Vol 38 issue 11

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TEXTING HAS OTHER (BETTER) USES PAGE 10

November 21, 2011 Volume 38, Issue 11 www.mediumutm.ca

Arguing over the Arctic Professors face off at the UTM Debating Club’s annual Great Professors’ Debate

ROP group reports on crime

JEROME JOHNSON STAFF WRITER

LORI-LEE EMSHEY ASSOCIATE NEWS EDITOR

The UTM Debating Club hosted the Great Professors’ Debate on Tuesday evening to discuss the role of Canada in the dispute over Canada’s Arctic sovereignty. Four professors were invited. VP Internal Robert Zeredynski, who did the most of the organizing of the event, introduced the topic and the debaters. In favour of an increased military role were professors Terry Bottrill of the Earth science department and Justin Bumgardner of the political science department, and in favour of international cooperation were professors Monika Havelka from the geography department and James Manicom of U of T’s Monk School of Foreign Affairs. Each speaker was allotted seven minutes to present their arguments, and each team was given an extra three minutes afterwards for one of their members to give rebuttals and closing remarks. First, Havelka made a plea for the

even powerful non-Arctic nations (such as China), pose a danger to the Arctic because the world is running out of easily accessible oil reserves, making the untapped resources a lucrative prize many may seek to exploit—and thereby damage the environment.

Geography professor Dana Wilson released the preliminary findings of her study on the causes of violent crime at the Crime Prevention Conference on November 4. Wilson and her team of UTM students found a correlation between the physical and social characteristics of a neighbourhood and the occurrence of crime. Last summer, Wilson led a group of UTM Research Opportunity Program students and one graduate student in a study of crime in Mississauga, Caledon, and Brampton. Funded by a United Way Neighbourhood Development grant, Wilson hoped the study would help identify causes of crimes committed in the target communities and thus help residents prevent future crimes.

Arctic continued on page 3

Crime continued on page 3

JUNAID IMRAN/THE MEDIUM

Havelka and Manicom versus Bottrill and Bumgardner in the debate over Arctic sovereignty. federal government to consider the Arctic’s environmental concerns and the rights of the indigenous Inuit. The Inuit constitute over 50% of the Arctic population. Enlightening the audience about issues of climate change and the effects of UV radiation on Arctic biodiversity and skin cancer rates in residents, Havelka argued that environmental and politi-

cal concerns should be put ahead of militarizing the far north. Bottrill acknowledged Havelka’s position that the Arctic was a sensitive area, but argued that as the “frozen wasteland” thaws, the other seven nations in the group known as the “Arctic Powers” (namely, the US, Russia, Iceland, Norway, Sweden, Finland, and Denmark), and

Residence “lights the night” Student Housing and Residence Life raised money for an anti-violence charity MATTHEW BUTLER Students and staff braved the freezing cold and attended UTM’s “Light the Night” event last Thursday. The event was organized by Student Housing and Residence Life to raise awareness about the many different types of violence and suffering that go unchecked in our society. The event started at 9 p.m. outside Oscar Peterson Hall, where the area had been set up with tables covered in lit candles in plastic cups, microphones, and audiovisual equipment. Students and friends gathered around the candles and listened to the speakers’ presentations. Madison Peters and Jenna Menzies opened the presentation by explaining the purpose

of the event and its efforts to raise awareness and act as a campaign against the spread and impact of violence. They shared that this year’s event would be donating approximately $400 to the anti-violence charity called LOVE due to the successful efforts of the penny drive they had conducted. Students listened intently as different speakers and organizers followed, all approaching the microphone to contribute their remarks. A video clip was shown that included many of the volunteers and organizers holding signs displaying important facts about violence that were written on their hands.

STIs on the rise The Public Health Agency of Canada reports an increase in sexually transmitted infections among youth. Medium News, page 2

Spreading education Dr. James Frasier Mustard and early childhood development. Medium Opinion, page 4

Filmmaker visits UTM Ken Jacobs presented a one-of-akind video performance. Medium A&E, page 5

UTM brings in a new life A student and refugee discusses his experience at our university. Medium Features, page 9

Tourney times JUNAID IMRAN/THE MEDIUM

Light continued on page 2

Students took a candlelit march across campus.

Read about what happened at the basketball tournament UTM hosted. Medium News, page 11


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Vol 38 issue 11 by The Medium - Issuu