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theONTARION
171.2 • MAY 23, 2013 • The University of Guelph’s Independent Student Newspaper • www.theontarion.com
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Pandas have landed at the zoo
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PHOTO BY WENDY SHEPHERD
Macdonald Stewart Art Centre is celebrating 35 years of art with their exhibition XXXV. This exhibition features artworks from their permanent collections with attention to the modern to contemporary periods.
MSAC celebrates 35 years of art
XXXV exhibit features artwork from permanent collection Stacey Aspinall
Macdonald Stewart Art Centre is celebrating its 35th anniversary this year, and the recently launched XXXV exhibit delves into the galleries’ permanent collection, presenting a varied display of artwork that fills all six sections of the gallery. It includes works by artists from across Canada, ranging from newly acquired pieces, photography, painting and sculpture, works by Inuit and Aboriginal artists, contemporary metal-works and textile-based works. The works were selected from the modern through contemporary periods, said Dawn Owen, Curator of Contemporary Art. “But in 35 years, the notion of
contemporary changes. So it was also important for us to focus on contemporary works, but also to look at some of the works that were collected in the early days of the gallery, in order to give the contemporary works the appropriate context.” The current exhibit includes many notable artists, such as Michael Snow, Joyce Wieland, and Jack Bush, who are categorized in the modern period. Many of the contemporary works are from regional artists, whose work is presented alongside accomplished Canadian artists such as Roy Arden, James Lahey, and James Carl. On the second floor, viewers will find a Lauren Harris painting, circa 1927. Harris is widely recognized as a part of the Group of Seven for painting iconic images of the Canadian landscape in a distinctive style; smoothly blended blues and grays, and
softly curving lines, evoke the sparse beauty of the Canadian arctic. It’s a bit of an indulgence, Owen explained, because this work was created earlier than many other works in the show. Since the MSAC was established in 1978, exhibitions have changed over the years, as the notion of “contemporary” art has inevitably shifted over time, Owen said. The collection has grown from 150 works in 1978 to over 8,000 in 2013. “We have a very active mandate and commitment to contemporary artists. Every year we create 12-15 exhibitions, some of which are shown in the gallery and some of which tour nationally and internationally,” said Owen. While the MSAC supports regional art and is a local cultural institution, it also aims to situate works in the wider context of the art world. “We also work with artists who
are not just Guelph artists but nationally based artists, as well as international artists, because it’s very important that the works being made in Canada, and specifically the work being made in Guelph, isn’t seen as being separate from the larger international art world,” said Owen. From contemporary painting and sculpture, to photography, textiles, metal-works and nonrepresentational painting, it’s worth visiting to view a sample of what MSAC has brought to the Guelph arts community for the past 35 years, and to appreciate the high caliber, thoughtfully curated selections it will undoubtedly continue to present in years ahead. There will be a curator’s talk on May 28 with Dawn Owen while Judith Nasby, the founding director, will lead a tour of the exhibition. The XXXV exhibition runs until July 14th.
Pride 2013 goes cabaret style
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Sometimes stress is a good thing
| 4 Arts & Culture | 5 Sports & Health | 9 Opinion | 10 Editorial | 11 Crossword | 11 Community Listings | 11 Classifieds |
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NEWS
www.theontarion.com
Keep the bamboo coming
The Toronto Zoo welcomes two giant pandas to their new home Alex Howie
The Toronto Zoo has a brand new exhibit to add to their facility, and with it brings regular shipments of bamboo. The two giant pandas named Er Shun (meaning “Double Smoothness”) and Da Mao have safely arrived into their new habitat at the zoo. FedEx took extra precaution with this precious cargo, transporting the female Er Shun from Chongqing Zoo in China and the male Da Mao from Chengdu all the way to Canada. The company built two special enclosures for the giant pandas measuring 198 centimeters in length, 142 centimeters in width and 137 centimeters in height. This is the second time that two giant pandas have made the trip to Canada –back in 1985, two other pandas spent the summer at the Toronto Zoo. Upon safe arrival, the two pandas were separated for the minimum 30-day quarantine period and remained that way until the Chinese Giant Panda
Experts and the Toronto Zoo Keepers determined the best time for their first meeting. This allowed time for the numerous health checks and tests to be performed by the Toronto Zoo’s veterinary team. Zoo keepers were also able to closely monitor the panda’s health and behavior while also beginning their training and enrichment programs. Once the official CFIA quarantine was over, the two giant pandas were able to explore the new habitat surrounding them. The pair’s new home is the newly renovated Amur Tiger Exhibit. The first shipment of bamboo was also delivered via FedEx and arrived March 22 from the Memphis Zoo. This will be the first of many bamboo deliveries for the pandas whose diet consists of 99 per cent bamboo. A panda spends 11 to 16 hours every day eating 30 to 40 pounds of bamboo. The decision to transport Er Shun and Da Mao to Toronto is part of a long-term conservation partnership agreement between Canada and China. The president of China, Hu Jintao, and Prime Minister of Canada, Steven Harper, both signed an agreement that would allow China to loan Canada two giant pandas to both
COURTESY PHOTO
Two giant pandas have been gifted to the Toronto Zoo from China. The zoo’s main goal is to successfully mate the male and female, a difficult task as the reproductive rate happens once every two years, can only occur in a two to three day window, and copulation only lasts from 30 seconds to 5 minutes. The grand opening was May 18. the Toronto and Calgary Zoos for a ten year period. The Toronto Zoo will be home to the pair for a minimum of five years until relocating them to the Calgary zoo sometime in 2018. Should the two giant pandas have a successful breeding while in Toronto, both Er Shun and Da Mao will remain with their offspring until they are approved safe to relocate. The exhibit had its grand
opening May 18 and included a new state-of-the-art Panda Interpretive Centre, along with indoor and outdoor holdings to visit Er Shun and Da Mao. The Toronto Zoo website described the Panda Interpretive Centre as a “...climate controlled centre [that] will feature many interpretive and interactive elements for visitors to enjoy year round. Interpretive themes will include Eating
Bamboo, Threats to Giant Pandas, and Saving Giant Pandas.” If you have any interest in volunteering with the Er Shun and Da Mao, or any other exhibit at the Toronto Zoo visit www.torontozoo.com. Be sure to visit the zoo’s page dedicated to the two giant pandas to learn more about the pair and check out their exclusive photos and videos!
