August 28, 2018

theconcordian

CONCORDIA UNIVERSIT Y’S WEEKLY, INDEPENDENT STUDENT NEWSPAPER

 /theconcordian  @theconcordian  @theconcordian  theconcordian.com

VOLUME 36, ISSUE 1 | TUESDAY, AUGUST 28, 2018

Queens of the stage Diversity, creativity and community in Montreal Pride’s Drag Superstars

Art p. 10

feature

news

Pride spills onto the streets of Montreal!

life

music

CSU daycare to Change through Mutek's high open soon p.4 destruction p.6 energy beats

sports

p. 11

p. 8

opinions

Upcoming season Should we listen to Kanye? p. 14 predictions p.12

news

NEWS EDITORS /// news@theconcordian.com IAN DOWN & MIA ANHOURY ( @IanDown1996)

WORLD IN BRIEF

UNION

TRAC union reaches agreement in principle with Concordia TRAC President Jeremy Tessier said the union is “happy with how the negotiations went.”

Tessier says mobilization was key to the union's success. Photo by Chris Roberts.

IAN DOWN NEWS EDITOR The union of Teaching and Research A ssistants at Concordia ( TR AC ) has reached an agreement in principle with Concordia.

On June 21, af ter eight months of negotiations, the union arrived at an agreement with the administration for the period of May 1, 2016 to May 31, 2021.

“I am ver y proud of the work both teams did at the table, genuinely engaging in a principle-based bargaining exercise and jointly working on solutions to commonly identified problems,” said Nadia Hardy, vice-provost of Faculty Relations, was quoted as saying in a university press release.

“We’re happy with how the negotiations went ,” said TRAC President Jeremy Tessier.

All that’s left before the agreement comes into force is for Concordia’s Board of Governors to approve it in September, and then for Tessier and Concordia President Alan Shepard to sign it.

Negotiations had reached an impasse in March when the university’s negotiating team revealed it had not been given a mandate to negotiate beyond the 2017-18 year.

As part of the new agreement, all of Concordia’s teaching assistants (TAs) and research assistants (RAs) will receive both retroactive pay increases and

regular pay increases between now and 2020. Starting June 1, 2020 RAs will be paid $15.76 an hour for undergraduates, $20.20 for master’s students and $27.21 for doctoral students.

Prior to the agreement, their wages were $14.23, $18.27 and $24.65, respectively, roughly a 10 per cent increase for each.

Starting in June 2020, both TAs and markers will earn $26.47 an hour. This is an increase of about 6 per cent from $24.93 an hour for TAs and about 31 per cent from $20.21 for markers. The wages of markers and TAs will be gradually harmonized through a series of regular pay increases, so that starting in June 2020, they will be paid the same wage.

The practice of paying different hourly wages for assisting in the classroom and for marking tests and assignments, even when the tasks were carried out by the same person, is known as “contract splitting,” and was another key issue throughout the negotiations. Prior to 2017, some departments, mainly in the Faculty of Engineering and Computer Science, engaged in contract splitting, since a s s i s t i ng i n le c t u re s a n d lab demonstrations in ENCS requires a more specialized set of skills. However, beginning in 2017, more departments in other faculties began adopting the practice. With the signing of the new collective agreement, departments will revert to previous practices, meaning only those that engaged in

contract splitting before 2017 will continue to do so.

The grievance process for TRAC members was ratified to give members 30 days after the end of their contract to submit a complaint. Previously, grievances against professors had to be filed within 20 days of the member becoming aware of the issue. However, Tessier said this model is inappropriate for an academic setting. “Our relationship with the employer is not just a simple employee-employer relation,” he said. “There’s also other things that are at stake, like your academic progress, your relationship with the department, all these things that could affect future work.”

Tessier said the draft agreement was overwhelmingly approved by TRAC’s general assembly when it was presented in July.

Once the agreement comes into force, Tessier said the union’s focus will shif t to making sure the agreement is prop er l y enforce d and understood by both students and teachers.

This is the first time that TAs and RAs, who unionized in 2007, will be united under one agreement. A separate negotiation process is still underway for exam invigilators, who are negotiating their first collective agreement since unionizing in 2015. Tessier said he is “optimistic” they will reach an agreement by January 2019.

Ev e r y TA a n d R A a t Concordia is a member of TRAC. Tessier says the union has about 3,200 members at any given time, including about 1,800 active members per semester and those who have been employed within the last year. It is a local chapter of the Public Service Alliance of Canada (PSAC), which itself represents more than 180,000 workers across the country.

Former TRAC President Alexandre St-Onge-Perron also approved of the deal. “I think the new agreement will bring significant improvements for TAs and RAs and it does achieve the objectives we had after the consultations with members last year,” he said in an e-mail to The Concordian.

Both the current and former president s at t r ibuted t he union’s success to the strong activism of its members. “It was a good effort on the part of our membership to mobilize and make sure that we’re seen on campus and that our presence is known,” said Tessier. Notably, TRAC members and their allies protested outside of two Board of Governors meetings over the summer to raise awareness for their cause, and in February presented University President Alan Shepard with a giant Valentine’s day card signed by the union’s members.

“It is because they participated in their union during the last year that they can celebrate victory today,” said St-Onge-Perron.

MIA ANHOURY NEWS EDITOR China’s carpool and ride-hailing service, Didi Chuxing, has been suspended after a driver raped and killed a 20-year-old female passenger. The incident occured on Friday in the western city of Wenzhou. The driver, Zhong, was detained by the authorities early Saturday. He confessed to raping and murdering the passenger. It’s the latest violent crime to cause concerns about the service. Didi Chuxing is the biggest ride-sharing firm in the world. “We are deeply sorry. We fell short of your expectations,” said the firm in a statement.

While the driver did not have a criminal record, Didi Chuxing admitted a previous complaint was filed against him. The driver had allegedly driven a passenger to a remote location and then followed them afterwards.

On Sunday Aug. 26, a magnitude 6.0 earthquake hit in the western Iranian city of Kermanshah, killing two people and injuring 241 , according to the Iranian news agency Irma. The earthquake had 25 aftershocks. As Iran is located on two different tectonic plates, it makes the country prone to earthquakes. In November 2017, a 7.3 magnitude earthquake on the IranIraq border killed 620 people and injured over 12,000.

During the Pope’s first visit to Ireland in 39 years this past weekend, he spent 90 minutes with eight survivors of abuse committed by clerics, according to the BBC. “I cannot fail to acknowledge the grave scandal caused in Ireland by the abuse of young people by members of the Church,” said the Argentine Pope, referring to a series of child abuses and clerical cover-ups. Irish Prime Minister Leo Varadkar delivered a strong warning to the Pope to take action against abuse related to the clergy.

Archive graphic by Alexa Hawksworth.

AUGUST 28, 2018

theconcordian

3

INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS

Concordia student loses Quebec residency "They are basically kicking me out for being sick," says international student

MINA MAZUMDER ASSISTANT NEWS EDITOR “I fell in love with Concordia,” Hani Hallal said. “I fell in love with Montreal. I was really happy to be studying at Concordia.” He had begun studying engineering at the university in September 2014, before switching to marketing the following semester.

In June 2017, Hallal became seriously ill while visiting his uncle in Windsor, Ontario. He immediately flew to Lebanon to see a doctor and to see his family for support. Two months after starting treatment, he flew back to Montreal for further treatment.

Three doctors — one in Lebanon and two in Montreal — advised him to take a break from university for a semester due to the severity of his condition. Hallal’s Montreal doctor advised him to stay with his parents in Windsor, where they had recently moved. His condition did not improve after one semester and he was forced to take a full year off of school.

After making a full recovery by May 2018, Hallal returned to Concordia for a summer course and began his Certificate of Acceptance to Quebec (CAQ) renewal process. “I started the renewal process ver y early because I heard other students had troubles with it,” he said.

On June 5, Hallal received a letter of intention for refusal on four counts: Insufficient proof that he was able to pay for tuition and accommodations, abandoning certain courses without of ficially discontinuing them, failing to provide additional proof of his condition and its hindrance of his studies, and allegedly failing to have insurance while he was ill.

