the operations might have to close,” Tony Ayala, vice-president finance for the University Students’ Council, said. “We actually started using paper plates in the Wave at around 2 p.m., and when those ran out we had to close.”

Other UCC operations remained open, but had to work around the hot water shortage.

This included extra hand washing with cold water and having to wash dishes by hand for a period of time.

—Aaron Zaltzman

Blue collar workers have high risk of breast cancer

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A recent study by LandMark Canada found women who work in the manufacturing industry are at a high risk of developing breast cancer.

The various chemicals used in these occupations have been proven to increase the risk of obtaining breast cancer.

Bhagi Singh, acting chair of the department of microbiology and immunology at Western, explained the government should give workers more information about the health risks involved with their occupation.

Some women have suffered the consequences of working with such chemicals, and are hoping to receive some compensation.

“There should be consideration for compensation for workplace exposure by the industry and the government, since it was known that chemicals can cause cancer,” Singh said.

The dangers associated with exposure to these chemicals have not yet been completely determined, but the government should be working towards a way to restructure regulations in order to cover these risks, according to Singh.

“People have to demand a better working environment,” Singh stated.

He stressed that with women being increasingly involved in the working class, it is important the issue of chemical exposure be addressed.

—Jaclyn Carbone

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.

Student Saving Tip: Use the coupons inside your Westernizer Going out for the night and want to use your coupons?

Just tear some out and slip them in your bus pass.

You’ll have them handy when you’re on the go!

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thegazette • Wednesday, November 21, 2012

18,000 children in need Salvation Army reports record-high demand

Queen’s faculty criticize administration’s choice Alex Carmona News Editor

Andrei Calinescu GAZETTE

Lily Robinson Gazette Staff As we approach the season of giving, the Salvation Army, a primary provider for those in need within the community, has projected a record high demand for its services.

“We have seen about a 25 per cent increase in the need for our services this year. We anticipate providing Christmas hampers for more than 6,000 households in London,” Perron Goodyear, public relations and developmental representative for the local Salvation Army, said.

The Christmas hamper program provides essential components of a Christmas dinner, as well as a bag of toys for children 12 and under. In the face of increased need, Londoners are encouraged to lend a helping hand and answer

the pleas of charitable organizations, like the Salvation Army.

“We would ask those that are able, to dig deep this year and assist in any way they can. When the need is as great as it is, every donation helps. No donation is too small,” Goodyear said.

London functions as a community to support its less fortunate members, and the same can be said for Western’s own community.

By way of the University Students’ Council Food Support Services, students can participate in and benefit from a collective effort to distribute food to peers in need.

“When we look at food support, you can’t discuss it in isolation of accessibility to education, in general, and tuition costs. Because this is a very specific segment of the population, we are able to see that students are specifically affected

by [the need for food support],” Myuri Komaragiri, vice-president campus issues, said.

USC Food Support Services functions as a food hamper distribution system. Students who make a request for assistance can retrieve the donation anonymously through locker pick-up, or in person, which presents them with the opportunity to talk about their circumstances.

“Food assistance is usually interconnected with a lot of other issues that they might be facing, so if they need further resources, volunteers can refer them in the right direction,” Komaragiri said.

Donations to the Salvation Army can be made at various locations throughout the city, online at salvationarmy.ca or by texting HOPE ‘4004’ to 45678 to make a $5 donation.

When Queen’s professor Michael Mason was recalled from retirement to teach his old course on post-colonial history, no one expected his resurrected teaching post to end with an indefinite suspension from the university. But after Queen’s administration received a complaint about his use of offensive racial, sexist and ethnic slurs during his lectures, that’s exactly what happened.

Yet the comments, in which groups of people were referred to as “towelheads,” “ragheads” and “japs,” were direct quotes from documents relevant to imperialism and neo-colonialism at the time of World War II—namely, the subject of the course.

Mason also offended one of his teaching assistants by wishing that his students become “mistresses”—though, in that case, he was saying his students should become “masters and mistresses” of the material by the end of the term.

After a hasty disciplinary hearing, in which a recent report by the Canadian Association of University Teachers alleged Mason was denied basic rights outlined in the Queen’s University Faculty Association’s Collective Agreement, his class was cancelled and Mason went on “indefinite medical leave,” ending his 40-year teaching career.

