ignite News April 12, 2021

PROMO 4:3

VANDALS IN WATERDOWN DEFACE GRAVESTONES

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PROMO 4:3

TEE TIME CONTINUES DURING PANDEMIC LOCKDOWNS

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PROMO 4:3

FEMALE REPORTERS SPEAK OUT ABOUT HARASSMENT

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Apri l 12, 2021

Home is where the wallet is in Ontario

Young buyers are apprehensive about purchasing a house in a hot market that just keeps climbing

ALLY MCKENNA The COVID-19 pandemic has caused Ontario’s housing market to get red hot, leaving potential young home buyers feeling discouraged.

Realtors say some people from larger cities are moving to rural areas because of the value of homes and the new ability to work from home.

Say goodbye to Zoom and hello to classrooms In-person learning is resuming for many Mohawk College classes for the fall semester, but some aren’t ready MAT T H E W M ASTROM AT TE O

Mohawk College has announced that in-person learning will return for more programs in the fall, but the details of that return are still online.

Online courses have been the way of life for students this past year, but some professors report that the shift has seen a drastic decline in student engagement.

“We’re going to have to kind of figure out how to help our students with that mindshift,” Mohawk professor Laura Cole said. “It’s a mindset of if I’m staring at a computer I’m disengaged and not learning. It’s a very passive role for the students.”

In-person learning can allow for more class engagement and better attendance, but there are a lot of things that students will now have to consider before returning to the classroom.

PIXABAY Mohawk College expects to use a hybrid of online and in-person classes for the fall semester.

“I have a chronic health condition, so I am somewhat at risk for infection, so I’m not too thrilled about the idea,” Mohawk College student Kevin Fulton said.

The college hopes to create a balance between in-person lectures and activities with virtual and remote learning to give better access to all students and faculty.

“If someone is in North Bay, and they come to Mohawk because it’s online, so geography doesn’t matter, but then

See you in September!

we offer these in-class, on-campus tutorials, that’s not going to work because they don’t live here,” Cole said. “I think there is still a lot to be considered about this hybrid model.”

The return of in-person learning will also mean new measures for student and faculty safety. The college already has a mask and face shield rule in effect, with more measures likely as more students return to the classroom.

Continued on Page 2

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Sexual harassment rates high among students Mohawk College provides many safety services to everyone to make them feel more comfortable on campus TA RU N AU L AKH

While many students expect their learning environment to be safe, being on campus alone or late at night can increase a student’s risk of being followed, harassed or physically assaulted.

According to the Ontario government, 63 per cent of university students and nearly 50 per cent of college students have been sexually harassed.

This harassment can take many forms, including physical and verbal, often when students are alone on campus.

“A group of men catcalled me as I passed by them. I don’t remember everything they said but one of them mentioned something about me going to school,” post-secondary student Ashley El Jachi said. “This really scared me because it would be really easy for one of these guys to follow me or find me if they wanted to. After that, I started to take a different and longer route to school to avoid having that happen again.”

Commuting alone and taking public transit can increase the risk of being followed back to your home.

“I have been grabbed, shouted at and followed on a number of occasions,” university student Carina Nasturzio said. “One instance was with another female student but most of the time it happens when I am by myself.”

Mohawk College encourages students to try and report any incidents to prevent further dangerous altercations.

discouraged and stopped,” Nasturzio said. “I think it’s important to have security teams that take sexual violence [and threats] seriously. It [also] reassures students that their complaints will be taken seriously and that it is safe to disclose their attacks.”

Mohawk’s Walk Smart program allows students and faculty members to have two or more volunteer attendants walk them to their car, bus stop or any other surrounding areas.

Catherine O’Donnell, the director of security services at Mohawk, says security is available to assist students during any time of the day. “[Students can] contact security if they see anything suspicious,” O’Donnell said. “This can be done through intercoms in the hallways, phones in the classroom or assistance phones on the campus grounds. The Mohawk Safety app [can] directly call security and the police.”

If you or someone you know is feeling unsafe, please contact Mohawk securiThe Mohawk College Safety app is a tool for ty at 905-575-2003 or by dialling 55 on all students so they can be safe on campus. the campus phones. If you are facing a “In hindsight I wish I had taken it to direct threat, always call 911 for emercampus security so this behaviour is gency services and police authority.

