the carillon The University of Regina Students’ Newspaper since 1962 Nov. 5 - Nov. 12, 2009 Volume 52, Issue 9
features
Marijuana use is a very controversial topic. Regina’s head shops, on the other hand, are simply great businesses. The Carillon stepped inside these neighbourhood shops and found a lot more than pipes and bongs.
t he s taf f
Editor-in-Chief
Business Manager
Production Manager Copy Editor
News Editor A&C Editor
Sports Editor
Op-Ed Editor
Features Editor Visual Editor Ad Manager
Tech. Coordinator
News Writer
Peter Mills carillon@ursu.uregina.ca Matt Badger badger@carillon.uregina.ca John Cameron jc.sunshine@gmail.com Rhiannon Ward rhiannonward@gmail.com Austin M. Davis a_davis_7@hotmail.com James Brotheridge sjbrot@gmail.com Jordan Reid jleereid@msn.com Barbara Woolsey b.woolsey@hotmail.com Alex Colgan kinesis_14@yahoo.com Graeme Zirk graeme_zirk@hotmail.com Tiffany Rutetzki tiffany_rutetzki@hotmail.com Vacant
A&C Writer
Sports Writer
Photographers
CONTRIBUTORS THIS WEEK
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new s
art s & cu ltur e
Jennifer Squires Lisa Goudy Taylor Tiefenbach Alex Fox
Kelsey Conway Jarrett Crowe Tyler Dekok Marc Messett Andy Sammons Matt Yim
storin’ carbon
4 can you can-can?
8
op -ed
spo rts
Owen Nimetz, Brittany Stene, Phil Smith, Matt Ouguid, Ethan Stein, Cassie Ozog, Enyinnah Okere, Jon Hamelin, Cassidy McFadzean
th e pa pe r
THE CARILLON BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Joana Cook, Mark Hadubiak, Joshua Jakubowski, Janet Novak, Melanie Metcalf, Laura Osicki, Rhiannon Ward, Anna Weber 227 Riddell Centre University of Regina - 3737 Wascana Parkway Regina, SK, Canada, S4S 0A2 carillon@ursu.uregina.ca www.carillon.uregina.ca Ph: (306) 586-8867 Fax: (306) 586-7422 Circulation: 3,500 Printed by Transcontinental Publishing Inc., Saskatoon
The Carillon welcomes contributions to its pages. Correspondence can be mailed, e-mailed, or dropped off in person. Please include your name, address and telephone number on all letters to the editor. Only the author’s name, title/position (if applicable) and city will be published. Names may be withheld upon request at the discretion of the Carillon. Letters should be no more then 350 words and may be edited for space, clarity, accuracy and vulgarity. The Carillon is a wholly autonomous organization with no affiliation with the University of Regina Students’ Union. Opinions expressed in the pages of the Carillon are expressly those of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of the Carillon Newspaper Inc. Opinions expressed in advertisements appearing in the Carillon are those of the advertisers and not necessarily of the Carillon Newspaper Inc. or its staff. The Carillon is published no less than 11 times each semester during the fall and winter semesters and periodically throughout the summer. The Carillon is published by The Carillon Newspaper Inc., a non–profit corporation.
worst coach ever
15 baby deficient
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w h at’s tha t you sa id? W h a t i s y o u r st a n c e o n m a r i j u a n a d e c r i m i n a l i z a t i o n ?
“It’s not a controllable substance
… I don’t think it should be [decriminalized].”
Hendk Beyene Arts Third year
“As long as it’s not hurting any-
body, it’s not as big of a deal as it’s made out to be.” Katie Sveinson Kinesiology Second year
th e ma ni fe st o
In keeping with our reckless image, our office has absolutely no concrete information on the Carillon’s formative years readily available. What follows is what’s been passed down from editor to editor for over forty years.
In the late 1950s, the University of Regina planned the construction of several new buildings on the campus grounds. One of these proposed buildings was a bell tower on the academic green. If you look out on the academic green today, the first thing you’ll notice is that it has absolutely nothing resembling a bell tower.
The University never got a bell tower, but what it did get was the Carillon, a newspaper that serves as a symbolic bell tower on campus, a loud and clear voice belonging to each and every student. Illegitimi non carborundum.
“It should be decriminalized
because no one is very dangerous on marijuana.” Phil Smith Sociology Third year
“Decriminalize it ... there are a
hell of a lot more people who should be jail.”
Stephanie Love Pre-Journalism Third year
news
News Editor: Austin M. Davis a_davis_7@hotmail.com the carillon, Nov. 5 - Nov. 12, 2009
Vaccination hesitation H1N1 sparked fear and long lineups
One national poll found that 51 per cent of Canadians were not getting the vaccine.
alexandria eldridge CUP alberta and northern bureau chief The federal government, alongside medical experts, have been reporting for weeks now that a new strain of influenza has the potential to cause widespread illness and death in the country, with the University of Regina going as far as to put up an emergency preparedness section on its website. Failure to prepare for the new flu strain may lead to disastrous consequences, with the only definite protection coming in the form of a vaccination; one that more than half of Canadians refuse to get. The H1N1 vaccine has been trumpeted by the government and the University’s Student Affairs as essential to preventing both personal and widespread infection. Nonetheless, Canadians remain incredibly wary of the vaccine, as evidenced by both a national poll released at the end of October and an on-campus poll of fifty individuals conducted by the Carillon. The national poll found that 51 per cent of Canadians were not getting the vaccine, while the Carillon’s poll found that 60 per cent of students were not getting the vaccine. Reasons behind the hesitation to be vaccinated varied only slightly between: “The vaccine has not been tested enough,” and, “there’s a lot of contrasting information.” The most common sentiment noted during the campus poll was that the pandemic is mass hysteria, over hyped, exaggerated, etc.
The vaccine has been greeted with significant skepticism, which can be traced to various factors, including the government’s aggressive marketing of the vaccine. The government has been unrelenting in its production and advertising of the vaccine, as H1N1 is an influenza strain that Canadians have yet to be exposed to. Ironically, the government’s consistent promotion of the vaccine may have backfired, causing people to become suspicious of the vaccine and rejecting it as a result (given that so many university students view the potential Swine flu pandemic as over hyped). Contrasting information certainly does not help; some scholars have openly criticized the vaccine, including Arthur Schafer, the director of the Centre for Professional and Applied Ethics at the University of Manitoba. He told CTV, “As one example: in New Zealand, they predicted 18,000 deaths from swine flu, but at the end of the flu season, it was 17.” When asked why there was so much skepticism in regards to the vaccine, a representative in the University’s Health and Safety department responded, “There’s a lot of information out there, people are trying to figure out what’s best for them. There could be misinformation; people have to decide who they’re going to listen to. The University and Health Canada have websites with information. People are listening to who they want to listen to ... it’s personal choice.” The University’s emergency webpage contains information on
124,000 fewer doses of vaccine were delivered to Saskatchewan than originally expected.
how to prevent infection from H1N1, as well as numerous phone numbers and websites that students can consult for further information. Despite the skepticism, there are students who plan on receiving the vaccine. Those getting the vaccine include health care workers, students with pre-existing health problems, students in their 30s and older, exchange students, and students who plan on traveling overseas. The demographic most likely to receive the vaccine consists almost entirely of those who are either obligated (health care workers) or those whose immune systems are at far greater risk (students who are traveling, mature students, and students with pre-existing health problems). Students in their 20s claim not to be interested in getting the vaccine, indicating that those who are getting the vaccine are doing so out of personal choice, not government influence. Health Minister Leona Aglukkaq announced that in the coming month, there will be advertisements delivering information concerning the vaccine.
cbc.ca
jacob serebrin CUP quebec bureau chief MONTREAL (CUP) – Health Canada approved the H1N1 vaccine earlier this month, and administration is slowly underway. Because the shots are being administered by the provincial health authorities, how quickly members of the public can get the vaccine varies from province to province. While Health Canada has said the vaccine is safe, a large number of Canadians say they’re wary of getting the shot. According to a Strategic Counsel survey, released last week, 51 per cent of Canadians said they’re not planning to get the vaccine. The Canadian University Press talked with officials from Health Canada and the vaccine maker, GlaxoSmithKline to get some answers for some common questions about the new vaccine.
What kind of testing has been done? GlaxoSmithKline says that they’re going to be testing the vaccine on a little fewer than 9,000 people worldwide; 2,000 of those people will be Canadians. The Canadian tests began two weeks ago and it could take up to a year for the results. This means that Health Canada’s going to be reviewing early European tests done on a small number of individuals. How are vaccines approved in Canada? It’s mostly a review process. Health Canada looks at the results of clinical trials, where the vaccine is actually given to people; those tests are conducted by pharmaceutical companies. Health Canada also inspects their
95
60
manufacturing plants and tests a small amount of the vaccine, but as a quality control measure, the government doesn’t do any clinical trials.
How is the vaccine made? The vaccine is produced in a similar way to the seasonal flu vaccine. Pharmaceutical companies get an inactive form of the virus from the World Health Organization. They then grow the virus in eggs.
How did they make the vaccine so fast? The seasonal flu tends to mutate from year to year; scientists call this mutation “drifting.” Because of this, a new seasonal flu vaccine is required each year. While it may seem like the new vaccine was developed very quickly, it’s not much faster than the response to a new strain of seasonal flu.
So what’s in this vaccine? It contains an inactive form of the virus. The type of vaccine that will be more available in Canada also contains an “adjuvant,” which is designed to stimulate the immune system; it contains fish oil, vitamin E and water. The vaccine also contains a small amount of mercury as a preservative, but Health Canada says there’s less mercury in a dose of the vaccine than in a can of tuna. Why is the H1N1 strain more serious than other types of flu? Because the changes in the virus caused by the mutations aren’t that significant most people tend to have some level of natural immunity. But because humans have never had the H1N1 strain before, most of us wont have any of these antibodies.
per cent
of cost for the 50.4 million doses of vaccine Canadians killed by H1N1 as of Nov. 2 according to Public Health Agency of Canada. ordered that the Canadian government will cover on a one-time basis.
the carillon Nov. 5 - Nov. 12, 2009
4 news
Dig a hole, save the planet
Smoking costly to province
Sum ming up c ar bon captur e and s tor age
Dr. Wilson (second from the front) and the ITC team pose before solving climate change.
alex colgan features editor
icis.com
lisa goudy news writer The Canadian Cancer Society Saskatchewan Division issued a report on Oct. 26 that outlined the cost of tobacco use in Saskatchewan constitutes a $1.1 billion loss per year to the provincial economy. The Genuine Progress Index (GPI) Atlantic Report, written by Janet Rhymes, states that tobacco and sickness related to its use is a legal responsibility to the economy. In 2005 alone, 1,561 people in Saskatchewan died of either smoking themselves or being subjected to smoke second-hand. This is 18 per cent of all deaths in Saskatchewan that year. “This clearly has significant emotional and social costs for victims, their families and loved ones,” said Rhymes. “Although this is an economic exercise, we can never forget the profound lifechanging impact for individuals and families who are affected by things like lung cancer, COPD, and heart disease.” Apart from deaths from tobacco, the report goes on to say that it costs $1,063 for each person in the province. This is inclusive of both direct and indirect costs of tobacco use. “Only 18 per cent of these costs are offset through tobacco tax revenue,” said Rhymes. Direct costs alone are $167.6 million. Indirect costs, such as early death, provisional immobilisation, and output deficits, are $535.23 million. The report also states that hiring smokers costs employers $373 million, mostly because of such productivity losses, employee absence, and insurance. In addition, $1.9 million is lost because of smoking-related fires. Deterrence and research expenses vary between $2.4 and $3.9 million. All of these figures are reported as of 2008. “There are also enormous potential benefits to investing in tobacco reduction, including lives saved, better longterm health outcomes, and cost savings,” said Rhymes. Saskatchewan would save $69 per person, excluding company savings, if only 25 per cent was cut back in tobacco use. The average smoking rates in Canada, as of 2008, are 42.8 per cent, but
in Saskatchewan 50.4 per cent of males and females smoke on a daily basis or infrequently. This percentage rate accumulates for only 20 per cent of the entire population. However, Saskatchewan had a significant decline of teen smoking, from age 15 to 24, and of adult smoking between 1999 and 2007 of all Canadian provinces. Second- hand smoke exposure to children in their homes and in public has also declined. Child exposure dropped from 31 per cent in 2000 to 11.7 per cent in 2008. Public exposure has fallen from 23.7 per cent in 2003 to 7.7 per cent in 2008. The tobacco companies were unable to be reached for comment on this matter. “The GPI also considers tobacco reduction strategies as public health investments,” said Rhymes, “These have the potential to provide significant returns on investment in the form of savings in avoided health care costs and productivity losses.” Donna Pasiechnik, the Manager of Tobacco Control for the Canadian Cancer Society, has a similar take on tobacco. “Approximately half of the $1.1 billion that tobacco is costing this province is being borne by taxpayers,” said Pasiechnik. “The cost of investing in a plan to reduce smoking is small compared to the costs of doing nothing.” The Canadian Cancer Society has been avidly promoting a subsidized plan for Saskatchewan that consists of more expensive costs for tobacco, more non-smoking policies, and rough movements in public education. This has been going on for a number of years now. But regardless of all of these advancements, Pasiechnik notes that smoking rates in Saskatchewan are still some of the highest in Canada. “This is an issue that affects all of us so whether you’re a healthcare provider, an employer, a community leader, or a smoker, we all have a responsibility to work together to address this major health issue,” said Pasiechnik. “Government cannot do this alone.”
