Travis Magazine Vol.5 Issue 1

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volume five – issue one – september 2010

PUBLISHING Publisher

EDITORIAL Editor-in-Chief

ONLINE TRAVISMAG.COM

Sheridan Student Union Inc. www.sheridanstudentunion.com

Ryan Bolton ryan.bolton@sheridanc.on.ca

Follow @travismag

PRINTER

Editor at Large

Chris Beetham Unique Media Solutions

Bryan Myers myersbr @ sheridanc.on.ca

Jayme Bennett Josiah Gordon Chuck Erman

Ryan Bolton Bryan Myers Blake Dillon Tyler Doupe Marco Pelayo Michael Burton Chris D’Alessandro Jaclyn Arduini Drew Graham Jenn McBride Chelsea Mogridge Lindsey Barron Riley Wignall Jayme Bennett Bryan’s sister, Lyndsey

ADVERTISING & SALES Sales Team

EVENTS AND PROGRAMMING MANAGER Chuck Erman

SPECIAL THANKS Alexisonfire Lights Steve Sills

Regular Thanks Late night Tim Hortons www.listen.grooveshark.com Steve Jobs’ technological offspring Heat waves Information made pretty You, dear reader

Writers

Photographers

Bryan Myers Ryan Bolton Ness Fraser Curtis Sindrey

DESIGN Creative Director Josiah Gordon josiah.gordon1@sheridanc.on.ca

Designers Josiah Gordon Mike Luciani Tyler Doupe Satesh Mistry Hermione Osmers Meng Tian Zhang Philina Chan Jenn McBride

Illustrators Satesh Mistry Taryn Gee

Kevin Bryan Luis Mora Brooke Wedlock Jess Baumung

CONTRIBUTORS

Tyler Doupe

Bryan Myers

Brooke Wedlock

I’m currently sitting beside Tyler. It’s 3:53 a.m. on the final edit night of this issue. No joke. Tyler is a longtime designer with TRAVIS with an unwavering attention to detail. He’s bloody meticulous and his work stands out because of it. Don’t believe me? Check out his spreads for the fashion section starting on pg. 38. See, I told you.

Jay-sus, it’s almost 4 a.m. You can run this beast, Tyler.

I’m out.

We love Bryan, we do. But we love his sister’s writing more. We enlisted his 9-year-old sister to pen our famous ongoing story. And it made us laugh, hard. But Bryan has his own laurels too, I guess. Like he can balance an apple on his head and write the hell out of a profile on the Student Union’s President. He also does a solid job of manning travismag.com. But thanks again, Bryan’s sister.

Brooke is new to the TRAVIS photographer fleet. As a test, we let her write her own bio. This is it: “To me, photography is a habit that I enjoy and can’t learn enough about. Which is why I want to work for TRAVIS. I simply wanted to experience what it was like to work for a magazine and contribute in some way.

As for future plans, I hope my path takes me to beautiful places and beautiful people. And to capture them with my lens.”

To contribute to travis please e-mail josiah.gordon1@sheridanc.on.ca. Mucho gracious.

twitter.com /travismag 1

CONTENTS

Not only do the chaps from Alexisonfire grace the cover of this year’s first issue of TRAVIS, and not only do they have a heart-to-heart with our very own Ryan Bolton about the band’s everlasting career, but they’re headlining at Connexion on September 10th. It’s kind of a big deal, so we think you should be there. Just a thought, friends.

issue ONE

TRAVIS Magazine is proud ( and honoured ) to announce that we have won the Young Blood award from Applied Arts magazine. They will be featuring us in their fall issue and are inviting us to a gala. I know, we were shocked that we are going to have to dress up, too. Maybe even toss on a suit. Scary thought.

PHOTOGRAPHY BY: Jess BaumUNG DESIGN BY: MIKE LUCIANI

A big hand for everyone that worked on TRAVIS last year. This is for you.

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GADGETS

16

Student profile

34

Q&A: Lights

by Bryan Myers & Drew Graham

by Jenn McBride

by Ryan Bolton

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30

COVER STORY: ALEXISONFIRE

18

WHO’s THIS?

38

STREET FASHION

by Ryan Bolton

by Bryan Myers

by Michael Burton

26

We ARE TAKING OVER

44

ONGOING STORY

by Chris D’Alessandro

by Bryan’s sister

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EDITOR’S RANT

photograph by Steve Sills

Introductory Diatribe

follow ryan on twitter at: twitter.com/travismag

Just In Case You Didn’t Know 1. amicable [ am-ick-a-bhul ] adjective having a spirit of friendliness; without serious disagreement or rancor 2. black bloc [ b lak-blok ] noun tactics for protests and marches, whereby individuals wear black clothing, scarfs, ski masks, motorcycle helmets with padding or other face-concealing items 3. mementos [ m e-men-toes ] noun an object kept as a reminder or souvenir of a person or place or event 4. milieu [ mil-yoo ] noun a person’s social environment 5. Twitter [ t witt-er ] noun nah, we’re kidding. We think you got this one.

’m sitting patiently, waiting to get my next tattoo. The seat is an old barber’s chair with a sliver of red leather under my bottom.

The buzz of the tattoo guns is intoxicating. The sun eases itself through the room-to-ceiling storefront window behind me. It’s in the heart of Kensington Market, where burritos cost two bucks and graffiti plasters storefronts, store-sides and lampposts. The amicable tattoo shop laden with WWII-inspired art is where I currently sit.

A week earlier, during this exact time, I was in the middle of a G20 protest. ( You are also free to call this a G20 riot.) I was reporting and I witnessed the black bloc tactics of faceless hoodlums immerse Toronto into anarchy. I also saw riot police violently arrest peaceful protesters. That’s where I was a week before writing this.

Two weeks before writing this, at this exact same time, I was on the Toronto Island. I was listening to Broken Social Scene, Band of Horses and Pavement pump out indie gold into a sea of sun-kissed onlookers. I rolled my eyes at two-hour waits for beer. That’s where I was two weeks before writing this.

But, back to the tattoo. I always see getting tattoos as defining moments in my life. Because, yeah, the obvious rings true: They’re on you for life. And this tattoo is no different. My tattoos are like anchors. Like mementos. Like reminders. One of my tattoo’s reads: “Make Yourself.” Another, under an African acacia tree, reads: “Write for Change.”

This new piece of skin-ink is a typewriter.

Black and white. On the inner forearm of my left arm. It’s my homage to my profession. A profession that has taken a hefty whack in recent years as journalism shifts to an online milieu. It’s my homage to a simpler time in writing where just you and the machine create something. That physical striking of the fingers and the movement of the machine popping out copy. No Facebook, Twitter and time-devouring widgets to meander the process.

It’s also a tattoo to remind me of where I am in my life. How hard I’ve worked to get where I am. Somewhat of a navigational tool or a notch on a figurative bedpost. The countless years of school, money and time poured into my passion. The opportunity to have a platform ( right here, this page, for the past three years ) to write about this is a mammoth honour in itself.

I don’t take what I do for granted. Never have. And that’s the point.

It doesn’t matter if you’re sitting in a converted barber’s chair waiting for a tattoo. Or in the middle of a riot. Or taking in some of your favourite bands ( look at those handsome boys of Alexisonfire on the cover ). But it does matter that you take assessment of where you are from time to time. And now that you’re at Sheridan, you can feel pretty damn good about that assessment.

Let it sink in like the ink of a tattoo.

Later days,

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sound check

MUSIC REVIEWS

M.I.A /\/\/\Y/\ (Maya)

The Sword Warp Riders

Wavves King of the Beach

Electronica

Heavy Metal

Lo-Fi

The No Limit Records-esque cover art is the perfect visualization of what can be found inside this new, self-titled album from Maya Arulpragasam. With the production talents of Diplo, Switch, Blaqstarr and Rusko, M.I.A. has created a digital fracas that while disorienting, perfectly fits with the album’s lyrical themes. Of course, if you never pay attention to M.I.A.’s lyrics, this album is probably not for you. Aside from some stomping dance numbers like “XXXO,” MAYA is a big change from the pop-oriented hits found on Kala.

The thrills of this album come not from its danceability, but from the wholly unexpected clash of samples, styles, rhythms and beats.

After last year’s on-stage breakdown and accompanying intra-band fistfight, the future of Wavves was uncertain. That turmoil didn’t finish the band, and instead brought about a sea-change in Wavves’ sound. King of the Beach sports much cleaner production than the Wavvves album did, allowing the growth and strengths of Natham William’s songwriting to really shine. The songs show variety by fusing mid-‘90s skate punk, ‘60s surf falsetto “oohs” and beats pulled from Phil Spector’s girl group productions. Lyrically, King of the Beach carries the same slacker motifs as the past Wavves’ recordings, but just ignore that and use this album to soundtrack a day of beachside beer drinking. We already did.

Katy Perry Teenage Dream

Maximum Balloon Maximum Balloon

Kathryn Calder Are You My Mother?

Bubblegum Pop

Experimental

Indie

Many students listen to music while they study. Many of these students maintain that the reason why they listen to music is to prevent drowsiness and to maintain their focus on studying. However, research has shown that vocal music interferes with performance of linguistic memory.

The lyrics, being language, develop images that allow for the interpretation of experience in the communicative process.

Katy Perry’s summer hit “California Gurls” ( urban term for girls, apparently ) pretty much epitomizes the rest of the album: a catchy mix of mostly clever, and sometimes naughty, pop songs built on simple structures made for dancing, and up-front vocals for unfettered sing-a-longs. Ah dammit, how am I ever going to make it through first semester?

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Austin retro-metal band The Sword is changing. The shift was hinted at during their 2008 sophomore album, Gods of the Earth, where their heavy Sabbath molasses began to thrash like Metallica’s Kill ‘Em All. Well, their sound is in full mutation on Warp Riders. The record is held together by an original sci-fi narrative and features some of The Sword’s heaviest songs to date, alongside acoustic odds and ends that will surely alienate some fans. Singer/guitarist J.D. Cronise has given up the producer’s seat to Matt Bayles, who has worked in the past with Mastodon and Isis. Let’s rock.

