volume 29, issue 7 • Tuesday, September 30, 2008 • thelinknewspaper.ca my pantsgo concordia’s independentnewspaper

Concordia grad wins big at art competition THUD

The double-cup dilemma: sustainability and Tim Hortons since 1980

Will the cities of the future have sidewalks?

• Fringe Arts page 13 full cool THE POPINVADES MONTREAL C’est • PAGE 14

• Literary Arts page 19

• News page 3 THE LINK • SEPTEMBER 30, 2008 • THELINKNEWSPAPER.CA/NEWS NEWS 03 Bittersweet charity Tim Hortons Controversial calendar causes problems for CEMA petition running • CLARE RASPOPOW out of time The Concordia Entrepreneurship Three-year deadline Management Association found itself at the centre of a shit storm this week after coming to a close the launch of their latest philanthropic venture—a calendar whose proceeds are meant to benefit the Montreal Autism Centre. You may have seen their promotion- al posters around campus last Tuesday. Featuring a sexy co-ed female with the words, “This may be the girl sitting next to you in financial accounting,” the posters and their wooden easels disap- peared the next day as the launch of the calendar was postponed. “It was the logo that we used that caused problems,” explained Christopher Calkins Jr., the CEMA member assigned as project manager Jacqueline Leung hopes to stop the production of the for the calendar. The John Molson non-recyclable coffee cups. PHOTO JONATHAN DEMPSEY School of Business had objected to the use of their logo on the posters as they • JOSE ESPINOZA are in no way associated with the proj- ect. “This is completely a CEMA proj- There are 2,851 Tim Hortons coffee shops operating ect,” Calkins Jr. clarified. across Canada. Only one of these, located in Owen But the delays caused by the logo Sound, Ontario, has a recycling station for the paper mix-up were only the beginning of cups and lids. CEMA’s problems. The future of the cal- Loretta Lau and Jacqueline Leung observed the daily endar was called into question when the CEMA finds themselves in hot water for printing a racy calendar. waste that the chain was producing at their downtown MAC learned of the content of the cal- stores on the corner of University and Sherbrooke three endar this Monday. their services, the centre can’t fundraise maybe publicize the centre a little.” years ago. They started a petition to limit the use of dou- “I’m shocked,” said Erwin Neumark, in a traditional manner—which can Many of the posters mounted in the ble cups on Nov. 15, 2005 and aimed to get 10,000 sig- a member of the board of directors for make things pretty tight financially. school had been defaced or covered natories by their Nov. 13, 2008 deadline. Their cut-off the MAC, of the intended “Concordia “Because we don’t ever turn children with anti-abortion posters in the course date is just over six weeks away and the petition stands Illustrated” theme, an obvious allusion away, we’re constantly in the red,” of the day that they were on display. at 2,249 names—a long way from the required 10,000 to the Sports Illustrated magazine. explained Neumark. “It was never our purpose to offend goal. The last time anyone at the MAC had Though less than happy with the anyone,” defended Calkins Jr., directing “The paper cup is not sustainable,” said Leung. “We heard from CEMA concerning the cal- subject matter of the calendar, mem- his comments not only to the MAC but need to eliminate [it].” endar was in May of this year. bers of the MAC decided not to inter- to the Concordia community-at-large. The paper cup became a central focus of Leung and “I wouldn’t have wanted this,” vene in the publication of the calendar “We realize that not everyone will Lau’s study because Tim Hortons had a policy of dou- Neumark continued. “We were just told as long as CEMA made it clear that the like [the calendar],” he said. “But we bling cups for tea. Apart from the waste generated they were going to raise money.” MAC was in no way responsible for the hope that if you have a problem with through this practice, very few students are aware that The MAC, a non-profit organization, content. what we do, that you’ll come talk to us the paper cup is not recyclable in Quebec. strives to help autistic children inte- “We never wanted to represent an about it.” According to Leung, lack of environmental aware- grate into society through family- image of the Autism Centre,” explained The calendar will launch later ness is a part of a larger problem: lack of sustainability focused intervention. In order to pro- Calkins Jr. “This was just supposed to this week with all proceeds going to education. Change should start with the youth, Leung tect the privacy of the families who use be a fun project to raise money and the MAC. said, more specifically at the university and college level. Double-cupping is common at Tim Hortons. Recyclable paper sleeves are not used because they are too “trendy,” said Greg Skinner, manager of corporate Independent candidate gets the boot communications for Tim Hortons Canada, in an inter- view with Lau and Leung. He said that the corporation • TERRINE FRIDAY Rovins confirms that he tried to campaign inside class- does not have a double-cupping policy and that it is up rooms in the law, science and medicine complexes, but was to the customer to decide if they would like a second cup It was the first time that a Canadian university barred a prevented by campus security. to protect their hands form being burned. candidate in the federal elections from campaigning on-cam- “It is sad [that] a university does not allow free speech,” Currently, Tim Hortons offers a 10-cent discount for pus, says David Rovins, independent candidate for the Rovins said. “One security guard said ‘I agree’.” anyone who wants their coffee in a travel mug. This is Westmount-Ville Marie riding. However Rovins argues he had the legal right to campaign not enough for Leung, who says giving money back to Rovins, a graduate of McGill University, was campaigning on campus. He claims he was “told on the phone by one of the individuals who bring a travel mug is not the right across the McGill campus last week when he was asked to most senior officials at elections Canada that this is not the incentive. leave, he said. He said he was campaigning in McGill’s first time the law has been violated, but it is the first time a The fight for sustainable cups may be a losing battle McIntyre Medical Sciences Building when security got the university has broken the law.” and Jacqueline concedes that she has not achieved the call to usher him out. Rovins made headlines recently when he wrote a letter to goal that this petition had envisioned. She does, howev- McGill’s associate vice-principal, Jim Nicell, said the the Queen of England denouncing the prime minister’s deci- er, admit that although she has not been actively University was justified in asking him Rovins to leave because sion to cancel the federal by-elections. involved, she has done her part to spread the word on he was disruptive and violated protocol by entering campus “Mister [Stephen] Harper is equal to every other citizen sustainability through the petition and her everyday without permission or notifying administration. and does not have the power to destroy people’s right to habits. McGill requires that candidates show proof of registration vote,” Rovins wrote to the monarch, unhappy to see the by- and details of their intentions—steps Nicell claims Rovins elections for the Westmount-Ville Marie riding cancelled. To find out more about the petition, or to sign it, please skipped before campaigning on campus. Rovins is still awaiting a response from the Queen. visit: thepetitionsite.com/takeaction/232854687. “All we’re asking is for people to follow our process,” said Nicell. —with files from Mookie Kideckel, The McGill Daily —with files from Lauryn Kronick THE LINK • SEPTEMBER 30, 2008 • THELINKNEWSPAPER.CA/NEWS NEWS 05 Montreal talks trash Here today, hopefully City unveils high-tech gone tomorrow garbage disposal plan Student-run organization informs Con U of the dangers of drinking bottled water • SARAH TOOTH

Enjoy that bottle of water because it could be your last, if members of Tap Thirst have their way. Affiliate of the Quebec Public Interest Research Group, Tap Thirst, a student-run work group, lobbies against the distri- bution and consumption of bot- tled water. With bases through- Overflowing garbage bins in Montreal are the target for the city’s new action plan. PHOTO ELSA JABRE out downtown Montreal, Concordia and McGill universi- • PALOMA FRIEDMAN sort of thing,” Poulin said. ties, Tap Thirst’s initiative focus- The city touts the system as es on spreading awareness about Vacuum-powered garbage sustainable and safe. Separate the negative affects of buying the bins may soon render traditional openings will sort waste into seemingly harmless beverage. trash cans obsolete in Montreal. recyclables, organic matter and Tap Thirst co-founder and The city has inked a deal with trash. And by having the garbage Concordia student Laura Beach Envac, a Swedish waste manage- removed at the source, the need Tap water may prove to be less harmful than bottled water. PHOTO ELSA JABRE said the inflated costs of bottled ment firm, to install a pneumatic for garbage trucks will be cut, water are not even the most con- said Beach. she says. waste-disposal system in the resulting in less traffic for an cerning aspect of buying the bev- Dana Holtby, Tap Thirst coor- In an effort to reduce the con- area around Place des Arts, area that is often crowded. The erage. dinator at McGill, said the group sumption of bottled water, Tap which has been tapped for rede- city estimates that the system, “There is an incredible envi- is not so much against bottled Thirst has begun a Bottled velopment and dubbed ‘le which runs on electricity, will ronmental impact of buying bot- water, but pro-information of the Water-Free Zone campaign Quartier des spectacles.’ save 100 tonnes of fossil fuel tled water,” Beach said. “Most of effects bottling water produces. wherein joining associations The new system’s receptacles emissions per year. However, the the plastic bottles end up sitting “It’s more about informing pledge to not distribute bottled empty automatically as they’re tubes can’t accommodate larger and decomposing in landfills […] people, about education,” said water at any affiliated events or filled with waste, which is then items like furniture, so garbage only a small percentage make it Holtby, a second-year environ- offices. sucked through an underground trucks won’t be eliminated alto- to recycling facilities.” mental development major. Associations throughout network of tubes to a collection gether. Beach said that while waste “We’d like people to understand Concordia which have joined the site at speeds of up to 70 km/h. The upgrade comes at a cost produced by the bottles is a why bottled water is detrimental Bottled Water-Free Zone move- An underground network that of $8.2 million, and will cost major concern of the group, the to the environment.” ment include Sustainable is easily accessible raises safety $300,000 annually to operate. inefficient process of bottling Holtby says many of the peo- Concordia and The Quebec concerns, however. Some major The project will begin in 2009 water and concerns about the ple who buy bottled water do not Public Interest Research Group European cities have removed while roads in the area are open purification process that manu- realize the harmful factors at Concordia. trash bins from public places for for work on the aging sewer sys- facturers put the water through behind it. fear that bombs can be discreetly tem, and is due to be completed are even more troubling. The “[Tap Thirst] is about helping For more info on Tap Thirst and placed inside them. City of in 2010. process, which requires two gal- people understand why buying water resources, please visit inside- Montreal spokesperson Isabelle Envac has systems in place lons of water, only yields a single [bottled water] is bad. And thebottle.org. Tap Thirst will be having Poulin said there are no such across Europe in Sweden, gallon of water to be sold. when bottled water can be any- their next meeting Oct. 7 from 5 to concerns here. London and Barcelona, as well as “So basically while you where between 240 to 10,000 6 p.m. at the QPIRG Concordia meet- “This system is in place all in Disney World, Florida. The are only drinking one bottle of times more expensive than tap ing room, 1500 de Maisonneuve, across Europe, where it has cer- city of Toronto has plans for a water, you are consuming three,” water, we think it’s really bad!” suite 204. tainly been tested against this similar system in the works. A need for a national mental health strategy Politician-cum-mental health advocate speaks about the problems facing Canada

• R. BRIAN HASTIE which is due to be rolled out next spring. According to Kirby, another major compo- “We’re the only nation in the G8 not to have nent missing from current treatment tech- A message of hope for the state of mental one right now.” niques is getting help from a spiritual adviser. 38 health in Canada was offered by mental Kirby, a former politician and who served “We are using the streets and jails as the Percentage of parents surveyed health advocate Michael Kirby in the cadre of 22 years as a Liberal senator, has been chair insane asylums of the 21st century,” opined who said that if their child had a talk given on Thursday night at the Oscar of the Mental Health Commission of Canada Kirby. “We need to offer change, and hope. a mental illness, they would Peterson Concert Hall. since 2006. Kirby retired from the Senate two Locking people up and ignoring the problem not seek help nor tell anyone Co-sponsored by AmiQuebec and the years ago to implement one of his key recom- is not how we solve this problem.” about it. Concordia Psychology Department, the talk, mendations, the creation of the Commission. Kirby urged his audience to get involved called Blood, Sweat and Tears, found Kirby A major problem facing the current health and stated, “mental illness affects almost outlining the genesis of a plan that would system is the lack of funds for peer-to-peer everyone, but there’s a lack of public aware- bring issues associated with mental health to counseling exclusive to people with mental ness.” He is hoping to launch fundraising ini- 33 the national forefront. health issues, Kirby explained. He stated that tiatives as well as mobilize an “army of willing Amount, in billions of dollars, “We need to develop a national mental people within the health system would like to volunteers” to get the word out and open up a that Canadian companies lost health strategy,” said Kirby who took to the have that service in place because it helps public discourse about a subject that has been in revenue due to time taken podium and explained his alternative plan, them step out of isolation. ignored in the public arena for far too long. off for health reasons in 2002. 06 NEWS THE LINK • SEPTEMBER 30, 2008 • THELINKNEWSPAPER.CA/NEWS Did you know? Still fighting the power

