The Charlatan: Volume 53 Issue 1

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Editor’s Note

1 December 2023 Editor-in-Chief: Faith Greco • editor.charlatan@gmail.com

Journalists have the opportunity to participate in the first draft of history - an opportunity that should never be taken lightly.

Articles, photographs and videos produced by those privileged enough to be represented and have a voice in the media become part of the historical record. Journalism continues to evolve, and learning from our shared history is essential to resolving present issues.

The Charlatan invites you on a journey through time with new and relevant stories incorporating a historical perspective.

Thank you to our volunteers and editors for their tireless efforts in producing essential and informative content for the Carleton community and beyond. Your work is invaluable and your passion for journalism is genuinely inspiring.

A special thank you to our sources for trusting us to deliver your stories.

Get ready for a blast from the past!

Faith Greco Editor-in-Chief

@charlatanlive www.charlatan.ca Cover art by Alisha Velji Layout by Emily McGrath

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Myles Bodie

From FreeNet to Brightspace: The history of the internet at Carleton Elissa Mendes & Maia Tustonic

‘Tremendous turning point’: Carleton professor reconciles with police association Daria Maystruck

Local photographer documents wetland revitalization in Stillwater exhibit Kyra Vellinga

An incomplete catch-up on archived Carleton queer culture Audrey Gunn

‘The essential skills have not changed’: A look back at Carleton’s journalism program and where it is heading Keaton Hills

Looking back on 20 years of Ravens dominance in men’s basketball Janson Duench

From helmets to neck guards, hockey safety has progressed — but players say it still falls short Ryan Clark

The Charlatan’s guide to Ottawa’s retro hotspots Owen Spillios-Hunter

2023: A time capsule

News

3 December 2023 News Editors: Myles Bodie, Audrey Gunn, Elissa Mendes • news.charlatan@gmail.com

From FreeNet to Brightspace: The history of the internet at Carleton MYLES BODIE

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hen Charlatan columnist Blayne Haggart questioned what makes the internet important on Sept. 29, 1994, his answer was clear. “[It is], simply put, the most incredible procrastination device since the invention of Tetris.”

As the statement remains uncontested even decades later, the web has inevitably shaped Carleton University’s history. However, accessing the internet wasn’t always easy.

Originally, there was FreeNet The commercialization of the internet is frequently associated with the mid-’90s.

For years prior, internet access was restricted to government groups and scientists.

Three Carleton faculty aimed to expand internet access in Ottawa.

Inspired by Case Western Reserve University’s system, Carleton’s George Fjakor, Jay Weston and David Sutherland officially launched National Capital FreeNet (NCF) on Feb. 1, 1993. Best described in NCF’s handbook, free-net “is an open-place [internet system] where individuals, organizations and institutions can interact and exchange information.”

In subsequent years, Ottawa recognized the need for community connection. “[Fjakor, Weston, and Sutherland] received tons of support from Ottawa’s community, but also from Carleton,” said Shelley Robinson, NCF executive director.

Former Carleton president Robin H. Farquhar wrote a letter to NCF’s co-founders March 9, 1993, stating he was “very pleased that Carleton University will be an enthusiastic participant in creating this innovative public utility.”

Robinson said NCF and other free-net technology predated the modern web by providing a text-based portal for com-

Co-founders and well-wishers at NCF’s official launch at the regional municipality of OttawaCarleton rotunda in Ottawa on Feb. 1, 1993. Photo provided by Alex Parsons

munity users to converse and access with various other opportunities. information.

“Computer networking is the way of André Dalle, NCF systems and net- the future,” wrote Charlatan staff Alex work administrator, said the early ‘90s Bustos in 1993 after accessing one of the marked an era of community-focused earliest student-run online publications, internet users.

Intertext, through NCF. If you needed information, a selecAs for headquarters, Carleton’s Duntion of online bulletin boards curated ton Tower served the NCF team for more by community users were available and than a decade. While NCF was gaining categorized according to subject. traction, yet another internet develop“There wasn’t an existing, giant net- ment was emerging at Carleton during work,” Robinson said. “[NCF] built the the early 90’s. platform that allowed that to happen.” Plug-In Learning For Carleton students at the time, Wade Hong, an information technoloNCF didn’t erase written exams and long gy officer at Carleton, said NCF inspired research days at the library. web-based learning management softObscure DVD-based encyclopedias ware at Carleton. emerged well after NCF, Robinson said, NCF’s centralized information concept but “[they were] a lot different from led to “a portal for students to access Wikipedia today.” information from courses to class discus“You can search for effectively any- sions” called CHAT in 1993, Hong said. thing nowadays,” she said. “Back then, CHAT used a point-and-click directo[that] was very much not the case.” ry system for students to access and conHowever, NCF provided students verse with each other, similar to NCF’s

December 2023 charlatannews news

Co-founder David Sutherland at the official launch of National Capital Freenet at the regional municipality of Ottawa-Carleton rotunda in Ottawa on Feb. 1, 1993. Photo provided by Alex Parsons

bulletin boards.

However, students and professors looking to use the software on campus were restricted by slow network speeds.

Hong said his “hand-shake agreement” with then-director of compuing and NCF co-founder David Sutherland increased network speeds allowing CHAT on campus.

“There were quite a number of [directories] where students and faculty could exchange discussions upon class topics,” Hong said.

