theconcordian
VOLUME 33 | ISSUE 3 | INDEPENDENT STUDENT NEWSPAPER AT CONCORDIA UNIVERSITY. SINCE 1983. | SEPT. 15, 2015
Arts p. 10
Michelangelo visits Montreal
ALSO IN THIS ISSUE
NEWS
LIFE
MUSIC
SPORTS
OPINIONS
Planting seeds of Students get fed MTL’s Made Them Victory against advocacy p. 5 for free p. 7 Lions roar p. 12 the Redmen p. 15 We tell your stories. Follow us on social media @TheConcordian
Online classes have merit p. 17
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TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 15, 2015 Write to the editors news@theconcordian.com @theconcordian
NEWS CITY RACHEL MUZAIC Co-news editor
Turcotte interchange village will not be saved An 18th-century village found under the construction site on Montreal’s Turcotte Interchange will not be preserved, the CBC reported. Montreal Mayor Denis Coderre, Quebec transport minister Robert Poeti and culture minister Helene David said in a conference Sunday that a committee will be studying and preserving 150 boxes of artifacts taken from the site, according to the CBC. The village, known as Tannery Village, has a history of leather and fur trading.
Guy Turcotte’s second trial The jury selection process is underway for the second trial of Guy Turcotte, who faces two counts of firstdegree murder for the deaths of his two children, who were both stabbed to death. According to the CBC, the process of selecting 12 jury members from the pool of 1,650 candidates could take about two weeks. It also noted that Quebec Supreme Court Justice Andre Vincent has allocated three months to allow the jury to hear all witnesses and arguments.
SNC-Lavalin CEO replaced President and CEO of engineering firm SNCLavalin Bob Card was replaced Monday morning, according to the CBC. The CBC was contacted by the Montreal-based company which said the change had nothing to do with recent allegations that the firm gave bribes in order to attain contracts. Card assumed his position in the spring of 2012 amid other issues. The CBC reported that the company is now facing fresh allegations by a former executive. He will be replaced by current COO Neil Bruce.
health | news
A healthy YOU goes a long way Wellness information tables aim to help the Concordia community RACHEL MUZAIC Co-news editor As the new academic year brings promise of stress-inducing deadlines and a heavy workload, perhaps learning about ways to prevent and cope with stress while also maintaining a healthy diet isn’t such a bad idea. On Sept. 16, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., Concordia’s Health Services will be on hand during their “Healthy YOU at CU” information table to answer any questions students may have regarding mental health, proper sleep, and quitting smoking, to name a few. Gabriella Szabo, a health promotion specialist who will be present at the event, said students will have the opportunity to speak with her and a nurse. They will also be able to book an appointment on the spot and “pick up some reliable, evidence-based health information,” she said. Health Services’ weekly wellness table, coined “Healthy YOU at CU,” will take place in different buildings on the university’s downtown campus between Sept. 16 and Nov. 24. The precise dates and locations can all be
found on the Concordia’s Health Services’ website. At the wellness tables, Concordians will have the opportunity to speak with health specialists who cater to students’ needs and who, according to Szabo, “understand the many responsibilities students carry, and the issues that concern them.” There are certain health problems students tend to collectively experience, she said. “In the 2013 NCHA survey, students identified anxiety, stress, and sleep difficulties as some of the top factors affecting their academic performance,” she said. “Students come to Health Services for help with these issues. They also come for health concerns related to sexually transmitted infections ... or needing [contraceptives] and safer sex counseling.” One of the best ways to deal with these difficulties is by taking steps to prevent them in the first place, Szabo said. “We encourage students to use Health Services not just when they are sick, but when they are well; to stay healthy and even work toward some health goals they have,” she said. “Behaviours like getting enough good-quality sleep, eating a healthy diet, and getting regular physical activity will help students achieve their academic goals, because healthier students
do better in school.” Missing vaccines is also an issue Szabo said has become more apparent in recent years, a change that can put students at risk of getting and spreading vaccine-preventable illnesses. She recommends gathering your vaccine information and visiting a nurse to find out if you are missing any vaccinations. Despite the sometimes sensitive nature of health issues, many Concordians are comfortable asking their questions at the tables, Szabo said. For students who are not, there is the option of speaking with a nurse in private, she added. “Many young people realize that if they have questions about something, others are probably wondering the same thing. So they ask their questions in front of others,” she said. “I think this is a really good thing, because it challenges stigma and breaks down barriers.” “Healthy YOU at CU” tables also serve as a reminder to students—no matter their age or past health experiences—that resources are available to them. Paying your student fees makes you eligible to consult a nurse or health specialist at Concordia’s Health Services. Be sure to visit the information tables if you have any questions or wish to book an
Health services is active in the Concordia community. Photo by Rachel Muzaic. appointment. CORRECTION: In the Sept. 8 issue of The Concordian, the article entitled “Concordia to host monthly no-charge pap clinics” stated pap tests would be performed by a gynecologist and that women should have regular pap tests every three-to-four years. In fact the exams are performed by a female physician and women should schedule regular pap tests for every two to three years. The Concordian regrets the error.
concordia talk | news
Talks ask: “What is austerity?” Seven talks scheduled over the semester to discuss austerity’s effect at Concordia GREGORY TODARO Co-news editor The first in a series of seven talks centered on the effects of austerity is taking place at Concordia on Tuesday, Sept. 15. The series called “What is Austerity?” is a collaborative effort between the Concordia University Part-Time Faculty Association, Concordia Student Union and Concordia University Library Employees Union. Erik Chevrier, chair of mobilization for CUPTFA, and Roger Rashi, campaign coordinator for the Quebec-based solidarity group Alternatives, are leading the series opener. “[The first session] is an introduction to addressing issues with
austerity,” said Chevrier. “From there, we’re going to address Concordia-specific situations as well as the Quebec and Canada context, and the world-wide context, of how austerity affects individuals.” Other talks from “What is Austerity” include “building solidarity across Concordia,” “public sector under attack” featuring Erika Shaker of the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives, and a panel called “professors against austerity” with Concordia professors discussing different issues with aus-
terity. “A number of communities are affected by austerity so we can look at Concordia as a community,” said Chevrier. “The idea is basically that this campaign is to get everybody working together and discuss the way austerity affects them as groups, but at the same time look at this as a whole community and how we can address this at Concordia.” Chevrier said Concordia’s parttime faculty in particular is strongly, drastically impacted by austerity cuts.
“In certain Arts and Science departments—courses were cut by more than 50 per cent in certain departments,” he said. “Job security is on the line, and we’re very concerned about that.” Organizers are hoping the discussions from this series will inspire Concordia’s community to take action against austerity cuts. “We’re also in the middle of contact other groups and unions to start collaborating with us on this project so hopefully it’s not just a project of three groups, but eventually becomes the whole Concordia community that gets involved,” he said. “We do need our public services, we should be prioritizing hospitals and schools over giving money to private corporations and banks.” The first talk takes place in the 7th floor lounge of the Hall Building from 5-8 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 15. concordiaagainstausterity.org.
TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 15, 2015
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health | news
‘Organizing Sustainability’ for the public Co-developer, and cofacilitator of workshop series, Micheal Finck, sits down with The Concordian
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There are workshops offered on Tuesdays from 6-8pm. Graphic art by Charlotte Bracho. met through Climate Justice Montreal—this semester’s series will be co-facilitated by Finck and Alix Tabet, two Sustainable Concordia staff members. “The role of the facilitators is to support the conversation but not to give all of the content; it’s really to ask the kind of questions that will bring around conversations where people will learn from each other about these issues,” said Finck. He added that the workshop series is relatively broad, yet has a sense of direction in that is, “focused around strategic campaigns for environmental advocacy … that could be policy change, it could be starting
alternative institutions, it could be stopping environmentally-destructive development projects, and so on. The basic building block of the theory can be applied to a lot of different things.” Even though there are only 24 participants admitted to the workshop sessions per term, there were reportedly over 80 applicants in the first edition of the workshop series this past winter semester, said Finck. “At this point the idea is to run [the program] every semester,” said Finck, in order to give those who have not yet attended the workshops a chance to participate. “There certainly is potential
for it to happen more often in the future.” “We have made a specific effort to create a diverse group of people so that there are lots of different experiences and so that people can get that cross-faculty, cross-institution, and cross-life stage kind of experience,” added Finck. The workshops will run from Sept. 29 to Nov. 24 on Tuesdays from 6-8 p.m. Apply between Sept. 8-22 at the Sustainable Concordia’s website. To learn more about the workshop series visit their Facebook event page.
protests | news
Concordia partakes in “political discrimination” Petition against student tribunals calls on Concordia president Alan Shepard RACHEL MUZAIC Co-news editor A change.org petition published online by Solidarity UQAM-Concordia is asking president and vice-chancellor of Concordia University Alan Shepard to drop the charges made against several student protesters who faced formal complaints following the 2015 spring protests against austerity. The complaints, launched by Concordia professors, were co-signed by the university. The online petition started by two groups—No Tribunals For Students and Solidarity Concordia— claims 29 students are accused of being in violation of article 29G of the Code of Rights and Responsibilities, specifically, obstruction or
NATION RACHEL MUZAIC Co-news editor
Jean Chretien still going strong
DORI JULIAN Online editor rganizing Sustainability: Empowerment and Justice in Environmental Advocacy” is an eightweek workshop that emerged from one of Sustainable Concordia’s three institutional priority mandates: sustainability, education and engagement. “It’s a workshop series designed to give students analytic skills and tangible skills in terms of environmental justice community organizing,” said Michael Finck, Sustainable Concordia’s external coordinator and co-developer of the workshop series. With 24 participants in total, the workshop sessions include various components in order to bring out “general understandings of how the world functions and how environmental degradation impacts people and themselves,” said Finck. The sessions are made up of a variety of activities ranging from individual writing and small group exercises to discussion blocks and large plenaries with the entire group. Co-developed by Finck and Lily Schwarzbaum—whom Finck
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disruption of university activities. “Concordia’s decision to partake in political discrimination as co-complainants, targeting students for carrying out a democratically voted mandate, and for being critically-minded and caring for the betterment of the society, undermines the students’ democratic process,” states the letter, signed by No Tribunals for Students and Solidarity Concordia. The petition says the students who participated in the protests did so after the strike was democratically voted for. The letter also states the actions of the university are “a means to legitimize the repression of the voices against austerity measures proposed by the Liberal government,” and implore the faculty members who are filing the complaints to “stand with students as we fight for sustainable education.” Concordia University Spokesperson Chris Mota said in an email that “the university made some
accommodation in the spring by creating days of reflection in academic departments where students had voted to strike. Classes were not held on those days. This was done in order to allow students to protest without losing out academically.” However, she went on to say that “there were no guarantees that no code complaints were going to be filed with the Office of Rights and Responsibilities” and that “anyone who engages in behaviour that contravenes any aspect of the Code of Rights and Responsibilities should know that they can face complaints from any member of the university community.” The petition states that No Tribunals For Students and Solidarity Concordia “consider the administration’s lack of support and failure to recognize the strike inappropriate and unacceptable,” and by co-signing the complaints, the university’s actions contradict Concordia’s position to pro-
mote “a campus community that thrives on ‘intertwining education with social responsibility’ and ‘encouraging students to become active, critical and global citizens,’” as written on Concordia’s website. When asked if the university would give more warning on any consequences future student protesters may face, Mota said that “the disruption of educational activities contravenes our Code of Rights and Responsibilities” and reiterated that anyone who is in violation of these codes “can face complaints from any member of the university community.” On Sept. 16 at 12:30 p.m. the UQAM-Concordia Solidarity Demo Against Tribunals will hold a demonstration at Place Pasteur on the UQAM campus. The groups note in the letter that similar action was taken against nine UQAM students and that one student has been suspended for a year.
