The Concordian

theconcordian IndependenT sTudenT neWspaper aT ConCordIa unIVersITy. sInCe 1983.

Volume 30 Issue 26

March 26, 2013

Cast your vote From leFt to right: Pierre tardivo, Benjamin Prunty, james vaccaro, caroline BourBonnière, melissa Wheeler, gene morroW, scott carr, Katrina caruso and crystal harrison.

During debates, candidates address unfinished projects and the lack of representation Candidates fielded questions about their platforms as well as issues they hoped to address in the upcoming year, such as the perceived disconnect between students at the John Molson School of Business and the rest of Concordia.

The lack of any functioning CSU website all year was an issue addressed

by presidential candidate Melissa Kate Wheeler, who said that a new website was needed for a number of reasons.

“There’s no clear place to go for any kind of specific question that any student might have and information is kind of scattered all over at the moment,” she said. “As well, there’s

the fact that it doesn’t work. So yes, I think we will have to rebuild the website from the ground up. I think it’s needed not only on an IT level but also in terms of the logical flow and division of information which needs to be examined.”

In this issue // life arts

music

sports

opinions

St. Laurent’s best kept secret P. 6

Profiling Cali’s Soccer season in Local Natives P. 10 review P. 13

MaTThew GuiTé assistant news editor

With the Concordia Student Union elections beginning Tuesday and running until March 28, the on-campus debates held at both campuses last

week gave potential executives a lastminute platform to discuss relevant issues.

During the two events, topics like student apathy, improving communication with the student body and developing student space such as the Hive Café or the recently-rebranded student centre project were discussed.

Tattoos as a form of art P. 8

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

Continued on P. 5

Pro vs. con: hiring smokers P. 16

theconcordian.com

news 2

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Tuesday, march 26, 2013

write to the editor: news@theconcordian.com

CITY KaLiNa LafraMboiSe News editor

city// NewS

A change in tactics from the SPVM The Service de police de la Ville de Montréal cracks down on protests

>> A court fit

for fAllen kings

La Presse broke the news early Saturday morning that former Montreal Mayor Gérald Tremblay and his former right hand man Frank Zampino will be testifying in the Charbonneau Commission this week. After months of investigating the complex system of corruption and collusion within the municipal government that heard several testimonies accusing Tremblay of turning a blind eye and eventually led to his resignation, he will take the stand.

Zampino, who faces charges of fraud and conspiracy in a separate case involving real-estate transactions, was allegedly the real boss of the Union Montreal party.

>> celebrAtion for gnD The Impératif français prize was awarded to former high-profile student leader Gabriel NadeauDubois last week for his work in the student crisis over the proposed tuition fee increase last year. The organization, dedicated to promoting the French language and culture, emphasized that Nadeau-Dubois helped fight for accessible post-secondary education, was responsible for such a large mobilization of students and forced Quebec society to reevaluate itself. Nadeau-Dubois was the spokesperson for the Coalition large de l’Association pour une solidarité syndicale étudiante during the height of the student movement in 2012.

>> unity for

All

Before reaching Parliament Hill in Ottawa on Monday, more than 300 First Nations people were welcomed to the Quebec village of Wakefield on Saturday. A potluck dinner was organized for the group who camped out in the community centre before continuing their march the next day. The group, originally composed of seven individuals, started walking from Whapmagoostui, a Cree village in northern Quebec, to Ottawa in January in order to inspire unity amongst all First Nations residents. The 1,500-kilometre trek has gathered demonstrators from more than 20 different First Nations groups.

robiN DeLLa CorTe assistant news editor

T

he Montreal Police are enacting mass arrests through a municipal bylaw in an effort to stifle protests in the downtown core over the last few weeks.

The Service de police de la Ville de Montréal has come under fire from some demonstrators who feel the police are stifling their right to protest.

“The exercise of democracy has to be done without disruption to ensure that no unfortunate event take place. Those who cause disruptions have to be excluded from demonstrations, so that individuals who want to be heard can do so peace-

fully,” municipal bylaw P-6 states.

A few hundred people set out from Place Émilie-Gamelin last Friday night for a demonstration meant to remember the one-year anniversary of the massive March 22 student protest that took place last spring. The protest ended with 294 arrests including journalists from The Concordian and The Link.

Police officers kettled protesters at the intersection of de Maisonneuve Blvd. and St-Timothée St. before announcing the protest was over. Kettling is a riot tactic employed during protests to control crowds; police section off demonstrators from all sides before containing individuals to a limited area with only one exit in order to swiftly end the protest.

“I’m still trying to understand why journalists would be fined,” Hera Chan, the photo editor at The McGill Daily said. “We’re all mem-

bers of community, however I don’t think it’s a correct method, I don’t believe police should use this method — at the end of the day who is going to write the story?”

Chan explains that even though she identified herself as a member of the press, she was still arrested and fined last Tuesday night during a student protest.

“I do see a change in enforcing the law, in much stricter fashion, trying to do mass arrests of entire protests,” Chan said. “As you can see by numbers, people who come out to the streets has gone down drastically but numbers arrested have not.”

Many people who were arrested received a fine of $637 under the violation of municipal bylaw P-6 according to the media relations of the SPVM. According to bylaw P-6, protesters must “provide by writing,

Photos by Keith Race

eight hours in advance, the date, time, the duration, location, and if applicable, the route of the demonstration.” However none of the protests did so and so were declared illegal.

The law also states that individuals are prohibited to participate in a demonstration assembly, parade or group with your face covered, such as by a scarf, hood or a mask. The municipal bylaw was simultaneously passed at the same time as Bill 78 last year in order to limit demonstrations.

However, while the municipal bylaw was not quick to be applied last year, there has been a noticeable change in the last few weeks.

“I thought the protest was really disgraceful and disgusting how they arrested more than 250 people after five minutes of the protest,” said Université du Québec à Montréal student Camila Martinez-Lisle. “No disrupting activity had been made apart from walking in the street and chanting slogans.”

Martinez-Lisle believes that the SPVM has “been more and more aggressive and violent against protesters.”

Similarly, Montreal’s annual anti-police brutality march this year led to many arrests. More than 250 people were detained and ticketed the night of March 15.

Christopher Curtis, a former Concordia student and current reporter for The Gazette, was also kettled and detained during demonstrations for hours.

“For better or worse, the police will be deciding who is a legitimate media source and who eats a $600 ticket,” Curtis said. “And I think that means student media and some lesser known media outlets can’t be at the wrong place at the wrong time.”

Curtis explained that while in the kettle he asked protesters why they came and many said that some of their friends didn’t come because they weren’t willing to pay another $600 fine.

Several thousand protesters also took to the streets on March 5 for the education summit where Premier Pauline Marois announced the indexation of tuition fees by approximately three per cent per year indefinitely. The protest resulted in 72 people detained, 62 protesters ticketed for unlawful assembly and 10 arrested during clashes police officers.

The SPVM was unavailable to comment by press time.

With files from Kalina Laframboise

Tuesday, march 26, 2013

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city // NewS

Student protest cut short Montreal Police section off and ticket hundreds of demonstrators

insult our Driving

a young demonstrator is handcuFFed and guided into a Police car during the Protest. Photo By Keith race

“Police partout, justice nulle part, [police everywhere, justice nowhere]” cried protesters.

In squads, the SPVM surrounded Place Émilie-Gamelin.

There were lines of cops blocking off Ste-Catherine St. and St-Hubert St. where police were quick to section off the small group that had gathered in commemoration and dissent.

The protesters were defiant but there was a relaxed air to the scene. Volunteers were handing out sandwiches and a man played the snare-drum. It resembled a

parade more than a protest if it weren’t for the brigades of police.

The crowd marched up StHubert St. and turned east on De Maisonneuve Blvd.. As the protest neared St-Timothée St. police rushed in and forced them back.

Before they could backtrack down a different path another line of police swept in and cut them off.

“Those last few protests; arresting people for nothing [except] exercising some rights even though they’re not strictly legal,” Mary Davis said, referring to Bill 78, “It is just a money grab to

get $600 to pay for all the trouble that’s being made by the students but without trouble being made nothing will ever change, nothing will ever happen.”

Sandwiched between scores of flak jackets, batons, polycarbonate shields and jackboots, the bulk of demonstrators as well as journalists present were arrested and fined. Those not kettled were shooed and shoved away.

The protest was quickly over with over 150 protesters detained and fined for being part of an illegal protest.

campus // NewS

Pushing the boulder up the hill a look at the past and future struggles behind Loyola Campus’ the hive Café MaTThew GuiTé assistant news editor

News of the Hive Café’s impending opening has been circulating on a loop around campus for years now.

Stories and announcements can be found going back almost five years, each time Concordia Student Union candidates promising that the Hive Café would be opening in the coming weeks. Despite an investment of hundreds of thousand of dollars, and untold hours of work, the Hive Café is still not completed.

Despite a history of devouring any candidates that attempt to fix it, the Hive has found itself (once again) in the spotlight for the current executive campaigns.

Candidates have made multiples promises during the campaign for how they intend to fix the broken student space, and despite what history tells us, outgoing VP Loyola Stefan Faina says he thinks they

MaTThew GuiTé assistant news editor

>> AnD they

KeiTh raCe Contributor

A commemorative demonstration against the tuition indexation fell flat early Friday night when Montreal Police quickly shut it down.

Students gathered at Place Émilie-Gamelin for the one-year anniversary of the March 22, 2012 protest. Last year over 200,000 students exercised their democratic right to free assembly and flooded Montreal’s streets to protest a tuition fee increase of $1,625 over a five-year period by then-Premier Jean Charest.

Police have taken a heavy handed approach to student protesters and the Service de police de la Ville de Montréal seemed intent on shutting down the public assembly early Friday when it marked the third consecutive protest to be immediately declared illegal and kettled in under a week.

Kettling is tactic during demonstrations that forces protesters into a small space, sectioning them off and leaving them with a single exit usually determined by police.

The SPVM declared the demonstration illegal as a violation of municipal bylaw P-6 which states that groups must provide an itinerary.

NATION

have a good chance of pulling it off.

“I like that the next executive hopefuls are talking about the Hive Café as much as they are,” he told The Concordian. “The Hive Café was not one of my campaign points but I took more and more interest in it as the school year progressed.

The fact that the campaign right now is focusing as much as it is on the Hive is a good sign. I think they have what it takes to push the project forward.”

Crystal Harrison, the VP Loyola candidate with CSYou said that she hoped to find out what the community wants from the Hive and said that a member of her team had met that day with the manager of the G Lounge for an informal discussion about possible collaboration in the future.

“We foresee more of these conversations taking place,” she said. “We also plan to sit down with representatives from student groups on campus and in this way we hope to increase both the reach and relevance of our plans.”

Faina said that when he first came into his position as VP Loyola, the Hive was a concept and little else.

“There had been some work done towards setting it up in the past but the main problem always came down to a hesitancy on the side of the council and general manager to embark on what they saw as too great a financial risk,” he said.

Faina said that a lot of that hesitation came down to a few major issues: the rocky financial history of Reggie’s, the fact that no concrete business plan existed for the Hive, perceived difficulties with the electrical output available and problems with having unionized (Loyola Luncheon) and potentially non-unionized (Hive Café) employees sharing the same workspace.

Once he knew the issues, Faina says he worked on a plan of action, with the most important step being a much needed business plan. After exploring the options, he realized that looking within

Concordia, such as at the consulting services offered at the JMSB, might be the best answer.

“This is supposed to be a student-run, student-implemented initiative. If we have the resources available to us on our home ground, why not use them? It would greatly save costs and be true to the student-oriented Hive Cafe philosophy.”

By the end of the year, Faina hopes that all the necessary steps will have been taken in order to begin construction at the Hive, with the business plan being the last step he finishes before his mandate is over. With that done, the only obstacle remaining may be the most difficult one to overcome: the turnover rate at the CSU. Faina says that in his opinion, the Hive has taken much longer than necessary because of the constant turnover from one VP Loyola to another, forcing the new executives to start from scratch. Next year, he says, he wants his successor to begin on the same page as he finishes.

A massive pile-up on an Alberta highway south of Edmonton took hours to clear and injured more than 100 people after a 25-centimetre snowfall.

The Royal Canadian Mounted Police investigators told CBC that they don’t yet know what happened or how it began, but once reports are filed they will decide if any charges need to be laid.

Most of the injuries sustained during the accidents were minor but 22 people were taken to hospitals including one man who was hit by a semi-truck after he exited his vehicle. Approximately 45 vehicles had to be towed.

>> sAve on cApitAlism Canadian astronaut Chris Hadfield made history last Wednesday night when he was officially declared commander of the International Space Station. With a career as an astronaut that spans over two decades, he is the first person other than Russian and American astronauts to be commander of the station. Hadfield has also become a social media sensation, posting pictures of different areas of the Earth during his time on the ISS to the delight of his followers.

>> cs: port

mooDy

A custom backdrop recreating a Vancouver high school for the popular first-person shooter video game Counter-Strike has caused a stir among the staff and administration. One of the map’s creators, speaking anonymously to CBC, said he was an alumnus of Port Moody Secondary School and no malicious intent went into the map’s creation. The map does not feature any students of teachers, but staff at the school said that they were still disgusted by the map’s detailed recreation of their school. The police said that while it was a poor choice, it was not illegal.

