THE The tie that hinds CORD Wilfrid Laurier University since 1926 Volume 51, Issue 1 Wednesday, May 19, 2010 thecord.ca Cuts avoided Laurier receives unanticipated government funds MIKE LAKUSIAK CAMPUS NEWS EDITOR The provincial budget provided unexpected relief for WilfridLau- rier University as the injection of over $300 million into Ontario's post-secondary system allowed cuts previously anticipated in all areas ofthe university to be avoided. Prior to the announcement in the budget, Laurier would have seen cuts of 1.5 per cent this year and six per cent the following year across all university operations. These cuts were deemed nec- essary as major issues emerged NICK LACHANCE VISUAL EDITOR with the university's pension plan Hours after the April 22 fire that destroyed six business including Mel's Diner, firefighters survey the damage of the Campus Court Plaza. and projected government funding came in to question. "This year, as in previous years, they took us completely by sur- prise," saidLaurier president Max New allegations behind blaze Blouw of the province's decision. "We were planning with all due blaze under an acceptable level of fire started and where the fire start- investigation is "pending the out- diligence for those cuts and then PAULA MILLAR control. ed in the complex," he said. come of the information that we completely unexpectedly, the dol- LOCAL AND NATIONAL EDITOR While neighbouring business At the same time, despite spec- have so far, and depending on what lars came in." owners have alleged that the fire ulation ofcriminal activity, Olaf comes to us through the Fire Mar- Departments had already taken At 5:30 a.m. on April 22, a rapidly started in the DJ booth at Tabu, nei- Heinzel, Public Affairs Coordina- shal." Heinzel urged anyone with measures in reaction to the cuts, developing fire engulfed a number ther Waterloo's fire nor police de- tor for the Waterloo Regional Police, information to contact the local which had been expected for near- of adjoining businesses in Campus partments will corroborate this explained that the police must also authorities. ly a year. Court Plaza - located at 140 Univer- charge. awaitword from the Ontario Fire However, for the owners and According to Blouw, areas ofthe sityAvenue West. Percy explained that this is due to Marshal before commencing any those employed by the already-dev- school including the faculty of sci- According to JohnPercy, public the fact that part ofthe Ontario Fire sort of investigation. astated businesses, such a success ence had "already been on a path education officer for Waterloo Fire Marshal's investigation remains in- While acknowledging thatthe po- offered little-to-no solace. to readjust in the ways they deliver Rescue, it took the responding units complete. It "is still part of our in- lice are currently involved, Heinzel some of their education in antici- approximately two hours to get the vestigation to determine how the remarked that the direction ofthe Local, page 6 pation ofcuts," he explained. "Not needing to make the cuts, what they can now do is achieve some other objectives that they have." Along with the increased pro- Student runs for city councillor vincial funding the budget in- troduced a wage freeze for non- Laurier student Erin Epp has declared her candidacy for the unionized workers, affecting about 20 per cent ofLaurier employees. October municipal election; the third-year is running in Ward 7 "Most of our budget is wages and salaries," explained vice-pres- participation," Epp explained that environmental sustainability, com- ident offinance Jim Butler. PAULA MILLAR her campaign will focus on "bring- munity engagement, ensuring a liv- "So in our originalbudget we LOCAL AND NATIONAL EDITOR ing forward the ideas ofWaterloo's able and accessible community for had escalation estimates in there citizens." all residents and the promotion of that we had to revise because of On May 17, Wilfrid Laurier Univer- Continuing this theme, the eve- Uptown Waterloo's local businesses the freeze." sity student Erin Epp announced her ning featured an interactive group as areas she plans to address. "It's a significant savings," bid for Waterloo city council. session in which the audience was At the same time, however, Epp Blouw said ofthe effect ofthe The declaration made Epp, a asked to envision their ideal Water- promised that a concrete platform wagefreeze. third-year political science student, loo 15 years into the future. will only be decided after much in- "We have the opportunity to pay the first official candidate for Up- Such visioning sessions will be put from area residents. into the pension or what have you, town Ward 7 and the youngest to a weekly staple throughout Epp's Although a university student, we can redirect those dollars, and enter the municipal race