VOCAL CORD
What is your New Year's Resolution?
“Say “no” more. I struggle with doing things for myself and creating time for myself while also doing the things I love.”
- Ashley Mayhew, 2nd year, BA Arts Honours
“Work smarter not harder in school. Figure out Strategies that better work with the way I digest information.”
-Mitchell Abtan, 4th year, BBA
“Learn new strategies to be able to get as good marks as I can this year.”
-Helena Pimentel, 1st year, psychology and neuroscience
“Go out more and make new friends.”
-Kylie Schilling, 1st year, Science
PHOTO OF THE MONTH FROM THE ARCHIVES
EDITOR’S CHOICE
FEBRUARY 2, 2023
CORD STAFF
EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Yasmeen Almomani
editor@thecord.ca
MANAGING EDITIOR Brontë Behling managingeditor@thecord.ca
MULTIMEDIA DIRECTOR Kash Patel multimedia@thecord.ca
NEWS DIRECTOR VACANT news@thecord.ca
NEWS EDITOR James Winslow news@thecord.ca
ARTS EDITOR Amichai Abraham arts@thecord.ca
LIFESTYLE EDITOR Crystal Xue arts@thecord.ca
OPINION EDITOR VACANT opinion@thecord.ca
SPORTS EDITOR Natasha Giannantonio sports@thecord.ca
PHOTO EDITOR VACANT photos@thecord.ca
VIDEO EDITOR George Salib video@thecord.ca
LEAD REPORTER Ashley Barry news@thecord.ca
LEAD PHOTOGRAPHER Sadiya Teeple photos@thecord.ca
SENIOR COPYEDITOR Sofia Platnick
CONTRIBUTORS Kareem Chaudhry Jack O'Kee e Sara Ristic Alexis Pankarican Justin Couto
“Vivienne Westwood, Godmother of Punk” - Crystal Xue
SADIYA TEEPLE/LEAD PHOTOGRAPHER
KW region ranks high for environmental quality
JAMES WINSLOW NEWS EDITOR
According to e Canadian Environmental Quality Index (CanEQI), a new study that measures environmental quality within and between Canadian cities, Kitchener-Waterloo is among the nation’s leading cities for environmental quality.
Daniel Rainham, an environmental epidemiologist and health geographer at Dalhousie University and co-author of the Can-EQI, said the study is focused on environmental characteristics which reliably result in both negative and positive health outcomes within populations. It is the rst of its kind in Canada.
“So, for example, we know that inhaling almost any amount of air pollution is going to have a negative health e ect, whereas there is evidence now that shows that the more green space or trees we have in our neighbourhood is bene cial to our health,” Rainham said.
Negative health e ects associated with high levels of air pollution include pulmonary and cardiovascular complications. Abundant green and blue space (i.e., bodies of water), on the other hand, are associated with a reduced risk of mortality, among other things.
“We know that there’s a reduced risk of mortality when you have more green space, but even a
greater reduction in risk of mortality when you have more access to blue space,” Rainham said.
In addition to air pollution and access to green and blue space, the Can-EQI referenced indices from other countries as a sort of guiding light to consider such indicators as UV exposure, distance to fuel-based power plants and the regional intensity of heatwaves and cold spells.
Relatively small regions like Kitchener-Waterloo and Guelph ranked higher along these lines than metropolises like Toronto and Montreal.
“ e size of them and the sort of density of development means that they just have greater numbers of people in a smaller area … they have more fossil fuel combustion, less vegetation,” Rainham said. Even the composition of the
ground in larger cities has a role to play here. According to Rainham, less vegetation means more surfaces like concrete and asphalt, which lend themselves to being warmer during heatwaves, resulting in a lower score on the Can-EQI. is information can be useful for navigating such territory as whether there is an ideal size for cities. “Maybe there is a more optimal-sized city [where] you can have quite a number of people living in it but at the same time … it hasn’t a ected the environment or modi ed the environment to the point where some portions of the population are going to be negatively impacted,” Rainham said. Such portions of the population are, especially in larger cities, typically members of lower-status socio-economic groups.
