Vol 35 issue 3 by The Medium

The Voice of the University of Toronto at Mississauga

MEDIUM THE

MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 15, 2008

VOLUME 35, ISSUE 3

www.mediumonline.ca

We get up close to Benicio Del Toro

Speak Easy program breaks down barriers

Representing the OHL

page 5

page 10

page 11

Students connect at the Blue Zoo

Photo/Matthew Filipowich

Students check out the Peel Public Health, Theatre Erindale, and Computing Services booths at the UTM Blue Zoo Resource Fair last Tuesday.

MEREDITH LILLY NEWS EDITOR Students gathered at UTM’s Communication Culture and Technology (CCT) building on September 9 for the 2008 Blue Zoo fair, an all-out resource fair connecting UTM students with resources within and throughout campus. Organizations from across the University of Toronto and the greater community assembled to raise awareness of the services they offer to enhance the student experience. New students and upper-year students alike discovered new opportunities for personal and professional development through the fair. Tessa Mandrapilias, who manned the rowing station, was busy encouraging students to commit to the 5:30 am practice times to have fun and improve self-discipline. “Rowing helps build time management skills that are readily

applicable to other kinds of work” said Mandrapilias. “It’s also a good w a y t o f it a th l etics into a busy schedule.” Peel Public Health and the UTM Health & Counseling Centre offered students many services, from psychiatric help to medical care. The two organizations presented displays focusing on healthy diets, addiction prevention, and sexual health. “We’ve recently done training for the residence staff at Sheridan C ol l e g e , a n d w e are discussing bringing the training to UTM” says Allison Imrie of Peel Public Health. Theatre Erindale, promises to entertain students all year long, with five shows planned for the 2008/2009 season. The first show, Elmer Rice’s “A New Life,” runs October 23-25. Student rates are $9 a show. For non-theatre students who wish to get involved, Production Manager Peter Urbanek advises students to keep an eye out for UTM’s Drama Club.

Meanwhile, UTM’s artists can get involved in Mississauga through the Blackwood’s Gallery, or through the U of T ArtsZone downtown. ArtsZone provides support for creative ideas and volunteer opportunities for the artistically minded.

“The experience [students] get at university will stay with them for the rest of their lives.” - Harpreet Randhawa, Studen Leadership Institute “If there is a musical piece you would like to compose, or a play you would like to perform, you can apply for a grant. We offer numerous grants and lots of support,” says ArtsZone Communications

Officer Alana Stuart. Events Assistant Nabiha Hossain, is looking forward to the six exhibits U of T is contributing to the ScotiaBank Nuit Blanche on October 4, as well as the 2009 U of T film festival. UTM’s Career Centre had a popular booth for students who need extra help in their job search. “We offer resume critiques and job fairs for students exploring whatever it is they want to do,” says Katie Li, their marketing and events assistant. “We also provide job listings through our website, and our mascot Jimi keeps facebook users informed. Students who need direction have a lot of resources to use.” Students who feel they lack experience in the work field can take advantage of UTM’s Student Leadership Institute. “We run workshops throughout the year to provide students with leadership and networking opportunities,” says Representative Harpreet Randhawa. “We host some very convenient weekend workshops for busy stu-

dents that will benefit those in all programs. Students who participate receive certification to show to prospective employers. The experience they get at university will stay with them for the rest of their lives.” Among others present, were the UTM Student Housing & Residence Life, who handed out tshirts and advertised work-study opportunities, and UTM Computing Services who requested students be patient with any delay in service over the busy first few weeks of school. The University Office of the Ombudsperson was present to explain how they can make the process of appealing grades less daunting, offering help to students who are unsure of how to navigate University policy or require preliminary mediation to resolve complaints. Students visited the Blue Zoo all afternoon, collecting information, merchandise, and advice to help make their year a successful one.

2 THE MEDIUM

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Monday, September 15, 2008

THE MEDIUM 3

NEWS

Textbook grant aids Ontario students LUJAYN ALI

Students struggling to make ends meet this fall can take advantage of the Government of Ontarioâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s new $150 Textbook and Technology Grant (TTG). The ministry of training, colleges and universities developed the plan to help financially overwhelmed students. As part of the government's three-year program, $1.5 billion Skills to Jobs Action Plan, the TTG is a new grant program launched by the province of Ontario, geared towards helping full-time post-secondary students pay for textbooks and technology needs for school. Initiated September 9 by John

Milloy, minister of training, colleges and universities, the 2008-09 academic year is the introductory year of the grant program. Eligible students will receive $150 to go towards expenses, which will soon increase to $300 in the near future when the program is further developed and applied. The requirements for eligibility are full-time student status as well as Canadian Citizenship, Permanent Residency, or Protected Person status. This covers a majority of students here at the University of Toronto Mississauga, allowing the program to be very beneficial to large portions of the student body. The government projects that approximately half a million students attending Ontarioâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s public colleges and

Steel worker union strike averted MEREDITH LILLY NEWS EDITOR The United Steelworkersâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; (USW) Local 1998 chapter have ratified an agreement first proposed last Sunday by 90.6 per cent. USW represents 3,500 technical and administrative staff at all three U of T campuses. USW had voted 87 per cent in favour of a strike on September 4 if an agreement was not determined by midnight September 7. A tentative agreement was reached shortly before the deadline. â&#x20AC;&#x153;This three-year contract is the result of challenging negotiations backed up by a strong membership at the University of Toronto,â&#x20AC;? said USW Director Wayne Fraser on Friday September 12. The agreement includes an immediate salary increase of 3.5 per cent, and a 3

per cent increase for 2009/10 and 2010/11. Family friendly measures, such as childcare, increased work flexibility and better compensation during primary care and parental leave were included in the contract to ease the burden of busy staff. Compassionate care benefits were added to accommodate those who must leave work for a short time to care for gravely ill family members. â&#x20AC;&#x153;With the new leave provisions and a child care funding program, this agreement recognizes the need for work/life balance and is a victory for union members as well as their families," says Local 1998 President Allison Dubarry. The USW represents 3,500 employees at the University of Torontoâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s three campuses. Negotiations between USW and the administration will begin soon for Victoria University and St. Michaelâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s.

universities will apply for the new grant. The most convenient part of this new grant is the application process. There is no elaborate application and there is no requirement for students to provide documentation of any kind to receive the grant funding. Students can apply for the TTG by submitting an Ontario Student Assistance Program (OSAP) application for automatic consideration, making the application process convenient for those already receiving financial aid. Students who do not receive OSAP funding can apply for a TTG separately via the OSAP website. Updates about funding can be confirmed using the OSAP website. Tuition costs have been climbing over the years; itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a positive change to

see that help is being provided. One downfall is the restriction that Ontario students attending classes out-ofprovince will not receive the grant. Many provincial students study abroad in a number of institutions, deeming them exempt from the grant. That is definitely an area of improvement for the future. Though welcome, the announcement of the grant caused controversy on campus as bookstore-bound students were reminded of the high cost of textbooks. The Ottawa Citizen reported September 6 that a University of Alberta (U of A) Study found a seven per cent increase in the price of textbooks this year. A full-time undergraduate student can expect to pay more than $1,000 for essential texts alone. Engineering stu-

dents at the University of Toronto are advised to budget $1,500 for texts. The onus is on students to demand fair pricing, as there is no regulatory agency that oversees pricing in the industry. A study by the U of A student union found that textbook costs had risen nearly three times as fast as the average price of consumer goods between 1995 and 2007. Stephanie Penrice, fourth year Political Science specialist and peer academic leader describes the grant program as â&#x20AC;&#x153;a good ideaâ&#x20AC;?. She explains, â&#x20AC;&#x153;it is $150, more would be better but itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a good start for now. Students have been saying that it is not enough but there are other ways to subsidize costs, such as the used book exchange.â&#x20AC;?

Vehicle stolen in lot 2 MEREDITH LILLY NEWS EDITOR

UTM student Seif Abboud had an unwelcoming return to university this past Wednesday when his car and $592.20 parking pass were stolen from parking lot 2 during mid-day. â&#x20AC;&#x153;It is very rare to have a car theft on campus,â&#x20AC;? said UTM Campus Police Manager Len Paris. â&#x20AC;&#x153;In the past nine years I can only recall two reported car thefts. One turned out to be a fraud, and the second was recovered within a day.â&#x20AC;? The vehicle was reported stolen on September 10 at 3:13 pm. Campus police assisted Abboud with search for the vehicle on campus before reporting the incident to Peel Regional Police. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Sometimes students forget where they park and report the car stolenâ&#x20AC;? says Paris. Stolen permits are much more com-

mon, averaging a dozen reported stolen at the beginning of each school year. The permits have a barcode and the license number of the car so they are easily identified as stolen property by parking police and often recovered.