But while the Queen’s administration has refused to admit to any kind of wrongdoing, over 150 Queen’s faculty, students and alumni have expressed support for the professor in an open letter expressing their own apology.

“Although the [CAUT] Report recommends remedies, including

a public letter of apology, Queen’s Administration has flatly refused to respond publicly to this report, citing jurisdictional technicalities,” the letter stated.

The letter’s signatories stressed the actions of the administration do not reflect the academic attitude of the university as an institution.

“In these actions, Queen’s Administration exposes the University and the Department of History to public and professional censure.

It also clearly demonstrates that it cannot and does not represent Queen’s […]. As Queen’s University, authorizing ourselves as per article 14.6 of the Collective Agreement, WE apologize to you, Professor Mason,” the letter concluded.

Paul Young, president of the Queen’s University Faculty Association, agreed with the overall sentiment of the letter.

“I was disappointed when I heard about what happened to professor Mason. This needn’t have happened,” he said.

Peter Campbell, a history professor at Queen’s, was inflamed by the administration’s actions.

“I have watched, over the course of the last number of years, as Queen’s University has gradually abandoned its role as an educational institution that fosters debate and dissent, and has become increasingly obsessed with protecting its image,” Campbell said. “There is now little place at Queen’s for professors who have unorthodox teaching methods, who do not meet the A-standard on student teaching evaluations or who challenge the prevailing orthodoxy,” he said.

“The hypocrisy is astonishing.”

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thegazette • Wednesday, November 21, 2012

Arts&Life Western student discusses blood supply and demand Sumedha Arya Arts & Life Editor Two years ago, Western student Steven Gameiro underwent over 30 hours of cardiovascular surgery. Gameiro, a fourth-year student pursuing a double major in medical sciences and biology, was forced to withdraw from the 201011 school year because of an aortic aneurysm.

“My whole aorta, from the root of the heart down to the iliac artery by my leg, was all coming apart,” Gameiro explains.

Gameiro was born with a genetic connective tissue mutation that caused him to develop weakness in his aorta. His father died at age 23 from the same condition— Gameiro was regularly screened for the mutation and was diagnosed in May 2010. In October of the same year, Gameiro’s aneurysm manifested itself.

“One day, in October, I wasn’t feeling well. I knew I had a problem so I went to [University Hospital]. They had me come in and did some tests, and I had to undergo emergency cardioavascular surgery,” Gameiro recalls of the experience. “They fixed the top half, from my heart halfway down to my aorta. They put a synthetic graft in.”

The surgery was not without complications. Gameiro suffered from reperfusion injury—most of the muscle in his calf died, and he was in a wheelchair for many months. His second surgery had to be postponed to allow him time to recover.

During this time, Gameiro re-

ceived over 70 bags of blood and blood products.

“If it wasn’t for that blood, I wouldn’t be here today,” he states.

Upon returning to Western, Gameiro wanted to encourage students to donate blood regularly. Acknowledging he could not donate blood himself, he decided to share his story with others—including personnel at Canadian Blood Services—to help recruit blood donors.

I didn’t appreciate how important giving blood is until I needed it. A lot of students think it’s for the older generation, or people needing cancer therapy.

—Steven Gameiro

Fourth-year Western student

Gameiro’s decision to share his story was influenced by his opinion that students may have an immortal complex, unable to appreciate the need for blood until they are on the receiving end.

“I myself didn’t appreciate how important giving blood is until I needed it,” he admits. “A lot of students think it’s for the older generation, or people needing cancer therapy.”

Kristen Ungar, a community development coordinator with Canadian Blood Services, recruits donors and plans clinics on cam-

pus. Ungar decides how large these clinics will be and when they will take place.

Despite Gameiro’s thoughts that students may underestimate the need for blood, Ungar says she is pleased with the response blood clinics on campus have received.

However, Ungar hopes students will continue donating blood during the upcoming exam season.

“Around exam time, people have other priorities,” Ungar says.

“Our clinics will slow down a little around that time. While students may have other things going on, hospital patients still need blood.”

Ungar also remarks blood supply does not meet blood demand around the holiday season, as longer weekends lead to more car accidents and regular donors are away on vacation.