In smaller, less dense regions
like Kitchener-Waterloo, less wealthy community members might not be as burdened by harmful environmental determinants of health.
Within these regions, the variation of environmental quality between neighbourhoods tends to be less.
“So, regardless of your sort of socio-economic status, you may still have access to a lot of vegetation, relatively lower levels of air pollution and so on,” Rainham said.
It is worth noting that mental health outcomes also relate to one’s environmental context.
According to Sean Doherty, a professor of geography and environmental studies at Wilfrid Laurier University, rst-hand experience is positively impacted by immersion in natural spaces.
“I think there’s lots of personal
evidence to suggest that natural areas are certainly good for us. ey’re de-stressing, they improve our mood, we feel good in them, we do good things in those environments … and we feel refreshed,” Doherty said.
Students and other community members who live in a region like Kitchener-Waterloo, which ranks high on the Can-EQI, can take advantage of such a ranking by visiting natural spaces whenever they can.
“Find special places that you feel good in and keep returning to them. at would be my advice,” Doherty said.
Heeding such advice can translate to a healthier body and mind. Researchers like Rainham and Doherty are only beginning to unpack the myriad ways in which this is true.
High School Musical set to hit Laurier stage
is January, Laurier Musical eatre (LMT) is putting on High School Musical––their rst student-run production in over two years due to COVID-19 restrictions. During the fall term, cast members and students in LMT worked together through hours of vocals, choreography and rehearsals to prepare for the nal shows, taking
place on Jan. 26th, Jan. 27th and Jan. 28th.
“It’s been quite the experience, trying to put a live performance on since COVID and everything. I think it really dimmed the theatre community for a while, and now trying to get back into it, it’s been really great,” Alexandra Martin, producer at LMT, said.
As for LMT’s rst live show, deciding to produce High School Musical this semester was a popular choice among cast and crew.
“I chose High School Musical because honestly it’s a dream of mine to do it. Also, for everyone our age who’s in university right now, I feel like High School Musical was such an important piece of media for a lot of us. It was like a staple in our childhood,” Martin said, referring to the 2006 movie starring Zac Efron, Vanessa Hudgens and Ashley Tisdale.
Since High School Musical is deemed a childhood classic for many kids growing up in the early 2000s, it resonates with many students, enticing them to be a part of its production.
“It’s so nostalgic and I think that that’s something that has also been really important to many of the rst years that are in our production; to have a sense of nostalgia when you’re going o to university, and everything is really new and scary,” Grace Hood, the stage manager of the production, said. is year, many rst-years came out to audition, joining the cast and LMT community.
“It’s a big community and it’s a really great opportunity for people to make friends. A lot of people say university is where you meet your friends for life, so this is such a great opportunity for rst years and even second years who have been online this whole time to really get out of their comfort zones, get out of their box and meet people,” Martin said.
Students involved with the production and this theatre community will be putting together all of the components for the show in the nal month leading up to the live performances.
“Now it’s just putting everything together and starting with tech and lighting––really putting nal pieces together,” she said.
Although putting together the show has been a fun experience for members of LMT, there have been some challenges along the way due to COVID-19.
“We’ve had to really pivot because of COVID. I know the Students Union has been insanely busy because this is the rst year back to in-person stu , so it’s been a little challenging because we do have to go through SU to get a lot our funding and stu done,” Martin said.
As LMT prepares for the nal month of rehearsals and organizing the live performances, tickets for the shows will be going on sale as the winter semester begins.
“We will be in the concourse through most of January leading up to the show, promoting and o ering ticket sales. e prices are $11.00 for Laurier students, $13.00 for non-Laurier students and $16.00 for the general public,”
she said.
For more information about LMT and ticket sales, check out their Instagram: @lauriermusicaltheatre, or their website: www. lauriermusicaltheatre.ca.
Additionally, if students are looking to get involved with LMT next semester, LMT is hoping to do a production called e Review.