After consulting an advisor at the International Students Office (ISO), Hallal wrote four letters and had medical doc-

uments signed and dated by his doctors.

The letters needed to further explain why his studies were not his priority during his year of f, how his family would support him financially, and the importance of continuing his studies. He also needed a letter from his parents and himself expressing the importance of his education.

On July 6, Hallal received an official denial statement from Immigration Quebec.

The denial stated that studying should have been his priority, despite his illness, and that he should have had medical insurance for the year he was away from school. However, he says he was under his parents’ medical insurance plan in Ontario during this time.

“It’s very frustrating because I hadn’t failed a single course, I hadn’t done anything wrong,” Hallal told The Concordian. “I did not leave university for no valid

reason.

I was a full-time student the entire time.”

“Either they’re not happy that I was sick, [or] they’re not happy I was not studying because I was sick,” Hallal said.

“I didn’t understand. That’s the thing that really stressed me out. They are basically kicking me out for being sick. That’s how I personally feel. That’s my take on all of this.”

Hallal spoke to an advisor at the ISO, but he found them unhelpful. “I don’t know if he didn’t want to help me or didn’t know how to help me,” Hallal said. He then contacted every advisor at the ISO and Immigr ation Quebec . The advisors told him that if he had stayed in Lebanon for his medical treatment, there wouldn’t have been an issue with the renewal.

Immigration Quebec did not respond to multiple requests for comment.

“I have nothing but love for Concordia. It was the best experience that happened to me. I wish to cont inue

studying there,” Hallal told The Concordian.

Hallal said that now he has no choice but to study elsewhere. He is currently visiting universities in Ottawa to see if they can admit him to either the fall or winter term.

So far, none of them have the marketing program he wants.

He could potentially re-apply for the CAQ, but he would need to leave the countr y for six months in order to do so. He is unable to return to Lebanon due to bomb threats and political conflicts.

Hallal said he still hasn’t given up. He has contacted the CSU’s legal clinic, Immigration Canada and an immigration office in Ottawa; none were able to help him. “I have exhausted every single option I have been suggested,” he said.

Initially, Hallal did not want to make his story public. “If it is the way to get my education back, then I have no choice really,” he said. “I don’t want to say to myself that I don’t want to make it public and then regret it a few years later.”

Graphic by Wednesday Laplante.

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theconcordian

AUGUST 28, 2018

STUDENT SERVICES

CSU nursery and daycare to open by November The union had previously said the daycare would open its doors in March 2018 IAN DOWN NEWS EDITOR After failing to meet its projected opening of March 2018, the Concordia Student Union (CSU) daycare and nursery is now expected to be up and running by November, according to the union.

The centre will be open as early as Oct. 1 and no later than Nov. 1, according to its director, Angela Meo. Once open, it will house up to 52 infants and toddlers at a time and will be open from 7:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Monday to Friday, all year round.

The daycare will cost $35 per day, but provincial tax credits based on household income can cover a significant portion of that cost. Families in the lowest income bracket (those making $35,345 a year or less) will earn a tax credit equal to 75 per cent of the fee, bringing the cost to just 70 cents over the provincial rate of $8.05 per day.

“I know it’s been a long time coming,” Meo told The Concordian.

In the fall of 2017, then-CSU General Coordinator Omar Riaz told The Concordian that the

The daycare and nursery will have room for up to 52 infants and toddlers at any time. Photo by Mackenzie Lad.

centre — located at 1424 Bishop St. — would open in March of 2018. C SU General Manager Robert Henri said this was an inaccurate estimate, “When I read that, I said, ‘you should’ve talked to me before.’”

Both unexpected renovations and complications with permits delayed the project. “When they opened the roof, they had to completely insulate [it] and that’s something that they hadn’t even planned for,” said Meo.

She said construction should be completed by the time classes begin, just after Labour Day. Fu r t h e r m o re, H e n r i s a i d that changes in construction permit laws meant the CSU had to re-submit their request for a permit.

The daycare’s $1.5 million budget was only marginally exceeded: in September 2017, council approved about $76,000 of extra funding for the renovation.

The daycare was first con-

ceived in 2011, when the Concordia Uni ver sit y St udent P arent s Centre (CUSP) and the Dean of Students Office sponsored a report called “Student Parents and Their Children: How can we help them? An analysis of the student parent experience at Concordia University.” The study found one of the biggest barriers student-parents faced in achieving academic success was a lack of “timely, safe, flexible, affordable childcare options,”

sometimes leading them to drop out altogether.

Although Concordia does not collect data on the number of student-parents enrolled at any given time, “Student Parents and their Children” estimated that as much as 10 per cent of Concordia students may be parents. The university already has two daycares for these parents, one on each campus. However, the daycares at Sir George Williams and Loyola campuses have capacities of only 80 and 54 children, respectively, and priority is given to faculty.

Meo said the waiting list, which was opened in June, currently has about a dozen names on it. However, both Meo and Henri expect that number to go up as word of the daycare’s opening spreads.

Henri said that once the centre on Bishop Street is established, the CSU would like to set up another daycare centre on the Loyola campus, although no concrete plans exist yet. “If demand is really there, we could open another one downtown,” said Henri.

Interested students can contact the daycare at: INFO@CSUDAYCARENURSERY.COM

CAMPUS LIFE

Where is that music coming from?

Anyone who enters Concordia’s Webster Library is greeted by sounds of a crackling campfire or light jazz EITHNE LYNCH ASSISTANT NEWS EDITOR The Webster Library’s music installation has been the talk of many, most wondering why there’s music in the first place.

When the library's staircase underwent renovations — part of the Webster Library’s larger transformation project — a full sound system with speakers in the ceiling was engineered such that the sounds played would remain contained to the staircase. Now, anyone who visits the Webster Library will hear a wide range of music, spoken word poetry and ambient sounds, such as birds chirping, as they enter.

Associate University Librarian Jared Wiercinski explained that the music is pulled from Concordia Library’s vast playlist. “Depending on when you’re in the staircase, you might only hear a few tracks out of a large playlist, which we hope keeps things interesting and fresh.”

He said the library’s sound installation was inspired by R. Murray Schafer, a Canadian composer, who composed soundscapes and worked in acoustic ecology, the study of the relationship

between humans and the sounds in their environment.

Wiercinski said the soundscape was created with several goals in mind. It positions the library as a public space that promotes the “playback and enjoyment of sound recordings,” he said.

It also aims to make Concordia Library’s large sound recording collection more familiar to the public and engages a diverse community of artists such as musicians, DJs, poets and sound experts to create works to add to the installation. The final goal is to “select sound recordings that encourage a contemplative and energized feeling as people enter the library,” said.

Bronte Williams, a JMSB student, feels that the soundscape doesn’t always achieve its final goal. “The calming music is nice and sets a study vibe, but other times it just distracts me.” She said she would rather there be more continuity to the sounds played. Concordia student Gregory Fils-Aime said “It's very unexpected, you never know what you're going to get,” but added that he didn’t find the music distracting.

Anyone can propose a sound be added to the installation by going

to the library’s ‘listening spaces’ website. A committee will then review the proposals and select songs based on various criteria such as “the stated rationale, perceived artistic, intellectual, or political value, originality, and

the credentials of the selector,” Wiercinski said. Visitors to this site can also contribute their own thoughts on the installation and the music that is played.

Although there are no plans to bring a similar sound installation

to the Vanier Library, Wiercinski said they are open to the idea and “would love to hear student feedback about whether or not they would appreciate a similar audio installation.”

Graphic by Wednesday Laplante.

life

LIFE EDITOR /// life@theconcordian.com ALEX HUTCHINS

SUSTAINABILITY

Saving the world with a french-fry car Repurposing waste vegetable oil for fuel could save the environment

What's up Concordia?

Everything you need to know about life on campus ALEX HUTCHINS LIFE EDITOR If you’re a new Concordia student, adjusting to spending most of your week on campus can be a bit of a struggle. Here’s everything you need to know about navigating life on campus in a nutshell.