The fast and the furious of the animal kingdom Dr. Sheila Patek gives a lecture on the fastest animal movements on the planet Jessica Avolio Titled “Sudden and swift: extreme movements in biology,” this free public lecture by Dr. Sheila Patek presented fascinating information on fast animal movements made by some of the world’s most unusual invertebrates. Dr. Pateks work has been featured on the BBC, National Geographic, and on TEDxTalks where her video has over half-amillion views. The overarching theme of this lecture presented the observations of these extreme-force generating animals who allow engineers and biologists to work together to create new technologies. Dr. Patek began by stating her three main goals of the presentation: (1) To talk about the notion of what is fast in biology (in which she jokingly noted that our notions of “fast” usually involve cheetahs and falcons, but boasted that she studied faster animals), (2) To place biology in a broader framework and to present a different way of looking at things, and (3) To
search for knowledge for the sake of knowledge, the enjoyment of science and to use applied research that benefits humanity. Her research on these creatures was to discover how organisms produce these movements, how they fall into applied research, and how we apply this knowledge of systems for good uses. The initial focus was on trapjaw ants that have large jaws with trigger hairs used to quickly circumvent prey. These fast animals can’t just use muscle contractions, but instead use a spring latch system with the acceleration of a bullet. Each ant’s jaw can generate over 400 times their own body weight as a by-product of acceleration. The evolution of these trapjaws with spring loaded click mechanisms has evolved several times, and each time evolving to use a different set of muscles and trigger components. Dr. Patek believes that research on the mineralization of these jaws has potential for applied work. The second animal of Dr. Patek’s focus was the mantis shrimp, a creature with a hammer on their elbow so forceful it can break a snail shell with one blow. The shrimp has a large muscle in this hammer appendage and a latch that keeps the hammer in place, and when the latch releases, the
appendage springs out using elastic energy. This is the sort of power impossible to achieve with just muscle contraction alone. A ruling discussion in this lecture was on the cavitation that occurs with the striking of the hammer appendage. When the shrimps hammer strikes and hits, a bubble forms, and this is called cavitation; the formation and immediate implosion of cavities (bubbles) in a liquid. In engineering contexts, cavitation is a chronic source of study, and submarines are an example of human technology that deals with it. The propellers encounter cavitation when an area of extremely fast flow exists with an area of slow flow. This results in water molecules pulling away from each other and shifting from a liquid form to a gas form. When the bubbles collapse it generates a great amount of heat (temperatures comparable to the surface of the sun) in a very short time period of time. This sort of energy is sufficient enough to cause recurring stress on the metal and wear it away. In the context of biology, cavitation creates enough force to wear away mantis shrimp appendages as well, though these creatures have the benefit of molting. But their hammers don’t break on impact, and it was discovered that this is because
PHOTO BY SILKE BARON
This is one of 400 varying species of mantis shrimp. These crustaceans have appendages with either spears or smashers that have the capability of creating some of the fastest movements on the planet. their hammers have three different regions which dissipate force. Their appendage is wrapped in a compressive layer, similar to a baseball, and is designed in such a way that it dislocates the forces and doesn’t allow it to get into the hard surface layer. Engineers and biologists can study these uniquely fast and powerful creatures in order to apply this knowledge to other technologies, or to develop new technologies. Dr. Patek used the term “biomimicry,” which takes the examination of nature to either emulate or take inspiration in order to solve human
problems, and the term “bioinspired,” which studies these biological life forms to improve the usage of computers. Dr. Patek wanted to “... inspire one to think about the earth’s phenomenally long biological history and how this understanding can enrich our daily experience in our present biological world.” No doubt through studying these creatures and through biomimicry and bioinspired technologies, we can begin to improve or even solve our own human problems. Dr. Patek makes it clear that the marriage of biology and engineering has the potential to achieve great things.
NEWS
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171.2 • Thursday, May 23, 2013
High-density student housing is a go New building will erect on Gordon Street and Stone Road Jessica Avolio Plans for high-density student housing will soon be underway as a result of a recent ruling from the Ontario Municipal Board (OMB). Both Adobe Varsity Living and the OMB came to an agreement for an 11 storey building near the intersection, and up to nine stories for the building(s) on the remainder of this location. The proposed complex is aimed to provide residence to an estimated 1,100 University of Guelph students. The original proposed plan was to erect a 16 storey building, but it was opposed by various parties including the city council, the University of Guelph and the Mayfair Park Community Association. Some negativity stemmed from the actuality that the university already acquired approval to build student housing across the street from this project, but they disclosed that they did not yet have plans to start it. “A number of planning issues were raised during the application review for this site, including proposed building height, density, impact
on the neighbourhood to the east, impact on the existing streetscape,” said Katie Nasswetter, Senior Development Planner for the City of Guelph. Nasswetter said that the city and neighbourhood generally supported the proposal of student housing in that area, but the main concern stemmed from the scale of the proposed buildings. Many felt that the height was “not a good fit for the neighbourhood.” The OMB “imposed building setbacks and height limits that will limit the impact of the building on both the streetscape and neighbourhood,” said Nasswetter. But the Adobe Varsity Living and the Mayfield Park Community Association came to an agreement on a layout that represented the character of the neighbourhood, in both height and appearance. Despite some negative feedback, many have suggested the positives of this new development. Some suggested that students should be located close to campus, grocery stores, the downtown core and public transit – and this location serves all those needs. It’s completion would assist to solve the shortage of on-campus student housing and would also decrease
PHOTO BY WENDY SHEPHERD
An essentially blank backdrop of the Gordon Street and Stone Road intersection is soon to be distinguished with a high-density student housing development. the amount of students living in low-density housing in the south end. Furthermore, this structure would concentrate more students around the campus, which would boost businesses
surrounding the university. Regardless, it will be interesting to see what Adobe accomplishes in the future in terms of this highdensity student housing, even with all the setbacks and restrictions.
Carbon emissions surpass 400 ppm milestone Where are the environmentalists? Em Wilson For the first time in human history, a carbon dioxide measure of 400.03 parts-per-million (ppm) has been measured at the Mauna Loa atmospheric research station in Hawaii. This level was last seen on Earth three to five million years ago at a time when sea levels were 20 to 40 meters higher than today and overall temperatures were several degrees warmer. Since the 1950s, CO2 levels have skyrocketed from 280 ppm to the 400 ppm mark. The World Meteorological Organization (WMO) has repeatedly emphasized that the current level of increase, about 2.0 ppm peryear, is directly causing warming and associated climate uncertainty. This 400 ppm threshold has been expected for some time, and the WMO states it will become the global average CO2 concentration by 2015 or 2016. Climate scientists and campaigners are calling for an intensive reduction of emissions and anthropogenic contributions to global warming. In a statement released on
May 13, the United Nation’s climate chief Christiana Figueres noted that the world has entered a new “danger zone.” This news comes at a sensitive time for the Canadian government – only recently resource minister Joe Oliver has been lambasted for his support of the tar sands and also several highly publicized statements expressing disbelief in the severity of climate change. Oliver has made controversial statements suggesting that environmental groups are trying to “hijack the system,” by protesting current tar sands development and investment. In an open letter to the resource minister, Elizabeth May criticized Oliver for being manipulated by Stephen Harper’s “spin machine,” and suggested that Harper is equally manipulated by the oil lobby. Though this news will undoubtedly draw many environmentally conscious Canadians into the throws of vicious Internet rants against the Harper government, what will this accomplish? In this day and age, it seems the Internet can either be an effective forum for social change, or it can be a void that actually serves the status quo by giving dissidents an artificial sense of involvement. It is well known that the
Internet is hub for progressivism and a space to nurture social change. However, environmentalism has been a victim of circumstantial activism. Times of perceived crisis have encouraged Canadians to write letters to Ottawa, set up blogs and websites about “green” living, get up from watching the game and go to a community rally, or vote with their money and buy everyday items that are produced with less CO2. When trying to determine why environmentalism has remained peripheral, it is difficult to point fingers. However, our political
apparatus and electoral system may be to blame. Environmentalism has been repeatedly painted as a “fringe” political activity that only “lefties” engage in. Aside from the harmless PR endeavors of the major parties, real environmentalism and change in “the system” to which Oliver clings still faces entrenched institutional barriers. In May’s letter to the resource minister she concluded, “…by characterizing this issue as environmental radicals versus Canada’s future prosperity, you have done a grave disservice to the development of sensible public policy.”
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The atmospheric carbon dioxide has hit 400 ppm in Hawaii, a milestone that has not been reached for millions of years.