Mohawk announces more in-class learning Continued from page 1 “Class sizes are going to need to be considered,” Cole said. “I think we’re going to see a hybrid model to try and rotate students on campus. We already have the blended learning format, but I think we might even see a more robust version of blended learning where some of your lecturers might still be online but maybe then you come into the classroom for more of a tutorial discussion.”

In-person learning also will affect the families of students and faculty.

“It’s a unique situation for me, having a young child, and you don’t want to be out where there’s a risk, especially when they are warning us the situation at the college is getting worse,” engineering student Sam Chirichella said. “I think as

PEXELS Professors say in-person learning will bring more student engagement than online lectures.

a necessary evil you do have to take the risk, and I would be comfortable going in for classes.”

Ontario has entered the third wave of the COVID-19 pandemic, with vaccina-

See you in September!

tion efforts beginning to ramp up. The college has said staff are working on a plan for more in-person learning can begin once again, as well as the return of non-academic activities and events.

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Mohawk prioritizes engagement in virtual classrooms Faculty are exploring ways to improve the online learning experience with students as the pandemic continues JE S SIC A MAXWE LL

Synchronous and asynchronous teaching in the virtual classroom presents its own set of challenges and opportunities to faculty and students at Mohawk College.

“I think we always knew, but we didn’t deeply understand how we could use asynchronous content,” Mohawk Learning and Development Specialist Cathy Ozols said.

While many students are looking for a return to synchronous in-person learning, others are finding it easier to balance asynchronous online learning with their other obligations.

“One of the benefits that we’ve heard from students is being able to manage your work life, your family life, your school life and that there are some benefits to learning and taking part of your studies in a remote environment,” Mohawk’s Vice-President Academic Alison Horton said. “You’re able to manage your time a little bit more effectively.”

The institution has always been a hybrid learning college, but the pandemic forced all courses online last spring and most programs maintaining an online delivery now still, a year later.

“That means that we already had a lot of resources, tools and technology to be able to support that engagement piece in a remote or virtual environment,” Horton said.

PEXELS Faculty will work to improve virtual learning.

The Centre for Teaching and Learning (CTL) at the college provides professional development for Mohawk faculty and now Ozols says this training will have a heavy focus on student engagement.

“This spring and summer we’ll be talking more about the importance of relationship building, because if you have relationships with people, they’re more

PEXELS Mohawk faculty will focus on student engagement in the virtual classroom over the summer.

likely to feel like it’s a safe space where they can turn on their cameras,” Ozols said. “There are some techniques in Zoom that you can use to do that it’s not only to get to know people, but to help them feel better about having the cameras on or encourage them.”

Some tools and tips include introductory ice breakers, game-based learning and breakout rooms to encourage engagement and relationship building in the virtual classroom.

Ozols said she gets the impression that there’s been more flexibility built into the way people are teaching and learning, but still recognizes the access to technology for students and faculty as a barrier in some cases.

“I live in the country like 10-15 minutes away from Mohawk, but we didn’t have access to unlimited internet until three weeks ago,” she said.

Households with multiple people accessing the same computer or internet connection for remote learning may find that keeping their camera off helps to maintain a better connection during a zoom call, Ozols said.

“The other thing that a lot of people may not realize is that some students are in a financial situation where they rely on their phones for doing most of their work,” she said. “When they’re at school that’s great, they can access computers, but when they rely on their phones and mobile, they’re great for a lot of things but not for 100 per cent of learning.”

See you in September!

The college is committed to maintaining a high quality of education for students despite the challenges of the past year.

“The method of delivery has changed but the outcomes have not,” Horton said. “We still have to ensure that students are receiving those outcomes that are identified for their programs, so we do have the supports in place.”

PEXELS Online school provides flexibility to students.

Another benefit for students during this massive shift to online learning is soft-skills development, Horton said.

“We know that the world is going to look different when the pandemic is over and that students will be graduating into a workforce that’s changed as well,” she said. “So knowing how to work with a team in a remote environment, how to communicate effectively, self-discipline and the time management required in order to be able to learn and work in this environment are important skills for students to have when they graduate.”

The college says that it will try to have more students back on campus in-person in September 2021.

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Vandals on the rise at Waterdown Union Cemetery Residents struggle to understand the reasoning behind recent attacks on the peaceful landmark MIC K C OM I TALE

Waterdown is a small community with lots of wildlife and history.