An interactive learning management software called WebCT eventually outdated CHAT. Hong said WebCT was first employed by physics professor Dean Karlen’s upper-year classes in 1997. “[WebCT] was totally web-based, could store class questions and generate quizzes,” Hong said. “It would provide instant feedback for the instructor.”

John Stewart, a CHAT and WebCT system and network administrator, said WebCT was “much stronger at providing an e-learning service than [CHAT],” Karlen and other science and mathematics professors enjoyed the learning management software for several years without interest from other faculties until demand increased across the university.

“Eventually, [faculty interest] overburdened STEM staff and they handed WebCT over to information technology services to manage,” Hong said.

Despite this change, several faculty members also ran separate department web pages for course content alongside WebCT’s quiz service.

“It was frustrating,” Stewart said.

“Professors were not willing to use a technology designed to make [instructing] easier.”

Carleton’s internet in the 2000s The turn of the century saw innovation toward online student learning by using centralized course content and testing at Carleton. It also saw significant demand from students for wireless internet across campus.

Carleton implemented wireless internet in 2004 and used WebCT until 2011 when parent company Blackboard shifted focus to newer products.

CULearn, the new learning management system established in 2012, included a number of unseen features like assignment submission capabilities, video-streamed lectures and real-time grading.

Carleton’s website described the CULearn technology as “increasing-

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ly sophisticated,” with the university using the system for more than eleven years.

However, another platform became increasingly enticing.

After three years of review and evaluation, Brightspace LMS was launched on May 6, 2021, claiming to provide “key advantages” to educators at Carleton, including substantial improvements in performance, responsiveness and reliability.

“There was certainly a migration period,” Hong said, referring to CULearn’s transition to Brightspace. “But it was short-lived.”

Brightspace is currently used by students and faculty today. As for NCF, two decades and counting, the pioneering internet provider remains an important service to the Ottawa community.

“We are still committed to keeping the internet affordable and high-quality, and helping people understand how to use it and feel safe online,” Robinson said.

Hong said NCF supports today’s community by serving “low-income families looking for cheap, reliable internet.”

In the words of NCF’s former director, Lauren Gardner, the company’s directives haven’t changed.

“NCF [means] access; access to opportunity, connectivity, education and support for everyone in the region,” she told the company biographer, Alex Parsons. “Regardless of income level."

Graphic by Emily McGrath

5 December 2023 charlatannews news

‘Tremendous turning point’: Carleton professor reconciles with police association ELISSA MENDES & MAIA TUSTONIC

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Carleton University criminology professor recently made peace with the Ottawa Police Association (OPA) to bring officers’ lived experiences into the classroom.

Darryl Davies was the subject of a 2014 controversy after a guest speaker in his class criticized two Ottawa police officers’ arrest of a homeless man.

The incident resulted in charges against the two officers that were later stayed after a judge found the guest speaker’s evidence to be uncredible.

“Matt Skof, the president of the OPA, demanded an apology from me, saying that I had libeled and slandered their officers,” Davies said. “Skof then said he was going to cut ties with Carleton — no longer have any dealings.”

Skof opted to completely disengage from university projects and stop providing interviews to journalism students at Carleton, Davies said.

Davies said he was not in contact with the OPA, until Skof, facing breach of trust and obstruction of justice charges, resigned in April 2022.

But when Det. Const. Matthew Cox assumed the presidential role, Davies said he decided “to do something different.”

“I decided I’d reach out to [Cox] and see if there’s a way we could compromise," Davies said.

Cox said he met Davies for lunch and arranged for police officers to speak to Davies’ policing in society class during the fall 2023 term. Davies said he saw the meeting as a “tremendous turning point” for the OPA’s relationship with the university.

“I was very happy to have [Davies] reach out to me to have these discussions,” Cox said. “I’ve been taking a

very different approach, and I think collaboration is very important.”

“Our duty [at the OPA] is not to protect, but it’s to represent.”

Davies said combining the officers’ shared experiences with the academic aspects of the course gives students a better education in policing issues.

“The students really enjoy it,” he added.

Deeya Sumra, a fourth-year criminology student in Davies’ class, said she “loves” the new arrangement between Davies and the police Carleton prof Darryl Davies fosters collaboration with Ottawa Police Association. Photo from file association.

“It feels like real conversations are “I figured they’re a union like any other union,” happening, instead of professors just he said. “I didn’t realize how involved they actualtouching upon [issues in policing] ly [are] in the everyday running of the police.” without going into depth,” she said.

The OPA provides legal representation for of“We talk about real things that happen.” ficers facing trial, Fiorino said, but also organizes Alanna Wolfe, a fifth-year crim- sports leagues for officers and their loved ones. inology student in Davies’ class, During the guest lecture on mental health, Wolfe said she thinks the guest lectures said she appreciated how one OPA speaker explained could represent a future of positive the prevalence of mental health stigmas in policing. change within police culture, though “It was promising to me that they're recognizshe remains cautiously optimistic. ing these things and they want to see a change,” “I am also looking at it with a Wolfe said. grain of salt,” she said. “They’re “Police officers today have one of the highnot going to bring the bad apples est suicide rates compared to the general popof policing to come and lecture to ulation,” Davies said. “Some of [my students] a class of potential future officers.” will apply to join the police service, and they Michael Fiorino, a fourth-year will one day be policing our neighbourhoods.” criminology student in the class, Cox added he has already resumed giving said the class has offered him a “dif- interviews to Carleton journalism students. ferent perspective” on policing. “I have no problem with granting interviews,” Cox “[During] the whole program we said. “If we can educate [the public on] why some learn about the issues that are present decisions are made, or why something happened in policing, and rightfully so,” he the way it happened, I think that’s important.” said.

