The Concordian

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Music Life

DD/MM/YYYY stretches boundaries and break genres P. 17

Tiramisu recipe just like Nonna made P. 8

Tuesday, September 7, 2010

Opinions

Photo by Aaron Green

McGill froshies on the loose in Montreal P. 26

Sports A big season open win and a Stinger heads to the big league P. 21

Arts Setting off a SPARK, the art festival that isn’t P. 20

Volume 28 Issue 2

Dry off after Concordia’s frosh week with our back to school orientation guide P. 12 to 15 Orientation concert comes back to Concordia grounds af- “Open season” on ter being denied by the city international students Brennan Neill Managing editor With memories of last year’s orientation concert fiasco lingering, the CSU has decided to set up in its own backyard. On Sept. 9, 2010 Juno award winning artist K’naan and Montreal’s Chromeo will be headlining this year’s orientation concert at the Loyola Quad located in Notre-Dame-de-Grâce.

The CSU originally intended to host the concert on Mackay St. but were turned down by the city of Montreal for the second time in two years. After being denied use of the street last year to host the Snoop Dogg performance, the CSU was forced to find an alternative venue, which resulted in severely limiting the amount of students able to attend.

seeking housing

“We were optimistic about using Mackay St. but expected to have some road blocks,” explained CSU Orientation Concert Director Morgan Steiker. “Unfortunately there are a series of circumstances, including the fact that the city is really cracking down on noise complaints from outdoor events- anything that’s not Jazz fest or Just for Laughs.”

Steiker added that previous organizers did little to talk to residents living close to the Sir George Williams campus downtown about the orientation concert. Even after printing advertisements, canvassing the neighbourhood surrounding Mackay St. and trying to reach out to residents, the CSU was forced to find a replacement venue.

When it comes to renting apartments downtown, international students face multiple forms of illegal discrimination at the hands of landlords according to a panel of Concordia Student Union organization representatives.

“First we want to bring to the public’s attention that international students are being exploited and subjected to predatory apartment rental practices by downtown landlords,” CSU president and panel member Heather Lucas said. “Secondly, we want to call.. con.

See “‘Loyola Quad...” on p.5

See “‘Montreal landlor...” on p.2

Evan LePage News editor

theconcordian.com

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Tuesday, September 7, 2010

Got a news tip? news@theconcordian.com

City in brief Sarah Deshaies

New frosh theme: offending people

The executive of McGill’s Management Undergraduate Society scrapped their frosh’s tribal theme days before the event was to begin amid charges that the theme was offensive and culturally insensitive (ironic considering McGill’s men’s sports teams are the Redmen?).

The McGill Daily reported that a promotional video showing students in face paint and costumes representing the Zulu, Maasai, Inca and Maori ‘tribes’ drew negative attention to the theme.

The video was pulled, and has raised suggestions that the administration begin weighing in on the frosh planning process. In the meantime, MUS picked a new theme: superheroes. Coincidentally, it’s the same theme the CSU picked for Concordia’s orientation this year. We take offense.

Can’t get enough of that doo, doo, doo

The Société de transport de Montréal announced on its Mouvement Collectif blog in early August that the famous “doo doo doo” sound has returned to the metro. The well-known little ditty is being tested on a train on the orange line, and now sounds to signal when a door is closing. The three note jingle was not actually composed by human intuition, but was produced by a power converter on the MR-73 trains. The only chance of you hearing the sound is if you can catch the only nine-car train playing the tune as it travels along the orange line. But the STM warned that the chances of actually riding this car are pretty low. Beat the odds.

Easier wireless coming your way

If you are the proud owner of a Microsoft Windows-based device, like a laptop, as of Sept. 7, you no longer need third-party software SecureW2 to log into Concordia’s wireless network.

Head to www.wireless.concordia.ca for instructions for on accessing the wireless network,.According to the university website, the changes to the wireless network “were undertaken primarily to make it easier for students, faculty and staff to set up their devices for use at Concordia.” Now students will never have to step foot in the library...

Concordia lets go of teacher who wanted to pay for A’s

In apparent defiance of logic, Concordia University refused a professor’s offer to work for free. The Montreal Gazette’s university affairs reporter Peggy Curran reported Sept. 6 that Concordia police science lecturer Paris Arnopolous had offered to teach a class or two for free. When he retired in 1996, he offered to teach while his salary would go to an endowment fund in his name to grant scholarships to students. This worked until 1998, when Arnopolous was told to join the part-time teaching faculty association which he declined.

He was later brought back to teach a seminar class for one semester but Arnopolous, an admitted “maverick”, decided that students would get a rebate for his class depending on how well they did, like double their money for an A. He wasn’t asked back. Concordia reported it had a problem with the ethical ramifications of one person offering students money while also grading them.

Campus

Concordia bookstore helps students save money A textbook rental exclusive Alyssa de Rosa Contributor A new rental program has Concordia students lining up for a money-saving way to obtain textbooks.

The Concordia bookstore introduced a cheaper way of getting class texts this past summer by implementing a Textbook Rental Program. Under this new system, students have the opportunity to save up to 60 per cent on their books for the semester.

“I think the idea is genius,” said science student Rosa De Fenza, who spent almost $700 on books in her first semester. “Science students spend so much money on books, sometimes

one book can cost as much as one week’s pay check.”

Operations text manager, Ken Bissonnette stated that book rentals have been the biggest buzz around university campuses. “It’s very popular in the United States now, and it’s starting to trickle into Canada,” said Bissonnette. This new concept helps students economically, he explained, and is cutting edge as far as bookstore operations go.

The process of renting is simple.

Students must fill out a contract at the cash register stating the terms of their agreement (or download the contract in advance and bring it along with you to speed up the process). All books must be returned after exams, failure to do so will result in having to pay the full price of the book, plus an extra three per cent service fee. They must be returned in decent condition, so students who enjoy going highlighter crazy and taking notes in

their textbooks might have to take it down a notch.

Concordia University is the only university in Montreal partaking in this new system, explained Bissonnette. In May 2010, the bookstore had a “Pile-Up project,” where six titles were available for rent, along with ten copies of each title. Without any help from advertising, 40 copies out of a possible 60 were rented out to students. This semester, the bookstore’s goal is to have 100 titles available and rent 1000. It can help students save on books they won’t necessarily need all year long.

“Most of the time you need the book for a couple of weeks and you don’t open it again,” second-year Journalism student Joey Alfieri said. “In that case, I’m better off renting a book then having to pay full price for it.”

He also said that students who are paying full price for complementary

course books should consider renting instead. “I would most probably rent the books for my electives and save my money for something more important.”

A book rental system also allows students to avoid having to try to sell their bought books at the end of the semester. “By the end of the term my books are cluttered in my house,” explained Journalism student Aalia Adam, “and when I try to sell them I get pennies for it. Renting books would definitely help me.”

Renting books seems to have students feeling positive about their budget for the upcoming semester, and with tuition fees probably on the rise (are tuition fees probably on the rise?); every penny is be worth saving.

For more information about the Textbook Rental Program visit: www.web2.concordia.ca/Bookstore/ textbooks.rental.shtml

housing

Montreal landlords employing predatory apartment rental practices according to CSU perience with housing discrimination HOJO she sent a complaint letter to Continued from front page ...authorities to take action against these unscrupulous landlords.”

The panel gave a press conference at Concordia last week detailing the various forms of housing discrimination being experienced by some of the school’s approximately 4, 400 international students and their efforts to raise awareness in order to fight the problem.

“Predatory apartment rental practices are the best kept secret in Montreal,” said Leanne Ashworth, coordinator of the CSU’s Housing and Job Bank (HOJO). Ashworth spoke of the illegality of practices such as requiring students to make a deposit of two to six months rent, the collection of unnecessary private information, and illegal and non-refundable application fees for apartments; all of which she says are common to international students seeking housing, especially in the VilleMarie borough.

“The number of complaints we are receiving at the housing and job bank have increased now to on average 15 cases a week this past month alone,” she said.

According to Andrea Clegg, a McGill social work intern at the Center for Research-Action on Race Relations, “these predatory apartment rental practices are occurring within a domestic and international context that clearly puts them in conflict with human rights legislation and human rights statements both here and abroad.” Clegg cited various articles of the Montreal charter of rights and responsibilities, the Quebec charter of human rights and freedoms, and the UN’s universal declaration of human rights that were being violated by some of the city’s landlords.

CRARR will thus be taking five steps in relation to predatory apartment rental practices, including helping student victims file complaints with Quebec’s

Human Rights Commission and Rental Board, asking the Quebec Human Rights and Youth Rights Commission to launch an inquiry into the problem and pressuring city housing inspectors to enforce standards more strictly.

For its part, HOJO has been making a concise effort to educate international students as to what landlords are legally allowed to ask of them. “They need your name, your addresses and your date of birth to do a credit check on you,” Ashworth said. “If you’re coming outside of Canada the information they need is to prove that you are able to pay the rent. A photocopy of your passport does not prove that.”

She added that anyone can file with the Régie du logement to re-obtain illegal deposits or to have their apartments repaired by landlords. “We want students coming to Montreal to know their housing rights and to know if something goes wrong there are recourses available.”

HOJO has also been keeping records on “predatory housing and landlords” which Ashworth said they would be willing to submit if an inquiry were to occur.

Even with all the services available, the panel expressed concern that many students would not come forward or complain because they may be afraid to find themselves without any form of housing. CSU Legal Information Clinic Coordinator Walter Tom even expressed concern in the perception these students’ have of their own position in regards to the law.

“Many of the people coming in, they don’t know their rights,” he said. “And for them to even come in it’s almost like they think ‘we’re here on a temporary basis, we don’t have rights necessarily.’ ” Lucas is a testament to the fact that you can benefit from seeking help, however. She described her own ex-

as an American student seeking housing in Montreal. When landlords told her she needed to bring her passport, study permit, driver’s licence and even her father’s work permit for them to photocopy, and told her that since she had no Canadian co-signer they would need rent for two months before she would even be moving in, Lucas said she felt something was wrong.

“This whole scenario seemed sketchy so before I signed the lease I went to the Housing and Job bank to see what my rights were,” Lucas recalled. “Without them I would have not only given up all of my confidential information, but I would be living in an apartment that didn’t respect basic rights.”

Lucas added that after consulting

landlords who had previously refused to return photocopies of her documentation and managed to retrieve them all.

If more students follow the course of Lucas and not only seek to educate themselves but spread their knowledge onto others, Ashworth is confident that HOJO can expand its impact beyond Concordia.

“We want to change the culture that’s going on with rental of apartments downtown, encourage people to stand up for their rights,” she said. “That’s our goal it has to go bigger than student to landlord, that’s why we have to get other people involved.”

Cyclists looking to park their bike around the Sir George Williams campus can look no further than the library building for a quick and easy spot. For $30 a term cyclists have the option to leave their bikes in a secure parking garage, including an exclusive fenced off area for bike racks, in the building’s basement. The $30 membership also includes access to shower facilities at Le Gym so after a long ride cyclists can freshen up and cool down.

Tuesday, September 7, 2010

Follow us on Twitter at twitter.com/theconcordian CSu

A kingdom without its Prince CSU president Prince Ralph Osei resigns, VP services Heather Lucas takes over

Calgary pride parade becomes campaign conflict

Prince Ralph Osei (left) and Heather Lucas after his resignation. Photo by Sarah Deshaies though in the end her and the council could not be happier for their former leader.

As of Aug. 26, Lucas has officially taken over the presidential position, a promotion she has taken in full stride.

Despite being thrown into an unexpected situation, her main focus as president is to follow through with the eight campaign promises set out by the Fusion slate last spring, including fighting any increase in tuition, having a bottle water free campus, and getting the CSU out of the Canadian Federation of Students.

“The executives and myself are doing the best we can with the situation we’re in,” Lucas said. “We are working great with the card that has been dealt to us and we are excited for a great year.”

Osei maintains that he has full

confidence that this “great year” is fully attainable by the new executive under Lucas.

“Heather and the team bring a whole new set of energy to the CSU,” Osei wrote, “and I strongly believe without a single doubt that the CSU is going to new heights this year.”

His confidence is shared by former president Amine Dabchy who, in addressing the council in August, said of Lucas “She’s got it, and she’s the person to naturally replace Prince.

If you’re looking for a workaholic president, she’ll put her job before everything.”

A student at Concordia since 2005, Osei pursued a specialization in psychology with a minor in political science. He was elected VP services and Loyola during the 2009-2010 year.

During last spring’s CSU election,

Osei led his slate to a strong majority victory, receiving 73 per cent of the vote. Lucas, a former VP internal of the Arts and Sciences Federation of Associations, ran with Osei on that winning slate.

Prince Ralph Osei leaves behind fond memories of his work in student politics at Concordia, from the CSU’s efforts to host two Nobel laureates, to simply trying to give the union a friendlier image. “This group was not just colleagues,” he says of the executive, “they are family to me and to each other.”

According to Lucas, no candidate has been selected as of yet to fill in the now-vacant position of VP services on the CSU executive.

VP finance-elect Nikki Tsoflikis also stepped down in April. She was replaced by Zhuo Ling, a John Molson School of Business Senator.

CSU presidential decree loans 45k to volunteer abroad program

Evan LePage News editor In one of his last acts as CSU president, Prince Ralph Osei authorized a loan of $45, 000 to the Concordia Volunteer Abroad Program through a presidential decree to aid in the purchase of land and eventually construct a facility in Uganda for the organization’s use.

Students from Concordia have visited Uganda for the past five years with CVAP and the facility will allow the program to save approximately $45, 000 a year on hotel expenses for these volunteers.

“The strategy was that why don’t we build a facility over there that will be used both by our students when they come to Uganda in the summer and when they leave the facility will also be used by the local community in terms of HIV outreach and in terms of reaching out to the needs of the commu-

Evan LePage

Residents living in Bayview, a region of Southwest Calgary, had their mail suspended for nearly two weeks after a family of hawks started “nosediving” a mail carrier in the area. The mailman was pestered to the point where he was forced to wear a bicycle helmet.

Unfazed, the hawks just attacked the helmet, eventually managing to break it. The approximately 150 homes who lost service due to the birds are supposed to have their service restored today, but if not they can always wait for migration to take effect.

Money

Money put towards purchase of land, facility construction in Uganda

Nation in brief Somebody write these hawks a hate letter

Evan LePage News editor Students returning to classes at Concordia this week will be greeted by a student union very different than the one they voted in last spring.

At a special council meeting in late August, CSU president Prince Ralph Osei announced his resignation in order to pursue his education on scholarship in the Netherlands. During that meeting, VP services Heather Lucas was unanimously voted in by the CSU council to take the helm for the 2010-2011 academic year.

“It has been a great honour working for the students that we represent,” a teary-eyed Osei told the council at the Aug. 23 meeting. “It has both been a great experience and a pleasure to work alongside exceptional and dedicated vice-presidents for this year.”

According to Osei, the decision to leave was taken in mid-July after “many sleepless nights and days.”

From his new home in Holland, where he will be studying for a Masters in psychology and sciences, Osei wrote that despite struggling with the choice to resign, the selection of a replacement was an easier call. ““The entire team decided that Heather would be ideal to be the leader among equals.”

For her part, Lucas said that when Osei sat her down in July and told her of his resignation, she was hit with a “plethora of emotion” over what she called a very “bittersweet situation,”

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nity,” Prince Ralph Osei told the CSU council.

The loan, authorized on August 12 by Osei but since approved by the CSU council, was given out of surplus funds accumulated by the student union during their last fiscal year and will therefore not affect their budget for the 2010-2011 academic year.

Since its creation in 2004, CVAP has sent around 60 students to volunteer in the war-torn Gulu region of Uganda yearly, though no students took the trip this past year.

As a fee-levy group they receive 35 cents per credit from every student in the university, amounting to around $225, 000 a year.

While the project will reportedly only cost $125, 000 total, the university pays these fee-levy groups their accumulated finances in May, leaving CVAP on a hunt for bank loans and private investment this summer. Having found only one willing donor who was going to charge 10 per cent interest on the money, Osei said he felt the need to step up.

“For them to be paying 10 per cent interest on this amount of money, I felt it was a rip-off,” he said, prompting him to award the loan at no interest. VP external and projects Adrien Severyns is also running an anti-poverty campaign this year, which Osei felt fit in

perfectly with their decision to help CVAP and would avoid leaving Concordia students to “foot the bill” on the ten per cent interest that they would have been forced to pay out of their fee-levy.

“If the CSU can cushion the roughness of the whole thing then we felt it was the best thing for us to step in and make this thing happen,” said Osei.

Despite receiving the minimum two-thirds approval required from the council, Osei’s presidential decree and loan did not garner unanimous acceptance from those in attendance.

While assuring the council that she supported the volunteer work of CVAP and was not opposed to helping them out, Lex Gill, council member for Arts and Sciences, questioned the decision to give out loans when no process or regulations exist for such an action in the CSU’s by-laws. “In that sense I feel like it sets a dangerous precedent for fee-levy groups to feel like they can go to the CSU for loans,” she explained during discussion at the meeting, adding that she may be in favour of the loan if they implemented some sort of guidelines in their laws.

“We are not a bank, and we never operate as a bank,” Osei responded. “Sometimes some things are thrown at you that you have

The annual pride parade in Calgary turned even more political after a mayoral candidate called out an opponent for not attending. Liberal MLA for Calgary Buffalo Kent Hehr posted a message on his website inviting opponent Ric McIver to join him at the event, as he had not attended in nine years.

McIver said that a prior engagement to attend a Punjabi Cultural Festival prevented him from doing so. “He wants to be mayor of this great city. He should be a mayor for all citizens,” Hehr told CBC News. Only three mayoral candidates of a total 17 reportedly attended the parade put on for and by the lesbian/gay/transsexual community.

