The Ontarion - Issue #175.11

Thursday, November 13, 2014

Issue No. 175.11

GUELPH REMEMBERS SEE CENTRE

WALKING & TALKING WITH KAREN HOULE PAGE 9

GRYPHONS CROSS COUNTRY PAGE 12 RYAN PRIDDLE

THE IMPORTANCE OF TRAVELLING PAGE 19

NEWS 3 • ARTS & CULTURE 8 • SPORTS & HEALTH 12 • LIFE 19 • OPINION 21 • EDITORIAL 25 • FUN PAGE 26

Fair November The University Centre presents the 40th annual

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Issue 175.11 • Thursday, November 13, 2014

NEWS

Sentence dealt in teen prostitution ring case 18-year-old Ottawa ring leader gets maximum sentence KATIE SULLIVAN The leader of a teen prostitution ring in Ottawa, Kailey OliverMachado, has been found guilty of 27 charges, including child pornography, child luring, prostitution, human trafficking, and unlawful confinement. Arrested in 2012 at the age of 15, Oliver-Machado

was accused of luring young girls through social media to perform sexual acts for men.

The youngest victim of the teen pimp ring, who was 13 at the time of the occurrence, was diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder following the abuse.

“I have nightmares about the incident,” said the victim, now 16.

“I am scared to live and scared to do anything.”

The great harm that has come to the victims, almost all between the ages of 13 and 17, led the court to try Oliver-Machado as an adult, rather than a child.

Oliver-Machado received the maximum adult sentence of six-anda-half years for crimes committed.

If tried as a child, Oliver-Machado

would have been protected by the Youth Criminal Justice Act, capping her sentence at a maximum of three years.

Families of the victims reacted positively to this outcome, with the adult sentence providing some closure for all affected by the event.

During her sentencing, OliverMachado apologized to those she harmed.

“I realize the pain I inflicted on my victims and their families was extremely wrong and I will forever live with the guilt and regret of my vile actions,” said Oliver-Machado.

“No words could ever convey how solemnly sorry I am. I am far from perfect, but I’m definitely not the same girl I was at 15.”

The mental state of

Oliver-Machado was of great concern during the proceedings of the trial. Dr. Gregory Motayne, a doctor from the Royal Hospital brought in to complete a psychological assessment of the teen, expressed belief that Oliver-Machado has a similar profile to that of a narcissist and an anti-social sociopath.

While Oliver-Machado does not currently attend school, the doctor noted she was highly intelligent, and scored quite highly on tests focused around self-deception.

A history of behavioural concerns, including drinking at the age of 12 and smoking marijuana at the age of 14, have led to suggestions that Oliver-Machado’s mother could have influenced her role in the teen prostitution ring, as she had worked

3

previously in prostitution and had a history of drug abuse in the home.

Two other teens involved in leading the incident are involved in ongoing trials, one of whom has received the maximum youth sentence. The other is to be sentenced upon the completion of a psychological assessment.

While this case may be over concerning the fate of the leading young woman, thoughts continue to stay with the victims.

“I think it’s important to recognize it was the girls that came forward with their families who have suffered through this as well,” said Detective Carloyn Botting, one of the two Ottawa police officers working the case. “This is a long road ahead for them.”

Republican Congress to take government in new direction Republican leader set to make big changes following landslide victory MIKE OTT After taking majority control of both the Senate and the House this past week, the Republican Party has decided to challenge many of President Obama�������� ’������� s policies, in hopes of taking things in a new direction.

The GOP has announced plans to make Congress “more productive.” This statement follows

a previous Democrat-Republican split in Congress, with the GOP holding the House and the Democrats the Senate, providing frustration and dissatisfaction for the American population.

“President Obama is hoping to overhaul the immigration system.”

Newly elected Senate Leader Mitch McConnell aired his frustrations, noting that “the Senate,

in the last few years, basically doesn’t do anything.” President Obama�������������������� responded to McConnell post-election, noting that he is “eager to work with the new Congress” to make the next few years productive.

There has been speculation that Obama’s statements come as a result of the Democratic Party’s attempts to remove themselves from his shadow – a political strategy to ensure the party������� ’������ s success in the upcoming presidential election.

While the Democratic Party is contemplating how to use their majority in the Senate while it lasts, President Obama is hoping to overhaul the immigration system. Following through on that move, however, risks alienation from his party, currently trying to tread lightly as they look forward to 2016.

Furthermore, the Democrats are deliberating on whether to confirm Loretta E. Lynch as Attorney General while they can, or hold off and leave the GOP in charge of that decision.

Some speculate that the hesitations stem from the harm to their image that could stem from grilling a Black woman so obviously fit for the job.

The most salient issue is how the new Republican Congress will handle the Affordable Care Act. It remains to be seen whether they will repeal the controversial “Obamacare” or make drastic changes to the Act. However, as the House held by the GOP for years has made attempts in a similar vein, the Senate is likely to follow suit. Other issues-athand in the early stages of the new government include Net Neutrality, carbon emission

taxes and control, and minimum wage laws.

The Republicans did not gain a complete 2/3 majority to override a presidential veto in this election, however, so options remain on the table for President Obama.

Despite the complicated process of shifting party control in Congress, the American people have voted to make some big changes. Oregon, Alaska, and Washington D.C. all legalized the recreational use of marijuana on their ballots, and the acceptance of medical-use marijuana was widespread across the country.

Abortion legislation, gun laws, and income inequality policy, conversely, faced mixed results country-wide.

The ability of the two parties to work together productively will help shape the road leading up to the Presidential election in 2016.

4

NEWS

Under the Norman Finkelstein comes to War Memorial Radar

Students in blackface win BUSU costume contest Professors at Brock University are accusing students of “racist” behaviour after the group wore blackface to the Brock University Student Union (BUSU) costume contest on Halloween.

The students, who won a $500 cash prize based on applause from the audience, dressed as the Jamaican bobsled team. BUSU president Ronald Erman told the CBC that he does not believe the winners had malicious intent.

“Regardless of the intent or motivation of the students in question, donning blackface for Halloween is never OK,” said Larry Savage, director of the Centre for Labour Studies on campus. “It is racist, full stop.”

The BUSU has said it’s taking steps to ensure such incidents don’t happen again, including an expansion of workplace safety and harassment training and more checkpoints for future costume contests. The students will not be disciplined for their actions, however.

“The university is satisfied that this incident was a result of a lack of awareness, not a lack of sensitivity, and that the participants had no intention of being inflammatory or racially offensive,” said Kevin Cavanagh, Brock University spokesman.

“We can’t go back and change that competition,” concluded Erman.

“But we can try to put building blocks in place to ensure for greater oversight.”

US troops sent to Anbar America has sent 50 troops to Iraq’s troubled Anbar province to aid in the fight against Islamic State (IS).

This deployment marks the first time US troops have been present in Anbar since the airstrikes began in August.

In early November, President Obama said that he would be sending approximately 1,500 soldiers into the province as advisors. This decision came at the request of the Iraqi government. The troops are to be stationed at the largest air base in Anbar, Ain al-Asad.

The president maintains that the American troops will not be a combative presence.

The province has presented significant resistance for America since 2003. Anbar is now largely under control of IS jihadists and was, at one point, a base for al-Quaeda in Iraq.

- Compiled by Alyssa Ottema

Renowned lecturer and political scientist discusses Gaza conflict ADRIEN POTVIN

On Thursday, Nov. 6, political scientist and analyst Norman Finkelstein gave a lecture on the Gaza Strip conflict at the University of Guelph’s War Memorial Hall. Dr. Finkelstein, a Jewish-American scholar born to survivors of the Auschwitz and Majdanek concentration camps, takes a strong pro-Palestinian stance on the Gaza conflict, and this has lead to significant controversy around Finkelstein and his work at Princeton University.

University of Guelph professors Renée Warringer and Ian Speares moderated the lecture. Warringer is a professor of Middle Eastern history, and Speares a professor of political science. The Arab Student’s Association and the Middle East Scholar’s Society organized the event, in association with the Society of Arab Students and OPIRG Guelph.

Finkelstein was around an hour late, due to a hold-up at the Toronto Island airport, and opened the event by humourously recounting his trip to Guelph.

Discussing Israeli defence strategies and attempting to dispel misconceptions and policy inconsistencies regarding the Palestinian right to selfdefence, self-reliance, and the logistics of the conflict itself, Finkelstein’s lecture was impassioned. He condemned the Israeli encroachment on the West Bank, in addition to the international community’s response and the further militarization of the Israeli state in the wake of the ground offensive on Gaza, spearheaded in July of 2014.

Finkelstein divided his lecture into two parts. First, he outlined the conflict’s recent history, since 2008 and 2009’s IDF-initiated “Operation Cast Lead.” He explained how the situation has escalated from a blockade and air defence campaign to a ground operation. Second, he highlighted some ideas and tactics on how both Israelis and Palestinians may overcome the conflict and achieve peace in this historically unstable area.

Among the particular misconceptions he attempted to dispel were the accounts of 4000 rockets launched from Gaza between January and August of 2014. He stressed that this allegation must be accounted for in

MOHAMMAD MELEBARI

Political science scholar and activist Norman Finkelstein presented a lecture on the Gaza Strip conflict at an event organized by the Arab Student’s Society and the Middle East Scholar’s Society. both terms of casualties and damage, asnd that both parties must delineate between a mortar and a rocket or, as Finkelstein called them, “enhanced fireworks.”

“I’m not sure about the people in this room, but for me, a rocket conjures a fairly sophisticated and large weapon,” said Finkelstein. “According to Israel, 4000 Hamas rockets were fired into Israel from Gaza. […]

These 4000 ‘rockets’, they resulted in 7 civilian casualties and $15 million in [property] damage.”

“There’s obviously a huge discrepancy here that needs to be accounted for,” Finkelstein concluded. “Each side,

both Israel and Hamas, had an interest in inflating the nature of the weapon that was being used.”

Finkelstein also criticized Israeli attacks on United Nations civilian shelters in Gaza during the ground offensive. After the seventh UN shelter was bombed, the UN and the United States formally condemned Israel for the first time during the ground offensive on Aug. 3, the day Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called an end to the offensive.

Of the uneasy and disputed results of the conflict, Finkelstein said, “[Netanyahu] did not manage to break the unity government [Hamas and Fatah],

Berlin Remembers...

he did not manage to have Hamas designated a terrorist organization […]

He wanted to thwart EU-US negotiations with Hamas, and in the end Israel itself was negotiating with Hamas.”

His staunch stance against the Israeli government notwithstanding, Finkelstein’s advice and ideas about peace in the area were practical, pragmatic, and cautiously optimistic. Finkelstein concluded his lecture by stressing solidarity amongst (and with) Palestinians in Gaza and non-violent resistance – of which he alluded to the protests in Selma, Montgomery, considered to be the beginning of the American civil rights movement.

FELIX PETERSEN VIA CC BY-NC-SA 2.0

Citizens await the East German authorities at the Bradenburg Gate on Nov. 10, 1989: one day after the Berlin Wall was opened.

Issue 175.11 • Thursday, November 13, 2014

NEWS

5

Luxembourg under scrutiny for tax breaks European Union set to launch investigation ALEXANDRA GRANT The European Commission has begun pressing The Grand Duchy of Luxembourg on the topic of tax havens. A tax haven, as described by the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists, is a country where accountants and multinational corporations come to agreements that cut tax rates drastically.

Luxembourg has reportedly become quite the tax haven, with hundreds of large corporations, like IKEA and Fiat, running their money through subsidiaries and tax deals to avoid paying out large numbers of taxes in other countries. The investigation is being led by European Union Competition Commissioner Margrethe Vestager, looking to enforce the rules, as is the duty of the European Commission.

The reason for this appointment of responsibilities most likely lies in the fact that the current Commissioner

of the European Union is the former Prime Minister of Luxembourg, Jean-Claude Juncker. Many of the deals that are being investigated occurred while Juncker was in office; as such, the Commission determined to appoint someone else to head up the scrutiny.

“I will not stand in the way — that would be unacceptable,” said Juncker when asked about the investigation into the Luxembourg tax cases. “I have some ideas on the topic, but I will keep my counsel.”

Some question how Juncker came to be the Commissioner in the first place. During his nearly two decades as Prime Minister of Luxembourg, Juncker oversaw the transformation of his country, once based in farming and steel production, into a low-tax hub for banking and insurance, with one of the highest per capita incomes of any developed country.

The government of Luxembourg, and more specifically the Finance Minister, has publically stated that they are not the only country in the European Union that has these “laws,” and that everything they are doing is completely legal.

The investigation commenced when the International Consortium

began looking into the tax breaks and money flows of Amazon - the online shopping giant - when documents were leaked about the company. This investigation eventually widened to include nearly 300 companies that run money through Luxembourg as thousands of documents began to surface.

“The investigation will allow the commission to conclude that no special tax treatment or benefits have been granted to Amazon,” said the Luxembourg finance ministry in response to the beginning of the investigation. The ministry noted that reports of so-called state aid were unfounded in the cases of Amazon and other companies that operate in the country.

The Consortium noted that the documents obtained revealed deals negotiated by PricewaterhouseCoopers, an accounting firm, on behalf of hundreds of corporate clients.

“It’s unclear whether any of these documents are among those still being sought by E.U. investigators,” the Consortium wrote in an article, “but they are the kinds of documents that go to the heart of the E.U.’s investigation into

STEVE JURVETSON VIA CC BY 2.0

Jeff Bezos, above, is the Chairman, President, and CEO of Amazon – one of several large corporations that faces ramifications in the wake of the EU’s inquiry into tax shelter allegations against Luxembourg.

Luxembourg’s tax rulings.”

The Commission has called a meeting between the finance representatives of all 28 EU countries

Jian Ghomeshi: from fame to infamy Multiple sexual assault allegations bring the broadcaster front and centre KELSEY COUGHLIN A mere few weeks ago, Jian Ghomeshi was not surrounded by such controversy. In the wake of his firing from the CBC, however, Ghomeshi has become a household name.