>> A stAbbing pAin in his bAck A Northwest Territories resident is furious after discovering that an injury in his back still contained the knife he was stabbed with. After being stabbed five times during a house party in 2010, doctors told him the lump in his back and subsequent pain was caused by nerve damage. The man says he only discovered the knife after he tried to scratch his back one night and his nail caught on the blade poking out of his skin. The lump was constantly itchy and always set off metal detectors, which doctors explained was a metal fragment caught in his flesh.

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theconcordian

Tuesday, march 26, 2013

WORLD robiN DeLLa CorTe assistant news editor

>> turn off

city // NewS

A year of protests in review The student movement is still alive and well in Montreal

the lights

Millions of homes and businesses around the world took part in Earth Hour on Saturday March 23. The event encourages individuals and organizations around the world to turn off all of their non-essential lights for one hour. This year it took place at 8:30 p.m. during the participants’ local time; the annual event aims to raise awareness about climate change and the environment and is now in its seventh year. More than 7,000 cities and towns in 152 countries and territories took part in Earth Hour last year.

>> A DAring

KaLiNa LafraMboiSe News editor

It’s been a year since over 200,000 students donning red hit the pavement on an irregularly warm day on March 22, 2012 to protest the proposed tuition fee increase of $1,625 by former Premier Jean Charest. It was the largest demonstration in Canadian history to date and marked the beginning of a tumultuous spring for Quebec. It raised questions about post-secondary education, triggered an election and gave way to unparalleled student unrest. It brought forward nightly demonstrations and forced a divide based on ideological differences in what could be argued as one of the most historic years in Quebec.

MARCH 22, 2012 APRIL 27. 2012 MAy 4, 2012

The provincial government offers a new deal to student leaders, including a revision in the tuition fee increase from a total of $1,625 over five years to a total of $1,778 over seven years. Angry with the revision, students take to the streets for the third night in the row in what becomes regular night protests for months.

survivAl

A nine-year-old girl who survived a car crash in Southern California that killed her father was forced to climb out of a canyon and walk a mile to find help. According to the California Highway Patrol, the vehicle tumbled 60 metres down an embankment along a stretch of highway in the middle of the night on Sunday. The girl told authorities she and her father were on their way home from a party when he lost control of the vehicle.

The CHP is now investigating whether or not alcohol was a factor in the crash.

>> no longer

MAy 14, 2012

Following failed negotiations with student leaders, Education Minister Line Beauchamp steps down, saying she is “no longer part of the solution” to the student crisis. Michelle Courchesne takes her place.

>> A trAgeDy

in AlAbAmA

At the Birmingham-Shuttlesworth International Airport, a flight information billboard fell on a woman and two of her sons last Friday. One of her sons was killed when the 300-pound electronic board fell. The boys’ mother, Heather Bresette, sustained injuries to her ankles and left with a crushed pelvis. The Birmingham-based company said in a statement “this is a terrible tragedy that none of us fully understand, and we hope that the family who lost their loved one will find strength through prayer and the support of all of us.” The statement also claims the company will be working with airport authorities to determine why the sign fell.

Students arrive to protest outside the Quebec Liberal Party convention in Victoriaville, Que., a town located two hours east of Montreal. Tensions run high as the gathering quickly turns violent, pitting demonstrators against officers from the Sûreté du Québec. Over 106 arrests are made, with two officers and six demonstrators seriously injured by the end of the night.

MAy 18, 2012 MAy 22, 2012

The student strike marks its 100th day by holding a large day protest in Montreal where thousands march peacefully through the streets. In commemoration, a large demonstration is held on the 22nd during the following months.

Léo Bureau-Blouin, former president of the the Fédération étudiante collégiale du Québec, announces his candidacy with the Parti Québécois in the riding of Laval-des-Rapides.

JuLy 25, 2012

The provincial government passes an emergency controversial law aimed at curbing protests in Quebec in response to large student strike demonstrations and growing civil unrest. Bill 78 imposes hefty fines for blocking access to class, suspends the winter semester for post-secondary institutions affected by the strike and requires an itinerary to be submitted in advance for demonstrations consisting of more than 50 people. A protest takes place the same night in downtown Montreal.

Premier Jean Charest calls a provincial election set for only 34 days later on Sept. 4.

number one

A cheating scandal at Harvard University has resulted in the school being stripped of a number of quiz championship titles. One of Harvard’s quiz team participants, Andy Watkins, was found to have accessed a database that showed questions that were to be asked in the National Academic Quiz Tournament. Watkins graduated in 2011 and had access to the database because he wrote questions for a schools quiz competition. NAQT said in a statement that it has started a review of security.

Over 200,000 demonstrators pour in from all corners of the province to protest the proposed increase by the Charest Liberals of $325 per year over a fiveyear period for a total of $1,625. Traffic is affected for hours and protesters make international news. Not a single arrest is made.

August 1, 2012 August 8, 2012 sePteMbeR 4, 2012

Gabriel Nadeau-Dubois resigns from his position as the spokesperson of the Coalition large de l’Association pour une Solidarité Syndicale The PQ wins the election with a minority govern- Étudiante stating that the organization “needs ment and Pauline Marois becomes the first female fresh faces” in the ongoing student crisis. premier of Quebec. A shooting midway through Marois’ victory speech kills one man and injures anMarois announces the abolishment of other during the PQ’s celebrations. Charest officially the tuition fee increase of $1,778 over leaves politics after a 28-year career. a seven-year period.

sePteMbeR 5, 2012 NoveMbeR 20, 2012

The PQ announces its provincial budget but remains relatively quiet regarding tuition fees.

DeCeMbeR 6, 2012 The provincial government’s slash to Concordia’s funding runs so deep the university is forced to declare a deficit despite adjusting spending habits.

JANuARy 23, 2013 FebRuARy 15, 2013 FebRuARy 25 & 26, 2013 MARCH 5, 2013 MARCH 22, 2013

The provincial government announces massive slashes to university budgets province-wide of $124 million by the end of the academic year. Concordia University suffers a $13-million loss.

The education summit leaves a bitter taste in student leaders’ mouths after the PQ announces an indexation of tuition fees by $70 per year indefinitely to match inflation. Universities face an additional $250 million in budget cuts and hundreds protest in downtown Montreal.

University rectors receive official invitations to the PQ’s planned education summit on higher learning, a twoday conference aimed to discuss unresolved issues from the student crisis.

A protest takes place to denounce the indexation of tuition fees, with over 1,000 participants in attendance. Over 53 people are arrested and more demonstrations are planned for the following weeks.

Police swiftly end the one-year anniversary protest not even 30 minutes after it begins for violating municipal bylaw P-6 that requires a route to be submitted beforehand. Only a few hundred attend.

Tuesday, march 26, 2013

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5

Debates attract few students before elections

8AM classe$ T are painful.

Continued from cover

With an average student return of $1000, at least taxes are painless.*

$29.95 student pricing

& free SPC Card*

hrblock.ca | 800-HRBLOCK (472-5625) © 2013 H&R Block Canada, Inc. *Average is based on all student returns prepared at H&R Block in Canada for 2010 tax returns. The average refund amount calculated for students was over $1,100, cannot be guaranteed and ǀĂƌŝĞƐ ďĂƐĞĚ ŽŶ ĞĂĐŚ ŝŶĚŝǀŝĚƵĂů ƚĂdž ƐŝƚƵĂƟŽŶ͘ ΨϮϵ͘ϵϱ ǀĂůŝĚ ĨŽƌ ƐƚƵĚĞŶƚ ƚĂdž ƉƌĞƉĂƌĂƟŽŶ ŽŶůLJ͘ dŽ ƋƵĂůŝĨLJ͕ ƐƚƵĚĞŶƚ ŵƵƐƚ ƉƌĞƐĞŶƚ ĞŝƚŚĞƌ ;ŝͿ Ă dϮϮϬϮĂ ĚŽĐƵŵĞŶƟŶŐ ϰ Žƌ ŵŽƌĞ ŵŽŶƚŚƐ ŽĨ ĨƵůůͲƟŵĞ ĂƩĞŶĚĂŶĐĞ Ăƚ Ă ĐŽůůĞŐĞ Žƌ ƵŶŝǀĞƌƐŝƚLJ ĚƵƌŝŶŐ ƚŚĞ ĂƉƉůŝĐĂďůĞ ƚĂdž LJĞĂƌ Žƌ ;ŝŝͿ Ă ǀĂůŝĚ ŚŝŐŚ ƐĐŚŽŽů / ĐĂƌĚ͘ ^ƚƵĚĞŶƚƐ ƉĂLJ Ψϳϵ͘ϵϵ ĨŽƌ ŽŵƉůĞdžͬWƌĞŵŝĞƌ ƌĞƚƵƌŶ͘ džƉŝƌĞƐ ϭϮͬϯϭͬϮϬϭϯ͘ sĂůŝĚ ŽŶůLJ Ăƚ ƉĂƌƟĐŝƉĂƟŶŐ ůŽĐĂƟŽŶƐ͘ ĚĚŝƟŽŶĂů ĨĞĞƐ ĂƉƉůLJ͘ ^W ĐĂƌĚƐ ĂǀĂŝůĂďůĞ Ăƚ ƉĂƌƟĐŝƉĂƟŶŐ ůŽĐĂƟŽŶƐ ŝŶ ĂŶĂĚĂ ŽŶůLJ͘ KīĞƌƐ ŵĂLJ ǀĂƌLJ͕ ƌĞƐƚƌŝĐƟŽŶƐ ŵĂLJ ĂƉƉůLJ͘ &Žƌ ĨƵůů ƚĞƌŵƐ ƐĞĞ ǁǁǁ͘ƐƉĐĐĂƌĚ͘ĐĂ͘

he debates also gave the two VP finance candidates, Scott Carr, with CSYou and Pierre Tardivo, who is running independently, a chance to compare their ideas for issues like getting JMSB and engineering students involved with the CSU. Carr in particular spoke of his hopes of bridging the gap between JMSB students and the CSU. “A lot of the times JSMB [students have] no respect for the CSU,” he said. “If they see an email from the CSU they’ll delete it right out of their inbox, it’s come to that point. When I was approached to run I discussed it with my peers and they said ‘Why in the world would you want to do that to yourself Scott?’”

Despite both coming from JMSB backgrounds, the two candidates had plenty to disagree about over the course of the two debates, with the subject of Reggie’s being the most contentious issue by far.

Carr claimed that Reggie’s problems began at the top with CUSACorp’s Board of Directors, saying that the students sitting on the board had no experience running a bar and no vision for the future due to the constant turnover. Tardivo expressed an interest in ex-

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tending the mandates of directors to increase the board’s institutional memory and reduce the amount of information lost during turnover periods.

On the issue of increasing profit at Reggie’s, Tardivo expressed an interest in potentially serving food there, saying that in the past when it was tried, it proved very profitable for the bar, but Carr insisted that it was not a possibility as it would infringe on the exclusivity contract the school currently has with Chartwell’s to exclusively sell food on campus.

The debates also gave the potential executives a chance to discuss long-term goals beyond their mandates. Carr and Tardivo spoke about reducing Reggie’s debt and making it profitable, respectively, while James Vaccaro, the VP internal and clubs candidate discussed expanding sustainable food options on campus. Crystal Harrison, the candidate for VP Loyola, said that she hoped to put in motion the Hive Café and that it would continue to grow after her term was up.

“I actually hope that the Hive Café extends past my mandate because I want it to be a sustainable longterm investment that lasts for many years to come,” she said. “We’re going to lay down the framework and let it keep growing from there because I think it has so much potential.”

MELISSA KATE WHEELER PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE CAROLINE BOURBONNIèRE - VP ExTERNAL & MOBILIZATION CANDIDATE JAMES VACCARO - VP INTERNAL & CLUBS CANDIDATE KATRINA CARUSO - VP STUDENT LIFE CANDIDATE CRYSTAL HARRISON VP LOYOLA CANDIDATE GENE MORROW - VP ACADEMIC & ADVOCACY CANDIDATE BENJAMIN PRUNTY VP SUSTAINABILITY CANDIDATE SCOTT CARR - VP FINANCE CANDIDATE PIERRE TARDIVO - VP FINANCE CANDIDATE

AM:

PUBLICATION/LOCATION: McGill Daily

t EXPERIENCE the varied & innovative ways technology is integrated in teaching at Concordia t EXPLORE the future of online and blended learning t PLAY in the multi-media Black Box installation “Einstein Dreams”, pushing creativity and technology to their limits

JOIN US FOR THIS 3-DAY CONFERENCE

APRIL 3, 4, 5 Various locations – Sir George Williams campus

Check out the program #C U l e a r n in g concordia.ca/e-scape

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Tuesday, March 26, 2013

life

Write to the editor: life@theconcordian.com video game // life

There’s nothing lazy about these ConU students lazy Nuke launches their first cellphone game RobeRt De lisi Contributor

Concordia student Denny Feradouros met John Capaldo in high school where they shared a dream to create video games. Years later, after studying in their respective fields at university, they came together with a group of six friends to finally create their first one.

“It started off as an attempt to build experience and showcase our talent,” said Feradouros.

“But as time progressed we realized we wanted to start our own company rather than tirelessly search for a job in the field.”

The experience led the team to create their own company called Lazy Nuke, where they attempted to pursue ideas and gain the experience needed to expand into a larger market.

Each member of the Lazy Nuke team has a specific background, some of the members graduated from Concordia while others have technical credentials; each provides an aspect in the developing of the game and company.

“We each have a key role, some of us do animation, and others do 3D modelling, technical directing or covering the business marketing as-

Photo from 8th Wave: Abyssal Rise

pect,” said Feradouros.