Alberta’s premier, Nancy Pelosi to discuss oilsands

Alberta’s premier Ed Stelmach will be meeting with Nancy Pelose, the Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives, next week in Ottawa and the province’s oilsands are the main subject on the agenda. Pelosi, known for her involvement on energy debates in the States’, reportedly expressed interested in learning more about the energy source and the meeting was set up by U.S. ambassador David Jacobson. Stelmach will be joined by Marlo Raynolds, executive director of environmental organization the Pembina institute, at the round table on Wednesday. Premiers Jean Charest and Brad Wall of Saskatchewan have also been invited along with representatives of a few other NGOs.

Ontario offers tax credit to keep kids active

to use your discretionary ability to seize an opportunity and to run with it. I think this project spoke volumes when it came before the entire executive.”

Gill also raised concern that the CSU is losing out on the interest they would make if that $45, 000 were in the bank. Additionally, since ground had already been broken on the newly purchased land, were the council to have voted down Osei’s decree it may have jeopardized the entire project and put the “democratic nature” of the council into question.

Still, when it came time to vote, a motion to support the presidential decree was passed with 11 in favour and only one opposed with two abstentions.

When asked whether outside, neutral sources had been consulted to confirm or investigate the amount needed to build the structure in Uganda, new CSU president Heather Lucas said that the money was given to CVAP “in good faith,” and that having signed a contract with the organization, the money will be paid back to the CSU in May 2011 regardless.

“If anything we’re helping them out,” she told the council. “They’re doing something good in Uganda and the CSU is part of that. That’s an incredible thing.”

In order to keep kids active and involved, the province of Ontario announced it will be introducing a tax credit offer to parents who are paying to enter their kids in activities. The credit specifically targets low-income family but will be available to everyone, and covers everything from dance to art and music, along with the usual sports and fitness activities. Parents can claim up to $500 dollars and as a refundable credit, low-income families that pay less taxes can still reap the benefits. A similar credit has existed on the federal level since 2007, but it only applies to physical activity.

Carleton frosh week a student-admin compromise

The annual frosh week held at Carlton university will have a much more academic tint than previous years according to CBC News, after the administration announced a take-over of student-run events last April. The announcement was met with intense student opposition, prompting a compromise which has resulted in an even mixture of social and education events this year. Now apparently students will be able to choose between getting wasted and partying, or meeting some of their professors, touring the campus and attending plays about being a good student. Hmm, I wonder which type of event is going to garner the most participation...

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theconcordian

Tuesday, September 7, 2010

World in brief Evan LePage

Good will, guns and grenades

A Goodwill store in Albuqurque, New Mexico was surprised to find a donation in the form of marijuana, a gun, ammunition and a grenade that was dropped off in one of their collection boxes. The local bomb squad needed to be called in and the staff was reportedly evacuated, though the grenade was apparently a WWII relic and therefore no longer a threat.

Apparently guns are actually not an uncommon donation at the store, though they choose to give them back to police instead of the needy gun enthusiasts.

Get these motherf****** snakes... out of his luggage?

Kuala Lumpur International Airport was faced with an all too cinematic situation a few weeks ago and Samuel L. Jackson was nowhere in sight. Keng Liang Wong’s luggage had apparently made it past airport security only to have the 95 living boa constrictors he was smuggling spill out on a luggage conveyor belt. Wong, who had a history of smuggling and had spent six years in a U.S. prison for sneaking reptiles into the country, was arrested and sentenced to six months in Malaysian prison. Next time the “Lizard King” as some have dubbed him - may think twice about forgetting to snake-proof the inside of his luggage - since security apparently wasn’t the problem.

200 lying pilots fly Chinese skies

A report by Chinese officials released Monday reports that 200 pilots were found to have lied about their flying histories. The head of the civil aviation administration revealed the results of an investigation between 2008 and 2009 that found at least 200 pilots had falsified their flight records before being hired by various airlines in the country.

One of the airlines responsible for more than half of those hiring was involved in a deadly plane crash this August that killed 42 people and injured another 54. It was not revealed whether the plane’s pilot was one of those who had faked his records.

Craigslist adult services section gets tossed out Many prostitutes are looking for a new place to advertise after Craigslist shut down the adult services section of its website. The removal took place only two weeks after 17 state attorneys general demanded that the section be shut down as it did couldn’t defend against illegal ads that fostered prostitution and child trafficking. Where an erotic tab used to exist on the American website, a black and white “censored” icon now sits. Other countries’ versions, like that of Canada, still sport the adult services option, however, both under “services” and “gigs.”

campus

CSU gets ball rolling against the CFS Concordia Student Union plans for legal proceedings and political attack Evan LePage News editor When the Canadian Federation of Students refused to recognize the CSU’s referendum last spring, thenpresident Prince Ralph Osei said the student union would be preparing for a legal battle. With a summer of planning behind them, the CSU executive now seems ready to turn that preparation into action.

“After having met with our law-

them most,” Osei said.

When asked about their strategy for political attack, Lucas could only say “We will be gathering our resources to ensure that people don’t forget how infringing the CFS is.”

In addition to an amount annually allocated to legal costs, the CSU will be using interest gained from the nearly $300,000 in student fees from the past two years normally given to the CFS but currently being kept in a trust in order to help fund their legal fight.

“By the end of our mandate we should have $600,000 in a bank, waiting for the CFS government to end for us to give this money over to them,” Osei said. “The least we could do is take the interest from this money and fund the case against the CFS.” While Osei has expressed confi-

dence in their case, the CSU is by no means underestimating the CFS in a legal setting.

“The CFS is well versed in the courtroom since 1993,” Lucas said, “so this will be nothing new to them.”

When asked about a foreseeable end to this legal conflict, Lucas said “the sooner the better for all of us,” but hinted that she expects it will be some time before the CFS question is resolved.

Osei, on the other hand, was slightly more blunt on his expectations for the case.

“We must not forget that we are dealing with a well-oiled political machine,” he said. “They have mastered the act of taking harmless student unions to court for sometimes 4-6 years.”

Change

Concordia recognizes volunteer work with new transcript Co-curricular record and LIVE center share goal of fostering student engagement Philippa Duchastel de Montrouge Contributor As of this fall, a student’s GPA will not be the only thing prospective employers will be considering, as volunteer work will now officially be acknowledged through a co-curricular record issued by the university.

This new transcript “supports the initiative that students take

and gratifies their hard [volunteer] work,” according to Concordia media relations advisor Fiona Downey.

All volunteer activities that have been approved by an official ‘validator’ will become part of their permanent record which the university hopes will act as an incentive for students to become more involved.

Officially recognizing and validating community work is already in place at several American colleges.

Seven universities across Canada have also followed suit, but Concordia will be the first in Quebec to adopt a similar policy.

The university’s decision to establish co-curricular records perfectly compliments the recent development of the Leadership, Initiative, and Volunteer Engagement (LIVE) centre, an organization that hopes to promote student engagement in the school, community and

beyond.

The goal of LIVE, which opened its doors in June 2010, is to enlighten students on the variety of social engagement opportunities around them. Coordinator Valerie Millette feels students are often unaware of the endless possibilities and see volunteering as limited to working in a soup kitchen or a senior’s residence.

Brochures line the walls of the LIVE center on the sixth floor of the Hall building, and with categories ranging from environmental groups and animal shelters to work with street kids and seniors groups, those looking to volunteer aren’t short of options. “I want students to come in and say ‘wow, I never thought there was so much out there for me to do!’ ” Millette said.

As a former career advisor at Concordia, Millette added that stu-

dents should play to their strengths and volunteer to better themselves in preparation for their future endeavors. “Even if you’re doing it to help someone else, you’re helping yourself out, too,” she said, noting that in difficult economic times sometimes a university degree isn’t as valued by employers as handson work experience.

Aside from linking student volunteers to the places and people that need their help, LIVE also hopes to raise the awareness of the how-tos of volunteering and its benefits.

Throughout the academic year several workshops will be given to provide students with the knowledge they need to be efficient and satisfied volunteers.

For more information visit: http://volunteer.concordia.ca/ aboutvolunteering/

city

Working on making a fair world: CIVICUS conference meets in Montreal

Citizen participation seen as a key solution Tony Blair book signing to economic inequality goes bad

Former British PM Tony Blair may have only recently left the political scene, but he has already left a lasting impression on the book scene. Blair was forced to cancel a London book signing this week after he received quite a poor reception at a similar event in Dublin over the weekend.

Protestors, unhappy with his decision to enter the Iraq war, nailed Blair with eggs, shoes and even bottles. The promotional tour was for his new memoir A Journey, from which all proceeds go to a charity for troops injured in battle. In the book, Blair says he does not regret his decision on Iraq, though a few more bottles to the head may change his mind.

yers we are beginning the legal proceedings,” said current CSU president Heather Lucas.

At a special council meeting in August, then-president Prince Ralph Osei told the CSU legal council that during the summer “(the executive) sat down, we strategized, we talked to the lawyer”. After weighing four different courses of action, Osei said that their lawyers advised the CSU not leave things in the hands of the CFS and begin to pursue both legal and political action.

They were told “to go forth in the court, have an independent judge in Quebec rule in regard to our continued membership in the CFS and, recognizing that the CFS is a political organization such as the CSU, to attack them where it probably huts

Renee Giblin Contributor In late August Quebec-Haitian artist Luck Mervil took his place behind the podium to welcome the nearly 600 delegates from around the world who gathered at Palais des Congrès to discuss methods to create global economic equality.

For the next three years CIVICUS, an alliance of civil society organizations, will meet in Montreal to discuss proactive solutions to decrease poverty worldwide.

“We are working together to come up with ideas of what can be done to improve communities,” said Ingrid Srinath, secretary general of CIVICUS. “People are suffering simply because of where they were born. By accident of birth, people are living in poverty. ” The first three-day World Assembly this past summer saw many in attendance focus on allowing inhabitants of less fortunate countries to have more input in the development of their nations.

Thomas Brundin, from the Swedish Ministry of Foreign Affairs and one of the presenters at the conference, stressed the importance of allowing the citizens who live in poverty to have a sense of ownership in their society and to include them in the decisionmaking processes.

According to Brundin, in certain countries there is an unequal distribution of power between governments giving aid and those receiving the funds. He therefore stressed the importance of allowing for citizen input as to how the money should be spent, because they are the ones being directly affected.

The conference’s focus on citizen participation also hit home right here in Montreal.

Julian Novales-Flamarique, a local Montrealer, participated in the event because he wanted to become involved and active in what was happening outside of the city.

He was surprised by the range of emotions he felt throughout the conference, from rage, to sadness, to hope that he would be able to actively assist in changing the lives of other people in the world.

“Many smaller groups of del-

egates came together to propose tangible projects on which to work,” Novales-Flamarique said.

“In the coming year I look forward to working with one of these groups.”

The delegates will gather again next summer in Montreal and Srinath wants young people to become more involved in the assemblies so they can share their ideas with them. Her mission is to get the youth out of a bystander role so they become more involved in their own community.

“Young people have an important voice because they ask the hard questions and aren’t constrained by ideology or convention.” Srinath said. “They are 50 per cent of the population and they warrant participation.”

Tuesday, September 7, 2010

Follow us on Twitter at twitter.com/theconcordian

5

Campus

The Loyola quad will be the site of the orientation concert after all. The space has a capacity of 5,000 to 7,000 people. Photo by Tiffany Blaise

Continued from cover ...

Loyola quad offered as a free alternative “In the end the politics are the major factor and something that is out of our hands,” said Steiker.

The Loyola quad seemed like a natural fit and a bargain for the CSU after looking at a variety of large and small venues. Peter Bolla, Concordia’s associate vice-president of Facilities Management, explained

that the university will not be charging the CSU for the use of the space and that the shuttle service will be increased to get students from the downtown core to the show.

Bolla said that he believes there has never been an event of this size held on the property. There will be a limited amount of wristbands given out to students, as Bolla estimates that the capacity of the Loyola Quad is somewhere between 5,000 and 7,000. Students will be able to pick up their wristbands beginning on Sept. 7.

Summer news headlines Obama pulls troops out of Iraq and announces the combat mission in Iraq is over at the end of August.

Devastating floods in Pakistan affect 17 million people, destroy homes and leave over 1,000 casualties. The world is slow to respond in emergency aid dollars.

BP spill finally plugged after what seems like forever. Tourism and fishing is hard on the US gulf coast after what is already a hard summer for American jobs. A second explosion occurs at a nearby oil rig, but no one is killed and no oil spilled.

The Harper governments scraps the long-form census on June 20 citing concern over citizens’ privacy and Canadian are up in arms. Advocacy groups worry that without the census, they will lose the statistics they need to justify their programs. Heads of Statistics Canada Munir Sheik resigns in disagreement with the decision.

Bloomber is a strong supporter of the cause; President Obama is cautiously on the pro side. Sarah Palin hates it.

Plans to build a mosque near Ground Zero sparks controversy.

Some feel like this is an affront to the victims of Sept. 11, others think opposing the project is xenophobic. Major players weigh in: Mayor Michael

Nineteen concertgoers are crushed to death in a stampede at the Love Parade in Germany in July.

Thirty-three Chilean miners trapped underground are found alive and well, and Chileans rejoice.

Digging them out may take several months.

life

Tuesday, September 7, 2010

7

Write to the editor: life@theconcordian.com FASHION

Fall bags: fashionable yet practical Several styles guaranteed to take you from the hallways to the bars Savannah Sher Contributor Fall has always been my favourite time of year because it means cooler temperatures, steaming lattes, new classes and of course, fall fashion. While I love dreaming of chunky knits, tall leather boots and double-breasted coats, one thing that has always been an issue when back-to-school shopping is deciding what sort of bag I should bring to class.

This year, I decided to take my schoolbag shopping a little more seriously and went in search of the perfect companion: a bag that is both fashionable and practical. While I did consider going back to a knapsack, I was swayed away because I find it more practical to carry something a little more chic that could transfer to an after school shopping expedition or to evening drinks.

The eco-friendly and stylish

Colour Scheme

Montreal-based company Matt & Nat makes great simple and androgynous bags from “vegan leather” which are affordable and eco-conscious. Vegan Leather is a responsible choice because animal byproducts are not used in any part of the production and there are recycled elements in every bag. I particularly liked the Jorja style, which is decidedly more feminine thanthe industrial looking Yorke.

As far as materials go, opt for darker neutrals like slate or taupe, colours that match the sweaters and jackets found in most fall wardrobes. If you want to do something a little more daring, leopard print is a huge trend for fall 2010. A classic skin (real, embossed or imitation) is always in style but even more so with the 1950s and 1960s styles that went down the runways this season.

The big investment

Considering you might be lugging your bag around for an entire day, one thing that is extremely important is to look for a bag that has a long shoulder strap that you can wear in a cross-body style. Anything that you have to hold in the crook of your arm is going to be very uncomfortable by the end of the day.

So, if you’re dreading heading back to school after a long relaxing summer, at least take comfort in the fact that you can do it in style with a great bag on your arm (or rather your shoulder).

If you are looking for something that is more of a investment, check out the Michael Kors Hamilton tote ($298). It looks like a more modern version of the Hermes Birkin and has a sturdy looking chain and leather strap. I have also always been a fan of the Rebecca Minkoff Morning After Bag ($525) which comes in a variety of colours and is just the right size and shape.

Practicality

The men’s section After being disappointed with stores like Bureau en Gros and Best Buy, where laptop bags were more practical and business-like than fashionable, I headed to my favourite mall staples: Zara, Aldo and H&M. The women’s sections in these stores had a lot of cute bags but the cross-body satchels they were showing were way too small to fit much more than an agenda. However, I did find success in the mens’ section where the simple leather messenger bags looked to be another perfect back-to-school bag option.

The benefit of men’s styles is that they are more timeless since menswear trends vary less that womenswear from season to season.

The vintage buy When I exhaust my options at the major chain stores, I often end up turning to my favourite secondhand shops, since most of what is in style today has been a past trend.

Vintage briefcases and satchels can be both a

Vintage vinyl bag from Kavanaugh Vintage s very chic and durable alternative.

Etsy.com, an online marketplace, is always my first stop for vintage wear because of the pages upon pages of selection and the ability to browse for very specific items. The site also gives you the opportunity to search by location so you can support local designers and maybe even get lucky enough to avoid the shipping charges.

I instantly fell in love with the supple looking leather and structured shape of the Italian Gianni Conti briefcase ($60) from ChicVintageWear’s store. The best thing about buying vintage bags is that you can assume that if a bag has lasted through 20 years of wear and tear, it can probably handle being dragged around Concordia.

Etsy Vintage Gianni Conti bag with structured shape and brass hardware

Concordia student wears a feminine messenger bag by Margot. Photos by Tiffany Blaise

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Tuesday, September 7, 2010

Follow us on Twitter at twitter.com/concordianlife HEALTH

Tackling “freshman fat” Concordia services to keep you from putting on those unwanted pounds Philippa Duchastel de Montrouge Contributor After a summer traveling across Europe with friends, Genevieve Lou’s return to reality was heavy.

The extra pounds she put on over the summer were concerning her because Lou, like many other young women, wanted to look her best before starting her first year at McGill. She was determined to beat the dreaded double-digit weight gain dubbed by many as “Freshman 15,” an expression that refers to the troublesome extra pounds students traditionally put on during their first year at university.

Part-time worker at both Nautilus Gym and a Dairy Cream parlour, Lou’s theory is to indulge now and work it off later. “I go to the gym so that I can have that piece of chocolate cake for dessert,” she said, patting her thighs. Yet with the beginning of school looming closer, Lou was attracted to trying a cleanse, a new diet two of her girlfriends, as well as her brother, had recently tried: one litre of water, two lemons, seasoned with some cayenne pepper and some maple syrup to sweeten things up. Drink four times a day for 10 days. Just that and nothing else. By the end, Lou lost 12 pounds in total.

The cleanse, though effective, was a very unhealthy means to weight loss and also caused Lou to take off more pounds than she probably needed to lose. It also did not help her tackle some of the major factors that contribute to “Freshmen Fat,” like living away from home, eating out, irregular meal hours, excess drinking, little exercise, lack of sleep and stress.