Billboard Music Awards
The 2013 Billboard Music Awards was aired May 20 and did not disappoint. Taylor Swift performed her hit song “22” in a bright blue unicorn shirt and walked away with eight awards – but not the fan-voted ‘Milestone Award.’ This prodigious award went to Justin Bieber who accepted the trophy to loud “boos,” prompting him to allude to his troubling past few weeks saying: “I’m an artist and I should be taken seriously and all this other bull should not be spoken of.” The Biebs also won ‘Top Male Artist’ and ‘Top Social Artist’ and performed twice throughout the night. The most show-stopping performance of the night goes to Miguel, who while singing his hit “Adorn,” got really into it and decided to jump over the crowd which resulted in kicking a fan and landing on another, sandwiching her between his leg and the stage. Other highlights of the night include Macklemore & Ryan Lewis, Ed Sheeran, Morten Harket joining Pitbull and Christina Aguilera, Nicki Minaj giving Little Wayne a lap dance, and of course Prince receiving the ‘Icon Award’ and closing the show. (Toronto Star)
Yahoo Buys Tumblr
Yahoo has made the bold move of forking over $1.1 billion to buy the online blogging forum Tumblr. This is Yahoo’s boldest move since being under the control of CEO Marissa Mayer who left Google ten months ago to try to create a Yahoo comeback. This decision will be paid in all cash and will take one-fifth of the companies $5.4 billion they had at the end of March. Yahoo’s made the promise “not to screw it up” deciding to keep David Karp as the CEO and have Tumblr independently run as a separate business. Karp wrote a letter to his users, reassuring them that “We wont let you down” and signing off with a “Fuck Yeah” read the CEO’s full letter at www.staff.tumblr.com. (CBC News)
Denmark Wins Eurovison
Emmelie de Forest from Denmark wins this year’s Eurovision Song Contest with her song “Only Teardrops.” De Forest performed her hippie-chic, catchy love song barefoot. This score beat out the second place Farid Mammadov of Azerbaijan who sang “Hold Me” on top of a glass cubicle while holding a male dancer. Third place went to Zlata Ognevich of Ukraine who was carried on stage to perform “Gravity” by the tallest man in the United States. The show also featured an extravagant opera techno mash from Romania’s Cezar who resembled Dracula for the performance. This year’s 58th Eurovision was watched by 125 million people worldwide and had a price tag of around $23 million. (CTV News) Compiled by Alex Howie
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ARTS & CULTURE
www.theontarion.com
To be a Guelphite Kaela Shea Every city has its history and stories; some may even have a strong, definite culture. Guelph has culture that can never be denied. However, unlike many university-towns, Guelph culture envelopes, not excludes, the University. Studying at the University of Guelph steeps each student in this unique culture, and each student graduates a Guelphite. The comradeships, the rivalries, the traditions, and the festivals are defining aspects of a community evolved over many years. What is a Guelphite? A ‘Guelphite’ is a resident of Guelph; one who may jaywalk Gordon continuously, picnic in the Arboretum, paint Old Jeremiah, visit the Farmers’ Market, eat ice cream from The Boathouse, see plays in the River Run Center, portage up Speed River, the list goes on. Regardless of how in-tune
residents are with Guelph culture, many old buildings sit nameless or hold names long forgotten. Essential in sustaining the Guelphite culture is understanding the very roots of its heritage. Guelph Arts Council is the central force for arts and culture in Guelph and the Wellington County. Managed through a Board of Directors, the Guelph Arts Council strives to stimulate and develop a rich cultural life in the community. The Council organizes various resources and initiatives championed by employees and numerous volunteers. Historical walking tours, hosted by volunteers from the Guelph Arts Council from April to October, share the city’s great stories. A series of six guided tours trace history through the streets of Guelph. Each tour travels a different route, providing various snapshots of Guelph’s culture saturated history. Beginning at
PHOTO BY KAELA SHEA
“Ward One Guelph” walking tour, on May 19, revealed a rich variety of historic architecture, such as the Church of Our Lady Immaculate (above), a National Historic Site of Canada. the Where Guelph Began tour, participants explore the original market area, learning forgotten tales of the familiar buildings. Ever wonder who Massey actually was? Or why there’s a random arch on Johnston Green – besides for graduation photos?
Every Sunday illustrates another chapter of the historical foundation of Guelph. Tours depart at 2:00pm, however the starting location is dependent on the tour. For a full schedule and description of the tours please visit: guelpharts.ca.
History has cultivated Guelphites, leaving lasting impressions on not only the culture, but the city itself. In weekly historic walking tours, Guelph Arts Council delves into the historic, humorous, and surprising stories behind the iconic, and little known landmarks of our city.
Queer pride takes the stage Stacey Aspinall Queer Cabaret was just one of many events planned to celebrate Guelph Pride Week 2013. On May 10, eBar featured a night of queer performances, ranging from burlesque dancers, drag queens and kings, performance poets and musicians. The event was presented by Guelph Spoken Word. The night kicked off with a question: what is the definition of “queer?” For the night, queer was synonymous with “fabulous, spectacular, wonderful.” An open call for participants lead to a dizzying array of sixteen performers; each presenting something unique to the Guelph queer community. “I just really felt that it just was
a good, eclectic representation of Queerdom. I just felt it had to exist in Guelph Pride. And there wasn’t anything like it, and there hadn’t been anything like it, as long as I’ve known of Guelph pride,” said Truth Is... from Guelph Spoken Word. The night was entertaining, illuminating and thought-provoking. It included the exuberance (not to mention abundance of glitter and sequins) that one would expect from a cabaret show, as drag queens Miss Drew and Sheena Beena strutted their stuff on stage. Burlesque performer Lillith Lemons performed a striptease, showcasing and embracing the power of female sexuality and self-expression. Ruby Moon, a classically trained dancer, also
performed an elegant burlesque routine with oversized white feathers. Another drag performer, Avan Hart, took to the stage in sparkly garb that matched the disco ball hanging from the ceiling. There were also moments that encouraged introspective reflection. The audience quieted down to hear some poetry by Tess Martens, one of many poets who shared their writing, which brought a personal touch. Next up, Vance performed a monologue taken from “MENding,” the “male” counterpart to Vagina Monologues. Vance spoke candidly about family dynamics, relationships and life transitions, exploring the complexities of determining one’s gender identity and the struggle to find acceptance
PHOTO BY STACEY ASPINALL
Performer Avan Hart, a professional female impersonator, made an appearance at the Queer Cabaret, an event full of queer performances to celebrate Guelph Pride. in both the self and others. Slam poet and event organizer Truth Is... shared poetry as well, among many other poets and performers. The event concluded with a surprise visit and performance from the recently crowned Mr. and Mrs. Guelph Pride. There are “most definitely” plans to have a show like this
again at next year’s pride week, said Truth Is... “The audience today kind-of shows that it’s something people want to support and they want to have as part of their queer lives, and nonqueer lives, because there were people there who wouldn’t identify that way. So it was just a great show, period.”
Film review: The Great Gatsby Andrea Connell Nick Carraway is depressed, anxious, and suffering from alcohol withdrawal at the opening of director Baz Luhrmann’s The Great Gatsby. His psychiatrist recommends that Nick write down “what happened” that summer to put him in his current state of mind. Carraway then goes on to narrate a story of obsession, poverty, hope and betrayal involving his mysterious rich neighbour Gatsby and his obsession with Daisy, Nick’s cousin. If this review was being written in the ’20s it would say, “It’s big! It’s loud! It’s a production! They’re gonna love it.” Modern day audiences will love it. Baz Luhrmann reunites with Leonardo DiCaprio in this film; they worked together in the MTV
inspired Romeo and Juliet in 1996. DiCaprio, flawless as Jay Gatsby, Toby Maguire, reliable as Nick Carraway, and Carey Mulligan (Wall Street: Money Never Sleeps) believable as the unhappy Daisy Buchanan, bring a lot of star quality to an ambitious file. Warrior muscleman Joel Edgerton is perfect as Daisy’s husband, rich entitled sportsman Tom Buchanan. He constantly cheats on his wife but thinks it’s a fair exchange for the lavish lifestyle she gains from being married to him. The movie, based on F. Scott Fitzgerald’s book first published in 1925, critiques post World War One American society’s discomfort with the nouveau riche rubbing shoulders with the upper crust. This mystery man Gatsby is disdained by Tom Buchanan because
he wasn’t born into wealth and refuses to give him any respect for the riches he has made. Gatsby throws lavish parties at his home in West Egg, Long Island each weekend for New York’s rich and famous. Yet he is rarely seen enjoying his own parties. Carraway, a man of humble means, finds himself invited to the palatial estate and is astonished by the spectacle of the rich. The party scenes are where Luhrmann puts his stamp on the genre. Energetic flappers dance the Quickstep and the Charleston while jazz musicians blow their lungs out. His choice of modern era music throughout the film brings a contemporary edge. The soundtrack should be nominated for an Oscar next year as Jay-Z executively produced the soundtrack.
As the story unfolds, we learn Gatsby met Daisy five years previously and fell in love at first sight. Ah, romance. But the war gets in the way, as does the fact that he is a penniless man who knows he cannot wed the wealthy Daisy until he can afford to keep her happy. She doesn’t wait for him after the war and instead marries rich Tom Buchanan and passes the time drinking martinis and entertaining. Gatsby’s self-made riches are a result of his obsession with Daisy. He is the original stalker. Every decision he makes is by design to win Daisy back. The home he bought is directly across the bay from her home. Each night he can see a green light at the end of the Buchanan’s dock signifying money and all the privilege that comes along with it.
