The Voice of the University of Toronto at Mississauga
MEDIUM THE
MONDAY, MARCH 17, 2008
VOLUME 34, ISSUE 23
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Successful young entrepreneur is fruitful
Creative Corner
Europe’s elite
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Sex (Pub) sells MEGHA KUMAR ASSISTANT NEWS EDITOR
Dancing, drinking and debauchery were the themes of the night on Thursday, March 13 at the Blind Duck, as the Sexual Education Center (SEC) hosted one of the biggest, most anticipated annual events of the year: Sex Pub. Sex Pub was the grand finale of a successfully organized series of events for Sex & U awareness month, which promoted safe sex and a healthy attitude towards sexuality. Other events included an oral sex workshop, a sex toy workshop and a body image discussion, but Sex Pub garnered the highest level of enthusiasm. All proceeds - which SEC coordinator Sulmaz Ghoraishi estimated to be about $4000 - went towards the Sexual Assault/Rape Crisis Centre of Peel in Mississauga. “The organizing was made easier because all the volunteers, executives and the wonderful pub management worked towards it with such enthusiasm and determination that it just kind of sort itself out. That helped a lot,” said SEC advertising director Aimee Bessada. SEC also integrated the student-run, anti-date-rape “Ask First” campaign in the posters, tickets and marketing for Sex Pub to emphasize the importance of mutual consent when indulging in sexual activities. After increasing the quota from last year, all 500 tickets were sold out the day before the pub, and a long line-up was formed from 8:30 p.m. onwards the
night of the pub to grab the first 50 tickets before starting time at 10:00 p.m. The tighty-whitey contest saw a group of men competing in underwear, and the Jell-O wrestling that involved two rounds of women in undergarments fighting in an inflatable pool got loud screams and cheers from the crowd. The most popular attire for the evening was lingerie for girls and boxer shorts for boys, but the crowd's sartorial sense was put to test during the best dressed contest. The “best dressed” winners were a group of three girls dressed like crabs, with red claws and black shorts. They were awarded a $100 gift bag filled with sexual paraphernalia such as a sex toy, condoms, and blueberry cheesecake-flavored lubrication. Well known campus DJ Andrew Mallon, who is a fourth-year visual culture and communication student, played a wide range of music that appealed to house, hip-hop and pop fans alike. Apart from a minor glitch when the sound system got cut off midway, the music drew practically everyone on the dance floor at all times. “This was one of the craziest pub nights ever - the dance floor was rammed with people and it was almost impossible to shut down the dance floor at 2 a.m. when the night ended,” Mallon commented. At the end of the evening, the coat check had a long line of people waiting for up to half an hour, but SEC coordinator Sulmaz Ghoraishi was proud of the success of the event, felt the overall process went smoothly, and that “it was one of the best sex pubs ever!”
Photo/Jeremy Fernie
Students Jackie McKeown and Alison Carson splash around in a tub full of Jell-O as part of the Sexual Education Centre’s annual Sex Pub. The always popular pub also featured a tighty-whitey contest for males as part of the festivities.
IAW encourages spirituality SAIRA MUZAFFAR NEWS EDITOR The Student Centre turned into “little Bethlehem” last week with religious displays and miniature lambs celebrating Islam Awareness Week (IAW). Organized by the university’s Muslim Students’ Association, IAW’s theme this year was “choose your destination.” It provided students with a chance to explore the tenets of Islam, Christianity and Judaism with posters, reading material, free food and special lectures. Monday through Wednesday IAW focused on the lives of prophets Moses, Jesus and Muhammad in an effort to show the connection shared among their teachings about monotheism.
Thursday focused on the idea of the hereafter, judgement, heaven and hell. The week ended with an open-to-all Jumu’ah, or Friday prayer session which included a sermon. Interested students were also given bags containing copies of the Qur’an translated in English, bookmarks and DVDs. While the events were mostly well received, organizers were approached by students concerned about the validity of holding religious events in a secular space like the university campus. MSA’s external relations executive Yusuf Bhatia emphasized that as one of the fastest growing religions in the world, Islam plays a prominent role in the lives of many students at UTM. “Religion plays a major role in the lives of the majority of people in the
world and in the student experience. Just as students are in need of academic, educational and social support and accommodation, so are they in need of spiritual support and accommodation,” said Bhatia.
“To exclude spirituality and religion from the University setting only demeans and undermines the student experience.” - Yusuf Bhatia, MSA External Relations As one the biggest student clubs on campus the MSA works towards pro-
viding students with events and prayer gatherings to fulfill this need. “Any attempt to exclude spirituality and religion from the University setting only demeans and undermines the student experience, which is essential to our overall education,” said Bhatia. Since the campus is also a positive space and against any form of discrimination based on race, gender or sexual orientation, IAW’s organizers were questioned about Islam’s stance on homosexuality. “The MSA has not used any of our events as a platform to address the issue of homosexuality; instead, and in fact, the MSA has striven tremendously in the past and particularly this year in promoting civil liberties for all people, irrelevant of their religion, orientation or race and in doing so, I believe the
MSA has performed a great service to the university community,” said Bhatia. “It was very enlightening and the free food was great. The speaker was very inspiring and I think the information was very well presented,” said fourth-year history student Leena Raza. “It was interesting to witness the intellectual conversations between members of the MSA and the students who attended,” said one of IAW’s volunteers, Sameer Masood. The club regularly participates in campus-wide initiatives like Unity Through Diversity and Xpression Against Oppression. Their biggest undertaking involves providing prayer space and food during the month of Ramadan, when Muslims fast from sunrise to sunset.
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Monday, March 17, 2008
NEWS
Jumu’ah wraps up awareness week MEREDITH LILLY Islam Awareness week wrapped up this Friday with a public Jumu’ah sermon and prayer at 1:30 in Spigel hall. The event was very well attended and most in attendance participated in the service. The vice president of UTM’s Muslim Student Association, Mohammed Ashour, delivered a short address followed by prayer. Ashour did not shy away from weighty issues. He spoke to those who use evolutionary theory as grounds for religious skepticism, saying that like all theories of origin, evolution requires an “ultimate cause.”
“It is not up to [Muslims] to convert, it is our responsibility to convey.” - Mohammed Ashour, VP MSA, on the importance of Islam Awareness Week In the most controversial portion of his address, Ashour used an analogy to explain why non-Muslims, even if they are good people, will not get into heaven. Ashour likened entrance into heaven to applying to a job where there are specific requisites to employment. Those specific conditions must be met, regardless of one’s other work. Although one may have good experience in a different field, it is “irrele-
vant” to the position if the “minimum requirements” are not met. Following the address, students were concerned that the analogy simplified the concept of salvation to the point of distortion. There is diversity of opinion among Muslims. Many believe that the essential criterion for entrance into heaven is the search for truth. Ashour explained the reason that there is a Muslim “methodology of worship.” It is similar to the reason why there is law in Canada. Liberty without law is anarchy. Law within religion to direct its practice is necessary to truly worship freely. “[Islam] is not a ritualistic religion, there is a rationale behind everything,” Sarah Zaidi explained. One reason that Islam Awareness Week is important is to show the “purpose behind customs.” MSA External Relations coordinator Yusuf Bhatia was pleased with the student receptions to Islam Awareness Week “Every year this is our biggest event… it is our goal to convey religious awareness to the UTM community,” said Bhatia. The audience was encouraged to lead a life aware of the three relations that define us spiritually – those within mankind, those of mankind to earth, and those of mankind to God. According to Ashour, the relationship between a person and God is the most important, though Ashour made it clear that “it is not up to [Muslims] to convert, it is our responsibility to convey.”