A typical student lifestyle leaves many with little time to cook dinner or even walk down to the cafeteria. Stressful study sessions come with a side of nachos, ice cream and Redbull. Unfortunately, the junk food industry isn’t the only thing booming. According to the latest figures from Statistics Canada, obesity has doubled in the past 25 years and 37 per cent of adults are now overweight (a body mass index between 25 and

RECIPE

Mother’s tiramisu recipe is a family favourite served only on special occasions Sara Pelletier Contributor There are everyday desserts and then there is tiramisu, a family favourite, especially when made by my mother. Served only on special occasions

Photo from Flickr

30) and another 24 per cent are obese.

Though these increases are concerning, university students have been slightly misled about this apparently typical weight gain. According to Obesity, the official journal of The Obesity Society, the so-called Freshman 15 is actually a myth and is more realistically a “Freshman 5” -- a term that is slightly less catchy and less frightening.

What is five pounds, right? This unfortunately does not diminish the insecurities students feel towards weight gain.

This is something that universities can help tackle. Owen Moran, a Concordia health educator, feels that institutions can implement changes in their environment that can make a difference long-term, because ultimately, “healthier students are better students.” While he recognizes that the focus in most universities is on academics, Moran pointed out that in schools where physical education is given a priority, the academic results generally improve.

In the past few years, Concordia has promoted sustainability programs, encouraging student awareness of healthy and environmental lifestyle choices. Vegetarian lunches are now served daily at the Loyola Luncheon, an offshoot of the popular vegan People’s Potato downtown.

On Sept. 15, Concordia will host the Sustainable Food Festival, an event supporting local businesses and that aims to shed light on homegrown and locally produced foods. Although this is a step in the right direction, Moran feels Concordia’s policies with regards to food values could be improved.

Aside from the responsibility institutions bear, Moran also believes healthy eating remains a behaviour change an individual must adopt independently. What worries Moran is that he feels students’ attitudes towards fast food are still very positive, when in fact it is a choice that is rather unfriendly to the environment. Students have to realize is that what they eat reflects their values.

“We need to enjoy good food,” Moran explained. “When you are eating something healthy, like an apple, you need to think of it as a gift that you are giving yourself.”

Along with a healthy diet, exercise is essential for maintaining a healthy weight, something that may be hard to do when entering university. During this time students go through many routine changes, including the fact that physical education courses are no longer a requirement.

This means that self-motivation is now key.

If you’re interested in joining a gym class or a sports team, you have to do the legwork yourself.

Graphic by Katie Brioux

One affordable option is joining the Concordia gym (Le Gym), which only costs $60 a semester, giving you access to both the downtown and Loyola facilities. Even with the gym’s accessibility, students stay away because they are intimidated, explained Mark Singer, a personal trainer at the gym. “They don’t know what machines to use, or how to use them.”

In order to get over fear of the gym, Singer suggests booking at least one one-hour session with a trainer for $25. They will assess your goals and “show you the lay of the land.” Le Gym also offers many classes, varying from aerobics to martial arts.

Quick tip: those interested should sign up immediately because classes fill up quickly!

On the other hand, exercise science student Donovan Delarosbil believes the gym is not necessarily the best option for students because some don’t have time or money to spend on gym memberships.

Instead, Delarosbil suggests joining recreation sports on campus which is both a plus on a CV and great for the body. Concordia has several

Love at first bite such as birthdays, anniversaries and Christmas, this delectable Italian cake gets devoured in total silence by family members who never leave any leftovers.

Tiramisu, which literally means “pick me up,” was a name chosen to describe the energy the ingredients such as espresso, eggs and sugar give off. Although most people might think that this Italian dessert is a traditional, ancient recipe that was passed on from nonna to nipote - or in good old English, from grandmother to granddaughter - tiramisu only really became popular in the 1980s and the exact origin is still unconfirmed.

The dessert’s birthplace is commonly attributed to two possible restaurants in Treviso, Italy, though an owner of a small bakery in Baltimore’s Little Italy also claims to be the inventor of this now well-known dessert.

With so many possible birthplaces, it is no wonder that many variations of the recipe exist.

While some recipes substitute the espresso with coffee, others omit the use of liquor altogether.

These differences I can handle, but when it comes to ordering this splendid cake in a restaurant, one must choose wisely. I have learnt through personal experience that many restaurants will use cream as a cheaper alternative to mascarpone cheese, leaving a true tiramisu aficionado with a sour taste. To avoid this unpleasant situation, I offer one simple solution... my mother’s recipe.

Ingredients: - 500g mascarpone, a soft, mild Italian cream cheese. We use Salerno Dairy, but other brands such as Saputo will work - 1 ½ cup of espresso or strong coffee (we like

to use a flavoured coffee like hazelnut) - 4 eggs - 6 tbsp of sugar - 2 packages or 800g Savoiardi biscuits, also known as ladyfingers. (The Balocco brand is easy to find in most supermarkets) - 2 tbsp of liquor (optional). You can use Marsala wine, rum, brandy, Tia Maria, Kahlua or Baileys. (We prefer Tia Maria because of the milder and sweeter taste of the liquor).

- Cocoa powder or grated semi-sweet chocolate (quantity according to taste).

Time to assemble: 30 min.

Time to set: 10-11 hours

Preparation: 1) In a small bowl, beat egg whites until fluffy and firm. Put the bowl aside for later.

2) In a large mixing bowl, combine egg yolks and sugar. Beat until creamy and smooth.

3) Add the mascarpone and liquor and stir until ingredients are well blended.

4) Add the egg whites from step 1 to the mixture of mascarpone, liquor, egg yolks and sugar. Mix everything well.

5) Next, dip the Savoiardi biscuits into espresso or strong coffee. Do this quickly, as they tend to get soggy and fall apart when left in the espresso too long. Set the dipped Savoiardi biscuits in a dish. A deep rectangular shaped dish is easiest to work with.

6) To assemble the cake, you will need to follow a layering process. For the first layer, align the dipped Savoiardi biscuits side by side (normally I do two rows of 11.) Follow this process until you have a rectangular or square shape. Re-

house leagues such as indoor soccer and volleyball, which students can sign up for. The university even offers a Skating 101 class at Loyola.

It is clear there are many options out there to help battle the Freshman 15, but Moran is convinced that students could achieve significant health gains simply by making small changes to their daily routine. Such as taking the stairs or packing a lunch. Who knows, maybe the everlastingly broken escalators in the Hall building are actually a blessing in disguise?

For more information on recreation sports and Le Gym check out page 22 in the sports section.

For operating hours and location of People’s Potato and the Loyola Luncheon head to page 12 of the Orientation Insert.

For 101 courses available this semester visit www.101s.csu.qc.ca

member, you need to keep enough ladyfingers aside to repeat this process two more times.

7) Then, you will move on to the second layer, where you will cover the biscuits with the mascarpone mixture.

8) For the last layer, cover the mascarpone mixture with as much cocoa powder or grated semi-sweet dark chocolate as you desire.

9) Repeat the layering process 3 times.

Then, cover the top of your cake with the remaining cocoa powder or semi-sweet grated chocolate. My mother follows this step by adding curled chocolate shavings to decorate the cake.

10) Place the cake into a cake container. If you do not have a cake container, place the tiramisu in a large Tupperware covered by Saran Wrap. This will prevent the tiramisu from absorbing the smells of other goods in both the freezer and fridge.

11) Then, place the covered container into a plastic bag.

12) Once packaged, place the cake into the freezer for 3-4 hours.

13) Remove from the freezer and place into the refrigerator for 7 hours before serving to guests.

It is recommended to prepare the cake a day in advance. Now cut yourself a slice of cake and sip on a nice big glass of milk, or espresso for the extra buzz! Buon appetito!

arts

Tuesday, September 7, 2010

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Write to the editor: arts@theconcordian.com CONVENTION

LOCAL ARTS

“Arabesque” by SPARK participant 2fik

Embark on an arts safari Montreal’s first ever urban art safari showcases performance art innovators Daniela Smith-Fernandez Arts editor With a title like SPARK: “artistic urban safari’ you know that you’re in for exploring new ground.

SPARK, a five-day event put on by Montreal’s Studio 303, represents an innovative way to showcase performance art and also ventures into uncharted territories. The artistic director of both SPARK and Studio 303 Miriam Ginestier describes the event’s offerings as “primarily dance-based but very heavily interdisciplinary”.

“SPARK is more like a circuit,” explains Ginestier. “If people go to everything, not only will they see an amazing cross-section of this fresh generation of performing artists, but they will also visit lots of key smaller-scale venues and festivals [Les Escales Improbables, Festival Transatlantique Montréal] that are all going on in the next five days.”

SPARK is just the latest initiative by Studio 303, an organization that focuses on supporting and producing performance artists who are engaged in interdisciplinary work. All of the performers who were asked to participate are people Studio 303 has had ongoing relationships with.

Ginestier explains that the organization itself has grown together with the careers of the artists they have collaborated with, many of whom are now ready to take their own work to the the next level and start touring.

In addition to public performances, SPARK also includes press-only, daytime programming.

Studio 303 has invited twelve international promoters from Europe to witness some of the best and brightest of Montreal’s performing arts scene as a way to give them larger exposure. By combining these media forums with shows open to the public, the audience gets to discover the work of these innovators right along with them.

“If you want to actually make a living and survive as a dance company it is almost impossible unless you tour in Europe,” Ginestier explains, “it’s a showcase not for the organization but for the artists”.

For those involved, this SPARK is just the beginning.

Dancer and choreographer Dana Michel is just one example of the type of artists the project is designed to promote. After graduating from Concordia in 2005 with a bachelor of fine arts in contemporary dance, Michel has been busy developing her creative practice all the while gathering critical acclaim. She first became involved with Studio 303 after winning an award for choreography during the St-Ambroise Montreal Fringe Festival. This week she will be performing solo in a dance show called “Short and Sweet” as well as presenting a collaborative piece with interdisciplinary artist and photographer 2fik.

Michel and 2fik decided to work together after clicking at the first production meeting to organize SPARK. Although they each work in different mediums, 2fik and Michel both identify gender and sexuality as one of the driving themes in their art. 2fik’s main focus is photography, in which he sets up scenes, dresses himself up as all the characters and then blends it all into one image (see above). To him gender is “something that you can never finish analyzing because it depends on which country, which culture you are in”.

Michel, who is a first generation St. Lucian, and 2fik, who has lived in Morocco, France and Canada, each credit this cross-cultural experience to their sensitivity to how people carry them-

selves according to gender. Using their bodies to ‘talk’ about the subject allows them to engage the audience in a more immediate and tangible way.

For their show they will each perform their own work first, then finish with a piece called “Ball of Both,” which explores gender identity and sexuality through movement. Michel describes it as a structured improv in which the two go back and forth, switching between masculine and feminine states.

“It’s really blurring the identities,” says 2fik.

“Who are they? Are they a man or a woman?

She looks like a woman but she moves like a man...”

“Are they coming on to each other?” intercepts Michel.

“It’s a full question performance and I like that,” 2fik adds.

“My goal with this event is that people who don’t go see this type of work come and try it out,” says Ginestier. “It’s a good time to try something risky.”

SPARK runs from Sept. 8-12. For more information visit www.studio303.ca/en/events/ spark/ Dana Michel and 2fik will be performing together at MAI on Sept. 10 and 11.

Dancer, choreographer & Concordia alumni Dana Michel

Photo by 2frik

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Tuesday, September 7, 2010

THEATRE

Not much to look at,

theconcordian

but plenty to see Mainline theatre keeps the fringe spirit alive year round Bianca Puorto Contributor Situated among the shops on St-Laurent and Duluth is an inconspicuous, graffitied door with the words Mainline Theatre etched across it. Behind it lies a world where fringe theatre lives and breathes.

Making your way up the tiny staircase, behind the hidden door gives one a slightly ominous feeling, until you reach the door at the top that opens into what could very well be your grandmother’s living room. Lamps and squashy sofas fill the theatre’s lounge area, where there is a small corner bar where guests can have a drink while waiting for the last of the tickets to be sold. A small hallway with doors marked “this is not the bathroom” and “still not the bathroom” lead into the intimate performance space.

The black box venue first opened its doors in Oct. 2005. The term “black box” means that the 100 seats and stage can be moved to accommodate whatever show happens to be going on at the time. The Mainline is currently the headquarters for the St-Ambroise Montreal Fringe, an alternative theatre festival that takes place every summer. They also rent out the theatre for local companies looking for a space to perform.

What sets Mainline apart from other theatres in Montreal isn’t only its intimate atmosphere. While more mainstream venues such as the Place Des Arts or the Centaur Theatre are known for producing classic favourites, the Mainline’s taste run to the slightly more obscure.

“I think what separates fringe theatre from mainstream theatre is that it’s less dull,” said the Mainline’s founder, Jeremy Hechtman. “It’s more affordable and it’s not something you see everyday.”

This is a bit of an understatement; recent productions include The Mid-Life Crisis of Dionysus, a musical about the Greek god of wine and theatre, which had the protagonist walking around half-naked, feeding audience members grapes from his loin cloth.

This week they are preparing the stage for Processed Theatre’s production of Reefer Madness, a musical parody based on a 1936 propaganda video citing the harmful effects of marijuana. “I think people just come here to have a good time,” added Hechtman.

Reefer Madness promises to provide just that. Director Nichole Carlone, who also performed in Dionysus, and her cast has been rehearsing numbers such as “The Orgy,” “Listen to Jesus, Jimmy” and “Mary Jane/ Mary Lane,” for the last few months. Hechtman also promises “lots of scantily clad guys and girls.”

The Mainline Theatre has been serving up hit after hit, and with their fifth anniversary coming up they show no signs of slowing down. Regardless of the subject matter, Mainline continuously provides a unique experience, which promises to keep audience members coming back for more.

For information about the Mainline Theatre, or to buy tickets for Reefer Madness, visit www.mainlinetheatre.ca or call 514-849-3378.

Follow us on Twitter at twitter.com/concordianarts FANS

Daniela Smith-Fernandez Arts editor Montreal’s Comic-Con is one event where it isn’t always the headliner who’s in costume. It’s one of many conventions held across North America dedicated to science fiction movies, TV shows and (of course) comic books.

Comic-Con events take place three times a year in Montreal - the largest one will be held this weekend at Place Bonaventure. The organizers aren’t the only ones who get ready for it, either.

Every art genre has its enthusiasts – there are people who dedicate themselves to detective books, silent movies, and jazz music. What makes the audience for comics and science fiction different is that the fan culture includes taking on ownership of stories, characters and imaginary worlds in a way that is fundamentally creative.

At the same time as Comic-Con’s press releases announce the lineup of illustrators, actors and writers, many attendees are getting ready for events like the costume contest. Comic-Con only takes place a few times a year, but to be able to really get something out of it means keeping up with the genre all year long.

Live action role playing (LARPing), cos(tume) play and writing fan fiction are some of the most popular art forms connected to science fiction culture. In each case someone uses the culture and characters of a world that has already been created in a comic or TV series and then improvises their own stories around it - while being careful not to contradict what has already been established. The same way people once made up new stories around figures like Robin Hood or King Arthur, modern science

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FILM

Comic-Con: a walkthrough Event highlights audience creativity

Tuesday, September 7, 2010

fiction fans reimagine the adventures of superheroes and TV characters like Xena the Warrior PrincessTM. In an age where copyright and protection of intellectual property are big issues, exactly how much ownership people can take is strictly controlled. Publishing stories on the Internet starring a hero from a Marvel or DC comic book is a long-standing tradition among science fiction fans, but if that text shows up in print with someone’s name attached to it? That’s when the lawsuits show up. Turns out most of us are worth a lot less than BatmanTM. These universes constructed by the people at production companies may inspire its audience to be creative, but to actually produce one of these stories so that it will be accepted by fans requires the seal of approval by whoever owns the trademark. This focus on exclusiveness and getting the “official” piece is what allows the darker commercial side of science fiction conventions to go on.

It’s also where you can find the subgroup I will refer to as “looters”: people who will spend copious amounts of money at conventions buying limited editions of comics they won’t read, movie props they won’t touch, and actions figures that will be kept in their boxes. For them, conventions are basically stock markets where they can browse for investments surrounded by weirdos in capes; they claim ownership of alternate worlds through their wallets, without taking it on and making it their own.

Over the last 50 years the people who work in the science fiction genre have come a long way to being accepted as artists in their own right, but within the subculture they are only part of the story. At events like Comic-Con, the producers only make up a small portion of the people whose creativity is on display.

A movie that canʼt be tossed aside

Documentary and blog explore what it takes to live waste free Radina Papukchieva Assitant arts editor

Montreal Comic-Con takes place Sept. 11 and 12 at Place Bonaventure. For more information go to www.montrealcomiccon.com Grant Baldwin filming his environmental film.

Photo from Flickr

Stuff: it’s what dreams are made of - at least in this consumerist society. So how do you know what you can go without? This is what Vancouver couple Jenny Rustemeyer and Grant Baldwin aimed to find out by trying to live without creating any waste for a year.

“Our society puts so much emphasis on our work that we forget the basics”, Baldwin said when asked what inspired the project. “It’s so easy now to just throw stuff away”.

The result is The Clean Bin Project, a documentary, blog, and ultimately, a call for action.

First, they set up the ground rules: no buying for a year unless it was something they urgently need. In this way, they show the results of our obsession with consuming stuff. Most of the things we buy end up in the garbage, are not recycled properly and can even turn up in the sea around the throat of a baby albatross.

“The average Canadian produces 700 to 1,000 pounds of garbage per year” Rustemeyer said.

“At the end of our year, we had each produced about four pounds.”

The couple is currently cycling through Canada to promote the documentary film and to raise awareness about waste. The tour started off in their hometown of Vancouver on June 3, they screened the documentary in Concordia’s Cinéma de Sève on Aug. 30, and will finish the tour in St. John’s, Newfoundland on Sept. 18.