“Our studies at Concordia definitely gave us the technical skills we needed in order to build the framework for the game - in terms of myself, it helped me from a business aspect, from marketing to resource planning.”

After working on their first project for roughly 10 months, Lazy Nuke released their first game entitled 8th Wave: Abyssal Rise, on March 21.

“We wanted to create a side scrolling arcade game that is enjoyable and user friendly, something we could continuously update,” said Feradouros.

The user plays the game navigating through ocean floor caverns with various submarines while facing off with enemies and collecting shells which the player needs in order to ad-

vance throughout the game. The player has the choice between four submarines, and is able to customize them as well.

“The game was developed specifically for the smartphone market, a game that can be played in short bursts while still leaving the player with a sense of progress and accomplishment after that small amount of time,” said Feradouros.

Considering how the smartphone app market is currently exploding, Feradouros and his friends truly aimed for it as they believe it is an increasingly competitive but accessible market for ambitious newcomers like themselves.

“We realized so many people were downloading smartphone and tablet games, making it an ever growing gaming market,” said Feradouros. “We figured it could serve as a solid

stepping stone and somewhat low cost foundation for us to build our company.”

Although the team at Lazy Nuke worked hard for almost a year developing their first game, it wasn’t without obstacles. “Funding has been a bit difficult, even though the game is relatively low cost,” he said.

“Licensing is expensive and for students like us working part-time, it presented a considerable challenge as we needed funding to develop and launch the game.”

In order to fund their project, Feradouros and the rest of the team at Lazy Nuke presented their idea for the game and the company at the 2012 Concordia Seed Competition and finished second, receiving a grant for $3,000 to put towards the development of the game.

What started off as just a game has developed into so much more. Feradouros and his team believe they have the right chemistry and collective creativity to build a successful company on the release of 8th Wave: Abyssal Rise.

The game is available on both mobile and tablet Android platforms with plans to release it in the IOS market place in the near future, thereby making it accessible to iPad as well as iPhone users.

Lazy Nuke is already in the preliminary stages for their next game which they hope to release sometime in the next year.

For more information on the game or the company, visit www.lazynuke.com

bar // life

The good old speakeasy behind the red door big in Japan is easy to miss but hard to forget saRa baRoN-GooDmaN assistant life editor

Step behind the inconspicuous industrial red door and you will find yourself in an intimate, candlelit lair. Big in Japan, the speakeasy sister of the Japanese restaurant down the street, is one of Montreal’s best local gems.

In authentic speakeasy fashion, if you aren’t privy to the knowledge that Big in Japan lies nestled away next to Patati Patata, you would walk right past it.

Once inside, patrons are greeted with a rush of the prohibition era. Tea candles provide the only lighting, giving the room a dim and warm glow. Overhead, Japanese whiskey bottles hang

from the ceiling, occasionally plucked one by one by the staff to serve anticipating mouths.

Seating is provided by barstools at the long glass tables that sit along the periphery of the room, so that when full, the bar becomes a sort of communal dining—aka drinking—room. The setting is intimate and you will seldom find the place empty. In fact, it is often busiest on weeknights.

Patrons range from nonchalant hipsters in plaid to the after-work, suit-clad crowd. Ambient music is just quiet enough to sit and read a book while sipping on your umeshu or Chu-Hi (Japanese plum liqueur and Japanese grapefruit yuzu, respectively.)

On a Friday during happy hour, the place was at quarter-capacity and my friend and I were able to actually have a conversation at an appropriate decibel level, though towards 7 p.m. people started to flock in in groups of twos and threes.

The menu, having been recently revamped,

features about a dozen signature cocktails, as well as perhaps the city’s most expansive list of Japanese wines, beers and whiskeys.

For groups, the punch bowl gets you quite a lot of bang for your buck. Changing the recipe every season, the punch bowl serves 22 saucers of alcohol for $65. The recipe of the moment is a concoction of gin, Pimm’s, mint, lemon and pomegranate. The fruit and mint merge together to disguise the taste of alcohol, to the point where I didn’t realize I was tipsy until I inevitably stood up and couldn’t feel my feet. The old menu used to include a half-size punch bowl for $35, which was ideal for two people to share. Just one fan’s opinion: bring that back!

The Yorkshire Lemonade, another new menu item, has been introduced to much acclaim. Made with gin, lemon, strawberry and cucumber, it is remarkably smooth and refreshing.

The Jamaican Mule is a medley of rum, mint, ginger syrup, tonic soda and lime. The drink tast-

ed like summertime with a zesty ginger kick. The Abbé was definitely tequila-heavy, with a nuance of the other ingredients, being Benedictine, rhubarb and lemon.

The bar, which sits behind a glass semi-partition, also mixes up all the regular crowd-pleasers like whiskey sours and gin and tonic, although with such an interesting cocklist list, it would be foolish to get something so pedestrian.

Big in Japan offers some of the same Japanese snacks as the restaurant does, though it’s infinitely more wallet-friendly to satiate your hunger at one of the burger joints next door.

Cocktails range in price from $10 to $14 and the whiskeys and wines are available at just about every price point, to suit both the students and high-rollers who drink at this trendy watering hole.

Big in Japan is located on 4175 St-Laurent Blvd.

Photos by Sophia Loffreda

Tuesday, march 26, 2013

technology // Life

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The pixels, the lenses and us How Google Glass represents a bigger paradigm in how we see technology Saturn De Los Angeles Staff writer

I

t’s chic, it’s beautiful, it’s futuristic: it is the world’s most popular search engine’s groundbreaking invention, Google Glass.

For those who may not yet be aware of what this is, let’s cross off the obvious and tell you it has nothing to do with drinking.

The Google Glass is an eyewear computer that takes commands like Siri and functions like a hands-free smartphone.

While they haven’t yet designed a collection of shades suited for every type of face shape, Google is currently offering a choice of colours from charcoal to tangerine to sky blue, each with a colour matching rectangular-shaped computer at the top right corner of the frame.

No matter your age and how aware you are of technology, the Google Glass is very easy to use. Through simple phrases like “Okay Glass take a picture” or “Okay Glass, record a video,” the Glass acts out any command beyond just searching. It allows the user to text, call, share what you’re seeing with others in the moment, record, take photos, translate your voice, answer any question you may have, offer directions and display any relative information that you may need in the moment such as the weather, the time or a flight schedule.

If this isn’t mind blowing enough, Google is talking about one day offering Google Glass users the ability to control household appliances and recently applied for the rights to an application called “Wearable Computer

with Superimposed Controls and Instructions Device.”

There is no denying that this is an exciting moment in history to be a part of and that this type of technology is quite incredible, but as consumers we do need to ask ourselves the important question: Will it be disruptive or will it initiate a positive revolution in human social interaction?

Google co-founder Sergey Brin spoke at the TED talk conference at Long Beach in late February and told the audience that one the motivations behind Project Glass was to remove the social isolation that comes with the obsession with smartphones; to offer people the ability to communicate and connect without your hands and eyes bound to a device.

“I whip this out and sit there and look as if I have something important to do or to attend to,” said Brin. “[Google Glass] kind of takes away that excuse . . . it really opened by eyes to how much of my life I spent secluded away in email or social posts.”

While Brin does bring up an excellent point, there are other concerns that come with technology such as our mental health and the negative consequences that may come from constantly being connected to the internet.

Dr. Andrew Ryder, an associate professor in Concordia’s psychology department, explained that throughout history, startup inventions begin as a fad used by a small network of people, then slowly filter into our daily lives as what feels like a necessity. He uses Facebook as a contemporary example. “[Facebook] was a neat, practical tool. It had a goal to help meet up with like-minded people using our real name,” said Ryder. To-

day, however, “it’s used in a different way, and not in a way that Facebook could’ve predicted.

It’s the same way I feel with Google Glass.”

Ryder explains that when we use inventions such as Google Glass, it becomes a representation of ourselves. We become so dependent on social technology, that if lost, it’s like losing a part of ourselves in the process.

“At some point psychologically, [a new gadget] becomes part of your extended mind,” said Ryder.

Nicholas Carr, author of The Shallows: What the Internet Is Doing to Our Brains, explores in his book how digital distractions could have a negative impact on our concentration, memory and comprehension.

“Be aware of your core values rather than let the technology drive you and your priorities,” said Ryder. “It’s easier said than done, but thinking along those lines can help.”

Another issue that people are concerned

with is privacy. Google Glass users will be able to record everyone and everything around them without anyone being aware of it; a privacy dilemma that is continuously being discussed since the introduction of social media sites.

Chad Vachon, a Concordia University sociology and anthropology student, has a critical view of how Google Glass might bring more repercussions instead of benefits.

“As individuals, we have to have some privacy. It’s intrinsic to different cultures and spheres. Technology can infringe on that,” said Vachon. “The world is becoming more of a complicated place. We need to develop an in-depth understanding of privacy.”

The device is set to be released to public in early 2014. There is yet to be an official price, but the developer version goes for $1,500.

With files from Stephanie La Leggia

nightlife// life

Montreal’s got a whole lotta shakin’ going on The rockabilly scene is here to stay Sabrina Giancioppi Staff writer

People tend to use music as an identifier, a way of organizing themselves into groups. Rockers, rappers, hipsters and punks are among the numerous subcultures around the world, adopting the composite lifestyle. Rumour has it that there’s a new trend that has caught on in Montreal that has people jumping and jiving.

Rockabilly may have started in the early 1950s, but it seems to have experienced a re-

vival in our city with a new generation of fans.

Rockabilly is a vibrant style of music that combines elements of country and blues. Artists including Carl Perkins, Johnny Cash and Bill Haley & His Comets are known to have experimented with rockabilly, but it was Elvis Presley who brought the style to the mass media in 1954.

For fans, rockabilly is more than just their favourite music; it is a way of life. The men take on a classic tough guy look with the coiffed pompadour, leather jacket and a pair of Chuck Taylor sneakers, while the women tend to emulate pin-ups with curls and cherry red lips.

Rockabilly broke the barriers of the ‘50s play-it-safe kind of music. It moved away from mainstream and expressed a sense of freedom

Photo from Rockabilly 514

and rebellion, and the rockabilly subculture seems to revere the bold and innovative ways of this era.

Rockabilly 514 is a 2008 rockumentary that sheds light the growing rockabilly community in Montreal, documenting the lives of devoted followers of this movement. The film is narrated by Concordia University professor, author and ethnomusicologist, Craig Morrison.

“Rockabilly is one of the most important of the styles that are part of the genre rock and roll,” said Morrison. He believes Montreal feels the effects of that because “Elvis was big everywhere!”

“Since the Stray Cats emergence in the early ‘80s, [rockabilly] has been present again, and seems here to stay,” said Morrison.

Since 2006, Montreal’s Jive Studio has been offering rockabilly jive lessons, combining swing, rock and roll and rhythm and blues.

Communications director of Jive Studio, Chantal-Irène Coulombe, signed up for classes in 2010 because of her reverence for ‘50s music.

“It is a lifestyle,” says Coulombe. “There are people that are purists when it comes to the rockabilly era.” It truly is a throwback to easier times.

Jive Studio is also responsible for hosting events at the Rialto Theatre, M-Bar and l’Alizé where Bettie Page look-alikes and Jimmy Dean greasers come together for a night of dancing and drinking.

The last event at the Rialto Theatre began with basic how-to dance steps for the newbies, but it didn’t take long for the place to be crawling with people decked out in polka dots and

gelled hair. The night went on to play fun and energetic music like “Good Golly Miss Molly” and “Great Balls of Fire,” followed by a live set from Montreal rockabilly band Rocket ‘56.

The rockabilly subculture is growing and Coulombe agrees. “When I started dancing we only had around 40 to 50 dancers in total signed up in the school. Now we have 200 per term!”

According to Morrison, we owe credit to Sophia Wolff, a well-versed dancer who returned from London and “brought jive dancing to Montreal.” After releasing a popular instructional video, Do the Jive! in 2002, Wolff became privy to the niche of rockabilly jive in the city and “we are still feeling the ramifications of that,” said Morrison.

It proves to be true as this year marks the ninth edition of the Red Hot & Blue Rockabilly Weekend that will take place at the end of August at the Rialto Theatre. The four day event includes disc-jockeys from Canada, the United States and Europe: 12 bands, free dance lessons from Jive Studio, as well as 1950s fashion shows and vintage car shows.

It’s clear that this feel good kind of music and lifestyle attracts many Montrealers. Rockabilly and all of its quirks are major identifiers for those who belong to this unique subculture.

For some it may be a negation to mainstream trends, but the rockabilly scene shares with it a sense of freedom and self-expression that Montrealers seem unable to shake!

Jive Studio is located at 24 Mont-Royal Ave. W., suite 202.

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Tuesday, march 26, 2013

Write to the editor: arts@theconcordian.com tattooing // arts

Tattoos as a form of unconventional art Photo by Madelayne Hajek

The Concordian explores tattooing as a form of creative expression Colin MCMahon staff writer

T

he idea of an ‘artist’ can bring several images to mind. Some might envision a painter standing in front of a canvas with a dirty smock and a brush in hand. Others could see a writer bent over their computer or a director squinting through the lens of a camera. How about a woman in a short-sleeve shirt, exposing arms covered by tattoos, coming at you with a needle?

While tattoos are commonly considered art, they can conjure an image that some would deem below the standard of other artists. As Chicago Tribune writer Jon Anderson commented back in 1996: “Tattoo. What a loaded word it is, rife with associations to goons, goofs, bikers, tribal warriors, carnival artists, drunken sailors and floozies.” Yet the art form can’t be held responsible for the negative stereotypes associated with it, and if one were to walk up Bernard St. W., he or she would encounter Bodkin Tattoo, a shop every bit as respectable and visually appealing as an art gallery.