David Sitek, the man behind Maximum Balloon’s self-titled record was a wonderful surprise, signaling the arrival of one of the most unique albums released this summer. With the temporary departure from his initial project, TV on the Radio, Sitek takes the opportunity to produce his own record that introduces a familiar TVOTR feel — alchemy of sonic mixtures like post-punk and doo wop, and dance-electro with experimental leanings. With his single, “Tiger” debuting with Esquire’s “Women We Love” campaign and collaborating with several artists, such as Karen O, Maximum Balloon’s debut has earned instant exposure and success. Looks like Maximum Balloon has potential to be SPIN magazine’s Album Of The Year — much like every TVOTR album.

For a few years, Kathryn Calder has sung and played keyboards for Canadian powerpop all-stars The New Pornographers. And now, much like many New Pornographers before her, Calder has officially released her first solo album, Are You My Mother?

It is a deeply personal record that was largely born through two years of Calder caring for her terminally ill mother. By using found items such as Kleenex boxes and filing cabinets as percussion, an old high school trumpet, and an out-of-tune piano plucked backwards to add texture, Calder and producer, Colin Stewart, were able to create a unique soundscape for her vocals and expressive piano playing. Are You My Mother? is one of the most brilliant and honest debut records of 2010. Watch for it.

by Tyler Doupe & Marco Pelayo

LITERARY LOVE

BOOK REVIEWS

Portrait of an Addict as a Young Man Bill Clegg

I’ve been finding it really hard to find a good “guy’s” book. The last fifty years are littered with novels by true “manly” men: Hemingway, Kerouac, McCarthy — the list goes on and on. But these days they’ve become few and far between, Tucker Max being among the few top writers. I’m not sure if that’s a commentary on what we, as men, have become, but it’s frightening. I found Portrait of An Addict as a Young Man. And yes, that’s a James Joyce reference. It’s not the great modern-adventure-novel-about-becoming-a-man, but it’s a gritty true-life tale of drug addiction. Doesn’t hurt that it’s strongly written and vividly detailed.

B. M.

Safe Haven Nicholas Sparks

I’ve somehow managed to avoid ever having to watch The Notebook, or that other dreadful sounding movie with Hannah Montana. But, I know the author is a big deal. A lot of his novels end up on the silver screen – all of which I have managed to dodge like bullets in the Matrix – Nights in Rodanthe, The Last Song, A Walk to Remember. Perhaps he’s not my kind of writer. I have my doubts that anyone gets addicted to some kind of narcotic, shot at, scalped, or that it’s set in the not-so-distant-post-apocalypse, but he’s clearly on to something with his market. Next book.

B. M.

Book of Awesome Neil Pasricha SH*T My Dad Says Justin Halpern

Two separate books, but I’m making this a two-for-one special.

Remember when books became movies? And then movies became bad video games (not counting Chronicles of Riddick). We’ve reached a new age: the Internet now makes books. A lot of them, any website that is even half-popular puts out a book. Hell, even TRAVIS is all over the cross-platform market. Book of Awesome is a feel-good list of things that are awesome, including: fat baseball players, broccoflower and the man couch. Sh#t My Dad Says is the advice your dad would give you if he was surlier and swore twice as much. We’re kind of an ADD generation, you’ll probably read these more than once, and you can’t fill a bookshelf with blogs. Not yet, anyway.

B. M.

The One-Week Job Project Sean Aiken

I’m still not sure what I am going to do with my life. Since no one will pay you to play Xbox and watch sitcoms in your pajamas, I’ve got to figure out my passion. A passion that is still going to bring home a pay cheque. Sean Aiken, a hippie-looking dude from British Columbia, embarks on a fascinating journey across the Americas to find his passion. The catch: he spends only one week at each job for a year. He attempts jobs that range from team mascot to town mayor.

I won’t tell you how it ends, but let’s just say, he writes a book.

B. M.

Interested in anything you see here?

Be the first to ask for a music giftcard ( HMV / iTunes ) or book at the Fuse and it’s yours for FREE!

twitter.com /travismag 7

teasers

MOVIE REVIEWS

Resident Evil: Afterlife

The Adjustment Bureau

Release Date: September 10th, 2010

Release Date: September 17th, 2010

Starring: Milla Jovovich, Johnny Messner

Starring: Matt Damon, Emily Blunt

If you’re tired of vampires versus werewolves ( like me ), hit this flick up for a zombie-stuffed action fix. It’s the fourth installment of the Resident Evil series, picking up where Resident Evil: Extinction left off. The film tracks vinyl clad, gun-slinging heroine Alice through Los Angeles, searching for survivors of the deadly T-virus. The film will be the first of the series in 3D, and was shot with the same cameras used to film James Cameron’s wicked-popular Avatar.

Bonus: Sheridan alumni Stephen Barden worked on this flick as a supervising sound editor. That’s pretty much as cool as hunting zombies.

R. W.

Wall Street: Money Never Sleeps

It’s Kind of a Funny Story

Release Date: September 24th, 2010

Release Date: September 24th, 2010

Starring: Michael Douglas, Shia LaBeouf

Starring: Emma Roberts, Zach Galifianakis

September brings upon us yet another sequel. This time a continuation of 1987’s Academy Award winner, Wall Street. Some 23 years after its predecessor, the plot follows anti-hero Gordon Gekko ( Michael Douglas ) after his release from prison. He attempts to warn his colleagues of a major impending financial crisis; you know, the 2008 recession. None of them buy his claims, since he’s an ex-convict and all. However, it is then that the film adopts a personal plotline, as he attempts to reconnect with his estranged daughter ( C arey Mulligan ) and takes on a young protégé named Jacob ( Shia LeBeouf ). We’ve missed you, Shia.

R. W.

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What would you do if you discovered someone was controlling your fate, keeping you from the one person you could truly belong with?

That’s the question raised by The Adjustment Bureau, a film that promises to serve up an unusual combination of drama, romance and science fiction. When congressman David Norris ( Matt Damon ) meets a mysterious and beautiful ballerina ( Emily Blunt ), it’s an instant attraction. The two would-be lovers are constantly kept apart by supposed twists of fate. David begins to believe actual forces are keeping them away from one another and starts to investigate. What he discovers challenges his perceptions of free will and destiny.

R. W.

Based on the novel of the same title and inspired by life experiences of the author, this film promises laughter and hard-to-handle, bittersweet moments. A clinically suicidal teen checks himself into an adult psychiatric ward where he begins to confront his own demons. While he learns about himself, he also meets and bonds with other patients. Among them is a girl his own age that has scarred her face with scissors. Although the film is not within the mainstream of cinema, it has attracted star power, including Keir Gilchrist from The United States of Tara, ( excellent TV show itself ) as well as Zach Galifianakis, you know, from The Hangover fame.

R. W.

waste time

VIDEO GAME REVIEWS

NHL 11

Assassin’s Creed: Brotherhood

Release Date: September 7th, 2010

Release Date: April 11th, 2011

We at TRAVIS rarely cover sports, so hockey fans, this one’s for you. EA’s legendary NHL video game franchise marks its 20th anniversary with NHL 11. And they’re celebrating with a bang.

The game will include a ton of new features like the addition of the Canadian Hockey League, broken sticks and a fully revamped faceoff system. This game is anticipated to be the most realistic sports game in history. It is also the only place where the Toronto Maple Leafs can win a Stanley Cup. Burn.

B. D.

The newest installment of the Assassin’s Creed series, Assassin’s Creed: Brotherhood, is going to rule if it keeps on the same path. The game will introduce, for the first time ever, a multi-player feature.

Brotherhood will allow players to sneak through 15th-century Rome in a quest to silently assassinate each other. The game will also continue the epic journey of the badass protagonist, Ezio Auditore da Firenze. The series continues to push the cinematic envelope with stunning visuals. In Brotherhood, it’s kill or be killed. Or assassinate or be assassinated, but we’re not splitting hairs.

B. D.

Call of Duty: Black Ops

LittleBIGPlanet 2

Release Date: November 9th, 2010

Release Date: November 30th, 2010

Right now, very little is known about Black Ops, the game. But, how could we possibly include a video game section without mentioning the newest Call of Duty? We simply couldn’t. So, judging from the trailers and screen shots, I can tell you this — Call of Duty: Black Ops will kick some war battling ass. Look for it to hit shelves this fall. As you do that, we’ll be playing it. We’ll see you online here, kids. Be ready to get owned.

B. D.

Sackboy is back. The adorable video game protagonist returns in a sequel to the most groundbreaking game to hit the PS3 so far — LittleBIGPlanet. Making the best game better? You heard it here first. Throughout his second adventure, Sackboy will be wielding an all-new set of tools, giving the player the ability to widen the scope of possibility. Bring your characters to life, compose your own music, direct cinematic masterpieces, and create villainous bosses, vehicles, and machines with this handmade arcade.

LittleBIGPlanet2 is a dream come true — literally for me.

B. D.

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tech’d out

GADGET REVIEWS

iPHONE 4 $199 ( 16GB ) $299 ( 32GB ) Hello, ladies. Look at your phone, now look at the iPhone 4. Now look back at your phone. Now back to the iPhone. Sadly, your phone isn’t an iPhone 4. But if you stopped using buttons and switched to iPhone 4, you could take pictures in HD. Look down, now back up. Where are you?

You’re in video chat. What’s in your hand?

A sleekly designed iPhone 4 with titanium and a glass case, that’s what. Forget 8GB products. Steve Jobs doesn’t even know what 8 gigs are anymore. 16GB or 32GB are the only options now. Look again, your email and texts are now unified. Look now, I’m on a horse.

B.M.

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by Bryan Myers & Drew Graham | illustrations by Satesh Mistry

GARMINFONE $199 Have you ever been lost in the woods at night with no map and all you have to light the way is your cell phone’s screen? Well, I certainly have, many times. And boy ( or girl ) do I wish I had the Garminfone to lead me back to civilization. Made by the popular GPS company, Garmin, this Android-based phone-slash-GPS is the first of its kind. Tapping into the Android market, you’ll have thousands of sweet apps just like that pretty iPhone 4 over there.

You also get Google Mobile, which allows you to sign into your Gmail account and access many other mobile services offered by Google. And lastly, for all you folks who like to sync media, contacts and other fun things you get Microsoft Exchange. Holler. So you know what this means now, right? The next time you find yourself alone in the wilderness a la Survivorman, be sure to have this puppy stored in your back pocket.