They are planning to release it to a wider audience sooner rather than later, but with all the plastic that goes into the production and distribution of DVD’s, they still haven’t come up with an eco-friendly alternative that doesn’t defeat the purpose of the project.

The Clean Bin Project is not a documentary that overwhelms you with images and statistics of planet Earth in decay and it’s also not a lecture dwelling on how we are personally responsible for global warming. It’s about real people doing something to show how we can all do our part to reduce waste.

The movie has a light tone that makes it easier to digest, with fun animations and short interviews with people on the street.

Balwin and Rustemeyer speak with photographer Chris Jordan, whose evocative pictures of 1.14 million paper bags (the hourly consumption of bags in the US) or an ocean-like image of two million plastic bottles (the amount disposed of every five minutes in the US alone) are enough to make you sick to your stomach. Seeing so much garbage, put together in such a way, does

“

something to your senses that numbers and statistics just don’t.

“The average Canadian produces 700 to 1,000 pounds of garbage per year” Rustemeyer said.

“At the end of our year, we had each produced about four pounds.”

For those inspired to take action, the blog offers tips on how to produce the “stuff” that you can’t go without (ever thought of making your own deodorant or shampoo?) and resources that will help you lead a stuff-less life. We alone cannot clean up the oceans and air, but doing small things like not buying packaged food, or reusing the same bags for all our purchases are already big steps.

It is a refreshing attempt to educate people how to reduce, reuse, recycle, and ultimately pass on the message.

You can find the blog at www.thecleanbinproject.com - With notes and quotes from an interview with Owen Nagels.

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theconcordian

Tuesday, September 7, 2010

What to do if: our suggestions for life’s little problems Sarah Deshaies Editor-in-chief Welcome to Concordia! For any situation you might find yourself in over the school year, we’ve compiled a list to help you out on your first year (or third... or sixth...) at this fine academic insitution. Read on through our Orientation Insert to get the low-down on Montreal music, tunes, beer, and bars. Stick to this page to see what to do if...

FUN ... you have no friends.

Find some like-minded people by joining one of the 70 religious, ethnic, political and hobby-oriented clubs at Concordia. Spot them tabling on the Hall mezz, or online at www.csu.qc.ca. Or, be on the lookout for your department’s student association; they can usually be counted on to plan free wine and cheeses where you can meet fellow students. ... you are on a spur-of-the-moment first date.

Sneak up to the greenhouse on the roof of the Hall building by taking the elevator to the 11th floor. Make a left, then a right, then a left and take the stairs up to the 12th floor. It’s surprisingly peaceful up there. ... you need to get out of Montreal.

Consider an international exchange at the Concordia International office. www.international. concordia.ca, ext. 4986, 2080 MacKay. For a short getaway in February, try the Alternative Spring Break (asb@alcor.concordia.ca) or the CSU’s annual NYC trip. ... you are drunk.

Drink lots of water, take an Advil and have a friend hail you a cab. And possibly come to make sure you get home safe. No driving, biking, texting, emailing or making out with friends while under the influence. ... you want to lend a hand.

New ConU initiative the LIVE Centre has a “Volunteer Opportunities of the Week” posting at www.volunteer.concordia.ca. And check out the Leadership and Volunteer Fair on Oct. 7 in the Library building atrium.

SCHOOL ... you need to pull an all-nighter.

We’re all paying now to keep the downtown library open 24/7, might as well use it! Bring water and a pillow for impromptu naps.

tion no longer requires the SecureW2 software, it is important that you delete it to avoid conflicts with the new wireless setup. ... you need to print a snazzy presentation for class.

The Digital Store prints posters, transparencies and promotional material at the Library building and at Loyola in the CC building. In addition to printing stuff, Copies Concordia also does postcards and t-shirts (if you want to get creative) 1520 de Maisonneuve Blvd. ... you’ve been accused of plagiarism or cheating on an exam (eep!).

First off, don’t do the above. But if you are accused of an academic offense, you could be charged under the university’s Academic Code of Conduct and the Code of Rights and Responsibilities. Meet up with a Concordia Student Union student advocate (ext. 7313) or an advocate with the university (ext. 5249); they can can defend you in hearing and appeals, and help you with other academic problems. ... you need to boost your marks.

The Student Success Centre has a bunch of resources, including workshops, student mentors and help with writing: www.studentsuccess.concordia.ca. For tutors, call the Dean of Students at ext. 4239 or 3517. ... you keep forgetting when stuff is due, when you’re supposed to meet people, etc.

Pick up a free CSU agenda in room H-711 (grab one soon, they go fast) or QPIRG’s School Schmool “free activist day planner” for a toonie (suggested donation) at 1500 de Maisonneuve Blvd., suite 204.

LIFE ... you need a new OPUS pass.

You have until Halloween to get your OPUS card. You have to be a full-time student between the ages 18 and 25, and living in Montreal. On Sept. 20 and 21, you can have your photo taken for slightly cheaper in the McConnell Library building between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. instead of at 2020 University St. Fill out the application form, get it stamped at Birks, and bring along your old card if you have one, proof of address (no leases) and $10 or $14 (if you’re getting your first card). ... you need a job.

Check out the CSU’s job bank at www.classifieds.csu.qc.ca, or scan the postings on the fourth floor of the Hall building downtown, or the second floor of the CC building at Loyola.

Counselling and Development has the Career and Placement Service, and provides workshops for job hunting (ext. 3545 SGW, Ext. 3555 Loyola). Check out the Life Notebook next week for an extensive guide for getting a job.

... your landlord/boss is being a douche.

Drop in to the CSU’s Housing and Job Bank to speak to a fellow student, who can provide you ... your computer is broken. with legal information and possible recourses The computer store hawks everything from on rental and employment questions. They also laptops to USB keys downtown on the Hall mezz have a housing bank. Hall building, mezz floor floor and at Loyola in the CJ bookstore.

H-260. ... you need a wireless connection.

You can get hooked up by configuring your laptop or device at ww.helpline.concordia.ca/ network/wireless on another network or by selecting the “ConcordiaWirelessInfo” SSID from the list of available networks and following the instructions that appear when you open a browser window. You’ll need to save your MyConcordia portal ID and password to stay logged in. Head to the IITS help desk on the ninth floor of the Hall building if you have questions. A note for returning Concordia students with Windows: because Concordia wireless connec-

... you want to immigrate to Canada.

The CSU’s Legal Information Clinic helps students work on permanent resident applications. And avoid ‘immigration consultations’ - they charge high fees. Ext. 7375. Questions about your student visa? Call up the International Students Office at ext. 3515. ... you need some cash for school.

Pay a visit to the Financial Aid and Awards Office, which has moved to the second floor of the GM building. They have information on awards,

loans, and bursaries. For awards and bursaries, apply early and often, and make sure you have all the required info -- like letters, transcripts and financial status -- prepared. The FAAO is open evenings during September. Ext. 3507. ... you’re feeling under the weather.

Whether you have a cold, maybe an STD, or are feeling unshakeably blue, you can go to the walk-in clinic at Health Services or book an appointment with a nurse, doctor or psychologist.

Health Services has moved to the second floor of the GM building. If you’re at Loyola, you’ll find it on the basement floor of the AD building. Ext. 3565 (SGW), 3575 (Loyola). ... you’ve got kids, and need a child-friendly place to be on campus.

Visit the Student Parents Centre, a resource for students with kids, in Room 200, 2150 Bishop St. Ext. 5954. ... your escalator has stopped working.

Breathe. Start actually walking up to your floor.

FOOD ... you are hungry and have no money for groceries.

Everyone loves the People’s Potato, a free vegan lunch and staple of Concordia life, served every weekday on the seventh floor. It’s a bit of a wait, so bring Tupperware to jump into the shorter line. Stuck at Loyola? Visit the Loyola Luncheon, the Potato’s cousin, above the cafeteria.

The Multi-Faith Chaplaincy’s Mother Hubbard’s Cupboard offers a vegan meal on Thursdays during the semester in Z-102 on Mackay Street ($2 suggested donation). If it’s an emergency, and you need groceries, book an appointment at the Chaplaincy ( ext. 3593) to see if you can get a gift card to local grocery stores. They range from $50-100 depending on your situation. ... you need a caffeine injection.

There are over a dozen coffee options downtown, but Myriade serves up the yummiest coffee and tea this side of Montreal at a small cafe and terrasse on 1432 Mackay St. For a cheap fix, head up to the seventh floor of the EV building to Cafe X, the only student-run cafe at SGW. Bring a mug and fill up on organic snacks. At Loyola, the frat-and-sorority-run G Lounge dishes out the java on the cavernous, spacious and quiet fourth floor of the CC building.

TRANSIT ... the shuttle bus has vanished, and you need to get to the other campus. Now. It’s about a 45-minute commute by public transit -- which is sometimes better than taking the shuttle bus. Catch the metro at Guy-Concordia towards Angrignon. Two stops later, at Lionel-Groulx metro, cross the platform to the orange line. Ride the line two stops to Vendôme, and get on the 105 Sherbrooke bus, which comes every few minutes during peak times, and stops right in front of the AD building towards the end of the line. ... you need to figure out how to get somewhere by public transit.

Calculate your BMW route (bus, metro, walk) at www.stm.info/azimuts/index.htm.

For the Bixi bike, check online www.bixi.com/ the-stations, or download one of a few Bixi navigation apps for smartphones, like Bixou or Montreal Bike Map. NB: Dial Concordia’s number 514-848-2424 before any of the extensions mentioned.

Tuesday, September 7, 2010

theconcordian

13

nightlife

Bars, beers, bulls and karaoke it’s happy hour! Happy hour for an entire day means lots of happy students and a smaller dent in the wallet. The eight beers on tap that they brew themselves also add a different flavour to your drinking repertoire.

The places around town youre going to want to be when you’re crusin’ for some boozin’

Favourite Theme Bar: Candi Bar (1148 Mont Royal Ave. E) Have a sweet tooth? New on the Montreal bar scene, Candi Bar has been catching more and more good press for their candy-themed, provocative ambience. Candy machines at every table, sweet drinks with ring pops included, and urinals that are shaped like the Rolling Stones’ lips make for an interesting and unique bar experience. Still, drinks are a little heavy on the wallet, making this a oncein-a-while stop rather than an everyday spot.

Evan LePage News editor The Montreal night life is undeniably a thing to experience, but on a student budget the cover, dress code and drink prices of clubs in the city aren’t always an option. Thankfully, the bar scene is more than accommodating to every person, preference and price range.

Whether you’re looking to sing your heart out, or just have a casual drink with friends, here’s a few of our favourite bars you may want to check out.

Favourite Terrace: Le Saint Sulpice Bar (1680 St-Denis St.)

Favourite Mechanical Bull: Chez Serge (5301 St. Laurent Blvd.)

St-Sulpice terrace offers a seat in the sun.

Now and then, this city actually does get some good weather and a great way to enjoy it is on the massive terrace at Saint-Sulpice.

With an outdoor bar to go along with almost a block’s worth of hang-out space, the terrace is something to see, especially when it fills up with hundreds of people. When that breeze gets a little too chilly, you can also head inside to one of the ten bars and many themed floors, including a top floor dance room.

(Karaoke Box) is the place to go. Four-litre pitchers and Canadian Idol generally means absolutely awful singing and we wouldn’t want it any other way. The Box offers a wide selection of songs, beers and inevitable laughs just about every night of the week. Get there early, though, because space is limited.

Favourite NDG Bar: Honey Martin’s (5916 Sherbrooke St. W)

Reggie’s is Concordia’s very own student bar, on campus in the Hall building. It’s not the place for beer of very high quality, but you just can’t beat the atmosphere and you’re surrounded by your peers. It’s a must for first years looking to make friends around their own age at a place they’re familiar with. Just bring a few bucks for cover and coat check.

A quaint little dig right on Sherbrooke St., it’s the perfect hangout for the relaxed artsy student who wants fun outside of downtown.

Along with a good selection on tap, you can enjoy the generally young crowd, some live local music and Tuesday trivia nights. Definitely a favourite for those living in the Deeg.

Favourite Karaoke: La Boîte à Karaoke (2071, Ste-Catherine St. W) If you’ve got a little Celine Dion in you that you just need to let out, La Boîte à Karaoke

We say favourite, but we pretty much mean only. What else is there to say? There’s a mechanical bull for you to ride to your heart’s content. You need to go out of your way to get there and it’s nowhere close to school, but you’re guaranteed at least ten or so seconds of fun and a lesson in how alco-

hol affects your coordination. Good times.

Favourite Sports Bar: Sports Station (2051 Ste-Catherine St. W) With Habs fever about to start again, a good sports bar is a necessity and Sports Station is designed for that very purpose. TVs line the walls of the joint, which, while small, is always full of sports fans who will yell, cheer and scream at referees right along with you. They can also cook you up a solid meal or munchies, not to mention there are tables with keg taps implanted directly in them for your personal pouring needs. Doesn’t get much better than that.

All of these bars are tried and true, but this doesn’t mean you shouldn’t go out exploring the tons and tons of small dives on your own.

Find a spot and make it your own. And, of course, for those nights when you do go out for a drink (or seven), here are some valuable numbers to save in the cell.

Nez Rouge (designated driver service, only available 9 p.m. to 3:30 a.m.): (514) 256-2510 Atlas Taxi: (514) 485-8585 Taxi Co-op: (514) 725-9885

Favourite Student Spot: Reggie’s (1455, de Maisonneuve Blvd. W)

Favourite Happy Hour: Brutopia (1215 Crescent St.) At Brutopia, happy hour could probably be called happy week. The bar offers happy hour prices from opening until 8 p.m. every day except Monday, when all day and night

Concordian Archives

Beer

Montreal’s 100-mile beer diet A basic guide to the cities local breweries and their brews Aeron MacHattie Chief copy editor What is Montreal known for if not hockey and beer? Although Molson beer is basic for drinkers on tight budgets and those visiting the Bell Centre, these local breweries and brewpubs offer a range of original, reasonably-priced, and delicious beer that will appeal to those who expect a bit more from their brew.

Benelux (245 Sherbrooke St. W.): This brewpub, named for the region that includes Belgium, the Netherlands and Luxembourg, celebrates the European love of beer. With a constantly evolving selection of classic and seasonal beers, they offer an array of different tastes and styles to choose from.

Armada: This Texas brown ale combines a hazelnut flavour with caramel malt and strong hops.

Cuda: A popular India Pale Ale that tastes like piney hops and citrus fruits, with grapefruit notes.

Brutopia (1219 Crescent St.): Located around the corner from Concordia’s downtown campus, this brewpub is a convenient stop for after class drinks. Although they also serve a decent IPA and a well-liked chocolate stout, these are two of their more popular sellers:

Raspberry blonde: A light blond beer with a dominant, raspberry flavour.

Nut brown: A brown ale that combines the taste of toasted hazelnuts with sweet malts and a hint of chocolate.

Les Brasseurs RJ (5585 de la Roche St.): Created in the late ‘90s by the merging of three microbreweries, Les Brasseurs RJ are the makers of household names like Belle Gueule and Tremblay. The company also owns the Le Cheval Blanc brewpub (809 Ontario St. E.), which has been open since 1986 and continues to make its own all natural beers.

Cheval Blanc Blanche: A witbier with a yeasty, citrusy flavour and a hint of coriander.

Belle Gueule Originale: A cool, refreshing lager that tastes of bitter hops. Although very drinkable, some complain that it is slightly watery.

Dieu du ciel! (29 Laurier Ave. W.): Celebrating its 12th anniversary on Sept. 11, this Plateau brewpub offers a wide variety of delicious and unusual beers. Having won numerous awards over the years at the Mondial de la Bière in Montreal, this establishment has consistently proven the world-class quality of its beer.

Corne du Diable: An American-style IPA that mixes rich caramel flavours with a pungent malt aroma.

Péché Mortel: A strong, creamy Imperial stout that is dominated by the taste of bitter roasted coffee. It is brewed with fair-trade coffee beans and is among the brewpub’s most celebrated beers.

McAuslan Brewery (5080 St-Ambroise St.): Founded in 1989, this Saint-Henri brewery has been a local success right from the start. The brewery has been frequently recognized for

its achievements at national and international competitions. Although it is not considered a brewpub, the brewery runs a terrace where you can taste their beer and grab a bite to eat while overlooking the Lachine canal.

St-Ambroise Pale Ale: First brewed in 1989, this amber ale is the characteristic beer of the McAuslan brewery. Refreshing and fragrant, it tastes of hops and fruit.

St-Ambroise Oatmeal Stout: A smooth, dark beer that combines a slight sweetness with chocolate and coffee. This stout is very popular among beer enthusiasts.

Unibroue (Chambly): A Quebec brewery that opened in 1990 which combines European brewing techniques with the rich culture of Quebec. Each beer has its own unique label and story, often drawn from Québécois history or folk tales. The brewery has been awarded prizes at several international competitions. Their beer is available in many local restaurants, dépanneurs and grocery stores.

Fin du Monde: A triple-style golden ale with a smooth, intricate flavour that combines yeast, malt, fruit and spices. This is one of Unibroue’s most popular beers.

Maudite: An amber-red beer with a strong malt flavour, offset by a clove-like spiciness and an aftertaste of hops.

Les Brasseurs du Nord (Blainville): Three students founded this Quebec-owned microbrewery in 1988. Their environmental concern is evident in practices such as converting their vehicle fleet to hybrid, distributing only locally in Quebec, using geothermal energy in the brewery, designing earth-friendly packaging, and recycling or reusing almost 96 per cent of their waste.

Boréale Rousse: The first “Rousse” created

by Quebec brewers, this amber-coloured ale contains caramel malt and has subtle bitter notes with a full and smooth taste. This was the beer that launched Boréale.

Boréale Blonde: The taste is reminiscent of the northern forest after which these beers are aptly named. The pale malt is a great introductory specialty beer, and has a crisp, refreshing flavour.

Concordian Archives

14

Tuesday, September 7, 2010

montreal’s music

Live Music: where to hear it Where to see and be seen.

Don’t forget your earplugs!