Former Canadian prime minister Jean Chrétien made public his views towards Stephen Harper’s Conservative government in an open letter published in a number of newspapers Saturday morning. According to the CBC, Chrétien wrote that it saddened him “to see that in fewer than 10 years, the Harper government has tarnished almost 60 years of Canada’s reputation as a builder of peace and progress.” The former prime minister paid Liberal leader Justin Trudeau a visit in Hamilton during a campaign stop to offer his support, and criticized NDP leader Thomas Mulcair on several fronts.
Surplus for conservative government The federal finance department has revealed it is running a $1.9 billion surplus budget for the 2014-2015 fiscal year, but the CBC reported that critics of the Conservative government say this was only achieved by reducing services for veterans and the elderly. According to CBC News, Prime Minister Harper said that this nearly $2 billion surplus speaks for Canada’s balanced budget. Liberal Leader Justin Trudeau called the surplus “political,” and says the surplus comes at the expense of the most needy Canadians.
World Cup coming to Canada Canada Soccer has confirmed that on Nov. 13, the country will be opening the next round of World Cup qualifying, which will be against Honduras at B.C. Place Stadium in Vancouver, the CBC reported. Canada has not been a part of the tournament since 1986, when it won against Honduras. According to the CBC, the Canadian men’s team is currently in 102nd place in the world. Honduras is currently ranked 81st in the world. Then, the men’s team will go on the road to face El Salvador, ranked 107th, on Nov. 17.
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WORLD RACHEL MUZAIC Co-news editor
Wildfires tear through Northern California California Governor Jerry Brown has declared a state of emergency as wildfires quickly spread through the northern part of the region and force thousands from their homes. According to the BBC, the fires have either endangered or destroyed infrastructure in the Napa and Lake counties, while 1,300 people have fled the city of Middletown as their homes succumb to the flames. The BBC notes that four firefighters have been admitted to the hospital for severe burns. Drought and hot weather are being blamed for the disaster.
Mexican tourists shot in Egypt Twelve people, eight of which were Mexican tourists, were shot dead by security forces in Egypt’s Western Desert. According to the BBC, tourism officials said the group had permission to travel in the area. However, Egypt has been on high alert in battling Islamic extremists. The BBC reported that Egyptian President Ibrahim Mahlab telephoned Mexican Ambassador Alvarez Fuentes to convey his apologies for the incident and to reassure the ambassador that the ten other injured Mexican tourists were receiving the right medical treatment.
EU States impose border controls Shortly after Germany declared tighter border control due to the influx of migrants making their way into their country—Austria, Slovakia, and the Netherlands said they will also be making similar adjustments to their borders. The BBC noted that Hungary has also taken measures to control the situation, including putting in place a fence along its border and a container wagon, which has one end covered in razor wire, along the gap between a railway track migrants use to cross and the fence.
TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 15, 2015
business | news
Reducing obstacles for business interns The Elite Sphere is looking for “top business students” to connect online with businesses GREGORY TODARO Co-news editor
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new initiative started by a Concordia student is trying to connect business students to companies looking for interns. The Elite Sphere was co-founded by Concordia finance student Yann Soucy and McGill accounting student Philip Trifiro. The duo created the concept last spring and the website was launched this summer, Soucy said. The Elite Sphere is a site where business students can create a profile that can be viewed by companies looking for interns. “The idea is to get companies to partner with us,” said Soucy. “They’ll be able to go on the website and look through the ideal candidates through the profiles which will be sorted by specific categories.” He said the ultimate goal is to bridge the gap between companies and students looking for internships and reverse the “typical procedure” of students applying to companies. “The companies can find their own candidates extremely fast by themselves on an easy to use website,” he said. The Elite Sphere is looking for busi-
ness students in the Montreal area interested in joining the site, as well as companies looking to recruit business students for internships. Soucy said he is also working on creating group tours of businesses where students can visit a company’s headquarters or offices to get a feel of a company’s work environment. Standing Apart One of the main questions Soucy and Trifiro had when they started The Elite Sphere was how they were to set themselves apart from other websites—particularly LinkedIn, said Soucy. “LinkedIn is already so big, it has that name everyone wants to work with,” he said. “The main way that we are different are the requirements that students needs to have in order to become members.”
Unlike other job posting sites, The Elite Sphere only takes students with both a GPA of 3.5 or above and extra curricular activities. While Soucy admits GPA isn’t the “perfect indicator” of a candidate’s abilities, employers can still learn a lot about a student from their grades. “It is an indicator in the sense that if someone is able to perform well academically and at the same time get involved with extracurriculars ... it shows this person can do numerous things and can focus on numerous things at the same time,” he said. “That’s something companies tend to look at, especially in business.” He also said the grade requirements are being reevaluated based on different focuses. While in some categories grades are vital for employers to know a candidate’s skill level, “Extracurriculars are much more im-
portant than a good GPA for advertising, for example.” Business Partnerships Soucy says he’s working to create partnership with business companies looking for interns. The Elite Sphere just began a partnership with Phocion Investments, a Montreal-based consulting firm who will look to the site for interns. Soucy says small business companies can benefit greatly from access to interns in The Elite Sphere’s format. “It costs a lot [to recruit],” he said. “So when [small businesses] need interns, you don’t necessarily have the funds to allocate to a human resources department, but you don’t really want to pay a headhunter to look for someone for you, so it’s a great way to be able to look for the idea candidate ahead of making some sort of ad.”
Graphic from The Elite Sphere’s Facebook page.
campus | news
A new year for Concordia’s Senate Senators review strategic plan, ENCS council changes GREGORY TODARO Co-news editor Concordia’s Senate held its first meeting of the academic year on Friday, Sept. 11. The university’s senior academic body met in the JM Building downtown, and it was the first meeting for a handful of new Senators. Concordia president Alan Shepard opened the meeting by welcoming the group into another academic year with about 8,000 new students starting this semester. Shepard also briefly announced the arrival of 27 new full-time faculty members at Concordia before Senators were shown a presentation
refreshing the rules and policies of Senate for both new and returning members. Concordia’s strategic plan The Senate was given a presentation on the development of Concordia’s strategic plan. The review discussed the integration of the plan from the university-level into Concordia’s different faculties. The strategic plan, which was approved by Concordia’s Board of Governors this summer, contains nine different priorities: doubling research; teach for tomorrow (which educates students on both fundamental academics while being transformative to new ideas); get your hands dirty (through experiential learning); mix it up (by promoting intersectionality between disciplines); experiment boldly (and trying new meth-
ods of engaging students and the community); grow smartly (and think about Concordia’s expanding student body); embrace the city, embrace the world (and be an agent of change in both); go beyond (by raising the quality of Concordia’s work and relationships); and take pride. The full meaning of these priorities can be found on Concordia’s website.
ENCS council changes approved The Senate voted in favour of changing the rules of membership of the Engineering and Computer Sciences Faculty Council. The revisions changed the structure of the council, adding eight voting members and specifying the number of councilors from different groups and departments under ENCS.
TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 15, 2015
LIFE
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Write to the editor life@theconcordian.com @theconcordian
games | life
Break free from stress in an alternate world Montreal escape games will have you immersed in a completely different universe
KELSEY LITWIN Staff writer
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as the first week of school already got you down? Are course outlines causing the stress to start building
up? Me too, buddy. Me too. But there is no need to fret just yet! There is an answer to your premature prayers: being locked in a room with five friends and just an hour to escape. Well, sort of... Since the fall of 2014, Escape Room game centres have been popping up in every corner of Montreal. The idea is to challenge players by placing them in a locked room, forcing them to use their wits and the limited resources provided to them to escape within the time limit. Each centre offers their own spin on the concept, providing the players with their choice of claustrophobic scenario. Whether they’re in the Pyramids of Giza in Egypt or a local hockey locker room, players are presented with a scenario that traps them until they complete the puzzles that will unlock the door. When Échappe-toi Montréal opened its doors in October 2014, the entrepreneurs behind Montreal’s first immersive Escape
, Kyle s Kitchen Now that school is in session, it’s time to get back to reality—starting with breakfast KYLE DAVIS Contributor Chances are mornings are not your favourite part of the day. Sometimes, the only thing that can keep you awake is a nice mug of coffee. Here are three quick and easy breakfast recipes to beat those blues and start your morning off on the right foot.
Room game saw the opportunity to use the popular concept for corporate teambuilding. “It’s a different way of doing things,” explained Arturo Rivero, an Échappe-Toi spokesperson. The skills that are exercised during the games, such as leadership, communication and problem solving, can be directly transferred into business settings, making it extremely attractive to HR departments. “That’s why we have such a big [corporate] clientele.” These training opportunities aren’t limited to corporate bigshots hoping to improve the cohesiveness of their team. Rivero specified that the skills that an individual can pick up in such a situation can be beneficial to just about anyone. “The skills are there, and sometimes people don’t know it.” Rivero continued to explain that the opportunity to be completely immersed in a challenging situation forces us to put on our thinking caps and get our creative juices flowing, encouraging us to think outside the box—both in the game and out. “This is an experience that, if you want to or not, will take your mind off of whatever you’re thinking [about],” he said. “You have to concentrate.” This is why Échappe-Toi advertises their games as a way of learning to
Take a trip to the room your parents always warned you about. manage stress. “It happens all across the board,” Rivero said. “You’re doing your job and you get so focused that it makes it hard for you to concentrate on something else.” By encouraging critical thinking, problem solving and interpersonal communication, Escape Room games might even show you a new way to tackle a problem that you’ve been facing. “Sometimes,” continued Rivero, “you get so focused that it’s hard to think of a new answer, a new way of doing things.” Next time you look at that to-do list and are feeling a little overwhelmed, it might
be time to consider something other than a yoga class to blow off some steam. After all, as Rivero said, “we’re all up for a challenge every once and awhile.”
food | life The breakfast crepe Step your morning game up with a crepe. Take it on the go! • 2 eggs • 1 cup of milk • 1 tablespoon of oil 3 • /4 cup of flour • 4 slices of ham • 2 cups of grated cheddar cheese • Ketchup (optional) Whisk eggs and milk together until homogenous, slowly adding the flour after, whisking vigorously to avoid lumps. Heat a medium sized pan on medium heat and add oil. When hot, add ½ a cup of batter, shaking it to ensure a thin, even layer. After a minute, flip the crepe, wait 30 seconds and transfer to a plate. Repeat process. Spread ketchup onto a crepe; add two slices of ham on top; sprinkle with cheese and warm in oven until melted. Fold and/or roll and you’re good to go!