“ e Review is more or less a student-written play and we will put that on for them on campus. We usually just do it in a lecture hall, nothing too big, and we try to keep it under an hour and a half to an hour,” Martin said. is opportunity is for students who would like to showcase their creativity and be part of a student-written and run production.
“We like to do something that’s a little more intimate with the students to make someone’s dreams come true essentially. Anyone can come and submit their pieces that they would like for us to consider and people can come audition again,” she said.
ASHLEY BARRY LEAD REPORTER
Bestselling author joins Laurier for Winter 2023
MADALYN MOSTACCI NEWS INTERN
Acclaimed writer, Donna Morrissey, is Laurier’s Edna Staebler Writer-in-Residence for the winter 2023 term.
“She's kind of a force of nature, this funny and fascinating kind of woman who has emerged on the Canadian Literature writing scene like she was shot out of a cannon,” said Tanis MacDonald, Associate Professor in the faculty of English and Film studies and member of the Writer-in-Residence committee.
e Writer-in-Residence program was established through a bequest from the late Canadian writer, Edna Staebler.
“Every year, a committee chooses a working writer to come and spend ten weeks at Laurier and they are the Writer-in-Residence,” said MacDonald. “ e idea there is that a writer receives an opportunity to come to Waterloo and work with Laurier students and writers in the community.”
e chosen writer in residence functions within two elds.
“ e responsibilities are to spend 60 per cent of their time writing their own work, this is absolutely what Edna Staebler wanted … 40 per cent of the time they do things in the community,” said MacDonald. “It’s di erent from being a professor, they’re not teaching … they are not grading the students, they are talking with them like a writing professional.”
From Canada’s East Coast, Morrissey is a multiple-award winning author of seven novels and two
INNOVATION
screenplays.
“[ e Writer-in-Residence program] is a great resource and I really encourage everyone to come and talk to Donna … I think she's a really good person to talk to about the possibilities there are to be a writer,” said MacDonald.
Morrissey will stay in Waterloo for the duration of the residence.
“I really want to experience Ontario and to be in the university setting around students because next to writing, teaching is what I love best, so this was a perfect program for me,” said Morrissey. roughout the term at Laurier, Morrissey will adhere within the two elds of responsibility.
“I’m excited to start [the] new work that this program is allowing me to do. It is giving me time and
a place to write,” said Morrissey. “ e goal for me is to really become involved in this new novel that I’m starting, I want to get a real rm grip onto this book.”
Morrissey also touched on involvement concerning the Laurier student body.
“I’m excited to put on some workshops, do some readings and introduce my work,” Morrissey said.
“ I just want everybody to have real, hands-on tools that they can use when they’re doing their own writing – because everything that I am going to talk about and teach is directly applicable, you can go home and just start applying it.”
Resources provided by the writer in residence are available university wide. “It is really a resource
SADIYA TEEPLE / LEAD PHOTOGRAPHER
for anyone in the university who is interested in writing,” said MacDonald.
Morrissey’s residence will begin on Jan. 16, 2023.
“Be kind. I’m a little shy … I’m in your hood so please greet me with a smile,” said Morrissey .
“I’m just really excited to come and to be there … just to be in the university atmosphere again. It’s inspiring to even be thinking about it,” said Morrissey.
More information on the Writer-in-Residence program can be found on the university's website.
“…I would tell students in nding out a little bit more about the program, [Morrissey is] going to be giving a public talk, we’ll be holding a reception for Donna on January 26,” said MacDonald.
UXD design to tackle homelessness
LAURA KAPRIELIAN NEWS INTERN
An increase in homelessness affects everyone in our community. It has consequences for healthcare accessibility, public security, economic productivity, and tax revenue collection. e predicament of the homeless brings to light the multitude of social and economic problems that contribute to homelessness and poverty.
Students at Wilfrid Laurier University's User Experience Design (UXD) program will focus on design as a means to address and ultimately solve systemic issues like homelessness during the academic year 2022-2023. We need to address each and every component of this complex issue if we ever want to see it resolved.
