The Concordian Fall 2014 Issue 13

November 25, 2014.

Volume 32

|

Issue 13 |

Independent student newspaper at Concordia University. Since 1983.

|

theconcordian

News p. 3

Vigil for victims of transphobia

Photo by Keith Race

In this issue

LIFE

p. 9

Remembering Polytechnique

ARTS

p. 12

Portraits of disquietude

MUSIC

p. 13

Allah-Las surf sound waves

SPORTS

p. 16

Rugby takes it home for ConU

We tell your stories. Follow us on Twitter: @TheConcordian

OPINIONS

p.19

Getting rid of the F-word

theconcordian.com

news 2

//

Tuesday, November 25, 2014

write to the editor: news@theconcordian.com

CITY JessiCa KenwooD assistant news editor

>> BIXI COMING BACK IN 2015

Bixi bikes will remain available to the public for at least the next five years. Montreal Mayor Denis Coderre announced plans to invest a maximum of $2.9 million annually in the non-profit company to ensure its survival over the next halfdecade, according to the Montreal Gazette. It will cost each Montrealer 77 cents a year to cover the cost of Bixi. “Bixi is part of the signature of Montreal. ... It represents part of our efforts to position Montreal as a leader in public and alternative modes of transit, for the benefit of all Montrealers,” Coderre told the Montreal Gazette. Over 33,000 people use the bikes around the city.

>> SQ OFFICER GOES UNPUNISHED FOR THE DEATH OF A CHILD The Sureté du Québec officer who hit another car last February, killing a five-year-old boy, will not be charged for the death, according to CBC. The Crown Prosecutor announced the decision on Wednesday but refused to explain further. Quebec’s Director of Criminal and Penal Prosecutions (DPCP) announced that they would be speaking to the family to explain the decision. The officer was driving in an unmarked provincial police car when the accident occurred. He was driving 122 km/h, more than double the speed limit, but was not responding to an emergency. The father, whose two children were in the backseat, was bringing his children to school at the time of the fatal crash.

>>

MAN FACES CHARGES AFTER FATAL CAR CRASH Jean-Richard Auguste was formally charged from his hospital bed yesterday on 19 counts, including criminal negligence causing death and possession of marijuana, according to the Montreal Gazette. Auguste was racing west on Notre-Dame St. in Montreal’s east end at around 2 a.m. when he lost control of his vehicle, crossed the oncoming lane, drove through a maple tree and into the balcony of a house before coming to a stop. Two of the passengers died, and two more remain hospitalized with serious injuries. Auguste was also driving without a valid permit.

Campus // news

Mellissa Fung on Afghanistan Journalist minimizes 28-day kidnapping ordeal to focus on status of citizens MaRie BRieRe De la HosseRaYe Contributor

On Tuesday Nov. 18, journalist Mellissa Fung came to Concordia to give a talk about her experience reporting in Afghanistan.

The independent journalist, writer, and former reporter with CBC was captured and held for 28 days by an Islamist group in 2008.

This happened while she was reporting for the CBC on Canada’s military intervention in the country. Despite this experience, she chose to go back later to keep reporting on the fragile state.

A few years after, she wrote a book about her story, entitled Under an Afghan Sky. This talk was part of a series of discussions held in seven journalism schools across Canada to share her experience.

The event, titled “Inside Afghanistan,” was organized by the Aga Khan Foundation, a nonprofit organization which works towards social growth in the developing world.

André Roy, the Dean of Arts and Science, introduced Fung as being an inspirational example of journalism representing the “conviction, courage, passion, and commitment” necessary for success.

“Just because we have been at war in this country for the past 12 years doesn’t mean that things were going to turn around quickly,” said Fung. “We have to have

patience.”

In her talk, Fung chose to focus on why she kept coming back to the country over the last seven years despite everything she’d been through. Even though she made headlines because of her kidnapping, she didn’t talk in detail about this experience. Fung explained that while the press tends to highlight the individual, she did not want to become the story. Instead, she hopes people will focus on talking about the lives of refugees and women overseas.

It is for this specific reason that she feels committed to the stories she collected, to put the spotlight back on those who are struggling every day. She also spoke about how much Afghanistan has changed and gained since 2001, coverage that traditional media tend to ignore in favour of more negative coverage like instances of suicide bombing.

“We have the responsibility as journalists to tell the other side of the story as well to get a complete picture of what really is going on in the country,” she said.

Fung explained that she had to argue with CBC in order for them to allow her to return to Afghanistan in 2011. They feared for her safety, but this was preventing her from covering the stories she believed in. Fung finally went back with an NGO working in Afghanistan.

According to her, 80 per cent of women in Afghanistan are still illiterate but the number of girls in school keeps increasing.

“Development is a process, it is generational,” she said. In addition, new initiatives exist in the population. One of the stories she shared was about a school where boys and girls were learning side by side for a few years, before the government intervened.

Outside of education, she also looked at the healthcare system and talked about new initiatives increasing widespread healthcare access. The Afghan government for instance partnered with a French NGO to create the French Medical Institute for Children in Kabul. Twelve years ago, such a facility didn’t exist, and it is now expanding.

Fung’s lecture concentrated on the difficult situation of women, but she addressed it with positivity. She said that around 90 per

cent of women have experienced some kind of sexual assault. However, increasingly women are able to speak up about it.

“Today they have control, they can have a choice. And that’s what makes the whole difference,” she said. “Women all have a sense of cautious optimism about the future, they know they made incredible progress over the last 12 years and they see a lot of hope that this will continue.”

Thanks to the lessons learned from working in “one of the world’s most fragile states,” Fung shared the challenges, risks and importance of treating all sides of a story. Through powerful stories about education, health and women, it is a sorely-needed bit of optimism in the challenging future that lies ahead for this country.

MellissA fung is A cbc journAlist held for 28 dAys by An islAMist group.

Campus// news

Student congress reaches consensus large-scale support comes out for sustainability, dance, engineers Milos KovaCeviC news editor

C

oncordia’s Student Congress met on Friday, Nov. 21 to discuss and come to an accord on several issues among the assembled student groups, ultimately passing motions concerning student space, engineering minors, and sustainability.

Since the congress represents the largest assembly of student groups it was decided to adhere to high voting standards, by

asking for a 90 per cent voting threshold.

This meant several motions did not pass, but several big ones did.

The contemporary dance department successfully argued to have free gym memberships for all of its members, on account of a lack of space and the resulting increase in injuries from overcrowded and unsafe conditions, with potentially serious results for those who depend on their physical condition to not only study but work.

The Engineering & Computer Science Association (ECA) suc-

cessfully argued to allow engineering students to take a minor should they want to. Up until now, the 120-credit engineering bachelor program has denied engineering students the possibility of choosing minors or taking classes outside their department.

An initiative to add a mandatory 200-level course on sustainability to each program was initially rejected because of concerns it would needlessly overlap with existing courses in certain faculties. There were also criticisms that adding an extra course would delay graduation

for some programs (such as biology, in which students have difficulties as it is graduating on time) by up to a full year. The proposal was later passed after amendments agreed to the necessity of the idea, but left the actual details—such as the level and nature of the course—open to future discussion.

The successful motions aren’t binding in any way to the university administration but they do signal a strong desire of the student body, via their student group representatives, of the direction they would prefer the school to pursue.

Tuesday, November 25, 2014

//

3

lGBTQ // news

Transgender losses honoured in vigil Day of remembrance gives public a glimpse past suffering and injustice Milos KovaCeviC news editor

A chilly Thursday night of Nov. 20 saw two dozen individuals gather at Norman Bethune Square and call out the continual discrimination and violence against the transgender community for the annual Transgender Day of Remembrance.

The vigil was held as organizer Ché Blaines read out the names of victims of transgender discrimination as people from all walks of life—friends, lovers, relatives—solemnly braved the cold with hushed tones and respectful silence and marked the names of those remembered across paper bags holding candles. Members of the transgender community often face higher chances of violence, including murder, as well as a much higher degree of depression, social isolation, and suicide. One recent study by the Williams Institute, dedicated to independent research on sexual orientation and gender identity law and public policy, found that over 40 per cent of transgender or nongender conforming respondents had attempted suicide at some point in their lives.

Afterwards, the vigil broke up into smaller groups and dispersed to warmer spaces to discuss, process, and interact with anybody curious to come along. What followed was an intimate and informal chance

to hear their stories and become more familiar not just with the individuals but with the various groups—transgender, queer, transitioning, transitioned, local and international—represented by the terms.

Participant Jade Hart considered events such as these important in bringing visibility to the challenges transgender individuals like her face in everyday situations like finding and maintaining employment and lodging

and fighting for their rights. The South Shore where she lives is, compared to the island of Montreal, decades behind in awareness to the concept that gender may be in opposition to sexual organs—or may be beyond the binary itself.

“Unfortunately for us our solution to protect ourselves against discrimination is a big part of the problem. Public information about the trans community is scarce and sometimes

not so accurate and this usually makes society confused [about] who we are,” she said of the one-dimensionality and stereotypes that account for the majority of interaction most society has with the transgender community.

She also considers the personal hurdle to be the only real barrier to acceptance. “A person's will to either be open to accept/respect trans is wholly up to that individual.”

pArticipAnts stood vigil on thursdAy to MeMoriAlize victiMs of trAnsphobiA. photo by Keith rAce.

GSA hopeful that cooler heads prevail

First-ever loyola General assembly to wrap up what previous one couldn’t

The Concordia Graduate Student Association (GSA), which represents around 6,500 graduate students at Concordia, will have its second general assembly of the semester on Dec. 1, and many hope will go smoother than October’s raucous meeting.

The previous assembly held in October proved to be a fiasco with claims of voter intimidation, disruptive behaviour, and lax enforcement. All of these failings were best represented during the election for VP Academic and Advocacy between candidates Dina Alizadeh and Trevor Smith in an initially contentious vote of 58-57, respectively, that went through several recounts as students left, further widening the lead. Attempts to decide the voting by secret ballot failed, leading to shouts, flailing hands, and walkouts. The chaot-

JessiCa KenwooD assistant news editor

>> PARLIAMENT

WARNED OF TERRORIST ATTACK A memo was released to Prime Minister Stephen Harper’s staff five days before the attack that killed Cpl. Nathan Cirillo at the War Memorial on Parliament Hill, CBC has revealed. The warning from the Privy Council Office bore the allcaps heading, “HEIGHTENED STATE OF ALERTNESS.” It was signed by Iwan Chan, acting executive director of security operations in the security and intelligence secretariat of the Privy Council Office—the prime minister’s department.

It has been reported that this type of increased security is not routine for Ottawa and it is unknown how seriously it was taken or whether it was forwarded to those in lowerlevel positions.

>> BLUE CROSS DENIED $1M BILL

Campus // news

Milos KovaCeviC news editor

NATION

ic voting atmosphere ultimately caused the vote to be tabled and rescheduled for the Dec. 1 assembly after some GSA members and executives claimed the open ballot was easily abused by the largest voting bloc present: the engineering students. They, for their part, claimed their victory wasn’t honoured and displayed a violation of democracy.

The Engineering and Computer Science Graduate Association’s (ECSGA) VP of Finance, Mostapha Marzban, went before the GSA council on Nov. 18 to defend himself against a sanctioning motion calling him a key figure in the disruptions. (Marzban, in addition to VP Finance, is the husband of Alizadeh.) An amended motion was passed to that effect but some have expressed concern it was watered down to the point of being completely ineffective and overly vague. As it was in closed session, the details cannot appear in print. The GSA may expel an individual from the immediate

general assembly but there exists no formal method of punishing members aside from a theoretical funding blacklist that has seldom, if ever, been used.

“It would be a lot more productive if we simply asked him to acknowledge what he did was inappropriate,” said GSA Councillor and Senator Keroles Riad, who originally suggested the location move for December’s general assembly primarily to more closely involve the GSA’s 300 or so Loyola members, and in the hopes the change of place may relax tensions.

Marzban for his part is unrepentant and says he has not received any official document from the GSA notifying him of the association’s decision, or what the sanctioning will mean.

He admits to being angry at the assembly, but says it was brought on by the organizers’ bias.

“Accusation of only me, while everyone including executives were supporting their desired candidate with their power,

is not fair and constructive,” he said, adding that he’d given the recount the benefit of the doubt at first but found the final decision to table the vote as incomprehensible. He also considers the subsequent write-ups of the event in The Link and personal blogs as disrespectful to the engineering students.

Marzban says the way forward is to detach the voting from the general assembly.

“If the GSA council of directors want to make sure this will not happen anymore—executives clearly supporting one candidate and [while] other students are disagree with them— they should change the rules in a way that elections happen outside of GA. In my point of view, [the general assembly] happens two to three times a year and this is a very precious time ... we should not waste that time with stuffs [sic] like elections (which takes almost all of GA) while we can do them outside of GA through secret ballot.”

The Saskatchewan Blue Cross has declined to pay a woman the $950,000 cost of the bill she received after prematurely giving birth to her daughter while on vacation, according to CBC. Jennifer Huculak-Kimmel went into labour nine weeks early while visiting Hawaii and was slapped with a nearly $1 million bill. She had insurance with the Blue Cross before departing for vacation but they denied her claim, citing a “preexisting condition.” The insurer said a bladder infection two months before the pregnancy meant Huculak-Kimmel was ineligible to receive coverage.

The Kimmels were never asked about this at the time that they bought the insurance and were told that the insurance had run out after Huculak-Kimmel gave birth.

>> MAN RAMS INTO RESTAURANT, ORDERS WINGS FOR ALL A man drove through a restaurant in Newfoundland over the weekend and, to apologize, ordered chicken wings for all of the customers. A spokesperson for the Wing’N restaurant in Clarenville, N.L. stated that there was no structural damage to the building. The Dodge Ram smashed into the window of the restaurant and destroyed some furniture but no one was injured. The restaurant reopened the same day, according to CBC.

4

//

Tuesday, November 25, 2014

Campus // news

WORLD JessiCa KenwooD assistant news editor

>> FERGUSON

GRAND JURY TO NOT APPROVE CRIMINAL CHARGES The grand jury in Missouri announced that it is not approving criminal charges against police officer Darren Wilson for his fatal shooting of Michael Brown earlier this year. The announcement came from St. Louis County prosecutor Bob McCulloch just after 9 p.m.

Monday night, who emphasized that the grand jury were “the only people who heard every witness … and every piece of evidence.” The Brown family has come out saying that they are “disappointed,” but call for protesters to remain peaceful and make a positive change in the system. However, within an hour of the decision, the St. Louis Police Department confirmed on Twitter that shots had been fired near the department’s headquarters and a police car had had its windows shattered.

>> BUFFALO SNOWSTORM KILLS 13 A snowstorm in Buffalo, New York left 13 dead, with snow reaching as high as 2.1 meters in some areas, according to Global News.

The historic snowfall left citizens unprepared, forcing many to stay home and causing a driving ban.

Many returned to work on Monday after days of snow-clearing, which is still incomplete. However, with the increase in temperature there is a looming fear of flooding. New York Governor Andrew Cuomo has released a statement cautioning people to prepare for evacuation, while many prepare for the highly expected flooding of their basements and collapsing of their roofs.

>> OBAMA TACKLES IMMIGRATION ALONE After a huge loss to the Republicans during the mid-term elections, President Barack Obama went at it alone Thursday night when he announced in his immigration reform speech that he would not be deporting five million illegal immigrants from the United States, according to ABC News. The House of Representatives and the Senate, both now under Republican control, were bypassed in the decision-making process when Obama used his presidential executive action powers. This has caused anger in Washington, where the Republican Party is considering lawsuits, a government shutdown, and impeachment in response.

Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has publicly backed the president’s decision.

Concordia students head to the polls CsU byelections to take place from nov.25 to 27 on both capuses Milos KovaCeviC news editor

Concordia students can shape the way their student union acts as voting in the Concordia Student Union (CSU) byelections opens today, Nov. 25. Voting will continue until Thursday, Nov. 27.

Several referendum questions are on the ballot this semester, including a fee levy to support the Model UN program, student housing, and the CSU’s endorsement of the boycott, divest and sanction (BDS) movement against Israel and in support of Palestine.

BDS The question about the BDS movement is one of the more contentious referendum issues in this election and calls on people to boycott and divest from Israeli companies, as well as companies that support Israel, and also calls on governments to levy sanctions against Israel.