Problems are better in the ground than the sky. That’s the basic idea behind carbon capture and storage (CCS), a means of extracting climate-changing carbon from fossil fuel emissions, and then storing the carbon underground. It has become an increasingly attractive option for those who want to reduce emissions and still use economically feasible fuel sources for industrial production
nitrogen and water vapour are allowed through. The IPCC reports that this could reduce a plant’s atmospheric CO2 emissions by approximately 80-90 per cent. Wilson compares it to putting “a catalytic converter on your car.” The gas would be stored underground, between one and two kilometres, if not deeper, and would be subjected to intense pressures. Wilson says that by calculating the breaking pressure of the rock, we can easily manage the issue and avoid creating pressure problems. Ultimately, regular ground pressure would be
International Test Center for C02 Capture
2050 if the rate of increase continues the way it is. What about the high-energy costs associated with carbon capture? Wilson said, “It is going to increase costs, but so does anything else we do. People don’t understand that there’s cost in changing out their lighting to high-efficiency lighting. You can recoup that cost fairly quickly, but as we go further down, very often the costs of energy efficiency will go up.” Wilson sees a missed opportunity in the government’s recent Economic Action Plan, which was designed to stimulate the
“Your first line of attack to reduce emissions is not produce them in the first place.” D r . M a l c o l m W i l so n and power plants. Dr. Malcolm Wilson, who as a contributing member of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) was a 2007 co-recipient of the Nobel Peace Prize, is the director of the university’s Office of Energy and Environment, and the director of the International Test Centre for CO2 Capture (ITC). He specializes in the underground storage of carbon emissions that can be captured from large industrial plants that burn fossil fuels. He’s one of the reasons why the University of Regina is known globally for its contributions in the field of carbon capture and storage. The IPCC will be meeting from Dec. 7-18 in Copenhagen, Denmark, to discuss the issue of climate change and hopefully build agreements among the more than 150 nations that will be in attendance. Wilson presented at the conference in Poznaƒ, Poland that was held in December last year, and hopes to present on CCS in Copenhagen. Carbon capture basically works by tipping the smokestacks of large industrial plants on their sides to create pipelines. Carbon dioxide (CO2) is extracted by a filtering device, while
restored “over a very short period of time,” which, coming from a geologist, means 50 to 100 years. New wells would have to be drilled for the purposes of pumping captured carbon into the earth; these would be easier and safer than using abandoned mines or other wells because they would be designed according to the task at hand. Wilson points out that we have “100 years of knowledge and experience” when it comes to drilling deep holes and addressing any problems as they arise. Wilson sees carbon capture and storage as a fundamental part of a multifaceted strategy that Canada must adopt in order to succeed in its goal of reducing climate-changing emissions by 20 per cent below 2006 levels by 2020. “Your first line of attack to reduce emissions is not to produce them in the first place. I’m all for conservation, I’m all for energy efficiency, and I’m all for renewable energy. It’s just [that] none of them are going to do what we want in its entirety.” Humanity is emitting roughly 30 billion tons of CO2 annually, which will grow to 50 billion by
economy. “Unfortunately, the Economic Plan is to get people working again… you need places you can spend money today.” Green jobs are not “shovel-ready projects.” When asked about federal Environment Minister Jim Prentice’s statement that, “it's hard to see a full and complete agreement” being achieved in Copenhagen, Wilson is conflicted. On the one hand, he said, it’s an honest assessment; U.S. president Obama’s domestic distractions may prevent him from taking a leading role in the conference, which would hamper progress. On the other hand, he said, these sorts of statements can easily become self-fulfilling prophecies. In any event, Wilson said, CCS will be “one of the answers” to the carbon emissions crisis, and will be integral to a broad solution that entails multiple approaches.
the carillon Nov. 5 - Nov. 12, 2009
news 5
Election reflection In cu mb e n ts h ol d o n w ith two e x ce p ti on s
Those who cast their ballots on Oct. 28 voted quite decisively.
jennifer squires news writer When the dust of the 2009 civic election settled the night of Oct. 28, the City of Regina Council welcomed two new members to its helm: John Findura and Chris Szarka. Szarka, a 13-year Saskatchewan Roughrider veteran, ran in Ward 10 against two-term incumbent, Jerry Flegel, and challenger, Mike Cassano. It was a surprising upset because for part of the night Szarka was trailing Flegel by a number of votes. Szarka’s platform involves lowering property taxes and making sure the allocation of property taxes benefits all citizens. Flegel, on the other hand, focused on improving access to Ward 10 by road enhancements as well as crime issues. In the more surprising upset, Ward 5 in the east end of Regina chose John Findura over Bill Gray despite voting the opposite way in the previous election. Bill Gray currently held the title of longestserving city councillor with 24 years. Findura, who immigrated from Poland in 1976, highlighted issues of personal and property safety, youth programs and environmental responsibility as part of his campaign. Gray directed his campaign toward infrastructure and traffic. While Regina might not be completely ready for change (as echoed in the 84.2 per cent support of Mayor Pat Fiacco), it is clear that the residents of Wards 10 and 5 were this election. These changes may not be a direct
comment on the incumbents’ work, but more a zeroing in on issues pertinent to Regina and today’s society as a whole: environmental sustainability and the lowering of taxes. Close races were also fought in Wards 2 and 3. Jocelyn Hutchinson will return for her second term after defeating newcomer Heather McIntyre. Ward 3 had the most candidates with four, and will be represented, for the sixth term in a row, by Fred Clipsham. Only 144 votes separated Clipsham and his nearest competitor
Despite its popularity and controversy, only two candidates commented on the Mosaic Stadium Dome issue: John Conway and Don Young, both of whom ran in Ward 3. Only one candidate even remotely addressed issues specifically pertaining to students: why graduates are leaving the city and the province to find adequate work. While this may not be among the most pressing concerns for students, perhaps the presentation of this issue will offer hope for more student issues like tuition. Most candidates made the housing crisis an issue in their platforms, often with a promise to attempt to create more affordable housing and prevent apartments from turning into condos. By far the biggest issue presented in nearly all the candidates’ platforms was the substandard transit system. Many wards have very little access. The main issue with the transit system is that most people need to transfer downtown to get anywhere, so transit trips are often close to half an hour long. Other areas focused around the transit system include reliability and affordability. Nearly two dozen candidates, and only 25 per cent of eligible voters cast their ballots. Regardless, the citizens of Regina have elected their designated officials to serve the city for the next three years, with only slight change.
“By far the biggest issue presented in nearly all the candidates’ platforms was the sub-standard transit system.” John Conway, who is a professor of Sociology at the University of Regina. Returning incumbents are Louis Browne (Ward 1), Wade Murray (Ward 6), Sharron Bryce (Ward 7), and Michael O’Donnell (Ward 8). Terry Hincks and Michael Fougere both won by acclamation in Wards 9 and 4, respectively. Of the 22 councillor candidates, only a handful chose environmental stewardship as one of their primary concerns, and only a few of them were elected.
Tyler Dekok
Women’s Centre helps both genders jennifer squires news writer Jill Arnott, the current director of the Women’s Centre, wants to increase student awareness regarding what the centre is, and what it is not. “The centre is not only for women; we are not exclusive, we are open to anyone.” There is a common misconception around campus that the Women’s Centre, on the second floor of the Riddell Centre, is only for women. Arnott wants to dispel this myth by emphasizing that while the centre deals with women’s issues, women are only one half of the social body and therefore need to be working collectively with men on issues that face everyone. The centre itself provides students (male and female) a place to relax, hang out, and do homework. There is a quiet room available for anyone who wishes to use it as well as a kitchen equipped with a fridge, microwave, and toaster. The centre also provides people with information on a variety of topics such as safe sex, parenting, and women’s issues. This information is available through pamphlets and books while the centre also offers oneon-one crisis counseling with Arnott. “When someone comes in here with a problem, we can get them hooked up with the things they need.” Prior to this position, Arnott had worked with social services and the Regina Police and has access to other services should people need their help. She even helps students deal with professors, as an intermediary. One of the main goals of the centre is to support students. Whether that be through personal counseling or simply giving a student all the available information and letting them make a choice about what they wish to do. “We provide people with the information to make their own choices – it’s about their choice and us supporting that choice. That’s what feminism is supposed to be.”
While the word feminism often scares people and shrouds the centre, Arnott explains that the Women’s Centre is no doubt a feminist organization and collective, feminism is not exclusionary and all who wish to use the centre are always welcome. “We’re not a bunch of crazy, hardcore man-haters,” Arnott laughed. “Don’t be afraid to come if you’re a guy.” Of the many things the centre provides, they make sure they are always in stock of tampons, pads, and condoms, which are available to everyone. The Women’s Centre also sells pregnancy tests, with no questions asked, for $3 – as opposed to $16 in drug stores. Usually dental dams are also available, but currently there is an issue with the supplier and Arnott is encouraging those who need dental dams to visit GBLUR. The Women’s Centre is also actively involved in the larger community, participating in events and giving money to charities that deal with women’s issues. Throughout the year, they often hold various educational sessions and almost on always have events International Women’s Day, VDay, and during Women’s History Month. The next event being sponsored by the Women’s Centre is part of the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender Violence. This runs from Nov. 25 to Dec. 10. To kick off the week, the Women’s Centre is holding a fundraising event at the Fainting Goat on Nov. 25. The funds raised will go to a local charity, Saskatchewan Sisters in Spirit, and an international charity, Alianza Por Tus Derechos (Covenant For Your Rights), which is based in Costa Rica and aimed towards getting women and children away from the sex trade. A new initiative this year also involves funding available for students, both male and female, who wish to attend conferences, but are unable to afford it.
the carillon Nov. 5 - Nov. 12, 2009
6 news
News bites Thieving from the Crown
Politcian makes poor victim
Sasktel terminated three managers and two employees for violating the Crown corporation’s conflict of interest policy. The managers contracted out work without tender to a company they had started and overcharged as well–an estimated $100,000 was taken. The employees were suspended without pay in September and were fired the last week of October. A manager of DirectWest (phone book subsidiary) was also fired for cheque forgery over a three-year period. There had to be consequences for that awful fairy-tale advertising campaign.
Saskatchewan Party MLA Lyle Stewart was on his way to Regina from his Thunder Creek constituency when he stopped to be a good Samaritan. The man Stewart tried to help – 46year-old Clayton Friday – claimed he had a knife and intended to steal Stewart’s car. There was a struggle over control of the vehicle as Friday stabbed him with pens and pencils and struck him with the rearview mirror until Stewart trapped him inside and waited for police to arrive. All this over a 2001 Ford Taurus.
Andre Agassi, crystal methin’
Olympic tennis gold medalist, former world No. 1, eight-time Grand Slam singles champion, Andre “The Punisher” Agassi, admitted in his autobiography to using crystal meth in 1997. In Open, Agassi explains how his steeply dropping ranking sparked him to accept the offer from a friend. He then failed a drug test and made up a story about drinking his friend’s spiked drink by mistake. The failed drug test was reduced to a warning. Warning: meth neither fixes extreme back pain nor lengthen careers.
No Kool-Aid at sweat lodge
James Arthur Ray is President and CEO of James Ray International. He’s a nutcase and a con-man. He hosted a retreat on Oct. 8 near Sedona, Arizona that charged $10,000 per person to hear his nonsense. After starving his participants for a “vision quest,” for 36 hours, he fed them a huge buffet and put them in a basically unattended sweat lodge. Two people died that night. Eighteen others were hospitalized while one more passed away after a week-long coma. Let’s see how this guru copes behind bars.
Regina author gets recognition jennifer squires news writer Regina author Trevor Herriot is flying high after his third publication was nominated for three prestigious awards. Grass, Sky, Song: Promise and Peril in World of Grassland Birds was shortlisted for the Writers’ Trust Non-fiction Prize, nominated for three Saskatchewan Book awards, including Book of the Year, and most recently, a Governor General’s Literary Award in the non-fiction category. Herriot’s book sets out to understand why prairie birds are disappearing, and what, if anything, we can do about it. He seeks to explain how we as humans can prevent further
demise of birds. The book tells of his journey to local fields and pastures to investigate this problem firsthand and he talks to researchers in the field and people in the area and tries to piece together the mystery of why the bird population is declining. At its core, Herriot’s writing seeks to bring attention to global environmental problems by focusing on how Saskatchewan is affected. Herriot explained that while the disappearance of a few birds “might seem kind of small, but it is a typical example of the environmental problems we are dealing with on a global scale.” Grass, Sky and Song deals with issues like pesticides, herbicides, the effects of farming, and habitat fragmentation. Herriot encourages readers not to seek to place blame somewhere, but to begin the noble work of understanding
the “ancient dance between soil, climate, grazers, and fire” and doing our part in helping keep things in balance. Herriot is a self-proclaimed naturalist and an amateur environmentalist. His first two books deal with similar issues. In River In a Dry Land, Herriot discusses the state of the ecosystems in the Qu’Appelle basin and Jacob’s Wound examines environmental issues with a theological frame of mind. Awards are nothing new to Herriot, River in a Dry Land won four awards (including the Saskatchewan Book Award which he is up for again) and was shortlisted for the Governor General’s Award. Herriot said that while he tries not to focus too much on winning awards, it’s never too far from his mind “you always know it’s a possibility.” And of course the
$25,000 prize that comes with the Saskatchewan Book Award and the Governor General’s award isn’t that bad either. Grass, Sky, Song: Promise and Peril in World of Grassland Birds will soon be available in the University of Regina bookstore as part of their collection of works nominated for the Saskatchewan Book Awards.
photo of the week
jarrett crowephotographer
Halloween came and went just this past weekend but for many international students, they've never celebrated the yearly tradition. On Oct. 30, UR International held it's third annual Pumpkin Carving Competition. The goal is to not-only educate the participating international students on the history of Halloween, but also have fun carving a pumpkin into a jack-o-lantern.?In total, about 50 people packed the Aboriginal Student Centre, the site of the competition. "I enjoyed it very much... I cannot experience carving pumpkins in Japan, [it] was really great," said Hatsuho Yoshida.
the carillon Nov. 5 - Nov. 12, 2009
news 7
Lest we forget
O n N o v. 1 1, pl e as e r eme mb e r th e br a ve ry of a l l C an a di a n s o l di e r s, b ot h p a st an d pr e se n t.