â&#x20AC;&#x153;It is very rare to have a car theft on campus.â&#x20AC;? - Len Paris, UTM Campus Police Manager â&#x20AC;&#x153;I had purchased the parking permit at 12:53 pm,â&#x20AC;? says Abboud, â&#x20AC;&#x153;the same afternoon the car and the permit were stolen. I returned to the parking office but they didn't give me any options. They refused to either refund or exchange the pass.â&#x20AC;? Each pass is unique to the vehicle it

is purchased for and cannot be transferred. Abboud had retained his receipt as proof that he had paid for the use of UTM parking and obtained appropriate permission. Alina Constantine explained the parking office policy, â&#x20AC;&#x153;the purpose of declaring a stolen pass is so that students can claim the loss for insurance purposes.â&#x20AC;? â&#x20AC;&#x153;Just like any other product you would purchase, you canâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t expect to be reimbursed if it goes missing.â&#x20AC;? Constantine continues, â&#x20AC;&#x153;If you bought a necklace and it was stolen, you couldnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t return to the store to ask for another.â&#x20AC;? The vehicle stolen is a five door GMC Jimmy SUV. The vehicle has beige interior and exterior. Its license number is BAME 917. If you see the vehicle please report the theft to Campus Police at (905) 828-5200, Peel Regional Police at 905-453-3311, or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477.

Campus police weekly summaries

September 5 - September 11, 2008 September 5, 2008 3:50 pm Careless Driving University Police investigated a vehicle that was driving erratically on campus. The driver was cautioned and advised by University Police on his driving habits.

A group of males not affiliated with the University were asked to leave the Recreational Wellness & Athletics Centre when they could not produce proper identification. The group begrudgingly left after the arrival of University Police.

September 7, 2008 3:02 am oise Complaint University Police were summoned to a noise complaint emanating from Lot # 8. A student was questioned and advised that he, along with some of his friends, had been boisterous. The group left without further incident.

September 10, 2008 12:50 pm Vehicle collision Two vehicles collided in Lot # 9. No injuries to either driver. Both drivers attended the collision reporting centre to file a report.

September 7, 2008 2:14 pm Trespassing

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September 10, 2008 3:09 pm Suspicious person A staff person reported a suspicious male inside the Kaneff Centre.

University Police attended and the male had left the area. September 10, 2008 3:15 pm Theft of Auto A student reported the theft of his vehicle from Lot #2. Peel Regional Police were contacted and an All Points Bulletin (APB) was announced in hopes of recovering the vehicle. September 10, 2008 5:18 pm Theft under $ 5000.00 A student reported the theft of her laptop outside the UTM Bookstore. Her bag had been left unattended while she was shopping for school supplies.

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4 THE MEDIUM

Monday, September 15, 2008

EDITORIAL

Opinion

Meet the The Medium

Ali Kasim, EDITOR-IN-CHIEF | editor@mediumonline.ca www.mediumonline.ca

Matthew Filipowich - Photo and Composite Editor

EDITORIAL

Matthew Filipowich is a third-year Art and Art History specialist in photography and design. Matthew started his career at The Medium as assistant photo editor last year and is now the Photograpy Editor, Composite Editor, and half Webmaster. His fellow Mediumites think he looks like Josh Groban and often refer to him as the Renaissance Man for his uncanny ability to do anything and everything. In the next few years, Matthew hopes to be an up-and-coming photographer establising himself in the real world.

My main initiative this year was simple: get more students to pick up and read The Medium. Now I knew accessibility wasn’t the issue – The Medium is well- distributed around campus in all the major buildings. And as for content, well, we’re not in the business of publishing “hot” news just for the sake of readership. Now if we gained a profit every time an issue was picked up, I’d be all for that. But otherwise, it’s just not worth the trouble. Besides, aside from the slight mess they made with the APUS affair, UTMSU seems to so far, be colouring within the lines. I realized that what truly constituted to increased readership didn’t rest upon reading alone, but student involvement. Getting as many UTM students involved with the campus newspaper as possible, be it via volunteer writing, photography, etc. This is why I decided that The Medium needed a new direction, a new vision; we needed to expand. This initiative isn’t new by any means. Former editor-in-chief Julie Tyios had already spun the wheels in motion with the advent of Medium 2.0, the newspaper’s webcast. Last year saw the production of nine “online issues.” However, since the personnel in charge of the webcast left UTM, it has been difficult recruiting new volunteers to fill in the positions. We are still in the process of obtaining a videographer, a presenter, a video editor, and a podcast scripter. I urge all of you to consider these openings as opportunities to expand not just your resumes, but your university education as well. There is so much that I have learnt in my two years at The Medium; hands-on experience and knowledge worth more than three years of PWC and CCIT classes. In reference to the advertisement on page 5, we have just introduced a public photo pool for the all the hobbying and aspiring photographers on campus. Over the last three issues, eighty per cent of the photos published have been taken by our photo editor. And he’s not the only one on campus I’ve seen with an expensive camera around the neck. If you’ve just attended an event, spotted deer mating on campus, or think that the random photographs you take everyday are worth a mention, why not contribute what you’ve photographed. And add a little caption to go with it. We cannot guarantee submission, but at least you’ll be able to get your photos out there. In the next coming weeks, we also intend to kick-start The Medium Blog. For students who wish to get published, but don’t have anything newsworthy or article-like, this is the outlet they can use. Whether it’s random musings on university life, the goings-on at UTM, or especially feedback about the paper and its weekly content, just blog and contribute your thoughts. Remember, blogging is also a form of publishing. We are in the process of starting-up many things, branching out to as many different forms of media as possible. The goal is to be a large media resource for students. But all these initiatives depend much on you and your involvement. Remember, this is your campus. And as the campus newspaper, we are your voice. Yours,

Michael Di Leo - Arts & Entertainment Editor Michael Di Leo is a physics student currently in his second year at UTM. People seem to like him because he is polite and is rarely late. He likes to eat ice cream, and really enjoys a nice pair of slacks. Michael knows what you're thinking. And the answer is yes, he does have a nickname for his man parts. It's called The Octagon. But he has also nicknamed his testes. The left one is James Westfall, and the right one is Dr. Kenneth Noisewater. You ladies play your cards right, you might just get to meet the whole gang.

Chris Sa’d - Sports Editor With Chris's blue eyes and good looks, he is easily the best-looking editor at The Medium. He fills the sports section with redundant information and sloppy writing, but makes up for it by paying for everyone’s meal on Sunday. Chris has plans to completely revolutionize the Sports section, and to also give something back to the UTM community, despite his rageaholics anonymous meetings that The Medium pays for.

Andrew Hamilton-Smith - Features Editor Few possess the integrity and moral authority required to ask the hard questions on issues that face students here at UTM. Fortunately, The Medium was fortunate enough to attract the beguiling Philip Andrew Hamilton-Smith, a self-described Huguenot, who unflinchingly penetrates even the darkest intellectual chasms each week. If you happen to see Andrew walking around campus some time, make sure that you take the time to praise him, because his ego is particularly fragile and requires constant reassurance. Don’t point out his receding hairline, however, or he will quit.

Meredith Lilly - News Editor Meredith is a fourth year political science student. She likes music, coffee, and anyone who volunteers to write for her. Like many U of T students, Meredith was raised by Mennonites in Saskatchewan. She graduated four years early and went on to earn an associate diploma in piano performance before heading east. When she is not furthering her illustrious career, Meredith likes to spend time with her friends and admirers. Her dislikes include procrastinators and whiners. Her hobbies include procrastinating and whining. Her favorite things are Banksy, Yes (Prime) Minister, and comparing things to fascism.

Ali Kasim

Shelley Bahorie - Copy Editor Shelley has the tedious task of hunting for grammatical, spelling and formatting errors in the submissions from their elite team. She is currently pursuing her BA with honours in English Literature and Professional Writing and Communications at UTM. She hopes to one day work in Hollywood as a screenplay writer. Her interests include writing in her spare time, traveling, horseback riding and watching reruns of her favourite movies, such as Gone with the Wind, Reality Bites, Interview with the Vampire and Playing God.