Bring your breakfast to the next level. Photos by Kyle Davis.
Smashed avo toast with runny eggs Like at the café but cheaper… • 2 slices of sourdough bread • 1 avocado • 2 eggs • Salt and pepper • Lemon juice In a pot of boiling water, place eggs for five minutes. Transfer eggs into a bowl of cold water for runny yolks! Pop the bread into the toaster, aiming for golden brown. Half the avocados, discard the pit and scoop it out onto bread and spread. Sprinkle salt, pepper and a splash of lemon juice. Peel eggs, cut them in half and place them on the toast. Stand back and admire your creative ability. Note: To one-up this recipe try adding a bit of olive oil and chili on top.
Iced coffee Your caffeine fix without that six-dollar corporate price-tag; you know who you are. • 6 cups of brewed coffee • 2 cups of milk • 6 tablespoon of condensed milk • 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract While the coffee is hot, whisk milk and condensed milk until fully blended. Add vanilla. Set in fridge and cool overnight. Note: Sweetness changes once chilled so avoid making the mix too sweet while hot.
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TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 15, 2015
organization | life
Succeed this semester in five easy steps Promise yourself that you’ll actually stay on track this coming year: here’s some help MINA MAZUMDER Staff writer When a new semester begins, we always tell ourselves that we will do better than the last. Most of the time, that doesn’t work out and we end up falling behind in our school work. Here are five helpful tips to stay on top of your game as this new semester unfolds. 1. Avoid procrastination We’ve all been there: we tell ourselves that we still have time to write that assignment that is due tomorrow but we end up putting it off to the last minute. In order to break the cycle of procrastination, it is important to change a few daily habits and maybe even your environment. According to Life Hack , a website specializing in productivity and lifestyle, it is important to break an assignment into little sections, which makes your work seem less overwhelming. Sometimes your environment can affect the way you work. Try studying and doing assignments at the library instead of at home where you know that there are many distractions. If you have an agenda from the CSU, page 21 goes into detail about how to deal with procrastination. 2. Get enough sleep On average, adults need about seven to nine hours of sleep each and every night, according to the National Sleep Founda-
tion. While many of us as aware of this, we never seem to abide by this rule. Sleep is vital for students since it helps the body rest and recover from a long day while the brain works on regenerating cells. Getting enough sleep can actually help you retain information from studying or class lectures. According to Healthy Sleep, a resource from the Division of Sleep Medicine at Harvard Medical School, sleep has an important role in memory, which is crucial for taking in new information. Some great tips given by the National Sleep Foundation include following a consistent sleep schedule, since that helps to regulate your body’s sleep patterns for a good night’s sleep, practicing a relaxing night routine away from lights and electronics, exercising daily to relax muscles, and avoiding alcohol before bed. 3. Have an agenda You might have heard this a million times but using your agenda is important in staying organized, because you can easily keep track of what assignments are due and which ones should have priority. Complete assignments that are due sooner before diving into the ones due later. If your agenda comes with a full-size calendar for each month, use different coloured pens for each class and write in when all of the semester’s assignments are due as soon as you receive a course outline. This will help you see your entire semester in terms of work, and you can determine the busy weeks from the
quieter ones. Make sure to check your agenda regularly; make it a daily habit. 4. Never skip class You might think that class lectures are redundant and time-consuming because the course content given by your professor is available in the textbooks or online, but studies have shown otherwise. According an article in the Economics of Education Review, studies have found that there is a positive correlation between class performance and a student’s attendance. Statistics show that a student who regularly attends class performs significantly better during mid-terms and final exams when compared to a student who voluntarily missed several classes. Making a habit of attending class puts you on the right track.
5. Stay motivated Feeling lost? Ask your professor questions—he or she won’t bite. Don’t let any doubts block your way to success. The clearer an idea you have of what to study or what to write for your assignment, the better you will score. Creating goals for yourself is also a great idea to feel motivated to do better this semester; tell yourself that if you do well on an assignment, you’ll buy yourself dessert or go to the movies with friends. Write down a list of assignments, and next to that, write what rewards you will give yourself when they are properly completed. While these five suggestions might be hard to maintain throughout the semester, make small goals for yourself, and you will see results as you go. Little progress is better than none at all.
Graphic by Charlotte Bracho.
poem | life
Liquid lips: a series of haikus A dark tale of the never ending effects of long-wearing lipstick CRISTINA SANZA Life editor You’re a raging teen Venturing outside my lips A permanent act Forever staining The curves of my cupid’s bow Marks sepia red Wiping you away Is the scar on my right knee Long-lasting affair My pores, honeycombs You have sucked out the sweetness Now drained, parched, lifeless Photo by Cristina Sanza.
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food | life
Healthy and hearty frugal campus eats Broke students can still find fresh and nutritious food at Concordia every single week
whole week. You order the box at a desk near The People’s Potato—cash only— and show up a week later with your own bags to tote home your goodies. Check out bonneboitebonnebouffe.org for other ordering/ pickup locations near your neighbourhood.
MICHELLE GAMAGE Editor-in-Chief I’m not a thief, I just have an uncanny ability to find free food. It’s not like it’s hard at Concordia— the whole school is packed full of resources for starving students. To help the hungry hoards out for the upcoming months of “where-did-all-my-summer-savingsgo-I’m-broke-again” I’ve compiled a list of the best places on campus for each and every student to check-out and fill-up at. THE PEOPLE’S POTATO Seventh floor, Hall building 12:30-2 p.m. Score hearty vegan lunches packed with vegetables, beans, grains, a salad— and a side of soup. Gluten-free meals are usually available two days of the week. You are encouraged to donate your loose change and students need to bring their own tupperware. I recommend bringing two pieces of tupperware so your salad doesn’t swim in your soup. Pop in the back and volunteer by washing dishes or chopping veggies for 15 minutes to skip the lines. THE HIVE FREE LUNCH SC-115 — 12:30-2 p.m. Free lunches for the Loyola crowd are also vegetarian, but less vegan. These
The Hive serves free lunches every day at Loyola. Photo by Andrej Ivanov. meals often feature thai noodles and a brownie for dessert. Their salads are to die for. Students don’t have to bring their own tupperware but must wash their own dishes at the end of their meal. Volunteer by helping to serve—where you get tons of good vibes from the people you’re giving free food to—or wash some dishes and enjoy coffee or cookies baked by the staff as a thank you. Donations encouraged. THE PEOPLE’S POTATO FOOD BANK Seventh floor, Hall building Select dates A first-come, first-serve style food bank in collaboration with Moisson Montréal. Tickets are handed out along the line
to guarantee you food, but don’t fret if you don’t get a ticket—usually the 20 people who don’t get tickets at the end of the line get food too. Bring your own bags to carry home donated items such as bread, various cans, boxes of crackers and granola bars. No identification required. THE GOOD FOOD BASKET Seventh floor, Hall building Every two weeks While not a Concordia program, The Good Food Basket is still an amazing way for students to stock up on fresh (and often local) fruit and vegetables year-round for cheap. It’s a larger Quebec program that sells $7, $11 and $17 boxes designed to last a single person, couple or family a
MOTHER HUBBARD’S CUPBOARD Multi-faith Chaplaincy, 2090 Mackay St. Thursday 5-7 p.m. Fill your belly before bed with a $2 vegan meal once a week. Students are encouraged to help volunteer cook and clean. Show up with friends or go alone to meet some like-minded—or budgeted— students. Tea and coffee are also served, and all the money collected goes straight to helping fund next week’s meal. It’s a community-building and belly-filling pay-it-forward, for Concordians. Events at Concordia Various dates Always read the posters plastered all over the walls and keep an eye out for events posted on Facebook. There are endless festivities that feature free food all year-round. HOJO serves pizza at its info sessions, CISA has been known to host an unbelievable buffet from food around the world at its Cultural Fair and almost every department hosts wine and cheese nights throughout the year. Show up, learn stuff and stuff yourself silly with free food.
gaming | life
You can still be a gamer during school Here’s how you can balance homework and your gaming habits ROBIN STANFORD Contributor With the first classes over and class obligations revealed, one big question remains: is it possible to continue video-gaming into the new semester or—like summer—is it something to be left behind? Common wisdom states that there is simply no time to game and engage in all the responsibilities of life as a student. This view is generated through the understanding of gaming as something that takes up all of the player’s time and energy. Common wisdom is wrong, for the most part. Video games are a great way to disconnect from the high-pressure environment present in higher education. Through engaging in a different, non-academic activity, players are given a much-needed break to clear their heads. As a result, once the game session is over, they return to their studies with new enthusiasm for the tasks at hand. This is especially important near the end of a semester when students’ stress levels rise in proportion to finals. Here are three simple tricks for gamers juggling university studies.
1. Avoid massively multiplayer online (MMO) or role playing games (RPG) Although there is a huge allure to play the latest big name game—resist that urge. Many games being released are of the RPG variety with rich stories that promise hours of enjoyment. Unless someone is able to take a few days off to play such a title, the results may be disastrous. Attempt to steer clear of any game in which will prove difficult to put down after a set period of time. The last thing any player wants is to realize that they have lost an entire day to a video game when an assignment is due in the morning. In the same vein, this may not be the optimal time to renew a World of Warcraft subscription, or any other MMO. These games are designed to take up as much of the player’s time as possible. There will be time for these types of games during the session break. 2. Aim for shooter platforms and casual games Multiplayer shooters tend to be a good choice as all matches are timed. From Call of Duty to Splatoon, these games allow the player to blow-off steam without losing track of the clock. A word of warning about this type of game: players tend to have an easier time ending the play session after a win so consider taking a shorter play session if on a hot streak.
Shooter platforms are the way to go. Photo by Cristina Sanza. Platformers similarly have good exit points; after every level the player has the choice of putting it away or continuing on to a new challenge. Levels tend to be short and the player can have a sense of accomplishment after every session. These games tend to be lighter on story—such as in the Super Mario games, it doesn’t matter if the princess is in another castle. Finally, as casual games are designed for players who are not used to gaming, they tend to try and fit in with everyday life. Games such as Bejeweled can be played on almost any device, and are made to be played on the way to work. 3. Revisit old classics University is a great time to revisit classic games played years ago. As the story is
already known, there is no problem putting it down before a story arc concludes. Putting down Final Fantasy VII isn’t as intimidating when you know what the twists are beforehand, for example. As always, it is very important to be aware of your needs and tendencies when gaming. Some find games to be a great way to take a break from writing essays, while others use them as a reward after completing an assignment. No matter how you game, you can still enjoy it during the school semester! Have you played a video game recently that everyone should pick up or ignore? Let us know! We are looking for game reviews to be featured in a later issue.
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ARTS
TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 15, 2015 Write to the editors arts@theconcordian.com @theconcordian
exhibit | arts
Momenta’s shutters close to keep doors open The Momenta Photography Group just held an exhibition to raise funds for Chez Doris, a women’s shelter in Montreal MARIA BUKREEV Contributor
“Seeking Higher Ground.”