Shannon H. Myers Music editor Montreal is at the centre of Canada’s thriving music scene, with live performances on almost any given night. Here’s an overview of some of the venues you’re likely to see listed on some of your favourite bands’ tour schedules, or if you’re looking to book one for your own show.

Casa del Popolo (4873 St. Laurent Blvd.)

Capacity: 100 In a Jekyll/Hyde transformation, this fair-trade café serves tasty vegetarian dishes by day and live music by night. After acquiring the coveted salle-de-spectacle licence last September, Casa del Popolo has turned its stage into a seating area and opened up another room equal in size for shows, equipped with its own bar. The ceiling, covered in intricate silver tiles, is a particularly striking feature of this new music hall. Entry to the new room is via a secretive door in the back, through which you can expect to see lots of local talent like Jane Vain and the Dark Matter, Final Flash, and the odd out-of-towner.

Le Divan Orange (4234 St. Laurent Blvd.)

Capacity: 180 It’s not just a name: the deep orange tone that covers the walls gives the venue a spicy, energized nighttime vibe. Its bottleneck shape, while frustrating at times, keeps the bulk of the crowd near the bar. This means that for those willing to push through, the luxury of some dancing space often awaits near the stage. Come prepared to move, as the types of acts most frequently showcased here are high-energy. Last year the venue hosted acts like Japandroids, Vitaminsforyou, and Hollerado. The menu features a vast array of beverages as well as delicious food, but be careful: the bathrooms have only one stall and the little girls’ room is always a wait.

Il Motore (179 Jean-Talon St. W.) Capacity: 200

Japandroid’s merch guy surfs the crowd at Le Divan Orange. Photo by writer The farthest north of the staple indie venues, Il Motore is worth the trek. Its exterior is subtle and the chandelier store across the street is always a good marker. The interior is just as unimposing with ample amounts of space after the door and coat check area. The walls are lined with black velvet curtains and the single step leading up to the bar is edged with track lighting. The bar is one of the most unique parts of the venue, with a coat of blood-red paint accented by black shelves full of alcohol bottles. The stage is low and invites performer-crowd interaction, which is not uncommon for an Il Motore crowd. Expect to see some of Canada’s best up-and-coming bands like Bruce Peninsula, Girls, and Shout Out Out Out Out. La Sala Rossa (4848 St. Laurent Blvd.)

Capacity: 250 With the same owner as Casa del Popolo and Il Motore, La Sala Rossa sets the precedent for their style and decor. Built in 1932, it once hosted Eleanor Roosevelt in its former role as a cultural, recreational and political centre. La Sala still serves as a cultural centre for the Centro Social Español. At entry level is a restaurant that serves Spanish tapas and menu items like paella.

Upstairs, the club portion hosts a solid rotation

of rock excellence like the late Jay Reatard and Elliott Brood while also playing host to performances that vary from cabarets to breakdance competitions.

Café Campus / Le Petit Campus (57 Prince Arthur St. E) Capacity: 600/300 Shows here have a tendency to be raucous and passionate. The low stage and modern, yet intimate setting create the potential for a strong connection between the audience and performers. Last year, the stage played host to acts like The Pack A.D. and The White Rabbits, to name a few.

La Tulipe (4530 Papineau Ave.) Capacity: 760 There is a standard formula for the layout of Montreal venues and La Tulipe is no exception.

You enter near the bar, ensuring an opportunity to wet your whistle before descending the tiered levels that are dotted with small tables and stools. Below the sound booth, steps on either side lead to the dance floor which opens up to a vast area in front of the stage. The elevated stage is equipped with black velvet curtains at the sides and can accommodate state-of-the-art lights and visuals. From the stage, the balcony is visible. Carved with ornate reliefs, it’s elegantly

juxtaposed against the disco ball that hangs above the dance floor. Adding to its unique beauty is the fact that this venue is a heritage building; it was built in 1913 as a movie theatre.

Here you can find acts that draw a larger crowd like Caribou, The Brian Jonestown Massacre, and Black Rebel Motorcycle Club.

Club Soda (1225 St. Laurent Blvd.) Capacity: 800 Meeting the standard opera house formula, Club Soda adds side rows to its balconies that enable a close-up bird’s eye view of performers such as Yo La Tengo and Public Enemy, as well as the often entertaining faces of the front-row keeners. Sound here is consistently good, and its situation downtown is conducive to après-show eats and entertainment. This is a classy venue that is more intimate than the vast interior of Métropolis.

Le National (1220 Ste-Catherine St. E.) Capacity: 760 Located in the Village, an excursion to Le National ensures a fun night. The venue is spacious and industrial, with a vintage balconied layout.

Aside from rock/electro/pop/punk concerts like Julian Casablancas, Wolf Parade, and Strung Out, you might want to check the place out for C’est Extra and Pop 80 nights.

Métropolis (59 Ste-Catherine St. E.) Capacity: 2,300 Métropolis is a beautiful venue. Like Le National, La Tulipe, and Club Soda, its shape and design are those of a classical theatre. However, it’s size is comparable to all three of the others’ put together. One large balcony winds in a Ushape around the back of the room, while below the bars and merch tables bustle. Sound here is consistently tight with no expense spared, but be prepared to jostle a few elbows. Big shows draw big crowds, which can translate into yuppies who don’t go to shows very often and who don’t seem fond of the fact that other people came too. Expect to go here for any big name, unless they’re playing Bell Centre, which is really much better suited to hockey games than the concert experience. Last year, the likes of the Mars Volta, MGMT, Drake, and Arctic Monkeys graced the stage. If you to happen to get the date wrong for a show, never fear; Métropolis on non-show nights is a bustling nightclub.

shopping

Records ‘n’ gear: how to own it Buy it, play it, mix it Cora Ballou Assistant music editor Our guide to the best music stores around the city. Here you’ll find everything you need to know to start the year off on the proper musical foot whether you’re an aspiring musician, a vinyl geek or simply a music aficionado.

Where to buy gear: 1. Italmelodie (274 Jean-Talon E.): Having recently expanded, this Little Italy music store offers a well-rounded selection of musical instruments and electronic gear. The staff is friendly and knowledgeable and the space is free of the artistic pretension that is often found in other music stores.

2. Steve’s Music (51 St-Antoine W.): A Montreal staple, this music store has been around since the mid-’60s. It boasts numerous floors of musical equipment and a wellinformed, albeit sometimes unhelpful staff.

3. Studio Économik (215 St-Augustin): Known for its extensive collection of high-end electronic equipment, this place is a must for any recording enthusiast. They also rent their gear at reasonable prices – great for anybody with a limited income.

4. Moog Audio (3828 St-Laurent): Located in the Plateau, this is the spot for all your electronic music needs. They stock some recording equipment but are better known for their vast collection of synths, drum machines, samplers and the likes.

5. Archambault (500 Ste-Catherine E.): Generally pricier than other stores but still has a good selection of musical instruments and equipment. This store also doubles as a bookstore and a CD heaven.

For the vinyl junkie: 1. Au 33 Tours (1379 Mont Royal E): This new and used vinyl record store may be on the pricier side, but everything here is guaranteed to be in pristine condition. The new arrivals rack is a must-browse, as it’s always filled with rare gems. This store also boasts a great jazz selection.

2. Primitive (3828 St-Denis): This basement shop has a great selection of punk and garage classics and usually carries all the basics for a great record collection. Their prices are excellent ($8-12 per album), but the records are often in questionable, though still playable, condition.

3. Beatnick Disques (3770 St-Denis): Just

a few steps away from Primitive, this shop is the spot for rarities and forgotten ’60s treasures. It also has a great classic rock selection.

4. Cheap Thrills (2044 Metcalfe): Located in a dusty second floor hole in the wall, a short walk from Concordia’s downtown campus, this store is not to be judged by its appearance. It is stocked to the brim with rare collectibles that are kept in good condition and is a great place to buy tickets for most local shows.

5. Marché du Disque (793 Mont Royal E): Known as a must-see for any vinyl geek, it is important not to be deterred by the wall of CDs in the entrance. For a great collection of decently priced albums, the basement is the spot to visit. Here you can get used Beatles and Rolling Stones records for $6 as well as new album for $20-30.

CD stores: 1. L’Oblique (4333 Rivard): The spot for newly released indie rock that can be bought in CD or vinyl format.

2. Sound Central (4486 Coloniale): A small and slightly intimidating record shop, it stocks mostly metal and hardcore groups.

This is also a great spot to find albums by local underground acts.

3. HMV (1020 Ste-Catherine O): The go-to, all-purpose music and DVD franchise. Here you’ll find all the latest releases from radiofriendly chart-toppers to an extensive world music collection.

4. Archambault (various locations): The alternative to HMV, this is the spot for all your francophone and anglophone musical needs.

5. Phonopolis (5403A Parc): The best place to find current indie and local acts. It’s not a very large store but it does have a good collection of CDs and vinyls, mostly from underground bands.

Tuesday, September 7, 2010

15

Mixtape: 5 things I learnt the hard way Back2School tips

A few tips for making it through your first few months Emily White Life editor

#1: Make friends with people who live downtown I cannot stress how important this is to do, especially to those of you who live as far into suburbia as me. Having a friend with a Ste.-Catherine St. address is like opening your social life to endless possibilities. This friend not only has access to all the great bars and clubs within a reasonable distance, but their apartment makes a great location for an hour of solid pre-drinking. But, even better than that, they often have a couch you could crash on! Because there is nothing worse than cabbing home by yourself, at 3 a.m., spending $25 to end up drunk at your parent’s house with no friends. Nothing, except maybe waking up in the McGill ghetto without your underwear (a lesson I learnt from a close friend one week into our first year).

But this relationship, like all successful relationships, is also about giving, especially when your friend is from out of town. Be sure to invite them over for a home-cooked meal, to offer your car for a trip to IKEA and to sometimes supply the pre-drink booze as a “thank you for letting me crash on your couch after Reggie’s Thursdays.” #2 Don’t address emails to teachers with ‘Hey’ You are probably asking yourself, ‘who would be stupid enough to do this?’ The answer is: me. Late one night, I shot off an email to a teacher without rereading it. Big mistake. Sunday morning, I woke up to this reply: “Hey – that’s a rude way to address

one of your instructors.”

It’s an understatement to say I was mortified, and after sending out an apology email and spending hours refreshing my inbox, I received this response: “apology accepted…”

This of course did not make our intimate 18person class on Monday any less awkward. It is also important when entering university to create a professional email address you can use to contact teachers. It is hard to make a good impression when you’re writing from hotnsexy69er@hotmail.com #3: Learn to like beer (or at least to drink it) Before university I had never had a whole beer to myself. Except for a few sips, my friends and I go for wine, sangria or hard alcohol on nights out -- none of which are popular drink choices at campus bars or for drinking games. So after spending my first year avoiding the stuff and therefore missing out on some typical university experiences, I decided enough was enough: it was time to start liking or, at the very least, drinking beer.

I split my first-ever pitcher with another beer rookie but we both barely finished a glass before auctioning the rest off. Several nights out later we were veterans, managing to finish a pitcher on our own. I soon even started liking it. Now a year and a few pounds later, I can honestly say that forcing myself to like beer has saved me on numerous social occasions. #4: Buy Concordia paraphernalia a.k.a. attend more Concordia related events and parties This suggestion came from a friend of mine who is convinced that she would have more school spirit if she had purchased a Concordia University-embossed sweatshirt. While I doubt this is what makes a person more involved in school events, it raises a good point about school spirit: have some. Whether it comes in the form of attending sports games, guest speakers, or the annual Halloween party, these events on campus that enhance your university experience. Often, attending these events does more than fill you with

school spirit; they are also great places to score free food, meet friends and network. #5: Explore your campus and the surrounding blocks (and be careful crossing bike paths) Filled with used bookstores, frozen yogurt restaurants, fashion boutiques, comic stores, sex shops, local cafés and pool halls, the blocks surrounding both Concordia campuses are worth checking out. Rather than spend your hour-long break eating Pad Thai, take a walk around and discover the area you will be inhabiting for the next three or more years.

Warning Tip: Treat bike paths like really busy intersections with 18-wheelers. Just like you always check both ways when crossing a busy street, do it when crossing bike paths -whether you’re on a bike or on your feet.

“

Having a friend with a Ste-Catherine St. address is like opening your social life to endless possibilities.

This friend not only has access to all the great bars and clubs within a reasonable distance, but their apartment makes a great location for an hour of solid predrinking.

Shannon H. Myers Music editor

It’s that time again! Here are some songs to make it a little easier. To listen, visit www.8tracks.com/ the_concordian/back2school SIDE A: 1. “Me and Julio Down by the Schoolyard” Paul Simon - Paul Simon, 1972 2. “Concrete Schoolyard” - Jurassic 5 - Jurassic 5, 1999 3. “Cool Scene” - The Dandy Warhols – Thirteen Tales from Urban Bohemia, 2000 4. “Ready To Start” - Arcade Fire – The Suburbs, 2010 5. “And I Was A Boy From School” - Hot Chip - The Warning, 2006 6. “High School Cool (Feat. Conscience And Kyprios Of Sweatshop Union)” - D-Sisive - Let The Children Die, 2009 7. “Art Bitch” - CSS - Cansei De Ser Sexy, 2006 8. “She’s Good For Business” - MSTRKRFT The Looks, 2006 9. “Teenage Bats & Anthropology” - We Are Wolves - Total Magique, 2007 10. “Things We Stole from Vonnegut’s Grave” - Library Voices - Hunting Ghosts & Other Collected Shorts, 2008 SIDE B: 1. “Apply Some Pressure (feat. Paul Smith)” Mark Ronson - Version, 2007 2. “Underwhelmed” - Sloan - Smeared, 1993 3. “Weird Science” - Does It Offend You, Yeah?

- You Have No Idea What You’re Getting Yourself Into, 2008 4. “Hey! Student” - The Fall - Middle Class Revolt, 1994 5. “The Sounds Of Science” - The Beastie Boys - Paul’s Boutique, 1989 6. “Love And Mathematics” - Broken Social Scene - Feel Good Lost, 2001 7. “Stop Giving Your Children Standardized Tests, Part One” - Laura Barrett - Earth Sciences, 2008 8. “We Rule The School” - Belle & Sebastian Tigermilk, 1996 9. “Never Ending Math Equation” - Modest Mouse - Building Nothing Out Of Something, 2000 10. “How Some Jellyfish Are Born” - Yo La Tengo - The Sounds Of The Sounds Of Science, 2001

music 16

Tuesday, September 7, 2010

Write to the editor: music@theconcordian.com News

SUMMER RECAP Embarassing, promising, and generally noteworthy events Shannon H. Myers Music editor So the summer is over, and though you enjoyed your time working at your friend’s uncle’s ex-wife’s organic commune, you’re having a hard time keeping up with conversations that revolve around what’s been happening in music news. Have no fear! We won’t allow for such a heartbreaking predicament. Read on for your fill of some sizzling summer happenings, and be sure to pick up the fall semester guide next week for important info on can’t be missed events for your music calendar.

Memorable music moments Ever hear of a local band called Arcade Fire? The multi-member group has gone on to become the world’s biggest indie rock band again, with the release of their third album The Suburbs, which debuted at number one in the US (on the Billboard 200), with over 156,000 units sold in its first week. Even cooler, the band harnessed the awesome power of the Internet to launch their innovative HTML5 video entitled “The Wilderness Downtown,” which allows you to enter the address where you grew up, giving you a personalized view that is more or less a complicated

way of using Google Maps to look at your old neighbourhood.

Never before has Toronto’s Younge & Dundas square seen as large a gathering as it did for Iggy Pop and the Stooges’ NXNE performance. In fact, it was the biggest free rock concert Toronto has seen in 40 years, with 25,000 people spread out across the square and further. They stood on bus stops and alleyway garbage cans, hoping for a glimpse at the iconic, flailing blond punk. Unable to make it to the front, many riled up rockers brought the party to them; starting mosh pits like spot fires throughout the sardine-packed crowd.

A steady stream of crowd surfers was constantly flowing out of the side stage gates. Security took the situation very seriously but, unfortunately for them, Iggy did not. Frankly, I’m happy to be alive after he invited all the craziest Canucks to join him on stage.

The highly controversial Arizona Immigration Law, that even Obama strongly criticized, had many bands protesting through music and by boycott of the stage. Zack de la Rocha from Rage Against the Machine organized a protest called The Sound Strike, with the likes of Lady Gaga, Nine Inch Nails, Kanye West, Massive Attack, Sonic Youth, and Yeasayer supporting his cause.

Many Canadian bands have joined the boycott, despite their geographical distance from the cause. Unfortunately, this boycott has had its impact on local venue owners, promoters and critics, who suggest that funding and supporting organizations that fight SB 1070 is a better protest alternative. Calexico gathered support for an organization called Artists for Action, that favours affirmative action over a boycott. Stars and

Fucked Up argued the proper response to the law in a public debate via Twitter, though both agree that something must be done.

All summer, James Murphy of LCD Soundsystem has been touting their impeding retirement to crowds and media. However, it seems Murphy hasn’t quite lost his edge, nor his love of recording, as recent interviews have revealed. An Aug. 5 tweet sent a teasing ripple of excitement through their many followers, hinting at another album after being inspired by Arcade Fire’s latest LP. Kings of Leon cancelled their St. Louis show after three songs due to what their manager called a “toxic health hazard”. The band members, and particularly self-proclaimed “germophobe” bassist Jared Followill, were repeatedly poop-bombed by pigeons, as were the two openers who managed to make it through their sets. I’d like to remind KOL that Alice Cooper destroyed a chicken once, accident or not. Whatever happened to rock ‘n’ roll?

Despite being cliché and a little overdone, a good guitar smash gets me every time. Founding member and leader of Of Montreal, Kevin Barnes seemed a little lacklustre at Métropolis for Osheaga’s In The City until the encore where he unexpectedly swung his guitar neck into the mic, destroying both in a violent burst of energy.

