VOCAL CORD
What is an act of kindness you've seen?
“While walking to work I saw a person buy an unhoused person a pizza and then sit and talk with them for a good long time.”
- Ben Cameron, 3rd year, English and Medievalism studies
“A person on my bus told the bus driver to stop because someone else was trying to catch the bus. He stood up and asked the driver to stop for the person to catch his bus.”
-Ayesha Asif, 1st year, Health Sciences
“The bus was full today and a boy was standing for quite some time on the bus ride. A kind women gave up her seat for him and sat on the floor. ”
-Maha Mustafa, 2nd year, Honors Science
“My friends Allen and Amanda helping me cheer up by talking over problems with me. Acts of kindness happen all the time on campus - little things that aren't always noticed, but create a positive impact.”
- Michael Quach, 3rd year, Psychology
PHOTO OF THE MONTH FROM THE ARCHIVES
YASMEEN ALMOMANI/EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
CAMPUS
ABS hosts Laurier Black History Month events
YASMEEN ALMOMANI EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
Black History Month is an annual observance in February where people across Canada participate in events and festivities to honour and celebrate Black people.
“I think the signi cance of Black History Month de nitely revolves around Black resistance,” Gilene Graham, director of marketing at the Laurier Association of Black Students (ABS), said.
Graham explained how resistance and solidarity does not only come in the form of protesting.
“[Being in resistance and solidarity with your Black peers] can be done through expression through art, expression through professionalism and giving people the resources they need to be successful, that is one way to resist white supremacy,” she said.
Graham outlined some of the barriers that are present for Black empowerment - especially regarding professional experience for students.
“We have noticed that some of the barriers to Black empowerment [are] literally just access to resources, speci cally professional development resources,” she said.
She explained how the Black Students of Lazaridis for business administration students highlights Black students and provides resources for professional devel-
VALENTINE'S DAY
opment, while ABS is targeted for Black students in all faculties and programs with a similar mission of empowerment and resources to help students advance their careers.
“For ABS this month, it's going to be really important for us to personify what Black professionalism is for our students and our general members and equip them with the resources they need to be successful, whether it's academically, nancially, professionally,”
Graham said.
“Everyone's capable, they just might not have the same accessibility to the same resources as other people of di erent ethnic backgrounds that have those resources that are able to excel.”
ABS will be running multiple Black History Month events and initiatives throughout the month:
Feb. 3: Career Workshop Day 5-5:30 p.m.
Feb. 5: e Basement Live Valentine’s Episode with Radio Laurier.
Feb. 9: Beating the Odds conference for high-school students.
Feb. 12: Valentine’s Day movie night 8.p.m-10 p.m.
Feb. 13: Candygram fundraiser in the concourse.
Feb. 17: Black Market carousal for Black businesses 12:15-4:30 p.m.
Feb. 28: General member meeting 8- 10p.m.
Furthermore, ABS is selling tote bags starting February, with more information on the @abs_laurier Instagram.
Graham also outlined ways in which non-Black students, faculty, and constitutes of the University
can support Black students.
“One way that non-Black students and faculty can support ABS is just listening,” she said.
“A lot of the discourse around helping Black people as a nonBlack person is white saviorism in the sense that ‘they have to give them these accommodations, they have to give them special treatment, they have to throw money at them, they have to do this and that and they have to isolate them as a di erent thing than the rest of society in order to help them,’” Graham said.
According to Graham, this kind of approach, although not necessarily completely wrong, has not been proven as e ective in predominantly white spaces in an anti-oppression framework.
“Something that would be helpful is just listening to Black students about what they need, instead of assuming ‘I know best and I'm going to push what I think is best for you, on you,’” she said.
Graham explained that Laurier has become more diverse than it was in the past and there are more Black students now.
“As that demographic changes, our minds have to change, you can't apply the same approach from 20 years ago, when the demographic of students was not the demographic it is now, 20 years ago,” she said.
She also explained how people have to be open to changing their mindsets to help students;
“If the goal at the end of the day is to help Black students and to help ABS to feel empowered to do good things and be successful,
Toronto Zoo's name-a-roach campaign
is Valentine’s Day season, the Toronto Zoo launched a new name-a-roach campaign.
Facilitated by the Toronto Zoo Wildlife Conservancy, the campaign ran as a fundraiser. “ e Toronto Zoo Wildlife Conservancy is always looking for new and unique ways to raise funds to support the Zoos ongoing conservation and research e orts to help ght extinction,” said Kelsey Godel, Donor Stewardship and Engagement Coordinator for the Toronto Zoo Wildlife Conservancy over email to e Cord.
ose who donated and named a cockroach were able to dedicate their donation in honour of anyone of their choosing.
“We recognize that Valentine’s Day isn’t fun for everyone and wanted to o er a playful alternative to owers and chocolates for those who might be looking to mark the occasion di erently,” said Godel.
e minimum donation was $25
with proceeds going to the Toronto Zoo Wildlife Conservancy. Godel said, “Funds raised through these programs help to support the Zoo’s ongoing scienti c research, and conservation e orts to preserve endangered species.”
“Due to the overwhelming success of our Name-a-Roach Valentine’s Day Special and the orders exceeding our current capacity to ful ll all requests promptly, our Name-a-Roach fundraiser has come to a close,” explained Godel.
Although the name-a-roach campaign has come to a close, students still have the opportunity to donate to the Toronto Zoo Wildlife Conservancy.
“... if you are in love this Valentine’s day, or simply want to let someone know how much you ippin’ love them, you might consider adopting Toronto Zoo African penguin couple, Matilda and Sparkles,” said Godel.
“For a donation of $100, this limited edition package includes a personalized certi cate of adoption, a penguin artwork print, a
penguin plush toy and more,” said Godel.
For further information regarding adopting Matilda and Sparkles, visit www.wildlifeconservancy.ca/ Adopt.
e name-a-roach campaign has left many curious to see which names were given to the cockroaches:
“We will be sharing some of the most popular names in the coming weeks, so be sure to check back in with us on social media @ TZWConservancy on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter!,”
“Despite their hair-raising reputation, cockroaches undeniably play a vital role in the sustainability of plant and animal habitats,” Godel said.
“...the Toronto Zoo and the Toronto Zoo Wildlife Conservancy respect all creatures – big and small. Cockroaches play a very integral ecological role in their rainforest homes by helping to decompose forest litter and animal fecal matter and are, in turn, food for many other animals.”
CONTRIBUTED PHOTO/ MICHAEL MANFUL, MODEL: IMANI VAN GAALEN
KASH PATEL / MULTIMEDIA DIRECTOR
MADALYN MOSTACCI NEWS INTERN
then we have to start with listening to what Black students need and not approaching it with our predisposed opinions or ways of what we know to be right…,” Graham said. As Black History Month com-
mences, it is important to understand its signi cance in Canada. For more details on each event hosted at Laurier this month, visit the ABS Instagram account.
Students' Union election season results
e Wilfrid Laurier Students’ Union election ended last ursday night as Megan Spenler was announced the incoming 20232024 president and CEO on Jan. 26 at Wilf’s.
Voter turnout was 15.32 per cent with 2,980 total student voters; Spenler received 92.72 per cent “Yes” votes and expressed her gratitude and excitement to take on the role in May.
“I'm really grateful for everybody that helped me with my campaign,” Spenler said. “...I’m really excited for the upcoming year and I'm really grateful to continue to be a part of the Students’ Union, even after I graduate.”
Moving forward she hopes to work on transitioning into the role under the guise of the current president and CEO, Shane Symington.
“I'm going to start transitioning with Shane right away… start planning for the upcoming year and kind of gure out how I can actually implement everything that
NATIONAL
I said on my platform,” she said.
“It'll take a lot of work with Shane up until his term is nished, but I'm really excited to get started.”