W
e see people everyday— in the metro and on the streets—begging for money, sometimes gently and sometimes not. It is undeniable that many people, and sometimes entire families at a time, need help due to financial instability. Although the government does provide financial support for Montrealers who fit the criteria, it can often be insufficient for the numerous people in need. In this regard, philanthropy appears to be necessary. If you feel uncomfortable donating to random people around the city, perhaps you should instead look into shelters or other non-profit organizations that are organized to stretch their funding and help the greatest amount of people with the funds they are given. Different types of shelters exist in Montreal, but only one of them is open during the day—seven days a week— and offers a wide range of services and activities specifically for women. You might have heard about Chez Doris last year, as it was reported by the media that, due to a lack of funds, the daytime shelter was forced to close its doors on weekends, leaving women in need with no resources for those two days of the week. This is no longer the case. In response to that, many donors and volunteers have come forward. Among them was a group of women who has come up with a very personal way to contribute. The Momenta Photography Group was created last fall and has since held two exhibits for which all proceeds went to Chez Doris. All of its members met at a photography
class they took at the Montreal Visual Arts Centre in Westmount back in 2011. After getting to know each other and sharing their skills in photography, the women eventually began thinking about working together on projects. Last year’s exhibition was a success and the amateur photographers were able to raise close to $4,000. This year, six of the members were back for a second annual exhibition—they are Laurie Bucci, Frances Cable, Cindy Canavan, Josée Houde, Florence Jean and Silvia Lebensztajn. Each of these artists has their own style, which makes this exhibit a very diverse one, but even though the techniques vary, one cannot help but notice that there is a common theme to all of the photos: nature. We can see nature in black and white which can give us a feeling of nostalgia, we can see wild and dangerous nature and we can also see more soothing, dreamlike landscapes in which we can easily get lost. The photographers have different approaches to the subject. For instance, Houde cleverly uses shadows and blur effects in order to show movement, while Bucci creates an almost 3D-like effect by emphasizing texture. Cable focuses on showing a mood by experimenting with colours, while Canavan also accentuates colours as well and tries out different ways to show perspective, thus giving movement to the pictures. Jean shows the beauty of wilderness, especially in her black and white photos, and Lebensztaj shows us idealistic, yet fragile landscapes she wishes to preserve, for they are soon to be destroyed by man. It is quite obvious that the amount of time and energy put into working on the photos, and organizing and advertising the exhibition is significant. Some of them work, some studied or are currently studying at Concordia and others have families to take care of, so it is in their spare time that they work on this project. According to the artists, up to seven hours of work goes into shooting and editing each photo they present. In addition to that, the group has to thoroughly discuss which photographs they would show at the exhibit, how they would introduce them and also what the prices would be. It is indeed very important for the works to be priced to sell, since the purpose of the exhibit is to raise money for the daytime shelter. Moreover, not only does the planning of the exhibition keep them busy, but it is also quite expensive for them—as the artists have to frame their works, rent a location for the exhibition, and so on. In spite of all the difficulties they have to face, the Momenta members all agree on the fact that they enjoy volunteering, almost quoting
Sneak peek taken before Thursday’s exhibit. Mother Theresa’s, “it is not how much we give, but how much love we put into giving.” Momenta is doing fairly well for a group that was created only a year ago; most of the photos displayed at their very first exhibition were sold. The reason that they were able to raise such an important amount of money is because they are doing what they are passionate about while getting involved in important matters. By doing this they also encourage other people to do the same. Apart from framed photos, in this second exhibition, the artists were also selling cards with smaller versions of some of their work at very affordable prices of $5-10. The atmosphere at the
event was pleasant and the artists, Chez Doris administrators and Chez Doris’ executive director Marina Boulos-Winton, were easily approachable. In a talk with Houde, member and spokesperson for the group, it was made clear that Momenta had no intention of settling on their current achievements; they would keep working harder in order to reach their new goals. They are also considering doing two exhibits per year instead of just one and looking into other organizations that would be in need of financial support. For more information on The Momenta Photography Group, visit momentaphotography.com.
The photographers. Top row, left to right: Josée Houde, Frances C.-Raymond, Silvia Lebensztajn. Bottom row: Cindy Canavan, Laurie Bucci, Florence Jean.
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film | arts
Big names expected at black film festival Film festival season is kicking off in Montreal and MIBFF is one of the first in line ELIJAH BUKREEV Co-arts editor Every major film festival has had to start somewhere. Cannes wasn’t always Cannes. The Toronto International Film Festival once attracted 35,000 people, and now attracts over 10 times that number. The Montreal International Black Film Festival has only existed since 2005—during half of which it was known as the Haitian Film Festival— but it has now established itself as an important yearly event and attracts international stars, most notably Spike Lee during last year’s instalment. This year’s program was announced last Wednesday and it’s hard not to agree with its founder, filmmaker Fabienne Colas, when she said it will be the “biggest edition yet.” This film festival’s unusual focus is on its many events, talks, tributes and exhibits even more than on its screenings, some of which will take place on campus. This year is a symbolic year for the black community, and many events will be devoted to American history. In fact, it’s been 50 years since the Selma march portrayed in last year’s Selma, 50 years since Malcolm X’s assassination and 60 years since Rosa Parks held on to her bus seat in Montgomery, Alabama. These anniversaries will be marked by the following events: a tribute to Martin Luther King III—Martin Luther King Jr.’s eldest son—will be held on Sept. 19 at 7 p.m. at the Imperial Theatre, and King III will be attending the event; the closing film, The Black Panthers:
A still from The Black Panthers: Vangard of the Revolution, the closing film of the festival.
Vangard of the Revolution is an exploration of the Black Panther Party, with interviews of both supporters and detractors, and will be screened on Oct. 4 at 7 p.m. at Theatre Hall-Concordia; a movie-talk on the power of nonviolence preceded by a screening of Selma and attended among others by Martin Luther King III will take place on Sept. 30 at 7 p.m. at Concordia’s D.B. Clarke Theatre; an exhibit titled We Have a Dream, honouring 25 African-American women who changed the world, will be running from Sept. 30 to Oct. 4 at the former National Film Board of Canada. The festival isn’t forgetting its Haitian roots either. It’s been five years since the Caribbean country was hit by a powerful
earthquake from which it still has not fully recovered. A tribute to Paul Haggis and David Belle will be held on Oct. 2 at Cineplex Quartier Latin at 7 p.m. You may know Haggis as the Oscar-winning Canadian director and screenwriter who delivered 2004’s socially-conscious Crash. What you may not know is that Haggis was one of the first to rush to Haiti after the earthquake, and founded an organization which provides help in education and health care to Haitian youth. You may know David Belle as the French founder of the Parkour discipline, but what you may not know is that Belle founded the Ciné Institute, purportedly Haiti’s only film school. Both Haggis and Belle will attend the tribute, which
will be followed by the screening of five films directed by former students of the Institute. The opening film, Sweet Micky for President, is also about Haiti—it is a documentary on an unlikely presidential candidate, a controversial musician whose campaign is organized by Pras Michel of The Fugees. The screening will take place on Sept. 29 at the Imperial Theatre at 7 p.m. Pras Michel will be attending, and will host a party after the screening. The Montreal international black film festival runs from Sept. 29 to Oct. 4. The programming can be found at montrealblackfilm.com.
film | arts
Tape-recording the trials of a ‘70s teenager A different kind of teen movie, an honest look at a girl’s sexual awakening ELIJAH BUKREEV Co-arts editor It is mildly depressing that while humanity has been able to collectively solve many issues over the past centuries, there are certain life experiences that each must still go through on their own, as helpless and confused as they may be. While The Diary of a Teenage Girl has a cliché-sounding title, it is actually an involving dramedy concerned with the loss of virginity and the difficult passage into adulthood. Just as movies for, and about, teenagers have sunk low in the last decade with the advent of the commercially-minded “young adult” genre, three independent films this year have reminded us that a genuine look at that age group is still possible—they are Me and Earl and the Dying Girl, which explores friendship, Dope,
which explores racial identity, and The Diary of a Teenage Girl, which explores sex. All three, as any movie about teenagers intrinsically is, are coming-of-age stories. I would strongly recommend these three to any person in their late teens as an alternative to the latest fanfiction, poor man’s dystopia or schmaltzy romance—not to name any names. This film is set in 1976 San Francisco and is coloured like an old photograph of the era. In fact, by its structure, it can be compared to the Polaroid card 15-year-old Minnie asks to have taken of her right after she’s had sex for the first time—for the whole film, we watch her life slowly come into focus through funny, tough, and allaround weird experiences. She is at the centre of the film, recording her rambunctious thoughts on a tape recorder, so when we hear her voice-over narration, it’s not being read from paper—the viewer is listening to the voice recordings she makes. Like many people who keep diaries, she starts hers from a half-conscious desire to be heard, so you shouldn’t feel too bad
about listening in. Minnie is played by Bel Powley, a newcomer who infuses her character with endearing and sometimes scary naiveté, but also a confidence that is odd for a character who thinks so little of herself—Marie Heller, a first-time filmmaker, is equally confident in her directing. It’s that confidence that ultimately gets Minnie “laid” when she flirts with her mother’s boyfriend and manages to seduce him. At first, she is thrilled, and proudly informs her tape recorder that she is now officially an adult—this is the line that opens the film. Powley is yet another in a long list of young new British actors who are more convincing as an American than most Americans are. She mostly recalls Giulietta Masina in The Nights of Cabiria for her wide-eyed look and hopefulness that is entirely misplaced in an environment that wants to suck all life out of her. The Diary of a Teenage Girl is often disturbing in ways that the main character is not aware of, and that’s why these passages are portrayed in a mostly positive light, as they are seen
through Minnie’s lack of experience. While this film doesn’t have the combination of mystery and sexuality of a Gregg Araki film—for some reason, it seems like Minnie always has it all figured out—it is terrifically cast and introduces you to another lovely actress in a way that shows how much she has yet to give.
Minnie in the midst of recording.
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TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 15, 2015
exhibit | arts
Vatican City is lending us the Sistine Chapel
The Palais des congrès is exhibiting Michelangelo’s work close enough for you to admire in a new way
Your breath-taking Italian journey begins with the Genesis cycle throughout the centre of the room. Photos by Lydia Anderson.