At its core, the "Design to End Homelessness" idea is concerned with the process of designing products, services, and legislation to guarantee that everyone has a safe place to call home.
"In January, we will begin the nationwide Design for Change initiative with the goal of ending homelessness as our theme for
the year," said Abby Goodrum, professor and program coordinator of Laurier’s UXD program.
In order to address these concerns, which a ect anybody and everyone, “UX100 is working with the Region of Waterloo to collect information on the number of homeless people living in Canada,” said Goodrum.
More than 120 students from around 50 Canadian institutions and colleges took part in the Design for Change Challenge that year. e objective was to stimulate students' creativity on how to encourage behavioral changes that
would have a long-term positive impact on the environment and human well-being.
e goal of the 2023 round of the Design for Change Challenge is to nally put an end to homelessness and help everyone nd permanent, a ordable homes. Designing goods, services, and policies to ensure everyone has a place to call home is at the heart of the "Design to End Homelessness" conference.
You may expect details about the challenge and how to join up for it in January of 2023.
Following the completion of the challenge around the beginning of
NEWS IN BRIEF
STUDENTS' UNION ELECTIONS SET TO TAKE PLACE AT THE END OF JANUARY
From Jan. 24 at 8:00 a.m. to Jan. 26 at 8:00 p.m. , Wilfrid Laurier University students can vote for their next representatives on the school’s Student Union. For those new to Laurier, the Students’ Union is a not-forpro t organization that is made up of 12 Board of Directors - all of whom are volunteers. e President and CEO hire their Executive Leadership team, who are supported by a fulltime sta
Undergraduate students who are interested in participating can be nominated for the following positions:
1. President & Chief Executive O cer (one position, paid).
2. Member of the Students’ Union Board of Directors (10 positions, volunteer).
3. Wilfrid University Board of Governors (1 volunteer position)
4. Wilfrid University Senate (1 volunteer position for a set term) e positions of the President, Chief Executive O cer, one of the Wilfrid Laurier University Senate members and all of the Members of the Students’ Union Board of Directors are year-long positions. Conversely, the Board of Governors position is a two year term, alongside the other position on the Senate.
January, the nationwide design will be made available to all university students. In addition, following the competition's formal introduction, students who choose to take part in the competition will get a substantial amount of help. ere are two rounds of evaluation by professionals in the elds of housing and security, and the best three proposals are chosen regardless of where in the globe you are.
is was made possible to support various components of this year's UXD theme thanks to the generous gift given by Scotiabank.
Some of these aspects include the Design for Change competition and community-based internships.
With an eye toward facilitating UXD graduates' employment by non-pro ts, the program shifted its internship emphasis in 2020.
“We also do in the summer for free internships working for non for pro t,” said Goodrum.
is year the Laurier UXD program is looking to put ten students with partner groups this year that are working to alleviate housing instability.
An essential part of the "Design to End Homelessness" concept is
Students can vote through an online portal where they will be prompted to select candidates to vote for. e link to this portal is sent through email before the voting period. Further, students can watch the Student Publication Presidential Debates on Jan. 17 at 12:00 p.m. and Jan 23 at 3:00 p.m. Both debates are in-person and online.
Lastly, there is a Waterloo Candidate Meet-up on Jan 20 from 2:00 – 4:00 p.m.
All eligible undergraduate students are encouraged to vote in the Students’ Union election and help make an impact for all students.
the creation of goods, services, and laws that will ensure that everyone has a secure place to live. Students in Wilfrid Laurier University's User Experience Design (UXD) department will concentrate on using design to confront and eventually eliminate systemic challenges like homelessness.
e housing crisis is something that a ects us all. In order to provide a ordable housing for everybody, immediate action is required, along with coordinated e orts to overcome structural obstacles and develop long-term solutions.
SADIYA TEEPLE / LEAD PHOTOGRAPHER
Arts & Life
ARTS EDITOR
AMICHAI ABRAHAM arts@thecord.ca
LIFESTYLE EDITOR
CRYSTAL XUE lifestyle@thecord.ca
The most anticipated movies of 2023
FILM SARA RISTIC ARTS CONTRIBUTOR
2023 will be lled to the brim with movies, with production nally being able to return in its normal fashion. Here are some of the most anticipated movies of the year.