He tore the shattered guitar from his body and proceeded to smash it into pieces, chucking the remains into the crowd. I guess extreme measures must be taken to top what is always a theatrical performance, and this was not an isolated incident for the band.

To read more about the above mentioned

summer festivals, including first-hand experiences of bands who played them, check out www. theconcordian.com/music/summer-2010 Album releases you might have missed Here are some of our favourite, if less hyped, albums released this summer.

Born Ruffians: Say It The Futureheads: The Chaos Sleepy Sun: Fever Peter Wolf Crier: Inter-Be Deer Tick: The Black Dirt Sessions Drake: Thank Me Later Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers: Mojo We Are Scientists: Barbara Herbie Hancock: The Imagine Project The Roots: How I Got Over Stars: The Five Ghosts Tokyo Police Club: Champ M.I.A.: /\/\/\Y/\ Danger Mouse & Sparklehorse: Dark Night of the Soul Wavves: King of the Beach Iron Maiden: The Final Frontier Ray Lamontagne & the Pariah Dogs: God Willin’ and the Creek Don’t Rise Ra Ra Riot: The Orchard

Campus

CJLO represents Canada Directors fly to Switzerland for First Annual International Radio Festival Shannon H. Myers Music editor Located at the Loyola campus, Concordia’s very own volunteer-run, not-for-profit CJLO 1690 AM is the only radio station in Canada to have been invited to the First Annual International Radio Festival in Zurich, Switzerland. In fact, CJLO was one of only three radio stations in North America to be chosen.

Music director and host of Hooked on Sonics Omar Husain says the station was chosen because it is not commercial, is free form, and represents a diverse array of programming.

This success is owed in large part to the passion of the volunteers.

“It’s just a really good professional radio station; everyone puts a lot of effort and research into their program and you can really tell when you listen,” says Husain. “It doesn’t sound like a volunteer radio station, it sounds like these are people who live and breathe radio.”

CJLO has won various industry awards and this is not the first time an opportunity like this has come along. In 2006, Husain spoke at a panel at the College Music Journal conference (CMJ) in New York City, an annual event the station always attends.

They’ve picked up accolades at CMJ as well; CJLO was awarded the “Best Student Run, Non-FM Radio Station” award in 2008, and was deemed “Best Team Effort” that year and

Concordian archives

in 2009.

Station representatives have been invited to speak on panels at Toronto’s North By Northeast music festival, and even as far away as conferences in Australia.

Husain will be accompanied by program director and host of Phantastiq Cypha, Brian Joseph. Most of their time abroad will be spent trading ideas with the other independent radio stations from around the world that broadcast in very different circumstances, but for much the same reasons. As two of five keynote speakers on a panel discussion on the state of international radio, they plan to discuss the future of radio.

Essentially “what we do well and why we’re here,” elaborates Husain, but he has a

few other goals: “I have to bring back lots of chocolate. You can’t go to Switzerland and not bring back chocolate.”

The festival runs from Sept. 5 to 11, and Husain and Joseph broadcasted a combination of their two shows live from Zurich via www.internationalradiofestival.com on Sept.

6.

Omar Husain’s Hooked on Sonics can be heard on Thursdays from 6-8 p.m. and Brian Joseph’s Phantastiq Cypha is on Fridays from 4-6 p.m. You can tune into their regular programming on the dial at 1690 AM, or online at www.cjlo.com.

Tuesday, September 7, 2010

17

Follow us on Twitter at twitter.com/concordianmusic pROFiLe

DD/MM/YYYY get artsy Toronto electrorock quintet talk touring, their quirky side and mind melding

Del Balso admits takes a lot of time. Each member plays at least two instruments which include multiple guitars, synths, drums and even an omnichord.The band is made up of Mike Claxton, Jordan Holmes and Moshe Rozenbergs, with vocalists Matt King and Del Balso sharing lyric-writing duties.

Having now been together for more than five years, the band admits to maturing musically and theatrically. “People should come and see our show now because we’re transforming and doing new material that is really pushing our capabilities. We’re also pushing the media side of things so people can expect us not only to be a live show but to also become characters on a screen through videos on our website,” said Del Balso.

Cora Ballou Assistant music editor Just when it seems that bands have exhausted the limits of melody, groups like DD/MM/ YYYY come along and stretch the boundaries even further. Since their formation in 2003, this Toronto quintet has been baffling critics with their unconventional electro-pop-meetsindie rock-meets-psychedelia sound. The origin of this musical blend dates back to the band’s creation. Starting off as two separate post-punk bands, they met and decided to release a split seven inch single, before deciding to simply join forces and start DD/MM/YYYY (it’s pronounced “date, month, year”).

They wanted to blend their passion for visual arts and music with the two original bands’ different musical sensitivities.

“It was really great because all the qualities of both bands came out and it [became] a cool confrontational type of songwriting,” explained singer, guitarist and sometimes drummer Tomas Del Balso. “We’ve spent more time [combined] listening to music than most people so it’s like we’ve been doing our [musical] homework for 10 to 15 years.”

Having all grown up listening to Devo, Frank Zappa, Captain Beefheart and other “fun futuristic bands,” nods to these alternative heavy hitters can be found all over DD/ MM/YYYY’s music. But their core musical signature is indefinable. In fact, they are a classic example that explains the creation of terms like “art rock” and “math rock,” vague, all-encompassing terms invented by music writers with a deadline. Yet this alternative sound has become a blessing, raising press attention (and critics eyebrows) on an

“

We like to put up sound installations and do creative-media-type things.

Tomas Del Balso - DD/mm/YYYY

Drawing of band by DD/MM/YYYY singer Thomas Del Baslso

international level and giving them the liberty to tour with a wide variety of bands whose genres range from hardcore punk to psychedelic rock. In addition to touring Europe, DD/ MM/YYYY recently received an offer from Portishead’s Geoff Barrow and his new band BEAK> to re-release their latest album Black Square.

Yet all this quirkiness begs the question: what kind of guys are the members of the band? Simplest answer: they’re as artsy as their music. As Del Balso put it, “Yeah we’re quirky dudes. We like to make art, draw pictures and do silkscreening. We like to put

up sound installations and do creative-mediatype things.” These artistic sensitivities can also be found in their approach to songwriting, with each member “bringing something to the table” and creating in a collaborative environment until “it becomes hard to tell where the idea originated from,” explained Del Balso. Over time they have even learnt to perform a kind of mind meld. Del Balso said they can almost “read each other’s minds so it’s easy to try things because we know what we like and what we don’t like.”

Once the songwriting process is completed, the band moves on to rehearsals, which

They are also planning on touring Europe once again and have recently re-released their first album Blue Screen of Death in a vinyl package that includes a colored disk and a silkscreen printed cover. “People will tell us directly to our face that they’ve never heard anything like us before, but that they really enjoyed our show and that they want to start listening to our kind of music. That’s interesting because I don’t see us as being completely different,” mused Del Balso. “But I guess that’s still really cool.”

To check out DD/MM/YYYY visit their website at ddmmyyyy.net or myspace/ ddmmyyyy

18

theconcordian

Tuesday, September 7, 2010 MIX mix

A tour of Montreal’s music scene that begins on Electric Boulevard and makes stops at the Valley of Wailing Guitars, Pop Crossing, and the Alternative District before concluding in a secret location of stunning beauty. Call us to book now!

To listen, visit 8tracks.com/the_concordian/ mtl-mix

Side A: 1. “Retired” - Le Matos – (Unreleased) 2. “Alive Again” - Champion - Resistance, 2009 3. “Ghost Pressure” - Wolf Parade – Expo 86, 2010

Montreal scene Shannon H. Myers Music editor

4. “Et Si C’était Un Veau” - Misteur Valaire – Friterday Night, 2007 5. “Black Swan” - Sunset Rubdown - Dragonslayer, 2009 6. “Black Hand” - Cotton Mouth - EP, 2010

Quick Spins

7. “Johanna” - Think About Life - Family, 2009 8. “Magique” - We Are Wolves - Total Magique, 2007 9. “Evangeline” - Handsome Furs - Face Control, 2009 10. “When The Day Turns Black” - Final Flash - Homeless, 2010 11. “Ursuline” - Malajube - Labyrinthes, 2009 12. “Let It Be Love” - Plants and Animals La La Land [extras], 2010 Side B: 13. “Rococo” - Arcade Fire - The Suburbs, 2010 14. “Speak To Me Bones” - Land of Talk Applause Cheer Boo Hiss [EP], 2006 15. “The First Five Times (The Russian Futurists)” - Stars - Do You Trust Your Friends?, 2007 16. “Perennial” - Pop Winds - The Turquoise, 2010 17. “We Must Destroy” - Jane Vain & The Dark Matter - Love Is Where the Smoke Is, 2008 18. “Montréal” - Xavier Caféine - Dans La Marge Depuis 15 Ans, 2006 19. “Out Of Control” - Beast - Beast, 2008 20. “Pen To The Paper” - Parlovr - Parlovr, 2008 21. “You Could Be” - Torngat - You Could Be, 2007 22. “Les Chemins De Verre” - Karkwa - Les Chemins De Verre, 2010 23. “Twenty Three” - Dumb Angel - I Woke Up This Morning, 2008 24. “For Agent 13” - The Besnard Lakes The Besnard Lakes Are The Dark Horse, 2007

Retro review

Interpol - Interpol (Matador; 2010)

Klaxons - Surfing the Void (Polydor; 2010)

Eels - Tomorrow Morning (E Works/ Vagrant; 2010)

Massive Attack - Mezzanine (Virgin; 1998)

Interpol’s fourth studio album starts off with an almost heartbeat-like rhythm in “Success.” “Memory Serves” evens the keel a bit, only to be kicked up another notch by the hot bass line and piano duo of “Summer Well.”

For a while it was not clear where Interpol was headed, but the album’s direction surfaced when “Try it On”’ seamlessly transitioned into “All of the Ways,” which merges again into “The Undoing” to finish the album in an almost orchestral climax.

This is the best album Interpol has created to date and it may be their last, at least in terms of sound. Interpol’s longtime bassist and keyboard player Carlos Dengler parted ways with the band during the production of Interpol. Not to say that the rest of the band doesn’t contribute but it’s possible without Dengler the band will not be able to continue playing at their current level.

Those who liked Myths of the Near Future will find familiar comfort in Surfing the Void. The combination of gritty, raucous and experimental Mars Volta-esque wailing juxtaposed with the silky smoothness of songs like “Golden Skans” is retained in Surfing. In fact, this followup could truly be an extension of the first album, only slightly thicker and slightly heavier.

Klaxons have been labeled everything from acid-nu-rave to psychedelic-progpop to sci-fi punk-funk, which goes to show that to try and identify a genre for this band would be to pigeonhole them into a format that can’t contain them. As Pitchfork noted, “they’re a genre unto themselves”. However, despite the futuristic labels, there is something old world to the images the lyrics paint. The sinister tones of impending doom evident on Myths are not lost in this album, yet romantic laments surface in “The Same Space” and “Twin Flames”.

Last week, Eels released their ninth studio album and the third installment in front man Mark Oliver Everett’s musical trilogy. Fans of Everett’s painfully honest lyrics and penchant for melancholic melodies might be disappointed with the upbeat tone of this latest release. Casting off his usually ambient and orchestral sound, Everett tries his hand at 80s synth riffs on tracks like “Baby Loves Me” and even dabbles in the lighthearted genre of gospel in “Looking Up”. As interesting as these new directions might be, this album seems to lack the sincerity of past Eels releases. It also suffers from lack of brevity at 18 tracks with many playing less than two minutes and thus becoming filler rather than songs. Eels have too often mistaken shortness for artistic minimalism which weakens the overall sound of their albums. The magic of Everett’s music is that it is brutally sincere melodically and lyrically. Unfortunately, he seems to have forgotten this with Tomorrow Morning. Less synths and more tears please!

Trial Track: “Try it On” which plays right into “All of the Ways” and continues into “The Undoing”

Trial Track: “The Same Space”

Trial Track: “Looking Up”

Mezzanine is more than just a great album, it marked the creation of an entirely new genre. Having previously released two albums, this Bristol duo expanded their sound to create trip-hop which blended hushed vocals over choppy beats and creative sampling. The lush soundscape omnipresent throughout the album gives texture and substance to the plethora of collaborators, samples and orchestral sweeps that pepper the tracks.

In the wake of the birth of grunge and riot-grrl in the early ‘90s, Mezzanine provided a cool dose of sophistication in an already guitar-heavy music scene.

The fresh yet accessible sound of the album allowed it to infiltrate mainstream culture, making it to the top of the UK charts in 1998. Haunting and even slightly creepy at times, the album is an unfailing blend of strong ambient melodies that are helped along by samples from and collaborations with greats such as The Cure, Isaac Hayes and even the Velvet Underground. Influential to say the least, Mezzanine’s continuing presence within music history assures its status as a classic album.

7.0/10

7.0/10

-Jake Freekin Smith

Trial Track: “Teardrop”

- Shannon H. Myers

5.0/10

- Cora Ballou

-Olivia Dumas

sports 20

Tuesday, September 7, 2010

Write to the editor: sports@theconcordian.com FOOTBALL

NFL Season Preview The Concordian takes a look at the upcoming season Jamie Gewurz Sports editor From May through August, most people in the Northern Hemisphere enjoy a relaxing summer, with nothing to worry them or stress them out.

Football fans are not most people; they need year-round stimulation, and the months between April’s NFL draft and training camps in August can be some of the most depressing for die-hard fans.

Fortunately, their wait is finally over. September has arrived and so, too, has the start of the NFL season. With so many teams changing their rosters through free agency, the draft, trades, and the maturing of young players, this year’s NFL standings could look very different than in years past. Only 12 teams make the playoffs each year, and over the last few seasons a trend has emerged that shows that only half of a given season’s playoff teams return the next year. Since each division’s winner automatically clinches, as well as two other teams per conference, one must take a look at each division race in order to project playoff teams (playoff teams in bold).

AFC North: Ravens, Bengals, Steelers, Browns.

This might be one of the easiest divisions to project. Baltimore arguably improved more than any team in the league by adding receiver Anquan Boldin to balance with a strong rushing attack, (though their aging defense could give them some problems, especially in the backfield). The Bengals will be looking to build on last season’s success (they won the division), and the return of defensive end Antwan Odom and addition of controversial receiver Terrell Owens and rookie tight end Jermaine Gresham should help that, if Carson Palmer can stay consistent. Pittsburgh has too many problems, both on the field and off, but a strong season

by Rashard Mendenhall and a comeback by suspended quarterback Ben Roethlisberger (who returns after four games) could propel them back into the playoffs. As usual, the Browns are a joke.

AFC South: Colts, Texans, Titans, Jaguars Each of these four teams has at least one offensive skill player that ranks at or near the top of the league (Peyton Manning, Andre Johnson, Chris Johnson, Maurice Jones-Drew, respectively). This should open the division up to more equal competition, but that has not been the case. The Colts generally dominate against the rest, having won the division six times out of the past seven seasons, and though they might regress a little from last season’s 14-2 finish, they should still win the division. The other three teams have many holes to fill before becoming serious Super Bowl contenders, and all three could finish anywhere from 5-11 to 11-5. Look for the Texans, with a 10-6 record, to squeak into the playoffs for the first time in franchise history.

AFC East: Jets, Dolphins, Patriots, Bills.

Picking the Patriots to finish short of the playoffs may seem like blasphemy, as they’ve made it every year Tom Brady has been healthy, and won three (nearly four) Super Bowls in the last eight seasons. It’s not that the Patriots will regress that much this year, but the Jets and Dolphins have improved too much. Last year, with a rookie QB and an aging running back the

Jets still managed to make it to the conference championship. Shonn Greene takes over the RB duties and receiver Santonio Holmes should make Mark Sanchez’s life easier when he returns from suspension. If the Jets can get the league’s best cornerback, Darrelle Revis, back on the field sooner rather than later, we could be talking about this team again in February. Dolphins QB Chad Henne looks like a budding superstar, and the addition of receiver Brandon Marshall could help him take another step towards stardom, provided the rest of the offense (especially RBs Ricky Williams and Ronnie Brown) could stay healthy.

AFC West: Chargers, Raiders, Broncos, Chiefs

Ladies and gentlemen, the worst division in the AFC. It’s possible that not a single one of these teams finishes with more than eight wins, though the Chargers might do so just by playing six games against the other three teams. If Chargers QB Phillip Rivers can lead his team to 10 or 11 wins without his starting left tackle (Marcus McNeill) or wide receiver (Vincent Jackson), he could win the league’s MVP award. But he won’t. The Raiders (shockingly) have improved the most in the division by adding a QB (Jason Campbell) and a potential dominating presence in linebacker Rolando McClain. It might be tough for them to reach the nine or ten wins needed to make the playoffs, but the Raiders look to have finally escaped the basement. If the Broncos’ second year running back has a breakout season, they too have a shot, while another breakout season for Chiefs running back Jamaal Charles will likely only propel them to six or so wins.

NFC North: Packers, Vikings, Bears, Lions With Brett Favre, the Vikings are the second best team in the division. Without Brett Favre, the Vikings are still the second best team in the division. Adrian Peterson is just that good. If they can keep it together until Sidney Rice returns from injury, they should make the playoffs, though the Bears might have something to say about that. Da Bears gave up a whole lot for QB Jay Cutler, who thanked them with a tendency to pile up interceptions. If new offensive Mike Martz can change that, and the trio of unheralded receivers can remain consistent, we might be seeing a very different outlook. The Packers have arguably the league’s best quarterback in Aaron Rodgers, an improved rushing attack, and a ball-hawking defense. They might be one of the hardest teams to stop on each side of the ball this year. The Lions have a great core building up, with excellent young players at every skill position, but are still a few years away.

NFC South: Saints, Falcons, Panthers, Bucs As the returning Super Bowl champions, the Saints are entering the season with a strangely low amount of hype. In a great example of addition by subtraction, the “loss” of running back Mike Bell (who averaged over 10 carries a game last year) should only make life easier for the rest of the explosive Saints offense, who should have no trouble handling their division. The Falcons, meanwhile, struggled to stay healthy last year.