Davies said the decision to reinstate interviews So far this semester, the OPA’s reflects that “police are accountable to members two guest lectures have addressed of the public.” the association’s function and men“[The police have] a role to play in society, tal health in policing, according but citizens have every right to criticize,” he said. to Wolfe. The third and final guest “I think that our relationship with the OPA is lecture will examine forensics. now going to be very beneficial to the citizens of Sumra and Fiorino said the guest Ottawa. I think that it’s a sign of the times.” lectures taught them a lot about the OPA.

Arts & Culture

6 December 2023 Arts and Culture Editor: Kyra Vellinga • arts.charlatan@gmail.com

Local photographer documents wetland revitalization in Stillwater exhibit

Photographer Jon Stuart stands with images of Stillwater

DARIA MAYSTRUCK For photographer Jon Stuart, a three-year lesson in documenting ecological history all started with one elm tree off the side of Moodie Drive in Ottawa.

Stuart said he first noticed the strangeness of the lone tree when walking by during the early years of the pandemic.

“This tree stood out for me because it’s a mature elm, and it really shouldn’t be in the middle of a wetland—that’s not where they grow,” he said. “I came back a couple of days later to take some proper photographs of it, and the more I looked around, the more odd it seemed.”

He got in touch with the Rideau Valley Conservation Authority, one of the organizations spearheading the Stillwater wetland rehabilitation project, upon noticing a flipped-over warning sign near the wetland.

The conservation authority cares for the Stillwater wetland alongside several other government and non-profit organizations, including the Ottawa-Carleton Wildlife Centre and the City of Ottawa.

Donna DuBreuil, co-founder and president of the Ottawa-Carleton Wildlife Centre, said the restoration project included repairing and adding more drainage

Photo by Daria Maystruck

channels in the Stillwater wetland, as well as adding stormwater ponds to help prevent flooding.

For the next three years, Stuart took photos of the Ottawa Greenbelt land as it evolved in front of him.

“

The more I looked around, the more odd it seemed.

John Stuart

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“I wanted to be able to communicate the strangeness that can be found in this landscape because for me, that was a real point of engagement. And the more I got to know why it was strange and what was going on, the more I came to appreciate the place,” he said.

His project evolved alongside the landscape—intertwined by moments of light and stillness captured on largeformat film.

“I knew that this place was going to literally take root. As I saw that happen, I’d see my goals change … but seeing the landscape change in front of me led me to see different aspects of it.”

James Opp, a history professor at Carleton University, said it is difficult to summarize the role of photography in

documenting history.

“Photography doesn’t document history, it can only ever trace its own present, and even then, what the camera pictures is selective, ambiguous and open to many interpretations,” he wrote in an email to the Charlatan.

Stuart’s 24 final photos, which were displayed on sprawling panels of vinyl at the Shenkman Arts Centre in Orleans throughout October, welcomed visitors to step into these moments captured in time.

Stuart said he hoped his photography would “strike a more positive note in terms of showing people that there are good things happening” and added, “engagement leads to appreciation, which leads to stewardship.”

“For me, stewardship is a really broad category and it comes out of a positive relationship from the place. Sometimes stewardship can just be giving it space to recover, as opposed to intervening,” he said.

DuBreuil said the project’s result was “amazing in terms of the biodiversity that’s returned there.”

“At its worst back in 2014, when we raised the concern about how bad it was, all you’d see there was this canary grass.

So much of it had dried up and all you would see would be maybe a few redwing blackbirds—now it’s just incredible,” DuBreuil said. “To see it in a restored capacity is pretty magical. And I think [Stuart’s] work depicts this.”

Stuart said he aimed to invite viewers inside the wetlands’ evolution.

“I came up with the idea of bringing the wetland inside […] so I decided this [was] my chance to create those immersive photographs,” he said.

Stuart said he continues to see changes in the evolving landscape, including an increased presence of western chorus frogs chirping in the marshes. If you were to go back to that elm tree off Moodie Drive, the land may look completely different than in his initial photos.

December 2023

charlatanarts arts

Former Carleton students pathed the way for a more inclusive future.

Graphics by Alisha Velji

KYRA VELLINGA

With playful gender-bending, queer radio shows, cheeky

kiss-ins and “fag-friendly” student bands, the Carleton 2SLGBTQ+ community of the 80s and 90s worked as an underground force for progress.

For David O’Meara, an English literature student and member of Sock ‘n’ Buskin Theatre Company from 1987 to 1994, theatre was a route for social commentary.

“We were always looking for interesting plays that would push convention, push status quo ideas about society and push the student population,” O’Meara said.

One such play was Cloud Nine, which graced the Alumni Theatre stage — now the Kailash Mital Theatre — in February 1991. With forbidden queer romance, raunchy sex triangles, gender-bending, challenging of colonialism and an elderly woman exploring self-pleasure, this adventurous postmodern

comedy stirred reactions within the university community.

O’Meara, who portrayed a gay man named Edward, recalled that opposition to Cloud Nine’s depiction of homosexuality startled him.

“There was a kissing scene between myself and another male actor. I remember being quite surprised opening night that there were shock and gasps from the audience when that scene happened,” he said. “I looked forward to getting that reaction every performance.”