COURTESY PHOTO While Gatsby is obsessive, Daisy is selfish. It’s never really clear if she loves Gatsby or Buchanan or if she is just a spoiled young woman afraid to make a choice. In the end, social class and feelings of entitlement determine their lives. The rules are different for the old and the new rich and Gatsby pays a hefty price as a result. Money can’t buy everything, including love.
ARTS & CULTURE
Album Review: Walk Off the Earth - R.E.V.O.
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Alex Howie With their debut album, Walk Off the Earth has introduced a sound that is different from everything on the radio right now. Their YouTube cover of Gotye’s “Somebody That I Used To Know” – involving only one guitar being played by all five band members – has received over 148 million views and landed them a performance on the Ellen DeGeneres Show shooting them into the public’s radar. The band formed in Burlington, Ontario back in 2007 and has released two full-length albums and an extensive collection of covers, but this is their first album since signing a record deal with Columbia Records. The debut album is an extension of their fall release EP that got rave reviews. Adding seven songs to the EP, Walk Off The Earth has created a cool blend of island, reggae and indie vibes to create a summery and uplifting album. The band incorporates a mesh of female and male vocals from Sarah Blackwood, Ryan Marshall, and Gianni Luminati adding to
the indie-pop sound. The three vocals plus Mike Taylor’s keys, Joel Cassady’s percussion and every member’s ability to play a vast amount of other instruments allows for the authentic live sound in R.E.V.O. The band’s more poppy song “Red Hands” is already loved by radios because it manages to be completely contagious without being annoying. The creative music video was released back in November and seems to be made with a handful of clips, but is actually one continuous shot. The video fast-forwards and rewinds but is still one clip, meaning the band had to perform the song out-oforder and, at some parts, in triple time. The video is epic, so the band’s unedited version is equally as impressive if not more so. The song that essentially sums up the entire sound of the album is “Gang of Rhythm,” unleashing the island, reggae style incorporated throughout the album. The song opens with a soft guitar, adding an acoustic guitar and kick drum at the vocal’s summoning. In contrast, the fourth track “Speeches” perfectly compliments the rest of the album with a faster pace and powerful bass. The song includes a backing trumpet and of course a catchy chorus but with more emotional, slower lyrics. The range from these two songs demonstrates how well developed this album is and how diverse and unique Walk Off the Earth really are.
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171.2 • Thursday, May 23, 2013
The more summery anthems include the album’s title track “R.E.V.O.” and obviously the ninth track “Summer Vibe.” “R.E.V.O” is joyous and infectious with catchy melodies, while “Summer Vibe” is more reggae style with lyrics about enjoying sunshine and opening with a ukulele. These songs are sure to be blasting from your friendfilled car, windows rolled down going on a summer cruise. The only downside to this uplifting album are the less distinct tracks “Money Tree” and “These Times” that sound like they’ve been done before, with unoriginal lyrics and nothing new or exceptional to add. This is understandable considering the band has done numerous covers before this album and their cover of “Somebody That I Used to Know” – featured on R.E.V.O – drastically helped the band gain publicity. That being said, don’t count Walk Off the Earth as just a cover band. This album explains their sudden claim to fame proving that they deserve all the publicity they’re receiving. The band has discovered a solid sense of identity that is distinctively unique, allowing them to take a huge leap into the music industry. This formerly obscure indie band has made its way out of the shadows just in time to cruelly taunt us with the promise of summer. R.E.V.O. is just the beginning for Walk Off the Earth, encouraging high expectations for any future music.
RALEIGH PLAYS A GENTLE HARMONY
PHOTO BY WENDY SHEPHERD
Calgary-based trio, Raleigh, captures their audience with a smooth and engaging progressive folk sound at eBar in Guelph on May 8th. It is hard not to be simultaneously relaxed by their harmonious vocals and intrigued by their deep as well as upbeat cello accents. Raleigh produces a complex sound that not only evokes your ears, but also your imagination.
SPORTS & HEALTH
Solving world hunger one bug at a time Laura Castellani It goes against one of the first lessons we learned as children, whether sitting in the sandbox or running across the playground, the rule was the same- don’t eat the insects. Now, a recent report from the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), a division of the United Nations offers a starkly contrasting opinion on the matter. In response to the search for sustainable food choices to curb the ever-exceeding threats to global food security, the group is turning towards insects as an edible and nutritional food choice. While the 201 page report outlines the benefits of insects as food and feed product, it emphasizes the rationale for the suggestion. It notes that approximately one billion of the 6.9 billion individuals in the world are currently classified as chronically hungry. With the population anticipated to reach approximately nine billion people by the year 2050, the severity of the issue is anticipated to only worsen. It is expected that to sustain our population, food production will need to double. This helps to explain why the rules of what should and should not be consumed (the black and white regulations of childhood), have become a much foggier shade of grey. In turning toward insects as an edible source of sustenance, the authors of the FAO report maintain that the switch to insects is not a compromise for current food choices and that the nutritional quality of insects is comparable to current plant and animal choices. They also celebrate the emergence of insects as a global food source as a valuable occasion to diversify and evolve as communities. They recognize this as a “significant opportunity to merge traditional knowledge and modern science in both developed and developing countries.” Similar to plant and animal food choices, the nutritional content of an insect is largely influenced not only by the species, but also the processing and preparation process. The nutritional profile is also dependent on the environment in which the insect developed and the metamorphic stage of life that it is in. Still, insects can be generally appreciated for the rich protein and fibre content as well as an abundance of minerals, vitamins and unsaturated fatty acids. The FAO report is quick to acknowledge the abundance of protein in insects as a defining feature for which insects should be consumed. Grasshoppers, a
widely consumed and preferred insect to eat, boasts approximately 14-18g of protein per 100g of fresh weight. This is comparable to a 19-26g protein obtained from an equivalent amount of beef. Similarly, insects serve as a good source of fibre. The most abundant fibre found in the shell of insects is chitin, a long chain sugar that cannot be absorbed in the intestines of humans and thereby helps facilitate digestion through the intestines. It is similar to the long chain sugar cellulose, a source of fibre which is found abundantly in plants. Insects are also recognized for the mineral and vitamin content and their ability to fortify diets in this way. As these micronutrients foster growth and development, immune function and reproductive status, the ability of insects to supplement a diet ensures that recommended values are achieved. Mopane caterpillars provide an abundant source of iron and zinc, two nutrients often underconsumed in preschool and post-pubescent aged females in developing countries. Currently, two billion people regularly consume insects as part of their diet, with most communities located in Central America, Southeast Asia and Central Africa. While over 1,900 species of insects are considered edible, the most abundantly consumed are beetles, caterpillars, bees, wasps and ants. Of course, the shift to include insects as a component of staple diets globally is expected to be met with hesitancy. Having evolved without exposure to an insect-filled diet ,there is concern for allergies and intolerances that could accompany such a dramatic shift. Gut bacteria which is thought to reflect environment and diet would limit the ability to handle new types of food without an adjustment phase; one that new insect eaters may not be patient enough to accommodate. While food choices are largely governed by religious and cultural rituals and beliefs, they reflect a lifestyle. Not only does the choice to include insects as a healthful part of diet present a physiological challenge but also a change in mindset. While the shift to natural nutrients would well suit some health conscious consumers, the innate disgust toward eating crunchy critters would require coordinated cultural effort to convince the consumer. Still, in a culture often convinced to bend nature and norms to cut costs and meet convenience, maybe centipede salads and caterpillar casseroles are not so far off.
Summer Red Wine Sangria Jessica Avolio
Ingredients • 1 bottle of unoaked red wine • 1 grapefruit • 1 orange • 1 lemon • 2 limes • can of diced pineapple in juice • 1 bottle of something fizzy (I prefer PC diet blood orange soda) Preparation 1. Pour red wine into a large pitcher. Cut all the fruit into wedges, squeeze out the juice, add about half the wedges to the pitcher with the wine. Add in half a can of pineapples plus the pineapple juice. 2. Let mixture sit in the fridge for at least an hour, the longer the better. The wine will absorb the delicious flavours of the juice. 3. When ready to serve, pour wine and juice mixture into a glass and top off with the fizzy soda to taste.