Ali Kasim - Editor-in-Chief Ali Kasim has had to work hard to earn his place at The Medium. After years of massaging former EIC JulieTyios’s feet and buying her soy chai lattes, he’s finally risen up the ranks in the office. His favourite editor is Michael Di Leo and he is not afraid to admit or show it. By the end of the year, Ali hopes to achieve certain things: 26 successful issues of The Medium, graduation, entry to UBC’s graduate school for journalism, Shelley to go out with him, UTMSU to really like him, and Meredith to go out with him. His favourite quote is from a Persian prick who once asked in a deep voice, “Why am I not on the throw?”

So its matt here writing the blurb, 12:12 monday morning. We're actually doing pretty well for time, if it wasnt for ali who keeps loafting and hitting on shelly, it keeps going over her head though. Dont tell him I said that. He probably wont read this blurb anyways, hes too old and has bad eyes, so he can't see it. (this is me busting your balls ali) It was a pretty good week...very slow for news. But still pretty stressful, I fucked up the ads last issue, so I'm really nervous; they have to be perfect this week. Design 3 assignment is due tomorrow, really not looking forward to sitting through 7 hours for one class. Still havn't photoshopped the photos for that yet. I apoloize in advance if this blurb isn't exciting as the last few weeks. There's been no jamming of dicks up mothers bottoms, or chris' thumbs going up passerby's bottoms either. I guess there has been a dearth of suitable bottoms this week. If I fuck up the ads again though, there will be one less bottom for next issue. Andrew brought in a huge Jack Layton sign, and its sitting in our office. We're not exactly sure what hes going to do with it. We'll see. It's now 12:21. Everytime I close my eyes I see the Numa Numa kid dancing, its pretty fucked up. Time for me to go now. I'm back. Ali wants me to write more. Shelly says shes sorry because she didn't know about the fat boy. We forgive Shelly though. We've all had a time in our life when we didn't know about the fat boy. Back to the Numa Numa kid. He's my personal fatboy. Good night. Here’s Shelley: 1:18am Monday morning. I recently returned from trip from Cuba where I spent a relaxing 3-4 days on a sunny beach in Varedero. Other activities included horseback riding on the beach and an excursion into Havana. The other 3-4 days were spend hiding and preparing for IKE's aftermath. Now, I am back to my regular ol' routine . . .sigh. . .I need a vactaion . . .AGAIN! Ok, on to Ali who’s going to close this ma’fucker. Ali: Matthew is incredible. And Sam, you’re a good person. Did you see what i wrote about the fag? Julie, you and Saira should have dropped by. 23 issues left ma’fucker.

THE

MEDIUM 3359 Mississauga Road, Room 200, Student Centre, Mississauga, ON, L5L 1C6 Phone: 905.828.5260 | Fax: 905.828.5402 | Advertising: 905.828.5379 E-mail editor@mediumonline.ca | Website: www.mediumonline.ca

Board of Directors Christine Capewell, Jane Ngobia, Isa Cunanan, Raji Aujla, Laura Gaspini, Umeimah Bastaki, Bhagyashi Bhandakkar, Julie Tyios

Editor-in-Chief Ali Kasim

Composite Editor Matthew Filipowich

News Editor Meredith Lilly

Copy Editor Shelley Bahorie

Features Editor Andrew Hamilton-Smith

Distribution Manager Ali Kasim

Arts & Entertainment Editor Michael Di Leo

Business Manager Romano Bergic

Sports Editor Christopher Sa’d

Webmaster TBA

Photography Editor Matthew Filipowich

The Medium is looking for Assistant Editors for all four sections - News, Features, Arts, Sports. If you have been writing for us the past year or so, and want to be part of the team, let us know. Email your section editors or the Editor-in-chief with your cover letter, resume, and some writing samples.

THE MEDIUM 5

Monday, September 15, 2008

Arts & Entertainment MICHAEL DI LEO, EDITOR | arts@mediumonline.ca

photos/Ali Kasim

The folks behind the four-hour long Che. From left to right: Laura Bickford, Benicio Del Toro, and Steven Soderbergh.

Benicio explains his intepretation of Ernesto “Che” guevara.

Up close with “Che” ALI KASIM EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

Forget about the movies at the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF), every year I look forward to the press conferences; even if it means waiting outside the Queen Victoria Ballroom at the Sutton Place Hotel for a solid two hours. Because like Steven Soderbergh, who simply couldn’t “pass up on directing a movie about Ernesto “Che” Guevara,” I too could not let the opportunity to see him and Benicio Del Toro in person pass me by. And the reward for my long, tiresome wait last Wednesday afternoon: an obstructed, front-row seat, two metres away from the stage. “Benicio! Benicio!” exclaimed a photographer as he dashed in front of me and snapped furiously away at Che star Del Toro, director Soderbergh and producer Laura Bickford. At six-foot two, Del Toro was not hard for me to try and get a snap of, although I did have to stand on a chair for height advantage. Sporting a dark grey jacket and the same eye bags from Traffic, Del Toro was a serene picture, never saying too much or too little, and never with too much emotion. In a way, similar to how he portrayed the Argentine revolutionary, a role he was always under pressure to perform even before day one of shooting. “I remember in an airport in Buenos Aires, people were coming up to me and saying, ‘Oh that Che film, that was great,’ and we hadn’t even shot the first scene yet. So it was a lot of pressure right from the start,” recalls Del Toro. But why did he feel it had to be him in the title role? “Why not?” the actor replied. “There are other actors who could make an interpretation of Che. I just got lucky. But I’ve always been a fan of the underdog. Che had elements of that. He stayed positive, never quitting. He never really quit, and I liked taking on that.” Other actors have actually interpreted Che Guevara, including Gael Garcia Bernal, who portrayed a “young Che” in the 2004 film, Motorcycle Diaries. Asked if had seen the film and drew any form of inspiration from it, Del Toro remarked, “I did see it. I liked it. And I think it goes to show that you can do ten movies about

Che Guevara – that’s the person and the symbol that he is.” “In many people’s minds, they have already seen the movie they’d like to see of Che. This is just ours,” chimed in Soderbergh. “We wanted to know why this iconic Korda image [the famous photograph of Guevara by photographer Alberto Korda] is still plastered on everything from t-shirts to coffee mugs to tote bags.” So is he banking on the people who don the “Che t-shirts” to watch the film? “I hope everyone sees it; for whatever reason. And I hope that when there people see the film, at some points they’ll go, ‘Oh, I didn’t know that.’ This goes back to the research we did. We were always excited when we found out something that didn’t fit with

what we had found before.” Along with producer Laura Bickford, Soderbergh and Del Toro embarked on a “research tour” of several years all across Latin America. Bickford, who began planning and researching for the film seven years ago remarked that it was an epic process. “We kept learning different things; there were so many different ways to go about it. And then we just had to stop somewhere and take what we had and go with it.” But when did Del Toro decide he had enough to finally “become” Che? “Before we began [filming], Steven said it was impossible to play him, but that we were going to try. And that was a liberating process. I researched photos, books, and interviews, but at some point, I had to throw it all away. And with Steven shooting so fast, you just

have to trust yourself and use your interpretation. So it’s kind of like ‘pack your bags, and don’t worry if you lose them.’” At the festival, Che, a 262-minute film (four hours and 22 minutes), was divided into two parts, with a special full screening of the film on the last day of the fest. Upon its official theatrical release later this year, the film will be screened for a limited period of time, as one full-length feature. Following that, it will be split into two parts. “When we started filming, it was only a two-hour film about Che in Bolivia. But as we researched, Bolivia without the context of Cuba didn’t work. And then suddenly overnight, it was two films – Cuba and Bolivia,” explains Soderbergh. “My attitude at the end was that this wasn’t so unusual.

They did this in some films forty years ago. Some books are 180 pages, some are 650 pages.” Both Soderbergh and Del Toro were guarded when asked to comment on the current political situation in Latin America. But Soderbergh did admit he would love for former Cuban president Fidel Castro, whose character is majorly portrayed in the film, to see the film. “I heard when he watches a film, he pauses at certain points so he can have a discussion for a while with the person he’s watching the movie with, and then he’ll start the movie again. Sometimes it will take him many, many hours to watch a two-hour film,” Soderbergh revealed. “I’m trying to imagine how long it would take him to get through this one, because obviously he’s going to have a lot to talk about.”