Some key factors of Spenler’s campaign included implementing gender neutral washrooms at the Brantford campus, improving student leadership and initiatives, and
supporting collaborations between the Students’ Union and other Laurier members, including the centre for student equity, diversity and inclusion.
“I promise to put students at the front of everything I do, and I'm really, really grateful for this opportunity,” Spenler said.
e directors who ran for board
of directors and were acclaimed are Mohammad Abu-Rshaid, Patrick Baldinelli, Sebastien Corrie, Daniel Rubino , Gabrielle Russo and Alfredo Duncan Spizzirri. e other six who were elected in ursday night are Josh Hamilton, Colton Phillips, Madison Tsoutsoulas, Hailie Ellis, Jack Sloan and Amir Noori.
Mohammad Abu-Rshaid was elected into the Wilfrid Laurier University Board of Governors with 1,220 votes; Sophia Guardado and Noah Espiritu were both acclaimed into the Wilfrid Laurier University Senate.
All ve of the referendum questions received a “Yes” vote, ranging from 87.99 per cent “Yes” to 98.8 per cent “Yes.”
is means that 1) KPMG is the auditor for the Students' Union for the 2022/2023 scal year, and that 2) the Grand River Transit’s U-Pass with unlimited GRT bus and ION train use has been renewed. Furthermore, in order to become compliant with the now implemented Ontario Not-forPro t Corporations Act, the last three referendum questions that have been approved by students include language changes in the Students’ Union Constitution; removing Article V, Section 7, and adding Article IV, Section 7; and supporting certain changes to how the Students’ Union holds its Annual Meetings.
Additional information on each of the referendums passed, and the incoming presidents of each Wilfrid Laurier University Faculty Associations can be found on the Students’ Union website.
Updated alcohol consumption guidelines
MADALYN MOSTACCI NEWS INTERN
On Jan. 17, the Canadian Centre on Substance Use and Addiction (CCSA) updated their alcohol consumption guidelines.
e new recommendations state that more than two standard drinks per week, an equivalent to 13.45g of alcohol, is linked to increased risks.
Further guideline information can be found on the CCSA’s website, however the organization states – “Basically, the more you drink, the higher your risk.”
Risks associated with alcohol, as outlined by the CCSA, include liver disease, cardiovascular diseases, increased violence and seven types of cancers – leading experts to suggest putting cancer labels on alcoholic products.
“I think it is a great idea to put [cancer] labels on the bottle,” Bruce McKay, faculty member of human and social sciences at Wilfrid Laurier University, said.
“In the case of alcohol, it is not a short list of problems that alcohol causes when people use it to excess, certain types of cancers is one of those, and that has been the motivation for putting those same types of labels on cigarette packaging for the last couple decades and that has been successful.”
In 2011, when the guidelines were last updated, the CCSA stated 10 drinks a week for women and 15 for men was low-risk. A shocking di erence from the new recommendations.
“I think the surprise this time came from how di erent the guidelines were given that they came from the same group and that 10 years of new evidence so dramatically changed their thinking on it,” said McKay.
According to the Canadian Postsecondary Education Alcohol and Drug Use Survey, 84 per cent of students in 2019 and 2020 had consumed alcohol while only 16 per cent of students had heard of CCSA guidelines.
“I think it is absolutely the case that most students will have gone through some kind of alcohol and
drug education program in elementary or high school …” McKay said.
“ e reality is that there is a phenomenon among young people called ‘myopia view’ – where the most immediate consequences of some actions are deemed important while the long term consequences are not important or unbelievable.”
As for knowledge surrounding the updated guidelines, McKay said, “Did anyone hear about these guidelines a decade ago? No, or they did not remember they heard about them.”
“Drinking is a social activity,”
said a report by the CCSA regarding student alcohol consumption. McKay said, concerning preventive measures, “ ere needs to be a greater involvement of both the community and the university itself o ering other kinds of things to do for the students who want to say no, but need something else to say yes to.”
“Do we provide alternatives for students to do other things? If you have an evening class for example, what else is there to do?,” said McKay. “If someone sees two or more [drinks] is problematic, what could I do instead? … ere really aren't any other options and we
need to provide those options for those who want them.”
Peer education, Mckay says, is an e ective approach to of alcohol overconsumption prevention. “It is much more believable coming from peers than it is coming from someone like me. I can hand information onto peer leaders but coming from the peers, it is just going to be that much more impactful.”
For more information surrounding the updated guidelines or risks surrounding alcohol, visit the CCSA’s website.
ABIGAIL HECKBERT / CORD PHOTOGRAPHY
SADIYA TEEPLE / LEAD PHOTOGRAPHER
YASMEEN ALMOMANI EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
Movies for Non-Black People to Watch
• e Help (2011)
• Coach Carter (2005)
• Dream Girls (1994)
• Remember the Titans (2000)
• Hidden Figures (2016)
• Get Out (2017)
• Little (2019)
• Let it Shine (2012)
• Poetic Justice (1993)
• Gemini Man (2019)
• Colin in Black & White (2021)
Black Joy Books
1. Blackout by Dhonielle Clayton, Ti any D. Jackson, Nic Stone, Nicola Yoon, Ashley Woodfolk and Angie omas
2. Whiteout by Dhonielle Clayton, Ti any D. Jackson, Nic Stone, Nicola Yoon, Ashley Woodfolk and Angie omas
3. Rise to the Sun by Leah Johnson
4. You Should See me in a Crown by Leah Johnson
5. Charming as a Verb by Ben Philippe
6. Opposite of Always by Justin A. Reynolds
7. Excuse me while I ugly cry by Joya Go ney
8. Love times Infinity by Lane Clarke
9. e Undead Truth of Us by Britney S Lewis
10. Instructions for Dancing by Nicola Yoon
*Black Joy recommendations by Kayla Walker
Black Joy movies & tv shows
Movies:
1. Spider-Man: Into the Spiderverse (2018)
2. Jump In (2007)
3. Let it Shine (2012)
4. Twitches (2005)
5. Last Holiday (2006)
6. Akeelah and the Bee (2006)
7. Sister Act (1992)
8. Just Wright (2010)
TV Shows
1. Sister Sister
2. Fresh Prince of Bel-Air
3. Steve Harvey Show
4. Abbott Elementary
5. Living Single
6. Family Matters
Embarassing First Date Stories
but this one guy from my psych class has BEEN asking so I finally went…tell me why he started crying? Like we’re at the pub and he’s fully crying because he was “so thankful” that I went out with him. He’s a business major, if that helps you get the picture. Backwards hat and everything.
K they literally call me the rizzard of Oz bc im in a new girls bed every night but one time, the boys made me go out with this girl who is lowkey weird asf but I was like k. She invited me to her house where her mom made us dinner and chaperoned us the whole timeshe suggested we take it to the bedroom as long as we kept the door open bro. Never again. Her mom was hot though
went on a date with a guy I met on tindr and he spent the entire 5 hours we were together vaping, even inside the movie theatre.
I hooked up with a guy and he said “I cleaned my feet for you.”
I’ve never been into feet, but there was this one hook-up where the guy asked if I would suck his toes. Normally, I’d be repulsed by this but I kind of enjoyed it? It was pretty hot until I sucked up some lint and started gagging though.
One time I went on a date with a girl and she threw up a little in my mouth when we kissed at the end.
Valentine’s Day Cards
Arts & Life
ENTERTAINMENT
AMICHAI ABRAHAM arts@thecord.ca
LIFESTYLE EDITOR
CRYSTAL XUE
lifestyle@thecord.ca
Black Joy in media this Black History Month
KAYLA WALKER ARTS CONTRIBUTOR
February has always been a fun month for me over the years. One of my favourite things about it is Black History Month. It is always meaningful to celebrate your culture.
During this month, I am sure that you will see lists of movies, tv shows and books that need to be read. However, I am sure that 80 per cent of those lists include stories of slavery, police brutality or many other struggles that Black people go through.
While there is no problem with these stories, there is more to Black culture.