Stepping into Bodkin Tattoo you are met with a warm and inviting atmosphere. It becomes instantly clear that each of the three tattoo artists (Dominique Bodkin, Vincent Brun and David Choquette) are passionate and dedicated, not just to their work but to making the customer feel at home. Every facet of the interior design appears angled at destroying the preconceived notions of tattooing.

Bodkin has run the shop since its inception two years ago. Bodkin Tattoo is clearly her vision and represents her style of tattooing.

“The shop is very old school. It’s my thing.

I love those kinds of tattoos,” she said.

This means those dying to receive Justin Bieber across their forehead might want to look elsewhere. If the patron is looking for a retro design reminiscent of 1950s, then they’ve come to the right place. Bodkin specializes in both custom and traditional designs, but does everything with a certain flair which reflects the passions and style of her artististry. The result is a very cool and unique tattoo image.

“For me it’s a bit different, my father was a tattoo artist too. And he tattooed all the time. I grew up in it.”

Her father operated a tattoo shop in Quebec City for 25 years before Bodkin opened her own in Montreal.

When asked about the challenges of tattoo design and the obstacles of running a shop, Bodkin presents a very upbeat attitude: “It’s not really a big challenge. You do what you like and the process is not very difficult, you just have to work every day to get the reputation. When you do what you like, it’s never difficult.” However every business has its challenges.

“Every day you learn something. Tattooing is a long process, it’s tough, you know.

You need to figure everything [out] in the moment.”

For anyone considering the path of becoming a tattoo artist, Bodkin provides an interesting starting point. When asked if she ever drew or made any other type of art, she responded firmly, “No, I always have done tattoos.”

Montreal is fortunate to house a diverse selection of tattoo artists. Bodkin Tattoo is far from the only tattoo parlor in the city, although it is one of the finer and more well-respected ones. For those artists who feel the desire to create on something more live than a page,

Photo by Madelayne Hajek

Photos courtesy of Bodkin Tattoo

Bodkin offers strong advice: “Tattooing is the best option. It’s a language of art, it’s a language of expression, of self-expression.”

Bodkin Tattoo is located at 55 Bernard St. W..

Tuesday, march 26, 2013

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cinema politica // arts

The promise of prosperity an exposé of the corruption of the argentinian government and multinational mining corporations ayan ChoWdhury staff writer

What is the price of wealth?

Land in Revolt: Impure Gold is directed by filmmaker and activist Fernando Solanas. Travelling through the vast valleys of Argentina, he encounters environmentalists, professors, farmers, politicians, protesters and engineers as he searches for answers in a country fraught with exploitation. The film draws a web of corruption connecting the major mining corporations with some of the most powerful politicians in Argentina, including its current and former presidents.

The film begins by charting a history of exploitation in South America, going as far back as 1650. For instance, over a period of 400 years Bolivia is said to have been “looted” of its rich minerals by Spanish conquerors.

Argentina holds the sixth largest mineral reserve in the world, assessed at over $200 billion U.S.. Thus, large-scale mining operations arrived during the 1990s, leading to increased exploration and a prospective boom. However, as Solanas demonstrates throughout the film, the social and environmental impact of these mining projects have become severe and destructive. Farming families living near these sites witness their animals—essentially their livelihood—dying of contamination while their houses and farms are bulldozed to create more exploration space. In addition, heavy amounts of water are used for mining. This leaves little for the surrounding communities, who often live without electricity. It comes as no surprise that the social exploitation of the mining indus-

try in Argentina has led to widespread poverty, unemployment and malnutrition.

According to the film, the billions of dollars in profits generated from mining rarely comes back to Argentina, as once promised by the government. In fact, the mining corporations in Argentina are tax-exempt from all of their investments. Moreover, village workers are rarely hired as a result of their lack of professional experience. As one environmentalist notes, “they’ll rob us until there’s nothing left.”

However, this film suffers as a result of its uneven pacing. During the scenes at Minera

Alumbrera, one of the largest mining sites in Argentina, the director does little to help alleviate the dullness. Lacking both music and quick edits for long stretches at a time, Solanos overestimates the patience and sympathies of a non-Spanish speaking and non-Argentinian audience. However, as an experienced filmmaker, he manages to showcase some wonderful images of his native land, especially the red rocky mountainous regions in the Argentinian valley.

During the final act, we find citizens fed up of their dire situations and conducting major

protests against the many injustices allegedly committed by the mining companies in conjecture with the Argentinian government. Despite the violent and shady methods used by the larger powers-that-be to threaten and discourage the protesters, a rising sense of unity among both villagers and city-dwellers is apparent by the end of the film.

Land in Revolt: Impure Gold screens Wednesday April 3 at 7 p.m. in Room H-110, 1455 de Maisonneuve West. For more information, visit www.cinemapolitica.org/concordia.

dance review // arts

A spellbinding tribute to Leonard Cohen Dance Me To The End on/off love captivates audiences at the Centaur roa abdel-GaWad staff writer

C

ohenites rejoice! Another year, and another tribute to Montreal’s legendary singer, poet, and novelist Leonard Cohen, is upon us. The Centaur Theatre Company will be hosting the North American debut of Dance Me To The End On/Off Love, bringing this artistic creation, which is originally from Denmark, to Montreal. The show is a synthesis of theatrical disciplines: it intertwines them to create an amalgam that is part dance, part concert and part performance art. This inspired production is as highly captivating as it is unusual.

Palle Granhøj, the professional dancer and internationally acclaimed Danish director responsible for the drama, is known for having developed a form of dance called “the obstruction technique.” Essentially, when putting together his choreography, he would ask the dancers to perform a certain move but then disrupt it with a restriction.

By doing this, a struggle would be created, and a yearning for completion would be manifested in the dancer’s expressions.

This craving for liberation is brought to stage as a reflection of a myriad of Cohen’s characteristically melancholic songs. The result is a highly emotional depiction of desire and isolation, in its most sensual form, on stage.

Beloved songs such as “Suzanne,” “Hallelujah” and the title song, “Dance Me to the End of Love,” all make an appearance throughout the show, in a unique arrangement of dialogue-free renditions of some of Cohen’s most famous songs. Demonstrating emotion through motion, themes of sexuality, rejection and the examination of relationships are also evoked as the hypnotizing musical-dance interpretations play out on stage.

The dimly-lit stage, designed by visual director Per Victor, was minimally but artfully styled with a uniform array of black cloths, cubes, tables, and boards. Even the performers are dressed head to toe in black when it comes to attire, with their suits, jump suits and dresses. And, as if that is not austere enough, no fewer than 20 bald mannequin head props serve to illustrate the gravity of feelings of the performers‘ sketches, inviting the audience to examine the beautiful as well as the grotesque.

Thankfully, there are sufficient moments

of comic relief interspersed throughout the show to alleviate the audience from the austerity. Other Cohen songs such as “Sisters of Mercy,” “Famous Blue Rain Coat” and “I’m Your Man” make the crowd roar with laughter, as the performers take liberties reinterpreting the lyrics to suit their characters.

Continually changing pace, from tragedy to hilarity, all 13 performers act, dance, sing and play instruments in some capacity on stage. Guitars, a double bass, cymbals and even a ukelele are used to bring Cohen’s words to life, as they are played and sung live on stage. The particular vocal talents of Palle Klok and Dorte Petersen are hauntingly memorable, as they capture both the elements of sadness and playfulness Cohen’s lyrics usually embody.

Better described as a dance-concert, this groundbreaking theatrical production successfully translates Cohen’s evocative words onto the human body through dance, video and written word. Though imaginative and albeit eccentric, the performance transports viewers to an otherworldly place, a realm of contrasts, where joy and sorrow coexist and they can sway to “dancing violins.”

Dance Me To The End On/Off Love plays at the Centaur Theatre until April 14.

music 10

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Tuesday, march 26, 2013

Write to the editor: music@theconcordian.com

profile // music

Local Natives

appreciate both work and play

The Californians make room for ping pong during their ever-expanding tour lineup

With their neW sound, LocaL natives has graduated from youthfuL to dark With Hummingbird, the animaL Which, they feLt, represents everything the aptLy titLed aLbum stands for.

Jessica RomeRa staff writer

W

hat started out as a snapshot of the members of Local Natives climbing onto the roof of their practice space turned into the band’s cover art for their latest album Hummingbird.

“It almost happened accidentally,” said Ryan Hahn, the band’s guitarist and keyboardist. “We were just climbing on the roof of the rehearsal space and someone took a picture.”

The band mixed the photograph with the desktop background on one of their computers

“

and haphazardly concocted the album cover for Hummingbird.

“We just thought it was a really striking image,” said Hahn. “Matt [Frazier] and I do most of the graphic design and the rest of the band just kind of argue about it until they’re happy with it. It’s a healthy dysfunction.”

The band formed in 2005 in Orange County, Calif., their hometown.

“We’ve always been obsessed with music from an early age,” said Hahn. “There was a healthy music scene growing up in California and we were into mostly punk stuff; loud, aggressive, fast music.”

Regardless of their earlier musical influences, Local Natives’ sound is not something that

We didn’t really expect anyone to be there for us, but we showed up and the tent was just full to the brim and people were just singing along.

- Ryan Hahn, band member

is easily classifiable under one specific genre and Hummingbird proves just that.

Although their debut album Gorilla Manor was praised for its youthful energetic sound, Local Natives have ventured off into new creative territory: the album has been reviewed as being much darker than their first. “The album goes deeper beneath the surface; in a lot of ways it’s more honest, more direct,” said Hahn.

“The image of a hummingbird kind of encapsulates the whole album,” he said. “It’s a little frail creature with hollow bones that also beats its wings a million times a second and is always on the move. We agreed that it really fit the rest of the album.”

The title of the album comes from a lyric in “Colombia,” arguably the most emotionallycharged track on the record, where vocalist and guitarist Kelcey Ayer pays tribute to his late mother.

“There’s a very personal meaning in it,” said Hahn. “It’s a really important emotional song for us, especially for Kelcey. The album is a lot more expanded, with more intimate moments.”

But despite the general tone on the album, the guys from Local Natives are anything but dark and serious. On the rare occasions where the band gets time off from rehearsing or touring, they jump on the opportunity to unwind.

“Whenever I can, I like to go to the beach and surf and hang out with friends,” said Hahn, adding that it was really important to

them to stay active. They have also recently discovered the joys of ping pong.

“We’re actually trying to get a league going with other bands, since a lot of bands on tour actually already have ping pong,” laughed Hahn. “We toured with Arcade Fire and they have a team and they’re really, really, really good!”

Since the tour, Local Natives have been receiving the acknowledgment that the California band so rightly deserves. “We played the Latitude Festival in 2009 and it was our first festival, the first time we ever played in the U.K. and the first time we played overseas at all,” said Hahn.

“We didn’t really expect anyone to be there for us, but we showed up and the tent was just full to the brim and people were just singing along.

It was just one of those memorable moments that I think we’ll never really forget.”

This summer, Local Natives will play the Latitude Festival once again along with the Coachella Festival in California, the Governor’s Ball in New York and Bonnaroo in Tennessee; some of the most internationally renowned festivals.

Having recorded part of Hummingbird in Montreal, the guys are eager to play next here next week. “We had an amazing time and it was surprisingly not unbearably cold,” joked Hahn. “We just had so much fun.”

Local Natives play Le National with Superhumanoids on Friday, March 29 at 7:30 p.m.

Tuesday, march 26, 2013

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profile // music

Parenthetical Girls is all about the nitty gritty details stephanie ullman music editor

As the frontman of the audacious, theatrical, and visually striking Parenthetical Girls, Zac Pennington was refreshingly humble and grounded.

Rattling off answers about his band, in which he plays alongside Amber W. Smith and Paul Alcott, Pennington managed to stay mentally afloat while wandering his surroundings looking for a store - a fuse had just blown during sound check.

“It’s always weird having these conversations because obviously, right now, I’m distracted in every capacity,” he said lightheartedly. “We have these 10 minutes to talk about stuff, and it’s very difficult to get to a place where it’s like we’re having a conversation rather than you asking me questions and me really awkwardly trying to answer.”

If it sounds like Pennington is familiar with the ins and outs of the ever-unpredictable interview process, it’s because he has now been on both sides of the telephone line: coinciding with the dawn of Parenthetical Girls was his stint as a music reporter.

“I got into writing largely because I had a relationship with music to begin with,” he said. “It was an easy thing to do as an offshoot of being involved with putting on shows and working on music.”

Having viewed the music world through a variety of lenses, Pennington and his bandmates have confidently taken their image into their own hands. Based in Portland, the trio’s music videos supply eye-popping colours, sharp patterns, rich textures and a dash of the surreal. The final package digs its claws into the roots of the mind.

“The idea is for a vision of grandeur that’s maybe a little bit out of our reach,” said Pennington. “The [video] concepts that we have created are supposed to work on their own, rather than to just comment on the concept of the [accompanying] song. They were supposed to be statements in and of themselves.”

While the videos are intended to be experi-

From customized ep art to gaudy music videos, the trio is a visual blast

parentheticaL girLs’ choice to reLease their record Privilege in five parts heLped the creative process, according to vocaList Zac pennington.

enced from an artistic point of view, the lyrics supply the personal touches. More often than not, Pennington takes care of the songwriting, drawing inspiration from personal events and personal points of view. The rest of the music, of course, is collaborative.