Gender-neutral washrooms are on the Public Enemy figurehead continues horizon. Contract negotiations are still being “passed back and forth,” but soon to inspire at Concordia lecture enough Concordia will be home to wash- On the record industry rooms designated to neither men nor “The album has had its place. women. When [Public Enemy] first started throwing up mp3s a decade ago, we Canada Haiti Action will look into the knew what we were doing. impact of recent hurricanes in Haiti. Yves Back in the ‘60s and ‘70s, an Engler, Haiti Action Montreal activist and album was a statement. When you local author, as well as a representative of put a record out, you’re trying to pro- Partners in Health, a health organization mote an idea. The record industry is doing hurricane relief work in Haiti, will quickly changing […] How is it that speak. Video of the devastation in baseball can remain the same nine- Gonaives will be shown as well. It takes inning game for a hundred years but place today, Sept. 30, at 7 p.m. in the SCPA the record industry can change so building, at 2149 Mackay Street. quickly? I mean, a baseball game in 1921 The Latin American Student and a baseball game these days are Organization is also trying to raise aware- vastly different things, but the basics ness to the need for hurricane relief in are still the same. The record industry Central America. They’re campaigning for is definitely a different animal.” clothing, food, and other donations to help with the devastation of Hurricane Gustav. Chuck D gives his take on beats and bites as a part of the CSU lecture series. PHOTO IAN LAWRENCE For more information, visit them at 2010 • R. BRIAN HASTIE decisions will make people pause “I graduated with a degree in On the prospect of a new Public Mackay, Q-203. and [scratch their heads]. A lot of Design and Communication, trying Enemy Album “Give yourselves a round of people won’t be happy because he’ll to merge things,” D said. “People “Well, an album to me is five Deadlines for tuition payment and schol- applause.” have to make choices that won’t have asked me about my greatest tracks, you know? Public Enemy will arship applications are fast approaching. Those were the words Chuck D please a lot of people who elected achievement, and usually they probably be doing singles, not so The tuition payment deadline is today, chose to open up his talk to a near- him to office.” expect me to say the album sales or much an album. You know, three sin- Sept. 30, and the scholarship and bursary capacity audience inside of the Hall He further explained that electing the sold-out stadiums, but I’m able gles over a 1.5-year period. But there applications deadline is Oct. 17. Over Building auditorium last Tuesday. republican nominee John McCain to look at my diploma and say won’t be any music before 2010, at $250,000 in awards are available, but so The talk, entitled “Rap, Race, for president would be like further- ‘There it is’.” least […] I don’t get writer’s block, far only 150 applications have been Reality and Technology,” found the ing an agenda that began eight years He finally brought the topic but I stepped away from writing for received. Bursaries range from $500 to politically conscious rapper-cum- ago and stagnate any possible around to the record industry. six or seven months to get my head $1000. For more information, visit the lecturer discussing things like the chance of change. “The music industry is alive and clear, come back from a different per- Financial Aid and Awards website at upcoming American elections, the well, but the record industry, on the spective.” web2.concordia.ca/financialaid. current American economic crisis, as “Water will be the new other hand, is suffering. Artists have well as the need for collegiate stu- a lot more resources available to Concordia is launching the Canadian dents to continue onwards in their oil, but right now, oil them: MySpace, Facebook, iTunes. On appearing on Nelly’s new Women’s Artists History Initiative early next scholarly pursuits. The applause, D is oil and we’re still A lot of venues.” album, Brass Knuckles, despite D’s month. It’s an online database that will explained, was a congratulatory pat paying for it.” D eschewed critics who call him opposition to materialistic rappers provide information, media and links for on the back given to those in the out of touch. “Nelly is a 30-year-old black man. over 750 female Canadian artists. Similar —Chuck D audience for being able to stay in “How do I stay relevant to a 16- He’s a lot more than just the ‘Hot In projects exist in the United States and the school and pursue academic dreams. year-old? I can’t. I can, on the other Herre’ guy, you know? I looked him in United Kingdom. For more information, Chuck D, née Carlton Douglas D challenged the current admin- hand, stay relevant to the world. the eye and asked him to be more visit cwahi.concordia.ca. Ridenhour, began his talk with a few istration’s plans, calling president And I feel like every Public Enemy accountable, to be able to be more personal anecdotes about visiting George W. Bush a “village idiot” and album still has something to say, responsible for his actions and to Venture capitalist Jean Fahmy will be Montreal as a child with his family, asking, “How do we fight a war making it relevant.” keep that in mind, and he said he speaking to students about his experiences as well as other Canadian adventures against terrorism? That’s like fight- D advocated the necessity for would be. And that’s all I ask.” building and selling I.T. businesses in a before formally beginning the main ing a war against judo!” responsibility and conscientious- lecture hosted by the John Molson Private portion of his talk. D seguewayed into the current ness in rap music, especially since it Equity and Venture Capital Society. The The rapper was quick to point out economic crisis. has become mainstream. The inevitable question about lecture, called Venture Capital 101, is Oct. that the American media were taking “Water will be the new oil,” he “Rap was once considered the D’s Public Enemy counterpart 1 at 6 p.m. Those who want more informa- a typically dry debate and turning it lamented. “But right now, oil is oil black CNN, but it has grown into a Flava Flav tion must R.S.V.P. on Facebook. into what could be considered the and we’re still paying for it.” worldwide phenomenon, and still “We’re all differently-orientated greatest reality television show of the The importance of having a should be accountable to itself.” people. Flava’s my brother. The way he Canada and the United States aren’t the year: the race leading up to the Nov. degree was the next item on the Hthat artists like Soulja Boy, whose is on TV that’s the way he always is, only places in the world dealing with pre- 4 American elections. agenda. He linked the rise of gun message is very materialistic and and always has been since minute election frenzy. Elections are also coming “I’m voting for Obama for all the culture to the stagnation of a system basic in nature, might appeal to “12- one. People sometimes think that up for South Africa, Azerbaijan, Zambia, right and wrong reasons,” D said. where schools have failed or 13-year-olds” but that “if you’re he’s putting on an act, but he really and Ghana. “He’s entering a lose-lose situation the young, stating, “guns 29 and still listening to [Soulja Boy], isn’t. Flava’s always been that crazy —compiled by Jesara Sinclair and if elected, 60 to 70 per cent of his suppress logic.” then we got a problem.” and original.”

interim editor-in-chief opinions editor layout manager The Link is published every Letters to the editor are welcome. CONTRIBUTORS The Link SEBASTIEN CADIEUX JUSTIN GIOVANNETTI MATHIEU BIARD Tuesday during the academic year All letters 400 words or less will be CONCORDIA’S INDEPENDENT NEWSPAPER by the Link Publication Society Inc. printed, space permitting. Letters Volume 29, Number 7 news editor copy editor web editor Content is independent of the deadline is Friday at 4 p.m. The Tuesday, September 30, 2008 TERRINE FRIDAY R. BRIAN HASTIE BRUNO DE ROSA University and student associations Link reserves the right to edit letters Heather Anderson, Annabelle Blais, Josh Brown, Madeline (ECA, CASA, ASFA, FASA, CSU). for clarity and length and refuse Coleman, Vincent Destouches, Ion Etxebarria, Matthew Concordia University features editor student press liaison business manager Editorial policy is set by an elected those deemed racist, sexist, homo- Fiorentino, Jose Espinzoa, Carly Fridhandler, Cody Hicks, Elsa Jabre, Dominique Jarry-Shore, David Kaufmann, Ian Hall Building, Room H-649 CLARE RASPOPOW JESARA SINCLAIR MICHAEL TOPPINGS board as provided for in The Link’s phobic, xenophobic, libelous, or oth- 1455 de Maisonneuve Blvd. W. constitution. Any student is wel- erwise contrary to The Link’s state- Lawrence, Pascale Rose Licinio, Julien Mcevoy, Ketan Patel, Montreal, Quebec H3G 1M8 fringe arts editor photo editor business assistant come to work on The Link and ment of principles. Barbara Pavone, Sinbad Richardson, Max Rosenstein, Michael Sabelli, Shawna Satz, Molly Sowiak, Rachel OPEN JONATHAN DEMPSEY JACQUELINE CHIN become a voting staff member. The Board of Directors 2008-2009: editorial: (514) 848-2424 ext. 7405 Link is a member of Canadian Chris Schwartz, Giuseppe Valiante, Tetrault, Kristen Theodore, Sarah Tooth, Giuseppe Valiante, arts: (514) 848-2424 ext. 5813 literary arts editor graphics editor computer technician University Press and Presse Matthew Fiorentino, Ellis Steinberg, Bonnie Zehavi advertising: (514) 848-2424 ext. 8682 CHRISTOPHER OLSON MY MITH OPEN Universitaire Indépendante du Paul Erlichman, Shawna Satz; non- fax: (514) 848-4540 A S distribution Québec. Material appearing in voting members: Rachel Boucher, business: (514) 848-7406 sports editor managing editor ROBERT DESMARAIS The Link may not be reproduced Johnny North. JOHNNY NORTH DAVID KAUFMANN without prior written permission Typesetting by The Link. Printing Cover art by Amy Smith [email protected] DIEGO PELAEZ-GAETZ from The Link. by Transcontinental. Cover illustration by Molly Sowiak http://thelinknewspaper.ca THE LINK • SEPTEMBER 30, 2008 • THELINKNEWSPAPER.CA/NEWS NEWS 07 High food Will the real prices force students into conservatives unwanted diets

• LIZ MCARTHUR, NEXUS please stand up? (CAMOSUN COLLEGE) VICTORIA (CUP) – Students Green party talks and walks conservation and food banks are starting to feel the burden of rising food prices in • JULIEN MCEVOY Canada. Freak weather is a factor is soar- With a platform centered on ing food prices. But so are dramatic sustainability, peace and social changes in the global economy, justice, the Green Party of including higher oil prices, lower Canada contends that they’re food reserves, and growing con- the only ones concerned about sumer demand in China and India. environmental preservation. “We’ve decided to bake our own Claude Genest, deputy leader bread and pies this year. We are of the party, says that it’s more going to make everything from than just an issue of syntax. scratch and we’ve been picking a lot “We are the real of food like berries and mush- Conservatives,” Genest said. The rooms,” said Niki Brockway, a sci- Green candidate in the ence student at Camosun College in Westmount-Ville Marie riding, Victoria, B.C. Genest says the party is “the “But somehow we still managed only party addressing the big to spend $200 grocery shopping pink elephant in the room […] yesterday,” added Brockway’s Who the hell else is talking roommate, Matt Rosenthal. about conserving?” Rosenthal adds that the haul will Green Party leader Elizabeth last them about 11 days. Green Party leader Elizabeth May chats it up with supporters in Montreal Thursday. PHOTO DOMINIQUE JARRY-SHORE May put words into action by Lynn Galligos, a student of First kicking off her campaign with a Montreal last Thursday where expected,” she said. don’t know anything about her,” Nations community studies, says trans-Canada journey. May supporters and the undecided For students like Florent echoed Pierre-Antoine Girardin, the higher cost of food has made her blogged her way across Canada alike had the chance to meet and Couture, May still remains an 25. think more about her diet. on her Cross-Country Whistle greet the party leader. unknown figure. May’s train pit stop in “I’m definitely changing what I Stop Tour, making the 5000- “I am the only party leader “I heard her name for the first Montreal comes less than a week am cooking and buying,” she said. plus kilometer chug in just six who’s experiencing a country time at the beginning of the before Canadian party leaders’ “I’m trying to make it stretch.” days. Prior to her Vancouver tour that’s actually fun,” she campaign,” said Couture, a 25- English debate, set for Oct. 2. Brent Palmer, director of departure May wrote, “Not since said. May described how some year-old student at Concordia’s “We are ready for a break- Victoria’s Mustard Seed Food Bank, Diefenbaker has a federal leader 40 supporters had been waiting John Molson School of through,” May said. “We know says he has seen a marked differ- campaigned by train from coast for her train at 4 a.m. in Business. we will send MPs to the House of ence in the food bank this to coast.” Melville, Saskatchewan. “We “Apart from the fact that Commons on Oct. 15 […] Forget September compared to last year. May’s tour made its way to have had rallies in places I never she’s the Green leader, I still politics and vote Green.” Fewer donations and increasing numbers of needy people raise con- cerns for what the food bank will face this winter. 1k for Kader “Anyone on any type of fixed income, including students, would • CHRISTOPHER OLSON feel a definite strain on their food budget and would need to seek extra Abdelkader Belaouni is a special guest help to subsidize it,” said Palmer. at St. Gabriel’s Presbytery, where he has Joanne Cumberland, Camosun taken up temporary—although some- College’s senior financial aid advi- times it seems perpetual—residence to sor, sees the benefits of the food avoid deportation to his native Algeria. bank, but stresses budgeting in This week he passed an important every way possible, especially when threshold: 1,000 days spent without legal shopping for food. residence in Canada. He was first grant- “Budgeting makes a huge differ- ed asylum on January 1, 2006. ence, but it’s hard. I’m not going to Not everyone is celebrating. say it’s not hard,” she said. Once a prominent civil servant, Cumberland, a former Camosun Belaouni has become the “symbol of the student, says picking the right store immigration movement” in Montreal, makes a difference and recom- according to friend and supporter mends looking at flyers that can be Mostafa Henaway of Solidarity Across found online. Borders. “Some stores make me want to And how does Belaouni feel about the cry they’re so expensive,” she said. support he’s received from the communi- “Read the labels and compare ty? prices. It’s common sense, but “I have the best friends in the world,” people run out of time and he says. “I never complain. I can’t hide then it’s hard to compare and my smile.” PHOTO ION ETXEBARRIA check everything.” THE LINK • SEPTEMBER 30, 2008 • THELINKNEWSPAPER.CA/NEWS NEWS 09 Breaking the cycle A portrait of Khaled • VINCENT DESTOUCHES been trying to return home. Support centres working together on Home, because in 1944, Haïfa For some Palestinians, Leila was in Palestine, a land she was campaign to combat HIV/AIDS Khaled is a freedom fighter. For ready to give her life for. the rest of the world, she is a ter- On August 29, 1969, Khaled • TERRINE FRIDAY gency—an estimated 40 per cent rorist. and a PFLP team hijacked TWA of residents living in Vancouver’s The plights of Khaled, the first Flight 840, which was supposed The Concordia Community lower east side, an area that has woman to hijack an airplane, are to transport its passengers from HIV/AIDS Project will jump- been socially shunned as deviant brought to the screen in the doc- Rome to Athens. After making start its year-long awareness for over 200 years, were found to umentary Leila Khaled, Hijacker, the plane fly over Israel to see campaign with a lecture by have HIV/AIDS, and 95 per cent the brainchild of director Lina Haïfa from above, Khaled and Vancouver’s safe injection site had Hepatitis C. Ten years ago, it Makboul. her team landed in Damascus, counselor, Gillian Maxwell. was the highest recorded infec- Among the Palestinian com- Syria. There were no casualties or A trained counsellor in media- tion rate outside of Africa. munity, Khaled still has credence victims, which was a strict rule. tion and intervention, Maxwell “Those are staggering num- and remains the Che Guevara of The purpose of the hijacking was hopes to bring to the foreground bers,” Maxwell said, noting that the Popular Front for the to make a statement. the need for education about an overwhelming number of Liberation of Palestine. drug use and its misconceptions. infected users are “people who “She was my teenage idol,” “We captured the “In most urban centres, are not well to begin with, who Makboul said. “She was brave planes to ask the there’s a great need [for a safe don’t eat particularly good food, and beautiful. And she was injection site],” Maxwell said, and a lot of them have mental ill- Palestinian. And we both wanted world a question. and stressed the importance of ness.” the same thing. A free Palestine.” Who are the having a safe place to shoot up in Montreal has its own safe Against this backdrop of Palestinians?” major Canadian cities. injection site, Cactus Montreal, Middle East tension, Makboul —Leila Khaled According to Maxwell, mar- which is a non-profit independ- draws the portrait of a young and ginalized populations, like peo- ent organization that offered the attractive woman who gave a face ple with HIV and AIDS, need a first needle exchange program in to a fight and to a rebellion, in a Khaled contends that she community-based support centre North America almost 20 years world dominated by men. But hoped “the world would under- to use drugs because they “would ago. It also provides services to more than a portrait or a philo- stand our cause […] We captured probably be injecting in the people who use intravenous sophical reflection, Leila Khaled, the planes to ask the world a streets,” where sharing needles is drugs and who practice “poten- Hijacker transports us into the question. Who are the commonplace. tially risky sexual behaviour.” director’s intimate struggle with Palestinians?” In the face of a federal elec- “These facilities actually pre- the means used by Khaled, her A year later, Khaled hijacked tion, her safe injection site, vent people from contracting youth idol, to defend her cause. another plane on its way from called Insite, has evaded the gov- HIV,” said Emily Brossard, a In a series of interviews, Amsterdam to New York, as part ernment’s chopping block. human relations and sexuality Makboul confronts Khaled about of a larger PFLP operation but “It was difficult enough to get student at Concordia and coordi- decisions she made over 35 years failed and was captured by it running with the previous nator for the HIV/AIDS lecture ago and tries to find remorse in British authorities. She was soon [federal Liberal] government,” series. Brossard argues that serv- Insite: the right to healthcare for her. Khaled, now 64, still has after released in exchange for Maxwell started, “and now the ices like Cactus and Insite are the injection drug users will be held in H- strong political beliefs, but the British hostages. current [Conservative] govern- first step in helping drug users 110 on Oct. 2. images of the working mother Khaled currently lives in ment just wants to shut it down.” “get out of the vicious cycle.” she has become contrast with her Amman, Jordan with her hus- Insite, started in 1997, was the “Outcasting the individual For more info on the HIV/AIDS portrayal as a rebel freedom band and their two sons. first Canadian partially govern- just makes it worse,” Brossard Community Lecture Series, please fighter. ment-funded safe injection site. said. “It doesn’t offer a solution visit aids.concordia.ca, Born in Haïfa, Israel in 1944, Leila Khaled, Hijacker will be It was borne in the wake of a at all.” Khaled was forced to move to playing at Concordia University in sweeping crisis on Canada’s west Darlene Palmer, director of For more info on Cactus Montreal Lebanon, along with her family, H-110 on Oct. 6 at 7:30 pm. To coast. The health authority Cactus, will introduce Maxwell and safe injection, please visit during the 1948 Palestine war. find out more about the event, declared the area an emer- on Thursday. cactusmontreal.org Ever since that day, Khaled has please visit cinemapolitica.org Pro-choice show where they stand • ION ETXEBARRIA

