The Loyola News Loyola High School’s Official Student Newspaper Visit us online at news.loyola.ca December 14, 2010 Christmas Season Consumerism Volume VIII, Issue III largely apocryphal, Christmas the hands of callous, capitalistic And the angel answered her, shopping does account for a rela- marketing executives, repeated “The Holy Spirit will come tively large portion of today even by preco- upon you, and the power of the retailers' annual reve- cious young children. Most High will overshadow nues, namely, an aver- you; therefore the child to be At risk of age of 20%. born will be called holy–the appearing arrogant, I Son of God. Luke 1:35 Yes, money can vouch for the does drive the world's overwhelming likeli- economic engine, and hood that such argu- retailers will always ments have been re- Inside this issue: be intent on ensuring peated by generation the presence of par- after generation of ents purchasing gifts to avoid the exasperated parents seeking an Current News 1-3 sight of Dickensian hatred in entity on which they could lay their children's eyes come Christ- blame for their plight. $34.5 bil- mas Day, but the puritanical reac- lion is a surprisingly small Arts and Culture 4-9, By Chris Scarvelis tion of many at the perceived amount of gross national expen- 12-13 blight of consumerism is over- diture on a holiday that many $34.5 billion: the amount of done at best, and fanatical at now associate with unrestrained Christmas Puzzles 10-11 money spent by Canadians in worst. Such people would have consumerism rather than such 2008 while Christmas shopping. you believe the antiquated canard nostalgic concepts as strict piety Sports and Clubs 14-19 While the supposed “fact” that of the transformation of “this or togetherness, most of which retailers begin turning a profit on generation” from wide-eyed are by-products of the Great De- Black Friday (the day after Fun Pages 6-7 cherubim to Fagin's Urchins at American Thanksgiving) is (Continued on page 3) Drama Review: Ransom of Red Chief and Darlin’ Hero Features Remembrance Day 2 By Alex Banks, Editor James Fell 2 Photos by Jim Newman Interview It is one thing to review a classic Christmas 1 play that is so familiar, one could Consumerism almost speak those celebrated and Groovy Movie beloved lines in unison with the 6 Reviews actors responsible to present them. Such was the case last year, with Loyola’s production of “A Christmas Carol”. Critiquing two plays you have never heard of in the same review, is something entirely different and certainly more challenging. However, it is all that much more enjoyable to be presented with a fresh work where the audience composed mainly of those unfamiliar with (Continued on page 4) news.loyola.ca Page 2 The Loyola News Volume VIII, Issue III Remembrance Day at Loyola and in Ottawa Loyola welcomed some important Ottawa Trip guests who are currently serving By Antonio De Lauri Canada in the military: Capt. Farn- ham and Sargent Jonathan Jacobs. Also, on November 11, six sec- ondary IV Loyola students were Capt Farnham (pictured chosen to represent their class at right, on top) joined the Black on a field trip to Ottawa for the Watch in 2004 and served as Pla- Remembrance Day ceremonies. toon Commander from 2005-2006. They were accompanied by He instructed on courses at Cana- Mme Nadeau and were also dian Forces Base in Gagetown, joined by several other students New Brusnwick and C.F.B. Farn- from LCC, Selwyn House, ECS, ham in Quebec. He deployed to The Study, QAA, Trafalgar and Afghanistan in 2007 as the Liaison Sacred Heart. It was a great The Remembrance Day service at Officer to the Provincial Recon- opportunity which allowed them struction Team at the Kandahar Loyola in recent years has been a to participate in such an impor- Air Field Headquarters doing his dignified, respectful, and solemn tant event that honours all the pre-deployment training in Valcar- men and women who served occasion, befitting an educational tier, Quebec; El Paso, Texas; and institution that values the dedication Canada during the war. The Wainwright, Alberta. freedom and the life we are and service of Canadian soldiers over Sargent Jonathan Jacobs privileged to have today, is the years. This year was no excep- (Loyola Class of 2002, pictured at thanks to their courage and de- tion. Organized by Social Studies right) visited classes to discuss his termination. It was a privilege Department Head Ms. Wendy Polver- experience in the military and his the hundreds of veterans who cafeteria for all veterans and ari, and featuring the participation of assignment in Afghanistan where were in attendance to com- army personnel. Thanks to numerous students and musical direc- he will be training Afghani police