Nestled in between the city of Hamilton and Burlington lies the small town of Waterdown. Waterdown is packed with beautiful sights and historical landmarks. One of the more well-known landmarks, Waterdown Union Cemetery, was recently hit with two different incidents of vandalism.

Residents of Waterdown woke up on the morning of March 18 to find that overnight, unknown people pushed over and broke some headstones, and spray painted skull and crossbone symbols on others. Two days later, vandals were back with more destruction and graffiti.

“I wonder what is going through someone’s brain when they do something like that. Perhaps the first incident was random lashing out, anger, or even immature showing off,” Gwendolyn Starks, a resident who lives close by to the grave yard, said.

GARTH WETHERALL Waterdown residents described the act of vandalism as a group of “anarchist” symbols.

“The following ones, however, are premeditated. This is where the thought process comes in. Only an idiot thinks, ‘Duh, I know what I’m gonna do tonight: buy a can of spray paint and go spray anarchist symbols on gravestones.’”

According to Garth Wetherall, local history buff and part of the committee for the Waterdown-Flamborough museum, the burial grounds are home to the early pioneers that made the area what it is today. Waterdown was first settled by pioneers in the 1600s, and many descendants of the first European settlers

still populate the area.

“This area that we live in today, and in reality, most of Ontario, was settled by soldiers and the sons of these soldiers.” Wetherall said. “Some of these men also served in the War of 1812 with very high distinction and returned to live out their lives here.” He says vandalism is seen as a damaging of Waterdown’s history.

Not long after, city councillor Judi Partridge spoke about the incident on the town’s local Facebook page.

“Police are aware and are working with staff to complete an investigation,” she wrote. “Staff are assessing the damage to start repairs - a contractor will be on site tomorrow to remove the graffiti on the monuments. Some rehabilitation work may be necessary to some of the stones knocked off the foundations.”

Partridge said the city will ensure there is a security team on the premises.

Police have not found any leads on who the suspects are.

Student Success Advisors promote success during COVID-19 Mohawk’s Job Club strives to support and offer resources to students during these unprecedented times to ask questions and receive valuable feedback,” Eldib said.

With the end of another semester approaching at Mohawk “These events help students discover where to find legitiCollege, many students may feel a lot of pressure and require mate job leads and how to get your calls returned, identify academic assistance. Luckily, the Student Success team at their passion and pursue the right opportunities, and also Mohawk has students covered virtually. overcome rejection and find ways to turn a no into yes.”

“We do a lot of outreach to our students to ensure they are getting the support they need, whether you’re looking for help with creating an academic plan, or are having difficulties finding a career that best suits you,” manager of Career & Student Success advising Pearl Mendonca said. “Our team is always student-focused and using our resources to help students find and achieve academic and career success.”

The Career & Student Success team offers a variety of resources and services to help students reach both their academic and career goals.

The team helps students with a variety of different needs MOHAWK COLLEGE from creating academic success plans to guidance on college policies, etc. Student Success also offers a Job Club The Job Club offers students the opportunity to interact with fellow students and get career advice from their Student Success Advisors. event that is held once a month through Zoom.

The club is hosted by International Student Success adviDue to the COVID-19 pandemic closures in Ontario, all stusor, Hussam Eldib and offers students a variety of resources, dent services will remain online until further notice. tips and career advice from Student Success Advisors on Students looking to speak with a Student Success advisor how to find and get a job. can visit www.mohawkcollege.ca/campus-life/academics/ “Students get a chance to network with other students and student-success-advisor-1. gain a different perspective on common challenges related For more information on the next Job Club event, visit www. to their careers while also engaging with a career advisor mohawkcollege.ca/events.

BR A DL E Y L EWI S

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Women-led webinars promote mindfulness and empowerment Mohawk College students participate in virtual workshops hosted by Hamilton movement studio

PIXABAY Coach Robin Lacambra uses practices like Pilates, yoga and mindfulness and sharing them from anti-oppression, trauma aware and eating disorder informed frameworks in her workshops. These types of movement can be effective tools for working through trauma and tension.

knowingly, systemic oppression.”

In celebration of International Women’s Month, Mohawk’s GoodBodyFeel takes an approach to self-care that targets Social Inc. team provided students with a workshop series in internalized trauma and addressing conversations that othcollaboration with GoodBodyFeel. GoodBodyFeel is a move- erwise might be brushed under the rug. GoodBodyFeel cusment studio that practices using movements to explore our tomer Elisha Galambos, says it’s a different experience from relationships with ourselves and the external world. anything she’s done before.