Supporters of the BDS movement say that Israel is illegally occupying Palestinian territory and violating human rights. If the question passes, the CSU will endorse the movement and they could apply pressure on the university to do the same.

Those who oppose the CSU’s endorsement of the BDS movement are worried it will polarize and divide the campus.

Tangible results of the question would be felt only within the CSU. This position would make it difficult for CSU clubs and groups to purchase any products that come from Israel or bring in speakers, though it would not have any direct impact on the business of the university itself, such as the availability of exchange programs with Israeli institutions.

The precise wording of the

question has also been a source of controversy.

On November 16, the CSU’s chief electoral officer (CEO), Andre-Marcel Baril, changed the wording of the question to read that the CSU would endorse the BDS movement “until Israel complies with International Law and Universal Principles of Human Rights.” The question previously asked if the CSU would call for a “boycott of all academic and consumer ties with any institution or company that aids in Israel’s occupation of Palestine.”

Baril as CEO has the power to change the wording of a referendum question up to seven days before the voting period if the question might be prejudicial to one side or affect the outcome of the election.

A Judicial Board complaint was filed on Monday, alleging that Baril’s edits were manifestly unreasonable because they made the question prejudicial and because the No campaign was not notified of the edits.

The Judicial Board ruled Monday, Nov. 24, that Baril had made the new version of the question publicly available by posting it online but the wording of the question should be amended again.

“We did not feel that he had been manifestly unreasonable, but we felt the question could be more clear than the one that was going to appear on the ballot,” said Judicial Board chairperson Zach Braman.

The final wording of the question as it is to be seen my students will be, “Do you approve of the CSU endorsing the boycott, divestment and sanctions movement against Israel?”

“Our goal was to allow students to have a voice and make the question simple and not ambiguous,” Braman said.“Our job is just to make sure that the students say what they really want to say.”

Baril could not be reached for

Photo by Marie-Pier LaRose

comment.

MODEL UN Concordia’s Model UN referendum question is looking to have the right to collect seven cents per credit from every student. The fee levy would give the Model UN far more money—and more financial independence—than the $7,500 per year it currently gets from the CSU. The fee levy would bring in around $49,000 for the group each year, which would go towards expanding the organization’s leadership training program and speaker series.

Between 100 to 200 people currently attend the group’s leadership training sessions.

Ten per cent of the new fee levy would also fund financial transparency initiatives like hiring an external auditor, according to Nathanaël Dagane, the president of the group. He says none of the funds would offset travel expenses, although some may be applied to conference and delegate fees the club incurs.

STUDENT HOUSING If approved, the question about student housing would allow the CSU to support student co-op housing projects. Recently, the CSU Council heard a presentation about one ongoing project spearheaded by the Unité de travail pour l’implantation de logement étudiant (UTILE).

Several student co-op housing units already exist in Canadian cities, including Toronto, Kingston, and Guelph.

“Honestly, I’m surprised this has yet to occur in Montreal, a student city, given its innovative social economy sector,” said Terry Wilkings, CSU’s VP Academic and Advocacy.

Student co-op housing could remove students from the greater Montreal rental market, which Wilkings said might allow families

to re-occupy units now used by students.

The explanation from the Yes committee said that student co-op housing would also help prevent students from being affected by predatory rental practices, especially students from other provinces and countries.

The question could allow the CSU to allocate money from the Student Space, Accessible Education and Legal Contingency Fund (SSAELC).

“However, before any big projects are started it’s nearly inevitable that students will be consulted again through a democratic process,” Wilkings said.

Other referendum questions could ratify the CSU executives’ decision to use money from the SSAELC fund to create and launch the new Hive Café and not use its operating budget to repay the loan.

(The cost would represent 1 per cent of the SSAELC funds.) Another question would increase the fee levy for the International and Ethnic Associations Council, which is hoping to separate from the CSU. Other potential CSU stances include opposing austerity measures and budget cuts, and supporting a campus daycare.

Six new CSU Councillors will also be elected. One councillor will be elected for the faculty of Arts and Science, one for Engineering and Computer Science and three for JMSB. A candidate for the independent councillor position is running unopposed.

All undergraduate Concordia students who are registered for at least one class in the winter semester are eligible to vote. Several voting booths are available downtown in the Hall Building lobby, the MB lobby, the Visual Arts Building Lobby, and the Webster Library Atrium. At Loyola, polling stations will be set up in the SP Building lobby, in the Vanier Library, and on the main floor of the AD Building.

For more information, visit csuelections.wordpress.com.

Tuesday, November 25, 2014

//

5

Campus// news

ConU says no to cuts, yes to education Concordia’s town hall brings panelists and students together in discussions on austerity Milos Kovacevic News editor

A frank town hall on Monday, Nov. 24 discussed austerity in a multitude of perspectives composed of various university student groups, faculty associations, community organizers, and students.

Moderated by PhD student and part-time professor Erik Chevrier, the conversation brought together a group of panelists representing a broad section of Concordia, from parttime faculty to student councils and groups. The discussion followed a logical progression, from defining the dangers of current government policies striving for a balanced budget at the expense of education and society as a whole, to fearful concerns of what these policies could mean and, finally, to ways of moving forward in solidarity along a united front in resisting and raising the issue to greater public consciousness.

Austerity, the hall determined, is not an unavoidable action, but a prioritization of what is to be funded and what isn’t. According to the panel, the strategies of austerity are entirely voluntary and are the result of short-sighted policies that jeopardize the province’s education—with long-term consequences in store—and of societal mechanisms for the benefit

of the corporate vote, misguided economics, and political considerations between the elites.

“These things are judgments by politicians,” said Chevrier in his opening remarks. “They enact the location of where the funding goes.” Cuts to education mean reduced services, larger classes, less research and a lowering of its priority.

Though a fair bit of time was spent analyzing the perceived irony in which all save corporations pay for the failing economy, for the most part attention was paid to various strategies and consensus-building approaches.

“What happens is that when we take away protection from the environment it actually makes the job of ecologically destructive industries a lot cheaper for [the corporations] to accomplish,” said Sustainable Concordia’s external coordinator Mike Finck, who brought an environmentalist angle to the discussion. “[Austerity] amounts to a subsidy for ecologically disruptive organizations to do their work, and they do this because in our capitalist system accumulated profits act as a lever on our political system that allows them to change the way that it functions.”

Robert Sonin, mobilization officer for the Teaching and Research Assistants of Concordia (TRAC), spoke about how he was led to believe one of the university’s highest priorities was funding for research and teach-

ing.

“There’s been this turnaround where education is seen as a luxury,” he said of the similar tactics occurring worldwide, an unfortunate trend that goes hand in hand with an added focus on education. “The reality is, you have an increase in the amount of education it takes to do anything in the world.”

“When you start cutting budgets, the teaching budget is the big budget—it’s what you spend money on. When you cut that, what ends up happening is you have to replace outgoing professors, these tenured professors who are retiring, with cheaper staff, and those are replaced with ever cheaper, and at the bottom rung are teaching assistants.” He says a school cutting TAs undoes the crucial functions they perform in aiding the professor in grading and handling class work and, especially, online classes—a particularly profit-friendly concept for universities. “If you don’t have assignments, how do you know what you’re doing, how well you’re doing?”

“We have TAs who do extra hours, notoriously tons of extra hours for free because we want to do a proper job,” said Sonin.

CSU President Ben Prunty saw a broad alliance between all public sectors as key in the fight to maintain their interests in the face of political and corporate agendas. The atomization of group interests is, for Prunty (and, one can safely say, many

of those present), the death knell of the entire anti-austerity movement, and he repeatedly defined austerity as beyond individual struggle. He also echoed the idea that the university has been insufficiently vocal in taking a stance on austerity.

Prunty said the university was not responsible for the cuts it faces, but that “we can call them out for what it’s not doing.”

Concordia is currently coping with budget cuts of over $15 million for the 2014-2015 fiscal year, with more to come. So far, the university has expressed concerns over the quality of its education and research under such conditions, but have not taken an official position opposing austerity.

Maria Peluso, part-time faculty member of political science and former president of Concordia University’s Part-time Faculty Association (CUPFA), was on hand to give the students

support and insight, as a teacher with several decades of union and teaching experience under her belt. She says she’s seen the increasing corporatization of universities aiming for uncertain marketplace profit over student learning and the public interest.

In addition the Graduate Student Association, the Undergraduate Students of Philosophy Association (SoPhiA) and the Student Association of Graduates in English (SAGE) were, amongst others, also present.

The final takeaway message was that Montreal’s record of student activism, highlighted most recently in the 2012 student strikes tuition increases, gives hope but also a weighty responsibility to students in building bridges and framing the discourse in a positive and progressive way.

Chevrier ended the event with the closing words, “let’s not stop the conversation here, let’s continue it.”

514-487- 4400 7363, 7363, rue rue Sherbrooke Sherbrooke Ouest, Ouest, NDG NDG Montréal Montréal (Québec) (Québec) H4B H4B 1S1 1S1

The Concordian is hiring!

Open positions include: Assistant Online Editor & Production Assistant (knowledge of InDesign is a must).

If interested, email a CV and cover letter to editor@theconcordian.com by Dec. 18, 2014.

A snapshot of the converstaion happening at Monday’s town hall. Photo by Milos Kovacevic.

6

//

Tuesday, November 25 , 2014

life

write to the editor: life@theconcordian.com Travel // liFe

We’ll always have Paris... or Montreal They say that Montreal is the Paris of north america: here’s why MaRCo saveRiano staff writer

Ah, Paris!

I’ve always had a longing to visit Paris.

Everything from its fashion to its desserts has left me in awe for as long as I can remember. Hopefully, one day I’ll have the chance (and the money) to live that dream.

Until then, we’ll always have Montreal.

Paris is a unique city in both its culture and charm, and nothing could compare to the real thing. But our modest metropolis definitely has an appeal of its own— there’s no better city in which to take a Parisian vacation, besides Paris itself.

To start off my French adventure, I headed to Old Montreal, which is undoubtedly a little piece of Paris in Canada.

Over the years, several movies have actually been filmed in Old Montreal as a way for filmmakers to recreate European cities on a budget.

The cobblestone streets and historic buildings also made it the perfect place for me to pretend I was in Paris. The best thing about it is that admiring the charming shops and walking along the water by the Old Port is completely free.

What’s the first thing that comes to mind when you think of Paris? For myself, it’s the stereotypical image of a French café.

Clichéd, maybe, but who doesn’t dream of sitting on a terrasse outside a café on StGermain-des-Prés with a café au lait and a delicious pastry, while quietly admiring the city around them?

Unfortunately, the brisk Canadian weather put a damper on my plan to dine al fresco, but that didn’t mean I couldn’t still enjoy a brunch fit for France. I decided to check out Maison Christian Faure; tucked away on Place Royale in Old Montreal, the pastry school and boutique offers a “chic snacking menu” filled with mouthwatering desserts, traditional French dishes (like quiche Lorraine), and a variety of salads and sandwiches perfect for any brunch date.

Walking into the parlour was like entering a scene from Sofia Coppola’s film Marie Antoinette: an elaborately-painted mural by the entrance, display cases filled with colourful cakes and delicate French pastries, a tower of macarons, and bottles of Veuve Clicquot strewn about. I seriously considered asking if they’d let me move in.

I ordered the quiche Lorraine, made with eggs, cream, ham and cheese, and of

course, a café au lait with a hazelnut éclair (my stomach is rumbling just thinking about them). The quiche was moist and delicious, the coffee was made perfectly, and the hazelnut éclair...I was speechless.

The cream was so rich and sweet that I definitely think I was left with a cavity.

My friend ordered a chocolate dessert that could only be described as creamy chocolatey fudge goodness in a cup. Thankfully we got out of there before devouring everything in sight and developing diabetes.

After wandering around our personal Paris a little while longer, I (somehow) felt my stomach starting to rumble again.

I hopped on the metro, the mode of transportation for any Parisian on the go, in search of my next treat: les macarons.

For those of you who have not had the pleasure of tasting a macaron, they’re French meringue confections made with egg whites, icing sugar, granulated sugar, and almond powder. They typically come

decAdent And colourful MAcArons froM point g on Mount royAl Ave. photo by hArleen tuMber.

in an array of flavours and colors, and they’re delicious!

Boutique Point G on Mount Royal Ave. E. has some of the best macarons in Montreal. The shop offers over 22 flavours which left me with one of the hardest decisions I’ve had to make in a long time. As much as I wanted to buy them all, I settled on six: caramel fleur de sel, Madagascar vanilla, choco-hazelnut, maple taffy, gingerbread, and coconut.

I know there’s more to Paris than eating croissants and drinking coffee; it’s a city with such a rich culture, including museums, ballets, and so much more.

Unfortunately, appreciating the arts often comes with a price tag—of course, so does food, but you can always make an exception for a delicious pastry. Montreal is filled with museums and you can find some kind of performance on any given day, so you can continue your European adventure. But why not appreciate some of the more beautiful things the city has to offer for free?

One of Paris’ most famous free attractions is the iconic Eiffel Tower. People flock to the tower from all over just to admire it from afar, and it’s largely considered one of the most romantic spots in the world.

Of course, there’s nothing in Montreal that could come close to its beauty, but I found the next best thing.

Place Ville Marie’s Christmas tree is a sight to see for anyone dreaming of heading to the City of Lights. Standing over 62 feet high, with more than 13,000 LED lights overlooking Ste-Catherine St., it’s a holiday tradition for many Montrealers.

I thought it would be a perfect way end to my Paris trip. Even though it’s not the quite the Eiffel Tower, it’s still a beautiful way to finish a long day. À la prochaine, Paris!

study // liFe

Tips for surviving the campus all-nighter For many students, finals mean long hours at the library ahead CHRisTina Rowan Production assistant

Finals season is here! You’ve been working hard all semester, your teachers love you, but with the excitement of school coming to an end, you’ve forgotten that your first exam is tomorrow and you haven’t studied yet.

You have no other choice but to pull the dreaded all-nighter on campus. For those out there stuck in a bind who don’t know how to cope with the high levels of stress,

here’s a list of tips to help you survive.

1. Cry early By getting the emotional bit out of the way early, you free up precious study/productivity time later in the evening. Just let it out.

2. Drink coffee, then water Grab a cup of coffee around 7 p.m. and then drink water for the rest of the night or switch to herbal tea.

Drinking the water will keep you hydrated while the caffeine will keep you awake.

Keep in mind that too much caffeine will make you anxious and unable to focus.

3. Make a kick-ass playlist Definitely a key to surviving the night will be the sweet jams that underscore your

study session.

Put together a mix of your favourite tunes or listen to some pre-made playlists on 8tracks.com. Upbeat songs, followed by some smooth jazz or instrumental will undoubtedly help you stay awake.

6. Rest your eyes Take a few minutes to look away from your book or your screen every half hour. It will allow you to pretend like you’re sleeping just for a few minutes, plus it’ll keep you from straining your eyes.

4. Bring snacks Putting food in your belly makes you happy. If you have a stash of your favourite snacks by your side to munch on throughout the night, you’ll be energized. Use them as a reward for your work to keep you going.

7. Brush your teeth and wash your face After all the coffee and snacks you’ll want to refresh your breath. Bring some supplies along so you can brush your teeth and then splash some water on your face to wake you up.

5. Stretch Spending hours at a desk won’t be good for your concentration or your body. Get up and take a nice stroll to stretch and get that blood flowing.

8. Make some new friends If you’re studying alone, you’re going to want some face-to-face interaction after a while to keep you sane. Go and talk to some fellow students or campus security and make new friends.

TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 25, 2014

//

7

Health // LIFE

HIV/AIDS activism is alive and well at ConU Ian Bradley-Perrin discusses how the stigmatized community needs to be addressed Sara Baron-Goodman Life editor

The second lecture in this year’s Concordia University Community Lecture Series on HIV/AIDS will be taking place Nov. 27.

This year is the 22nd annual Lecture Series, which was “originally started by faculty and staff who were concerned with the HIV epidemic and who wanted to do an academic interdisciplinary response, and also engage with the community,” said Ian Bradley-Perrin, coordinator for the Concordia University Community Lecture Series on HIV/AIDS and a master’s student in history at Concordia.

The series is entirely independently funded by people in the community who want to ensure these discussions are ongoing.