Party every Saturday... When you write for News news@mediumonline.ca
Photo/Jameela Jabar
Annual pub a “drag” JULIE TYIOS EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
A little off-colour fun was the feature of the annual Drag Pub, hosted by OUT@UTM on March 11. The Blind Duck played host to the evening, which saw about 50 students and a colourful troupe of performers enjoy themselves. Drag was the theme of the night, and many pub-goers cross-dressed as part of the fun. Many males sported dresses, wigs, and stuffed bras, while females appeared in suits and baggy clothes. One imaginative female performer even sported real (glued on) facial hair to complete her look. The Drag Pub saw nearly two hours worth of lip-synching and dance performances to a variety of songs, including
titles by gay icons Cher and the Spice Girls. One female-turned-male performer lip-synched and danced imaginatively to the “Vagina Song,” prompting a great response from the crowd. “We love theatre pieces that relate to real life,” said host “Mrs. Twyman” after the performance. “There are men and ladies here who have gone down on smelly vaginas and its nasty,” he said, referring to the song’s lyrics, prompting a great response from the crowd. Some of the other songs of the evening were popular pieces by Ciara and Christina Aguilera, and even Bonnie Tyler’s “Total Eclipse of the Heart;” the latter sung by three brave girls in revealing lingerie on stage. Another brave female-to-male performer sang N*Sync’s “I Want You Back” a capella, and stayed pleasantly on tune. The Christina Aguilera song was accompa-
nied by a racy show on stage featuring one female and one male performer, drawing loud cheers from the audience for their efforts. The annual event was held to raise money for OUT@UTM, the campus’s non-profit activist group for queer issues. The club is composed of queeridentified students and their allies, aiming to provide a positive space for students facing issues because of their sexual orientation. The club is also involved in queer activism. Although Drag Pub provided some much-needed funds for the club, one individual took it upon herself to raise funds by donning only her underwear and body paint, charging student one dollar per word to sign any exposed part of her body. The unique fundraiser was a success, raising almost $70 in a very short period of time.
Photo/Matthew Filipowich
One racy performer bared much skin during “her” performance” to a Christina Aguilera song. The skit, which eventually featured another performer, drew a great response from the crowd.
Monday, March 17, 2008
THE MEDIUM
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THE MEDIUM 4
Monday, March 17, 2008
EDITORIAL
Opinion JULIE TYIOS, EDITOR-IN-CHIEF | editor@mediumonline.ca www.mediumonline.ca
EDITORIAL This week, I’ve been privy to a bit of a moral and ethical dilemma that happened at a public event on Friday. I have heard a number of concerns over a sermon that was given at the Jumu’ah held in Spigel Hall to wrap up the Muslim Students’ Association’s (MSA) Islam Awareness Week. As part of the prayers, a student delivered a sermon, as is custom at religious gatherings in several faiths. But the content of the sermon caused alarm among several of the students present, as part of it touched upon the subject of Heaven and non-believers. Although I was not present at the prayers, I was informed that it was a public service for believers and non-believers alike. Despite what different religions may say about entrance to Heaven, I don’t believe it was morally responsible to deliver a sermon that told listeners only believers of the Islamic faith would enter into Heaven, especially not during a time when tolerance and awareness of the religion and its tenets was encouraged by hard-working members of the MSA. In an academic environment where debate and discussion is encouraged, I was disappointed to hear of such a weighty moral issue delivered, especially in such a diverse community like UTM. I can understand such religious ideals being preached in specialized places of worship, but I believe a more encouraging, open view should be presented on a campus that hosts a wide variety of faiths. I’m hoping to open a moral and ethical discussion about this issue in a broader sense with this editorial, and not to condemn anyone’s actions. As UTM is home to students, professors, and staff from around the world, I hope to get differing opinions on the matter. Well, UTM, what do you think? Yours,
Julie Tyios
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www.mediumonline.ca Blurbing time in lieu of creativity. We have a meeting about the joke issue. Arts is this first to finish today, making us all piss our pants. His Rubik’s Cube is on my desk. Rob asks me if I want to do dot-dot-dots. His suggestions for the joke issue will get me shot. Today is Dan’s last day at the Medium, and we are celebrating with a dinner at Tremendous. Just waiting on Nikita to finish up... There’s the first of them, Rob. Bah, Dan leaves in two days! He’s going to be doing the journalism thing out in New Brunswick. Congrats again! Rob has a slash on his arm from hockey. “Someone SHIT on the COATS!!� Arts Boy migrates over to the sports computer and tells Rob he don’t know what he’s talking about. Soemthing football related. “Chelsea? Chelsea’s a mess? Are you serious?? They’re the most organized team! YOU FOOL!!� I don’t get it. News is working away. I owe her an article. Nikita’s been chewing on the same veggie burger from Lick’s for three hours. Arts Boy and Rob bicker about subtitles and decks. “I hate this office, except for Nikita, Dan, and sometimes Saira.� “Well screw you, jackass.� “Well, you’re not gonna get the $39 special with Drew!� Rob asks to borrow my camera. I think he’s taking porn shots with it. Rob is talking about stabbing people in the jaw. That’s an interesting combo. I tell Rob 14’s the legal age. “Oooh, I’d better lower my standards.� Tsk tsk. Who’s minus-10ing? Nikita wraps up at 7 (it’s still light out!) and the crew heads of fto Tremendous. -More to come- And we’re back. 9:34. Dinner for six: $98. We get back and Chris Sa’d is here. Ali’s talking about “the hooker.� He wishes the ones in Thailand were that hot... (dot-dot-dot). I’m a little behind tonight, but we’re having a fun night because Dan is here. Arts Boy is here to take notes. And he whips out a five-star notebook and a pen to take notes as I type. “I don’t like being told off.� Melissa’s quiet. She found her way to Tremendous, but ate nothing. It’s good food, none of us has been poisoned... yet. Rob is now our phone bitch as a result of the electrical shutdown along the news/EIC wall. Nikita’s mom came in because the phone wasn’t ringing. Oops. No tea, no phone, no pencil sharpener, no heater, no laptop. Saira’s lucky hers still works. Hell, I’m lucky my computer still works. It’s the orange sockets. Weird. Some sort of circuitry thing. I smell a virus. The crew heads out for a smoke and now I can hear myself think. No more Arts Boy arguing. Rob points out copy editing mistakes. We is sorry. I’m looking at the volunteer roster beside my desk, and there are a lot of “all but sports� notes. Haha. Dan is taking a look at some news articles. The office needs a cleaning. Sunny shows up with cupcakes as it’s Dan’s last day. Oh, and it’s apparently his birthday. Cell phones are going wild with text messages tonight. I wish I got one. Why is the phone off the hook? Silly creatures. The office isn’t the same without Nikita around, our very own Barnacle Boy. We’re having a Tim Hortons’/Starbucks showdown tonight. Starbucks sleeves are cooler, but TH has the whole Roll up the Rim thing going right now. Bastards! Leena comes in for a visit. Sunny beats up Arts Boy. “I was eating a cupcake! It’s a handcap!� Why is Sunny here? We are out of printing ink. Hmmm you could leave a message. 10.30. I need to get started on the editorial page. Not looking forward to this one. I keep fiddling with the Rubik’s Cube. Ali chuckles over an old issue of the Medium, the WTF? one. Ah yes, memories. Only... 3 left. Cheezcake?
While normally I am a supporter of the Medium as a respectable and overall decent student paper, I noticed a grievous and unacceptable error in your recent (Feb. 25) issue. An article on the Xpression Against Opression event featuring a lecture by one James Clark was put on the front page. I do not have issue with what he claimed or the fact that it was placed on the front page. I do take issue with the highlighting of the text detailing the number of Iraqi casualties. That text claimed that 1.2 million have been killed "as a result of the occupation." Even a cursory check of the Iraqi Body Count Project (iraqibodycount.org) notes that there are between 81,525-88,991 documented casualties as of January 15-16, 2008. There is obviously a discrepancy here, considering the difference of roughly 1.12 million casualties. While this may simply be a quote of Mr. Clark's personal and mistaken statistics, it is unacceptable to feature such glaring errors. It
is the responsibility of the media to reveal the truth, not to portray events in such a way as to influence the opinions of the readers. Further, if there is evidence for such a body count, there is clearly debate over it; debate which is not mentioned in the article. It is obvious that the majority of Canadians oppose the Iraq War and that it is unpopular even in the United States. However, that does not mitigate the responsibility of the media to tell the truth as it is, not as they want it to be. John Moyer Ed. Note: We apologize for any discrepancy between actual numbers and what Mr. Clark stated. Our pull-quote was based on what he said, and as our article was coverage of the lecture he gave rather than an article on the war, we did not double-check his facts. We made an effort to portray it as his opinion, but we apologize for any confusion the pull-quote may have caused amongst our readers. The Medium does not have a stance on the war.
