The Onion’s got nothin’ on us THE VARSITY see backpage Vol. CXXXII, No. 22 University of Toronto’s Student Newspaper Since 1880 26 March, 2012 We review Rich Aucoin, Cloud Nothings, PS I Love You, and more at Canadian Music Week p10 6 FEBRUARY VOL. V 2012 NO. 2 THE DESIGN ISSUE THE VARSITY MAGAZine IN THIS ISSUE TORONTO DESIGNERS PROFILED 10 HOW TO BREW YOUR OWN BEER 22 THESE PEOPLE DRESS BETTER THAN YOU 27 Vol. CXXXII, No. 20 University of Toronto’s Student Newspaper Since 1880 5 March, 2012 THE VARSITY BERNARDA GOSPIC/THE VARSITY UTSU ELECTION 2012 NO HOLDS BARREDCandidates clash over the undergrad bar, multi-faith spaces, and drop credit proposal Simon Bredin Hostilities hamper proceedings ASSOCIATE NEWS EDITOR Despite an opening plea for civility from moderator and Multi-Faith Centre director Shouting matches dominated UTSU’s four- Richard Chambers, the raucous debate and hour all-candidates debate Wednesday night heated rhetoric left many students disap- in Hart House, where a large yet divided pointed. Chambers was forced to expel at crowd argued about issues like an under- least one student from the room. graduate bar, clubs funding, study space, and When Team Unity presidential candi- budgetary transparency. date Shaun Shepherd spoke, some stu- The debate was a face-off between Team dents jeered and held up posters saying Unity, a slate led by current VP external “No More Dirty Tricks, Mr. Shepherd.” Shaun Shepherd, and StudentsFirst, the first CRO Daniel Lo later penalized Students- opposition team to qualify for office in two First over these tactics, although Schmidt years headed, by Brent Schmidt. had publicly denied his slate’s involve- Public notice of the debate wasn’t issued ment in the posters’ production and dis- until a day before despite the room being re- tribution. served since February 10. Team Unity released a statement the fol- A “wrong version” of an announcement lowing day, expressing their frustration had been sent out and used widely, according with the “barrage of yelling, screaming, to chief returning officer Daniel Lo, resulting racist, and Islamophobic attacks” that oc- in the short notice. Due to this, UTSU decid- curred throughout the evening. ed to live-stream the debate for viewers, Lo During the debate, independent presi- added. dential candidate Rohail Tanoli repeatedly A UTSU staffer told The Varsity that the railed against the hostilities on display, video would remain available for students to calling it a “sad state of affairs.” watch online but it was quietly removed from the website on Friday with no explanation. CONTINUED P7 ELECTION APATHY UTSU ELECTIONS 2012 VARSITY EDITORIAL Is this the Candidates “A concrete and change we want? weigh in attainable platform” James Finlay diagnoses why the UTSU UTSU’s presidential hopefuls In this UTSU election editorial, The Varsity explains elections are failing to connect with students outline their visions for a better U of T why this candidate is the best one for the job see page 14 see page 9 see page 10 VAR.ST/ARTS 27 FEBRUARY ONLINE EXCLUSIVE 2012 GOON GETS Arts & Culture [email protected] FINGERED: DOES THE POSTER DESERVE A LICKING? Check it out: http://var.st/arts19a Y SIT R A V E H T / T JADE COLBER JADE Madeline Thien writes on one of the 20th century’s unknown genocides in her novel Dogs at the Perimeter p14 RevieWS Born to Die by Lana Del Rey The voice of Lana Del Rey can be summed up in one charged word: sultry. Her sophomore album, Born To Die, is so intimately engaging that after just A brush up one listen to provocative tracks like “Lolita,” you will inevitably be seduced. However, due to the recent criticism of the artist’s infamous Saturday Night Live performance and the subsequent dissection of the “Lana Del Rey” per- sona, you may be hesitant to download her tracks. With just one look at on Bresson the artist it is easy to see that her image may not be as authentic as one would hope. Try abandoning those high expectations of genuine “indie” U of T professors spoke at the TIFF Bell music and just enjoy Lana Del Rey’s album for what it is: heavily-produced yet extremely enjoyable happy-to-be-sad ballads. Personal favourite off the Lightbox for The Poetry of Precision: record: bonus track “Without You.” —Monica Carinci The Films of Robert Bresson The TIFF Bell Lightbox’s latest ret- style that devotes itself to repetition rospective Poetry of Precision: The and narration,” to the filmmaker’s Films of Robert Bresson goes to show affinity to translate complex feel- that the roots of true auteurism in ings and sensibilities on screen. cinema are firmly set in France, with “Freedom, flexivity, rigour all the irreplaceable talents of Robert exist in literature,” Testa