At least 5,000 people demonstrated against Bill C-484 as part of the Pan-Canadian Day of Action for Abortion Rights. Bill C-484, also known as the “Unborn Victims of Crime Act,” would treat the foetus as a separate victim and allow separate homicide charges to be laid in the case when a pregnant woman is subject to a criminal attack and the foetus dies. Feminist collectives believe that giving the foetus a par- ticular juridical status would open a door to challenge abortion rights in Canada and does not really protect women against violence. Bill C-484 was introduced by Conservative MP Ken Epp from Edmonton and passed second reading on Mar. 5 in the House of Commons. All but four Conservative MPs and 27 Liberal MPs supported the bill, but it was retired by the Conservative Party due to upcoming federal elections. The organizers of the demonstration, the Quebec Women’s Federation and the Federation of Quebec Family Planning, did not endorse any political parties. Michele Asselin, president of the FFQ, called on Canadians “to defeat the Conservatives and not to give any votes to can- didates that threaten to reverse women’s advancements and autonomy.” PHOTO ION ETXEBARRIA 10 FEATURES THE LINK • SEPTEMBER 30, 2008 • THELINKNEWSPAPER.CA/FEATURES Love for sale

Yonge Street in 1972 The rise and fall of Yonge Street’s sex industry

• TYLER HARPER body-rub parlours on Yonge during The increase in people attracted The body-rub era was over. the failure of the office towers and (RYERSON UNIVERSITY) the ’70s. She doesn’t remember the by the mall, however, meant an By the early ’80s, Scott found that created a crisis for the business strip as a black hole into which all increase in crime. Businesses com- herself dancing at the Zanzibar. owners.” It’s a Thursday night at Zanzibar good men’s souls were sucked, but plained they were losing money just “The Zanzibar was a happening On a wet night in 1994 Rae took in Toronto and her name is rather she remembers the people as the parlours were flourishing. In place,” she said. “They had good a walk with members of council to Jasmine. At least I think it is any- she worked with. the summer of 1973 the mall quality shows. This is before table show them the state of decay along way. It’s a little hard to concentrate. “What I liked about it was the became a financial liability for the and lap dancing. It was far more the street. With the help of the “I knew you didn’t have to be comradery between the women. city and was shut down. burlesque. You didn’t have any- Yonge Street Business and ID’d,” she says in a French accent. We would look out for each other,” The parlours, however, thing on the stage like showers or Residents Association, the city “You have a young face, but you’re said Scott. remained. In just four years, there poles. The stage was nice.” began planning to build a square not 19.” “There wasn’t a lot of violence, were more than 100 of them. As the ‘80s progressed the strip and a new mall at Yonge and “How old do you think I am?” hardly any. I never even came But the party ended in 1977. On clubs continued to do well, but Dundas Street to revitalize the She eyes me up and down. across any at all, all the times I July 28, four men lured 12-year-old Yonge Street decayed. area. “Twenty-seven. 28.” worked in the massage parlours,” Emanuel Jaques, who worked on “It just got worse,” said After nearly 15 years of plan- “I’m 26. How old are you?” she recalls. “I think because we Yonge Street shining shoes, into an Soskolne. “Some new fast-food ning, Toronto Life Square finally “Twenty-eight,” she says and we worked together, there were always apartment above Charlie’s Angels, restaurants went in, like opened last year. Yonge has both laugh. We both know she’s two or three or four of us working a body-rub parlour across from the McDonald’s or Burger King. and become an epileptic’s nightmare— older than that. “I always say I’m in a place. And it was just nice to just-opened Eaton Centre. Cheque-cashing places. neon signs advertising the latest 28. If you feel an age you will hang out with the other women in Jaques was restrained and sexu- Predominately a lot of vacancy. cellphone plans flash electric kool- always be that age.” between clients.” ally assaulted for over 12 hours, The buildings were even more aid over newly erected condos. “Would you like a French It’s a 21st century circus fit for dance?” she asks, grinning. anyone with cash to spend. I contemplate what exactly The murder shocked the public and provided the city and local “I think it’s a huge success,” said would make the dance French, then businesses with a moral martyr to rally behind. Many of the sex Soskolne. “I think having a film fes- remember I have a girlfriend wait- businesses threw in the towel rather than endure the legal shitstorm. tival there is an example of what ing for me at home. the possibilities are now and that “Maybe next time. I think I’ll never would have been possible 10, just drink my beer,” I respond. The first body-rub parlour strangled and then drowned. deteriorated because the landlord 20 years ago.” She gets up to leave, keeping an opened in the spring of 1971. They The murder shocked the public didn’t want to put money into any The sex industry is still there, eye on me as she walks away. A sec- grew in tandem with the Yonge and provided the city and local building that he couldn’t get rev- but it’s only a shadow of its former tion of the stage rises and the Street Mall, an annual festival held businesses with a moral martyr to enue from,” he continued. “The self. The Zanzibar, the Brass Rail, dancer gyrates with the bass. A between 1971 and 1973. Parts of rally behind. Many of the sex busi- stores that were rented were rented and Remington’s are the only strip middle-aged man sitting alone in Yonge were closed to traffic and nesses threw in the towel rather on a short-term basis. Then dollar clubs left. A porn cinema com- front of me claps. I finish my beer vendors moved into the street for than endure the legal shitstorm. stores started to proliferate. By the mands a second-floor perch on the and get up to leave. the festival. Some were closed down by the time we started the regeneration east side of Yonge. Only a few sex It’s hard to find a decent peeler The sex industry thrived on the bawdy-house law, which gave program in 1994 we counted 29 shops remain. on Toronto’s Yonge Street these increase in street business the mall authorities the legal right to close dollar and discount stores between For her part, Scott isn’t very days. There are only three strip provided. The body-rub parlours down any establishment in which College [Street] and King [Street].” impressed with the new Yonge clubs, one porn cinema, and a also filled an economic niche on the prostitution occurs. Crime and drug use on Yonge Street. handful of sex accessory shops. street and kept Yonge going, taking Whether or not prostitution was were on the rise, and by 1994, the “It’s boring, for the most part. But in the 1970s, Yonge was the advantage of real estate that other indeed happening was beside the economy bottomed out. The Eaton Centre is hostile. The dirtiest street in Canada. Body-rub businesses didn’t want. point. None of the businesses could “You could look out Queen architecture is hostile to the parlours, porno vendors, cinemas, “It filled a vacuum,” said Ron afford to fight both the government Street from the mayor’s office and streetscape. The stores are tawdry. and clubs lined the south strip. Soskolne, Toronto’s chief planner and the public. At the time of there would be no traffic. It was The buildings really need some There was music on the street. in the ‘70s. “The stores were there, Jaques’ murder, there were 40 par- that bad,” recalled Kyle Rae, the renovations. I’m beginning to Tourists visited Yonge for the it was the centre of the city. lours on Yonge. area’s city councillor, first elected become fond of [Toronto Life] atmosphere and not the Eaton Landlords were pretty desperate In November there were four. in 1991. “You probably can’t imag- Square, but for the most part, Centre shopping mall. because they couldn’t get serious And by December the last one ine. The traffic on Queen collapsed. there’s just not a lot of soul to Valerie Scott worked in the retailers to go there.” closed its doors. Transit use went down, because of Yonge Street.” THE LINK • SEPTEMBER 30, 2008 • THELINKNEWSPAPER.CA/FEATURES FEATURES 11 Drugs, drugs, drugs Which are good, which are bad?

• KRISTEN THEODORE none of these symptoms. Instead, a hard night’s studying was made easier. “When Sometimes, just the thought of cracking you’re in a panic, they seem like a really open your all-too cumbersome textbook to good solution like, hey, pop this pill, and page 174, and reading several more chapters you can stay up all night, no problem.” And can seem utterly unbearable. while, like most other students, Christina With midterms looming on the horizon, has dabbled in other recreational drugs, and grades at stake, many Concordia stu- such as marijuana and alcohol, she says her dents are turning to the power of prescrip- use of prescription pills were only for the tion pills in order to stay regulated, focused benefit of her academic productivity. and ahead of the game throughout these Christina isn’t alone in turning to pre- stressful times. scription drugs to pull herself out of tough However, as use becomes more promi- situations. In recent years, the use of phar- nent some people wonder if popping a pill is maceuticals as self-prescribed study-aids is an easy-way out, a time-management fix, or becoming altogether frequent. In a 2003 if taking prescription pills is something that survey conducted by Ontario Student Drug will become more legitimate with time. Use, 2.9 per cent of high school students It’s not uncommon for students to had access to Ritalin and had been using it become overwhelmed in the academic envi- as a “focus-aid.” ronment. Once the pressure is on, coping By Grade 11, that number only increased becomes harder and harder. to five per cent as the students climbed the “I’m a huge procrastinator,” says academic ladder higher and higher. Christina*, a McGill student in the second According to Statistics Canada, that number year of her MA. “I tend to leave big projects has remained relatively high in boys, and until the night before the due date, which somewhat lower in girls. Similarly, in GRAPHIC: CARLY FRIDHANDLER means I’m under pressure to do a lot of Atlantic Canada, a survey by the Canadian work in a short time.” Medical Association Journal in 2001 figured tion you crave, on the spot. Although, she sports and maintaining a healthy social Christina, not unlike other students, has that of almost 14, 000 randomly selected adds, she has never used drugs to study and life. So, she turned to prescription drugs to faced unforgiving mountains of homework students, 700 had been taking Ritalin and simply finds it easier to use them for a help her balance her time. and very limited timeframes. And whether other drugs, such as Dexedrine and high—crushing Ritalin and snorting it “During the season, I would do sports, self-inflicted or not, the work always has to Benzedrine in non-medical use. increases the effects of the amphetamines it see my friends and usually school would get done. From 1985 to 2002, requests for Ritalin contains. come last,” she says. After trying Ritalin, Red Bull and Monster Energy drinks prescriptions alone spiked 600 per cent in But if that expedition seems time-con- she was able to sit still and focus on her weren’t always the most effective means of Canada. And as the use among campus stu- suming, students on campuses all across studies instead of drifting off. staying focused, as they have the tendency dents is becoming more and more wide- North America have found that there are Acquiring the drugs was almost a non- to wear off only after a few hours or not spread, the rampant accessibility of these considerably less complicated means to issue. “At McGill, my dealer was just walk- work altogether. In order to cope with her medications is being questioned. How do access prescription pills. Some re-use and ing up and down the hallways of the never-ending papers and other important students get a hold of prescriptions when recycle old prescriptions they’ve had for library, making deals,” she recalls, but projects, Christina turned to Ritalin and they don’t actually have attention deficit Ritalin or Adderall in the past. Others need admits that prescription drug use seems a Provigil (Modafinil), two over-the-counter disorder? not go further then their own campus. little more low-key at her new school. “[At drugs. Concordia] I’ve heard a couple of people Ritalin, a drug normally prescribed to talk about it on campus but it’s still a little those who have a difficult time concentrat- “I just go to a walk-in clinic, give them a list of symptoms more quiet.” ing, or individuals plagued with hyperactiv- and they prescribe to me whatever I need.” Angela says she noticed an immediate ity, helped Christina to focus on her studies. —Amy, second-year McGill student different when taking the pills, though she As a result, she was able to get more work admits it might have been due to a placebo done. “[Ritalin] made me super focused so I effect. “I completely noticed it, although it just steamed ahead with work and did noth- According to Amy*, a second-year Pills can be acquired so long as students could have been psychosomatic. ing else,” says Christina, who, in the end, McGill student, getting drugs is not all that know where to look—purchased from your Psychosomatic symptoms are very real,” was able to work at an unrelenting pace. difficult. Pills, it seems, are becoming friendly small-time dealer, often a fellow she says. Regardless, Angela was able to do Those who have taken the prescription, increasingly available to the people who so student, for about three to five dollars a things she thought impossible; “I could such as Christina, have reported a height- willingly seek them out. pop. Websites all over the net advertise a read a 500-page philosophy book in five ened sense of focus, which helped render Amy, formerly a marijuana smoker, has “cheap, anonymous” way of obtaining days time. I could write papers.” their studying altogether less tedious and developed an affinity for prescription pills. “medication online,” in user-friendly fash- It’s the kind of thing that makes stu- enabled them to get the job done more effi- “I just go to a walk-in clinic, give them a list ion. All that is required is a credit card. dents wonder. Despite some of the risks ciently. of symptoms and they prescribe to me Most of the time, students turn to pre- and side effects of taking these pills, their Provigil is a drug often given to those whatever I need,” she says. In such a heav- scription pills as a way to find some sort of prominence on campuses is becoming who suffer from serious bouts of narcolepsy, ily medicated society, it seems almost a lit- balance in their fast-paced lives. Entering more and more obvious. Those students obstructive sleep apnea, and shift work tle too easy for just about anyone to get his a new university can be an exciting experi- who have turned to pharmaceuticals as an sleep disorder—individuals whose work or her paws on a prescription. Effortless ence. Studying just doesn’t seem as much answer or a fix may acknowledge that their shifts are so disorderly, their sleep sched- journeys such as these often result in the fun as going out with new friends and activities aren’t exactly safe, but none ules are seriously affected. Though not easy acquisition of sleeping pills, stay- drinking in dormitories does. Often, they seem to feel particularly inclined to give intended for casual use, the results of awake pills, or even anti-depressants. find themselves overwhelmed by juggling them up. The prescription label and indus- Christina’s experiences were, in the end, A simple Google search can conjure up a several priorities at once. try stamp do a lot to allay fears and to most overall positive. list of the symptoms needed to sound A former McGill-cum-Concordia stu- the benefits outweigh the risks. “[Provigil] kept me awake much longer believable to an on-the-clock doctor. “You dent, Angela*, often fell behind in her “If you’re desperate, they’re a pretty than caffeine,” she says. While side effects of just need to go to different clinics where schoolwork. Once she got involved with a good last resort,” admits Christina. the drug are said to include headaches, nau- they don’t have a file on you,” and will sports team, she found it difficult to bal- sea and stuffy noses, Christina experienced therefore prescribe you any sort of medica- ance doing her homework as well as doing *names have been altered. THE LINK • SEPTEMBER 30, 2008 • THELINKNEWSPAPER.CA/FRINGE FRINGE ARTS 13