“It provides a forum to use HIV as a prism on the rest of the world, and see how

Ian Bradley-Perrin. Photo Perrin.

by

Matthew

the world works as a microcosm dealing with health care and stigma-related issues, and I think this gives you a better view of how the world works in general,” said Bradley-Perrin.

Every year, four to five speakers are invited to Concordia to discuss HIV/AIDS-related issues across a series of academic disciplines.

This year’s lineup included a science and medical perspective last month from virologist Dr. Chil-Yong Kang, who has been working to develop an HIV vaccine.

This month’s guest lecturer will be Sean Strub, a prolific figure in the HIV/AIDS activism community. He is a long-time activist and survivor of AIDS, and his credits include being the founder of Poz magazine and the first openly pos (HIV-positive) person in the United States House of Representatives. He is also the director of the Sero project, which is responsible for decriminalizing HIV/AIDS in Iowa, the first place where that was ever done.

“He’ll be speaking about his life’s work in general, but also I suspect [that he] will touch on the questions of what is the state of the pos experience of the world today,” said Bradley-Perrin.

In the coming months, two-time Academy Award winner Robert Epstein will come to talk about his filmography and documentaries which deal with the HIV epidemic, and activist Esther Boucicault Stanislas will be finishing up the year’s series with a perspective on community-based activism and the specific needs of the Haitian HIV/AIDS community.

Bradley-Perrin has embarked on quite the activist career-path as well, and has been involved with the Lecture Series and the HIV/ AIDS community at large since 2011.

“When I was in my second year at Con-

cordia I found out I was HIV-positive,” he said. “But even before that, as a gay person, HIV is a fundamental part of the way people think of themselves as part of a community.

It’s a huge chunk of gay and lesbian history in the world.”

It was that year that Bradley-Perrin started organizing the lecture series.

“When I found out I was HIV-positive I started looking for that sort of community on campus where I could therapeutically, selfishly deal with what I was going through,” he said. “But also find an academic space where I could engage with HIV in some way outside of pure academia ideological terms or sort of the stereotypical ideas of AIDS in Africa, or as a disease of poverty.”

That same year, over the summer, BradleyPerrin started organizing his own conference/ workshop series with a few friends, which turned into a weekend event where they brought in people from all over the world in the HIV/AIDS community. They had panels to talk about issues that may not be important globally but were important to them.

“Even though the lecture series is amazing, it’s still within the context of an institution, you can’t have half-formed ideas,” he said. “People are presenting their life’s work, it’s very developed and they’re very mature in their career paths. But the workshop provides a context for people to sort of work through their own, less complete ideas.”

Amongst these ideas are “things like, what does it mean that if there was a cure, people who have made their living working in the HIV treatment community would lose their jobs,” said Bradley-Perrin.

These informal conversations have often sparked ideas which he would bring to the more formal lecture series the following school year. “Things that we’ve asked in the conference are often subjects that have fed my interest for the lectures, and we then bring forward to the lecture series,” he said.

“It’s amazing that Montreal has a community where there’s enough interest to have a lecture series in the academic year and also a conference in the summer that both draw such high numbers,” he said. The conference in the summer brings together around 200 people over the course of two days, while the lecture series boasts about a thousand people attending each year.

This is not surprising, considering that Montreal has second highest rate of HIV amongst gay men in Canada, and also (perhaps by consequence) has the greatest number of AIDS service organizations in the country.

Bradley-Perrin believes that the key to eventually curing HIV/AIDS lies as much in continuing discourse about the issue and finding reforms for the current limiting health care system, as it does in investing money for the development of vaccines and medications.

“Public education is such an important part of keeping the front-line work alive,” he said. “I think the search for a cure or a vaccine is always important, but it costs a lot less than people seem to think. Sometimes it’s not the money or the technology that’s needed, but the will to change the system. And that doesn’t cost anything.”

With his work, Bradley wants to emphasize that there is a gross misconception in the community. Over the last few years there has been a consistent theme in the narrative of HIV/AIDS work that attributes the development of highly effective retroactive antivirals in 1996 to the end of the HIV/AIDS problem.

“This could not be further from the truth,” he said. “There are 35 million people living

with HIV in the world. Something like 1.6 million die each year from HIV. There are people in the US that don’t have access to treatment, there are people in Canada who don’t have access to treatment, and that’s even though we have a socialized healthcare system.”

Clearly, the fight against HIV/AIDS is far from over.

“We’ve solved some very serious, pressing questions, but all the pre-existing issues of social inequality haven’t been solved,” he said. “There are people who need these lifesaving technologies, which for all intents and purposes should be freely available to them because it exists and it’s just sitting there, but who can’t access it. The system is inhospitable to the people that need it the most.”

Above and beyond that is the still-exist-

ing stigma around HIV and AIDS and society’s tendency to vilify those affected by the virus.

“I think that one thing the world needs to understand is first, the concept of decriminalizing HIV, and not only that but making people understand that people living with HIV are just like everyone else,” he said. “They’re not criminals, they’re not in the place that they’re in because of some delinquency, or some inability to differentiate right from wrong. It’s just a virus. And everybody is affected by it in some way.”

Even if that way is just as one example of a health system that is deeply flawed.

For more information on the Lecture Series visit aids.concordia.ca.

EMPLOI D’ÉTÉ 2015

Devenez guide parlementaire

Offrez des visites guidées du Parlement du Canada Entrevues partout au Canada, dans une ville près de chez vous Coûts de deplacement payés Salaire horaire concurrentiel et allocation de subsistance

Postulez en ligne!

Date limite pour postuler : le jeudi 15 janvier 2015

www.parl.gc.ca/guides

8

//

TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 25, 2014

Campus // LIFE

ConU wants you to eat and shop for free CISA Cultural Fair will give you a taste of the world Michelle Gamage Production manager

T

he only thing better than stuffing yourself with delicious food from all corners of the globe is stuffing yourself with free delicious food from all corners of the globe.

The Concordia International Students Association (CISA) is back to host the CISA Cultural Fair on Tuesday, Nov. 25, where the students make, bake, and shake the best food and drink their countries and cultures have to offer.

The goal? Make the best food, have the best presentation, and snag the title of best dressed (in traditional garb).

This is not a competition you want to miss out on.

Students pair up and form teams with other Concordians from their homelands and work with an $80 budget to get as creative as they can to bring you the most delicious fare their culture has to offer.

The whole event is one giant celebration of food, drink, and all the different cultures that create our student body.

Last year the CISA Cultural Fair was hosted on the seventh floor of the Hall building.

Students were packed in amongst proudly hung flags, musical beats and melodies from around the world, and intoxicating sweet and savory smells from endless dishes. Everyone loaded up their plates, tried some new foods and learned about new cultures from their fellow students.

This year will be much the same, with 12 teams: Spain, France, Ukraine, Israel, Colombia, Brazil, China, Morocco, Iraq, Hong Kong, Pakistan, and Greece all cooking up something of their own.

“It’’s a fun activity for students to share a bit of their unique cultures and

traditions,” said CISA Co-president Katerina Monda. “It’s all about encouraging student involvement, getting people to learn and eat and have fun all around.”

So put down the books for a couple of hours, wear some loose-fitting pants, and come and load up your plate.

Stuff your face at the CISA Culture Fair Tuesday, Nov. 25 from 12 to 3 p.m. on the seventh floor of the Hall building.

Absolutely Free Market proves that sharing is caring Sara Baron-Goodman Life editor

I

f you haven’t had your fill of free things yet (and let’s face it, can you ever have too much free stuff?), head over to the seventh floor of the

Hall building on Thursday for a shopping trip which won’t leave you with crippling credit card debt, and will help raise your karma score!

The Absolutely Free Market will be hosted by the Concordia Greenhouse, CJLO and the Concordia Student Union, in conjunction with Fripe-Prix Renaissance as part of their Anti-Consumerism Week this week.

Students are encouraged to weed through their wardrobes and donate anything they don’t want anymore by dropping it off at one of the swap donation bins until Wednesday. Then, on Thursday, all donated items will be quite literally up for grabs.

Bins are located downtown at the Hive, the CSU office (H-711) and at the Loyola Hive location. CJLO is adding a musical element to the exchange by asking that students bring in old vinyl records to exchange.

All unclaimed items will be donated to Fripe-Prix Renaissance, so rest assured nothing will go to waste.

“We have various goals for this event,” said Sheena Swirlz, Greenhouse Services Coordinator and head of the Montreal Swap Club, a group which puts on similar swap events every month throughout the city. “We want to promote community and the act of gathering to both socialize and reduce shopping, encourage recycling, taking unwanted things and saving them from going to the dumpster, and challenging the hyper-consumerism of today’s society.”

So, take a few minutes to purge your closet of those slightly-too-small jeans you were hoping to squeeze back into, that tacky wool sweater your grandmother gave you for Christmas three years ago, or your ex’s T-shirt you never quite gave back. Your trash could very well be another Concordian’s treasure— and vice versa!

The Absolutely Free Market will be held Thursday from 1 to 4 p.m on the seventh floor of the Hall building.

Concordia students from Mexico served home-made guacamole and tacos. Photo courtesy of Adriana Sánchez Acosta (posing with hat).

Let’s talk about sex

Don’t have unprotected sex, or you will get chlamydia, and die Gregory Todaro Copy editor

A

s we get ready for exams and look beyond at the good times to be had this winter break, many of you out there will be looking to take full advantage of the opportunities you get.

For those of you looking for a new “resolution” for the new year, or just looking to have a little casual fun, I’d

like to remind you to please—PLEASE— remember to use proper protection.

This goes for everyone of course, but today I want to talk to my fellow members of the LGBTQ community.

While we are no longer in the age of the AIDS epidemic, there is still reason to be careful.

Earlier this year, experts in the UK met to discuss the “crisis for gay men” represented by a massive increase in the rates of STIs. In the U.S., men who have sex with men are 17 times more likely to develop anal cancer (which can be caused by HPV, the most common STI in the country) according to the CDC. In Canada, reported cases of chlamydia rose 72 per cent between 2001 and 2010

while reported cases of syphilis increased a whopping 456.7 per cent.

Experts warn us that the new generation of the LGBTQ community didn’t live through the AIDS epidemic of the ‘80s and that they expect a second wave of these diseases to hit men who have sex with men (MSM), according to a 2012 article in TIME. Safe sex has been a very prominent part of queer culture (you can just pop in the Queer Concordia office to see all the resources available to prove it), especially because of the AIDS epidemic.

The LGBTQ community has already been ravaged by HIV, AIDS, and STIs, and I know we don’t want to go through any of it again.

Why is it that despite the increasing

Sex // LIFE

resources and education on this topic, we’re heading in the wrong direction?

Some people say the education isn’t comprehensive enough, and I totally agree—sex education needs to be more inclusive to the LGBTQ community.

However, I’ve heard from someone who has worked at an STD who says the most common cases that she sees are from individuals who were in a relationship where one partner had sex with someone else without informing the other and brought a STI into the relationship.

All this in mind, whether it’s a casual hookup or a long-term relationship, take the necessary precautions to protect yourselves.

Let’s start this new year off with a bang.

TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 25, 2014

//

9

Society // LIFE

Remembering the Montreal Massacre

Francine Pelletier discusses Marc Lépine’s suicide note, and how feminism has changed in 25 years Nathalie laflamme Editor-in-chief

O

n Dec. 6, 1989, Montreal and Canada changed forever.

On this day, a 25-year-old man named Marc Lépine walked into École Polytechnique, an engineering school affiliated with Université de Montreal, carrying a Ruger Mini-14 semi-automatic rifle and a hunting knife. He walked into a classroom on the second floor, and asked that the men and women separate, before asking the men to leave. Nine women were left behind. He said, in French, that they were all feminists, and then shot all of the women in the room.

Six died from their injuries.

He went to other parts of the school, shooting as he went. A total of 14 women died that day, and fourteen others were injured (10 women and four men). He then killed himself.

This act was the first shooting of its type to take place in Canada, and a direct act of violence not only against women, but against the feminist movement.

Two days after the shooting, part of Lépine’s suicide note was released. On it were 19 women’s names. Before listing them, he said, in French, “The lack of time (because I started too late) has allowed these radical feminists to survive.”

The list included a series of seemingly random women, some more known than others, from politicians to female police officers. It also included Francine Pelletier, a journalist who co-founded a feminist magazine called La Vie en Rose in the ‘80s. At the time, she was working at La Presse. After hearing that she was on the list, and that only part of the letter was released, she decided to make the necessary steps in order to find out what the whole letter said. She wanted to understand what had happened.

This year marks the 25th anniversary of this event, which has become known as the “Montreal Massacre.” Dec. 6 is also now the National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence Against Women, in order to pay homage those who died that day.

In order to commemorate the event, The Concordian spoke to Pelletier about her story, about how things have changed in the last 25 years, and about what feminism means today.

on the note, the more important part of the note. I was refused first by the police, and then went to Access to Information, and, to my great surprise, I was also turned down there.

C: When and how did you get your hands on the letter?

FP: It was maybe a few weeks before the anniversary, so some time in late November 1990. I got a letter in the mail. It was a photocopy of the suicide note, and there was no telltale sign of where it came from … All I could deduce was that someone in the police force had gotten scent of my effort, and agreed with the fact that it should go public … I talked to Jacques Duchesneau (who was police chief at the time) a few years back, and he said, ‘oh I think that I know who sent it to you,’ and that is all that he would say, so it definitely came from the police force. Man, woman, who it was, I don’t know, and will probably never know, unfortunately.

C: Are you glad that someone chose to send you the letter?

FP: Oh my god, yes. First of all, part of the reason that we went into this psycho-drama was because we had never before experienced anything quite as brutal [as the shooting]. Not only mass murder but targeting women, of all things, is by far the most chilling, most disquieting event that I think [ever took place in Quebec], even beyond the October crisis.

The October crisis was part of a kind of radical militancy that was part of Quebec, people didn’t necessarily agree with it, but they knew about it, it wasn’t a surprise. [The Montreal Massacre] came totally out of the blue. And, as a result, the closer you were to the event, the more denial was at hand. Like I’ve said in the past, there were some editorials saying that this had nothing to do with women … He must have had some kind of mental health problem for sure, but that doesn’t preclude the fact that he had specific intentions, specific targets, as everyone has pointed out. If a guy had walked into a school and separated blacks from whites, the next day, everyone, no matter how crazy

he was, would have called this a racist attack. And so there was a real tendency not to go there.

So the note, for me, first of all, was a judgement of his sanity. It’s an indication that for sure [this was an attack on women and feminists]. We knew … that he had walked into a classroom, the first classroom, and, before shooting, had said “you are all feminists.” And that was an indication of what was motivating him. But no one had wanted to give any sort of credence to that. Holding the note back of course didn’t help. Now, I had a note, and it was not an unreasonable rant … it was all very well composed and said, ‘I am committing suicide today, people will say that I am crazy, but here are my reasons. Feminists have ruined my life.’ For me, to have that note, it was a way to counter the whole discourse, it was my way to say, ‘can we talk about the cause for all this?’

That this was in fact, not only an act against women, but an act against feminism? I have to say that it did not immediately have that effect. It took 20 years to do any kind of serious talking about this. It took 20 years for a film to come out, 20 years to have a symposium … there was no book, no seminar, no nothing! It took 20 years for that.

C: Why do you think that it was so hard for people here to admit that this was an act against women and feminists?

FP: Quebec had a way of thinking of itself as the most progressive place in Canada, and in many ways, it is. It occurred to me 20 years later, when I had to speak at the symposium that finally got off the ground, that it has something to do, maybe—and this is my explanation—with the Quiet Revolution syndrome. Quebec is a very distinct place, not only because of it’s language and it’s culture, but because of its history … In the ‘60s, we turned our backs on what was always the organizing principle of this place, the Church. People were mostly in rural areas, they were in places run by the church, and it was kind of a fact. With the Quiet Revolution, we went from a place where we had the most babies to the place where we had the least babies. In 15 years, that’s an incredible jump. We really turned this place around. And I think that as a result, we have

The Concordian (C): When did you find out that you were on the list of women who Marc Lépine wanted dead?

Francine Pelletier (FP): It was two days later. It was because the police reporter at La Presse, who was very well connected with the police force, relayed a part of the suicide note with a list of names, headed by a short sentence saying something to the effect that these women would have died had he had more time. So that part was leaked to La Presse, and I learned about it the day of the publication.