For Gameiro, who will be graduating from Western this year, this fragile supply-demand balance reflects blood is not something to be taken for granted. Gameiro says he now appreciates his own life more.

“After going through this, everything else seems like a breeze,” Gameiro says. “ If you have life, everything else is irrelevant.”

By surrounding himself with individuals who have gone through similar experiences to him, Gameiro maintains a positive outlook on life. He divulges that his dream job is to become a cardiothoracic surgeon, conjecturing he could relate to his patients. In the meantime, Gameiro plans on completing his degree while being trained by Canada Blood Services in order to share his story.

word of the day Desultory Adjective. Lacking in consistency, constancy or visible order; disconnected.

Artist inspired by local historical house Jared MacAdam Contributor Angela Lorenzen brings her unique, high-realism, acrylic style to The Art Exchange in London.

Lorenzen, a trained biologist, exemplifies attention to detail and accurate representation throughout her works. Lorenzen’s works deal with Canadian landscapes, animals and life drawings.

In her exhibit, Lorenzen attempts not only to capture Eldon House, London’s oldest residence, built in 1834, but to also humanize the experience. Eldon House is an interesting historical experience, filled with interesting antiques and architecture. However, Lorenzen’s perspective on Eldon House changed after stumbling upon The Eldon House Diaries: Five Women’s Views of the 19th Century.

“After reading the book and revisiting the estate, my impression of Eldon House and its previous occupants became intensely personal, and I am hoping that this impression will come across in the paintings in this exhibition,” Lorenzen says.

She uses many techniques to draw the viewer into the Eldon House. One such technique is her use of windows.

“Almost all of the paintings include a window, or part of one,” she explains. “This motif provides a visual bridge between inside and out, or in this case, between the living and dead.” Eldon House has become quite personal for the artist.

Eldon House isn’t just famed

for its age, but also for its ghost stories, so much so that tours are themed around them. The piece entitled “Mirror” contains, as the title suggests, a mirror as its subject matter. The mirror itself is streaked, as if not cleaned properly. The artist herself says she half expects to see someone standing in the mirror, and certain viewers state they indeed did see something.

The ordinary becomes the topic of most of the pieces, as is the case in “Yellow,” which depicts simply a yellow kettle on a stove. Lorenzen comments she has always felt an attachment to this simple, seemingly insignificant kettle. Lorenzen’s eye for detail brings to life the simplest of forms and creates a beautiful reproduction of them with surgical precision.

“Wash Stand” is another example of this, as something as casual as a washing area becomes the centre of artistic expression.

Her paintings are not only realistic, but they also tell a story of the past. They invite the viewer not only to observe the beauty of her work, but to understand them.

The overall result of Lorenzen’s work is a rather humanistic approach to art and history, blending the two with the consideration and concentration of a scientist.

Angela Lorenzen’s exhibition will run until December 1 at The Art Exchange, located at 247 Wortley Road.

Editor’s Picks > The essentials for your week

ON TV

ON DVD

IN THEATRES

ON DISC

ON THE CHARTS

Sister Wives

The Expendables 2

Silver Linings Playbook

Unapologetic —Rihanna

“Youngblood” —3OH!3

Everyone’s favourite family of polygamists (really how many are there, though?) has returned. The first episode of the season centres on one wife whose bad credit might jeopardize bringing the family back together in a compound-like housing structure. This tension within the family is just the beginning of what is to be a season full of drama that follows children not wanting to be polygamists and Meri’s baby troubles. Tune in to TLC Sundays to watch all the juicy details unfold.

Filled with all the action stars you could name if you were in fifth grade and playing “concentration” with a friend, The Expendables 2 will give you enough action for a long time.

This summer blockbuster picks up where the original left off, with the group sent into a seemingly simple mission that later becomes a quest for revenge after one of their own is murdered. This testosterone-filled film is one of the better action films out there and will surely make for an enjoyable viewing.

Rihanna might not be apologizing on this new album, but surprisingly the one who should—Chris Brown— is featured on the track “Nobody’s Business.” Despite this odd choice, the album reportedly takes a sober note as Rihanna thrusts her personal life into the lyrics. She also experiments more with ballads, moving away from the dance hits that made her famous. While the album goes dark, it’s likely that Unapologetic will shoot to the top of the charts.