Sizzlin' Sum
Kidney Be
Are you looking for a way to breathe life back into your grill? Tired of boring hamburgers and same old salads? Try some of these recipes to spice up your next summer barbecue!
Quinoa Salad with Dried Fruit and Nuts allrecipes.com
Ingredients • 1 1/2 cups quinoa • 1/4 teaspoon salt • 3 1/2 cups water • 1 bunch green onions, chopped • 3/4 cup chopped celery • 1/2 cup raisins • 1 pinch cayenne pepper • 1 tablespoon vegetable oil • 1 tablespoon distilled white vinegar • 2 tablespoons lemon juice • 2 tablespoons sesame oil • 1/3 cup chopped fresh cilantro • 3/4 cup chopped pecans Preparation 1. Bring the quinoa, salt, and water to a boil in a saucepan. Reduce heat to medium-low, cover, and simmer until the quinoa is tender, 20 to 25 minutes. 2. Once done, scrape into a large bowl, and allow to cool for 20 minutes. Stir in the green onions, celery, raisins, cayenne pepper, vegetable oil, vinegar, lemon juice, and sesame oil. Allow to stand at room temperature for 1 hour to allow the flavours to blend. 3. Stir in the cilantro and pecans before serving.
Grilled Salmon with Lemon-Dill Butter pillsbury.com
Ingredients • 3 tablespoons butter, softened • 1/2 teaspoon finely chopped fresh dill • 1/2 teaspoon grated lemon peel • 1/2 teaspoon fresh lemon juice • 2 (4-oz.) salmon fillets Preparation 1. Heat gas or charcoal grill. In small bowl, combine butter, dill, lemon peel and lemon juice; blend well. 2. When grill is heated, carefully oil grill rack. Place salmon fillets, skin side up, on gas grill over medium heat or on charcoal grill 4 to 6 inches from medium coals. Cover grill; cook 3 minutes. Turn skin side down; cook an additional 8 to 10 minutes or until fish flakes easily with fork. Serve salmon with lemon-dill butter mixture.
Wendy Shephe
Ingredients • I can kidne • 1 egg or pu • 1/2 cup oat • 1 tsp cumin • 1/2 cup bre • olive oil
Preparation 1. Turn on b (Dependin 2. Blend kidn a large bow teaspoon o 3. Add 1 egg well mixed 4. Add the oa 5. Mold mix choosing. I binding, ad 6. Set patties 7. Set on gril least once. 8. Serve on h any base of Mak
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barbecue and preheat at medium heat ng on how hot your grill gets) ney beans in a food processor, or mash in wl with a fork. If mixture is too dry, add a of olive oil. (or ½ cup pumpkin puree) and stir until d at or wheat flour and cumin. xture into patties into a size of your If the mixture is still too sloppy and is not dd the bread crumbs and/or more flour. aside on wax paper ll. Cook until patties are firm, flipping at . Be careful to ensure they do not dry out. hamburger bun, lettuce, corn tortilla or f your choosing. kes 4 large patties or 6 smaller
Honey Chicken Kabobs allrecipes.com
Ingredients • 1/4 cup vegetable oil • 1/3 cup honey • 1/3 cup soy sauce • 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper • 8 skinless, boneless chicken breast halves - cut into 1 inch cubes • 2 cloves garlic • 5 small onions, cut into 2 inch pieces • 2 red bell peppers, cut into 2 inch pieces • skewers
Tropical California Avocado Salad whatsgabycooking.com
Ingredients • 3 cups arugula • 1/4 red onion, sliced • 1 mango, seeded and cut • 2 California avocados, sliced • 1 jalapeno, slivered • 1/2 English cucumber, sliced on a bias • 2 tbsp fresh orange juice • 2 tbsp champagne vinegar • 1/3 cup olive oil • salt and pepper to taste
Preparation 1. In a large bowl, whisk together oil, honey, soy sauce, and pepper. Before adding chicken, reserve a small amount of marinade to brush onto kabobs while cooking. Place the chicken, garlic, onions and peppers in the bowl, and marinate in the refrigerator at least 2 hours (the longer the better). 2. Preheat the grill for high heat. 3. Drain marinade from the chicken and vegetables, and discard marinade. Thread chicken and vegetables alternately onto the skewers. 4. Lightly oil the grill grate. Place the skewers on the grill. Cook for 12 to 15 minutes, until chicken juices run clear. Turn and brush with reserved marinade frequently.
Preparation 1. In a large bowl combine the arugula, red onion, mango, California avocado, jalapeno and cucumber. Toss gently to combine. 2. In a small bowl, combine the freshly juiced orange juice and champagne vinegar. Slowly stream in the olive oil while whisking together to form an emulsion. Season with salt and pepper. 3. Drizzle some of the dressing over the salad and toss. Taste and add more dressing if needed being careful not to add too much.
Roasted Sweet Potato and Black Bean Salad Self magazine
Watermelon Basil Feta Salad foodnetwork.ca
Ingredients • 1 large watermelon, rind removed and cut into large chunks • 1 lemon, juiced and zested • 1/2 cup olive oil • Sprinkled sea salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste • 1 large handful fresh basil, mint or cilantro • 1 cup feta cheese, crumbled or cubed Preparation 1. Toss the watermelon into a large bowl and add everything else. Toss gently and serve.
Ingredients • Vegetable oil cooking spray • 2 large sweet potatoes (about 1 1/2 pounds), peeled and cut into 1-inch pieces • 1 teaspoon salt, divided • 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper, divided • 1/4 cup fresh lime juice, plus wedges for garnish • 1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar • 1 tablespoon finely chopped garlic • 1 can (15 ounces) black beans, rinsed and drained • 1 cup halved cherry tomatoes • 1/2 cup thinly sliced orange or red bell pepper • 1/2 cup thinly sliced scallions • 1/3 cup chopped fresh mint • 4 cups baby arugula Preparation 1. Heat oven to 375°. On a baking sheet coated with cooking spray, place potatoes in a layer; sprinkle with 1/2 teaspoon salt and 1/4 teaspoon pepper. Bake until tender, 15 minutes; let cool. 2. In a bowl, whisk juice, vinegar, garlic, remaining 1/2 teaspoon salt and remaining 1/4 teaspoon pepper. Add potatoes, beans, tomatoes, bell pepper, scallions and mint; toss; serve over arugula, and garnish with lime wedges.