My boss, the Editor-in-chief, asked me if I had seen the newspaper today. I said no, and he said that I should brace myself. Then he told me [about the list] and that low and behold [I was on it] … no one, neither the police nor La Presse, had given us any sort of advance notice, which should have got me going in terms of ‘woah wait a minute, they are holding back the note, but releasing the names of the other women?’ Not exactly kosher.

So I then proceeded to get my hands

a tendency to think that all the bad stuff is behind us. Nothing bad can happen to us now because we are an in control, we are progressive, we are looking forward and then Bang! This happens, which is totally out of nowhere. There was no plan to put that in our collective imagination, and I think that that is part of it.

C: Do you think that things have changed in the last 25 years?

FP: Yes, to a certain extent. It took some time … Little by little, we have moved away from the idea that this is an isolated case.

It was a grueling acceptance that there is a link here between the violence that women are still subjected to, and that horrible event. We still have not gone the extra mile, which is to recognize that this was against feminism. And I think that that is partly because, by the late ‘90s, no one really cared about feminism. I think that that is changing now … I think that the fact that women realized that they are not out of the woods, you know, there is still the whole question of sexual aggression and domestic violence, and many other things, but those are two huge things that remain, that haunt women to this day. And I think that people like Beyoncé and others saying that feminism is important helps too. I think that there is a quiet reawakening towards the fact that we still need feminism. In that way, it is changing.

C: Why do you think the word ‘feminist’ carries such a negative connotation today?

FP: It has been kind of depressing, for women like me, who were very active in the ‘70s and ‘80s and were part of the second wave feminists and really thought that things were going to change in a profound way, and 20, 30 years later, we see that things have not changed in a profound way … It’s natural that the women coming after you do not want to identify in exactly the same way. It wasn’t something that was popular, it wasn’t really attractive for a lot of women. I think that that is changing. For me, the Gomeshi affair—I cannot tell you how much we should thank that guy—I think that it exploded, it took the lid off this dirty secret … I think that the kind of ‘oh my god’ that we felt in the wake of this on the part of men, on the part of society as a whole, was really quite impressive. I haven’t seen that in at least 30 years. I don’t know if that will bring lasting change, I have no idea, but let’s hope so.

Pelletier is currently completing the 2014 Michener-Deacon Fellowship for Journalism Education at Concordia.

On Nov. 27, a roundtable will be held at Polytechnique in order to discuss what the heritage of the tragedy is. The talk will be hosted by Josée Boileau, Editorin-chief of Le Devoir. Other guests will include Pelletier, Jacques Duchesneau, who was the police chief at the time, and Nathalie Provost, one of the survivors of the attack. This will take place at Polytechnique in C-631, at noon, and is hosted by the Association des Étudiants de Polytechnique, PolySeSouvient, and l’Association des Étudiants de Cycles Superieurs de Polytechnique.

Illustration by Marie-Pier LaRose

On Dec. 6, a vigil will be held in honour of the women who died that day.

10

//

TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 25, 2014

Column // LifE

Mim meets Montreal: Dim Sum, yum

Episode 8: In which Mim discovers the delicious and ancient tradition of Cantonese food here in MTL Mim Kempson Staff writer

D

im sum. It’s a cross between a buffet and a sushi train. The “train” is a trolley piled with weird and wonderful Chinese food that is wheeled around by a waitress who beckons you to eat more and more.

On Saturday I had my first dim sum experience and I ate so much I could have exploded. Picture Monty Python’s Mr. Creosote.

My two friends and I went on a wild goose chase for a restaurant in Chinatown that had been recommended to us by a cute salesman in a shoe store.

We eventually realised that the obscurely described “red windowed” venue we were looking for was, to our disappointment, the building with a layer of dust so thick that we couldn’t see through its windows.

Clearly the shoe guy hadn’t visited Chinatown in a while.

Instead, we went further down the road to Ruby’s, another dim sum eatery.

We walked into a foyer-like area with trinket shops and then went up some stairs to the restaurant. At the top was a gigantic sparkling chandelier. It seemed very out of place in the expansive room, which was spotted with round maroonclothed tables.

Though, as we all know: the tackier the interior, the better the food. Another reliable indicator of the food to come was seeing a Chinese restaurant populated by Chinese guests. We were in for a treat.

Within five minutes of being seated, six dishes were placed upon our table (one friend was particularly ravenous and enthusiastic in ordering).

Aside from the rectangular daikon cakes and fried shrimp, everything was essentially ball-shaped.

Steamed dumplings, fried dumplings, sticky rice cakes, wonton soup and sesame balls—which I like to call the Chinese bagel.

The warm and doughy spherical snack was covered in sesame seeds and had a hole in the middle. Just as you might have cream cheese on your traditional bagel, this one was filled with a sweet red bean paste. This was by far my favourite. We ordered two rounds.

We also had the opportunity to try beef knees, some kind of transparent jelly-like cube filled with an abstract white blob and what appeared to be slimy squid flattened into a pancake. Tempting, but we passed.

One of my friends looked like she had gone into cardiac arrest.

She had undone the zipper of her high-waisted jeans and requested that we have an intermission (my other friend insisted that we order more).

Dim sum is like a race.

You can either sprint through it and tire quickly, or pace yourself and continue eating.

I did the latter. Since arriving in Montreal I have certainly had my fair share of calorie-laden food: oily poutine, sugar-pumped orange juice, carbohydratedense bagels and deep fried Chinese food. Ah well, extra padding makes for good insulation in the winter, right?

Seseame balls, Gamage.

won ton soup, deep-fried prawns, daikon cakes and chow mein oh my!

Photo

by

Michelle

Column // LifE

Tips to maintain your computer: Part II The nitty-gritty of getting a computer back to its optimal state Jocelyn Beaudet Online editor

S

o last week we talked a lot about little software tips to make your life easier, and keeping your computer running like the day you bought it. Sometimes, those simple tricks aren’t enough and you really need to get your hands dirty (in some cases literally) to get your computer’s life back on track.

It’s time to clean up Computers have a lot of fans inside them: fans that suck in air, and fans that blow it out. The reality of all things airrelated is that dust gets around, and computers are notorious for spawning entire families of small dust bunnies.

Now you may think to yourself “How

is this relevant, Jocelyn?” Well, in truth, dust isn’t conductive, but it’s surprisingly good at retaining heat.

Computers have measures in place to slow down when a certain core temperature is reached in order to avoid damaging their components. While boxed computers have it a bit easier, Macs and laptops are particularly vulnerable to accumulating dust considering their very compressed nature. With a few screwdrivers and a bit of compressed air, you can clean up your computer’s innards and keep its temperature running as smooth as always. Not sure what things are looking like in your computer? Go pick up Speccy, a useful little tool that will give you statistics about your computer’s temperature readouts and let you know if you’re running high or critical.

This process is a bit more complicated on Macs and you might need to hit your local Apple store or Apple certified professional to open up the computer and do the maintenance. Unfortunately, because of the design choice on Macs, it’s (almost) impossible to get easy access to your computer’s innards when using an

Apple computer.

The dreaded factory reset Operating systems aren’t perfect, and in fact they’re generally not so great at longevity. If all the above steps still aren’t helping you out, then maybe it’s time to do the dreaded factory restore. Macs and newer versions of Windows usually have an easy way to restore everything to fresh in no time flat. Obviously, if you’re going to undertake this step it can’t be stressed enough that you need to back up your important data because you are going to lose everything. So make use of that Google drive, OneDrive, iCloud and other cloud storage accounts to keep your stuff from getting wiped out. If that isn’t enough space, consider getting a little backup drive. These are usually set up to automatically back up your data at set intervals and keep your data from getting killed from hardware failure, or a stint of forgetfulness when doing a factory restore.

Check your hardware (PC Only)

Maintenance isn’t just about prevention; some of it also boils down to detecting issues that might be occurring in your hardware. It’s common for certain parts of a computer to eventually go bad. Often the fixes required are cheap and don’t require much work, much less in fact than the go-to choice of just buying a new computer altogether. There are LOADS of available tools for running hardware diagnostics. Apple users have a convenient tool called the Apple Hardware Test Tool, which will run you through things fairly painlessly.

PC users might have a bit of harder time, but with a little bit of reading and a USB stick that’s at least 2GB, you can use a handy tool called UBCD (Ultimate Boot CD), which will allow you to run a plethora of hardware tests on every piece of hardware you own, and let you know if things are going wrong. This requires a bit of know-how, but it’s nothing a bit of Google-fu won’t fix.

Next week, check online where we’ll cover ever nittier and grittier ways to tune up your computer. Stay tuned!

arts

Tuesday, November 25, 2014

//

11

write to the editor: arts@theconcordian.com Comedy // aRTs

CBC ComedyCoup is here with satirical news Dope Ass World reports the most underrated stories out there FRÉDÉRiC T. MUCKle arts editor

G

od knows news today can be really depressing. With everything that is going on in the world, from ISIS to the Ebola virus, it’s easy to become disinterested in this bleak reporting of reality.

Fortunately, for those of you who prefer your news with a side of comedy, the Jon Stewarts, Stephen Colberts and John Olivers of this world are there to provide a different insight on the news.

Dope Ass World, one of the two Montreal-based groups still in the CBC ComedyCoup project, takes a similar yet distinctive take on the style of satirical news. Instead of reporting on daily news and pinpointing its ridiculousness, Dope Ass World focuses not only on a news team but also, as they so accurately put it, the most underrated stories that could possibly be out there.

The Concordian talked with Harris Ellison, one of the members of Dope Ass World, to chat a bit about this news satire and its place in ComedyCoup.

The Concordian (C): Why did you decide to get into the world of news satire?

Harris Ellison (HE): ComedyCoup’s deadline really forced us to come up with a T.V. show idea fast. It wasn’t really our conscious decision to do news satire—we liked the idea of a making up fake news stories, but what really got us excited was telling stories about characters in a news crew. We kept coming up with different ways a fieldreport could go wrong, and that’s how it all started.

C: Looking at your project, it’s obvious that you’re distancing yourself from shows like The Daily Show and The Colbert Report, which could be labeled as the precursors of the genre. How would you say Dope Ass World is different?

HE: First and foremost we’re leaving the real news to above-mentioned pros. Our stories are completely made up and totally ridiculous. The whole concept is to get out from behind the desk and report stories first hand.

We’re not just a news spoof, we’re building fully fleshed out narratives around our fictional reports. Our show is much closer to Scooby-Doo than The Onion.

C: What do you think of the world of news in general and our shortened attention span?

HE: We see how the news adheres to attention span and it’s something we constantly have in mind. We’re always trying to pack jokes in, move fast, and be unexpected. We only get 90 seconds in these ComedyCoup vids and our worst fear is to lose a viewer

dOPE ass WOrld is pArt of the top 15 public-selected groups still in cbc coMedycoup fAn-fuelled sociAl web project.

20 seconds in.

C: How does Dope Ass World satirize news in general, but also news outlets always looking for, as you put it, the most underrated news possible to distinguish themselves?

for a 30-minute prime time special. Now that the selection is down to an ultimate top 15 chosen by the public, the voting is over and the real “competition” has started (according to CBC, ComedyCoup is not an actual contest, but an opportunity to present

and promote Canada’s comedic talents).

This Q&A has been edited for purposes of length and clarity. For more information on ComedyCoup and Dope Ass World, visit comedycoup.cbc.ca.

HE: It seems like a lot of journalists think that they’re action heroes when they put themselves in dangerous situations. While we acknowledge the balls of steel you may need to do this job, we can’t help but find some humour in how egotistical some news outlets have become.

C: Are you guys avid consumers of news, or you prefer simply looking at what’s going on around the world for Dope Ass World?

HE: Some of us watch and read the news but it’s not our main source of inspiration for Dope Ass World. While we may incorporate real world events, most of the time it’s just us coming up with meme-worthy headlines that our characters can somehow get mixed up with.

C: In your opinion, what distinguishes and makes you a serious contender in CBC’s ComedyCoup contest?

HE: After years of putting out weekly comedy videos on our YouTube channel Boo Ya Pictures, we felt prepared to roll with ComedyCoup’s relentless schedule. We’ve already been practicing our ability to quickly produce content with limited resources and it’s definitely helping in this competition.

ADVERTISING – MEDIA MANAGEMENT ALTERNATIVE DISPUTE RESOLUTION EVENT MANAGEMENT FASHION MANAGEMENT & PROMOTIONS FINANCIAL PLANNING GLOBAL BUSINESS MANAGEMENT HUMAN RESOURCES MANAGEMENT INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT

C: How would you promote Dope Ass World to your possible national audience to make them watch your show?

HE: By hijacking local news reports! If you’re a news reporter in the field, watch out! We’ll straight up grab your microphone, shout out Dope Ass World and use your airtime to pitch our show. So local pansy-ass news outlets… Consider yourselves warned.

For the full answer you’ll have to watch our week five “Hype It” mission at dopeassworld.com.

The CBC venture is currently looking to find Canada’s most talented comedy group

MARKETING MANAGEMENT PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION

business.humber.ca/postgrad

12

//

Tuesday, november 25, 2014

Cinema // arts

Oh glorious and old-fashioned 35mm film

Montreel-X presents a David Lynch selection at Concordia’s VA-114 cinema free of charge Oneida Crawford Staff writer

“Now if you’re playing the movie on a telephone, you will never in a trillion years experience the film. You think you will have experienced it, but you’ll be cheated. It’s such a sadness that you think you’ve seen a film on a fucking telephone. Get real!” So states, calmly, the legendary film provocateur David Lynch in an interview on the special features section of his movie Inland Empire (2006).

Montreel-X, a group of passionate cinephiles from the film specialization class at Concordia, have a lovely evening planned out on Nov. 28 for Concordia students and the Montreal community, one that will allow you to sink your teeth into the twisted world of this somewhat eccentric yet undoubtedly talented director.

The group invites everyone to take part

in a classic double-bill screening featuring Lynch’s surreal, personal debut feature, Eraserhead (1977), and his polarizing Ozlike Odyssey, Wild at Heart (1990). Eraserhead brings us into an industrial town where one man has to deal with its psycho girlfriend and a mutant baby. Wild at Heart is the epic story of an odd duo trying to resist their tragic and strange fate.

Not only will the screening be free, but both films will be presented in 35mm format. With the rise of digital projection, the ability to experience 35mm has become an increasingly difficult opportunity to come by.

With the impetus of technology around us, it may not come as a grand surprise that the medium of film is quickly being ushered out of the cinema in favour of digital.

Granted, digital projection may be more economical (shooting digitally certainly is), but a certain human touch is lost due to the sidelining and disintegration of the film medium.

Eraserhead is a tale about one man’s efforts to survive in a very strange world.

Wild at Heart follows a peculiar couple in their crazy and bizarre journey.

As the audience would sit perplexed by the shadows and light on the screen above, a lone projectionist used to reclusively operate the projector and switch the reels with the intention of preserving the illusion and magic of the motion picture. It is now a machine that fulfills this task.

Then again, does it really matter whether or not the motion picture is experienced on film or digitally? Whether or not a human element is present? Cinema attendance is drastically decreasing as movie exhibition practices continue to evolve, for better or for worse.

The cinema, as it has often been dictated in its short one hundred year-old history, finds itself once again at a crossroads, a challenging period of redefinition and adaptation. Whether it is via your phone, your tablet, your laptop, or even your home-theatre setting, how you view and interact with motion pictures has been redesigned. Don’t get me wrong, this new accessibility and democratization of the movie has its fair

share of advantages, but at the end of the day, nothing is comparable to the big screen experience. Besides the cinema, what else can offer you the enticing, rich and beautiful experience of sinking deep down into a square box of darkness with people who will all excitedly embark upon an adventure of laughter and thrills with you? Going to the cinema is an event. It always has been.

There is something to be said about strangers, or friends, gathering in order to experience the unknown. Other viewing media fail to permit this.

Come experience the power and beauty of the cinema, and if this is not a solid enough reason, they will be serving homemade cherry pie. So drop your phone for a few hours and “get real!”

The event will take place from 6 p.m. to 10:30 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 28 at the VA-114 cinema (on the corner of Réné-Levesque Blvd. and Crescent St.). For more information check out montreelx.tumblr.com.

Exhibit // arts

MALAISE will leave you feeling uneasy Six Concordia fine arts graduates show the darkness of being human in a collective art show Sara Baron-Goodman Life editor

M

ALAISE, an art show put on by six Concordia fine arts graduates, explores the raw and uneasy aspects of being human.