explains, Bresson. Notoriously guarded about “and Bresson brought these [feel- his personal life (historians are ings] to the screen.” Escaped is un- not sure of Bresson’s actual date of deniably bleak and lacks an emo- birth), Bresson quietly passed away tional charge one might associate in 1999 at the suspected age of 99. with the life of a prisoner. Instead, Nearly 33 years after his last film, we we adopt the dauntless, straight- celebrate this artist-cum-director faced desire for freedom that drives Purple Naked Ladies Wanderlust les thanks to an array of colour- for his profound ability to represent Fontaine, the film’s protagonist. We by The Internet Dir. David Wain ful, likeable characters in bizarre his spiritual doctrine in a way that come to be as brave as Fontaine but The Internet’s Purple Naked Ladies Producer Judd Apatow has fi- situations, even if they are pre- translates remarkably well to film. soon find ourselves sharing also in boasts an impressive pedigree. Syd nally hit the jackpot. The prem- dictable. But the humour wears Fontaine’s sober panic which Bres- the Kid and Matt Martians (both hail- ise behind Wanderlust, the lat- off quicker than a hippie on hash. Bart Testa on A Man Escaped or: son achieved in his advanced use ing from the indie hip hop consor- est product doled out by the frat Every joke is a constant reminder The Wind Bloweth Where it Listeth of sound. Whenever Fontaine hears tium Odd Future) venture into more pack’s (pipe) dream factory, is a of its source, the fish-out-of-water In a special introductory screening the jingle of keys, fast-paced foot- soulful territory with their debut. At convenient vehicle for everything couple and the zany flower chil- to Bresson’s 1956 transcendent pris- steps, or other ominous noises, Bres- the group’s best, like on “She DGAF” Apatowian: recreational drug use, dren, rendering most of the gags oner-of-war piece A Man Escaped or: son enacts a Pavlovian-like response (as in “don’t give a fuck,” FYI), the free love, a bold display of human repetitive. The movie tries so The Wind Bloweth Where it Listeth, of alarm from both the protagonist rhythms and synths blend with Syd’s sexual organs, and people acting hard to be funny that even awk- University of Toronto professor Bart and viewers alike. Fontaine stands R&B vocal stylings. However, those plain stupid. ward becomes awkward. I’m talk- Testa addressed a packed theatre to out as the only prisoner actively moments are few and far between. After job-related setbacks, a ing to you, Paul Rudd, and your explain why we should honour both trying to pursue freedom, while On “They Say/Shangrila” and “Cunt,” yuppie New York couple (Paul “voices.” the film and Bresson’s pioneering others such as a Protestant priest the taut rhythms and solid vocal per- Rudd and Jennifer Aniston) settle Despite the personal philoso- sensibilities. Although Bresson’s (Rolan Monod) passively wish for formances are weighed down by un- into the chilled and cheap life- phy of Alan Alda’s commune- Escaped is based on the memoirs God’s divine grace to deliver them necessary electro flourishes. It’s as if style offered by the Elysium hip- founder Carvin, who remarks, of French resistance soldier Andre from captivity. Testa describes this The Internet is throwing shit at an pie commune. The residents there “Money buys you literally noth- Devigny, Bresson himself also spent as the greatest struggle in Escaped: already ample wall of sound and see- prefer the term “intentional com- ing,” the price of your movie time in a German POW camp during the active title, Escaped, and Fon- ing what sticks. The end result sounds munity” because, you know, hip- ticket will earn you a solid date WWII, which may be why Testa de- taine’s perseverance juxtaposed like a shallow attempt at progressing pies are so politically correct. night but also a solid reason to scribes Escaped as the definitive ex- Erykah Badu’s sound. Wanderlust is great fun and reevaluate comedy’s direction. ample of Bresson’s films. He likens CONTINUED ON P15 —JP Kaczur provides some guaranteed chuck- —Daniel Horowitz the meticulous pace, of a “precise VAR.ST/SCIENCE 2 APRIL ONLINE EXCLUSIVE 2012 Cold-Blooded [email protected] Roommate is the Science last in our Science Illustrated series! Check it out: A statue fit for a queen http://var.st/dinoroomie TANYA DEBI unravels a U of T discovery of artifacts from ancient Egypt niversity of Toronto profes- successor, Thutmose III, did his best participation to this god. However, if Usor Mary-Ann Pouls Wegner to wipe out the female ruler from his- one built too close to the route, he of the Near and Middle Eastern tory after her death, possibly because could face the death penalty.