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SPORTS & HEALTH
Student discovers ammunition against bacteria Kaela Shea In the effort to preserve health, medical doctors, engineers, pharmacists, and biologists battle against rapidly evolving pathogens. One such target is pathogenic bacteria. Bacteria are extremely versatile organisms; varying in shape, inhabited environment and function. Most bacteria are harmless to humans, and many can be beneficial and even essential, to human health. It doesn’t take more than a case of food poisoning, however, to remember the dangers some of these microorganisms can cause. Escherichia coli (E. coli), Neisseria meningitides (the bacteria responsible for meningitis), and Haemophilus influenza (the cause for influenza pandemics). These are some of the more dangerous species that captured
the attention of Lisa Willis, a PhD student in the Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology (MCB). With her supervisor, University of Guelph professor Chris Whitfield, plus a team of researchers from the National Research Council of Canada and the University of Alberta, Willis has discovered an important tool for the future of medicine. A common classification of bacteria is the division between Gram-positive and Gram-negative. The difference between the two bacterium is in their external structure. Gram-positive bacteria have an exoskeleton of peptidoglycan (polymer of sugars and amino acids) coating the internal cell membrane. Gram-negative bacteria possess additional physical and chemical aspects for their external protection such as an outer membrane. The presence of
the outer membrane inhibits the absorption of the Gram stain dye; a dye used to detect bacterium’s susceptibility to certain antibiotics. The external membrane is also significant in the bacteria’s interaction with a host organism. The external membrane of Gram-negative bacteria prevents host immune cells from recognizing the bacteria as an ‘enemy’ as the coating mimics the victim’s own cells. The extra layer is also an effective defence against most common antibiotics. Able to evade attacks of the infected host’s immune defence and antibiotics, Gram-negative bacteria pose a very dangerous threat. Willis’ team targeted the cellular methods and machinery Gramnegative bacteria use to create their external membrane. With the goal of understanding the complex pathways of the membrane, the researchers analyzed
the various associated molecules and enzymes. Previous research had analyzed individual components, unable to examine links within the targeted molecule. Willis’ team was able to develop a new technique to successfully analyze links to provide insight to the overall structure of the molecule in question. The molecule, though common between several species of Gram-negative bacteria, is unique to bacteria. The discovery of the precise structure of the molecule will facilitate the creation of a drug that may use the analyzed molecule as a target to segregate otherwise camouflaged bacteria from the host’s native cells. “It would be a new kind of antibiotic,” Willis stated in a press release, discussing the potential for her team’s research. Funded through the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research
Stressed-out squirrel moms raise heartier pups Em Wilson Spring has sprung. Guelph is green, lush, and as usual full of squirrels. The University of Guelph campus is a prime place to spot squirrel pups following close behind their mother’s feet in a high-stress and very busy environment. Andrew McAdam, Amy Newman, and Ben Dantzer of Guelph’s Department of Integrative Biology have recently published a study on how mother red squirrels raise their pups in stressful situations. Pups born into a hectic environment are much more likely to be nurtured by an extra zealous mother. When these babies leave their nest, or drey, they will be significantly larger than squirrel babies born in low-stress environments.
You can see a number of dreys around the city of Guelph and on campus - vaguely spherical jumbles of branches and leaves usually built quite high up in a tree. McAdam, Newman, and Dantzer found that mother squirrels listen to the social cues of other squirrels. When stress factors increase, other squirrels make territorial defense calls, or “rattles.” The mother’s stress hormone levels increase in response to these noises, and she tailors the intensity of her puprearing accordingly. A high population of squirrels is a stress factor. If the mother hears frequent territorial and defense “rattles” due to an exponential increase in the squirrel population, she knows her offspring
must be fit and competitive. The researchers employed some very clever means of manipulating the environment around mother squirrels. Newman and Dantzer played recorded squirrels calls in the forest they were studying and tricked mother squirrels into believing that they had more neighbours than they really did. McAdam noted that, “when there are lots of squirrels around, only the fastest-growing squirrels survive. When population density is low, all squirrels survive well, so how quickly they grow doesn’t matter.” Dantzer and Newman also fed some mother squirrels peanut butter laced with stress hormones; those mothers also raised faster-growing pups than control females. “Despite the widespread perception that being stressed is bad,
PHOTO BY WENDY SHEPHERD
Studies show that stressed-out mother squirrels raise faster-growing pups.
our study shows that high stress hormone levels in mothers can actually help their offspring,” Dantzer suggested. The researchers note that similar principles most likely apply to other animals, though it is unclear as to what extent this applies to human parenting.
Council and Canadian Institutes of Health Research, and by Dr. Whitfield’s Canada Research Chair in Molecular Microbiology, the research creates potential for breakthrough developments in drugs. “Without these enzymes, the cell can’t make these complex sugars and can’t assemble the surface coat,” said Whitfield. “If you’re able to target the initial enzyme, you turn the entire process off.” The molecular target specific to bacteria, and essential to the production of the Gramnegative coating may allow drugs to limit the creation of the external membrane and allow the host immune system to find and destroy the invading organisms. Understanding the creation of the Gram-negative membrane is a crucial step in the research and development of tools in the combat against harmful microorganisms.
SPORTS & HEALTH
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171.2 • Thursday, May 23, 2013
Hamilton Ticats paint Old Jeremiah Laura Castellani The Hamilton Tiger-Cats have struck again, this time making their way into the heart of campus to paint the campus cannon, Old Jeremiah. With news of their season debut in Guelph, they honoured the timeless tradition of painting the cannon as the Gryphon way to spread news and share excitement amongst the campus community. Looking toward their upcoming season which will be played on campus at the recently renovated
Alumni Stadium, the Ticats are hoping to invoke the enthusiasm and tradition that defines their team on game day. The cannon, fondly known as Old Jeremiah, sits knowingly in the centre of campus. While it originally took its place in Guelph following World War I to commemorate the soldiers, it is now known for the messages it shares with students; transforming a layer of paint to a fundraiser, a proposal, or even the mark of Ticats tradition which is currently alive in Guelph.
PHOTO BY JESSICA AVOLIO
The Hamilton Ticats made an appearance at the University of Guelph campus on May 13 in order to paint the cannon their team colours: black and gold.
Catharsis for Leafs nation following playoffs Caleb Dallman I am only now able to continue watching the NHL Playoffs after a week-long hiatus. We needed time apart. It wasn’t them, it was me. For the first time in almost a decade of horrendous hockey, they had me believe. Then in typical fashion, they broke my heart. The feeling was palpable in Toronto as the Leaf’s rising star, Nazem Kadri put the Buds up 4-1 with a little over half a period to play. Celebrations began in homes, bars and in the square beside the Air Canada Centre to watch the game. Then the unimaginable
happened. Even if you’re not a Leafs fan, you know what happened. No team had ever collapsed like that during a playoff game. If you watched it, you witnessed history. The meltdown in Massachusetts overshadowed the positives of the brief 2013 season. James Reimer asserted himself as the clear-cut solution to Toronto’s goaltending issues. The aforementioned Kadri sizzled in March, culminating with a kiss from Don Cherry. Dion Phaneuf played like a top-pairing defenseman and Phil Kessel proved that he can score when it counts, and more
importantly, he can score against his old team, the Bruins. Many others proved their detractors wrong. James Van Reimsdyk was Brian Burke’s last move as General Manager, and was a warrior during the playoffs scoring a point-per-game pace. Cody Franson was an offensive force to be reckoned with, ending up in the top-ten list of scoring defensemen. Jay McClement seemed to single-handedly change the fortunes of the Leafs penalty kill, taking them from one of the league’s worst, to one of the best. Very few people picked the
Leafs to even make the playoffs. Inexperienced goaltending and an unproven defence core stood out as issues that needed to be addressed before significant progress was to be made. But in spite of these flaws, they made it, and finally ended the nine-year post-season drought they were mocked so often for. The players themselves, however, have looked at it as a learning experience; an important part in their growth, which they can draw off of the next time. “You look at all those superhero movies,” James Reimer said in an interview. “You don’t start out being the best, they
usually fall down and get back up. There’s a reason for that, it mimics life a lot.”