Last Thursday, artists Tessa Cameron, Katarzyna Chmielarz, Gabriela Gard Galiana, Ariana Sauder, Natalie Soble, and Liza Sokolovskaya—who go by the collective name The Group of Six in reference to the famed Canadian artists Group of Seven—welcomed a throng of admirers to Galerie 203 in Old Montreal, where the show will be mounted until Dec. 4.

“Everyone kind of pitched ideas of what they wanted to go for and a lot of it ended up being just morbid, uneasy themes,” said Gard Galiana of how they went about choosing their dark theme.

“We chose the name ‘MALAISE’ to work around a few months ago, and we decided to do all our work according to that.”

The artists, who have all worked together in the past, kept close contact with each other throughout the process of creating the art for the show, explained Galiana, so as to make sure the feeling of malaise was cohesive throughout all the

pieces. However, they each had a very unique way of interpreting it.

The collective effect of all these tableaus hung side-by-side is certainly disquieting.

Gard Galiana’s striking oil paintings represent individuals’ inner struggle through portraits that play with the concept of bondage; they are gagged, restrained, held back.

“My work was about fighting against yourself, hiding from your own secrets, your own insecurities, the fight within yourself,” said Gard Galiana. “People are tied up but it’s more to represent this uneasiness than anything sexual.”

Sauder’s portraits, painted in oil on canvas, have a blurry aesthetic that make the series look like snapshots of people caught in the rain, or seen through a foggy window. The feeling is highly eerie, and almost spectra. The same eeriness is felt in Sokolovskaya’s oil paintings, of out-of-focus close-ups of inanimate objects as one enters a home—“Buzzer #35” makes an everyday button seem ominous, and a lone lit lamp in a dark room in “Almost home” gives the sense that something sinister is lurking just behind the next wall.

Soble’s series of “Rorschach Girls”, painted in watercolour and ink on paper, immediately evokes an asylum or mental sanitarium. The twin sets of girls

portrayed in mirror images seem to reference a chilling freak show-type atmosphere.

Death is present in animal form in Cameron’s work, with one painting of a taxidermied goat and another featuring a fur wig that’s suspended ghost-like in mid air.

Chielarz also used ink to evoke a Japanese-style sketch series of “Les filles de la ville” shows figures hiding their faces while their naked bodies are made up of rows of crowded houses.

It took about four months to put everything together, and the girls did it all themselves from, obviously, creating the work, to scouting locations, to advertising and funding the show.

“We just started out, so the main goal for us is exposure,” said Gard Galiana.

“Our location in the Old Port is great for us, you get a lot of tourists, a lot of people who are interested in buying art touring the galleries here.”

This is the second time the six of them have worked together, and they plan to do so again in the near future.

The pieces showcased are all on sale at Gallery 203, and range from $80 to $1300. Gallery 203 is located at 227 Notre-Dame St. W. MALAISE is running until Dec. 4. For more information on the exhibition, visit galerie203.com.

“Fur Wig” AISE.

by

Tessa Cameron

at

MAL-

music

Tuesday, November 25, 2014

//

13

write to the editor: music@theconcordian.com

Profile // MUsiC

Allah-Las: sun-soaked sounds and ‘60s style Drummer Matthew Correia answers questions on los angeles’ deep roots in music and art that mean to you?

Mia PeaRson Music editor

If you see a bright radiating light on the horizon, it’s probably Allah-Las’ tour van treading through the snow while on their current tour through North America.

This four-piece of L.A. sun shaman met between the stacks of dusty LPs at the massive record store, Amoeba. Towelling off after catching a tube ride, these surfers laid down their boards to write songs on whatever came to mind. Their love of Los Angeles’ history, from the ‘50s Beatnik youth snapping their fingers on the shores of Venice, to the aching nostalgia in Bukowski’s words on Hollywood, is all absorbed in their crystalline melodies and Western drawl. Their ‘60s-sounding songs have reverb cranked high, reflecting the slow tides hitting the shore of their native land.

Drummer Matthew Correia didn’t know much about drums at the band’s conception. During soundcheck at the band’s early gigs, the soundman would ask Correia to test the kick-drum—but the drummer wasn’t sure which one that was. He’s since discovered where the kick-drum is, and his playing throughout the album sounds moody and wonderful, like crushing seashells under your feet.

He answered The Concordian’s eager questions.

The Concordian (C): Is there an ‘old Los Angeles’ feel in your music? What does

Matthew Correia (MC): The literature, music, art, design and photography from Los Angeles have always interested us.

Those influences, along with the history and geography of our hometown, somehow make their way into our sound naturally, I think. If we grew up somewhere else we would sound different I’m sure.

C: Why was it important for your music to stray away from digital effects and synthesized sounds?

MC: We’re not against digital. We did what worked best for us. We dig music with synths, but like a lot of styles and instruments, it just hasn’t made its way into our sound.

C: Do you feel being compared to ‘60s rock in most music articles describes you well? Or are they too quick to generalize?

MC: We’re honoured to be compared to that music. We’re influenced by other places and other decades of course but people are going to hear what they’re familiar with and that’s fine.

through the past while listening to loads of local bands around L.A. Influence has been passed down to us as it was to them.

Ariel Pink, Beachwood sparks, The Tyde, and The Brian Jonestown Massacre, are a few of our L.A. favorites.

we put everything into those records. It changed our lives for better or worse and it’s all in there. If you ever need some tunes for the road check out Reverberation Radio.

It’s a podcast we make with our six closest friends. Every Wednesday: a new mix.

C: Is your music best sampled by listening to the entire album, end to end? As if your music is a 40-minute trip into the old L.A. histories you’ve mentioned—a change in perspective.

C: Your self-titled album and Worship the Sun both share the general themes of “sun” and “girls.” Is surfing under the sun a remedy for heartbreak?

MC: We hope it feels like a trip anywhere you’re listening. Nearest far away place.

C: On a more personal note, I was just in California, and listening to Worship the Sun while buzzing around L.A. The music definitely fits perfectly with the setting. When coming back to Montreal and listening to it while driving through a snowstorm, it seemed to have a totally different effect. If at all, why do you think your music carries with it such a strong ‘mood’ or ‘vibe,’ for lack of better words?

MC: We’re a moody bunch. I don’t know,

MC: Things aren’t always what they seem.

Songs that sound like they’re about a girl, the beach or fun in the sun might be about something else. We’re happy that people associate us with sunshine and sandy beaches because we love those things, but we hope that people make their own interpretations.

These sun worshippers will be blazing through their tunes on Montreal’s chilly Wednesday night. If you’re cold and blue, step into Allah-Las’ solar furnace.

Allah-Las play Petit Campus Nov. 26 with Tashaki Miyaki.

C: Does your music correspond less with music from the ‘60s and, rather, match more with the ‘feel’ or ‘vibe’ associated with California’s previous decades?

MC: Sure. I think we’re very much a product of our environment. A mirror of a mirror of a mirror ... We grew up digging

VANCOUVER’S MASTER OF

DIGITAL MEDIA

Industry – Focused Master’s Degree Startup Business Support Competitive Scholarship Opportunities Graduate from 4 Major Canadian Universities

AR T ONLINE WEBIN JOIN THE NEXeb ars thecdm.ca/w in

ON NOV 28TH

a collaboration between

AllAh-lAs in los Angeles, 2013. froM left to right: dunhAM, MichAud, correiA And siAdAtin.

thecdm.ca

14

//

Tuesday, november 25, 2014

Quick Spins

Top five // music

Top five classic albums of the ‘80s Though this wasn’t the greatest decade for music, these albums still shine Evgenia Choros Contributor

#5 The Clash - London Calling (1979)

Azealia Banks - Broke With Expensive Taste (Prospect Park; 2014) It’s been three years since the Harlem rapper’s breakout single “212” was unleashed on the music scene. The single was followed by her excellent 1991 EP and surprising Fantasea mixtape, but most of the news surrounding this promising new talent was focused on her endless Twitter feuds and outspoken personality. Finally, her long-awaited debut album drops with a simple tweet. Independently released after being dropped from Interscope Records, Broke With Expensive Taste stands up to the hype. Featuring several tracks of older material, the debut should be viewed as an anthology of Banks’ creativity and ambition.

Fearlessly contemporary, the album is a fusion of hip-hop, rap, UK garage and house: a seamless mix enabled by the superb production, Banks’ confident rap phrasing and raw talent.

With more focus and guidance, Azealia Banks could easily become the new queen of rap.

Trial track: “Ice Princess”

8/10

- Paul Traunero

Although this album was released in 1979, it is still considered one of the best albums of the ‘80s. The Clash had managed to blend England’s finest subcultures—mods, pub rockers, punks, skinheads, teds and skas—and produce a diverse yet harmonic music piece that met everyone’s needs. With Joe Strum-

mer and Mick Jones on vocals, they were able to totally dive into their own new music style, without disappointing the fans of other genres. Their lyrics often deal with heavy political and social issues, which were told through the stories of some fictional and some real characters. From the 19 tracks on this album, “London Calling” stands out as a classic, and can be sung from beginning to end by many young and old. It also features other greats like “Spanish Bombs,” “Jimmy Jazz,” “Train in Vain” and “The Guns of Brixton,” where we hear Paul Simonon on lead vocals for the first time.

#4 Public Enemy - It Takes a Nation of Millions to Hold us Back (1988) If you wanted to know what hip-hop and rap really are, this record is the epitome of these genres. Chuck D has a lot to say and he does it by shooting out words fast.

His quick word flow in combination with his aggressive lyricism makes every word count. And let’s not forget Flavor Flav— although he looks more like a comic figure with the huge chains and clocks around his neck—who breaks up the seriousness of the songs by chiming in at the right moments. Each track on this album touches subjects that are still relevant to this day, like “Don’t Believe the Hype,” which is always great advice. Other classics include “She Watch Channel Zero?!” and “Rebel Without a Pause.” #3 AC/DC - Back in Black (1980) Back in Black was the first album that AC/DC released after their original lead singer, Bon Scott, passed away. This record shows that if you know how to make good music, you can easily replace a great voice with an equally good one. With Brian Johnson on vocals and the Young brothers handling the writing of the songs, AC/DC produced an album that you have to blast out loud again and again. It contains some of the band’s biggest hits such as “Hell’s Bells,” “You Shook Me All Night Long,” “Shoot to Thrill” and “Back in Black.”

Overall, Back in Black is proof that “Rock and Roll Ain’t Noise Pollution.” #2 Guns n’ Roses –Appetite For Destruction (1987)

Ariel Pink- Pom Pom (4AD, 2014) L.A. musician Ariel Pink (Ariel Marcus Rosenberg) creates lo-fi, ‘80s synth pop, with dark, echoing vocals reminiscent of The Cure. He isn’t afraid to speak his mind when talking to the media, and his bizarre onstage behaviour only adds to his oddball reputation. Pink has been releasing albums consecutively for the past 12 years, originally signing with Paw Tracks, the label started by prominent experimental group Animal Collective. His most recent work, Pom Pom, was released on Nov. 17. In Pom Pom, he maintains the strange gothic pop sound he is famous for. The weird distorted voices sampled on the track “Black Ballerina” bring to mind the Beatles’ “Yellow Submarine,” whereas the track “Sexual Athletics” sounds more like the rhymes of a beat poet. His songs feel old school and nostalgic but, lyrically, they are set in the present, with humorous ramblings about iPhones and iClouds. While Pom Pom is true to form in that it represents the sound Pink usually crafts, it quickly becomes dull, and we yearn for the warped, extra lo-fi, DIY sounds of the earlier work from Haunted Graffiti.

Trial track: “Lipstick”

7/10

- Oneida Crawford

Some people place Guns n’ Roses in the hair metal genre, others in the hard rock genre, and some in the sleaze rock genre.

Whatever the case, Guns n’ Roses caused chaos with their debut album, Appetite for Destruction. There are two words to describe this record: edgy and dangerous.

The band talks about sex, drugs, and rock ‘n’ roll in almost every song, and the music matches that attitude. Throughout the decade, Axl Rose’s performances had every girl in the crowd screaming for him, whereas Slash and Izzy, the two guitarists, unfolded some of the greatest guitar solos.

A middle ground between mainstream and underground, Guns n’ Roses produced a mix of heavy rock with blues and country influences. Almost every song on that record is a hit, but “Paradise City,” “Welcome to the Jungle,” “Sweet Child O’ Mine” and “Out ta Get Me” are the ones that stand out. #1 Michael Jackson - Thriller (1982) Regardless of your music preferences, no ‘80s list should be taken seriously if it does not contain this record. Yes, Michael Jackson has been one of the most controversial artists of all time, but he has also been one of a kind. Jackson has established his own dance moves, his own dress code, even his own era. His songs are still around and everyone respects the musical legacy he left behind. Thriller contains some of his greatest hits still infectiously danceable today, such as the “The Girl is Mine,” with Sir Paul McCartney in vocals, “Beat it” with Eddie Van Halen on guitar, and “Billie Jean.” Let’s not forget that almost all of his video clips resembled short movies and helped establish him as the icon we still know today.

Tuesday, November 25, 2014

//

15

Cinema // music

Matching movies with a perfect musical partner Filmmakers explore the great soundtracks that accompanied their films’ classic scenes

Oneida Crawford Staff Writer

“One thing about commercial films is, doesn’t the music almost always really suck. I mean isn’t it always the same shit?�

- Jim Jarmusch, MovieMaker Magazine, 2004.

The importance of the use of music in cinema cannot be overemphasized, with the exception that sometimes the artistic intent of a film relies on silence. That being said, with the overuse of clichĂŠd songs in films today, such as “Escape (the Pina Colada Song)â€? by Rupert Holmes, we look to the past to explore filmmakers who understood how to effectively pair their artistic visions with brilliant music.

The famous American filmmaker Mike Nichols passed away only a week ago on Nov. 19. It seems only appropriate and necessary to discuss what is arguably his most famous film, The Graduate. Anyone who has seen this 1967 film will remem-

ber how Nichols cleverly complemented the angst-ridden, coming of age story with the sounds of folk duo Simon and Garfunkel.

According to Peter Fornatale’s book, Simon & Garfunkel’s Bookends, choosing the music of Simon and Garfunkel was an idea that came to Nichols in the shower—as all brilliant ideas usually do. While many of the songs used in the film had been released before the film was even made, the final song, “Mrs. Robinson,� was only a skeleton. Once Nichols had decided to collaborate with Art Garfunkel and Paul Simon, “Mrs. Robinson� was aptly titled and a few more verses were written.

The final version used in the film was still a simpler version of the one released on Bookends in 1968. Watching The Graduate takes the viewer back in time aesthetically, but also aurally, as the distinct sounds of Simon and Garfunkel are associated with the turbulent times in America during the 1960s.

In keeping with Nichols’ tradition, Jarmusch has worked with music icons such as Neil Young and Tom Waits to commission the music that accompanies his films. Jarmusch has frequently emphasized the importance of music and film, suggesting the two artistic processes are quite similar.

Notably, Jarmusch worked with hip-hop musician and producer, RZA, of Wu-Tang Clan, to compose material for Ghost Dog: The Way of

the Samurai (1999).

RZA was hired to do the score and would allegedly disappear, watch the rushes, record material, then bring it to the studio for Jarmusch to experiment with. Unlike the material recorded for Jarmusch’s Dead Man (1995) wherein Neil Young would play and record as the film was playing and the music would remain chronologically intact, Jarmusch was able to play with RZA’s score and cut up tracks or layer them together.

In a Q&A video on YouTube from Marcelo Paulo De Souza, Jarmusch ultimately explained that neither musician composed with the intent to manipulate viewers into feeling specific emotions.

He said “[Young and RZA] really wanted to make something that grew out of their impressions of the film [and add] another layer of texture.�

The fitting tracks composed for Jarmusch’s films further demonstrate the originality of the work, and whether they are used diegetically or not, the music and sounds contribute to the overall atmosphere and world in which the films exist.

Alternatively, Stanley Kubrick and Terrence Malick are two incredibly influential directors who hired composers for their films. Later, they chose instead to use classical material that had been written decades or even centuries before. Kubrick had planned to use the talents of composer Alex North to create the sounds for 2001: A Space Odyssey (1968). Amazingly Kubrick’s decision to use older compositions from composers such as Johann Strauss and Aram Khachaturian worked to his advantage.