D.G.

APPLE MAC mini $750 Apple has done it again. Surprise, surprise ( are you really surprised though?

I’m not ). This time they’ve managed to pack a full size desktop computer into an aluminum case that is only 20 cm x 20 cm x 4 cm and weighs in at three pounds. That’s smaller and lighter than a MacBook Pro. Enclosed in Mac’s standard aluminum finish, the Mini has up to 500GB of storage and a very respectable 2.66 GHz Intel Core 2 duo processor. Impressive. But your probably thinking, sure, small box, big computer, so what? Well, this shoe box-sized computer comes with an HDMI port, so that 40” HDTV sitting in your room just turned into the biggest, sexiest computer screen you’ve ever laid eyes on. You’re also able to connect any keyboard, mouse or accessory at no extra cost, which is a surprise to us, because we here at TRAVIS all know how much Steve Jobs loves to make his products compatible with only his products. Oh, Apple.

D.G.

DRIFT HD 170 Action camera $330 Ever wonder how those HD videos of extreme people doing extreme things ( or extremely stupid things ) get on the interwebs? Well, I have and I present to you, loyal reader, the answer. The Drift HD 170 Action Camera let’s you shoot HD videos of you and your friends being, well, extreme. Everything from a sweet skate video, to BMX-ing, to parkouring downtown Oakville can be shot with this hand-held gadget. Once you and your friends have finished being extreme, upload that bad boy to YouTube for all the world to see. This water proof camera features a 170-degree wide-angle lens and boasts 32GB of memory. It also comes with multiple mounting brackets and a rotating lens so you can perfectly position the camera. A wireless remote let’s you shoot what you want so you can avoid the boring, non-extreme stuff in between takes.

D.G.

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a letter from your President First and foremost, I would like to welcome each and every one of you to Sheridan. For some, you are returning to finish up your studies and for others this is your first experience and taste of college life. Don’t be afraid. Just breathe, count to 10 and relax those tense muscles. Be assured that we are here to help.

Sheridan College is a place where curious minds roam free, where dreams and aspirations are fulfilled and where great friendships are built. There are various opportunities to be had. Whether it’s an opportunity to be part of the two-time championship-winning women’s basketball team or volunteering with the student advisement centre or becoming a member of the Student Union. Whichever you decide, we encourage you to get involved in your school. We’re here to help.

The Sheridan Student Union is always striving for new and effective ways to make college life easier. Currently, we offer service outlets such as The Fuse, an information kiosk; The Wire, our tech-savvy website where you can socialize, comment, ask questions and seek employment; the student handbook; a food bank; paralegal services and much more, including this magazine. So come drop by our offices and let’s chat about you, the student. Because we want to make your experience at Sheridan a memorable one.

Really, it comes down to a couple simple questions. What do you want your Student Union to do for you? What can you do for your Student Union? And what can we both do together to ensure that we engage, inform and empower each other? Get to know your Sheridan Student Union, as we will take great pleasure in getting to know you.

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Sincerely,

twitter.com /travismag 13

Lost?

WELL, LET US SHOW YOU AROUND

Main Entrance Security Cafeteria Library Bookstore Copy centre Cafeteria

S Wing (SCAET), Residence

Learning Commons

Trafalgar campus 1430 Trafalgar Road, Oakville, ON L6H 2L1

Entrances

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Computer Lab Coffee ATM Bus Terminal

7899 McLaughlin Road, Brampton, ON L6V 1G6

Main Entrance Security Cafeteria

DAVIS campus

Entrances

Library Bookstore Copy centre Computer Lab Coffee ATM Bus Terminal

CHC Building

Gymnasium

Cafeteria

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by Jenn Mcbride

I like to start off with a question that really gets the brain juices flowing. Why animation?

“That’s easy,” he says. “Being able to make a career out of something I love to do.”

My first impression of Frank Macchia is that he is successful. For one, he’s got a job. And two, he fled the GTA in search of something bigger. And bigger is always better. Well, sometimes.

Frank’s an artist. He looks like one. Speaks like one. And now, with a Sheridan animation degree under his belt, he has gone bicoastal. He has a Los Angeles return address and a corner cubicle overlooking Hollywood.

I know, like I said, successful.

Looking like a throwback to the ‘70s, he appears as a perfect hybrid of what the son of Dustin Diamond ( Screech ) and Sylvester Stallone would look like ( Frank’s words, not mine ). It would seem he has been asked for his celebrity comparables before, and he nails it. There is just something about a perfectly groomed goatee and accompanying mustache that makes a man exude successfulness, and I haven’t even delved into his professional life yet.

Since his days in Grade 1, Frank knew this is where he would end up. He was doubtless in his pursuit. “We drew a picture and filled in the blanks with what we wanted to be when we grew up. I still have it.

I wrote that I wanted to be a cartoonist or an ice cream truck.”

Well, one out of two isn’t bad.

I ask him to describe his Sheridan experience. He stutters a bit, searching for words TRAVIS readers wouldn’t find offensive.

“Let’s shape this into something here,” he laughs. “I’ll be totally honest. I don’t give them [ Sheridan ] much credit for where I am.

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Charles Heston

Meet Frank. He’s worked on Family Guy, knows Jay Leno and has a swanky corner office in Hollywood. Did we mention he’s also a Sheridan alumnus?

Jay Leno

Turns out the new guy has some serious studio cred, too. Aside from working on animation classics like Scooby-Doo and Family Guy, he’s got a bit of something on the side. “I can’t say anything specific, but basically Six Point Harness is an extremely artistfriendly environment. I’m beyond fortunate that they’re pushing forward a series pitch I developed,” he says.

It’s OK, we get it; it’s hush, hush. But we’ll assume his name will one day be attached to something big, subsequently enhancing his already climbing success.

He’s got his dream job, is self-proclaimed BFFs with Jay Leno ( it’s a short story, check out his blog for details, http://frankmacchia. blogspot.com ). And then there’s that whole aforementioned unmentionable thing.

He’s got that whole success thing pretty much covered.

Murray Hewitt (Flight of the Conchords)

Sheridan is a tool. Whether or not I got something out of my time at the school was entirely up to me.”

He may not have his alumni pin fastened to the lapel of his sport jacket, but he gives credit where credit is due. “Sheridan, thanks for serving a purpose. I’m where I want to be. I got that magical piece of paper.”

Frank’s candid, but he still has this nice guy vibe about him. He’s – oh, what’s the word? – amicable. It’s nice to see that he hasn’t gone all Hollywood on his northern roots.

He jokes about his bucket list of plastic surgery procedures he’s got planned for as he makes his mark in Los Angeles.

“To me, animation should make you laugh. Bring on the boogers, farts and all that. I’m into that kind of shit.”

He misses home, but to Frank, L.A. is the hub of the animation universe and in just shy of one year, he has managed to share a beer with John K. ( God to animators, Google him ) and establish a career at Six Point Harness Studios. It was an impulsive move, but an effective one at that.

“My biggest accomplishment was just getting my career off the ground. It’s intimidating just having graduated and trying to get into a field all baby-faced. It’s nice to know I made the transition from student to professional relatively smoothly.”

Who the Hell is Crystal Bennett

She went from your typical timid first-year self to the top spot at the Student Union.

In other words, the big kahuna. Here’s the story of the relentless climb of Crystal Bennett.

And what it took.

by Bryan Myers photography by Kevin Bryan

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C

rystal Bennett invites me into her office and right away there’s an elephant in the room. An elephant named “high-heeled shoes.”

There are a lot of them, upwards of fifteen.

I cut right to the chase.

What’s with the shoes?

“That’s just the tip of the iceberg,” Bennett smirks. She has about 80 pairs of heels in total, and over 100 pairs of shoes altogether. Yeah, that’s what I said. The collection, lined up along the walls of her office, have accumulated over time as she invariably switches into more comfortable shoes over the course of the day. Sheridan,

I would imagine, is not a heel-friendly campus to traverse. But I don’t have concrete evidence, personally.

This is my first impression of Student Union President, Crystal Bennett, aside from our correspondence via BlackBerry Messenger. My mission was to find out what the Sheridan Student Union was all about.

I had some idea that it was heavily involved in my experience at the college, but I’m not sure I could really articulate how.

Last year’s student election left me feeling particularly detached from school politics. The platforms were unapologetically vague and I did my best

It’s like an octopus.

We’re here to touch people to take action and learn about who and what I was voting for. I wanted to hear more. I wanted the student body to put up a fight for how it was represented.

Bennett ran unopposed, but in all honesty, she was a shoe-in (pun intended) for the position. Few people are as motivated, passionate or involved as she is when it comes to Sheridan College’s Student Union. Not to mention, qualified.

So, who is Crystal Bennett?

Bennett laughs that she used to bug TRAVIS’ then-Creative Director, Steve Sills, to write an article about her in the magazine, and that after four years and finally reaching the top, she’s getting that article.

And Sills has moved along from the post.

Since arriving at Sheridan, Bennett has been all over the Student Union.

“I came in organically, growing into a position,” she explains. “It’s hard to be at the top and not know how things will affect the people below you.”

With that said, before taking office as President, Bennett worked as the President of Clubs and Associations, the Marketing Coordinator, the Executive Vice President, and the Co-president of the Student Union last year.

That’s the resume of someone who came to Sheridan College solely with the intention to get her diploma and get out of dodge.

Four years ago, when Bennett first entered the school for marketing administration (“or something like that,” Bennett jokes), she considered herself an introvert.

Surprisingly, in high school, Bennett did not have the passion for student affairs. Her only extracurricular activities

were competitive dance and basic work at Loblaws to fund her dancing.

After graduating high school, Bennett worked full-time at Loblaws, unsure of her future goals. When she was offered a managerial position at 21 she decided to decline. Not wanting to spend her entire career in retail, Bennett decided that her best option was to go to post-secondary school. A big step, as she is the first in her family to attend.

Since that choice, Bennett has been all over the Student Union. She has won awards all over the place—the Ontario Colleges Marketing Competition, and most recently, she was awarded the gold medal of Student Leadership Excellence.

Her qualifications are a laundry-list of awards, positions on boards, and council seats. Impressive for someone that didn’t care for this stuff in high school.

