The Cord WeeklyThe tie that binds since 1926 GETTING THE GRAD(E) HOLIDAY SURVIVAL Looking to apply to grad school? Find How to maintain your Christmas out how in our feature ... PAGES 16-17 spirit next month ... PAGES 19-21 Volume 48 Issue 16 WEDNESDAY NOVEMBER 28,2007 www.cordweekly.com Hawk rock round two The second round of Last Band Standing results in the victory of uncreative Hedley imposters REBECCA VASLUIANU almost like Tool's, Phineas Gage's STAFF WRITER poor vocals and unkempt gui- tar-work made the group sound Another battle between bands left more like radio-rejects Three Days the audience feeling unimpressed, Grace. energized and then just confused. Yet the low of Phineas Gage's Taking place at Wilf's last Thurs- sloppy performance came during day, the second round of Tast Band their second song, when Matthias Standing proved to be an enjoyable and bassist Aaron Schwab attempt- night alternating between great in- ed a vocal harmony at which even genuity and a few lame attempts at the most tone-deaf listener would have cringed. Competing for the title of Tast Despite this harsh critique, Band Standing were Phineas Gage, Phineas Gage showed buds of po- Crown and Coke and Music Box. tential through their interesting Heading up the night, Kitchener intros and solos, which displayed natives Phineas Gage delivered a lot more instrumental depth than an entirely subpar performance the rest of their material and were of depressing alternative rock, free from interference from Matth- which left the audience thoroughly ias's second-rate vocal stylings. unimpressed. Evident by the empty floor, the Ted by the loose and off-key vo- audience was not energized by Lady Hawks fightbreast cancer cals of Tim Matthias, the band de- their lacking performance. Tuckily, livered short spurts of promising the band had an abnormally short brilliance and then fell back into a set of three songs. Women's basketball... PAGE 13 mess ofmediocrity. Shooting for a sombre sound - SEE BATTLE, PAGE 29 Muslim social science discussion Laurier hosts AMSS conference on "Cosmopolitan Islamic Identity and Thought" this past Saturday in the Senate and Board Chambers MARA SILVESTRI recommended by the association Canada." CORD NEWS to bring these very issues to our Most importantly, Dr. Khan community. noted that "a lot of issues were Dr. Shahnaz Khan, an associate Dr. Khan feels she delivered a raised that normally don't get professor at Laurier in the wom- successful conference, as there raised," and that in itself fulfilled en's studies and global studies were 8200 attendees, some mak- the goals she had in mind for this programs, and active member of ing long distance treks from desti- conference. the Association of Muslim Social nations such as England as well as "That's what conference orga- Scientists (AMSS), was a promi- various places across Canada. nizers hope - that there are going nent coordinator in the confer- Dr. Khan noted that this was to be a lot ofquestions raised," she ence held this past weekend at an excellent opportunity for citi- added, and there certainly were, as Laurier entitled "Cosmopolitan zens, students, staff and all of the this conference was well received Islamic Identity and Thought," the professionals who attended to set within the Laurier community. third regional AMSS conference of up networks, as there was such a Dr. Khan is hopeful about orga- another conference, which its type to be held in Canada. wide variety ofattendants. nizing As an association that has been "I think it went really well," said may arrive at some point in the active for over 20 years, AMSS Khan. "It's an important confer- next few years. ence, as I think it's a good venue GREG MCKENZIE seeks to accomplish critical work diverse about ,N occurring with Muslim issues, to get perspectives THE BOX - Laurier band The Music Box failed to win over the judges. PAGE 5 and this regional conference was what life for Muslims is like in SEE CONFERENCE, 2 News WEDNESDAY NOVEMBER 28,2007 ■ THE CORD WEEKLY The Cord Weekly - The tie that binds since 1926 ~ phone: (519) 884-1970 ext. 3564 Contract staffturn fax:(519)883-0873 medieval email: [email protected] The Cord Weekly As Laurier part-timers continue negotiations with the university a unique new campaign is launched 75 University Avenue West Waterloo, Ontario N2L 3C5 MELISSA DRANFIELD WEDNESDAY NOVEMBER 28, 2007 STAFF WRITER VOLUME 48 ISSUE 16 Next Issue: January9 Posters labelled "OUBLIETTE" have been posted around campus QUOTE OF THE WEEK in the past few weeks, and today "Apparently, a year of huffing is like the several part-time Contract Aca- equivalent of20 years of hard drinking." demic Staff (CAS) members will - Photo Manager Greg McKenzle, looking more than a little be the Fred concerned. in Nichol's Campus Centre's Hall ofFame in efforts to WORD OF THE WEEK raise recognition for their "OUBLI- Curmudgeon - a bad-tempered, difficult, cantankerous ETTE" campaign. person, such as an absent Special Projects editor. The campaign is geared towards