3OH!3 might not be a household name, but if you’ve ever danced at a club, chances are you’ve heard some of their songs. Some critics of their previous album, Streets of Gold, noted an unfocused energy and that the majority of the songs were merely full of cheap thrill beats. “Youngblood,” however, seems to show 3OH!3 has matured quite a bit with crisp synthesized beats along with a catchy chorus. If “Youngblood” comes on in the club, don’t be surprised to find the crowd going crazy.

At the Toronto International Film Festival, the people spoke and awarded this film its highest honour. Centred on Pat (Bradley Cooper)—a man who has seemingly lost everything and moves back in with his parents—who eventually finds someone intriguing, Tiffany (Jennifer Lawrence). The very capable director, David O. Russell, allows his actors deliver solid performances. Expect this film to be excellent and a hot topic around awards time.

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thegazette • Wednesday, November 21, 2012

Final Twilight film drives the stake in Breaking Dawn leaves audiences without much to sink teeth into Ross Hamilton Gazette Staff GGFFF The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn - Part 2 Director: Bill Condon Starring: Kristen Stewart, Robert Pattinson, Taylor Lautner, Michael Sheen, Billy Burke, Dakota Fanning The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn - Part 2 is the best of the Twilight movies, though one suspects this doesn’t really matter. After four previous installments based on Stephanie Meyer’s romantic fantasy novels, there can’t be many people left on the fence about the series. As expected, there’s nothing in this final episode that will convert the series’ naysayers—however, the fans that have stuck it out to the bitter end will at least be satisfied to see the franchise depart on a relative high.

Picking up briskly from where the first installment left off, Breaking Dawn - Part 2 finds Bella (Kristen Stewart) finally transformed into a vampire after her near-fatal pregnancy, a change that grants her with all manner of supernatural powers, save the ability to look anything other than mildly discomfited. Bella quickly finds her half-human, half-vampire daughter, Renesmee, the recipient of some unwanted attention from the Volturi—a sort of vampire Mafia

that believes the child is a threat to their very existence. This naturally leads to an almighty standoff between the forces of good and evil.

What begins as a relatively straightforward scenario quickly becomes confused. With the cast roughly tripling in size as Bella, her now husband Edward (Robert Pattinson) and their lycanthropic babysitter Jacob (Taylor Lautner) attempt to recruit fellow vampires from around the world to their cause. Allies arrive from far and wide, but none of them prove to be particularly interesting, nor are they given opportunity to develop.

New vampires are discarded almost as soon as they’re introduced, and it’s impossible to invest in any of them as a result.

These issues are compounded by the recurrence of many of the series’ pre-existing problems, such as a wooden dialogue, a contrived plot and painful attempts at humour—although there has at least been a notable improvement in pacing over the leaden Breaking Dawn - Part 1.

Ultimately though, for a film that places such an emphasis on action, Breaking Dawn - Part 2’s greatest undoing is its ungainly special effects, which have plagued the series since its inception. Despite an increasingly immense budget alottments, the Twilight films have never quite managed to shake their aesthetic shoddiness, and Breaking Dawn - Part 2 has more bizarre vampire running and

file photo

THE PREGNANT GLOW? Kristen Stewart finally shows emotion as she becomes one of the bloodsucking undead.

jumping than ever. Indeed, while it must surely hold the record for most decapitations ever in a PG-13 movie, Bella and Edward’s CGI baby ends up being the most disturbing aspect of the film.

All of this is not to say Breaking Dawn - Part 2 doesn’t have its moments—it does, and they invariably occur when Michael Sheen is on screen. Flamboyant and theat-

On Disc

GGGGF Lana Del Rey Paradise Universal Music After a very busy year, Lana Del Rey releases Paradise, an extension of

her first studio album, Born to Die. This cinematic diva has experienced success from her hit “Video Games,” a track that allowed Del Rey to sprout wings and launch the accompanying album Born to Die. Del Rey is no stranger to theatrics, as her 10-minute long music video for Paradise’s lead single “Ride” is large to say the least.