COFFEE: Le Frigo Vert (1440 Mackay St.) has some of the cheapest coffee around the downtown campus, as well as plenty of bulk foods and goodies that are great for a snack in between classes.

Around Loyola, pickings are slim, but the Hive Café (in the VA building) always pulls through. Some funky cafes around the downtown campus are Pigeon (1392 de Maisonneuve Blvd.) and Café Aunja (1448 Sherbrooke St. W.).

Lidstone poses with his Volkswagon Jetta which he drove using WVO for over eight years. Photo courtesy of Randy Lidstone.

SARA CHAHROUR ASSISTANT LIFE EDITOR Randy Lidstone, or the guy with the french-fry car, as some of his colleagues call him, is a passionate environmentalist with one objective: “To make the world a better place than when [he] got here.”

For over eight years, colleagues knew Lidstone to drive a Volkswagen converted to run on waste vegetable oil (WVO) from the cafeteria of Pratt and Whitney Canada, where he has been working for the past 37 years. Lidstone's modified engine produces 79 per cent less carbon dioxide and zero nitrogen oxide compared to diesel.

Every day after work, Lidstone would stop at the cafeteria to collect the leftover vegetable oil that would usually be thrown away at the end of day. He would take it home, strain and filter it, then feed it to his WVO converted car.

“Those who were interested thought it was cool, those who didn’t thought it was messy. I thought it was great for the environment,” said Lidstone.

Lidstone discovered his love for the environment at a very early age. When he was in elementary school, he would reuse the same paper lunch bag every day for

a month to save trees. As Lidstone grew older, his passion grew with him. Today, he is a proud sustainable development focal (or SD focal) at Pratt and Whitney Canada.

SD focals are a team of 18 employees that set a good example of ways to help the environment. They also pilot their own projects to help attain the company’s 2020 sustainability goals, which include reducing water consumption, greenhouse gas emissions, and eliminating hazardous substances.

Lidstone's french-fry car journey began with a 1981 Mercedes 300SD that he drove for five years before moving on to his 2002 Jetta TDI. With his Jetta, Lidstone travelled nearly 5000 kilometres with only $65 of diesel fuel, saving him thousands of dollars every year. Although saving money was not the purpose behind converting his cars, it was definitely a bonus.

“Many were intrigued on how my engine worked without diesel, but it didn’t.”

Lidstone explained that his car relied on diesel both when the engine was first turned on and shut off. Antifreeze would warm up the WVO, and with the flip of a switch, the car ran on that. “In order for a WVO [car] to be used,” he explained, “the engine has to be modified because the oil

is too viscous for the engine to process.

A biodiesel converter is installed in the engine to reduce the viscosity.”

Whether he is eating at a restaurant, walking through crowded streets or sitting behind his desk, Lidstone always has an eye out for new ways to save the environment. “One day I was sitting in a restaurant and the waitress asked me if I wanted a straw with my drink. I responded ‘why offer plastic straws if you could have paper straws?’” According to Lidstone, the key to influencing others is to simply give them food for thought, encourage them to take a step back and look at their actions.

As an SD focal, Lidstone suggested the use of compostable plastic utensils and containers, which are now available in all of the company’s facilities. He also replaced Keurig pods in his department with compostable coffee pods, and distributes free compostable containers to those interested in composting at work. At home, Lidstone actively recycles, composts and uses energy efficient light bulbs.

Dedicated to the environment both professionally and personally, Lidstone believes that every environmentally conscious decision, no matter how small, helps preserve the world for future generations.

He said simply: “I'm just trying to do my part.”

FOOD: On weekdays during the fall and winter semesters, from 12:30pm to 1:30pm, People’s Potato on the fifth floor of the Hall building and the Hive Café at Loyola have FREE lunches, as long as you wash your dishes afterwards. All lunches are vegan-friendly, and they usually call for seconds around 1:15pm, so stick around!

AlTaib (2125 Guy St.) has super cheap falafel and shawarma pitas for $3.48 (or $7.60 for a trio). If you’re looking for some late night (re: drunk) munchies, Star Noodle (1871 Saint-Catherine St.) is the best place to hit up.

STUDY SPACES: If the weather is warm enough, check out the patio behind the Hive Café on the downtown campus. When the months start to get colder, try the Concordian Greenhouse on the top floor of the Hall building.

SERVICES: Concordia University Television (CUTV) is the hidden gem of all hidden gems. Located at 2110 Mackay St., on the fourth floor, CUTV allows every undergraduate student, regardless of department, to take out professional grade filming equipment for up to a week. Also, if you’ve got an EP in the works but no studio, they have a fully decked out soundbooth at your disposal!

Ever wanted to learn how to 3D print? Or need help cleaning out old software from your laptop? Swing by the Technology Sandbox on the second floor of the LB building, and their technicians will help you with all of the above and so much more — for free!

More information about both of these service depots can be found on the Concordia website.

At the end of the day, despite all the cool cafés and restos around campus, the best solution to surviving the hours you will spend on campus is simply this: reusable containers. Make yourself some coffee in the morning, pack yourself a decently sized lunch, or bunch of snacks to munch on — whatever you need to make it through the day. It’s better for your wallet and more importantly, mother nature!

Graphic by Wednesday Laplante.

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theconcordian

AUGUST 28, 2018

COMMUNITY ACTIVISM

Creating beauty from brokenness

NDG local Marlo Turner shows The Concordian her plate before smashing it. Photo by Alex Hutchins.

How the act of smashing plates can be a transformative experience ALEX HUTCHINS LIFE EDITOR “I’ve been thinking about all the things I want to smash all week,” says Marlo Turner, an NDG local, as she enters the gallery space for Smashing the Platriarchy 2.0. Lindsay Flemming and Melanie Stuy, organizers of the participatory performance art event, hand Turner a plate and greet her warmly. Locating her coloured sharpie of choice, Turner eagerly joins the dozen other participants who scribble away their soon-to-besmashed thoughts.

Smashing the Platriarchy 2.0 took place from Aug. 21 to 23 during the 9th annual NDG Arts Week. The event is a trifecta of interactive exhibits that invites attendees to physically, auditorily and thoughtfully engage with a variety of materials.

Participants express negative feelings that stem from sexism and racism, to xenophobia and climate change on old plates provided by Stuy and Flemming.

Afterwards, adorned in safety goggles and with their plates snuggly wrapped in a burlap sack, they smash them with a hammer.

Throughout the three day event, participants use the broken plate shards to fill out a mosaic on a piece of cut wood, creating the beautiful shape of a bird to symbolize freedom, explains Stuy.

I select a plate, a blue sharpie and choose a seat between Flemming’s eldest daughter, Grace, and another attendee, Rayanna Speede, to write down whatever comes to mind. Speede and I begin explaining what our plates are about.

“I’ve been dissecting a lot lately, so I think that’s what came out,” says Speede, in reference to the swirl of mandalas dec-

orating her plate. I ask her what she thinks thoughts, feelings and phrases on display too,” explains Stuy. “It gives them an smashing the plate will feel like, and she inside the gallery space. Recordings of opportunity to channel their feelings, and responds: “Like closing a chapter. Being people recounting their personal stories for their opinions to be heard.” introspective is good, and I think smashing from previous gatherings on mp3 players Grace, at only nine years old, nonchalantly this after will be a good thing.” were also available for audiences to listen to. asks her mother what the current gender Stuy and Flemming hope the commu“I’m learning something new today wage gap is so she can write it on her plate. nity art project will start conversations. that I didn’t know anything about!” says “It's really interesting,” Stuy explains, The pair want to create safe spaces that Lynne, a participant, after listening to the “because [some] people couldn't believe, are conducive to open dialogue and aid audio recordings and examining other not only that we had smashed plates, but in the processing of feelings that are people’s plates. that we let our kids do it too.” typically repressed or are too large to Laura Kamugisha, a Concordia student As individuals, it’s important to find and condense into words, they say. and communications assistant for NDG create our own channels for expressing all “The night of and day after the 2016 US Arts Week, explains what the paragraph of the thoughts we may be trying to process election, I wasn't ready to put my feelings on her plate is about. “It's about being but that we can’t necessarily put into words. into words,” explains Flemming. “But I had used,” she says. “About being the pillar Coming together to vocalize, proa lot of them, and they were big.” of the home… but not having a seat at the cess, and physically break the negative While chatting with Stuy from the table, even though you built the table.” thoughts that would otherwise remain cozy confines of a quaint coffee shop a Stuy and Flemming believe that showing unaddressed is not only empowering, few days prior to the event, she recalled children how to acknowledge and express but incredibly healing. Especially when the post-election days leading up to the their emotions is essential. “It's important done as a community with one unified creation of Smashing the Platriarchy 2.0. for [kids] to be a part of that conversation goal: to smash the patriarchy.