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The Undergraduate Economics Council Present... "REMATCH: Are You Smarter Than A Professor?" Monday, March 17, 2008 3 - 6 p.m., SE2068 (South Building Fireplace Lounge) Join us for games, food, prizes and more. Economics faculty will be in attendance, including Prof. Varouj Aivazian, Chair of Economics. "BMO DAY" - Investment Banking and Financial Advisory Wednesday, March 19, 2008 2 - 5 p.m., SE3130 (South Building Council Chambers) Guest speakers from: BMO Nesbitt Burns and BMO Debt Capital Markets.
Please
Contact utm.uec@gmail.com
Special thanks to our assistant editors: Arts and Entertainment: Andrea Grassi News: Tejas Aivalli Megha Kumar Features: P. Andrew Hamilton-Smith Lujayn Ali Photography: Matthew Filipowich Sports: Christopher Sa’d Sunny Pathak
Monday, March 17, 2008
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OPINION
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LETTERS STUDENTS EXPRESS DISTASTE OVER DEBATE ARTICLE Dear UTM Students, Freedom of the press and freedom of speech are two very beautiful things. In regards to the front page article from last week's Medium 'Debate draws fire from both sides' by Mr. Tejas Aivalli, I respect the Medium for taking a look at the issue from a different point of view without paying heed to what anyone would say. That is a characteristic that many mainstream media outlets lack these days. But let's be completely honest here. As different a point of view as Mr. Aivalli brings to the table, it is highly
politically motivated. Quoting George Galloway of the British RESPECT Party: "Have a slightly longer memory than 4 weeks!" Yes, Mr. Aivalli is the Medium's Assistant News Editor, and yes it is in his job description to cover events like UTMSU Elections Debate, but please remember that last year Mr. Aivalli was a political player in the UTMSU elections and held a stance that was nowhere near neutral. Biased articles like his DO NOT belong on the front page, and if anything, belong on the opinions page! This is a record-breaking year for the student movement at UTM, but
this is not an excuse that should let your student leaders off the hook. Get involved, and keep the movement in check! Become a UTMSU Volunteer. Become a Frosh Leader. Write for the Medium. Run for a position! ESPECIALLY if you have nothing to do with the politics of yesteryear - the movement needs YOU! In Student Solidarity, Zeeshan Baig mail@zeeshan.ca
Dear Editor, I have written to you to raise my concerns about March 3’s front page article. As I was reading the article, I couldn’t help but feel angered and sadden. Angered, because of the fact the Medium, a student newspaper, paid through our tuition had taken a political stance during the election. Saddened, because as a student run organization, it was the Medium’s responsibility to represent and respect the views of all students within this campus. That responsibility was disregarded when this article was written and printed. By publishing this article,
the Medium not only took on a political stance during the election, but also alienated many students of this campus who supported the opposite ticket. As a student newspaper, you have an obligation to be objective in your reporting. I don’t understand or know the reasoning of your reporter Tejas Aivalli to write such a biased article, but in the future that should not be allowed to happen again. If incidents such as this occur again in the future, then the student trust in the Medium will fade to nothing. Carl Ewen-Lewis
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Correction In the February 4 issue of The Medium, the editorial in no way meant to accuse the Muslim Students’ Association (MSA) of condoning Salman Hossein’s actions. The Medium would like to apologize to the MSA on behalf of anyone who misinterpreted what was written.
Canisius College Teacher Education Information Session March 20, 2008 12:30-1:30 pm South Building, Room 3129
Canisius is a comprehensive university in Buffalo, NY ranked in the top tier of master’s producing schools in the Northern US.
Accredited by NCATE, the standard of excellence in teacher preparation. Flexible scheduling options, including 2-day programs in elementary and secondary education. Field experiences may be completed in ON. Tuition discount of 20% for Canadian Students.
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Monday, March 17, 2008
Arts & Entertainment ALI KASIM, EDITOR | arts@mediumonline.ca
Garden of Eade In conversation with a creative and passionate young chef LINDSAY HOPE
Passion is the star ingredient the goes into every well-prepared dish, and the city of Toronto is having a passionate love affair with the culinary arts. More young chefs are graduating from culinary colleges like George Brown to pursue their lifelong dream of getting out of their mother’s apron and into the real world. The cuisine of the future depends on these chefs and their fresh new ideas and techniques. To watch a culinary artist work is like watching a painter create a piece of art. With cuisine, however, the chef gets to eat their artwork after. I was fortunate enough to converse
with one of Toronto’s most passionate chefs, Mr. Andrew Eade. At 22, Andrew Eade is the owner and chef of his own catering company, called Garden of Eade. With a full professional staff, Garden of Eade provides excellent event service, from private parties to huge corporate events using only Ontario’s finest organic products. Garden of Eade has also been successful in catering to The Toronto Raptors, Liv Tyler and Edward Norton during their stays in the city. The charismatic Eade, who taught me about soil and wine during our tête-à tête, stands by the philosophy that emotion is essential to everything in life, from crème brules to kisses. In Greek mythology, a hero is described as a doer of greater good and one who dies with passion. Andrew Eade embodies the true sense of a culinary hero. Medium: Who are your culinary heroes?
Andrew: My first culinary hero was, and is, Jason Bangerter from Auberge du Pommier. Jason was my first chef and pushed me to work faster and smarter. Not only is he very talented, but he also was a great first mentor. Jason taught me kitchen skills that are transferable in life: time, management, organization and cleanliness. M: At what age did you start to cook? photo/www.gardenofeade.com
Chef Andrew Eade’s steak au poivre.
A: As early as I can remember, I would stand
in the kitchen with my mother making apple cinnamon crumble. She would give me the apple tickets and the apple peels to snack on while the apple crumble was baking. M: When did your passion for food turn into a career choice?
A: It was during my time at Auberge Du Pommier. Back then, I realized how little I knew about the food, wine and the culinary arts. I was vegetarian and hadn’t tasted meat in over 14 years. The chef would ask me, “Is that tuna tartar seasoned correctly?� and I would reply, “I don’t know. I’m vegetarian. I don’t need to eat fish or meat.� He then took the time to explain to me that if he was charging $39 for this dish, it had to tastes spectacular. It should have the right balance of acidity with lemon and ginger juice, fennel fronds to mellow the acid, seasoned with salt and pepper, and a pinch of chilies to add heat, thus creating an addictive flavor profile. I was a small guppy in a sea of professionally trained sharks/cooks. I was determined to learn everything I could about gastronomy. M: Where did you work before Garden of Eade? A: Before taking the time to start Garden of Eade, I was working as an apprentice at the King Edward Hotel. The hotel was a great eye-opener because it exemplified how organized you have to be in a large culinary operation. In one day, the hotel would have a minimum of four menus running at the same time. M: What inspired you to create
photo source/Lindsay Hope
Chef Andrew Eade (left) getting the thumbs-up for his creations. Garden of Eade? Why a catering company as opposed to a restaurant or organic food store or your own TV show? What do you think the difference would have been?
A: I created Garden of Eade out of my love for soup. I would go to the local farmers’ market early Saturday morning and purchase only the freshest ingredients to put into my soup of the day. I got such a great response from customers that they began hiring me to cook themed dinners at their homes. This turned from passion into a business. The next step was developing a clear and concise business plan. I chose catering instead of a restaurant or food store because it had the lowest initial start-up costs. I was paying rent and college and working two jobs; there wasn’t much money left to start a restaurant. M: Where did you meet the people you work with?
