The Cord WeeklyThe tie that binds since 1926 TOP TRUMPS ATTACK OF THE MAK How to play your cards right and stay out Jonathan Mak talks to The Cord about of trouble at Laurier... PAGES 20-21 his game Everyday Shooter... PAGE 35
Volume 49 Issue 4 MONDAY SEPTEMBER 1,2008 www.cordweekly.com
Pool Dec. until open 31
SYDNEY HELLAND
Laurier has delayed the university pool's closure to allow community groups more time to raise funds significant effect on both commu- nity groups and school users. for its repair; it's now up to those groups to raise the funds that would keep the pool from closing According to Peter Tiidus, chair of the kinesiology department, several courses in the department JEREMY TREMBLAY that the pool is safe to keep open beresponsible for raising funds. Max Blouw, the school's priorities will be directly affected, includ- NEWS EDITOR on a day-to-day basis over the com- "It will be up to the community for capital funding lie elsewhere. ing a course on swim coaching, an ing months, though Jim Butler, VP: [to raise funds] if they want to use "We are constantly looking for aquatic fitness class and several Wilfrid Laurier University has offi- Finance for WLU, cautions that the it,"he said. government funding for various labs. cially announced that its aging pool pool could be closed on short no- "Otherwise, it will be a different capital needs," Blouw explained, "We have booked some time will now remain open until Decem- tice before December 31 should the type of pool if do we put one in. "but our priority has been student over in the Rec Centre instead," ber 31. facility become unsafe. We're into a campus planning pro- needs and classroom needs. We explained Tiidus, "but that's fairly The move was made to give The cost of extending the life of cess right now... and that's going to have a long list of deferred mainte- expensive and we'd prefer not to do community groups, who were left the pool lies anywhere from $1.5 take about a year. We're just in the nance that is on our radar screen. that. ... As for the labs and things scrambling to find alternate facili- million for a solution that will last throws of hiring a consultant right The pool is one element of that but we would run in there, I don'tknow ties when in June the original date five years to $20 million to replace now. We'll probably wait until we it is a lower priority." how we're going replace them; we of closure was set as August 31, the pool. have a campus plan officially ap- He cited renovations to Arts IEI haven't crossed that bridge yet." more time to raise funds to extend Laurier is working with commu- proved before we make any move and classrooms in St. Michael's the life ofthe facility. nity groups to plan for repairs, but on a pool," he explained. campus as WLU's current priority. Consulting engineers have said Butler stresses that Laurier will not According to WLU's President The pool's potential closure had - SEE POOL, PAGE 11 WLUSU website final cost around $100,000
status as a student, but the system noted, would "engage students and The new Students' Union website, to be completed by January 5, may would be configured so that each create a virtual dialogue between studentcould only vote once. them and WLUSU." include an election module to allow for online voting by students As well, he noted that there The Students' Union is even toy- would be measures to ensure pri- ing with the idea of a Facebook-type REBECCA VASLUIANU below the budgeted $165,000. pletion by January 5, 2009 and, vacy during voting times and, in the application, included internally on NEWS EDITOR "I think it'll probably come in with a new and improved website, service agreement, WLUSU would the website where students could under $100,000. Where it'll come in Champagne revealed some of the make sure the website was secure interact with one another. The Wilfrid Laurier University Stu- under that I can't be sure, but that's new things WLUSU plans to experi- enough to handle many people us- "You name it. Anything thatyou dent's Union (WLUSU) has settled the way it's looking right now," said ment with. ing it at the same time. can do on the Internet we want to on a supplier for its new website Champagne. "One of the bigger ones is the "We would anticipate higher try and have on the website," said and has gone into initial negotia- "We have the full 'out of the box' elections module because the Stu- traffic at certain times of the year, Champagne. tions to create a final contract. software package, which is available dents' Union is slowly trying to go so that might be one of the times Until the new website is built, Negotiations began on August 26 for about $60,000 with full custom towards a more environmental sys- we would prepare with more band- Champagne explained that he and and, depending on the package of design in terms of graphic design tem, so we want to have a paperless with to secure the site," Champagne VP: Marketing Jackie McDonald features WLUSU selects, the final and it goes to the higher end of that election," he said. stated. have been working to ensure that pricetag may vary. project which is full customization. Champagne explained that the Another feature WLUSU wants the old website is kept current, According to Phil Champagne, I think that came out to $150,000," election module would have a fea- to try out is incorporating videos, clean and free ofredundancy. Marketing and Communications he explained. ture where students could put in blogs and photographs of an enter- Manager, the final number will be The website is targeted for com- their student number to prove their taining nature, which, Champagne MONDAY SEPTEMBER 1,2008 ■ THE CORD WEEKLY 2 News
The Cord Weekly - The tie that binds since 1926~ phone: (519) 884-1970 ext. 3564 fax:(519)883-0873 Summer, summarized email: [email protected] The Cord Weekly 75 University Avenue West missed over the summer, visit CordWeekly.com Waterloo, Ontario For these highlighted stories and others you've N2L 3C5 MONDAY SEPTEMBER 1, 2008 VOLUME 49 ISSUE 4 MAY 2008
Next Issue: September 10
QUOTE OF THE WEEK "It's actually kind of karma."
- Editor-in-Chief Alex Hayter, on stealing a chocolatebar Student accused of from a pair of girls as they were arguing in front ofa vending machine. terrorism Students may Laurier staff and peers still joinWLUSA Lord of the Sims No re-zoning WORD OF THE WEEK support Suresh Sriskan- Laurier students al- Maxis co-founder City council votes Onerous - Representing a great burden or difficulty. darajah despite claims by lowed legal representa- speaks on campus against re-zoning "stu the U.S. tion over unionization dent slums" CONTRIBUTORS
AlexCybulski Paula Millar Alison Schofield Anne Donahue Andrea Millet Mara Silvestri Linda Givetash Don Morgenson Josh Smyth Heather Hamilton Shagun Randhawa Alanna Wallace Luciani Trevor Loughborough Trevor Scheidel Greg Whitfield BigWLUSU Baxter leads Maxwell's BOD budget Canada's athletes drafted music $31,575.87 bud- Director ofLaurier Athletics Receiver Dante New venue opened WLUSP STAFF get approved will go to the FISU games in Luciani goes to beside King St. by the Board of February Eskimos Residence Copy Editing Manager Meredith Barrett Copy Editors Emily Slofstra Directors Ariel Kroon IT Manager Kayleigh Leßlanc Distribution Manager Nicole Weber
JUNE 2008
WLUSP ADMINISTRATION
President Greg Sacks Economist gets Elite journalists VP: Advertising Angela Foster VP: Brantford Holly Gibson Underagers barred national attention speak at CIGI Chair of the Board Bryn Ossington Sue Horton pro- Four famous Vice Chair Janice Lee from the Turret Double-rooms Board of Directors Brendan McGill Underagers will not be WLU over-enrolls for third poses cure to correspondents at Luay Salmon allowed in on bar nights year in a row malnutrition roundtable ADVERTISING
All advertising inquiries should be directed to VP: AdvertisingAngela Foster at 884-0710, ext. 3560 [email protected]
COLOPHON $165,000 Chancellor Pollock Intramurals awarded VG Cats let loose WLUSU website Electrohome founder in- Athletics department Internet cartoonist The Cord Weekly is the official student newspaper of BOD stalled WLU acknowledged for 07/08 talks to The Cord theWilfrid Laurier Universitycommunity. approves large in position budget for new site programming Started in 1926 as the College Cord, Vie Cord Weekly is an editorially independent newspaper published by Wilfrid Laurier University Student Publications, Waterloo, a corporation without share capital. WLUSP is governed by its board of directors. wluHtf (J222JJpuh(lcjtloni
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Campus Plus is The Cord's national advertising agency. New Acting VP: Laurier radio and tv Shad nominated Academic society created for Polaris Brantford's Leo New broadcasting Laurier alumnus Shadrach Preamble to The Cord ConsUtution Groarke comes to program initiated Kabango shortlisted for The Cord willkeep faith with its readers by presenting news and expressions of opinions comprehensively, accurately and fairly. Waterloo prestigious prize The Cordbelievesin a balanced and impartial presentation of all relevant facts in a news report, and ofall substantial opinions in a matter ofcontroversy.
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The onlylimits ofany newspaper are those of the world around it, and so The Cord will attempt to cover its world witha special focus on Wilfrid Laurier University, and the community of Kitchener-Waterloo, and with a special ear to the concerns of the students of Wilfrid Laurier University. Ultimately, The Laurier Cord will be bound by neither philosophy, nor geography in CrimeStoppers student passes away Pool closing? Brantford independence its mandate.
The Cord has an obligation to foster freedom of the press and freedomof speech. This obligation is best fulfilled when debate WaterlooCrimeStoppers.ca Fourth-year student Robin WLU makes initial announce- WLUSU Brantford's cam- and dissentare encouraged,both in the internal workings of the Cord's website with paper, and through The contact with the student body. created, help Richardson succumbs to sus- ment that pool would close on pus council is made more The Cord will always attempt to do what is right, with fear of fromLaurier staff. pected embolism in June August 31 (see cover story) independent neither repercussions, nor retaliation. The purpose of the student press is toact as an agent of social awareness, and so shall conduct the affairs of our newspaper. The Cord Weekly ■ monday September i, 2008 News 3
VOCAL CORD "How do you feel about the Meal plan changes new no rollover policy with the OneCard meal plan?" $500 maximum carry-forward for one semester; funds no longer transfer to convenience account
LAURA CARLSON "ln doing that we needed ... or- lars in the conveniance account Turing of the meal plan.
SPECIAL PROJECTS EDITOR ganizational changes to the meal - about $350 depending on one's "The university came to us and
plan." meal plan - six off-campus ven- said 'the dining hall and Food Ser-
The Laurier meal plan, a required Starting this year students are dors such as Beach Bunnies tan- vices in general is losing ... hun- purchase for all first-year students only allowed to carry forward a ning studio and Sugar Mountain, dreds and thousands of dollars living in dormitoryresidences, has maximum of $500 which expires which didn't fit with the overall every year and they said that one
currently seen a significant change at the end of their first semester of mission ofthe university, have also of the causes ... was the structure in both the amount of money slot- second year, and the money must been dropped from the program. of the meal plan," said LeFevre. ted into the various accounts, as stay in the allotted accounts. "We've significantly reduced "We certainly didn't ask for
"It doesn't make sense - if you pay the well as the carry forward policies. The meal plan is broken up into the amount of money and options the negotiations of the chang- money it should stay with you until In past years all money left on three separate accounts. off-campus for the OneCard," es because we don't have any you graduate." a student's OneCard at the end Prime dollars, making up the said Colin LeFevre, president of problems. of first year was transferred into a bulk of the funds, must be used at the Wilfrid Laurier University Stu- "Food Services clearly does with
- Lauren Smee, convenience account which could on-campus establishments such dents' Union (WLUSU). their exuberant losses," he added. Fourth-year Music be used to make purchases at off- as the Dining Hall, King Street "If the options are here on cam- Since WLUSU and the university campus vendors as well as any on- Residence and WCH Residence pus, why would we want the mon- have an operating agreement, any campus ones including theLaurier cafes, alternative dollars that ap- ey going into private dollars?" he changes made to the meal plan Bookstore. ply to other on-campus establish- added. had to be agreed upon by the Stu- "We're trying to improve our ments, and convenience dollars, LeFevre explained thatcurrently dents' Union. After several propos- profitability in WLU Food Ser- which can be used at multiple all of WLUSU businesses are oper- als went back and forth between vices," said Dan Dawson, General establishments. ating profitably, and that they in Manager of Student Services. Aside from, having fewer dol- no way sought to change the struc- SEE MEAL PLAN, PAGE 5
"It's your money. I don't see why it just disappears."
b -Tracey Aitcheson Fourth-year Business Vote to make Laurier the centre of
"It's bad because it distinguished Laurier. I know it was a great feature the musicverse. because I had thousands left over."
-Tara Zwicker Second-year Biology and History Don't let some other school steal the party. Step up and help Laurier win a MySpace™ Secret Show featuring a cool band next month. Cast your vote at myspace.com/TELUS. Or get two votes by texting LAUR to 321 on your TELUS mobile phone.
"It sucks. Now I guess I'm going to try and eat as much as I can before the year ends."
- SteveJakobsen First-year Honours History
I' y, t£- '' - r"r"i4fri "It differentiated us from other schools, It's a big pain in the butt."
- Romi Levine Fourth-year Communication Studies pHC*
Compiled by Daniel Joseph, photos bySydney Helland 4 News MONDAY SEPTEMBER 1, 2008 > THE CORD WEEKIY Minister Monte announces Federal Budget
Federal Minister Solberg reported changes made to this year's budget affecting university students
REBECCA VASLUIANU spending the treasury, this is not a NEWS EDITOR priority."
According to Coleman, the fed- SYDNEY HELLAND
Minister of Human Resources and eral government is charging an MONTE-ARY SUPPORT - Minister Solberg explains the financial benefits for future students. Social Development Monte Sol- interest rate of 2.5 percent above
berg announced administrative the prime amount - with Ontario changes outlined in 2008's federal individually charging 1 percent go to school, and on the back end come into effect in a year, recipi- and what you end up with is almost
budget that concern post-second- above prime - and he believes that so thatif they struggle to repay they ents will receive monthly grants a yo-yo affect," he explained. ary students across the country at while it would cost the government have some generous programming rather than yearly ones. "Tuition has gone up in some an event in Kitchener on Monday, money, it would ultimately be good in place that will lift the burden," "If a student is from a low-in- cases 24 percent but students have August 25. for Canada's economy as a whole to stated Solberg. come family or middle-income received no increase in student The announcement took place lower the rate. These supportive strategies were family and qualifies for a Canada loan rates. So what we need is a at the Catholic Family Counsel- "By lowering the interest rate 2.5 all measures of the federal bud- student loan that student will au- fixed rate where both change to- ling Centre in downtown Kitch- percent, yes, it will cost the gov- get that Solberg announced in his tomatically get a Canada Student gether," he added. ener, and Solberg informed those ernment money, but the key thing speech. Grant," explained Solberg. And as the federal government in attendence of some new assis- is that students will actually end A total of $123 million will be di- "The new Canada Student Grant has not increased student loan tance given to Canadian university up paying over a shorter period of rected towards modernizing Cana- program will give students funding rates, tuition generally increases students. time, and once a student is done« dian student loans programs, with they can count on. They can predict year by year at universities across Not included in the budget, how- paying off their loans, they gener- $76 million of that going towards how much they will get, they can Canada. ever, was the fact that the high in- ally have money that they end up aiding loan repayment, and $23 plan ahead and never have to pay WLU President Max Blouw at- terest rates for student loans were investing in the housing market million going towards reformatting that money back." tributes this at Laurier to a lack left untouched. and other vehicles that generate an online system where students Lesley Cooper, Dean of Social of funding from the provincial Joey Coleman, Maclean's on- economic growth," he explained. can pay back their loans at one Work at Laurier, was in attendance government. campus reporter and blogger, was When asked, Solberg addressed place instead of several. and believes that the changes were "We're advocating the provincial disappointed by the exclusion'after the issue of high interest rates after "The repayment processes were ultimately positive. government that the funding per reading the details of the budget his speech, explaining that one of complicated and onerous," stated "I think anything that helps stu- student go up, but in the absence of on February 26 when they were the measures taken in the govern- Solberg. dents from a disadvantaged back- that and with the inflationary pres released. ment's 2008 budget was the allo- "We're using the internet to pro- ground... is a good thing for stu- sures that universities face, we have "Loan programs should not be cation of more money to help stu- vide students with a single window dents, is a good thing for Canada to make the budget balance," Blouw about making money collecting dents repay their debts. to monitor and manage both fed- and is certainly a good thing for stated. interest, it should be about the He believes this method will be eral and provincial student loans," Laurier," she stated. "There's no doubt that students government taxing on its costs of more effective because it helps stu- he added. And despite his criticisms, Cole- are feeling economic pressure. getting that money, what it paid to dents no matter why they are strug- In addition, the Canadian Mil- man noted that there are good fea- Families supporting students are borrow it and nothing more," said gling to repay their debts, as for lenium Scholarship program will tures of the new budget. also facing economic pressures Coleman. some it may not be caused by high be replaced with the Canada Stu- "The federal government here has and at the same time so are gov- "I don't understand why the gov- interest rates. dent Grant Program, which aims not done a bad job. The one thing ernments and so are universities, ernment will not lower its interest "We've put in new supports on to grow to $430 million by 2012-13 I think that they need to do is the so none of the three parties are rates to prime... I think it makes the front end so that people have and plans to reach 245,000 students amount of money in student loans without pressure... It's really about sense, but when the government more money in their pockets so instead of 105,000. that students can get each year reaching a balance." sits down and decides where it's that they can make the decision to In this new system, which will doesn't increase, yet tuition does WLUSUrenovations underway
Alterations made to the FNCC include a major overhaul of the Pita Shack
REBECCA VASLUIANU strange angle, there was unused $130,000, will be completed in time NEWS EDITOR space, so the counter was moved for training on September 4. J[ /^Q forward to run straight and provide Renovations made to the en- helping Laurier students to look and After a summer of busy renovations more space behind the facility. trance of the FNCC were an effort see their best in the Fred Nichols Campus Cen- "You saw how we used to have to to create storage rooms. since 1995 tre (FNCC), Wilfrid Laurier Uni- use bags and throw those out, and According to Michael McMa- versity Students' Union (WTAJSU) now we're going to have a dish- hon, WLUSU general manager, the construction will end in time for washer [in the back] so we can mix change was a "very simplistic one." O-Week. everything in bowls and the envi- "There's always need for more OPTICfiL Alterations made to the Pita ronmental side is good there," he storage space and we have created Shack at the Terrace, the main en- said, adding mention of another storage facilities at the entrance of the third- trance to the FNCC, and service place to make things more the building in areas that were un- eye exams available on site floor 24-Hour Lounge have been efficient. used in the past," McMahon stated. underway for much of the summer. "The renovations are mosdy a The bulk of construction was 255 King St. N. (King at University) The biggest project was the reno- customer service sort of thing to completed on August 25, with aes- 519-888-0411 vation of the Pita Shack, which was get quicker service, better service thetic finishes being added to the www.opticalillusioninc.ca mainly customer-service oriented and at the same time trying to help fagade later in the week. according to WLUSU President Co- the environment out a little and not In the 24-Hour Lounge, the lin LeFevre, who called the project throw out giant garbage bags full fence around the seating area has Feel important and stuff. Write for Cord news. "a total overhaul." of little bags every day," noted Le been removed to create bar-level email [email protected] [email protected] LeFevre explained that because Fevre. laptop stations, a project that cost the counters in the space ran at a The changes, which cost a total of $17,000. The Cord Weekly ■ monday September i, 2008 News 5 Students OfferingSupport expands nationally
Charitable SBE club started at Laurier, designed to help students study, opens chapters at nine university campuses across Canada
LAURA CARLSON 18 students travelled to Honduras SPECIAL PROJECTS EDITOR to renovate a farm school for or- phaned boys. Greg Overholt, a recent graduate Laura Allan, a professor at Lau- of the Laurier business program, rier who teaches first-year busi- has truly accomplished something ness and sits on the SOS Board of spectacular. He has seen his pas- Directors, feels that SOS offers a
sion project - Students Offering "tremendous resource" to students,
Support (SOS) - grow into a nation- as long as they use the services al success. appropriately. "I'm excited for Laurier SOS," "Students have a lot of other av-
said Overholt of the School of Busi- enues ... and it's just one extra av- ness and Economics (SBE) club he enue for them," said Allan. started in his second year at WLU. "What Greg has done here is a re- After spending his last co-op ally commendable thing. I think it's term working to set up the non- a real assistance to students if they profit organization, branches of take it the right way, if they don't SOS have now opened at nine uni- see it as a way to rely on someone versities across Canada. else to help them." "It's like running nine different Aside from benefiting students small businesses," said Overholt. who use SOS services as a learning "As long as they use the overall resource, Allan also sees how the vision of what Students Offering project helps students looking to Support is about and why we're gain some teaching experience.