As a precursor to their latest record, Privilege, Parenthetical Girls released the album in its entirety during a 15-month span in the form of five limited edition - think 500 copies per release - EPs. It was a rolling process, with each microcosm hitting the shelves as it was completed.

“The idea of a release series was as much a pragmatic decision as it was a creative one,” said Pennington. Typically slow and meticulous when

making music, the prospect of having a couple of years to work on an album appealed to the band.

“We were more comfortable working on the sort of tangents we might not otherwise consider were we working on a full length—and many of these experiments turned out to be some of the most gratifying pieces of the series.”

Following suit with their attention to aesthetic detail, each EP donned tailor-made artwork by Swedish artist Jenny Mörtsell. Aside from that, a series of short “commercial” videos served as precursors to the releases. They were directly inspired by Calvin Klein’s ‘80s campaign featuring Brooke Shields, which spoke to Pennington’s fascination with “the weirdly fetishized way they’ve

been preserved for posterity—from distant televisions, to VHS, to transcodes onto the internet.”

Having released four albums and endless EPs and singles in the past 10 years, Parenthetical Girls boasts some steady output that has made for a progressive musical experience.

“The total lack of consistency in the band over course of its history has made for a fairly constant re-evaluation of what actually even constitutes ‘Parenthetical Girls’—every record that we’ve recorded has more or less been an entirely new band.” parenthetical Girls play Divan orange Wednesday, March 27 at 9:30 p.m.

mixtape // music

Say ‘heLLo’ to SpriNG tiMe! SPRING IN YOUR STEP 1. Matt Costa - “Sunshine” Songs We Sing 2. devendra Banhart - “Baby” What Will We Be 3. Noah and the Whale - “Blue Skies” - The First Days of Spring 4. The Beatles - “Here Comes the Sun” – Abbey Road 5. Red Hot Chili Peppers - “Bicycle Song” - By The Way (B-Side) 6. Little Joy - “The Next Time Around” - Little Joy 7. U2 - “The Sweetest Thing” Where the Streets Have No Name (B-Side) 8. Stereophonics - “Have A Nice day” - Just Enough Education to Perform 9. Queen - “I Want To Break Free” - The Works 10. Frightened Rabbit - “Living In Colour” - The Winter of Mixed Drinks

RAINY dAY BLUES 1. Timber Timbre - “Lonesome Hunter” - Creep On Creepin’ On 2. Keane - “Neon River” Strangeland 3. Modest Mouse - “The World At Large” - Good News For People Who Love Bad News 4. Mumford & Sons - “After The Storm” - Sigh No More 5. Bob dylan - “Just Like A Woman” - Blonde on Blonde 6. Stars - “Changes” - The Five Ghosts 7. Local Natives - “Cubism dream” - Gorilla Manor 8. The Beatles - “For No One” Revolver 9. The XX - “Heart Skipped a Beat” - XX 10. The Velvet Underground “Pale Blue Eyes” - The Velvet Underground

Jessica RomeRa staff writer

Spring is a strange season; one day you’ve got sunshine and flowers, the next you’ve got grey skies and the sniffles. It’s a funny in-between season where you’re not quite sure if you should whip out your sneakers or your rain boots. Regardless, spring makes us happy that winter is finally over, but makes us anxious for it to be summer already.

Some days are warm, bright and sunny and make us want to stroll through town, while others are cold, grey and rainy and make us want to stay inside and gaze dramatically out the window. If it’s a gorgeous sunny day, then hit play and listen to Side A. This side is filled with happy-go-lucky tracks that are sure to put a spring in your step. If it’s raining cats and dogs outside, flip over to Side B and cozy up indoors.

Enjoy!

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Tuesday, march 26, 2013

theconcordian top 10 // music

to shame. Blessed with freakishly long fingers and arms, Page has written some of the greatest songs, riffs and solos.

2. Jimi Hendrix: He doesn’t really need any explanation. He’s a god among men. His wawa and reverb blues-based jungle songs are the underground beats of every generation to come, I predict.

andReW guilbeRt staff writer

>> DIISS //

DiiV played SXSW last week, and guitarist Zachary Cole Smith decide to share his feelings about the festival on Tumblr: “Hi Austin. Fuck SXSW. There… I said it,” wrote Smith, whose band had only played one of their four scheduled shows at the time. “Here, the music comes last. 5 minute set-up, no sound check, 15 minute set. The ‘music’ element is all a front, it’s the first thing to be compromised. Corporate money everywhere but in the hands of the artists, at what is really just a glorified corporate networking party. drunk corporate goons and other industry vampires and cocaine. Everyone is drunk, being cool. ‘Official’ bureaucracy and all their mindless rules. Branding, branding, branding. It’s bullshit… sorry.” despite what you may think, Smith was “actually having a blast at SXSW” according to a tweet he made a few hours later, leaving the rest of us to scratch our heads in bewilderment.

>> Enemy of the museum business // Napalm Death was scheduled to play in a museum last week. Metal? Maybe, maybe not. The gig getting canceled due to fears the music would be loud enough to destroy their exhibits? definitely metal. “It is with regret that we have taken the decision to cancel the one-off Napalm death performance,” museum officials wrote. “This was due to take place in the Europe Galleries which are currently being refurbished and a further safety inspection has revealed concerns that the high level of decibels generated by the concert would damage the historic fabric of the building.” Vocalist Mark “Barney” Greenway took the cancellation in stride, attributing it to the band’s “crippling sound” and saying there had been a lot of hesitation from the museum. “[The Victoria and Albert Museum] had been making noises. They started asking the sound guy fairly nervously: ‘What will the volume be like?’ He was like, ‘What can I tell you? They make a lot of noise,’” said Greenway.

The group was to perform last Friday in collaboration with the museum’s resident ceramic artist, Keith Harrison, who was to build them a custom clay PA system that would “explode” during the show, which still might see the light of day, as the V&A are thought to be working with the band to find a more suitable venue for their performance.

>> Short sharp shocking //

Folk–rock singer Michelle Shocked surprised everyone last week when she began proselytizing about the evils of gay marriage in the middle of a set at a San Francisco venue. The singer went on a rant about overturning California’s Prop 8 and citing passages from the bible condemning homosexuality, much to the confusion of her left-leaning fans; this was, after all, someone who’d been arrested at an Occupy protest and had spoken out against Bush-era republicans. One fan who’d been picked to live tweet the show from onstage said that after the singer had mentioned her support of Prop 8, “People got a little riled up; then there started to be some call and response from the crowd about what she meant. She started exhorting the crowd very specifically to go ahead and tweet or write and say that Michelle Shocked says God hates f--s, and some other references to the Bible denouncing homosexuality as sinful and abhorrent.” Shocked has since apologized.

Rock guitarists mia peaRson staff writer

1. Jimmy Page: This guy. His brain and finger dexterity must have been tweaked by aliens. If you watch Led Zeppelin’s live performance in “The Song Remains the Same,” you’ll want to chop of your fingers and burn your guitar because this guy puts everyone

3. david Gilmore: Instead of celebrating like a rockstar after a Pink Floyd show, Gilmore could be found in his room playing guitar.

He’s got to be one of the best minds alive and his musical genius oozes from his riffs.

His solo on “Money” is so simple that you can hum it, but so powerful that it’ll stay lodged in your memory forever.

4. Keith Richards: He may not play the most luxurious solos, but this rolling-stoner has come up with some of the most timeless feel-good riffs. His playing is like a sheep dog herding the other instruments around, and his garage band spank sound suits summer, sun and beer.

5. Eric Clapton: He’s got a bit of everything in his playing: catchy riffs, fairly interesting solo-techniques, great phrasing.

6. Stevie Ray Vaughan: You can feel the love in his music. Vaughan’s heavy guitar-based songs played with his sparkling Stratocaster sound are awesome.

7. John Frusciante: Everyone knows the guy behind most of the greatest Red Hot Chili Pepper’s songs. He would practice for 12 hours a day for a good portion of his life and it totally paid off. He’s just tremendous and his work within the Chili Peppers is surreal. You go, Frusciante!

8. Jack White: He gets the medal for the most innovative and fun to listen to solos.

He’s got his own odd style that’s so distinctly Jack White. Most of the time he’s compensating for a lack of bass within his bands, all the while providing kickass vocals. Bonus: he’s alive and not dying of old age!

9. The studio guitar players Steely dan hired: Steely dan would audition a bunch of guys to come up with a solo for their new songs and some of the talent they brought in was phenomenal. The guitar solos on “Rikki don’t Lose That Number” and “Peg” are incredibly interesting — the songs wouldn’t be the same without them. So thanks, Jeff “Skunk” Baxter and Jay Graydon.

10. duane Allman: he’s not quite as well known, but man can this guy solo. He understands the art like none other and in the Allman Brothers’ songs he incorporates hints of southern musical drawl. His soloing makes you happy, especially in “Blue Sky” by the Allman Brothers.

Quick spins// music

The Delfonics – Adrian Younge Presents the Delfonics (Wax Poetics Records, 2013)

Dido – Girl Who Got Away (RCA Records; 2013)

The Strokes – Comedown Machine (RCA Records; 2013)

The delfonics were once the kings of Philadelphia soul, releasing a string of hit singles from 1967 to 1975, including “La-La (Means I Love You)” and “didn’t I (Blow Your Mind This Time).”

Their legacy lives on thanks to Los Angeles producer Adrian Younge. After composing the soundtrack to the blaxploitation flick Black Dynamite (2009), Younge became inspired by the group and agreed to collaborate with lead singer William Hart to create an updated sound for The delfonics.

The Younge/Hart collaboration sets out to reinvent The delfonics for a new generation, rawer and wiser, all while keeping the group’s essence alive.

Fundamental musical elements of the group are still present such as the electric sitar, French horn and string arrangement, in addition to Hart’s distinct falsetto — all within a contemporary hip hop template, which only a unique talent like Adrian Younge could invoke.

Hopefully the success of this album will encourage more cross-generational collaborative works like this one in the future.

If you thought that dido was one of those vague memories you could leave behind in 2003 along with your flared sparkly jeans, you were wrong. dido described her comeback album Girl Who Got Away as being a “big, fun, electronic extravaganza.” Unfortunately, it was none of those things.

For what it’s worth, dido is still dido. Listening to the album, I found myself wondering whether it was indeed new. I also somehow managed to get through it in its entirety without realizing the track had changed at all.

“Love to Blame” almost fulfilled the “fun” prophecy, with as upbeat of a tempo as one could hope for from the singer. Judging by the lyrics, I suspect this was dido’s attempt at being sassy.

“Go dreaming” also featured the faintest hint of danceability but, stylistically leaning towards her patented woeful ballad, it didn’t quite make it there.

New York City’s finest have just released their fifth album. Although they remain true to their rough, don’t-give-a-f@&# sound, the album showcases their musical evolution.

That being said, old fans who weren’t too pleased with the Strokes’ 2011 effort Angles will be happy to know that their band is back.

“50/50” sounds like it could have been included on their debut album Is This It. With a fast chorus, scratchy Julian Casablancas vocals and an impressive use of both guitars, it is easily the best song on the album.

The band also experiments with ‘80s-sounding synth-heavy beats, adding an interesting dimension. Casablancas does a nice job of switching back and forth with his falsetto without it being jarring or taking away from the song.

Although the album features an interesting variation in style, it still manages to deliver the usual Strokes’ punch.

trial track: “Stop and Look”

trial track: they’re all identical; pick your poison

trial track: “all the time”

8.0/10

- Paul Traunero

2.0/10

-Sara Baron-Goodman

10/10

-Selina Gard

sports

Tuesday, march 26, 2013

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Write to the editor: sports@theconcordian.com season review // sports

A look back on the Stingers 2012-13 soccer season

by The Concordian’s sports editor Kevin Duarte

Many positives to take away from men’s indoor season

S

occer is the only sport at Concordia that has two seasons per year. The indoor soccer season played throughout the winter months is seen as a pre-season tune-up for the fall season.

For the Concordia Stingers men’s soccer team, this past indoor season was a chance to continue building on their results obtained during the fall season.

Before the indoor season kicked off, there was already a noteworthy change within the group. Former MLS pro and Montreal Impact goalkeeper Greg Sutton took over as interim head coach, replacing his former Jamaican international Lloyd Barker.

Sutton was one of Barker’s assistant coaches, along with François Bastien, in the 2012 fall season. Sutton got hold of a similar group of players.

The indoor men’s soccer season debuted on Jan. 13, when Concordia hosted rivals McGill in a derby match. The Stingers scored a goal in each half to start the season with a two-nil victory.

In their next match, Concordia welcomed the Montreal Impact Academy team to the Stingers Dome in a non-league match. The maroon and gold were impressive and kept the younger Impact side to a one-one draw.

The two positive results were followed by losses to Sherbrooke and UQTR. Concordia ended the two-match losing skid by dominating then first-place Montréal Carabins 2-0 on the road.

This was easily the team’s best performance of the year.

Two losses to finish the indoor season meant the Stingers would have to face the UQTR Patriotes in the quarter-finals of the playoffs. Concordia was strong and organized throughout the 90-minute match, which went to a three-round shootout where UQTR came out as the winners.

The Stingers’ overall indoor season record was two wins, four losses and zero draws. This is not including the draw against Montreal Impact Academy and the playoff loss. The team was right in the pack until the final few matches of the short season.

Concordia can take many positives from this indoor season. The team showed they can keep up with any team in the league, something they weren’t able to do in previous years. An example of this would be the big win against the Carabins.