The award-winning photo on aging that won Keren Epstein the BMO Art! Invitational Student Art Competition. Epstein beat out 162 artists to win the award. Young and going places Concordia grad wins regional Student Art Competition with series on aging

• CHRISTOPHER OLSON Being a professional photographer is “a of her win reached her. givers become the recipient of care them- numbers game,” says Epstein. “The more Although most of the $2,500 prize selves, says Epstein, “is sad, and weird, and “To be 23 and to have your work featured places you submit [your work], the better.” money went directly into her savings almost absurd. But there’s also a dignity in in the Museum of Contemporary Canadian But when a supportive teacher convinced account, Epstein says at least some of it the truth of what’s happening.” Art, where my professor was featured only her to sign an application for the competi- went to offset the costs of her volunteer As an artist, Epstein has had to fall back last May, is something a student can only tion, Epstein had no idea she’d end up being work—mainly consisting of travel costs. on the care of others a little earlier than dream of.” the regional winner. Some of her previous work, a series of expected, after leaving school she moved Those were the words of photographer back into residence with her old caregivers. Keren Epstein, who graduated from “In some ways, I’m the cliché of the poor “In some ways, I’m the cliché of the poor Concordia University this past year, upon artist living with my parents.” learning that her work had been selected as artist living with my parents.” But for someone who still has many the regional champion of the inaugural —Keren Epstein, Con U grad years left to pursue her craft, old age is the Bank of Montreal Art! Invitational Student least of Epstein’s concerns. Fortunately, Art Competition, the only national graduat- she already has some tips to share with the ing artist competition in Canada. “It’s the best thing that could have hap- photographs about Montreal’s immigrant rest of us. To win the award, Epstein had to beat pened to a student just coming out of community, was featured in the Toronto “My advice to Concordia students would out 162 submissions from other up-and- University,” she says. metro system. be to make as many connections at school coming Canadian artists, of which only Working mostly from job to job, Epstein “Art can be very exclusive,” complains as possible. If you’re interested in photo- three were selected for nomination from admits that she didn’t always believe that Epstein. “My goal is to bring art to the journalism, apply to one of the school each post-secondary school across the coun- success would be in her sights. “I was doing masses.” newspapers.” try. a lot of second guessing of myself, but win- The work that won her the BMO prize Remember folks: she said it, not us. This October, her work will be shown ning only reinvigorated and confirmed my was derived from her final class project, alongside 12 other regional champions, as sense of self worth.” entitled the “Ema series,” which places a Epstein’s winning submission will be fea- well as the national champion, at the Epstein, whose parents are Israeli, was scrutinizing lens on the lifestyles of the eld- tured at the Museum of Contemporary Canadian Museum of Contemporary Canadian Art in doing volunteer work helping integrate dis- erly, including Epstein’s own grandmother. Art, 952 Queen Street West, Toronto, from Oct. Toronto. As part of the prize, her work will placed Ethiopian Jews settle in Israel by What the photographs reveal about old age, 8 to 26. Open hours are from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. also be featured in Canadian Art magazine. teaching them English, when news a time in one’s life in which lifelongcare- The vernissage is set for Oct. 7, invitation only. 14 FRINGE ARTS THE LINK • SEPTEMBER 30, 2008 • THELINKNEWSPAPER.CA/FRINGE What’s going on Artists + musicians = Events listing for the week Sept. 30-Oct. 6 POP Matters Con U heavily represented at collaboration video/music POP Montreal event

• JOHNNY NORTH artists to the public and POP’s, band with no Concordia con- Cyberarts Con U student Jason which is presenting musicians, nection.” Harvey will tragically and Wacky combinations of and then combining them,” said Chocolat will be performing pyrotechnically relive music and visual art brought by Matt Goerzen, co-producer of a new wave collaboration with Woodstock ’99, that had two Fashion some of the most creative the Art Matters festival and former Con U students, Sinbad deaths, over 40 arrests, over Puces Pop Official Launch Party and Concordia students past and Con U student. “Five groups of Richardson and Valérie 3,000 injuries, reported rape Fashion Show present will be showcased at artists working with five differ- Boxer, two grads from and accounts of sexual assault. Thursday, 6 p.m. POP Montreal’s and Art ent musical acts. It’s random Intermedia/Cyberarts. “It’s really abstract,” said Coda, 4119 blvd. St. Laurent Matters’ collaborative event: and really creative.” “The idea for the video Harvey. “It’s a bunch of crap puces.popmontreal.com POP Matters. Grunge French rock from the came from Chocolat and everywhere, music gets harsh Talks between the two band Chocolat, folk rock from listening to their music,” said and the costumes are freaky. Music organizations began in the The Winks, and Con U student Boxer. “We let ourselves be It’s pretty short, only nine min- Li’l Andy and Ideal Lovers summer. Both found that com- Jackson MacIntosh’s rock inspired by them. It has a beau- utes.” Thursday, 11 p.m. bining their talents was a natu- opera are just a few of the dif- tiful homemade family 4015 St-Laurent ral fit since they both focus on a ferent genres being showcased. movie/Montreal postcard feel POP Matters will be held this Tickets $10 similar youth demographic. “All of the artists are to it. It’s basically one long Thursday at Les Saints, 30 Ste- “The idea was to take our Concordia students,” said bicycle run.” Catherine Street W. Tickets are $6. Boats! strength, which is presenting Goerzen. “Chocolat is the only Third-year Intermedia/ Doors open at 8:30 p.m. Saturday, 8 p.m. 3699 blvd. St. Laurent popmontreal.com Side-project makes it big Opera Liederwölfe: Opera Undressed Friday, 10 p.m. Returning member of Halifax band Wintersleep happy to be back with 30 Ste. Catherine Street W. indie rock success story Pay what you can www.liederwolfe.com • JOHNNY NORTH

Shad “It didn’t seem like a friend’s Friday, 11:15 p.m. band—it felt more like a profes- 3874, St. Laurent sional band […] the production Tickets $7 had this kind of warm and dry feel that I enjoy.” Other Once Michael Bigelow heard Symposium, music conference what Wintersleep had been Wednesday—Sunday, times vary working on he knew he wanted in 5390 blvd. St. Laurent on it. Bigelow, who was first in popmontreal.com the band playing keyboards, has returned to replace Judd Haynes. Discussion: “Women in Politics, Women in Haynes left the band after the Hip Hop” recording of their latest album Wednesday, 7:30 p.m. Welcome To The Night Sky last 1225 St-Laurent year. popmontreal.com What started out as a side project in 2001 has grown into an Theatre indie rock band with three full Transhumain albums and a 2008 Juno award Wednesday to Saturday, 8 p.m., Sunday 2 win for New Group of the Year— p.m. even though they aren’t new. Théâtre Ste-Catherine Bigelow didn’t contribute to the 264, Ste-Catherine Est last album, but is glad to be writ- www.transhumain.net ing new music again with old friends. “It’s very comfortable even Not @ POP Montreal though it’s been a long time,” Exhibits said Bigelow, who played first Wintersleep will be performing at POP Montreal this Friday at Le National. Signals in the Dark: Art in the Shadow of War with Wintersleep from 2005 Now until Oct. 11 until 2006. “It’s fun to play old however when it comes to song- Even without a new album moment he thinks that Leonard & Bina Ellen Art Gallery songs and making them fresh writing, Wintersleep has more this year, the band is constantly Wintersleep is “enjoying seeing 1400, Blvd. de Maisonneuve W., Ground again.” depth. writing new material. Bigelow the world right now.” Floor J.W. McConnell Bigelow, along with drum- “I like the way someone will says he would not be surprised if Library Building, Metro Guy-Concordia mer Loel Campbell, also write a song and pass it around a new song pops up from them by Wintersleep will be performing performs together in the band like Sonic Youth,” he said. spring. Bigelow can see how at POP Montreal this Friday at 8 —compiled by Johnny North Holy Fuck. Bigelow finds “I wanted to play for concentrat- bands don’t tour as much when p.m. at Le National. More details on both bands are fun to play in, ed writing.” they get on in years, but at this wintersleep.com. THE LINK • SEPTEMBER 30, 2008 • THELINKNEWSPAPER.CA/FRINGE FRINGE ARTS 15 Weird Punk at POP Punk bands come together for a week of drunken madness Weird Punk • CODY HICKS

How the hell am I supposed to start an events article about a genre as far reaching, inclu- sive and altogether arbitrarily titled as Day One: Wednesday, Oct.1: “weird punk”? Everyone from Exclaim to The SILTBREEZE SHOWCASE McGill Daily to your granny on her blog has 10 p.m. – U.S.Girls covered it. 11 p.m. – Sic Alps So rather than waste ink, I’ll direct you 12 a.m. – Pink Reason over to weirdpunk.com. Go educate yourself 1 a.m. – Blues Control on the genre that made this jaded writer believe in new music. 2 a.m. – Psychedelic Horseshit What I’m really here to talk about is the Day Two: Thursday, Oct. 2 upcoming five-night takeover of Divan 11 p.m. – Microwaves Orange during Pop Montreal by the local de Midnight – These Are Powers facto preachers of the weird punk gospel. 1 a.m. – DD/MM/YY I met with Shaun Anderson of the infa- 2 a.m. – The Chinese Stars mous Pirates of the Lachine Canal and Andre Weird Punk starts this Wednesday and runs until Sunday. GRAPHIC KETAN PATEL Day Three: Friday, Oct. 3 Guerette of the dynamic Blue Skies Turn 10 p.m.: Double Dip Black for an impromptu drunken afternoon asserted total creative control over Weird the word,” chimes in Guerette, “they’re doing 11 p.m.: Japanther press conference at Copacabana to make Punk Montreal 2008, free from the unwant- something extreme and anti-standard.” Midnight: Career Suicide sense of their upcoming mini-festival ed insertion of having any less-than-weird Although traditional in sound, Brutal blowout and to nerd-out over the significance bands into their line-ups. Knights’ are fronted by comedian Nick 1 a.m.: Brutal Knights of this whole “weird punk” phenomenon. “There are so many bands that apply for Flanagan who sings the smartest dumb lyrics 2 a.m.: An Albatross Weird Punk Montreal 2008 is described the festival that bands have to be plugged I’ve ever heard. They recently played a show Day Four: Saturday, Oct. 4 by Guerette as “an after-party for the punks” into line-ups for festivals,” says Anderson in Montreal where they had stand-up come- 8:30 p.m. – Arab on Radar DVD and by Anderson as a way to see all his through a sly smirk. “When we started to dians as openers. 10 p.m. – Chrome Jackson favourite bands. curate the weird Punk series we figured we’d Whereas traditional “hardcore” bands 11 p.m. – Shearing Pinx And if late night marathon isn’t a feat in invite so many bands that we’d need to have were strict about who they associated with, Midnight – Made in Mexico itself, BSTB/PLC has joined forces with complete control.” Weird Punk bands are open to play any kind 1 a.m. – Neptune sizeemup, another gang of local promoters, “The definition of punk rock has become of shows. 2 a.m. – AIDS Wolf to put on a series of afternoon Weird BBQs so blurred that it means something totally “It’s all about throwing genres away. 12:30 p.m. – Adult Crash on Saturday and Sunday at DIY sanctuary, different to everyone,” says Anderson. Brutal Knights are just as comfortable play- The Friendship Cove. Weird Punk revisits the days of CBGBs ing with AIDS Wolf as they would be with the 1:15 p.m. – Lose your Fucking Shit This cruel sleep deprivation experiment when punk was about freedom to create in a Cro-Mags,” Anderson said. 2 p.m. – Golden Error will give people a reason to shake their Pop community and not about rigid rules and As the beer continued to flow, Anderson 3 p.m. – TV Ghost Montreal hangovers and give some fresh ‘n’ uniforms. Like those early punk bands, the and I climbed to uncharted heights of music 4 p.m. – Teenanger weird talent a chance to blow minds while weird punk community is comprised of nerdery in an effort to give succinct descrip- 5 p.m.– Career Suicide people chow down on communal grub. groups that really have little in common sty- tions of each and every band of the show. The Day Five: Sunday, Oct. 5 Out of the four Pop Montreal shows that listically despite an aversion to the main- world of weird punk can get confusing some- 12:30 p.m. – Many Mental Mistakes PLC curated last year the most successful was stream. times, so let us hold your hand and walk you 1:15 p.m. – The Pink Noise the Jay Reatard show promoted in conjunc- “It’s a small scene, everyone knows each through. 2 p.m. – Black Feelings tion with BSTB. It was only natural for them other,” says Anderson, who believes it all fell 3 p.m.– Double Dagger to join forces on a maniacal plot to foster a together naturally and that the common bind Weird Punk 08 at Divan Orange, 4234 St. “weird punk” take-over. between these bands is ideological. Laurent. BBQs at Friendship Cove, 215A Murray St. 4 p.m. – AIDS Wolf The unholy union of PLC/BSTB is power- “Brutal Knights seem like a pretty regular Night shows are all $12. BBQs are pay what you 5 p.m. – TYVEK ful and uncompromising. By taking all cura- hardcore band,” says Anderson. can (As much as you can. Touring bands gotta eat.) torial matters into their own hands they have “But, they are punk in the truest sense of More info can be found at thelinknewspaper.ca. —compiled by Cody Hicks Mashing it up at POP DJ Mike Relm brings his mind-melting performance to the festival