The track is a good introduction to what listeners will get from this new EP—a stylistic and glamorous sound. Paradise is chalk full of the soaring violins, sexy undertones and deliciously naughty lyrics Del Rey’s known for—like the first line of “Cola,” for example.

Del Rey is characterized for her tortured vocals and mellow

sound. Her seductive melodies and sensual croons make the perfect recipe for easy listening. While Paradise is a definite step in the right artistic direction, her lyrics, at times, are weak. However, so long as one is okay with another round of songs discussing the unconventional men she falls for in the upside down country she loves, this EP is a tighter and stronger version of Born to Die. Paradise is marked with a more personal touch and is best served with cherry pie and a splash of Pepsi.

—Matthew Walcher

rical, Sheen is by far the best part of the film, although his delightfully unhinged turn as vampiric antagonist Aro further highlights the stilted performances of those around him.

Elsewhere, it’s business as usual—Billy Burke resumes his awkward father role capably, Dakota Fanning looks at people a lot and Lautner takes his shirt off one

last time—all of which contributes to what is a familiar, but admittedly refined, conclusion. The lasting emotion after watching Breaking Dawn - Part 2 may be relief rather than satisfaction. However, the film deserves some recognition for competently closing the curtain on what has been, for better or for worse, one of the most successful film series of all time.

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thegazette • Wednesday, November 21, 2012

Opinions Professor’s forced leave a rash decision Michael Mason, a professor of 40 years—10 of which were spent at Queen’s University—was accused of making sexist and racist remarks while lecturing his history class last year. Mason says he was directly quoting historical documentation. He also said he hoped those taking the class would become “masters and mistresses” of the material.

Two students complained to Queen’s administration, claiming Mason created a hostile and uncomfortable classroom environment. Queen’s administration reacted abruptly, banning the 74-yearold professor from teaching his own class—a decision that left his students upset and disappointed.

Earlier this week, faculty at Queen’s wrote letters in support of Mason to show the actions of administration were not reflective of everyone’s thoughts. It was courageous—even necessary— for the faculty to step up over the university’s head and show their support for Mason. It proves administration’s decision was not a general reflection of the school’s feelings towards Mason, or what he said in class.

The people who complained took the course, presumably, knowing the content of the course, and the professor’s teaching style. While it’s tough to judge the situation without having attended the lecture, it’s clear administration didn’t take the proper steps in dealing with the students’ complaints.

The claim against Mason has been blown out of proportion, especially since only two people expressed concern. The university has coddled these over-sensitive students in attempt to protect their own reputation—however, this unwarranted attention has backfired.

There was not enough ground for Queen’s administration to ban Mason from teaching. Their reaction was not only unjustified, it impeded on Mason’s rights as a professor. Administration’s thoughtless response could very well be due to the professor’s age and inevitable departure from the school. If this was a younger, less experienced professor, administration may have handled the situation differently.

Since the case emerged, former students of Mason’s have been writing letters in support, proving he was a well-liked and respected professor. Queen’s administration not only made an uniformed, rash decision, but they ended Mason’s reputable career on an extremely low note.

—The Gazette Editorial Board

thegazette

Volume 106, Issue 44 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

The Gazette is owned and published by the University Students’ Council.

I never believed in Santa Claus because I knew no white dude would come into my neighborhood after dark.

—Dick Gregory, American comedian

There’s a time and place for lying—holidays Camopticon

Cam Parkes Managing Editor

If you’re reading this with your young child, or perhaps someone a little too sheltered, be warned—this way holds nothing but sorrow for those still shrouded by the deceitful blindfold of joy.

Recently, a man was arrested for running around a Santa Claus Parade, drunkenly shouting for all to hear that jolly old Saint Nick is not, in fact, real.

One can imagine swarms of crestfallen children disbelievingly turning to their parents and demanding they say it isn’t true, the man was lying—and suddenly, parents face a dilemma. A common one, yes, but still one that— for me, at least—would be somewhat uncomfortable.

Is it ever okay to lie to your kids?

Now, I’m not a parent. And generally speaking, I don’t approve of lying to anyone, not only kids. But when it comes to Santa, the Easter Bunny or any other (allegedly) non-real childhood icon, lie. Lie through your teeth, lie right to their chubby, naïve little faces.