LYDIA ANDERSON Co-arts editor
A
re you craving adventure, culture, and artwork? Any chance you have $1,000 saved up in that student piggy bank of yours? That’s about the amount of money an airplane ticket costs to fly to Rome, Italy. If you happen to have this pocket change jingling around in your jeans, then why not take the trip? This Roman holiday of yours will surely be filled with gelato, history, and cobblestone streets, but, no doubt, it will also include a visit to the Sistine Chapel to see Michelangelo’s handiwork with your own eyes. But for those of you with student loans, budgets, and a lack of dispensable time to allot to a Roman holiday—stop fretting. You too have the chance to see Michelangelo’s awe-inspiring craftsmanship up close. Right now at le Palais des congrès de Montréal, and until Oct. 12, Michelangelo’s Sistine Chapel: The Exhibition is bringing all of the heavenly artistry—in more ways than one—to our city for you to admire. This exhibition was curated by Susanne Koenig—who also produced the audio-visual and exhibition guide—and Christina Marotzke. The reproductions displayed were made from images captured by Erich Lessing right after the extensive restoration work that was conducted on the chapel in the 1980s and ‘90s. The exhibit begins as you walk towards the first room clutching what seems to be a strange, thin, black remote. This is the object that will be the gateway for your ears to hear the extensive, informative audio tour awaiting you. A melodic sounding voice begins to speak as you hold the device against your ear—you’ve started a private tour where you set the pace and the amount of information you wish to ingest. You turn into the first room: a room with unfortunate-coloured
backdrops, a single television looping a video, displays of written information, and images. This is merely the prologue— the setup, if you will—to inform you about whose work you’ll soon be greatly appreciating. It is when you turn left, however, that you are blown away by the display space. Surrounding you, while black backdrops embody the darkness of a chapel, are 33 images. The metal supports and barriers in the room are reminiscent of the scaffolding used to paint a ceiling. This space makes up nearly the entire exhibit with images on all walls as well as on the ceiling at the centre of the room. The audio guide tells you to begin the tour by walking through the Genesis cycle in the centre aisle of the space. For this portion, the first nine images, your sights are set to the heavens as each image is displayed above you. This gives you an idea of what it would be like to see the Sistine Chapel in the flesh—observation from below, a neck craned upwards. Reproductions are much more magnified to show you all the intricate, beautiful details of each image. After this central aisle, the exhibit-goer tours in a clockwise direction, observing on the walls the images of the prophets and Sybils, the lineage of Christ, and the corner paintings. The ambience in the exhibit room is calming and meditative. Operatic voices and smooth, classical instruments serenade each observer as they peruse. Each individual is swept into their own world as their ears are connected to a wealth of knowledge, observation, and history. Consistent with a common church environment, the emphasis is on silent contemplation rather than rambunctious discussion. This is more than just an exhibit, it is an opportunity for a calm moment of appreciation—a chance to leisurely soak in the sophisticated artistry of a talented historical figure. The audio guide provides information on who the images’ subjects are and what
“The Prophet Ezekiel:” rich colour was revived with the restoration of the chapel.
“The Ancestors of Christ - Salmon:” Archways and framing were also captured in the reproduction.
the historical context is, while also pointing out the technical details of composition, lighting, etc. Furthermore, the guide brings up which aspects or subjects of the image have much speculation and interpretation around them, as well as thoughts on motivations behind Michelangelo’s stylistic choices. The speculation around these artistic, creative choices can enlighten you to the depth of meaning within the image, as well as Michelangelo’s character itself. For example, the audio accompaniment to image 21, “Judith and Holofernes,” states the following: “If we consider the severed head of Holofernes, we can see similarities with the physiognomy of Michelangelo himself. It is indeed a portrait of the artist. Michelangelo’s aim was to convey the immense sacrifice that painting the Sistine Chapel represented for him. He repeatedly stylized the task as martyrdom. He wrote in a letter to his father in 1509, ‘I am greatly afflicted and living in heavy physical privation, have no friends and want none.’” After circulating the room, you turn to the left, leaving the main exhibit space. This is where you find the final piece displayed separately from the other 33 images. The voice in your ear informs you
that “The Last Judgement” is located at the altar wall in the chapel and is made up of 390 separate characters. It was made from 1536-1541 over 25 years after the ceiling frescoes were finished. There’s no question why this piece has been allotted its own display area when you observe the immense amount of detail and content held within this single image. It is a fitting finale to the fragments of the exquisite masterpiece that you have just soaked in. Simply appreciating the paintings from this close is, in itself, enough. Being able to see intricacies and effort put into just one small corner of an entire ceiling is enough to inspire awe. Each piece of the ceiling’s puzzle can stand as a meticulously crafted treasure in its own right. Whether you’re craving a taste of Italy, a dose of inspiration, or a quiet moment to appreciate the beauty that humans can produce, this exhibition is exactly what you need. Michelangelo’s Sistine Chapel: The Exhibition has been at the Palais des congrès since July 10 and will continue until Oct 12. The student price is $15.53. More information at congresmtl.com.
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books | arts
The stories that sweetened our summer As we bid farewell to the summer, here are five books we read while on vacation
1. Lullabies for Little Criminals by Heather O’Neill Maybe it was because I read it lying underneath trees and blue skies on grassy knolls, but Lullabies for Little Criminals, by Montreal’s own Heather O’Neill, was a book that surpassed the rest of the reads on my summer book list. Little did I know how fitting it would be to read this novel when I first returned to Montreal—most of the novel takes place in this fair city. The book is written from the perspective of Baby, starting from her 12th birthday, and follows her as she navigates her youth with a heroin-addicted father. Not well-off to say the least, the two bounce around apartments as Baby grows more knowledgeable about street life with each passing chapter. Baby’s is a perspective that maintains some innocence and remnants of a childlike worldview, but also introduces readers to the realities of her rougher situation. From foster homes to becoming involved with a pimp, the readers follow Baby as she navigates her reality and speculates about what she’s experiencing. O’Neill’s ability to embody tainted innocence was impressive and prevented me from leaving the book out of my hands for too long. The weather still allows for some reading on a nearby grassy knoll, but not for long, so grab a copy of this novel and enjoy it as much as I did. LYDIA ANDERSON
2. You Deserve a Drink: Boozy Misadventures and Tales of Debauchery by Mamrie Hart When I look back at my summer, the first things that come to mind are STIs, hallucinogenic drugs, and endless drunken nights. No, I didn’t spend the last few months on shrooms, getting drunk, and having sex with strangers—my loss, I know—but I did read all about it in Mamrie Hart’s You Deserve A Drink: Boozy Misadventures and Tales of Debauchery. In a world where it seems like every YouTuber has a book deal, it’s hard not to write them all off, but Mamrie Hart is an exception. Anyone who watches Hart’s videos (notably, her “You Deserve A Drink” series) knows that she has great comedic timing and a gift for coming up with perfect puns—as well as being a master mixologist. I had no doubts that her book would be equally as hilarious. You Deserve A Drink flawlessly captured Hart’s voice and shared stories so outrageous that if it were anyone else, I would have assumed they were exaggerating. Even though I was tucked away in my basement, curled up in a ball with her book, I felt like I was right there with Hart on spring break at a gay nudist resort, or when she accidentally set her coat on fire (twice) while tripping on shrooms at a Flaming Lips concert. The best part is that Hart never seems like she’s trying too hard. She’s authentically funny, which made for one of the most entertaining books I’ve read in a while. After restraining myself from reading this book cover to cover in one night, I definitely deserved a drink. MARCO SAVERIANO
3. Paper Towns by John Green While vacationing in Paris I decided to pop my John Green cherry and give Paper Towns a read. The coming-of-age novel follows Quentin “Q” Jacobsen as he spends his last days of high school searching for the love of his life Margo Roth Spiegelman when she goes missing after a night of debauchery. Whether I was reading the book on the sands of Saint-Tropez or at a café in Paris, I always managed to forget my surroundings and fall for the witty writ-
ing and engrossing mystery, which frustrated me to the point where I just kept on reading because I craved the answers to all the ridiculous questions brought about by the novel. This novel was bought from the ‘young adult’ section, but should be required reading for all of our inner-teenagers that we still cling to, because youth reminds us that we are alive and we should be embracing such a precious gift, as opposed to complaining about it day in and day out. This novel managed to transform an unlikeable main character into a likeable one because his tireless pursuit taught him a valuable lesson. Our life is like a novel; what sort of things can you do to make others want to read it? A truly remarkable read from start to finish, full of humour, passion, romance, a few surprises and enough cheese to remind you that the word impossible shouldn’t exist in our vocabularies. ALEX DIMEGLIO
4. Even Cowgirls Get the Blues by Tom Robbins Despite it being nearly 400 pages, I devoured Tom Robbins’ Even Cowgirls Get The Blues in a matter of days during my summer break. I was away in Europe for about a month which meant lots of trains, planes and bus rides, so a ridiculous amount of time for reading. I had never read anything by Robbins before, but now my bookshelf is spilling over with more of his novels. This is the story of Sissy Hankshaw, a stunning girl growing up in small-town America. She embodies most of the feminine ideal— Sissy appears to be nearly perfect, except for the fact that she’s got these gigantic oversized thumbs. While she sees these thumbs as a gift, everyone else around her sees them as a grotesque deformity. This prompts her to pick up hitchhiking and she ends up crisscrossing the country. She eventually finds herself on a ranch run exclusively by cowgirls and Robbins weaves Sissy’s narrative into theirs. He uses satire unapologetically while tackling larger social issues predominant during that time, like feminism, free love, experimental drug use and cultural identity (the book
was published in 1976). Robbins’ style is easy to digest and ridiculously fun to read—he’s crude, but not unecessarily gross. He uses a ton of vivid descriptors to paint his scenes, but his words are not gratuitously flowery and redundant. If you’re looking for a funny, yet smart read for an upcoming trip, I recommend you give Even Cowgirls Get The Blues a shot. JESSICA ROMERA
5. Sentimental Education by Gustave Flaubert Longing for more after falling in love with the prose and style of Madame Bovary, I found myself reading Gustave Flaubert’s Sentimental Education. Like the main character, I was a young student living in Paris—it was during the last month of my exchange. I found the novel in a used book shop. It was brand new, probably bought by a high schooler for a French class, never read, and discarded as soon as the year was over. And now it was mine. I read it all over the city, sometimes in the very places that were being described. As with Madame Bovary, which, as far as film adaptations go, has been somewhat misunderstood, it is acutely caricatural, with vibrant characterizations. If in Bovary Flaubert was mostly concerned with deromanticizing typically romantic characters, in Education he was drawing a portrait of the social and political life of his time, the mid-19th century, through the story of a young bourgeois man’s absurd infatuation with an older, married woman, which lasts for decades. Reading it now, in France, it is surprising to see that many things have remained the same. One of the most poignant passages is the detailed description of a revolution, each step being thoroughly documented. The events unfolded unexpectedly and with shocking speed. Many speeches covered in the novel are things that are still being said today, and there is such recognizable dissatisfaction with the government in the air that many of Flaubert’s points still stand in today’s political landscape. ELIJAH BUKREEV
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TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 15, 2015 Write to the editor music@theconcordian.com @theconcordian
MUSIC quickspins
profile | music
A lion’s tale: getting to know MTL
Dâm-Funk - Invite the Light (Stones Throw Records; 2015) Sprawling and brimming with glitzy, vibrant energy, Dâm-Funk’s Invite the Light simply provides too much of a good thing, the album’s colossal 96 minute runtime undermining some of its strongest elements by simply wading in them for too long. It’s made all the more disappointing given just how consistent and arresting most of these tracks are; the wonderfully visual “Surveillance Escape” blends kooky distorted radio chatter with an unapologetically funky groove before collapsing into the serene jazz-funk of “Floating on Air,” a song that recalls Flying Lotus’ jazzier recent works. It’s very clear that Dâm knows his funk; he lives and breathes it. Perhaps he’s a bit too in love with it. Trial Track: “Floating on Air”
7/10
SAMUEL P.-WALKER
AFX — orphaned deejay selek 2006-08 (2015) orphaned deejay selek 200608, the latest treat from Richard D. James, is a quality burst of wild, intricately arranged acid techno. Deeply reminiscent of his own Analord series, it’s a package brimming with nostalgic sounds and the thumping energy only an AFX release could deliver. While many would argue James’ latest output hasn’t been especially innovative, it doesn’t have to be. This is a man whose work has come to define an entire genre and gone through innumerable transmutations already. To expect anything more would be to ignore what’s already there; some of the most alien-sounding acid techno around and, arguably, his best. Trial Track: “simple slamming b 2”
8/10
SAMUEL P.-WALKER
Made Them Lion’s self-titled pop/rock/reggae album was released last year on Aug. 26, 2014.