It all started with a group of friends and family coming together over the mutual desire to externalize their feelings.

“I like the idea of art as a transformation,” said Stuy, explaining how the idea of breaking plates with friends evolved into creating a transformative art piece.

By assembling the mosaic as a community, piece by piece, Stuy hopes to create beauty from brokenness, and “turn those negative feelings into something more positive.”

Passers-by and attendees who didn’t want to smash plates were encouraged to contribute to the Wall of Flemming’s eldest daughter, Grace, made her second plate about equality. Photo by Alex Hutchins.

Ideology, a collection of written

arts

ARTS EDITOR /// arts@theconcordian.com CHLOË LALONDE

EXHIBITION

Challenging our here and now

Discover the ebb and flow of the everyday reflected in Resonance Lines Turn into Time framed Tina Lê’s second installation, Lucid not Dreaming . Photo courtesy of the VAV Gallery.

CHLOË LALONDE ARTS EDITOR

“Fabric allows for a multifaceted inquiry,” Lê said, because they are “rife with cultural, religious or even personal significance.”

Resonance dove into the depths of its Her pieces touch upon themes of gender, artists’ identities so profoundly, it encourmental illness, whiteness, [de]colonisation, aged further exploration. Being Concordia’s power and violence reflected in the artist’s Visual Arts Visuels (VAV) gallery’s last personal experience and inspired by Lois summer show, ending Aug. 17, the exhiMartin’s article in the Surface Design Journal bition showcased the work of 10 student titled “The Direction of Cloth: the Horizontal artists including Carlo Polidoro Lopez, Dimension” and Kathleen Connellan’s article Dexter Barker-Glenn, Tina Lê and The in Textile, “White, the Colour of Whispers: Concordian’s own Mackenzie Lad. Revealing and Concealing Cloth.”

A highlight of the exhibition was a speaker Martin is a fashion design professor at event, Voiceless Utterance, presented by artist the Art Institute of New York City, and is and researcher-in-resident Chelsy Monie concerned with how fabric can transform of Concordia’s Ethnocultural Art Histories spaces from mundane to ceremonial.

Research (EAHR) group. Monie brought Connellan is a professor at the School of Art, together four contemporary African artists Architecture and Design at the University and curators to speak about their work in of South Australia, whose studies focus on ways Western institutions neglect to. critical race studies in design.

EAHR’s research residency, Diversifying Lê scribbled her most private thoughts Academia, was established last year by Kim and feelings onto sheets of bleached white Glassman in collaboration with the Concordia cotton using Batik, a resist-dye technique, Library. The residency gave Monie a chance and tore them into strips to make Lines Turn to bring her research and photographs to into Time. Her text, now hidden by life by exploring how African art is both the dying and tearing process, ce. listeners during Chelsy Monie’s presentation of Voiceless Utteran with filled was gallery The placed in Euro-American institutions remains internalised.

Photo courtesy of the VAV Gallery. as an object of consumption rather The strips, representing her than for critical engagement. thoughts and feelings, “overlap with The visual segment of Voiceless one another, intersecting and blurring Utterance, which is comprised of each other out, often finding ways to nude, intimate photographs of several revisit under various forms of (micro) women of colour, is now installed on aggressions whether simultaneously the second floor of the EV building and/or intermittently,” Lê added. in the vitrine display where it will remain for a few months.

The VAV Gallery holds exhibitions “While both the visual series and every three weeks and will be speaker event can live without the accepting submissions for their other,” Monie explained, “together fall programming until Sept. 14, they are able to pinpoint the problem including work for their special with many institutions today and Black History Month in November provide a solution as well as a new exhibition. All submitting artists way to engage with the works of must be enrolled in at least one African artists.” fine arts course during the 2018-19 Polidoro Lopez’s installation, academic year. More information En Limbo , expresses his feeling can be found on their website: of duality between life in Ecuador VAVGALLERY.CONCORDIA.CA and in Canada. The installation of found objects, fabric scraps and papers is based on conversations the artist had with those who experience similar dualities.

There are many stories embedded in the final product. Polidoro Lopez describes his studio as a personal interaction with the viewer. Working the way he does, spread out over a lot of space, the process he uses allows him to create life.

Barker-Glenn’s work shares similar themes, namely exploring his identity as a male artist and relating his art-making to the birthing process.

“At the time of its creation, I recognized that I strive to create objects that have a life of their own and that many of my art-making practices mirror elements in nature,” Barker-Glenn said.

Figure 1. (Icarus) is an installation inspired by the myth of Icarus, the story of a man whose father makes him a pair of wings.

According to the story, Icarus flies too close to the sun, and the wax holding his wings together melts. Icarus falls into the ocean

and drowns. It is a tale of aspiring to do impossible things, an idea that resonates throughout Barker-Glenn’s installation.

Barker-Glenn describes his piece as a “cabinet of curiosities.” Footage of birds, molds of eggs as well as fabric bird heads and wings are found throughout.

Nestled in the centre of the structure, a bird mask sits, representing both the artist’s interest in the creation of life and his imitation of it.

“I see the mask in the centre of this piece as an attempt to become what you are not, and it too is in a process of destruction,” the artist explained. The mask, made from cheesecloth and hardened with sugar, is dipped in black ink, which is slowly absorbed by the fabric, blackening its surface and destroying its structure.

Lines Turn into Time is one of two of Lê’s recent explorations with textile that have been exhibited at Resonance. Lê usually favours performance art, but found that the wear and tear of fabric better encompassed her goal with these two works.

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theconcordian

AUGUST 28, 2018

Pride spills onto the streets Our photo editor got swept up in the action of this year's Pride parade MACKENZIE LAD | PHOTO EDITOR The 34th edition of the Montreal Pride parade was expected to be the biggest and best one yet, covering 2.7 km of Rene-Levesque Blvd. with a rainbow-coloured cast of characters, floats, signs, performers and more, all marching en route to the Village. And big it was: hundreds of parade participants filled with infectious energy and a crowd that responded with mutual excitement, spilling into the streets to take photos in the midst of the action. The parade closed off a week of panels, screenings, dance parties, drag shows and more, which reaffirmed the need to not only accept, but to celebrate and foster diversity within the local LGBTQ+ community.

This year’s special guests included Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, who marched alongside his wife Sophie Grégoire Trudeau, Quebec Premier Philippe Couillard, Transgender Activist Miss Major GriffinGracy, and Antoni Porowski of Netflix’s Queer Eye.

AUGUST 28, 2018

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Photos by Mackenzie Lad.

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AUGUST 28, 2018

THINKPIECE

The Art of Drag

Diversity, creativity and community in Montreal Pride’s Drag Superstars Miz Cracker performed a mash-up of pop songs interspersed with movie and advertisement clips, creating a surprising, comedic performance. Photo by Mackenzie Lad.

DAISY DUNCAN ASSISTANT ARTS EDITOR Among this year’s Montreal Pride events were a variety of drag shows, including a highly attended Drag Superstars, featuring famed queens from the popular RuPaul’s Drag Race reality television show.

Through the reality TV nature of Drag Race, viewers get an inside look and understanding of the talent, effort and significance within the art of drag, yet arguably through a selective lens. While the names and success of the show’s stars remained evident at Pride’s Drag Superstars, the event also provided a clear representation of the performing queens’ talent. The event showcased the core nature of the of the art of drag and its significance within the LGBTQ+ community—sharing the true art, spirit and meaning of drag.