Ultimately, O’Meara said he believes the production advanced normalization of queer relationships on campus.

“The positive thing was that the gay and lesbian community at the time really embraced Cloud Nine,” he said. “They saw the play was pushing boundaries and offering an alternative version to the status quo, which is what I think art does.”

Furnaceface, a local student indie-rock band that performed

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December 2023 charlatanarts arts

throughout the 1990s, also pushed against the status quo.

A 1993 Charlatan orientation week article recommended the Furnaceface song, “Can’t Help Who You Love,” as a “fag-friendly” anthem for 2SLGBTQ+ first-years.

The article read, “Although none of the band’s members are gay (sob), they don’t mind the tune’s homo-interpretation.”

Furnaceface vocalist and guitarist Patrick Banister said the band members aimed to be allies for communities they cared about.

“We came up through a punk scene which was all about community and inclusion unless of course, you were a racist, Nazi [or] fascist. In which case you could, to put it bluntly, fuck off,” he wrote in an email to the Charlatan.

Cicely McWilliam, a Carleton film student from 1986 to 1989, best remembers her Carleton years working as a lesbian activist with Queer Nation—an organization committed to combating homophobic violence and media prejudices.

Citing the AIDS epidemic, substance abuse, social stigmas and economic insecurity as key concerns of the 2SLGBTQ+ community during this time, McWilliam stressed the necessity of activism.

“It was truly life or death for a lot of people. We couldn’t be ourselves. We couldn’t love who we wanted to love,” she said.

“We didn’t have the rights that heterosexuals have, and if we didn’t fight for them, we were never gonna get them.”

She added Queer Nation student protests were often “cheeky.”

“We were really focused on queering spaces,” she said. “We heard that a bar on Elgin Street kicked out a queer couple for dancing and kissing. So we went en masse, occupied the space, made it our own and had a kiss-in. We did a kiss-in on Parliament Hill and a drag takeover of the makeup counter at The Bay.” Hidden gems in the city also made for memorable nights out. McWilliam recalled evenings spent at Coral Reef, a lesbian bar situated in the Rideau Centre parking garage basement and affectionately nicknamed “Oral Grief.”

“It was run by straight people, who I think were contractors for their day job. So most of the bar itself was covered in bathroom tile. Every single night they ended the night with ‘Lady in Red’ by Chris de Burgh and it was terrible,” she joked.

Keri-Lyn Durant, who attended Carleton on and off between 1989 and 1994, said she frequented the Elgin Street DV8 lesbian bar and the Dancing Mermaid lesbian nightclub. While grateful for 2SLGBTQ+ spaces for students to unwind and connect, Durant said she also experienced harassment.

“I had privilege and the ability to pass in every space. Nobody bothered me until I was coming out of DV8.

We’d get catcalled coming out,” she said.

As someone who wore makeup, dress-

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es and was considered “femme,” Durant felt she didn’t fit lesbian presentation moulds of the time.

“When we talk about things these days as being fluid and flexible, in those days I felt like things were far more rigid,” she said.

“It was a weird time for me because there was a lot of in-community labelling and conformity.”

Amid confusion and questioning her place, Durant found sanctuary in co-hosting the CKCU lesbian and gay radio program Defiant Voices alongside Kevin Gibbs.

The radio program featured interviews with queer thinkers and challenged homophobic policies within the Catholic Church and the right-wing organization, REAL Women of Canada.

“There was one religious leader, [and] he would call in. In those days, we didn’t have email. He’d say things like, ‘If you were my daughter, I would’ve drowned you at birth,’” Durant recalled.

Durant said Defiant Voices called out homophobic attitudes for being absurd and unacceptable. For students who grew up in conservative spaces, the radio show presented new norms.

“I grew up in a home that was socially conservative,” Durant

“

You cannot be what you cannot see.

Keri-Lyn Durant

”

said. “In those days, my world was very cerebral as a defense mechanism. Kevin was a safe space for me.”

Guided by the belief “you cannot be what you cannot see,” Durant said the program aimed to normalize 2SLGBTQ+ life, on campus and beyond, without enforcing stereotypes.

“I think in all of the chaos, there was joy in being able to be my ugly little self at Defiant Voices. There was joy in discovering that there was space to just ‘be,’” Durant said.

“It has inevitably had some kind of impact,” she added. “When Defiant Voices came about, it really felt like we were breaking ground.”

McWilliam reiterated that current 2SLGBTQ+ rights and progress stem from a history of advocacy.

“There’s been a lot of improvements and benefits to what young queer kids have today, and I’m happy they have [those],” McWilliam said. “That didn’t happen without a fight.”

Both McWilliam and Durant said more work is needed to achieve equity, especially for trans youth and elderly 2SLGBTQ+ people.

“It’s 2023 and yes, on the hard work of the queer community that’s come before us, I’m thankful to live as I do,” Durant said.

“But I know we still have a lot of work to do.”

Features

9 December 2023 Features Editor: Jenna Legge • features.charlatan@gmail.com

‘The essential skills have not changed’: A look back at Carleton’s journalism program and where it is heading

With shifting technologies and moves toward divesity, the Carleton School of Journalism is in a transitional period. Photo by Owen Spillios-Hunter

nication, was a journalism student at Carleton from 1982 to 1986.