“It’s like an octopus. We’re here to touch people … oh, don’t say that,” Bennett laughs. What she means is that the Student Union exists to reach out and involve students at the college to help them get the most out of their post-secondary education.

“This is a place for us, the students,” she remarks. The SSU organizes student life; from clubs, to running Connexion, to TRAVIS Magazine, to grade appeals, and volunteering opportunities. The Student Union exists solely to help students get the most, however, the students have to be willing to take advantage of what is offered.

And what’s next for the Student Union?

Big things. We can expect a more involved Student Union. This year, the SSU hopes to improve how different segments of students

are served, such as meeting the individual needs of mature students, arts students, and business students alike. There’s also the comfortable seating initiative. It sounded silly to me at first, but it makes sense. There are a lot of places on campus that one may spend a long time—many of which are lacking in rear support. I was going to make a butt joke, but I’m choosing to refrain.

The SSU is trying new things to see if they work. Piloting stages. If things haven’t been working, they’re willing to tweak and tamper with them until they do. To top it off, the SSU will be unveiling a new website for students that looks like it’s going to kick some ass. Something that students will want to engage in. Something that will be unique to Sheridan. But it’s under wraps for now, although TRAVIS has a scoop.

As the President, Bennett explains that her main role is to be the figurative captain of the ship. The big kahuna in other words.

She handles the higher-level student complaints, concerns and questions. But all-around, she represents the SSU itself.

And she’s a strong figurehead as she’s been a member of the Student Union for almost four years, only moving up in positions and gaining accolades.

There was so much I took from my interview with Bennett that I wanted to get in here. There’s a lot to fit. But you get the idea: She went from your typical timid first-year shadow puppet to the Student Union’s kingpin. Sheridan’s definitely brought out the best in our Student Union president, folks.

“I’m unstoppable,” Bennett says, “I wanna be a champion.”

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ROOM MAKEOVER

by Jayme Bennett, photography by Brooke Wedlock

Moving away to college is the first time that we have a space to call our own. It’s where you sleep and do homework between streaming 30 Rock and stalking that new crush from across the hall on Facebook. We teamed up with Sears at Oakville Place to makeover two dorm rooms.

Because we want that crush to like you back.

Make your bed the focal point. It’s the biggest and most important part of your room, you might as well play it up. Nice pillows, cozy blankets and soft sheets will make your bed feel like heaven after an allnighter. Do try it out.

ipod dock / alarm clock

$49.99 Laundry Hamper ( u sed as a bedside table for extra storage ) $59.99 Duvet cover

$34.99 Yellow sheet set

$49.99

before

Duvet covers deserve a lot of love. They’re widely available, fairly inexpensive and easily washed. We used a dark navy duvet cover in one room because the dark will hide any potential stains ( like Dr. Pepper, sicko ) and adds a bit of drama to the bed.

If you hate making your bed, try replacing your Batman sheets with a print. This way, when you leave your bed “artfully rumpled,” it shows your great taste in textiles and not your caveman side.

Yellow blanket

$34.99 Floor pillow

$49.99 after

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before

after

A brightly striped comforter brings a lot of energy to the room and lets you play with the colours of your accessories. In this case, we used blue on the headboard, rug and throw blanket. The beauty of this idea is that when you start to get bored of your room, you can cheaply replace your accessories for a brand new look.

Most people believe that nice sheets have to have a high thread count. This is a common misconception. It’s true that a high count does typically indicate better quality, but it’s not the only deciding factor.

What makes a sheet soft is the length of the cotton fibers it was woven from. When picking out sheets, look for 100% cotton and then go by feel. As long as it feels soft, thread count doesn’t matter. Another great option is jersey sheets. They’re fairly inexpensive and feel just like your favourite T-shirt after a couple of washes.

Ipod dock / alarm clock $49.99 Striped comforter

$89.99 Pink sheet set

$39.99 Lighting. Make sure that you have a desk lamp. One that can be angled to the left or right side of your computer screen to reduce eye strain and headaches caused by overhead light reflecting off the screen.

Make your desk a happy place. You’re going to spend way more time at your desk than you’d like, but a few items ( plants ) can make the long hours more bearable.

Make your desk personal. This is the place to keep things that make you happy.

Pictures of your favourite people, mementos from home and fun items that will make your workspace a little easier to do your homework in. Just a little.

Bath mat ( used as a rug ) $59.99 PivoT three-tier storage tray

$24.99 The most important advice for decorating your dorm room is to make sure that it is a place you want to call home ( but you might want to Febreze it every so often, because let’s face it, laundry is hard to do between homework and hanging out.) It doesn’t have to happen all at once—the best style evolves over time.

Want a pretty / handsome room yourself? Keep your eyes peeled for the chance to win your own room makeover.

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travis asks a personal question... “How did you get here?�

We like awkward conversations. But we also like to be serious (well, sometimes).

So, for this issue, we walked up to complete strangers on and off campus and asked: “How did you get here?” These are some of the results.

I have a checklist to fulfill when searching for someone random to ask a random question to. Number one on the list is if they look approachable. ( I have a fear of rejection ). So here I am up in cottage country sweating from my nerves and the sun trying to find someone who looks non-inebriated and above talking to someone about more than bad tan lines.

I found him fast, sitting on a bench outside the dairy. I go for it.

“How did you get here?” He looks up, confused but intrigued.

“Well, it’s kind of a secret,” he says. I assure him his secret is safe with me. In hindsight, I see that this is a complete lie.

“I owe my existence to boredom,” he laughs. “I was conceived in a tent on a rainy night in Algonquin Park. So, if it didn’t rain on that camping trip, I wouldn’t be here.”

There is a certain novelty to knowing how this random guy got to this random place. I nodded, flashed him a smile and got my ice cream. Question answered, success.

R.W

“I was conceived in a tent on a rainy night in Algonquin Park.”

After eight grueling months of interviewing people for assignments, asking one personal question to a random student at Sheridan seems like a piece of cake. I think about it as I lock up my bike in front of the B-wing on this cool summer day.

Sometimes it’s still a mystery to me how I got here. I decide to look for the most unsuspecting person I can find—the newbie, possibly still holding their parent’s hand, who has not yet been harassed by one of Sheridan’s journalism students. I come upon him in the middle of the hallway between the theatre and the registrar’s office. He’s the epitome of a high school kid: tall, pimply, baby-faced. He stares blankly at a piece of paper in his hands, alone. I walk toward him slowly, clearing my throat and preparing my notepad before I politely ask, “Excuse me, but how did you get here?” He lifts one overgrown eyebrow before saying, simply, “My mom drove me.”

L.B

It was a drive-by mission. I pulled into the parking lot, all 007-style, only with less grace. My cell phone (which doubles as my trusty recorder) in hand, I walk up to a guy outside enjoying a cigarette. “How did you get here?” He looks at me like I am dumb. “The 403.” Then he spotted my phone. “I’m no good with directions, sorry.” Neither am I at asking questions.

C.M It’s 2 p.m. It’s a random Wednesday afternoon. At Sheridan College. This is the unabridged conversation.

Chris: How did you get here?

Christi: I walked through the hallways, bro. But I drove to school in Lucy, my sweet Ford Taurus.

Chris: You don’t want to say something more insightful? I’m kind of offering you a platform here.

Christi: Well, I guess I got here because I needed to go to school. So my parents don’t think I’m lazy and I didn’t want to work at a grocery store for the rest of my life, which is not commendable. I got here the same way we all did, man. I like to party and rock. Basically, I came to lose control.

Chris: Do you ever rock and roll?

Christi: That’s crazy talk! I’m way too busy for that.

Chris: Too busy with what? Like school?

Christi: No, no. I’m too busy rocking.

Chris: You’re too busy rocking to rock and roll?

Christi: Pretty much. My rocking is so intense there’s just no room to incorporate roll at the moment.

Chris: Fair enough.

C.D The editor ( Bolton ) has been hounding me about this for weeks now. He wants me to answer, “How I got here.” Ok, um, the first thought that comes to mind is the literal. So here goes it. I take HWY. 400 to 407 to 427 to QEW to Ford Drive to Upper Middle Rd. to Trafalgar. Done. Every morning, every night. But then I think about it a bit more, and it’s been one heck of a crazy ride. I always loved drawing, creating and thinking. Making things better, working harder than I thought I could, and being part of a team.

I’ve done that over and over in a variety of different venues and fields, and now here I am, at TRAVIS, every morning and every night. And Bolton still hounds me.

J.G

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the hotspots

by Lindsey Barron

Hey frosh, here’s the inside scoop on all the off-campus hotspots.

Don’t worry, you can thank us later. From us to you, a gift in orientating the wilds of both Oakville and Brampton. You’re welcome.

5 DRIVE-IN 2332 9 Line (3.5 KM) No kidding, as I write this, my stepsister is off to the drive-in with her best friend. They’re regulars. “Make sure to mention the triple-play nights they have on Sundays!” she yells from her room.

I should also tell you that on Tuesdays admission is $5. And on Thursdays you can pile all the people physically possible into your car to catch a show, for only $15. Compared to the $11 it will normally cost you to get in, it’s a steal. On the outskirts of Oakville, the 5 Drive-In has been operating for over 40 years courtesy of the enterprising Allen family, who have been in the Canadian theatre business since the ’20s. And it is now the largest drive-in in the country. Recent remodeling has seen the 5 Drive-In return to its retro roots, and speaking of retro, they also have a mini arcade.

Sweet deal.

MANGIAMO’S PIZZA BUFFET 579 Kerr Street (4 KM) This hotspot should be summed up in two words: pizza buffet.

My first thoughts were: Pizza buffets don’t really exist, do they?

They’re just conjured up in the wistful dreams of hungry college students who are sick of chain restaurants. Well, fellow ’za fans, there certainly is such a place. Located at Kerr and Shepherd streets, within skipping distance (OK, biking distance) of Sheridan, is Mangiamo’s Pizza Buffet. Owner Raja Kuppaswarmy brought the place to life last December, and hopes to attract the attention of students like myself with Mangiamo’s favourable $7.99 all-youcan-eat buffet with a variety of soups, thin-crust pizzas (including dessert pizza), salads and fruit. Although they’re only open until 9 p.m. Monday through Saturday, Mangiamo’s seems like the perfect place to hit after class, before visiting popular downtown bars like the King’s Arms or Jam.