Scenes from 2001: A Space Odyssey

matched with Strauss’ “Blue Danube Waltz,� for example, turned into legendary spectacles of film history. Kubrick once suggested in an interview with Michael Ciment that “however good our best film composers may be, they are not a Beethoven, a Mozart or a Brahms. Why use music which is less good when there is such a multitude of great orchestral music available from the past and from our own time?�

This notion was confirmed when Terrence Malick commissioned well-known contemporary composer Alexandre Desplat to create the accompaniment to Malick’s The Tree of Life (2011), but instead used already existing classical tracks. For Malick, the choice was a rewarding one. The beauty of the film is owed, in part, to the exquisite tracks used from composers such as John Tavener and Henryk Górecki. By pairing the equally talented musicians’ work with the filmmaker’s vision, these movies were catapulted into the memorable vault of classics for generations.

Ú×Óèͨ à ÛÙÚÌÂ&#x;

ÊÚ×ÌÚ×ä¨Íåç¨ÞÛĂ?רŲ̂âçà Ă?,¨Öäåà ×,¨ÖååĂ&#x;,¨ Ă˜Ă›Ă¤ĂĽĂŚÂ¨ĂŚĂ§Ă—ĂĽĂ–Ă“ĂŤÂ¨ĂĄĂ˜Â¨Ă—Ă¨Ă—Ă¤ĂŤÂ¨Ă&#x;ĂĄĂ ĂŚĂš ÙäÛà Ö,¨âüÍÕÚ,¨Ùäååè×,¨Õåä×,¨ÔÞç×ü,¨ÔÞÓÕĂ?,¨ ÌÚäÓüÚ¨ åä¨ ĂœĂ§ĂĽĂŚÂ¨ âÞÓÛà ¨ åޑ¨ äåÕĂ?¨ ¨ åÞÞ,¨ ÊבèרÙą̊ÓÞÞ¨ÌÚרÚ×Óèͨü** ¨Íåç¨ÊÓà à Ó¨ Ă&#x;ÓՑü¨Þåçà ÙרŠ¨³âĂ&#x; Ú×Óä,¨Óü¨Ê×ÞÞ¨Óü¨ÙÛè×ÓÊÓÍü¨ ¨Ö×ÓÞü¨åà ¨ çâüÌÓÛäü¨Ǫ́ ÕÞ×Óà ‘ü¨âçÔ¨ ª¨ Ă—Ă—Ăž Ă˜ĂĄĂĄĂ–Â¨ ¨ÔååÏ×)))¨ÕåĂ&#x;רâÓäÌͨÊÛÌÚ¨çüÂ&#x;

Ă–Ă—Ă•Ă—Ă&#x;Ô×䨏à Ö

sports 16

Tuesday, November 25, 2014

write to the editor: sports@theconcordian.com Men’s rugby // sPoRTs

Concordia crowned as champions

The stingers defeated the Redmen during overtime 28-21 in the RseQ final

Sports in the News TiM lazieR sports editor

>> ALS SENT PACKING The Montreal Alouettes’ season came to an end on Sunday afternoon in Hamilton. Facing the Tiger-Cats in the Eastern conference final, the Als lost 40-24. The Als were in front 7-3 by the end of the first quarter but that’s as long as their lead lasted. A pair of punt returns that were run back for touchdowns were defining moments in the game.

Once the Tiger-Cats pulled ahead, they never looked back. Hamilton will face the Calgary Stampeders in the 102nd Grey Cup on Nov. 30 in Vancouver. Although falling one game short of a trip to the Grey Cup may seem like a disappointment, the Als and their fans can be proud of the resilience that the team showed. After beginning the season with a 1-7 record, the Als fought their way into the playoffs and ended the regular season at 9-9.

>> OFFSEASON FREE AGENCY

Despite crowning the San Francisco Giants as the 2014 World Series champions less than a month ago, the chase for 2015 supremacy is already underway. Free agency has begun in the MLB and teams are taking big swings at some key free agents to bolster their lineups.

Last week, Canadian catcher Russell Martin signed a five-year contract with the Toronto Blue Jays while Victor Martinez found a new home with the Seattle Mariners. This year’s free agent pool is deep and talented. While many of the top aces remain available, the Boston Red Sox made the biggest splash so far. On Monday afternoon, Boston signed the big bats of Hanley Ramirez and Pablo Sandoval to long-term deals.

TiM lazieR sports editor

It was a fist-clenching, heart-stopping, backand-forth final match that pitted cross-town rivals against each other, and was ultimately decided in overtime. It seemed scripted, almost too good to be true.

But as the final whistle blew on Sunday’s Réseau du sport étudiant du Québec (RSEQ) rugby championship game between the McGill Redmen and the Concordia Stingers, the home side erupted and emerged victorious.

Before Concordia’s 28-21 victory on Sunday, the Stingers and the Redmen had met in the RSEQ final game the last four seasons, and each time, the Stingers had to endure the sour taste of defeat.

“I’m obviously ecstatic, it’s been five years waiting. It’s terrific, it was down to the bitter end,” said Concordia’s head coach Clive Gibson. “Fans couldn’t have asked for a better [and] more exciting finish than that. Two great teams playing rugby right to the bitter end.”

The game didn’t start as planned for Gibson and his team. The Redmen came out ready to add another championship to their dynasty and pressured the Stingers right out of the gate.

Pinned in their own end for the first ten minutes, Concordia was finally able to gain control of the ball and shift the momentum.

The first points of the game came off the foot of Concordia’s Joey Fulginiti when he hit a 25-yard field goal to give the Stingers a 3-0 lead.

As halftime neared, the tempo of the game was competitive yet conservative. Neither teams managed to sustain long drives that could penetrate their opponent’s defence.

The majority of the scoring in the first half came during the final two minutes of play.

After a field goal by McGill fullback Thomas Stokes tied the game at three, Concordia answered with a late drive of their own. Fulginiti chipped another kick through the uprights and gave the Stingers a 6-3 lead heading into half.

The second half began just like the first half had ended. Concordia marched down the field and Fulginiti knocked down another field goal to increase the Stingers’ lead to 9-3. However, from then until the end of the game, it was all McGill.

The Redmen dominated the rest of the second half and would score 13 unanswered points. Even though Concordia was the quicker team, McGill outmuscled Concordia and won nearly every battle. As the clock started to reach full-time, it seemed as if the deflated Stingers team would be heading home with silver once again.

As the clock expired, Concordia had the ball for the game’s final possession. It was now or never for the home team as the crowd simultaneously held their breath. The offence

made the most of their time and the Stingers willed their way down the field and deep into McGill’s territory. Stingers center Graeme McClintock finished off the drive with a try to tie the game at 16-16.

In a game where it looked like defence would decide the outcome, there was no shortage of scoring in the two 10-minute overtime periods. After exchanging tries, the game was knotted at 21-21 late in the second overtime.

As the crowd could hardly handle any more excitement, Phillipe Bibeau-Remedi blocked a punt and returned the ball for Concordia’s final try. After another successful conversion by Fulginiti to make it 28-21, all there was left to do was celebrate.

“There [are] guys out there who know they were retiring and who [have] tried. Some of them, this is their fifth time,” said Gibson. “To actually get the win on the fifth time before they finally finish their CIS eligibility, and be able to graduate, I think it’s going to be a good night.”

>> HEADED TO THE VANIER CUP

In front of more than 5,000 home fans, the University of Montreal Carabins beat the visiting University of Manitoba Bisons 2926 on Saturday, Nov. 22, in the Uteck Bowl.

With the victory the Carabins earned their first ever trip to the Vanier cup, which will be held at Percival Molson Stadium on Saturday, Nov. 29. The McMaster Marauders beat Mount Allison University 24-12 in the Mitchell Bowl and will face the Carabins for the national championship.

it wAs A hArd fought bAttle between the two rivAls, And in the end, concordiA’s tenAcity pAid off. photos by Andrej ivAnov.

Tuesday, November 25, 2014

17

Men’s hockey // sports

Men’s hockey team loses lead and falls to Mustangs Concordia gave up an early lead to Western, who went on to win 8-4 Sam Obrand Staff writer

The Western Mustangs erased a threegoal, first-period deficit, scoring seven unanswered goals, en-route to a dominating 8-4 win over the Concordia Stingers. The loss was Concordia’s fourth-straight.

Head Coach Kevin Figsby said that the loss came as a result of not playing a full 60 minutes of hockey.

“We were ready for them tonight, we had a pretty good game plan because we came out in the first period and got 19 shots and scored four goals, and that was the game plan, to play that way for 60 minutes,” said Figsby.

Forward Marc-Olivier Brouillard started the game off by picking up a loose puck out of a mid-ice cluster, streaking in and besting the Western goaltender with a nifty backhand, forehand move.

Nearly 30 seconds later, winger Kyle Armstrong tipped in a pass from Brouillard, putting the Stingers up 2-0. The two goals came within the first three minutes

of play and on the teams first three shots of the game.

Soon after, Western responded with their only goal in the frame, coming off a long shot from centre Adam McKee, which was buried in by defenseman Alex Micallef.

Forward Scott Oke restored Concordia’s two-goal lead just a few minutes later, by finishing off a centering pass from winger Domenic Beauchemin.

With three minutes left in the first period, and momentum swinging in the Stingers’ direction, forward Jessyko Bernard found captain Olivier Hinse in tight, who managed to out-wait Western Goalie Gregg Dodds and roof his backhand. The Stingers finished the period with a 4-1 lead, outshooting the Mustangs 19-13.

The second period presented a completely different Concordia Stingers hockey team.

Concordia’s Antoine Houde-Caron battles for a puck vs. Western. Photo by Brianna Thicke.

Centerman Julian Cimadamore opened the floodgates for Western, banging home the puck off a rebound and putting the Mustangs within two.

The Stingers’ second period collapse came off of two consecutive turnovers that allowed for two Mustang defensemen, Jed Rusk and Matt Herskovitz, to capitalize on and tie the game at four.

Less than a minute later, a loose puck within a scramble in front of Stingers goalie Robin Billingham was picked up and sent home by Adam Mckee, which put the Mustangs ahead 5-4.

Mckee would then tally his second goal of the game off a rush through several Concordia players and ensuring a twogoal Mustang lead to end the second period. The Mustangs continued to roll and scored two more in the period.

The Stingers have now fallen to a 4-11-0 record on the season, losing eight of their last 10 games. When asked how the Stingers prepare to turn their drive around, Figsby put special emphasis on the simplicity of the game.

“I met with each line before the game, I met with all four lines, I met with the six defenseman as a group and I met with the goalies as a group, and we talked tonight about just coming out and keeping things simple, and keeping things positive,” he said.

Men’s hockey // sports

Stingers hold off Gryphons for 3-2 victory Backed by Concordia’s great goaltending, the Stingers snapped their losing streak Elias Laradi Staff writer

The Concordia Stingers were looking to bounce back from their loss on Friday with a strong performance on Saturday when they faced the Guelph Gryphons in front of a packed house at Ed Meagher arena.

The first period was a tight contest between both clubs as they tried to open the scoring. Four minutes into the period, Concordia got into some penalty trouble when Marc-Olivier Brouillard got into a scrum with Guelph forward Michael Stevens. Both were sent off for roughing, but Brouillard got a double-minor for instigating the fight.

Guelph pressed during the man advantage but Concordia’s goalie Robin Billingham was up to the task, stopping every shot he faced. Three minutes later, Concordia got a break and capitalized when Olivier Hinse went in on a breakaway and snuck one past Guelph’s goaltender Andrew D’agostini for a 1-0 lead. After that goal, Guelph pushed hard for the equalizer but once again Billingham was unbeatable.

Several minutes later Stingers forward Domenic Beauchemin was sprung for another breakaway and made it 2-0 for Concordia to end the first period.

The second period was the complete opposite as the first with the Gryphons coming out firing on all cylinders. Guelph cut the lead to 2-1 at the eight-minute mark of the second period when Robert De Fulviis fired a shot past Billingham.

After that, Guelph continued to push for the equalizer and Concordia couldn’t match their energy. Concordia got into

more penalty trouble late in the second period. The Stingers had back-to-back minor penalties and with a minute left in the period, Guelph got the equalizer when Andres Kopstals got a pass from Daniel Broussard and snuck one past Billingham.

The third period was an all-out battle as both teams looked for the go-ahead goal. Both teams had multiple chances to score, but both goaltenders refused to

break. Six minutes into the period, Scott Oke received a pass from Youssef Kabbaj and sent a shot past D’agostini for the 3-2 lead. The game plan for Concordia was simple for the rest of the game: hold the Gryphons off and maintain the lead. The Stingers managed to do just that and take the win thanks to the stellar play of Billingham. The game finished 3-2 as Concordia avoided another disappointment.

After the game, head coach Kevin Figs-

by was proud of his troops and the way his team kept their focus.

“I really like the response of our group, a win is a win and we will take it. We simply followed the game plan,” said Figsby.

Stingers captain Hinse reiterated what his coach said and admitted that it was a relief to finally stop the losing skid.

“It’s nice to win. We really needed that, we had a good start, we stayed focused and we used our speed.”

Beauchemin breaks away from a Guelph defender and scores to give Concordia an early 2-0 lead. Photo by Brianna Thicke.

18

//

Tuesday, November 25, 2014

opinions write to the editor: opinions@theconcordian.com editorial // oPinions

Take the time to vote at CSU byelections Questions on the ballot this year deserve your attention

For students, this is probably your least favourite time of the year—except maybe May. Final projects are adding up, exams are looming on the horizon, there aren’t enough hours in a day and sleep is a bygone memory. The last thing that’s on your mind is probably voting in the student referendums, and really, who could blame you? Every second spent voting is a second spent not chugging down your sixth latte and reviewing the readings you

should have done months ago.

We’re all stressed, but, you need to know that this vote is important. There’s a lot at stake for undergraduate students represented by the Concordia Student Union (CSU).

There are many issues on the ballot this year other than candidate elections.

Multiple questions are being put to referendum before action can be taken and this is where the student body comes in.

Many of the issues at hand represent projects that require funding and labour to be diverted within the student union.

Without majority support, these initiatives will likely die and it’s important for

voters to make informed choices.

Do you feel strongly about the IsraelPalestine conflict? How about the current state of student housing? Or the Hive Cafe?

What about austerity cuts facing the entirety of the provincial public sector?

How about daycare services for student parents?

All these issues and more are on the ballot. It’s not just a question of what benefits you receive, but where the student body stands as a whole. It’s a question of where your money will be going, and what will be done with it.

It’s up to the student body to deter-

mine what is, and is not, worth fighting for.

With three days to vote—Nov. 25, 26, and 27—you have no reason not to get involved. Unfortunately, a very small percentage of Concordia students actually participate in student-run elections annually. Don’t be swayed by apathy—this is your chance to make your voice heard.

Inform yourself on the issues: read the Letters to the Editor included in this issue on pages 21 and 22, do some basic research online, or talk to your friends about how they feel.

Make your choice.

And most importantly: vote.

Charity // oPinions

Let holiday cheer be represented all year Basic kindness and respect shouldn’t be reserved for December

ly thought of as minorities, such as the LGBTQ, the disabled, and the homeless.

Others were members of larger groups, such as various political or religious communities, within and outside Concordia.

On a larger scale, almost everyone is a member of a minority, whether as one of the groups already mentioned or as an Anglophone/Allophone/Francophone involved with an English university in Quebec. In short, much of the news that ran this year has focused on issues that divide us.

What would happen if the goodwill

shown during the holiday season were to happen throughout the entire year? What if, when opposing sides of an issue were to talk, they began doing so with their shared humanity in mind? What effect would it have on us as a community, or a society?

By shifting our focus from our differences to the things we have in common, many things can happen. First, it would allow us to see each other as whole persons.

Often when speaking with members of minority groups, the issue comes up that

society reduces them just to their minority label instead of the person they are in totality. Seeing someone’s humanity first would make the difference, as opposed to only a facet of the individual.