• JOHNNY NORTH can be 12 hours [in length],” he says. “If it’s the same thing over and over it’s boring. I think people are getting Mike Relm is sick of the tired routine of playing the wise to that.” top hits at parties, and his debut studio album Spectacle Relm prefers keeping his electronic pop different since is a direct response, a change that is needed. “living the band life” is not a venture he cares to pursue. “A lot of people don’t listen to whole records any- “I think I would blow my brains out, playing the same more,” he says. Relm wanted his album “to be as closely show all the time with the same record. As an artist you formatted to a mix tape as possible. I just want it to make have to grow or you’re really boring.” it that people weren’t just going through the same type of With the growth of music resources on the Internet, tracks. I wanted it to sound pretty random. There’s defi- Relm finds DJing is now even more important as fans are nitely some sounds in there that pertain to what’s going always craving something new. on musically. The songs feel all different, I needed some- “With the Internet, people have access to everything,” thing to bridge it all together.” he said. “Now it’s all about creating a vibe. People are a The turntablist’s unique blend of film sounds and little bit more picky music-wise. Before at parties it was music has gotten him into gigs alongside artists The Blue like ‘lets throw on the latest Jay-Z’ now it’s show me Man Group, Jurassic 5 and the Wu-Tang Clan. Relm has something else. You can’t show them a Top 40 anymore.” remixed almost everything—from Bob Dylan to Rage Relm is hoping his return to Montreal will be the Mike Relm will be performing Sunday at Le National. Against The Machine, there’s not a genre he isn’t willing first time it won’t rain on his trip. He finds Montreal to explore in order to give fans something new. has “a great music scene, it’s not a picky audience, but a Relm will be performing at POP Montreal on Sunday at 9 p.m. “I think people value that, especially at festivals that smart audience.” at Le National with Dirty On Purpose and Thomas Function. 16 FRINGE ARTS THE LINK • SEPTEMBER 30, 2008 • THELINKNEWSPAPER.CA/FRINGE Terrorism of a mercantile nature ATSA to open up store that criticizes commercialism

• HEATHER ANDERSON If ATSA’s long list of anarchist projects can be said to evince a com- What does a cash register have in mon style, CHANGE stands out. common with a political activist? Roy explains that, “A store is a pub- They both make change. CHANGE, lic space for artists to explore […] a temporary boutique of political there is an exchange, but its more protest paraphernalia, which is the sharing.” latest intervention by Action Starting this Thursday, Terroriste Socialement Acceptable. CHANGE will be open to the public Annie Roy and Pierre Allard, founders of Action Terroriste Socialement Acceptable. Founded by Montreal artists at 4351 St. Laurent until the end of Annie Roy and Pierre Allard, ATSA December. Goods sold at the store, store. When you compare it to big their spare change on the floor, to sharing the credit for future acts celebrates its 10th year of social such as artifacts and photos, will be trademarks without creativity, its because according to ATSA, “we of socially acceptable urban ter- protest through an unlikely public inspired by or constructed from totally different. Opening a store is would just spend it on consumerist rorism, “It’s fun for other people to intervention—a clever capitalist materials from ATSAs past inter- actually a very creative process…like candy otherwise.” There will also be do something. You generate an endeavour. ATSA first surfaced in ventions. Roy explains that this is a opening your home.” festivities in the Parc du portugais, élan.” Montreal with a sock bank, a mock way to “revisit and give [each inter- In essence, ATSA offers a prod- including popcorn, beer and carni- financial institution that reversed vention] another life through the uct that critiques the traditional val games. CHANGE opens up this Thursday the hierarchy of wealth by distribut- object so that the discussion starts notion of commercialism because, at 6 p.m. along with an evening fair ing warm socks to the homeless. again. It’s a tool.” “there are a lot of [products] that Next Steps right in front of the store at 4351 Since then, But is this just a financial endeav- don’t have any soul in them. [This ATSA is planning to host a St. Laurent, corner of Marie Ann. In ATSA has staged over 20 interven- our masquerading as art, or worse, is] a brand that goes beyond image, competition for a creative inter- case of rain, events will be held tions in Montreal, New York, an act of social conscience? a way to propel a message.” vention to which they will assign across the street, at the bar Les Paris and Toronto. Roy argues that, “It’s a family Customers will be asked to throw their signature. Roy looks forward Bobards, 4328 Saint-Laurent. spins free to veer off on spacey instrumental tan- series of self-deprecating portraits that put Commonplace references to commuters biting said, few of the songs stick out, with the Despite Caribou’s gents, but they all sound beautiful. With most other rappers to shame. Songs like this are typ- off their mitts to show transfers or the drawing exception of “Snakes and Ladders.” predictable win, of the tracks on this album being about love or ical of The Old Prince a masterpiece whose of a 50/50 at a sports game lead into complex My initial enthusiasm withstanding, The Link decided to review all the lost love, at times it all feels a bit too sweet and mellow, soulful samples evoke the best of the metaphors. The way these routine lyrics weave this 24 year old artist still has albums nominat- innocent. With that in mind and the sheer qual- Native Tongues clique at the top of their game. into images and expressions is an art The ways to go before she becomes deserving of ed for the 2008... ity of the record, all is excused and all is enjoy- His prose, florid and imaginative, sets a tone Weakerthans have mastered and made the Polaris. able. that few can match. album almost inexplicably enjoyable. 4/5 Two Hours Traffic 4.5/5 4.5/5 4/5 —Christopher Olson Little Jabs —Sebastien Cadieux —R. Brian Hastie —Mathieu Biard Burnstead Records Plants and Animals Black Mountain Holy Fuck Stars Parc Avenue The first two tracks met most of my qualifica- In The Future LP In Our Bedroom Secret City Records tions for music I like—a nice pace, catchy, Jagjaguwar Blackbox Entertainment After the War good guitar riffs and a reasonably prominent Arts & Crafts With relaxed jams and engaging lyrics, Plants kick bass. My head bobbed. My foot tapped Black Mountain’s In The Future is a step up The genre-fucking adventure known as Holy and Animals have put together an enjoyable through no effort of my own. But then, as from its self-titled debut in every aspect imag- Fuck’s first album takes the listener on many All of these songs are love songs, and this is a and well-rounded album. “A Lorée Des Bois” in quickly as they had me, they lost me. It was inable; the blues are bluer, the nebulous different tangents; at times it’s reminiscent of love album, so much so that most tracks will particular is the best encapsulation of almost as though the album had given up and Sabbath-esque rock jams are lengthier and the listening to a children’s television theme, and have you looking longingly at that cute boy or Montreal, making the taste of a cold beer and was hoping I would stick around on the weird synth parts are weirder. But beyond that, then three minutes later the music takes a girl on the bus. The album starts off with the the feeling of the hot sticky air come rushing strength of its earlier accomplishments. the band’s ability to marry atmosphere and decidedly more adult approach with beats that pleasingly hypnotic and rhythmic “The back to me. None of the tracks are particularly Four tracks in, Little Jabs veers tragically off- pure songwriting abilities makes this a superi- would fit well within a club setting. The mar- Beginning After the End” to the energetic rock bad, but a few of them are somewhat forget- course. From that point on most of the songs or effort. The midsection in ‘Bright Lights’, a 16 riage of live instrumentation (four of the nine of “Bitches in Tokyo.” While In Our Bedroom table. It’s a strong album overall, but clocking sound like something that should be playing 1/2-minute jam reveals this ability deftly. The cuts for the album were recorded live) and pro- After the War is mostly rock, some tracks like in at nearly an hour it probably could have lost quietly behind a sentimental montage in a quiet, eerie interlude at the 8-minute mark grammed beats offers a strange marriage of “The Night Starts Here” will remind long-time a couple tracks to make for a more concise mid-budget movie about 20-somethings living, builds into an ascending, frenzied finish that sonic proportions that appeals to a wide range fans of the band’s more electronic origins. record. loving and finding themselves. evokes the best of dirty, primitive rock and roll of people. Most people can find at least one Stars have grown yet again in their skill and 4/5 The album rallies a little at “Backseat with a metal tinge. The effortless transition section of the album that they would enjoy lis- style with this album and have delivered an —Sebastien Cadieux Sweetheart,” but quickly gets sucked back into from one to the other in one marathon-length tening to, and the album’s greatest strength is album beyond expectations. the whirling vortex of smaltz. I have a sneaking stretch is pure bliss. its ability to cater to multiple audiences with- 4.5/5 Kathleen Edwards suspicion that while the band was recording 4/5 out having to pair down their artistic vision. —Mathieu Biard Asking For Flowers this album the lead singer started dating some —R. Brian Hastie 4.2/5 MapleMusic Recordings “awesome girl,” wrote some “great songs” in —R. Brian Hastie Basil Bulat her honour, and the rest of the band decided to Shad Oh, My Darling When Kathleen Edwards said the words, go with it. The Old Prince The Weakerthans Hardwood Records “You’re the Great One and I’m Marty McSorley” 2.5/5 Black Box Recordings Reunion Tour in “I Make the Dough, You Get the Glory,” I —Clare Raspopow Hopeless/Subcity Records Maybe it was the title that threw me off, decided I liked this album. Edwards’ sound is maybe I was expecting something with countryish, with strong vocals and even Caribou To say that Shad has a way with words is like The Weakerthans combine folky type rock with shades of Huckleberry Hound, but “Oh, stronger songwriting. I kept going back con- Andorra saying the sky is high. The London, Ontario rap- a heavier brand of rock to produce an interest- My Darling” knocked me right off my stantly to lyrics that caught my attention. Merge Records per’s ability to string words together is remark- ingly unique style that results in exceptionally seat. To say that Basil Bulat sounds Edwards’ no bullshit style and genuine, heart- able. Though his flow is far from unique, it’s the engaging music. The album gives the overall like Norah Jones would be oxymoronic. To felt lyrics combine to make a powerful album Somewhere between a 1960s slow-dance song, quality of what’s being said that counts in this impression of being a deep, captivating con- compare one carefree, one-of-a-kind that anyone who enjoys the style should check and space-aged indie rock lands Caribou. With case. Lead single “The Old Prince Still Lives At versation. “The Elegy for Gump Worsley” in the artist to another is like comparing seashells out. soft, sweet vocals, this album evokes a dreamy Home” is perhaps one of the more humourous middle of the album broke the flow, but added on a beach; no two are like, but they’re 3.5/5 and rather pleasant feeling. Some songs feel cuts, but he also manages to vividly paint a to this sentiment of genuine song writing. alike in how they are unique. That being —Mathieu Biard THE LINK • SEPTEMBER 30, 2008 • THELINKNEWSPAPER.CA/FRINGE FRINGE ARTS 17 Go-Go Grannies A generation of feminists enlists in the fight against HIV • CHRISTOPHER OLSON

American feminist Gloria Steinam once said, “An army of grey-haired old women may quiet- ly take over the world.” Brenda Rooney, co-producer and narrator of the film The Great Granny Revolution, serves as both general and platoon in this The Flatliners coming to Montreal on Oct.10. documentary film about Canada’s contribution to the war against AIDS (considered a worldwide Ship Talk war), but with Africa currently suf- fering the worst of it. Punk rockers The Flatliners find With every indication of being produced on an independent surprising success with their latest budget, The Great Granny Revolution documents the work of record and tour a group of grandmothers from Grannies fighting against AIDS. GRAPHIC KETAN PATEL • BARBARA PAVONE dark record.” The tracks deal with Wakefield, Quebec as they team Gogos’ gatherings include public comes when one of the Alexandra all forms of death from family up with the Alexandra Gogos, a recitals of song and dance, and Gogos speaks at a Wakefield A relentless ferry attendant members and friends to feelings group of grandmothers in Africa— open expressions of joy. church, having flown in for a spe- didn’t stop singer Chris Cresswell and relationships but, “there [is] gogo being the local term for Aside from the financial contri- cial gathering. “I’ve never seen a of the The Flatliners from taking a still that beam of hope at the end. grandmother. butions made to the Eastbank community so united,” she says to few minutes to talk about the ori- [There’s] an optimistic feeling you Already having suffered the Clinic in Alexandra, totalling a crowd of Wakefield residents. gin of the Toronto-based band, still can get from listening to a unbearable loss of burying their $8,000 so far, counselling and “And I’m just wondering: why do while he and the guys boarded a heavy and darker record.” children, these grandmothers emotional support are one of the we have to come all the way to get Canadian-bound ferry in For the past month the group must once again contend with the Wakefield Grannies’ chief exports. the love?” Washington, D.C. has been forced to tour without unthinkable: that they might have A better example than this could- “The experience of being a The self-proclaimed music nerd Brigham, who stayed at home to bury their grandchildren as n’t be found than when a resident Wakefield Granny has been uplift- “just wanted to write [...] there was thanks to “a big gash in the hand well. of Wakefield must inform her fel- ing, life enhancing and empower- no real grand plan,” explains he strums his guitar with.” Filling Combating ignorance and low gogo in Alexandra that her ing for all of the Wakefield Cresswell. Along with bass player in has been Patrick Mathers from superstition is a large part of the grandchild has been diagnosed as Grannies,” says Rooney, whose Jon Darbey, Cresswell grew up on Hostage Life. If healing goes well Wakefield Grannies’ mission. terminally ill. follow up effort will be a film about the same street and met guitarist Brigham should be back on the “Hiding is a disease,” says one of The Great Granny Revolution the next generation of African Scott Brigham when they were just road sometime in October. the gogos interviewed by Rooney, is as much a film about empower- children. “It turns out that with five years old. Drummer Paul Deciding to go with what he after recounting a tale of the ing women as it is an advocate for anti-retrovials, children are no Ramirez joined them in grade calls “the cheesy route,” Cresswell shame that befell her family when AIDS organizations like the longer dying of HIV/AIDS. Given nine. was impressed with the amount of one of them contracted the dis- Stephen Lewis foundation, which proper care and a healthy diet they When coming up with a band reaction they’re gotten touring ease. “The stigma,” rather than the hosts one hundred autonomous can live happy and productive name, they went the unconven- new locations. “The first time we disease, “was killing us.” Granny organizations across lives.” tional route and picked the title of come to a new city and there’s peo- It’s a tradition in Alexandra Canada. a movie none of them, to this day, ple waiting for us, it’s really shock- that a widow must shave her head Rooney credits the contracep- The Great Granny Revolution will have ever seen. “If the Misfits can ing in the best possible way.” and forsake all joyful activities tive craze of the 1960s for giving be shown this Thursday, 7:30 p.m. name their band after a movie such as singing and dancing, or Canadians “the good fortune to at Centre Greene, 1090 Greene that’s probably horrible then [we] The Flatliners play Metropolis (59 even leaving the house, for a peri- have families when we want Avenue, Westmount. Tickets can be can do the same,” says Cresswell. Sainte-Catherine Street East), open- od of time to be decided by the them,” and points to the lack of purchased at the door for $10. Info: Once their latest album The ing for NOFX on October 10th and husband’s family. reproductive rights in Africa as the (514) 931-6202. A Q&A with Great Awake was written he 12th. Tickets cost $22 in advance It’s gratifying to know, then, cause of so much of its suffering. Brenda Rooney will take place after revised it with “a fine-toothed and $25 at the door and are available that a staple of the Alexandra A climactic moment in the film the film. comb [and] realized it’s a really at ww1.ticketpro.ca (search NOFX). Bombay culture clashes Indian struggle marks Bollywood Film Festival's penultimate screening