Thompson recalled his days as a stuack in the ‘80s, Carleton professors dent, where typewriters and phone Allan Thompson and Randy Boswell booths were commonplace. worked on many of the same assignments “The school was located in the St. as today’s J-schoolers, albeit using typePatrick’s Building and there was a writers and shorthand in place of cell room that had a bank of telephones. phones and handheld recorders.

That phone room was where people Carleton University’s School of Jourwent to do phone interviews because nalism and Communication was founded cell phones didn’t exist,” Thompson in 1945. Since then, the program has con- said. stantly adapted to new technologies and is Randy Boswell, an assistant proworking on becoming a more welcoming fessor and former J-school student, space for marginalized students. recalled using shorthand and typeJ-school in the ‘80s writing in his classes from 1985 to Allan Thompson, the director of Car1989. leton’s School of Journalism and CommuShorthand is a method of note-

AUDREY GUNN

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taking that reporters use in interviews to keep track of information using abbreviations and symbols.

This was back in the days before handheld recorders and just as computers were becoming mainstream.

Boswell has been involved with Carleton’s J-school since his days as a student, working as a contract instructor before taking on a fulltime teaching position in 2012.

He said his time at the school has resulted in positive working relationships with peers and students.

“I have really good relationships with lots of people that I went to school with 35 years ago. My life in connection with the school has been very rewarding, on many levels.”

However, he said a lot has changed since the ‘80s in terms of equipment and tools.

Technology and equipment

While the technology of J-school’s past vastly differs from the laptops and cellphones of today, the fundamental courses have remained the same.

First-years took an introductory course on journalism, its values and history, before moving into second-year fundamentals of reporting, followed by radio and TV in third-year.

Back in the ‘80s, audio and video courses were referred to as TV and radio before taking on more modern titles.

“When you were editing your

December 2023

charlatanfeatures features

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Professor Randy Boswell in his early days as a staff writer for the Ottawa Citizen, c.1989 photo provided by Randy Boswell

Professor Allan Thompson graduated from the Carleton School of Journalism in 1986. Photo by Owen Spillios-Hunter

radio pieces, you were literally cutting pieces of tape with a razor blade and stitching it together with tape,” Boswell said.

Boswell recalls the advantages of having a car in video classes.

“When I was learning television, everyone wanted to be on my team in those days because I had a station wagon. It was very popular in television because the TV cameras and other equipment involved in shooting TV on those days was really heavy and it came in gigantic suitcases,” he said.

In 2018, the school transformed its former news-

to new technologies today, well, it’s kind of been going on since the beginning of journalism history.”

Thompson highlighted the importance of the fundamental values of journalism, which haven’t changed over time.

“Don’t let the technology drive the way you do the job. You decide how you’re going to do the job,” he said.

Diversity and inclusion

Boswell said the culture within the school was much more competitive in the ‘80s.

“It felt competitive and it felt kind of cutthroat, to be honest.

There was a bit of a ‘sink or swim’ attitude. And I’d say that’s changed over time,” he said.

“I think we all recognize that it wasn’t a very welcoming place for people of colour. The faculty was probably completely white You decide how you’re when I was there as a student. It was highly male. All of my teachers, save one or two, were men,” Boswell added. going to do the job.

Since then, the department has attempted to diversify both Allan Thompson the faculty and curriculum. These changes are part of the school’s J-School Director 2020 commitment to students in response to a call to action made by students and alumni. paper Centretown News into today’s digital publicaThe calls to action included hiring more BIPOC faculty memtion, Capital Current. bers, amending the curriculum to include the history of IndigThe internet revolutionized the journalism indus- enous peoples in Canada and deconstructing the definition of try, and since then, journalism schools have had to objectivity. adapt to teach students about data journalism and Recent additions to the faculty include Nana aba Duncan, multimedia tools.

Adrian Harewood and Duncan McCue. According to Thompson, “The story of the school of journalism since its these journalists bring diverse perspectives and groundbreaking founding has been an evolution to reflect the chang- courses to the program. ing technology of the news industry,” Boswell said. “[They] bring this incredible expertise from their areas of “We think we’re struggling and scrambling to adapt specialty and research programs that are going to take the

“

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school in new directions,” he said. “[The school is] just much more focused on equity, diversity, inclusion, what it means to be a journalist [and] whose voices aren’t being heard.”

McCue is introducing a fourth-year course called Reporting in Indigenous Communities in the winter 2024 semester. This course has partnerships with four Indigenous communities in the Ottawa Valley, including the Kitigan Zibi, Pikwàkanagàn, Akwesasne First Nations and the urban Inuit community within Ottawa.

“I think it’s really important that journalism students begin to recognize that they can report on Indigenous issues from wherever they are,” said McCue. “There are important Indigenous stories in their own backyards that they can and should be reporting on.”

He said Carleton and journalism schools need to increase Indigenous student enrolment. To help reach this goal, McCue is also offering an Indigenous Journalism Certificate. This certificate will be based on partnerships with Indigenous communities, and is designed to attract remote learners.

“It’s one more step towards being responsive to the Kinàmàgawin report, and also TRC call to action No. 86, which said that journalism schools need to do a better job of teaching journalism students about Indigenous cultures, politics and history of Indigenous relations in this country.”

Associate professor Adrian Harewood’s graduate seminar titled Journalism, Race and Diversity offers students the opportunity to learn about diverse communities and their contributions to the industry.

“It’s a course that tries to deal with the matter of race. It gives the students an opportunity to have some conversations that they haven’t had before,”

charlatanfeatures features

December 2023

Allan Thompson reflects on his time as a student.