Montreal-bred Made Them Lions offer up advice on how to gain success as a musician SAM OBRAND Contributor
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nspired by their collective experiences of perseverance through life’s most inexplicable detours, five close friends came together and made the most of their journey; a journey that, to them, has Made Them Lions. The road began once lead vocalist Michael Valletta and guitarists Matthew Gillis and Jeffrey Cohen, three childhood neighbours, met bassist Jono Thorpe and drummer Stuart Asprey. “Mike, Jeff and I all grew up on the same street. We went to school together and we were friends for a long time. We started a band in high school and we’ve been playing music ever since,” said Gillis. It didn’t take long for the members of Made Them Lions to show their true colours. The five friendly and humorous musicians share a refreshing rapport that is reinforced by energetic, supportive and grounded individual personalities. This Montreal-born band, MTL for short, credit their modern-pop rock and reggae sound to their personal musical upbringing. “We listen to a lot of different music. There’s a lot of overlap, but we all personally have our own little favourite bands. I’m a huge fan of the Red Hot Chili Peppers; Flea is a huge inspiration for me. I also love The Police; I think The Police have a big influence on our reggae sound,” said Thorpe. “I grew up on The Police and Bob Marley, but also on the Foo Fighters. I think we’ve just taken a bunch of sounds and mixed them together,” added Gillis. MTL spent over a year developing their latest self-titled album. The hard-nosed effort features producing work from musicians John Nathaniel and former lead vocalist and guitarist of the pop punk band
Treble Charger, Greg Nori. Together, Made Them Lions, Nathaniel and Nori, who has worked with wellknown Canadian bands such as Sum 41 and Hedley, have completed an album which they feel embodies the journey of different emotions and memories of the band’s past. “There isn’t one way that a song is born. Sometimes one of the band members will have an idea that they’ve been working on, they’ll bring it in and we’ll all contribute to it. Sometimes we’re just jamming and ideas come out and we build on it and go from there,” said Gillis on the conception
Sean Paul, Our Lady Peace, Hedley, B.o.B. and more. “Sixty thousand people, crowds like that, it’s so surreal that you don’t really have time to process what’s going on. It’s almost like it happens in a dream-like state and afterwards you look back on it in disbelief and say I can’t believe that just happened,” said Valetta. “When there’s four people in front of you and all you want to do is go home and you’re in Vancouver, that’s when you really get a taste of who you are. It’s a pleasure,” he added. The band unanimously agreed that no matter how big or small the crowd, they
Check out the band’s music video for “Red Cups.” of a song. MTL have had two of their 2014 releases place above 15 on the Palmares Top 100 chart. “It’s amazing, I think, for all of us, it’s a dream come true. We all want to play music; we want to see some success and we want to be able to support ourselves and keep playing music all the time,” said Thorpe, remarking on the experience of putting together an album and seeing their art grow in popularity. Thorpe continued to express the band’s devotion and dedication towards their end goal of making their music heard by the entire world’s population. MTL has played in front of crowds as little as four people and as large as 60,000. They’ve shared the stage with and learned valuable lessons from popular artists like
pour their hearts into every performance. For them, every opportunity is a gratifying experience, and every experience gained is just another reason for the band to keep doing what they love to do. When asked if the band had any words of wisdom to impart on future artists trying to find their sound and style, the captivating, high-tempo, sweat-dripping, stage diving, smiling members of MTL had interesting responses: “when you’re practicing and working at your sound, just keep practicing, work hard and perfect what you’re doing. Make sure that everything is great and then when you get up on stage just have fun,” said Gillis. “Just have fun, be yourself and go for it, you’ll end up making people have fun,” said Cohen.
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apps | music
The Sync Project turns music into medicine Graphic by Charlotte Bracho.
New app seeks to help with health by studying the body’s reaction to music ÉTIENNE LAJOIE Music assistant
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t’s no secret that high-profile pharmaceutical companies such as Pfizer make millions of dollars by selling medicine all over North America, but small steps are being made to lessen the general population’s dependence on drugs. In late August, a new wave of natural alternatives to medication hit the shores of our province. Pierre Lavoie, the founder of Défi Pierre Lavoie, initiated along with the Quebec Federation of General Practitioners, a prescription pad with ‘exercise cubes.’ These exercise cubes, a concept that can be seen on Lavoie’s personal website, ask for the patient to work-out for periods of 15 minutes every day. Working out has now gained legitimacy and isn’t just an “end-of-appointment” doctor’s advice anymore. Patients can now be instructed
by their doctor to lace up their shoes or pump some iron. South of the border, critical thinkers also want to help patients with everyday activities. While Lavoie wants to cure the body, PureTech’s target is on the brain. The Boston-based startup company has felt the runner’s pulse and has created a next generation app, hoping to revolutionize music’s impact on the public by helping people suffering from health problems. Creators Marko Ahtisaari and Ketki Karana wrote in the project’s blog that they believe their venture could benefit people afflicted by anxiety or Parkinson’s disease, for example. Advised by music genius Robert Zattore, a McGill University researcher in neuroscience who studies “specifically speech and music,” as indicated in his McGill bio, PureTech has created The Sync Project. PureTech studies ideas from outside the realm of mainstream medicine and chooses “the most scientifically and commercially promising concepts to advance,” the company’s website informs. The Sync Project is one of the most encouraging works yet. It was officially launched at
this year’s South By Southwest festival in Austin, Texas. Music, as we all know, is deeply related to people’s mood and activities. If a person goes out for a run, he or she will naturally opt for a motivating tune, or during a time of grievance, a sorrowful song. The organization humbly acknowledged that they “are at the beginning of [their] journey [and that they] don’t have all the answers.” This is why it has gathered professionals from different fields such as musicians, engineers and neuroscientists. The first step was to set-up an app in order to collect data to analyse the effects that sounds have on people. At the moment, the app is only available for scientists and researchers. Along with the application, one must then use a tracker, like a watch monitoring heart rate or the energy spent, along with a music app. When combined, the app is able to follow your body’s activity and what music is playing. It can then come up with a scheme of how music is influencing you by using biometrics. The MerriamWebster dictionary defines ‘biometric’ as “the measurement and analysis of unique physical or behavioral characteristics.” In the long run, the
founders hope to be able to recommend songs to listeners as their day goes on, nourishing their ears with the proper chorus to concentrate or help them have a better sleep with a relaxing ballad. There’s a widespread sense of optimism for the The Sync Project. Jessica Grahn, a cognitive neuroscientist who had studied music’s influence on Parkinson’s disease at Western University in London, Ontario, has supported the project. She explained to The Atlantic that she doesn’t “think it’s a sort of cure-all or replacement for a lot of things, but [that it] certainly [...] has potential.” Jessica Grahn is a another adviser for PureTech’s new baby. From scholars to music pundits, the enterprise’s lineup is destined for great things and its reputation is at an all time high, gaining interest from people with a tremendous amount of proficiency. As I was writing this piece, I enlightened my brain with Yann Tiersen’s masterpiece soundtrack for the french movie, Amélie. It kept me wide awake while writing and soothed me when I was thinking. I felt I had selected the right music. Then, an afterthought: would my article have been better if I had listened to something else? I didn’t have much time to reflect—I fell asleep.
riting. w d An ). es im et om (s ts er nc co ee Fr . ic You love mus SIC WRITERS
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TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 15, 2015
SPORTS
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women’s soccer | sports
Martlets take flight in Stingers opener Stingers caught sleepwalking in nightmarish season opener at Loyola
Kimberly Dextras-Romagnino challenges the oposition in a match at Loyola last year. Photo by Briana Thicke.
PEGGY KABEYA Sports editor The Concordia Stingers women’s soccer team were handed a debilitating 4-0 by way of the McGill University Martlets in Friday night’s season opener at the Loyola sports complex. “It was a wakeup call,” said Stingers head coach Jorge Sanchez. “One, we have to execute much better in key moments and two, we have to stick to the gameplan.” The Martlets looked like the more energized of the two sides, as they dictated possession and applied relentless pressure on the Stingers’ back-line.
McGill forward Audrey-Ann Coughlan opened the scoring early in the first half, capitalizing off a loose ball scramble in the box following a Claudia Agozzino corner kick. Coughlan’s big night was only getting started as she went on to complete the hat-trick late in the second half. The second-year kinesiology student who was an instrumental part of the Martlets attack is settling well in her new role as the team’s leading striker. “We [the Martlets] have a very good system of moving the ball around and trying to find the gaps,” said Coughlan. “I didn’t know what to expect [heading into the game] because last year we had trouble playing against Concordia and
the scores were never as big as this.” Despite the poor performance, the Stingers lone bright spot came in the form of freshman sensation, midfielder Kaitlyn Fournier. The Pincourt native put on an impressive individual performance in her first career regular season game. However, a fierce competitor by nature, the loss weighed heavily on her conscious. “I just felt like everyone was dead on the field,” said Fournier following the game. “I don’t know if they thought it was going to be an easy game, but we underestimated the other team.” This week’s uncharacteristically sloppy performance will force the Stingers to recommit themselves to the disci-
You love sports. Watching games. And
pline of coach Sanchez’s team-oriented philosophy. “It’s not about individual performances, we still lost 4-0 … [Fournier] was dribbling through a lot of players but no one was giving her help, no one was taking initiative other than her,” said Sanchez. “We just made bad decisions at key moments.” It looks like coach Sanchez’s girls were listening as they rebounded nicely despite the short turnaround in Sunday afternoon’s 2-1 victory against the Université de Trois-Rivières. Next up for the Stingers is a Friday evening tilt against the Université de Montréal at CEPSUM stadium.
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men’s soccer | sports
Stingers Bleed Redmen in opener SPORTS IN THE NEWS SAMANTHA MILETO Contributor
REPORTING TO CAMP
Stingers Vincent Murray races down the field during a match at Loyola last year. Photo by Marilla Steuter-Martin.