On Oct. 26, Ghomeshi was released from his role of host of the hit radio show Q. To say he did not take the firing well would be an understatement.

Ghomeshi blasted CBC in a Facebook post on the same day, claiming that he was unjustly let go because of allegations made about his private life, concerning, in particular, his sex life.

Ghomeshi said he was fired because of information pertaining to his “rough” sex life, and “fear from the CBC that the details of [his] private life would become public as a result of a campaign of false allegations.”

Ghomeshi claimed that a disgruntled ex-girlfriend spearheaded the mission to ruin his

reputation by making false sexual abuse allegations. Shortly after his controversial Facebook post, Ghomeshi announced that he was seeking a $55 million settlement as a result of his firing, suing the CBC for defamation of character, breach of confidence, and punitive damages following his dismissal.

As the weeks have passed, however, Ghomeshi’s case has moved away from an issue of unlawful termination and has become more complicated. Over 10 women and at least one man have come forward claiming that they were sexually harassed or coerced

by Ghomeshi, with allegations dating back over 10 years.

One woman claims that

Ghomeshi choked and beat her; another says he pressed her against a wall and choked her.

Other allegations include lewd and derogatory comments at work and unwanted physical touching.

The Toronto Police Department has launched a full-scale criminal investigation against Ghomeshi based on the sexual assault allegations. As more individuals come forward with allegations of abuse, the case against Ghomeshi continues to grow. In the face of the new investigation, Ghomeshi has hired criminal defence lawyer Marie Henein.

Employment lawyer Janice Rubin has been brought into the CBC to lead an internal

and will be discussing tax breaks and laws, as well as what this could mean for Europe’s future on a whole.

investigation concerning workplace allegations. The company has also offered free public aid to all of the complainants in the case against Ghomeshi.

While the abuse allegations continue to roll in, Ghomeshi still claims to be innocent of any wrongdoing and has not been criminally charged.

The original lawsuit filed by Ghomeshi concerning his termination has been called “without merit and an abuse of the court’s process” by the CBC. The company has since filed a motion asking the court to dismiss the lawsuit. There is no news yet as to whether or not the motion has been successful.

6

NEWS

Chinese officials linked to illegal ivory trade

had profited $50,000 off the visit.

A reason for the strong presence of ivory trade within Tanzania is the lack of security in the country.

“...this financial relationship is fuelling elephant killings.”

USFWS MOUNTAIN-PRAIRIE VIA CC BY 2.0

Chinese officials are suspected of smuggling ivory out of Tanzania, the largest producer of poached ivory in the world. China is the world leader in the import of illegal ivory.

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Delegates allegedly purchase ivory in Tanzania.

LUKE FUENDLING In March of 2013, an entourage of Chinese delegates, joined by President Xi Jinping, travelled to Tanzania. Officially, the delegation was to promote economic ties between the two countries.

The Environmental Investigation Agency (EIA), a non-government environmental advocacy group based out of London, UK, has now come forward with accusations that these Chinese delegates used the trip to procure a large shipment of illegal ivory.

The EIA alleges that in the weeks leading up to the arrival of President Xi Jinping and the delegation group, which consisted of other government officials and business leaders, Chinese buyers purchased thousands of pounds of poached elephant tusks. Later, these tusks were sent to China in diplomatic bags on the president’s plane.

The connection, which triggered the EIA investigation, became clear in January of this year. Ivory dealings in Dar es Salaam drastically increased following the arrival of a Chinese naval fleet in the port city. One dealer told EIA officials that he

Chinese officials claim that the report by the EIA has no grounds.

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Hong Lei has expressed strong dissatisfaction, according to the Associated Press.

Assad Mwambene, a spokesman for the Tanzanian government, says that he is extremely frustrated by the allegations.

“Everybody knows we have been at the forefront of fighting this illegal trade,” claimed Mwambene.

Tanzania is the largest producer of poached ivory in the world. In the past four years the country’s elephant population has decreased more than any other country on Earth, losing an estimated 10,000 elephants in 2013 alone.

China happens to be the world leader in the importing of illegally acquired ivory. The Chinese government has also been lobbying to allow legal domestic trade of ivory for years, arguing that this will devastate poaching practices and protect the elephant population.

Tanzania Elephant Protection officials have claimed that there is a correlation between China’s involvement in African economics and the slaughtering of African elephants. They claim that this financial relationship is fuelling elephant killings.

The EIA has tracked corruption and government collusion in the illegal trade within Tanzania since 2005, when President Jakaya Kikwete took office.

Since then, it is estimated that the elephant population within Tanzania has plummeted from 142,000 to 55,000. On Tanzania’s Selous Game Reserve - a massive protected reserve in the southern part of the country - the elephant population has dropped by 67 per cent since 2009 to an all time recorded low of 13,000.

Ivory is widely used in China for jewelry, ornaments, and religious sculptures. The trade of Ivory was officially banned in 1989 by the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora.

Both China and Tanzania are signatories.

Upcoming events Nov. 13: Flu Shot clinics in the Powell Building, Room 207, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

• NATURE GUELPH Meeting: 7:30 p.m. at the Arboretum Centre. Birds and dinosaurs of the Alberta Badlands with Jody Allair, Bird Studies Canada. All Welcome.

Nov. 15: Building Bridges, Breaking Barriers. 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. UC 103. Join three migrants to learn about their struggles, their rights, and the laws that impact them. Join our fight to build strong, healthy communities for all of us.

Nov. 16: Guelph Community Santa Claus Parade, downtown, 1 p.m.

Nov. 17: International Education Week begins

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8

ARTS & CULTURE

The Weekly Scene: Filth 3 DescentsInto-AbsoluteMadness out of 4 SAMEER CHHABRA Scottish novelist Irvine Welsh is renowned for his harrowing portrayal of Edinburgh life. Instead of focusing on the beauties of Scottish living, he chooses to show the world a side of Scotland that we might never have a chance of experiencing firsthand.

Drug abuse, prostitution, police ineptitude, and mind-boggling social corruption always take centre-stage in Welsh’s Scotland.

Director Jon S. Baird’s Filth, with a screenplay written by Baird based on a novel by Welsh, takes everything that’s so wicked and captivating about Welsh’s

Scotland, and sprints with it.

Starring James McAvoy in one of his most daring roles since The Last King of Scotland, Filth is brutal, pornographic, vicious, and utterly enchanting. What truly allows the film to shine is the way in which it utilizes tropes and ideas from various genres, and juxtaposes themes into a cohesive whole. Like a noir-caper, the film opens with a grainy shot of a woman getting ready for a night on the town. Like a socialminded thriller, the film features the gang-related murder of a foreigner. Like a Scorsese gangster flick, Filth forces the audience to gradually fall for a dismal example of a human being. Tonal shifts are frequent, and Baird’s directing brings a purposely complex and muddy story to cinematic fruition.

Some might call Filth a tonally confused feature; however, I believe it is through oft-jarring tonal inconsistencies that Filth

is able to offer the audience a glimpse into the mind of a man slowly going mad. McAvoy, who plays Bruce Robertson – a scheming Detective Sergeant in the Edinburgh police force – is joined by a cast of equally talented actors playing disgusting characters. Jamie Bell and Eddie Marsan are especially fascinating in their roles as Robertson’s precinct partner and best friend, respectively.

“...brutal, pornographic, vicious, and utterly enchanting.”

Watching Bell and Marsan, one easily understands how the weakwilled and easily manipulated can fall prey to the damning pull of insanity.

However, Filth is undeniably McAvoy’s film, and the fullbodied way in which he portrays Robertson is reminiscent of Leonardo DiCaprio’s performance as Jordan Belfort in Scorsese’s The

COURTESY PHOTO

Wolf of Wall Street. So emotive is McAvoy’s Robertson, so fascinating is his character, that the audience is unable to look away as he fulfils the role of obscenecharacter-in-an-obscene-world.

I’ve made it a point to only explain my rating of a film once in the past, but I believe it’s only appropriate to explain why I haven’t rated Filth any higher despite my praise. In short, the film reminds me too much of other similar movies – including several of Martin Scorsese’s finest. Instead of standing on its own merits, I found that Filth

reminded me too much of other movies featuring similar characters and plots. Moreover, because of the possible comparisons that can be drawn to The Wolf of Wall Street, Goodfellas, and even Jude Law’s Dom Hemingway, it’s difficult to rate McAvoy’s performance any higher.

Without giving away too much, I also found the film’s ending to be weak and undeserved, especially given its pedigree and heritage.

Audiences have spent the past few years growing attached to foul characters. Some of literature’s finest stories have come from the fact that redemptive happy endings are not always possible. That Filth insists on finding a way to rationalize Robertson’s behaviour is insulting to the audience.

Despite my hesitations, praise must be awarded to Clint Mansel’s music, Matthew Jensen’s cinematography, and Mark Eckersley’s editing. An eclectic score of upbeat feel-goods are carefully juxtaposed with hard-edits of unnerving crudeness in a way that enables the audience to truly understand the incomprehensible throes of madness.

In short, I liked Filth. I liked McAvoy’s Robertson, I enjoyed Baird’s directing, and Irvine Welsh’s talent clearly lives on.

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This week, Zavitz Gallery features Drawing 1 / Anal-Abs, an exhibition of works by students in both sections of SART*2090. It opened on Nov. 10 and runs until Nov. 14. I wandered through the gallery with Jordan Walters, a first-year Studio Art major, talking about the work. Since the show was still being installed during our early morning visit, we also spoke to one of the artists involved, Jaimie Aitken. This is a selection from our conversation:

a more traditional, analog form of drawing. With compositions so simple, where there’s only about six or seven fluid marks on the page, you have to be very analytical about what you add in and take away. You make one fluid mark, and you don’t know how it’s going to turn out, and then you watch it, and then you respond. It’s like constructing a melody.

Will: A sort improvisation.

of

ongoing

Will: So this is “analytical abstraction.” These ones on the back wall seem particularly calculated because they’re not made by hand.

Jordan: This is not something that just pops out. What are you trying to do? Are you building a structure? Are you creating a space, a movement, a tension?

Jordan: And they almost read like a math problem. They’re almost like optical illusions.

Jaimie: I’m trying to play with a lot of different elements. It was really fun to play around with the mylar. It was really fun to see how the materials I used reacted with the paper.

Will: There are two different classes, one of them being this computer-driven class and the other one…

Jordan: They’re working with

Jordan: It’s almost like a jazz piece. It’s all just spiralling about as you’re trying to read it.

Jaimie: I definitely went for a lot of movement, different lines that drag your eye across the page.

Will: What’s the point of this kind of art?

Jordan: For some people, it might be that drawing is sufficient in itself, just like instrumental music. For others, though, drawing is really a language and a process of seeing the world in a different way. The people who are willing to read the language and stand in front of the piece and just receive what it says…

Will: Are there any that strike you as particularly bad?

Jordan: There are a few that I wouldn’t necessarily want to hang in my home, but I tend to be more for those subtle points of tension, and I like to keep a composition very minimal, so some of the ones that seem a little convoluted, I’m not that into. It’s personal preference and taste. But I haven’t had enough time to look at them all.

Issue 175.11 • Thursday, November 13, 2014

ARTS & CULTURE

9

Things that are happening: a walk with Professor Karen Houle Eastern Comma writerin-residence gets back to nature WILL WELLINGTON There is no getting away from nature at North House. Originally created by students of three Canadian universities for the U.S. Department of Energy Solar Decathlon and brought out of storage years later for installation on the rare Charitable Research Reserve in Cambridge, the cube-shaped, hyper-efficient, and easily transportable dwelling is practically a glass house.

Close to half of the walls are windows made from thick, insulating glass, giving anyone inside a terrific view of … not much, really.

A scrubby hill. A shaggy willow tree. What used to be a road.

The panoramic perspective, however, makes it impossible to ignore the weather. It would have been nice to simply draw the curtains and get cozy on this particular cold and drizzly Saturday afternoon, Nov. 8, the occasion of a “reading and walk” with poet and philosopher Karen Houle, who has been living in North House this fall as the inaugural “Eastern Comma Writer-in-Residence.” But in a building lit, powered, and heated by the sun, that’s not an option.

Those glass walls mean that, during her time at North House,

7:00 PM

WILL WELLINGTON

At a picturesque research house in Cambridge, and a subsequent walk-and-talk, U of G philosophy professor Karen Houle discussed some of her research and artistic praxis.

Houle has been oggled by her fair share of nosy passersbys; a little bit, she joked, like an animal in a zoo. She is also something of a guinea pig, one of the first people to live in the house for a significant period of time. Named after a type of butterfly found on the reserve, the Eastern Comma residency is the fruit of an almost utopian collaboration between socially-minded arts organ Musagetes and rare.

Houle, a University of Guelph philosophy professor with a background in the sciences and two volumes of poetry under her belt (Ballast with House of Anansi and During with Gaspereau), seemed uniquely qualified to occupy

what she referred to before her reading as “a hybrid position,” bridging the arts and the sciences.

To better embody that hybridity, Houle incorporated excerpts of scientific studies conducted on the reserve into her poems, “borrowing the eyes and ears” of researchers to express “the voices of things that are happening.”

Those things, she added, with a slight hesitation, are a bit like the conspicuously poor weather.

Bleak. Disheartening. Climate change. Extinction.

“I’m going to now launch, I think,” she said, crossing her legs beneath her. She began to read her first poem, an exploration of the esoteric questions of

movies and more

plant genetics in relation to histories of agriculture, intercultural exchange, and racism. I listened.

We listened. The air circulated.

The rain pattered on the roof.

And then she finished the poem. People asked questions.

Finally, it was time for the second half of the advertised “reading and walk,” weather permitting.

“Well,” said Katherine McLeod, rare’s Director of Research and Education, and de facto leader for the afternoon. “It’s raining.”