to date. campaign. It is through these fo- first and foremost Epp considers there's no end of need." At her Monday evening launch rums, she explained, and the in- herself a member ofthe Waterloo Despite provincial intervention event, Epp gave a taste ofwhat is put of community members, that community and believes that stu- that has allowed Laurier to balance to be expected as she hits the cam- she will determine and finalize her dents entering local politics need to its budget, the university is by no paign trail for the pending fall platform. have a strong grasp ofbroader com- means nearing complete financial NICK LACHANCE VISUAL EDITOR election. Nonetheless, Epp noted a few of munity issues. stability. Epp at her campaign launch Based on the premise of the key issues she hopes to bring to event on Monday evening. "community, consultation and the city's council. Epp highlighted Local, page 6 Campus, page 4 Inside The ultimate summer Stars leave a lasting John Morris: A Cord a impression on Waterloo exclusive interview "We're often consumed in some level of doubt Cord staffreview the band's show The Laurier alumnus and on what ourrole is" at Starlight and their upcoming curling gold medalist shares his album The Five Ghosts experience ofthe Vancouver 2010 Olympics Peter National pastimes to get you —CBC anchor Mansbridge on through the heat Canada's role in the world Features, page 9 Arts, page 10 Sports, page 15 National, page 8 The Cord » Wednesday, May 19, 2010 2 EDITOR'S PAGE Editor's Choice News 3 Feature 9 Editor's Choice Redefining construction: Campus 4 Arts 10 Understanding Poland Local 6 Opinion 12 Art influx National 7 Sports 14 Arts, page 11 World 8 thecord.ca/world Acting Editor-in-Chief Laura Carlson « icarlson(athecord.ca This Month in quotes Vocal Cord a u - What epitomizes a time-lapse camera in place It's kind of like "We're trying to put the Canadian will film the project as it goes and will be ac- being with your family that summer? cessible on the Internet so you could go on and at Christmas dinner for click - and know when they speed up a flower 28 days in a row." you blooming - so you could actually be able see the —Evan Cranleyfrom Stars describing band tensions in the recording studio thing taking shape." —WLUSUgeneral manager Mike McMahon, on how they will document the Terrace expansion "Travelling around On- « "How old are you?" tario. Even just going —Canadian pop rock singerand songwriterAndy Kim, co-writer ofthe 1968 hit somewhere like Ottawa "Sugar, Sugar", in a phone interview with CordArts Editor Sarah Murphy You'd rather go oops in a is beautiful." —Adrianna Ciccone positive way, rather than "I'm taking everybody on the dean's trip, the infamous dean's trip, this sum- mer as planned." Second-year music the other way." —David McMurray, dean ofstudents, on maintaining a strongrelationship with student groups as he transitions into his new role as VP: student affairs "I was shown this really great book called Mrs. Brooks Loves Books about this —VP: Finance JimButler on making little girl who has to go the library all the time, hates going to the library, conservative estimates when dealing hates books, and doesn't get into reading at all. The librarian was not your with Laurier's pension problems typical librarian, she was a really zany out-there character and she gets kids to fall in love withbooks. It's an amazing story and when I read it I thought, you know, we can do something similar to that in Kitchener-Waterloo." —BronwynAddico, events and marketing co-ordinator ofWords Worth Books on get- ting children to read "Getting in a trip to Canada's Wonderland." —Edward Casey From the archives Dear LIFE Fourth-year business 5 years WLUSU renovates thirdfloor oftheFNCC Dear Life is your opportunity to writea pita. Thanks Pita Shack, these new In the summer of2005 the Wilfrid Laurier University Students' Union un- letter toyour life, allowingyou to vent barriers that prevent us from seeing derwent $600,000 renovations. The intention was that the new space on the your anger with life's littlefrustrations in what goes in our pitas really doesn't thirdfloor ofthe Fred Nichols Campus Centre wouldbe more accessible to a completely publicforum. All submis- work in your favour and they are students, as it wouldbe clear where all the different WLUSU services were sions to DearLife are anonymous, should probably why so many people are located. The new design featured improved lounge, more study space and be no longer than 100 words and must be complaining. grouped together full-time staff offices. With these renovations two busi- addressed toyour life. Submissions can be Sincerely, nesses - TravelCUTS and Super Dave's barbershop - were removed. sent to [email protected] no later than Crushed Chick Pea Printed May 25,2005 Monday at noon each week.