The three-hour-long show took place on the TD Stage at Parc des Faubourgs on Aug. 16. Hosted by Bianca Del Rio, the winning queen from season six of RuPaul’s Drag Race, the show consisted of individual lip sync and musical performances by a large number of queens from the television show, along with local Montrealers. The show was a fun, poignant event, due to the artistic individuality, the encouragement of local queens and the open discussion of serious subjects related to the queer community, such as the stigma surrounding HIV. The show was opened by Ongina, a contestant on season one of RuPaul’s Drag Race. During her time on the show, Ongina shared with her fellow contestants and the judges that she was HIV positive.

Since becoming the first queen to publicly announce her status on TV, Ongina has gone on to be an HIV activist, and other queens in later seasons have followed her path by sharing their experiences and diagnoses with the illness. As Ongina spoke to the Montreal crowd, she shared this story and spoke about how Drag Race helped her openly discuss her status and the illness. Ongina used the

platform of Drag Superstars to share her experience, and used the art of drag and performance as a form of activism; a way to spread awareness on important matters prominent to the queer community and its history.

The distinctiveness and creativity within the realm of drag was showcased through the individual performances by the various queens at Drag Superstars.

This individuality was shown through their painstakingly crafted visual appearances — with details distinct and individual to each queen — along with their performances and interactions with the crowd.

Highlights of the night were found in the short lip sync performances by the queens — a performance form long connected to the art of drag. Miz Cracker, a New York queen who placed fifth in the most recent season of Drag Race, performed a mash-up of pop songs interspersed with movie and advertisement clips, creating a surprising, comedic performance.

Adore Delano, runner up on season six of the show (and also previously a contestant on American Idol ), performed her own songs li ve an d threw herself into the

audience to crowd surf while singing her song “I Adore U.” This further created a deep and loving connection between herself and the crowd.

Aja, a New York queen from both season nine and All Stars 3 of Drag Race , also performed her own work, coming out with a fiery performance of a multitude of her successful rap songs. Other queens added their unique spin to the performances through impersonating famous musicians. Kameron Michaels, a top four contestant on season ten, lip synced “Believe” by Cher.

Shangela, a contestant on season two and three as well as All Stars 3, closed the show with a mix of Beyonce songs. While dressed and made up in the singer’s likeness, the queen performed the singer’s famous dance moves which showcased her immense talent as a performer.

Drag Superstars also included local queens, furthering the concept of community, acceptance and diversity. In the middle of the show, queens Rita Baga, Miss Butterfly, Manny, Michel Dorion, and Franky Dee — all Montreal performers — each took the stage for their own lip sync

Adore Delano threw herself into the audience, creating a loving connection with the crowd.

Photo by Mackenzie Lad.

set. Bianca Del Rio, spoke about this, encouraging support for local and up-and-coming queens and reminding everyone that all Drag Race queens were at this place once too and needed local support to help get them to where they are now.

In showcasing the diversity of styles, talents, focuses, and the diverse representation and intense range of creativity and styles, this brought a greater theme and consideration of the meaning of Pride in the first place. These aspects of the event showed a celebration of the queer community, and messages of acceptance for all, especially in this community that faces bigotry, exclusion and violence.

The differences within the queens’ styles and performances promote messages of acceptance and support.

Looking at the significance of representation, especially in media, these messages can provide reassurance and encouragement for future generations to pursue true authenticity of the self.

This representation provides access to explore ideas of gender, identity, presentation, sexuality and the complexities and fluidities within.

Bianca Del Rio, winner of RuPaul’s Drag Race Season 6, hosted this year’s Fierté Montréal Drag Superstars at Parc des Faubourgs. Photo by Mackenzie Lad.

music

Quickspins 1

MUSIC EDITOR /// music@theconcordian.com SIMON NEW

FESTIVAL

Equiknoxx Takes SAT By Storm

MOTOKO & MY E R S Basis Key

(Open Hand Real Flames)

Genre: Ambient, experimental, dub.

The Equiknoxx Music collective delivering the goods to an energetic crowd. Photo by Bruno Destombes.

High energy and low frequencies prominent at Mutek’s opening night LUCAS THOW STAFF WRITER Mutek’s strength has always been in its ability to piece together coherent events, at which even the most unconventional of artists seem to fit in comfortably between their peers.

August 22 was the opening night of Mutek's 19th edition. The festival opened at Société des Arts Technologiques (SAT) with rhythm-driven hybrid sets from Equiknoxx, Clap! Clap!, and DJ Lag. Each from an entirely different corner of the world (Jamaica, Italy, and South Africa, respectively), the artists’ stylistic differences were evident, yet seemed entirely natural alongside one another. The main floor of the SAT was outfitted with live visuals projected on the concrete walls, friendly “Party Support” staff, and a powerful sound system that prompted the use of earplugs by many.

The venue was nearly full when Equiknoxx took the stage at 9:50 p.m. It was clear that their performance was the main draw (rarely would dance music enthusiasts arrive so early). The two dancehall producers were joined by a third member of the Equiknoxx Music collective, Shanique Marie, whose playful vocals and witty comments added

Photos by Bruno Destombes.

a welcomed lightness to the otherwise deep and dubbed out beats. The three were all smiles as they cycled through tracks that spanned their discography, never pausing for more than a split second between each one. The crowd seemed most enthralled with the sheer power of the low-end sound resonating through the high-ceilinged space; each kick drum seemed to rattle the subwoofer cabinets and quite literally jiggle the skin on the audience’s cheeks.

While the incredibly heavy subs suited the dubbed out aspects of their music, they seemed to overshadow the intricacies in Equiknoxx’s sound design that impressed so many on their 2017 album Colón Man. While a slight adjustment would have pleased the audiophiles in the crowd, their set was otherwise flawless.

The biggest surprise of the night was the entirety of Clap! Clap!’s performance. The lighthearted and bubbly rhythms heard on his Soundcloud page were all but forgotten in favour of thunderous kick drums and cheap melodies, and the live performance seemed to continue on for longer that it needed to. The set’s dependence on theatrical bass drops, combined with eclectic and cartoonish visuals by A/V artist Binocle (pineapples, elephants, floating aliens in yoga poses) made the performance feel like

an acid trip at one of the smaller stages at Tomorrowland. While this seemed exciting for many faithful dancers happily bouncing around towards the front of the crowd, the style of performance was not what most Mutek-goers anticipated. This was apparent by the large number of people gathered towards the back of the venue, using the time to rest their legs or get some fresh air outside. Regardless, the energy that Clap! Clap! exhibited was remarkable. The Italian DJ jumped back and forth during his entire set, screamed during the brief silence before each new beat was introduced and ultimately did everything he could to engage the crowd. Never has anyone so gleefully pounded a drum machine for an hour straight.

If Clap! Clap!’s performance seemed to dwell on static rhythms for too long, DJ Lag’s music selection did the opposite.

The South African dance music specialist shifted through tempos with each track, allowing for a dynamic set that challenged dancers to get creative with their moves.

Despite the focus on bass-heavy music, the issues with the sound levels which were apparent in Equiknoxx’s set were absent throughout the entirety of DJ Lag’s hour behind the decks, and it was the complex drum patterns that shone through above all. Lag’s selections were fresh and diverse, and it was hard not to smile when he played out acapellas of Cardi B’s “Bodak Yellow” and Big Shaq’s infamously memeable “Man’s Not Hot” layered over raw, scattered claps.

Admittedly, the first Nocturne (SAT’s eclectic electronic audiovisual shows) of this year did not showcase all that Mutek has to offer — the “wow” factor of past events was not present.

Nonetheless, it was a fun and lighthearted party that kicked off the 19th edition of the festival.

When Motoko & Myers first began to work on their debut album in an Oakland, California home studio, did they intend on producing what could be an extension to the cult-favourite game Portal 2’s soundtrack? We could never know, but it sure sounds like it. The dub-tinged ambient work is warm and often whimsical, yet at times suggests a sense of unease. This is most apparent on “Sans Time Tone Milk,” where the droning hums of both human and machine are layered beneath scattered drips and unsteady distortion (the darker levels of Portal 2 come to mind). The album is at its most playful on “Super Potato” — a bouncy yet drowsy six minute danceable track. While the album certainly presents a strong sense of cohesion, it feels as though the two producers could have pushed their sound a bit deeper.