Staying educated is always important, but so is acknowledging that Black people are so much more than their pain. Yes, we have experienced tremendous trials and tribulations throughout our history which no one should ever forget. But I also believe we need to also remember we are just people. Black Joy is also needed. Black Joy is when Black culture is celebrated and related to happiness.
Stories that show our happiness and joy should be promoted just as much as media that showcases our pain. When only our struggles are being showcased, it is easy for Black culture and people to
MUSIC
become synonymous with pain when this is certainly not the case. We love, laugh and dance like everyone else. We have a rich culture that should be shown just as much, maybe even more.
Media often a ects people’s perception of others more than we think. erefore, if people of other races watch media with Black Joy, it would be easier for them to understand us better and become empathetic.
Watching television and reading books should also be fun and relaxing. It is good for Black people to be able to escape from their struggles through media. We already know the struggles that our community faces and it can be tough to continuously watch media which shows Black trauma.
Sometimes, media should just tell stories where all the Black main character has to worry about is how fast they are falling in love with an adorable love interest. We deserve happily ever afters.
So, when you are looking for shows to watch and books to read during February, please consider consuming media about Black Joy.
Also, remember to not just consume Black media during February but throughout the entire year. If you are not sure where to look or start I have a list of Black Joy books, tv shows and movies that I highly recommend. Please refer to page 5 for my list of Black Joy!
Classic Valentine’s day songs that
ARAFA ARTS CONTRIBUTOR
Love songs don’t need a special time of year to be listened to, but as Valentine’s day rapidly approaches, some classics deserve extra recognition.
Many heart- uttering love songs have been released over the
years, but nothing compares to the ballads from the mid to late 1900s. ese ve romantic melodies will make you want to sing, dance and love with your partner, friends, or all on your own.
At Last - Etta James (1960) is is an all-time classic and the perfect wedding love song, which is still frequently played. Etta James
sings this song with so much heart and soul that you can feel the love in the air.
Her song starts with the lyrics “At last, my love has come along, my lonely days are over and life is like a song”, describing the euphoria of nally meeting your soulmate.
ough no one can sing this song quite like Etta, “At Last” is so
famously romantic that Beyonce sang a cover of it during Michelle and Barack Obama’s rst dance at the 2009 inauguration ball.
Can’t Help Falling in Love -Elvis Presley (1961)
Elvis is known as the King of Rock for a reason, and his ability to write love songs did not disappoint. Can’t Help Falling in Love is one of Elvis’ most beloved and well-known songs.
is track hit #1 on the US charts and stayed at the top for 20 consecutive weeks. With lyrics like “some things are meant to be” and “Take my hand, take my whole life, too for I can’t help falling in love with you”, Elvis articulates the feeling of a love you just can’t shake.
Endless Love - Lionel Richie and Diana Ross (1981) is song is one of the most popular love songs of the 80s and the perfect romantic ballad. It describes the unconditional love between partners and the lengths they will go for each other.
Diana Ross and Lionel Richie, both spectacular artists on their own, came together to create this top charts song which stayed at #1 for nine weeks. is song set the bar high not only for love songs but for duets of all kinds. is would be a fantastic musical addition to a romantic valentines karaoke session with your loved one.
My Girl - e Temptations
(1965)
If you haven’t put this song on yourself, chances are you’ve heard it playing on the radio or in movies. Released in the mid-60s, this classic is an upbeat, romantic song that will make you want to grab your partner by the hand and spin them around.
“My Girl” was e Temptations’ rst top chart and will remain a great song to sing to your girl. Lyrics like “What can make me feel this way My girl, my girl, my girl Talkin’ ‘bout my girl,” this song is the perfect way to express to your love.
If you feel like you’re on cloud 9, and that she’s the only one for you, then My Girl is for you
Hello - Lionel Richie (1984)
Ending this list o is another classic by Lionel Richie. is song has made its way onto every radio station since its release and has been featured in several movie and TV show soundtracks.
e most memorable lyric from this song is “Hello, is it me you’re looking for?” which is a very revealing line. Lionel Richie expressed being very shy when he was younger; those lyrics were the exact words he would think to himself when walking by women.
Whether you’re shy or outspoken, this song is made for all and deserves to be added to your romantic playlist.
DANA
KATERINA OOSTERWIJK/CORD PHOTOGRAPHY
Love or lack thereof
Media, corporations and nosy relatives alike tend to portray love (speci cally the romantic kind) as a necessity. But there’s less consensus on what it actually is or which qualities make love worthwhile. Haddaway raised the question in his 1993 hit What is Love and we’ve been wondering since.
According to Justin Cavallo, associate professor of psychology at Wilfrid Laurier University, it’s a question that psychologists have been trying to answer for decades:. “We use the term love, but we probably use it too broadly,” he said. Love takes on di erent forms, from platonic and familial to selflove. Romantic love, on the other hand, is harder to de ne.
It also changes over the course of relationships.
“You love your partner di erently, depending on which stage of the relationship you’re at,” said Cavallo. He describes romantic or passionate love, which includes attraction and infatuation. On the other hand, ‘companionate love’ comes from longer-term relationships. It involves more intimacy, connection and commitment.
“Older couples might not be wanting to rip each other’s clothes o all the time,” said Cavallo. “But they still have deep love for each other.”
Similarly, trust in relationships is built over time by being in di cult situations together or making sacri ces to help each other through hardships. e topic of love is closely tied to the debate over whether soulmates exist, which nobody knows for sure. What is certain, though, is your belief on how the matter a ects how you approach potential relationships.
“People who believe in soulmates don’t waste time in relationships. ey decide very early on whether this person ts or not,” said Cavallo.
“Meanwhile, some people don’t believe in soulmates and don’t really care if their partner doesn’t t them perfectly because they believe in working on the relationship over time.”
As Drake famously said, many of us are “still nding [ourselves], let alone a soulmate.” What about people who are focused on themselves and their goals over a relationship?
Essentially, being single is what you make of it.
While some people view being single as a situation they’re in, others may see it as part of who they are.
“If a person starts to think of singlehood as one of their core personal characteristics, it may feel like part of their identity,” said Anne Wilson, psychology professor at Laurier.
Lifestyle Editor Crystal Xue explores romantic love after interviewing Laurier Professors Justin Cavallo and Anne Wilson
research, we nd that people who are unhappy to be single or fear being single long term may even perceive the passage of time to feel slower when single,” said Wilson. “Having a strong fear of being single can make singlehood into an unpleasant experience, and people may not embrace all the enriching activities they could do while single.” is attitude can lead people to avoid singlehood like the plague, going to extremes. Research by Laurier alumna Stephanie Spielmann shows people like this may lower their standards in their rush to nd someone.
In addition to standards, which aren’t worth lowering for anyone, some people may also change their identity due to relationships.
ness it sparks. Doing so can allow one to rejoice in a partner’s successes.
ere’s been more recognition in recent years that being single isn’t inherently good or bad.
Positive and negative connotations to singlehood only exist because people assign them. Some single people wish they weren’t, while others are happily so, leading rewarding lives and enjoying their platonic relationships.
During times of year like Valentine’s Day, when there’s an emphasis on romance, single people tend to receive pity, pressure and stigma. is can be true at any time, but it’s especially prevalent on holidays like Valentine’s Day.
Again, it’s all about what you make of it. “In our
“Romantic relationships, especially longer-term and closer ones, can become a big part of identity,” Wilson said. “Some people start including aspects of their partner’s identity in their sense of self so much that it’s harder for them to de ne where one ends and the other begins.”
In that way, it’s easy for some people to lose or change their sense of self in relationships. Psychologist Art Aron described this phenomenon as the ‘inclusion of other in the self.’
Depending on how much we include a romantic partner in our identity, the circles of ‘self’ and ‘other’ range from being side by side to overlapping like a Venn diagram. In extreme cases, the circles merge with each other and become one.