6 THE MEDIUM

Monday, September 15, 2008

ARTS

The style sartorialist CORBAN CONSALES Hello, all of my sartorially curious schoolmates. After the excitement and confusion of the first week of classes, it is time to hunker down and focus on more serious issues. On that note, we begin your education in style. Some of you may have noticed the change in the foliage or perhaps the chill in the air and this can only mean one thingâ&#x20AC;Śautumn is around the corner. With the trees shedding their leaves it is time to shed our own summer threads for something that is more seasonally appropriate. So say goodbye to your shorts and t-shirt and welcome the cozy embrace of sweaters, long shirts, knit goods and all stylish items that will keep you toasty warm on those chilly autumn days. Your training will start with a brief look at Haute Couture Fashion focusing on men this week and women in the next edition (because I think men need much more helpâ&#x20AC;Śsorry fellas). HAUTE COUTURE In the seemingly bizarre world of Haute Couture, fall comes in early summer with all of the top designers

and fashion houses introducing their autumn collections months before the season actually starts. However, there is meaning to this madness. Couturier fashion is one of the major influences for upcoming style trends. When all of us â&#x20AC;&#x153;normalâ&#x20AC;? people start thinking of autumn, the trends have already been set and are easily accessible at our favorite stores. For men, this season, many prominent designers have focused in on a few very interesting and unique themes. One direction in style is what I like to call â&#x20AC;&#x153;British-American Classicsâ&#x20AC;?. This trend takes many of its cues from the trim lines of clothing worn by men in England and the United States in the 1950s and very early 60â&#x20AC;&#x2122;s (think of the hit TV series â&#x20AC;&#x153;Mad Menâ&#x20AC;? set in a time just before the introduction of flared pants, ugly plaids and putrid yellows, browns and oranges) and combines them with more modern and current details like a narrower cut of pants, flat fronts, and an uninhibited use of rich colours and funky patterns. As you may expect, the designers at the forefront of this comeback are the masters of classical American and British attire. Ralph Lauren, Tom Ford and brands like Brooks Brothers and Dunhill have all made

tremendous contributions to the revival and reconstruction of the style. Ralph Lauren has used the look as the stylistic template for both his ultra luxurious â&#x20AC;&#x153;Purple Labelâ&#x20AC;? as well as his more casual â&#x20AC;&#x153;POLO Ralph Laurenâ&#x20AC;? line. Similarly, Tom Ford has a very bold collection this fall of classic suits that have been mated with exaggerated patterning in an artful and successful attempt to master the style. However, something of even greater interest is that many designers known for more extreme approaches are embracing this trend as well. Dolce Gabbana and Junya Watanabe have jumped on the bandwagon by trying their hand at adding quirky twists to traditional pieces. The runways of Paris and Milan are being dominated with a look that has its foundations on the wrong side of the channel and the trendsetters are taking note. Although many of the examples listed above deal with formal attire, the beauty of this trend is that its can be applied to all levels of dress. This classic style doesnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t only work with suits and sport coats but can easily be incorporated in to what you wear on a daily basis, as you will see below.

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STYLE TIPS So what do you have when you combine the sharp details of yesterday, sans pleats and excess fabric? The answer is a style that truly works for men today. However, how do you go about executing the look for everyday dress? The first step is to avoid getting overly caught up with examples from haute couture. You must remember that it will only be used as a loose stylistic guide. THE LOOK Shirts: One mustnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t fear wearing a button down shirt. I can sense that many of you sweat at the thought, but a â&#x20AC;&#x153;dressshirtâ&#x20AC;? doesnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t have to be dressy at all. To keep things relaxed, go for an oxford shirt (a shirt with button down collar) with a little bit of a tailored cut. Even you bigger guys should opt for a slimmer cut shirt because it will reduce some of the visual bulk that a baggy and poorly fitted dress shirt often creates. Many shirts today are designed to be worn untucked, but if it isnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t, tuck it in. You arenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t a child anymore and the ability to wear a tucked in shirt proves so. Pants: With pants there are few options. For a real traditionalist, a pair of dark khakis with a straight or slim cut will do great (not your fatherâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s double pleated parachute pants). Another route, and one that I am personally fond of, is dark or â&#x20AC;&#x153;Selvage Denimâ&#x20AC;?. This dark unwashed denim is the new trend for jeans and flows very well with the â&#x20AC;&#x153;classicâ&#x20AC;? theme. Rolling up the cuffs can also be done in moderation, but keep it narrow to make it sleek. Outerwear: With the fall breeze you will also need something to take the chill off your back. If it is mild enough, go with a button down cardigan in grey or brown. Sewn on emblems are also acceptable, if they are your cup of tea. On colder days, reach for a traditional

photo/Dolce&Gabbana.com

A Dolce&Gabbana model decked in the newest trends. duffel coat or a slim pea coat to keep you warm. Shoes: In Japan it is often said, â&#x20AC;&#x153;you judge a man by his shoesâ&#x20AC;?. Footwear is one of the most important parts of a functional manâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s wardrobe. Stick with leather to pull off the 50â&#x20AC;&#x2122;s classic look. A dress shoe with a narrow toe in anything but black is perfect. Loafers or driving shoes also work very well. Even if you donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t have a yacht, you can still wear boating shoes as long as it is the traditional â&#x20AC;&#x153;Sperry Top Siderâ&#x20AC;?. (The â&#x20AC;&#x153;Gold Cupâ&#x20AC;? edition with high tech soles are bulky and should only be worn if you fully intend to sail to class---best of luck). Accessories: Go easy on the man jewellery. A watch with a leather band is perfect for the wrist. Although the trend for suits is to avoid belts, that is not the case with this style. The belt should match the shoes in colour. If you have glasses, stick with tortoise shell (faux shell obviously) with a rounder frame. For sunglasses, a frame similar to the classic â&#x20AC;&#x153;Ray Ban Wayfarerâ&#x20AC;? is perfect.

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â&#x20AC;&#x153;Slim Trouser Jean - 511â&#x20AC;? by Levis and Available at us.levi.com ($69.50 USD)

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photos courtesy of respective retailers

THE MEDIUM

Monday, September 15, 2008

Features ANDREW HAMILTON SMITH-EDITOR | features@mediumonline.ca

Private manipulation of public media ANDREW HAMILTON-SMITH FEATURES EDITOR When I took on this job as Features Editor earlier this year, I opened my email for the first time to discover a large number of press releases from various think tanks and media organizations (in addition to an unfathomable amount of spam). Some of the releases seemed odd to me, in that they did not explicitly quote an author, even though they advised me that “all content on troymedia.com, including the following column, is free to use”. How nice of them to send me free articles, I thought. How very kind and generous. I didn’t think anything more of these e-mails until I began to notice certain trends in the topics they were promoting: “Dr. Tim Ball deconstructs global warming” and “Canada West Foundation supports Prime Minister Harper’s energy strategy”. Intrigued, I read on, curious to see what substance and arguments these articles might offer. I was surprised to see that Dr. Tim Ball of the Frontier Centre for Public Policy is not actually questioning global warming per se, but rather the approach that the media takes in presenting the topic to the public. The Canada West Foundation, I learned, is a “leading source of strategic insight, conducting and communicating nonpartisan economic and public policy”, despite their glowing support for

Prime Minister Harper. To some, this may seem benign. Nobody is forcing the media to report these stories which may be technically correct, but communicate distorted messages to the public. What’s the harm? But consider for a moment the post-9/11 nature of the news media industry – 24 hour per day coverage means reporters face an increasing number of deadlines with a decreasing amount of time to research them. Under stress, what reporter wouldn’t lift the bulk of a “free content” article that was conveniently emailed to him? In An Inconvenient Truth, Al Gore

These companies deliberately fed misinformation to the public, via the media, with the intent to confuse. describes how cigarette companies paid doctors to produce reports critical of those that linked cancer and smoking. These companies deliberately fed misinformation to the public, via the media, with the intent to confuse. “Confusion is our product,” says a cigarette company’s corporate strategy report, offered by Gore to support his claims. He points out that people today are similarly confused about global warming: in 800 peerreviewed scientific journals in the last 50

years, global warming has not been questioned even once, and yet in 1,000 public media stories over the same time, it was questioned 53% of the time. In fact, Dr. Tim Ball would seem to fit into that 53% category quite nicely. So do companies deliberately mislead the public? Apparently so. PRwatch.org reports that the Frontiers of Freedom (FF) recently established the Centre for Science and Public Policy in order to alert policy makers and the public of “unreliable scientific claims and unjustified alarmism” in a way that is “nonprofit [and] non-partisan”. The FF’s website reveals that in the last five years alone, ExxonMobil has invested $617,000 in the think tank. ExxonMobil has, in fact, spent millions of dollars on a broad “public information and policy research” campaign, including $6.4 million in 2004 alone. Clearly, the supporters of the Frontiers of Freedom are neither non-profit nor non-partisan, and it is worth asking what these think tanks are publishing that is so valuable to companies like ExxonMobil. Think tanks like the Brookings Institute and the Heritage Foundation are well-known for promoting a politically right-wing point of view. It was interesting to me that Dr. Ball’s Frontier Centre for Public Policy has a link on its website to the Heritage Foundation. These organizations are a mainstay of the news media in both Canada and the United States, providing reports and white