Harewood said.

Harewood’s new undergraduate course called the History of Black Canadian Journalism, is also making history.

“It’s the first course of its kind.

The course talks about the beginnings of the Black Canadian journalism in the 1850s,” he said.

Harewood highlighted the importance of understanding the historical work of Black journalists, whose contributions impacted their communities beyond the journalistic realm.

“I think it gives you access to communities that perhaps experienced society in a different way. If you are exposed to that, hopefully, it allows you to ask more informed questions, more critical questions,” he said. “It helps you to understand why communities develop the way they develop. It’s never a bad thing to expand your horizons.”

Harewood said the school is taking steps to make the program more inclusive through hiring and curriculum changes.

“The department has made a considerable effort to make sure that the curriculum better reflects the

Photo by Owen Spillios-Hunter

diversity of the school, but also the diversity of the country we’re living in. I think that communicates to students, I would hope, that the school is open and aware of the need to represent many different voices,” he said.

The Mary Ann Shadd Cary Centre is another new addition to the journalism school that will offer a safe space for racialized journalists.

The centre’s purpose fosters intersectionality within journalistic practice.

“I think that’s another indication of the department’s commitment to fulfilling its responsibilities and to living up to the promises that it made to its students a couple of years ago,” Harewood said.

Thompson said although the journalism industry is changing, the school has continuously adapted.

“I don’t think it’s quite the disaster that some people’s parents are probably telling them,” he said. “The industry is in transition.”

Sports

12 December 2023 Sports Editor: Janson Duench • sports.charlatan@gmail.com

Looking back on 20 years of Ravens dominance in men’s basketball

NCAA’s Texas Tech Red Raiders.

Blakely, who worked under Smart, called him a genius and “objectively” the best basketball coach in the country.

“I just felt like his awareness of the sport, his tactical and technical capacity was very, very advanced,” Blakely said. “He has the ability to build a winning culture and create a culture of togetherness, a culture of players that want to improve on a day-to-day basis, players that want to kind of excel and meet their potential.”

An overlooked factor in the Ravens’ success has been their ability to recruit Canada’s best players.

Charles said he believes their program’s ability to put players on a path to a professional career, particularly in Europe, has helped them attract the best talent.

“Some of our guys who’ve done well, especially in Europe, have the attention to detail and discipline, and The Carleton Ravens team celebrating their ninth champion title win in 11 [Europe wants] ready-made players,” Charles said. years in 2013. Photo from file.

Charles said his team fosters the type of culture that helps players transition seamlessly to the next level in Europe.

Notable players who have graduated from the Ravens KEATON HILLS program are Osvaldo Jeanty (2002-2007), Tyson Hinz (20092014) and Aaron Doornekamp (2004-2009).

On Aug. 21, 2013, two future NBA players visited the Raven’s Nest The Ravens sent all three players to professional careers for a summer exhibition game. in Europe and have positioned many others for success Frank Kaminsky, a ninth overall selection by the Charlotte Hornets, post-basketball. and Sam Dekker, an 18th overall pick by the Houston Rockets. They beBlakely stressed how Smart set up his players for success longed to the Wisconsin Badgers, a NCAA Division I team. both on and off the court.

Wisconsin would go to the Final Four of March Madness that sea“That was a thing that was really emphasized,” Blakeson. But on that summer night, Wisconsin stood no chance against the ly said.

“Taking the right thing seriously. That realCarleton Ravens men’s basketball team, facing a deficit as large as 22 ly stands out to me […] often if you do the right thing points in the game and ultimately losing 95-82. as a person, it transitions well into the basketball court.”

“I felt like we had players that were clearly outplaying them […] and If their 17 national championships prove anything, it’s [making] really good players make tough plays,” said Aaron Blakely, a that this is indisputlong-time assistant coach who was on the sidelines that game.

That night was just a microcosm of the dominance Carleton has en- ably a program of joyed over the past two decades. The team has won 17 U Sports national champions, on and off the court. championships in the last 20 years.

Ravens head coach Taffe Charles said the program’s success over the years can be chalked up to discipline, details and toughness. These qualities make their training unique. “[It’s] the way we practice, the level of intensity we practice with, the understanding within our whole group of players about how important The Charlatan's it is to be at practice and to give your all,” Charles said. He said these cover after the aren’t run-of-the-mill practices - they’re designed to prepare players for Ravens won the 2013 the worst. national basketball “I think the biggest thing is we can set that environment up to championship be as heartless and difficult as possible,” he said. “And by the time the against the Lakehead games start, [they’re] pretty easy.”

Thunderwolves.

Dave Smart, the iconic coach who led those practices for 14 of the Photo by Willie Ravens’ 17 championship seasons, is now an assistant coach with the Carroll

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December 2023

From helmets to neck guards, hockey safety has progressed — but players say it still falls short that covers as much of the neck area as possible.”

Former NHLer Tim Higgins said he firmly believes something needs to be done.

“As somebody who grew up with the game and played professionally, to see someone die from something that is preventable is shocking,” he said.

As with any organized sport, player safety is supposed to be the first priority, but hockey has a history of unsafe and illogical safety practices. In many ways, the hockey world has already gone through this safety debate with helmets.

Higgins recalled wearing a helmet in minor hockey, but outside pressure and

After a devastating accident, hockey safety measures are under revision.