A: I met a lot of the great friends that I work with when I was at George Brown. I see myself working with two very talented individuals in particular: Caileigh Pendrith and Miriam Streiman. M: Does your age interfere or benefit you in the culinary industry?
A: At 22, I realize that I know very little and have a long way to go. Age, however, will never be a factor. My family has our matriarch, Aunt Kate, 100 years young. She demonstrates that all your need is family, passion and a shot of Schnapps at the end of the night. Spending long hours in small and hot kitchens, you become very close with the people you work with. The cooks, chefs, servers, dishwashers and managers have all become a part of me over the years. M: Does the pressure of work take away from the fun of cooking?
A: Never, the day it feels like work is the day I find myself a new profession. The job is challenging each time because there is always a smarter, faster or better way of doing things. M: Are certain clientele more challenging than others?
A: Sometimes Garden of Eade would get clients that have a lot of dietary requirements. One night we had to tailor to six completely different menus, which included gluten-free, lactose intolerant, vegan, vegetarian, raw foodist and a classic meat-and-
potatoes menu. On the other hand, I have clients that say: “just cook for us, we eat anything.� M: How did you get involved in catering for celebrities such as Liv Tyler, Edward orton, and the Toronto Raptors?
A: I was doing a fundraiser and there were over 15 event planners scouting for new talent. I guess I made an impression because four months later, I was asked to be the private chef for Liv Tyler and Edward Norton while they were in Toronto filming The Incredible Hulk. M: Do you remember any of their favorite foods?
A: When I was cooking for Liv Tyler, her favorite was my mustard-maple glazed salmon with chive-whipped mashed potatoes. M: Is it important to count calories and portions when cooking gourmet meals? I mean, there is no such thing as a fat-free crème brulee, right?
A: Proper portion control is more important than calorie counting. The goal is to feed your guests all that they want except that you leave them wanting one more bite. Fat-free crème brulee is similar to having a kiss without any emotion. You need certain ingredients to showcase the love in food. M: How important is it to Garden of Eade to be involved with Ontario farms and wineries? What is the process of receiving their products? A: No matter how good of a cook you may be, no matter how technically proficient, you can’t make wonderful dishes without great products. Garden of Eade food is only as good as our suppliers. I work on developing longterm relationships with each our suppliers. M: What are the advantages and disadvantages of using only organic products?
A: Organic tastes better, and it’s better for the environment. At the moment it’s still more expensive than conventional products, but this will change. As the demand for organic grows, the price of organics will be driven down.
Eade continued on page 8
Monday, March 17, 2008
THE MEDIUM 7
ARTS
U of T Film Festival Four-day fest at Innis Town Hall manages to be a success, albeit barely OLIVIA D`ÒRAZIO The films shown at most festivals are a split between the good and the bad; and the 7th Annual U of T Film Festival, which ran from March 12-15, is no exception. Showcasing talent from not only current University of Toronto students, but also U of T alumns and even a submission from the Ontario College of Art and Design (OCAD), the U of T Film Festival is an environment where filmmakers can share their work with the community. This year’s festival left both a sweet aftertaste and a buzzing hangover with viewers. Although a count of the bad and the downright ugly tended to take a lead in scoring, some great films managed to keep afloat in the sea of mediocre. One such film was The Engagement Party by Mark Raso, a 15-minute short that takes place at (you guessed it) Mike and Leanne’s engagement party.
CD Review
MGMT Oracular Spectacular MICHAEL DI LEO Oracular Spectacular is the debut album from the Brooklyn-based duo MGMT (pronounced “management”). The group consists of Andrew Van Wyngarden and Ben Goldwasser who met studying music at Wesleyan University in Middleton, Connecticut. There, the two experimented with noisecore and other electronic genres, which paved the way to the psychedelic and rock-inspired electronica that they currently showcase . After graduating in 2005, MGMT went on tour with Of Montreal, which brought them widespread recognition as one of the top electronic-indie groups of the day. Originally signed with New York-based Cantora Records, a smaller company, the group went on to sign a major, six-figure deal with Columbia Records. Oracular Spectacular was released via online download in October of last year, and was only commercially released recently. Since its issue, the group has garnered much press, most notably featuring on Rolling Stone’s coveted “Ten Artists to Watch” list for 2008, along with other massivelyhyped groups like The Cool Kids, Kate ash, and Black Kids. The album itself is nothing short of diverse. It begins with their only single, “Time To Pretend,” an almost satirical and irreverent derision of the rock-star lifestyle (“Let's make some music, make some money, find some models for wives / I'll move to Paris, shoot some heroin, and fuck with the stars”), all over wavy, Roxy Musicesque synths. MGMT’s pop sensibilities are also immediately apparent on the track with their gratuitous use of slightly ironic keyboard hooks. Although the sounds are easily familiar, MGMT are quick to keep
Done as one continuous shot, the camera takes you around the house and peeks into the lives and lies of the several guests there: “Richard slept with who? You mean he’s gay? She lied?” A clever concept coupled with some savvy filmmaking techniques made this a standout at the festival. Hero’s Advice however, landed on the opposite end of that spectrum. If you liked apoleon Dynamite there’s a slim chance you might like this one. A young boy with a strange power gets advice from a wiser superhero guru which doesn’t quite work out too well. Appearing as low-budget as possible, it wouldn’t surprise me to learn that this flick was put together after school one day. Poor film texture, amateur acting, and affectless cinematography, the film’s concept wasn’t terrible, but the execution sure was. But the worst is yet to come: at 86 minutes, renowned Canadian filmmaker Atom Egoyan’s Family Viewing was the longest film at the festival. It was also the
you on your feet. “Time To Pretend” is followed by a number of electronicbased songs spiked with remnants of 60s rock, trip-hop, funk, and, most noticeably, psychedelica. The second track from the record, “Weekend Wars,” sounds as if it was taken from a Cat Stevens concept record (i.e. the ever-quadratic land of Polygor) with its classically medieval pop progressions, yet it retains the MGMT “danceability” factor as outlined in “Time To Pretend.” “Electric Feel” is an intense 70s dance-inspired song which will turn any situation into a killer party. “Kids” would be a New Order song if you replaced Bernard Sumner with 3D (from Massive Attack). And of course, my personal favourite, “Pieces of What,” is an acoustic-driven jam reminiscent of Creedence Clearwater Revival. Most impressive, however, is how well the album melds together in spite of the obvious stylistic differences. From start to finish, you do not miss a beat, which is especially rare with electronic records. The production is clean and not overproduced (again, a rarity among electronic records), and it is easy to tell that the band was given space to do their own thing. Their sense of irony and whimsy runs through the entire album and makes for a fun, sarcastic, and of course, thoroughly psychedelic time.
photo/www.joshcheuse.com
The duo of MGMT. Gotta love the threads.
most confusing. A young man, who may or may not be having an affair with his stepmom as well as a phone sex worker, visits his grandmother in the nursing home every day. His slightly overbearing father, now remarried, disapproves of his son visiting her and tries to have her relocated. Meanwhile, the phone sex worker, whose mother is in the same home that the boy’s grandmother is in, goes to Montreal to pretend to be someone’s French wife. With the most dotted of narrative arcs, this 1989 feature film was a chore to try and follow, and also to make sense of. Thankfully, things got better with the creative The Antic by Razvan Anton. A man awakens and can’t remember what he did the night before. Upon finding a corpse in his living room, he assumes he murdered the dead man. Various pivots and turns ensue with a giant plot twist at the end, leaving the audience in suspense throughout the
photo/www.dvdrama.com
A scene from Atom Egoyan`s Family Viewing, starring Arsineé Khanjian (left) and Aidan Tierney. entire film. All in all, some really bright films at the festival ensured that the bad ones did-
n’t stand out too much. All films considered, I would still count the 7th Annual U of T Film Festival a success.
8 THE MEDIUM
Interview with Andrew Eade Continued from page 6
M: What does Ontario have to offer compared to other provinces in terms of farms and wineries?