Stories are sent to editors and reporters who are under pressure to sell stories. papers that are used to explain “both sides” of an argument by journalists. The problem is, with a topic like global warming, there is no “other side” of the argument. Scientists may debate small details like how quickly the earth is warming or what the ultimate effect on the earth will be, but the fact that increasing CO2 levels are warming the earth to unprecedented levels is not in dispute. Another prominent think tank is the American Enterprise Institute (AEI), which advocates privatizing everything from social security to health care. Like the Brookings, Heritage and Cato think tanks, the AEI is funded largely by corporate sponsors and by private individual donors, who regularly make contributions which range in the millions of dol-

lars. As an example of the value of these pro-corporate think tanks, the Heritage Foundation alone “had a budget of $37 million in 2004 – which is larger than that of the combined funding of the largest ‘progressive’ think tanks”, according to PRwatch.org. Think tanks – of all ideologies – are “a way in which media outlets and politicians can outsource the time-consuming business of research and independent thinking”. The only problem with that is the general public relies upon the media and politicians to be unbiased, to represent the common good, not the selfish interests of the few.

Continued on page 10

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8 THE MEDIUM

PICKERING Pickering Town Centre 1355 Kingston Rd. (905) 420-0744 611 Kingston Rd. (905) 831-9557 1899 Brock Rd. (905) 686-6558 RICHMOND HILL Hillcrest Mall 9350 Yonge St., Unit Z2 (905) 770-4433 10 West Pearce St., Bldg. B (905) 731-7318 Times Square Mall 550 Hwy. 7 E., Unit A1 (905) 882-8668 1480 Major Mackenzie Dr. E., Unit C3-3 (905) 737-8737 9196 Yonge St. (905) 764-0310 9737 Yonge St., Unit 211 (905) 770-1010 10720 Yonge St., Unit 102 (905) 884-9558 10755 Leslie St., Unit 5 (416) 221-8111 x2 SCARBOROUGH 1448 Lawrence Ave. E. (416) 757-1666 2555 Victoria Park Ave. (647) 258-0267 2650 Lawrence Ave. E., Unit 2B (416) 755-8977 411 Kennedy Rd. (416) 266-7727 x1 4438 Sheppard Ave. E., Unit 107 (416) 642-8888 1291 Kennedy Rd. (416) 752-9655 3300 Midland Ave., Unit 40 (416) 332-8383 19 Milliken Blvd., Unit U (416) 299-6006 5095 Sheppard Ave. E. (416) 646-2146 Woodside Square 1571 Sandhurst Circle, Unit 502K (416) 609-3200 5661 Steeles Ave. E., Unit 5 (416) 298-8821 1900 Eglinton Ave. East, Unit E5A (416) 266-7727 x3 665 Markham Road, Unit 5 (416) 266-7727 x4 THORNHILL Shops on Steeles 2900 Steeles Ave. E., Unit 38 (905) 482-3866 Promenade Mall 1 Promenade Circle, Unit 180 (905) 482-2733 31 Disera Drive, Unit 140 (905) 882-9777 TORONTO 1854 Danforth Ave. (416) 425-9000 471 Eglinton Ave. W. (416) 485-2757 2400 Bloor St. W. (416) 760-7450 919 Bay St. (416) 657-4400 2266 Eglinton Ave. W. (416) 784-4151 2397 Yonge St. (416) 489-2255 604 Bloor St. W. (416) 533-1656 548 Church St. (416) 644-9094 Dufferin Mall 900 Dufferin St. (416) 588-6668 421 Dundas St. W., Unit G8 (416) 351-0888 1451 Dundas St. W. (416) 588-8989 Dragon City Mall 280 Spadina Ave. (416) 979-8350 939 Eglinton Ave. E., Unit 106 (416) 467-9800 Gerrard Square 1000 Gerrard St. E. (416) 466-8200 662 King Street W. (416) 628-4000 228 Queens Quay W., Unit 3 (416) 971-9700 1821 Queen St. E. (416) 406-2355 2 St. Clair Ave. E. (416) 934-1313 1268 St. Clair Ave. W. (416) 652-2288 1350 St. Clair Ave. W. (416) 651-2000 2200 Yonge St., Unit 104 (416) 322-9079 154 University Ave., Suite 101 (416) 506-0809 9A Yorkville Ave. (416) 921-7559 386 Sheppard Ave. E. (416) 512-0012 525 University Ave. (416) 640-5998 55 Chauncey Ave. (416) 231-5310 272 Danforth Ave. W. (416) 461-1010 UXBRIDGE 11 Brock St. West (905) 862-2100 VAUGHAN 1600 Steeles Ave. W., Unit 30 (905) 695-1061 WHITBY 25 Thickson Rd. N. (905) 433-0701 WILLOWDALE Centerpoint Mall 6236 Yonge St. (416) 512-8800 WOODBRIDGE 5317 Hwy. 7, Unit 2 (905) 266-0003 200 Whitmore Rd., Unit 9 (905) 850-8505

ETOBICOKE Cloverdale Mall (416) 231-5973 Woodbine Centre (416) 798-0229 MARKHAM Markville Mall (905) 940-6510 NEWMARKET Upper Canada Mall (905) 853-1462 OAKVILLE 240 Leighland Ave., Unit 208B (905) 815-8871 OSHAWA Oshawa Centre (905) 571-6663 SCARBOROUGH Scarborough Town Centre (416) 296-9160 TORONTO Toronto Eaton Centre Kiosk (416) 977-7555 Bloor West (647) 426-4737 The Exchange Tower (416) 603-7979 Toronto Eaton Centre (416) 351-1522 Yorkdale Shopping Centre (416) 783-0675 1 Yorkdale Rd., Unit 180 (416) 785-6216 Vaughan Mills 8960 Jane St., Unit 108 (905) 760-8157

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Monday, September 15, 2008

THE MEDIUM 9

FEATURES

Creative Corner: Jared - Part 2 The first installment of Jared ran on September 2; the final part will appear next week NILS BLONDON How much time elapsed, I’ll never know. Ten minutes? An hour? I awoke with a headache, stunned and unaware of my surroundings, but otherwise unscathed. I twisted the key in the ignition: no response. The car was lifeless. No one had come to my rescue. “Thank God I’m still alone,” I thought. Not alive, but alone. The road was silent, devoid of any activity. Not a single concerned passer-by surveying the scene. No ambulance. Serenity in a scene of chaos makes for a jarring juxtaposition. The silence reminded me of my home when I’d pace the halls past midnight at the mercy of relentless thought. Jared, why do you stay up all night thinking? My feet were soaked; foul-smelling water had leaked through the crevices of the doorframe and drenched the upholstery. I had to get out. There was no time for police, no time for convoluted reports and long phone calls to family. The car would be left in that ditch, until the tow trucks converged on the steel corpse like vultures with electric red eyes and metal hooks for beaks. I snatched my few possessions from the back and lifted myself from the driver’s seat. Opening the door, I stepped into a foot of ditch water and trudged to the gravel shoulder of the highway. I looked down at the Civic, then to the highway: still not a single vehicle. Could I hitch hike? Anonymity was conducive to my search. No one could know. I had little money. What I did have was for food, and possibly liquor (or whatever else I could find). Although now, I thought, without the vehicle, the money rationed for gas could be used to buy a bus ticket. Maybe not, too much risk of seeing a familiar face on the bus; slim chance, maybe, but…no. I would hitchhike. I had never seen one in my travels; a “hitchhiker.” The idea was outdated, antiquated. Something that intrepid youth did in the 50’s and 60’s, before society was made privy to the anarchy and sickness of human lust. I was assimilated with this ill society. What did I have to fear? Raising my thumb and slowly meandering down the road, I walked, gaze-facing traffic. Eyes like that of a mannequin. The gap between me and the Civic’s steel corpse increased steadily. As I continued on, I could see the vultures swoop in on the vehicle, racing past me, police right behind them. No one stopped me. To them, I was no more than a homeless hitchhiker, with no fixed destination, bereft of friends or family. In a way, this was true. A pick-up truck’s sullen yellow headlights eventually appeared in the murky grey distance. The vehicle passed me, casting a momentary shadow over my body before zipping along the highway. But then something odd happened: it pulled over and stopped not more than 100 feet from where I stood. A driver stuck his head out of the window. “This is unbelievable, this maniac is actually picking up a hitchhiker,” I said aloud. “HALLO,” the driver hollered from his truck as if calling for a stray dog. “DO YOU NEED A RIDE?” I jogged to the truck. “Yes, please. I’m going to Montreal.”