Owner of GoodBodyFeel, Robin Lacambra, hosted the we“When we think of an organization like this, we expect binars all month to any students, faculty and staff who reg- something that’s really riddled in diet culture, or you know, istered. Throughout the month of March, those interested cisgender, white women teaching a yoga class. And it was in attending had three workshops to just a completely different experience choose from. The webinars focused for me,” Galambos said. “I think it’s reon ego as ally, body as resource, and ally unique, most often it’s go buy this ambition action as service. product, go do this or this is really hard.

“Robin uses movement workshops And sometimes things seem really unto talk about social justice issues and attainable, but they actually made it how some of this, the impact of opattainable. Like this is something you pression, how it can traumatize bodcan do with these easy steps.” ies, your minds and so on,” Mohawk’s In light of International Women’s Director and Special Advisor of Equity Month, Lacambra says the workshops and Inclusion Maxine Carter said. “And focus on finding personal empowerso there’s like an intersection between ment, and although it doesn’t specifphysical practice, social justice and ically target women, Lacambra uses Robin Lacambra is a somatic coach, social justice the idea of going against things we’ve self-care, sort of complex.”

The workshops lasted an hour and advocate, student of diverse movement practices learned from the patriarchy to achieve and also an empowered embodiment educator. while many students attended, most collective female empowerment. of the participants were faculty and staff at Mohawk, some“I feel like because the approach was an anti-patriarchal apthing Lacambra says is important because of their heavy proach, like the things that I was saying, went against what influence on being able to inform students. Lacambra used the patriarchy has programmed us to believe about what is her own experience at a post-secondary institution to high- valuable and how to be successful and those sorts of things light why the webinars are important. like that is how I played into international women’s month,” “I dropped out in my third year, and not because I wasn’t she said. good enough. I didn’t have barriers in the way necessariLacambra offers coaching through her personal website, ly, like I was on a free ride, I had a full scholarship, and my has a podcast called empowered embodiment, and anyone grades were great,” Lacambra said. “But my body and my interested in trying out GoodBodyFeel can visit GoodBodyspirit just couldn’t, I just couldn’t. And the academic world Feel.com for more information on workshops and classes is an institution and institutions uphold, knowingly and un- with an incredibly diverse team.

MAC K E N Z I E YOR KE

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Rising prices scare off new home buyers Young people struggle to find affordable places to live in a market that is getting increasingly more expensive

ALLY MCKENNA Realtor Adam DeGroote says people are moving to rural areas because of the value of homes and the a greater ability to work from home.

A L LY MC KE N NA

Over the past year, the housing market across Ontario has skyrocketed, leaving potential young home buyers feeling discouraged.

“As a young buyer, the current market is incredibly frustrating,” Erin Thompson said.

The 27-year-old has been searching for a house to buy around her hometown of Norwich for a year and a half. “When I find a house that is in my price point, it sells for $100,000 over what I can afford to offer.”

This experience is a common occurrence in the market right now according to Adam DeGroote, one of Brant County’s top real estate broker.

“If you see a house that hasn’t sold for $100,000-$200,000 over the asking price, you think to yourself ‘what the heck went wrong,’” DeGroote said. “It’s excellent if you’re selling a property but extremely tough for buyers, especially first-timers.”

According to the Brantford Regional Real Estate Association Inc. (BRREA), in February the average selling price of a detached home in the area was $767,028, up 46.2 per cent from February 2020. This past January also saw a significant rise in sale price, up 37.63 per cent from 2020.

DeGroote believes that the novel coronavirus is to blame for the spike in rural real estate prices.

“Over the last year we have seen a major influx in buyers coming to the area from larger cities like Toronto,” DeGroote said. “With COVID-19 and people working from home, many are realizing that it really doesn’t matter where they live, as long as they have good internet and access to the major

highways if they do need to get to the city.”

These buyers moving in from the big cities are pushing potential young buyers out of their hometowns.

Ben Crocock, 25, planned to start the process of looking for a home right before COVID-19 hit, but has since put his search on pause.

“It has been exhausting to watch the housing market over the past year,” Crocock said. “I just feel discouraged. At this rate I might never be able to buy a home in the area where I grew up. I’ve even looked into building my own place but land prices in the area are astronomical, not to mention building materials.”