here, how you do it is up to you ... One such individual is lan That's the beauty of this small, so- Hutchinson, a third-year business cial entrepreneurship business; it's student, and next year's head tutor, all up to you." who got involved with SOS not only For a $20 donation, students can because he wanted volunteer expe- attend large-scale tutoring sessions, rience, but also to participate in the traditionally for courses in the busi- teaching aspect of the program. ness and economics programs. "I've always loved teaching: LAURIER SOS "I don't think any of us [knew the passion you feel, the rush you EXAM AID - 'Exam aid' sessions, such as this one, help to raise money for humanitarian projects. how successful it would be] when get when you teach. I wanted to we started it four years ago and contribute on a bigger scale," said
thought of this 'exam cram' initia- Hutchinson of his involvement. German - and Komashko is also "It's a great service for everyone Overholt. tive," said Overholt. "You're amazed by the amount of looking for volunteers interested in to use, it shouldn't matter what He is optimistic that, if this next The money collected at the tutor- kids thatcome out and the amount organizing sessions for classes in your faculty is." year goes well, they will be able to ing sessions is put towards a yearly of help you can provide," he added. other departments at Laurier. While Komashko will be working open more chapters across Canada humanitarian project where volun- This year, the SOS program at "You definitely need somebody to ensure SOS's growth within the and potentially tap into the post- teers travel to a selected country. Laurier is seeking to increase the from [that program] making sure Laurier community, Overholt too secondary market in the United The volunteers completely fi- number of students to whom they your approach to them is the right will be looking for ways to ensure States as well. nance the trips themselves, and all can offer academic assistance, as one," said Komashko. SOS's future success. "What I'm looking for is support funds raised throughout the year go they will be teaching exam aid ses- "You have to have a differentap- In September, he will become to get to the point of sustainability," towards the materials needed for sions in programs outside business proach to every faculty because it's the full-time director of SOS, and said Overholt. the actual project. and economics. so different." will be staying in Waterloo to run "This model was devised so that "It was just one of the four pillars "We're hoping to expand into This concept is based on Trent's the organization. it won't be run like a charity, it will
of ways we wanted to raise money different faculties," explained Ole- SOS model, in which courses are He hopes that by September be run like a social business ... I and it just ended up taking off," said sya Komashko, president ofLaurier taught in various programs and 2009, the business will be fully want to be able to provide more of Overholt. SOS. aren't focused on one particular sustainable. a business mindset, more of a sus- To date, SOS has raised over Classes are already planned to academic niche. "The whole point of this is that tainable mindset into [the chari- $130,000 for sustainable educa- take place in languages this upcom- "My goal is to have everyone it does become sustainable, it just table sector], and that's what I feel
tion projects, and this past August ing year - specifically Spanish and know about SOS," said Komashko. needs to grow some more," said SOS can do in a matter of a year." Cost cannot fall solely to WLU students: LeFevre
- FROM MEAL PLAN, PAGE 3 McMurray. iits staff is unionized under the United Food and "They weren't using it and that gets away from ( Commercial Workers (UFCW). the two groups they were finally able to come to the commitment you're trying to provide first- "That's a reality when we're comparing to a the current agreement. year students," he added. s student-based labour, but that's a challenge for Though LeFevre is "relieved" that theywere at On average the university found that most stu- s sure," said Dawson. least able to negotiate a carry forward amount dents had between $100 and $300 left on their With factors such as these still affecting the
- initially it was proposed that no funds could accounts when going into their second year. profitabilityj of Food Services, LeFevre says move forward to the next year - he is "disap- WLUSU is only willing to help out the pointed" that they weren't able to obtain a lon- university if they continue to make inter- "It wouldn't have been my optimal ger timeframe for students to use this money. nal changes. "It wouldn't have been my optimal decision DECISION BUT THE REALITY OF HAVINGi "More steps need to be taken beyond TESOL/TESL Teacher Training Certification Courses but the extra is this," said LeFevre. reality of having that leeway sig- THAT EXTRA LEEWAY IS SIGNIFICANTLY nificantly better than nothing," said LeFevre. "The students, specifically the first- • Intensive 60-Hour Program • Classroom Dean of Students David McMurray, who has BETTER THAN NOTHING." year students ... should not be the ones Management Techniques •Detailed Lesson Planning worked during his time at Laurier to create the solely bearing the cost of changes within • ESL Skills Development current meal plan, was the one who initially - Colin LeFevre, presidentof WLUSU the structure ofFood Services." • Comprehensive Teaching Materials brought in the flexibility to These meal plan changes do not ap- for students carry • Interactive Teaching Practicum ply to students money forward from year to year. who voluntarily purchase • Internationally Recognized Certificate an account a as He funds left that exceed $500 meal • did this to ensure that students weren't Any in j plan, such those living in apartment Teacher Placement Service
the year and any funds or • forced to rapidly spend their money at the end at end of first remaining 5style residences students who have money Money Back Guarantee Included of first year on unnecessary items, such as cases after the account expires one semester into sec- left1 on their account from previous years. •Thousands of Satisfied Students of pop. ond year will be used to offset the losses at Food "I think for the most part it worked and for Services. the Dawson explains that the primary cost of run- majority of people, but some students were See PAGE 28 for editorial reaction to this story carrying forward great sums of money," said ning Food Services is related to labour because 6 News MONDAY SEPTEMBER 1,2008 - THE CORD WEEKLY
SYDNEY HELLAND OneCard audit undisclosed A Freedom of Information request for a copy of last years forensic audit fails: "employee-related matters" cited as the reasoning
LAURA CARLSON "This document was prepared "It's the same principal that any rier has since issued a public state- as the permanent manager. SPECIAL PROJECTS EDITOR on behalf of the university, in re- discussions you have with your ment claiming that no student lost "Because I've been working in little lation to anticipated proceedings lawyer are not to be revealed to the funds as a result of any actions at the capacity for a while... I was pleased with A request for a copy of an extensive and employment-related matters," outside world ... The university has the OneCard office. told they were very audit at the OneCard office, which stated the initial Index of Records the ability to absolutely prevent it if "The forensic audit conducted in the work I was doing they asked me was conducted between November received following the request. they choose." the fall of 2007 by KPMG Forensic of to continue to do that," said Gods- and February of last year, has failed Bob Spence, the Communica- Though Martins does not have the WLU OneCard System did not mark who has been working in the under the Freedom of Informa- tions Co-ordinator for the IPC of the specific information relating to disclose that any WLU student lost OneCard office since Tomljenovic's tion and Protection of Privacy Act Ontario, noted that one of the pri- this case, he noted that typically a any funds or that any WLUSU busi- departure. (FIPPA). mary roles of his office is to deal lawyer would be contacted in such ness lost any funds," said the state- "It's inreally good shape to move Any information relating to with appeals when a government an incident because a client may ment prepared by Allison Roberts, forward and Richard is doing an Dean Stu- the four-month forensic audit - a organization, such as a univer- suspect legal ramifications. Assistant VP: Human Resources. exceptional job," said of whose of- type of audit that aims to uncover sity, declines to release requested "I wouldn't expect that in a Colin LeFevre president of the dents David McMurray, specific details (typically of the fi- information. routine audit there would be any Wilfrid Laurier University Students' fice the OneCard ultimately falls nancial nature) which are not in "Our office looks at the request reason to involve a lawyer," said Union(WLUSU), which operatesall under. that "There are a lot oflitde things that compliance with acceptable audit- ... it will look at the decision letter Martins. on-campus student businesses terms ing standards - will not be made from the government office ... and "There's nothing a lawyer would accept the OneCard as a method of they've learned in of manag- public. determine according to what the add to scrutinize the financial af- payment, noted that personally he ing the operation. Most notably this includes details legislation says whether the gov- fairs of the company; that's what an has not received any information "There is [now] an elevated rela- relating to the employment of the ernment organization made the accountant is good at," he said. regarding this situation. tionship with the finance office. We former manager of the office, Nick right decision in denying the re- Martins said that in incidents "Hopefully the statement of 'no have an internal auditor ... to look Tomljenovic, who since the audit quest," said Spence. where there are problems between student dollars were lost' and so at how they can best do year-ends began is no longer an employee of Aside from the exemption based an employee and an employer forth is true," said LeFevre. and reconciliations," he added. the university. on particular sections of the Act, there are often arrangements made "The information that we've re- Roberts also added that the uni- The OneCard office is responsi- Carlos Martins, legal council rep- between the two parties in which ceived in terms of what's going on versity in combination with the new ble for all finances that go through resenting The Cord provided by the they make an agreement to not with the Terrace and our own busi- staff at the OneCard office is taking the service, which includes Laurier Canadian University Press (CUP), make sensitive information public. ness is that nothing went wrong," all the precautionary measures meal plans, as well as several on explained that new information he "I suspect that there may be an he added. to ensure that there is no need for and off-campus vendors. received at the mediation hearing arrangement with an employee of The university, however, de- such extensive forensic audits in Though universities fall under was also protected because of a dif- the university, that I don't know clined to comment on whether any the future. FIPPA, the University Information ferent law. about, that may have not complete- financial impropriety took place "[We are] ensuring that all of the and Privacy Office at Laurier, as "We learned for the first time at ly followed the procedures with that could have affected individu- checks and balances are in place... well as the mediator assigned to the mediation that the document respect to the OneCard program," als who are not WLU students, or and we will continue to have regu- the case during the appeals pro- we're after is something that was said Martins. non-WLUSU businesses. lar audits of all processes to ensure cess through the Information and prepared for the university's law- "And if that's the case that's a With the audit now complete thatthey are clean." Privacy Commissioner (IPC) of yers," said Martins. little bit disappointing because this and the former manager of the of- Ontario, cited a particular section "There's a very strong solicitor- is a matter that could potentially in- fice, Tomljenovic, no longer an of the Act that makes the requested client privilege argument and that volve university funds." employee of the university, Richard file excempt. would likely-defeat our request. In response to this incident Lau- Godsmark has officially been hired
November 2007 July 2008 External auditor KPMG is contact- Timeline of the WLU OneCard audit On July 29 a mediation conference ed to undergo an extensive audit in call takes place between represen- the OneCard office. December 2007 March 2008 The University Information and tatives from The Cord, the univer- November 8 is recorded as the No updates are provided. No information regarding the con- Privacy Office deny the request. sity and the IPC. date that KPMG becomes "en- tents of the report is released. The Cord files an appeal with the gaged" in the process. January 2008 Information and Privacy Commis- August 2008 While the Dean of Students re- Information regarding the audit is April 2008 sioner (IPC) of Ontario. Due to recommendations from ports that the audit is "standard" not released due to its "sensitive University administration assures the mediator and legal council The and is only underway because no nature" and KPMG follows up on that the final report provided evi- May 2008 Cord decides to not peruse the ap- financial audit has ever been con- "outstanding items." dence that no student suffered a The appeal is confirmed by the peal and the file is closed on Au- ducted for the operation, Manager Richard Godsmark begins tem- loss on his or her OneCard. IPC and the mediation process be- gust 10. of Residential Services states that porarily working in the office to It is confirmed that Tomljenovic tween The Cord and the university "unusual activities" within the of- deal with day-to-day issues. is no longer an employee of the begins. *All information is based on multiple in- fice are what prompted the inves- university and that Godsmark will terviews conducted between November tigation to occur. February 2008 continue serving as the interim June 2008 2007 and April 2008, as well as docu- Manager of the OneCard office After nearly four months of inves- manager. The mediation process is ongoing mentationfrom theFOI request process. Nick Tomljenovic is put on a paid tigation, on February 28 the audit On April 10 The Cord files a re- and the mediator has several con- To readfull coverage of the audit at the leave of absence and it is believed comes to a close. quest under the Freedom of Infor- versations with both parties. OneCard office visit CordWeekly.com that the results of the audit will be mationAct asking for the release of Godsmark is hired as manager known "within days." the audit. of the OneCard office. Weekly The Cord ■ monday September i, 2008 News 7 Funding for Waterloo's rapid transit Federal government makes financial commitment to the region's rapid transit system; announcement to be made by late 2008
LAURA CARLSON SPECIAL PROJECTS EDITOR
As part of the "Building Canada" program, the federal government has recently made a commitment to provide funding to the Region of Waterloo's rapid transit initiative. In late July, the federal gov- ernment signed a $6.2 billion in- frastructure agreement with the province of Ontario for long-term infrastructure improvements; -Wa- terloo's initiative was recognized as one of the top priorities in the agreement. "This is great, great news for our project," said Donna Serrati, proj- ect director of Waterloo's rapid transit initiative. "The government isrecognizing it as a priority." Though no fixed dollar amount has been allocated to the initiative, Serrati explains that there has been CONTRIBUTED PHOTO a "general commitment" on behalf LOOK, NO WHEELS - This light rail transit system in downtown Portland, Oregon, is similar to the transportation that Waterloo may have installed. of the government to help finance the project. "We've been doing a lot of work the province until 2014. eludes two Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) a final report will be drafted. been predicted that if everything to set the groundwork for the fund- Currently the region is in the and two Light Rail Transit (LRT) "What we're considering is a 35 goes well, the first leg of the system ing," said Serrati. "It doesn't come technical assessment phase of the systems. km route," said Serrati. "It's certain- could be operational by 2013. as a complete surprise." project, which includes looking Serrati expects an announce- ly a big bite, both from a resource "[The money affects] how the "Nothing was ever certain but at capital, costs and benefits of all ment to be made in late 2008, in point of view and for the Region." project will getimplemented from a it is confirmation of what we were the different transit technologies which they will present the deci- Serrati hopes thatwith this fund- phasing point of view," said Serrati. hoping for," she added. available. sion regarding the route and tech- ing commitment from the govern- "Rather than full implementa- The July 24 announcement com- A short list has been created over nology to the public. This will be ment the . project can have more tion being spread out over x num- mits over $6 billion dollars to infra- the summer for which type of sys- followed by submitting reports to financial flexibility, which will ber of years, financially we may be structurewluneeds and priorities in tem will best suit the Region; it in- city council for approval,sp and then speed up the entire process. It has able to move faster." 8 News MONDAY SEPTEMBER 1,2008 - THE CORD WEEKLY Position ofPrivacy Coordinator eliminated
10-year university employee John Metcalfe is let go due to "restructuring" in the VP: Academic office; university working on a settlement with him
LAURA CARLSON way a couple positions have been August 1. SPECIAL PROJECTS EDITOR eliminated," explained Groarke. He is temporarily serving as VP: Currently, Human Resources, Academic until June of this aca- After ten years of service to the under Roberts, will be handling all demic year at which time the posi- Laurier community, John Metcalfe, issues relating to privacy matters; tion will be filled permanently. Director of the University Informa- however, a new position - assistant "I met with [Metcalfe] and said tion and Privacy Office and former vice president ofAcademic Services 'I'm sorry to tell you I'm eliminat-
Registrar is no longer an employee - will becomeresponsible for much ing this position/ and he was. told of the university. of the work that currently fell to the then," said Groarke. "He is not [with the university University Information and Privacy Groarke also explained that cur- any longer]," said Allison Roberts, Office. rendy they are working on a settle- Assistant VP: Human Resources. They are hoping to hire someone ment with Metcalfe in regards to Though she could not clarify the to fill that role by January 1. his departure from Laurier. exact date of his departure Roberts "The idea is that we're going to Metcalfe was an employee of left "about a bring under one person all the dif- the university for ten years, eight SYDNEY HELLAND noted that Metcalfe week ferent staff areas that support the of which he served as the Registrar LITTLE WING - The Kitchener Court House won't be getting WLU grads. ago." Leo Groarke, actingVP: Academ- academic operations of the univer- and two of which he served as the ic, to whom Metcalfe reported to, sity," said Groarke. Director of the University Informa- explained that this was due to the "There are some concerns about tion and Privacy Office. elimination of the position of the the way the office was structured so Just this past February, Metcalfe Director of the University Informa- in a sense this is the first step in that was the recipient of the Ontario on there Association Case tion and Privacy direction, but be other University Registrar's closed will Office. "We're restructuring the office of steps coming," he added. (OURA) Award of Achievement for
the vice president Academic ... in The process of restructuring first his contributions to the organiza- WLU law school order to do this in a budget neutral began when Groarke took office tion over the years. Laurier's proposed law school is one of the three in Ontario that was denied funding due to a lack of demand for law graduates in the province
REBECCA VASLUIANU money, and I think this govern- NEWS EDITOR ment has been supporting the post- secondary sector quite strongly. Looking for fun, comfort, and clfiflllluMSS' After putting forward a proposal to What they're trying to focus on the provincial government, Lau- now is dealing with the growth of rier was denied funding for a law the student population and creat- school. ing placements for all of them," he Laurentian University in Sud- added. Your search is over. bury, as well as Lakehead Universi- Milloy noted that the provincial ■gjfrfinji ty in Thunder Bay, were also denied government is now looking at new Five-minute walk to the Laurier campus monetary support from the govern- priorities like medical studies and Lower than market fees ggEy^^ES^H ment of Ontario. graduate studies because there is Professional cleaning services Minister Col- interest in those sectors. Ontario ofTraining, growing Incredible social events leges and Universities, John Milloy, There have been no new law Onsite laundry and maintenance believes that the province's six law schools in Canada for almost 30 schools are sufficient for Ontario's years and, according to Milloy, And best of we are owned and operated by YOU. needs in the legal sector. there is a surplus of law school all, "We have a network of law graduates with not enough articling Who else can give you more of what you want? schools in the province and the de- placements for them. mand for law schools always stays "There is a problem with articling relatively the same," said Milloy. because there are too many appli- 1 \ "The reason we made the deci- cants and not enough positions," he 8 Applications are accepted year-round sion is because we saw that several stated. with seniority deadlinesas follows: universities were putting a lot of Despite this, Blouw said he time and research into it, and we will not completely abandon the wanted to be very clear about it so project. we sent out a memo to let all the "I would call it 'suspended ani- universities know that there would mation.' We've done a lot of work be no funding for new law schools," and of course we won't throw it he added. out. We're keenly aware that times WLU President Max Blouw was change and it may happen at a later Contact us today information. disappointed by the news, but he time," he explained. believes that the priorities of the According to Blouw, the strength provincial government should be of Laurier's proposal was its meth- respected. od of "combining academic learn- "I am disappointed and I think ing with exposure to the practice forbore a law school makes sense for the setting," which proposed to change region. There is a strong justifica- articling - training before entering tion for the establishment. We had the field - into real-world practice a strong and innovative proposal, done throughout the program's WCRI: A Whole New Way to Live Together! but as I said the government has to four years instead of at its end. set priorities," he said. "There is no bottomless pit of The Cord Weekly ■ Monday September i, 2008 9
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HBBI |||||||||||||||||||||J^^^||^ The Cord Weekly ■ monday September 1,2008 Sports . 11 Beijing wouldn't have been possible without Laurier's pool: Beavers
- FROM POOL, COVER "My performance was fantastic. It just isn't. Laurier is," he explained, ...I achieved every single goal that I adding that the situation at UW is The pool's delayed closure also had set out for myself at the begin- common for university facilities. means that the Region of Waterloo ning of the year," he explained. ROW president Tracy Bennett Swim Club (ROW), one of the many Beavers says that making sure explained that the club is glad community groups that uses the the pool remains open is important that the university has delayed the pool, will be able to offer a full pro- to him, despite the fact he is slowly pool's closure. gram during the fall. getting out of swimming. "Laurier has listened. The fact The group, which has used WLU's "It is a really big deal," he said, they they're keeping [the pool] pool for 32 years, has trained over "because it's really important to me open tells me that they listened. a dozen Olympic swimmers - in- that this pool be available for my They realized we were devastated cluding Keith Beavers and Jessica team. I would be doing myself and by the closure," she says. Tuomela who competed this year really the community a disservice if "We're very grateful for that." in Beijing - who have won more I didn't put all my effort into keep- Bennett added that the need for than halfa dozen medals. ing this pool open." funds might be well timed, con- When asked what his training The pool is also used by the KW sidering the Beijing Olympics just situation would have been like Synchronized Swim Club, the Wa- wrapped up. without WLU's pool, Beavers had terlooRegional Synchronized Swim "Canadians don't really under- an immediate response. Club, the KW Water Polo Club, high stand what it takes [to get medals]," "I wouldn't have gone to Beijing, schools, elementary schools and she said. it's that simple," he explained. Special Olympics athletes "It takes facilities to get medals. "The Laurier pool isn't an in- "For a university setting, it's quite Maybe it's a good year to have this ternational facility, obviously, but community oriented. I can't stress happen. Let's get passionate about it still provides a great benefit to that enough," said ROW head coach the fact that we do care about sport myself. It's a 50-metre pool, it's the Dean Boles. and we don't want to be at the only one we can really use in the "The importance of this pool is Olympics without medals." community," Beavers said. huge. [Laurier has] allowed the ac- While the $1.5 million seems in- "That's indispensable. There cessibility, they've made it afford- timidating, Bennett hopes that by aren't a lot of 50-metre pools even able and a lot of people over the splitting it up people will be less in- in the province," he said, adding years have benefited." timidated and will be willing to do- that Toronto only has two of that According to Boles, it's rare for nate torepairing the Laurier pool. length. a university to make so much time "If we could write the cheque Beavers recently returned from available to community groups. ourselves, we'd have it written," she Beijing, where he broke three Ca- "I'll be right up front... the Uni- added. SYDNEY HEtIAND nadian records and made it into a versity of Waterloo is not a commu- COOL POOL - Laurier's coveted pool may only be open for the next four final round. nity-oriented, accessible situation. See PAGE 28 for editorial reaction to this story months, as repair and maintenance costs are too much to handle.