“Good, so am I.” The driver wore a grimy, frayed Montreal Expos hat. His face was round and flushed, a golden lock of greasy hair shot down his forehead; he was probably no older then 35, but looked nearly 50. We stared at each other for a moment in disbelief. “Well, I guess you should get in,” he finally said. “Is that how this works?” I waited for laughter. It never came. “Uh, yeah, hop in.” I raised myself into the truck with difficulty. I was never athletic, nor well-built for any activity of a physical nature. The cab was surprisingly fragrant; a scent of air fresheners and new upholstery permeated the stale air. Maybe I was expecting the stench of native cigarettes and pauper’s whiskey. We pulled off the shoulder, and the truck gained momentum, moving steadily down the Devil’s Highway. The driver gave me a puzzled look. “Wow, a hitchhiker,” he said to no one in particular. “I thought hitchhikers only existed in movies and bad books.”

“What a nightmare. I’d be amazed if whoever was in that car survived.” Had I actually survived? There was no way to be entirely sure. I didn’t reply. “Shit, did you see that wreck back there in the ditch?” inquired the driver. Without hesitation, I nodded my head. “What a nightmare. I’d be amazed if whoever was in that car survived.” Had I actually survived? There was no way to be entirely sure. We drove unconsciously, exchanging fragments of pointless information about ourselves. Everything I said about myself was a lie, but I assumed the trucker spoke the truth. He seemed like a lonely and unlucky man: freshly divorced father of two, lived in Scarborough, apparently on his way to Montreal to visit relatives. He was unemployed and looking for work. Nothing he said resonated in me: I just didn’t care. The truck moved at an irritable pace. I had grown accustomed to the frenetic speed of the Civic. “Can’t we go any faster?” I said. The driver—his name escapes me— looked shocked. “Faster?” An insipid look came across his face. I despised the appearance of this man. “Not a chance. I have two points left on my license, not about to lose them.” My frustration came to a head. “Well, you’re driving fuckin’ slow.” I paused, the anger building in me. “One hundred kilometers per hour? What the fuck is that? Are you elderly or something?” The invisible barrier between the driver and I shattered. He looked back, face twice as red as before. “Ha, what?” his eyebrows raised, his nostrils flared. The truck screeched to the side of the highway in an instant. I was thrust violently forward in my seat. Cars behind us honked and passed. “GET OUT,” demanded the driver. Beads of sweat glistened on his face. Jared, get out of the car, don’t worry, just get out...I’ll be back. There was no resistance, no struggle. He was enraged by my request to pick up the pace. I had no fight for him, I was saving that. Abiding by his

request, I stepped out of the truck and onto the crunchy, battered gravel. The truck screeched away and barreled out of sight down the 401. Once again I was alone. My life was led in isolation. I enjoyed the mystery of being a recluse. Walking on the side of the road again, I attempted to gather my bearings. We had driven in the truck for what seemed like hours. I glanced at my watch. The hands rested inert on the clock-face; it was broken. Forever stuck at 10:20 a.m. Maybe it had been less than an hour? Had I even been in the truck? Was I even alive? In an instant, everything seemed surreal. The deathly calm of the roadway, the green, littered hills on either side of me, the sun overhead. I walked until I came upon another truck stop. I noticed a motel, with a bar attached. Convenient. Taking slow strides to the bar I reached into my pants and took out my wallet. I looked up and saw “Nappanee Motorist Stop” on a wind-bleached, yellow and red sign looming over me. A tomb for the living: the motor stop stank of the world’s indecency. Pariah truckers hunched over bottles of Labatt Dry, complete with wrinkled smirks and contemptuous banter. The paint on the walls was cracked, spreading like cobwebs and festooning the walls from corner to corner. I swore I heard the spiders mocking me from the comfort of silken webs. Pulling a stool from the grips of the Formica bar, I sat wondering what would be next. What was the next motion in this farce? I eyed the bartender—a lifeless, desultory old man, who had given up on life years ago— and called for his service. “Hi,” I said. My voice echoed through the void of the bar, causing the ghosts to lift their heads and stare in my direction. The bartender’s glassy eyes met mine. “Can I get a Blue please, in a bottle?” The old man made no acknowledge-

ment of my order, but proceeded to trudge towards the icebox. He removed one frosted bottle of Blue. Popping the cap from the bottle, he slid it down the bar. It stopped abruptly in front of me as if an invisible hand had blocked it from going any further. Crazy. “Thanks,” I said nonchalantly, nodding my head in gratitude. I lifted the bottle to my lips and chugged with the fervor of a baby sucking its mother’s breast. The beer instantly cooled my throat, temporarily easing my anxieties. “GENTELMEN, HOW GOES IT?” A gravelly, liquor-weathered voice pervaded the motor stop. The dithering crash of the bar door boomed in the

“Well, SAM, you’re in luck. I just got paid and I got some days off, so fuck everything. Let’s DRINK!” I couldn’t remember the last time I heard anyone sound so excited about anything. wake of his greeting. I spun in my seat, startled and seeking to put a face to this voice. “Hey Tim!” he shouted to the bartender, who turned a worried look towards the staggering, half-drunk patron. “Two Canadians, one for me, and one for this tired looking young buck at the bar!” I was that “tired looking” young buck. I observed my new friend as he ambled over to me. He had the same ruddy skin as all the locals, and wore grease-lathered clothes. A distinct pungency—the combination of both aging beer and car oil—followed him through the bar. The kind of smell that said, This is my life, and this is who I am. Now, leave me to rot. He reached for a stool, ripped it away from the bar, and took an emphatic seat next to me.

“A toast!” he said, and passed me a beer to join the other that sat in front of me. He took a long, exhausting draught. “So, bucko, what’s your name?” he asked me, wiping the beer that dripped from his whiskered lips. I was taken back. Should I tell him my real name, or opt for secrecy? “Sam,” I said. “Sam, eh? Good name…well Sam, I hope you’re in the mood for drinking.” Fortunately, I was. My paternity search would have to be put on hold for just a moment. “Sure, if you don’t mind buying,” I half-joked. “Well, SAM, you’re in luck. I just got paid and I got some days off, so fuck everything. Let’s DRINK!” I couldn’t remember the last time I heard anyone sound so excited about anything. We sat at the bar until the sun was long gone. His name was Jay, and he was a mechanic, alcoholic, and single. He told me that he resided a few blocks from the stop across the highway. Jay was enthralled by my every word. Where was I from? How old was I? And most importantly, how did I end up at this bar? I told him I was from Mississauga, and was on summer break from college. I was on my way to see my girlfriend at her university in Montréal, and had stopped to get drunk. I had no car—this was the single truth that I gave Jay. I had to make a point to remember that my name was Sam. Heavily intoxicated now, Jay ran out of cash. Being drunk and without care, I offered to buy the next round, but he refused me. Said that he had liquor at his house, and I could stay the night if I wanted. I accepted his offer. He paid the tab and we left. Walking away, I took a moment to look back at the Motor stop. Nearly all the lights were burnt out on the sign. The lights that still worked read, “No Stop.” If only I had heeded that advice.

Tomorrow’s Professionals Apply Today!