Through the market’s upward trend, many young buyers are holding on hope to a potential market crash in the coming years, but experts say not to get your hopes up.

“From my position, I strongly believe that this area is not going to see a market crash anytime soon,” DeGroote said.

“Eventually it’ll have to plateau. There will be a point when homes just can’t be worth any more money, but this area is far too valuable to see a crash.”

Without housing prices going down any time soon, young buyers are left wondering how they will ever break into the market.

“Unfortunately, in the current market all young buyers can do is wait it out,” CIBC mortgage advisor Sheryl Williams said. “The best thing you can do is to use that time is to save, save, save. Pay off any debt you have against you to strengthen your credit. Train yourself to take out monthly mortgage payments and put that money aside to build a bigger down payment for when you eventually find a home.”

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Home gardening can be accessible and rewarding Experts and avid home gardeners encourage people to connect with their food by growing it themselves KAT R I NA R ATHI E

Spring is here, and summer is just around the corner. Looking for something to do this season that will get you outside? Starting a vegetable garden at home is a rewarding and functional hobby. It can improve mental health and adapt for any age group and skill level.

According to the experts, a beginner garden should be big enough that it can fit at least a few plants, but small enough that it doesn’t become overwhelming. The standard starting size is about four-by-four feet. You can dig up an area in your backyard and add some nutrient-rich soil for a flat garden, or you can get a raised bed. Planting vegetables like cherry tomatoes, peppers, zucchini and salad greens are the perfect starting point if you have a larger work area.

If you don’t have a ton of room, herbs are one of the easiest things to grow as long as there is sunshine.

“Herbs are fabulous, because they don’t take a lot of space,” Mark Cullen, Canadian best-selling author and expert gardener, said. “Let’s say you live in a condominium with a small balcony.

You could probably grow all the herbs you need for a summer on that tiny little balcony.”

There are many benefits to taking up gardening, especially once harvest comes around. Cullen says you can notice a distinct difference between homegrown and store-bought vegetables based on the freshness and flavour. It’s also good for the environment.

“From an ecological standpoint, I think growing your own food really just gives you full control over the situation,” Ashley Packer, Sustainable Food Systems Coordinator at Mohawk College, said.

“You know exactly what’s going into it, how the plants are treated, how the ground was treated and what’s in the soil.”

Gardening can also improve mental health, providing both a nurturing outlet and a distraction for people with anxiety and depression.

“It helps to keep your mind off things and gives you something to be proud

At-home vegetable gardening is a sustainable way to source food like tomatoes and herbs.

ASHLEY PACKER

Some vegetables can be grown in pots or Tomatoes come in a wide variety and are one containers instead of a garden in the ground. of the easiest foods to grow in a small space.

of,” Packer said. “Especially if you start plants from seeds, you see the whole growing process from this little seedling to all of a sudden you get veggies from it.”

Gardening by yourself or with others can be a meaningful experience. It enriches the way we value our food and where it comes from.

“I think it’s a deeper connection to the food that you eat,” Heather Dillon, an avid at-home gardener, said. “I think a lot of what we do in modern civilization is very disconnected from the larger context. But I think with our food especially,

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we’ve kind of lost the connection that we have to where it comes from, and the variety of what is really available.”

Before the pandemic, students could sign-up for free to participate in the Community Garden at Mohawk College.

With the school closure in effect, it is now called the ‘victory garden,’ used to grow food for local food banks.

The school offers workshops and other online resources for students about gardening and sustainability. Visit Mohawk College’s website to learn more, or to sign up for the Mohawk Sustainability eNewsletter.

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Brantford campers retreat to new pods Brantwood Farms added new camping cabins for rent as an alternative getaway this summer

BRANTWOOD FARMS Camping pods are designed to provide a cozy atmosphere for guests looking to get away from the hustle and bustle of their everyday lives.

M E G AN DAN I E LS

Pate says Brantwood Farms is following COVID-19 guideThe COVID-19 pandemic has put a halt on internation- lines, and the pods be spaced out enough to ensure that al summer travel, but one local business is providing little guests are safe. homes away from home, just in time for summer.

“We’ve updated our cleaning procedures to ensure a safe Brantwood Farms, located in Brantford, Ont., has built two visit,” she said. “We’ve also enhanced our check in and check camping pods along the back end of the farm. The first pod out procedure to clearly indicate where we expect people to can host two people sleepbe and to follow COVID-19 ing in a queen bed while the guidelines when renting out second pod can host three our pods.” people, with a bunk bed that Some local families say the has a double bed on the botpods provide a good alternatom and a single bed on top. tive to travel this summer.