MOONSHINE CAFE 137 Kerr Street (5.3 KM)

Trafalgar Campus

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Ah, the Moonshine Café, where to start? It’s a licensed café, a poetry hotspot in the GTA and an all-around indie kid’s dream. The cafe is scattered with homey cushions, paintings and tapestries, which generates an atmosphere similar to an eclectic aunt’s house. All sorts of people flock to it—not only artists, performers, readers, writers and listeners, but comedians, beatniks and college professors. No, seriously. It’s not flamboyant in its bohemian ways, but a breath of fresh air compared to typical cafés in Oakville.

Moonshine is also involved in supporting the community. Whether it’s the arts or the local farmer’s market, Moonshine will get behind it. In the best way, it makes Oakville feel like the small town it used to be. It’s a neat little place. And, just to add to the overall appeal, the owners make tasty samosas.

MOLLY’S HOTTE SHOPPE 490 Chrysler Drive (14.3 KM) Just when you think you’ve eaten at every restaurant in Brampton, along comes Molly’s. Actually, you’ll probably have to search for it—it’s hidden away in the corner of a plaza. Molly’s Hotte Shoppe, specializing in halal West Indian fare, is without question a hidden gem. I especially appreciate that it’s so clean inside; you could probably eat off of the floors. But that’s never a good idea. If you’re open to trying traditional Caribbean flavours (and adding to your vocabulary in the process) with dishes such a doubles, hops, roti and buljol, you may have found a new hotspot to frequent.

Although it isn’t exactly close to campus, it’s worth the trip for the relaxed atmosphere, the friendly staff and the smell of delicious jerk chicken wafting onto the street. Plus, there isn’t a thing on their menu over $12. Bonus.

BRAMPTON FARMER’S MARKET Main Street and Queen Street (4.9 KM) Okay, I get it, Kraft Dinner and beer as frequent meals used to be an essential part of the college experience. Now, it’s way cooler (not to mention healthier) to stop by your local farmer’s market, load up on locally grown fruits and vegetables and wow your friends with your culinary prowess. Or not. Regardless, there’s something about food grown within 100 miles of you that just radiates good vibes. The Brampton Farmer’s Market doesn’t only offer a colourful variety of locally grown produce, preserves and baked goods—the downtown core is converted into a vibrant, outdoor marketplace every Saturday from June to October. Local artists and artisans make up some 40 vendors that have been showcasing their work here for almost 25 years. Getting back in touch with the land is one thing us suburban kids forget to do from time to time.

CAFE OLE 67 George Street South (4.8 KM) If you’ve moved on from the exhausting weekend night out at the traditional British pub, Cafe Olé may pique your interest. Down the street from a former hotspot, Shopper’s World, and near the restaurant and nightlife hub of Queen and Main, the modern, trendy venue offers different elements that contribute to its unique appeal.

The atmosphere of a lounge, the intimacy and artistic qualities of a café and the fare of a bar make Olé a sophisticated, but still youthful choice. Whether you’re visiting on a Saturday night to listen to live jazz and take advantage of martini specials—Creamsicle or Lychee mixes, anyone?—or simply stopping by during the week to grab lunch on the patio, Cafe Olé is a contender in the lineup of new Brampton hotspots.

Davis Campus

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we ARE

TAKING OVER

by Chris D’Alessandro

Sheridan is going to have new neighbours.

That’s right, Sheridan is adding another campus to its present collection of three. We are growing.

Expanding, really.

26 travismag.com

Sheridan is making a serious investment in Mississauga

T

he ground is broken. Sheridan College did it. And they did it to make way for a new campus. A new campus in Mississauga, neighbouring that mammoth mall known as Square One. It’s been a hot topic of conversation around the Tim Hortons for a while now. Chances are good you’ve heard the rumours about a new Sheridan campus from that friend of a friend of yours.

Understandably, you have questions. You’re hungry for knowledge, I can tell. The Mississauga campus is so bright, new and shiny (well, OK, it’s still under construction, but you get the picture).

Sheridan’s new campus will be located in the centre of Mississauga. If you’re wondering, yes, this is ridiculously close to Square One, practically right next door. Shopaholics rejoice.

Students should be able to find a number of nightlife attractions as well as local entertainment hubs in the area. Bars, nightclubs, restaurants, movie theatres and even Playdium—gamers rejoice— are all close by. Personally, I’m partial to Playdium. Seriously, I don’t know how I would get any work done with batting cages and go-karts in close proximity.

The campus will measure up to 150,000 square feet with the facilities stacked four-storeys high. This is only the “first phase” of the project, so expect other buildings to be added on in the future. Right now the campus isn’t much to look at. Not much more than cleared trees and a hole in the ground. The design is being undertaken by Rounthwaite Dick & Hadley Architects.

RDH has designed buildings for Ryerson University, such as the Eric Palin Hall, as well as the new Sheridan buildings at current campuses. Their design style has a very modern, contemporary and sophisticated look and feel. Every part of the building is its own piece of modern art. Lots of windows and foliage will give the campus an all around natural look and feel. Judging by the concept art, the Sheridan Mississauga Campus might turn out to be the best looking school in Ontario. Although OCAD is a tough contender with

their modern spaceship school.

The new campus won’t just be pretty to look at, though. The Mississauga campus is being built to accommodate about 1,800 students in total. The facilities, for the most part, will be dedicated to the School of Business, which will make up for about 1,200 students. Expect a full-range of options for business students—a variety of diploma and graduate certificate programs. The other 560 spaces will be dedicated to the training and re-training of new Canadians, foreign-trained professionals and unemployed workers.

Sheridan is making a serious investment in Mississauga. Just how serious? Between federal and provincial governments, working through the Knowledge Infrastructure Program, we’re talking a combined funding of $31 million.

What does this all mean for current Sheridan students? Well, if you’re currently living in Mississauga, it’s great news. Let’s face it, the majority of Sheridan students commute to school. Sheridan is, after all, a commuter school. Coming from Mississauga to Oakville or Brampton in the morning can be an exercise in stress management wading through traffic. But more so than just lowering your blood pressure and getting to wear out your snooze button just a little bit more, the Mississauga area itself also provides new networking possibilities for Sheridan students. In a press release last spring, before leaving office, Dr. Robert Turner, then-President and CEO of Sheridan said: “The Mississauga area is home to over 55 corporate head offices in finance, insurance, real estate, pharmaceuticals, biotechnology and logistics. Everyone has told Sheridan a college presence is essential to fulfilling their workforce needs. Thanks to this new funding, we’re going to be able to pay big dividends to the Mississauga community.”

Meaning, Mississauga’s corporations are hungry for new business students and Sheridan is eager to provide the menu. t Expect Sheridan Mississauga Campus to open its doors fall 2011.

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SEPTEMBER AT SHERIDAN

Yuk Yuk’s

LIGHTS

Beach pub

Frosh Pub Night

XXX Tony Lee

Richer than you think

Patio Party

Frosh Bash

Patio Party

ALEXISONFIRE

RICHER THAN YOU THINK

Black Light Pub

September 8th . Rec Room 12 pm September 9th. Connexion 9pm September 9th. Rec Room 9pm September 10th . Connexion

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September 14th. Connexion September 15th. Connexion September 15th . Rec Room September 15th. Rec Room

September 16th. Connexion September 16th. Connexion September 17th. Rec Room September 23th . Connexion

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Fans going berzerk as Alexisonfire hits the stage.

Soon to be you, Sheridan.

STRAIGHT OUT OF THEIR MOUTHS Q&A WITH ALEXISONFIRE

There has been a whole string of ups and downs for the

local screamo-turned-punk rockers over the past decade. Some of which they are proud of, some not so much. We caught up with Alexisonfire’s candid frontman George Pettit to discuss the ongoing adventure that has thrown the band into much acclaim, watched one of their members break off and hit it huge internationally ( yeah, that would be Dallas Green ) and to where they are standing today.

It’s been a wild, hardcore path, but a path that they have navigated before.

Here’s the honest story of Alexisonfire, from the mouth of Alexisonfire.

by ryan bolton / photography by jess baumung twitter.com /travismag 31

T

RAVIS: I just want to have an informal talk with you about the ups and downs and the years in between of Alexisonfire. And to navigate to where you guys are now. Just running back, because you guys were students yourselves in high school when you started, what was it like when you guys got together in 2001?

GEORGE PETTIT: Well, 2001 was us just being teenagers finishing up high school.

Dallas [Green] was working at the mall and we were all playing in local bands. Dallas was playing in bands since he was 14 in St. Catherines—I think his band was too young to play the Mind Bomb, which was the bar. So there was this Chinese restaurant he put shows on for. And there was this Jamaican bar you could get a beer at underage. That was basically it for the first year. We played arts spaces and makeshift venues for the first year, that’s where the music scene was when I was attending. And a lot of the time it was in small town Ontario.

We had all been playing in basement punk bands since we could play an instrument.

And that’s how we all met—through hanging out and networking. You all go to the same record stores and same concerts.

It was truly the small band set-up at the beginning where you play the minor, seedy

WE WERE BECOMING

MONSTERS...

WE HAD BEEN ON THE ROAD

FOR SO LONG shows and get a bit of a crowd following.

Yeah, that’s pretty much how it is.

Back then this was before MySpace. And the Internet is this big powerful tool that everyone uses these days, but back then it was more about the DIY [do it yourself] punk ethic that came with playing music. If you wanted to play shows, you were networking and trying to find out who the promoter was from the town.

32 travismag.com

Time for the whole clichéd question: When was that period when you guys were like ‘Wow shit, we actually have a deal’? Because you guys hooked up with Distort first and then things started to unravel.

We signed a publishing deal with EMI at one point. It is almost ridiculous to do, because as far as music publishing goes, Alexisonfire isn’t exactly a lucrative band to be working with. We don’t have a lot of songs with Weezer or in soundtracks. We got in touch with Distort and it wasn’t like we had any real other options at the time. He had a pretty good idea of putting out the record in Canada and then licensing the record out to everywhere else in the world. And slowly as he found more deals for us, we had a record deal in Japan, all over Europe, America and Australia.