Lt. Justin Boyes
The Carillon would like to extend its most sincere sympathies to the family and friends of Lt. Justin Boyes of Saskatoon. Boyes, 26, was killed by an Improvised Explosive Device while on foot patrol outside Kandahar City. He was only 10 days into his second deployment in Afghanistan with the 3rd Battalion Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry based in Edmonton. The tragic death of this young husband and father is a sombre reminder of the high cost paid in full by Canadian soldiers for this mission. Boyes’ name will be added to the list of brave men and women that have fallen while serving their country to be honoured on Nov. 11.
Sapper Steven Marshall
The Carillon would like to extend its most sincere condolences to the family and friends of Sapper Steven Marshall. Marshall, 24, was less than one week into his tour of duty in Afghanistan when he stepped on an improvised landmine while on foot patrol. He served with Edmonton-based 11 Field Squadron, 1 Combat Engineer Regiment. The tumultuous region of Kandahar claimed its second Canadian victim the last week of October. Where Marshall was killed was about 15 kilometres away from where Lt. Justin Boyes died. Marshall performed an incredibly brave task for his country, and he deserves to be honored for his sacrifice.
a&c
Arts & Culture Editor: James Brotheridge sjbrot@gmail.com the carillon, Nov. 5 - Nov. 12, 2009
La Vie en Moulin Rouge New histor ical bal let dazzl es, ti talat es james brotheridge a&c editor
As the principal dancer in the Royal Winnipeg Ballet’s (RWB) production of Moulin Rouge: The Ballet, Vanessa Lawson gets to enter the world of late 19th century French cabaret night after night. But, though she went to Paris when she was younger, she’s never been to the real thing.“ No, I have not,” said Lawson. “But I will now! I would definitely like the chance.” The Moulin Rouge is a cabaret first opened in 1889. The concert hall became famous for lurid dancing and bawdy performances. The ballet is set at that time and features a pair of lovers, including Lawson’s character, Nathalie, who fall in love but are then separated when Nathalie is chosen to dance at the Moulin Rouge, where she’s suddenly cut off from the outside world. Will true love prevail? “It’s probably quite obvious what happens,” predicted Lawson. Even if people can predict the ending, they’ve been coming out in droves to see it. Moulin Rouge is an original ballet performed and created by the RWB, which premiered in Minneapolis and then went to the company’s Manitoba home. There, audiences were so wild about the show that two extra shows had to be added, an event Lawson can’t remember having happened in her 13-year history as a performer with the RWB. Many will be familiar with this story, as the RWB’s adaptation is similar to that of director Baz Luhrmann’s 2001 film, Moulin Rouge! Lawson doesn’t think that the movie is all that’s attracting audiences, though. “I think a big part of it is the curiosity of French cabaret. The Moulin Rouge has a huge history to it and is known for its questionable attitude.” Basing the story out of this time period allowed them not only to have lavish cos-
tumes and sets. “It’s really based around the story,” said Lawson. “We definitely do the Can-Can, and the costumes are amazing, corsets and frilly skirts. We’re definitely keeping to that history, but it’s still a ballet version. We don’t run around topless or things like that.” This dedication to the period includes using composers and songs from the France of that period, including Edith Piaf’s “La Vie en Rose,” which starts off the ballet. One of the best parts for Lawson, however, has been being able to influence how this all-new role would be performed. “Ballets that we do like Swan Lake or Sleeping Beauty, they’ve already been choreographed a long time ago. There have been hundreds of dancers who have performed those roles before, whereas this is a brand new ballet with a brand new character, so it’s a very different experience in terms of that. With the dramatics especially, figuring out how to adapt my character to the story and figuring out how to make it read to the audience so they know what’s going on.” This provided another challenge for Lawson: how to realistically p o r t r a y Nathalie. “The other ballets we do are Sleeping and Beauty Swan Lake, which are fairy tales, so they’re not based on real places in history. However, Moulin Rouge is. I try to portray my character as more humanistic than Sleeping Beauty.” Moulin Rouge: The Ballet will be appearing at the Conexus Arts Centre on Nov. 10.
“We don’t run
around topless or things like that.”
Va nes s a L aws on
David Cooper
Ballerina Can-Can A n ew ta ke o n a tr aditi onal dance One of the original Moulin Rouge’s most distinctive features was the Can-Can, a French dance pioneered in the music halls of the day. It features a chorus line of female dancers, and is probably most remembered for the high kicks it requires. In their production of Moulin Rouge, RWB couldn’t see doing this production without including the Can-Can but, seeing as this is a ballet, it introduces interesting challenges. “We wear point shoes to do the Can-Can, which is, I think, something that’s never been done before,” said Lawson. “That was a bit of a challenge for the choreographer. He was able to come up with something quite good that still looks authentic. “We go into the splits and do all these things that the Can-Can dancers still do at the Moulin Rouge. However, we’re wearing point shoes, so it’s a bit more difficult. When we kick our leg to the
front, we have to get the same height as those dancers, except instead of being on regular shoes, we’re on point shoes, so the surface area we’re standing on is minute, is very small. That can be quite difficult.” Despite the difficulty, the dance has worked out, according to Lawson. “Whenever we do it, the audience goes nuts. They just love it.” /James Brotheridge
the carillon Nov. 5 - Nov. 12, 2009
a&c 9
That’s all, folks
F ive
Heirs to Michael Jackson Do cume ntar y ta kes a lo ok a t po p sta r’s final wor k Occasionally, Michael Jackson is declared “the last of his kind.” His life as an artist wasn’t all about the music, which was great, or all about the performance, which was awesome. Jackson blended some of the best music of the ’70s and ’80s – we won’t give him the ’90s, though “Black or White” is one of the best singles of that decade – with a raw physicality in his dancing that remained mostly unchallenged afterwards. People kept trying, but Paula Abdul, any boy band, or Madonna simply couldn’t match the simple, visceral pleasure of an MJ hit matched with his unparalleled dance skills. The video for “Beat It” sums it up – this is the one occasion where dancing standing in for fighting has actually seemed dangerous. Thankfully, it doesn’t look like the mantle will be empty forever. There are always people looking to place themselves as the next King (or Queen) of Pop.
5 Fall Out Boy Back in the day, this pop-punk band never would have been considered for this position. They qualify, though. This isn’t based solely on their cover of “Beat It,” or even the cult of personality developed around them. In their videos and live performances, they’ve built a reputation as overwhelmingly energetic and physical performers. Add in the R&B influences on their last two records and Fall Out Boy might not be such a bad choice after all.
4
Kanye West Kanye lives up to the Jackson model to a wonderful but occasionally unfortunate degree. He’s never content to staying in the narrow confines of being a rapper, working with producer Jon Brion then later releasing his AutoTune album, mirrored in Jackson working in the studio with folks like Eddie Van Halen and Slash. Too bad West also seems to be cursed with a self-destructive level of eccentricity.
3
Beyoncé Jay-Z’s main squeeze has made quite the name for herself in the R&B world, first as a member of Destiny’s Child and then on her own. Her songs get people dancing, if nothing else, and her own moves have become quite popular, which is easy to see given her mind-boggling hotness combined with an unparalleled ability to shake her hips. I’ll reserve the title of heir for a guy, but Beyoncé is well on her way to becoming the new queen of pop.
2
Usher Early in his career, Usher was labeled as a young Michael Jackson, and it was easy to see why – beyond the young and black similarity, Usher came close to matching M.J.’s moves, too. While his videos have mostly lacked the plot of Jackson’s, many of which were more like short films, they have not been without style, as Usher brought twists on the famous Moonwalk, along with a few other unique twists. His music gets people moving – c’mon, there’s no way you haven’t bobbed your head to “Yeah” – and crooning. He’s the artist most likely to assume the throne.
1
Justin Timberlake Who would’ve thought that out of the shambles of ’N Sync would come the next successor to the King? Like M.J., Timberlake was in the spotlight from a young age, first as a member of the Mickey Mouse Club and then ’N Sync. Breaking free of his goody-two-shoes image, J.T.’s first solo single, “Like I Love You,” combined his already famous voice and good looks with a sneer
james brotheridge, jordan reid Photos courtesy of hitzonly.com, music.ology.com, contactmusic.com, urie.files.wordpress.com, babble.com
2fm.rte.ie
jordan reid sports editor This Is It Directed by Kenny Ortega Starring Michael Jackson When Michael Jackson left this world in June, he was in the midst of rehearsals for his big comeback – 50 shows, all to be performed at the O2 Arena in London. The show was to act as both a return to the stage, after more than a decade out of the musical spotlight, and a farewell – hence the title, This Is It. Jackson’s untimely death meant that fans would be denied their last chance at seeing him in concert, which, after seeing the rehearsal footage at the heart of the screen version, would have undoubtedly ranked among the top live productions of all time. Anyone expecting to see a documentary along the lines of Martin Bashir’s Living with Michael Jackson will be disappointed. Absent from the compiled footage is any mention of the scandals that plagued the later years of Jackson’s life, nor is there much in the way of interviews, minus the opening segment, where the back-up dancers hand-picked by Michael himself describe the importance of this opportunity to their lives. This Is It is almost exclusively about the music, and the artistic genius behind it. For all the allegations and controversy surrounding Jackson through most of the last two decades there has remained one undeniable truth – Michael Jackson is indeed the King of Pop, and arguably the greatest musical entertainer of all time. The concert was set to be an extravagant multimedia production, with Jackson himself coming up with the majority of the ideas. Some of those ideas are presented to the audience as concepts rather than finished products – an elaborate light suit, meant for his performance of “Billie Jean,” is one such concept. To describe it in words would do it an injustice – one would truly have to see the suit to understand just how cool it is, for lack of a better word. A giant robotic spider housing M.J. inside it is another example of his groundbreaking creative genius, albeit one we
will never see as a finished product. The nearly-finished concepts that the audience does see are more than enough proof of his creativity. The opening track, “They Don’t Care About Us,” shows his back-up dancers, of whom there are about 11, rehearsing against a green screen, dressed in futuristic, militaristic outfits – think of the outfits worn in his sister Janet’s video for “Rhythm Nation.” The images of the dancers are multiplied, so that during the performance it appears there is a never-ending army of soldiers dancing in cadence behind Michael. “Thriller” is also given the new millennium treatment. Aside from the aforementioned robotic spider, his dancers are all given a ghoulish makeover for a new video segment, which, even in its incomplete state, makes for an entertaining re-imagining of the original video. “Smooth Criminal” is another hit given new life – a new video, or really a short film, is shown, with Michael Jackson’s gangster character escaping from Humphrey Bogart and getting into a shoot-out with the law. For “The Way You Make Me Feel,” a gigantic construction set is brought out, with his dancers following his example and moonwalking in carefully choreographed fashion. Lost amongst the visual thrills of This Is It may be the actual musical performances, which show that, even though he was weeks away from dying, Michael was still at the top of his game. “I Just Can't Stop Loving You,” originally a duet with Seidah Garrett, is performed with one of his back-up singers and ends up sounding better than the studio version. The stand-out performance, though, is “Billie Jean.” Lacking any visual stimulus, the performance is easily the best of the show. With crew members and dancers looking on, the King shows that, although it has rarely been seen by anyone under the age of 30, he can still blow minds with his dancing skill, flawlessly moonwalking his way to and fro on the stage. This Is It serves two purposes. First, it gives fans a final look at Michael, who was clearly still at the top of his game, at least creatively if not physically. Second, and most importantly, it provides an opportunity for those who remember him for the controversy – people under 30, for the most part – to see what an amazing and groundbreaking entertainer he truly was. To the fans that appreciate the music and moonwalking over everything else the film will be somewhat disappointing, but only in the sense that this really is it, our last look at the King of Pop.
the carillon Nov. 5 - Nov. 12, 2009
10 a&c
Aye aye, writers!