Apply Online! OMSAS

www.ouac.on.ca/omsas/ Ontario Medical School Application Service

September 15, 2008: Last day to register for online applications October 1, 2008: Application deadline

www.ouac.on.ca/olsas/ OLSAS Ontario Law School Application Service November 3, 2008: Application deadline – First year May 1, 2009: Application deadline – Upper year

TEAS

www.ouac.on.ca/teas/ Teacher Education Application Service November 28, 2008: Application deadline

www.ouac.on.ca/orpas/ ORPAS Ontario Rehabilitation Sciences Programs Application Service (Audiology, Occupational Therapy, Physical Therapy/Physiotherapy, Speech-Language Pathology)

January 9, 2009: Application deadline

170 Research Lane Guelph ON N1G 5E2 www.ouac.on.ca

10 THE MEDIUM

Monday, September 15, 2008

FEATURES

Creating confusion Breaking down cultural barriers in the public mind SUVRAT BARAR

Continued from page 7

By relying upon think tanks to back up news stories, media outlets have left themselves open to manipulation by those same groups. If you are using a think tank to check a story, how do you check the story of the think tank? It quickly becomes confusing, and in the end, media outlets end up printing a lot of questionable material. Media is a very competitive industry, and selling newspapers (or e-news) is the name of the game – and a controversial headline sells papers, true or not. Politicians are exposed to manipulation as well, by depending upon think tanks to guide their policy decisions. As PRwatch.org notes, “much of [think tank’s] effectiveness comes from their willingness to eschew the cautiousness and caveats of traditional academic work”, taking complex issues and breaking them down to a simple and catchy idea. Privatization is one such issue – if done right, the process of government can be made more efficient by turning certain functions over to the private sector. However, all of the think tanks listed in this article – without exception – support the wholesale privatization of most or all government services, even including the military. As another example, the Heritage Foundation describes Kyoto as being “horribly flawed”, but neglects to mention that it has received many large donations from companies such as ExxonMobil. Can this foundation be trusted to provide unbiased information when one of its sponsors directly profits from denying global

warming? Far from being a hopeless situation, this “assault on reason” (as Mr. Gore has coined the term) simply requires that consumers and voters become smarter and more educated. By absorbing and believing everything read in the media, one will invariably come to hold many false beliefs: surely Descartes would not approve. However, to do the opposite – holding everything as being untrue – is an equally flawed approach. For every think tank that finds a way to promote the private interest, there is another think tank publishing factual reports that are

By relying upon think tanks to back up news stories, media outlets have left themselves open to manipulation. If you are using a think tank to check a story, how do you check the story of the think tank? beneficial for the public good. The key lies in being able to distinguish between what is true and what is false, and this unfortunately requires a great deal of research and critical thinking. Rather than giving up, throwing up our hands in exasperation, we must work harder still to understand the reality of our world. Only then will we, the people, have the power to direct our society towards salvation.

Imagine yourself preparing for life in a new land. You take all the necessary language courses, learn as much as you can about the local culture and even study maps of the place. You’ll soon realize that reading about the country in books isn’t the same as actually being there. You find that your classmates use words and phrases that you have never heard before and dress in ways dramatically different from what you are used to. Once you’re there, no matter how much you have prepped yourself, you begin to feel alienated and alone. Fitting in is harder than you anticipated. For a handful of UTM students, this is their reality. Making new friends and acclimatizing to new surroundings is never easy, and it’s certainly much harder when you have large cultural barriers in between. To help new students from a variety of cultures adjust to life at UTM, and Canada in general, the International Student Resource Centre (ISRC) organizes a Speak Easy program to expose international students to slang and common phrases in a comfortable and friendly environment. The program was conceived by Jane Ngobia, equity, diversity and leadership resource officer at UTM in 2006. “Speak Easy was developed out of the perceived need presented by UTM international students,” Ngobia explains. “For example, an eraser is called a rubber in some parts of the world. When my little sister went to the convenience store and asked for a rubber, everyone around her wondered why an eleven year-old girl would ask for a rubber. She was frustrated and embarrassed when she learnt that a rubber means something else in Canada, and as a result she was reluctant to converse with confi-

dence, even though her English is quite good. Stories such as these made me realize that there is a need to create an environment where international students and new Canadians can engage in conversations relating to cultural shock and how they are dealing with it in a friendly and non-threatening manner.” With time, the program has evolved to include Canadian etiquette and more. “It is designed to help International Students and new Canadians familiarize themselves with uniquely Canadian expressions and gain better understanding of the same,” adds Ngobia. “Speak easy is crucial to breaking down the tension that exists between different cultures. It is a place where people are not judged and can talk comfortably. In addition, we learn about the Canadian culture,” comments Subin Yoo, a participant from last year. Vania Tse, who was also involved last year, found it helped to “strengthen the sense of belonging, because it was hard to get along with other students due to different cultures.” She made some good friends through the Speak Easy, including Subin, and after getting involved in the ISRC, she has found a place where she feels she “belongs”.

While many other universities offer ESL classes to students, few take this additional step of directly injecting new students into the pre-existing culture at the school. By doing this, the ISRC hopes to develop stronger ties among international students and Canadian students. This program is different than any other because it offers to teach the Canadian slang through a hands-on approach. In addition, it promises a chance to cultivate new friendships. This program runs throughout the school year and unlike other programs it is free to all UTM students. It is a lot of fun and encourages participants to showcase their talents. As Vania recalls, one of the most memorable moments was when a Mexican student played a song that he had written in his own language for them. Another interesting exercise was having each student tell the story of Cinderella in their own language. The speak-easy program is open to all international students. It is held every week at 4 pm on Friday, starting September 19 in room 2068B. For more information, please visit: http://www.utm.utoronto.ca/international/ programs/spaek/speak.html.

photo/Matthew Filipowich

Subin Yoo and Vania Tse participated in the Speak Easy last year.

ERINDALE COLLEGE COUNCIL The council of Erindale College, also known as the University of Toronto at Mississauga (UTM), exercises its powers and dutes under the University of Toronto Act, 1971, as amended. NOMINATIONS ARE OPEN FOR THE FOLLOWING POSITIONS: Full-time undergraduate students - 50 positions available Part-time undergraduate students - 14 positions available Administrative Staff (non-academic staff other than department heads) - 8 positions available Nominations may be sumbitted through the Council Website: http://www.utm.utoronto.ca/council/ Questions about the nominations? Contact: 828-5357 / devin.kreuger@utoronto.ca

NOMINATION PERIOD for ECC membership: September 8 to 19, 2008, 12:00 Noon Elections*: September 26, 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. Nominating Period for Standing Committee membership for students and adminstrative staff: October 3 to 10, 2008, 12:00 Noon; For faculty: September 8 to 19, 2008, 12:00 Noon. Elections if necessary*: Friday, October 17, 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. For available positions of standing committees and more information, please visit the above website *If the number of nominations exceeds the number of available positions

THE MEDIUM 11

Monday, September 15, 2008

Sports CHRISTOPHER SA’D, EDITOR | sports@mediumonline.ca

UTM and OHL are both in it together Two defensemen from the Mississauga St. Michael Majors look forward to more than just playing in the NHL KYLE WHITNEY

With the school year underway for the University of Toronto at Mississauga (UTM), some students have a little more than test and exams to worry about for the upcoming year. Michael McGurk and Cameron Gaunce are your average UTM students, they attend classes, write tests and hand in projects. But unlike the majority of UTM students, they have a little more responsibility on their plate, like playing for the Ontario

Hockey League’s (OHL), Mississauga St. Michael Majors. McGurk and Gaunce’s number one priority is their education but because they are also committed to playing with the Majors, being able to balance straight A’s and hockey practice are two things that are very important for both players. “It’s pretty tough, but if you manage your time it’s not that bad. I’ll wake up, go to class and once class is over, I workout then go to practice. I’ll be home by five to start my homework or study for a test,” says McGurk, born in Hamilton, Ontario.

photos/Matthew Filipowich

Mike McGurk (number 7) in a competitive pre-season camp at the Hershey Centre communty rinks.