What was that feeling like, playing as a full band, when you’re just about to break?

At first it’s this really exciting, terrifying thing. Especially when your first tours of the United States are mostly you sleeping in sketchy places. It’s a great way to see the country, but it’s still this scary feeling.

The same thing happens when you cross the ocean. You end up in England and some guy meets you at the airport saying: “Alright, shut up because you’re going to get beaten up for nothing around here.” There’s always that initial fear and excitement about going somewhere new, but now that I have been there so many times, it’s almost like second nature. Now Scotland is more scared of us than we are of Scotland.

Playing back then in the early 2000s, screamo was arguably at its apex. Things were taking off and bands were popping up everywhere. How was Alexisonfire received in that burgeoning milieu back then?

If you come from any music with an indie background—be it punk or indie rock—you are going to have that core group of fans that are going to be hardcore for a little bit and then they are going to leave you when everyone finds out about you. That’s the machine that runs the whole what’s cool vibe and perpetuates culture. When it becomes for everyone, you have already moved on type of thing. I think we had that happen to us for a split second. I think the way to get over that hump is to just open up to everybody and

not have exclusive music.

And when did that happen for you guys?

When did you start to feel the backlash from the hardcore fans?

I remember going on message boards when I was younger and all of a sudden you had these kids venting away. So I would go to a hardcore show one night and the next day I’d go online and kids would write: “What was that asshole from Alexisonfire doing at the show last night?” Well, it’s not like this is my first hardcore show. I’ve been going to these for a long time. That’s just one example. People were turning their backs.

Everybody is a critic. This was around year three. We probably had music videos by then, and that’s that. That’s something that happens to a lot of bands. I’ve talked with the guys in Against Me! and Rise Against who are losing friends because their band is becoming popular. People are slashing your tires and shit. Criticism, in general, you kind of let it roll off your back. I think part of the culture is talking shit about stuff you don’t like. And I’m guilty of that, too.

A lot of critics say Crisis was the seminal record for you guys. What was the band like around that time? All the fringe kids were gone and you had that really strong mainstream following. What was it like then when you started to do the big tours?

I think we all were really proud of Crisis and we were really getting our legs about us. We felt really disenchanted by the whole screamo scene. We made this record that was more in the direction that we wanted to be going. That was an exciting time. It was probably a little too exciting at times. We toured for way too long on it. We toured for 10 and a half months in one year. I think that put a lot of stress on everybody. There was a lot of stuff going on when we were on the road that was what it was. We were kinda becoming monsters because we had been on the road for so long. There is so much idle time. We live a very free lifestyle, basically traveling the world and don’t have a boss. It’s fun and as wonderful as that is, it is too much freedom for people sometimes. We ended up coming back from the road and I think everyone was feeling a bit strained by the whole thing. So that was the end of Crisis. We stopped touring. Dallas went on the road with City & Colour for a little while

Minus some rough patches, Alexis is still going strong.

and we took a good year and a half before we decided to make another record.

It’s sort of the double-edged sword when you have this super successful record and are so well-received, but it’s a devil with the touring that weighs on you.

With avoiding the rock ‘n’ roll cliché, we got drunk a lot and did tours that we probably shouldn’t have done. And in the end, I think we were really all tired. I think we all perked up again after a well-deserved amount of time at home and made another record … I think it was more important for us to step away from Alexis for a while and concentrate on our other projects. I think there is only so much you can do with just sitting on a couch with idle hands.

As you have said in the past with screamo, you guys almost wanted to kill screamo by putting a knife in it. Because with the Young Cardinals record, you guys went back to the punk roots there.

Well yeah, I think rock ‘n’ roll and punk

were more important to us at that point than screamo. I don’t think five years from now people are going to look back on screamo and think, “Oh yeah, that was a worthwhile and relevant bit of culture that took place.”

I think they are going to look back on it and associate it with music like Poison and hair metal. People will be doing ironic screamo bands because it’s a funny joke. That’s probably me just being an old man being all crotchety and jaded. Screamo had run its course by the time Old Crows / Young Cardinals came to be. We just wanted to get the hell away from that.

And that brings us back to present day.

What’s the touring been like on Young Cardinals? Have you reverted back to being monsters again or are you past that?

Yeah, it has been great. I mean some of it has been pretty extensive, but it’s been nice playing these new songs. Some tours have been better than others, but that’s the nature of the road—sometimes it’s good and

sometimes you’re just tired. And if you have been out for like six weeks straight, those last two weeks you’re thinking about being at home. We’re a lot more sober and not such a big rock party. We all go out and do things we enjoy and eat well. But all things aside, I think relationships are still good between me and the guys. I think we are all more on an even-keel now, as where we went through some patches on the Crisis record where we were a little more “Let’s see how much booze we can drink and how much trouble we can get into on this trip.” I’m not saying that’s completely over, but that’s a lot less prevalent now that we are touring on this record…

We’ve got one last big run of touring in Australia, Japan, the U.K. and Canada— then that’s it. That’s the end of touring on Old Crows / Young Cardinals. So, at that point, we will probably go home for a long period of time and try to think up another record. t Alexisonfire will be playing Sheridan’s frosh week. Hell yeah!

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Lights has it going on. Like a lot going on.

And she’s damn cute while doing so. She just released a new acoustic EP, which means getting rid of the synths and the sci-fi space imagery. We’re sad about it, too. But she pumped out the new material in a week in her loft apartment. She had a friend shoot the cover images with a Polaroid camera.

And after a couple months, it hit No. 1 on iTunes Canada. Did we mention that she is also really cute? And to top it off, she’s into Sheridan’s animation program. Here’s where Lights is at these days. interview by Ryan Bolton

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TRAVIS: So you were just on The City. Pretty rad, I guess. What was that like?

LIGHTS: It was an interesting experience. Press and publicity like that is always good, no matter if it is positive or not. They actually edited something that was very untruthful when it came out, though. And now I see how those kind of things work. It’s a learning experience. But they were really nice people behind the scenes. But I call it creative editing; it was an experience, that’s for sure.

artwork and all that stuff—that’s all just gravy on top of the core that is the song. So I always put a lot of effort into making sure those songs are good before everything else. And this EP is kinda stripping everything away and showing exactly what those songs are. If there are any doubts about what I am or my abilities of what I do, if you strip the fluff away and all the excess, and if there is something there, then you know there is something solid. I wanted to show people that side of it. I wanted to make something totally, purely raw. And that’s what I did.

Well, someone that was there with you on the show, and has been your long-time manager, Jian Ghomeshi, is a celebrity in his own right.

What’s it like having a celebrity broadcaster as your manager?

Aside from being an amazing manager, business-wise he’s able to give me advice and counseling from an artists’ perspective, because he’s been through it [with band, Moxy Früvous]. And he can also give me perspective from an interviewer and how to get into an interviewer’s mind. He gives me so much from every angle and I’m just so lucky. I’ve been with him since I was 15, so that’s a good eight years we’re coming up on now. And we are friends more than anything else now. It’s not a regular artist relationship where I’m just one of the clients, he has definitely taken me under his wing.

And this is the album that just made it to the top of Canada’s iTunes, so that’s brilliant. In only the past two years, it’s probably been a whirlwind for you as you have been unfathomably active. Not just online, but with myriad collaborators, something like seven EPs, just as many singles and extensive touring. So, what’s your pick: Red Bull or Monster energy drinks? [ L aughs.] It’s important to not drink too many energy drinks, because that makes you stop sleeping. It’s actually a good point you raised. I definitely opted for coffee, which is kind of becoming a crutch. But that’s one of those things; you need to make sure you get enough sleep.

It’s kind of a vicious cycle. I mean you run yourself down sometimes and that’s often the most inspiring time when you’re exhausted and you’re tired and just want to go home. That’s kind of when the best stuff comes out. So you need those moments of utter exhaustion that sometimes makes the best kind of art. It’s a weird symbiotic circle going on.

Social media is something you have obviously worked into your presence. With your video blogs, your interactive website, and over a 100,000 flippin’ Twitter followers, the Internets really seem to like you.

It’s really important to take control of those types of platforms, especially now. I started on MySpace and that’s where I started to get some momentum with my music. And it’s because it’s so easy—it’s a free platform for you to put yourself out there to get discovered. And it’s important once you get that following to keep that entertainment coming, keep people in on who you are and also what they want. It’s

I wanted to make something purely raw funny how the industry has changed so much where people used to put out a record, do a tour, put out a record. Now you have the statistics and access to your crowd to know what they want from you next. And that’s exactly where the EP [ Lights. Acoustic ] came from. The fans were giving me a good response to YouTube videos of acoustic performances.

And they were asking for acoustic releases, so this is a direct result of that.

Good segue. Can you tell us about the new acoustic EP? And where did all the synths go?

Ask and you shall receive. I thought it was a cool angle on the songs.

Because when I write and create music, it’s all about the songwriting.

If you don’t have a good song, you have nothing that is going to carry your career … Like I have the comic, I have my sci-fi-esque videos, the

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You come from humble roots with growing up in Timmins, Ontario and spending some of your high school years in small town Chesley. So what do your roots mean to you now that you travel the world over?

It’s so, so important. I look back and I’m so thankful for everything that I have experienced. And even living in the Philippines when I was younger, that’s coming back now. I’m going back actually in August and going with World Vision this time to continue what we [my family] started over there. My family, I call them every chance I get.

Sheridan College is known for its animation program. And you kind of are an animation nerd in some sense. Any thoughts of coming to join us in the future?

I would love that. I actually wanted to get into that program before music started happening for me. It’s actually not out of the question. If the option does come up, I would love to take animation for game design—that’s a really big dream of mine. I remember ordering a package from Sheridan animation and reading all about it. It’s quite the program.

What’s it like to walk away with a JUNO in your hands?

Well, you don’t walk away with it in your hands—it took three months for me to get it. They take it away from you as soon as you get off stage, and then they etch them and send them. But symbolically speaking, it feels great. It doesn’t change the way you’re going to continue on with your career, but it does give you a really warm pat on the back from your home country.

To bring it all to a wrap, what’s a question that you wish I asked, but didn’t? And subsequently, what’s the answer to that question?