Fi ve
Pi rate shi ndig to s how case Sas katc hewa n wr iters
Grunge releases
taylor tiefenbach a & c writer Don’t put this Halloween’s pirate costume back up into the attic just yet. The Saskatchewan Book Awards (SBA) is giving you another chance to show off your peg leg and stuffed Norwegian Blue Parrot with Books in the Brig, a special pirate-themed book reading featuring authors shortlisted for the 2009 awards. Every fall, the SBA presents a series of book readings leading up to its awards gala, this year being held Nov. 28 at the Conexus Arts Centre.
Readings are also being held in Meadow Lake, Saskatoon, and Swift Current, but Regina’s is the only one with a theme. It’s all part of the group’s strategy to attract a younger crowd. “It tends to be, a lot of the times, the same crowd coming to these sorts of things,” said SBA executive director Jackie Lay, “so we’re trying to branch out.” A committee of university students selected the theme and are working hard to transform the “Emerald A” room at the West Harvest Inn into a pirate ship. People are encouraged, though not required, to dress up like their favourite dastardly buccaneers. The night will be emceed by the always-entertaining Jillian Bell, host of local community radio station CJTR’s Bookchick. The five shortlisted authors reading at the event were selected with the theme in mind. Wilfred Burton will employ music as he reads from his children’s book Dancing in My Bones, which is based on Métis culture. Connie Gault will be reading from her work Euphoria, which is shortlisted for the fiction award, followed by Jean Freeman reading from her book
Where Does Your Dog Sleep? Trevor Herriot, whose Grass, Sky, Song: Promise and Peril in the World of Grassland Birds was recently nominated for the Governor General’s Award, will come after. Finally, the University of Regina English Department’s own Andrew Stubbs will be reading from his book of poetry, White Light Primitive. This night and the SBA in general were created to promote awareness of Saskatchewan writers. Saskatchewan is home to 75 publishing houses and many authors, but most are unknown to the general population. Even in tough economic times, the SBA is still getting plenty of submissions, with as many as 70 titles being nominated for award consideration. The reading provides a great opportunity to become familiar with a few of these authors in a friendly environment. “It’s a really informal setting where you can talk to the authors,” said Lay, who plans on donning her own pirate costume for the event. “So if you’re interested in that at all you can talk to Connie Gault. You can talk to Andrew Stubbs.” A silent auction will be taking place as well, where mementos from each of the authors that have inspired them while they worked will be sold off. Those in attendance should be prepared for readings, rum drinking, and repeated “arr” pirate growls. Books on the Brig is taking place Nov. 6 at 7:30 p.m. at the West Harvest Inn “Emerald A” Room. Tickets are $10 and can either be purchased at the door or by calling 306-569-1585.
“It tends to be, a lot of times, the same crowd coming to these sorts of things, so we’re trying to branch out.” J ac ki e L ay Graeme Zirk
Misfit history A b rie f timelin e de tai ling t he tu mou ltuo us h isto ry of th e leg en da ry pu nk b an d owen nimetz contributor When the Misfits formed in 1977 in New Jersey, vocalist and keyboardist Glenn Danzig and bassist Jerry Only were the only consistent members. That didn’t stop them from recording and releasing their debut, 1978’s Static Age and their follow-up, Walk Among Us, in 1982. They were already on their way to a legendary recording career. Two months before the release of 1983’s Earth A.D./Wolfs Blood, the band dissolved, with Danzig leaving the band to create Samhain, then his Punk legends the Misfits have stayed spooky eponymous solo project, a horrormetal band. Jerry Only and his brother, and Only disputed the legal rights louder, appearing in horror films Doyle, who had been a member of to the Misfits and the royalties to and on World Championship the Misfits at the time of their the music. In the end, they settled Wrestling. Releasing Famous breakup, went on to form Christian and Only got the naming rights to Monsters in 1999, the Misfits only metal band Kryst the Conqueror in the band. With Only, Doyle, and Dr. lasted another year before Graves 1987 with Dr. Chud on drums. All Chud as members, the Misfits and Dr. Chud left to pursue differthe while, the reputation of the reformed and recruited young ent music efforts. Doyle left soon Misfits grew among the punk and Michale Graves on vocals and after, claiming the band was a joke metal scenes. without a proper line-up. released 1997’s American Psycho. Between 1986 and 1995, Danzig The new band was darker and In 2001, Only brought on for-
mer Black Flag guitarist Dez Cadena as the vocalist and former Ramones drummer Marky Ramone, both of whom were hired for a three-year tour. Ramone was replaced with another former Black Flag member, Robo, making up the current line-up of Misfits, who are currently on a world tour and in the process of recording a new album. Their edgy, hardcore punk has been consistently good since Only took over as songwriter in 1995. They have been leaders in the goth-punk genre since ear.fm their formation 32 years ago. Touring behind the release of their latest single, “Land of the Dead,” the Misfits will be playing at the Distrikt on Nov. 7.
The plaid-cloaked, depressed-teenager phenomena is long gone, but its effects have lasted. In 1984, God said, “Let there be grunge.” Groups like the Pixies, Sonic Youth, and Black Flag eventually led to this branch of punk spewing out of the American northwest.
5 Nirvana’s Bleach No grunge list would be complete without Nirvana. With 13 of the most playable, loudest songs ever written, this is proof they peaked long before Nevermind.
4 Pearl Jam’s Vs. I cite songs like “Rearviewmirror,” “W.M.A.,” and “Daughter” as enough reason for this album’s staying power. They brought fast, thoughtful hardcore to the masses and to new levels in the grunge scene.
3 Blind Melon’s Nico The last album before the tragic death of Shannon Hoon, this disc shines out among grunge albums as being without a warped or electric sound.
2 Mudhoney’s Boiled Beef and Rotting Teeth Although only an EP, the speed and distortion predict what was later found in Cobain and Vedder.
1
The Melvins’ Gluey Porch Treatments This noisy and under-produced album was one of the first attempts at “grunge” from the Seattle scene.
owen nimetzcontributor
the carillon Nov. 5 - Nov. 12, 2009
a&c 11
film reviews
aceshowbiz.com
celebritywonder.com
Saw VI Directed by Kevin Greutert Starring Tobin Bell, Costas Mandylor I have to admit I am a Saw fan. Maybe it’s the gore, maybe it’s the twisted morals and logic, but after seeing Saw VI, I realized that I have no idea what the hell is going on here. Watching the previous films is necessary for understanding the sixth instalment. The movie’s twin plots, one following the FBI and one following the games administered by Lieutenant Mark Hoffman (Costas Mandylor) and the most recent Jigsaw apprentice (Tobin Bell), would be pretty hard to parse without previous knowledge of the series. The main game centres around William Easton, a CEO of an insurance company, who is put into the game to learn a lesson about how he doles out healthcare coverage. (Topical!) The movie was decent for torture-porn, but I had no idea what was happening for most of its runtime. There are a lot of bizarre flashbacks that require commentary to decipher without intimate knowledge of the intricate plots of the previous Saw movies. In an interesting twist, however, this movie seems to be more about characters than shock value. Sympathy builds for Easton dur-
cd reviews
Kings of Convenience Declaration of Dependence Virgin/EMI
ing his test and while the gore is still present, audiences hope for an eventual win, not the bloody deaths like the previous movies. The film’s preachy quality is a major downfall. The film occasionally feels like a lecture on the American healthcare system and the insurance companies. For a movie franchise that is all about blood and the spilling of it, this isn’t the most pressing issue. I half expected Michael Moore to make a cameo.
jennifer squiresnews writer
When Stars had the cover of Exclaim!, a big topic of conversation was the “Soft Revolution,” one of the songs off their album at the time, Set Yourself on Fire, but also what they pegged at the time as a movement in music. The band saw themselves and others as leading the way for a movement of new artists championing softer music. With their debut album, Quiet is the New Loud, Norway’s Kings of Convenience definitely put themselves in that group. The indie-folk duo are so soft as to be delicate, so quiet as to not have any production whatsoever on their new album, Declaration of Dependence. They’re probably the quietest of the wave of Scanadanavian pop acts coming out over to North America. All that means is that you’ll have to have the volume high to pick up on their soft harmonies, sensitive songs, and sterling pop hooks. This is as lush as two guys with acoustic guitars can sound.
The Stepfather Directed by Nelson McCormick Starring Dylan Walsh, Sela Ward, Penn Badgley In the riveting trailer, a woman is seen sprawled on the floor screaming while a man dangles a chainsaw inches from her face. This scene screams intensity that is never seen in The Stepfather. With that, what little hope is left for this movie dies. The Stepfather is slow moving with very little inspiration. Susan (Sela Ward), a recent divorcée and mother of three, meets David (Dylan Walsh) at a grocery and is reeled in by his charm. Six months later, Susan’s eldest son Michael (Penn Badgley), a humourless 16-year-old, moves back home from military school, which no doubt is a relief to his girlfriend, Kelly Porter (Amber Heard), who is rarely seen without being sickly skinny in a skimpy bikini. Michael soon suspects David isn’t the person everyone believes him to be. The film is riddled with errors in logic, even for a pop thriller. You’re a bit late if you’re filling college applications out in the summer, Michael. And after America’s Most Wanted’s website tips him off that David might be a killer, he decides to keep spying instead of calling the authorities.
Air Love 2 Virgin
james brotheridgea&c editor
The New Cities Lost in City Lights Sony
owen nimetzcontributor
brittany stenecontributor
For years, I have fallen asleep comfortably listening to the beautiful, tranquil sounds of Air albums, often in their entirety. It’s always an incredibly peaceful and inspiring experience. Since 1995, French electronic duo Air has produced very intriguing, touching, and sweet music. Air has evolved slightly on each of their albums in terms of their incorporation of different instruments. But, for the most part, all of their albums possess the same distinctive Air sound – expressive, imaginative engineering featuring ’70s synthesizers and very soft-spoken Vocoder vocals with clear French accents. Their latest album, Love 2, isn’t as attractive overall as the critically acclaimed Moon Safari, but it is a little more diverse than the nearly monothematic sound of Pocket Symphony. A mix of old and new, Love 2 doesn’t deviate too much from their usual sound. However, they have shown some evolution. For example, guitar is far more prevalent, though it can also be too cumbersome. Overall, Love 2 is on par with the rest of Air’s discography, and I would be more than happy to have any of these tracks as a single on the soundtrack of my life – albeit likely an emotional or tragic chapter.
peter millseditor in chief
Jamie T’s second release, Kings and Queens, is a great example of musicianship. Danceable and catchy, this British pop artist fuses post-punk, hip-hop, folk, and indie rock surprisingly well. With supporting band the Pacemakers, Jamie T never relents, whether they’re playing soft acoustic songs or fast hip-hop tracks. The first two singles, “Sticks ’n’ Stones” and “Chaka Demus, ” were released earlier this year, reaching respectable positions on the U.K. charts. This folk-pop act neither bores nor falls into the background. Political and social commentary even reveals itself during close listens.
Jamie T Kings and Queens Virgin
The ending stands out as lame and was completely unsatisfying. This movie might have its moments and some thrilling scenes, but as a whole it was mediocre and disappointing.
This Quebec-based group, originally from TroisRivières, released their debut album earlier this year. Produced by Greg Nori, Lost in City Lights brings a distinct sound to the Canadian music scene. These dance-pop rockers have a lot of potential. The energy of this album is unmatched throughout. Each song has its own remarkable driving beat, something that’s made them a perfect pairing with touring partners Simple Plan and Marianas Trench. The first single, “Dead End Countdown,” stands out particularly with its catchy tune and dynamic vocals. The songs, while all lively, feature differing melodies that make them all distinctive. The least memorable song is the title track, which fails to keep the power of the rest of the tunes. Regardless, Lost in City Lights is an enjoyable album.
lisa goudynews writer
features
Features Editor: Alex Colgan kinesis_14@yahoo.com the carillon, Nov. 5 - Nov. 12, 2009
The marijuana issue Healing with marihuana
Tyler Dekok.