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OPINION
Donald Trump blames everyone else for sexual assault Warning: May be triggering Jessica Avolio At the beginning of May, the perpetual hot-air machine Donald Trump dumped this gem of a tweet on his followers: “26,000 unreported sexual assults in the military-only 238 convictions. What did these geniuses expect when they put men & women together?” I guess cramming so much offensiveness into 140 characters should be regarded as a talent. This tweet came on the heels of the Pentagon’s report on sexual assault in the United States military. The assessment revealed that reported assaults have risen from 3,192 to 3,374 in 2012, and based on anonymous surveys, the department estimated that about 26,000 service members have been assaulted. Aside from the misspelling of “assault,” Trump made quite a few other egregious errors in this tweet. Trump’s tweet took the blame
off the perpetrators by saying sexual assault was “expected” when “men & women [were put] together.” Shifting blame is a major issue in regards to sexual assault, since in our culture it is often the “victims” who are blamed, many times for situational circumstances such as how they were dressed. In this situation, Trump blamed the military for placing men and women together, as if this were a recipe for assault. In doing so, he assumed the problem was environmental, when in reality sexual assault often stems from the anger and power of the aggressor. By saying that assault was expected when men and women work together, he pushed the assumption that people are not responsible for their own actions. With this logic, we are animals driven by instinct, and should avoid certain situations so we don’t go assaulting those around us. This argument draws parallels to the assumption that people shouldn’t dress/act in
a certain way in order to avoid being assaulted or raped. This is the sort of nonsense that sparked the SlutWalk after a police officer in Toronto said “...women should avoid dressing like sluts in order not to be victimized.” What throws this theory back in it’s face is that everyone in the military is in a standardized uniform that is consistent across the board, and no element of their utilitarian dress would “bring on” assault. Trump’s comment also lended to the idea that people are wired to rape or that rape is inevitable. Assault is a crime perpetuated by rapists, not something that is bound to happen when humans are left to their own devices. In a following tweet, Trump again places blame on others: “The Generals and top military brass never wanted a mixer but were forced to do it by very dumb politicians who wanted to be politically C!” According to him, to eliminate sexual assault in military
we should segregate the sexes. Should we segregate the sexes in all workplaces in order to avoid assault? The reality is that people always have and always will need to coexist, in the workforce or otherwise. To suggest segregation to fix this issue is absurd. Not only was he originally blaming the military, but he further blamed women for joining the military, and then blamed the politicians who “let” women join. His comments are blaming everyone and everything other than the perpetrators themselves. Trump also assumes that only heterosexual assaults take place in the military with his comment about putting “men & women together,” when in reality it could happen to anyone. Same sex assault is a very real issue in the military, but it is an ongoing problem swept under the rug since people aren’t interested in talking about it since it doesn’t fit into the usual narrative of rape and assault. In two single tweets, Donald Trump managed to
misunderstand and misrepresent the fundamental concept of assault. This type of viewpoint only contributes to a society where sexual assault and rape are explained away. Even though he said so few words, so much can be taken from them. I am unsure as to whether or not Trump learned from this experience, especially after the lash-back of his followers, though it is doubtful. This sort of ignorant and hateful speech should not be ignored. If someone as prevalent in the media as Trump feels free and unashamed to make such comments, we should really take a step back and figure out why someone has such ignorant opinions in the first place, and why they lack the insight to not share them to millions of followers. Trump is only perpetuating an ongoing misunderstanding about the cause of sexual assault and rape with his ill-informed tweets, and it is this sort of discourse in society that needs to change.
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EDITORIAL
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The Ontarion Inc. University Centre Room 264 University of Guelph N1G 2W1 ontarion@uoguelph.ca Phone: 519-824-4120 General: x58265 Editorial: x58250 Advertising: x58267 Accounts: x53534 Editorial Staff: Editor-in-chief Jessica Avolio Production Staff: Photo & graphics editor Wendy Shepherd Ad designer Justin Thomson Layout Director Stephanie Lefebvre Office Staff: Business manager Lorrie Taylor Office manager Monique Vischschraper Ad manager Al Ladha Board of Directors President Bronek Szulc Treasurer Lisa Kellenberger Chairperson Michael Bohdanowicz Secretary Alex Lefebvre Directors Aaron Francis Harrison Jordan Heather Luz Lisa McLean Marshal McLernon Shwetha Chandrashekhar
o
Body love: the journey to accept oneself For far too long we have been at odds with our bodies and have strived for a perfect ideal that, in all honestly, does not exist. Everyone is sick of it. We no longer want advertisements that bombard us with messages that make us question our self-worth. They tell us what magic beauty regimen will get rid of cellulite, eliminate wrinkles, increase our breast size, constrict our waistlines, voluminise our hair, and whatever other arbitrary beauty ideals that are forced upon us. These social constructs of beauty are imposed upon us unwillingly and are designed to weaken the view of our self worth. If we feel negatively about our appearance, we are more likely to tap into our earnings in order to “better” our outer appearance. It’s exhausting to constantly feel like you are never thin enough, never beautiful enough; what we have is never really enough. Even if we do “achieve” many of these ideals, we find ways to create new things to dislike about ourselves. That’s the problem – they are just things, random and unreasoned. We tell ourselves that if we just change this one little thing, everything will be better. We may think “I will love my body more when I lose five pounds,” but it never happens because selfworth will never ever be attached to a number on the scale. Getting rid of pounds of body fat doesn’t get rid of the negative feelings you think are attached to them. You set up these expectations for what will happen when you
change your current body, but you feel worse when these expectations are not met because your self worth is being tied to something temporary. Your body has and always will change, as much as you try to delay the process. Next year you may have more under-eye wrinkles, more stretch marks on your ass, more spider veins on your legs, but it’s something we all experience in time. Why do we so desperately try to stall this natural progression and thus cling to our youth? Why do we constantly fuse together our self-respect and our appearance when it is something that will forever be shifting underneath us? We do terrible things to achieve these ideals. A majority of us either diet or have dieted as we deny ourselves the nutrition we need. We believe that with restriction, beauty will be achieved, which only leads to unhealthy obsessions with food and hunger, often manifesting into a lifelong struggle and preoccupation with how our body looks and how it will be perceived. You are consumed with how much you eat, how much you don’t eat, whether or not you forced yourself to burn off that “cheat” you couldn’t help but devour. Your scale becomes a physical representation of your mood; if the number goes down you feel elated and when the number goes up you feel miserable. When you do manage to lose weight, you are met by positive reinforcement from friends, family and
COURTESY PHOTO
The message “love your body” contributes to the surge of positive messages and movements in regards to acceptance, love and wellness of the body and mind. coworkers and you become anxious about the idea of gaining the weight back because you’re concerned about what others might think. We need to question these notions. Why is disliking ones body the norm for so many? What is the “right” body shape? Why do we discriminate against size and appearance? Why are we so preoccupied with our appearance in general? A growing amount of people are sick and tired of the negativity, and many movements have sprung up to demand equal rights for our bodies, no matter the shape, size, colour or age. We have celebrations such as international No Diet Day, movements such as “Endangered Bodies” and “Body Love Wellness” popping up
OPINION
Contributors
Alex Howie Andrea Connell Caleb Dallman Emma Wilson John Como
Kaela Shea Laura Castellani Silke Baron Stacey Aspinall Ted Wieclawek
the
The Ontarion is a non-profit organization governed by a Board of Directors. Since the Ontarion undertakes the publishing of student work, the opinions expressed in this publication do not necessarily reflect those of the Ontarion Board of Directors. The Ontarion reserves the right to edit or refuse all material deemed sexist, racist, homophobic, or otherwise unfit for publication as determined by the Editor-in-Chief. Material of any form appearing in this newspaper is copyrighted 2011 and cannot be reprinted without the approval of the Editor-in-Chief. The Ontarion retains the right of first publication on all material. In the event that an advertiser is not satisfied with an advertisement in the newspaper, they must notify the Ontarion within four working days of publication. The Ontarion will not be held responsible for advertising mistakes beyond the cost of advertisement. The Ontarion is printed by the Guelph Mercury.
online, and countless blogs dedicated to the growing movement of body love and acceptance. We have new paradigms such as Health at Every Size (HAES) which focuses on eating intuitively and pursing pleasurable physical activity instead of strict dieting and exercise. This is just the beginning. When we start to discuss these issues and encourage these positive movements, it helps others accept themselves. We should all refuse these body and beauty ideals and alternatively try to accept our bodies as the diverse beings that they are. Ultimately, when you stop criticizing your body, you feel better about it, and at the end of the day all we really want is to be happy in our skin.