Nevertheless, we squirmed into our coats and boots, and stepped out into the rain, cold hands clasping umbrellas. A short trek along a winding uphill trail took us to a wooden pavilion like a rib

cage tipped on its side, where we squatted on converted milk crates and gazed out over a plaintive vista of muck and brush. Hands stuffed in pockets, we listened to Houle read two more poems, one a prickly sendoff to a recentlydeceased colleague mixed with a meditation on plant pollination, the other a study of flea markets and archaeological sites. During the reading, a young boy kicked his rubber boots against his milk crate and a flock of songbirds gathered in a nearby tree to offer their commentary.

I admit, then, that my attention wandered, as it so often does during readings. I like to suppose that this wandering was, in this particular instance, the point, that Houle’s own effort to “pay attention” to the world and the words that describe it inspired in me, and perhaps in others, a restless need to perceive, a voracious appetite for sensation.

Walking back to North House and feeling the unpleasant ache of an oncoming cold, I saw the building from above, as if for the first time. It looked heartbreakingly temporary and profoundly out-of-place, like a Lego house, an eco-chic rent-a-box, or a mobile home for fans of Her. I couldn’t imagine, in that moment, anyone wanting to live in such a place for more than a matter of months.

If North House is the home of the future, and those “things that are happening” suggest that it will need to be, the future will be strange. It will be an uncomfortable future of transience and hybridity. We will need, more than ever, our poets.

Visit www.sundaycinema.ca for info on these Central Student Association events.

8:00 PM

NOON

7:00 PM

from vancouver

THE harpoonist a THE Axe Murderer

DOCURAMA Thurs Nov 13

SUNDAY CINEMA Sun Nov 16

NOON HOUR Tues Nov 18

DOCURAMA Thurs Nov 20

ROZANSKI 105 | FREE Fela’s message remains completely current today.

Co-sponsored by the McLaughlin Library.

THORNBROUGH 1200 | $3 UoG stu • $8 gen An ode to both parenting and growing up.

Co-sponsored by Interhall.

UC COURTYARD | FREE Smothered in greasy, gritty soul and imbued with funk, the blues this duo play slap you in the face and makes you sweat like it’s a sticky summer night. Co-sponsored by CFRU 93.3 FM.

ROZANSKI 105 | FREE Inside the topless feminist activist group FEMEN. Co-sponsored by the McLaughlin Library.

10

ARTS & CULTURE

The new Walking Dead season is surprisingly gory AMC’s hit show is taking a step in a violent direction LUKE FUENDLING Caution, spoiler alert! If you have yet to catch up on the latest season of AMC’s The Walking Dead than you are in for a shockor treat, depending on your lust for gore, blood, and violence.

Season five is easily the most gruesome season to date, and we are only half-way through. This is not surprising, as even actor Andrew Lincoln (Rick Grimes) warned in an interview with Entertainment Weekly back in September that “brutal is the word for season five.”

He was not lying. The season

begins with our beloved fierce crew as captives within the ominous confines of the sketchy compound named Terminus, seemingly be set for slaughter by the cannibalistic gang led by a sinister man named Gareth, who lures the innocent into their layer by promising salvation.

We quickly learn the true motives of the flesh-eating living within the first scene of the first episode, which had left us suspended since last season’s finale.

In the scene Rick, Glenn, and other captives are lined up on their knees, waiting to be bled.

It’s a scene that shifts slaughterhouse practices under a new light.

This, however, is just a taste (pun intended).

Our crew escapes in an epic battle that contests with any we have seen yet. Yet, even though they get away, the chilling, chilling cry “You’re either the cattle, or the butcher,” from the Terminus

man-eaters echo’s into the following episodes.

“fans of the graphic novel are praising the unsettling style of season five”

The horror of Gareth’s gang continues to threaten our apocalyptic heroes into the next episode titled “Strangers,” which, to spare the gory details should be renamed “Bobecue.” Poor Bob. One thing that is for sure is that fans of the graphic novel are praising the unsettling style of season five. This is especially true with the violent development of

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Rick Grime’s character. A major criticism expressed by novel fans of the AMC adaptation has been disappointment with a mopey Grimes, who is seemingly unfit to live in an apocalyptic world, let alone- be a leader in one.

Album review – Alone for the First Time New Ryan Hemsworth album offers spacey beats and carefully crafted songs ADRIEN POTVIN With a sound characterized by dreamy trip-hop beats, found sounds, and gentle, sweetly sung vocals, Haligonian producer Ryan Hemsworth has carved out a unique sound in Canadian electronic music. His latest album, Alone For the First Time, finds him in top form as a producer – albeit a form that plays it a little too safe sometimes.

The album’s first cut, “Hurt Me,” opens with an almost Disney movie-esque string swell, followed by dream-like, chimey trip-hop textures with a sort of “living, breathing toybox” aesthetic. It then drops into a driving, fullyfleshed beatscape, suggesting a vague, wispy sexiness through its gently lulling rhythmic patterns.

This opener sets the tone for the rest of the album, clocking in at a brief but strong 27 minutes.

“Snow in Newark,” the album’s single, is a radio-friendly cut with a strong vocal hook and characteristically multi-layered beats, underscoring his heartache-tinged rap-singing.

“Blemish,” the album’s standout track, showcases an off-kilter guitar loop with a strong beat drop that is tastefully sparse, until its buildup takes a ride into a wild, astral soundscape that is insatiably immersive.

“...dream-like, chimey trip-hop textures...”

“Too Long Here,” featuring the vocals of Alex G, highlights, intentionally or otherwise, the dynamic of the album’s production and aesthetic. For Hemsworth, a producer with an auteur’s control over dynamic and timbre, there are a number of features on this album, and I found it interesting the way he addresses this. “Too long here to keep to myself/I keep to myself/What did I say?” sings the gentle tenor of Alex G – perhaps this is a statement of the lone producer’s engagement with the voices of others. I am reminded of Baths’ 2010 LP Cerulean, recorded

entirely by Baths’ lone member, Will Wiesenfeld, in his California home. “Too Long Here” is an instant where isolation translates so well into music that intervention by a third party serves not as a disruption, but as a revelation.

The album’s closer, “By Myself,” opens like a would-be a cappella track, highlighting the vocal chops of The GTW, and rapping courtesy of Little Cloud.

The dramatic, minor-key groove, accentuated with scratchy snares and whirling synth pads, leaves the LP lingering on a dramatic note, but with enough mystique to warrant another listen.

Overall, the album is a delightful listen, showing admirable restraint and attention to details.

However, my biggest reservation with the album is that it is a bit too restrained at points. Something in the album tells me that Hemsworth has a rawer, more bombastic edge trying to creep out, but the hyper-attentive sampling and smooth-as-glass soundscapes seem to drown it out as soon as it attempts to do so. Regardless, it’s a truly enjoyable LP, perhaps best suited for cold weather headphone listening. So, bake some gingerbread cookies, get out your finest coffee and French press, and give it a listen when the impending snow rolls in.

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Rick’s character is less humanized in the graphic novel, firm and ruthless. In the show Grimes has been depicted as more feeble and much weaker emotionally.

That is, until now.

The Terminus cannibals finally meet their violent, bloody demise that imbrues the interior of a sanctified church, at the hands of non-other than a machete wielding Rick Grimes. The scene is anarchy; Rick’s acceptance of his necessary brutality is as brilliant as it is vicious. It seems as though Rick has found his way upon the path of his graphic novel counterpart.

If it is possible, expect the extreme violence to not subside through the remainder of the season. Traction gained from the shows fan base, who are now screaming for more, will most likely mean that any route the plot takes in future seasons is sure to leave a bloody, ruthless trail.

Issue 175.11 • Thursday, November 13, 2014

ARTS & CULTURE

11

Silence hosts evening of inspiring acoustic music Baby Eagle and Richard Laviolette perform new material ADRIEN POTVIN Silence hosted two singer-songwriters on Saturday, Nov. 8. Steve Lambke, singer and guitarist for the classic Guelph act The Constantines, played material under the name Baby Eagle and performed the first set. Richard Laviolette, another Guelph-based songsmith, performed afterwards.

The Weather Station, a project of singer/songwriter Tamara Lindeman, was set to perform, but unfortunately cancelled due to illness. Nonetheless, a well-filled room was offered a close-knit, warmly inviting evening of acoustic music, which was perfect to escape into from the cold rain.

Baby Eagle took to the stage around 9pm to open the evening’s music. Lambke’s fairly unorthodox songs are characterized by a quiet, fragile voice, and even more fragile guitar work.

With a tall and lumbering, but

MOHAMMAD MELEBARI

Baby Eagle and Richard Laviolette offered an evening of gentle and warm acoustic music at Silence, in a perfect retreat from the cold weather. friendly and approachable stage presence, Lambke sang heartfelt songs with sparse, disparate poetic images, and brilliant lyricism. Baby Eagle’s performance was really a display of Lambke’s versatility as a songwriter. A far stretch from the electric folk sounds of his album Dog Weather, and an even farther stretch from

the crusty, tough-as-nails music of the Constantines, Lambke’s music was, as mentioned, fragile, but with a reserved edge that is heard in his unorthodox chords, minimalist melodies, and sparsely sung vocals.

After a short break, Richard Laviolette sat down to set up the mikes and his guitar. With

Album of the Week: Rage Against the Machine Rage Against the Machine Recorded at LA’s Sound City studio in 1992, Rage Against The Machine exemplifies the blend of funk, hip-hop and hard rock that would define the band’s music. They are considered to be pioneers in the genre of funk-metal.

Political, lyrically charged rhymes by Zack de la Rocha, sonic guitar riffs by Tom Morello, rock solid grooves laid down by Brad Wilk on drums, and Tim Commerford’s bass work, all give Rage their defining sound. No samples, keyboards or synthesizers were used in the making of this record. Unfortunately, Rage have broken up, but if they ever get back together, check them out!

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TheOntarion.com

off-the-cuff humour and a goofy, friendly grin, he immediately made the audience feel at home, even gesturing them to help themselves to the beers in the fridge. Mostly performing new material, he also riffed on a few stripped-down versions of songs he had written and recorded with The Hollow Hooves and The

Glitter Bombs.

Alternating between songs that were humourous, compelling, and vaguely political (one of the former being “My Grandma’s More Punk Than Most Punks I Know”), Laviolette’s lyrics and vocal delivery were where his set shined most. In the space of Silence, it’s particularly easy to pay attention to lyricism in its setting, so any listener could pick up on the intricacies of his wordsmithing. The music performed, a far cry from the grimy postpunk of his bands The Hollow Hooves or The Glitter Bombs, showcased Laviolette’s folk singing/songwriting abilities in the best way.

While the audience seemed initially kind of bummed that The Weather Station couldn’t make it, the space was filled with joy, laughter, and intimate music.

There were clearly some old friends of the performers, and perhaps even some new ones, judging from the banter between Lambke, Laviolette, and some of the audience members. It’s concerts like this that make Guelph’s scene so invigorating – a relaxing break from the hectic Saturday night downtown scene is certainly welcomed around this time of year, and Silence and co. certainly provided that retreat.

Upcoming events Nov. 13 to 16: Guelph Film Festival - visit guelphfilmfestival.ca for ticket and screening details.

Nov. 13: Thursday At Noon Concert Series presents Jeremy Bell & Shoshana Telner. 12 p.m. in MacKinnon 107 Nov. 14: Strings At Noon Concert Series presents the St. George Chamber Players, 12 p.m. in Atrium of the Summerlee Science Complex.

Nov. 14: Kazoo! #195 - Skeleton Forest w/ The Lonely Parade and Baby Labour. eBar, doors at 9:30 p.m. $10.

Nov. 16: CSA and UC Programming presents July Talk w/ Del Bel. Peter Clark Hall, doors at 8:30 p.m. $28, tix available at CSA and Brass Taps.

tweet us @THEONTARION

12

SPORTS & HEALTH

Making your own limits Guelph Gryphons Cross Country Team show us the meaning of hard work and dedication JACK HINDS 10 years is a long time in the life of an athlete. An average career for an athlete on a major league baseball, basketball, or hockey team is about five years. In some sports, especially high-impact sports, that length is even shorter. In 10 years, one could have conceivably initiated, peaked, and finished their career in their chosen sport.

That’s what makes the Gryphons Cross Country team’s achievement so impressive.

For the last nine years, (eight for the men), Gryphons Cross Country has taken the

championship title at CIS. Every year since 2004, it’s been a Gryphon standing proud, strong and exhausted atop the podium. On Nov. 5, the nine chosen men and women left for Newfoundland to fight to secure their 9 th and 10 th consecutive championship titles, respectively.

“This team pushes themselves right to the very edge.”

When I walked into the office of head coach Dave and assistant coaches Chris and Reid, I wasn’t quite sure what to expect.

I certainly didn’t expect a finelybrewed cup of coffee and a story about how Reid almost set fire to their microwave the previous day.

Once I’d introduced myself, it was down to the business of finding out just what it takes to create a team that is so consistently

successful, and how they keep them performing at their best.

Chris is forthcoming with his thoughts on how the team has made it this far, and isn’t shy of their accomplishments. One of my biggest curiosities was how the support team managed to keep pushing their athletes, regardless of their position within the province or country. When you get to the top of a ladder, it’s easy to become complacent, and convince yourself that you needn’t try harder. Any mention of the phrase “good enough” causes Chris’ face to curl up in revulsion. The concept is completely foreign to him, the remainder of the support staff, and all the athletes that run with them.

This team pushes themselves right to the very edge. CIS championship titles are a side effect of a system that the coaches and assistant coaches have built to take their team further than any other Canadian Cross Country team. Recently, the team travelled to Wisconsin to become the first Canadian team ever to compete in NCAA cross country.

Chris describes the rigorous

process of selecting potential new team members, and how exacting his standards are. It becomes all the more clear when I sit down with first-year student and women’s team rookie, Rachyl MacPhail. Rachyl is subdued and modest about her achievements.

Even with my admittedly limited knowledge of the sports world as a whole, I know that being the most junior member to make the trip to The Rock emphasizes her incredible amount of trusted talent.