Emery’s extradition
Popularity may have been his downfall matt duguid contributor After a four year legal battle, Canada’s self proclaimed “Prince of Pot”, Marc Emery, is scheduled to be extradited to the U.S. sometime within the next month. Emery, the leader of the British Columbia Marijuana Party and publisher of the popular Cannabis Culture magazine was arrested in July of 2005 by the Vancouver Police Department. The V.P.D.Prompted by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency on charges of money laundering and marijuana seed selling in the United States, even though Emery had never left Canadian soil. Emery markets himself as a cannabis activist looking to change
outdated marijuana prohibitions, and says he has invested over four million dollars from his seed-selling operations into drug addiction clinics, activist organizations, and global marijuana marches. At first, the former Vancouver mayoral candidate fought his extradition to the United States, where he was charged with three separate crimes, each carrying a minimum sentence of ten years. After an extensive court battle, Emery's legal team advised him not to fight extradition, but instead work out a plea deal with American authorities that would allow Emery to serve most of his time in Canada. Unfortunately for Emery, Canada's own Minister of Justice Rob Nicholson put a stop to the deal. Emery's explanation is that “the
globalnational.com
[Canadian] Conservative government did not want to do [him] any favours.” Emery will be extradited to the U.S. and is expected to plead guilty to one count of conspiracy to manufacture marijuana in a Seattle courthouse. However, Emery's future looks somewhat brighter than it previously did. Instead of being charged with three counts of money laundering and marijuana-seed selling, he will only be charged with one count of conspiracy to manufacture marijuana; instead of serving thirty years in a U.S. prison, he is expected to serve only five. Along with Emery, Michelle Rainey, and Gregory Williams (associates of Emery) were also charged in the case, but both have avoided jail time and have been given two years’ probation by the same Seattle court, as they were cited as minor players in Emery's seed-selling business and Rainey is seriously ill with Chron's disease. Although selling marijuana seeds in Canada is illegal, it is a rarely enforced law and carries with it minimal criminal repercussions; in fact, marijuana seeds can be bought from any one of the local head shops in Regina. Not to mention that the Canadian government endorsed Emery as a seed seller to medical marijuana patients. It begs the question, should the Canadian government allow Emery to be extradited to the United States, where criminal penalties for selling marijuana seeds are considerably harsher? Emery does not deny that he sold seeds to U.S. customers and proudly states that his operations were transparent, paying more than $580,000 in provincial and federal tax from 1999 to 2005; he also proudly claims that he never set foot on American soil. It seems that this is not a question of marijuana seed selling, but more a question of political freedom. Is it right for the Canadian government to extradite a man that some see as a political prisoner, a pro-marijuana activist, and others see as an internationally known drug kingpin? Emery could have easily sold seeds from Canada to the U.S. and stayed under the D.E.A's radar. He still could have used the profits to fund anti-marijuana prohibition programs worldwide. Instead Emery orchestrated a media blitz on the prohibition issue, publishing his own pro-cannabis magazine, appearing in Time magazine and on 60 Minutes. One can only wonder if Emery would be spending so much time in a U.S. federal penitentiary if he had only conducted his business in a more low-key fashion. Then again, maybe seed selling was only the funding for Emery's true business of activism.
Tyler Dekok
matt duguid contributor Jim Selenski, the owner of Head to Head, is the only head shop operator in Regina who is licensed to grow and sell medical marihuana (that’s not a typo, by the way; medical marihuana is actually spelled with an H). Selenski is a pot crusader who holds frequent information sessions to educate people about the benefits of medical marihuana. In 2001, the Canadian government legalized the use of medical marihuana for people suffering from chronic illnesses such as HIV/AIDS, multiple sclerosis, and arthritis. Since not all patients are willing or able to grow their own medicine, nor do they want buy it from the federal government, they can task another person with the responsibility. Selenski has experience and reputation within the marijuana community, and says his medical marihuana is different from street-grade marijuana because it is “organically grown and isn't treated with harmful pesticides.” He grows about six different strains of medical marihuana to give patients a choice, as each strain can be used to ease different kinds of pain. Selenski argues that medical marihuana shouldn’t be only for the chronically ill, and that “a medical marihuana license is a right that all Canadian citizens have, just like a drivers’ license.”
Frustrated with the lack of information Health Canada provides on the topic, Selenski holds a weekly information and education session, free of charge, every Friday at 4:20pm. The sessions take place at The Green Canvas, a local art gallery that donates space to homeopathic medicines, located at 1621 11th Ave. Selenski provides information about medical marihuana and how to obtain a medical marihuana certificate, and addresses some common misconceptions about the use of marijuana as a medicine. Head to Head also hopes to soon be able to use The Green Canvas as a medical marihuana dispensary location. Selenski points out that some people are reticent about traveling to North Central to pick up their medicine, and the new location, located near the police station, would offer a more secure setting. As far as police go, Selenski says that by adhering to the letter of the law and following the regulations that Health Canada has set down for growing facilities, he has been able to avoid any serious trouble with local authorities. He stresses that Head to Head “does not sell marijuana.” Having a grow facility located in North Central Regina, Selenski is aware of the threat of break-ins and robberies, and says that “there are certain rules you have to follow.” He admits his extensive security is probably “overkill.”
Canadian Criminals
600,000 A pp r ox ima t e nu mb er of C an ad ian s w ho h av e be en i nd ic t ed f or t he per s o nal us e of m ar ij uan a.
30,000 A p p r o x i m a t e n u m b e r o f a rr e s t s m a d e e a c h y e a r f o r p o s s e s si o n and per s o nal us e. penelopeironstone.com
the carillon Nov. 5 - Nov. 12, 2009
features 13
Do pe cit y: He ad s ho ps of R egin a
Field of Dreams
austin m. davis news editor
Head to Head F i e l d o f D r e am s 1 4 1 5 1 1 t h A v e.
matt duguid contributor
A 2008 Angus Reid poll shows that 53 per cent of Canadians support the decriminalization of marijuana. That’s just fine with Tim Selenski; in fact he would like to see those numbers, and people, much higher. Selenski is the owner of Head to Head, which he opened to “speak the word of Ganja.” After a stint on the west coast, Selenski, a Regina native, realized that Regina’s head shops were charging significant markup compared to stores in the west. In 2001, with some ingenuity and a credit card with a $5000 limit, he started Head to Head, converting the living room of his Dewdney Avenue home into a head shop. Now that business is booming, Head to Head has needed to expand, and Selenski has lost even more of his living room to allow for more storage space.
Austin Davis
Upon entering the store, your eye is drawn to colorful bongs, psychedelic pipes, and tiedyed posters supporting the legalization and consumption of marijuana. Strangely, it’s not the eye-popping colors or spray-painted backdrops of the store that grab your attention; instead it’s the overpowering smell of ... well ... reefer. No, Selenski isn’t allowing in-store bong testing; it turns out that Head to Head is the only head shop in Regina that is licensed by the federal government to grow medical marihuana. Selenski himself could be described as a marijuana eccentric, excited about marijuana education and its medical properties, but suspicious of the large government-sponsored grow laboratory run by Saskatchewan's Prairie Plant Systems. Although he will continue on growing legally, Selenski recognizes that the issue is not black and white, and that Head to Head exists somewhere within the grey area of the law.
The owner and founder of Field of Dreams began his business venture three years ago when he was diagnosed with diabetes, multiple sclerosis, and kidney failure. Research into the legal issues of his organic medicine inspired him to form a group called the Medicinal Marijuana Compassionate Club that took off simultaneously with the opening of the store. He continues to host his club out of his shop. Though the quantity of glass inventory at Field of Dreams is not on par with other local head shops, Foster notes 80 per cent of the pipes are blown by an independent glass blower in Victoria, British Columbia. There is also a strict rule of having to be over the age of 18 to be allowed inside. One hookah was for sale inside, and there were no bongs to be seen, but a large rack of rolling papers and decent prices on most items make Field of Dreams at least worth the drop-in.
H e a d t o H e ad 1 41 5 1 1t h A v e .
Vintage Vinyl austin m. davis news editor
V i n t ag e V i n y l 2 3 3 5 1 1 t h A ve .
Peter Mills
The display room is small and covered in marijuana-inspired art on the walls. Murals of Stephen Harper and George W. Bush smoking make up one section behind the glass cases, while most of the walking room is taken up by a table covered in T-shirts. At the back is a door marked “The hot box.” Foster explained that operating as a Compassionate Club (the only one of its kind in Saskatchewan) is more important to him than operating as a head shop. For the members of his group, the “Inhalation room” is the biggest draw. Behind the door in the shop is a vapourizer lounge in which legal smokers can use machines that extract the THC from the plant. The vapour is blown into a plastic bag, then inhaled, completely without smoke. Foster said he has received no hassle from Regina law enforcement, though the lounge seems to exist in a strange legal grey area. As a shop selling marijuana paraphernalia, Field of Dreams is barely worth getting parking on 11th Ave., but the shop’s involvement in the marijuana movement cannot be denied and makes it an interesting landmark just outside downtown.
Vintage Vinyl leaves a lasting impression on everyone that passes through its doors. Whether it is the bright yellow sign that hangs over the storefront of its downtown location, an extensive collection of band clothes, posters, and records, or the pleasant atmosphere, a journey to Regina’s largest head shop is an enjoyable experience that doesn’t require herbal enhancement. Vintage Vinyl and Hemp Emporium is 100 per cent family owned. The owner, Pat Baumet, with the help of his son, Dylan, has created a friendly and comfortable environment by setting proper priorities. The customer service at Vintage is top-quality; staff are knowledgeable and helpful without the pretension that typically accompanies teenagers working in a cool place. Though peak hours are unpredictable, Vintage Vinyl does occasionally get hectic. Somehow the shop is large enough that it never seems packed and customers are never neglected. The shop is divided into two distinct sec-
Tyler Dekok
tions. The front of the shop is devoted to music merchandise and various tie-dyed articles. Anyone with an interest in clothes, music, or ideally both, can easily spend an hour browsing through the front displays. For those whose interests lay more under the heading of “Hemp Emporium” than “Vintage Vinyl,” then the far-right corner of the store is for you. Passing through the curtain of beads that separates the two sections is initially disorienting. The white room is a marvel, with shelves stacked to the ceiling and almost no empty space on any shelf. Bongs as far as the eye can see along the walls, with the display cases filled with beautiful blown glass. Vintage Vinyl has, hands down, the best inventory of any head shop in the city. Cheap, durable pipes are for sale right alongside thousand dollar bubblers. The glasswork of Vintage is so impressive I hardly have room to include their vast selection of papers, blunt wraps, and other nifty smoking tools. The variety of colours, shapes, and styles of Vintage Vinyl’s inventory is nearly too much for a sober brain to comprehend.
Blazing the numbers
53%
$40 billion
P e rc e n t a g e o f C a n a d i a n s w h o a r e i n f av ou r o f leg al iz ing m ar ij ua na ( A ng us R eid pol l. 20 09)
W ha t t he g ov er nm en t c o uld r a is e b y gr o wi ng a nd s e l l i n g l e g a l m a ri j u a n a a t t h e s t r e e t r a t e ( S t e ph en E as t o n, F r as e r I n s t it u t e) .
Amanda Smith
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the carillon Nov. 5 - Nov. 12, 2009
sports
Sports Editor: Jordan Reid jleereid@msn.com the carillon, Nov. 5 - Nov. 12, 2009
Design by Graeme Zirk, photo by sportsblog.projo.com
Hittin’ yo u wit h some knowled ge since ’06 austin davis, peter mills, enyinnah okere, jordan reid this week’s roundtable
How confident do you feel about Darian Durant leading the Riders into the playoffs?
Austin Davis: Though Durant has hit his stride on occasion, he’s still unsteady. A lot of things need to go right for the Riders to make a solid run in the playoffs.
Peter Mills: Honestly, not at all. However, he has proven me wrong in the last two minutes in several fourth quarters this season. As long as he can start the game hot, and actually play a good third quarter (which I think has been the biggest reason the Riders have played shitty in the third all season), we’ll be fine. Most importantly, I trust the best overall receiving core in the league to lead us in the playoffs. Enyinnah Okere: I am about as confident as Paris Hilton taking an STD test. This guy just doesn’t seem like he will come up big for the Riders in big games. Oh well, there’s always next year, or the next 30 until another Grey Cup win. Jordan Reid: Much more confident than I was last year, but still, I’d be lying if I said that I think he’s going to march us through to the Grey Cup. At least we know for certain that he will be the starter, unlike last year. The Lamar Odom/Khloe Kardashian pairing has, unfortunately, become one of the top NBA side stories this year. What trumps it? Davis: I saw that on the cover of a tabloid. I don’t care, I’m much more
concerned with the Shaquille O’Neal/LeBron James pairing.
Mills: Odom not yet introducing his new wife to his two children trumps it for sure. Fortunately, the kids will be able to see their new parents make it official when E! airs a onehour special, “Keeping Up With the Kardashians: The Wedding,” Nov. 8 at 9 p.m. This is the dumbest “sports-related” side story ever.
Davis until his death. That’s right, Oakland is so bad their only hope is in death. Wow. Okere: As Dunleavy money the where has
much as I want Mike assassinated, for my worst coaching hire anyto be Eric Mangini. I’m
Okere: To be real I’m more interested in the burgeoning beef between Magic Johnson and Isiah Thomas. If it’s true that he and Larry kept Thomas off the Dream Team then I hope something really bad happens to Magic. Oh, wait ...
Is is possible that the Maple Leafs will win 15 games or less this year? Or will Phil Kessel’s return from injury salvage their season?
Reid: It drives me to new lengths of crazy that there is so much interest in this, but I would say that the Knicks’ salary dumping will take centre stage, since they need to do a lot if they hope to sign LeBron and another marquee free agent.
Davis: Toronto was scored on 50 times in 12 games. Allowing an average of four goals a game is a bad way to start the season. Both of their goalies are garbage. The Leafs should be looking to rebuild from the ground up.
In a long line of terrible coaches and executives, who, in any sport, would you say is the absolute worst?
Mills: Toronto constantly defies the limits of losing – of course they could finish the season with less than 15 wins. Phil Kessel is a great player – worthy of a first round pick – but that sure is hell doesn’t make the Leafs a good team. Just to be safe, I’ll say they get over 15 wins – 16.
Davis: Bernie and Lonie Glieberman raised the Ottawa Renegades from the dust in 2005, only to see the elder Glieberman fail in the CFL yet again.