According to Wilson, including a partner in one’s identity has bene ts, such as the feelings of close-
“It may [also] lead to something called ‘self-expansion’ where people explore new facets of their own identity in a way that is exciting and pleasurable,” she said. is can apply to relationships that bring out the best in both partners, who challenge each other in healthy ways.
As we know, , romantic relationships don’t always last. After all, around 38% of marriages in Canada end in divorce. at’s not addressing the many relationships that don’t make it to marriage in the rst place. With the notion of forever proving to fail almost half the time, it’s unsurprising that marriage rates are declining in Canada.
Breakups aren’t necessarily a bad thing- in fact, they can often be for the best. It’s far better to end a relationship that isn’t serving us than prolong it out of fear. e more we include a partner in our sense of self, the more di cult a breakup can be.
“A great deal of overlap [of the self and other] may also make breakups harder as a person may have to cope with what feels (temporarily at least) like a blow to their sense of self,” said Wilson.
Anthropologist Helen Fisher compares love to addiction and argues that we experience withdrawal symptoms after a breakup akin to drug withdrawals. Studies have shown that looking at a picture of a romantic partner activates the same areas of the brain as a dose of cocaine.
At the end of the day, everyone has their own ideas on what love is. What’s yours?
The best chocolates for
Love is in the air this Februarythat means we’ve got chocolate on the brain. Whether you’re celebrating Valentine’s Day or Galentine’s Day (with the gals), you want to make sure you’re getting a top quality treat.
So which chocolate does your lover actually like? We’ve put together a list of chocolates, ranked from best to worst so that you can use to win over your signi cant other.
“Life is like a box of chocolates, you never know which one you’re going to get.” is is the quote that turns us o of assorted chocolates. While they always look appealing, do they ever truly satisfy?
We do not want your date getting the same vibe from you. Fruity and caramel chocolate is just not it. While it’s the thought that counts, we give assorted boxes 3/10
Chocolate roses: seemingly romantic but a bit cringy for our taste. While it’s hard to go wrong with milk chocolate, the idea is cliche and tacky.
Unless it’s a high quality chocolate, we do not recommend dollar store chocolate roses for your Valentine. is year, we’re ranking the chocolate roses 4/10
Next on our list is a controversial one; Lindt Lindor chocolate trufes. A quick survey taught us that depending on the person you’re talking to, Lindor is either a favourite or a most hated chocolate.
Knowing it is a popular chocolate brand, you’ll see the heart
Valentine
boxes in your local stores in time for the special day. eir Valentine’s special for this year is milk and white chocolate tru es in a pink valentines box. If you want to make your gift more personalized, head to the
Lindt store and choose from their hundreds of options. is wide variety is certain to have options that will appeal to your taste buds. We’re ranking Lindor 7/10 for your Valentine.
e staple Toblerone bar is the
perfect shareable chocolate bar. One for you, one for me! It’s a wellknown fave and the perfect snack for a movie date.
Pro tip, try putting your Toblerone’s in the freezer before snack time. We give Toblerone 7.5/10
You can do no wrong with Hershey’s kisses for your misses. e milk chocolate wrapped in pink and red is a classic.
Also, the cookies and cream avour is sure to win over your crush. We’re ranking Hershey’s 8.5/10 Ferrera Roche; looks fancy, sounds fancy; a boujee option to impress your date this Valentine’s Day. It’s a classic crunchy tru e, very rich, and melts in your mouth. is is one of the best gifts for your lover. is year, we’re rating Ferrera Roche 9/10
While you can’t always buy these at the store, impress your special someone with chocolate strawberries. is is the easiest snack and such a refreshing surprise. Chocolate covered strawberries are historically a symbol of Venus, ancient Rome’s goddess of love. Talk about a romantic treat! We rank chocolate strawberries 9.5/10
Lastly, our most favoured Valentines treat is chocolate fondue. is is a huge win in our books.
If you set up a nice chocolate fondue with some strawberries, a candle, some sparkling wine, and music, you’re getting an A+ for effort and absolutely a second date. We rate chocolate fondue 10/10
Let us know which chocolate you (there’s no shame in snacking alone) or your special someone prefer!
KATERINA OOSTERWIJK/CORD PHOTOGRAPHY
AWARD SHOWS
2023 Oscar nominations scores and snubs
JACK O’KEEFFE
ARTS CONTRIBUTOR
With 2022 having come to a close, the Grammys and Oscars have nally released their nominations, sparking the expected heated debates and conversations.
As COVID restrictions loosened, delayed lms such as Top Gun: Maverick and others marked the year as one of tight competition for the Oscars.
e nominations contain a wide variety of lms – from the second adaptation of the anti-war novel All Quiet on the Western Front to the latest installment of the Shrek franchise, Puss in Boots: e Last Wish
Leading the nominations is A24’s acclaimed masterpiece, Everything Everywhere All At Once – directed by both Daniel Kwan and Daniel Scheinert – with 11 nominations.
It’s followed by Martin McDonagh’s latest lms, e Banshees of Inisherin and All Quiet on the Western Front, both with 9 nominations.
e second Avatar lm from James Cameron, released 13 years after the rst lm, recently topped the box o ce with $2.11 billion in revenues as it receives four nominations, from Best Visual E ects to Best Picture.
Among other Best Picture nominees is Todd Field’s latest lm Tár, which has been commended for showcasing Cate Blanchett’s capabilities as an actor, portraying the downfall of a highly regarded
MOVIES
conductor.
e winner of the Palme d’Or at the Cannes Film Festival, Triangle of Sadness mixes Gilligan’s Island with Marxist eory. It competes alongside with two other nominees for Best Writing and Directing. Furthermore, Baz Luhrmann’s Elvis, is nominated for eight
awards, including Best Picture and Best Sound. is was his rst lm in nine years since his adaptation of F. Scott Fitzgerald’s e Great Gatsby
Meanwhile, the latest entry into the Batman franchise, e Batman, received three nominations - none awarding it a chance to compete
for Best Picture.
Also receiving three nominations is Damien Chazelle’s latest lm since La La Land, Babylon It competes against Elvis for Best Production Design and Costume Design.
e Whale, the lm powering Brendan Fraser’s comeback, re-
ceived three nominations (including Best Actor in a Leading Role).
Fraser competes against Paul Mescal in Aftersun, Austin Butler in Elvis and Colin Farrell in e Banshees of Inisherin (while he received no nominations for his role in e Batman).
Films such as Park Chan Wook’s Decision to Leave and Hirokazu Kore-eda’s latest lm, Broker, which features Song Kang-Ho in his most recognized role since 2019’s Parasite, were left with no nominations for Best International Film.
However, they were both well-received at Cannes. RRR, the highly acclaimed action drama, to the surprise of many, also received no nominations.
Other nomination snubs include Jordan Peele’s Nope, Robert Egger’s e Northman and David Cronenberg’s Crimes of the Future
Brett Morgen’s spectacularly edited documentary of David Bowie’s career: Moonage Daydream was snubbed. e same goes for Luca Guadagnino’s much anticipated return to lmmaking with Bones and All.
Finally, Emancipation, the latest lm starring Will Smith in a leading role, which received unfavourable reviews across the board, received no nominations.
ough many lms went unnoticed by the Academy, a wide variety of lms (which can be viewed here, in full), were recognized. You can expect to see more of a heated debate after the winners are chosen on March 12.
Romantic movies that kill the romance
Watching romantic movies is as synonymous with Valentine’s Day as roses and heart-shaped boxes of chocolate.
However, some movies (while focused on romance) aren’t exactly romantic. Here are some fantastic lms that double as perfect date-repellents.
e Graduate (USA, 1967)
Starring: Dustin Ho man, Anne Bancroft, Kathrine Ross
Do you know the song Mrs. Robinson by Simon and Garfunkel?
ey’re referring to Mrs. Robinson in the 1967 best picture nominee e Graduate.
e lm is about Benjamin (Dustin Ho man) returning from college and struggling with which direction he should take in his life.