That’s a very good question. Um, well, hmm. Well, when’s your next tour? I’ll just say: this fall we’re going to do another major tour, to answer your question that you should have asked. [ L aughs.] Besides coming to Sheridan in September, that’s just before the North American tour, that’s the next big thing. t Lights will be playing live at Sheridan on Sept. 14 for frosh week.

Gift Card Contest!

Forget Mom, we’ll make your bed.

AT SEARS

Add Travis Mag as a friend on The Wire to access all of the contest details Must be a Sheridan Student / Contest ends 30/09/2010

sears.ca sheridanstudentunion.com twitter.com /travismag 37 travismag.com

Sheridan Fashion photography by Luis Mora, words by Michael Burton

Lavish & Squalor Lavish & Squalor is a one-of-a-kind fashion and general store located in the heart of Toronto at 253 Queen Street West.

It features brands and styles that the staff considers hip and new in the fashion scene.

There aren’t any skate brands, no flashy shoes—this store is simply fashion for the young person living in Toronto. This shop has been catering to the Queen Street crowd for the last four years, and has been swimming rather than sinking alongside some big competition in Toronto.

“The whole concept of the shop Lavish & Squalor is that there is some lavish aspects to the shop with the brands we carry,” Kevin Kropp says, manager at Lavish & Squalor.

“It’s like living a lavish lifestyle but almost living in squalor at the same time,” he adds.

Walking into this store, you are guaranteed to find something completely unique – from their jeans, shirts and hand-made shoes – this store has everything. A true gem within the Toronto fashion scene. A place where everyone should visit at least once.

Livestock Do you love shoes? I mean, do you really love shoes? Well then, the one place you need to go for the coolest shoes in town is Livestock.

There are a few stores across Canada— Vancouver, Calgary, and here in Toronto at 116 Spadina.

Walk in, see shoes, keep walking, more shoes. This place has the newest brands from Nike and pretty much everything afterwards.

This is a sneaker shop that does sneakers right. For those with a true shoe fetish, this is the only place to get the best of the best when it comes to shoes.

Surf Paradise Surf Paradise is independently owned and operated at 678 Guelph Line in Burlington.

This isn’t your typical board shop. The staff at this store pick and choose only what they want in their store. Everything you see is a reflection of their own tastes in style.

You will find a variety of skate and snowboard brands including Deathwish, Volcom and Skullcandy along with many of the usual culprits. On top of all this, it has a great line up of shoes, accessories and longboards for shoppers to pick through.

During the summer, Surf Paradise is all about wakeboards, water skis and tubes.

However, once the winter hits, it transforms into a snowboard and outerwear shop.

“We’re very laid back, but at the same time, we want you to be happy at the end of the day,” says Tim Youldon, manager of Surf Paradise. “But at the same time, if you need something from us, we will get it done for you as quickly as possible.”

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Hustler Hustler opened up back in 1993—striving to be the place in Oakville where skateboarders of all skill levels can get the gear they need.

Not only that, but it’s a great place for skateboarders in the Oakville area to get together, meet some new people, and just hang out.

“We want that down-to-earth skate guy feel, as opposed to, you know, your big shop and big store mentality. We carry stuff that is ahead of the curve, and we like to bring in stuff that hasn’t blown up yet,” says Josh Ranells, store manager at Hustler.

This place really caters to the small guy, and is a place where a skateboarder can come in and just feel at home. Hustler

wants its audience to stay true to their own ideology—and not get sucked into the brands that are now being forced fed through the bigger stores in Canada.

And their ideology is simple—just skate.

Hustler has been open for quite a while now and is one of the core skateboard shops in the Oakville area. Their connection within the community is invaluable, and over the years, the town of Oakville has been focusing on working with the skateboard community, rather than against it.

Next time you’re in town skipping class to skate, head over to 111 Kerr Street in Oakville.

170 King 170 King is a little more than just a clothing store.

Located at—you guessed it, 170 King Street West in Hamilton, this store might be small, but it brings heaps of style to its community.

“The concept that I try to have here is half clothing store and half art gallery,” owner Eugene Park says.

Every month 170 King features artists and photographers of local and international fame alongside its clothing and brands.

Park, a Sheridan graduate himself who studied marketing, even worked for the Student Union in his day. Look where he is now, taking it upon himself to supply Hamilton with unique brands inspired by fashion found in Toronto, New York and Los Angeles.

What makes this store different from any other clothing store? 170 King supplies apparel that is classy, hip, and trendy—for the boys and the girls. Unlike skate shops that cater just to the guys, this is strictly street wear for men and women hand-picked by Park himself.

“We don’t want to position ourselves as a skate shop. We want to be a strictly street

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wear clothing store,” says Park.

170 King sports American Apparel, Keds, Cheap Monday and Insight as their main brands. Park works directly with suppliers to bring brands into Hamilton that you cannot find anywhere else. This store focuses on exclusive brands that don’t even exist in malls.

All of this has lead to the creation of a store with it’s own unique style—truly one-of-akind in Steel City.

Flat Spot

At Flat Spot it's simple—it’s all about family, and skateboarding.

Located at 220 King Street West in Hamilton, Flat Spot brings brands, shoes decks and apparel that stands out. The shop has a rich history of friends and family within the Hamilton skate community who have supported this shop and molded it into what it is today.

Trevor Rowan has been running the shop for five years now, but has been working in the industry for many more. Much of his shop is inspired by his own style and tastes for fashion and apparel that he’s developed over the years.

“It’s partly what I like and it’s also obviously what the kids are really into,” Rowan explains.

“A lot of the brands are exclusive brands

that you won’t be able to find at malls.”

Speaking of brands, when you first step into this shop you will notice the wall of shoes that include Vans, Supra, Nike SB and Converse.

Take a closer look at the street apparel, which includes Levis, Vans Apparel and Deathwish.

Flat Spot has been a huge part of the skate community in and around Hamilton for many years. By sponsoring skate events in Hamilton, Flat Spot puts a face on the skateboard community and gives back by tossing gear and decks to kids who are less fortunate, but still want to shred.

Flat Spot gives a positive outlet for kids and students looking for something to do in their community, but also brings incredible style and swagger to the city of Hamilton. And to that we say, "Good on them."

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A RANDOM NUMBER OF WORDS ABOUT CULTURE

by Chelsea Mogridge

It’s all about me. It has always been about me. Same goes for you, you just need to admit it.

ow do you like your frappuccino? Starbucks has a new campaign for their fraps. “Express yourself your way.” Through their coffee, of course. So, what does your frap say about you?

It’s all about you. And me. And them. We’re a culture focused on ourselves, in the least selfish way possible. It’s about us as individuals. In a world of six billion people, who wouldn’t want to stand out? ( Probably Justin Bieber, he seems shy.) But we strive to prove that we are each our own little unique snowflake.

Who am I and what am I doing here? People have always been self-discovering beings, but knowing yourself is no longer enough.

The world is asking who you are and what you are doing here. We answer by expressing ourselves.

We express ourselves through our music, cars, décor and clothing. And, for some, through Twilight. By a young age, we try to find our story and tell it to the world. Now whether we really know whom we are or if we’re trying to be someone we want is unsure, but it doesn’t matter, truthfully.

You won’t talk to him, but you know he has balls, because Dodge says that their trucks have balls and men who buy Dodge have balls.

Social networking sites helped create this fascination with storybook lives. You have a life, you have a story and now you can tell your story. When filling out an “about me” section, do you write down the obvious or do you ponder a little harder? Think of something creative, funny and inspiring perhaps.

I first sold my soul to the online network netherworlds at the tender age of 14. I logged onto MySpace and wrote about me. I realised I sleep a lot. Now that’s not the most profound discovery, but prior to that, I had never considered what activities took up most of my day. I always thought my sleeping habits were average until the day I made a MySpace account and discovered I have wasted nearly half my life between the sheets. But that’s just me.

Simple things like making a social profile may cause you to stop and really think about yourself. Everything we do is a form of expressing ourselves. The small things, such as the purchases we make, coincide with the story we are telling.

Our purchases send a message to the world—and companies have picked up on that. Everything is marketed to the individual.

You know that guy parked out-front in the blue Dodge Ram waiting for his girlfriend? You won’t talk to him, but you know he has balls, because Dodge says that their trucks have balls and men who buy Dodge have balls. Or something along those lines.

The choices you make pertain to the story you’re trying to tell.

Maybe expressing yourself is a nice way of “selling yourself.” As a female, selling myself usually evokes thoughts of dimly-lit street corners and platform heels. But I’m standing on the sidewalk in DC flats and a Star Trek shirt. I’m expressing myself.

I want you to know I’ve embraced my height and I’m a fan of Captain Kirk. But know that I’m selling myself. I want you to buy the I’m-comfortable-and-I’m-not-trendy-I’m-a-trekkie vibe.

Social networking sites are large human classifieds. We create our story in life and post them online, sometimes for sale. When we lurk each other’s profiles, we take in what they’re expressing. When people post pictures of themselves on vacation having a blast, they’re selling an idea of excitement and happiness. But we don’t always buy it.

Maybe that’s a little extreme. Not all of us have a price tag. But we don’t make three photo albums titled “Me” just to show off to our close friends.

When different people look at the same ink blobs on paper they see different things. When trying to be expressive or tell a story without words, meanings can get lost in translations. I can start to assume things since you have a Volcom sticker on you car, but I really won’t know why unless I ask.

We try so hard to tell our stories and express ourselves through every medium possible, but why? I was always taught not to worry about what others think, but here I am trying to persuade you. And I’m not even sure you’re listening. Or reading anymore.

When we pass people on the street, we express parts of ourselves to each other in those few moments. You only have a quick second to pick up what someone is trying to express, but you were so focused on making sure your Skull Candy headphones don’t get caught on your Gucci glasses.

I like my frappuccino skinny but with whip cream. I’m sure no one will know I like small indulgences frequently over large indulgences occasionally, but I do. And if anyone asks, I’ll tell him or her.

Because, in the end, it’s all about me.

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The ongoing story Slurpp & Jennifer pt. 1 Oh yes we did. We let a 9-year-old kid begin our classic ongoing story this year. Yeah, for serious.

Get a scoop of Slurpp and his adventure in Zurgland.

Yeah, we could not make this up if we tried.

by Lyndsey, 9, Bryan’s sister

“Slurpp picked out a sticky gun that shoots sticky green goo that sticks people to the ground.”