If Matt Ryan, Michael Turner, and Roddy White can all stay on the field, an improved defense should push the Falcons into the playoffs.

NFC East: Cowboys, Eagles, Redskins, Giants Adding rookie receiver Dez Bryant to an offense already featuring Miles Austin, Felix Jones, and Jason Witten could make the Cowboys one

of the most exciting teams to watch this year. With so many weapons at his disposal, Tony Romo should have another stellar season, though he likely won’t be as under the radar as he was last year. The Eagles made a controversial off-season decision in shipping star quarterback Donovan McNabb within the division to the Redskins, leaving the keys to the offense in the hands of unproven Kevin Kolb. The Giants have made almost no poor off-season decisions that would cause them to be projected so low, but with the firepower of the Cowboys and Eagles coupled with the newly motivated Redskins QB, the Giants might have a tough time getting too many division wins. If the ’Skins can manage to acquire another weapon or two, this otherwise weak offense could be, for lack of a better word, decent.

NFC West: 49ers, Cardinals, Seahawks, Rams When Cardinals quarterback Kurt Warner retired after leading his team to the Super Bowl in 2009, everyone knew the offense would regress. Some still retained hope that Matt Leinart, the Heisman-winning quarterback drafted 10th overall a few years ago, could finally get it together, but the Cards had enough and released him last week. With no legit quarterbacks left to run any of the other teams in the division (rookie Rams QB, Sam Bradford, is not ready), the division almost gets defaulted to the 49ers. Frank Gore and Vernon Davis are improving each year, with Davis finally shedding the “dust” label. Alex Smith, the 1st overall pick in 2005 (which, ironically, could have been Leinart if he didn’t stay in school to learn ballroom dancing), should have the best season of his short career.

Playoffs: AFC Playoff teams: Ravens, Jets, Colts, Chargers, Texans, Dolphins NFC Playoff teams: Cowboys, Packers, Saints, 49ers, Vikings, Falcons The division leaders above should have little trouble getting to the playoffs and beyond. The Ravens, Jets, and Cowboys look to be the most threatening teams in the playoffs, though, with a few lucky bounces, the 49ers and Texans could be teams that no one wants to face in January. Look for the Ravens to play the Jets in the AFC Championship, while the Cowboys face the Packers in the NFC. An all-green Super Bowl seems possible if Aaron Rodgers can help Green Bay faithful forget about an aging quarterback who just happenes to play in the same division.

So will the theory of playoff team turnover prove true? If these predictions wind up accurate, and playoff newcomers Houston, Miami, San Francisco, and Atlanta unseat Cincinnati, New England, Arizona, and Philadelphia, maybe so. Either way, football season is back, and that’s all that’s important.

Season Predictions AFC North: Ravens (13-3) Bengals (9-7) Steelers (9-7) Browns (3-13) AFC South: Colts (11-5) Texans (10-6) Titans (9-7) Jaguars (6-10) AFC East: Jets (13-3) Dolphins (10-6) Patriots (10-6) Bills (2-14) AFC West: Chargers (9-7) Raiders (7-9) Broncos (7-9) Chiefs (5-11) NFC North: Packers (12-4) Vikings (11-5) Bears (9-7) Lions (6-10) NFC South: Saints (10-6) Falcons (9-7) Panthers (6-10) Buccaneers (5-11) NFC East: Cowboys (13-3) Eagles (8-8) Redskins (7-9) Giants (7-9) NFC West: 49ers (10-6) Cardinals (6-10) Seahawks (5-11) Rams (5-11) Playoffs: AFC Playoff teams: Ravens, Jets, Colts, Chargers, Texans, Dolphins NFC Playoff teams: Cowboys, Packers, Saints, 49ers, Vikings, Falcons Super Bowl: Packers over Jets Awards Projection: MVP: Aaron Rodgers Offensive POY: Aaron Rodgers Defensive POY: Mario Williams Offensive ROY: Jahvid Best Defensive ROY: Rolando McClain Coach of the Year: Mike Singletary Comeback POY: Owen Daniels

Check out http://theconcordian. com/sports for our weekly NFL picks!

Follow us on Twitter at twitter.com/concordiansports

Tuesday, September 7, 2010

21

CAMPUS

Stingers hold off Bishop’s for season opening win and former linebacker makes NFL roster.

Jamie Gewurz Sports Editor After easily taking care of Guelph in an exhibition game last week, the Stingers football team traveled to Bishop’s to open the regular season, winning 17-14 in front of a crowd of just under 2,000.

Rookie linebacker Max Caron, who some are expecting to fill the void left by departed linebacker Cory Greenwood, (who recently made the NFL, details below) helped his team by tipping a Jesse Andrews’ pass to himself and coming down with it in the end zone. Caron earned QUFL defensive player of the week for his play by adding 3.5 tackles to his game-winning interception.

Concordia’s only other touchdown was a 20-yarder caught by receiver Liam Mahoney with under a minute left in the first half, giving Concordia a 10-7 lead they would not relinquish. Though the Stingers were outgained by the Gaiters 301-260 yards, a lack of discipline (19 penalties for 153 yards) and an inability to hold onto the football (four fumbles, two lost, in addition to two interceptions) prevented Bishop’s from going anywhere. Though the Gaiters found themselves in Stingers territory three times in just the final quarter, Concordia’s strong D, led by Alex Lemire’s 7.5 tackles, were able to keep them out of the end zone, holding on for the final 17-14 win.

While the current Stingers football team had a great opening weekend, so too did former all-star linebacker Cory Greenwood.

Greenwood, who was drafted third overall in May’s CFL draft but instead signed with the NFL’s Kansas City Chiefs (“From The Beehive,” June 8), officially made the team’s 53-man roster by surviving the final round of cuts.

Greenwood will likely receive the rookie minimum of $350,000, (more than the average CFL player will make in their career), while being relegated to a special teams role for most, if not all, of the season. It was Greenwood’s special teams play that caught the eye of Chiefs coaches in the first place, and if he plays well, he could start seeing more snaps on the defensive side of the ball.

The Stingers host the Université de Montréal Carabins Saturday in their home opener, 1:00 pm at Loyola Field.

The Chiefs open their season against the San Diego Chargers Sept. 13.

Stephan Jahanshahi Will the Stingers be able to replace NFL linebacker Greenwood?

theconcordian

22 campus

Recreation adoration Campus recreation schedule promises something for everyone Jamie Gewurz Sports editor Looking for a way to stay in shape while attending Concordia? Then let campus recreation help you.

Most of the recreational sports leagues and activities begin registration today, with the others following in the next couple of weeks.

Students whose athletic abilities don’t quite extend to the varsity level have a myriad of different co-ed leagues in which to participate.

Soccer fans looking for a way to stay in shape throughout the year will have plenty of options; outdoor soccer, played on the Loyola field, which runs from September to October, indoor soccer, held in the Loyola Gym from September to December, and dome soccer, which will begin in November, once the dome is erected.

If you enjoyed tossing a Frisbee on the beach this summer, then Ultimate may be for you. A fast-paced sport that involves throwing and catching a Frisbee, and lots of running, the outdoor Ultimate season wraps up in October, but the dome league starts in November.

The ice hockey league begins its season in September, and finishes in April. Unlike the other leagues, which are open to all, including the general public, hockey is reserved exclusively for Concordia students, staff, faculty and alumni. Its popularity is to blame

– 40 different teams compete in five different divisions to become the CIHL champions.

New to the Stinger Dome this year is Lacrosse 101, another sports league that will get underway once the Dome goes up in November. The season concludes in April.

Basketball and volleyball round out the list of fall sports leagues. Both take place at the Loyola Gym from September to December.

Any student can also take advantage of free gym time, when the Loyola Gym is open weekly at pre-determined times for anyone looking to play a little pick-up basketball, badminton, or another sport of your choice.

Equipment is available for rent in exchange for a Concordia ID card. The schedule will be posted on the campus recreation website.

Most of the fitness classes take place at Le Gym, the fitness centre located in the EV building at the downtown campus.

With 17 different sections, spinning dominates the aerobic/cardio type classes. All 40 minutes long, these spinning classes can help improve your cardiovascular endurance while building muscle and burning fat.

The selection of dances classes is also impressive. From salsa to contemporary dance and zumba, the newest fitness craze, now is your chance to learn those moves you see on your favourite dance competition reality show.

The martial arts classes range from popular martial art forms, like karate, to ones you may never have heard of, such as ninjutsu, described by the campus recreation website as a “a complete system for self-defence and healthy living.”

If you would rather be able to work out whenever you like, a membership at the Le Gym will cost you $60 for the semester or $5 for each individual visit.

For students who split their time between the two campuses, the $60 includes access to the weight room at Loyola. The price for a

Photo by Flickr

membership to the weight room only will be determined shortly.

Personal training is available at the EV Fitness Centre. One complementary session is included when you become a member of the gym, and each subsequent session costs $25.

They also have different packages, ranging in price from $25 to $230, if you’re looking for

more in-depth instruction.

With such a variety of classes, you’re sure to find something to keep the extra pounds away. The campus recreation website, www. concordia.ca/recreation, has all the information you need about the location, times, prices and location.

ANTI-DOPING

CIS announces new football drug-testing strategy CFL to kick in funding for top 80 recruits after additional steroid tests proved positive Frank Appleyard CUP Features Bureau Chief OTTAWA (CUP) — Canadian university football players will face more stringent anti-doping measures after Canadian Interuniversity Sport announced new steps to combat the “alarming” results of recent steroid testing.

On Aug. 10, the CIS announced a partnership with the Canadian Centre for Ethics in Sport — Canada’s anti-doping agency — and the Canadian Football League to crack down on the use of performance-enhancing drugs by university football players. The move comes following a wave of tests conducted this summer in the wake of the steroid scandal that rocked the University of Waterloo Warriors football program in March.

“In an effort to get a feel for the scope of the problem and gain insight into whether it was an isolated incident at Waterloo or more prevalent, the CCES conducted 60 tests in May and June,” said CIS chief executive officer Marg McGregor.

The summer tests, which targeted 22 of the country’s 27 university football programs, turned up three positive tests, including two for the presence of steroids and one for cannabis.

“This represents about a six per cent positive test rate, and this is a cause for concern

for the CIS,” McGregor continued.

Doug MacQuarrie, chief operating officer for the CCES, echoed McGregor’s concerns.

“The most recent results from CIS football testing program are both significant and alarming,” he said.

For the upcoming year, the CCES is putting greater emphasis on testing CIS football players by reallocating tests previously conducted on athletes in other sports. There will also be a focus placed on testing players during the off-season, when steroid use is generally higher.

The CFL committed to funding extensive testing of the top 80 CIS prospects the league identifies. They are also planning to launch an anti-steroid education program targeting CIS and minor football players.

In the last year, the CCES tested 267 CIS athletes, including 154 football players — approximately five per cent of football players.

The beefed-up testing regimen is expected to triple the number of football players subject to testing this season.

“We’re very disappointed in the results . . . as they signal that doping in CIS football is not an isolated occurrence,” said McGregor.

“Certainly this situation has illustrated that testing at about a five per cent rate is not significant enough to be a deterrent.”

She added that since 1990, 85 per cent of all positive drug tests in the CIS have come from football players.

However, MacQuarrie emphasized that without additional funding, the measures put in place for the upcoming season can’t be continued throughout future seasons.

“Reallocating tests is not a sustainable course of action, nor preferred over the long term,” he said. “Additional funding and other

CIS chief executive officer Marg McGregor, CFL director of football operations Kevin McDonald, CCES chief operating officer Doug MacQuarrie announce changes to anti-doping measures in Canadian university football. (Photo by Frank Appleyard/CUP)house they used to rent. Photo by writer

strategies are required in order to increase testing in football without negatively impacting the level of testing within other Canadian sports.”

Drug testing cost approximately $800 per athlete.

The CCES announced the creation of a task force to investigate the use of performanceenhancing drugs in football and attitudes towards their use. The task force is expected to make recommendations to various levels of government to help combat the use of steroids in football and target resources available to facilitate more comprehensive testing.

The University of Waterloo suspended its football program for the 2010–11 season after tests revealed nine potential anti-doping violations. The university called for team-wide

testing following the arrest of Warriors receiver Nathan Zettler, who was under investigation for a series of break and enters. Zettler was charged with possession for the purposes of trafficking after police discovered thousands of vials of anabolic steroids and human growth hormone in his apartment. Two other former Warriors have since been charged in connection to the break and enters.

The CIS also announced the sanctions handed out for potential violations discovered in June. Third-year Acadia University linebacker Taylor Shadgett tested positive for Stanozolol and second-year University of Windsor linebacker Christopher Deneau’s test came back positive for the steroid Methyl-1testosterone. Both players received two-year bans from CIS sports.

theconcordian

hockey

The QMJHL is lacking Why Quebec needs to start physical play at a younger level Richard Obrand Contributor

Quebec Major Junior Hockey League commissioner Gilles Courteau made headlines early last week when he seemingly attacked the Montreal Canadiens for sporting a lineup featuring the minute total of two Quebecborn players in Maxim Lapierre and Mathieu Darche.

There’s no doubt that the franchise should hold on to the idea of maintaining some form of a French identity to not only please its mainly French-speaking fan-base, but also to pay homage to the organization’s history – one that has been blessed with several Francophone stars such as Maurice and Henri Richard, Jean Beliveau, Guy Lafleur, Patrick Roy and of course, Éric Chouinard.

However, as scarce as finding a young French Canadian star wearing the Tricolore may be, you’d be equally hard pressed to find one on the other 29 league rosters. The new NHL is a league where the fast, strong and well-minded succeed. If a player is lacking in a certain department, especially one as important as size, they often make up for it by possessing a skill set that brings them up to elite status, i.e. Patrick Kane.

In recent years, the NHL Entry Draft has seen a dramatic descent in QMJHL graduates.

The vast majority of draft picks either derive from the CHL’s Western Hockey League, Ontario Hockey League and even the United States Development Program.

Mr. Courteau, the Canadiens are not alone

Other than Sidney Crosby, the QMJHL has been unable to produce any star players. in the idea that Quebec-born skaters are missing the boat on what is quickly turning into a new era for the hockey player, an era that is being boosted and driven by major advances in equipment and training techniques. Identity-wise, the QMJHL is viewed as the most fragile of the CHL’s junior leagues. The WHL is a power-driven league, with towering, bruising defensemen and strong hard-nosed forwards. The OHL is mainly comprised of

skilled, yet strong skaters with a tremendous amount of hockey sense.

The two aforementioned leagues are based in provinces that are making significant advances in improving the style of play at a much younger age. They introduce semicontact at the pee-wee level, allowing young players to get a feel for what may be ahead of them should they feel like continuing their careers as hockey players. They don’t neces-

sarily teach the kids how to hit, rather they show them how to absorb and evade contact.

Contrary to the “O” and the “W”, the “Q” is a league that features scrawny players who make junior careers out of perimeter shooting and offence. Quebec is a proud hockey province that has produced some of the most electrifying players in league history – there is absolutely no doubting that. And yes, the league’s best player Sidney Crosby was selected first overall in 2005 by Pittsburgh from the Rimouski Oceanic, however, what have they produced since the Kid? Has the hockey community really been blessed with some serious French-speaking talent?

Fortunately for the QMJHL’s reputation, the early lead for the first overall pick in the 2011 entry draft is Drummondville Voltigeur forward Sean Couturier. Couturier had for 41 goals (10 on the power play), 96 points, and finished with a plus-62 rating and 262 shots on goal in 68 regular-season games. He then capped it with 3 goals, 7 points and a plus-9 rating in four playoff games.

At 6-foot-3 and 185 lbs and just 18 years old, Couturier is certainly on the plus side of the size spectrum. Could he be the first of a new breed of Quebec hockey players?

Quebec must begin adapting to the new style of the NHL. The times of the run-andgun, helmet-less hockey has passed and gone to a better place. In the same graveyard of hockey’s golden past is the policy that allowed the Canadiens to have first pickings at the QMJHL when draft time rolled around.

Commissioner Courteau must understand that and also understand that in order to garner interest from the NHL scouting departments, improvements have to be made.

Quebec certainly has the speed to keep up in the NHL but they’re lacking in the hitting department.

It’s why some are afraid that Couturier may end up being the next Angelo Esposito and not “La prochaine étoile”.

editorial Write to the editor: opinions@theconcordian.com EDitoriAL

Will you be my neighbour?

Let’s learn to be friendly with Concordia’s neighbours

The annals of the summer of 2010 will likely go down as one of the worst for Concordia’s neighbour relations. From concert relocations to dogs on leashes, the sun wasn’t shining on the university, and local media noticed.

For one, the City of Montreal denied the Concordia Student Union use of MacKay Street as a location for an orientation concert for the second year in a row. Supposed pressure from long-suffering residents and businesspeople quashed what promised to be a good party.

The CSU’s fall bash, a student favourite, was held on MacKay for years. Older students who’ve attended outdoor concerts in the past have begun to wax nostalgic about that long lost time when you could attend what felt like a Concordia block party in the thick of downtown.

This comes after a Concordia administration project was halted in its tracks last year by more friendly neighbours: the long-vaunted greening of MacKay, which promised to reduce traffic and ban parking.

Dean of Students Elizabeth Morey made an appeal to student groups, staff, neighbours and businesses to work together to make it a ‘fun’ summer: “Our goal is to put together an eclectic list of events that will feed your soul as you eat your lunch and bring you and your family out on weekends!”

Sounds like fun! Sadly, that project was soon no longer a go, either. To add insult to injury, last May, McGill trumpeted the transformation of McTavish Street - a MacKay-like side street on campus - into a nearly car-free road, a “pedestrian oasis.” If McGill can do it, why can’t we?