Secondly, differences lose their power to provoke. Generally, when presented RoBin sTanFoRD with something we have no understandstaff writer ing of, or that goes against what we believe firmly, the natural response is to be hesitant, fearful, or angry. If people were nce again, we find ourselves in no longer reduced to differences, there the holiday season. would ultimately be more to agree with A time when we get tothan to be in conflict with. gether with people for a drink Thirdly, this would allow promised back in June, seasonal for real communication to hapsongs are played on radios and in pen. Too often, debates consist malls until we are sick of them, of both sides yelling at each and we take a moment to pause other without actually listening. and reflect upon the trajectory of Debates can be summarized as our lives. both sides arguing about how Something special happens they are correct and the other during this time of year. People side has no idea what they are seem to take a little bit more time talking about. When appealing for each other. Whether this is to each other’s humanity, one catching up with friends, spendis responsible to listen and try ing time with family, or even sayto understand where the other ing hello to a random stranger, is coming from. Such a stance there is something about going would lead to discourse, instead into the new year that makes us of yelling. all a little nicer.

Finally, this may bleed over Food, clothing, and toy drives into genuine care. When you are become a common sight. Indiable to talk with someone difviduals give, not for any personal ferent from yourself and listen gain, but to help someone else in in recognition that both of you need. are members of different groups, All of these acts of warmth are struggles become communal. due to the fact that, for a month, It is no longer “someone else’s what is important is not what diproblem,” but rather your own. vides us but what unites us—a When care is fully expressed, shared humanity. social changes occur because This year, we’ve dealt with a no one wants something bad to wide array of current affairs ishappen to a friend or loved one sues, yet many have one thing if they can help prevent it. in common: they were about the Here’s to hoping the holiday alienated and oppressed. Some the holidAy seAson hAs been A tiMe for understAnding And giving for centuries—but this does not extend to the rest season begins to last all year. were focused on groups typical- of the yeAr. photo by don o’brien on flicKr.

O

Tuesday, november 25, 2014

//

19

Culture // opinions

Catcalls can’t continue: stop street harassment Recent events highlight the need for allies against public and offensive sexual comments Saray Ortiz Contributor

E

ver since the video “10 Hours of Walking in NYC as a Woman” by the Hollaback! collective gained notoriety, catcalling and street harassment seem to be all over everybody’s newsfeeds.

In Montreal, some people took the matter into their own hands. About two weeks ago, the city was wallpapered with anti-catcalling posters, an initiative taken by collaborators of a blog called OntWatch on WordPress. The writers invited people to take back public spaces and to “reiterate that it’s not our responsibility to alter the way we dress, where we walk, (and) at what time.”

But what’s the big deal about street harassment? A quick Google definition search will tell us that a catcall is a loud noise or comment of a sexual nature and that it is a form of sexual harassment. If you are a woman, this probably rings a bell. In fact, 65 per cent of women in the USA report being victims of some form of street harassment (compared to 25 per cent of men, with LGBT-identified men reporting more street harassment than heterosexual men) according to StopStreetHarassment.org.

In Canada, the number reported of female victims escalates to 80 per cent, according to a study by Macmillan and

colleagues in 2000.

The problem with catcalling is not necessarily the intention of the catcaller or the actual words that are used; it is the underlying assumptions behind it.

What are just harmless comments for some, for me and for many women is a really unpleasant experience. Catcalling perpetuates and promotes the idea that women’s bodies exist mainly for the purpose of pleasing men, that we owe them something for giving us what they might consider a compliment; that being men somehow grants them the power to scrutinize or even have a say over our bod-

ies. The bottom line is that this practice, which tends to be the precursor of more severe forms of street harassment, is not justified by a woman’s outfit, her physical appearance or the time and place she happens to be out and about.

Although these posters around the city may come across as aggressive or even radical—and are probably not the best way to address this issue—they are a reflection of the frustration and feelings of powerlessness that many women experience daily as victims of street harassment.

Like many, I wonder if there is a so-

lution to this problem. I think that the best way to fight street harassment is to raise awareness, to speak up, to let others know how catcalling makes women feel, and to expose both men and women to testimonies of sexism and street harassment; such as those on the site Everyday Sexism.

It is important to keep in mind that in the fight against street harassment, and other gender inequality issues, men are our indispensable allies: only by understanding, educating and supporting each other will we get rid of this increasingly troubling practice.

An example of an anti-catcall poster put up to address the problem that affects so many people. Photo from Flickr.

Culture // opinions

TIME magazine is behind the times on feminism The women’s movement is not a laughing matter

made thanks to this movement, by outrageously, casually, including it next to words empty of meanings like “obvi” or “sorry not sorry”? The association is dis-

turbing.

Their justification was that the “fword” made a loud comeback this year, and it was overused by a lot of celebri-

Marie Briere Contributor

A

few weeks ago, TIME magazine published its annual word-banning poll. The list of words it suggests is meant as a joke, in order to create—ironically—more discussion about overused buzzwords in this era of constant provocation to attract an audience.

Last year the lucky winner of this “worst word war” was “twerk”. The nominees for this year included various choices of annoying culture-related terms such as “bae,” “I can’t even,” and…“feminist.”

Not only was it in the list, but it also made it to the first step of the podium.

Feminist, a word to ban? After a petition from angry readers—because, let’s face it, feminists are known to lack a sense of humour—TIME apologized for including the term in its list.

But what’s so wrong about including it in the first place? Let’s get started: first of all, feminism isn’t slang or a brandnew trendy word. Feminism is a movement striving for political, economic, social, cultural equality between genders. Feminism is an ideology promoting respect, equality of chances, rights, and duties, for both men and women. Feminism has history. Feminism is history.

How can anyone neglect all the progress

Illustration by Marie-Pier LaRose

ties. It cannot be denied the frequency of its use increased these past few months.

We remember the beautiful speech from Emma Watson, leading the #HeforShe United Nations campaign, reminding us that anyone who is against gender discrimination and believes in equality should take action and consider themselves a feminist. Because this is the only meaning of the word.

And yes, plenty of other celebrities like Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Beyonce, Lena Dunham, and Taylor Swift all took a stand and defined themselves as active feminists. The question is: in 2014, how can it be “hurtful” or “annoying” to speak out about equality?

The truth is, no matter how many people speak out, the situation stays the same. The gender wage gap exists everywhere. Women are not paid the same as men for equal qualifications. Women still don’t control their own bodies and have to fight for contraception or abortion.

Women are still discriminated against, harassed, or blamed for their sexuality.

Women are still victims of the glass ceiling, and face archaic sexist structures in the workplace. Women still deal with violence and sexual assault every day.

When all of this isn’t a problem anymore, then we can stop talking about it.

Until then, it is our duty not to ban the word, but the injustice. When that day comes, the word “feminist” should not be banned but remembered, because of the meaning it carries, and the accomplishments it represents.

For now, let’s work to make it obsolete.

20

//

Tuesday, November 25, 2014

internet // oPinions

Will cat GIFs fuel the future of journalism?

You won’t believe the answer!

Matthew Civico Contributor

L

Illustration by Marie-Pier LaRose not sold on it yet. BuzzFeed can be a useless time sink, but I believe it’s trying to be more than that. Their approach is novel, but it remains to be seen if this marriage of clickbait and serious reportage will last.

at OCAD University

• Contemporary Art, Design

• Criticism & Curatorial Practice (MFA) • Digital Futures (MDes, MFA,

MA and Graduate Diploma)

• Inclusive Design (MDes) • Interdisciplinary Master’s in Art,

Media and Design (MDes, MFA, MA)

• Strategic Foresight and Innovation

(MDes)

Application deadline:

ANS ENTARI

DEADLINE:

JANUARY 16, 2015 The National Assembly will reward the authors of doctoral dissertations and Master’s theses focusing on Québec politics.

For information: assnat.qc.ca/prixlivrepolitique

assnat.qc.ca/mediassociaux

Concordian / 4,10 x 8,90 po / date de tombée 20 novembre 2014

PARLIAM

SOCIETY

PARTICIPATION

POLITICAL PARTIES

POWER

RIGHTS

CITIZENS

DEMOCRACY

$6,500 IN PRIZES

and New Media Art Histories (MA)

January 19, 2015.

For more information & to apply: Website: ocadu.ca/gradstudies Email: gradstudies@ocadu.ca Phone: +1 416 977 6000 ext. 423 Twitter: @OCADUgrad

ENTRIES NOW BEING ACCEPTED

Programs Offered:

Strategic Foresight and Innovation Students in the sLab, 2014. Image courtesy: Angie Griffith

Grounded in practice, theory, research and professionalism, with an eye on experimentation and change, we deliver advanced experiential learning.

Our graduate students enjoy unrivalled opportunities to practice with expert art and design faculty, in studios, labs and through exceptional internships.

OPINIONS

MNAs

GRADUATE STUDIES At OCAD U, we attract curious and creative students who expect something more from their education and are willing to challenge themselves to achieve it.

No one likes to see the weak exploited, so a serious question remains: how do all those cats stand to benefit from BuzzFeed’s growth? There’s a feature story here somewhere, and I hope BuzzFeed tackles it.

2015 - 13 th EDITION

GOVERNMENT

goofing off in the library; moments later I was enthralled. I was reading the harrowing first-person account of how American journalist Gregory D. Johnsen (he’s working on his Ph.D.) escaped a kidnapping attempt in Yemen, a country he had lived in and loved for years—on BuzzFeed! The clickbait headline got me in the door but I stayed for the insightful narrative journalism. Does it matter that I was carried in on the backs 37 cats?

I don’t have a degree from JMSB but this makes sense both from a business perspective and might (maybe) be good for journalism, an industry that’s still finding its place in the age of Facebook and Twitter. All those clicks and views of silly cats pay the bills for cultural critics like Petersen and perspectives from experienced correspondents like Johnsen. I like cats and I like insight, and I bet I’m not the only one. Go find their features online; you won’t believe you’re reading BuzzFeed.

I’m intrigued by the concept, but I’m

ELECTIONS

et’s be honest, BuzzFeed probably isn’t the future of journalism.

They are, however, all over the web and they’re doing something interesting.

They’re adapting to the publishing realities of the internet age by using the internet’s most valuable currency: cats.

Here’s how they’re doing it.

BuzzFeed gets people in the door. They do this with cats, mostly, but also serve up a potent cocktail of sharable lists and frivolous quizzes. It turns out that they’re also hoping you’ll stay for the journalism.

It’s true: there’s journalism on BuzzFeed, but don’t worry if you missed it. It’s easy for a climate change headline to look like a joke when you’re scrolling through 37 unbelievable cat-fails.

This new side of BuzzFeed isn’t so new, having begun in 2012, but it still surprises many people. I first noticed serious headlines on BuzzFeed last year but, like many, assumed they weren’t worth my time. Besides, I had photobombing cats to look at. My perspective changed when I heard an interview with Anne Helen Petersen, a Ph.D. who left academia for a writing career and ended up at BuzzFeed.

Unbelieveable. There is at least one Ph.D. at BuzzFeed and she does thoughtful, long-form pieces on celebrity culture. Petersen cites the huge online audience for BuzzFeed as one reason for making the move, and that makes a lot of sense.

I don’t always know that I want to read a feature-length story before I see it, and I never know that I need to read it before I actually do. For instance: I once clicked a silly BuzzFeed headline while

Tuesday, november 25, 2014

Letter // Opinions

BDS Quebec endorses “Yes to BDS” campaign at Concordia University This summer, the world witnessed yet another massacre of Palestinian civilians in Gaza: men, women and children who are occupied, besieged and, since 2007, subject to a total blockade by the armed forces of Israel, the occupying power.

This blockade is illegal, immoral and inhuman.

But the immorality of the collective punishment Israel is inflicting on the Palestinian people goes well beyond the borders of Gaza. Israel is an apartheid state, as defined by the UN Convention on the Prevention and Suppression of the Crime of Apartheid. Israeli apartheid is based on the same three pillars as South African apartheid: different rights for different groups discriminatory access to land and population separation in different geographical zones, total control of the population and military repression.

Palestinian citizens of Israel suffer legalized and institutionalized discrimination at the hands of the Israeli state, simply because they are Palestinian. Like South Africa before 1994, Israel is a “democratic” State for its Jewish population – though certain categories of this population face injustice - but a profoundly anti-democratic one for Palestinians.

Israel is the only state in the world which benefits from total impunity before the international community. The states of this community have woefully failed in their duty to hold Israel responsible for the constant violations of rights of the Palestinian people, leaving Israel free to continue its occupation, its colonization and its dispossession with total impunity.

Where the international community has failed to hold Israel to account, it is up to civil society to lay the grounds for change by supporting and engaging in the world wide campaign to Boycott, Divest and Sanction the State of Israel.

In the coming days, Concordia students will be asked to join this large international movement in favor of human rights, justice and equality for all. On behalf of the Québec BDS Coalition, we want to praise Concordia students for, once again, standing on the right side of history. Boycott, Divest and Sanction Israeli Apartheid!

Steering committee of the Québec BDS Coalition (which counts over 30 organizations including major labour unions and community organizations across the province).

Letter // Opinions

Vote Yes to the CSU Housing Referendum Question When I first came to Concordia in 2010 I found what I thought to be a reasonably priced and comfortable one bedroom apartment near the downtown campus.

Concordia residences didn’t appeal to me and as a new international student I did not know a single person I could room with.

Soon problems began to occur: windows didn’t open, the shower never really stopped running, and in the winter my upstairs neighbor’s pipes burst and flooded my bathroom. Using any electrical appliance meant all of the lights would flicker and dim and the oven was twice as old as I. When I signed the lease my landlord asked me for three months of rent up front; even going as far to write a clause saying that I agreed to the deposit.

I hated my first apartment in Montreal; it was a rushed decision based on having a week in February to find a place to live for July and having no information on what my rights were. However I chalked it up as a one off bit of bad luck; that I was played by the slick promises of an unsavory landlord.

Many years and apartments later I work for the CSU Off-Campus Housing and Job Bank and found my experience to be more of the norm. Every day I see the consequences of the city’s inadequate housing in peoples’ lives.

I say people, not students because attending Concordia is just one aspect of the life of each person who comes into our office: we are students, but also parents, workers, care givers and friends. Inadequate housing affects each of these identities that encompass our whole being. After a long day of working, studying, giving care, and raising families each Concordia student should be able to go to a safe, healthy, and affordable home. As it stands now this issue is hardly on the radar.

There is no reason that we must settle for inadequate and crowded housing.

We can use our identities as students as a point of reference to build the world we want to live in now. We do not need to wait. By voting yes on the CSU referendum question to support student housing initiatives will be the first step to making a tangible difference in the life of our community.

Signed, Kyle McLoughlin (These opinions do not reflect any stance taken by the HOJO as an organization)

//

21

Letter // Opinions

I would like to express how impressed I am at the democratic atmosphere at Concordia University, which continues to be fostered by the CSU team. This invaluable trait seems to be a natural outcome of the Quebec student movement, which taught students how important their role is in shaping history. In this spirit, I would like to urge the undergraduate students at Concordia University to vote YES to the BDS referendum question from Nov 25 to 27, due to the following important reasons: 1) First and foremost, one of the most important objectives of education is to promote human respect and dignity, which can happen only when we stop wars and promote peace. BDS aims to stop Concordia’s relationship with Technion-Israel Institute of Technology and all other institutions that directly support the Israeli war machine against civilian Palestinians as a way to achieve peace.

Peace will only be possible once equality is achieved in that region; and the current Israeli state policies, which systematically discriminate against citizens and non-citizens based on their religion, are at odds with this goal.

2) Adopting BDS on campus will send a strong message to Stephen Harper to dissuade him from his continuous and unconditional support of Israeli apartheid. Canada should have a political position promoting peace, not a biased position that favours one side over another.

3) As Concordia students, we are fortunate to have access to education; but many Palestinians in the West Bank and Gaza have lost their right to education, due to oppressive Israeli measures such as arbitrary attacks on Palestinian university campuses, arrests of Palestinian students at checkpoints, and bombarding of Palestinian schools (most notably the Israeli shelling of Al-Fakhura School in Gaza). As students, we have the moral obligation to support other students’ access to education globally.

4) By saying yes to BDS, we are helping to end systematic apartheid policies that create injustice for Jews, Christians and Muslims in the Middle East.

BDS is not about religion, ethnicity, colour nor gender; it is about creating equality for everyone.

Therefore, as critically-minded students and good citizens, I urge Concordia undergraduates to vote with their conscience: YES for BDS. Let’s stop our complicity with injustice!

Signed, Christale Terris

Letter // Opinions

Have you ever lived in an apartment that was decidedly less than ideal, or dealt with an absentee landlord? Ever stopped to ask yourself why you’re paying so much rent for services you were promised, and yet aren’t receiving?