An elder family friend, Mrs. Robinson (Anne Bancroft), makes sexual advances toward Benjamin. What ensues is a complex and messy relationship that threatens his future and the reputation of those around him.
It wouldn’t be a stretch to call
this lm a masterpiece from top to bottom.
ere are fantastic performances, iconic music and the story takes many twists and turns.
However, considering the prominent themes of deceit and aimlessness, you may be better suited to choosing a more modest lm for date night.
Woman in the Dunes (Japan, 1964)
Starring: Eiji Okada, Kyôko Kishida
An Entomologist stays the night in a small sandy village with a widowed woman.
He is distraught when he nds he is now stuck in the woman’s house and forced to remain by the odd villagers.
After trying to escape his captivity, things become more complex as the Entomologist develops feelings for the widowed woman and a particular appreciation for the harsh condition of the desert.
Woman in the Dunes is a stunning piece of the Japanese new wave lm movement. It has stunning shot composition, beautiful lighting and an enigmatic environment.
Its romance pushes the lm forward, but the bizarre circumstances surrounding the couple make it an unconventional choice for Valentine’s day.
I’m inking of Ending ings (USA, 2020)
Starring: Jessie Buckley, Jesse Plemons, Toni Collette
From the extraordinary and mysterious mind of Charlie Kaufman, we get a lm that feels weird, bleak, and challenging to comprehend.
I’m inking of Ending ings
follows Lucy (Jessie Buckley) as she travels to her new boyfriend’s family farm to meet his parents. Constantly struggling with pessimism regarding their relationship and the strange happenings around her, Jesse and the lm walk a ne line between reality and fantasy.
While ideas about romance and
relationships are a central theme, these ideas expand into feelings of loneliness and contempt for the outside world.
Put simply; this movie is a massive downer. While t’s undoubtedly one of the best lms to come out so far in the 2020s, making your date depressed might not be best move for your Valentine’s day evening.
CONTRIBUTED PHOTO
CONTRIBUTED PHOTO
AMICHAI ABRAHAM ARTS EDITOR
The long history of Valentine’s Day
AMNA
ALI AFRAN ARTS CONTRIBUTOR
e history behind Valentine’s Day has disappeared under all the roses and chocolates. More often than not, people have cared more about heart shaped chocolates than the history behind the holiday. But what is its true origin?
Ironically, Valentine’s Day had no correlation to love at rst.
While uncertain, some historians have traced its roots to the Pagan holiday Lupercalia. It was meant to celebrate fertility and agriculture, and dedicated to the founders of Rome; Romulus and Remus.
Animals would be sacri ced before having their blood wiped on women and crops. (Such festivities have been a stark contrast to the often-romantic gestures during Valentine’s in modern times.)
Despite these actions, it continued to be popular, and even remained under the Christian Roman empire for another 150 years.
In the fth century, the holiday lost its Pagan touch. Shortly after coming into power, Pope Gelasius outlawed Lupercalia in the late fth century.
e then Pagan holiday transformed into a day of feasts with several saints being seen as the guest of honour. e two most common, both named St. Valentine, also shared similar fates - ,
LOCAL ACTIVITIES
executed
the third
14th
Since then, they have been remembered as martyrs for their e orts in promoting Christian values and sacraments under the politically orientated and corrupt rule.
Historians, including Noel Lenski from the University of Colorado, have attributed and theorized Valentine’s evolution to the Christians wanting to utilize the holiday’s popularity. For years, it continued to be seen as a Christian holiday, void of any mention of love and romance.
It was not until a thousand years later that Valentine’s gained its romantic connotation – through literature. e rst recipient of a Valentine’s Day card was most likely not up for any romance, as her husband, Duke of Orleans, had written to her while imprisoned in
the Tower of London in 1415.
Even so, romance persisted as always, especially from Chaucer and Shakespeare’s writing. Both incorporated Valentine’s Day into their poems and plays, each alluding Valentine’s to be a day of expressing love and appreciation. Some of their most famous pieces, such as e Parlement of Foules and Hamlet, mentioned Saint Valentine’s Day, increasing the holiday’s presence in mainstream society.
Taking inspiration from the great writers, it became customary to exchange handwritten notes, and small gifts for Valentine’s Day by the 18th century. is was majorly replaced by printing during the nineteenth century.
Since then, cards have been mass produced for the holidays, allowing lovers to proclaim their adoration for years. Cheap production and postage prices have made the process of letter exchange even easier, becoming an iconic symbol of Valentine’s Day.
So, what now? Should everyone forgo the roses and chocolate? Or rather, let Cupid’s arrow direct them to learning the history of Valentine’s this year? (While watching your favourite rom com, of course).
Special Valentine’s date locations in the KW
LIFESTYLE CONTRIBUTOR
With Valentine’s day just around the corner, there is no shortage of romantic things to do in Kitchener-Waterloo. Whether you’re spending this special day with friends, family or a special someone, with these date ideas are sure to have a fun time and a great bonding experience with your loved ones..
Outdoor Ice Skating
Skating is easily one of the most fun activities to do during wintertime. Even if you don’t know how, grab your partner, strap on your skates and enjoy each other’s company .
ere is a skating rink in the heart of uptown, located in Waterloo Public Square. It’s open from 10 am - 10 pm daily and is the perfect way to enjoy the crisp winter weather. To top it all o , this skating date can be nished o with a nice hot cup of hot chocolate and a stroll down the colourfully lit street.
Movie at the Princess Cinema
Another romantic date idea is a movie night at the vintage Princess Cinemas, which has been open and operating in uptown Waterloo since 1985.
e theatre is located at 6 Princess Street West, with its sibling theatre, Princess Twin Cinemas, located just down the street at 46 King Street North. ese theatres have the old-time classic feeling of the 80s and are the perfect setting for dressing up and enjoying a classic movie from a di erent time. is is sure to be a fun and unique experience that can’t be found anywhere else in Waterloo.
At the original princess e Last Bus, Before Sunrise and e Room will being playing during Valentie’s day night. is will certainly be a livly atmosphere not to be missed.
Board Game Cafe
If you’re competitive and enjoy playing board games, you’ll love this date idea! Board game cafes are a great way to spend quality time with your signi cant other in an environment that fosters fun competition and conversation. Luckily, KW is home to many di erent board game cafes, so you’ll have a few to choose from. Both Games on Tap Board Game Cafe and Crossroads Board Game cafe are located just a few walking minutes away from Laurier. e great thing about this date idea is that it is extremely wal-
let-friendly and only costs $6 for Games on Tap and $7 for Cross-
roads Cafe. Kitchener also has a game cafe called e Adventurers Guild Board and Video Cafe costing $7 per person. ese prices cover the entire cost of your visit and allow you and your partner to play as many games as your heart’s desire.
Paint your own pottery
Whether you and your partner are creative or not, painting your own pottery is a great date idea to artistically express your love. You can each paint something for yourselves or swap items and paint things for each other.
Crock-a-doodle is the best paint-your-own-pottery spot in Kitchener-Waterloo. Located at e Boardwalk, Crock-a-doodle is the perfect place for any type of date. All you have to do is show up (appointments are not needed, but recommended as the place can ll up fast), pick the type of pottery you would like, and start painting! Once you are nished painting, your artwork will be taken to a kiln so the clay can cook, and in less than a week, you can pick up your beautiful works of art. Pricing for this activity varies depending on the style and type of pottery you choose to paint, ranging anywhere from $25-$130.
SADIYA TEEPLE/CORD PHOTOGRAPHY
DANA ARAFA
SADIYA TEEPLE/CORD PHOTOGRAPHY
being
by Roman Emperor Claudius II around February
in
century.