Mills: This is a fucking monster question – very broad. The worst coach ever is Toronto Argonaut’s head coach Bart Andrus. And without a doubt, the worst executive is Oakland Raiders Hall of Fame owner and general manager Al Davis. I don’t care if his teams won Super Bowls in ’76, ’80, ’83. He is running the Raiders into the ground, their stadium is shit, and he refuses to retire until he wins two more Super Bowls or is dead. Needless to say, Oakland will be stuck with
SPORTS QUOTE OF THE WEEK
managed to lead the collapse of the Continental Basketball Association (tanking a whole league? Wow.), he proved terrible as coach of the Pacers, and then single-handedly destroyed the Knicks, signing bad players to even worse contracts, and he even managed to become the main target in a sexual harassment lawsuit, won by the plaintiff. Now he’s coaching at Florida International, and I put the over/under at three years for amount of time it takes for him to get busted for recruiting violations or something of that ilk.
espn.com
not even going to speak of his lack of team management (see quarterback carousel). This asshole fined one of his players $17,000 for taking a bottled water out of a hotel mini fridge and not paying for it. Who would play for that dick?
Reid: Isiah Thomas, as the worst coach and executive ever. He barely did anything for the Raptors, he
Okere: It’s a long season. You mean to tell me that the Leafs can’t scratch out four or five two-game winning streaks? Go to hell, haters.
Reid: I haven’t been paying much attention to the NHL so far, but at their current rate they are on pace to win about eight games. I don’t believe, however, that they are unable to pick it up a notch, and I think the return of Kessel will spur a few more wins.
What are your thoughts on the new four-team UFL? With plans to expand to eight teams within a couple years should the CFL be worried?
Davis: Let’s be serious, the CFL’s only competition is the Lingerie Football League. They’ve got 10 teams and I think there’s some future stars yet undiscovered playing some hard-hitting, half-naked football.
Mills: When I first read this I laughed, and I laughed some more. The UFL has zero chance of surviving, nor will they be able to compete with the CFL. The CFL season is 18 games, not four to eight. Warren Moon, Doug Flutie, Joe Theisman, Jeff Garcia, Jon Ryan, and most recently Cameron Wake all became better football players by playing in the CFL. So what if CFL players are paid badly? Players trying to get into, or back to, the NFL should be more worried about finding a wellestablished league with incredible competition to play in, and not dollar, dollar bills y'all. Okere: The UFL is just a league for NFL teams to pick up potential special teamers. If J.P. Losman is an effective starter in the league, the CFL has nothing to worry about.
Reid: Hard to take seriously a league that doesn’t have televised games or any highlights on TV, nor one that features J.P. Losman as one of its top talents. If this league manages to last more than a couple of years I would be very surprised. The CFL certainly need not worry.
“Whoever said, “It's not whether you win or lose that ”– Martina Navratilova, American professional tennis player counts,” probably lost.” photo by zimbio.com
the carillon Nov. 5 - Nov. 12, 2009
16 sports
Running over the competition A sit-down with Wyatt Baiton, cross-country star alex fox sports writer Wyatt Baiton is a first year engineering student and rising star for the University of Regina Cougars. As a newcomer to the U of R, Baiton has already made a significant impression on the CIS world of cross-country athletics. Baiton’s success was introduced early after an excellent finish at the U of R 2009 Cougar Trot Open. In the men’s 8 km run, he finished in first place with 26:12.66. The trend of first place finishes has continued throughout the season. He finished first in both the University of Saskatchewan Open earlier in October and in the Minot State Open. Only when the Cougars headed south to Minneapolis did he stray from his first place tendency. He finished in third in the Roy Griak Invitational out of 239 other competitors with a 25:47 time. Baiton talks about his outstanding triumphs in university-level competition, coming out of Lumsden High School and racing to the top of cross-country success. The Carillon: How are you finding the jump between high school and university?
Wyatt Baiton: It’s not bad – it’s different, that’s for sure. I’m still getting the hang of things. I don’t know if I like it more or less than high school. It’s just different ... You sort of have to be a bit more responsible. Get your stuff together, there’s no one babysitting you. You really got to learn not
to procrastinate and get stuff done.
TC: What is your schedule like currently?
Baiton: We have a team practice three times a week, or twice and a race. And I’m running every other day. The engineering schedule is sort of just set out for you. And it just so happened it worked really conveniently. So it’s as good as it gets. It’s really busy and I live out of town so I have to drive in and out. TC: What is your favourite thing about university so far?
Baiton: All the good looking girls. Right now it’s too busy to like or dislike something, it’s just trying to get it done. I like the sports. It’s kind of a pain in the ass, this place is so huge. In high school everything is so convenient and close. So with the commute and everything I have to get up way earlier just even to walk from one part of the campus to the other.
TC: How do you feel about your recent success at the University of Regina?
Baiton: I think I’ve really taken a jump forward in terms of performance which is good because there’s also that team aspect which I’ve never really had before. So not only am I running for myself but I’m running for all these other guys on the Cross team. I’ve been running really good, everyone has been really running good. TC: What made you want to come to the U of R?
“m ake I’d like to some
world teams at some point. ” Wyatt Baiton
Baiton: Well in grade 12 I knew for sure I wanted to stay in Canada. Then looking at the financial aspects it’s just way easier to stay at home. Just as good of coaching as anywhere in the country. Our coach Graeme McMaster, great coach. The team is really on the rise. Someday it will be just as good as anywhere else in the country. We’re getting there.
TC: What are your short-term goals for the remainder of the season?
Baiton: I’d like to be rookie of the year at Nationals. I’d like the team to
do well. Mainly is the team winning CanWest, so best in the west. Then rookie of the year.
TC: So what’s going through your head during a typical race?
Baiton: Run faster. Depending, in a race there’s too many things to think about. So you can only focus on certain things. At different points of the race you’re focusing on other things. It’s a lot of technical stuff. With crosscountry especially, it’s a lot of how to run the hills, how to run the turns. So you’re constantly thinking of techni
Matt Yim
cal things. You’re always thinking of form, “how are my arms,” “How straight are you running?” That sort of thing.
TC: So what are your plans for after you graduate?
Baiton: In terms of cross-country, I’d like to make some world teams at some point. And definitely help put Regina on the map for one of the top CIS schools. Right now I’m really just focusing on race to race.
Rider Report Living the Rider Experience jon hamelin contributor
Husain Aboghodieh recently got his first taste of the Saskatchewan Roughrider experience. Aboghodieh, a University of Regina student going for a Masters in Public Administration at the Johnson Shoyama School of Public Policy, was in the stands for his first ever Canadian Football League game on Oct. 24 as the British Columbia Lions travelled to Mosaic Stadium to take on the Saskatchewan Roughriders. “Amazing,” said Aboghodieh, picking one word to describe the experience. “We were sitting in section 28 and it was pretty rowdy and crazy. It was an amazing atmosphere.” Aboghodieh travelled to the game with friends from residence, some of whom were transfer students. He also went with a few people from Saskatchewan who had also never seen a Roughriders game before. “I dressed in green,” says Aboghodieh. “We met up with a couple of people at the game. Guys were pretty dressed up. One guy had face paint on and one had a mask on.” It was only fitting that the first Roughriders game Abodhodieh has attended would be against the BC Lions. The Lions and Roughriders have been bitter rivals over the last couple of seasons, and their games have rarely lacked excitement. The Lions have pulled off plenty of late demoralizing victories over the Riders, and the Riders responded in 2007 by beating the Lions in BC for the Western Final. The latest edition of the BCSaskatchewan rivalry didn’t fail to deliver excitement. There were lead changes, big plays both ways, and even a mini pre-game scrum between
some of the Riders players and the Lions players. “It was an exciting game because it was back and forth,” says Aboghodieh. “The Riders were up and then BC came back so quickly. I was wondering what was going on. I was afraid. It was my first Roughriders game and I wanted them to win. It was a good time.” The game was tied 30-30 after the fourth quarter and headed into overtime. The Roughriders scored a field goal on their first possession. On the
“
We were highfiving everyone, fireworks were going off.” Husain Aboghodieh ethelthefrog.com
Lions’ first possession, they marched deep into the Riders end, before safety James Patrick picked off a Casey Printers pass to give the Riders the win. Aboghodieh notes the stadium was electric following the play. “We were high-fiving everyone, fireworks were going off,” says Aboghodieh. Roughrider fans have been heralded by some as the greatest fans in the world. They seem to pack the stadium no matter where the team is playing and can be found across Canada and other parts of the world. According, to Aboghodieh, the Roughrider fans are well deserving of their label. “I agree completely,” says Aboghodieh. “The noise [in the stadium] was crazy. The atmosphere was
electric all the time. Everybody was standing and you had to stand as well. People were standing on the benches. The cheering and chanting was good. Everyone was wearing green. It was like a ‘sea of green’ all over.” There has been a lot of talk about creating a dome stadium in Regina. After going to the game, Aboghodieh said he enjoyed the atmosphere of an outdoor game. “I kind of like the atmosphere of an outdoor game,” says Aboghodieh. “I’d never been to outdoor pro game.” On the other hand, he can see why people may want a new stadium. “When I saw the stadium, I started to really think, now I know why people want a new stadium,” says Aboghodieh. “The infrastructure is a little old. I thought everybody would have their own seat. Maybe they could just re-vamp the stadium a little bit.” The Roughrider experience is undoubtedly unlike any other. Fans pack the stadium from all across the province. They all huddle up in often freezing temperatures, cheering loudly and embracing their only professional sports team. Aboghodieh cherished the experience, and would definitely recommend it to anyone else who has not yet seen a Rider game at Mosaic Stadium. “I think it is important that you go out and see a game. It’s a good experience,” says Aboghodieh. “You should support your team and your province. It was a good experience and I would recommend it to anyone. I am thinking of going again.”
the carillon Nov. 5 - Nov. 12, 2009
sports 17
Attn: Mark Cuban Just answer already jordan reid sports editor My initial letter to Mark Cuban begging for tickets to the NBA dunk contest was evidently not enough to garner a response from him, or even one of his lowly assistants, so I’ve been forced to continue with what is quickly going to become a bursting dam of mildly verbally abusive and completely self-deprecating pleas for assistance.
Hello again, Mr. Cuban, It has been several weeks since my last attempt at corresponding with you and I have not yet received a response, though this isn’t particularly worrisome to me, as I know you must be an extremely busy man. I, on the flip side, am not busy at all, and will start writing these eloquent pleas for help every f-ing day if I have to. I have to assume that you simply didn’t receive my last one, because a reasonable man such as yourself almost certainly would’ve found a laugh or two. Or maybe you just don’t find the idea of A.C. Green preaching the values of abstinence to me as laughable as I do. Anyways, I digress. I’m sure you receive plenty of pathetic grabs for free shit, but I promise you, Mark, that this is not one of those, because I will do absolutely anything for tickets. At the risk of repeating myself in case you did read my last e-mail and just couldn’t give shits about me and my friends, I will seriously do anything. Punch David Stern, dry-hump Rosie O’Donnell’s tree trunk of a leg, even endure the aforementioned A.C. Green scenario. Hell, I’d do any of
those things just to get a response to my letter, be it a “Yes, I would love to help you and your friends, and not only give you tickets but seats in my ultra-fucking-cool suite with me and Hugh Hefner and his bunnies,” or the more likely “No, you pathetic tool, you and your pals can suck one and watch it from your hotel room.” At least with the latter I could say that I got shit-talked by Mark Cuban. Then again, maybe you’re into some weird shit – I mean, celebrities always are, right? Well, Mark, I could oblige you there as well. Want to lead me around on a leash all weekend in an S&M get-
“baby I'd slap a to go.”
up barking like a dog? Done. Watch me have sex with a wolf-lady midget while you watch and strangle yourself? I might need a few drinks first, but if that’s what it takes, fine. You see, Mr. Cuban, I am a huge NBA fan, and have been for about as long as I can recall. This may not seem very significant to you, but it is to me. This is my once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to take in the All-Star Weekend in person, and I want to embrace as much of it as humanly possible. I guarantee you that I care way fucking more about the Dunk Contest and the Skills Challenge and every single
other aspect of the festivities than any of those high-ranking members of society who get free tickets, not because they are fans, but because “I’m the vice-president for blah-blahblah company and this is my bimbo who has never watched one second of basketball yet is a demon in the sack, and we had the tickets so what the hell, right?” Damn it, Mark, it’s just not fair! I am not there to be seen, or because I have nothing better to do, but because this is the best goddamn thing that I could ever hope to do, and I will spend the 50 or so remaining years of my life telling strangers about how fucking awesome Mark Cuban is and how that was the best weekend of my life. Now that I’ve taken a moment to calm down, I don’t think I can make it much clearer to you how bad I want to see this stuff, Mark. I’d slap a baby to go. Hopefully you see this as an excellent chance to help some good kids out, but even if not, give me a response, please. You can even call me if you want, my number is (306) 1234567. I’d love the opportunity to implore you further to help us out. And if six is too many tickets to give up, I mean, I love my friends, but I’ll happily throw them under the bus and go by myself if I have to. Hear my cry, Mr. Cuban, and let me know what you think. Thank you for your considerable time in reading this, Your willing slave, Jordan Reid
I need to see a moment like this
Confessions of a Yankee fan The money doesn’t matter cassie ozog contributor
It’s not easy being blue. The sneers that come out in the post-season, the embarrassing public failings of A-Roid, the outright abusive text messages and comments when my Facebook status celebrates a win. Even my own loving, understanding father can’t help but phone and poke at my deflated ego the morning after a Yankee loss. I have been called everything from a bandwagon jumper to a bad Canadian (hey, I do still like the Blue Jays!). Every congratulations given to my Red Sox friends in 2004 have been quickly forgotten as I am once more the target for attack when the Big, Bad Yankees beat another underdog team with “real heart, not just a big budget.” The implication here being, of course, that no Yankee has heart, and thus, no Yank fan has any idea of what it really means to be a baseball fan. In my experience, being a real baseball fan means sticking by your team through thick and thin. It doesn’t mean only celebrating the good times. Watching Derek Jeter break Lou Gherig’s 72-year-old all-time hits record this past season was an amazing moment, and I watched it happen in a room full of Yankee haters. Yet, as Jeter ran around the bases to a standing ovation, somehow everyone forgot he was a Yankee and celebrated along with Yankee fans everywhere. But pop! Suddenly, the moment was over, and discussion of how Jeter was a true gentleman despite being a Yankee ensued. And suddenly, I’m back to where I started. Back to being constantly questioned as to why I could ever love such an awful team. I’m convinced the only time I’ll ever feel that connected with other baseball fans again will be when they
Mr. Yankee, Derek Jeter retire Jeter’s #2 in Cooperstown. After that, me and every other Yankee fan outside of New York will go back to being walking targets. And yet we love it. We take every over-hyped Yank humiliation, every loss, every overspent dollar and we stick by our team, regardless of the pitfalls.