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SYDNEY HELLAND
READY TO RUMBLE - Head Coach Jeffries looks on as the Golden Hawks practice at University Stadium in preparation for their first season game against the Guelph Gryphons.
The Hawks were hard at work the past two weeks preparing for the upcoming season, and one of their toughest starts in years
LAUREN MILLET era of middle linebackers that be- more time [before Guelph] but we "If we can put our best 24 guys ' SPORTS EDITOR gan with his predecessor Jesse Al- don't have that option. We're go- out there on offence and defence, Cord/Online exander. "It's going to be hard to ing to really have to step up the first and mix it up on special teams, > cordweekly.com Yet another season of Wilfrid Lau- fill his shoes," added Jeffries. On half of the season," he said. then we can be very competitive," > Sports rier Golden Hawk football is set offence, both Andy Baechler and The entire first half of the Hawks' continued Jeffries. to get under way this afternoon, Dante Luciani leave open spots for season looks to place one challenge The Hawks kick off their sea- Head online to read cover- and 2008 be nothing guys to step in and display after another for the son this at promises to younger young squad, afternoon 1:00 p.m. on age of today's big game. less than electrifying. After losing their talents. as week three sees them travelling Knight-Newbrough field at Univer- a number of veterans last season, The Hawks will face a huge test to Kingston to take on the always- sity Stadium. V J this group of Hawks is certainly dif- right away, as they are up against difficult Queen's Golden Gaels. "If ferent than what we have seen in the Guelph Gryphons. Looking to we can come out of that first half previous years. avenge their 2007 playoff loss, the with our head above the water, "We're certainly a much younger Hawks will be led into battle by and we continue to grow, we will football team. However, there are fourth-year quarterback lan Noble. be very competitive in the second a lot of kids who have been in the "I thinkwe look great, we're real- half," continued Jeffries. program, picked up some experi- lyfast at every position, we're really In order for the Hawks to get the ence backing up some pretty good coming together as a team better 1-0 start they are hoping for, Noble players that are now going to get a than we were last year," said Noble. predicts the Hawks are going to chance to show what they can do," "A lot of new guys are stepping up." have to hit the groundrunning, and said Manager of Football Opera- Starting out their season, the be assertive early on. "I don't think tions and Head Coach Gary Jeffries. Hawks will have to face the Gry- we can beat them coming from be- "Our freshmen are as good as any phons this afternoon, then turn hind. They have a good offence," freshmen anywhere. You're going around immediately and battle he said. "We need to get ahead to see lot of new faces." defending Yates Cup winners and and keep ourselves ahead and Whileit is a much younger squad, long-time arch-rivals the Western keep them off the field as much as Coach Jeffries assures that it is still Mustangs on Saturday. possible." a very skilled group of players. The "It will be tough mentally to pre- Last Sunday, the Hawks took a challenge will be harnessing their pare for two games, but this is our trip down the road to play a pre- individual skills into a group ef- dream way to start the season," season scrimmage against cross- fort in time for their home opener commented Noble. "We didn't town rivals, Waterloo Warriors. The against Guelph. get to play Western last year, and scrimmage was meant to bring out "We have the potential to be ev- they're our big rivals. The guys are issues that still needed to be ad- ery bit as good a football team as going to be amped up and chomp- dressed before the firstregular sea- we were last year, it's just a matter ing at the bit for both games. It's son game. of how quickly we come together," not going to be hard to be ready for "The kids did a good job physi- Jeffries continued. both." cally, but there were far too many loss defensively is Coach had a mental mistakes," said The biggest Jeffries similar out- Jeffries. SYDNEY HELLAND Anthony were linebacker Maggiacomo, look towards the opening games of Already, the Hawks missing HAWK ATTACK - The Hawks have a much younger squad this year. for his absence ends a dominant the season. "We would like a little 11 of their players due to injury. . The Cord Weekly ■ Monday September i, 2008 Sports 13 The Cord s Hawks to watch
#sTaureen Allen #7 lan Noble
Corner Back Quarterback
Third-year Comm. Studies Fourth-year History
Etobicoke, ON West Vancouver, BC
#21 Courtney Stephen #35 Ryan Lynch Free safety Running Back
First-year Comm. Studies Fifth-year Economics
Brampton, ON Waterloo, ON
ALL PHOTOS BY SYDNEY HELLAND goloin hawk football
lIS the football of GOLDEN HAVMfIS GRYPHONS
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' 14 Beijing 2008 MONDAY SEPTEMBER 1,2008 » THE CORD WEEKLY
Gold medal madness Canadians need to prioritize what is important to them about the games
The top medal-winning nations support behind him. After rising have spent significantly more mon- to the occasion, Lamaze proved ey and time on training and prepar- why he is one of the best horsemen CONTRIBUTED PHOTO - Olympic sprinter has two ing their athletes for these games in the world and why he deserved INSANE USAIN Bolt made world records. ANDREA MILLET than Canada has, and therefore are a second chance to represent his STAFF WRITER expected to dive with more consis- country. Standing on the podium, tency, run with more stamina and his emotions made clear why that No matter where they come from or consequently win more medals. moment was about more than the Lightning what sport they compete in, every If we would like our athletes to gold medal around his neck. Olympic athlete dreams of gold, of make more appearances on the po- There also seems to be aproblem standing atop the podium while dium, Canada needsto stop criticis- with how we build up our expecta- their national anthem plays and ing their performances and instead tions for the athletes' performances strikes twice theircountry's flag is raised. take more steps towards support- and then are disappointed when Not only do Olympians them- ing our athletes and providing the they don't place as high as we were selves hope for success, but they necessary training and facilities. hoping. have the hopes and expectations A Canadian rower on the gold Instead of the Olympics being Jamaican sprinter Usain Bolt shocks the world of a nation resting on their shoul- medal-winning men's eights team about sportsmanship, and the best ders. But is a gold medal really the commented that while rowing is athletes in the world showcasing best place to set our sights, or are his passion and he would like to their talents, it has become about TREVOR SCHIEDEL 100-metre record. He had only we putting too much focus where it be able to return to the 2012 games how many medals each nation can STAFF WRITER competed in the 200 during his doesn't belong? in London, he now has a family to win. career and had never run the This year at the 2008 summer support and so his focus has to shift It was astonishing to hear people On August 16, Jamaican track star 100. That is, until his coach, Glen games in Beijing, the Canadian from rowing to a career that pays question why Canada would spend Usain "Lightning" Bolt secured Mills, challenged Bolt to work on men's 4xloom freestyle relay team more than the $18,000 he receives the money to send 331 athletes to his first gold medal in the men's the 100-m during the early part of swam to a sixth-place finish in the as an athlete. the Beijing summer games if they 100-metre sprint and further en- this season to improve his speed. final and while it was not enough Also feeling the strain of Cana- didn't all have a chance at winning trenched himself as the world's Little did they know what he to place them on the podium, the dian athletics is runner Jared Con- a medal. Ifwe don't send our young fastest man by breaking his old was capable of. swimmers set a new personal best naughton, who trains by running athletes today and allow them to world record of 9.72 seconds. In his third 100-metre race of time with their efforts. on the beach at home in Prince gain experience, how can we ex- Amazingly, he was able to run a his career, Bolt ran a 9.76, which Canadian supporters watched Edward Island because there is no pect them to do better in theirnext 9.69 while celebrating and shut- at the time was the second fastest sadly as the American and French proper track for him to use. competition? ting it down for the final twenty mark ever. Since then he has bro- teams battled closely for gold with If our athletes are dealing with Once the games have been con- meters. ken the world record twice. our own team four seconds be- these circumstances, how can we cluded and all the athletes have re- Four days later, Bolt won gold in At 22, Bolt hasn't even reached hind, and as with many ofthe other possibly expect them to be able turned home, medals will be hung the 200-metre by running a 19.30, his potential. Canadian sprinter events, we were dragged down by to compete on the same level as up in trophy cases, but what will breaking another world record Donovan Bailey was 28 when he feelings of disappointment as an- athletes who are provided with live on is the experience that each previously held by former USA reached his peak to break the other medal passed us by. first-class facilities to train at and athlete has gained and the memo- star, Michael Johnson (19.32). world record in the 100-metre With this obsession over medal- are fully supported financially as ries that they have acquired as an Not only was Bolt the first at the 1996 Olympics in Atlanta. winning instead of the personal athletes? ambassador of their nation. man since Carl Lewis in 1984 to Bailey, who is working for CBC, achievements of athletes, our focus Canadian show jumper Eric La- At the end of the day, Canada's become the double sprint gold symbolically put a crown on the isn't in the right place. To expect maze demonstrated that even when athletes will continue to do their medalist at an Olympics, but he Jamaican's head after the 100 me- Canadian athletes to be able to you win the gold, the Olympics are best - and their best is all that we also made history by becoming ter race. compete on the same level as the about more than just a medal. He can ask of them. the first man ever to break both "You haven't seen nothing yet," powerhouses in the Olympics such had something to prove coming records at the same Olympics. exclaimed Bailey the next day. as the American or Chinese teams into these games surrounded by The astonishing thing about is unfair. controversy and lacking national [email protected] Bolt is his path towards the Weekly The Cord ■ Monday September 1,2008 International 15 No place for politics? News from the 2008 Olympics in Beijing China's child singer"too ugly" for the opening ceremonies in Beijing Ethnic groups vs. the government SHAGUN RANDHAWA voice. ing and expression." PAULA MILLAR STAFF Well-documented government WRITER Yang Peiyi had uneven teeth and Replacing the singer with a pret- STAFF WRITER oppression of Muslim Uighurs of a slightly chubby face, and was tier face was not the only example Western China has ingrained their Not a single note was sung by pig- therefore replaced by Miaoke who of Beijing's interest in visual per- Playing host to the 2008 Summer long-held resentments against Bei- tailed, rosy cheeked Lin Miaoke, was considered flawless by Chinese fection. In fact, the government Olympic Games has propelled jing. The Uighur minority, blamed who performed the patriotic song, standards. had even evicted beggars and side- Beijing onto the world stage. The by government officials for recent "Ode to the Motherland" as China's The Globe and Mail reports walk Chen vendors from the city, closing watchful eyes of the global commu- terrorist attacks, feel that they are national flag was carried into the Qigang, the ceremonies music di- down shops that were unsightly nity have tempted some Chinese victims of cultural repression ex- stadium. In front of 91,000 people, rector declaring, "I think the view- and covering construction sites groups, like the ethnic Uighurs, to tending to exclusion from jobs and the voice that was actually heard ers should be to able understand with huge billboards. All taxi driv- capitalize on a media frenzy; never educational opportunities. in the Olympic stadium during the that, in the national interest, ers wore the dress shirts and ties, and before imaginable in such a gov- Yitzhak Shichor, a political scien- opening ceremonies belonged to perception of the this is an country, every hostess at the Olympic medal ernment-regulated society. tist and China specialist at the Uni- Yang Peiyi, a seven-year-old child extremely important and serious award ceremony had to be slim, tall Since the Games' commence- versity of Haifa warns, "I think fol- deemed too "ugly" to be the face matter. The child on camera should and attractive. ment, A 1 Jazeera has reported three lowing the Olympics, there will be that belonged to the spectacular be flawless in internal image, feel- separate and deadly attacks leav- a crackdown in Xinjiang like never ing 31 dead, marking the deadliest before." According to the Associ- upsurge the historically turbulent ated Press, Shichor believes that Xinjiang province has experienced "after the Olympics, they are going in years. to settle accounts."
World leaders place a critical eye on China
PAULA MILLAR world leaders are more frequently WRITER STAFF finding themselves appeasing Beijing. China's stance in the world has French President Sarkozy is one changed dramatically over the past leader desperate to repair ties be- decades and today the nation's su- tween the two nations. Sarkozy, per power status is undeniable. who initially threatened to boycott the Olympic Games, has as China's power continues cancelled plans to meet the Dalai TO FLOURISH, OTHER WORLD Lama during his stay in France. BBC LEADERS ARE MORE FREQUENTLY News reports that Beijing FINDING THEMSELVES APPEASING warned Sarkozy of "seri- ous Beijing. consequences" if he did in fact meet with the spiritual leader. With a population of over one China has made it clear that billion, domination of world eco- they place full blame on the ex- nomic markets, and world-class ex- iled Tibetan leader for current and posure at the 2008 Summer Olym- growing unrest in the region. Ten- pic Games, China has solidified its sion remains between both sides global prominence. And as China's CONTRIBUTED PHOTOS AND SYDNEY HELLAND (CENTRE) despite the Dalai Lama's support of AGRESSIVE INNOCENCE - (Clockwise from left) A woman protests in New York; Lin Miaoke's voice and Yang power continues to flourish, other the Olympics in Beijing. Peiyi s face; Muslim Uighur man in traditional dress; The Dalai Lama explains visions of a peaceful world.
China curbs Olympic protests with restrictions and multiple arrests der from Beijing's Re-Education However, protests were made through Labour Commission, sen- despite the purposeful way Chi- tencing them to one year for "dis- nese SHAGUN officials were preventing open RANDHAWA these three parks. According to The Guardian, Chi- turbing the public No STAFF order." ap- expression during the Olympics. WRITER Seventy-seven applications since nese authorities sentenced two peals are allowed. On August 15,former Olympic ath- August 1 were lodged in order to women in their 70s for applying to Sophia Richardson, Asian ad- lete Nicole Rycroft from Vancouver Three zones were approved for pro- hold protests in these legal zones. protest the during Olympic games. vocacy director of Human Rights and four others unfurled a banner testors and campaigns during the Not a single application was ap- Wu Dianyuan, 79 and her neigh- Watch, told Reuters, "The protest outside the iconic Chinese Central Beijing Olympics. The only condi- proved. Instead, even those who bour Wang 77 expressed Xiuying, application process clearly isn't television buildings in downtown tion was to apply five days in ad- expressed intention to apply were interest in protesting against their about giving people greater free- Beijing with the words, "Free Tibet" vance to the Beijing Public Security rejected and some of those able to forced eviction from their homes dom of expression, but making it in English and Chinese. Shortly af- Bureau for the right to protest in apply have been arrested. in 2001. received They a court or- easier for the police to suppress it." ter, they were all swiftly deported.