Editors Note: Quebec Mosque attack anniversary
YASMEEN ALMOMANI EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
Jan. 29 was the sixth anniversary of the Quebec Mosque Shooting; this day also marked the National Day of Remembrance of the Quebec City Mosque Attack and Action Against Islamophobia. I wanted to dedicate this editor’s note to honouring the victims of the attack and discussing the gravity of Islamophobia and other forms of hatred or discrimination.
e thought of someone entering a safe place of worship and ending the lives of worshippers, injuring others and traumatizing a whole community is quite terrifying. Furthermore, classifying a terror attack like this as a single isolated incident is dangerous as it erases the fact that it happened at the hands of widespread Islamophobia.
As a visibly Muslim woman, discrimination and Islamophobia are not foreign concepts to me or my friends and family, so this hits especially home for me. Islamophobia contributes to systemic inequities present in society that are propagated through opinions and ideologies held by some of the general public.
For example, when looking speci cally at Islamophobia and religious discrimination, a survey done in 2017 by e Canadian Muslim Forum (FMC-CMF) and the Canadians for Justice and Peace in the Middle East (CJPME) found that Canadians are least comfortable with gures of authority who wear the hijab and
they are more likely to harbour negative stereotypes about Muslim Canadians, such as Muslims being less tolerant, less adaptable, less open-minded, more violent and more oppressive of women than other certain religions.
I have felt these attitudes towards my religion in my everyday life, where people will make assumptions about my personality and beliefs, which can be frustrating. It is important to understand that there are approximately 1.9 billion Muslims on our planet; so it is strange to classify all of these people as a single monolith with the same thoughts and personalities, based on personal biases. ese attitudes and stereotypes about Muslims can foster an environment of aversion towards this community which can, in some cases, turn into deep-rooted hatred and violence.
I am devastated over what happened six years ago, but I am also sad that a shooting like this could have been prevented without the cost of our innocent community members and the livelihood of their loved ones.
I am content to see the Waterloo region and the larger community trying to be in solidarity with Muslims, especially with community members and the Coalition of Muslim Women (CMW) of KW, and I’m looking forward to more being done.
To nish o this note, on the topic of Muslims and supporting your community members, I want to commemorate World Hijab Day, which was yesterday, on the rst of Feb. I value my hijab and my religion and I hope that we will one day come to a point in community where there are less or no negative stereotypes about my faith and those who hold it.
EDITORIAL CARTOON
The e ects of the 2000’s diet culture lingers today
NATASHA GIANNANTONIO SPORTS EDITOR
Almost every magazine cover in the 2000’s showed thin models with bold fonts cheering on the next fad diet that will guarantee the fastest way to lose weight.
How to get a celebrity body, the perfect beach body and the revenge body.
Diet culture had women tangled in its ngers. A notable and notorious force was the evolution of Weight Watchers and their points plan that allocated a number of points to certain foods, followed by a points allowance.
the elimination process.
e obsession with being skinny was aunted by the fashion era of low rise jeans paired with baby tees.
Clothing stores like Abercrombie or Victoria’s Secret had photographs of unrealistically thin women hanging from their front windows and scattered throughout their stores.
Every aspect of life was impacted by diet culture.
Exercise was seen as a way of discipline, to burn o calories and to earn a treat.
Self-deprecating talk was normalized as a way to train your brain into eating less.
e scale was the enemy in every bathroom but was stood on every morning and evening.
attack people for their bodies ensured that those who grew up during diet culture were raised by those practicing it.
As such, it was a prevalent culture.
e simple fact that dieting became a culture is in itself problematic.
Cultures have in uence over aspects of lives like the norms, beliefs, and values.
e environment diet culture created idolized being a size zero. is equivocated thinness with health, worth, and morals.
It put a halo on thinness. It weaponized health.
e e ects of diet culture have been long lasting, and potentially irreversible.
BOARD
TREASURER Kash Patel
SECRETARY Grace Corriero
PRESIDENT Abigail Heckbert president@wlusp.com
FINANCE MANAGER Randy Moore randy@rcmbrooks. com
ADVERTISING MANAGER Kurtis Rideout ads@wlusp.com
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR Aaron Waitson ed@wlusp.com
HR MANAGER Emily Waitson hr@wlusp.com
“Nothing tastes as good as skinny feels.” An unfortunately memorable statement from Kate Moss that became an anthem for many.
Reality TV had viewers in a trance by mixing harmful messages with drama lled episodes.
Keeping up with the Kardashians drew in fans and critics who all most notably labeled Khloe the “fat sister”.
Tyra Banks’ America’s Next Top Model was fueled by negative body statements critiquing, bashing and humiliating hopeful models during
Many diets today replicate weight loss methods but put them under a di erent name.
Keto, Paleo, and Whole30 restricts foods of certain categories like carbs, fats and sugars.
In addition, they promote unsustainable ways of eating and weight loss.
When these diets fail, users turn back to old habits which create a new cycle of shame and resolutions to make another diet work.
e constant viewing of obviously underweight models, restrictive eating habits, “heroin chic”, and many other techniques used to
Even with body positivity, eating disorder awareness, and mental health initiatives becoming a focus.
e nitpicking of foods, the shameful comments and the bodies people looked up to and worshiped in the 2000’s translates to parenting behaviors.
Negative self-talk parents display in front of their children, especially in developmental stages like the teenage years, has a ripple e ect. is creates unhealthy eating patterns and disordered eating. Further, the norms and values trickle down to the next generation despite how hard we try to eliminate it.
OPINION EDITOR
VACANT
opinion@thecord.ca
Dating apps beyond the romance trope
NATASHA SHANTZ OPINION INTERN
I’ve always had a prejudice towards online dating. Maybe I’m an old romantic, or maybe I’m just cynical about today’s hookup culture.
Either way, I refused to download any dating apps for the longest time.
Let me preface this article by stating that I haven’t had any drastic changes of attitude.
However, I’m far less skeptical about nding relationships online than I was before.
And when I write the word “relationships”, I’m not limiting the term to romantic partnerships.
I always liked it better in reference to a broad range of human connections anyways.
Particularly in relation to platonic ones.
It seems that many are indeed gravitating towards dating apps to nd all kinds of relationships - from committed partnerships, to situationships (yes, it’s considered a real word now) to casual hookups.
And with every year, there is an increase of people using online dating.
In 2021, 44 per cent of singles across Europe and North America tried dating products, a nine per cent increase from 2015.
e surge of activity on apps such as Tinder, Bumble and OkCupid that occurred during the COVID-19 pandemic has not maintained quite the same extreme levels as it did at the time.
All the same, online dating has embedded itself into the fabric of
our social life. I admit, I’ve tried out Bumble and Hinge.
I downloaded them with the impression that it would be a bit of silly little fun, but using dating apps has felt like more of a chore to me than anything else.
As an introvert, my time spent with other people is precious and limited.
e super cial conversations that are unfortunately inescapable when using online dating can bedraining.
Not to mention how terrifying it can be to put yourself out there. You’re talking to, and maybe meeting up with, complete strangers.
Unless some next-level communication is established right o the bat, our personalities, interests and intentions on the app are a mystery to the people on the other side of the screen.
Further, we are left just as much in the dark.
Of course, this is the tough deal that comes with nding relationships online. I’ve begun to realize my tendency to place overly high expectations on the poor souls of Bumble who don’t deserve my harsh judgement.
In fact, creating expectations about our ideal romantic or sexual partners may prevent us from
establishing relationships that otherwise may be very valuable.
I’ve witnessed (and experienced) some lovely connections that have been established after meeting online, without the expectation of a long-term commitment or the pressure of a meaningless and soul-sucking hookup. Sure, these kinds of connections may develop into something di erent over a longer period of time. e point is, they start out being honest, open-ended and platonic. Friends without bene ts if you will.
e typical expectations of dating and romance have long been ingrained in me.
I’ve honestly struggled to grasp this concept of online “friends without bene ts”.
However, I’ve also received some relevant words of wisdom that I’ve very much taken to heart.