As Rachyl and I talk, it becomes clear that the coaches and support staff are doing something differently to make this team work so well. Rachyl explains that when she competed in high school, her times weren’t fast enough to make the cut for the Gryphons. However, the team – recognizing her great potential – called Rachyl to offer her a spot. As a result, Rachyl is driven by a never-satisfied wantto-prove environment, allowing her to strive to the expectations of coaches and teammates. That’s what the coaching staff sees as the glue that binds the whole team

Storm end three-game skid with 9-4 win Tyler Bertuzzi sets franchise record with seven points in a single game STEPHANIE CORATTI Following up an 11-1 loss to the London Knights on Nov. 6 and a 3-1 defeat – their third loss in a row – to the Saginaw Spirit on Nov. 7, the Guelph Storm proved they don’t forget quickly.

On Nov. 9, the Knights travelled to Guelph for the second meeting in four days between the division rivals. The Knights were riding an eight-game win streak, while the Storm were in danger of dropping four in a row for the first time on the season.

Donning one-of-a-kind Remembrance Day jerseys, the Storm exploded for five goals in the first 20 minutes of play.

Pius Suter, who registered three goals for five points on the night, opened the scoring seven minutes into the game.

London’s Mitchell Marner

MOHAMMAD MELEBARI

Tyler Bertuzzi of the Guelph Storm set a franchise record with most points in a single game with seven (two goals, five assists) in the team’s 9-4 win over the London Knights on Nov. 9. responded less than two minutes later, tying the game up at one.

Marner would go on to pocket two goals in the period.

Suter scored next, registering his second of the game and his 14th goal of the season.

With additional goals from

Robby Fabbri – who also recorded a hat trick for six points on the game – and Tyler Bertuzzi, the Storm would head into the first intermission with a 5-2 lead.

The Knights would never get a hold of the lead, coming only within one as Michael McCarron

scored back-to-back goals for a 5-4 score in the second period.

That would be it for the visiting squad, as the Storm would respond with four more goals to cap off the dominating 9-4 win.

The top line of Bertuzzi, Fabbri, and Suter combined for

together: a hard-and-fast, unfailing, and uncompromising work ethic upheld personally by each and every member of the team.

Where to now for the Gryphons? Dave, the head coach, joins us, and he and Chris both praise the new facilities that the university has built to support the Cross Country team over the last few of years. In Chris’ words, they “went from the outhouse to the penthouse.” The picture Chris paints is of a team that has built itself up from nothing, and one that carries itself into the future on the concept that there is no such thing as good enough.

When you reach the top rung of the ladder, you ask for a bigger ladder. If one doesn’t exist, you build it. The aim of these gentlemen, their fantastic support team, and their loyal and dedicated athletes is to turn Guelph into a school known for its runners, sought out, and heavily competed for by those that wish to turn their love of the outdoors and outdoor running into a fulfilling and successful athletic career. And they’re well on their way.

18 points on the night, with Bertuzzi setting a franchise record for points in a single game with two goals for seven points, earning first star honours. Fabbri and Suter were named second and third star respectively.

Storm defenceman Ben Harpur, playing in just his second game back in the line up after being sidelined with a knee injury, also scored in the contest.

Zac Leslie was another notable for the defending champions, as the Los Angeles Kings prospect notched three assists in the game, bringing his season total to ten assists in ten games played.

Justin Nichols, between the pipes for Guelph, turned aside 25 of 29 shots, while London’s starter Michael Giugovaz was replaced at the start of the second period after allowing five goals on 17 shots.

Rookie Tyler Parsons stopped 18 of 22 shots in two periods of play for the Knights.

Guelph looks ahead to a threein-three weekend on the road, stopping in Kingston first to face the Frontenacs first on Nov. 14. The following night on Nov. 15 sees the Storm in Belleville to play the Colts, with the road trip ending in Ottawa on Nov. 16 against the 67’s.

Issue 175.11 • Thursday, November 13, 2014

SPORTS & HEALTH

13

MATTHEW AZEVEDO/THE ONTARION

The Guelph Gryphons defeated the Western Mustangs 51-26 on Nov. 8 to earn their spot in the 107th Yates Cup. The match-up will feature McMaster and Guelph going head-to-head on Nov. 15 in Hamilton.

Gryphons headed for Yates Cup 51-26 semifinal win sends Guelph to 107th Yates Cup STEPHANIE CORATTI For the second time in three years, the Guelph Gryphons have earned their spot in the Yates Cup. The 107th Yates Cup is set for Nov. 15 in what promises to be an exciting final featuring the Gryphons, who will travel to Hamilton to take on the McMaster Marauders.

To earn said spot, however, the Gryphons had to get past the Western Mustangs for the second time this football season.

The Mustangs came into the semi-final a little banged up, with starting quarterback Will Finch

sidelined with an injury. Backup Stevenson Bone filled in for the Mustangs yet wouldn’t be the lone backup quarterback on display during the rainy and cold contest on Nov. 8.

In the first quarter of the game, Gryphons’ quarterback Jazz Lindsey – who had a career game last time the Mustangs were in town – was forced to sit out for the remainder following an awkward landing at the end of a first-down run. In came backup quarterback James Roberts, a rookie who looked like anything but.

Roberts would begin to make a statement with the Gryphons down 9-6 during the second quarter. The rookie found Lucas Spagnuolo with a 62-yard pass and completed touchdown to give the home squad the jump ahead with a 13-9 lead.

The offence would continue to open up later in the quarter, with

Roberts connecting with Alex Charette to put the Gryphons up 20-9 on the purple ponies.

The Mustangs responded to cut the deficit, making it 20-16 thanks to a touchdown from Justin Sanvido. However, a 39-yard completion from Roberts to Spagnuolo again would extend the Gryphons’ lead once again.

Spagnuolo, on just three catches, had 118 yards and two touchdowns in the first half alone. The Grimsby, Ontario native would take a backseat to Rob Farquharson, though, as the fifth-year running back carried the ball 15 times for 148 yards in the first half of the game. It would be Farquharson who would add a touchdown with less than one minute remaining in the first half to give the Gryphons a 34-16 lead.

The defences of both squads were on display in the third quarter, which featured only one

touchdown from Adam Sinclair of the Mustangs. The lone touchdown cut the Gryphons’ lead to 11 points, for a 34-23 score heading into the final quarter.

Roberts’ arm was on display again in the fourth quarter, connecting with Charette, who completed the 33-yard pass coming up just short of the endzone. Farquharson completed the drive to put the Gryphons ahead 42-24.

Farquharson would strike again, this time with an incredible 50-yard touchdown run for his third touchdown on the game, solidifying the 51-26 win for the Gryphons. Awarded player of the game honours, Farquharson had 232 yards on 25 carries, averaging for 9.3 yards per carry on the game.

Rookie quarterback James Roberts closed out the game with 238 yards and three touchdown passes.

The Gryphons basked in the

victory over their bitter rivals, the Western Mustangs, knowing full well what the most important thing about the win was: the earned spot in the Yates Cup on Nov. 15.

The game will feature a rematch of the 2012 Yates Cup, with the Gryphons heading to Ron Joyce Stadium in Hamilton to take on the McMaster Marauders.

The Marauders handed the Gryphons their only loss of 201415 in the first game of the season.

In Hamilton, McMaster defeated Guelph 34-27 in overtime.

With both compiling a 7-1 record, the Gryphons will surely be looking to avenge the disappointing lone loss of the season with a lot more on the line on Nov. 15, while the Marauders will be looking to stay undefeated in 2014-15 against the black, red, and gold.

If nothing else, the match-up promises to be a good one.

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Guelph Remembers...

Peter Clark Hall hosts Holocaust survivor SAMEER CHHABRA Tuesday, Nov. 11, 2014 marked the annual day of remembrance in Canada. Honouring the sacrifices of those who defend our rights, each Nov. 11 since the end of the First World War, we reflect on our past in the hopes of building a better future. Remembrance Day is not a celebration of the lives we have lost, but a chance to pay our respects. For a single moment of silence at 11 am, we honour both the men and women who serve and protect the liberties that we are privileged to experience, and those who lost their lives in defence of that privilege. We remember so that we may never forget the sacrifices of war and the consequences of peace.

The University of Guelph was proud to host Holocaust survivor Nate Leipciger on Thursday, Nov. 6. Leipciger’s talk, as part of the university’s Holocaust Education Week, was organized by the Jewish Learning Initiative on Campus, the Orthodox Union, and Guelph Hillel. The event took place in a full capacity Peter Clark Hall, with an audience comprised of a mix of students and non-students.

Realistic and clever, with eyes that hide a wealth of experience, Leipciger is neither spirited nor stiff. Instead, he exudes an aura of intelligence and history. Though the subject matter was serious, Leipciger emphasized the importance of comedy.

“If you don’t have humour, even in the worst situations, life is not worth living,” explained Leipciger.

During the 45-minute talk, Leipciger recounted the horrific events that led to his family’s displacement in 1939 from their homes in Poland to a Jewish Ghetto. Over the

Canada ONLY ACCEPTED 5000 Jewish

refugueees during

WWII

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course of the Second World War, Leipciger and his family were torn apart by the efforts of Germany’s former Nazi Party, led by Adolf Hitler.

“We cannot, for one minute, take it for granted that our world is safe, because it’s not,” said Leipciger.

Though his retelling was detailed, it was evident that the memories of the war weighed heavily on Leipciger’s mind. Throughout various points in his talk, Leipciger paused to collect his emotions; these pauses were not for dramatic effect, and it was through what wasn’t said that he affected his captive audience.

When he discussed 1941 – when he and his family were displaced from their homes due to the actions of the Nazi party – Leipciger spoke calmly. However, it was evident that he still felt devastated at the thought of his family being displaced and thrown into ghettos.

In 1943, this ghetto was surrounded by Nazi troops, and the citizens were slowly evicted to concentration camps. Leipciger and his family were able to survive by hiding in close-quarters with 30 other people.

Leipciger recounted a story of a mother attempting to hide with his family. The mother was with a new-born infant, and promised that her crying child would not give away their hiding place. During a search, the baby was killed by one of the people hiding with Leipciger.

Leipciger explained that he recounted the story of the mother and her baby because the baby was a life “we can identify with.”

Eventually, Leipciger and his family were captured and sent to a concentration camp in 1943. He and his father were irrevocably separated from the rest of their family.

Those interned in labour and concentration camps were separated based on their ability to work. Leipciger was initially separated from his father, and he thought hope was lost until the surprising compassion of a Nazi officer allowed him to be reunited

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40,000 Holocaust

SURVIVORS

immigrated

to Canada

AFTER WWII

ESTIMATED THAT

11 million people were killed, 6 million

Guelph Remembers...

of them were

Jewish.

with his father. Throughout Leipciger’s internment, three separate Nazi officers prevented a separation between father and son.

Though he didn’t condone their actions, Leipciger was adamant that not every German citizen was inhuman. However, Leipciger was nonetheless quick to question the Nazi Party’s hatred of the Jewish people.

“Why were they killing us?” asked Leipciger. “We gave them everything, and they took everything we had. It was because I was born, by accident, to Jewish parents. We all have no control over who our parents are. In 1943, that was an offence punishable by gas.”

From 1943, when he and his father found themselves in Auschwitz, until 1945, when the war ended, Leipciger harrowingly survived wrongful incarceration in seven concentration camps. The cruelest irony occurred on May 9, 1945, one day after the Nazi surrender, when Leipciger contracted typhus fever and nearly died.

“I remember asking God ‘why?’” said Leipciger. “After everything I had been through – and survived – why kill me now?”

Eventually, Leipciger recovered, and he and his father immigrated to Canada. In 1948, three years after the Second World War ended, Leipciger entered Grade 12 in a Canadian high school. Despite his relocation, however, Leipcig still experienced persecution at the hands of those who felt the survivors of the Holocaust were “damaged goods.”

Today, Leipciger is a married man of 60 years with children and grandchildren. He attended university in Canada, and graduated with a degree in Engineering. Though he still has traumatic hauntings of his dark past, Leipciger looks hopefully to the future.

“I’m very happy to see there are people from all ethnic groups, all colours, and different ethnicities [here],” said Leipciger of his audience. “You can make this world better by reaching out to those who are less advantageous.”

CODY GRESSWELL

Cole Hamblin’s invincible memory Remembering a person I wish I could have known STEPHANIE CORATTI

CHRISTOPH BOECKEN VIA CC BY-NC-SA 2.0

I didn’t know Cole Hamblin. I’ll be honest: I had no idea who he was until Nov. 5, the day Hamblin succumbed to a rare cancer called mucoepidermoid carcinoma.

Cancer wins on a daily basis - a sad reality of this beautiful world. However, it wasn’t the cancer that hit me the hardest when I logged on to my social media outlets to find a 21-year-old Guelph Gryphon had passed away.

It was the 21-years-old part.

Born in 1993, I, too, am 21-years-old.

It’s undoubtedly an age where you still feel the invincibility that carries over from your teenaged self, paired with the bright-eyed desire to accomplish just about anything as the rest of your 20s wait ahead for you.

Standing at 6’4”, 230 lbs, a former player of the Western Hockey League, Hamblin was coined by teammates as a gentle giant.

Not even two months after being diagnosed, this gentle giant lost a battle that he never really got the chance to fight.

Undoubtedly a quick reminder that invincibility is merely a self-proclaimed label, Hamblin went from teaching local kids at a summer hockey camp to fighting for his life in a very limited amount of time.

Remembering the person that people were so fond of, though, will help Hamblin’s

fight live on. Cancer may have robbed parents of a child, friends of a companion, and teammates of a brother, but it cannot rob them of Hamblin’s memory.

Hamblin may not have been given the chance or the time to fight the battle; however, thinking about the time he brought a goldfish home to his roommates for a surprise house pet – as teammate Andrew D’Agostini recounted – is a memory that will triumph over cancer every time.