11 Trial Track: “Super Potato”

7.2/10 — LUCAS THOW, STAFF WRITER

2

AMINÉ OnePointFive (Republic Records) Genre: Hip hop, Alternative hip hop

Portland rapper Aminé has returned with the follow-up to his 2017 debut studio album Good For You. This project sees Aminé ditching some of the sunny, more poppy production of his last album and opting for more trap-influenced instrumentals. While this direction has the project lacking the commercial sensibilities of Good For You, it makes for a more cohesive sounding project. The album achieves a good balance of smooth, introspective tracks and braggadocio-filled bangers throughout the track listing.

“DR. WHOEVER” sees Aminé reflecting on his life and stresses, referencing the listener as his anonymous therapist. On “REEL IT IN”, Aminé showcases his versatile flow and witty punchlines over a bass-heavy instrumental with an infectious flute-sample. With a fantastic selection of beats and just a few features, this project is highly enjoyable and does a great job of highlighting Aminé’s abilities as a singer and rapper.

11 Trial Track: “REEL IT IN”

8/10 — WESLEY MCLEAN, STAFF WRITER

sports

SPORTS EDITOR /// sports@theconcordian.com NICHOLAS DI GIOVANNI ( @n_digiovanni)

VARSITY

Looking ahead at Stingers's 2018-19 season After two championships last year, sports teams aim to continue winning

The women’s hockey team won their first championship since 2005 last season. Archive photo by Mackenzie Lad. NICHOLAS DI GIOVANNI SPORTS EDITOR It’s back-to-school season, but for sports fans, this also means the Concordia Stingers teams are back in action.

The Concordian previews the season.

FOOTBALL Head coach: Brad Collinson The Stingers had a 3-4 record last season and lost in the Réseau du sport étudiant du Québec (RSEQ) semi-final to the Université de Montréal Carabins. A lot has changed for this team since they last played in early November. Rookie head coach Brad Collinson leads the charge for the football program, and he’s already facing some challenges with veterans leaving.

Quarterback Trenton Miller graduated from Concordia and is currently playing in Germany. Linebacker Mickael Côté and fullback Tanner Green were both drafted in the Canadian Football League (CFL), while running back Jean-Guy Rimpel left the team.

Adam Vance will have to take over as quarterback, but luckily for him, he will have Vince Alessandrini, Jarryd Taylor and James Tyrrell back as the top receivers.

It will be a learning year for Collinson and his team.

MEN’S RUGBY Head coach: Craig Beemer The men’s rugby team will look to repeat their RSEQ championship from last season.

Craig Beemer should have most of his players returning, as Andreas Krawczyk was the only fifth-year player on the team last season.

This is Beemer’s third season as head coach and he’s brought in a lot of recruits since he took over. The team’s leaders, such

as Charles Debove, Moritz Wittmann and Lucas Hotton all have at least two seasons left to play.

The Stingers went undefeated in RSEQ play a year ago, and it won’t be a surprise if they repeat it.

AS Blainville to potentially replace her in the midfield.

Defender Imane Chebel could be a player to watch this season. She had a strong first season with the Stingers and played with the Algerian national team last spring.

WOMEN’S RUGBY Head coach: Jocelyn Barrieau The women’s team didn’t share the same success as the men’s team, finishing the season with a 4-3 record and losing in the semi-final. But that wasn’t the biggest loss they took heading into this season, as veterans Alex Tessier and Frédérique Rajotte both graduated from the team.

Rajotte won the Stingers female athlete of the year award in April, and was named the U Sports top women’s rugby player last season. Both Tessier and Rajotte played a big part in bringing the Stingers to four straight RSEQ finals from 2013 to 2016.

It’s going to be a big hole to fill to replace them, but expect last season’s rookie of the year, Shawna Brayton, to step up.

WOMEN’S HOCKEY Head coach: Julie Chu The women’s hockey team also won a RSEQ championship last season, and much like the men’s rugby team, their core stars are staying this year. Defenceman and captain Marie-Joëlle Allard graduated but leading scorers Claudia Dubois, Audrey Belzile, Lidia Fillion and Sophie Gagnon are all still with the Stingers.

Third-years Stéphanie Lalancette and Brigitte Laganière both had breakout seasons last year and will look to continue their strong play. No recruits have been announced, but the Stingers said Lauriane Rougeau will return as an assistant coach after taking a year off to play in the Olympics.

SOCCER Head coach: Greg Sutton This year both the men and women’s soccer teams will see a big change, as Greg Sutton will coach both programs. Sutton has been the head coach of the men’s team since 2013.

The men’s team had a 3-8-1 record last season and failed to make the playoffs.

Rookie forward Simon Malaborsa was a bright spot, scoring six goals. Besides captain Olivier Georges having graduated, most of the team should stay on.

On the women’s side, they had a 3-7-4 record last year and also missed the playoffs. Captain Laura Lamontagne is leaving, but the team recruited Kathleen Hilaro, who is the captain of semi-pro

MEN’S HOCKEY Head coach: Marc-André Élement Even though they finished third in the Ontario University Athletics (OUA) last year, the Stingers will have a new-look men’s hockey team.

U Sports MVP Anthony Beauregard played professionally with the Laval Rocket at the end of last season. His linemate, and second-highest scorer on the team, Massimo Carozza, signed to play in Italy.

Without their stars, Élement recruited 12 new players, including forward Colin Grannary from the NCAA. Élement will need second-year defenceman Carl Neill to really lead the charge, and he has to hope some of the recruits can replace Carozza and Beauregard’s goal-scoring.

WOMEN’S BASKETBALL Head coach: Tenicha Gittens It wasn’t a season to remember for the women’s basketball team as they finished last in the RSEQ with a 4-12 record. Guard Jazlin Barker graduated and the Stingers should benefit from three fifth-year players this year with Aurélie d’Anjou Drouin, Marvia Dean and Ashley Moss.

One bright spot last season was forward Coralie Dumont, who was named RSEQ rookie of the year and made the U Sports all-rookie team. She finished the season averaging 11.1 points/game, 6.9 rebounds/game, and had a team-high 39.8 field-goal percentage.

MEN’S BASKETBALL Head coach: Rastko Popovic After losing in the RSEQ final against the McGill Redmen, the Stingers also lost graduating star forward Ken Beaulieu. Beaulieu was a dunking machine and will be hard to replace.

They still have point guard Ricardo Monge, guard Adrian Armstrong and forward Olivier Simon. Simon should see more playing time with Beaulieu gone. The Stingers played three preseason games and had eight new recruits on the roster, so expect to see a young team.

WRESTLING Head coach: Victor Zilberman Long-time head coach Victor Zilberman led the Stingers to a team silver at U Sports nationals in 2018. Francis Carter won gold and was named as the U Sports MVP, as well as the Stingers male athlete of the year.

Fifth-year Vincent De Marinis has left the Stingers to pursue an Olympic dream.

The women’s team should have a strong year with nationals bronze-medalists Jade Dufour, Laurence Beauregard and Amanda Savard all set to return.

AUGUST 28, 2018

BASKETBALL

Ole Miss coach: We just want to play NCAA coaches see little difference between Canada and U.S.

NICHOLAS DI GIOVANNI SPORTS EDITOR The Concordia Stingers men’s basketball team hosted three American schools for a series of exhibition games in early August.

The Ole Miss Rebels, South Carolina State Bulldogs and the Maryland Eastern Shore Hawks — all NCAA Division I teams — made the trip north of the border.

The Ole Miss Rebels, who play in the Southeastern Conference (SEC) — rated

by ESPN as the fifth-best conference in the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) — played the Stingers on Aug. 6.

Although the Rebels finished the 2017-18 season in last place in the SEC with a 12-20 record, they’re still considered a top team.

They made the second round of the men’s national tournament — meaning top 32 teams in the nation — in 2013 and 2015.