Essentially, I’ve realized that our youth should be about meeting people as they exist right now and valuing them as such.
No pressure or expectations, just enjoying the relationships that ow in and out of our lives.
Dating apps are a part of the culture that often tell us the opposite about love.
According to our society, time is running out, we are worthless if we are single and consequently, we must actively seek out validation in the form of dating.
But what if we were to ip that notion on its head?
What if we used online dating not as a source of super cial validation, but as a source of simple, human connection, repurposing these apps with di erent personal intentions?
I’m still an old romantic, perpetually skeptical about using dating apps. I will never not adore the idea of a love at rst sight, or one that is fatefully hanging in the stars.
But ultimately, we do put too much emphasis on romantic connections, and I don’t want to miss out on any more relationships that have been waiting to achieve the same value.
I just might have to put my skepticism on hold this time around.
The emotional connection in Heartstopper
ALEXIS PANKARICAN OPINION CONTRIBUTOR
With Valentine’s Day right around the corner, movies and TV shows centered around romantic relationships are once again gaining popularity.
While I really enjoy watching them, many gloss over one of the key components of a healthy romantic relationship: Emotional attraction.
Of course, there are many movie/TV couples who show the emotional side of their relationships and there is nothing wrong with being in a relationship based heavily on physical attraction. at being said, the movie/ TV relationship that I think best shows a relationship based heavily on emotional attraction is Nick and Charlie’s relationship in the TV adaptation of Alice Oseman’s Heartstopper.
I believe this because the romantic scenes and major plot points in the show are intentionally designed to highlight the characters’ emotional attraction. eir relationship shows that romance includes all of the little things, not just physical intimacy.
To start o , the scene in the second episode where Nick and Charlie play outside in the snow is designed to create romantic tension between the characters by using slow-motion and close-up shots of their faces as they begin to fall in love.
While all they do in this scene is have fun together in the snow, seeing the way they look at each other and how much they enjoy each other’s company gives the viewer those same new-relationship butter ies that they would experience in their own new relationship. is scene shows that sometimes, especially in the rst relationship, it is the emotional attraction that is more signi cant than the physical attraction. In real life, it is sometimes the case where the couple already cares about each other and then they start to build their romantic relationship together based on that. Because this is the case with Nick and Charlie’s relationship in this scene, it makes the show more relatable to people who have had those experiences too.
e other scene I wish to discuss is in the last episode when Nick and Charlie go to the beach together and become an o cial couple.
is is a very emotionally-intense scene that has a very similar e ect to the scene from the second episode.
e framing and background music of the conversations between the characters highlights how strongly they feel about each other. For example, by highlighting the way they laugh and look at each other while taking photos at the photobooth and eating food together, the show puts emphasis on the fact that they enjoy the little moments together and can just have fun.
While watching this, the viewer will feel those subtle demonstrations of love that often get overlooked in romantic scenes in other movies and TV shows.
Seeing these little details and watching how it feels to enter a new relationship leaves the viewer with a much stronger picture of a healthy relationship of this kind.
is scene reinforces that some relationships do not always start with physical intimacy. It shows that the emotional attraction is sometimes the stronger force.
In short, Heartstopper is yet again a ground-breaking show when it comes to portraying romantic relationships.
It puts more emphasis on the emotional attraction between a couple than any other show I can think of. is makes it more relatable to people who are just starting to date or entering a new relationship, as they will be able to see their emotions more accurately re ected by
KATERINA OOSTERWIJK/CORD PHOTOGRAPHY
Nick and Charlie. Not only that, but it shows that the viewer is still able to feel romantic butter ies from scenes that do not include much physical intimacy at all.
CONTRIBUTED PHOTO
The “phan” to LGBTQ+ member pipeline
BRONTE
BEHLING MANAGING EDITOR
From the time I was 13 onward, I was what one might call “a chronically online individual.”
is persisted until I was 17-18, where I learned moderation (for the most part).
During this time in my life, I spent a lot of time on YouTube. Of course, these were the days of the “saturation era” where YouTubers from “across the pond” were incredibly popular.
Out of this batch of YouTubers, my favourites (by far) were Dan and Phil.
Watching their videos gave me comfort and laughs during my entire time in high school while the community they created online gave me some incredible friends.
Connecting with people from all over the globe enriched me in ways that I am incredibly grateful for every day, and the “Dan and Phil Era” of my life remains one of my favourites.
In Summer 2018, I also was able to go to their show “Interactive Introverts” - meeting them in person.
e experience was incredible (both of them being absolutely
Connecting with people from all over the globe enriched me in ways that I am incredibly grateful for every day.
-Bronte Behling, Managing Editor
lovely) and seeing other members of their “fanbase” in person was very neat.
As the years went on and both Dan and Phil came out as gay, I had a moment of clarity surrounding what had brought their community together in the rst place.
(Most) of us were closeted members of the LGBTQ+ community.
e Dan and Phil community (in the early days as well) was a rare space online where hate had no space.
ey were never rude, or crass, or made o ensive jokes.
As a closeted queer individual at the time, this community made me
feel seen.I had always felt on the “outside looking in” - not knowing exactly why I felt so isolated.
As I came out as queer and learned that Dan and Phil had as well, I couldn’t help but feel grateful about how watching their videos had made me feel con dent enough to accept myself.
I’m aware that my experience is not unique - there were other communities online at the time of the “Dan and Phil heyday” that provided a safe space for closeted
individuals.
However, my experience in the Dan and Phil community had a massive impact on my life (and the lives of others online).
Being (and coming out) as queer is not a one way track – ultimately, you’ll be “coming out” for your entire life.
While I was not necessarily worried about how my parents would react, I knew that coming out would have an impact on my life, forever.
Today, I am thrilled to see that Dan and Phil have come out themselves - emboldening the LGBTQ+ community even further and “living their truth”.
ank you, Dan and Phil.
To everyone else - don’t be afraid to come out.
ere are always people who will listen, love you and make you feel welcome.
Whether online or in person, there is a safe space for everyone.
Outside the binary of doom-scrolling
NATASHA SHANTZ
OPINION INTERN
e mid-50-year-olds in my life always say that they doom scroll as soon as they wake up in the morning.
It’s a habit that they also recognize the need to stop. From burning forests and wars, to shootings and political drama, the sadness and tensions of the world are inescapable for them.
Simultaneously, my inherent naïveté and blissful ignorance see the burning forests and wars as existing lifetimes away, the shootings and political drama as realitiesbut not my own.
is lack of awareness is not a characteristic only limited to myself: I recognize it in my friends and peers as well.
So, while those belonging to Generation X need to separate a bit from the news, much of our own generation, still fresh-faced and ever hopeful, needs to wake up to it.
2022 research from the Media Insight Project shows that while 79 per cent of American Gen Z and Millennials get their news daily, only 29 per cent actively seek it out. Current a airs tend to not be information that we go out of our way to look for, but information that we simply happen to come across.
It is true that in comparison to many other eras, the young adults of today are signi cantly more attuned to current a airs.
But it is no coincidence that we are constantly exposed to the ongoings of the world with our increased engagement on social
media.
According to the same data from the Media Insight Project, 71 per cent of American Gen Z and Millennials get their daily news from social media platforms, and 91 per cent of them get it on social media at least weekly.
But once again, our generation doesn’t actively seek out the news. It’s everywhere, at all times, and we have simply become numb to it. ose that do not look to read the news may indeed be aware
of how negative it can be and are avoiding it accordingly.
Generation X is pained by quite the opposite problem, an inability to detach themselves from depressing world events.
But rooted in our younger generation’s numbness and avoidance of the news, there may be an ingrained form of sel shness.
Humans are exceedingly self-involved, a fact that is not new nor something to be ashamed of. It’s in our DNA, from having to prioritize
our own survival so that natural selection would not wipe us out.