A cynical view of university life Lightning John C. Perhaps an objective outsider understands your mental state better than you yourself. I certainly qualify as an outsider, since my formal schooling ended 50 years ago when my real education began. As for mental, you be the judge. Please understand, though, that the following generalizations and advice are not aimed at all undergrads, merely the majority in North America. First of all, you’re going to continue stressing over grades, exorbitant tuition fees, your appearance, and lovelife (or lack of). What can you do about it? Learn to relax and your marks will probably improve. As recently suggested by a Guelph professor, cash from prostitution should more than cover the cost of tuition...but that’s up to you. Protest regularly against tuition fees, as well as political crap, the so-called justice system, capitalism, etc. Organizing or joining a
protest march won’t change anything, but you’ll feel better about doing something, especially on a sunny day. Speak your mind and stop being so nice. If people find you somewhat repulsive, too bad! At least the friend(s) you make will be more genuine than superficial acquaintances. Nothing says you have to dress in the current fashion for young adults; instead wear comfortable and less expensive stuff. It’s what’s inside your head that counts, not the clothes you’re hiding behind. As for sex, have fun without guilt. And don’t forget that your right hand is the most reliable tool in the world. Unless you’re a lefty. Not living in the now inevitably means remorse in the future when you’re saddled with a mortgage, a crabby spouse and two squalling brats. A bit of stress in our lives is absolutely necessary. But if you feel it’s getting out of hand, seek
professional counseling. One of the main problems for wide-eyed and bushy-tailed fresh (wo)men results from a lack of purpose, other than having lots of parties and getting a diploma. They imagine this piece of paper guarantees a well-paying job. Fuggedabahdit! The marketplace is unpredictable and with or without a degree, you may end up flipping burgers at some greasy spoon. No way, you say? Well, lemme introduce you to a couple of my friends, both with PhDs. One’s a Public Transportation Official (taxi driver); the other, a Property Maintenance Specialist (janitor). Money’s tight and you can afford only cheap food and drink, but once in awhile buy a good liquor (Louis XIV cognac, for example) or a premium beer, such as craft IPA. As for food, occasionally try an exotic dish such as ‘mousaka’ or ‘daal.’ Thus, if university proves to be a waste of time and money, at least
you’ll have acquired a taste for the good life. And travel as far as you can. Not only does it broaden your mind, observing people in different locales helps to reduce your prejudices. Ignore the past; you can’t change your upbringing. Instead, develop an awareness of how much brainwashing has led to your present state of mind. Keep away from religion, and never put on a uniform. The only cool thing about cigarettes is the slab they put you on at the morgue. And forget about drugs; most of them will only screw up your head. And finally, believe nothing you read - including the Ontarion and only half of what you see.
The views represented in the opinion section do not necessarily reflect the views of The Ontarion nor its staff.
FUN PAGE
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171.2 • Thursday, May 23, 2013
COMMUNITY LISTINGS Thursday May 24 Guelph Little Theatre presents ‘Calendar Girls’ by Tim Firth, based on the Miramax film. Directed by Trevor Smith Diggins. Recommended for mature audiences. May 24-June 8. Tickets: $19, available online at www.guelphlittletheatre.com or by calling the box office at 519-821-0270.
CLASSIFIEDS SERVICES NEED ESSAY HELP! All subjects, research, writing and editing specialists, toll free 1-888-345-8295 customessay@bellnet.ca. Join our advertising team and make great commissions by placing posters around campus. Details: 416-280-6113. MISCELLANEOUS U of Guelph Cheese Study: Participants Needed. Adults not taking Vitamin D supplements with a BMI>25 needed for 6-month UofGuelph Cheese study. Financial compensation. 519-824-4120 x58081 or cheese@uoguelph.ca.
Saturday May 25 Guelph Hiking Trail Club. Hike the Speed River Trail. 3hr, 13km. Level 2. Speed Moderate. The footing can be wet so wear appropriate boots. Bring lunch, snacks, water. Meet 12 noon at Guelph covered bridge parking lot (Gordon St.) for carpooling. All welcome. Leader: Terry Spittles 519-265-6203.
Guelph Youth Singers presents ‘It Takes A Village’ 7pm at the River Run Centre, 2013. For tickets, phone the River Run Box Office 519-763-3000 or Online riverrun.ca. Adults $25, Students & Seniors $20. www.guelphyouthsingers.com BestCrosswords.com
Across 1- Flat sound 5- Longhorn rival 10- La Dolce ___ 14- Chip in 15- Awkward boors 16- Are you ___ out? (2) 17- Jump 18- Damp 19- Prefix with plasm 20- Some mattresses 22- Level 24- Bailiwicks 25- Intensify 26- Asian cuisine 28- Titled 32- Elation 35- Fur scarf 37- Gaming tile 38- Once around the track 39- China’s Zhou ___ 41- Map lines: Abbr. 42- Beast 45- Sheet music abbr. 46- ___ majeste 47- Furnishings 48- Small plateau 50- Tidily 54- Remove dirt with a broom 58- Escort or lover 61- Remove cargo 62- Put a lid ___! (2) 63- “Enigma Variations” composer 65- As a result 66- Yes ___? (2) 67- As a companion 68- Type of gun 69- A wedding cake may have three of these
70- Sensation provided by buds on the tongue 71- Lays down the lawn
51- Skip ___ (2) 52- I cannot ___ lie (2) 53- Corporate symbols 55- Keep an ___ the ground (2) 56- Created a border 57- Lowly workers 58- Codger 59- Calvary letters 60- Movie theater 61- Impulse to act 64- Hill dweller
Down 1- Chip dip 2- Scoff 3- Blank look 4- Divided, anatomically 5- Donations to the poor 6- Sticky stuff 7- Semblance SUBMIT 8- “Who’s there?” your completed reply (2) 9- Bar, legally crossword by 10- Country in SE no later than Asia Monday, June 11- Move slowly 3rd at 4pm for 12- Carry 13- “East of Eden” a chance to win brother TWO FREE BOB’S 21- Volcanic output DOG’S! 23- Vintner’s prefix 25- “My Heart Will Go Last Week's Solution On” singer 27- Explorer Tasman 29- Bog down 30- Breaks off 31- Prescribed amount 32- Pleased 33- Alley 34- Monumental 36- Menu words 37- Calamitous Congratulations 40- Military force 43- Warning device to this week's 44- Son of Zeus in crossword winner: Greek mythology Roisin Lyder. Stop by 46- Licentious the Ontarion office 49- Common ID (amer.) to pick up your prize!
Saturday May 25 The Rainbow Chorus of Waterloo-Wellington spring concert ‘Songs in the Key of Sea’, 8pm at Harcourt United Church. Advance tickets: $15/adults, $10/seniors/students. Visit www.rainbowchorus.ca for ticket purchase locations. Sunday May 26 SKSS Productions 2nd Annual SPRING AWAKES! - a performance arts hiking adventure in support of the Plant an Old-Growth Forest Project at the Ignatius Jesuit Centre. 1:30-4:30pm. Tickets available at The Bookshelf, 41 Quebec St. - Adults $25 / Children Free (must be able to hike with a group). Visit http://www.oldgrowthforest.ca/events.html for further details. Guelph Historical Walking Tours --Tour I: Where Guelph Began. Meet 2pm at 25 Waterloo Ave., corner of Dublin St. Cost: $5. (Fee does NOT include admission to Guelph Museums). For more details visit: www.guelpharts.ca/guelphartscouncil Tuesday May 28 Buddhist Meditation Class- Simple, practical methods to improve the quality of our life and develop inner peace. This week’s topic: From selfcentred to a profound altruism. Drop in class 7-8:30pm at St. Matthias Anglican Church, 171 Kortright Rd. W. $10. www.kadampa.ca. Saturday June 22 First Light Theatre presents ‘Rosencrantz & Guildenstern Are Dead’ ~A Comedic Twist On Shakespeare’s Hamlet~ by Tom Stoppard. Directed by Rob MacKinnon. June 22nd 1 pm & 8 pm, June 23rd 1pm. George Luscombe Theatre, UofG. Suggested donation: $10/student; $15/adult. firstlighttheatre@gmail.com OR www.firstlighttheatre.ca Ongoing: The annual Guelph Community Food Drive kicks off May 31st - June 10th, aiming to help smaller community food pantries stock their shelves before the summer. For information about drop off locations or volunteering, contact kkamphuis@lakesidehopehouse.ca or call 519-265-4299 x23. Guelph Civic Museum’s Exhibit –‘Coming Out: A Look at Queer, Political and Social History of Guelph’. A special case exhibit to celebrate the 10th anniversary of Guelph Pride and the work that has been done in the community. Exhibit runs until August 25. 52 Norfolk St. 519-836-1221 ext. 2773 guelph.ca/museum. Trillium Gift of Life Network (TGLN) is encouraging all Ontarians to register their consent to become organ and tissue donors. By registering as a donor, you could one day save up to eight lives and enhance as many as 75 more. Online donor registration is now available at BeADonor.ca. It’s easy and it only takes 3 minutes to register. www.beadonor.ca