My parents supported the whole Santa façade for three children. And you know what? I’m glad they did.

When I found out, I was upset, sure, but not at the fact they lied. More so because, in one fell swoop, I learned that not only did Saint Nick not exist, neither did the Easter Bunny or Tooth Fairy.

I didn’t even find out in the typical way—hearing noises and muffled curses downstairs around midnight, and tip-toeing your way down, only to see your parents clumsily trying to put out gifts without turning on the

lights—no, mine was different.

As my annual tradition, I had mailed my handwritten letter to the North Pole, HOH OHO, and received a response a few weeks later. While examining the letter, I nonchalantly commented, “What if Santa isn’t real, and the mailman is just an artist?”

From what I can recall, this was referring to the picture of Santa’s Workshop included in the letter.

That night, I was taken aside by my mother and gently informed I had been living a lie. I took it pretty bravely— I certainly didn’t cry later when I was alone in my room, using the pillow to muffle my miserable wails—and after the shock and sadness wore off, I was faced with a new emotion—power.

See, I have a younger brother and sister. They still believed, and I wasn’t going to spoil the fun for them. So, in a way, I felt more grown up, as I lorded this knowledge over them—without them being aware, of course.

I remember one occasion in particular. I unwrapped my gift from ‘Santa’ to find Star Wars: Return of the Jedi for the Super Nintendo. I was ecstatic, and, as the whole family was present, offered up fervent thanks to the jolly man in red.

Later, when the siblings had left the room, I made a big show of sneakily hugging my mom and thanking her for the game—because, you see, I knew the truth.

Obviously lying isn’t a good thing, but on occasions like this, I think it’s warranted. I can’t speak for everyone, but I know for my siblings and I there was no damage done, no lasting resentment towards our parents—only good memories we could all laugh about later.

I mean, have you ever thought about the whole Santa premise? It’s ridiculous.

When I have kids, I’m going to lie to them. At least for a while.

#win Kelvin Doe, a 15-year-old teenager from Sierra Leone, has managed to capture the interest of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology’s Visiting Practitioner’s Program for international development.

Doe, who does not have any formal training in engineering, has managed to power his family’s home with a battery he built out of trash, and DJs using an RF transmitter he also built on his own.

DJ Focus [Doe] is the youngest person ever admitted to the program.

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.

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#fail Police arrested a Kingston man after he showed up to the Santa Claus parade and drunkenly told children Santa wasn’t real.

The man, who was one for dramatics, had his hair gelled into the shape of horns for full effect.

Rumour has it the man has been officially put on Mr. Claus’ naughty list, and will be receiving a chunk of coal in his stocking as punishment for spreading his awful lies.

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

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• Please recycle this newspaper •

•7

thegazette • Wednesday, November 21, 2012

Sports

saywhat?

“It’s everything I could’ve ever wished for. It feels great just to be out there.”

>> Quarterback Colin Kaepernick on his start for the 49ers

Rundown >> Daniel Abraham of the water polo team and Natasha Panahi of the women’s hockey team were named Mustang Goodlife Fitness Athletes of the Week > Abraham scored four goals in the OUA bronze medal game and Panahi scored two goals for Western in Sunday’s win over Windsor.

Mustangs beat the clock in OT win versus Brock Clarke’s late goal elevates Western over Badgers at home Alison Knight Contributor The Mustangs men’s hockey team showed that seven straight wins don’t come easy, as they snuck by with a 5–4 overtime win against the Brock Badgers at Thompson Arena Saturday night. In the teams’ first face-off against each other this season, tensions ran high as the Badgers attempted to fight their way out from the bottom of the Ontario University Athletics West Division.

Coming out strong in the first period, the Mustangs dominated with tape-to-tape passes and calculated plays, capitalizing on opportunities to score three unanswered goals.

With two Brock players in the box, Matt Clarke ripped a point shot that was skillfully tipped in by Zach Harnden for the first Mustang goal of the game. With two minutes left in the period, a backhand from Kyle DeCoste put a second past Badgers goalie Kody Blois. Between the posts of the home team goal, Josh Unice stood solid with a first period shutout.