memorate the fallen soldiers. over 11 schools in Canada recruits. Jacobs was deployed on tor Ms. Marthe Lacasse, the cere- It is thanks to Mr. Paul who fundraised to support his November 29. dream it soon became a real- mony was beautifully choreographed, Kavanagh, a Loyola parent and If you would like to read ity. It is through these charita- educational and at times very mov- founder of Operation Veteran, the script from the Remembrance that this trip was made possible. ble acts of kindness that make ing. Day service, it is available online Through this program, he Canada the unique country we As well, throughout he at news.loyola.ca. wanted to provide a free meal at are proud to be living in to- week leading up to the ceremony, the Canadian War Museum day. LN: How does the food for lunch James Fell is the new manager of the cafeteria get prepared? JF: During the morning, the pizza, takes forever!” But no more! day start and end? hamburgers, and sandwiches are This year, the cafeteria has so far JF: I come in and begin my day all prepared here at Loyola. The undergone changes for the better. at 6 a.m. At that time, we pre- warm meals are all prepared in the With new head of cafeteria, pare the muffins, the Jell-O, big kitchen at college Brébeuf. James Fell (pictured at left), the sandwiches and I fill out paper- They are then distributed to the cafeteria proves to be better than work for the day. schools. ever this year. In a recent inter- LN: What changes do you plan LN: Therefore, you work for view with James, we’ve found on bringing to the cafeteria? Loyola or Sodexho? out a bit more about how the JF: To start, I plan on changing JF: I work for Sodexho. cafeteria works and its future. up the breakfasts and offering LN: What do you think of the different selections. For exam- student body here at Loyola? Loyola News: How long have ple, we plan on offering waffles JF: I think that the students here you been working in this field? and pancakes to the students. As are really great. I’ve heard stories Where have you worked while in well, we’re thinking of bringing that students from other schools this field? an espresso machine to the teach- can be nightmares, but the students James Fell: I’ve been working in ers and possibly the Sec. 5 stu- are great here. I truly enjoy work- this field for 25 years now. dents too. At holidays, we’ll put ing here. Throughout my time working, I By Alexander Venditti up decorations like we did at The Loyola News thanks have worked in restaurants such Mr. James Fell for his time in an- The cafeteria throughout the Halloween. So far, we already as Wendy’s, Mr. Sub, and Dom- swering our questions and we can’t years has been constantly ribbed have a small tree up in the cafete- ino’s. wait to see and taste what the fu- on. “The food is terrible.” “It ria. LN: When does your average ture holds. The Loyola News Volume VIII, Issue III Page 3 Christmas Consumerism, continued from Page 1 (Continued from page 1) to control one's emotions, no mat- a society did in fact exist, would ter the quantity of marketing force their lifestyle be affected? Perhaps pression. Contrary to the asser- -fed to children through televi- their children would not be quite as tions of the Yuletide jeremiads sion. One might even suggest that stoic as their parents, but in that that are regularly peppered those who tilt at the windmills of case, their argument devolves into throughout newspapers, I have yet consumerism are themselves fal- a matter of poor parenting, an ex- to notice a decline in the popular- ling victim to the persuasion of clusive responsibility of the par- ity of the Christmas dinner, and the media that conjure up quixotic ents themselves. Personal responsi- nor have I seen a child throw a ideals that never truly existed. bility, not social engineering, is the tantrum in response to an un- key to avoiding the plague of con- The cancerous society wanted gift. sumerism. that they prophesize will most Children will always be likely remain a product of their children, and one of the trade- overactive imaginations, but if marks of childhood is the inability one assumed, arguendo , that such Veni, Vidi, Vici (The Douglas Creek Estates) By Chris Scarvelis Several injunctions inactive. In fact, their explicit detriment of all parties involved. It were issued in an attempt to force orders were to only engage the is irrelevant to invoke former own- Who would have thought that the the would-be squatters off the protesters in event of dire medi- ership of land in a property rights First Nations would have come land, but an attempt by the OPP cal emergencies among their debate, and even more so for a this far? Over the course of four to force the Natives off what victims.