For $85 a night, guests can “Our family really looks forrent out a pod, which also inward to a vacation every year cludes a fire pit, firewood, full because it’s a time to get away access to Brantwood Farms’ and relax and not have to trails, ponds and play strucworry about school or work,” tures and have access to their Brantford resident Shannen own picnic table. Also includBrown said. “We usually book ed in the package is a parking a cottage in Port Stanley but spot and access to an outwith the third wave of COVID, house and hand washing stawe’ve been unsure on bookBRANTWOOD FARMS tion as the pods themselves ing. The pods provide a nice don’t have water. Anyone who compromise.”

The new camping pods are located at the back of Brantwood Farms rents out these pods will have in Brantford, Ont., giving the renters a feeling of private hotel room.

Pate said they are expectto bring their own bedding ing the camping pods to be and kitchenware. “We saw a farm in the U.K. who was doing popular within the community and reservations are almost something similar with wooden cabins,” Brantwood Farms completely booked up for this summer. “I think people are owner Kara Pate said. “We searched for companies who just looking to get away from the city for a while,” Pate said. made them here in Ontario and found one so we decided to For more information on the camping pods and for reserbring a few in to try them out.” vations, email info@brantwoodfarms.com

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Music makes the world go round Vinyl collectors’ passion showcase a resurgence of the old-school format of listening to audio recordings

INGRID CAMARGO Many music enthusiasts say a good setup can bring out the best quality sound from their old records from the speakers to the player itself.

JUAN Z AM BR ANO

originally recorded on analog.

Jonah McGarva bought his first record when he was sev“When you think of records, when you think of artists back en. He is still dropping the needle on albums new and old in in the ‘60s and ‘70s, there was nothing else, it was records,” 2021.

Clason said. “So, all those things were made to sound the McGarva is not the only one putting his turntable to good way they sound on records.” use. Records remain a viable format among music lovers.

COVID-19 renders visits to record shops difficult, even with Many are rebuilding their collection amid the record’s rise in restrictions in place. But music lovers are indulging their popularity. hobby online in the meantime. Websites For Brian Rimpilainen, the interactive like Discogs allow collectors to catalistening experience is a huge perk of logue their collection. They also sell and records over digital recordings. “It’s the purchase items from sellers across the tangible connection to the music,” Rimworld. pilainen said. “Vinyl records force you to Music lovers are sharing their latest stop and actually listen. A much more findings within collector groups on platenjoyable experience.” forms like Facebook. These social platINGRID CAMARGO A records’ tangibility extends beyond forms also allow collectors and other The record’s cover artwork and packaging the listening experience. Records on music lovers to interact with one another. will often draw listeners in before the music.

Wheels manager Mike Clason says the The record’s resurgence in popularity listener’s interaction with a record encompasses the whole means a younger crowd is discovering the format for the package. first time. Mainstream artists are also releasing albums on “The whole aesthetic of it, the covers and the artwork and both digital and analog formats. that whole thing,” Clason said. “It’s just with the record, I can The love for records unites collectors young and old. As sort of get more into that whole recording than with a CD.” a moderator for the Canadian Record Collectors Facebook For music lovers, a record’s advantages over its digital al- group, McGarva looks to create a community welcoming to ternatives are balanced by the format’s high maintenance all collectors. requirements. A record must be kept clean to prevent static “I knew what it was like to be a newbie, you know,” McGarand other sound issues. Records should also be stored in ar- va said. “I had my suitcase record players in the ‘80s. I had eas with low humidity. Humidity causes a record to warp out people tell me, that’s not how you handle a record or that you of shape. This could lead to sound quality issues or skipping. shouldn’t listen to this, you should listen to that, you know. I Record collectors know their hobby requires a significant try not to be like that with other people.” commitment. This commitment combined with the right As records remain popular, collectors thrive in the streamequipment leads to a listening experience no digital format ing age, all united by a love of music and the goal of keeping can match. For Clason, this is especially true for albums the record spinning for as long as possible.

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The World Wildlife Fund gave any streamer who signed up for the fundraiser special artwork to include in their streams for its new campaign.