A six-foot-two, 197-pound defensemen, McGurk is a quick and agile defensemen for his size and isn’t afraid to go into the corners and throw his body around. In the 2007/2008 season he had eight assists and was a plus nine in 55 games – a leader in the Majors’ dressing room. At UTM, McGurk is taking Social Sciences and wants to enroll in Geography and Philosophy classes to broaden his horizons for other future possibilities. “UTM treats me really well and they accommodate me really well for school, which was a big part in me coming here,” says McGurk. Cameron Gaunce, a bluchipper defensemen, is also in his first year at UTM. In the 2008 NHL Entry Draft, the Colorado Avalanche selected him with their second round first pick (50th overall). “It was unbelievable, and still is now. It was something I’ve been trying to achieve my whole life, and when it actually came true I couldn’t quite grasp it at first. It was kind of surreal,” says Gaunce of his draft selection. Gaunce is a six-foot-one, 203pound defensemen, who models his game after Robyn Regher, Calgary Flames blue liner. “I have a little more offence, but I like to hit and throw my weight around, even get into a fight or two,” says Gaunce. At UTM Gaunce is taking Intro to Economics and Intro to Psychology and in second semester he will be taking Political Science, so handling the day-to-day workload at school will be an adjustment for him. “I don’t know how I am going to handle it, I have never been in three

Cameron Gaunce (white) wrestling for the puck during pre-season camp. hour lectures, but I’ve always considered education to be very important to me. UTM is a very big deal to me and I’m going to take school just as seriously as hockey,” says Gaunce. When asked about his first year at UTM Gaunce answered, “I’m looking forward to it and I have a lot of help from my teammates and academic advisors.” The Majors have a talented athlete in Gaunce, who has been a solid player from his time in the Markham Waxers to his first season with the Majors. For the latter, he played 63 games scoring 10 times and tallying 30 assists for 40 points and 99 penalty minutes. Indeed, the Colorado

Avalanche has a very talented prospect on their books. Gaunce and McGurk are both leaders for the Majors and are an essential part if the Majors are to have a successful run to the OHL championship. “I am expecting our team to have a good year. We have a lot of players coming back, so we have great chemistry this year. A trip to the conference finals or maybe even the finals is a very realistic goal,” says McGurk. It’s rare to find students that are dedicated to both academics and athletics, but for these two Majors, it’s a goal they both feel is achievable.

A new season for the UTMAC team CHRISTOPHER SA’D SPORTS EDITOR

After a successful run in office last year, University of Toronto Mississauga Athletic Council UTMAC President Andrew Lalla, is planning this year to cut costs in the athletic sector and to enhance student involvement on campus. Lalla and the UTMAC crew recently began the new academic year with an explosive Frosh Week which introduced competitive games and a new strategy to attract students into joining the playing field. Since then, UTMAC have been busy making plans for the future. Last year, UTMAC accomplished several things. They lowered the costs of lockers in the RAWC change rooms from $80 to $65, gathered students in the gym to advocate student rights, served free breakfast to the students during health week and also organized an overnight ski trip at Horseshoe valley. In the end, UTMAC did everything that they said they would. That was only the start for Lalla, who decided to return as president with no questions asked. During Frosh Week, UTMAC organized a scavenger hunt for over one thousand Froshies, all of whom assembled

into as many as 50 teams competing against each other. The object of the hunt was to collect as many “frosh bucks” as possible, and teams with the highest amounts won various prizes, which ranged from Toronto Raptors tickets to tshirts. The hunt included games such as a football toss, a fishing pond, a dance competition, volleyball, and even lacrosse competitions. The games were in place for the new students to learn team building and cooperation. It also provided an opportunity for UTMAC to scout out new and fresh talent for the intramural teams. “Our goal is to make the first year students participate immediately,” Lalla explained. “This is a way to see if someone can play volleyball or throw a football and encourage them to tryout for the U of T teams. We want more students to participate in more UTM involved events.” UTMAC has also implemented an exciting and educational health week to encourage students to keep their bodies and minds in tip-top shape. During the Health Week, health facts and tips on student life will be presented along with a plethora of activities and games. Food facts and good eating habits on campus are some of the items on agenda in hopes of altering students’ unhealthy regiment

of eating pizza and drinking coffee every day. “If you can have fun learning, why not learn while you have fun?” said Lalla. “We want to show students that it’s not just about athletics. It’s about them and that’s why we’re here. If there’s anything we can help, we want them to know that we’re here for them.” In addition, Lalla has planned for several sporting tournaments to take place during the school year at the RAWC and across the recreational fields of UTM. To cater to students with different athletic skills and sport preferences, there will be a variety of sports to choose from, such as basketball, hockey, volleyball, lacrosse and cricket. “I want everyone in UTM involved with Health Week and in athletics. We have to keep everyone fit and willing to participate with each other,” Lalla explained. UTMAC have started the new school year with higher expectations and a slightly new focus, but their success depends much on the student body, and their level of participation. If all goes according to Lalla’s plan, then this is the year for UTM to flourish and shine, not only as an athletically rich campus, but a close-knit and healthy one too.

Photo/Matthew Filipowich

UTMAC President Andrew Lalla has a go at a ring toss during this year’s frosh week carnival.

12 THE MEDIUM

Monday, September 15, 2008

University of Toronto Mississauga

DEPARTMENT OF PHYSICAL EDUCATION, ATHLETICS AND RECREATION 905.828.3714 www.utm.utoronto.ca/physed

“Start the School Year Off in an Active Way !!! Take advantage of the many programs the RAWC has to offer!!!” Does dancing interest you? Register for any one of our 5 dance classes:

2008/2009 U of T Intramurals Fall Try-Outs Women’s Fall Sports Basketball (Div 1 and Div 2)

Sept. 18, 23, 25

6:00-7:30pm

Gym A/B

Field Hockey (Div 1)

Sept. 17, 18

7:30-8:30am

North Field

Flag Football (Div 1)

Sept. 15, 17

6:00-7:00pm

South Field

Ice Hockey (Div 1)

Sept. 21

10:30-11:30pm

Erin Mills Twin

Outdoor Soccer (Div 1 and Div 2)

Sept. 16, 17, 18

5:00-6:00pm

North Field

Volleyball (Tri-Campus and Div 1)

Sept. 17, 22, 24

6:00-7:30pm

Gym A/B

Coed Fall Sports Ultimate Frisbee (Div 2 only)

Sept. 16, 18

6:00-7:00pm

South Field

Ball Room Belly Dancing Hip Hop Jazz Latin

Martial Arts and Movement classes offered this fall at UTM: Aikido Capoeria Judo Karate Yoga

Get in the Pool! Some of the swimming lessons being offered in our 25m Pool this Fall: Absolute Beginner Basic Swim Stroke Mechanics Women’s-Only Swim Classes

Men’s Fall Sports Basketball (Div 1 and Div 2)

Sept. 18, 23, 25

7:30-9:00pm

Gym A/B

Flag Football (Div 1)

Sept. 15, 17

7:00-8:00pm

South Field

Rugby (Div 1)

Sept. 16

7:00-8:30pm

South Field

Sept. 17

8:00-9:30pm

South Field

Outdoor Soccer (Tri-Campus and Div 1)

Sept. 16, 17, 18

6:00-7:30pm

North Field

Volleyball (Div 1 and Div 2)

Sept. 17, 22, 24

7:30-9:00pm

Gym A/B

Ice Hockey (Tri-Campus and Div1)

Sept. 21

9:45-11:45am

Iceland

Locker and Towel Rentals available at the Membership Services Counter beginning Monday, September the 8th Want to play a Campus Rec sport here at UTM? Lots of leagues to choose from. Stop by the Program Office in the RAWC and see Jack Krist for more information or email j.krist@utoronto.ca

Let’s keep up the winning tradition!! If you played in high school, you can play for UTM! Get out to a try-out! If you are unable to make any of these tryouts but would like to participate, please contact Jack Krist (905) 569-4607 j.krist@utoronto.ca For most teams, games and practices are only once a week.

Golf Lessons here at UTM Learn the basics or improve your swing. The 4-week course will improve your golf game. Lessons are taught by a golf pro in our golf cages. Video analysis will also be used to improve your game.

Fall 2008 08 Campus Rec Meetings

Fridays, starting November 14th/08 4 different time slots to choose from:

Softball (Coed) Tuesday, September 16th @ 12:00pm Room 1118b

Basketball (Men’s) Tuesday, September 23rd @ 12:00pm Room 1118B

Indoor Soccer (Coed) Tuesday, September 30th @ 12:00pm Room 1118B

1:00pm-2:00pm

Indoor Soccer (Men’s) Monday, September 22nd @ 12:00pm Room 1118B

Cricket (Men’s) Tuesday, September 23rd @ 1:00pm Room 1118B

Ultimate Frisbee (Coed) Wednesday, October 1st @ 5:00pm Room 1118B

4:00pm-5:00pm

Ball Hockey (Men’s) Monday, September 22nd @1:00pm Room 1118B

Volleyball (Coed) Thursday, September 25th @12:00pm Room118B

Ball Hockey (Women’s) Wednesday, October 8th @ 12:00pm Room 1118B

Student officials, timers, and scorers are needed for all Campus Rec listed above. Apply at program office.

2:00pm-3:00pm 3:00pm-4:00pm

Registration for all Fall Instructional Courses begins Monday, September the 8th. Sign-up at the Membership Services Counter and pick up a copy of the Activity Guide for more information. Visit our website for the latest updates and schedules. www.utm.utoronto.ca/physed