I may not have known Cole Hamblin, and cancer is to blame for my never having the chance to cross paths with the “big guy with the big smile.” I am grateful, though, for the everlasting, invincible memory created and shared by those who did know him, continuing to outlast the tragedy cancer has caused.

At 21-years-old, Hamblin was looking forward to playing for the Guelph Gryphons male hockey team this season, all while starting his degree in business. Afterwards, Gryphons head coach Shawn Camp said Hamblin saw himself playing professional hockey somewhere.

At 21-years-old, Hamblin was just like the rest of us; just like me. We’re invincible, set to chase down whatever dream that we see at the end of the path.

Invincible - they’ll learn one day; you can usually hear our parents counter back.

But maybe us 20-somethings aren’t so wrong after all. We are invincible, all of us, so long as we collectively ensure everyone who has ever had an effect on us is everlasting in their memory.

Invincible.

Cole Hamblin, you are invincible.

16

SPORTS & HEALTH

Top Ten: surprises of the NBA season thus far BROOK RAGAN 10. Steve Nash out for season Face it, Steve Nash has had luck that almost compares to that of Derrick Rose for the past several years. The worst is what caused his injury: not a game, not a practice, not a scrimmage...carrying luggage.

9. Both Russell Westbrook and Kevin Durant injured We already knew that Durant was banged up with a Jones fracture at the beginning of the regular season. But Westbrook getting hurt while carrying Durant’s weight is the definition of unlucky. This has put the Oklahoma City Thunder to a 2-5 record to start, a team that compiled a 59-23 record last season.

8. Kobe Bryant cannot stop shooting… no seriously Going into the Los Angeles Lakers game against the Charlotte Hornets on Nov. 9, Kobe had attempted 122 shots for – a league-leading total – in the Lakers’ past five games. The Lakers finally won against the Hornets on Sunday to improve their 0-5 record. As

KEITH ALLISON VIA CC BY-SA 2.0

usual, Kobe fired 20 shots to register his 21 points on the night however, the shot attempt total would be a low for Kobe.

7. ‘Super Team’ Cavaliers starting 2-3 Having three superstars means there’s a whole lot of egos in one locker room, but remember that LeBron James has been here before. Despite the fact that the Cleveland Cavaliers are under a .500 winning percentage with a 2-3

record to start, this superstar-studded team remains the favourite to sweep the East and win the Finals.

New Orleans wasn’t even in playoff content last season made it that much sweeter.

6. Anthony Davis: hottest man in the league Anthony Davis has come out of the gate this season like Seabiscuit set on fire. He is currently averaging 24.4 points a game, leads the league in rebounds at 12.8, and has been a rim protector with 4.4 blocks per game.

Good luck trying to get those numbers in a video game.

2. Andrew Wiggins This rookie has had an insane amount of pressure on him, and so far has been interesting. First, there were a lot of critics labeling Wiggins with a slow start, not being very effective for the Minnesota Timberwolves, and emphasizing his under 10-point production for most games. Then came a strong 17-point game versus the Brooklyn Nets. Recently against the Miami Heat, Dwayne Wade spoke to Wiggins and offered him advice, maybe these words of wisdom will help the young Canadian push forward this season.

5. Golden State Warriors break 5-0 start with loss to Phoenix Suns The Warriors have been unstoppable since the season has started. That was until the Golden State hit the wall of the Phoenix Suns the night after dropping the other undefeated squad, the Houston Rockets.

4. Derrick Rose follows up great play with injury Derrick Rose has been the cause of many frustrations. Getting injured after the commercials, the videos, his comeback presence in the International

PHILADELPHIA 76ERS VIA CC BY-ND 2.0

Basketball Federation (FIBA) games this past summer, is a special kind of torture for Chicago Bulls fans.

3. New Orleans Pelicans surprise win over the San Antonio Spurs What could be a better way for fans who were left sour after the Spurs won the 2014 NBA Finals than watching Anthony Davis hit the game winning layup for the Pelicans. The fact that

1. Raptors off to best start in franchise history with 6-1 record With a 6-1 record – the best start in franchise history for Toronto basketball – the Raptors have many fans dreaming of a championship. While the Cavaliers can’t get it to work, the Heat aren’t performing, and the Bulls struggling, the Toronto Raptors are putting together a strong argument for big time contention.

Guelph Gryphons bring in 4-1 victory over UoIT Gryphons women’s hockey improves to 5-1-1 on the season JACK HINDS The Gryphons are coming onto the ice after a 1-0 win over their fiercest rivals, the Queen’s Gaels, breaking their win streak on Nov. 8 – something the Gaels have done to the Gryphons before.

Without question this gave the Gryphons a healthy dose of confidence walking into their game on Nov. 9 against the UoIT Ridgebacks.

Jessica Pinkerton takes the opening faceoff for the Gryphons, against the Ridgebacks’ Nicole Gorda. Guelph wins the faceoff, and immediately begins controlling the action, passing well, and taking an early lead in shots on net.

Occasionally, the Ridgebacks will smash through the Gryphons offence, but they’re always faced with a Gryphon or two in their way. That seems to be all it takes to stop the push, and turn the play back towards the Ridgebacks net.

Six minutes into the first period, Gryphon Leigh Shilton breaks out,

and winds up a slap shot to which the Ridgebacks goalie, Tori Campbell, responds with a fantastic glove save, earning her cheers from both sections of the crowd. It quickly becomes obvious that Campbell’s goaltending is critical to the Ridgebacks defence.

The Gryphons hammer the puck back towards the Ridgebacks zone.

Pinkerton, Kaitlyn Mora and Averi Nooren are after it, and the Ridgebacks defense turn on their heels, and rush to catch up to the Gryphons screaming down the ice.

They make it, but only just, and not in enough force to stop the wall of Gryphon-energy coming in towards their net. Pinkerton scores the first goal of the game, with assistance from Mora and Nooren. The crowd loves it, and it ratchets up the energy in the arena.

With six minutes to go, and fresh from a timeout, Guelph win their next faceoff. Within 12 seconds, Mora slides another one past the Ridgebacks goalie with help from Nooren and Brittany St. James, bringing the score to 2-0 for the Gryphons.

The Gryphons offence breaks down with one minute remaining, and the Ridgebacks go wide-open-throttle for the Gryphons net. The Gryphons about face and race to catch up to them. Stephanie Nehring, goalie for the Gryphons, readies herself, her tall frame an imposing obstacle between the Ridgebacks and some redemption. Nehring keeps the Ridgeback

CODY GRESSWELL

Sophie Contant adds to the offensive pressure during the Guelph Gryphons 4-1 win over UoIT on Nov. 9.

Kaitlyn Mora (2), Jessica Pinkerton, and Averi Nooren all scored in the contest for the Gryphons. offensive at bay for a minute or so, and with 2 seconds left on the clock in the first period, the Ridgebacks slide one through, and get their first of the game.

Despite plenty of action in front of both nets, including a series of fantastic saves by Nehring, the middle frame would conclude with no goals, and the shots on net evened up.

The final period of play sees Mackenzie Wong skate up to join the offensive,

winding up between the boards and the shoulders of one of the Ridgebacks defensemen. She goes down hard and doesn’t get up, hands grasping her left knee. After a few tense minutes, and some help from two of her teammates, Cassidy and Grant, she’s up and off the ice to universal cheers.

The Gryphons find another gear and become even more aggressive towards the Ridgebacks, making a

break through the Ridgebacks defence with three fantastic passes, flicking the puck up past Campbell to score their third goal of the game.

They keep the heat on for the next three minutes and, with 40 seconds left, the Ridgebacks pull their goalie.

Nooren takes the opportunity to score a final goal on the open net, and the buzzer sounds. Guelph takes the game 4-1 over the Ridgebacks.

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Writing Tune-up: Style Style: Focus, Coherence, and Emphasis

WITH

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SUN NOV 16

PETER CLARK HALL 8 PM DOORS ALL AGES/LICENSED TICKETS

$28 ADVANCE (PLUS S.C.) $32 AT THE DOOR

TOKYO POLICE CLUB SAID THE WHALE & THE PACK A.D. TUES DEC 2 • PETER CLARK HALL • 7 PM

ALL AGES/LICENSED • $25 UOG STUDENT • $28 GENERAL (PLUS S.C.)

- understanding the function of style in clarifying text - mastering techniques for logical writing & explanation - adapting methods for emphasizing points to add professionalism Monday, November 17, 2014 - 9:30am to 11:30am Library Room 384 (Florence Partridge Room)

Exam Study Strategies Learn strategies for organizing your time, creating a study plan, and developing effective preparation techniques for final exams.

Tuesday, November 18, 2014 - 4:30pm to 5:30pm Library Room 384 (Florence Partridge Room)

Quick Citation Help Confused about how to cite a government document or a website? Have questions about how to manage your sources? Get your citation related questions answered!

Thursday, November 20, 2014 - 1:00pm to 2:00pm Learning Commons Area

To register for any of these workshops visit www.lib.uoguelph.ca

L E A R N I N G C O M M O N S TICKETS AVAILABLE FROM THE CSA MAIN OFFICE (UC 274), THE BRASS TAPS, OR ON-LINE AT WWW.TICKETBREAK.COM

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WORKSHOPS

YOUR CENTRAL STUDENT ASSOCIATION & UC PROGRAMMING PRESENT

18

SPORTS & HEALTH

Mental health & wellness: imagining mental health & the blood-brain barrier

Obsessing over observation and why understanding mental illness is so complicated SAMEER CHHABRA

Human science is obsessed with observation, and rightfully so.

Observations summarize what we see, what we hear, what we smell, and what truly exists. When we look around us, each individual cursory glance reveals a wealth of knowledge that ultimately contributes to our understanding of our world. Without observation, science amounts to nothing more than conjecture and consideration - an argument with no proof.

Both Eastern and Western science has greatly benefited from the combined total of the sum of all human observation. Where once we only had philosophy to provide us with a mere glimpse of a possibility of an understanding of the universe, we now have science to illuminate the darkness,

and bring human intelligence into the light. Admittedly, that’s left us with a few hang ups that have only served to hinder our collective pursuit of knowledge.

Humanity now has an obsession with proof and evidence, which has made educating people about the mind an especially harrowing endeavour.

As far as scientists and doctors and surgeons and patients - the people at the frontlines of medical study - are concerned, mental illness is a thing. For most people in the world, mental illness - depression, schizophrenia, anxiety, OCD, ADHD – is not a debatable issue. However, a surprisingly vocal minority still insists on challenging the notion that mental illness exists, not only because they don’t understand it, but because they can’t see it.

Heart disease is impossible to deny because we can plainly see its manifestation. A broken leg can’t be argued, and no one will ever tell a person missing a limb that they should “get over it.”

Mental illness, as a purely physical construct, cannot be directly observed without the assistance of intermediary interpretive devices.

Furthermore, it’s easier to visualize other illnesses that do require the use of MRIs and CT

Scans to diagnose, simply because we can imagine what cholesterol building up in an arterial wall looks like. Excluding the rare cases where a patient’s brain contains physical abnormalities, like fissures or lesions, mental illness is almost impossible to imagine as a physical concept.

Much of this visual difficulty comes from the public’s misunderstanding of the cerebral structure, as well as a lack of knowledge as to how the brain communicates with itself and the rest of the body. Furthermore, almost all of the misunderstanding comes from the assumption that the brain works like the rest of the body – almost entirely physically.

The brain itself works through a process of electric and chemical signals. The nervous system’s pathway is almost purely electrical, but nerves communicate with one another using chemical neurotransmitters. Unlike blood in the circulatory system, which is a cellular collection of molecules, nerve cells rely on electricity to communicate. Even more unlike cells, the neurotransmitters that allow nerve cells to communicate with each other aren’t “living.”

Treating mental illness requires an understanding of the body’s

Gryphon’s Mens Hockey

neurotransmitters, as well as how they function within the brain, and talking about mental illness requires forgetting almost everything known about treating physical illness. It requires looking at the body from an almost purely objective perspective, disregarding the concept of emotion as a physical property and thinking about it as a collection of responses produced by little more than a series of chemical reactions.

Once we look at the brain as chemical, we begin to understand why it’s so difficult to diagnose, treat, and cure mental illness.

Living things can be killed chemical processes can only be manipulated. Bacteria can be eradicated, dopamine bonding to a dopaminergic receptor cannot.

This significantly changes the way that medicine can be administered. Due to the chemical and electrical nature of the brain, directly injecting chemicals into the brain is not a solution to chemical inadequacies.

The blood-brain barrier is an incredibly selective barrier that separates circulating blood from extracellular fluid in the brain.

Simply put, the blood-brain barrier is the reason we can’t directly inject neurotransmitters and

hormones into a person - the barrier prevents the entrance of certain foreign substances, even if those particular substances are produced and circulated by a healthy brain.

For example, current research indicates a relationship between low amounts of dopamine and incidences of Parkinson’s disease.

The question first-year psychology students ask is, “Why don’t we just inject more dopamine into the brain?” The answer is simple: The blood-brain barrier blocks dopamine from entering the brain, even though dopamine is a significant, necessary, and essential neurotransmitter.

An entire subset of neuropsychiatry is dedicated to understanding how to circumvent the protective nature of the blood-brain barrier.

For almost a decade, scientists have been experimenting with the idea of using ultrasound waves to induce permeability in the blood-brain barrier. Incredibly fascinating is the fact that these studies work. While this is fantastic news for patients, imagine explaining that sound is being used to open a chemical barrier in the brain that prevents us from injecting more of the chemicals already found in the brain to a group of people who already don’t understand mental illness.

Upcoming events Nov. 13: Rebecca Kiessling, conceived in rape and targeted for abortion, will share her compelling personal story. 7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. in MCKN 116.