CONTRIBUTORS making studentsand faculty aware Chris Baluschak Dan Kellar Mara Silvestri Elise Cotter Amelia Lockhart Ryan Stewart of the ongoing negotiations be- Luke Dotto Stephanie McEnery Riley Taylor Melissa Dranfield Cassandra McKenna Nick Taylor-Vaisey tween Contract Academic Staff Toby Elliot Sarah Millar Shelley Therrlen Gillian Farber Evan Millar Wade Thompson representatives and the Shannon Farrell Andrea Millet Geetha Thurairajah (CAS) Matthew Fiorentino Don Morgenson Sarah Topple Heather Gles Yousuf Sajjad Rebecca Vasluianu university. Daniel Joseph Yasaman Nicole Wray Shayangogani The term "OUBLIETTE" was WLUSP STAFF chosen for effect; its origins are in Copy Editing Manager Caitlin Henderson the fourteenth century when pris- Copy Editors Ariel Kroon be placed in a Meredith Barrett oners would medi- Heather Olaveson eval prison called an oubliette and Emily Slofstra Kendra Howard simply left there to die, forgotten. Gina MacDonald Miriam Cunningham According to Dr. Herbert Pim- IT Manager Bryan Willey the Distribution Manager Nicole Laouataris lott, a professor in commu- Production Assistant Jillian Wood nications studies department, Wilfrid Laurier University Faculty WLUSP ADMINISTRATION Association (WTUFA) Media Rela- President Keren Gottfried VP: Advertising Angela Foster tions Officer, and CAS Liaison for VP: Brantford Dan Schell the "OUBLIETTE" campaign, "the Chair of the Board Colin LeFevre Vice Chair Rafiq Andani concern for the part-timers, the Board of Directors Ryan Clubb Rachel Crawford CAS members, is that they're not being given adequate support in ADVERTISING terms of infrastructure and work- conditions to be able to do the All advertising inquiriesshould be directed to ing VP: Advertising Angela Foster at job to the best of their abilities." 884-0710, ext. 3560 or [email protected] "WTiat happens is it becomes like the "oubliette," the medieval COLOPHON prison, wherepeople are forgotten The Cord Weekly Is the official student newspaper of ... and [CAS members] feel that the Wilfrid Laurier Universitycommunity. the university relies on them on Started in 1926 as the College Cord, The Cord Weekly is an one hand, but wants to forget that editorially independent newspaper published by Wilfrid Laurier University Student Publications, Waterloo, a they're there, that they play such corporation without share capital. WLUSP is governed by its board of directors. an important role in the univer- CSIICTt burieiTffiM sity," Pimlott stated. wluiav Pimlott feels that the issues fac- {Jmgfl^puWicadons ing part-time faculty should be a Opinions expressed within The Cord are thoseof the author and primary concern for full-time fac- do not necessarily reflect thoseof the Editorial Board, The Cord, WLUSP, WLU or CanWeb Printing Inc. ulty and students, as well as CAS All content appearing in The Cord bears the copyright expressly members. of their creators) and may not be used without written consent. For full-time faculty members, The Cord is created using Macintosh computers running OS X.2 using Adobe Creative Suite 2 (InDesign, Photoshop, Acrobat, Pimlott argues, "the additional Distiller and Illustrator). Canon Rebel XT 8.0 megapixel digital cameras are used forprincipal photography. administrative service and advis- The Cord Weekly is a proud member of the ing requirements that are put onto Ontario Press Council since 2006. Any unsatisfied complaints can be sent full-time tenure-track faculty" are to the Councilat [email protected]. greater as there are fewer full-time The Cord's circulation for a normal Wednesday issue is 7,000 copies and enjoys a readership of over 10,000. faculty to fill such needs. Cord subscription rates are $20.00 per termfor addresses within warns that Canada. Pimlott universi- not The Cord Weekly is a proud member ties "are investing in hiring of theCanadian University Press (CUP), since 2004. the necessary full-time faculty, tenure-tract faculty, and so what is agency. Campus Plus The Cord's national advertising happens is universities are pro- ducing all these graduates but RYAN STEWART not PART-TIMERS GO FULL OUT - Signs to inform others of ongoing negotiations for part-time staff. Preamble to The Cord Constitution then hiring them back to do contract The Cord will keep faith with its readers by presenting news and the teaching, and when they do expressions of opinions comprehensively, accurately and fairly. hire them, they know that there's hired," states Pimlott. This became apparent when a reason, withoutany due process The Cord believes in a balanced and impartial presentation ofall relevant facts in a news report, and of all substantial opinions in this pool out there and they'll hire "CAS members don't have that none of the part-time faculty ap- and without any rights to appeal. a matterofcontroversy. them and pay themWal-Mart level freedom [to speak out] because proached by The Cord were willing This has a chilling effect on the The staff of The Cord shall uphold all commonly held ethical conventions of journalism.