Concerts and cars aside, the university

cracked down on some offenders this summer: dog owners who left their leash-less pets roam the field between Hingston and Jesuit Halls at Loyola. One particularly “persistent” couple of residents had voiced their concerns, numerous, leading the university to enforce the mandatory leash policy on a couple of people looking to let their dogs have fun.

(Honestly, if I were those neighbours, I’d complain about those pesky kids on campus, too.)

“

Older students who’ve attended outdoor concerts in the past have begun to wax nostalgic about that long lost time when you could attend what felt like a Concordia block party in the thick of downtown.

Dog owners who frequented the site voiced their concern that the university was jumping to satisfy the couple’s concerns at every complaint.

In both cases, an administrative body, either the city or the university, bowed down to the feelings of a few (hardly a minority case) in favour of the rest. While minorities’ rights need to be protected, concerts and dog runs hardly seem like tools of oppression and

discord.

Let’s hope these notes of disagreement don’t bode badly for the rest of the upcoming academic year.

How to amend these neighbourly disagreements? By cultivating a better system of relations between Concordia and neighbouring residents and merchants, as well as the city, because they have sway on when concerts can happen and where. *********************************** Speaking of Loyola campus, the Sept. 9 concert has been switched from downtown to the Loyola quad.

We can only hope that the CSU took the time to go door-to-door with NDG residents, notifying them of possible noise disturbances, as they previously canvassed downtown residents in an attempt to convince them to allow the concert to continue on MacKay. Anyway, the concert’s on private property this time, so neighbours won’t have sway over where it happens.

On a side note, however residents feel about the concert, the CSU has no doubt alienated a certain part of its own constituency with the show’s scheduling.

The CSU has always prided itself on representing Concordia’s diverse student body with an multicultural executive, and open, respectful programming like the annual Many Tastes of Concordia food event.

This week, this stated goal seems a little like lip service. Not only is the CSU event on a Thursday, it’s on the second night of Rosh Hashana, one of the holiest days in the Jewish religion.

If only the CSU’s concert director and VP social could have simply checked a calendar, or picked up a copy of their own agenda, maybe this scheduling conflict, and what we’re sure is an unintentional snub to Concordia’s Jewish students, could have been avoided.

If Big Bird wanted to hold a block party on Sesame Street, Mr. Roger would for sure let him. Courtesy of PBS

Tuesday, September 7, 2010

opinions:

25

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Environment

More

should be done to make

composting accessible

Basic form of recycling is an efficient way to reduce pollution

TECHNOLOGY

Heroes and zeros of the smart phone world Lacklustre Apple, Google performances advantageous to consumers Gareth Sloan Contributor

It seems that as soon as you climb to the top of the ladder in the mobile phone world, there’s always something waiting to kick you back down.

For Apple, it was those faulty antennas dragging down the iPhone 4 release. Now for Google it looks like a lawsuit will be raining on the Android parade.

After capturing 33 per cent of the U.S. smartphone market, Google’s beloved Android phone’s operating system has roused the ire of Silicon Valley’s self-proclaimed “samurai warrior.”

Apparently Larry Ellison at Oracle Corp. thinks that Android’s use of the Java programming language infringes on some obscure patents that Oracle recently gobbled up.

But what does this mean for you and I, dear consumers? Well, as opportunistic as it sounds, Google’s loss may be our gain.

Apple could use Google’s legal woes as an opportunity to steal back some of the market share by making a major splash with its next phone after a very poor (and strictly un-Steve Jobs-like) showing with the iPhone 4.

There will also soon be another player on the smartphone scene: the MeeGo operating system, which will likely compete directly with Android as they are both Linux-based and open source.

As for Research in Motion’s BlackBerry, who knows what their future will look like? With the recent flack they have received from India and the United Arab Emirates about access to secure networks, they may be facing dark times. Their new phone, the Torch, has also been less than inspiring compared to the iPhone and Android systems.

At this point the editor would like me to suggest a smartphone for students, but my advice

is to hold off for now. Wait for the Google situation to settle down and see what product rumours arise.

However, if you are in the market for a smartphone, keep the following in mind.

Apple tends to have OK hardware, but they are really focused on innovative features, controls and applications. If the iPhone 4 is too pricey or you are worried about the antenna issues, try the iPhone 3GS. I have been using one for a year, and the fact that I haven’t thrown it through or at something says a great deal about its reliability.

Android phones are very powerful and have a growing selection of apps in their marketplace.

The HTC Desire is a speedy little unit and one of the strongest entries in the Canadian smartphone market. If you want a physical keyboard, try the Motorola Milestone, but expect a price bump.

The BlackBerry Torch has not been the fabled beauty that RIM had hoped. It may be their best phone ever, but it doesn’t seem up to par with the iPhone or Android systems yet. BlackBerry’s Curve 8530 is on sale from Telus and would be a good low-cost alternative to any of the other phones. If you want to receive your emails as soon as they come in or if you have enough friends to make Blackberry Messenger worthwhile, then the BlackBerry may be for you. However, keep the slow, watered-down browser and limited selection of applications in mind.

As for MeeGo, LG is slated to release the first phone running the platform in late 2010, but this has only been confirmed for Korea. It is expected to land in other countries shortly thereafter, but Canada is always a bit of a wild card in the wireless game.

Just remember, whichever smartphone you end up getting, turn it off in class.

Owen Nagels Assitant opinions editor It’s so simple. Instead of throwing your vegetable peels, eggshells and coffee grinds in the trash, put them in a bucket with some dirt and worms, and you’re just about a month away from beautiful compost.

But what do you do with the compost once it is disintegrated and ready to be used?

Montreal has a home pick-up program; unfortunately, it’s not free. For $60 a year (the equivalent of just five dollars a month), the city will dispose of your organic scraps once a week. This service should be free as it would make composting much more widely practiced.

The case for composting is obvious: rotting vegetables from landfills create large amounts of methane gas, one of the largest polluters that is even more harmful to the atmosphere than carbon dioxide emissions from vehicles.

According to educational website www. learner.org, 80 per cent of household waste goes to landfills. Statistics Canada says the average Canadian produces about 845 pounds of landfill waste every year. By composting and recycling properly, you can easily cut that number down by at least two-thirds.

In turn, you will use fewer garbage bags; plastic remains in landfills for thousands of years.

If everyone composted, we could drastically reduce the amount of garbage we send to landfills. We would no longer have to pay other cities around Montreal to take our excess waste and the tax dollars we save from that could go towards funding the composting program.

In the meantime, we can all still do our part to reduce waste. Composting is easy, but

you can’t just dump everything into a hole with dirt and leave it. You need warm and humid temperatures to aid decomposition. Adding worms to the mix is essential; they break everything down and aerate the soil. Mix it all around every few days and make sure to keep watering it. After about 40 days, you have brand new soil ready to be used.

Composting can be done indoors or outdoors. People are always afraid because they think decomposing fruits and vegetables will smell bad, but if done right there is no smell whatsoever. Once you become a pro, you can start adding meat scraps and bones which are great for calcium and vitamin production. Newspapers, leaves and woody materials can also be added to your mix.

If you do not want to pay the city to come pick up your compost, there are a number of things you can do with it. If you have a garden or lawn, compost is the best fertilizer you can get and will help your grass grow thick and beautiful. There are also many community gardens around the city. Most of them will have an area for compost and many of them will be glad to have the extra fertilizer.

Before you know it, you’ll be a green revolutionary, showing all your friends how to compost their own waste. Each person you teach will help prevent an average of 563 pounds of garbage from ending up in a landfill and in turn, will reduce atmosphere pollutants. All it takes is some initiative and you can make a huge difference.

Graphic by Vincent Beauchemin

Graphic by Katie Brioux

theconcordian

Concordia’s weekly, independent student newspaper.

Tuesday, Sep. 7, 2010 Volume 28 issue 2.

Sarah Deshaies Editor-in-Chief editor@theconcordian.com Brennan Neill Managing Editor managing@theconcordian.com Evan LePage News Editor news@theconcordian.com Emily White Life Editor life@theconcordian.com Daniela Smith-Fernandez Arts Editor arts@theconcordian.com Radina Papukchieva Assistant arts editor Shannon H. Myers Music Editor music@theconcordian.com Cora Ballou Assistant Music Editor Jamie Gewurz Sports Editor sports@theconcordian.com Kamila Hinkson Assistant Sports Editor Chris Hanna Opinions Editor opinions@theconcordian.com Owen Nagels Assistant Opinions Editor Jacob Serebrin Online Editor online@theconcordian.com Tiffany Blaise Photo Editor photo@theconcordian.com Katie Brioux Graphics Editor graphics@theconcordian.com Aeron MacHattie Chief Copy Editor copy@theconcordian.com Alecs Kakon Effie Sapuridis Copy Editors Jill Fowler Production Manager production@theconcordian. com Jennifer Barkun Francois Beauchemin Vincent Beauchemin Production Assistants Editorial 7141 Sherbrooke St. W. CC.431 Montreal, QC H4B 1R6 514.848.2424 x7458 (Newsroom) 514.848.2424 x7499 (Editors) 514.848.2424 x7404 (Production)

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Business and Advertising: 1455 de Maisonneuve W. H.733-4 Montreal, QC H3G 1M8 514.848.2424 x7420 (Office) 514.848.7427 (Fax) STAFF WRITERS AND CONTRIBUTORS: Renee Giblin, Alyssa de Rosa, Phillipa Duschatel de Montrouge, Sara Pelletier, Savannah Sher, Bianca Puorto, Olivia Dumas, Jake Freekin Smith, Richard J. Obrand, Tyson Lowrie, Gareth Sloan, Abdullah Alhomoud

rELiGion

Anti-Islamic sentiment in US only highlights bigotry, closed-mindedness ‘Ground Zero Mosque’ actually a community centre blocks from Ground Zero Abdullah Alhomoud Contributor With the controversy surrounding the so-called “Ground Zero Mosque”, one would think that the Muslim community is building a mega-mosque right where the Twin Towers used to stand. That of course is far from the truth.

In fact, the building is planned to be several blocks away from Ground Zero. It won’t even be visible from the location of the 9/11 attacks. The planned building is also a 13-story community centre, which happens to have two floors dedicated to a prayer hall. A mega-mosque it is not. It is not designed to have a minaret, nor calls to prayer. It is planned to have a memorial to the victims of the terrorist attacks, as the Wall Street Journal reported on Aug. 2. Even the Pentagon, where the 9/11 attacks claimed 125 lives, has a prayer hall – not near it, but inside it!

The very objective of the community centre is to address tensions between different faiths. In an interview with Intersections International, a New York-based initiative dedicated to promoting interfaith reconciliation, Imam Feisal Abdul Rauf, the religious leader of the community centre and man behind the project, stated that it “will address the issues both within the Muslim [community],

such as Sunni-Shia problems and tensions, and also between Muslims and Jews and Christians.”

There is also a movement by the group Stop Islamization of America in opposition to an Islamic community centre planned to be built in Murfreesboro, TN – is 1,200 km not far enough?

The issue here is clearly not proximity to so-called “hallowed” ground; it’s bigotry. Those people think that the terms ‘Islam’ and ‘terrorism’ are interchangeable. That, of course, is absolutely false.

Opponents of the community centre are unyielding in their claim that the imam is a terrorist sympathizer, but this claim is unfounded.

In fact, while the controversy was stirring in the U.S., Imam Abdul Rauf was on a governmentsponsored tour around the Middle East, promoting peace and reconciliation. He was on a similar tour under Bush’s presidency, and was generally the Bush administration’s go-to man when it wished to appeal to the Muslim community in its fight against terrorism.

The centre is now being named Park51, referring to its 45-51 Park Place address in Manhattan. But there was a claim that the initially proposed name for the community centre, ‘Cordoba House’, belies a desire to dominate. This shows a lack of grasp on history. While Cordoba was undeniably part of the Islamic empire, it was also the most progressive and democratic city within it. Cordoba was a city buzzing with public discussion forums, where everyone was able to discuss the Qur’an and Islam.

Cordoba was also the centre of scientific advancement and learning in Europe. People went to Cordoba from all over Europe and the world to study. It was a cornerstone of civilization, as well as the bridge connecting the Islamic world

“

Those people think that the terms ‘Islam’ and ‘terrorism’ are interchangeable. That, of course, is absolutely false.

to the West. Going back to Cordoba means going back to the Islam of democracy and progress.

It means going back to cooperation rather than antagonism.

What opponents of the community centre fail to see is that not only have several Islamic scholars, such as Muhammad Tahir-ul-Qadri, issued fatwas against terrorism, but that the movement for a progressive Islam is alive and under way. There are many liberal, democratic and secularist Muslim scholars, politicians and intellectuals, and they have been on the rise ever since the 9/11 terrorist attack. It doesn’t take much effort to find them, either, like the members of the American Islamic Forum for Democracy. The Park51 project is clearly a great leap forward for this movement.

For the sake of liberty and freedom, democracy and reconciliation, this community centre needs to be built.

FroSH!

Down with McGill frosh week!

Why the tradition should be a thing of the past

Tyson Lowrie Contributor They’re the people that everyone hates.

A gaggle of 18-year-old McGill froshies, stumbling down the street at 8 p.m. on a Thursday, screaming, running, shouting, cheering, wearing ugly identical t-shirts, all woefully unable to handle the amount of alcohol they’ve consumed.

They plug up Crescent, MacKay, and Ste-Catherine street; seemingly anywhere but McGill campus. It’s a peculiar McGill tradition. They dance and chant in huge groups, like a horrible dystopian pep rally.

They’re everything that give normal, sensible froshies from the other three universities in town a bad name.

I figured, having graduated from Concordia this past April, that the ameliorating effect of time would allow me to see McGill froshies in a softer light.

But it’s every bit as awful as it’s always been, if not worse. By now, everybody in Montreal who isn’t a McGill froshie thinks the tradition should be done away with.

So why keep it? Even the relatively few ex-McGill froshies who seek to defend frosh week stammer out their well-worn reasons.

It’s a great way to meet friends!

No, it’s not.

This overlooks the obvious point that no one in their right mind chooses to befriend

some drunk who spends their time staggering around boisterously off three coolers, wearing matching T-shirts and shouting some Godawful McGill spirit chant.

As it is, a highly advanced school like McGill should know that if you have similar people whose natural tendency is to group together, clog city streets and sing rowdily, you should try to keep them as far away from each other as possible.

It’s a great way to experience Montreal’s nightlife!

No, it’s not.

The theory goes that if you’re some recently transplanted dewey-eyed 18-year-old from New England (anecdotally, around 96 per cent of McGill froshies), you’ll want to get out and see what Montreal’s legendary nightlife is all about.

This is the worst logic. For the record, 99.9 per cent of the time Montreal nightlife doesn’t look anything like it does during McGill frosh week. If it did, it sure as hell would not have gotten its legendary reputation.

Isn’t it just harmless fun?

No, it’s not.

It could be. It oh-so-easily could be.

Froshies are already herded together in groups, like proverbial cattle that have had too much Sex on the Beach and Smirnoff Ice, so it would be so easy to keep them steered carefully away from the rest of the people trying to enjoy their last dying gasps of summer. Unfortunately, the only thing worse than a froshie is the fourth-year student who decides to don the McGill frosh-week leader T-shirt. An incompetent herdsman, he leads them right to Crescent, Bishop, MacKay; all beautiful, tasteful streets that have no need for them. Why herdsman, why?!

This is a tradition that has gone on long enough. So please, McGill, from a former Concordia student, and all of Concordia in general (and hell, all of Montreal), next year, do away with this awful practice.

Or maybe, just maybe, keep it east of Crescent.

You probably went the whole summer without logging onto Facebook more than a handful of times. It’s back to school, though, and with looming deadlines for papers, assignments and readings, it’s undeniable that your Facebook friends are becoming infinitely more interesting. Embrace your Facebook personality and don’t hold back.

Aries March 21 - April 19 The silent participant: You have a Facebook page, but you might as well not. This week, you run into an old friend and you’ll actually be asked about what you’ve been up to.

Taurus April 20 - May 20 The oversharer: This week, keep some things to yourself. Something you say will offend a close friend, causing two per cent of your friends to un-friend you. You reveal a close friend’s deepest secret to an enemy.

Gemini May 21 - June 20 The tagger: You tag people in photos they’ve untagged themselves in. Twice. There’s a reason they don’t want people to see that picture of them making out with the mirror. This week, do unto others as you would have them do to you.

Cancer June 21 - July 22 The constant updater: This week, you’re a busy bee without a moment to yourself. So why do you keep giving your friends play-by-plays of your days? Give yourself and your friends a much-needed break and just unwind.

Leo July 23 - August 22 The stalker: This week, you will meet someone who looks very familiar for the first time.

You will then realize that person is a friend of a friend whose profile you constantly stalk for new pictures.

Virgo August 23 - September 22 The deep quoter: You’re constantly helping and inspiring people with your thoughtful quotes and great advice. This week, someone returns the favor: “And in the end, it’s not the years in your life that count. It’s the life in your years.” – Abraham Lincoln Libra September 23 - October 22 The commenter: You have something to say about everything. This week, your big mouth will get a loved one into a world of trouble, but will get you out of it.

Scorpio October 23 - November 21 The shocker: Rare are the events that you can’t see coming. A proposition alters your life forever… think relationship status change.

Sagittarius November 22 - December 21 The main event: Your events are the most anticipated. You bring people together. This week, you unknowingly play matchmaker and are blamed when things go awry.

Capricorn December 22 - January 19 The APP-ict (app addict): You’ll need your friends to send you bricks, wood and nails for your new shed in Farmville. You invite your friends to your Café World coffee shop, but none show. Pick up the phone and treat a friend to a real macchiato.

Aquarius January 20 - February 18 The paparazzi: Your fascination with other people’s lives finally pays off. You unexpectedly make amends with an old foe and become friends.

Pisces February 19 - March 20 The liker: In your real life, your world is falling apart. In your e-life, you ‘like’ your friends’ photos, status updates and other people’s comments.

Nothing can e-faze you this e-week.

Diversions

Horoscopes

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Photo by Glen OʼNeill - The Martlet