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MARA SILVESTRI policy "permits a maximum annu- the responsibility of the students. STAFF WRITER al parental contribution of $4,750." The campus work requirement is In addition to being financially designed to help each student earn With the constandy rising costs eligible, academic requirements these costs prior to graduating. of tuition in higher-education in- match those of most colleges: stu- The work requirement can be stitutions, it is hard to fathom the dents must be "academically prom- fulfilled by working "in the aca- concept of a free education from a ising," exude leadership qualities, demic departments, administra- college inKentucky, US. and participate in extra- curricular tive offices and labs, while others Considering the overwhelming activities. are assigned to the college farm, costs of tuition for American col- the workshops that leges, many student acceptance Berea College does not charge make and sell tra- decisions can be based solely on ditional mountain financial costs. For many, that is TUITION, MAKING IT VERY EASY FOR crafts (its hand- why Berea College is the answer. STUDENTS TO GRADUATE DEBT-FREE, made brooms, Berea College does not charge especially, are BUT APPLICANTS MUST ABIDE BY tuition, making it very easy for stu- well-known trea-
dents to graduate debt-free, but CERTAIN CONDITIONS — ONE BEING TO sures) or the col- applicants must abide by certain lege-owned hotel, ACCEPT A CAMPUS J08... conditions - one being to accept a which anchors the campus job and work at least ten town square," re- hours a week. So how does Berea manage to ports the New York Times. "You can literally come to Be- support its students? The answer The concept of the elite has been rea with nothing but what you can lies in the school's $1.1 billion en- spared as Berea's unique approach carry, and graduate debt-free," said dowment and strict but simple caters to making all students feel CONTRIBUTED PHOTO REAP WHAT YOU SEW - Contributing time for education in return. Joseph P. Bagnoli Jr., the associate budget that the college adheres to. accepted. Berea was "founded in provost for enrolment manage- "Berea has no football team, co-ed 1855 as the first interracial and ment. "We call it the best educa- dorms, hot tubs or climbing walls," co-educational college in the Berea is widely recognized for By serving under-represented tion money can't buy," he said to states the New York Times. Food South," its website explains. Berea providing a quality education for students, Berea College focuses on the New York Times. comes from the college farm, and has a higher student-to-faculty its students. In fact, the Berea web- underprivileged people that might As far as financial eligibility, Be- all furnishings are handmade from ratio than most institutions in the site proudly announced that alum- have otherwise been overlooked rea's approach favours low-income college crafts workshops. US, and primarily serves the Ap- nus John Fenn wasrewarded a No- by college institutions for lack of families, as well as students from Although the tuition-free con- palachian region and the state of bel Prize in Chemistry in 2002. Be- wealth. According to a Fox News Appalachia. Applicants are as- cept is astonishing, not all fees are Kentucky, where 75 percent of its rea alumni also include former US report, student Enchanta Jackson sessed using the Free Application covered. Students must cover an- students are from, states the Berea Secretary of Commerce Juanita M. believes that Berea students have
for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), nualfees for their room and board - College website. The remainder of Kreps, Tony Award-winner Tharon the advantage towards "more of and Berea has constructed a policy about $5,000. Their books and oth- the population is composed of ra- Musser, and automotive engineer an open mind" and "broad con- around the assessment. According er various school supplies, along cial minorities and International and designer Jack Roush, owner of sciousness," better preparing them to the Berea website, the 2008-09 with technological needs, are also students. Roush Racing. for the real world. Georgianwar spursworldwide attention
Russian troops relocated in an attempt to withhold their agreement to ceasefire but still manage to surround South Ossetia
ALISON SCHOFIELD sian President Dmitry Medvedev the Black Sea port of Batumi, bring- CORD INTERNATIONAL declared a ceasefire of Russian ing in 55 tons of necessary hygiene forces and five days later, Rus- items, baby food, bottled water and A crisis in the former soviet coun- sia planned to pull troops out of other humanitarian aid. Rice's visit try of Georgia began on August 7, Georgia, with the exception of Rus- to the country was to signify that when Georgian forces attacked the sian peacekeepers in the region of the two countries would stand in region of South Ossetia, an area in South Ossetia where the conflict solidarity. northern Georgia along the Russian first began. "Russia will pay a price. We will border. The region of South Ossetia However, the Associated Press re- look seriously with our allies and had started a separatist movement ports that although Russian forces bilaterally at the consequences of a in quest of independence from didretreat from their positions held this Russian action ... Georgia will the small European country, lead- days earlier, their next move was to rebuild, Russia's reputation may ing Georgia to show their disap- continue to build up their forces not be rebuilt," said Rice, as report- proval through violent force. Upon around the region of South Osse-. ed by the London Telegraph on the this, Russian troops entered the re- tia and another separatist region morning of Monday, August 18. gion to protect many of the civilians called Abkhazia. This move along However, the Associated Press there that apparently hold Russian with Georgia's claims that Russia is reports that although Russian passports. trying to capture these two regions forces have indeed retreated from Within the first 48 hours ofthe at- certainly suggests that this crisis their positions held days earlier, tack on Georgian separatists, Rus- is not yet over. French President their next move is still relatively sian tanks had invaded the coun- Nicolas Sarkozy has said that EU unpredictable. try. The cities of Gori and Poti in leaders will gather to discuss the As one CNN newscaster report- central Georgia found themselves crisis, now that Russia's most recent ed, "the relatively unknown region under attack by overhead bombs, actions have demonstrated ignor- of South Ossetia is one that was un- reported the London Telegraph. ance to its previous commitments recognizable until the outbreak of Russia then led its Black Sea Fleet to withdraw from Georgia. fighting." The newscaster then pro- to block up Georgia's ports and Secretary of State Condoleezza ceeded to compare this to the then forced much ofthe Georgian oppo- Rice made a visit to Georgiato speak little known city of Sarajevo and sition on land into retreat, isolating with Georgian President Mikheil the beginnings of the First World the city of Gori from the western Saakashvili on Friday, August 15 War, insinuating that this could and it to CONTRIBUTED PHOTO provinces essentially cutting discuss the conflict in South Os- be the beginning of a major world
RUSSIAN INVASION - A soldier dishonours the ceasefire agreement. off from incoming supplies. setia. Then, on Sunday, the first of conflict. Before noon on August 12, Rus- three US Navy destroyers arrived in Weekly ■ monday September The Cord i, 2008 INTERNATIONAL 17 GlobalizationandUncivil Society 50 academics from across the world came together to Waterloo for three days to discuss hot topics regarding global governance
HEATHER MACDONALD ments, particularly women in pop- "In a call to African leadership," Dr. INTERNATIONAL EDITOR ular culture. Garthle Pere explained that "devel- Sarah Raymondo from the Uni- oping a post-Mandela democracy 50 academics from 25 countries versity of Philippines, expressed was held in the early years of Mbe- met last week for a three-day con- her concern with the representa- ki's reign." ference at The Waterloo Inn to ex- tion of women in the workforce Because South Africa is a leading change ideas on their specified as seen in certain films. Many of African state, Mbeki's time in presi- area of study through the presenta- them "introduce women as mod- dency meant dealing with issues tion of their papers. The Globaliza- ern slaves," Raymondo says, mak- such as HIV/AIDS and the crisis in tion Studies Network Conference, ing reference to the women in such Zimbabwe, "deeply affecting South organized by The Centre for Inter- movies, "often calling their employ- Africa's international and domestic national Governance Innovation ers masters." perceptions." (CIGI), discussed uncivil society Ms. Grazielle Furtado of Rio Dr. le Pere stated that there with many sub-topics including de Janeiro stood out amongst the were still major faults in Mbeki's global governance, pop culture, panel of speakers when she talked time as president. With increasing transnational crime, terrorism and about women as victims of war. awareness on HIV/AIDS - South violence, as well as human, drug Furtado spoke of a women's move- Africa having thelargest level of oc- and arms trafficking. ment in Columbia that has spread curence - public eyes have turned Co-ordinators Ramesh Thakur throughout the world called Mu- towards its leader. and Dr. Jorge Heine, both Distin- jeres DeNegro (Women in Black). "Yet, the blemishes on Mbeki's guished Fellows at CIGI and Politi- These women feel that "if we're presidency should not mask his cal Science professors at the Univer- being displaced by war, we'll dis- contribution to South Africa," ex- sity ofWaterloo and Wilfrid Laurier place ourselves," but in a safer, non- pressed Dr. le Pere. Most people University, respectively, had been violent way. Through different art at the conference questioned how organizing the conference for ap- forms like photography and music, anyone could follow the reign of proximately a year because of the the women are able to express their Nelson Mandela. immense planning needed. stance against the recent rise in Heine was hoping for "all sorts violence. of sparks" to emerge from this par- Furtado told a story of the wom- Transnational crimes ticular "meeting ofminds." He feels en refusing to speak to a man that that it is necessary for academics to approached their bus for standard exchange ideas about their studies checkups, simply because he was Later that day, a panel consisting of so that everyone involved can "re- an armed official. academics from the Caribbean dis- ally benefit from [their] own work, cussed security concerns among [their] own papers, [their] own ar- those involved with globalizing or- ticles and books." Mbeki's legacy ganized crime. But why would they choose to Agreed among the panel was the SYDNEY HELLAND congregate in Waterloo of all plac- Lunch-time at a conference like fact that there is a lack of coordina- PERCEPTIVE PROF - Dr. Heine makes notes on conference papers. es? "We [at CIGI] think that Canada this is a hotspot for open debates tionand a limited number ofarmed provides a very good place for peo- on current events and shameless forces needed to gain better control ple to meet. A time where meeting self-promotion. Aside from busi- over criminals engaged in drug, rie Morris and Dr. Lucy Eugene, Contemporary terrorism in the US, for example, is becom- ness cards and books being tossed firearm and human trafficking. also both from the University of ing increasingly difficult. There are around in every direction, Dr. Dr. Suzette Haughton of the the West Indies, went on to discuss so many restrictions," Heine ex- Garth le Pere, Executive Director at University of the West Indies laid money laundering and its tactics to Perhaps the most exciting session plained. "Canada is a country"that the Institute for Global Dialogue in out some statistics: cocaine, as a conform to globalization. of the conference was held on Wed- has a good image. In many ways it South Africa delivered his keynote major industry, profits $4.8 billion Morris explained that many nesday morning. A few professors, is a very attractive place for people speech on President Thabo Mbeki's per year. Likewise, there are over money launderers have moved a doctor and a reverend gathered to come and meet." legacy. 800,000 victims of human traffick- from the Caribbean to NorthAmer- together in the Heritage room at Mbeki stepped into power in ing, with profits reaching $12 bil- ica and sometimes even the UK. the Waterloo Inn to engage in con- 1999, in an attempt the fill the lion US. Dr. Haughton continued, Despite Jamaica's severe involve- versation about terrorism, particu- Women against war shoes of South Africa's most ef- "Jamaica has the highest murder ment in this organized crime, Dr. larly, post-9/11. fective leader, Nelson Mandela. rate in the world and most are done Eugene is baffled that the US finds Ms. Rekha Chowdhary of Kash- In a morning session on Tuesday, As President Mbeki's second five- so involving guns." Canada more of a threat when it mir, India, feels that "9/11 has re- scholars from South Africa, The year term is coming to a close this Everyone on the panel seemed comes to money laundering. vamped terrorism." - She says that Philippines and Brazil explained spring, many are wondering what to agree that Jamaica has the "most since September 11, 2001, many their papers on peoples' move- his legacy will be. creative criminals." Ms. Dana Ma- people have been using "terrorism as an active tool to target anything." This is a reason why many, includ- ing Prof. Zhang Jiadong, believe that "terrorism is now more reli- gious than ever." During the question-and-answer period, M.J. Akbar, Editor-in-Chief at Covert Magazine in India and keynote speaker at the conference, described his concern with the world's view on the identity of ter- rorists. Akbar explained that there are many terrorist groups in Hindu regions but the media does not relate these groups to Hinduism, yet so many people relate Islam to terrorist groups that evolve from Muslim regions. Akbar explains that this is an inaccurate and unfair description. Dr. Thakur then closed the dis- cussion by suggesting a need for "globalization of policy-making" as a means for decreasing violence and terrorism. PHOTOS BY SYDNEY HELLAND
MEETING OF MINDS - Professor Sukh Deo Muni, Associate Professor Zhang Jiadong and UW Professor Ramesh Thakur discuss terrorism. 1,2008 - THE 18 INTERNATIONAL MONDAY SEPTEMBER CORD WEEKLY
ALANNA WALLACE
RAMBLING ON - Young children in Khula Village, South Africa, take part in a traditional Zulu dance. The region is deeply affected by the growing HIV/AIDS epidemic. Africa and AIDS: survivingagainst odds
Alanna Wallace spent a month at a South African daycare centre and medical clinic, gaining a first-hand observation of the impact of HIV/AIDS. With the severe lack of awareness inherent in the region, the people of KwaZulu-Natal are suffering
ALANNA WALLACE infection. the worst ofthis is the floor, which is patients have come to the clinic has been started called "mothers INVESTIGATIVE JOURNALISM Located on the eastern shore just so ridden with holes it has become after hours with various illnesses. to mothers" in an attempt to create GRANT RECIPIENT below Mozambique, this South Af- unsterile, housing deadly TB bac- Cynthia sees about 100 patients awareness regarding mother-to- rican province is estimated to have teria. Standing in the dirt hole that per day during her work hours, and child transmission. It's early morning at the Sen- one of the highest TB/HIV co-infec- was once tile floor, she asks "What she works overtime every day even Cynthia joked that there must zangethemba Orphan Day Care tion burdens on the continent com- can I do?I just have to cope..." though the government refuses soon be "fathers to fathers" though in Khula Village, KwaZulu-Natal, bined with low treatment success Monzi Clinic runs pre-natal, her overtime pay. "It's a risk," she she doubts any man would at- South Africa. "Rasta" as he's known rates for TB. It is estimated that its chronic and family clinics weekly. says, about having to close after her tend. She says that counselling and here, begins the support group he HIV prevalence rate is somewhere Monthly visits from special doctors nine-hour day is done; "I'd rather education are the most important helped form for individuals who around 40 percent of the general are unreliable and short. Deliver- stay on." tools in the fight against the HIV have been deeply affected by the population, making it globally one ies of prescriptions and medica- The clinic also provides coun- epidemic; they are the only way to growing HIV/AIDS epidemic. of the highest infected areas. tions she says are also unreliable. selling to all those who are tested, fight stigma, discrimination, and In this village alone, it is believed Monzi Clinic is just one of the The clinic lacks space, supplies whether their results are positive the spread of infection. that between 70 and 80 percent many examples ofKwaZulu-Natal's and staff. As she speaks, a line of or negative. A new public program South Africa's record of fighting of the population is infected, and faltering healthcare system. Rasta and his team from the non- Sixty-year-old registered nurse governmental organization African and midwife Cynthia Mzinyane Impact attempt to teach those at has been running the Monzi Clin- the support group how to maintain ic for over eight years now. Her a healthy lifestyle. clinic services about nine different Rasta tries not to give up hope. communities. He battled tuberculosis for two "I am the doctor here," she says, years before discovering he was calling attention to her lack of staff- HIV-positive. He is one of the few ing. There are no doctors at this individuals brave enough to pub- clinic, only two professional nurs- licly declare his HIV status, and he es, two staffnurses and one general has now dedicated himself to an assistant. awareness he says is crucial in the The nearest hospital has enough fight against the epidemic. But as beds for the sick, but only eight he quite frankly puts it, "there is practicing doctors. With this small much more to be done here, much team, Cynthia has administered more suffering to be done here..." 220 rounds of ARV medications In KwaZulu-Natal, antiretrovi- this past May. She says most of her ral (ARV) treatment is only given patients say they are too poor to eat to those individuals diagnosed when they take their medications; with full-blown AIDS. That's to say, a concern echoed by most NGOs they only receive treatment when worldwide, including Doctors ALANNA WALLACE CD4 (fighter cell) count has Without Borders. their "MUCH MORE SUFFERING TO BE DONE" - An HIV-positive man known as "Rasta" helped form a support reached below 200 and their im- Her biggest complaint is the de- group, despite the negative social stigma attached to being public about his HIV status. mune system is then unable to fight teriorating condition of her clinic; The Cord Weekly ■ Monday September i, 2008 INTERNATIONA] 19
"DO WHITE PEOPLE GET HIV?"
A woman's question during the weekly HIV education program in Khula village
ALANNA WALLACE