Concordia impresses in season opening romp of cross town rivals PEGGY KABEYA Sports editor
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he Concordia Stingers men’s soccer team put on a show Friday evening, as they dismantled the McGill Redmen 4-0 in front of a sparsely populated opening game crowd. Anchored by the staunch defensive play of freshman center back Nathan Campbell, the much-improved Stingers overwhelmed their cross town rivals, to earn their first regulation win against McGill since 2003. “It’s all thanks to the coaches,” said Nathan Campbell following the game. “This year we’re coming out with a better work ethic, it’s 100 per cent every time, every practice, you give it your all.” The Stingers youthful inexperience was apparent in the early going, as the tenured Redmen squad capitalized off their untimely giveaways to generate viable scoring chances. Bending but not breaking, the Stingers managed to weather the early McGill onslaught thanks to the key defensive contributions of Campbell and second-year goalkeeper Wes Aucoin. Offensively, Concordia netted their
first goal late in the first half, thanks to a penetrating run along the flank by fourth-year senior Gabriel Quinn that setup the easy Mitchell O’Brien tally. The Stingers tasting blood, began pouring it on thick thanks in large part to the impressive two-goal performance of firstyear Toronto native, forward Elias Bartiscki who scored his first goal moments later off a Mitchell O’Brien assist; giving the Stingers a 2-0 lead heading into halftime. “It’s all about your mentality before the game” noted a ecstatic Bartiscki following the victory. Bartiscki
who was well deserving of player of the game honours, acknowledged the level of pressure he was under as one of the team’s most heavily relied upon offen-
sive pivots despite it being his first year on campus. “For sure there was a lot of pressure, [but] I really enjoy it, but it definitely gets tough to handle [at times]. With all my family and friends and the whole team behind me, the pressure goes away. When you know you’ve got family behind you, the pressure’s just gone” said Bartiscki. For the Stingers, coming off a very disappointing 2014 season, this was the dream start they’ve been training for. “We have a good team, [but] we’re [also] a team with a lot of new faces”, said second-year head coach Gregg Sutton in the postgame interview. “We have expectations of playing to our ability and beyond, I think that’s the best way to look at it, we’re looking to continue to progress and get better and better every game.” The Stingers will be called upon to be road warriors as they try to salvage their two game road trip after stumbling out the gate in Sunday’s 2-0 loss to the Université de TroisRivières. Look for the Stingers to get back to their winning ways against the Université de Montreal, Sept. 18 at 7 p.m. at CEPSUM stadium.
It’s back to business for the Montreal Canadiens on Sept. 17, as they’re set to begin training camp at their practice facility in Brossard. The team is in the midst of their second rookie camp this summer, which ends on Wednesday. Twenty-six players have participated in the camp, which included a rookie tournament in London, Ontario against rookies from the Pittsburgh Penguins, Ottawa Senators and Toronto Maple Leafs. Many of the rookies attending camp are accepted to join the team’s veterans at the main camp. The Habs will play their first preseason game on Sept. 22 against the Leafs, and will play their first regular season game against the same club on Oct. 6. The team also announced at their annual golf tournament last week that they will be naming a captain before opening night.
JAYS CONTINUE PLAYOFF PUSH
Coming off a 5-0 loss to their division rival, the New York Yankees and the Toronto Blue Jays will be in Atlanta on Tuesday night, hoping to gain some ground in the American League East playoff race. With under a month left of the regular season, the Jays are currently three and a half games up on the Yankees for the AL lead. Shortstop Troy Tulowitzki, who arrived in Toronto in July via trade from Colorado, could miss up to three weeks with a cracked shoulder blade he suffered in this weekend’s series against New York. It would be the first time since their 1993 World Series win that the Blue Jays see MLB playoff action.
CANADA CLAIMS BRONZE
Canada took home the bronze medal at the 2015 International Basketball Federation Americas championship on Saturday, beating Mexico 87-86. Despite the third place finish, the top-seeded Canadians failed to qualify for the 2016 summer games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. They needed at least a second place finish to qualify, but lost in the semi-finals to the eventual Venezuela champs, blowing a seven-point lead with under four minutes left. Canada will have one last chance to qualify for the Olympics, something they haven’t done since 2000, next summer when the play in a qualifier tournament, according to The Canadian Press.
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TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 15, 2015
OPINIONS
Write to the editor opinions@theconcordian.com @theconcordian
editorial | opinions
Parties promise sweet nothings while campaigning Elections are kind of like dead-beat lovers: they come in with a lot of fanfare, overstay their welcome and make a lot of promises they can’t keep. In the end, we’re left standing in the mess they made, throwing out flyers and glowering at abandoned campaign posters lining our lampposts. Meanwhile, parliament is back in action, and Canadians are sitting around wondering: “Whatever happened to all those things you promised?” Let’s take a look at some of the campaign promises we’ve seen: the Conservatives continue to be the gatekeepers of the economy, the NDP wants $15-a-day daycare and half a million dollars to accessible health care, the Liberals propose a 33% tax on the wealthy and $125 billion over 10 years for infrastructure, and the Green Party has thrown free tuition and (shockingly) less dependence on fossil fuels into the mix. But with the election gunning a tight three-way race to the end, will any party actually succeed in fulfilling their promises
to the people? The way parliamentary democracy works, if any party wins with a minority, then they will need to work with the other parties to pass legislation. This can be in the form of short-term alliances, formal coalitions, or just free voting. Even budgets must be passed by the House of Commons—failing to pass the budget would be considered a vote of non-confidence, which would trigger another federal election. In these conditions, will any party be able to follow-through on their promises? Already, many of their plans feel impossibly grand in scale. While it’s unlikely that anyone will be seeing a Green government in October, paying for free tuition while also shutting down the tar sands has many raising their eyebrows. The NDP’s $15-a-day daycare has many concerned, and the Tories have often accused the NDP of being loose with their finances. Meanwhile, the Liberals are throwing out mutli-billion dollar figures, sending sticker shock rumbling through the electorate. Meanwhile,
Photo by Robert Linsdell from Flickr. the Conservatives are touting their new $1.9 billion surplus figure—one that many say was achieved by cutting spending to seniors, veterans, and by a conveniently-timed sale of government General Mo-
tors stocks right before the election. Sweet dreams are made of these, voters. A healthy dose of skepticism— especially in the voting booth—goes farther than you’d think.
politics | opinions
Mulcair and Harper don’t play nice; ladies pay the price When leaders refuse to debate women’s issues, will the problems be addressed at all? ROBIN STANFORD Staff writer
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omen: they exist. Legend has it that they comprise roughly 50 per cent of the population and face different social and economic issues than their male counterparts—a fact that has proven difficult for some Canadian political leaders to understand. In the run up to the 2015 Federal Election, Up for Debate (a coalition of over 175 women’s groups) organized a leaders’ debate around the issues faced by women in Canada. This would have been the first such debate since 1984. Last month, both Prime Minister Stephen Harper and opposition Leader Thomas Mulcair declined to participate in this event. As a result, the debate—originally scheduled for Sept. 21—was cancelled, and one-on-one interviews with all the party leaders will be presented in its stead. Harper’s Conservative Party has issued no statement on the turn of events. It has come to be a given that when it comes to such ‘liberal’ issues, the prime minister will not be involved. He does not seem to care about any marginalized community that will not directly win him seats. It speaks to something profound that now, women everywhere are not worth it to our prime minister. Whereas no questions were asked of Harper concerning his un-involvement,
the press has made up for it in spades with Mulcair, demanding why he will not take part in the event. According to a National Post report from Aug. 25, the NDP has stated that “[Mulcair] won’t take part in any leaders’ debates without Harper.” The message being sent is that the Prime Minister is the only threat to an NDP victory. Aside from being insulting to the Liberals, the Bloc, and the Green Party, the decision comes off as extremely short-sighted. Instead of taking the opportunity to further portray himself as an individual who cares about all Canadians, Mulcair has shown that his aim is simply to beat Stephen Harper. The leader of the opposition’s actions run directly opposed to the needs of his country. An internal report by Status of Women Canada dated Feb. 10 details the reality of women in Canada. The report, not intended for public circulation, was recently obtained by CBC and released on Sept. 9. According to said report, women still earn 20 per cent less than their male counterparts for equal work. Poverty rates have been climbing for elderly single women and single parent households headed by a woman. Perhaps most shockingly, “Canada has no comprehensive national strategy to address violence against women, lagging behind several comparable countries, including the U.K., Ireland, Australia and New Zealand.” This is the country in which Mulcair did not find a need to participate in a leaders debate on women’s issues. According to their website the NDP is set to “create an action plan to end violence against women in Canada” and
Photo by United Steelworkers from Flickr. “ensure that no woman or child in need will be turned away from a women’s shelter.” It is strange then that Mulcair does not wish to debate such lofty goals with his peers. Although the debate has been cancelled, all parties have begun talking about women’s issues and planning for upcoming interviews by Up for Debate. Each candidate will be recorded re-
sponding to the same set of questions. Although it has been hoped that some discussion will come of the final videos, it is likely that, instead, the viewer will be treated to a scripted advertising slogan from each party. The videos will be released Sept. 21 from Toronto. It’s unknown at time of writing if the prime minister will appear in any capacity.
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education | opinions
No classrooms and no respect: online education
Just because it’s cyber doesn’t mean it’s not the real thing; online classes hold merit too BARBARA MADIMENOS Contributor
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or many students out there, the concept of education is illustrated with a desk, a chalkboard, notebooks and a professor. Whether you are in high school, CEGEP, or university, the educational models all follow this pattern. Recently, however, the online world has been taken into consideration and has been given the opportunity to give students access to quality education. Online courses have become so popular that people are now graduating and even obtaining their master’s degrees online. Is it too good to be true? Can we just sit at home all day and just whiz through school with a click of a button? Not really. Realistically speaking, school will never come easy, which is why online education has gained such ground over the years: it has yielded results. According to an article on ICEF Monitor, from 2008 to 2011, several countries including the United States, China, India, the U.K. and many more have seen an increase in not only the enrollment of students taking online courses, but the demand for such courses has increased. This has pushed several institutions to open up possibilities, offer all sorts of programs, and revolutionize how students learn and transition into their careers. Unfortunately, people are still skeptical about the whole concept of doing school online. As I pursue my university degree online, I can confidently say that it is not only just as hard, but just as rewarding in receiving quality education. Need more convincing? Well, here are seven myths busted for you. Myth 1: Online education is easier Many people think that reading off a computer and typing up a few documents sounds like a walk in the park, but the fact of the matter is that it’s not so simple. Online education provides stu-
dents with textbooks and assignments to read, group work and homework—all of which are on a tight schedule. Myth 2: People who pursue an online education are lazy Personally, I take high offense to this statement, considering I am in the process of getting my degree online, but acknowledge such remarks are not made out of malice. Being nothing but lazy, I wake up, go to work, come home, make sure I help with chores and then glue myself to the computer until one o’clock in the morning. This is done on a regular basis, including weekends, thus I have cut out my social life to a certain extent in order to concentrate on my education and job. Myth 3: Credits earned for online courses are not accepted by employers According to an article on Forbes, Excelsior College and Zogby organization actually conducted several national surveys to study employers and online accreditation. They asked a series of employers what they thought of online certificates and degrees, and the results from the 2011 survey revealed that yes, nearly two thirds of respondents who are familiar with online education considered both certificates and degrees as credible. Myth 4: There is no teacher teaching students, it’s a computer Whoever created this myth is probably a sci-fi addict, because I highly doubt that we have reached a point in society where computers can easily operate the education system, teach a future generation and hand them a degree. That being said, despite the lack of physical interaction with an instructor, online education is viable. Both teachers and students have access to video chat, email, and in some circumstances, swap phone numbers. Just like how teachers have office hours in a physical school, so do these teachers who teach online. Myth 5: Online courses don’t teach
Graphic by Charlotte Bracho. students to research and go into the outside world Providing myself as a prime example for this myth is completely ironic, because I felt the exact same way when I began my degree until I was assigned to write an essay about an organization I was familiar with. This essay, in fact, did not just push me to go out and conduct interviews, but I was also using several other methods to contact head office officials as well as other relevant people, in order to provide enough detail and information for the assignment. Myth 6: It’s easy to cheat on homework and exams Most programs ask students to conduct research for assignments and homework, many of which require academically-cited sources. In the event that students have to take an exam, schools usually provide students with access to a physical institution close to where they live so they can write the exam under supervision. There are instances when test or exams are conducted online, but usually are not considered as a large part of the student’s grade due to the danger of cheating.