“We’re starting to develop an identity and culture around our team,” said Interim head coach Greg Sutton. “We’ve had good commitment from the guys. We understand the pieces we have moving forward. We’ll try to recruit some players for the future to create something pretty special at Concordia.”

The biggest fault in the indoor season was the team’s inability to be consistent. Concordia was never able to string consecutive wins together. They were able to beat and take points from top sides, but the Stingers would lose the easier matches. A consistent team would have potential to challenge the top teams in the league each year.

“I think we have a pretty good idea of where we want to go,” said Sutton. “Players are starting to buy into what [François] and I have been preaching. We’re looking forward to the fall.”

The most important addition to the team this off-season would be securing Sutton as a permanent head coach. The Stingers athletic department will make the ultimate decision, but Sutton has put himself in a favourable position should he be up to the challenge next season.

Up and down indoor season for women’s soccer team

T

he Concordia Stingers women’s soccer team had mixed results in this year’s indoor season. The team was looking to build on a decent fall season, in which they barely missed the playoffs.

The indoor season started with three home fixtures against McGill, Sherbrooke and Université du Québec à Trois-Rivières. In the season opener against rivals McGill, Concordia was on the wrong end of a three-nil score line.

Head coach Jorge Sanchez’s side stepped up their next two home matches, earning a 1-1 draw against Sherbrooke on Jan. 27 and picked up a deserved 3-1 victory against the Patriotes.

The following three matches to end the season were on the road to Montréal, UQAM and Laval. The Stingers struggled against the Carabins on Feb. 10 as they allowed two goals right before halftime. They would allow another in the second half to lose 3-0.

The weekend that followed, the Stingers made up for the big loss by hammering the UQAM Citadins four-nil. This was Concordia’s first clean sheet of the season and biggest victory.

In the final match of the season, the maroon and gold had a tricky road encounter against the Laval Rouge et Or in Quebec City. With both teams tied in fourth, the winner would secure home field in the playoffs. Concordia was handed a massive 7-0 loss. This was their worst loss in both the fall and winter seasons.

The fifth-place Stingers side had to rematch the Rouge et Or in the first round of the playoffs.

ConU was unable to learn from their previous match and lost 3-0.

Concordia’s record, not including the playoffs, ended at two wins, three losses and one draw.

The Stingers have some positive and negative points to take from this season.

Going into the season Sanchez made it very clear his side was trying to ensure a more attacking style of play. The tactic had some pros and cons. When the team did score, they were able to usually score over two goals in those matches. The only down side was the Stingers only scored in three of their matches.

Concordia was shutout four times, including the playoff match against Laval. The Stingers ended the regular season with eight goals for and 15 against in their six matches. Half of these goals were scored by striker Jennifer Duff, who was named second team all-star by the league.

The goals against should worry the team going forward. Allowing an average of 2.5 goals per game will always make winning tough. The Stingers will need to tighten up the back ahead of the fall season.

Sanchez was trying to get his side playing attacking soccer, but it didn’t work as well as he would have hoped. Concordia does have one of the best strikers in the league, but the team will need even more firepower if they want to score goals consistently.

Focusing on the back line should be a priority. Employing defensive tactics doesn’t necessarily mean the team will be weaker than the opposition, but would rather make the team better organized and allow fewer goals. Conceding less will give ConU more chances of picking up points each match.

The maroon and gold will have until August to rest and recruit new players before the fall season begins in early September.

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theconcordian

Tuesday, march 26, 2013

football // sports

Stingers making noise at CFL combines Three top Stingers demonstrate that Concordia is home to athletes worthy of the big leagues Andrew Maggio Staff writer

T

hree of the Concordia Stingers top players were showing off their athletic abilities to potential employers last week as the Canadian Football League held their national and regional combines across the country. The combine represents an opportunity for scouts and executives to get a better feel for the person behind the player through face-to-face interaction and interviews, while also assessing the player’s overall athletic ability.

Defensive back and return-man Kris Robertson made his mark at the CFL National Combine, clocking the fastest 40-yard dash (which measures for speed, acceleration and agility), vertical jump and broad jump (which measures primarily for lowerbody explosiveness).

“The experience was a great one, I’ve envisioned this since the day I walked into Concordia University,” said Robertson. “I personally think I could have done better in my physical testing performances, I wanted the records in those events, I just fell short.

I was exceptionally happy with my one-onone and positional drills, not one ball was caught against me.”

“It’s go time now; this is where the fun training begins. I don’t have to worry about running 40s or anything, just train strictly for football. I just pray my name gets called on draft day.”

Robertson topped the charts with a blistering 40 speed of 4.42, eight-tenths of a second faster than the second place time.

He showed up his lower-body strength and overall length with a 43 inch vertical jump, two inches higher than the next best score.

His broad jump came in at 10’ 5.50 feet.

Robertson, Nathan Taylor and Corey Newman all participated in the Quebec City Regional Combine, where some of the

Réseau du sport étudiant du Québec’s best players convened for their shot to impress the scouts in attendance.

All three turned in solid performances, as Robertson and Taylor put up good numbers in all categories amongst the defensive backs. Taylor showed impressive upper-body strength, putting up 19 reps in the bench press, the most of anyone at his position. Newman, one of five offensive linemen invited to the Quebec combine, showed off his explosiveness and quickness in tight spaces (which is key for offensive linemen battling in the trenches on the line of scrimmage) by posting the second best vertical jump and the longest broad jump amongst his peers.

“Overall it was a great experience, being around professional scouts no matter where you are is always a good thing,” said Newman. “Personally I felt well prepared.

I improved my speed and footwork and, as some of the scouts told me, they noticed how hard I’ve trained to transformed myself [into] better shape.

“As of now I am waiting to hear from teams. I will most likely go to the free agency camp in London, Ont. to be seen again, but for now I’ll keep training, running and eating well and see what happens.”

“

It’s go time now; this is where the fun training begins. I don’t have to worry about running 40s or anything, just train strictly for football. I pray my name gets called on draft day.”

Retraction: In last week’s article, “Tennis is coming back to Concordia,” it was published that the men’s tennis team for next winter was already set. However, there will in fact be tryouts for the men’s team as well as the women’s team at Uniprix stadium on March 30.

-Kris Robertson, Stinger

- Anna Cagielka, psychotherapist

basketball // sports

Concordia students aren’t mad about spring basketball Examining the difference between college basketball in Canada and in the United States Nathan Hayhoe Contributor

H

arvard’s men’s basketball team never won a National Collegiate Athletic Association tournament game. In fact, they had only qualified three times in the school’s history. That changed on March 21, when the 14th-ranked Crimson stunned third place New Mexico.

Havard was led by Quebec’s Laurent Rivard, whose 17 points and key three-point shooting down the stretch helped to ice the victory. It was, in a word, madness.

The presence of Canadian athletes in the field has led local media outlets to ramp up coverage of the month-long March Madness tournament but, in the halls of Concordia, student interest was decidedly less enthusiastic.

“March Madness? Never heard of it,” was the number one response, followed closely by “March what?”

There are exceptions, though. Recent biology graduate and current Arts and Science Federation of Associations office manager Sofiane Guend follows the tournament closely and fills out a prediction bracket each year. Guend hails from Madison, Wisc. and says that down south “everyone watches it, everyone fills out a bracket.”

When asked what the expected response would be if a typical Wisconsinite were questioned about the meaning of March Madness, he quickly replied, “You wouldn’t even have to ask; they’d already be talking about it.”

Canadian University sports are markedly less hyped. According to Guend, media coverage is at the heart of the contrast. While televisions on and around campus are dominated by the Habs, the story is different in the U.S.,

where “The games are always on, wherever there’s a T.V..”

American-born students aren’t the only ones who catch basketball fever in March.

Fourth-year linguistics student and Quebec native Curtish Mesher grew up watching the 64-team tournament.

“I used to get University of Michigan football games on T.V. from some American channel as a kid, so I watch Wolverine games when I can,” he said. “Plus, I have a friend who is a big Kentucky fan.”

Although media coverage played a role in his development as a basketball fan, he provided another reason for local fans’ apathy towards basketball. “[It’s] not that hyped a thing here in Montreal, probably because basketball isn’t a very big sport in Quebec,” he said. “It’s definitely a presence. There are definitely still fans that are super into it, just not in the same numbers

as elsewhere.”

When Laurent Rivard and Harvard pulled off their historic first-round upset on last week, they did so in front of 14,345 fans who stormed the court after the final buzzer.

Around here, sadly, we measure attendance like we order our doughnuts: by the dozen. If the Canadian Interuniversity Sport basketball championship hopes to bridge the gap with its American counterpart, it needs to start with coverage and hype. How about a CIS final 8 basketball bracket, to go along with your March Madness pool next year?

Until the coverage is provided — and the hype generated — Guend and Mesher will remain the exception rather than the rule. March basketball simply is not a topic that is close to the hearts Concordia students. Most would prefer to talk about how we got 26 centimetres of snow on the first day of spring. Now that’s madness.

opinions

Tuesday, March 26, 2013

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

It says ‘press’ for a reason, officer it’s going to take more than a few fines to keep reporters off the streets A year after the March 22 protest that took place during the height of the student movement in 2012, the atmosphere couldn’t be more different.

A protest which was organized to commemorate the incredible turnout from the year before (a whopping 200,000 people marching from one end of the city to the other) came to a depressing close mere minutes after it began. To date, three Concordian journalists have been kettled and handed $600 fines while reporting on protests during the last two weeks alone and we say that is vastly unacceptable.

What’s really bizarre about this is that even though the reporters were identified by the Service de police de la Ville de Montréal as journalists and let out of the kettle — they were still slapped with tickets. It’s an insult to journalism and a very dismaying attempt on the part of the Montreal Police to scare off not only protesters, but also journalists who are trying to cover the events. For all the respect our press passes get, they might as well be drawn with crayons.

While the SPVM can be intimidating and deeply frustrating, the fact of the matter is that in most cases they are just doing their jobs. What’s even more difficult to swallow is that we as student journalists do our jobs just as diligently and yet we end up having to pay the price, literally.

Covering protests during last spring’s

‘printemps érable’ was one thing — but facing this absolutely unreasonable approach from the SPVM during recent demonstrations is another entirely.

The whole practice of kettling already lands the top spot for the most bewildering and ill-advised police strategy imaginable.

Minutes after dispersion orders are given over a loudspeaker, police encircle crowds of people regardless of who they are or whether or not they are involved in the protest.

This tactic operates under the assumption that violent or not, every demonstrator within a given area is guilty of some crime. Since the implementation of bylaw P-6 which states that all demonstrations must provide an itinerary 24 hours before a protest, the police have the unbridled power to declare any assembly that does not conform to these rules illegal.

Clearly, police are abusing this power by shutting down protests before any real cause for concern materializes. This ongoing effort to quell the dissent of the public and strike fear into the hearts of potential protesters is disgraceful. Quebec should not be known as a province where freedom of expression is regularly infringed upon.

Last year this type of rampant power-trip from the police would have been considered wildly inappropriate and widely publicized.

Now, this injustice barely makes headlines anymore. Just because abuse has become commonplace doesn’t mean it is acceptable.

To the SPVM we have this to say: you can try to scare us off, protesters and journalists alike, but don’t make the mistake of underestimating us, because we are not going to give up so easily.

city // opinions reports, none were a huge threat. In fact, no one really had time to start protesting as police had already set up their barricades and preemptively arrested a bunch of people.

Passerby or not, if you were there at the wrong place at the wrong time, you were . . . well, just that. I meet a guy while handcuffed on the STM-turned-SPVM bus who was on his way out of class when we got trapped right in front of UQÀM. He has a bus to catch at midnight for a $270 organized trip to Boston celebrating St. Patrick’s day.

About half of us are journalists, begPhoto by Joseph Leger ging the cops to take a look at our press passThe sergeant is lazily reciting some sort es. It’s more than plain bad luck when half of routine arrest warrant. It’s procedure. the people arrested are the media and frankIt isn’t about whether we hear and under- ly, that’s not a good image for the SPVM’s stand it or not. And it isn’t about whether reputation, which is more than tarnished at we had time to take down the number we this point. might need to call (514-842-2244.) I get a According to Thursday’s Metro, the kick out of “You have the right to remain number of complaints sent to Montreal’s silent” — just because! ombudsman’s office went from 103 to 1,577 I overhear a group of friends say, “Well, per year since its creation in 2003. Police I guess we should just order the pizza next brutality, I am sure, made up most of those time instead of going outside to pick it up.” in 2012 and 2013.

This is when I realize that Montreal, during We’re on Ste-Catherine St. between Stprotests, becomes a police state. Over 250 Denis and Sanguinet and the air is cold and people (notice the omission of “protesters”) wet. One of the guys who started the comwere arrested on Friday and according to motion is on the ground in pain as an am-

Irony hits the SPVM police brutality shines bright at the protest against it Verity steVenson Contributor

“Fuck the police. Know your rights!” my friend Nick texts me after I send around a SnapChat clip of the kettle I’m in. I delete the message as soon as it pops up on my screen. What are my rights?

bulance with a cop in it passes by. A few girls are crying, but when the officers stop screaming at those of us trying to negotiate, things get quiet. Our fate sets in and we start fraternizing. Is the sheer ridiculousness accountable for the light atmosphere or is it because we’re a bunch of kids?

Even some of the cops exchange some sympathetic looks with me as I explain to my father over the phone why my boyfriend had to pick my little brother up at the bus station and not me. One of them goes to pick up my gloves that fell out of my pocket on the ground behind him.