After the intermission, the Mustangs’ Matt Paltridge charged back with one more goal before Brock rallied for a recovery.

“I think we were just playing our game in the first period, and then got three goals and kind of settled down. After that, we got a little cocky,” Matt Marantz, Mustangs forward, admitted.

Brock largely controlled the second and third periods with four unanswered goals to overthrow Western’s initial three-goal lead.

“I feel like we took our foot off the gas a little bit when we were up three nothing. We got a little overconfident and they just picked up their game a little bit,”

Mustangs head coach Pat Powers commented.

The home team’s strong defensive play dwindled in the second period, allowing a sloppy first goal to Badgers all-star Matt Abercrombie. Just two minutes later, he scored a second to put the Badgers right back in the game. Despite being a weaker period defensively, Unice showed up to stop two second period breakaways by Brock’s Josh Schram and Thomas Stajan.

“They threw so much at us when they started taking the play to us,” Powers said. “They had four or five guys deep in the zone and we just weren’t prepared to battle.”

Still down 3–2, the Badgers threw everything they had at the third period, and with their renewed momentum, scored two more goals to take the lead. Both teams showed strong physical play and left some pucks dangerously close to the goal line to make for an exciting third period. Fans grew anxious as Unice was pulled with 1:30 left in the game, giving the purple and white a man advantage in hopes of a happy ending.

“We managed to claw our way back into it, so the last 30 minutes of the game I thought was played even-up between the two teams, and it could have gone either way,” Badgers head coach Murray Nystrom said.

With just 11 seconds left, it went the way of the home team, as DeCoste’s point shot was put away by Clarke for the tying goal to force overtime. Halfway through the five minutes of extra play, Clarke banged home the game winner for a Mustangs victory.

“Good teams find a way to win.

We kind of blew it in the third period, but I guess a good team can get it done in overtime,” Marantz said about the win.

Piotr Angiel GAZETTE

THE PUCK SHOULD BE HERE ANY MINUTE NOW. The Mustangs men’s hockey team narrowly defeated the Brock Badgers in overtime on Saturday night. Matt Clarke scored the OT winner—giving the purple and white their seventh straight win. The Mustangs will try to make it eight in a row when they head over to Guelph on Thursday to challenge the Gryphons.

Brock has now lost three games straight, while the Mustangs continue their seven-game winning streak that started in late October.

“We’ve been having a tough stretch in the last few weeks,” Nystrom acknowledged. “We knew who we were playing, and the quality of Western, and our hope was to limit them to as few opportunities offensively as we could.”

Piotr Angiel Gazette

“We had our opportunities to close the door and seal it off, but we didn’t do that.”

“It feels good, but I think it brings you back to ground a little bit when you go through a game like that,” Powers remarked after the game. “It’s really good to see the guys bounce back, that shows good character. Can you improve on stuff? Absolutely, you can, you

improve on things right until the last game of the season, whenever that may be.”

The Mustangs now sit comfortably in third place with a 9–3–0 record, matching Lakehead with 18 points in a closely competitive West division. Brock remains at the bottom with just 10 points.

Mike Laine Gazette

8•

thegazette • Wednesday, November 21, 2012

The Good

The Ugly

The Toronto Argonauts will have an opportunity to play for the Grey Cup at home this Saturday. The Argos have not won the Grey Cup in Toronto since 1952.

The showdown, which is the 100th anniversary of the Grey Cup, will take place at Toronto’s Rogers Centre with the Argos facing off against the Calgary Stampeders. The Argos qualified for the finals with a 27–20 come-from-behind victory over the Montreal Alouettes on Sunday, thanks in no small part to the grit and determination of quarterback Ricky Ray. Calgary, meanwhile, fought its way to the Grey Cup with a gritty 34–29 win against the B.C. Lions in Vancouver. Though the Stampeders will be entering hostile territory in Toronto, the win over B.C. shows they can play quality football under pressure on the road.

Despite a halftime show led by Justin Bieber and Marianas Trench, this year’s Grey Cup has all the makings of a memorable final. Even some high-profile politicians have made their stance public—Prime Minister Stephen Harper has declared his support for the Stampeders, while Toronto mayor Rob Ford and Calgary mayor Naheed Nenshi have entered a bet in which the losing mayor must donate his weight to charity.