I have. Having access to quality, affordable housing is something that can make or break your student experience, more than that, it’s a social justice issue!

While Montreal has always enjoyed relatively cheap rent (compared to other big cities), the cost of living has been rapidly increasing, while solid, unproblematic living situations seem to be becoming increasingly rare.

Most of us have dealt with bad landlords, broken appliances, poorly heated apartments, pest problems (the list goes on), and research shows that students are among the most vulnerable and occupy some of the worst apartments in Montreal. Dealing with apartment drama in a Montreal winter while you’re bogged down with homework and just trying to finish your degree is a special kind of hell.

That’s why voting in support of the CSU’s initiatives to address student housing conditions and support cooperative housing is a revolutionary act which will shape the future of student life in the city. The CSU is currently engaged in conversations with UTILE, (Unité de travail pour l’implantation de logement étudiant) about developing awesome student spaces, and as students, we have the opportunity and responsibility to be a part of that process.

Currently University residences in Montreal can only house five per cent of students. UTILE’s survey of students housing expenses indicates that the median rent paid by students from outside Quebec living in the city is $605 per room with services, while the equivalent for students from the province is $495. Collectively, we can work to keep rent prices affordable, and develop solid living situations for ourselves and for others around us.

The referendum question is this: “Do you as a member of the Concordia Student Union approve the continued prioritization of efforts being made to address student housing conditions and actively support student cooperative housing as a student space initiative?”

Home is a sacred space. Having access to good affordable housing is something that affects us on an individual level, but it also contributes to structural and societal change which affects everybody. I encourage all of you to vote yes!

Signed, Micheala Holt

22

//

Tuesday, November 25, 2014

leTTeR // oPinions As a Jewish Israeli/Canadian student enrolled at Concordia University, I am deeply disheartened by the BDS resolution calling for a “boycott of all academic and consumer ties with any institution or company that aids in Israel’s occupation of Palestine.” I do not see the relevance of a university taking a stance against a country that has no bearing to the university’s existence, other than reaping from its resources, generous contributions and donations, as well as constituting a decent fraction of the student population.

Having resided the last few years in Israel, and unlike most of the people submitting uneducated and false, propaganda-influenced accusations, I find it absolutely sickening to think that I could potentially be funding a university that is boycotting my homeland based on false pretenses. While studying at Bar Ilan University, which happens to not only be an Israeli university, but a religious Zionist one, I studied among Arab classmates.

Freedom of Religion granted to them within a religious institution. The people ‘suffering under apartheid’ are practicing their religion freely in the most religious, Zionist campus in Israel, taking advantage of all the opportunities the country has to offer, as they should. While hospitalized at Tel Hashomer, one of the prestigious hospitals in Israel, I was treated by an Arab doctor...Where is the inequality and lack of opportunity that you intend on protesting?

Apartheid? Is an Apartheid state one that not only admits students regardless of their beliefs, but provides low cost dorms to Jews and Arabs alike, without discrimination? The Arab population of students attending Haifa University, is a whopping 30 per cent.

Having been taxed as part of the working force, some of my hard earned salary went to providing water & electricity to Gaza, despite the ongoing conflict. Nahariya’s Galil Hospital has treated nearly 400 people injured in civil war in the past few years. The people treated were not Israeli citizens. Israel is the only country in the Middle East that is democratic. Arabs in Israel have equal voting rights and ironically, Israel is among the few places in the Middle East that allots Arab women the right to vote (they do not even hold such rights in most of the other Middle Eastern countries). There are eight Arab members in the Unicameral Parliament of Israel. Arabic, like Hebrew, is an official language of Israel. More than 300,000 Arab children attend Israeli schools.

With this being said, I find it rather distasteful that a university that has received a $5 million donation from The Azrieli Foundation, as well as a $1 million donation from Bronfman can even permit such a vote to be held within its institution, especially with the issue being so far from being connected at all. Before calling for a boycott, one should do their research; we all benefit from Israel’s resources and achievements on a daily basis.

Throwing around allegations of Apartheid is not only irrelevant, but also quite offensive to those living in apartheid (eg; South Africa). These are facts, not opinions. The accusation of Israel being an Apartheid country is an opinion, not a fact.

If you are going to call for a boycott, you cannot pick and choose your stance. If you call for a boycott, you have no right to benefit from the country’s achievements, or accept financial donations. You cannot boycott Israel and continue to benefit from its resources.

The Concordia Student Union has no right to be taking a stance on something far beyond their understanding, with absolutely no bearing on its existence whatsoever. There is no place for hostility in a place that once provided us comfort and equality. We should be focusing on our common goal; a higher education.

Ayelet Bender (This letter has been shortened for length. The full version will appear online.)

letter // oPinions Please allow me to demystify some perplexing questions around the ConMUN fee levy referendum question.

ConMUN is currently a club, a club like any other, under the organization of the CSU. The current executives claim that should they become a fee-levy, they will enhance the Concordia’s community with leadership conferences and speaker series, provide opportunities to debate, solve world problems, and allow delegates to compete against hundreds universities in United Nations simulations on the international stage. Moreover, “become world-leading Concordia alumni” is the ultimate goal that this group aspires to achieve. Very lofty goals indeed.

Please let me point out and discuss some issues surrounding fee-levies: Firstly, ConMUN’s goals do not align with what a fee-levy is ultimately for. According to the QPRIG Concordia’s website “fee levy groups takes many forms, such as: fostering a safe environment for LGBTQ students; promoting safer, healthier, and more affordable food options on campus; providing access to affordable textbooks; directly financing students working on projects to improve the environmental and social sustainability of Concordia; writing and broadcasting stories concerning events, activities, and student government at our school; and much more!” ConMUN does none of the listed things and therefore should not become a fee-levy group.

Secondly, ConMUN, by its nature, cannot benefit nor cater to the whole of Concordia’s diversity of student interests. The group is aimed at those who are particularly interested in diplomacy, which is not an aspiration of the majority of students at Concordia. They claim to “enhance our campus’ community efforts to become a better outlet for political thought, diplomatic relations, and leadership”. There are a plethora of other organizations (not fee-levies!) that do the exact same thing! In other words, an association, club, organization, what-have-you, does not need to become a feelevy in order to achieve the aforementioned goal.

Lastly, and perhaps most controversial, is that a fee-levy, in laymen’s terms, a ‘tax’ on your student fees that fund student initiatives whose’ depth and breadth advantage many students’ experience at Concordia. Although not every single student currently utilizes a fee-levy groups, their impact is much larger than the foreseeable impact of ConMUN in my opinion. One example, the People’s Potato, feeds upwards of fivehundred students a day with a healthy, nutritious lunch. I do not think that ConMUN can reach that many people in a year’s time.

With this in mind, I do not think that students would like to see even the smallest percentage of their tuition being used to fund the travel expenses of a few individuals to participate in Model United Nations competitions across the globe (in places such as South Korea, Rome, and New York). Taxing every single student’s tuition in order for that small group to play diplomat and travel the world is sheer lunacy. Moreover, injecting additional leadership conferences and speaker series into an already saturated field—events centred around diplomacy and the UN—will not yield much attention and participation from the greater Concordia community in my view.

Therefore, I do not think that ConMUN should become a fee-levy, and strongly urge you to think twice before voting on the ConMUN Fee Levy referendum question.

Sincerely Yours, Gemma Acco, President of the Political Science Student Association (This opinion does not reflect the views of the PSSA)

GOOD L UC K WI TH YO UR E XAMS !

I wish you all the best on your upcoming exams and final projects.

After exams are over – enjoy the break!!

Alan Shepard alan.shepard@concordia.ca

CO N CO R D I A .C A

one man’s mission to conquer Concordia’s finest porcelain throne

A Long Way to the Top When you canʼt remember what day of the week it is anymore, youʼre unfortunately in finals. Before the sweet taste of the Christmas holidays, we students must first endure the bitterness and loneliness of the library while studying for all of your exams. Here are how students on Twitter responded with #finalsweek.

sTePHen Ho staff writer

A few days ago, a friend of mine sent me a text message asking me where the best place in the Hall Building was to poop. I hadn’t realized I had become some sort of poop guru or connoisseur in the public eye but I suppose it’s to be expected since I write a column about it. To be perfectly honest, I had no idea how to respond since I had only previously reviewed a single bathroom in the Hall building. I gave him a vague response saying “any bathroom on one of the upper floors” which made sense to @kikikucko me since it seems like fourth to sixth floors get How am I supposed to remember all of the most traffic. Then again, those are the only this? #finalsweek floors in Hall that I frequent. I decided shortly thereafter in a moment of embarrassment, that @atruevenus I would explore every bathroom on every floor This week I’ll need infinite supplies of in the Hall building. Today, I had a nice hour coffee and comfort food. and a half break so I did just that; starting from @alconnollyy the fourth and making my way up.

Grades went from A’s to F’s real quick Floors four to six were largely the same. All #finalsweek located in the same area, all have, on average, three filthy toilets, but the rest seem usable. I @CollegeFarmGirl had the same procedure for examining each of I have a 3.no GPA #FinalsWeek these washrooms. I would walk in and slowly stalk down that short hallway flanked on either @CDUConyo side by the grey stalls. Looking left then right, The time of the year when students kicking in stall doors, peering into each cubicle become extra religious. #finalsweek in search of suitable spaces. Then I would hover @alessssandroo around the sink area taking notes.

A moment of silence for those who It was at this point, after examining the pulled out an all nighter #sayangeffort sixth floor that I began to feel like a spy, #finalsweek sneaking into rooms and quickly taking notes and disappearing before anyone realized what @megankelly551 Just realized there was toothpaste on my I was doing. I began looking behind me on the escalators to ensure no one was following me as glasses. #finalsweek I made my way from washroom to washroom. @petitbeeri The seventh floor proved to be a totally Getting study help from my three different layout. A wrench thrown into my favorite men right now: Mozart, Bach thus far smoothly operating machine of a and Beethoven. #finalsweek system. There were also many more people on this floor. Still in my spy role, I tried to @GaVic90 make myself innocuous. I walked all the way Note To Self: Stop watching dogs and around the floor before I found the washroom, cats videos on Fb and start working or your thousand projects!! >~< #finalsWeek which was also a completely different layout.

I had not prepared for this and there were @xsanjanaa people inside already. I had no choice but should be studying. but instead i slept for to play along and pretend to use one of the 2 hours. #priorities #finalsweek urinals while a man nearby choked into a sink, presumably on the People’s Potato. I took @herrism9 stock of my surroundings and then quickly So long social life...See you in a few made my way out of there. Too many people, weeks once I can emerge from my my cover might be blown. On the next floor, study dungeon. #finalsweek #Hellweek the eighth, it seems the architects kicked it up #isthesemesteroveryet a notch. While the layout of the washroom @rachelrodewald returned to what it had been on floors four I’m playing a game this week called through six, the door to the washroom was no ‘how ugly can I look for my finals?’ So longer painted an unidentifiable shade of grey far, I think I’m winning. #finalsweek but had unpainted varnished wood instead. #icantastechristmasbreak Much more elegant. I walked in to see a man in a suit adjusting his tie in the mirror. Classy @katherinlee

Currently going through the 5 stages of grief for my GPA #finalsweek

@oneandonlyDP17 Magic school never sounded better than it does now #finalsweek @KylaMV When procrastinating during finals week I look to @HilaryDuff and her words of wisdom “Why Not?” #finalsweek

bathroom it seems. However a man came in behind me and followed me down the stall aisle. A bit of quick thinking had me in a stall reaching for some toilet paper to “blow my nose.” He was none the wiser. The ninth floor reeked of feces but oddly enough the stalls had no doors and there was no one inside. It was eerily quiet except for the leaky faucet. A trap perhaps? I left immediately. The tenth floor was uneventful, empty and relatively clean.

The eleventh had different tiling on the walls, gave it a nice orange glow, good mood lighting.

I thought I was alone until I heard the toilet paper roll in one of the stalls. On the twelfth floor the washroom had blue tiling instead, only one unusable toilet and barely any traffic. Not bad. However, it seemed people were starting to catch on to what I was doing or perhaps I was growing increasingly paranoid.

I thought this was the end of my journey but I noticed a sign on one of the staircases that said “Greenhouse” with an arrow up the stairs. Curiosity and my secret agent game got the better of me and making sure no one was watching me, I slipped into the stairwell. I climbed slowly, muffling my footfalls. Arriving at the landing to the thirteenth floor, I noticed a cryptic pattern that had been tattooed onto the floor. It was a swirl of sorts. Was this the site of some occult ritual? My spy senses told me to investigate. I peered through the small window in the door and saw a long narrow hallway brimming with all sorts of flora. I also saw entrances to rooms beyond the scope of my vision. I gingerly opened the door and crept inside. I was surprised to see in one of the rooms a long table with people sitting at it eating their lunches, their backs turned towards me. I moved past them, continuing down the hall opening all their fridges and testing all the doors. A girl came out of the room and I thought I was done for but she was talking on her phone and turned the other way down the hall and out the way I had come in.

I waited a minute or two then followed suit. I was about to begin my descent but I noticed the stairs kept going up. I wondered, what was beyond this? I ascended instead. Fourteen and fifteen all appear to be maintenance, either locked or too creepy to attempt entry. The stairs finally end at the sixteenth floor and it appears I haven’t been the first to make this climb. “Sweet Satisfaction” was scrawled in black marker at the top of the stairs. It was indeed. I carefully avoided people on the way down, I skipped the twelfth floor and got off at the eleventh. Mission accomplished. I’m safe.

That’s quite the tangent, but if you’re still reading this, and you are, and if, for some ungodly reason, you are still burning with desire to know which bathroom in Hall I favour most, I would tell you the answer in an absurdly long sentence. But I really can’t decide which one is best. Probably any bathroom on one of the upper floors.

The Concordian wants to hear from you!

To send a letter to the editor, email editor@theconcordian.com Submissions must be made by the Friday prior to publication and letters can be no longer than 500 words.

Tuesday, November 25, 2014 Vol. 32 Issue 13 Nathalie Laflamme Editor-in-Chief editor@theconcordian.com Michelle Gamage Production manager production@theconcordian.com Milos Kovacevic News editor news@theconcordian.com Jess Kenwood Assistant news editor Sara Baron-Goodman Life editor life@theconcordian.com Frederic T. Muckle Arts editor arts@theconcordian.com Mia Pearson Music editor music@theconcordian.com Tim Lazier Sports editor sports@theconcordian.com Laura Marchand Opinions editor opinions@theconcordian.com Keith Race Photo editor photo@theconcordian.com Andrej Ivanov Assistant photo editor Jocelyn Beaudet Online editor online@theconcordian.com Marie-Pier LaRose Graphics editor graphics@theconcordian.com Gregory Todaro Emily Gaudet Marilla Steuter-Martin Copy editors copy@theconcordian.com Christina Rowan Natasha Taggart Marilla Steuter-Martin Production assistants Editorial office 7141 Sherbrooke St. Building CC-Rm 431 Montreal, QC H4B 1R6 514-848-2424 ext. 7499 (Editor-in-Chief) Marc-Antoine Cardin Business manager business@theconcordian.com William Atsaidis Advertising manager advertising@theconcordian.com Tyson Lowrie Jacob Serebin Ruben Bastien Board of directors directors@theconcordian.com

Contributors Marco Saveriano, Oneida Crawford, Evgenia Choros, Sam Obrand, Elias Laradi, Saray Oritz, Marie Briere, Robin Stanford, Matthew Civico, Stephen Ho

theconcordian

Porcelain Pilgrim

Concordiaʼs weekly, independent student newspaper.

EVENTS

Have a good week !

Film Cinema Politica: Intersexion and Transgender Parents, Concordia University - Dec. 1 Montreel-X David Lynch Screenings, VA-114 Cinema - Nov. 28 The Film Society: Fall of the Roman Empire, VA-114 Cinema - Dec. 7 Film Festival: Image+Nation - Until Nov. 30 Image+Nation Film Festival - Until Nov. 30

Theatre Hroses, Aux Ă&#x2030;curies in Montreal - Nov. 27-29

Exhibition Malaise, Gallery 203 - Until Dec. 4

Music Skinny Puppy w/ Youth Code, Metropolis - Nov. 29 The Wilderness of Manitoba, Divan Orange - Dec. 3 Cold Specks, Sala Rossa - Dec. 7 Jon and Roy, Corona Theatre - Nov. 28

theconcordian.com