Only after did I realize how lucky I had been when I learnt about how Kelsey McGowan, the only protester to be hospitalized, was pushed, dragged and allegedly kicked by cops as she had been standing on the corner (on the sidewalk) of St-Urbain and Ontario.

“I [made] an assumption that there were several protesters running from the riot police because I felt about 10 heavy blows to the back of my head, shoulders, back and legs,” said McGowan, only to realize that the only people close enough to touch her were police officers.

It’s wildly ironic that the very thing we protested on March 15 became a staple for the event. It isn’t that it’s a reality we’ve accepted, it’s that it’s a reality that we’ve come to know. There’s this civil — see municipal — war going on between our future and those who protect it and that very notion is so scary.

As university student Shawn Austin told the Montreal Gazette, “we were never given a chance to prove we can be peaceful. We’re not out here to say all cops are bad. We’re out here to make the point the police brutality is unacceptable and I think tonight, the police made that point for us.”

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Tuesday, March 26, 2013

pro vs. con // opinions

Side effects of smoking: Is unemployment next? the debate between smoking and not smoking has taken a new angle. people have been arguing that the new trend of hiring more non-smokers is discrimination, while others say it’s a good way for employers to have more productive employees. The Concordian looks at the pros and cons of hiring based on smoking habits.

PROS: Not hiring smokers will push them to kick

CONS: We’re already unproductive, smoking

the habit

doesn’t change that

robin Della Corte assistant news editor

ViCtor barbaros staff writer

A

new trend seems to be popping up across North America where employers, including several Canadian jobs posted on indeed.com, are refusing to hire smokers.

“Everyone knows smoking kills you and we prefer to work with very intelligent people who aren’t choosing to kill themselves with every puff,” Rob Hall, Momentous Corp’s president told CTV news in an interview last week.

Hall stated that by refusing to hire smokers, it has slashed half the cost of employee health benefits compared to five or six years ago.

According to Stewart Harris, a law professor at Appalachian State University, “smokers cost more money. Smokers miss more workdays, smokers have more health problems.”

A recent study conducted by the University of Nottingham showed that smokers are 33 per cent more likely to miss work, taking an average of 2.74 more sick days than nonsmokers.

It has been estimated by the Conference Board of Canada that, on average, an employee who smokes costs employers $3,396 a year, as reported by Health Canada in 2008.

These costs are associated with increased absenteeism, lower productivity, unscheduled smoke breaks, maintenance of smoking areas, property damage and health and fire insurance costs.

The study also shows that smoke-free environments increased productivity, increased morale, lowered cleaning costs and lessened exposure to secondhand smoke for all non-smoking employees.

With these factors, many employers have introduced policies that restrict smoking in the workplace, limited certain types of jobs to non-smoking employees and offered programs designed to encourage and assist employees quit smoking.

From experience, I see that smokers generally take more breaks. From the five jobs

I’ve worked, two of them were in restaurants—and if you’ve ever worked in a restaurant, you’d know that in most cases you can’t have a lunch break. However, smokers are allowed to step outside sometimes five or more times in a day, depending on the boss’s restrictions.

I would work like everyone else, a seven or eight hour shift, not having one single break and it would frustrate me more than anything being almost the only one working for those straight hours while almost all the workers would have the luxury of stepping out and taking their time with their cigarette.

Companies have the right to hire who they want as long as it doesn’t discriminate under the Charter of Rights and Freedoms.

Although it does come down to a personal choice of lifestyle, smoking is not who you are; it’s a choice you made that does have negative consequences.

Instead of defending smoking, maybe smokers should take this as even further motivation to quit.

D

o you smoke? Well, you might have trouble finding a job.

According to a recently published article on CTV, a growing number of private companies in Canada, as well as in the U.S. and abroad have begun to include the “non-smokers only” requirement when looking for new employees.

When I saw this article for the first time, I thought it was a joke; it’s ridiculously unfair to include the non-smoking status as a prerequisite for a job. I figured this was a discriminatory condition. Still, I decided to compare my thoughts with some official sources, mainly the Canada Labour Code.

A passage from the government of Canada’s website states that, “The Code does not provide for breaks over the work day. Most employers provide two paid ‘coffee’ breaks during the day.

But to protect workers with unscrupulous employers, this practice needs to be enacted.”

Labour Standards in Quebec also allow for a coffee break. The break in question is, “not obligatory, but when it is granted by the employer it must be paid and be included in the calculation

of the hours worked.”

By law, during a working day we are allowed a minimum of 30 minutes for a lunch break, which is not paid. We also have a “coffee break,” which is defined by the employer when it comes to duration, but is paid.

Let’s be frank; during a full day shift, we don’t work each and every second. We take the time to talk to our colleagues, our bosses, get our coffee and so on.

So, you see, it’s not just the act of smoking that determines the quality and productivity of one’s employees.

Smoking is not the only timespending habit that is worth consideration.

This isn’t to say that smoking doesn’t decrease productivity. According to the Public Health Agency of Canada, most smokers are addicts. This means that an employee-smoker wouldn’t smoke his “morning-cigarette” and “lunchtime” cigarette (like you do with your coffee). In most of the times the smoker would need a puff each one to two hours.

What’s funnier, the smokers usually don’t like to smoke alone; they need a companion, a partner that shares the same habit, so don’t be surprised when you see that they are going in couples. The time spent by an employee enjoying his or her cigarette may vary from insignificant to substantial.

I don’t try to cover this counterargument, however, I don’t believe productivity is the issue that most people have against hiring smokers. I think that the antismoking attitudes in our society and the promotion of a healthy lifestyle are reinventing themselves.

Since the 1950s we’ve heard about legal trials lost by big tobacco producers based on the insufficient advertising of the negative effects on the population’s health.

We speak about the risks of smoking everywhere, however, according to the 2010 Canadian Tobacco Use Monitoring Survey, 17 per cent of Canadians aged 15 years and older are smoking.

Smoking may not be good for you, but ultimately it’s not fair to favour job applicants who make different lifestyle choices. We are entitled to certain breaks and how employees spend them shouldn’t be controlled.

Tuesday, March 26, 2013

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17

sports // opinions

Shaking after the Impact Photo from Flickr

Montreal is becoming a legitimate soccer town GeorGe Menexis opinions editor

T

housands of people eagerly left their houses two Saturdays in a row to witness a revolution in Montreal. The buzz around the usually empty Olympic Stadium was magical — the chants worthy of a European championship game — as thousands joined in singing “Montreal, Montreal, Montreal, olé olé olé.” The deafening crowd erupted with joyful cheers as Italian star Marco Di

Vaio scored a goal during two back-to-back games. The reasoning for our joy? The Montreal Impact was in town.

Montreal’s sports scene is going through a change. Where it was until very recently dominated by our beloved Habs, the Impact’s debut in Major League Soccer was met with flying numbers and die-hard fans.

Not to mention, the acquisition of two star Italian players in the likes of Alessandro Nesta and Di Vaio have Montrealers feeling as if they’re actually attending a real European soccer match.

The truth is that soccer is a European sport. “Fútbol” is to Europe as hockey is to Montreal. They live it and breathe it every day. Therefore, seeing soccer succeed in Montreal is attributed to the fact that our city has the true characteristics of a mixed European city. We are a melting pot of international cultures that enjoy this sport more than anything. It is therefore reasonable to

say that some of our residents have probably never even heard of hockey prior to living here, although they end up getting engulfed in our passion. However, give them a good soccer team, a sport that is internationally renowned and successful, and you have yourself a serious moneymaker and a lot of room for growth.

Now that we finally have a team in a respectable league that we can support, it’s no wonder the Impact is becoming a team stars will want to play for. Our fan base is incredible, our city passionate and winning here will be glorious for any athlete.

The players are feeling it and the fans are feeling it; a soccer team that will soon have the entire city behind it.

Last year, the Impact broke a Canadian record in attendance for a soccer game when David Beckham and the L.A. Galaxy came to the Olympic Stadium for the first time, beating Toronto and Vancouver’s attendance for

their opening games when they first joined the MLS. Although there’s no doubt in my mind that soccer can succeed in these two other Canadian metropolises, it’s clear to all that Montreal has a soccer flare that these two haven’t quite grasped.

Finally, Montreal can boast about having multiple sports teams, especially one that can survive at the same time as the Montreal Canadiens. More than 38,000 showed up to watch the Impact’s 2-1 victory over the New York Red Bulls on Saturday, despite the Canadiens playing only 20 minutes after the game finished.

If you would have told me 10 years ago that Montreal would have a world class soccer team playing in the MLS, led by a star Italian forward, no less, I would have laughed and shook my head. But this is the reality for all sports fans: Montreal is a booming soccer town, and it will be for the years to come.

media // opinions

When media coverage goes wrong two years in a juvenile correctional facility while Richmond was sentenced to a minimum of one year.

After the ruling, CNN’s coverage of the story focused on the repercussions going to jail will have on the two high school students rather than the struggle the rape victim will face for the rest of her life.

This tribute was a segment of two CNN reporters, Poppy Harlow and Candy Crowley talking about the two student’s “potential loss” at life after being sentenced and forever identified as sexual offenders.

“I’ve never experienced anything like it,” Harlow reported live on air to Crowley after witnessing the conviction. “It’s incredibly emotional, even for an outsider like me. These two young men, with promising futures, star football players, A-students, literPhoto from Flickr ally watched as their lives fell apart.”

To even state that watching two young men get put to justice and get punished for the sick crime they committed was “emotional” is an absolute outrage, not only to the victim, but to the family of the victim, When Steubenville High School football other rape victims, and the entire world. players Trent Mays, 17, and Ma’lik Richmond, Harlow had no right to try to make her 16, were convicted last Sunday of raping and viewers pity these two boys. No one cares circulating an image of a severely intoxicated if they had promising futures now people 16-year-old West Virginia girl, CNN took a should be more concerned that the victim very odd angle in reporting the story. clearly had just as much of a promising Mays was sentenced to a minimum of future and will now live a very different life

Why Cnn should be ashamed of its steubenville rape coverage robin Della Corte assistant news editor

CNN gained worldwide attention last week but for all the wrong reasons.

because of this traumatic event.

Watching the CNN footage, it is clear within the first couple minutes that the two reporters are empathizing with the sex offenders and barely mentioning the victim.

To me, this is absolutely absurd and wrong on so many levels. How about the struggles the girl will face now and for the rest of her life? Not only was she raped, she was humiliated by having images of herself posted on the Internet. If that isn’t enough, she has also been the target of several death threats because she was brave enough to report her rape.

It is in the best interest of the network and the journalists to cover this story without a slanted angle, and remain as neutral as possible. This media coverage even caused an online petition, that to date has already 205,000 signatures, demanding an apology from CNN for their coverage which “is nothing short of disgusting.”

Paul Callan, legal contributor at CNN, stated that “the court room is filled with tears, a tragedy.” I can call this so many things, but tragedy is not one of them. How is holding people accountable for their actions and serving them justice a tragedy?

Those boys had a choice and they chose to rape an innocent girl, film it, then share it on the Internet. She had no choice.

We shouldn’t feel guilty or empathize with these two sexual offenders but be happy that they are put to justice and are punished, a punishment they clearly deserve.

18

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Tuesday, March 26, 2013

sports // opinions

Giving the wrong kind of salute excuses and apologies don’t make up for such an offensive act CasanDra De Masi staff writer

Soccer players are the best actors. When they score a goal, it’s their cue to play up the cameras. They scream, hug, pull off their shirts and stand in the middle of the field stoically, Balotelli style.

Twenty-year-old Greek soccer player Giorgos Katidis was banned from the Greek Football Federation for life for giving the Nazi salute after scoring a goal during last weekend’s game against Veria.

Katidis is playing innocent. First he claimed he was pointing to an ill teammate in the stands after his victory. His story then switched to a plea of ignorance. He said that he didn’t know the meaning of the gesture and quickly took to his Twitter account to say that he is against fascism.

Fans and political personalities on Twitter and Facebook were fired up and found Katidis’ actions unacceptable. Katidis owned up to the gesture in a statement by saying: “I am totally unacceptable and I feel terrible for those I upset with the stupidity of my act.”

The young midfielder has asked to be dropped from his team, AEK Athens, as he does not want his actions to reflect the club as a whole. A decision on what actions to take against him will be made sometime next week at the Super League’s executive meeting.

Photo from Flickr

Many people, including his coach, are defending Katidis. They say he is young and probably saw the salute somewhere online, not understanding its meaning.

I’m 20 years old and I am educated enough to know that whipping out the Nazi salute is not acceptable, in any situation, for any reason. I think that is a bogus excuse and if any-

thing just goes to show how really ignorant this young man is.

The Nazi salute is still finding its way into the awareness of younger generations, and Greece is no exception. Greek far right nationalist party, The Golden Dawn, has been criticized for using the gesture. However, members argue they are using the Roman salute. The

group still gets away with using a lot of neoNazi symbols, branding them as something else.

This past summer, citizens and Jewish organizations put student protesters in Montreal under fire as some protesters were using the salute. Their reason: mocking the police for their brutality.

According to CBC, Quebec’s federation of university students apologized for the use of the gesture, calling it an error in judgment.

When you are trying to get a point across, this probably isn’t the way to go. Using a gesture like this one just leads to your intended message being pushed to the background and is considered offensive by many. It has a negative connotation because of history and therefore gets all the attention.

The issue here is that people tend to cry freedom of speech in these situations. They blame people for perceiving the gesture as disrespectful to the Jewish community and argue that it wasn’t their intended message.