Streamers aim to save the planet

More than 100 Internet personalities took part in an event to raise money for the World Wildlife Fund KAC I ALVA R E Z

Another streamer who participated in the event, Sammy Cabindol, has done successful charity streams before.

When he found the WWF-Wild-Livestreamers Twitter page, he jumped at the opportunity to help the planet. He says it’s important to raise awareness for causes like this.

could help and contribute to the recovThe World Wildlife Fund (WWF) reery of our planet. I was very welcomed cently hosted a fundraising event that in the WWF streamers community, and let popular streamers raise money for [they] gave me an introduction to their the charity. The event, called Earth charity [and] fundraising campaigns.

Hour: Your Turn, took place from March After the introduction, I really liked 13-28, and more than 100 streamers the concept of fundraising during my participated in the event across multistream, so I went for it!” ple platforms, including Twitch, Smits also says that in the time Facebook Gaming and YouTube of technology and accessibility of Live. The organization runs four content, it’s easy and important to events every year and has raised spread the word about issues like more than US$700,000 towards climate change. conservation efforts since 2017.

“The young generation in this This time, Earth Hour: Your Turn digital age can reach lot of peofocused on climate change. ple all over the world in so many “I’ve always been passionate ways,” Smits said. “Fundraising about animals and the environstreamers influence people’s acment, and fundraising is a big part tions and make them realise the of my streaming, so the WWF felt real threats and problems in our NEKO_ROKOKO environment. Streams can be like such a natural fit,” streamer elliejoypanic, who has participat- The World Wildlife Fund invited streamers to raise money. watched everywhere and anytime. ed in four livestream events for the “I wholeheartedly believe in the power The more people fundraising the more WWF, said. “Earth Hour is such a versa- of the people,” Cabindol said. “When we awareness we can spread…and you tile event too, in that the money raised come together, we accomplish great don’t necessarily have to fundraise to goes to several different cause branch- things. Bringing awareness to these spread awareness!” es of the organization so you can moti- kinds of issues, especially with such an The streaming event attracted people vate folks for different reasons.” influential platform, ensures our voic- from around the world to connect with She also says that the money raised es are being heard to save our one and the WWF’s mission. “My favourite part for the WWF doesn’t just go to a general only home!” is that no matter you are from, everyone blanket of issues, but it can also go to Climate change is a pressing matter has the same goal: ‘working towards more pressing and urgent matters. these days, and everyone is affected by a better future for ourselves and new “The WWF isn’t all about global warm- it, and many streamers are using this as generations,’” Smits said. “I love seeing ing and saving endangered species,” a way to address the issue. people being so creative and putting so she said. “It’s about administering help “The issues we face about environ- much effort in their charity streams and where it’s needed urgently too, like with ment and endangered animals always [making] some friends along the way.” helping the koalas affected by the bush concerned me,” streamer Dorelys Smits Earth Hour: Your Turn raised fires last year.” said. “But I didn’t know in what way I US$111,507 to fight climate change.

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Dragon’s Fire Golf Club tees off for the season

Despite the new stay-at-home order taking effect, courses across Ontario have already started to reopen

JARRETT MATTHEWS Hamilton’s Dragon’s Fire Golf Club reopened on March 19 and will stay open during the Ontario government’s stay-at-home order this month.

JA R R E T T M AT THE WS

Although the golf season may look slightly different this year, golfers are still ready to tee off.

The Ontario government announced a month-long province-wide lockdown on April 1, but golf courses are one of the few exceptions.

Being one of the few pastimes relatively unaffected by COVID-19 restrictions, golf courses like Dragon’s Fire in Carlisle are as eager to open as their clients are to play.

“This golf course has always been one of the first ones to open,” Luke Paddle, superintendent of Dragon’s Fire Golf Course, said. “We do have a little bit of snow around, but we’ll still be open, the tee sheet is absolutely jammed.” Many courses suffered last year when they missed the first few months of their season due the first province-wide lockdown.

This year will very likely make up for that, according to Paddle. “With COVID, the demand is just through the roof so it’s crazy how many people want to play golf and we’re benefiting from it by being open early,” he said.

Courses across the province have made adjustments to help keep the game safe during the pandemic. In addition to sanitizing carts between uses, they have added plastic barriers between the seats to prevent the riders from spreading germs. Courses have also modified the holes so that golfers won’t have to touch the flagsticks that everyone would normally touch.