• CHRISTOPHER OLSON for the festival represent the cream both Hindu and Muslim communi- of Bollywood’s cinematic crop. ties. Ethnic divisions that had already Director Mani Ratnam’s Ratnam lays on the symbolism a been simmering for a century finally Bombay bares resemblance to little thickly. In one of Bombay’s boiled into a froth of violence, shak- Shakespeare’s Romeo & Juliet, with beautifully filmed and choreo- ing the very foundations of Bombay shades of West Side Story thrown graphed musical sequences, Shaila’s Bombay will be screened this Wednesday at Cinéma du Parc. India on Jan. 5, 1993. in. Like that film, Bombay avoids veil attaches itself to an anchor Bombay (1995), director Mani the tragic but integral ending of while rushing to embrace her Hindu move towards a reconciliation of all Indians.” Ratnam’s cinematic treatment of Romeo & Juliet. That is, the lover, forcing her to remove the gar- India’s two largest ethnic groups. Bombay will be screened in Tamil, the 1993 riots, filmed scarcely two poignant sacrifice made by the lat- ment and throw it, and caution, to Shekhar makes the film’s defin- Hindi and Telugu with English subti- years after the fact, will be the ter’s titular star-crossed lovers, by the wind. ing statement when confronted by tles this Wednesday at 8:00 p.m., at penultimate feature presentation at whose deaths a peaceful but mourn- Bombay presents a highly secu- an armed gang that demands to Cinéma du Parc, 3575, av. du Cinéma du Parc this Wednesday, as ful end to the violence is achieved. lar view of religion, depicting Islam know what community he hails Parc.The closing film of the festival part of its Bollywood Film Festival. Based as it is on historical events, and Hinduism as nothing more than from. will be Om Shanti Om, directed by With over 800 films produced Bombay can’t exactly gloss over the diverging paths on the same spiritu- “We don’t belong to either Farah Khan, which will be screened every year, the seven films selected tremendous loss of life between al journey. But also represents a community,” says Shekar. “We’re on Thursday at 8:00 p.m. THE LINK • SEPTEMBER 30, 2008 • THELINKNEWSPAPER.CA/LIT LITERARY ARTS 19 The Walkable City and other possiblities Or why I brought my bike to Drawn & Quarterly

• MICHAEL SABELLI back home who is stuck with the unenviable position of caring for a parent dying from I rode my bike up to Drawn & Quarterly, cancer. just east of Parc, to check out a double book On the other side of city life, Mary launch by two Canadian authors last Friday. Soderstrom’s The Walkable City is a thesis- What I found was a quaint little shop filled driven nonfiction that explores how a city’s to the brim with friendly and interesting peo- infrastructure affects its denizen’s mobility. ple; and on second thought, perhaps it was a Though express lanes and metro tunnels little too crowded. It was the launch of Mary make city life possible, it’s obvious that Soderstrom’s The Walkable City and Anik Soderstrom is a fan first most of muscle-pow- See’s Saudade: The Possibility City, pub- ered mobility. Observing trends in urban lished by Véhicule Press. planning and development, she concludes I asked See what inspires her, and seem- that cities might one day become, for lack of a ingly without doing much of it herself, she better word, unwalkable. What cities should replied, “thoughtfulness.” I just happened to be providing is more green space, or the catch her at a bad time, I guess, as by then the “green stuff,” says Soderstrom. place was bustling with conversation. But if her expansive bibliography is any Cutting through that thick screen of noise, indication, I might yet have a chance to learn I finally managed a private audience with See. her opinion on the subject. The title of her book, Saudade, is a After all, this isn’t her first foray into the Portuguese word for something that you can’t subject of city infrastructure. Her last book, as of yet and might never again be able to Green City, was included in the Globe and recapture. This would foreshadow a line in Mail’s 100 best books of 2007. her chapter on a suburban town in Cutting her reading short, Soderstrom Amsterdam, “A wind like this doesn’t help merely laughed and encouraged us to read people think twice.” If you know you know, Will the cities of tomorrow be unfriendly to those on foot? GRAPHIC MAX ROSENSTEIN the rest ourselves. and if you don’t care, that probably won’t help I left Drawn & Quarterly with my fill of you understand. “travel” for the reader. and can afford some quality time to reflect on wine, feeling quite satisfied with my experi- See says she had a hard time labeling her Though it may be considered travel writ- her overseas journeys. ence. A feeling of nostalgia swept over me as collection of essays a “travel book.” But after ing, See says she doesn’t go to destinations See abstains from cell phone use, and even I unlocked my bike and rode off, with realizing that each of her essays took place in with the expectation of finding great material as she keeps close contact with her editors by the words of Anik See stuck firmly in my different parts of the world, she concluded for stories. Instead, she records her impres- e-mail, she does all her writing by freehand. mind: “Homesickness not for a place, but that reading the book constitutes a form of sions when she is far removed from the scene Her opening chapter is a letter to a friend open space.” Great Karoo, and Prairies too Book Fair brings From the Albertan Prairies to the South African desert new meaning • PASCALE ROSE LINCINO also discovers a new kind of violence, 20th century entered a stage where “it produced by the organized brutality of became possible to shoot an enemy “I was often told that nothing scares the army and the routine cruelty of that you could not see,” says Stenson. to classics a horse more than a moose,” says Fred men. “It was the beginning of the machine Stenson, native Albertan and prolific He builds a strong but bashful age, and from that moment on, it has author of historical fiction. “Because friendship with two soldiers from his only got worse and worse.” for a horse, a moose really looks like a home region, Ovide Smith, a taciturn The more Stenson researched the nightmare horse.” French cowboy, and Jefferson Davis, a Boer War, the more it began to remind From the Albertan Prairies to the mysterious “half-breed.” him of the war in Iraq and Afghanistan. South African desert of the Great The Great Karoo paints a vivid pic- “There are tremendous parallels,” Karoo, Stenson’s latest historical novel ture of wartime through the eyes of a he stated. “The British went to South- is the story of a young Canadian cow- down-to-earth Canadian soldier. It is a Africa saying that they were there for boy named Frank Adams, who leaves frank, precise, vibrant and meticulous reasons of democracy when, obviously, his Albertan home for the first time to account, but not for those looking for it was for resources–gold. And just like fight for the British Empire in what an openly introspective prose about the U.S. now, Britain at the end of the would later be called the Second Boer initiatory journeys. 19th century is a country that has been War. Emotions are often discreet, hidden extremely powerful for a long time.” he Adam’s first exposure to the Great or left for us to figure out. Yet, Stenson explained. Karoo, a “desert like no other,” accord- transports us where we never imagined “It is [a country that is] starting to ing to Stenson, is like an Albertan that we would linger–one century ago, become self-conscious, not sure of Roch Carrier signs autographs. PHOTO RACHEL TETRAULT Prairie stretching for miles without in the most inhospitable desert, in the itself anymore, and it still feels that it fences. middle of a fierce war, under the tents has to get involved in things all over the • CHRISTOPHER OLSON Stenson visited that vast desert for of plain and rough soldiers. planet. It also thinks that it can easily the first time while conducting Stenson is best known for his award- win all those wars, no matter how many The McConnell Building was host to the 25th research for the setting and characters. winning novel The Trade, about the last times it has failed before. People say: anniversary of the Antiquarian Book Fair Saturday “The ground looks like a broken pave- days of the fur trade in the Canadian ‘This time, we will win that war in a and Sunday, the 27th and 28th of September. ment,” says Stenson. “When it rains, West. He has written fiction and non- month’.” “The fair was a huge success,” reported Adrian flowers grow through it in separate fiction, including contemporary and King-Edwards of the Word Book Store, who organ- round bouquets, as if someone had historical novels. He’s also a prolific The Great Karoo ized this year's events. planted brides’ bouquets.” documentary film writer and writes a Fred Stenson With 10,000 books, some ranging from $25 to Adams, Stenson’s contemporary humour column for Alberta Views Doubleday Canada $25,000, and over 30 dealers from Quebec and within the novel, fights in the name of magazine. September 2008 Ontario, the Antiquarian Book Fair is by far the an empire he does not really feel a part Stenson says that with The Great 496 pp largest book fair in the province. of, against an enemy that he finds diffi- Karoo, he wanted to illustrate a turning $32.95 Author Roch Carrier was on hand to hand out free cult to hate. He has difficulty adapting point in the history of how war is man- signatured copies of a chapbook about his adventures to the constraints of military life. He aged. With the Second Boer War, the as a book collector in Istanbul. 20 LITERARY ARTS THE LINK • SEPTEMBER 30, 2008 • THELINKNEWSPAPER.CA/LIT Video Light is no poppyshow, for real Caribbean-Canadians get a good word in

• BONNIE ZEHAVI “social mission” to educate and enjoyment for readers particularly rants, and even events like brate the lives of urban Canadians broaden the knowledge of of Ryan and Delia’s generation. Caribana,” she explains. and ensure that we are written in Delia Chinn is a beautiful Canadian readership about the “I am committed to document- While contemporary Canadian history, acknowledged for our dancehall vixen. Ryan Wright is a “urban” experience. ing the specific experience of literature in many ways success- experiences, and that our depic- humble high school history One of the most remarkable ‘urban’ Canadians and details such fully reflects the diversity of expe- tions in society exist beyond nega- teacher. Although both first gener- qualities of Robinson’s writing is as clothing, language and activities rience in this country, Video Light tive news reports and public mis- ation Caribbean-Canadians, they how she employs a Caribbean- are what make the story personal,” effortlessly punctuates where rep- conceptions,” says Robinson. come from dissimilar backgrounds Canadian vernacular throughout. maintains Robinson. “I want to resentations of that diversity have “The Urban Toronto Tales are and in many ways couldn’t be It’s an absolute joy to read for any- make sure that my stories are previously fallen short in pub- my attempt at promoting the more different. one familiar with the distinctly authentically Canadian.” lished fiction. lifestyle and showing a balanced Stacey Marie Robinson’s Video musical and humorous properties Readers already familiar with “Naturally, publishers are look- picture of our current experience Light, her first published work and of Caribbean speech when trans- Robinson’s previously disseminat- ing to find authors and literature in Canada.” the first novel in her Urban muted through a Canadian identi- ed works—printed at the author’s that will generate sales, and appeal Toronto Tales series, is the story ty. own expense and distributed to a large audience. Unfortunately, To order Video Light, log on to of Ryan and Delia, two unlikely Robinson acknowledges that freely—commonly respond to her at a glance ‘urban’ Canadian fic- kyapublishing.com lovers brought together on one while the dialogue might initially use of real places and events, and tion may not appear to have that Caribana weekend. limit an external audience from of believable characters that could type of power,” concedes Video Light: The novel chronicles their brief the story, for readers less familiar, easily be people they know. Robinson. Urban Toronto courtship and the resistance they Video Light provides entry into a “While many can relate to That is why she chose to release Tales face from loved ones—as well as “lifestyle and experience they African-American or Caribbean- Video Light through her own pub- Stacey Marie from each other—as they grow to might not otherwise encounter,” African tales, there is something lishing company, Kya Publishing, Robinson understand one another in a thereby simultaneously educating priceless about the urban experi- to make sure that characters like Kya whirlwind romance. and entertaining readers. ence in Canada that needs to be Ryan and Delia have a place in Publishing Much more than a love story, The novel is also rich in cultur- acknowledged and consumed,” Canadian fiction, “even if they are September however, Video Light and the al signifiers that enhance the real- says Robinson. “It is very rare to not accepted by the mainstream 2008 Urban Toronto Tales are in many ism of the story, the depth of the pick up a novel and hear about the and powerful publishing houses.” 130 pp ways, according to the author, a characters and provide further 401, particular malls and restau- “I hope to document and cele- $14.95 Lit Writ

had done, and I'm still not sure Batteries that I want to know. The biology teacher is talking • PASCALE ROSE LICINIO about DNA. A part of me thinks that that is fascinating and wants I could sleep all day long. All I to know everything about it. The need is a place where I can lie other part is struggling against down safely. I wouldn't want to sleep and praying for the bell to give people the opportunity to do ring. When it finally rings, I feel me harm. Because there are some exhausted. I stand for ages in the crazy people out there. Crazy. corridor, looking in one direction, The other day after school, I then the other. I don't even pre- spoke with Nicolas in front of the tend to do something. I breathe at post office. He is always sitting the rhythm of the blood beating in there, on the stairs, waiting for my head. Finally, I grab my back- someone to give him cigarettes or pack and I leave school. to have a conversation with him. I Nicolas is in front of the post gave him my pack of cigarettes. office, as usual. I say hello and ask The entire pack. I had just decided if he needs anything. But he does-

to quit. That I had been able to A pack of cigarettes. A full pack. GRAPHIC MADELINE COLEMAN n't notice me. He's too drunk to make up my mind while I still had notice anything. I slip my hand a full pack to blow really He made a face and shook his I picture aloof characters, never next one. But it doesn't stop. And inside his front coat pocket, and impressed him. It showed forti- head. I crossed the street and afraid to do what it takes to push when the clock is finally out of bat- extract a pack of cigarettes. A full tude—that's the word he used. bought him a croissant at the limits and never judging those teries, it's always at night when pack. I'll give him something next I asked how he was doing. He baker's. I could feel my heart beat- who aren't brave or skilled enough you sleep. You never quite notice time, I tell myself. didn't warn me. He rolled up his ing hard in my head. Why had I to do so. I hear them telling me to the moment when it hesitates, and The beating in my head gets pants. Just like that. Pink and given him a full pack of cigarettes? play with the rules. “Give it a try,” finally stops. louder and louder. Maybe it's swollen flesh. I thought that I was And would he lend me one of his? they seem to say. “Give it a try.” I Flesh. Nicolas also told me that going to stop after that beat, or the going to be sick. I could barely There I am, sitting at my desk follow the curve with my finger; one night some people took him one after. Or the one after that? hear him. He explained that some and staring at the pages of my text- that's the furthest I can go on their and threw him into the river. It The apartment is empty. people had burned his ankles with book. I like complex numbers. I path. was summer but the water was so Everybody is at work or at school, a lighter while he was sleeping on am glad that they exist. They are I am sitting at my desk. My eyes cold that he nearly died of shock. doing what they are supposed to a bench. neither simple, nor complicated. slowly close. I can hear the hum- He was taken to a hospital. They be doing. I go straight to bed. “Didn't you wake up?” I cried. They're complex. Just like life. ming of a large truck that washes called his brother, who gave him Maybe the beating will stop while I He had been too drunk to feel And they are twisted too. For years the pavement under my window. ten euros and then left. He told me sleep. anything while it happened, he and years, you learn that square I can hear my clock ticking. A that he had done some terrible said. numbers can never be negative. simple task, that one. Just ticking. things to his family and that they To submit your fiction or poetry “But when I woke up, oh when You take it for granted. Enters i Sometimes you think it's going to no longer cared about his being on to the Lit Writ column, e-mail them I woke up… And now…” he said. and i_= -1. stop. After that tick maybe, or the the street. He didn't say what he [email protected] THE LINK • SEPTEMBER 30, 2008 • THELINKNEWSPAPER.CA/SPORTS SPORTS 21 Back on track Concordia’s baseball squad puts pitching problems behind them with crucial 9-5 victory over McGill • DAVID KAUFMANN Concordia 9 McGill 5 Pierre-Marc Lebel pitched a no-hitter into the fifth inning last Tuesday, as the Concordia Stingers cruised to a 9-5 victory over the McGill Redmen at Trudeau Park. The Stingers came into this game with a 4-6 record thanks to recurring problems with their bullpen. Stingers shortstop Marco Masciotra suggested this was due to the fact that the team was missing players. “At the beginning of the season, we weren’t quite full. We had a couple of guys out, and now that we have a full staff it’s looking a lot better,” said Masciotra. The Stingers’ pitching woes looked to continue at first as Lebel walked a couple of players to start. Once the second inning came around, few opposing players got on base until the sixth inning. The Redbirds were having pitching issues of their own early on. In the bottom of the first inning, McGill pitcher LJ Aguinaga walked four players, allowing Con U to score the first two runs of the game. Stingers hitter Martin Chasles took advantage of Aguinaga’s poor pitching and scored a double to end off the inning lead- ing 4-0.