People tend to forget that “freedom of speech” does not mean freedom from the consequences of your actions.

In this case, it’s the consequences of using the arm-outstretched, flat palm gesture so lightly, despite it being synonymous with a dictator responsible for the death of millions of people. I’m sure you can find another way to express yourself without being so ignorant.

As for Katidis, I am not sure what his use of the gesture even had to do with him celebrating a goal. This makes me question whether he may actually just be a young goon who had no idea what he was doing at the time. If that’s the case, someone needs to give him a time-out from the footy and pass him a history book.

letters // opinions

Letters to the editor LETTER OF SUPPORT FOR JAMES TYLER VACCARO

A BRIEF NOTE ON A CONCORDIA STUDENT TO PAY ATTENTION TO:

Hello, I am a fellow Concordia student and would like to endorse James Tyler Vaccaro as VP Clubs & Internal in the upcoming CSUelections.

I have known James for the past year as a fellow MA executive and have had the pleasure of collaborating with him on numerous occasions. He’s someone you can count on and always available to help. He works well under pressure and is not afraid to tackle difficult situations.

I have witnessed James during ASFA council and he is one of the few counsellors who is willing to bring up important issues and debate them. He is always well informed and sticks up for his beliefs.

His background combined with his dedication would make him an exemplary CSU executive. I will gladly cast my vote for him and urge others to do the same.

James Vaccaro first came to my attention through his curiosity and involvement with the PSSA (Political Science Students Association) in the winter of 2012. Fast forward to 2012/2013: Mr. Vaccaro’s presence and activities associated with both student government and university issues exploded to a point that became near impossible to follow, save the existence of Facebook.

-Scott Simpson

It is with pleasure that I write this letter of endorsement for Caroline Bourbonniere. I have known and worked closely with Caro for over 3 years now, originally in my role as VP External and Projects of the Concordia Student Union (CSU).

Caroline has been involved in student life ever since she sat foot at ConU, and not only did she participate, she led. Her record speak for itself: As VP Communications of the PSSA, she organized a month-long speaker series on diplomacy in the Middle East, where three ambassadors were invited to give a talk about the Arab Spring; In her role as President of Volunteers in Action, she organized numerous campaigns, distributed sandwiches to the homeless on a weekly basis and organized an immensely successful Women’s Month; As ASFA President, she organized the recent ASFA Talks, where guests from diverse fields within the Arts and Sciences were invited to share their ideas and inspire students.

Her innovation, courage, and sense of responsibility took her far beyond the walls of Concordia when she actively participated in an International Student Leader Symposium in Indonesia during the summer of 2012. Caroline has all of what it takes to be an excellent VP External and Mobilization. One only has to approach her to be convinced.

-Adrien Severyns

I have witnessed James in action both in class (International Law, International Political Economy), and at ASFA (Arts and Science Federation of Associations) council meetings. He single handedly, on several occasions, was able to quickly and effectively diffuse the highly tense environments prone in both classroom and council settings. James is a gentleman in every philosophic sense of the word. His personality and demeanour make conversation agreeable and efficient-- James gets to the point, while at the same time allowing for you to make yours. His kindness, understanding, and even-keel approach to debating contentious subjects afford students, faculty, and administrative stakeholders with opportunities to have their ideas, positions, and policies brought to the front of the student government’s agenda.

Boiled down: James is honest, fair, and just. He is passionately curious and diplomatically savvy. His ability to converse on equal grounds with both students and the top brass of Concordia administration and faculty make communication and cooperation between our unholy alliance very possible. In sum, he may very well be able to repair the heavily abused communication lines of yesteryear, and at the same time create new alliances and push for new and exciting projects.

I highly encourage you to consider Mr. Vaccaro for the position of VP Clubs and Internal for the CSU as you fiercely debate the Jiminy Cricket* on your shoulder as to whether or not you should even participate in university elections. Given the fact that Jiminy always wins in the end, I think it might be wise to avoid getting shown up by an invisible insect in your mind, and take that pre-emptive strike by voting for James.

For a sane bridge between faculty, students, and administration, -Michael Mark

*Cough-cough: Pinocchio fans, stand up!

CAROLINE BOURBONNIèRE FOR VP EXTERNAL Dear Editor, I am writing today to support Caroline Bourbonnière’s candidacy for the CSU Executive position of VP External.

I have had the very good fortune of becoming acquainted with Caroline in the classroom at the School of Community and Public Affairs, as well as in my role as the Chief Electoral Officer for ASFA, an association in which she is currently President. Prior to this, she worked tirelessly as a Political Science Students Association executive wherein she organized phenomenal events, inviting diplomats and politicians from all across the world to share their knowledge with our student community.

Caroline excels as a leader, a team worker, and a generous supporter. Her care and support for humanitarian causes are real and sincere, and she shares this enthusiasm with the general student body at every opportunity. Most recently, her ASFA team hosted its very first ASFA Talks, an event that invited the likes of economist Jeff Rubin and CNN’s Hero of the Year Robin Lim. She has proven also commitment in representing her peers’ interests at the CSU level, during her period in the council as an Arts and Science councilor.

Her involvement within the campus in uniting and encouraging other faculty associations and students is certainly exemplary, and yet her dedication to the work is perhaps even more noteworthy. Such is her history of active engagement with the global and local community, which is not only inspiring but an important quality for the next VP External of Concordia Student Union. Please join me in casting your vote for Caroline Bourbonnière on March 26-28!

Sincerely, Jo Kim Chief Electoral Officer of ASFA

Dear Concordia students, I write to you as the newly elected Vice President of Finances of ASFA. I decided to run for ASFA after having a very inspiring talk with Crystal Harrison, who I work with on the Coms Guild (the Communications department student association). Her passion for Concordia and its students is remarkable and contagious and she helped revive my own passion for Concordia student politics.

Luckily for all of you, Crystal’s dedication to the Loyola campus is so pronounced that the CS You team just had to have her, and she decided to run for CSU instead of ASFA. I hereby formally endorse my support for Crystal Harrison as VP Loyola of the CSU. Now I know some of you are reading this and thinking, “Hey, she’s running unopposed, what’s the point of this letter?” Well, the point of this letter is to reassure you that there is no one more qualified for this position and I urge you all to go to the polls and vote “Yes” for Crystal.

Her list of accomplishments as a student leader is impressive. But let’s be honest, whose isn’t? No one runs for CSU without having an impressive CV to wave in your face. Crystal distinguishes herself from the rest by the manner in which she conducts herself. No matter how tired and stressed she may be after meetings that last for hours, during midterms and finals, or when we host large events, she always has a smile on and a kind word to share. Communications students have openly embraced her as the face of our department, and trust that she will make decisions that will benefit them. I am certain she will make fantastic decisions for the whole of Concordia, especially the Loyola campus. Crystal has a graceful confidence that inspires others. She has been a true friend to me, and a fantastic student leader.

So if you’re disappointed that this year’s CSU election is largely uncontested, take heart. I promise you we will be in good hands.

Sincerely, Anne-Sophie Grenier

Letters to the editor IN SUPPORT OF NICHOLAS PIDIKTAKIS FOR CSU ARTS AND SCIENCE COUNCILLOR Dear fellow Concordia University Students, I am writing to ascertain Mr. Nicholas Pidiktakis’ suitability for the position of Arts and Science Councillor in this year’s Concordia Student Union Elections.

In addition for being a diligent class ambassador for the Political Science Students’ Association (PSSA) of Concordia (2011-2012), Nicholas ascended to the position of Vice President of Internal Affairs for the PSSA (2012-2013).

I managed to meet and know Nicholas from three perspectives 1) as a fellow student at Concordia 2) as an ambassador for the PSSA 3) as a an executive for the PSSA for a period in excess of 2 years.

When I first Nicholas at Concordia University in 2011, I knew I had landed my hands on another excellent student who would later become an exemplary student leader. At that time, I was the Vice President of Internal Affairs for the PSSA. Nicholas immediately availed himself for countless volunteering opportunities within the PSSA. He quickly gained a lot of respect from both the executive and the over 1500-student body in the department of political Science at Concordia University.

Nicholas’ unmatched work ethic and competence within the PSSA and the Arts and Science Federation of Associations earned him a 2012 outstanding award for ambassadorial contribution to the PSSA. He was later elected Vice President of Internal Affairs and appointed official representative of the PSSA on the ASFA Council that represents close to 18000 students at Concordia University.

Nicholas’ enthusiasm has been carried through as he performs his duties as the current VP of Internal affairs for the PSSA. He has carried along his enthusiasm to enrich the lives of students in the department of political science through speaker series events, collaboration with the administration as well as the ambassador program which has resulted in the positive increase in participation numbers of students in the said department. Nicholas’ performance on the ASFA Council has so far been unmatched.

He, therefore, deserves your vote as CSU Councillor in the upcoming elections.

Thank you.

Eric-Moses Gashirabake, Sr. Vice President, Academic and Loyola Affairs Arts and Science Federations of Associations (ASFA)

Concordia’s weekly, independent student newspaper.

Tuesday, March 26, 2013 Vol. 30 Issue 26 Marilla Steuter-Martin editor-in-Chief editor@theconcordian.com

Sophia loffreda production manager production@theconcordian.com

Kalina lafraMboiSe news editor news@theconcordian.com

Stephanie la leggia life editor life@theconcordian.com

aManda l. Shore arts editor arts@theconcordian.com

Stephanie ullMan Music editor music@theconcordian.com

Kevin duarte sports editor sports@theconcordian.com

george MenexiS opinions editor opinions@theconcordian.com

Madelayne hajeK photo editor photo@theconcordian.com

nataSha taggart alySSa treMblay online editors online@theconcordian.com

jennifer Kwan Graphics editor graphics@theconcordian.com

IN SUPPORT OF CAROLINE FOR CSU VP EXTERNAL AND MOBILIZATION Dear fellow Concordia University Students,

robin della Corte Matthew guite assistant news editors news@theconcordian.com

Sara baron-goodMan assistant life editor

I have known Caroline Bourbonnière at Concordia University for the past two years. Her sincere friendship, support, work ethic, professionalism, experience, constant smile, authenticity, humility and courage are some of the traits that I have come to appreciate and admire her for.

In 2011, Caroline and I campaigned in one of the most hotly contested elections in the Political Science Students’ Association (PSSA) of Concordia. She was running for Vice President, Communications and me for Vice President, Internal. Out of 6 candidates in our Dynamic PSSA affiliation, Caroline and I were the only two candidates who got elected; alongside 3 from the other affiliation and 1 who was running independently – to make diverse team of 6. Caroline is a tireless campaigner and team player who never settles until the job is done.

In the 2011/12 academic year, alongside with the PSSA team, Caroline led the most professional and extensive promotional campaigns for our events leading to an over 100% increase in participation. From events featuring famous Canadian Liberal Member of Parliament, Justin Trudeau, to those that brought the current leader of opposition, Hon. Thomas Mulcair to speak at Concordia. At that same year, Caroline humbly served as President of Volunteers in Action (VIA), a club that delivers sandwiches and cakes to homeless people. Her efforts and dedication in the PSSA and other initiatives led to her successful election as the President of the Arts and Science Federations of Associations (ASFA) which represents about 18,000 students in the faculty of Arts and science at Concordia University.

This academic year, 2012/13, I have also had the opportunity to work with Caroline on the ASFA Executive Team. From her tireless efforts in different committees to being a voice of reason and leader on the Arts and Science faculty council, she has extended her work to create strong relationships with stakeholders in the Concordia and external community. Her negotiation skills, constant smile, strong communication skills, and firm stance in what she believes in will undoubtedly be very vital as your next Vice President of External and Mobilization in the Concordia Student Union.

I have no doubt that Caroline will do Concordia proud on internal/external campaigns as well as negotiations with Fédération étudiante universitaire du Québec (FEUQ). I have no further doubt that she will also use her extensive knowledge, experience, skills, zeal and enthusiasm to represent your interests unwaveringly. That is why I am supporting Caroline Bourbonnière for CSU VP External and Mobilization.

Thank you.

Eric-Moses Gashirabake, Sr. Vice President, Academic and Loyola Affairs Arts and Science Federations of Associations (ASFA)

ariana trigueroS-Corbo assistant arts editor

SaMantha Mileto assistant sports editor

gregory todaro assistant opinions editor

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Staff writerS and ContributorS saturn De los angeles, robert De lisi, sabrina Giancioppi, roa Gawad, ayan Chowdhury, Collin Mcmahon, Jessica romera. andrew Guilbert, nathan Hayhoe, andrew Maggio, Victor barbaros, Casandra De Masi.

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the etc. page // opinions

Events of the week: March 26 Tuesday THEATRE- DAncE ME To THE EnD on/off LovE - 20H - THE cEnTAuR THEATRE Wednesday THEATRE- DAncE ME To THE EnD on/off LovE - 20H - THE cEnTAuR THEATRE Thursday THEATRE- DAncE ME To THE EnD on/off LovE - 20H - THE cEnTAuR THEATRE ART- conTAcT by HP PRocEss - 20H - EsPAcE sAT Friday THEATRE- DAncE ME To THE EnD on/off LovE - 20H - THE cEnTAuR THEATRE saTurday THEATRE - GRAnD PonEy PRoDucTion - 20H - sEGAL cEnTRE (sTuDio) ART- TRAnsLATions - 20H - EAsTERn bLoc sunday THEATRE- DAncE ME To THE EnD on/off LovE - 19H - THE cEnTAuR THEATRE