A: Ontario is on the Canadian Shield, which is the world’s richest area of mineral ores. Minerals contribute to healthy soil. Ontario’s hearty soil leads to strong plants, which equals delicious wines and produce. M: Do you have a favorite country or city in terms of farms and wineries?
A: After reading “The Soul of a Chef” by Michael Rhulman, I have wanted to travel to Napa Valley, California to taste the wine in their particular microclimate, and dine at Thomas Keller’s legendary French Laundry. M: Would you like to work abroad in your life? What does Toronto have to offer the culinary world compared to other cities?
A: Waking up in the middle of the night dreaming that I was in Paris, Madrid, Bangkok or London is a common occurrence. I can’t wait to build a great cooking foundation, pack my bags and travel on my next culinary adventure. Think of Toronto as water for a soup. The water is neutral and plain, waiting for emotion, taste and flair. Each cultural group settled into
Monday, March 17, 2008
ARTS
Digital Emotion Five must-see clips on YouTube
Toronto adds their distinct flavor, look and bouquet to the soup. M: What is a quick tip for our readers on how to pair certain foods with certain wines? Is the rule that white meat goes with white wine and red meat goes with red wine valid?
A: Eat local, drink local. Cooking Spanish tapas, drink a Spanish wine. Cooking Burgundy? Pair it with a Burgundy red Pinot Noir or a white Chardonnay. If you’re going to your local farmers’ market, make a pit stop to the LCBO afterwards and support a local vineyard. Ontario has some fantastic VQA wines. My favorite right now is the Cave Springs 2006 Pinot Noir Reserve. The rule of white meat goes with white wine and red with red is a fearful approach to pairing food and wine. All those rules are being broken because everybody’s palates are different. I say, drink what you like, eat what you want, and let the food fight about it after dinner. M: What are your plans for the next five years? Where do you see yourself in 10 years?
A: Five years? Start a children’s program educating kids to eat delicious and nutritious meals and snacks. Learn more about Spanish & Canadian regional cuisine. Travel to Northern Spain, Alsace, France, and Singapore. Create a forum to show-
case farmers are the real life superheroes that they are. In 10 years, I’d like to own an Ontario-based farm that will supply the catering company with 75 per cent of its fruits, vegetables and herbs. M: When you’re not working, do you still cook gourmet meals for yourself and for friends? A: When I get free time, I like to spend it researching, developing and testing new recipes, especially flavorful artisan bread. You can be creative and experimental without the pressure of having to feed a couple hundred people with your experimental disaster. M: Do you go to McDonalds on your days off?
A: No, it has been ages since I’ve eaten McDonalds. I found that I wouldn’t feel good after eating fast food, so I decided to eliminate it from my diet altogether. M: What did you have for breakfast this morning?
A: This morning, I had cereal with blueberries and maple syrup and an espresso. For more info on Chef Andrew Eade and his creations, visit www.gardenofeade.com.
ASHISH SETH
There is a plethora of self-made videos shifting and sifting on the web, waiting to be discovered by cows with dull eyes who would rather watch digital light waves than waste time making sense of a collection of words forming sentences on recycled paper. YouTube is a bastion of collected human emotion shooting out as light waves of digital pixels – a pixel a parcel of emote! Here are five YouTube clips I’ve gathered that you may have missed on your last mystical trip to the “digital world of Oz.” Five clips made and posted by people who have nothing better to do but make prank calls or punch each other out. Five YouTube clips that’ll make you cry digital tears made of pixels (sorry, no pearls). So extend your four-hour break from studying and check these selfmade clips out, these little emotive pennies in a jar. And remember if you ever get bored of staring at the widescreen digital wilderness of your laptop, you can always go to the library and read up on things. Remember books? Trackademicks Really Makes'em Go Dumb by DNastee The clip is only ten seconds long. Ten seconds you’ll watch over and over again for ten minutes. “I hope I ain’t bumpin’ into you, bud.” Search for “trackademicks really” Break dance kick by henry
“He’s a natural, ma! All he needs is a kick in the right direction!” Best watched with other people so they can justify your laugh. Search for “break dance kick” Spoof Bush Speech by Chris Morris This is perhaps the most well onstructed tampering of Bush’s speech ever constructed. The Daily Show has never come close to how funny and real this looks. It’ll either make you laugh or offend the Republican within your spleen. Search for “spoof bush speech” Prank Calls C-SPA Compilation by BuddyGz “We always like to hear our callers when they are like that!” Search for “prank calls cspan” Ali G and abortion by shifty486 “I was like anti-Burger King once and me went there and me tried the flame grill whopper and it was, like, amazing!” Before Borat became famous, there was Ali G...as himself. Search for “ali g abortion” (Third on the list)
Write for Arts!
There’s still 3 issues left this semester to get your name in print. Email Ali at arts@mediumonline.ca.
THE MEDIUM 9
Monday, March 17, 2008
Features NIKITA KING, EDITOR | features@mediumonline.ca
A short story: Awkward Fish MICHAL MAJERNIK
Although her fragile bones were cushioned against unusually thick flesh, she was quite the ordinary fish. From afar she was a lively figure of small green scales against a rich pastel skin. Uncomfortable with the harsh summer’s heat, she swam in grey, muddy water. The boulders grew like gigantic steps from the water that bordered the pond w h e r e t he s l o w t r i ck l e o f water supplied oxygen. She swam. The curious, blond kids in striped shirts could see her dark shadow from above the boulders. Hanging over the boulders, the kids threw their lines of sticks toward her bony mouth. Startled with the splashes above, she darted further away into the depths of the pond. The kids jumped from boulder to boulder with excitement. She swam into the centre of the small pond toward the grey, drying mud of the pond’s end. Peeking over boulders, the children quieted and watched as silent circles spiraled i nt o r i p p l es a cr o s s t h e pond. The heat pinched her as the warm water i rr i t ate d h e r s l i m y s k i n . Frustrated with hunger, she leaped into the air trying to gulp down a few flies. But the air just pushed against her speeding, airborne body. Falling back into shallow water, the
digital art/Wiehann Dumon
photo/Claudia Infusino
dangerously, clear water rinsed the goo off her skin. She propelled her streamlined figure into the air as excess goo jiggled from her skin. But she crashed against a thick, muddy surface. In corner of her eye, she saw black flies buzzing a b o u t t h e s u r f a ce in concentric chaos. The dried heads of tall green grass swayed in the calm breeze. She had landed on a danger zone. Waiting for the water’s rhythmic waves to carry her back gently into the pond, she gasped for air. Her blood-stained gills flapped open vigorously as her body slapped against the grey surface. The mud soon hardened and held her firmly
in place. Flies buzzed and teasingly landed on and off her smooth body. Their frantic legs tickled her skin with spastic movements of curiosity. The dry mud cracked in clumps as she struggled to shake the flies off. The flies continued their taunting as they crawled along her tail. The mud turned into hot clay that burned her skin. Heat scorched within her. Blood slowly drained out of her failing gills. The flies circled and crept over her eye, and into her gills. They bit into the soft red flesh and laid eggs into the fresh lining. Dizzy with discomfort, the colours of the outside world dissolved into darkness. She lay stiff.