The Rebels beat the Stingers 84-77, but Concordia nearly pulled off the upset when they led 45-35 at halftime. After the game, Stingers head coach Rastko Popovic said he hates losing, but was still happy with how his players competed.

“We told [the players] before the game, ‘Yeah they’re bigger than us, but size is just size, it doesn’t mean anything when you have heart, effort and energy,’” Popovic said. “It’s satisfying to know we can play with some of the top teams in the NCAA.” The game against the Rebels, even though it was just the preseason, was high-intensity, with each side pushing hard to win. When The

Concordian asked Rebels head coach Kermit Davis why he decided to bring his team to Canada for a preseason tour, he said, “For [competitive] games just like this.”

He also spoke highly of the Stingers. “I have so much respect for guys that play at Concordia,” Davis said. “Some of them worked today, got off The Concordia Stingers and Ole Miss Rebels tipped off in a preseason game in Montreal on Aug work and came to play. . 6. Photo by Mackenzie Lad. They’ve had six practices.

They’re privy to all the [facilities] we have in Basketball Federation (FIBA) rules, while the Southeastern Conference. But basketball the NCAA has its own rules. FIBA rules have is basketball, and this is a university sport. four quarters of 10 minutes with a 24-second Those guys played with a lot of energy and shot clock, while the NCAA has two halves of have a great coach.”

20 minutes with a 30-second shot clock. The The Stingers’ other opponents, the South three-point line is also a half-metre further Carolina State Bulldogs and Maryland Eastern from the rim in Canada.

Shore Hawks, each play in the weaker Mid“It’s a much faster and [more] physical Eastern Atlantic Conference (MEAC) and game under FIBA rules,” Garvin adds. “The respectively had 10-22 and 7-24 records offensive game [in Canada] is very different. last season. The Stingers beat the Bulldogs I think the coaching is second-to-none in 80-72 on Aug. 8 and won 82-76 against the terms of how they coach the offensive game.”

Hawks on Aug. 12.

“Yes there’s differences,” Popovic said after “The basketball up here is very good, there’s the win against South Carolina State. “But at a lot of talent north of the border,” said South the end of the day, once the referee tosses the Carolina State head coach Murray Garvin. ball up, it’s just two teams playing basketball.”

“I believe it opened our guys’ eyes to really The Stingers host the Concordia Classic what it’s about outside of the United States.” tournament from Oct. 5 to 7 before Garvin pointed out to some rule differences starting their season at home against the between U Sports and the NCAA. Canadian Laval Rouge et Or on Nov. 8. universities play under the International With files from Eric Beaudoin.

NEWS

Stingers make multiple staff changes Two former student-athletes hired for coaching positions

NICHOLAS DI GIOVANNI SPORTS EDITOR There are new faces on the Concordia Stingers coaching staff this season, as the organization had a busy summer.

The Stingers’s adventurous search for a football head coach came to an end this summer. Last January, head coach Mickey Donovan left the team to join the Montreal Alouettes of the Canadian Football League (CFL) as a special teams coordinator. His brother Pat took over as interim head coach, but left in May to join his brother with the Alouettes, as the director of football operations.

This left the football team without a coach in late-May, but after Pat’s departure, it was quickly announced that former coach of the Brad Collinson will take over as head

Stinger Brad Collinson would take over as head coach. Athletics director D’Arcy Ryan said he knew about Collinson’s history as a coach, and had included him as a candidate when Mickey left in January, so it wasn’t a hard decision.

“When the time came [to find a new head coach], it was an easy phone call to make to discuss the position with him over a cup of coffee,” Ryan said.

Collinson played for the Stingers as an offensive lineman from 2000 to 2002, and captained the team. He played one season with the Alouettes in 2003 before going back to Concordia as a part-time assistant coach in 2004, and stayed on staff with the Stingers until 2010.

Hutchins. football team. Archive photo by Alex

“We always want to be competitive,” Ryan added on what he expects from Collinson. “But he’s inheriting someone’s team and didn’t have time to recruit, so we’re looking for a culture change.”

The Stingers also hired another former player to lead the women’s rugby team.

Jocelyn Barrieau last played for the Stingers in 2011, and has been the skills coach for men’s team since 2013. She coached the Dawson Blues women’s rugby team to four championships from 2007 to 2011. As head coach, she says she wants to focus on her athletes’ academics.

“The first goal is to ensure a 100 per cent graduation rate,” she told the Stingers’s website after she was hired in July.

Finally, Jorge Sanchez has left his position as head coach of the women’s soccer team after 16 years. Instead of getting a direct replacement for Sanchez, Greg Sutton, who’s been the men’s head coach since 2013, will be in control of both teams. Ryan said the idea to have Sutton as master coach came up about a year ago, and after candidates for the women’s coaching position dropped out, the Stingers approached Sutton to take control of both teams.

Not only does Ryan want Sutton to develop players, but also management.

“We’re looking for Sutton to really grow his staff and develop assistant coaches,” Ryan said.

theconcordian

13

COLOUR COMMENTARY WITH NICHOLAS DI GIOVANNI Should athletes be loyal? No, athletes do not need to be loyal to their teams, it’s as simple as that.

For anyone who follows soccer, there were three separate cases of “unloyal” players this summer.

First, Brazilian forward Malcom was set to sign with AS Roma from French club Bordeaux on July 23, with Roma even announcing the signing on their website. The next day, while fans waited at the airport in Rome, Malcom received another offer from Barcelona, and accepted to sign with the Spanish club. Just like that, Malcom turned his back on Roma to join Barcelona.

Just a week later, Italian defender Leo Bonucci returned to the club that he left a year ago. Bonucci played with Juventus for seven years before leaving to join rival AC Milan last summer. He even scored in an away game against Juventus last season, and celebrated in front of his former fans. When Milan finished in seventh place, Juventus won the league and then signed superstar Cristiano Ronaldo, Bonucci left Milan to return to Juventus, leaving both Juventus and Milan fans unhappy.

Finally, Belgian goalie Thibaut Cour tois lef t Chelsea for Real Madrid. Sounds like a simple move for the average soccer fan, but during Courtois’ unveiling ceremony in Madrid, he kissed the Real Madrid badge and said,“I’ve never felt like kissing a club badge until today.” It’s not Chelsea fans who were upset by this, although some did call him a snake on Twitter, but Atlético Madrid fans — Real’s cross-city rivals — the club Courtois played for from 2011 to 2014, who were angry.

So between Malcom, Bonucci and Courtois, did any of them have to be loyal? It’s easy to argue Malcom should have kept his agreement with Roma. But that’s business, and who hasn’t bailed on one opportunity to pursue a greater one?

As for Bonucci and Courtois, sports fans create this false loyalty that they believe players must follow, as if they’re bound to the same employer their whole career.

Bonucci can bounce between clubs as much as he likes, especially if he sees a better opportunity with his former team. For an athlete, ditching your former team and celebrating in front of their fans is not the most respectful thing to do, but that doesn’t mean the athlete can’t return to their old team. And I seriously don’t understand why Atlético fans are so upset about Courtois when he last played for them four years ago, and he’s been with Chelsea ever since. He can kiss whichever badge he wants.

Like any other person in the real word, athletes are not bound by loyalty to their teams. Sports is a business, and some fans need to realize that.

opinions OPINIONS EDITOR /// opinions@theconcordian.com SANIA MALIK

EDITORIAL

Sad, stressed and spread too thin Whoever said absence makes the heart grow fonder was obviously lying. Absence from university does not make the heart grow fonder. In fact, saying goodbye to summer just makes our distaste for the demands of university grow stronger. While we’d love to write a hopeful and chirpy editorial about back to school thoughts, we at The Concordian thought it’d be best to be honest during this time of year.Let’s face it: some of us will end up with bad teachers––or worse, we’ll end up being forced to teach ourselves the material because our professors will read off of useless PowerPoints. Sometimes, Rate My Professor doesn’t do its job in helping us choose the best instructors. “Hot” and “Easy” aren’t good enough criteria at this point. Will our professors make us uncomfortable by making inappropriate jokes? Will they deduct points if our margins aren’t the right size?