write write write write write write write write write write write write write write write write write write write write write write write
ibbab.free.fr
A friend recently asked how I could get so moved by watching grown men play a simple child’s sport. Oh, they understood the tension, the excitement, the uncertainty that can change a game in an instant – they just didn’t understand how it can mean so much. Honestly, I don’t nydailynews.com
“We're the stufflegends of .” silive.com
have an answer. It’s just a sport, that’s true. Maybe it’s being a part of something much bigger than yourself – a ball club that has become legendary in its own right. Being a Yankee fan connects you with a team that’s given so much to baseball, both in its history and the present. And when the game really gets going, none of the fans watching, whether in the Bronx or on my couch, are really thinking about the money. We’re counting and comparing hits, we’re watching a runner creep to second, we’re praying to Ruth for a hit. But mostly, we’re just hoping they’ll make the playoffs and continue to earn the title as one of the greatest teams in Major League Baseball. For a Yankee fan, it’s not easy being hated. But when you love something, you stand by it – even if it is just a bunch of grown men playing a child’s game. So bring on the insults, the heckling, the outright abuse. I’ll still be wearing my heart on my sleeve. We’re Yankee fans, we can take it. We’re the stuff of legends.
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the carillon Nov. 5 - Nov. 12, 2009
18 sports
S C OR E BOA RD F r id ay , O c t . 30
photo briefs
Women’s Basketball
63 – 73 Women’s Volleyball
3–0 (25-17, 25-21, 25-17) Men’s Hockey
2–5 Women’s Hockey
7–0 Rams Football
42 – 17 Men’s Volleyball
0–3
Men’s Basketball
Colin Goubau
The Cougars visited Minot State on Friday, Oct. 30 and were dealt a harsh loss, 100-74. The first quarter started good for the Cougars but Minot State switched from zone coverage to man-to-man, pressing Regina’s shooters into ill-advised shots. Centre Kris Heshka didn’t make the trip. The Cougars finished the non-conference schedule 5-2.
Women’s Basketball
Jarrett Crowe
In the first of two games last weekend against the University of Concordia, the Cougars won 73-63. Brittany Read led the charge for the Cougars, scoring 18 points and hauling in 12 rebounds. Anne-Marie Prophete led Concordia with 12 points.
S a t ur d ay , O ct . 3 1 Women’s Soccer
3–1 Women’s Basketball
51 – 64 Women’s Volleyball
3–0 (25-10, 25-18, 25-18) Men’s Hockey
1–2 Women’s Hockey
7–0 Men’s Volleyball
0–3 (25-20, 25-13, 25-17) S und ay , N ov . 1 Women’s Soccer
2–0
Women’s Soccer
Jarrett Crowe
On Oct. 31 the Cougars (2-12-0) lost to Lethbridge (1-13) by a final score of 31. The previously winless Pronghorns got two goals from Marley Walker and one from Erika Sollid in the win, while Natalia Hernandez-Solano scored the lone goal for the Cougars.
Men’s Hockey
Tyler Dekok
The first of two games last weekend against the University of Calgary saw the Cougars lose 5-2. The Cougars got goals from Ryan Sawka and Carter Smith, while the Dinos got two goals apiece from Torrie Wheat and Brock Nixon, and one from Cory Pritz.
graphics
Graphics Editor: Graeme Zirk graeme_zirk@hotmail.com the carillon, Nov. 5 - Nov. 12, 2009
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op-ed
Op-Ed Editor: Barbara Woolsey b.woolsey@hotmail.com the carillon, Nov. 5 - Nov. 12, 2009
opinion
editorial
Baby Einstein not so smart babble.com
Canadian parents dissatisfied with their Baby Einstein DVDs are out of luck – the recall, which began on Sept. 4, only applies to American customers. The Baby Einstein Company has been controversial for a while, due to their target audience – kids under three years old. The American Academy of Pediatrics suggests that children that young shouldn’t be watching any television at all, and the Baby Einstein line, encompassing DVDs and books, certainly isn’t exempt. Their website presents this problem as a question of pragmatism. A study they cite shows that 68 per cent of children two years of age and under will watch TV. If they’re going to be watching, why not gear programming towards them? “All of our products are designed to encourage discovery and inspire new ways for parents and little ones to interact,” says the Baby Einstein website. One wonders why they would offer a refund on such a wonderful product. It was a voluntary program coming in the wake of an investigation by the Federal Trade Commission over whether Baby Einstein products were wrongly marketed as educational. They still insist that they never sold themselves as such, despite a name that suggests differently. The refund is without a doubt an effort to avoid any ill will they might receive. The $16 they’re shelling out for each returned DVD is an insignificant cost for a Disneyowned company. Whether or not they ever suggested they were educational, their general pitch stays the same; watching these shows will better your child. Baby Einstein’s thesis falls apart when considering how their DVDs are intended to be watched. If it’s nearly inevitable that children will watch TV in their infancy, isn’t it also likely that parents won’t be watching Baby Einstein with their children? This is a case where the stated, intended use is immediately and obviously overruled by the reality of the situation, that children will most likely be watching these without any adult involvement. I’ve never been a parent, but I know it’s tough. Time constraints are huge, whether or not you work or are in a couple. It’s an exhausting and constant task. So, a DVD saying it’ll help your baby looks like a convenient solution all around. In theory, then, Baby Einstein might not be any worse than any daytime kids shows. What makes their actions so questionable are the twin offences of targeting such a young audience and claiming some kind of beneficial result for the children. They’re given a bill of goods that has been proven to be deficient and are allowed to rest their consciences believing their children are being educated. This dishonesty makes an otherwise harmless product a reminder of the lies of corporate America, something I don’t need from a series of DVDs for kids.
james brotheridge a & c editor
UR reading this I just typed “UR” into our university’s search engine, which is entitled UR Search. The results of my search left me navigating more than 10 pages of ungrammatical phrases. UR Finances. UR Courses. UR Update. UR Ready Workshops. UR Connected. UR Walk Along Program. And that was only the first page. Oh! I get it now! UR means your! YoUR Finances. YoUR Courses. YoUR ect. Dear University of Regina, UR clever! Sarcasm is a sign of dissatisfaction and to be honest, I am not sure why I am so dissatisfied by the word, phrase or whatever it is that is called UR. I don’t get pissy when Burger King says, “Have it your way” or when Midas says, “Trust the Midas Touch.” But if I had to justify this article right now, I would probably say to the students, faculty, and administration of this campus, I think we can do a little bit better. Yeah sure, I can understand how at some point it would have been seen as good marketing. The initials of oUR University are being used to appeal to the texting – and possible sexting – age. It is clear we are at a boom age of UR. This can be seen in the success of the foUR students’ UR students union campaign, the newly launched UR Guaranteed program, and pretty
much on anything that exists to market students. I won’t be surprised if we start giving out UR Vaccine to cURe UR H1N1. I realize now that I might be exaggerating. A vaccine is not a cURe, but rather, a pre-emptive measURe. First, I will do more exaggerating before I get back to the topic at hand. You can’t go to UR Lazy Owl and hURl up your Satan bURger after demolishing yoUR foURteenth can of CoURs (I realize that Coors is spelt Coors, and I am fairly sURe the Owl doesn’t have cans of anything). This article is becoming absURd, but all this futURe URness doesn’t seem too far off. Why can’t anyone on campus think of another way to name something that doesn’t involve a half word? When will researchers find that the UR thing just doesn’t seem fresh anymore? When will this marketing cURse stop? Wait! I know who we can get to help us! The ESA! In room 324 of the Ad Hum building is the English Students’ Society. Standing outside of their locked door, I read miscellaneous posters that advertise events and publications that may be of interest to anyone interested in English. Real English. No half words, no text-speak, and no sentence fragments. Not one of these advertise-
ments contains any sort of spelling or grammatical error. Not one mistake! These English students really know the language. And they must be just as mad as me if not more. SURely we could take some of these fine students, put them in a room with some business students, and have them come up with newer ways to promote my walk along programs. Unfortunately, I am too shy to actually go up to an English student and try to get them to meet with a business student that I am also too shy to speak to face to face. Not to mention I would feel like too much of a sell-out. Right now, I am wearing an arts faculty T-shirt. Do you know what the words on the front say? They say, UR LIFE STARTS HERE. All caps and no punctuation. The ESA would never hear me out. So I will trust in this newspaper’s readership. Readers! Let’s spread the word. Let’s get something done. Business and English students, get together! You have the power! It’s UR Power. The spread of UR starts with U. U are in control, because without U there is no UR.
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contributor
the carillon Nov. 5 - Nov. 12, 2009
op-ed 21
Porn is gender violence Considered socially acceptable despite disturbing stereotypes VICTORIA (CUP) – Why is it still socially acceptable for females to be subordinate and weak to appease the male libido? In the 2008 documentary, The Price of Pleasure: Pornography, Sexuality and Relationships by Miguel Picker and Chyng Sun, a scene at a porn convention in Las Vegas shows a man saying women actually want and enjoy being controlled by men. Regarding anal sex, another man shamelessly remarked, “every time a wife is mean to her husband ... he secretly thinks in the back of his mind, ‘I’d like to fuck you in the ass!’ It’s just a way of getting back at his wife for all the bitching she’s been doing. That’s the attraction to anal.’” Is it really? If I’m confident and assertive, my boyfriend wants to penetrate me anally to inflict harm and teach me to be weak and submissive? Nowhere is female inequality and sexual violence more glamorized than in the multi-billion dollar porn industry. Here, men profit from female subordination while women become products, something to be bought and sold. It’s an industry that sexually stimulates customers with some of the most perverse fantasies imaginable – yet it is accepted, glorified, and considered “legitimate.” Granted, some people are into kinky stuff. But sexual acts that include choking, hitting, spanking, gagging, rape, gangbangs, double penetration, pain, and sex with amateurs appear as specialties on camera. In reality, few women enjoy being called
whores and sluts, or having some dominating man scream at them, “You’re a dirty little bitch; you are such a fucking tramp.” In many modern pornography movies, taping a woman’s mouth or covering her face depersonalizes the sex as she is spat on, choked, or slapped around like an animal. Is this the way
Violence and objectification in the sex industry only exists because there is a demand for it. The reason why most female porn stars subject themselves to these acts is money, because the sex industry seems to be a “legitimate” way to get rich. Yet, it is not enjoyable for many of these
“porn The reason why most female stars subject themselves to
these acts is money, because the sex industry seems to be a ‘legitimate’ way to get rich.” we want women to be viewed? Imagine this scene: a screaming woman’s arms are tied by the wrists and her head is thrust into a toilet while a man penetrates her. Many other real porn scenes like this depict women clearly in agony. If they are enjoying it, there is no sign of it. The idea here is male domination – the sickening ability for men to do whatever they want and actually have women accept it.