In the second and third innings, both Stingers baseball coach Howard Schwartz. PHOTO ION ETXABARRIA teams got on base, but none managed to score. The Redbirds made a pitching “[Lebel] pitched a gem. He more runners, but the Stingers bullpen innings, he was dynamite tonight.” change in the fourth inning, pulling held the fort for the victory. “I think we’ve been a little more Aguinaga in favour of reliever Jacob had a no hitter going into the “Tonight I think we put in a pretty good patient,” said Katz describing the team’s Gallinger. sixth inning, how could you effort,” said Stingers captain Jason Katz. improved hitting. At the beginning of the Unfortunately for the visitors, he didn’t complain about that?” Stingers head coach Howie Schwartz season, Katz suggested that the team was fare any better. Gallinger loaded up the agreed, saying that until Tuesday night swinging too early, and not waiting for the —Howard Schwartz, bases twice in the inning. Stingers coach they hadn’t had a better game all year. right pitch. “We’re making the pitchers Stingers hitter Edward Evans cashed in “I think this was our best game of the work a little more, being more selective, a run with an RBI single, then Emilio year,” said Schwartz. and looking for our pitch.” Pampena added a double to score two However, Lebel appeared to run out of Given the team’s concern about its more and give the Stingers a comfortable gas. McGill centre-fielder Adam Gordon pitching depth, the team was particularly The Stingers won three of their four games 7-0 lead. hit a double, and catcher Justin Cloutier thrilled with how this night went. “[Lebel] over the weekend and now have a record of 9-7. The Stingers added two more runs to added a single to score the first run of the pitched a gem. He had a no-hitter going Their playoff opponent is yet to be determined their lead in the fifth inning, as Andrew game for the Redbirds. into the sixth inning, so how could you as other teams in their division have Diorio and Mark Nadler crossed home At the top of the seventh inning, complain about that?” asked Schwartz. yet to finish their regular plate to nearly put the game out of reach. Gordon hit an RBI double to score two “He could’ve gone another three or four season schedule.

We’re looking for a Fringe Arts Editor! For more information on the position please contact [email protected] or call us at 514-848-2424 ext.5813. thelinknewspaper.ca 22 SPORTS THE LINK • SEPTEMBER 30, 2008 • THELINKNEWSPAPER.CA/SPORTS On the road again Women’s hockey squad takes two out of three in pre-season tourney

• DAVID S. LANDSMAN

Concordia 1 Markham 0

Looking to continue their pre- season winning streak, the Stingers headed into the Marion Hilliard Tournament with confi- dence and poise which helped them to the victory via shutout. This young team appears to be the real deal. “Overall it was a really good weekend,” said Stingers rookie Mallory Lawton. “We did a lot of really good things this weekend and I was really proud of the way we played.” The game was tight for most of the 60 minutes of action. Rookie goaltender Stephanie Peck recorded her first career shutout, and third year forward Devon Rich scored the lone goal of the game.

Concordia 2 Toronto 0 On Saturday, with the team given the day off from practice to rest and recover, they stepped on the ice hoping to extend their three game winning streak. Stingers’ coach opted to Stingers forward Mary Jane O’Shea battles for puck. PHOTO ION ETXABARRIA start Audrey Doyon-Lessard in goal, and she kept their Concordia 0 “We really wanted to pipes on less than 24 hours of we are this year. shutout streak alive at the tour- Durham 3 rest. She still played a strong Clearly, the team was full of ney. Hoping to cap off the impres- make a statement to game despite the 3-0 final score. optimism despite the loss in the Concordia came out strong sive feat of winning both of their the league about what “Obviously, it would have final game of the tournament. against the Toronto Varsity opening tournaments, the kind of team we are.” been nice to go 3-0, but there “It’s still very early in the season, Blues both offensively and defen- Stingers showed signs of fatigue were a lot of positives through- but we’re improving steadily —Kristen Clements, sively. Stingers forward Donna after their third game in as many Stingers defenseman out the first three games,” said every time we’re on the ice, and Ringrose potted her first goal of days, and the overall lack third year defenseman Kristen we have the determination and the new campaign, while Kelly of focus led to the end of Concordia’s coach opted to go Clements. “We really wanted to discipline to take it to Feehan notched her second goal the Stingers’ four game with the more experienced make a statement to the Nationals,” said Clements. “This in four games. winning streak. Doyon-Lessard between the league about what kind of team is our year!” scoreboard schedule Home Away Record Who When Concordia 0 Montreal 7 0-6-0 @Bishop’s Friday, 8 p.m Women’s soccer Laval 4 Concordia 0 Men’s rugby Montreal 6 Concordia 0 0-5-1 Women’s rugby @ Bishop’s Friday, 6 p.m Men’s soccer Laval 1 Concordia 1

Men’s rugby McGill 31 Concordia 5 0-3-0 Football @Montreal Saturday, 1 p.m

Women’s rugby Ottawa 3 Concordia 42 3-1-0 Women’s soccer vs. Montreal Friday, 6 p.m. @ Bishop’s Sunday, 1 p.m Concordia 9 McGill 5 Baseball Carleton 2 Concordia 5 8-6-0 Men’s soccer vs. Montreal Friday, 8 p.m. Carleton 0 Concordia 2 Concordia 7 Ottawa 0 Men’s football Concordia 12 Laval 21 2-2-0

Markham 0 Concordia 1 Women’s Toronto 0 Concordia 2 3-1-0-0 thelinknewspaper.ca/sports hockey (pre-season) Durham 3 Concordia 0 THE LINK • SEPTEMBER 30, 2008 • THELINKNEWSPAPER.CA/SPORTS SPORTS 23 The search continues Concordia’s soccer teams still can’t find a win

• DIEGO PELAEZ-GAETZ regroup, UdeM struck again two ening 6-0 loss. short minutes later, as Carabins Despite the difference in Concordia 0 forward Catherine Parizeau- ranking between the teams (the Montreal 7 Lamoureux scored with an ele- Carabins are ranked fifth in the gant flick over the head of a country while the Stingers have Concordia’s women’s soccer charging Davis to stretch the lead yet to win a game), the Stingers team couldn’t find an answer for to five. kept things interesting early on the Université de Montreal The onslaught didn’t stop and seemed to play with a confi- Carabins Friday night, as they there, as the Stingers narrowly dence and purpose that one were dismantled 7-0 on the road missed giving up another goal wouldn’t expect from a winless by the top-ranked team in the when Laverdiere got behind the team. country. defence yet again and just missed “We played hard for the first Despite the final score, the on a shot from close range. 15 minutes,” said Stingers mid- Stingers showed some mettle Davis did her best to keep the fielder Mauricio Soto. against their formidable oppo- Stingers close—she made a bril- However, Lady Luck smiled nent early in the match. The first liant, diving one handed save on a on the Carabins with 30 minutes major scoring chance came with a deflection by Laverdiere. She cut remaining in the first half: little more than 29 minutes off Laverdiere again a few min- Carabins forward Guillaume remaining in the first half, when utes later on a breakaway, as she Couturier could hardly believe it Carabins forward Eva Thouvenot- attacked the Carabins forward when the ball landed at his feet Heber took advantage of a miscue aggressive and dove in to steal the after a shot had bounced off of defensively by the Stingers to give ball away. the left post. He handily beat the home side a 1-0 lead. sprawled Stingers goalkeeper For the rest of the first half, “This was probably my Kyle Prillo-Guiani to give the Stingers managed to prevent hardest loss in my Universite de Montreal a 1-0 the Carabins from running away seven years at lead. from them. Despite the early deficit, the Stingers keeper Jessie Davis Concordia.” Stingers actually managed to played aggressively early on—she —Jorge Sanchez, control much of the action in the came out of the net on several Stingers coach first half. The midfield was more occasions to challenge Carabins in synch than in weeks past, and forwards and cut off dangerous Though the Stingers managed the Stingers avoided mental passes through the box. to stem the bleeding for more lapses on defense that have However, the game started to than 30 minutes of action, the plagued them throughout the turn at the 17 minute mark, when Carabins threw salt in the wound year. UdeM midfielder Veronique with Parizeau-Lamoureux’s sec- Just as it seemed the Stingers Miranda raced past the Stingers ond goal of the match off of yet would escape to halftime down defence and received a perfect another giveaway by the Stingers. only 1-0, Carabins midfielder pass from forward Veronique With minutes remaining in the Blaise Woodler-Elie scored on a Laverdiere that she calmly con- game, Parizeau-Lamoureux took header off of a cross from mid- verted to give the Carabins a two a clever pass from forward fielder Demarcy Mael that snuck goal cushion. Marylise Monchalin and complet- under a diving Prillo-Guiani with The floodgates opened from ed her hat trick to add insult to only seconds remaining in the that point on, as Concordia injury for the Stingers. half. seemed to be a step slow for the “This was probably the hardest The Carabins came out swing- rest of the match. Three short loss in my seven years at ing to start the second half, tak- minutes later, Carabins forward Concordia,” said Stingers coach ing only three minutes to add to Isabelle Dumais pounced on a Jorge Sanchez after the match. their lead. loose ball after a scramble in “It’s frustrating that we know that However, on the goal, a front of the Stingers’ net and we aren’t maximizing our poten- Concordia player struck his head blasted it by Davis to make the tial.” on the goal post and became score 3-0. The team seemed somber after entangled in the net. The ensuing Things went from bad to worse the game, and visibly shaken injury timeout lasted a consider- for the Stingers when forward Stingers captain Allison Burgess able period of time, as it Monica White was forced to leave summed up her coach’s feelings. appeared that trainers were Stingers midfielder Mike Al-Tork hones in. PHOTO CAT TARRANTS the game with an apparent ankle “I’m so disappointed in our afraid to move the injured opportunity, the first serious 0-5 on the season; both soccer injury. However, there was still effort,” said Burgess, as the team Stingers player. Play was scoring chance of the game for programs are still desperately hope. tried to deal with the prospect of stopped for over half an hour as Con U. seeking their first win. “We real- “We were feeling good after a winless season. officials waited for an ambulance Their hopes were quickly ly need to step it up,” said goal- the first half,” said Stingers for- “We have half of our team to arrive to field to cart off the dashed as Carabins midfielder keeper David De Palma, who ward Karen Stewart. “We were changing every year,” said injured player. Anasse Brouk took advantage of replaced Prillo-Guiani in nets for playing well together and we were Sanchez. “It’s hard to build in The Stingers managed to keep a free kick opportunity and blast- the Stingers in the second half. upbeat at the half for one of the that situation.” the score close with some heroic ed the shot right into the right “Our team just has to stay first times all year. It just didn’t defensive efforts, including a side of the net to give the home patient.” work out.” Concordia 0 remarkable header by Stingers squad a 4-0 lead. Their enthusiasm was damp- Montreal 6 defender Kouyabe Ignegongba With a few minutes remaining The Men’s and Women’s soccer ened almost immediately once The second half of the double- that prevented a goal. in the game, Mael managed to teams play this Friday at home the teams retook the field. An header on Friday night was eeri- Concordia finally managed to sneak behind the Con U defense against the Universite de Montreal outstanding cross from Dumais ly reminiscent of the first game, put some pressure on their oppo- yet again, and took a perfect Carabins. The Women’s team also was punched into the low left cor- as the men’s team started out nents with 35 minutes remaining feed from Brouk to finish off plays on Sunday on the road at ner by Laverdiere to put the game strong but were ultimately badly in the second half, as Stingers the scoring and give the Bishop’s at 1 p.m farther out of reach. outclassed by the Université de forward Alfred Gordon Moody Carabins a 6-0 lead. Leaving the Stingers no time to Montreal Carabins in a disheart- narrowly missed on a close range The loss drops the Stingers to —with files from David S. Landsman THE LINK • SEPTEMBER 30, 2008 • THELINKNEWSPAPER.CA/OPINIONS OPINIONS 25 Word in the Herd —Compiled by Annabelle Blais and Johnny North GRAPHIC HADLEY GRAHAM International students, how concerned are you about international tuition hikes?

[email protected] “I am an independent student and with the special agreement between France Dear your pseudonym is tacky, According to Halper, not only does this description define and Quebec, I pay the same fees as Israel’s actions towards Palestinians but also the Israeli govern- Quebec students.” [Re:Reggie’s Report: September 23, 2008] I am truly sorry for ment itself refers to the system as hafrada, which means sepa- —Maxime Rohr JMSB spicing up your seemingly boring existence by making a cameo at ration in English. France Reggie’s. Clearly you are a person whose judgmental tendencies Halper has also interviewed many well-known South Africans, leaves no room for us ghastly girls and Kris Kross enthusiasts. Next including John Dugard, a prominent South African Judge who time I will spare you, but in the meantime please take my well- lived during South African apartheid. intended advice and remove your bitch-tinted glasses Dugard says that the, “many aspects of Israel’s occupation All The Best, surpass those of the apartheid regime. Israel’s large-scale “I signed a petition against the de-reg- —Mrs. Obsessive Compulsive Liar destruction of Palestinian homes—18,000 homes since 1967— ulation and the international student leveling of agricultural lands, military incursions and targeted tuition increase. When I applied to A question in conflict assassinations of Palestinians far exceed any similar practices in Concordia, the fees were about $3,300 per semester, but when I got here it changed apartheid South Africa. No wall was ever built in South Africa to to $4,300. I get a small scholarship but I Contrary to last week’s letter, “On Fair Journalism” by Dmitijs separate blacks and whites.” have to finance most of the fees myself.” Feoktistovs, I would like to congratulate The Link on publishing Nozizwe Madlala-Routlege, a former South African deputy min- —Ali Sefidpour advertisements for events like “Artists Against Apartheid IV.” ister of defense and current member of parliament said on a Computer engineering Unlike well-known media across the country, The Link acknowl- recent visit to the West Bank, “the lack of freedom of movement, Iran edges events that are promoting awareness and justice in a con- the Israeli army presence everywhere, the total separation flict that has been going on for 60 years that the international between Jews and Palestinians and the extensive destruction we community is afraid to criticize. saw…what I see here is worse then what we experienced in South But what is really going on in Israel/Palestine that brings up Africa.” “I was informed by email of the provin- the question of whether or not it is “xenophobic,” “bias” or appro- It is our responsibility as students to investigate and get to the cial de-regulation and international tuition priate to call Israel an apartheid state? truth of controversial matters. We shouldn’t shy away because increase. I think it's unfair but what can I Jeff Halper, a well-known Israeli activist recently said, there are “two views” of a certain issue. Apartheid South Africa do? I have to pay $15,000 for my diploma. “apartheid comprises two elements; the separation of popula- also had its defenders and there were “two views” there as well I get a scholarship from the Rotary Club. It tions according to race, religion or nationality and the subsequent but there were enough people who spoke out against the injustice makes no sense that I have to pay more...the domination of one privileged people over others institutionalized and it ended. education is the same.” —Christiane Miethge into a permanent system supported by law.” —Leah Van Meer Mass Journalism Apartheid is an Afrikaner word meaning separation. Sociology Germany

The Link’s letters and opinions policy: The deadline for letters is 4 p.m. on Friday before the issue prints. The Link reserves the right to verify your identity via telephone or email. We reserve the right to refuse letters that are libelous, sexist, homophobic, racist or xenophobic. The limit is 400 words. If your letter is longer, it won’t appear in the paper. “I haven't heard of the provincial de- Please include your full name, weekend phone number, student ID number and program of study. The comments in the regulation but I don't think I would be letters and opinions section do not necessarily reflect those of the editorial board. And maybe that’s the whole point. affected since I pay my fees directly to my private school in France. For this year, I had to pay 5,000 Euros [$7,555 CAD].”