TEARS - S'fiso, a boy in the Senzangethemba Day Care Centre, cries after his brother is taken to hospital. the epidemic is less than stellar. Un- showered to protect himself from petuate the stigmatization and the understanding about HIV trans- are still a human being." It is clear der apartheid, as HIV was spread- HIV. societal breakdown that accompa- mission. Ofthese thirteen students, that in the province of KwaZulu- ing through the continent, nothing In a nation with a history of char- nies the HIV/AIDS epidemic. Hav- eight believed they could not con- Natal, not everyone is seen as a hu- was done to suppress it. When Nel- ismatic leaders like Nelson Man- ing graduated from their course, tract HIV during oral sex. Another man being, especially if they have son Mandela was elected president, dela, and with the experience of the women still maintained that eight thought if they only had sex been diagnosed with HIV. HIV/ theAfrican NationalCongress' new a period of relative stability after they would not want to know their with one partner they would be AIDS uncovers the skeletons in the government was forced to focus on apartheid, it is difficult for many HIV status out offear. safe from infection. Ten thought closets of societies and is perpetu- economic issues. Nonetheless, by South Africans not to believe their African Impact's HIV education only periodic use of a condom was ated and mirrored by them. this time HIV had a strong hold on educated politicians. in schools is also an ongoing pro- needed as protection, and nine The lack of political support for the nation's population. In Khula village, with a 70-80 gram. Thirteen students had been believed that if they tested HlV- the fight against the epidemic, To make matters worse, in 1999 percent prevalence rate, a woman chosen to complete the five day negative, they were immune to the coupled with a depleted healthcare when Thabo Mbeki was elected in her thirties inquires, "Do white course by their headmaster. He ex- virus. and educational system, has led to President, he surrounded himself people get HIV?" She is part of an plains that he chose them because Zandile Mtshaly, at age 12 asked the rapid spread of the disease in with HIV deniers. He made speech- HIV education program run by Af- he is certain they are all sexually in private "How do I stop a baby the province. es claiming ARV drugs were poison, rican Impact. Here, mostly women active. from being in my tummy, like the It is difficult to explain the det- and publicly questioned the accu- attend the weekly sessions, though Their ages range from twelve to other girls?" One lesson on con- rimental effect the HIV/AIDS epi- racy of HIV tests at the Internation- they, like Cynthia, criticize men for fourteen, and all live in Khula vil- traceptives is interrupted by a demic has had socially on KwaZu- al AIDS Conference the next year. their ignorance regarding HIV. lage. They complain about being male teacher who disagrees with lu-Natal. Rasta expressed that peo- He now refuses to do interviews on Rasta, who has been living with given a pre-test at the start of the teaching the girls how to put on a ple have forgotten that "they must the subject. HIV for the last ten years, explained course, saying they all know every- condom. The lack of resources and be love, must be friendship." The lacklustre involvement by why he believes men do not attend thing there is to know about HIV/ education is blatantly related to the But as human beings, Zulu cul- the government in the fight against the education sessions as frequent- AIDS - there is no way they can't discomfort of discussing intimate ture and Zulu people's lives have HIV/AIDS has led many people in ly as women. "Women is the moth- ace the test. details oflife and, most importantly become rooted in a global epi- KwaZulu-Natal to doubt the sever- er," he says. "They like towork hard. The results of their tests were in the given situation, sex. demic that touches them not only ity of the issue. There has yet to be They like to know." shocking. Even after receiving HIV Offering counselling on living physically with the 1500 plus who an individual at African Impact's However, the truth is that HIV education in their schools, the stu- positively, one woman sadly ex- die every day, but in the way that HIV education that knows any HIV transmission is more likely to occur dents still did not even have a basic plained, "Even if you have HIV, you they perceive their own existence. prevalence statistics. from male to female, and not the Mpho, who is a single mother other way around. And unfortu- of three living in Khula, said that nately, in a patriarchal society like at her Nazareth church visitors of- that of the province's Zulu culture, ten come making announcements women are generally blamed and saying that the West has a cure for stigmatized. HIV, but they won't hand it over to One woman complained that Africa. neighbours will, "laugh on the cor- Future leader of the ruling party, ners about you" if your HIV positive and most likely the next President, status is known. Another woman Jacob Zuma is from KwaZulu-Natal said, "If I went home and told my province. Two years ago he was boyfriend I was HIV positive, he acquitted of rape, and claimed he would run and never come back." It did not use a condom but instead is these negative attitudes that per-
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___ Homemade Boz burgers No contracts No hidden fees !l|lff ONLY $3.99 with Drink purchase |j|| Breakfast Available on Weekends Call today (519) 957-1800 si m Pi I fied www.simplifiedbroadband.com zo.FEATURE MONDAY SEPTEMBER 1, 2008 • THE (ORD WEEKLY THEC How to play your cards
University is certainly a place where any fun-loving student can find agood tirr Features Editor Kari Pritchard deals out a hand of useful advice
It's finally here: orientation week and the beginning nightclub:' Whether you're partying on or off campus, always are more than c of what's bound to be another late night, early morn Although Wilf's is still open to students of all ages, make sure you have somebody to walk with, and re public urinatiOJ ing and party-filled school year. With so many op McMahon explains that staff will be checking ID at member that nobody is too cool to call Foot Patrol. If got to go, it's a1 tions weighing on your mind (The Turret or Phil's? the point of purchase and not just at the door. As an you get into trouble by yourself on campus on your less you're willi1 Mixed drinks or beer? Taken or single?) you'll be noying as this change may be, it will help prevent the way home, don't be afraid to use the emergency with the emba1 making decisions left, right and centre. Now, be issue of serving alcohol to minors, or the over con poles. Special Constable Chris Hancocks describes peeing policy a fore you run off into the land of impaired judgment, sumption of alcohol by anybody. Wilf's also checks that when you push the button, "it is a direct link to you need to let check out this trusty guide to steer you in the direc your OneCard to match it with your ID. our dispatcher and then we respond immediately to ware of the rep1 tion of making decisions you won't soon regret. that pole:' Some fines a1 By the time you make it safely for the average, DON'T PRE-DRINK TOO MUCH, AND MAKE SURE home, if you've been drinking past versity student. On Campus YOU BRING LIMITED CASH WITH YOU TO THE BAR your limit, make sure you load up on options for red SO YOU DON'T OVER DO IT THERE EITHER. water and set your alarm if you need to give the justice If you're a student at Wilfrid Laurier University before you hit the sack. a trial in the rna (WLU), you're bound to go out and party on campus Alas, safety on campus is not just Fourth year at some point in your university career. Although stu about drinking within reason. Acci major student dents are always welcome on campus, some partying Alright, so you're under nineteen and you can't dents happen on campus, too, and when they do, perience reduc can get out of hand. get served on campus. What do you do? Well, pre don't hesitate to call the Emergency Response Team excuse;' says F1 For many first-year students, university may ap drinking is bound to happen, but be sure to take the (ERT). ERT Co-coordinator of the 2007-2008 school cannot afford a pear as a new, different world with different rules ... right precautions to ensure a night of fun. year Andrew Blake says that students shouldn't be ally reduce yow rules that allow underage drinking. This is not true, Don't pre-drink too much, and make sure you bring afraid to get in touch with the student-run emer in half, and was as general manager ofWLUSU (which operates Wilf's limited cash with you to the bar so you don't over do gency services. "If you call ERT they're not there to it. and The Turret) Michael McMahon explains. it there either. If a student arrives "at a WLUSU facil get students in trouble [... ] they're just there to help So, fines can For underage students, "It's their first realization ity having just consumed a large quantity of alcohol someone out who has been hurt or is sick," says to steer clear of that this is a community that has community stan and if affects them once they are in the room [... ] we Blake. you the fine in dards that [... ] are actually the standards in the prov make sure that they have safe transport back to their ERT promotes safety, providing first aid courses up the dough. ince, the same as where these students came from;' home;' says McMahon. for the community, patrolling campus and offering says McMahon. You won't get a glorious ride home in a golden additional coverage to any on-campus event. Despite the legal drinking age being nineteen, carriage (like you would remember at this point any By-laws are another reminder to students to keep students are still bound to try and drink underage ways), but at least you know you'll be getting home their partying in cl~eck. ~eople_cal! re~ei~e~or on campus. McMahon has an answer for this: "On safe and sound from campus, which is more than lo being drunk in public, or carrying open nightclub nights, people under nineteen are not go cal pubs or bars offer students. alcohol. Although some fines ing to be able to come and visit The Turret ~--··
GRAPHIC BY JULIE MARION AND SYDNEY HELLAND KLY THE CORD WEEKLY • MONDAY SEPTEMBER 1, 2008 FEATURE.21 ards right at university nt can find agood time, but sometimes having fun can have its repercussions. hand of useful advice for students fighting for their right to party npus, always are more than others, the biggest concern is towards a supervisor at Failte's Irish Pub located on King with, and re public urination. It doesn't matter how much you've Off Campus street, wants students to enjoy themselves but have ~oot Patrol. If got to go, it's against the law and isn't worth it un respect. Fake IDs will work at some places but don't tpus on your less you're willing to pay the $300 fine that goes along If partying under the rules and regulations on cam push your luck. Vezpaly advises that "We do have a l emergency with the embarrassment of getting caught. The no pus is bringing you down, there's always the option scanner, [so] when we do scan certain cards we're 1ks describes peeing policy applies off-campus as well as on, so if of trying to have fun elsewhere. Though there are al not sure of, it will show up;' advised Vezpaly." direct link to you need to let the juices flow on King St., just be ways keggers around campus for the first few weeks If you don't have proper ID that is widely accepted mediately to ware of the repercussions. of school (check out Ezra, Bricker or Marshall street), (a driver's license or passport), Vezpaly suggests to Some fines are quite expensive and often too much remember that the local police will break up any un "go to the liquor store and get a BYID card:' The BYID ake it safely for the average, broke, living-off-of-Kraft-Dinner uni derage drinking. card, or bring your identification card, costs $20 at rinking past versity student. But not all hope is lost, as there are Living off-campus in your own house with all your the LCBO and is credited as a form of photo ID. tload up on options for reducing the ticket. You can plea guilty, friends may seem like a dream come true, but you've While drinking establishments can level with stu fyouneedto give the justice of the peace an explanation or ask for still got to watch your back. Throwing a house warm dents wanting to have fun, remember that pubs are a trial in the matter if you're really strapped for cash. ing party is a great idea but be wary of the conse often smaller and more low-key than bars or clubs. us is not just Fourth year psychology and communications quences that may arise. If you take it too far and you're asked to leave, Vez eason. Acci major student Shawn Fergusson has first-hand ex During Orientation Week and early September, Ex paly advises you to use whatever judgment you have !len they do, perience reducing fines. "Accept the charge with an ecutive Officer of the Waterloo Regional Police Bryan left and leave willingly. Students who are escorted ;ponseTeam excuse;' says Fergusson - like you're a student that Larkin describes that, "One of the things we do is out on a sour note have been known to vandalize ·2008 school cannot afford a hefty fine. "Then the judge will gener bring in more police officers[ ... ] centred around the Failte's property or wreak havok through the streets shouldn't be ally reduce your sentence:' Fergusson got his fine cut universities [and] main areas of student housing:' On in a drunken stupor. If you do happen to make an tt-run emer in half, and was also given six to eight months to pay top of producing more officers, during September ass out of yourself at Failte's, Vezpaly invites custom not there to it. the police service is on the job 24/7. What does this ers to come back again once they've sobered up and there to help So, fines can be reduced, but your best option is mean for you? Have fun, but try to keep it in check. calmed down. Is sick;' says to steer clear of the inappropriate behaviour that got The police are not always out to get you and bust Bars and clubs off-campus often offer a higher ca you the fine in the first place or be willing to cough up your party, explains Larkin. "One of the things pacity, like the Fox and Fiddle on King Street. Just like aid courses up the dough. that concerns us is the number of people that end at Failte's, server Jessica Kohlsmith explains that at and offering up at a house party or on a balcony[ ... ] there are le- The Fox, ID is checked "Pretty much every night[ ... ] :vent. gitimate safety concerns there;' states Larkin, adding we have bouncers checking IDs from 9:00 p.m. on:' Ients to keep that house parties are difficult to control and usually Just like on campus, every bar has its busy nights. · grow beyond what the host expects. "During frosh week we have lineups so come rela (a L Boring as it may seem, it is wise to invite tively early before it gets really packed and have your some sober friends or friends of friends ID ready;• suggests Kohlsmith. to keep others from getting too wild and Rowdy and inappropriate behaviour is discour crazy. aged at all bars, and The Fox is no exception. On top But so what? You want to have the biggest, of rowdy behaviour, server Shannon Twigger of The baddest party and don't give a hoot who Fox advises that, "If someone is sexually inappropri knows. Well actually, your wallet might. If ate to the bartenders or servers, the bouncers will your bumpin' party gets too out of control, always take our side as long as it's a legitimate rea you can get hit with a noise complaint. son:' "Noise by-laws are in effect twenty-four hours a day. If [your party] affects your neigh "NOISE BY-LAWS ARE IN EFFECT bors in any way, you will be spoken to and/ TWENTY-FOUR HOURS A DAY. IF [YOUR or charged;' says Wilfrid Laurier University's special constable Chris Hancocks. PARTY] AFFECTS YOUR NEIGHBOURS IN Although noise complaints can be handed ANY WAY, YOU WILL BE SPOKEN TO AND/ out 24/7, they must be supported by evi OR CHARGED," dence (e.g. a mosh pit on your front lawn) and can be avoided. Something as easy as letting your neighbors know you're having a - Chris Hancocks, WLU Special Constable party can save you the approximate $300 fine and let you spend that cash on more impor Although at the time you might think you can talk tant things like books, or more beer. yourself out of getting the boot, you're not tougher On top of regular parties, keg parties will than the bouncer and they have the ultimate say. If undoubtedly also be taking place -where you you're still causing a stink about being escorted out, can pay for cheap, kegged beer. Keggers are a Kohlsmith adds that if it gets too crazy, the police can lot of fun and can be a great way to potentially be called. make some cash, but beware, as they Getting into trouble off campus isn't just related are one hundred percent illegal. to partying, but also being smart, aware and safe in Larkin credits the reduction of your new humble abode. some keg parties to the real Kaye Crawford, Manager of Community Relations ity of doing law enforcement: for the City of Waterloo, has noted a recent increase "People realize we are going in theft in student residences, and advises students to come seize the keg [and] to lock their doors when they leave home. You should lay charges:' You'll be out also be wary of strange house-party guests - at your of beer, money and maybe home or a friend's. even some friends: are Crawford also suggests to "Know what your land you willing to take the lord expects of you in terms of maintenance;' sug gests Crawford, which means you should make sure There are also you are provided with the right equipment to meet various bars and pubs certain by-laws. available to students Things like a functioning fridge and toilet are two off-campus that of the most important ingredients to a house party, can be just as so one by-law to keep in mind is the property stan fun (and some dards by-law. If you have a problem in your home times more) that your landlord won't fix, you can ask the city to than on-cam give your landlord a legal order to help. pus locations. April Vezpaly, 22 MONDAY SEPTEMBER 1,2008 ■ THE CORD WEEKLY
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~ > ++ .* .+\ . + ~\7 * 24 Student Life MONDAY SEPTEMBER 1,2008 > THE CORD WEEKLY Ennio's eatery delivers good value The Italian restaurant on King Street provides a hearty three-course meal for two for a price that won't break the bank
for all students. The dark interior of Ennio's was very classic and romantic, but not so inviting for those not dining in couples or there with their families. The atmosphere was nice, although too fancy for a casual meal. MICHELLE CALDARONI The photographer and I were STUDENT LIFE EDITOR seated quickly by the hostesses, but were led around the side of the Summer has passed, and students room to what seemed like a back are happily making the trek back hallway, and then out to the sunny to Laurier for another school year patio. Luckily, the sun was shin- full of new opportunities and chal- ing on the fenced-in patio, which lenges. These challenges may or blocked the noise from the street, may not include cooking for your- yet had windows for a nice view. self, but surely they include the feat The waitress was very attentive,
of deciding what you're going to eat and brought the appetizer - an ar- next. tichoke dip served with toasted flat
After years of enjoying mom and bread triangles ($7.98) - quickly to dad's homecookin,' you might be the table. The large-portioned start- shocked to realize that you have er was warm and nicely seasoned, no idea how to prepare nutritious although the seasoning fell off on ALEX HAYTER mealsfor yourself. Luckily, The Cord the way to my plate. We weren't RIB-LICIOUS - Ennio's ribs were complemented with potato wedges and not much else - but only cost $10. Weekly is here to give you monthly able to finish the starter before the reviews of some of KW's most stu- main courses arrived. dent budget- friendly restaurants. A small starter salad was includ- price, although the ribs tended to full, it was our duty to try out a des- cream cup. This semester will kick off with ed with each main course, and was be fatty. The potato wedges seemed sert for the integrity of this article. The total came to under $50 for the Italian-style restaurant known a simple but tasty addition to the starchy, and an odd pairing for the We agreed on a tiramisu made by two people. The starter and des-
as Ennio's, located on King St. N, dish. The main course was a half- more classy idea ofbarbequed ribs. the chef at Ennio's - instead of the sert were the best part of the meal, just north of Columbia St. With rack of barbequed ribs ($10.79) I would have liked to see a baked cakes which are outsourced to a but perhaps for the main course we ample parking, bus stops located which were served with potato potato or mixed vegetables accom- bakery. The dessert was delicious should have stuck to what Ennio's %
nearby, and a location close to wedges and ketchup. pany the meat instead. and fresh-tasting, sprinkled with pasta house is best known for - its WLU, this restaurant is accessible This dish was a good value for the Although we were more than chocolate and served in a tall ice- pasta." Fresh Food Company gets fresh facelift
Renovations to Laurier's dining hall have been made in hopes to improve traffic flow and encourage use by Laurier students
LINDA GIVETASH STAFF WRITER
The Fresh Food Company dining hall at Laurier's Waterloo campus has been closed for construction since July 22. The renovation, to be completed in time for the fall semester, is designed to allow the food court to be more efficient and accessible to students. The project is set with a ceiling cost of $350,000. "That is entirely financed by our partners with Ara- mark, The cost will be paid back out of the operational budgets over the next eight years," explained Dan Dawson, Director of Student Services. The new layout will allow for easier navigation and greater visi- bility of each section of the dining hall. "Our primary objective is to improve traffic flow," said Dawson, "it doesn't really change the menu in any substantial way. If anything, it enhances the menu." In order to ease traffic flow, the salad bar, currently centred on the COURTESY OF FOOD SERVICES LAURIER
will inte- - island, be removed and FRESH STYLE Dining hall renovations promise to make a more efficient facility for students, with more space to browse between food stations. grated along the wall with the other stations. The drink coolers will also be removed and replaced with a tinued. "This Asian station is going be incorporated as a more perma- The newly redesigned Fresh Food pendent on the dining hall during series of smaller refrigerators. to be enhanced with a gas fire box nent vendor in the dining hall, next Company should accommodate the summer, the concourse cafe has The Pan Asia station will undergo and it's going to be called a Miso to the new salad bar. The deli will the school for at least another five been reopened. A variety of meals, a great deal ofredesign. "The Asian station, which is a more authentic replace the previous smoothie lo- years. Future plans of reconstruc- including soups and sandwiches, station offers the best variety for presentation." cation, and it will be redesigned as tion in the dining hall will focus will be available in order to accom- our vegetarians, but it is the least Other stations to undergo chan- a euro-baguette station with toast- more on seating space as the uni- modate their needs. effectively promoted area in the ges will be the smoothie and deli ed sandwiches as opposed to the versity continues to grow. The Fresh Food Company re- fresh food company," Dawson con- stations. The smoothie station will old panini press. For students and faculty still de- opened at the end ofAugust. Weekly • The Cord monday September i, 2008 Student Life .25
Drinking Culture at WLU: Part One Keggers
Keggers are an essential university experience for first-years and beyond - despite crappy beer and soiled washrooms. Will you attend one this year?