As students, we haven’t even reached full maturity yet, so it’s no surprise that we are wrapped up in our own problems only. Personal issues, from overbearing parents, to dating disasters, to stressful jobs or courses are understandably and justi ably consuming.
But here’s the thing – we are also wired for collaboration and even compassion.
We all once had the need to
work in a group of other hunter-gatherers in order to thrive.
Caring about others is a characteristic that comes naturally, especially as we grow older.
One of humanity’s challenges is arguably nding a balance between our two tendencies of absolute sel shness and caring to the point of mentally draining ourselves. Right now, I see Gen Z as teetering on the side of self-absorption and lack of awareness.
As I said before, we can’t exactly be blamed for this.
Life is hard, we are young, and compared to other decades we are relatively more globally conscious.
But maybe we should try to meet Gen X in the middle, maintaining a sense of compassion, caring and awareness of world issues, but not at the cost of our own sanity.
Essential to this balance is a recognition of our reliance on social media for news.
e same as how we should set boundaries with people, we need to set boundaries on our engagement with the online sphere.
Check the news a couple times every day, but not rst thing in the morning.
Instead of mindlessly processing dozens of headlines, stop and re ect on just a few.
ere are many ways of consciously improving our relationship with the news, and they apply to everyone, not just to the ignorant teenagers or the pessimistic newspaper-readers.
It’s a scary, complex world of information out there – but we have a responsibility to try our best to make sense of it all, for our own sakes.
CONTRIBUTED PHOTO
CONTRIBUTED PHOTO
WOMEN’S HOCKEY
Passion, Positivity, Perserverance: Coach Kelly
Laurier women’s hockey Head
Coach Kelly Paton embodies what it means to be part of the purple and gold through her determinism and positivity. Paton is not only a successful University of New Hampshire athlete in the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA), but an experienced and decorated coach.
Paton returned to the World University Games in 2023 after assistant coaching the 2017 Canadian women’s hockey team; a rarity in the International University Sports Federation (FISU) coaching world as retention is not often seen.
e new group of coaches and athletes had one goal in mind heading to Lake Placid: “ ere was a vision to be a gold medalist at the end of the tournament.”
e goal became a reality as Canada beat Japan 5-0 in the gold medal game, bringing home the fourth gold since 2009 when the women’s hockey event became included in the FISU Winter Games.
“ e exciting part about this group of athletes was they had a clear goal from day one,” Paton said. “ at kept us aligned with what we wanted from them as athletes … I’m happy for them that they were able to achieve the goal they set out.”
Developmentally for the women’s game, the tournament represented a bene cial step forward, especially for some nations that
were not considered “hockey nations,” like Japan and Great Britain.
“For Japan, it’s such a positive step that they were able to achieve that nals experience, and I think it speaks volumes to their commitment for growing women’s hockey in their country.”
e in uence North America exerts on other nations as a trailblazer for the growth of women’s hockey has Paton optimistic about future tournaments and the quality
of competition. e bar will only continue to rise for the best of the best university athletes worldwide in what Paton said often is “positive steps.”
Paton’s passion for positive development came back to the local level, as she had the opportunity to coach two athletes from the University of Waterloo.
“ e girls playing in minor hockey organizations right now, they see U Sport athletes wearing the
Canadian ag on their chest … [it] builds a vision for them that they can accomplish similar goals.”
e continued representation, improvement, and nancial commitment for women’s hockey has Paton proud to be a part of the Laurier organization and Team Canada opportunities that push for international presentation.
She said she carries excitement with her as opportunities for young female athletes have grown since
her time in the NCAA, where professional avenues are now feasible.
“I’m excited for the current group that’s experiencing that positive shift, but more so for the younger girls that are looking at some of these players and trying to believe that could be them some day.”
Seeing the OUA and youth sport try to parallel the structure of the NCAA means retaining skilled athletes who would traditionally go south for hockey. Paton said she brought back her knowledge of resource allocation, an important factor for navigating nancial de cits while trying to give her players the best student-athlete experience.
With Paton’s current group of athletes at Laurier, her goal lies in restoring the winning tradition associated with Golden Hawk history, as the program went ten straight dominant years winning the OUA championships.
e team is full of youth with a majority of athletes in their rst and second eligibility years being mentored by important upper year players. Paton knows what her group is capable of, and their desire to return to success. Her message to the team shows the con dence she has for the team:
“Stay motivated … keep working toward your goal, keep yourself accountable, and know that you are going to get rewarded for that work that you commit to.”
Behind the Hawk with Patrick Brown
a lot to my dad; he always wanted me to push myself to the limit.”
in throughout my years of minor hockey nally paying o .”
Each year, thousands of young Canadians from across the country become captivated by the sheer speed and athleticism hockey entails. While some need only to play for leisure, others develop the desire to become the best and play to discover the heights they can reach.
Wilfrid Laurier Golden Hawks forward Patrick Brown was thrust into the hockey world from a young age and was quick to form an undying love for Canada’s game.
While hockey has been, and remains his number one passion, Brown has dabbled in many other sports. “ rough school I did track and eld and soccer. I love golf, but hockey is my main passion.” Brown credits his parents and his two brothers the most for his success. “ ey made me stay on top of hockey and make sure I was doing the little things right. I owe
However, behind most hockey families lies the outspoken ‘hockey mom’ who is not only your biggest fan, but also your biggest critic. is was no di erent for Brown. “I love when she texts me after the game, and I get a little chuckle from whatever she says.”
Perhaps the biggest secret to Brown’s success lies in his pregame rituals. He says, “I always get dressed the left side of my body rst and just tape my stick the same every game…its comfort for me, its something I don’t even realize anymore.”
In 2016, Brown hit his rst major milestone in his hockey career when he was drafted by the North Bay Battalions of the Ontario Hockey League (OHL) in the 7th round. When asked what it felt like to be drafted, Brown said, “Obviously there was a big relief…seeing all the hard work that I had put
Brown played 126 games with the Battalions tallying 17 points. From there, he played a year of junior hockey alongside fellow Golden Hawks Adrian Nabuurs and Matthew Zebedee where he ultimately made the decision to enroll at Laurier and become a Golden Hawk.
“Adrian (Nabuurs) helped me make a decision of coming here and told me what it was like and how great it was. We let Zeb (Matthew Zebedee) know that he’d be very well appreciated…He’s a great player and it was nice to see all three of us together,” Brown added, “I saw I got a big role on the team and that was something I was looking forward to.”
Brown said the best part of being a U Sport athlete is, “ e camaraderie of being with the guys every day. You’re in school now, you’re starting to grow up, and you still
get a chance to play hockey and be with the guys...It’s pretty tough, but you always nd ways to get work done. ere is a lot of resources we can use that makes our job a little easier.”
As a fast, 200-foot, pass- rst player who likes to get his teammates involved, he modeled his game after NHL player Jonathan Toews. “Toews is a 200-foot guy that always competed in both ends of the ice ... at’s what I strive to do” Brown exudes a team-oriented attitude in all his answers regarding the team and his teammates; he is quick to compliment players who need the motivation and is quick to give recognition to those who he believes do not get enough of it.
“Steven MacLean. He’s a big defenceman, he is all over the map every game, always involved whether its blocking shots or joining the rush. He doesn’t get
enough recognition on our team.” It is leadership from a player like Brown that can be looked upon as a main catalyst for the Golden Hawks terri c stretch of hockey that started in November after a rocky start to the season.
Rather than giving up, and dwelling on their past misplays, the team has since bounced back and sit in the 6th and nal playo spot in the West division.
“We had a slow start to the year… there was a lot of moving pieces going on with our team. But we are projecting the right way going into playo s right now… we found our way; we found our identity as a team. And nally, everything’s clicking for us.”
With only ve games remaining in the regular season, Brown said, “Our whole team mode right now is ‘must win’. We are looking at every game as a playo game, one game eliminations.”
NATASHA GIANNANTONIO SPORTS EDITOR