Nov. 13: Women’s Hockey: Waterloo @ Guelph (7:30 p.m., Gryphon Centre) Nov. 14: -Women’s Volleyball: Brock @ Guelph (7 p.m., W.F. Mitchell Athletic Centre) -Men’s Hockey: Nipissing @ Guelph (7:30 p.m., Gryphon Centre) Nov. 15: -Men’s Hockey: Laurentian @ Guelph (3 p.m., Gryphon Centre) -Women’s & Men’s Basketball: Algoma @ Guelph (6 p.m., 8 p.m., W.F. Mitchell Athletic Centre) Nov. 18 & 20 - Stress Less for Tests program, 5:30 to 7 p.m.

UC 441. Learn how to enhance exam performance by decreasing test anxiety, improving focus and curbing worry.

Student fee $5. Details at www.selfregulationskills.ca

CODY GRESSWELL

The Guelph Gryphons dropped to 3-5-2 on the season after a 5-2 loss to the McGill Redmen on Nov. 7. It was the first game for the Gryphons since learning 21-year-old teammate, Cole Hamblin, had lost his battle with cancer on Nov. 5. Scoring just 40 seconds into the game, the Redmen then exploded for three goals in the second period that would eventually go on to decide the contest. Carlos Amestoy and Nicklas Huard recorded the goals for Guelph in the loss. Following the end of the game, both teams gathered around Cole Hamblin’s jersey for a touching salute.The Gryphons hit the ice next on Nov. 14 against the Nipissing Lakers at the Gryphon Centre.

FOR MORE SPORTS & HEALTH NEWS FIND US ONLINE @theontarion theontarion.com

Issue 175.11 • Thursday, November 13, 2014

LIFE

Archaeology and volunteer opportunities abroad Seize the day – go travelling!

ASHLEY STREET

Ashley Street, seen above, discusses the experience of travelling. This is the first article of a three-part-series. This photo was taken on an excavation in Turkey this past summer. building a school abroad, teaching English, WWOOfing, providing relief in an underprivileged area, or otherwise, excavations combine work and pleasure over a longer period of time than one would normally travel for just a vacation. Usually, excavation projects take volunteers for an average of four weeks.

There are a variety of volunteer opportunities one can research and apply for online, but excavations are particularly good, as many provide the option to get a university credit in addition to experience. I have been to both Romania and Turkey on excavation projects through the University of Guelph, and I consider them two of the most worthwhile elements of my undergraduate experience. In both

cases, there was the option to get a school credit, and I was still able to spend the remainder of my summer working to offset the cost. By doing a course over the summer, I also had the opportunity to take fewer courses in the fall and pick up a few more hours of work. I encourage any students considering school-related travel in any form to research travel grants – our university offers several which make going overseas much more financially feasible.

Currently, Guelph professor Dr. A.N. Sherwood is looking for students interested in going to Turkey to work at a site called Pompeiopolis next summer. There is no need to commit, but if you are potentially interested in going, a government

centre fold. Fold the page diagonally one more time, leaving a triangle at the bottom of the page. To finish, fold this triangle up to create a flat bottom.

When you’ve done this to the entire magazine, use tape or glue to attach the front and back covers, and voila!

A mini Christmas tree (or Hannukah plant, if you’d rather).

Your landlord or residence don won’t let you light the candles on your menorah? Don’t fret! You can make a non-flammable substitute out of toilet paper rolls, pretty wrapping paper, and yellow construction paper. Cover the toilet paper rolls with the wrapping paper, and use the construction paper to cut out nine paper “flames” to attach to the “candles.” If you don’t trust your skills with scissors, you can paint clothes pins (which you can buy by the hundreds at the dollar store) yellow to act as your menorah flames.

It’s not snowing yet, so it doesn’t “feel” like the holidays? For a quick, easy, and non-denominational decoration, get your nostalgia fix and cut some snowflakes out of paper. If you don’t remember this grade-school craft staple, here’s a quick recap: fold a regular piece of printer paper in half twice.

Then, fold the square you’ve made diagonally to make a triangle. You can fold diagonally one more time, or you can just start chopping away. When you’re done creating your one-of-akind pieces of art, you can string them together and hang them across your window or from your ceiling.

You’re less into crafts and more into cookies? This sugar cookie recipe is foolproof, and the result can easily be decorated as a dreidel or a Christmas tree. There’s no better way to get in the holiday spirit than eating your weight in sugar cookies.

You’ve probably seen this on Pinterest

Preparing your space for the holiday season ALYSSA OTTEMA Hallowe’en lasts for one night, but the winter holiday season seems to encompass two full months. So, now that All Hallows Eve is a whole two weeks behind us, it must be time to start decorating your home-away-fromhome for whatever winter holiday you celebrate.

Your room or apartment is too small for a Christmas tree, you say? You can create a colourful, pre-decorated, mini evergreen out of an old magazine! To do so, fold each page - including the front and back covers - diagonally, bringing the top of the page into the

Dear Elann...

Dear “need some extra help”:

ASHLEY STREET The weather is getting colder, for most students money is getting tighter, and, with only a month left in the semester, the workload is piling up. Perhaps you are like me and you are looking at your remaining coursework and carefully calculating how much sleep you can exchange for coffee. In short, the last thing on most of our minds is what we’re going to be doing next summer.

If you have any inclination to travel, however, it’s something you should be thinking about.

Even though university may feel overwhelming at times, these are the years when we have the most freedom to travel. It may, at first, feel selfish to consider going on a trip instead of working or saving, but now is the most opportune time to be just a bit selfish.

I am preparing to graduate and begin the job-hunt that I have been led to believe will be so arduous and unlikely; as I write and re-write my cover letter and resume, I find that my experiences abroad and the skills gained on those journeys (literal and personal) set me apart. This is the first of a short series of articles about travel opportunities.

There are many ways to see the world – what way will be most beneficial to you?

It may not really be all grave-robbing and train-hopping, but archaeological digs are still a great way to experience a different culture, develop meaningful skills, and make worthwhile, lasting friendships and potential career-contacts. Like other equally worthwhile volunteer opportunities, such as

19

security form needs to be filled out before the end of November in order to be allowed access to the site. I volunteered with this particular project last summer and was so thrilled with it that I am hoping to go again next summer.

There is so much of the world to see and so many different ways to see it. I have always considered travelling with a purpose beyond relaxation to be the most fulfilling, and I encourage all students to find a project they feel passionate about and get on a plane (or bus, or boat etc.) Talk to your professors, do some research, go to a study-abroad information session, find out about conferences and internships, and seize the day!

You Will need: 1 c. butter 1 1/4 c. sugar 1 egg 1 1/2 tsp. vanilla 3 c. flour 1 1/2 tsp. baking powder 1/4 tsp. salt Icing or sugar for topping Mix butter and sugar in a large bowl, combining completely, for about two minutes. Add in egg, vanilla, flour, baking powder, and salt. Mix until completely combined. Roll the dough between two sheets of wax paper, then chill in the refrigerator for 20-30 minutes. Cut dough into desired shapes and transfer to a baking sheet. Bake at 350 F for 8 to 12 minutes. Cool at least 10 minutes before eating.

With advancing stresses nearing the end of the academic semester, your concerns for life-balance are shared by many. So often, when we have problems coping, we feel alone and vulnerable to criticism or even judgement. Be assured that you are not alone in your outlook, and remind yourself that most people are busy enough with their own lives that they won’t be giving up much time “thinking” about (judging) anyone. Fear of judgement can inhibit us from making quality and valuable decisions—so let’s cross that one off of our list first! Next, spend some time remembering a time when you have overcome anxieties in the past. When we are in a state of fear and negativity, it may take some work finding an experience where we can actually visualize and remember the feeling of overcoming a series of obstacles in achieving our goals. After an illness and “dragging yourself through your classes” for 10 days, you are physically run-down and academically stressed. It is important to draw on strengths. As I have stated in the past, repeating positive beliefs in a brief series of descriptive words is a powerful measure toward quality outcomes. Write down these words beginning with – I am (resourceful, resilient, friendly, loyal, …etc.) and I will (survive, excel, conquer, succeed). Talk to yourself as if you were your best friend!

If you need more structure to your plan, remember that there are excellent counselling service right on campus in the University Centre. If it is really urgent, they can see you Monday-to-Friday as a walk-in from 12:30 to 3:30 p.m. You can call, however, in advance for an appointment.

There is also a group of trained counsellors ready to take your call any time at Good 2 Talk.

Thank you for sharing your experience. Others need to hear these words too!

Take action,

Elann

Email: dearelann@gmail.com for advice and help.

TheON

20

LIFE

On this day...

Date: November 13th 2007 ALEXANDRA GRANT On this day with SHAC, there was an explosion in the south wing of the House of Representatives of the Philippines in Quezon City. As a result of the explosion, four people, including Congressman Wahab Akbar, were killed, and another six were injured. The congressman was the target of Muslim militants that chose to attack just as the House’s session ended.

Akbar was a former Muslim rebel that signed a peace accord with the government in 1996; he was also a former governor in the southern Basilan province. This was not the first time that he had been the target of an attack, as he was the target of a previous attack by the Abu Sayyaf Muslim extremist group. Security officials at the time suspected that Akbar knew the leaders of this group, as they were supposedly located in the Basilan island region and had correspondence with Akbar.

However, they also believe that the group’s commander and Akbar had a falling out that lead to their conflicts.

The capital city of Quezon in the Philippines was still feeling the fear and jitters from an attack just one month earlier, when an explosion damaged a shopping mall in the financial district, killing 11 people and injuring more than 100. The attacks were the result of angered Muslim extremists over the lack of interest in their cause by certain factions which had abandoned their secessionist goals in favor of peace.

Perfecting being perpetually poor

Making it to your next paycheque GABRIELLE DICKERT As students, a lot of us change jobs a few times over our university career. While the idea of not quitting your job before you have a new one is a good rule of thumb, sometimes you’ll have a gap between jobs, or the pay structures don’t match up flawlessly.

For students living paychequeto-paycheque, there can be an awkward period between pays where you just don’t have the right amount of money to make it to the next pay.

“Find out how much you have in your savings and act accordingly.”

Amy A., a grad student in the first year of her Masters recalls what it was like to live when she didn’t receive the money she was expecting: “Having my scholarship payments delayed was incredibly frustrating. I was

lucky to have some savings put aside to cover my expenses, but I hadn’t expected to dip into them so soon into grad school. I had to stop spending on things I didn’t absolutely need, like eating out or getting those new boots I wanted.

I also found myself worrying about money more than I had been before, which was an added stress I had to learn to live with while also being a grad student.”

Sometimes, like Amy, you might not be aware that you aren’t getting money right away.

So many students have issues with OSAP payments that were just non-existent in their bank accounts; sometimes the paperwork you sent to your bank doesn’t get processed on time, and all of a sudden, you’re unable to access your student line of credit, and you’re paralyzed with the inability to pay for life.

At this time, you should slow your spending until you receive your money. Don’t spend money you don’t have (with the help of your credit card), and avoid spending what money you have on reserve. Think of your savings as emergency money. It’s like when your parents gave you a credit card that you were supposed to use only for emergencies, except this time you’re not going to go out and buy Starbucks with it.

Emergencies in the situation of a poor student typically include food, rent, and transportation to-and-from school and/or work.

At this time, it’s important to utilize the resources made available to you on campus. We have an on-campus food bank for you to make sure you are able to eat

M01229 VIA CC BY 2.0

If you are in-between paycheques, or jobs, it may be a good idea to rethink your daily Starbucks habit.

– if you’re suffering financially, it’s there to help you, so don’t be afraid to use it.

If you’re aware that you’ll be pausing your income, (i.e. leaving your job), it’s a good idea to start saving as much as you can immediately. Think of yourself as an animal that is about to hibernate over the winter. Hoard as much of your money as you can so that, in case of an unforeseen gap in between getting paid from your old job and your new job, you’re prepared with some extra funds to help get you through.

When getting a new job, it’s time to revamp your budget. Take another look at your Excel file (or create one if you’ve been living

without one), and update your expenses. Make sure you have a good idea of all of the money you’ll be needing until your next pay, and check your balance to make sure you have enough. Find out how much you have in your savings and act accordingly.

Remember that a lot of students have problems making it through transition periods, so save, budget accordingly, and freeze your spending. Do the best you can to give yourself an advantage, but also remember that there are resources available to help you during rough periods – it’s up to you to seek them out and do your part to perfect being perpetually poor.

Simply authentic: diary of a local foodie Potato, leek, (and bacon) soup EMILY JONES With the cooler weather of the late fall seeping and the disappearance of the leaves, it seems to be the right time to introduce a few comfort food staples to my column. This past week was my second time making potato and leek soup - this time, I decided to add peppercorn bacon for a little extra deliciousness, but it is just as good without.

Making soups can seem intimidating, but the truth is, although the prep-work may take a while, making soups are a simple way to have meals for days! This potato and leek soup is particularly simple to make, as it requires minimal ingredients and approximately an hour of your time.

Begin by peeling four or five potatoes, and cut them into cubes. Next, chop six leeks (remember to cut off the bottoms, and the leafy green tops), and rinse them well. Get out a large pot, and pour a couple tablespoons of olive oil in. Add in the chopped potatoes and leeks, and turn the stove on to medium heat.

Stir often so that nothing sticks to the bottom of the pot. Allow the

potato and leek mixture to cook for approximately eight to 10 minutes, or until they begin to soften and get some colour.

Next, get out another pot and bring six to eight cups of vegetable stock to a boil. Once it reaches the boiling point, add it to the pot that is cooking the potatoes and the leaks. Cover, and reduce the heat to allow the ingredients to simmer together for 40 minutes, while stirring occasionally.

While the ingredients are simmering together and softening, if you want to add bacon, now is the time to get out a frying pan and cook a few slices. I cooked eight slices of bacon total. I chopped up and added four slices to the mixture

before blending; I chopped up and added in the other four after the blending process took place, so that there were pieces of bacon in the soup.

After 40 minutes simmering, the potatoes and leeks should be soft. It is now the time to add in the bacon, and remove the mixture from heat, readying the mixture to be blended.

Blend until smooth. I used a handheld blender, which I find easiest when blending soups that require blending. If you are using a regular blender, spoon the mixture into the blender in small batches, and continue until all of the soup is smooth.