Creative Corner I want to Something makes you sad and I want to kiss all your sadness away. If you are unhappy I want to share your unhappiness to balance the load. They say eyes are windows to the soul, but our eyes are the windows to each others souls. Yours pierce through me watching my heart beat and only making it beat faster watching my mind go akimbo. My skin's not like porcelain, you say, it's like a rose petal that you don't want to
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let whiter away, so you shield me from the pollution. Words I use to describe you among my friends, you use to describe me among yours; the parallels are unmistakable... we've a photographic memory. Your laughter is like soft, cold rain on a harsh, hot day I cannot help but relish in it, a sparkle in my eye. Yet when you are sad, it is like not a part of you but a part of me has gone astray. And today something makes you sad, I want to kiss all your sadness away. - Shaista Khan
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10 THE MEDIUM
Monday, March 17, 2008
FEATURES
Wayne Shepard: Beyond duty’s call P.ANDREW HAMILTON-SMITH ASSISTANT FEATURES EDITOR
Even though you may not know him by name, chances are you have seen Wayne Shepard before. He has been a leader within our community for almost twenty years, often driving the little Mississauga Transit go-kart bus in the annual Santa Claus parade, and most recently was in the news receiving two awards: the Mississauga Civilian Citation (the highest honour the city can bestow) and the 2007 Excellence Award from the Urban Transit Association. He earned these awards by assisting a young girl last summer who was being attacked, scaring off her assailant and assisting police in tracking him down. To many people this might be considered a great act of heroism; risking one’s own safety to help a stranger, but for Wayne, this is quite an ordinary day.
“Transit workers are four times as likely to be attacked as a police officer or fire fighter, and yet the criminal penalties for assaulting bus drivers are no different than ordinary assault whereas harsher penalties apply for police and emergency workers.” - Wayne Shepard, Mississauga bus driver Before he was even one year old, Wayne was caught under a streetcar – perhaps foreshadowing his future career path – and dragged, resulting in a permanent shoulder deficiency that
stays with him to this day. “It made it really hard to turn the steering wheels on the buses in the days before power steering,” he joked. Having survived that brush with death, Wayne met another near-death experience when he was accidentally shot at the age of six, and actually died for a moment. Then, while working as a tow truck driver in 1987, he went to pick up a car that had crashed at a house party, only to find a huge brawl taking place. In the melee, Wayne was hit in the head with a couple bricks that someone threw at him. This led him to consider taking a safer “family man job,” as Wayne puts it, thus starting his long and illustrious career with Mississauga Transit. Last summer, while on a bus route on Hurontario, Wayne was approached by a homeless man named “Oakey” who pointed out a woman across the street being assaulted. Wayne left his bus, running through traffic to reach the woman, who was about to be head-butted by her attacker. He approached the man and told him that police were on their way, and began waving down passing motorists for help. When the man fled the scene, Wayne followed him to an apartment building and directed police inside. Although many called him a hero, he sees it simply as being in the right place at the right time, and does not consider his actions to be spectacular. “I’m not a hero,” he explained. “Though I might think of myself as an underdog.” “Underdog” is perhaps not the word that his managers would use to describe him, though. When he started working for Mississauga Transit, Wayne did not plan to stick around very long. Early on in his career, he got into a dispute with his superiors because he wanted to bring a fourfoot-tall alien decoration on board his
bus, to make the ride more pleasant for his passengers. Finding no suitable answer for why he was not allowed to do so, Wayne fought and fought, eventually becoming a shop steward in his local union, a position that actually required him to argue with management. From being what he first saw as a “prison of a job,” Wayne has grown to really enjoy his work, and he now praises the city for being an excellent employer.
To many people this might be considered a great act of heroism; risking one’s own safety to help a stranger, but for Wayne this is pretty much an ordinary day. photo/Julie Tyios
In the early 1990s, Wayne got a lot of attention for refusing to cut his hair until transit drivers got a pay raise. “This was in the era of Rae Days and the Harris Conservatives, so things were tough for public employees,” according to Wayne. What started as a short-term gimmick eventually grew to become four feet of hair reaching down to his back, as the pay raise didn’t come for seven years. When he finally did, in 1998, it was broadcast on CityTV. All donations raised through the media event – roughly $700 – were given to Toys for Tots, and the hair itself was donated to Angel Hairs, which provides wigs for children with cancer. Always willing to help out fellow underdogs, Wayne loves finding creative ways to help out those in need. Wayne is well known within the Mississauga Transit system for bringing a personal twist to his routes. “I try to be an entertainer, depending on the situation, and get people
Wayne Shepard, a bus driver, takes pride in his job by looking out for others.
involved in what is going on around them,” he said. He is friendly with his passengers, and often sings (or raps) the stop names when he drives the 110 University route, which is one of his favourites. “Interacting with people, and meeting interesting people, is one of the most rewarding parts of my job,” beamed Wayne. “And on rainy or snowy days, you have to find ways to make things fun,” he added. In November, Wayne Shepard will have been driving buses for twenty years, and during that time, the University of Toronto Mississauga (UTM) has always been a mainstay for him. “The city has changed a lot in that time,” he noted. “And UTM has been one of the greatest things that Mississauga has to offer. I can’t say
enough good things about the school and its students, in terms of their contributions to the city culture and offering opportunities for young people.” Looking forward to the future, Wayne is currently collecting signatures for a petition to pressure the federal government to increase sentences for transit employee assault. “Transit workers are four times as likely to be attacked as a police officer or fire fighter, and yet the criminal penalties for assaulting bus drivers are no different than ordinary assault whereas harsher penalties apply for police and emergency workers,” argued Wayne. “We need to deter these attacks,” he said. Wayne may have kindly refused to accept the title of a being called a hero, but his humbleness does not overshadow what an excellent role model he has been.
Study of women & gender: a success SABRINA BALDINI Have you ever wondered how an entire program of study is created? Well, it takes a lot of hard work, but it starts with the students. It begins with a question and having the motivation to make some changes. This is the process the Women and Gender Studies (WGS) program went through to become a reality. Motivated by the program’s success at both the St. George and Scarborough campuses, part-time student Sue Prior decided to unknowingly lay the foundation for the program right here at UTM, asking dean Cecil Houston, “Why don’t we have the program here?” But it was professor Catherine Rubincam who was determined to help turn the idea into reality. With the vision of having a thriving and innovative WGS program at UTM, professor Rubincam embarked on the difficult and lengthy process of establishing an entire new program. In the spring of 1995, the WGS program at UTM was established. Since its founding, WGS has experienced great success and the support of many students. There continues to be a steady increase in interest from the student body, leading to an expansion in the program. Thanks to former program coordinator professor Jan Noel, the program continued its evolution
from just interdepartmental courses to having its very own courses and professors. It wasn’t too long ago that the WGS program was termed “Women’s Studies.” It was changed to include the word “gender” because the classes do not just appeal to women or study women only. The topics branch out to various fields and studies that everyone can appreciate. It offers a vast variety of courses and topics of study, such as studies of race, history, religion, class, sexual orientation, the politics of feminism and globalization and women. And guys, there is something for you too: you would be remiss to pass up the opportunity to study such subjects as female sexuality (WGS374), female anatomy (WGS367), and pleasure, fantasy and eroticism (WGS450). The WGS program prides itself on its diversity and, because of that, the program has seen several successful and ethnically diverse graduates, such as acclaimed author Kwai Yin Li, author of The Palm Leaf Fan, and provincial NDP candidate Shaila Kibria, just to name a few. The Women and Gender Studies program does not discriminate. Because of its wide variety of topics and the diversity of its professors, the WGS program at UTM offers an open and interactive learning environment, with always exciting and stimulating conversation.
Monday, March 17, 2008
THE MEDIUM 11
Sports ROBERT SILVA, EDITOR | sports@mediumonline.ca
Is intent to injure part of the game? MIKE SZYBALSKI Chris Pronger stomping on the leg of Vancouver’s Ryan Kesler while he lay helpless on the ice was a repulsing sight. A sharpened skate blade can be a deadly weapon and cause serious bodily harm. Florida Panthers forward Richard Zednik almost lost his life earlier this season after a teammate’s skate sliced his throat in the midst of a contest against the Buffalo Sabres. Chris Simon was suspended 30 games for stepping on the back of Penguins forward Jarkko Ruutu while he waited to get off the ice during a game earlier this season. The 30 games handed down to Simon is the longest suspension in NHL history. If the Pronger and Simon incidents were shown to a person that knows nothing about hockey, I’m sure the reactions would be the same. Both were horrifying and both demonstrated intent to injure by using a dangerous weapon. However, I’m sure that the suspension given to Pronger will not be the same 30 games Chris Simon got. Granted, Simon is a repeat offender who, only last season, almost took another player’s head off by swinging his stick at him. But the act of intentionally trying to cut someone while engaged in a competitive sport goes beyond the control of the NHL and crosses over into the realm of criminal jurisdiction. In most violent on-ice incidents, criminal prosecution results in nothing more than a slap on the wrist. Todd Bertuzzi
received a small probation sentence for almost paralyzing Colorado forward Steve Moore and ending his career. Similarly, Marty McSorely also received a small probation sentence for swinging his stick off the head of Donald Brashear, knocking him out cold and causing a concussion. The NHL gave stiff suspensions to both Mcsorely and Bertuzzi - in excess of 20 games - but is this sufficient deterrence for players the next time one has the urge to try and kill another?