D.J. DEMERS Graham Rumble, a convener of STAFF WRITER MLSB this past spring, give you the details: "MLSB consumed 290 kegs If I were to invite you to a party at this summer (in a 104 day period which you can drink all the alcohol May 1 to August 12), and approxi- you want for $10, what would you mately 600 people were involved." say? Tim Soroka, a recently appointed Unless you're the type of person convener of next spring's MLSB who thinks critically and prefers season, chimes in. "But really we to know all the information before know that the majority of those 290 committing to something that is kegs were the responsibility of the seemingly too good to be true, then fifty people that showed up to most I can only assume you would say events." yes. OK, now that I've gotten you If Soroka sounds passionate roped in, I have to tell you a couple about keggers, that's because he of things. is. When asked to speak about the This alcohol Irefer to is beer with best and worst aspects of a kegger, a taste so putrid that you may be he spewed out a myriad of differ- inclined to question whether or ent observations that were ob- not it has been mixed with bovine viously accumulated with years of urine. And you may not have un- experience. limited access to this beer if too "The best part of a kegger is the many people show up. In fact, you unwritten rule of not leaving until may only get a couple of cups, and the keg is done regardless of the even those may be hard to obtain as consequences," Soroka explained. you fight your way through a mass "This rule is the catalyst for of people congregated around the drinking games such as timed keg filling station. stands, higher/lower games with And one last thing: the party may playing cards, and rock/paper/ end prematurely ifcertain local au- scissor games which you'd never thorities catch wind of it. Selling play on a normal night but become alcohol without a liquor license is so much more intriguing when you not exactly "legal" per se. need to finish a keg," he continued. With all this information at your With all of these games that en- disposal, would you still want to courage massive consumption come? Of course you would! You of alcohol, one would assume would stiU'come because you know that many people would become that the party I am referring to is extremely inebriated and make a kegger and you are a university some bad decisions. I asked Lu- student. And keggers and univer- can Woods, a recent graduate who sity students go together like Face- hosted at least ten keggers in his book and loneliness! Even with all time at Laurier, about the sordid the possible negative aspects that I post-kegger clean-up. described, the prospect of a kegger "By far the worst locations are the that is unbelievably amazing is too washroom facilities. Some people owners. good to pass up. have no empathy for the SYDNEY HELLAND The fact of the matter is thatkeg- There is obviously puke in the bath- KEGGERIFIC - An '80s themed kegger in Waterloo is enjoyed by many, who dressed up for the festivities. gers more often than not fall at two rooms. On top of that, there were very opposite ends of the spectrum. fecal remains in our washroom While the worst kegger of your life after two keggers we hosted this less than impressed by the scenario your path to the keg? Fill up a when it all just goes right. I'm talk- will undoubtedly be an unpleasant summer. One time there was an ac- that Cuomo just described, I must pitcher, rather than a cup, every ing about those nights when it experience, there is no question tual piece of shit on the toilet seat." say that I completely agree. I really time you are at the keg. Split the all seems like a scene from Can't that the greatest keg party you at- While I am in no way pandering did not write that paragraph per- pitcher-filling duties among you Hardly Waitand you justkeep look- tendwill be a night ofbacchanalian to sexual stereotypes, I have ascer- suasively at all, but hear me out. and two friends so it doesn't seem ing for JenniferLove Hewitt and her revelry. Flip cup, beer pong, your tained from mere observation in By my admittedly less than sci- like such a daunting chore. tremendous... eyes. tongue engaging in a sloppy sort my four years at Laurier that men entific calculations, men are four The chance of the party ending As foryou people foolish -1 mean of twirling motion with someone are more likely to show up to a keg- times more likely than women to early due to police intervention? heroic - enough to host a kegger, else's. All of these things happen at ger. This results in what is com- attend a keg party. With this infor- It is not a guarantee that the cops let me take this opportunity to say a kegger. monly referred to as a sausagefest. mation in mind, a good host will in- will show up. The chances of it hap- that you are doing an honourable To get a better perspective on the I asked Jenny Cuomo* how she vite four times as many women as pening are roughly the same as service for the Laurier community. intricacies of keggers, I spoke with feels when she attends a kegger men to balance the equation. I can your daughter going into the porn Also, good luck cleaning the excre- a couple of people involved with only to realize that the ratio of guys only assume that the problematic industry if you name her Jenna. ment on your toilet seat. MLSB, Laurier's summer "softball" to girls is severely lopsided. "I am sausagefest issue will be eradicated Besides, even if it does happen, it league. I use quotations not be- fine with it since I get along with with the publishing of this article. is not that big of a deal for you as a cause I am a douche bag but be- guys really easy," she says."It only You're welcome, ladies. party-goer. You are more than like- *The name has been altered. The cause while MLSB is ostensibly a becomes a problem when there is As for all the other negative ly a suburbanized kid. A little tussle woman interviewed does not wish baseball league, its main function a five to 45 ratio and it becomes a aspects, I will dismande them with the "po-po" will toughen you to be identified. is to act as a purveyor of debauch- 'who can tag that broad?' scenario systematically. up. ery, fun, and beer. Lots and lots of with all the guys on the hunt for the The disgusting beer? You stop With all of the things that could The Cord does not support the■ sale beer. five girls in the room." noticing the taste after your second go wrong with a kegger, it is all the ofalcohol without a liquor license. The of How much beer, you ask? I'll let If you are a woman and you are cup. mass people hindering more reason to savour those nights 26 Student Life MONDAY SEPTEMBER 1,2008 > THE CORD WEEKIY Beautiful abode on a budget
Decorating a boring residence room is a way to express yourself and to show off your tastes in style. Read our tips for the best way to buy furniture and decorations on a budget
HEATHER HAMILTON look out for prices, though, as many CORD STUDENT LIFE of their items are hand-crafted. If you buy from a second-hand
For many students, living on their store - or you aren't a fan of the de-
own gives them a chance to explore cor in your residence - the best way an individuality they may not have to spruce up the furniture is to give had in high school, or it gives them it a personal touch. No, you don't the ability to express themselves have to sew anything or have much by decorating their rooms in a way in the way of artistic abilities. that may not have gone with their If you buy a couch that is either parents' decor. not your favourite colour or has The mere fact thatwe are students a grandma pattern that you don't on a budget limits us from going necessarily like, buy a large sheet to Leon's and buying that perfect in whichever pattern you like best couch to go with the perfect bed. and put it over the couch. It acts as So how can we get furniture and both a slipcover and it might make decorations that match our per- the couch a bit more comfortable. sonalities on such a small budget? Sheets are key to dressing up fur- There has to be a compromise be- niture. They can act as tablecloths, tween the expensive furniture and couch covers, and yes, they even go the milk crates. Luckily, it's not that on your bed. hard to find. Online shopping can also help The first place many of us look to buy good quality furniture and for cheap decor is probably a place decorations for your room at lower FILE PHOTO - LAURA TOMKINS
like Zellers or IKEA. Even stores prices. Craigslist.com, Kijiji.com, HOME DECOR - Students can spruce up their apartments that lack flair by looking off the beaten path. like Home Depot or Rona have de- and BuySell.com, for example, cent furniture and prices. Shopping have just about everything. One of in these places can be both tricky the great things about these sites and dangerous to the student on a is that there are postings for just budget. about everywhere, including KW, so you can get the furni- Keep a look out in the ture either from school or from home without NEWSPAPER CLASSIFIEDS. MOVING having to worry about SALES AND YARD SALES CAN HAVE getting it from point A to point B. HIDDEN TREASURES PERFECT FOR Everything is sold YOUR ROOM! through the owner, and about nine times out of These stores have some amazing ten there is a picture so that you finds, but when we think everything know what you are getting into. is cheaper we usually buy more, These items are usually listed in and in the end, spend more. We sets, but they can also be sold indi- will buy the cheaper desk and bed vidually. The sets are a great deal. frame, and then go for the lamps Why buy furniture at over $100 and throw pillows. Or, in the case of each when you can get the entire Zellers, that means more to spend set for the same price? on DVDs or video games. Hundreds eßay is another great source for e T I of dollars later we will have a great just about everything you might room, but no money left for other need. Unlike other online sites, BpfltSfe necessities. eßay requires payment via credit The best places to find furniture card before delivery and it is a little and decorations on a budget are less direct than calling up the own- second-hand stores. You might er. Through eßay, you can bid on an not get the newest stuff, but these itemand this often drives prices up. stores only sell merchandise that With some items you can buy them is in good condition. It can be diffi- at their face value, but this could be cult to gauge where to go for specif- a bit pricier. ic items because there is no online Also, keep a look out in the news- catalogue and no guarantee of what paper classifieds. Moving sales and has been given to the store. The bet- yard sales can have hidden trea- ter known of these stores are Value sures perfect for your room! Village and Goodwill. Shopping on a budget is not the In addition to these bigger stores, easiest thing to do, so if you want there is a store in Kitchener called something new, look in flyers, don't Worth a Second Look; their couch- be afraid to coupon-clip and keep es usually go for around $30 or your eye out for those red tag sales. , $40, and they have similar pricing Second-hand stores usually have 519 5781570 or 800 265 8977, www.centre-square.com I s on bed frames, desks, tables and the same items as the chain stores llpfey K everything in between. for much cheaper. Either way, Another great place to try is St. you'll find a great piece offurniture Jacobs. Why not take a road trip to for a great price, and that perfect the town where you may be able to decoration to brighten up a dingy find some beautiful furniture? This room. is one place that you may have to On that note, happy shopping! The Cord Weekly ■ monday September i, 2008 Student Life 27
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| Document solutions for the Laurier community I * Photocopying * Lamination II W W Hi®. * Business Cards AT j p TX7I3 QNIT| * * LJ ... — Or, rather, it was - before Food In essence, the financial burden Services announced changes to its is being passed on to the students meal plan structure for this year. and their families, who are already The most significant of these financially encumbered by the changes is the inability for a stu- growing costs of post-secondary dent in a dorm-style residence to education. Students are now at risk transfer more than $500 of their of losing money simply by using remaining balance to their second this service - which is mandatory year of university, where once full- to all dormitoryresidents. balance transfers were possible. Furthermore, this means incom- This maximum of $500, which no ing first-year students will be re- longer shifts to a student's conve- stricted from enjoying the broader nience account, must also be used community around Laurier that up in the first semester of second older students were able to. year or the fundswill be lost. The Wilfrid Laurier University Changes to the meal plan also Students' Union (WLUSU) did help include a reduction of the conve- the student body by negotiating nience account from $500 to $150 the $500 transfer amount up from and a drop in the number of busi- the inability to make any carry for- nesses that support the OneCard ward, which Food Services initially off campus. proposed. However, WLUSU could These changes were spurred by still have fought harder toretain the losses in the range of hundreds of high quality of food services that thousands of dollars annually by the university once provided. Food Services. Ultimately, it's the students that While these new rules - which suffer from this move. Instead of re- strongly encourage students to ceiving an award-winning, cutting- spend more money on campus and edge service, first-year Laurier stu- less in the broader community - dents will now receive an average will no doubt ease the burden ofthe one at a higher price. JULIE MARION AND SYDNEY HELLAND WLU's pool efforts good Finding yourselfat WLU The announcement thatLaurier's 50 metre swimming pool will be open at least until December 31 brings some new hope into a bleak situation. The 50 metre pool (the length of Olympic pools) is the only one in the At university, finding yourself is as important as finding your friends region and is used by many local and some national swim clubs. It is a point of pride for WLU to have such strongrelations with commu- nity groups and see national athletes trained on our campus. These activities might be It's all too easyto fall into the trap Such relationships, however, are not worth the mammoth costs of both more fun with friends, but do- of becoming a clone of the people repairing and maintaining the pool - a facility that is used by only a small ing them by yourself will give around you. Acting with the "herd" percentage of the student body. you a bit of perspective on your mindset makes us feel a sense of moment, For an indebted school such as Laurier, the estimated $1.5 million ALEX HAYTER fast-moving life, and provide belonging, sure. But the in repairs and $800,000 annually in maintenance are needed far more EDITOR-IN-CHIEF breathing space to prepare for four years from now, when you elsewhere. the busy social scheduling ahead. have to fall out of that herd and It is very encouraging to see WLU make every possible effort to see the To many, university is the ulti- University is an academic place, fend for yourself in the real world pool remain open. The university has offered to continue to pay the costs mate social showdown. It's the and a hub of intellectual thought - well, you're screwed. And you of upkeep ifthe community at large will pay the cost of the repair. time to prove your prowess in and discussion - who'd have might not even know who you are. For a facility that is used primarily by outside groups, this is a very rea- the art of consorting. Upon ar- thought? Try to let this rub off on There's nothing wrong with fall- sonable offer. riving at Laurier you'll be greet- you, and you'll find yourself com- ing in with the crowd every now It would have been prudent, on the other hand, for Laurier's administra- ed by thousands of fellow stu- ing away with more than just a de- and then - but just try to under- tion to have given the community more warning about the pool's closing, dents who are the same age as gree and an addiction to alcohol. stand your place in that crowd. so that there would have been more time to collect outside funding. you, and all of whom want the It's certainly If community groups don't step forward, the only other source of fund- same thing: to have a good time. sad to see people GO CATCH A MOVIE WITH A CUP ing would be the government - who have not yet contributed towards the When entering this bustling JUST living their whole pool's upkeep another possible avenue of funding could be from the gov- battleground, then, you'll feel a OF APPLE CIDER AS YOUR COMPANION existence in their ernment, something that has been severely lacking in already atLaurier. lot of pressure to make as many friends' heads. at thePrincess Cinemas. Walk Hopefully this extension will provide the time and money needed to friends as possible during the first Spending your save the pool, as everyone would like to see it remain open. weeks of university orientation. OVER TO BULK BARN AND BUY day thinking of Indeed, it's important to socialize YOURSELF A FEEDBAG OF CHOCOLATE what your friends These unsigned editorials were agreed upon by at least two-thirds of The because it's the key to having fun. think of you; COVERED PEANUTS. Cord's editorial board and do not necessarily reflect the views ofThe Cord's But stand back for a minute. So- never pausing volunteers, staff or WLUSP. cializing is important at univer- to look at your- sity, but you'll need confidence You've arrived at the ideal en- self from the inside - it's no to be social and that confidence vironment to do a lot "of think- way to live through university. The Cord Weekly comes from getting to know your ing, and with time on your So go for long walks by your- Editorial Board 2008-2009 own personality. And, at the end hands to do so: now, more self. Find hobbies that you can of the day, you're only guaran- than ever again in your life. do entirely in solitude. Do these n-Chief Special Projects Editor Graphics Editor Editor-! teed to rest is with that Alex Hayter Laura Carlson Julie Marion spend the of your While O-Week certainly a things the confidence [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] life with one person: yourself. good time to get to know people, you can enjoy your own company, (519) 884-0710 ext. 3563 Features Editor Web Editor So make sureyou spend as much there's no reason to stress about and you'll find that this confi- Kari Pritchard Dan Polischuk News Editors time with as into JeremyTremblay [email protected] [email protected] yourself possible. making your closest friends the dence will carry your social [email protected] I highly recommend taking a second you step into the class- life - it'll make stand out. Student Life Editor Photography Managers you Rebecca Vasluianu Michelle Caldaroni Ryan Stewart jaunt around Waterloo on your room or lounge. More importandy, though, is [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] - (519) 884 0710 ext. 3564 lonesome. Ifyou feel lonely well, If there's one thing that I felt that having a sense of personal Arts & Entertainment Editor Laura Tomkins that's because you're telling your- during my first few months at understanding will intrinsi- Sports Editor Daniel Joseph [email protected] Lauren Millet [email protected] selfyou are. Go catch a movie with university, it was that everyone cally make you feel more alive. Im i [email protected] Print Production Manager Opinion Editor Sydney Helland just a cup of apple cider as your seemed to be hanging around in University isn't about mak- international Editor David Shore [email protected] companion at the Princess Cin- big groups of companions, ex- ing friends. It's about mak- Heather MacDonald [email protected] [email protected] emas. Walk over to Bulk Barn and cept for me. It's only now that I ing yourself, and then finding buy yourself a feedbag of choco- understand how these groups the friends that fit in with you. The Cord Weekly is published by Wilfrid Laurier UniveFsity Student Publications. late-covered peanuts. attracted such great numbers. Contact: Greg Sacks, 75 University Ave. W, Waterloo, ON N2L 3C5 Do whatever the hell you want. They were cloning each other. [email protected] The Cord Weekly ■ monday September i, 2008 Opinion 29 How we can create a university Even though extra-curricular involvement seems enticing, don't forget that academics are the primary reason you're in university university. en that the purpose of the univer- That is, more important than sity is primarily academic, deeply classes, relationships withfaculty or problematic. even reading that one last article. So I care less about GREG WHITFIELD couldn't RUFFLED FEATHERS There will always be stuff to join. whether or not we Ijave an army Local food banks aren't going any- of purple-shirted icebreakers or a A professor, writing in the Chroni- where and always need volunteers, thriving student publications de- cle of Higher Education, recounts a cancer walks will continue to need partment. Don't let the brochures story about a junior student arriv- organizers and participants for the and cheering fool you; that's not ing at his office hours and asking foreseeable future, and beer league what makes Laurier different from for a brief explanation of the im- Softball shows no signs of slowing that university down the street or a portance of Freud. down. dozen other schools. Reflecting on the exchange, he So why rush to participate here This place is unique, because writes: "When you have thatkind of and now, even at the expense of like all universities,, it's academi- conversation... you begin, however academic life? Especially when for cally very differentfrom its fellows; modestly, to create a university." most of us, now is the only time in because our faculty is a unique col- Write that down. Commit it to our lives it will be so easy to knock lection of experts who represent a 1 memory. Tattoo it upside down on a conveniently labelled door knowledge base and a set of view- and backwards on your stomach. and have a genuine expert unravel points not found at any other uni- Do whatever it takes for this sim- Foucault, Dostoevsky or Von Neu- versity in the world. plest of lessons to sink in, because mann for us. And despite an unfortunately wben it does, and you realize that Far too many people encourage haphazard growth strategy, Laurier the university - for all its myriad us to move in the wrong direction. is still small enough that you can clubs, committees, boards, bod- During orientation week we're sat- show up at a professor's office un- ies, choirs and flocks - is first and urated with the infectious excite- announced and ask about the dif- foremost an academic institution, ment of icebreakers, encouraged ference principle, general relativity you'll be capable of taking the most that there's something right for or the Laffer curve, and reasonably you can out of these years. everyone at the get-involved fair, expect a detailed explanation. When an expert talks to a stu- and that university is about break- It's this kind of interaction - not dent, explaining the intricacies of ing out and getting involved in new clubs and committees - that makes complex ideas, everything that's things. this place unique and special and necessary to constitute a univer- Throughout all this there's fright- terrific. sity is already in place. All the rest: eningly little mention that one of Building humble little universi- Residence Life, WLUSU, Student those things (the reason we're all ties in the hallways and the offices Services, etc., are just window here to begin with) is this: learning of this campus is why you're here. dressing. as much as you can convince fac- And it's the absolute height of what Sure, they make the time we're ulty members to explain to you. you can accomplish during this here easier by fostering social net- Perhaps it's because we're newly time. works and providing services, and on our own and rightly concerned You'll never again have such an ofcourse they can be a lot of fun for for what the future holds in store, opportunity, so ditch the union and their participants, but we should but whatever the cause, these en- go hassle an expert. I promise it will all be deeply concerned for any- couragements and pressures to be infinitely morerewarding. SYDNEY HELLAND one who treats these elements as join in the "involvement culture" at HELP COMPUTER - Academics at Laurier are very good to talk to. more important than the actual Laurier are very effective, and, giv- [email protected] Should students receive teaching or therapy? University students have been receiving counselling for their problems rather than regarding them as normal rites of passage Some of my colleagues feel discouraged here at Laurier, I am obviously in favor of been a huge increase in sheer numbers of from committing acts ofcritical pedagogy, and psychological support during students' students attending university, often accom- are pressured not justbythe unofficial groups difficult times. My worry, however, is that panied by decreases in staff, funds and re- auditing their output or the