Then, put the soup back on the stove, on a low heat, and mix in onehalf to a full cup of heavy cream, and

season with salt and pepper. Top the soup with freshly chopped chives, bacon crumble, and cheddar cheese if you like, and be ready to indulge in a smooth, warm, and comforting soup that will allow you to forget about the cold weather outside.

Shopping list: - 4 or 5 medium potatoes - 6 leeks - vegetable broth - salt and pepper - chives - heavy cream - bacon

Issue 175.11 • Thursday, November 13, 2014

Changing the Subject A close reading of a Cosmopolitan cover DANIELLE SUBJECT Ah, Cosmopolitan. Thank the heavens for this magazine. Next to worrying about passing exams, establishing my identity, and forging a career-path, my biggest worry is what sort of contortionist-inspired sex position I can dig up to keep my man happy. For all you single ladies, I bet you’re thankful for their advice on what to wear to score the right guy, right?

Hold it. Before you start typing up a ferocious rant for your fiveminutes of fame on Overheard Guelph, you should probably know that I was being sarcastic. Cosmo sucks, and for many reasons. Whoever said not to judge a book by its cover clearly never picked up an issue of Cosmo, because we’re going to do exactly that.

Cover Story #1: “38 Hot Sex Tricks” First of all, a question that crosses my mind anytime I see a Cosmo issue is: where do their writers get these endless amounts of “sex tricks?!” I swear, every issue has this type of article.

Maybe they have a sex trick encyclopedia and recycle the same lists ever so often. Or maybe they draw from a hat. Either way, there cannot be as many options as Cosmo’s suggesting, taking into consideration all of their other publications. I argue

false advertising. Also, the article itself is completely heterosexual. I guess all women are straight, right?

Thanks for assuming that we all sleep with men. Also, thanks for actively reducing us to sex objects.

How about “38 Ways to Appreciate Yourself ” instead? Something with a little less reduce-me-to-a-sexrobot and a little more celebration of myself.

Cover Story #2: “Rita Ora: Why She’s Everywhere –Including Fifty Shades” All I have to say to about this one is, who cares?

Cover Story #3: “Get the Epic Love You Deserve” How do they suggest I do this?

And what does that even mean? This article turns out to be a Q & A with some “Guy Guru” named Logan Hill. The first question is from a girl who is jealous of all of her friends getting engaged. It’s backed up by a nauseating photo of a female grinning smugly and flaunting her new engagement ring. Is this what we’ve been reduced to as a gender?!

Diamond-hungry, ring-parading fiends? According to Cosmo, yes.

Cover Story #4: “Find Your Sparkle! Best Beauty Under $10, One-Step Party Hair, Sweet Gifts for You & Him” This just reaffirms the fact that Cosmo generalizes heterosexuality.

Thanks again for assuming that we all dig men.

Cover Story #5: “How to Avoid Going Broke This Holiday” Fine, as much as it pains me to, I’ll give them this one.

Beneath the surface Kiera Knightley goes topless for a cause DIANA KURZEJA Kiera Knightley recently agreed to pose in a topless feature for Interview Magazine under one condition: she refused to have her body modified in the photos.

After her unedited photos were released, Knightley told Times, “I’ve had my body manipulated so many different times for so many different reasons, whether it’s paparazzi photographers or for film posters. That [shoot] was

one of the ones where I said: ‘OK, I’m fine doing the topless shot so long as you don’t make them any bigger or retouch.’ Because it does feel important to say it really doesn’t matter what shape you are.”

After seeing Knightley’s photos online, I felt an unexplained gratitude for her bravery and determination to make her point; the use of Photoshop perpetuates the myth that these unrealistic beauty standards are possible when in reality, they simply aren’t and never will be. Unfortunately, Photoshop and airbrushing seem to have become an inherent part of the beauty industry, manipulating the bodies and faces of celebrities to project impossible

OPINION

21

Cover Story #6: “Celebrity Exclusive “My Naked Photos Were Stolen” I’ll reiterate my previous point of who cares?

Cover Story #7: “Must Try: The Easy Flat-Ab Workout You Can Do Anywhere!”

Here we go. There’s always a degrading “fitness” article. I’ve placed quotations on the word “fitness” because it’s actually a let’s-distort-your-body-image-soyou’ll-feel-the-need-to-followour-advice article. The phrase “easy flat-ab” alone is an oxymoron. Whatever “flat-abs” are, exactly, it probably won’t come easy because that’s not the way our bodies work. Also, who says we need flat-abs? Cosmo does.

Which is exactly why I believe their magazine is distasteful and promotes a negative body image.

This article proves that they have completely set a standard for all body-types, assuming that everyone wants flat-abs and that flat-abs should be a desired goal.

How about they replace these offensive body-hating articles with articles about breathing exercises to relieve stress or tasty meal ideas? Things that are actually relevant and don’t feed in to these societal standards that have been set for the ideal body image. We are all different shapes and sizes!

Let’s embrace it! And that doesn’t mean throwing a “plus-sized” model on the cover and claiming they’re advocators for healthy body images and body diversity.

Why is there even a classification between “model” and “plus-sized model?” This is our problem. We

allusions of imperfection.

Knightley stood by her decision to flaunt her uneven and unaltered breasts claiming, “I think women’s bodies are a battleground and photography is partly to blame.”

Knightley does not stand alone in her fight against the manipulation of Photoshop. She is joined with celebrities such as Lorde, Lady Gaga, Brad Pitt, and Jennifer Lawrence, who have all famously spoken up against the image-enhancing tool.

Kate Winslet has been widely associated with her views against the photoshopping of her images.

After having her appearance heavily altered in order to make her slimmer in GQ in 2003, she

COURTESY

The ridiculous, and unrealistic cover of Cosmopolitan magazine has the ability to make people cringe. constantly feel the need to classify body-types and set standards for ourselves. A model should just be called a model, period.

So, next time you’re stuck in line at Shoppers and find yourself feeling the urge to indulge in an issue of Cosmo, give the articles a

twice over and ask yourself: what, exactly, will I get out of reading this? Will reading this encourage a positive body image and mindset? Hopefully you find yourself answering no. Just keep walking to the cashier and save that extra five dollars.

decided to take a stand. “I do not look like that and, more importantly, I don’t desire to look like that. I am proud, you know”, Winslet said. In 2009, Winslet told Harper’s Bazaar that she makes magazines use her original images when she sees them. “I will particularly say when I look at movie posters: You guys have airbrushed my forehead. Please can you change it back?”

When a celebrity can no longer recognize their own face in photos because of such heavy use of photoshop, may that be an indication that we have gone a little too far? It astonishes me that photoshop has become such an integral part of media culture, constantly modifying the images

we see everyday to convince us that this unreachable goal of imperfection is what we should look up to.

By challenging the world’s unrealistic beauty standards, Knightley and other like-minded celebrities are taking an essential step towards encouraging the portrayal of real bodies within the media – something we don’t see very often. It is so important to promote the idea of body acceptance, especially to those of us who, instead of feeling ashamed of our flaws and imperfections, should embrace and flaunt them as being part of who we are – which is something that no one should ever try to airbrush away.

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OPINION

Men and mental health

of optimism often comes with a side of heart-shattering realism.

It’s 2014; we have fully incorporated same-sex relationships into our agenda, we have achieved remarkable feats in human rights regulation, yet depression and suicide rates among men are on the rise, especially here in North America, the U.K, and Japan.

Why is it that these countries, with such congratulatory status, have such detrimental rates of suicide? The answer might not be surprising.

COURTESY PHOTO

The death of Robin Williams brought much needed attention to the topic of mental health – more specifically, the topic of men and mental health.

Why staying silent isn’t healthy GILAD KENIGSBERG-BENTOV

POSTGRADUATE CERTIFICATE

In the early weeks of August 2014, a man who brought joy to the faces his fans, took his life after battling with depression for several decades. The untimely death of Robin Williams brought the issues of depression and suicide in men to the forefront.

FROM ARBITRATION TO COMMUNITY OUTREACH, THIS PROGRAM OFFERS THE UNIQUE SKILLS YOU WILL NEED TO LAUNCH YOUR CAREER AS AN ARBITRATOR, CONCILIATOR, EMPLOYEE RELATIONS OFFICER, MEDIATOR AND MANY OTHER EXCITING CAREER OPTIONS.

“...depression and suicide rates among men are on the rise...”

business.humber.ca/postgrad The truth is, and perhaps I am not speaking on behalf of all men, men feel as though their place in society correlates directly with the amount of money they rack-in every month. This faulty perception puts an enormous pressure on men, especially us young guys who might wish to pursue a career which we are passionate about, but are afraid to do so because it is not very financially attractive. That dose

“...it has been wrong to think that the men who boast of their wealth or power are those we should look up to...”

From 2000 to 2011, suicide rates in North America had increased to 12.3 per 100,000 people, the majority of which were middle-aged (45-59). What puzzles researchers, however, is that men are four times more likely to commit suicide than women, even though studies show that women are twice more likely to develop symptoms of depression than men. This may seem like an inconsistency at first, but then again, how often have you heard a man in his 40s to 50s vocalize his emotions to another person, let alone a stranger conducting research?

Symptoms of depression in men manifest themselves differently than women, it doesn’t always result in crying or sadness or other conventional signs we might think of. Men are more likely to display signs of “anger attacks/aggression, irritability, substance abuse, and risk-taking behaviours,” according to research conducted by Lisa Martin and Harold Neighbours of the University of Michigan, and Derek Griffith of Vanderbilt University. When these symptoms are factored into the equation, depression rates are as high as women, perhaps even higher.

This raises the question, why are men so depressed? Why are they less vocal about it? What

could possibly be causing this tide of suicide and depression?

To be a gentleman, in my opinion, is not to flaunt your wealth, not to disrespect women or treat them like objects, it does not involve putting another man down, or asserting your manliness through any interaction with another person, for that matter. A man has an opportunity to alter a small portion of the world to benefit him and everyone around him, to make the world a better place and bring justice to those who deserve it. Throughout history, it has been wrong to think that the men who boast of their wealth or power are those we should look up to; I say we should not look anywhere, because the real men behind these glories and triumphs are unsung heroes who thrive in silence and let their success do the talking.

What can we do to get rid of these terrible suicide rates? The world is a beautiful place, we are blessed with friendships, passions, and curiosity; in the grand scheme of things, life is a wild, precious ride. Next time you see a man, or anyone, going through a personal crisis, brighten up their day with a smile or a reassuring pat on the back. Thank your parents for paying for your studies, and thank your dad for dealing with all of the difficulties of life while putting bread on your table and raising you to be the person that you are. Men might not show it, but they can be very emotional as well.

Society tells you to pursue a career that doesn’t bring you joy? The hell with society I say, we’re humans, we’re bound to the natural cycle of things. What happens to us in our lifetime is in the palms of our hands; there is a vast world out there that’s calling out to you, the world is colourful, there is wisdom to be discovered at every corner of it – go out and explore. Money and family will eventually come, enjoy your life!

After all, you only get one.

If you are ever feeling like there is no one to speak to, do not hesitate to email me personally, or call the university’s counselling services at 519-824-4120 Ext. 53244

TheON

Issue 175.11 • Thursday, November 13, 2014

OPINION

23

Men who sleep with 20-or-more women are less likely to be diagnosed with prostate cancer Why the media feels the need to make things sexy SAMEER CHHABRA A recent study published by the University of Montreal, in association with INRS-Institut Armand Frappier, suggests a link between multiple female partners and a reduced risk for prostate cancer in straight men. According to the study published on Oct. 28, men who have had sex with 20 or more female partners are 28 per cent less likely to develop prostate cancer than those who have not.

The sample consisted of 3,208 men who were asked to fill out a questionnaire about their sex lives, as part of the University of Montreal’s PROtEuS (Prostate Cancer and Environment Study) study.

What’s especially interesting for lead researchers Marie-Elise Parent and Marie-Claude Rousseau is the correlation found for homosexual men. Men who identified as homosexual, who said that they had sex with 20 or more men, were apparently twice more likely to contract prostate cancer than those who did not.

If you’re fuming at these results, I should let you know that you shouldn’t be too offended. These correlations make perfect sense given our understanding of human physiology, and Parent and Rousseau’s findings echo similar findings published by Harvard in 2003 and 2004.

Ejaculation is not only pleasurable, it’s incredibly healthy.

Orgasm is capable of relieving stress, curing mild headaches, temporarily increasing mental fortitude, and significantly reducing a man’s chances of developing prostate cancer. This is also true for women, though very few women generally need to worry about prostate cancer.

The idea that gay men are twice more likely to develop prostate cancer from 20 or more partners is also an unsurprising finding. I won’t get into the graphic details, but it really comes to a simple matter of give and take – release and storage.

However, you should be fuming at these results, because they are representative of a disappointing trend in our collective desire to know.

Science is founded on the desire to answer “why” and “how” questions. Science has no political agenda. Science is purely interested in figuring out how things work and how things fit within the framework of our grand universe.

Sadly, most people don’t understand the almost child-like pursuit of knowledge associated with science. Indeed, our culture is obsessed with finding reason for events; instead of looking for an answer to a question, we look for solutions to problems.

There’s a meaningful distinction between question and problem that irrevocably changes the research landscape.

In our culture, scientists don’t perform research to suit their curiosities; they perform research to get paid. Only the most interesting, most popular, most hyped, and sexiest stories get any significant airtime, and only the sexiest research gets any meaningful funding. This results in talented oncologists like Marie-Elise Parent wasting time examining the association between cell phone usage and brain tumour generation, in order to gain funding for meaningful lung cancer research. The study examining an almost negligible positively correlated trend gets airtime – and a paycheque – that funds the study that will actually save lives.