Smokers have been kicked out of pretty much every space with walls. For years, they’ve been pushed outside to the cold, wind, rain, and snow to enjoy their seven minutes of relaxation. Now it looks like the government is imposing a ban on smoking in vehicles with children. For us non-smokers, non-drivers, or non-parents, this doesn’t really make that big of a difference in our lives. For me, it’s all about the idea behind the legislation. Every year, something different is banned somewhere. How many remember when the U.S. banned Canadian beef and soft wood? How many peanut-free products can you find in the grocery aisles now? When was the last time you saw a smoker inside, comfortable and warm? Walking out of anywhere to see smokers with one hand in their pocket, the other ashing their cigarette in the wind seems to be commonplace and I hardly notice it anymore. I usually have to hold my breath for the last 10 paces before the Riddell Centre, but do I care? There is so much emphasis on the health risks associated with second-hand smoke that the smokers out on the curb are treated like the smokers in Waterworld: destroying everything they can, stealing and burning people’s homes, basically the evil in the world. The Surgeon General has been warning people of the negative effects of smoking for decades. Smokers are still everywhere and tobacco is still a huge industry. Non-smokers have been pushing the bans everywhere they can. I have plenty of friends who want to quit
Butting out
Even Salma Hayek smokes around children
actors. Former porn star Jersey Jaxin publicly confessed that she left the sex industry after being treated like a “piece of meat.” Men have punched her in the face and “literally ripped (her) insides out.” She has also reported cases where men have inserted scissors into women’s vaginas in the middle of porn scenes. With the constant degradation noticeable in violent hardcore pornography, women are no longer viewed as human beings. Women are
babble.com
only viewed as objects – sex objects – whose sole purpose is to “fuck.” The Price of Pleasure documentary predicts that porn will become more violent. And in a society full of men who profit off female subordination, I fail to see how the situation can improve. We have evolved to accept abuse, rape, and violence as the norm. However, sexism and inequality are still highly prevalent in society. Sexual violence is no longer frowned upon, as shown by the lack of questioning toward the sexually exploitative pornography industry. Over 94 per cent of aggression in porn videos is directed at women – yet such violent acts are legal.
kelly blank martlet (university of victoria)
smoking but never do, despite the health risks and the cost. If these warnings don’t make them want to quit, the nagging non-smokers certainly can’t. Smoking in vehicles does put children in the way of second-hand smoke. Cars are one of the last sanctuaries for smokers and its time we stop discriminating before we have another angry minority lobbying at our government’s doors. Live and let live. Parents should have the right to smoke in their cars, on their patios, in their garages, wherever. The government will have their way, whether or not anyone lobbies. Rolling down the windows just doesn’t cut it anymore; the parking lot will soon be the new patio. To the smoking public I have to say: smoke ’em if ya got ’em.
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contributor
the carillon Nov. 5 - Nov. 12, 2009
22 op-ed
1980s are best forgotten
Matthew Stefanson
SASKATOON (CUP) – I understand that American Apparel is something of a big deal to the kids these days. Young people think it is extremely hip to buy and wear their clothes. This is becoming a problem for me. It’s not that I don’t appreciate the store’s strategy to clothe women in as little skin tight lycra as possible; I understand that motive entirely. And it’s not that I resent the minimum $30 you have to spend just for entering the store; I solved that dilemma by never buying any of their ridiculously overpriced clothes. I don’t even have a problem with the cruel mock-ups of footy pyjamas they are tricking adults into wearing in public, because that appeals to my
twisted sense of humour. I do have a problem, however, with their unfortunate taste in decades. Their products are a throwback to an earlier time and this in itself isn’t really a problem since I don’t mind nostalgia. I just wish they hadn’t chosen the worst decade in the last century to base their retro style on. The ’80s were a Technicolor nightmare of sexual ambiguity, political conflict, and Gorbachev’s disgusting birthmark. It was a decade so confused by itself that it produced N.W.A. and Frankie Goes To Hollywood at the same time. It was a screaming cur-
h 1 n 1 m i c h a e l jmovie a c k s o n layton under fire that ssh tpa e e c h SPREAD e p h e n r p e r c a n a d i a n e lt euicWORD! tti e o nrs THE tikanye w tn e west lady gaga tpain autotune recessafghanistan i o n td a s e r s o m e e-a mailiyoluro opinu ions t to s b health care bankruptcy cw arillone @ursa u.uret gine a.ca r svest hip-r sdouchebag t e sholes those asswho give you twhen i c k eyou ts Story Meetings every Monday at 12:30 p.m. Riddell Centre, Rm. 227
tain of neon colours and sideways ponytails that was so vile it can still wake me in a cold sweat. It spawned the first Lost Boys movie and Rick Astley in the same year – we’ve held war crime tribunals for less serious offences than that. There were some good things to come out of that horrible decade: Ghostbusters, the last two good Star Wars movies, and most of the people I know – though we can’t be blamed since we were too young to hate the time in which we were born. Had we been formed as more mature human beings we would have run screaming for the nearest window immediately after birth. Admittedly, it’s not fair to blame
the whole problem on American Apparel. Musicians and celebrities and the time-delayed nostalgia that every decade probably leaves behind are really to blame. The good folks at American Apparel are just savvy business people who like dressing their models up in as little clothing as possible. More than likely the company founders are ruthless profiteers taking advantage of a new trend in the confused microcosm of indie hipster douches. If nothing else, I can respect the desire to separate young people from gigantic quantities of their money. But I can blame them for making it so ubiquitous. Before American
Apparel, I saw fewer neon leotards – almost none, in fact. I can also resent their choice in time period. In my humble opinion, the ’30s and ’40s are just itching for a comeback. Everyone all dressed up in a nice pair of slacks or a flapper dress, watches on a chain, and everybody wearing a hat to hide from an angry God so that he doesn’t start another world war or a drought or give you polio. Man, those were good times.
matthew stefanson the sheaf (U of S)
the carillon Nov. 5 - Nov. 12, 2009
op-ed 23
Students can’t get no satisfaction FREDERICTON (CUP) – I am a feminist. When men find out this little detail about me, they usually display either terror or extreme dislike. The issue is not my feminism, but a common misunderstanding of what feminism really is. People have entrenched connotations of feminists as bra-burning wild women who are out to stomp men with their combat boots. My brand of feminism is not about hating men; it’s about ending oppression. I am a proponent of liberal feminism. My thinking is this: men are no better than women, and women are no better than men. We are all human beings, and we start out on the same level. We should be judged on our character and the way we treat others, not by our gender.
“At the U of R,
sustainability is not only demanded but practiced.”
homeschooljourney.com
Feminism is about ending oppression – not just for women, but for other oppressed groups as well, including racial minorities, the poor, people with disabilities, children, and people of misunderstood and underrepresented religions. Anyone who claims to be a true feminist and stands up for women will also stand up for other groups who face hard times. Many people would argue that women are not facing severe oppression anymore. They would argue that we’ve more than caught up, and ask, “What about men?” I need to speak against this mindset. Women face some form of subtle oppression every day – leering, ass-grabbing in bars, drive-
by catcalls. I wouldn’t have the time to sit and count the number of times a man has stared at my breasts instead of my face during conversation. Yes, women are beautiful. But no, these kinds of behaviours are not taken as compliments. Most of the time when women are singled out as sex objects, they feel worthless and good for nothing but their bodies. When I’m harassed like this, it feels as if all of my accomplishments as a person have been erased, and all that remains are my physical traits. I work hard to develop myself as a person, both intellectually and spiritually. Why, then, should I be paid attention to only for my looks? Men who objectify women need to know that their behaviour is extremely disheartening and hurtful for women. The men who do the objectifying also need to understand that they’re hurting nice, respectful guys’ chances to meet women, as well as their own chances. Perhaps the worst thing is that, after all of our years of fighting to be free of sexual exploitation, women also act as harassers. James Brotheridge I was discussing this subject with a couple of male friends recently, and they immediately said, “Whoa” when I began bashThe RIC building has decreased the university’s ing the actions of men in bars. It turned out they had recently gone to a bar together and a energy costs woman had run over to them, shouted “Boys!”, and simultaneously grabbed both of their penises. Really? Really. This issue is not only man to woman. It is woman to man, woman to woman, and man to man. Why should people get away with this kind of behaviour when its only effects are negative? Because they can, that’s why. More men and women need to speak out for their right to be treated as human beings, with respect. The next time someone grabs your butt in a bar, do not shrug it off. Do not let yourself be abused. Grab the person by the arm and say something. If you don’t stand up for yourself, you put yourself in a situation where your self-worth can be diminished. True, chances are nothing will come of your rebuke. But maybe, just maybe, the person who assaulted you will be surprised and check themselves.
It’s the drug economy, stupid
Despite the fact that we have a Conservative government in power, the time has never been better for decriminalizing marijuana. Many assumptions that fuel the war on drugs have been refuted, while economic arguments in favour of regulation and taxation are compelling. And let’s not forget that a slim majority of Canadians support legalization. The policy of criminalization has largely benefited criminals, who are willing to flout the law anyway, and who exploit the multi-billion dollar demand of North American society in order to fund other operations. There are also safety issues that arise from marijuana being relegated to the shadow world of illegality. While fears in the 1960s of joints laced with other drugs by unscrupulous dealers were largely exaggerated, it remains true that illegal transactions always carry an implicit danger. Government-regulated marijuana would lower the risks by ensuring that the product is safe. Stephen Easton of the Fraser Institute points out that the production cost of government-sponsored marijuana is roughly 33 cents a gram, while the street value of marijuana is $10 a gram. He argues that the Canadian government could raise $40 billion to $100 billion in new revenue if it sold marijuana at the street rate. Besides the domestic market, decriminalization would almost certainly be a boon for American tourists; however, the reaction from south of the border would likely produce mixed results, since the U.S. has already tightened up its borders in recent years. Both the U.S. and Canada rely heavily on the “gateway drug” theory, the idea that smoking marijuana will lead to the use of harder drugs, which is inaccurate and misleading. . The fact that weed is illegal means that users become accustomed to breaking the law. And many of our
do. Roughly 600,000 citizens Canadians have been indicted for the personal use of marijuana; around 30,000 arrests are made annually. This is a fraction of the total number of marijuana users, estimated to be roughly 4.5 million. Marijuana decriminalization came close to being put into law twice, but both bills died, by prorogue (2004) and election (2006). The Conservatives did not resurrect the legalization issue, and have instead gone the other way. Bill C-15: Mandatory Minimums for Cannabis currently awaits approval in the Senate, and if passed will take discretion away from judges and almost increase prison sentences. Compare this to a 2009 Angus Reid poll that indicated that 53 per cent of Canadians support the legalization of marijuana. While most Canadians are in favour of tougher enforcement on hard drugs, marijuana should not be confused with cocaine, ecstasy, or crystal meth. While habit-forming, it is not addictive, nor does it have a lethal dose, unlike alcohol. The Netherlands has implemented an intelligent drug policy that has bolstered tourism to Amsterdam, and in Mexico it is no longer illegal to possess and use up to five grams of marijuana. We could easily do the same in Canada. When the laws no longer reflect reality, when a massive percentage of the populace engages in victimless crimes, when violating those laws is socially acceptable and even commonplace, and when more physically and socially harmful substances such as tobacco and alcohol are openly sold and promoted, then we lose some of our respect for those laws. For economic, social, and democratic reasons, the move towards decriminalization must be rekindled.
alex colgan features editor
jennifer squires news writer
James Brotheridge
the carillon Nov. 5 - Nov. 12, 2009
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Thursday, Nov. 5
Climate Change, Oil Sands and the Potential To Build a Renewable Energy Society in Saskatchewan 7 p.m. Royal Saskatchewan Museum Guest speaker Peter Prebble talks about the Copenhagen Climate Summit and the consequences of greenhouse gas emissions. The Recession One Year Later: Impacts on Canada and Saskatchewan 12 p.m. GA 106 Dr. Harvey King examines approaches to the economic recovery. MUSE Holiday Dress Reveal 6 p.m. 3026 13th Ave MUSE is unveiling their 2009 holiday party dress selection.
One Take Super 8 8 p.m. RPL Film Theatre Short films done by filmmakers given one reel of Super 8 film.
Friday, Nov. 6
Chillin’ for Charity
12 p.m. F.W. Hill Mall, between the twin towers Annual fundraising event for Raise-a-Reader by the Paul J. Hill School of Business JDC West team. U of R Men's Hockey 7 p.m. Sherwood ISC Vs. Lethbridge. Regina Pats Hockey 7 p.m. Brandt Centre Vs. Saskatoon Blades
The Dustin Ritter Band w/ the Bystanders 9 p.m. McNally’s Celebrating the releasing of fulllength album The Negative Headspace.
Dan Besuijen w/ Sizzle Business 10 p.m. O’Hanlon’s Playing behind recent release No Depression. Saturday, Nov. 7
U of R Men's Hockey 7 p.m.
Brandt Centre Vs. Lethbridge.
Steak Night and Dance Fundraiser 7 p.m. Regina Rugby Club Hosted by the Hispanic Community of Regina to fundraise for a new pavilion at Mosaic. Christian Kit Goguen w/ Véronique Poulin 8 p.m. Carrefour des Plaines A concert celebrating the 15th anniversary of Coup de coeur francophone.
Assemblage: A found poem 7 p.m. Royal Canadian Legion (Lancaster Room) A collaborative, multi-media project, touching on modernism and post-post-modernism. The Misfits w/ the Sneers 9 p.m. The Distrikt See Arts and Culture section.
Sunday, Nov. 8
Regina Pats Hockey 6 p.m.
Brandt Centre Vs. Prince Albert Raiders. Monday, Nov. 9
Playwrights Reading Series: Kenneth T. Williams 8 p.m. Shu-Box Theatre Williams reads from his recent dramatic work. Tuesday, Nov. 10
Regina Pats Hockey 7 p.m. Brandt Centre Vs. Prince George Cougars.
Geronimo w/ Carpenter, John Fettes 7:30 p.m. The Club Local mainstays play with Vancouver Smallman recording artists Carpenter. Wednesday, Nov. 11
Death by Stereo 8 p.m. The Exchange Hardcore punk still killing after 13 years of being a band.