In most violent on-ice incidents, criminal prosecution results in nothing more than a slap on the wrist.
The NHL is the only sport that has an “enforcer.” The enforcer is the player that supposedly sets the tone for the game and can change the momentum in his team’s favor by winning a fight. Tough guys in the NHL are lucky to play six minutes in a game and are often healthy scratches during playoff time, meaning they sit up in the press box wearing a suit. So how a player that hardly ever plays has any effect on the outcome of a game has always puzzled me. But Chris Pronger, unlike Chris Simon, is not considered an enforcer. Pronger is an elite defenseman that means a lot to the success of the Anaheim Ducks
and the overall marketability of the NHL in the United States. Being an elite NHL player has allowed Pronger to play with an edge that strikes fear into opposing forwards, while not being subject to the same disciplinary action as other aggressive players. Being big and intimidating is what makes Pronger an effective defenseman. His nasty side is not unknown, as he has been suspended seven times over the past 14 seasons for various incidents; twice in last year’s playoff. During the Ducks’ cup run last spring, Pronger, in two separate series, took shots at opposing players’ heads and received two single-game bans. Over the course of his NHL career, Pronger has demonstrated a lack of respect to the safety of the players around him, much like Chris Simon in his career. But Pronger, being a marquee player, is not subject to the same punishments. I can understand why the NHL doesn’t come down hard on Pronger. The NHL is struggling in the United States and, by taking star attractions off the ice, marketability for the upcoming postseason to a national US audience would be that much more difficult. Not to say I agree with this line of thinking. In fact, the lack of justice and punishment in the NHL, especially for unprotected headshots and infractions committed by star players, is something I have a huge problem with. I also think the NHL’s unbalanced approach to punishment turns Americans off the game. Yes, the NHL needs an American audience if it is to succeed. Two-thirds of the original six teams were American and there are currently only 6 of a possible 30 NHL
franchises in Canadian cities, thus there is the need for an American audience to ensure success. Violence in the NHL, random or pre-meditated, is not found in the three other major team leagues in North America. Major League Baseball teams do not have players that are only come up to bat once a game and charge the mound, with intent to fight. NBA teams don’t just sign players to commit a flagrant foul against another player to change the flow of the game. NFL teams don’t have a designated player that takes a cheap shot against the quarterback or kicker to “send a message.” Violence and fighting in the MLB, NBA, and NFL are limited to the boundaries of the rules and fighting results in immediate ejection from the game and an assured fine/suspension from the league. These rules are in place whether you’re a star linebacker in the NFL, the Kobe Bryant of the NBA, or an MLB all-star like Alex Rodriguez.
I think the NHL’s unbalanced approach to punishment turns Americans off the game.
The NHL has used a policy of case-bycase basis to determine a punishment for an on-ice infraction. Tradition is what most NHL fans cite as the reason for vio-
lence in the game. Tradition is something that does not need to be broken; rather the NHL can “evolve” its punishment policies. Television will not miss any infraction, as in the most recent case involving Pronger and Kesler. The only time the NHL gets its national coverage in the United States is when extremely violent and graphic in-game altercations occur. Rather than allowing some to enjoy more leeway, the NHL should adopt a universal policy applicable to fourth-line grinders and superstar defensemen alike. Perhaps if the NHL gives eighth-time offender Chris Pronger the same 30-game suspension as Chris Simon, it will serve as sufficient deterrence for future offenders. Stomping your skate on the leg of a defenseless player is wrong and criminal. If the NHL does not do anything to curb violence amongst contesting players, how long until a player dies because of injuries he sustained because of a swinging stick or a kicking skate blade? Uncontrolled violence is not tolerated in any way in the other major professional sports leagues, and they all enjoy success in the US. Even NASCAR has eliminated the once frequent pit-stop fights and has seen its product grow past the NHL in terms of popularity in the US. I’m not saying this is the only reason the NHL struggles in the US, I’m only saying it doesn’t help. If the NHL is to start a new trend, one that would benefit the growth of the game and promote safety among players, Chris Pronger should receive the same 30 games as Chris Simon did just a few months ago. Pronger has since received an eight-game suspension.
12 THE MEDIUM
Monday, March 17, 2008
SPORTS
Eagles set for finals
Europe’s elite Champions League draw for the quarter finals produces mouthwatering English rivalry ALI KASIM A&E EDITOR
It’s down to the last eight in European Champions League soccer. And you have to wonder why they call it that, considering only two clubs – Manchester United of England and Fenerbahce of Turkey – from the list of quarter-finalists are actual “champions” of their own domestic leagues. Nonetheless, with the likes of Chelsea, Liverpool and Barcelona, the six contenders remaining are no rookies to this stage of the competition. It promises to engaging and even; so close, in fact, that it’s almost impossible to predict the final two that will show down in Moscow on May 21, yet alone the winner. It’s been a good year for England – 2008 marks the first time that any country has ever had four representatives in the quarter-finals of Europe's top club competition. Chelsea (threetime semi-finalists since 2004), Liverpool (winners in 2005 and runners-up in 2007), Arsenal (runners-up in 2006), and Manchester United (winners in 1999) all went into the pot for last Friday’s draw in Nyon, Switzerland. The other four sides in the draw were Barcelona (Spain), Roma (Italy), Fenerbahce (Turkey) and Schalke (Germany). Here are the results of the draw, and a little forecast of each of them: Arsenal vs. Liverpool With four out of the eight clubs hailing from England, it was almost inevitable that two should pair up against each other in the next round. Both teams here will be slightly aggrieved to have been the chosen ones for that. Liverpool, by their standards, have had a less than stellar year. Fourth in their domestic league and effectively out of the title race, the Reds from Merseyside hit rock bottom a month ago when they crashed out of the FA Cup against lower-division side Barnsley. Much blame has been placed on American co-owner Tom Hicks, who caused quite a stir with the club supporters and managerial staff last December when he announced his failed move to replace current boss Rafa Benitez with Jurgen Klinsmann. Benitez, meanwhile, has silenced his critics and co-owner after stringing together another fine European run, which included a two-legged victory over tournament favourites Inter Milan. As far as expectations go, Arsenal have been quite the opposite. Pre-season odds placed the London-based club fourth in the race for the league title. Yet, after thirty rounds, Arsenal find themselves second in the standings and only a point behind leaders Manchester United. Despite their superb victory against AC Milan at the San Siro in the last round, the Gunners have gone off the boil in the last few weeks, drawing three out of their last three league games – all against weaker opposition. The loss of supporting striker Eduardo through injury has perhaps had more of an impact as expected. First-choice striker Robin Van Persie has recently recovered from an injury that saw him miss the last two months of action, but questions still exist over how long he would take to shake the rust off. Also missing playmaker Czech Tomas Rosicky, much has been placed on the shoulders of top scorer Emmanuel Adebayor and wonderkid Cesc Fabregas.