Popular media perpetuates the idea that science is only interesting when research offers life-changing implications, and it’s always been like this too. In the 1960s, 1970s, and 1980s – during the height of the Cold War – news media reported on scientific discoveries on a daily basis, but coverage was only based on new discoveries that showcased Western advancement over Communist incompetence, or developments that were capable of eradicating life on the planet. Instead of focusing on the positive potential of nuclear power, the news obsessed over how much of North America Russia would be able to destroy if our enemies launched their entire nuclear arsenals against us.

However, the Cold War truly was a special time for scientific achievement. New discoveries really were incredible, so the public came to expect scientific “eureka” moments every time they tuned into the evening news. Today, scientific leaps-and-bounds occur on a daily basis, and lives are constantly changing thanks to the efforts of white-coats, but the public still expects to hear about the “eureka” moments. As a result, the news has

NASA VIA CC BY-NC 2.0

Popular media often desires to give the public “eureka” moments – during the Cold War era, there was a lot of excitement. Is the media of today just trying to fill a void? tasked itself with only reporting on the biggest, sexiest stories, instead of everything else that’s happening in labs across the world.

Ultimately, the results of Parent and Rousseau’s study are not indicative of an unacceptably sexist moral framework in which it is “better for straight men” to have multiple sexual partners. The manner in which Parent and Rousseau published their findings, and the way that the press presented their results is simply indicative of a jarring social trend in which science is simplified for the lowest common denominator.

Saying that frequent orgasm is necessary for presenting prostate cancer, as was stated in every reputable study since 2004, is no longer an alluring enough concept. Multiple sexual partners – science preying on the notion that men should be having lots of sex with lots of women – is now obviously the way to make science interesting to the public. I shudder to think of what comes next – perhaps prostate cancer can only really be prevented if all the girlfriends and wives in the world let their significant others step out of the bounds of their relationships. Maybe that won’t be enough either; maybe gay men should stop having sex entirely, since they put themselves at risk every time they do.

Proper science writing – proper reporting for that matter – dictates that facts and opinion not be simplified to compensate for a

population unaware of the subject matter. Journalists are supposed to explain current events, and put them into context for the people who weren’t even aware of the issues to begin with.

Proper science dictates a separation from philosophy and ideology.

Sadly, until scientists are able to get proper funding for the research they

MMPA

want to do – instead of the research that pays the most – we’re going to be hearing a lot more about cells phones and brain cancer.

It is, in every sense of the term, a vicious cycle, and I’m really just calling out for a better class of news report that focuses on scientific discoveries not revolving around our genitals.

Master of Management & Professional Accounting

• Designed primarily for non-business undergraduates • For careers in Management, Finance and Accounting • Extremely high co-op and permanent placement To learn more about the MMPA Program, attend our information sessions: Wednesday, November 19th, 2014, 11 am – 1 pm Career Centre, University of Guelph Wednesday, January 21st, 2015, 11 am – 1 pm Career Centre, University of Guelph

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24

OPINION

PopSci: What are genetically modified foods?

Most importantly – should you be afraid?

MARÍA CARLA ROSALES GERPE

Genetically modified organisms (GMOs) can be defined as food industry plants or animals that are different from the original organism because they are changed in a laboratory setting to include beneficial characteristics for the organism and the consumer. Alterations done to food products often include genes that will allow them to survive against pests, for instance. An excellent example of a GMO would be Golden Rice, which is a specific rice species, Oryza sativa, whose β-carotene gene has been activated and enhanced in grains.

The aforementioned chemical is one of the starting materials for the production of vitamin A, but it is not found in rice until the grain develops into leaves.

Vitamin A deficiency is a major concern in South-Asian developing countries where rice is a large part of the diet. In this part of the world, Vitamin A deficiency not only contributes to poor vision, but also to a weak immune system in children. Whenever I come across people who are against GMOs, the story of Golden Rice continues to be my go-to example. I feel it encompasses exactly what science is about, a field that strives for solutions to help people and life.

Another thing that people are often surprised to learn is that we

have been genetically modifying foods for centuries. Orthodox plant and animal breeding practices are so normal to us that we do not think of them as genetic modification, yet they are. Whenever a farmer chooses a crop that survived a drought or a particular pest infestation or breeds chickens that lay extra-large eggs, when compared to the rest of the coop, he or she is selecting for a particular characteristic or gene, much like scientists do in a laboratory. This new breed might grow better than the others and will be used in the future, unlike the others. Genetic modification of organisms in a laboratory setting undergoes severe regulation and testing by the governing bodies of nations, yet conventional agricultural practices do not.

Many of the concerns advocated to newly altered crops and animals, such as the rise of allergens, the lack of biodiversity, transfer of undesirable features, and mixing of altered crops with “natural” ones can also occur with conventional agricultural methods. A good, natural example of this are bananas. The Cavendish variety of bananas originates as part of conventional agricultural breeding practices. It has been selected over others because it is able to survive during transportation and survive Panama disease, a fungal infection currently affecting banana plants worldwide. As a result, we don’t get other types of sweet bananas at the grocery store. As a kid growing up in Cuba, I used to eat a lot of “plátano manzano,” a type of banana that is about half the size of the Cavendish bananas we are used to eating, and whose sweet flavour I can only describe as

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being close to bubble-gum. Sadly, we don’t see them too often now in Cuba because of Panama disease. Crops are afflicted by pest infestations as well as microbial infections all the time, and we continually select varieties that are resistant to these problemsonly now we can also do it in laboratory setting.

Health Canada is a great governing body – much tougher than the FDA, I would say – that continuously and rigorously tests GMOs for your own safety. In fact, GMOs have been in the food market in Ontario since the early 1990s, so you’ve basically been eating genetically modified foods since a very early age. Unfortunately, unlike Europe, Canada and the US do not require food manufacturers to label their products as genetically modified in a lab. One of the reasons being that a product may contain ingredients that are genetically modified in a laboratory setting, but cannot be completely defined as GMO. Loopholes in the law, I suppose. This is unacceptable because it is one of the many reasons people are afraid of science.

Consumers should be able to make informed decisions about the food they are eating, regardless of whether or not they agree with GMOs. Science is often misunderstood because there are few outlets informing the general public about scientific topics. I hope through this series of pieces that science becomes more transparent to you! Please send me an e-mail to rosalesg@uoguelph.ca if you’d like to know more about something related to science and I’d be happy to oblige in the next article!

TheON

BASF VIA CC BY-NC-ND 2.0

Bar-coding systems, as seen on the rice plants above, allows for ongoing development tracking of GMO foods.

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The views represented in the opinion section do not necessarily reflect the views of The Ontarion nor its staff.

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Issue 175.11 • Thursday, November 13, 2014

EDITORIAL

The therapeutic storytelling of television How I learned to appreciate the qualities of television narratives

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Danielle Subject

EMILIO GHLOUM I remember endless nights as a child, when my curfew was 9pm or so, and The Simpsons would be on.

My brother and I gazing at the television, begging our parents to let us stay up long enough to watch the couch gag. Our mutual love of The Simpsons and the fond memories of watching TV remains something we hold in common, even up to the present day- many, many, years and many couch gags later. Looking back at this memory, it has become clear to me that the effect television has had on my life is tremendous.

Although now it may hold a different significance to me than it did when I was watching mindlessly with a bowl of cereal and PJ’s on, the potential television has in shaping perspectives of viewers remains consistent.

I’ve always enjoyed television and the ways it produces affect within the viewer. While constantly watching re-runs of Seinfeld alongside the occasional Family Feud binge, my television experience changed when I entered my first year of university.

As I began studying English and Philosophy, I fell in love with the critical theories presented in textsexamining the underlying factors and positions people take when arguing specific views. By no means am I an expert, but in shifting my perspectives and interpreting stories, poems, and philosophical texts in a new light, I was able to start looking at television under this same scope.

The first show that I critically engaged with was AMC’s Mad Men. The show caught me completely off guard, and almost immediately I fell in love with the writing, the scenery, and the characters. The show starts off really slowly- it’s not action packed or filled with dramatic cliffhangers, and at times I wondered why I kept on watching. Huddled up in my small South residence room, staring at a 15-inch screen, however, I became encapsulated by the story presented by Mad Men. As seasons progressed, I began to notice more and more intricate details within the show - narrative techniques, skillfully placed camera angles, character arcs, and even the odd red herring. One episode

25

COURTESY PHOTO

AMC’s Mad Men is a prime example of the increasing quality of television shows, utilizing narrative techniques and clever cinematography to produce an affect within the viewer. in particular had an extreme effect on my perception of the power of television as a serious medium, as opposed to an outlet for entertainment. The episode involved a new drug cocktail that was controversial, but was supposed to increase work productivity. While all the major characters in the office were administered this drug, the storylines of each character then diverged into separate timelines. Each character had their own distorted, frantic, and seemingly arbitrary view of their experiences. Euphoria permeated individual narratives; coupled with intentionally distorted cinematography, the episode left the viewer disoriented and dazed.

I am placing emphasis in this particular example because, at first, this episode left me confused and unimpressed. As I looked back at the episode, I realized what had happened to me that made me feel this way. The episode itself was structured as a drug trip. It masterfully induced the viewer into the same state of mind of the characters evoking confusion, disillusionment, and disorder. It was only until after, when I saw that the episode was titled ‘The Crash’, that I knew what had been done to me. The episode’s narrative came to a grinding and unexpected halt just as if we were crashing. Single-handedly, the episode produced enormous affect in me and I’m sure, within the many other viewers at the time. Never have I been so aware of the power of television; it became evident to me that television provided new and unique means for producing affect, and manipulating viewers

into specific mindsets.

Of course, now that I have started watching more shows with a critical view, there are redeeming qualities in many television shows presently on TV. Anything from The Wire to Arrested Development, the amount of quality and brilliant storytelling among television shows has grown exponentially.

Over the years, television has become way more accessible to the public - especially through Netflix and torrenting, creating greater overall exposure and a demand for high-level production. Enormous blockbuster shows, like Game of Thrones and The Walking Dead have reached audiences on a massive scale. While I’d argue that these shows are far from the best ever, the storytelling they provide and the connections they make with the audience resonates powerfully.

I have, increasingly, found myself gravitating towards television shows as opposed to movies, and quite frankly, I suggest others start doing the same. The level of high-quality production in television shows is on the rise. Incredible storytelling and complex, meaningful cinematography permeated throughout the narratives of morally ambiguous characters (I’m looking at you, Walter White).

Prominent Hollywood actor Kevin Spacey notes the rising trend of accessible television and sees it as a priority for the future of the industry. Starring in Netflix’s hit show House of Cards, Spacey is becoming heavily involved in the advocacy of high-quality television, and the need to make this emerging medium of

storytelling more accessible.

“So I predict that in the next decade or two, any differentiation between these platforms will fall away,” Spacey said. “Is 13 hours watched as one cinematic whole really any different than a film? Do we define film as being something two hours or less? Surely it goes deeper than that. If you’re watching a film on your television, is it no longer a film because you’re not watching it in a theater?“ “If you watch a TV show on your iPad, is it no longer a TV show?

The device and the length are irrelevant. The labels are useless. Except perhaps to agents and managers and lawyers, who use these labels to conduct business deals. But for kids growing up now, there is no difference.”

What Spacey points out is the evident need for the televised medium to become accessible in as many ways as possible. With higher budgets and brilliant new narratives waiting to be told, audiences continue to flock towards the TV as a way to destress and enjoy a well-told story.

With fond childhood memories of enjoying The Simpsons, to watching True Detective and marveling at the narrative techniques used to compose a delineated, cohesive storyline, my television watching experience has dramatically changed throughout the years. Through being aware of the ways that a show can produce affect, a new and profound level of appreciation can be found within the emerging medium of television.

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FUN PAGE

Across 1- Take ___ at (try) 6- What you do to a shadow 10- Saturate 14- Silk cotton 15- Official records 16- Money 17- Woody inhabitants of forests!

18- Pitfall 19- Dept. of Labor div.

20- Sloping letter 22- Building 24- Used car locale 26- African fly 27- Highest singing voice in women 31- Likewise 32- Love, in Paris 33- Autocratic Russian rulers 36- Test area 39- Grave 40- Not hesitant 41- Active one 42- Fair-hiring abbr.

43- Beat 44- Caterpillar rival 45- Former Bush spokesman Fleischer 46- Multicolored 48- Broadway opening 51- Aliens, for short 52- Stand astride 54- Plea 59- Composer Khachaturian 60- Cork’s place

62- Rope used to guide a horse 63- Actress Sofer 64- Seemingly forever 65- Sleep issue 66- Sharp 67- Numbered rds.

68- Hanker

Down 1- Broadway beginning 2- Spanish muralist 3- ___ yellow ribbon...

4- Explorer Tasman 5- Situated at the bottom 6- Member of genus Felis 7- Area of 4840 square yards 8- Kick off 9- Hand woven pictorial design 10- Soprano Renata 11- Watering hole 12- ... who lived in ___ 13- Asian prince 21- Against a proposition 23- Corp. bigwigs 25- Clan symbol 27- Fill to surfeit 28- Melville novel 29- Apple or pear 30- Chafe 34- Tree syrup 35- Be gaga over

ANSWERS FROM 175.10

36- “Stay” singer Lisa 37- Aviation prefix 38- Make beer 40- Caribou 41- Thieves’ place 43- Stepped 44- Show 45- Cossack chief 47- Loss leader?

48- Up ___ (trapped)

49- Machine for lifting heavy loads 50- “Silas Marner” author 52- Cutty ___ 53- Sea eagle 55- Bishop of Rome 56- Sicilian resort 57- Teen follower 58- Incline 61- Road curve

SUBMIT COMPLETED CROSSWORD TO THE ONTARION OFFICE, UC 264, NO LATER THAN MONDAY NOV. 10TH AT 4PM FOR YOUR CHANCE TO WIN TWO FREE BOB’S DOGS!

Crossword Winner from 175.10 is…Kendal Clark!

TheON

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Guelph Fionn - CampusLiveMusicOCT-NOV 5x7AD 10-2014 copy PRESS.pdf 1 10/2/2014 2:55:51 PM

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