government de- with the plethora of support systems, sources. Introduced, too, was the concept of DON MORGENSON partments that "performance-pay" their sal- wall-to-wall counselling and psychologi- the student as "consumer" (though of course, ACADEMIC PERSPECTIVE aries, or web sites such as "Rate Your Prof," cal guidance, students may be led to be- knowledge, like wisdom, cannot be con- but also at the hands of their own students. lieve anything academically challenging sumed but only acquired). Recently, a colleague ofmine died and among The first president under whom I served may be psychologically damaging rather Secondly, the university absorbed fash- the statements made in his laudatory obitu- (when Laurier was called Waterloo Univer- than a spur to higher achievement levels. ionable management science constructs fur- ary were those often made: "He was peerless sity College, an affiliate of the University of Some critics point to the fact that psycho- thering the "bureaucratization" of university in his chosen discipline" "He was a genuinely Western Ontario) suggested to our faculty therapy is the biggest growth industry here life. committed teacher" etc. that a professor's salary, merit, and promo- in Canada. These same critics also see the Thirdly, there has been a litigiousness What was also true but unspoken was that tion increments should be tied to positive university as a crisis center - more focused wherein the powerful student-consumer, he was never willing to suffer "fools" gladly student feedback and/or the number of stu- on helping students cope effectively with the feeling entitled to an A+ rather than the A and was unafraid to tell a student that he dents who sought to register in his/her par- "normal developmental tasks" we all face. that he or she received may threaten to sue. found the student's work "unacceptable" ticular courses. Denis Hayes, a joint author of the Obviously, such generalizations apply nei- Today, such comments might cause an The assumption: students know best! While book "McDonaldisation of Higher Edu- ther to all students nor to all disciplines. But, uproar and the teacher might find himself in in parttrue, such a proposal was unanimous- cation" refers to this development as there has been a shift. front of some student panel or tribunal being ly rejected. But that was forty-five years ago. the "therapeutic ethos" and argues it Some institutions, facing increasing stu- tried for "verbal assault"; perhaps being sug- It is little wonder that professors are hesi- now permeates the university system. dent numbers coupled with fewer dollars, gested for anger management counselling. tant to criticize student work and award them If it needs emphasis - I have never op- fewer teachers and teaching assistants, Though not necessarily recommended, I the mediocre grades they fully deserve (even posed supportive counselling/therapy. I am, force students and their teachers to take the remember the days when I sat in class quak- Ivy League universities such as Harvard have however, interested in knowing how such a path of least resistance and may be tempt- ing as professors ripped our arguments to shown great concern about grade inflation). change came about and what effects such ed to offer an academic life bereft of rigor. regret a therapeutic ethos has on shreds, made us weep tears of humiliation The goal of advanced studies has, I our academic All of this is a long way from the univer- and generally told us to "pull up our socks" to say, switched from carefully measured standards. sity conceived by John Henry Newman or Where will orregister for some other course. competence to student self-esteem in a few this therapeutic intervention Jacques Barzun, and may make the question Today, we play the role of students' person- troublesome years. for "normal" challenges of teenage life lead? of "What is university for?" not only an im- Counseling Services In to al counsellors rather than arbiters oftruth. As once Head of answer the first question, there has pertinent but even a litigious question. 1,2008 > 30. Opinion MONDAY SEPTEMBER THE CORD WEEKLY SYDNEY HELLAND Bicycle thiefdeserves jail time Sydney Helland had her bike stolen near bike thief Igor Kenk's repair shop in Toronto and still feels robbed two years later proving it. The bikes were on display for a was great to see so many people old being interviewed by news I know that it was my own fault couple days, and the police invited getting their bikes back, when I'm media. He was describing his bike for not registering my bike with victims of bike theft to sift through sure they thought they were gone to the journalist, saying that it was that he SYDNEY HELLAND the Toronto Police; maybe then it the thousands of bikes in the hopes forever. green, white and blue, and PRINT PRODUCTION would have been easier to recover of being reunited with theirs. The Toronto Police handled the really missed it. MANAGER it. Who knows? Regardless, I knew I went down to the warehouses situation very well considering the I watched this little guy thinking, deep down who the thief was, and where the bikes were displayed, circumstances. Although the po- "What kind of monster would take Imagine for a moment that you're I'm sure anyone would have had and like many others, began the lice's actions were met with criti- a kid's bike?" Not to say that taking working well past sundown one the same inkling iftheir home were daunting task of wading through cism such as complaints that the an adult's bike isn't equally wrong, evening in an unsavory part of mere steps away from the nowinfa- the seemingly endless rows of up- citizens weren't given enough time I just feel that robbing a child is downtown Toronto. After closing mous Bicycle Clinic ofQueen Street side-down bikes. to search for their bikes, they did unforgivable, even when being up shop for the night, you turn West. the best they could. faced with bail charges surpassing around only to find your bike lock The owner of the seedy bike re- My heart would skip a beat every In early August a quarter of a million dollars. cut in half, sitting on the sidewalk pair shop, 49-year-old Igor Kenk, The Toronto Star re- Bikes aren't just objects; for some TIME I SAW A BIKE WITH SIMILIAR beside the post where your bike was always on my radar after the ported that Justice a bike is a treasured means of con- was locked up only moments ago. night my bike was stolen. I would FEATURES TO THE ONE I HAD LOST. Bruce Young granted veyance that provides quick transit This happened to me a little over walk by his shop every day, meticu- Kenk a $275,000bail. to work, school, shops, etc. two years ago, and it still antago- lously analyzing every bike that was In the two hours that I was there, Kenk was also placed under house With this in mind, and Kenk's nizes me to this day. I will never dropped off. I witnessed five people recognize arrest, had his travel documents court date looming, I implore Jus- forget the experience of having to I never found it. their bikes and, flushed with excite- seized and was told to stay away tice Young to take into account not walk home, concerned about what Thankfully, a bit of solace came ment, presented the supervising of- from his Queen St. bike shop and only the two major felonies com- danger may lie in every alleyway my way when I found out that Kenk ficers with proof that the bike was not possess any bike. mitted, but also the sheer num- ahead, trying to calculate which was arrested on July 16 of this year theirs, and then happily rode off. The judge's decision is fair for the ber of people (including children) end of a widowed bike seat would and was facing 58 drug and bike- My heart would skip a beat every time being, but to any victim of bike robbed of their bikes. do more harm should I need to use theft-related charges. time I saw a bike with similar fea- theft, I'm sure the ruling is consid- Thus, I hope that the Toronto it as a weapon, all while occasion- The Toronto Police recovered tures to the one I had lost. The deep ered far too lenient, especially con- Police continue to take bike thefts ally being taunted by a homeless some 2,700 bikes that Kenk or his shade of purple, the swishy yellow sidering how many people were more seriously as a result of this person or crack-head spluttering, gofers had stashed around the graphics and font, the gear grip- negatively affected by Mr. Fix-it's trial, and with any luck, victims of "Why the long face, sweetheart?" downtown city core, and also found shifts, the curved handlebars; so actions. bike theft and thieves alike will see What's worse than mourning a more than six kilograms of mari- many bikes would come close, but For example, while I was looking justice served. stolen bike is knowing who took it, juana and 85 grams of cocaine in not close enough. for my bike in the warehouse, I saw but being completely incapable of the process. Despite not finding my bike, it a little kid no more than five years [email protected] iSp ; For more information, email [email protected] Deadline: September 15 Weekly - monday September Opinion The Cord i, 2008 31 CONTRIBUTED PHOTO The Olympic Dreamfor human rights Using the Beijing Olympics to scrutinize China's human rights record should spur Canadians to take interest in our country's, too ally make these games. The phrase cized games have either been held ring. No Western country represses munities around the country. "China's coming-out party" may by authoritarian regimes (Berlin people at anywhere near the scale Any of us that felt compelled to have been repeated ad nauseum, in '36, Mexico City in '68, Seoul in or severity that China does. It's too use the Olympics to protest China's but that doesn't make it any less '88), or hinged on their actions (Los easy, though, just to dismiss the record should feel twice as com- to ours. JOSH SMYTH apt. Stage-managed to the tiniest Angeles in '84). accusations. pelled protest THE EXAMINED LIFE detail, these games were meant to In some ways, though, Beijing I'm not for a herald the re-emergence of China was a new ball game. The Chinese We Canadians present ourselves moment suggest- ex- as a regime was certainly aware that the ing that we should Well, it's all over; 16 days that great power. TO THE WORLD AS CHAMPIONS OF emplified the curious mishmash Leveraging the games for politi- global grasp of the media can make shutup about other WILL PLAY of athleticism, spectacle, commer- cal reasons is hardly new. As usu- repression a tricky business. HUMAN RIGHTS. HOW THAT countries until we our own house cialization, and nationalism that al, will someone please write the For our part, the West was cer- WHEN WE INVITE PEOPLE TO GAMES get makes up the Olympic Games. Bur- Conservatives a memo? MP Jason tainly aware that the Olympics has in order. If only the HELD ON STOLEN LAND? ied in the yellow haze of the Beijing Kenney got himself quoted calling the potential to catalyze human- sinless could cast air were some absolutely stunning them "a non-political event." rights improvements; it arguably stones, there would performances by athletes from Nor is the use of the games by an played a role in loosening the grips be far too few win- around the world. authoritarian regime particularly of both the Mexican and Korean Lest we forget, the next Olympic dows getting broken. The events, of course, did not re- novel. The most famously politi- fegimes. This potential was a vis- games are being held in Canada, What I am suggesting is that we ible subtext in the awarding of the land of humanrights. More specifi- take the lessons of Beijing to heart games to China. cally, they are being held in Whis- and politicize the hell out of the The question, then, is where ex- tler and Vancouver. Many of the 2010 games, but do it in such a way actly did all our hectoring on hu- venues are being built on land that that lets the protest come from the Editor man rights get us? Not very far. Chi- the local First Nations never for- inside: from Canadians. Especially Letters to the that na remains one of the worlds most mally ceded to Canada. from Canadians live without vicious and repressive regimes, one Other venues are within spitting proper health care, education, or Social life is not so human comfort blanket. Should, that may well have gotten more re- distance ofthe Downtown Eastside, sanitation. heaven forbid, thatrelationship ever pressive in the Olympic lead-up, one of the worst pockets of poverty There's an opportunity here. We simple, Mr. Shore come to an end, it'll be easier to deal not less. and suffering (outside of Native Canadians present ourselves to I'm writing in response to Dave if you've taken the time to speak It did earn us the anger of a large communities) in North America. the world as champions of human Shore's article, "Your window of with your floormates on more than part ofthe Chinese public, who saw This gives us a bit of a situation. rights. How will that play when we opportunity" in the June 26 issue. one occasion. it as a sour attempt to rain on their Although Canada's repression of its invite people to games held on sto- Mr. Shore writes, "... the first two Ultimately, there's no special se- parade. In a country where dissi- indigenous people doesn't reach len land? weeks you spend at school will have cret to a satisfying social life while dence plays a distant third fiddle Chinese levels, it certainly once Perhaps the prospect of having an unparalleled affect on the qual- you don WLU's purple and gold. It's to nationalism and consumer- did, and we are far more direcdy the world knocking on the door will ity of your entire university career." a very friendly school that, despite ism in the popular mindset, this is involved in its perpetuation. be enough to embarrass the gov- He also foolishly claims that after its small size, has many social cir- unsurprising. Itis our police that oppress them, ernment into doing what it should have been all - two weeks, "your social destiny will cles, albeit some much smaller than For their part, many in China our laws that disenfranchise them. doing along treating have already been written." This, others. If you make an effort to put accused us of hypocrisy, pointing We all pay taxes to, and vote for, the all Canadians like people. of course, is nonsense. Certainly, yourself out there and meet people, to the numerous ways the West governments that perpetuate it and many people will form the begin- you'll invariably find your niche. engages in violations of human dodge their obligation to help the ning of many an important friend- And when (not if) it takes more than rights. This is a bit of a red her- people suffering in isolated com- letters@cordweekly. com ship in the first couple weeks of two weeks, don't panic and cite the school; you're not buckling down on schlock Shore's peddling. your studies yet and social opportu- That said, unlike this article, most nities abound. But no meaningful of the things Mr. Shore pens will be circle of friends is established in two well worth your time. You should Campus Pictorial weeks and for every lifelong friend- totally check out his monthly Cord- ship that begins during this period, o-scopes, for example. That shit's many more will have devolved into prophetic. mere acquaintance as early as sec- ond semester. MikeBrown Here's the thing. The underlying Former Cord Editor-in-Chief, 07/08 line of thinking in Shore's article is Letters Policy: sound. The first two weeks are im- All letters to the editor must be signed and portant, just as the first four months submitted with the author's name, student are important. If his argument ran' identification number, and telephone number. Letters must be received by 12:00 pm (noon) that first semester was the most im- Monday via email to [email protected] www.cordweekly. portant semester of your university or through our website at com. Letters must not exceed 350 words. career (socially speaking), I'd be in- edit any letter for clined to agree. And that can be very The Cord reserves the right to brevity and clarity. The Cord reserves the right The instructive. to rejectany letter, in whole or in part. Cord publish material that For example, if you come to uni- reserves the right to not is deemed to be libelous or in contravention versity with a high school sweet- with the Cord's Code of Ethics or journalistic standards. heart in tow or even back home, take ALEXHAYTER heed that OVER-ENROLLMENT - Laurier also enrolled 20 Canadian geese, who will be staying in not to cling too closely to letters@cordweekly. com Little House. 32 Classifieds MONDAY SEPTEMBER 1,2008 > THE CORD WEEKLY SPECIAL NEEDS WORKER WANTED solution, tips and computer sudoku Enthusiastic, responsible person to care Last for a 13 year old girl with C.P. develop programs at wvvw.sudoku.com Puzzles by Pappocom skills in augmentative communications, WATERLOO NETWORKS gross motor, feeding and personal care. issue's Computer problems? 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Providers will be reliable, > , all the and committed $12.48/ bomb-diggity, energetic hour. bmaabutout time you saw it in interes e , peas Congratulations on the at ext. 238 or via completion men 519-741-0190 first issu Cordies email at [email protected] timps' WEBSITE - www.eafwr.on.ca BEFORE — ra %@ iSs• Complete 30-Hour Seminars -' • Cveleot Weekend Sd.od.le 112 Cl'aZvboOgie. COlll •P,o»eo Test-Taking Strategies swing dance lessons ~~ " • Experienced Course Instructors -l-—— ~— • Comprehensive Study Materials . simulated Practice Exams Volunteer with The Friends Program • Limited Class Size Volunter a few hours weekly during the school day and make • Free Repeat Policv a life long difference to a child. Volunteers are matched by the • Personal Tutoring Available Canadian Mental Health Association with children who need • Thousands of Satisfied Students additional support at school. Friends operates in partnership with the local school boards and helps children 4-15 years. CANADIAN MENTAL » -rcje HEALTH ASSOCIATION Call 519-744-7645n -,*4 ext 317 . Grand River Branch " ■ ■ r< ■ s s:: r IZZ C 363 King St. N . Waterloo > * EWffSmMat t&e c&iaer Welcome back Students! v WLU Pick-up Special: Large 1 topping Pizza &Q.25 and a 2 Litre Pop + Tax " . jf I Sf'\ J-' «' v ' K°ll)'s best selection of foreign, cult anime. P| IDTMACr A gay ® lesbian and hard°to®find uideos and DUDs. rUltunMSt n [Student PiscouHtlflß STUDENT DISCOiT ! I Memberships |m : MEMBERSHIP I Available Poring AND GEI YOUR MOVIES UgSIJO FOR HALF PRICE ■ generation >cj| ... . _.._i ■ Alternative Video Cordweekly.com is now on Q I Facebook! cJSmS*™ 4 ' ' for details Applications Download the Cord Weekly News 112 !§J r I I . n, Q-Qyps Facebook application, and stay up to — Qii] Events date with all of cordweekly.com's r ; 1 m Marketplace | late-breaking news. Be a Good Neighbour r & - lite - nK)re . .T. j h&K-m -V*1 - Noise & Parties How much is too much noise? If a neighbour can stand on the edge of their property line, ,■> and hear noise from your house, it is too loud. The responding police or by-law officer has ie discretion to decide if the noise coming from your property is unreasonable. The mini- !ir JHlfn « Ifjf mum fine for a noise infraction is $300 and the by-law is in place 24 hours a day. If you <. U >J1 see signs of a party about to happen (i.e.: kegs are rolling in) contact the police who will stO by before the event and explain the rights and responsibilities the residents. A 11 # I 1 I P rules, to Apply unline. Parking Parking is not permitted wholly or partially on your lawn, on or overhanging a % sidewalk or a curb. Overnight parking is prohibited on all streets in the City of -^Su\ Waterloo. Each household is permitted 18 overnight parking exemptions per year. To Ijj f\ 14 OMSAS www.ouac.on.ca/omsas/ register your vehicle for overnight parking, please call 519-747-8559 or go online to f/JL~ _ \f www.waterloo.ca. The minimum fine for parking lawn #! j| 1 Ontario Medical School Application Service on your is $155- Septicmber 15, 20°8 ; Last da y to for - Public NllisailCe - jll Kicking over garbage cans and urinating in public are examples of two offences under this •PfrlBMP ai-pp ica ion ea ine by-law that cariy a $300 fine. Please keep our neighbourhoods and business areas clean and safe for all residents. www.ouac.on.ca/olsas/ OLSAS Garbage & recycling are picked up once a week on the same day and can be placed at the jjfeiy Ontario law Srhnnl Annliratinn Spiwp curb after 7:00p.m. on the dav prior to collection. No container should weigh more than JOBII Your containers must be removed by 9 p.m. on collection day. Yard waste November 3, 2008: ApplicatiorTdeadline - Hrst year :00 (M Kil 1S collected every 2 weeks. For more information, go online to Mav 1 2009' A lication'° n deadline8 ne - U ppererry6ar ' ' www.region.waterloo.on.ca. 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Internet: One-time activation fee of $14.95 WH applies. PersonalTV: Digital Service Fee of $2.99/ month applies. Home Phone: A $5.95 monthly SystemAccess Fee (non-government fee), a monthly 911 Emergency Access Fee I (non-governmentfee) and a HearingImpaired Assistance Fee apply in addition to the monthly services fee. 1. Standard per-minute and other wireless plan charges, plus taxes are extra. ®Fido is a registered trademark of Fido Solutions Inc. Trademarks of Rogers Communications Inc. used under license or of Rogers Cable. All other brand names are trademarks of their respective owners. © 2008. 120-22-08 The Cord Weekly ■ Monday September i, 2008 A&E 35 Gaming's independence day The Cord's Trevor Loughborough speaks to Everyday Shooter creator Jonathan Mak about indie videogame development TREVOR LOUGHBOROUGH ence will come. That's a piece of think the artistic merit of anything CORD A&E advice I got and it helped me get ES is based on the person perceiving out. I mean, I thought, "who's go- it. Someone told me about an art Jonathan Mak is currently a Toron- ing to buy this? show a while ago where there was to-based independent games de- Abstract shapes, a shooter... just pieces of shit on the floor, and veloper. In 2007 he released Every- there are a billion shooters out that's art. Some- day Shooter, a downloadable game there..." But my buddy said "Make one can take a dump on the street for the PS3's Playstation Network, what you think is good, and people and someone can find meaning in after being noticed by Sony at an will play it." That's been the hard that. Even when I play Tetris now, I indie game festival. A simple top- part, trying to make it so that I like can see it as a metaphor, about life down shooter, ES is an album of it. giving you all these pieces and how games, with each unique level cor- you have to do your best to make responding to a song, and the back- them fit together. ground music and sound effects of "Someone can take a dump on the game completely made up of THE STREET AND SOMEONE CAN FIND Do you thinkindie guitar music recorded by Mak. games have a role MEANING IN THAT. WHEN The Cord caught up with Mak EVEN I in fleshing out to discuss the success of Everyday play Tetris now, I can see it as a the artistic role of Shooter, the status of games as an games? METAPHOR ABOUT LIFE..." artistic medium, and what it's like to be an independent game design- I think it's up to the - Mak, indie game designer er in Canada. Jonathan audience. I think one thing indie So whatare youup to now? What's games do is insert happened since Everyday Shooter more variety, bring came out? What's it like to make a game all more people in, and then maybe byyourself, and how is it different get them to read things into the I hooked up with this local musi- fromwhat you're doing now? games. But that's not necessarily cian called I Am Robot and Proud, a distinction of indie games as op- and we got a government grant to Well to contrast with my current posed to mainstream games - a lot work on our new game, and that's collaboration, but - and this doesn't of indie games are very niche. what I've been working on now. always mean a betterresult - but it's There's a huge indie shooter easier to do it by myself. If you can scene and they're breaking new How did the reception to ES af- do the graphics, programming and ground in the shooter genre, but fect you, as an independent game music yourself, you can do it really to someone who's not really into designer? quickly because you don't have to shooters they probably won't ap- explain it to anyone else. But when peal to a new audience as much Coming into it, I was just hoping you're working with others you as, say That Game Company's titles to make enough money to survive- have to spend more time sitting like flOw and Flower. you know, pay rent for a year. So down, explain ideas and make sure obviously when the Sony deal came everyone's on the same page. You mentioned at the beginning down, I was unsure at first because about the grant you received. I lost my IP rights to it, but it gave Games likeyours and the recently Have you found Canada to be me so much exposure and it also released Braid have gotten a lot a good place to be for a game gave me more than enough money of positive attention. Has some- designer? to work on the next game. thing changed to allow for a wider Obviously it's very exciting, actu- audience for indie games? I remember talking to some people ally being able to do this now, what and they were surprised