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Myth 7: Online education is cheaper Just like how students who attend physical institutions need to pay the school for the usage of the building, their textbooks, transportation, and most importantly, the quality education, so do online students. Despite the fact that students do not have to commute to a physical building, tuition includes updating and curating the website, the textbooks, the programs provided for students needing to learn the material, access to academic libraries, online conferences, resources for career support, and so forth. Regardless of debunking these myths, many still ask me why I decided to pursue online education instead of going to my local university. Honestly, I would have, but my personal circumstances got in the way. My education is very important to me, which is why no matter what the cost, I was going to put myself through school and graduate in the field I love. So, for those going back to school this season, keep an open mind, and know that there is no cookie-cutter model to learning and becoming what you want to be.
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ETC Porcelain pilgrim I: Taking the plunge
Our brave and intreped pilgrim is back as he delves into the deepest, darkest corners of student bars STEPHEN HO Contributor Ladies and gentlemen of Concordia, By the popular request of one, I have hereby taken it upon myself to journey once more to the various washrooms that surround our illustrious institute. Unfortunately, we must all visit these sometimes sordid places at some point or risk septic shock, or at the very least a full bladder. It stands to reason then, that there should be some system, some way to know where the best and most painless place to perform this necessary activity. What hero shall rise to the challenge? What David to stand against the monstrous Goliath that is our daily dilemma now that the semester has begun and long days loom ahead? Look no farther friends, the Porcelain Pilgrim has returned to regale you with more tales and reviews for the not-so-prude. And without further ado, I introduce you to the first destination of this new adventure: Mad Hatters. A small pub on Crescent Street which is most fondly and accurately referred to as a “sticky comfort”. Being a native of Montreal, I spent many an underaged night in their warm hospitality; drinking far too much, missing the urinal far too often and being even further from the most inebriated one there. So, understandably I had my doubts as to the state of affairs in their washroom. As I walked over to Crescent, I wondered if it would be kosher if I just went in and used their washroom. Is that weird? Would I have to buy a beer? I really didn’t want to, but what if the place was empty and the bartender saw me? All these questions remained unanswered as I arrived before the pub. I tried to peek through the windows but
they were pretty far up and I couldn’t see much because of the sun’s glare. I took a breath and entered before I could change my mind. I quickly surveyed the room. Two old men playing pool and that was it. Oh, and the bartender of course. I could feel him looking at me and I explicitly avoided his gaze as I made a bee line towards the
Graphic by Kimberly Lam Shang Leen.
beer stained as I remember it. As I emerged onto the second floor a wave of nostalgia hit me. The stripper pole was still there, that dirty bench my friends and I used to always occu-
washroom, located directly beside the bar of all places. Locked as it turned out, just my luck. I turned left and went up the back stairs, the carpet just as creaky and
py. Coming out of my reverie, I realized there was not a soul up here and my presence in this bar had become even more questionable. I quickly made my way to the washroom. It was a cramped space with low ceilings, 2 urinals, a single stall and the stale smell of air freshener. I noticed a half smoked cigarette in one of the urinal. It’s good to see that some things never change. The towel dispenser was broken and, of course, empty. The toilet however was surprisingly clean. I noticed how humid it was in there as I stood taking notes and I began to sweat. Time to leave. I didn’t want to pass by the bartender again so I decided to go out the back. I soon realized that this was where the majority of the patrons were located, enjoying the patio and beer. They were all old people to my relative surprise. It seems this bar is populated solely by the very old or the very young. I exited through the wooden gate to the freedom of a semi-full parking lot. Anyway, I don’t know why anyone would venture from Concordia to Hatter’s simply to use their washroom unless you’re a weirdo like me; but if you do, you only have yourself to blame. I’d rate it a 3/10 and I imagine it’s even worse at night.
humour | etc
Laura’s Jokes (yep, she’s back at it) Q. WHAT’S A PIRATE’S FAVOURITE LETTER? A. You’d think it’d be R, but his true love is the C!
Q. DID YOU HEAR ABOUT THE WATER THAT GOT BOILED TO DEATH? A. It will be mist.
Q. IF YOU KNOW WHAT YOU’RE DOING IN FIVE YEARS, YOU HAVE... A. 2020 vision!
Q. WHAT’S THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A PIANO AND A TUNA? A. You can tuna piano, but you can’t piano a tuna!
Q. HOW MANY “NICE GUYS” DOES IT TAKE TO SCREW IN A LIGHTBULB? A. None. They just compliment it and complain when it doesn’t screw.
Q. NEVER FALL IN LOVE WITH A TENNIS PLAYER. A. Love means nothing to them. LAURA MARCHAND Contributor
TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 15, 2015
Tweets of the week #IfTheZombiesAttack Between The Walking Dead and games like The Last of Us, it’s hard not to imagine the—probably inevitable— zombie apocalypse. What kind of survivor will you be? The grizzled leader? The medic? Or maybe you’ll be one of the first to fall to the undead? What would happen to you, #IfTheZombiesAttack? @one_ring_77
“#IfTheZombiesAttack I’d call upon my nerd rage to help get me through it.”
@sumthinboutM4ry
“#IfTheZombiesAttack I’ll be sure to take a selfie.”
@figlioli34
“#IfTheZombiesAttack you can catch me locked inside Costco living mad luxurious. Zombies can’t get in without a membership. All babes welcome”
Write to the Editor-in-Chief editor@theconcordian.com
The Hive is hibernating As we launch into a big second year, we want to thank all of our members, users and the whole Concordia community for a great first year! We are open starting the first day of classes at the Loyola Hive location, and at a temporary kiosk (the “Petite Hive”) out front of our downtown location. We appreciate everyone’s patience, and we will be working hard to provide as much service as possible for the downtown community from our temporary location. Coffee, tea, and pastries are available at the Petite Hive kiosk, and our new food items are available at the Loyola Hive! And, of course, we will be giving out our delicious free vegan/vegetarian lunch every weekday at our Loyola location on the top floor of the Student Center building! Over the summer we prepared an additional point of sale to increase the speed of our service at the downtown location, re-vamped our menu, and welcomed talented new worker-members. We are also in on-going negotiations with the university to access the kitchen space on the 7th floor of the Hall
“#IfTheZombiesAttack at least SOMEONE will want my body.”
@xxonedsmjles
“#IfTheZombiesAttack you’ll safe, don’t worry. They eat brains.”
@bigmacher
“#IfTheZombiesAttack I hope the plot moves along faster than ‘Fear The Walking Dead’”
@teamsexydork
“#IfTheZombiesAttack I’ll probably die from my allergies before I get eaten or shot.”
@ogorlandojones
“#IfTheZombiesAttack it’ll just be me and my cats. Forever.”
the
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Letter to the editor
@ericschwartz
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theconcordian
building, or comparable space, so that we can help save the community money, expand our services, and increase our presence within the campus food-system. We are excited to welcome everyone to our new space once the construction is complete, and for another great year. Thanks again for all of your support, input, and for using our service. Our space is your space, so if you have a great idea or want to get more involved please don’t hesitate to contact us at hivecafecoop@gmail.com with GET INVOLVED in the subject line! Be sure to sign up for a membership at the Loyola Hive and at the Petite Hive kiosk! It’s $5 (refundable when you are no longer a member) and you get a discount at the Hive, a vote, and other perks! Stoked for another great year! — THE HIVE CAFÉ SOLIDARITY COOPERATIVE TEAM
Call for questions—Ask a wizard Got a question your dad can’t answer? Is your dad a wizard? No? Then submit your complicated life questions to our expert team of wizards! They’re available once a week to answer your questions in a long, drawn out, and rather roundabout way.
Send questions to opinions@theconcordian.com or to our wizards on Facebook and Twitter. (Wizards will address you in responses by your first name only)
The Concordian’s editorial team We share your stories since 1983.
EDITOR-IN-CHIEF MICHELLE GAMAGE editor@theconcordian.com PRODUCTION MANAGER PIERRE A. LEPETIT production@theconcordian.com NEWS EDITORS GREGORY TODARO RACHEL MUZAIC news@theconcordian.com LIFE EDITOR CRISTINA SANZA life@theconcordian.com
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COPY EDITORS NATHALIE LAFLAMME JESSICA ROMERA STEPH ULLMAN WALID MARAQA copy@theconcordian.com
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PRODUCTION ASSISTANTS SAVANNA CRAIG KIM LAM SHANG LEEN
PHOTO EDITOR ANDREJ IVANOV photo@theconcordian.com
CONTRIBUTORS Kelsey Litwin, Mina Mazumder, Kyle Davis, Robin Stanford, Maria Bukreev, Samuel PearsonWalker, Sam Obrand, Sam Mileto, Barbara Madimenos
PHOTO ASSISTANT MARIE-PIERRE SAVARD
ARTS EDITORS LYDIA ANDERSON ELIJAH BUKREEV arts@theconcordian.com
ONLINE EDITOR DORI JULIAN online@theconcordian.com
MUSIC EDITOR MIA PEARSON music@theconcordian.com
GRAPHICS EDITOR CHARLOTTE BRANCHO graphics@theconcordian.com
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Concordia University’s weekly, independent student newspaper VOLUME 33 | ISSUE 3 | TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 15, 2015 Design by Marie-Pier LaRose Cover photo by Lydia Anderson
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PHOTOSSHRINEBOWL OF THE WEEK PRESS CONFERENCE
Stingers and Redmen find common ground as athletes visit the Shriners Hospital for Children in wake of Saturday’s 28th annual Shrine Bowl. Photo by Marie-Pierre Savard.
#TCBACKCOVER NEXT WEEK: FALL FREAKOUT
ERMIGERD Pumpkin Spice Lattes are back. Did you know those drinks have an official Twitter page with 107,000 followers? Wool scarves, crispy leaves, thick sweaters and autumn bounty at every single farmers market. Capture your hilarious or horrific weekly moments and share them by sending your photos* to photo@theconcordian.com or share them with us using #TCbackcover *all photos must be your own The two schools have combined to raise over $900,000 in proceeds to help sick children. Photo by Marie-Pierre Savard.