JANSON DUENCH WARNING: GRAPHIC CONTENT - This story contains mention of gore. Those in need of support can call the Ottawa Distress Centre Crisis Line: 613-238-3311 An unexpected horror scene unfolded during an Elite Ice Hockey League (EIHL) game between the Nottingham Panthers and the Sheffield Steelers at Utilita Arena in Sheffield, U.K. on Oct. 28.

Canadian international student and hockey fan Ben George recalls the incident vividly. He was taking in the game with his Leeds University Gryphons hockey teammates.

“It took me two or three days to get the image out of my head. It was pretty traumatic,” George said. “I’ve never seen so much blood before.”

George was among thousands of fans who watched helplessly as medical staff attempted in vain to revive 29-year-old professional hockey player Adam Johnson after a

Graphic by Alisha Velji

skate blade cut his neck. Johnson was later pronounced dead at the hospital.

“It was scary,” George said. “A lot of people were crying and everyone was quiet.”

With such a harsh reminder of the potential dangers of the sport, the incident has called the hockey community’s safety commitments into question.

Hockey Canada, the sport’s national governing body in Canada, said in a statement it “strongly encourages the use of neck guards for all participants regardless of age, including members of its national teams.”

While neck protection is mandatory for all minor and female hockey players in Canada, it isn’t mandated by most major junior, amateur and professional leagues.

USA Hockey, which governs the sport in the U.S., said in a statement it still only “recommends that all players wear a neck laceration protector, choosing a design

“

To see someone die from something that is preventable is shocking.

Tim Higgins

”

superstition influenced him to take it off once he turned pro.

Higgins’ 1978-79 rookie campaign with the Chicago Blackhawks was the final year players could choose to play without a helmet.

The following year, the NHL made helmets mandatory for all incoming players.

Higgins said he instinctually chose to wear a helmet for the start of the season, as he had during his whole hockey career. But when he failed to score a goal in his first several games, he decided to try his luck without one.

“Superstitiously, I say ‘Well, I haven’t scored yet, so I think I’ll take my helmet off and see if that changes

December 2023

charlatansports sports

Tim Higgins (15) playing for the Chicago Blackhawks during the 1981-82 NHL Season in a game against the Washington Capitals.

Photo provided by Tim Higgins

anything,’” he said. “Superstition is a big thing in hockey.”

For six years, Higgins played in the NHL without a helmet.

“That’s like driving around without a seatbelt,” Higgins said. “Why would you not [wear] it?”

Higgins recalled an incident from a 1986 NHL game at Joe Louis Arena between the Detroit Red Wings and Toronto Maple Leafs that revived the conversation surrounding player safety.

During a second period pile-up in Toronto’s crease, Higgins’ teammate Gerard Gallant accidentally stepped on Maple Leafs star Borje Salming’s face with his skate, necessitating hundreds of

stitches.

“There were a lot of near-misses,” Higgins said. “I’m surprised that more guys weren’t cut. You have no control over a falling body.”

“I had concussions, I had gashes on my head and now I’m looking at it and I think, ‘was I ever stupid not to wear that helmet,’” he said.

Higgins said he thinks a similar reckoning is underway with neck protection.

“Now is a great time to start the process to make sure that generations to come will have that protection,” he said.

Following the incident in England, Ontario University Athletics (OUA), the Western Hockey League and the EIHL have all

14

announced mandates for the use of neck protection. In the OUA, neck protection is now just another common-sense piece of safety equipment.

“It’s good, that’s the rule and we’ll abide by it,” said Shaun Van Allen, head coach of the Carleton Ravens men’s hockey team and former NHLer. Meanwhile, the NHL has responded slowly to the tragedy. The league noted it is not in a position to mandate the use of neck protection, as it is ultimately up to the players to decide.

“It’s sort of like the white elephant and nobody wants to address it,” Higgins said.

“The process is slower than it should be.”

Higgins said he believes the change will be gradual as the protection becomes more normalized among players. In his professional hockey days, he said many players voluntarily wore turtlenecks as rinks were generally colder than today.

“If you’re already wearing a turtleneck, why wouldn’t you have the neck protection in there?”

George said another incident may need to happen in the NHL for the league to take further action.

“It sounds terrible to say but if someone dying in the No. 1 league in England doesn’t change anything for [NHL commissioner] Gary Bettman […] I think it would take something like that in [the NHL] for that change to happen.”

Although the lack of an immediate response may be discouraging, the development of protective equipment throughout hockey history shows a trend of incremental safety improvements.

Higgins remembers when both helmets and facial protection were completely optional and even frowned upon in hockey. Today, it’s difficult to imagine players without them.

Neck protection may parallel the mandating of facial protection in hockey.

In its 2013-14 season, the NHL grandfathered in the use of visors for players with less than 25 games of experience. A similar rule could be in the NHL’s future.

“You think about the negatives of making them mandatory and it’s just not that big of a list,” George said. “There isn’t really a debate. It’s gonna save your life.”

Blogs

15 December 2023 Op/Ed Editor: Ryan Clark • oped.charlatan@gmail.com

The Charlatan’s guide to Ottawa’s retro hotspots

photo by Jamie Pauluzzo-Thom

There’s always something to do.

RYAN CLARK Ottawa is not just Canada’s capital city, it’s a functioning time machine. A simple night on the town can transform into a trip to decades past. Standard travel booklets would claim the stone castles of downtown are the must-sees for those wanting to get in touch with history.