with how I've been trying to do for 10 years. I think a big thing is that just a lot much Ontario offered in grants. I I still remember, when I was a kid more people are playing games think we're very fortunate here, thinking "Oh, wouldn't it be great now. I wonder if the percentage of there are these programs set up to make video games for a living?" people into indie games has stayed where two dudes can be given a And now I am. constant, but as the population of whole bunch of money by the gov- gamers increased, the population ernment to make a game. Do you feel, with the second of indie gamers increased. game, like you have to make the So can we get any hints on what's gamefor a mass market? What do you think about the coming up next? games as art debate? No, my main concern has just Not really... hopefully it won't suck. as been to make it so that it doesn't I wrote an essay about games CONTRIBUTED PHOTOS suck. My belief is that as long as art in high school ten years ago EVERYDAY COMPUTER - Mak's game is popular for the Playstation 3. the game is really good, the audi- - for me it was never a debate. I THE BIG "What was the worst blockbuster of the summer for you?" Compiledby Daniel Joseph QUESTION Photographs by Sydney Helland "Indiana Jones. Incredably unrealistic "X-Files. It was so pointless." "The Mummy. It was really cheesy - "The Love Guru. Mike Myers let "I didn't see TheMummy-but Brendan and not in form with the other especially when the Yeti punts a guy." everybody down in that movie." Fraser needs to get a new character or movies.'" - Michelle Mofitt just stop acting!" First-year Film Studies -Justin Saczawa - Rob Davidson - ' Fabio Enriquez Second-year Psychology Fourth-year Contemporary Studies Adam Welton Fifth-year Biology Third-year Business 36 A&E MONDAY SEPTEMBER 1,2008 > THE CORD WEEKLY Folking around with Conor Oberst Bright Eyes'frontman returns to solo recordings for the first time since 1996...butwhy? ALEX CYBULSKI can come across as intensely per- CORD A&E sonal and self-gratifying. From a purely instrumental per- Conor Oberst's decision to release spective, the songs demonstrate a self-titled album can be viewed a lot of range but maintain only a as a question mark given the role minimal sense of cohesion. The of his band Bright Eyes, who are opening tracks of the album are known for the personal quality of delicately arranged in contrast to their recordings. later songs like "NYC Gone, Gone" and "Souled Out!!" which are exercises The question is, why does singer in minimal but ef- CONTRIBUTED PHOTO / SONGWRITER CONOR OBERST FEEL mid-west- fective HATS AND GLASSES - Brendan Canning can typically be seen wearing such items, as well as a full beard. THE NEED TO RECORD UNDER HIS OWN ern rock. It is per- haps their simplic- NAME AT THIS POINT IN HIS CAREER? ity that makes their change of pace quite satisfying. The self-titled Conor Oberst EP It also speaks to Oberst's success maintains the kind of quality that in producing a solo album which Mr. Canning's can be expected from the seasoned itself encapsulates a personality, as performer. The songs themselves opposed to a particular emotional resemble a striking similarity to tone for the recording. Bright Eyes' 2007 recording Cas- Solo albums generally owe their sadaga which featured songs rang- creation to material that an artist new social scene ing from country to folk. doesn't feel fits within the purview The tone of Cassadaga was in op- of their current recordings. The position to Bright Eyes' history of question is, why does singer / song- raw acoustic or electronic record- writer Conor Oberst feel the need Anne Donahue reviews Brendan Canning's Broken Social Scene Presents: ings. The songs on the latest effort to record under his own name at by Conor Oberst bear a passing re- this point in his career? The album Brendan Canning and finds it to be a solid summer Canadian release semblance to his last recording and itself provides few answers, espe- range from delicate folk pieces to cially with its similarities to 2007's passages of mid-western rock. Cassadaga. * This is an album that provides a Perhaps this is a point that needs ANNE DONAHUE manages to make himself heard Social Scene, but Something For distinct sense of American geogra- to be marked in any artist's career. CORD A&E - specifically with "Hit the Wall" All Of Us proves how vital he is to phy. Lyrically the songs often refer- Ten years into the music industry the catchy first single released the indie music establishment. Al- ence American cultural hubs rang- and Oberst has made a reputation In a time where the once exclusive off the album which successfully though he has earned the right to ing from the Midwest to the South. for enduring a rapidly changing indie music genre has become captures the free spirit of vintage be confident, his lack of bravado Songs like "Cape Canaveral" fol- industry while remaining an inde- increasingly mass-produced, rock. "Love Is New" released on and showiness make the album lowed by "Sausalito" have a distinct pendent artist. mainstreamed and trendy, one the Arts and Crafts Sampler earlier even more listenable. interest in the American cultural Looking at the album from start quickly becomes critical of all new this summer, is another bankable It's certainly easier to support landscape. to finish, it does have a distinct releases and the buzz surrounding track - rhythmic and light - featur- an artist not completely wrapped As a solo album, many of the personality. The songs have few "the next big thing" ing the vocal talents of Lisa Lob- up in their own talent or reputa- songs blur the line between per- similarities tonally: they are akin This cynicism is especially prev- singer and Amy Millan of Stars. tion, especially when the album sonal experience and historical to the range of thoughts one might alent when musicians announce Appearances by members of the is worthy of such acclaim. Now if reference. The preoccupation with experience in a day, and they fit to- the debut of their solo side proj- Broken Social Scene family (Jason only Tom Delong, Dallas Green or destinations extends beyond the gether succinctly like a stream of ect; artists who are eager to re- Collett, Kevin Drew) are frequent, Jared Leto would take a page from names of cities and their history. consciousness. lease their "art" to the world in an but welcome, with additional in- the book of Brendan Canning. One of the album's best record- attempt to acquire an unnecessary strumental cameos (Evan Cranley ings, "Get Well Cards',' examines ego stroke and paycheque. and James Shaw on horns) provid- a small, nameless community on Thankfully, Brendan Can- ing the album with a warm, famil- the Gulf of Mexico. The song has a ning proves that although he is iar quality. feeling of place and ecology which not Thorn Yorke, he is a talented, Throughout its course, Some- comes across distinctly and power- original musician, capable of pro- thing For All Of Us lives up to its fully. It is ripe with the kind of em- ducing a solo record with enough name and manages to keep evolv- pathy and perspective that makes substance to ensure its survival. ing - maintaining fresh songs and the solo recording so satisfying. Something For All Of Us showcas- an eclectic mix of sounds; suc- The use of geography is one of the es Canning's creativity and proves cessfully transitioning from jam- album's most successful elements, his talent is not only evident while session inspiration ("Something providing a sense of place and ge- collaborating with Kevin Drew, For All Of Us") to light and airy ometry and gives the lyrical con- fellow co-founder of the indie ("Antique Bull") to slightly melan- tent a unique quality. heavyweight band, Broken Social choly ("Been At It So Long"). While the album hints at some Scene. Although not a very danceable personal experiences for Oberst, Canning's laid-back persona album, its depth and original- it rarely feels overly indulgent or is prevalent in this solo side proj- ity keep listeners interested, thus heavy-handed. The content of the ect, capturing the quiet nature of preventing it from falling into the songs are deftly handled and if Broken Social Scene's first album, dreaded "strictly background mu- there are personal stories within, 2000's Feel Good Lost, in many of sic" category. they are told in an appealing and its tracks. Although not differing Brenden Canning has often universal voice. This eschews the completely from the typical Bro- been seen as the softer, subdued typical problem of solo albums that ken Social Scene sound, Canning and more silent partner of Broken The Cord Weekly ■ monday September i, 2008 A&E 37 every- Why do Conservatives hate DY'S MUSIC STE SUCK? the art they don'tagree with? M?? The Conservatives pander to the far-right by cutting Canada's $4.7 million PromArt initiatives \E YOU A: died objectively sometimes, while the program only funded crazy left- zil last year. It affects the various USE HEAD? opinions about what is good art are wing radicals and those who could symphonies and orchestras from completely subjective. have paid for everything them- around Canada who needed this -HOP HEAD? Holy Fuck were specifically men- selves. They say that if Canadian money to travel abroad. They affect ECTRO QUEEN? DANIEL JOSEPH tioned in the press release along artists create world-class art they the $150,000 dollars that the Toron- E LAST PERSON A&E Editor with other organizations such will be noticed without the help of to Film Festival received to pull in O LISTENS TO as the non-profit think-tank The the Canadian taxpayer. international film buyers to Canada \L COUNTRY? North-South Institute as examples Whatever dude. Mainstream art- - an event that gives Canada world- I love Canada because it has shown of such bad recipients. The latter ists will always be noticed - it's the wide exposure and also bolsters me that the government can actu- was considered to be a left-wing small guys that need the help. These our strong film industry. PromArt ITE FOR A&E ally make a direct difference in the anti-globalization organization cuts affect more than just so-called wasn't just for the left - it was for lives of Canadians that need help that didn't deserve to be support- crazy liberals - they will affect the the benefit of all Canadians. seph@ - whether through health care or ed. There's your political reasoning. Canadian Museum of Civilization dweekly.com more culturally, through art. Pro- The former fits into the offensive - who received $50,000 dollars to letters@cordweekly. com mArt was a great example of such argument. show an Inuit art exhibit in Bra- a sentiment - its average $4.7 mil- Thanks to PromArt, The North- lion dollar budget subsidized the South Institute received $18,000 international promotional tours dollars to pay for some of its repre- of Canadian artists and speak- sentatives to attend a conference in ers. These Canadians travelled the Cuba. Watch out Canada! You paid globe bringing attention to issues for some crazy non-profit left-wing !es they thought important, br as in academics to go talk about good the case of Toronto's own jam band government in Cuba! Holy Fuck, great music. Holy Fuck received $3,000 dol- I've lived under two amazingly lars for a tour in the UK - one that similar (born and raised in the likely netted an income greater 'States), but still distinct forms of than that given and also contrib- governmentnow, and as such when uted to Canada's overall GDP. It's I read the news the other day that rather obvious that Holy Fuck, like the Conservative government had former CBC journalist and cur- slashed funding to the PromArt ini- rent A 1 Jazeera correspondent Avi tiatives I was, to put it mildly, a bit Lewis (also a recipient for his trips angered at the gall of a government in support of film festivals in Aus- acting under the guise of making tralia and Argentina) are really just necessary tax cuts to lighten the scapegoats. load of the taxpayer. In reality it The Conservatives didn't listen to seems that it used its power to si- Holy Fuck - otherwise they would lence those who they disagree with have noticed that they have no lyr- - creatively and politically, while at ics at all - therefore their argument the same time pandering to the far- about them being somehow re- right Conservative base. ally offensive falls flat. These aren't YOU COULD DOUBLE At the CBC, the Prime Minister's some lame post-grunge rockers BE SEEING -*•••"' - - ■ press secretary has been quoted as telling you to break stuff - it's actu- saying that "the [funding] choices ally pretty tame. TWO CARDS IN ONE. The expect from an SPC Card, combined Laurier Alumni Association Mosaik® into one piece of plastic. made were inappropriate ... be- But what about being too fringe? rewarding MasterCard 18" with SPC benefits was made Plus, every time you use the card to cause were they ideological in some Holy Fuck responded to the an- just for you. It has all the advantages make a purchase, you help your cases, or the money was going to nouncement by concisely pointing of an Affinity Mosaik MasterCard, and Alurrtni Association provide meaningful fringe arts groups that, in many out that they are, in fact, not fringe MIT'Sall the automatic discounts you pn-campus student programming. cases, would be at best, unrepre- at all. Their music is played often sentative, and at worst, offensive." on MTV and Much Music, and they APPLY TODAY Statements like that make it have been nominated on the short- * mosaikcard.com/offer (ENTER CODE WLUSTU) seem as if the reasoning behind it list for the $20,000 PolarisTrize and had very little to do with taxes and for the Juno Awards. Oops. j) & tjl e IWgu.iW) tiaos-fT!** o» Bui* Momlrerf. ftegotwKi Ir»5«-n>«x mhXMIm P»o* Card frc.«' Our*. -J fcfcxrti**! is. a Iww.sed .n» irWl-umwi -v*i Mnk>! lii'wiwtKjn*.' liw.»»/"•» Trw»»fiiWa, AJH MilS3 JrwJO.V.. Uwd grcJv jnsnte sy 1/iyeityOr*, a lot to do with creative differences. Conservative pundits like those »«. w«fBunk <■/, Monfcwd. Taxes and economics can be han- at The National Post have said that - . _ . . , - —-.;---;,sjg_ , , . r On behalf of the Staff, Management, and Patrons of Molly Bloom's Waterloo We wish Coach Jefferies, his staff and the Golden Hawk Football Team all the best for the 2008 Season! N * v * v • * j >+$ < ' *S*v . V- 1' , 4 '• *Jr ? * •%., . . . .* , • ~ Jk .i v *. v.. N "' v £'• *'• '■ •'* " .' v - ' ' '% ' . , , ' & •• \ 'r -i. S"V >■> ■ :v -<■- ■ ■ 1• _ a- nQoLl^BLoora's *"• ,r,sh pub a aU n U Mn TnvWK? A proud supporter of the Adopt A Hawk Program uAWKp I I Molly Bloom's Waterloo Now WLU Alumni Owned! ■ I P BfP^r Contact Ash for Fundraising/Marketing opportunities at 519-221-6881 [email protected] 38 A&E MONDAY SEPTEMBER 1,2008 > THE CORD WEEKLY Laurier's own Shakespeare The Cord sits down with Laurier alumnus Sunil Kuruvilla, about his play Rice Boy's inclusion in next year's Stratford Theatre Festival ANNE DONAHUE lationship between a father and son CORD A&E following the drowning death of their wife/mother, but when asked The Stratford Shakespeare Festival, if the story is based on personal ex- one of the most prominent art festi- perience, Kuruvilla assures that it vals in Canada, draws thousands of is only semi-autobiographical; he viewers yearly, with some of North grew up in Waterloo, but thankful- America's most prominent actors, ly, his mother is alive and well. directors and playwrights taking Waterloo landmarks and refer- part. In 2009, The Stratford Festival ences are used throughout the will be home to the Governor-Gen- play, including local restaurants eral award-nominated play, Rice and sports teams. However, it was Boy, written by Wilfrid Laurier's at the play's premiere in the United own Sunil Kuruvilla. States that Southern Ontario's cul- Kuruvilla, co-ordinator of mar- ture made its biggest impact. Dur- keting and promotions for the Fac- ing intermission, Kuruvilla over- ulty of Music, holds a BA in English heard an elderly couple discussing from Laurier. Following his gradua- his work: "Wow! Kitchener seems since tion from Laurier, Kuruvilla moved so exotic!" A bold statement SYDNEY HELLAND to study creative writing at the the play also takes place in India - a on PLAY RIGHT - Laurier graduate Sunil Kuruvilla is very excited to see his writing go on stage in Stratford. University of Windsor under the nation renowned for its traditions, guidance of acclaimed Canadian rich heritage and originality. writer, Alistair MacLeod. He was Currently, Sunil Kuruvilla is then accepted to the Yale School working on a feature film screen- date of Drama where he studied under play by commercial director Steven mm. m ' Academy-award winning writer Dilleer, and has also been commis- FINE ART and director Anthony Minghella sioned to write a new play for a the- SEPT. 15 -19 (The English Patient, The Talented atre in the States. Previously, he has Mr. Ripley). written screenplays for both Show- Fantasy m Despite their wildly successful case and CTV, including Wrestling place careers, Kuruvilla assures that both With Shadows, a bio-drama based men were "very soft spoken and on the life of wrestler Brett Hartt, was never humble .. . that you would never which unfortunately Wildlife* really know about the achieve- produced. ments they had" - a true feat for Despite this setback, Kuruvilla CONCOURSE award-winning, world-class writ- shares thatresearch is often one of ers - but one can easily see the the best parts ofwriting. Before be- Giant-Sized Posters similarities between Kuruvilla and ginning Rice Boy, he began Fighting hours his mentors. Words, a play that took over fifteen years of research following "YOU HAVE TO DO IT BECAUSE the death of an esteemed 9-8 Music boxer. This type of patience YOU LOVE IT." is necessary for successful last day writing, and in the case of Frames & Hangers m - playwright writer's block, Kuruvilla sug- SunilKuruvilla, - gests one should "move on 9 5 to other things so that you're Film Despite winning a competition still writing and someday you'll fig- at the Shaw Festival for his first play ure it out." Photography and receiving praise and countless Fall is often a busy time for the nominationsfor his other work, in- playwright, and when asked how cluding Rice Boy, Kuruvilla remains students should get involved with humble: "If you start thinking about writing at Laurier, Kuruvilla states or what happens after the importance of finding people a productions the writing, it can sort of stop you with similar interests. As a student 1ooos of Posters from writing. What I'm trying to do in the early '90s, he studied plays is focus on the joy I have when I'm with Professor Leslie O'Dell who writing." formed a small playwright group Rice Boy, set in both Waterloo that met every week in her office and India, was written in 1997 dur- to share their work; "That's the best ing Kuruvilla's time at Yale, where thing - to show what's grown." jjviAGiNuslMrVl he began writing about Waterloo to Sunil Kuruvilla is proof that hard combat his homesickness. He was work, patience and dedication are soon drawn to an Indian tradition. crucial to success, and his advice "It is a common practice in India for to young writers is straightforward: women to grind rice into powder "You have to do it because you love and make elaborate drawings, only it, and when good things come your to have their art disappear within way, you really can't plan for them." the hour. I was really bewitched by I always feel like the best writing that image and wove it into the play isn't the stuff that you plan for, but SALE - how things never really last." just sort of surprises you." Rice Boy revolves around there- The Cord Weekly ■ Monday September 1,2008 A&E 39 "' I ''' ' '"' " I Offer subject to change without notice. 1 Rogers wireless monthly plan with TalkSpot option, compatible phone, high-speed Internet connection (min 512 kbps/sec) and wireless router required to subscribe. Only available on select voice plans. Limitations relative to 911 emergency service apply. Includes unlimited local calls made/received when connected to Wi-Fi. 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'"Trademarks of Rogers Communications Inc. used under license or of Rogers Wireless. © 2008 Rogers Wireless. 40 A&E MONDAY SEPTEMBER 1,2008 - THE CORD WEEKLY Boxing musicwith SYDNEY HELLAND BETTER THAN BOXED WINE - (Left to right) Dylan Bavener, Kyle Taylor, Tyler Stoddart and Steve Sloane of The Music Box play to a packed Grist Mill down near Waterloo Park. Waterloo's folk/country/punk rockers The Music Box speak to The Cord not long after their August 13 show at the Grist Mill DANIEL JOSEPH English major) - have been playing ing a show and finding himself ly had their CD release party with one thinking that these are heav- A&E EDITOR collectively for a little bit more than impressed, Steve Sloane joined the their brand new The Dead Hands ily trained musicians - you'd be a year now, while the two founding band and the lineup was finalized. EP on sale for thefirst time. wrong. As Kyle explained it,"I don't On first arriving in Waterloo it can members Stoddart and Bravener Since then The Music Box have With three of the members shift- think any of us have ever taken for- seem just like any other city in On- started jamming around two years been making steady progress to- ing through playing various instru- mal lessons - except Steve (Sloane) tario. Medium sized, small down- ago. wards their goal; having played nu- ments in the lineup throughout the - and those were just piano ones a towns, sleepy neighborhoods and "Me and Dylan used to listen to merous shows in and around Wa- night, calling The Music Box multi- long time ago." a copious amount of bars. This terloo, they have talented wouldn't be a stretch. Stoddart sums it up pretty well: surface impression, in fact, hides "I THINK I WANT TO BECOME A found themselves They've got an organ, a synth, "Most of the time I don't even know the great talent we have emanat- sailor" collaborating heav- and hell, even an accordion. Citing what key I'm singing in." ing from our little part of Canada. ily with the owner such influences as Bruce Spring- The Music Box plan on being Recently a band's name has been of Trepid Records, steen, the eclectic Animal Collec- around for a while - and they will popping up again and again when - Dylan Bravener, The Music Box Jeff Woods. "Jeff is tive and the introverted Bright Eyes, be hitting the stage this Wednesday Music one looks for good local tunes here our go-to guy. He these guys create a versatile mix of (September 3) at Maxwell's House across the street from - The Music Box. really did do every- punk, country and electronic. Yet just Following the now well-travelled tons of music in the basement all thing for us." the songs all begin the same way. Laurier. The Dead Hands EP is out footsteps of local talent that have the time," explains Stoddart. When If anybody would question this, "Thing is - all of our synthy punk now, and can be found purchased The Music progressed to the national stage, his previous band broke up, he still the band quickly summarizes his songs can be broken down to a folk at any of their shows. this eclectic band has built up a had some songs kicking around in aid: "He recorded us, mixed us, song on acoustic guitar. We just Box continues to prove that great following in Waterloo by playing as his head, so he decided to record gave us rides, gave us shows, was put layers onto them to make them music is coming out of Waterloo - in mu- many shows as they can manage, them with Bravener and begin a our photographer and advertiser." bigger." we have had success found & The opening for national acts and just new project. Soon Taylor (Stod- Oh and one more thing: "He gave On stage Stoddart, Taylor and sicians like Shad, Will Currie now there is generally throwing themselves out dart's cousin) was begging to get us money to make our CDs." Out of Sloane switch instruments regu- Country French and there. They play a distinct blend of into the band. Later on after see- all this help, The Music Box recent- larly between songs, and for any- likely to be one more. punk and folk music, with a side of country that can only reaffirm your faith in young musicians. Here is a band that means it when they say, "all we want to do is support our- selves entirely with our music." Founding member Dylan Bravener has just two words about the prospect of attending one of this town's well-known universi- ties: "No chance." "I think I want to become a sail- or," he adds. Tyler Stoddart, the second founder of The 'Box, then chimes - "We will justplay a whole bunch of shows on the boat then!" The Music Box have that young, just-out-of-the-gate feel about them - confidence in what they are doing and willingness to take on what the voracious music industry has to throw at them. It's this senti- mentthat finds its way on stage with an intensity that is often reserved for groups that have been around for more than a decade. Their Au- gust 13 show at the Grist Mill was energy-packed enough to recall the presence of seasoned performers lan Curtis or Tom Waits. The four members of The Music Box - Stoddart, Bravener, drummer DANIEL JOSEPH Kyle Taylor (a Laurier math major) HARMONICA HARMONIES - Tyler Stoddart's stage presence is rare in today's music scene, and brings with it a great live show. and guitarist Steve Sloane (A UW