Things are not looking up for the Cleveland Cavaliers.

After a 103–95 loss at home to the Dallas Mavericks, Cleveland is now 2–8 on the season. Even worse, point guard Kyrie Irving was injured in the contest with a hairline fracture to his finger and is expected to be out for four weeks. With the loss, the Cavaliers have extended their losing streak to six games, and the future is not looking bright.

Irving, the first overall pick of the 2011 draft, leads the Cavaliers in both points per game, with 22.9, and assists per game, with 5.6. His points per game total is good for sixth in the NBA. The Cavaliers are also missing forward Luke Harangody, who will require knee surgery, and guard Daniel Gibson with an elbow injury.

The dismal record suggests Cleveland has nowhere to go but up. Unfortunately, the slew of injuries and some disappointing play suggest the Cavaliers may be only just beginning their descent in the Eastern Conference. They currently sit at 13th, ahead of only the lowly Washington Wizards and Detroit Pistons. file photo

The Bad

file photo

The perennial bottom-dwellers of the NBA are at it again.

The Washington Wizards remain the only winless team in the league.

Injuries have not been kind to this Wizards squad. With star John Wall and Nene Hilario out for the time being, Trevor Ariza and Emeka Okafor have been left to carry the team—a task that Ariza and Okafor are definitely not suited for.

In a division with the defending champions, the Miami Heat, and always exciting Atlanta Hawks, nobody was expecting the Wizards to win their division. But really, the Wizards should at least be contending with the Dwight Howard-less Orlando Magic and the Charlotte Bobcats.

I suppose that even with a healthy team, the Wizards could only muster an abysmal record of 20–46—but even this was better than the 7–59 Bobcats of 2011–12.

All that can be said is Kudos to the Washington Wizards faithful. Many know what it feels like cheering for a losing team—and it isn’t easy. But once Wall and Nene return, the wins will come. There won’t be many, but they will come.

Gibbons is back The Tables Have Sterned Ryan Stern Sports Editor The news of John Gibbons’ hiring late Monday night definitely had some Jays fans shaking their heads, but haven’t the Jays had enough flash in the last week?

When John Gibbons left, many Jays fans said good riddance, and, at the time, it seemed like it was for good reason. Near the end of his first tenure, Jays fans felt Gibbons was underperforming, and with the sting of his tussles with Shea Hillenbrand and Ted Lilly fresh in the minds of fans and management, the decision was warranted.

Just because he may have worn out his welcome with former general manager J.P. Riccardi and the Jays of the past, doesn’t mean he is the wrong choice to lead the Jays into a new era of optimism.

Plain and simple, Gibbons is everything John Farrell was not.

Anthopoulos went out to hire a manager that can be a good communicator with himself, and with the players.

Though he may have had his confrontations in his last tenure as Jays skipper, he did end up working through the Ted Lilly incident, and Shea Hillenbrand’s future after the Jays showed it was him, and not Gibbons, who was at fault. Having

worked with Gibbons previously as assistant general manager, Anthopoulos is a believer in Gibbons’ ability to control the clubhouse and have a healthy relationship with the players—something Farrell was unable to do last year.

With these factors in mind, the bottom line is Gibbons wants to be here. Over the last year, people around the MLB believed Farrell might be happier in Boston than Toronto. Gibbons squashed any of those rumours when he unequivocally said managing in the minors in Texas was his dream job, and he “left that for here, so that should tell you something.”

With all of these intangibles in mind, let’s not forget Gibbons is not a poor in-game tactician. Farrell’s Achilles heel was always his bullpen management, and his ability to properly use platoons. In Gibbons’ three full seasons as Jays manager— he also began and ended in the middle of seasons—he finished two of them over .500 and though he may have soured to Jays fans at the time, he was never known as a poor tactical manager.

In the end, the manager can only affect so much. The players on the field need to both stay healthy and perform for a manager to even have the opportunity to be successful.

The old adage goes that you don’t go to the ballpark to watch the manager manage, and this choice by Anthopoulos displays his belief in that.

Jays fans may be puzzled right now, but Gibbons’ second crack at Toronto shouldn’t stymie any excitement that this week has built.

file photo

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