As if that’s not stressful enough, most of us are probably scrambling to try and figure out what our next move is. Should we apply for that internship that seems too good to be true? Should we plan to get a master’s because our first undergrad seems to be completely useless? So many choices, yet

so little motivation to pursue any of them.

And for those of us who actually do have side gigs at the same time as school, the word “balance” seems like a made-up term used by wizards. How are we expected to balance our work life and school life, when it feels like we don’t even have lives at all?

Working our bottoms off at a part-time, minimum wage job to earn some money while simultaneously writing 14 pages for

a one credit course is clearly an unrealistic expectation. Not only that, but our CV needs some “pizazz” too — we need volunteering experience, organization names and reference letters from people who are supposed to vouch for our characters. Where do we find the time and energy for all of this?

The truth is, university isn’t always a fun time. And we should stop being expected to live our best lives at a time where everything

just doesn’t seem that great. It’s okay to be mediocre, and it’s okay to strive for an average university experience.

We don’t need to constantly sign up for organizations — we don’t need to put more on our plate than we can handle just so our CV looks great. We can be regular kids, who attend class (sometimes) and we should be okay with this.

Whoever said university is supposed to be the best time of our lives was probably living in Finland, where students spend very little time in the classroom compared to other countries. In reality, most of us aren’t having a great time. We’re acne-ridden, stressed, depressed and certainly not well-dressed.

In all seriousness though, having access to higher education is a privilege, one that we at The Concordian don't take for granted. Having said that, returning to the world of academia can be daunting and discouraging. Take a deep breath and know that you’re not alone in feeling a little overwhelmed around this time of year. But try to use that feeling to motivate you rather than paralyze you — after all, diamonds are made under pressure. From all of us at The Concordian, good luck and welcome back.

Graphic by Wednesday Laplante.

CELEBRITIES

Speaking your mind in the spotlight

Kanye West’s support for Donald Trump highlights a larger conversation about famous peoples' opinions GABRIELA SIMONE CONTRIBUTOR We all have a right to voice our opinions.

In fact, I’ll be voicing mine throughout this article. It doesn’t mean you need to agree with it, but it’s always nice to open our minds to a different perspective.

Oftentimes, I think people say things without expecting repercussions. But if your words were more powerful than other people’s, would you be more careful about what you said?

In my opinion, a celebrity’s words have a big impact on their fans. People can be easily influenced by their role models and, therefore, swayed to agree with something solely because of the person who said it. Or, people can also completely disagree with any statements made by celebrities and withdraw their support as a result.

When rapper Kanye West tweeted a picture of his “Make America Great Again” cap in April, people did not react well. West later tweeted, “You don’t have to agree with Trump, but the mob can’t make me not love him.” Although West has the right to be a Trump supporter, there are obvious reasons why so many people do not support the President and were so shocked when West revealed he did. I believe Trump is blatantly racist, sexist and quite childish. It’s obvious to me that this isn’t someone who should be

spoken highly of by other famous people.

Although West said on Twitter that he wants to be open about his opinions and thoughts rather than be controlled by the popular opinion, it can be argued that he should be more cautious about the things he says because of his influence on the public.

If he openly states that he supports Trump or supports a specific statement Trump has made, this may sway West supporters to think something that’s problematic is not so bad if West supports it.

Things can often be misread or taken out of context, so celebrities should be used to thinking twice about anything they say. We all have a right to express our opinions, but when your words have a larger impact on the public, that right needs to be exercised with more caution.

I’m not saying things should be purposely left unsaid, but words travel fast, and with the popularity of social media nowadays, it’s easy for something to be seen or read by many more people than anticipated and for its impact to be far-reaching.

Kanye also argued in a tweet, “I don’t agree with everything anyone does. That’s what makes us individuals. And we have the right to independent thought.” Though this is true, being a celebrity does come with the responsibility of keeping in mind how your words influence your fans. Explanations must often be given to justify words and actions. If

you give your opinion with no justification, it can be taken the wrong way. With an explanation, people can at least understand the reasoning behind your thinking and be considerate of it.

We do not have to agree with everything a person says, but we can respect their words.

Or, if we do not want to accept them, we can at least acknowledge the fact that there is a reasonable explanation behind their opinions.

Whether our words will be heard by one

person or thousands, we should always be aware of the possible repercussions.

Everyone can disagree with something or be disagreed with.

Everyone has a right to their opinion, and to speak it, no matter the size of their audience. However, those in the public eye should always be more conscious of how their words and actions will be received.

Graphic by Wednesday Laplante.

AUGUST 28, 2018

theconcordian

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MUSIC

The fine line between entertainment and reality Why the link between rap and violence is becoming increasingly alarming

SPENCER NAFEKH-BLANCHETTE CONTRIBUTOR Florida rapper XXXTentacion had just left a motorcycle dealership on June 18 and was about to drive off when two masked men approached his car, robbing and fatally shooting him, according to CBC News. It was an incident as tragic and heart-wrenching as it was controversial.

While devoted fans mourned the loss of their favourite artist, others showed no sympathy, largely due to the rapper’s cumbersome heap of criminal charges which range from harassment to domestic violence. But this isn’t the first time a rapper has been in hot water in the eyes of the law. According to Complex Magazine, in 2016 Famous Dex was sent to jail after hotel footage was released showing him beating his girlfriend; something similar happened in a case earlier this year when NBAYoungboy was indicted on assault and kidnapping after a haunting video of him with his partner at the time surfaced on the web, according to TMZ. TMZ also revealed

that rapper Tekashi69 currently faces up to three years of jail time due to sexual misconduct—and these are among the most celebrated voices in today’s rap scene. Many of these rappers came up from nothing and are riding off a wave of instant success, which is great. But this also means the spotlight can be placed on people who don’t realize the power they hold, or simply take advantage of it.

I believe the escalation of violence in the lives of rap artists is a result of the genre being too aggressive in its present state. This might seem like an absurd claim—after all, isn’t rap music supposed to be hostile from time to time?

But I believe that, nowadays, rap music and culture condones (or perhaps even encourages) toxic behaviour, resulting in an escalation of violence, exposing both the artists and their listeners to danger.

I believe that in the age of social media, an artist’s music and their personality are more prevalent in a holistic sense; rappers need to market themselves on platforms like SnapChat and Instagram as much as they need to advertise their actual tracks to gain traction.

It is a time when anybody with a laptop, a mic and a SoundCloud account has the potential to turn heads, and rappers often take a multitude of measures to ensure the spotlight stays on them. This includes changing their appearance with dyed hair or face tattoos, flexing new purchases (designer clothes, jewelry and cars, to name a few) or, getting caught up in a public beef with another artist.

The latter I’ve noticed much too often in recent memory. With each new day, more rappers are livestreaming themselves and talking one another down in what feels more like a desperate publicity stunt than anything else. In a lot of cases, the talk is, well, just that: talk. But other times it gets physical, with one recent example taking place in our very own Montreal, between rappers Killy and Lil Xan after a storm of malicious tweets. Fights and in-person showdowns bet ween rap artists are about as frequent as they are unsurprising; footage of these tussles go viral.

What scares me is that we live in a world where the fine line between

entertainment and reality is becoming harder for people to distinguish. Violent behaviour makes the growing popularity of rap even more complex, as this genre has increased by 72 per cent in on-demand audio streaming in the last year, according to global information and measurement company Nielsen. This same company noted that, for the first time, rap surpassed rock as the most popular genre in the United States last year, with the vast majority of its listeners being young adults and teens.

I’m not trying to demonize rap—on the contrary, I’m trying to protect the music I love. Whether it’s the effortless tongue-in-cheek way Lil Pump approaches his bars or Kanye’s hilariously egotistical one-liners, I believe rap is an unfailing method of getting people to vibe together and providing something to talk about. But rappers should be viewed as entertainers, not idols. They have stories and motives that are unknown to us, and it is of vital importance that any rap listener, seasoned or novice, take this into consideration before putting on their headphones.

Graphic by Wednesday Laplante.

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