—Caroline Desplanques Don’t eat your ballot Computer engineering France

• JESARA SINCLAIR the thought of walking into a polling station at a busy time of day, taking the ballot to the While I appreciate my right to cast a vote in middle of the room and ripping it loudly the upcoming election, where is my right to between my teeth. vote for “none of the above”? I suppose I could do just that. But the “I haven't heard of any increase or de- While my ballot may be my direct link to penalty is 3 months in jail or a $500 fine. regulation. I pay $6,000 per semester and democracy, it belongs to the government of Neither of which are worth the brief moment I haven't got a scholarship, but my family Canada from printing to destruction. of glee. helps.” And the federal government takes issue —Xin Gu Economics with defacing ballots. “No person shall willfully alter, China The problem stems from my riding of Laurier-Sainte-Marie, a Bloc stronghold. So deface or destroy a ballot.” strong, in fact, that Mr. Duceppe himself is —Section 167, subsection 2, our member of parliament. line a, Canada Elections Act. So, in the quirky way that “democracy” tends to work, the rest of the parties toss in a I’m a little disconcerted at the choices I weak candidate as a pathetic alternative, and face. I could hang around the Big House until “I haven't heard of the provincial de- no one is surprised with the results. January, missing two semesters of school. I regulation, but France has a special agree- I don’t want to cast my vote for a “lesser could vote for an alternate candidate just to ment with Quebec and I pay the same fees evil.” I want to protest the fact that I don’t take one vote away from the Bloc. I could as any Quebecer does.” particularly want any of the candidates to rep- leave my ballot unmarked and unnoticed, or I —Stephanie Moisan Fine Arts resent me in Ottawa. could join the ranks of the apathetic and stay France “I’m going to spoil my ballot,” I told my home. roommate. The vote should be our chance to be heard, There is something incredibly satisfying at but I’ve never felt more insignificant. 26 OPINIONS THE LINK • SEPTEMBER 30, 2008 • THELINKNEWSPAPER.CA/OPINIONS WEEKLY QUAGMIRE Quagmire - noun: a situation from which extrication is very difficult The Large Hadron Collider

The recent coverage given to CENR’s LHC led The Link to write a Weekly Q on the subject. Each article was given 400 words to defend a point of view.

CERN is a deadly The audacity and threat to scientifc waste of CERN’s illiteracy science CA

Why is it that the only thing nowadays The work of nearly 8,000 scientists and . that galvanizes public interest in the sci- engineers, representing 80 countries, has ences is when some new technology poses materialized in a northwest suburb of

a deadly threat to the existence of Geneva; at 27 kilometres in circumference, CONCORDIA . mankind? the Large Hadron Collider is the most expen- Forget that the Large Hadron Collider sive scientific experiment in history. THELINK

built by CERN (which stands for A product of CERN, the European @ Organisation Européenne pour la Organization for Nuclear Research, the Recherche Nucléaire) is safe beyond all LHC’s stated goal is to collide two opposing LETTERS reasonable doubt. beams of protons into each other at 99.99 per Fears that it will produce a black hole cent of the speed of light, the result of which that’ll consume the Earth are nothing but is a $9.6 billion best guess. an egregious example of scientific illitera- At a time when the European Union is cy, or worse, the kind of literature that wagging its haughty finger at the world over passes for science fiction these days. climate change, population growth and Really, what greater evidence do we poverty in Africa, its highest scientific priori- need that something’s not true than the ty has been to determine the existence of the click. fact that Dan Brown has already written a Higgs boson. detective novel claiming that it is? As should be expected from the largest, Whereas evolution posed an immediate and some might say most dangerous, high- and obvious threat to creationism when it power particle physics experiment in history, was first announced, the only vague threat scientists from around the world have raised that could be condensed from CERN was concerns about the safety of the experiments that enough antimatter could be produced to be conducted at the collider. to create a bomb to destroy the Vatican, as Doomsday scenarios forecasting the pro- figures heavily in the plot of Dan Brown’s duction of stable micro black holes and the Angels & Demons. creation of dangerous hypothetical particles In reality, it would take a billion years to called strangelets have yielded a strong reply produce enough hazardous material at from CERN. CERN to create a weapon that could equal A panel of physicists commissioned by the one hydrogen bomb, of which we already European institution ruled that the LHC’s Submit your Click photos to [email protected] have roughly 10,000. risk is minimal due to a theory about black But don’t get me wrong, CERN really hole evaporation, segments of the Hawking should be a top news story, whether or not radiation theory and a fundamental misread- it produces the cataclysmic effects yearned ing of superstring theory. Humanity could be by so many Hollywood producers with hanging in the balance, but not to worry, a their visions of a blockbuster script. theory about a theory, when understood We live in a world where discoveries through another theory, says that possible about the very structure of the world itself black holes should collapse on themselves. are relegated to top news story status Relieved? alongside “Kid gets stuck in a candy The problem at hand is not one about sci- machine,” and “Dog rides skateboard: the entific discovery or the rate of progress; it is Oprah interview.” about massive waste of finite resource in a Rather than hiding under our beds in time when problems on Earth are demand- fear that the apocalypse will happen not ing a rethinking and retooling of civilization. with a bang, but with the Large Hadron The audacity of the 8,000 scientists at Collider, why don’t we all cross our fingers CERN is unbelievable, although they under- and hope that the tests actually confirm the stand that the LHC poses a danger, they are existence of the Higgs boson, the theoreti- prepared to go ahead. A picture of the Higgs cal particle which would finally explain boson is simply not worth putting humanity’s how particles gain mass? existence at risk. With all this talk about black holes and Since the cancellation of the United antimatter, did anyone bother to learn States’ Superconducting Super Colldier in what the intention of building the Large 1994, planned to be a much bigger and much Hadron Collider was in the first place? more powerful particle accelerator, CERN’s It’s probably just natural that with every LHC is the world’s sole functioning high- scientific discovery some great taboo must power particle accelerator. be broken. But with all the great taboos For the moment, humanity is safe from already in tatters, it’s no wonder that fear the LHC as the failure of one of the supercon- for fear’s sake has risen to play the time- ducting quadruple electromagnets has honoured tradition of devil’s advocate. pushed experiments back to spring 2009.

—Christopher Olson —Justin Giovannetti Literary Arts Editor Opinions Editor THE LINK • SEPTEMBER 30, 2008 • THELINKNEWSPAPER.CA/OPINIONS OPINIONS 27 crswrdpzzlol editorial • JUSTIN GIOVANNETTI Across 1 2 345 6 Dignity for drug users 78 1. US policy against communism until 1980 The city of Montreal has toyed with the idea of hosting the second safe- 4. UN body where great powers exercise veto 9 injection site in North America, and the proposal gained steam after an 7. Britain’s Middle East mandate created a nation for 10 announcement by former Quebec Health Minister Philippe Couillard last June. this group 11 12 13 14 Unfortunately his replacement, Yves Bolduc, has delayed plans with vague 9. name given to US peace process in Middle East 15 16 excuses calling for more information and studies. 10. theory in which you can actually win a nuclear 17 Insite, operating in Vancouver for the past five years, is currently the only war safe injection site in North America. 11. previous UN Secretary General 18 19 Safe injection sites do more than provide shelter for drug users, they turn 14. seat of Soviet defense alliance 20 the drug debate on its head. By shifting the emphasis to health care and med- 17. city where UN Charter was signed 21 22 23 ical services, safe injection sites create an important paradigm shift: intra- 19. city after which the modern state system is 24 25 26 venous drug users are not ingrates or criminals, they are sick. named Drug users are dealing with an illness that is extremely difficult to treat 20. western military alliance 27 without a proper support network. These are people whose lifestyles fall so far 24. first arms control agreement between US and from acceptable societal norms that they fall victim to judgments that exclude 28 29 USSR them from rights and privileges that most people take for granted. 25. a nuclear capability afforded by submarines 30 What do the words “drug addict” normally bring to mind? The unwashed, 27. an innovation to trump missile defense systems unshaven man sitting on a street corner yelling incomprehensible babble to no

28. the central organization of the international system 31 32 33 34 35 36 one in particular may be the most visible sign, but he is not the only drug

30. UN agency that is busy every October, near the end 37 addict in our community. 31. Reagan’s policy with communism People suffering from prescription drug addictions are provided with hospi- 38 39 34. what missions, like that in Afghanistan, are now talization, treatment facilities, counseling and sympathy. In a word: dignity. called Whether they live in glass towers, behind white picket fences or in dumps, 40. nations given veto 40 41 people from all socio-economic backgrounds abuse illegal drugs—some just 41. the Roosevelt whose UN is finally coming true have the money to cover up their dirty little habit. 42. seat of UN Insite describes those using the centre as “men and women who use more 42 43 43. Reagan wanted to put what in space? than one drug; people who experience both addiction and mental illness; peo- group ple with a history of trauma; people who are homeless, live in shelters or live Down 17. to punish a nation by economic or diplomatic issue 6 in substandard housing; men and women of Aboriginal descent; and people means who have tried unsuccessfully in the past to beat their drug addiction.” 1. Caribbean nation with central place in Cold War solutionz 18. his “points” led to the League of Nations Injection site users are also the most marginalized and most vulnerable 2. the main theory of nuclear war during the Cold War 22. central component of relations among nations members of society, unable to support their addictions safely, they are in no 3. Canadian PM with a Nobel Peace Prize 23. number of points proposed by Wilson position to provide a safe place to inject their drugs themselves. 5. growth pattern advocated by UN HABITAT 26. British PM with iron will who defended islands A safe-injection site doesn’t provide a direct route to rehabilitation—that 6. thinker responsible for starting Idealists stream 29. ICMBs, bombers and _____ are the nuclear troika has yet to me discovered—but it is, as proponents argue, a point of entry into 8. group of nations free of superpowers during Cold War 32. no more biological weapons seeking other medical services. 9. theory where life is ‘solitary, poor, nasty, brutish and 33. arena of conflict between superpowers for fifty Who can blame disadvantaged drug users? A distrust of the society that’s short’ years marginalizing you is only natural, so in providing a judgment-free facility 12. George H.W. Bush announced a ____ in the 35. the UN is one of these where those in need can use the services they need, a trust for medical treat- absence of the USSR 36. second war allowed by UN resolution ment can be fostered. 13. these were so violated in WWII, that they are a cen- 37. WWII conference in Africa, named Sextant A safe injection site is a step further than a needle exchange. Users are per- tral component of the UN 38. the central player in the international system mitted to bring in their own drugs to inject, with no legal implications for the 15. program that distributes more than $1 billion of 39. realist thinker who wrote on use of force possession of these drugs. Nurses are on staff to supervise and prevent com- food aid plications or death by overdose. Counseling and rehabilitation services are 16. British war in Southern Africa was against this made available to those seeking them, but those who aren’t ready to accept help are still protected from doing themselves serious and further harm. You can’t legislate morality. You can’t stop people from taking drugs, but you can offer them an alternative to shooting up in the park where you walk your THIS WEEK IN HISTORY SEPTEMBER 25, 1992 dog, or the bathroom of the pizza joint down the street. This isn’t an attempt to remove personal accountability for drug addiction, Coalition fights back against GST but civic ideals are no reason to turn a blind eye to people who have let their on books drug addictions reach a point of unmanageability. Heroin, cocaine and mor- phine addictions take more than good resolution and civic pride to shake. With the second anniversary of As the problem grows worse in our inner cities and our suburbs, the federal the Goods and Services Tax within government is providing cheap excuses to keep safe injection sites out. sight, the full impact of the tax was Federal Health Minister Tony Clement called safe injection sites “palliative becoming obvious to Canadians as care,” saying that medical professionals should be working to help addicts students realized they were hardest with their problem, rather than to perpetuate it. hit. But Clement never offers a solution to the problem of addiction. By denying One of the most controversial the need for safe injection sites without offering an alternative, he appears to items to be taxed were books. “The be trying to turn a blind eye to addicts in back alleys, ignoring the fact that addition of a 13 per cent GST has current rehabilitation programs aren’t an all-encompassing solution, as they lead to a drop of 20 per cent in book exclude those without the incredible amount of strength and willpower that’s sales and as much as a 50 per cent needed to conquer an addiction. drop in magazine and newspaper The majority of government spending on illegal substances is on law sales,” reasoned David Hunt. enforcement, with less than 10 per cent left for rehabilitation programs. That’s Hunt was responsible for forming just placing addicts in prisons, further alienating them and their trust in “the the “Don’t Tax Reading Coalition,” a system.” group committed to carrying out a Hopefully, with continued advocacy of safe-injection sites, like the upcom- mail campaign against MPs who Many students were caught off Prime Minister Brian Mulroney ing lecture dealing with advocating, “the right to healthcare for injection drug voted in favour of GST. guard by the tax. When students had had promised to review taxed items users,” by Gillian Maxwell at Concordia next Thursday, the Quebec government According to Judy Mappin of left Concordia during the summer on October 4, leading many people to will come around to recognizing the benefits of providing the Montreal com- Montreal’s Double Hook Canadian semester, there was no GST on think the tax would be rescinded. munity with one of their own. Books, “books are normally reces- books, when they returned in the fall Sixteen years later it is still here. sion-proof, but the GST has had all books and course packs were 13 —Jesara Sinclair quite an effect on them.” per cent more expensive. —Justin Giovannetti Student Press Liaison