They’ve also removed ball washers to prevent everyone from touching them.

Some courses even require golfers to wear masks during their round.

The government hasn’t specified if any of these rules are mandatory, but almost all of the courses have taken it into their own hands to prevent breakouts that could close their business.

Although the new quirks to the game might be a little inconvenient for the courses, golfers don’t seem to mind one bit.

“In my mind the rules put in place take a little bit of the pressure off your shoulders,” Darion Gordon, a golf enthusiast, said. “It allows you to have a little bit more fun knowing somebody isn’t watching your every move because of

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PIXABAY People must wear masks in the clubhouses and in the washrooms as a safety precaution.

the extra spacing or the fact that you only need to hit a pool noodle to consider your ball in the hole.”

Gordon said that all of the golfers he knows feel the same way and are heading out to courses more than ever before.

“I think the biggest thing is that golf was one of the first sports to adapt to COVID-19 restrictions and rules,” he said. “It allowed you to get out there and play and do something active after sitting in your house all winter.”

Most golf courses are expected to open throughout the month of April with COVID protocols in place.

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OPINION

Viral video incites harassment against reporters Local journalists continue to deal with verbal vulgarity towards them seven years after original clip

THE REAL FHRITP The original “F#&k her right in the p#$$y” viral video has almost 10 million views on YouTube.

CAR A N IC K E R S ON

Britt Dixon was on assignment for CHCH News at Mohawk College’s Fennell Campus in 2017 when a student shouted “F#&k her right in the p#$$y!” at Dixon and her cameraman.

CHCH NEWS Since the video went viral, reporters like Britt Dixon have dealt with a number of copycats.

It wasn’t the first time, and Dixon knew it wouldn’t be the last time, but she did not expect it to happen again so soon.

“That night I was back at the college for a live hit for the 6 o’clock show and a car drove by and someone yelled it again. The second time!” Dixon said. “It happened twice in one day.”

Later that same week, Dixon was interviewing Hamilton Police’s media officer when someone yelled “F#&k her right in the p#$$y!” at her for a third time.

“I could not believe this just happened while I’m interviewing a police officer,” Dixon said. “And the cop actually arrested the person who yelled it.”

The phrase originates from a series of viral “news blooper” videos released in 2014. In most of the videos, a man tricks a reporter into interviewing him, then grabs the microphone and shouts,

“F#&k her right in the p#$$y!” The original videos are fake, but they began a wave of verbal harassment against reporters that continues almost seven years later.

Dixon estimates that between 2014 and 2017, more than a dozen people shouted that phrase at her while she filmed, and that her colleagues shared a similar experience. Dixon put together a news package about the harassment and had plenty of footage to show the phenomena just from CHCH’s archives.

“This is stupid,” Dixon said. “People think that it’s funny. Those people are ignorant.”

Dixon faced backlash for voicing her frustration about the harassment on Twitter. Some members of the public felt that Dixon needed to relax. After all, it was just a joke, right?

CHCH NEWS The police officer that Britt Dixon interviewed arrested the man who yelled at her.

Sean Conners, a gender-based violence Education Coordinator at Mohawk College, doesn’t think so. He defined verbal harassment “as any persistent unwanted verbal behaviour that

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is aimed at intimidating, offending, humiliating or controlling.”

F#&k her right in the p#$$y is definitely offensive and humiliating, considering I am unable to print two of the words in the phrase.

Veteran news anchor and Mohawk College professor Connie Smith remembers on-air comments from the public being much tamer when she was a reporter for CHCH in the ‘80s and ‘90s.

“There was no harassment, other than the normal things. You’re on air and a car goes by and honks, or you know, whistles, or people jump behind you and say, ‘Hi Mom!’” Smith said. “Social media has made harassment a trend, and a fun thing, and you know, the whole eff blankety-blank blank blank P is just horrendous.”

Dixon believes that the solution is to speak up. “We are definitely living in a time now where people, women especially, aren’t accepting harassment, especially in the workplace, and women are speaking up against it,” Dixon said.

The man who verbally harassed Dixon outside of Hamilton Police headquarters spent the night in jail for disturbing the peace and later wrote her an apology letter. Dixon’s news package on the verbal harassment went viral on her Twitter page.

Ignite News is produced and published by Mohawk College Journalism students. Our mission is to publish quality media products for the Mohawk community and to provide a rewarding educational experience for students.

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