“They can kill off any team, those two,” claims Benitez of star players Fernando Torres and Steven Gerrard after Liverpool’s demolition of Newcastle a fortnight ago. Shortly after that game, Inter were left wishing they paid those comments a little more attention. But Arsenal will be prepared and, unlike the Italian giants, they will know their opponents well. Fabregas and Adebayor vs Gerrard and Torres? Maybe. But I think this one’s going down to the right tactics on the day, and for big European games like these, Benitez usually gets his spot-on. One must also consider Arsenal’s league title race which could prove a distraction when the fixtures arrive hard and fast at the end of the month. Liverpool won’t have that problem. Either way, expect an epic. Roma vs. Manchester United These two sides met at the same stage last year, with the Reds from Manchester beating their Italian counterparts 8-3 on aggregate after routing Roma 7-1 in the first leg at Old Trafford. The two locked horns again in this year’s competition after being paired in the group stages. Again, Man United finished on top after winning again at Old Trafford (this time only 10) and drawing at the Stadio Olimpico in Rome. Confidence, undoubtedly, is with the English champions. Portuguese sensation Cristiano Ronaldo has found the net 31 times this year in all competitions – a remarkable feat, especially considering he’s not even a striker. This more than makes up for Wayne Rooney’s lack of prowess in front of goal this term. But it’s the United rearguard that’s been vital for them this season – conceding only 15 goals in 29 league games, the best record in the Premiership. The back four of Ferdinand, Vidic, Brown, and Evra have been solid all season. Just ask beaten second-rounders Lyon. Since October, Roma have been playing catch up to Inter’s surmountable lead in Serie A. The gap has since been cut to just six points, and their consistent home form have much to do with that – ten victories on the trot to date. Spanish champions Real Madrid found the Olimpico a difficult venue themselves when they fell 1-2 to goals from David Pizarro and Mancini. But Roma proved they were also formidable away from home when they replicated that scoreline at the Bernabeu. Coach Luciano Spaletti has formed a very disciplined and efficient Roma side. The attacking trident of Francesco Totti, Mancini and Rodrigo Taddei has proved a handful for any defence they have faced. Roma also have strength in depth, with the effective Mirko Vucinic and Ludovic Giuly available off the bench whenever needed. With both sides knowing each other well, expect this to be a cagey affair, will little or no quarter given. Like Arsenal, Man United will be fazed by their own league title aspirations, though they have made it clear that the Champions League is top-priority as well. I think Roma will finally get their win over Manchester, but it’ll be just on home soil. What happens at Old Trafford will decide the tie. While it probably won’t be 7-1 again, it should be enough to ensure Manchester United safe passage through. Schalke 04 vs Barcelona Schalke reached the quarter-final stages of the Champions League for the first time when they beat
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Portuguese champions Porto on penalties after drawing 1-1 over two legs. Porto would have felt hard done by as they dominated the Germans from start to finish and were a little unlucky that the tie had to be decided by the dreaded penalty shootout. Some dogged defending and G e r m a n resilience proved photo/Google Images decisive in the Dynamic Duo - Fernando Torres and Steven Gerrard of Liverpool. last round, but The two would have to be at their very best to oust Arsenal. Schalke are going to need more than that against Barcelona. The Catalan significantly, their home stadium, the giants have just been installed as tour- Sükrü Saraçoglu in Istanbul, is probanament favourites going into this clash, bly the most daunting of venues to go and are vastly expected to at least to – they did after all beat Inter there during the group stages and are four progress to the semi-finals. The good news for the Germans is wins out of four at home in the compethat Barca golden boy Leo Messi will tition so far. Chelsea will be glad that they get to probably miss both legs after he limped out of a league game a week ago. With play the second and deciding leg at Ronaldinho struggling to be at his best Stamford Bridge. But as strong as all year long and Theirry Henry still Fener are at home, I don’t think they`ll out injured, Barcelona are not as fierce beat an experienced side like Chelsea there. Even if they do, they face an as they’re made out to be. There’s almost as little to say as there uphill task away in London. We must is to think about who’s coming out top also not forget the suspensions to midof this one. You wonder if it would be fielder Selcuk Sahin and striker Mateja any closer if it were German league Kezman for the first game. This one`s a little more interesting leaders Bayern Munich squaring up against Barcelona rather than fifth- than Schalke and Barcelona, but I placed Schalke. Nonetheless, the threat won’t be surprised if Chelsea close this of Kevin Kuranyi should not be over- tie out as easily as they did their last looked, and Barcelona captain Carlos one. Puyol must pay close attention to the All ties to be played on April 1 and 2 towering German striker. The first leg is crucial here – if and April 8 and 9 with the teams menSchalke can scratch out a goal without tioned first hosting the first leg. conceding any, it’ll allow them to put up their all-out defensive wall for the The semi-final draw is as follows: second leg at the Nou Camp. Won’t Arsenal/Liverpool v Fenerbahce/Chelsea happen though; Barcelona to win both Schalke/Barcelona v AS Roma/Man Utd legs.
The UTM Women’s Division One basketball team has had its share of ups and downs this year. In both semesters, the tri-campus league that the UTM squad usually plays in was folded due to lack of participants on the St. George Campus. UTM was forced back into the Division One league. And, in the fall term, the team lost in the semi-finals. The winter term did not start off as planned for the new coaches, as a lastsecond basket saw UTM suffer a onepoint loss in the season opener at UTSC. Since that loss, the Eagles have gone undefeated, running up six straight wins with the last two coming on home court. In the last game of the regular season, UTM avenged an early season loss to UTSC by getting out to an 18-0 lead to start the game. The team never looked back and cruised to an easy win. That win secured the team a first overall standing in the league and home court advantage throughout the play-offs. UTM then took on one of the league rivals PHE in the semi-final. UTM once again exploded out of the gate to an 11-0 lead before the PHE team got their first basket. Strong play on the defensive end and great passing and patience on offense enabled UTM to maintain a 30-21 lead at the half. The second half was all UTM as they scored another 30 points and held their opponents to only 17 points, en route to a 60-38 shellacking of PHE. The entire UTM roster played a strong game and some great performances from the bench kept the starters fresh. Alexis Paua with a game-high 20 points led UTM’s scoring, while Anna Bedionnes scored 14, Laura Desveaux notched 13 and Genevieve Maltais-Lapointe added five of her own. The win advances the squad to the U of T Intramural Championship Final to be held at UTM on Monday, March 17 at 8 p.m. UTM will play their suburban rivals, UTSC, who advanced to the final with an upset of the second seeded PTOT in the other league semifinal.
Fenerbahce vs Chelsea Having drawn and comfortably beaten Greek side OIympiakos in the last round, Chelsea struck lucky again when they were paired with surprise quarter-finalist Fenerbahce. Like Schalke, the Turkish champions have never reached this far in the competition before. After failing to cross the semi-final hurdle in three of the last four years, Chelsea must be wondering when they`re ever going to win the Champions League. Lying third in the Premiership, the London-based club backed by Russian billionaire Roman Abramovich are still in their domestic title race. But you can rest assured the Champions League trophy is the one that they`ll really be gunning for. Chelsea aren’t any different under coach Avram Grant than they were under Jose Mourinho – disciplined, aggressive, and notoriously hard to beat. With Nicholas Anelka added to their roster to shore up their attacking options, they no longer have to rely on the misfiring Andrei Shevchenko or the unsettled Didier Drogba. In midfield, it is options galore with match winners like Joe Cole and Frank Lampard to draw firepower from. Fener, if anything, are strong up front themselves. Brazilian forward Deivid has notched four goals in the tournament so far, with supporting striker Semih Senturk tallying three. More
Time to party On March 27, UTMAC presents the Athletic Formal. “UTM had a great year athletically and this is our chance to celebrate those achievements. It’s a party in a party this year at Pavilion Royal; we’ve got some games going on, prizes to give out, a great menu, and of course, everyone’s favourite, the open bar. We have plenty of menu options in terms of vegetarian and halal. It’s going to be a great night.” - Andrew Lalla, UTMAC President Tickets are $40, and $20 just for the dinner. Purchase the tickets at the UTMAC office, near the bookstore. Party favours at the formal may include athletic gym bags and water bottles. Preceding the dinner, awards and speeches and one of Toronto’s DJs spins the latest in top 40, house, club and reggae music for the rest of the night.
- Sunny Pathak, Assistant Sports Editor