S

omewhere in space there lived an alien in a black hole. His name was Slurpp.

Slurpp had six very long arms, three on each side of his very tall and thin body.

His face was an upside down tear shape.

He had two very dark eyes in the centre of his wide forehead. His small down-turned mouth often seemed to have a few dribbles of thick green saliva on it. He was very ugly by people standards, but for an alien, he was quite handsome.

Slurpp lived in a land faraway called Zurgland. His very small planet was in a black hole. The inhabitants of Zurgland lived on a very crowded planet and were always looking for more room to live in.

The rulers of Zurgland were named Zurg and Land. One day Zurg and Land called Slurpp to the throne room. They said, “We want you to go and find more space for our planet. No more discussion of this subject, just go and find more space. And take some weapons with you.”

Slurpp picked out a sticky gun that shoots sticky green goo that sticks people to the ground. He also picked a steel net for catching people. Then Slurpp found a tiny steel cube with a button on it. Slurpp pushed the button and it turned into a big cube with a lid. Slurpp thought that this cube would be great for storing the things he might find on his travels. Slurpp put his weapons into the cube and pushed the button. The cube shrank into a small little cube that he popped into his pocket.

It was time for Slurpp to leave his planet and head out to find a new planet. He jumped into the sky and he swerved around like a rocket and then plummeted down to Earth. He had seen Earth before in his telescope, and it looked big, so he thought it would make a good home for his people.

As Slurpp approached the planet Earth, he headed in for a landing. He landed on his feet like a cat. When he landed, the earth

cracked in every direction around him from the force. Slurpp got up and looked around.

He had landed in what the Earthlings would call a “city.” There were a lot of people around who stared at him in awe. Slurpp looked back in shock and quickly pulled out his sticky gun and sprayed as many people as he could. The people he hit with the green goo were stuck to the ground.

With the people stuck to the ground, Slurpp approached them so that he could examine them without them running away or attacking him.

After he was satisfied that he’d become familiar with these “Earthlings,” he wandered further into a quieter part of the city. He walked toward a building that looked like ones from his home planet; on Zurgland these were called flurbs. He approached the house and entered the front door.

Inside the house there was lots of Earthling furniture. Slurpp collected as much furniture as would fit in the cube he brought to collect items. In the kitchen, a young woman named Jennifer was eating Corn Pops for breakfast when she heard a lot of scraping coming from the entrance of the house. Jennifer crept towards the living room to investigate. At the same moment, Jennifer’s dog, Rex, a brown and white bulldog, jumped into the living room to protect the household. But Slurpp had alien-fast movements and threw his steel net over Rex. Rex started whimpering in fear as Slurpp started to load him into the steel box. Jennifer, fearing for her dog’s safety, jumped from behind the wall and screamed, “Hey, that’s my dog!”

Slurpp, being alone on a foreign planet, was actually a little scared of Earthlings.

Luckily, the language of Zurgland and the language on Earth were very similar. Slurpp wasn’t sure what a “dog” was, but he had some idea that this girl wanted it back.

Slurpp pointed towards the couch. “Dorg?”

he asked. “No, dog!” Jennifer said, pointing towards Rex. Slurpp untied the net and Rex ran towards Jennifer. “Oh, thank you,” she said hugging her bulldog.

On Zurgland, the proper form of apology is to extend one hand out towards the person you are apologizing to and shake hands with them. Slurpp, being scared of being attacked by Earthlings, extended one of his very long arms towards Jennifer.

Carefully, Jennifer extended hers. The monster in her living room, although scary, had not given her any reason to think he would be dangerous. The two shook hands and looked nervously at each other. “My … name … is … Slurpp,” said the tall, six-armed alien. “My name is Jennifer and this is Rex,” said Jennifer, motioning to her bulldog in her arms.

It was clear that the two were about to have a very promising Earthling-alien friendship.

But before they could really get to know each other, there was a knock on the front door. Slurpp, scared of meeting more humans, waddled into the kitchen where Jennifer had been eating breakfast, and looked on nervously. Jennifer, being confused and worried by having just met an alien, answered the door in a daze.

A man with dark black glasses, scruffy grey hair and a black suit was standing on the doorstep. An army helicopter had landed in the middle of the park across from Jennifer’s house and a group of soldiers stood at attention on her front lawn.

“We are here to take the alien prisoner.

He’s threatening the security of Earth and we believe he is armed and extremely dangerous,” said the scruffy suited man.

Slurpp did not like the looks of the armed men in the front yard, and leaped towards the back door. At that moment, helicopters circled the house. It would appear that Slurpp was trapped. Slurpp grabbed Rex and started to run. t

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health & nutrition

by Jaclyn Arduini, kinesiologist, 4th year athletic therapy

THE FACTS Chocolate milk has been proven as the most effective food or drink to replenish energy when consumed within 20 to 30 minutes after completing a workout. So drink up!

Static stretching before exercising is actually detrimental to your workout. Static stretching causes the muscle to essentially fall asleep for about 20 minutes—this will impede your strength and speed output. You want to warm-up dynamically before a workout and stretch statically after a workout.

What’s a dynamic warm-up? Things like high knees, walking lunges, butt kickers and arm circles.

Basically movements that mimic the activity you’re about to do.

Your student card doubles as a gym membership to both the Davis and Trafalgar campuses.

Equipment loans and rentals are available at both locations and all you need is your card. Have a family member that you’d like to go with? Community memberships are also available.

Both gym locations offer a wide variety of classes from zumba to yoga. Costs are as low at $30 for the whole semester. Trust me, that’s a steal.

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KEEPING YOUR JERSEY SHORE BODY Here we go again. That time when the fun of summer stops and the sitting beings. Hours of it. I know what you’re thinking: all that hard work, the perfect Jersey Shore body … gone. Nullified by the everyday Tims runs, the vending machine smorgasbord and the beer. How do you keep the pounds off when you’re slammed with work and would rather watch MTV than hit the gym? You hiit the gym. This type of HIIT stands for High Intensity Interval Training, and is a method of training that alternates short bursts of high intensity exercise with medium intensity exercise rest periods. Because the intensities you’ll be working at are so high, a typical session is between 15 to 20 minutes including warm-up and cool-down.

Typically a workout will have a five-minute warm-up and five-minute cool-down with anywhere from six to 12 cycles of intervals in the middle. These workouts are best performed on the elliptical, stairmaster or bike. Treadmills aren’t great because it takes too long to ramp up and down.

The goal? Well, to burn fat and keep that hot bod. I know what you’re thinking: How will 20 minutes, three times a week combat the Freshman 15? I have another answer for you. EPOC or Excess Post-exercise Oxygen Consumption is the answer. It’s what happens to your body after a bout of intense activity. It’s a measureable increase in the amount of oxygen your body uses in order to recover. Oxygen is needed to take

the fat stored in your body and change it into a more readily available fuel source.

EPOC can last up to eight hours after your workout; this means that you will be burning more calories per hour for the rest of the day than you normally would. The harder you push yourself in the workout, the longer you’ll be burning calories.

Don’t be surprised if you wake up the next morning, or even the morning after that, with a case of Delayed Onset Muscle Soreness (or DOMS). Don’t worry, you haven’t done anything wrong, it’s just a side effect of the energy system you’re using. A way to combat this is to make sure you stay well-hydrated and don’t skip the cool-down period. You need the blood to flow in those tight muscles to remove the waste products that have been produced. Monitoring your DOMS is a good way to see how you are progressing. Beginners should start with one session per week, and increase the number of sessions to three or four per week, over the course of four to six weeks as your comfort level increases.

Don’t be fooled, this type of workout is not for the faint of heart. But it is for those on Jersey Shore, and I’m sure you’re up to the challenge. You’ll be working hard, breathing hard, your legs will feel like mush and your lungs will start screaming halfway through. But remember, it’s only 20 minutes of your day. Snooki can take up the rest of your day. t

DOUBLE-TROUBLE A large double-double from Tim Hortons is 230 calories, with 12 grams of fat. If you have a large double-double five times a week for all 13 weeks of the semester, this adds up to 14,950 calories, 7,020 of which are from fat alone. To put it in perspective, one pound is 3,500 calories, so your coffee alone could be contributing to over four pounds on your stomach.

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RANDOM AWESOME Wake up in the morning feelin’ like P. Diddy.

No more high school, kids. Here’s our breakdown between the world of grumpy Grade 12 math teachers and the world of college life. Ah, college life. Say it with us.

Stop telling people that.

But it’s more likely that you do brush your teeth with a bottle of Jack.

And more likely when you leave for the night, you ain’t coming back.

HIGHSCHOOL,

MEET

COLLEGE

!

ED IPP SK

Classes before 10 a.m. are optional.

And no one knows when you skip, but it’s a dangerous precedent.

9:45 Classes from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. And your mom will know when you skip.

Constantly monitoring your social media networks in fear that the photo of you doing that thing you shouldn’t have been doing doesn’t surface. Also, you set up a LinkedIn account to make you feel like an adult.

Texting, Bluetooth and MSN are essential learning tools.

Albeit, the frowned upon kind of learning tools.

Facebook, Dailybooth, Twitter, MySpace, and Tumblr to constantly update your friends on your moods and activities.

Texting didn’t really take off until after I was out of high school, but I assume it’s frowned upon by teachers.

Two in the morning is not quite late. Even though your family knows you stay out late at college, when you’re home, they still check up on you. It’s adorable.

Midnight is late.

Passed your curfew, little miss/mister.

GOOD LUCK.

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Connect With Your Sheridan SU Health & Dental Plan TAKE A GOOD LOOK Look closely at your Plan and you’ll notice that eye exams, eyeglasses or contact lenses, and laser eye surgery are covered. Now that’s seeing 20/20!

In addition to vision care coverage, your SU Health & Dental Plan covers you for things like prescription drugs, vaccinations, health practitioners, dental care and travel coverage. These are all important health-care services that aren’t covered by provincial plans like OHIP. Your Plan’s collective approach to health makes preventive care more accessible and affordable, while also covering you for the unexpected.

The Member Services Centre is there to assist you from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm on weekdays.

Toll-free: 1 866 358-4430

ihaveaplan.ca