However, for those of you who want to experience more of a recent look at the past, Ottawa has plenty of places that will fulfill your craving for nostalgia. From pierogi arcades to “fully-automatic” bowling alleys, here are some of Ottawa’s best locations to experience a blast from the past.

House of TARG

Patrons enjoy The House of TARG’s iconic pinball machines. photo by Owen Spillios-Hunter

The House of TARG’s founders put three excellent ideas for an establishment in a blender and got an Ottawa staple as a result. The pierogi restaurant and live music venue also houses a gallery of arcade games. Everyone who orders off their menu will have their selection called out by a synthesized alien voice, straight out of a 1980s cheesy science fiction film.

The crown jewel of the venue is definitely its pristine collection of iconic pinball machines. These are the ultimate retro fan dream, with the machines all themed after nostalgic icons such as KISS, Jurassic Park, Star Wars and perhaps most memorable of all, Shaquille O’Neal.

December 2023

Level One Game Pub

For those yearning to be immersed in the 16-bit dreamscapes of 1980s and ‘90s video games, Level One Game Pub is the place to And if you’re looking more for early 21st-century nostalgia, the pub’s two floors of fun and food feature game consoles that would fit a more modern definition of ‘retro.’

If you grew up with a weekly family game night, Level One owns pretty much every board and card game known to humankind. Every game owned by Level One is listed on its website, so check that out before diving into the cards and Mario. ‘retro.’

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a scratch card to keep score — something that would have seemed as futuristic as flying cars at the time. The facility’s equipment is still intact from its opening days, but everything feels fresh all these years later.

Even if you aren’t much of a bowler, the satisfaction of watching urethane spheres seemingly defying physics as they fly up the ball return honestly makes the place worth the trip.

The Hobby House

If you ever find yourself forced to choose between spending your time in a store or a museum, then the Hobby House is the happy medium you are looking for. The store, which celebrated its 70th anniversary this year, is still run by the founder’s son. Display cases filled with memorabilia from the hobby industry’s history line the walls, including financial records from when it was run out of a single bedroom in 1953.

Hobby shops are unfortunately a dying breed, but during their glory days, they served as the one-stop locale for any and all niche interests such as model trains and Ghostbusters merchandise.

Now, the Hobby House stands as one of the last of its kind, and is worth visiting just for its plethora of history.

West Park Bowling

Five-pin bowling is a tradition in Ottawa passed down through generations. The city and its surrounding areas are home to plenty of alleys fulfilling that Saturday night bowling fix so many of us desperately crave. However, none of Ottawa’s other locations have the added nostalgia factor present at West Park Bowling.

West Park has been quite the innovator over the years since originally opening in 1946. They still proudly advertise being “fully automatic,” meaning you don’t need

Ottawa’s Mayfair Theatre has entertained guests since the Great Depression.

Mayfair Theatre

photo by Owen Spillios-Hunter

is also one of its most unique. On the surface, the Prescott may seem like The Mayfair is without a doubt Ottawa’s favourite classic cinema. Its your typical sports bar, but its legacy in the Ottawa community makes it so giant silver screen has entertained guests since the Great Depression, of- much more. It’s always a treat when the ficially debuting in 1932. Nowadays, “About Us” section of a business has a word count that would fulfill first-year the theatre specializes in screening term paper requirements. cult classics and double features.

The decor inside the Prescott is very Most notorious among these is The old school, with the retro call booths Room, the hilariously awful disaster offering amazing photo opportunities. of a film written and directed by the Watching the reactions of first-time enigmatic Tommy Wiseau.

The most memorable recent May- patrons as they lay eyes on the meatball fair showing was the re-released Stop sandwich is priceless. The Prescott is Making Sense, a masterpiece concert definitely worth a visit just to see jaws drop when hungry customers realize film from legendary band Talking just how much sauce comes with their Heads. There is nowhere better to order. watch David Byrne be David Byrne Ottawa is a place known for its than in a theatre that matches the history and I’m sure most of you are all rustic nostalgia of his music. Oh, and too familiar with the traditional travel they notably screened The Shining backwards and forwards at the same pamphlet recommendations. Whether you’re drawn to robot pinball or time, adding another ledger to the cult-focused cinemas, I hope one of my theatre’s expansive lore. recommendations can be part of your The Prescott future plans when you want to Ottawa’s longest-tenured eatery experience a blast from the past.

Photos

17 December 2023 Photo Editor: Owen Spillios-Hunter • photo.charlatan@gmail.com

2023: A time capsule

Photos by Owen Spillios-Hunter, Anya Swettenham and Faith Greco

1. Speakers deliver speeches at a CUPE 4600 rally after negotiations with Carleton University fail to reach tentative agreements on Monday, March 27, 2023.

2. An Indigenous elder places children's shoes on the stage at the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation ceremony to honour the children lost to residential schools. The ceremony took place on Sept. 30, 2023.

3. A shirt previously worn by a former member of Alpha Pi Phi’s Carleton Chapter on Oct. 27, 2023.

1. Allison Russell (left) with Ganessa James (right) give a soulful performance on the Courtside Stage at CityFolk on Saturday, Sept. 16, 2023.

2. uOttawa Gee-Gees offensive lineman Zachary Cloutier (68) celebrates a narrow victory against the Carleton Ravens. The 54th annual Panda Game took place at TD Place on Sunday, Oct. 1, 2023.

3. Parade participants wait for the annual Remembrance Day ceremony to begin on Saturday, Nov. 11, 2023.

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