Creed III (Mar 3)
Michael B. Jordan. Must I say anything else?
is is the third installment of the Creed series, which marks the ninth installment in the “Rocky” franchise. It’s also Jordan’s directorial debut.
Damian (Jonathan Majors) and Donnie (Micheal B. Jordan) were childhood friends, but while the young Creed found success in the ring, Damian was serving hard time for 18 years. Now, he’s out of prison — and he’s got some issues with his former friend. A boxer himself, Damian feels robbed of his career, and he’s here to take Donnie’s life and everything he’s got.
Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 (May 5)
Calling all Marvel lovers! One of the biggest block busters coming from Marvel Studios this year is the newest addition of Guardians of the Galaxy.
In his last Guardians movie, director James Gunn creates a nal intergalactic mission that unveils Rocket Raccoon’s (Bradley Cooper) origin story and the return of Gamora (Zoe Saldaña).
With the star-studded cast of Chris Pratt, Dave Bautista, Vin Diesel, Karen Gillan, Pom Klementie , Sean Gunn, and Elizabeth Debicki, this movie is sure to be a hit mixed with all the Marvel we love.
e Little Mermaid (May 26) is newest live action remake from Disney has already been making headlines for years.
Halle Bailey is reimagining the character, being the rst Black actress to play the character and second Black actress to be dubbed a Disney princess.
Directed by Rob Marshall, the Disney classic is to be a hit yet again, along with new songs from Hollywood’s Music Man, Lin-Manuel Miranda. Get your songbooks ready.
Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse (June 2)
A perfect way to start the summer in my eyes. e second installment of one of the greatest animated movies of all time is here to make waves again in the Spider-Verse.
e rst movie had us praising Miles Morales (Shameik Moore) for his journey as our favourite web-slinger but one that stood out among his other Spider-Man contemporaries, while still combining itself with the other Spider-Man movies and Marvel universe.
It’s going to be an absolute joy to watch as a Marvel fan, and it is certain to be a fan favourite. Mission: Impossible – Dead
Reckoning Part One (July 14)
It’s hard to understand how Tom Cruise has survived all of these stunts and that fact alone warrants this movie as one of the best of the year already.
Ethan Hunt (Tom Cruise) is back in the seventh installment of the spy thriller franchise as an IMF agent. In typical spy-thriller fashion, there’s going to be death-defying stunts and fun twists and turns along the way. Cruise even drives o a cli for this one, and you know it’s not fake.
In addition to Cruise, Ving Rhames, Simon Pegg, Rebecca Ferguson, Henry Czerny, Vanessa Kirby and Frederick Schmidt reprise their “Mission: Impossible” roles. A very highly anticipated lm for the already beloved series!
Barbie (July 21)
One of the biggest movies of the year, directed by movie maker extraordinaire, Greta Gerwig.
e lm also features Margot Robbie playing Barbie, Ryan Gosling (our Canadian hero) playing Ken, along with Issa Rae, Simu Liu, Ncuti Gatwa, Hari Nef and Kingsley Ben-Adir.
Barbie and Ken are going to make waves this summer, that’s all I’m going to say. A must watch! Oppenheimer (July 21)
Anything Christopher Nolan does deserves to be given an Oscar and I don’t want to hear anyone else’s opinion on it, sorry.
e highly anticipated new No-
lan lm is staring Cillian Murphy as J. Robert Oppenheimer, one of the original creators of the atomic bomb. e biographical lm is set in World War II and will go through Oppenheimer’s life regarding the creation of the Manhattan project.
With Cillian Murphy, Robert Downey Jr., Matt Damon, Emily Blunt, Florence Pugh, Kenneth Branagh and Rami Malek, this is bound to be one of, if not THE, biggest movies of the year.
Dune: Part Two (Nov 3)
If you weren’t around in 2021 for some reason, Dune was one of the biggest movies of the year. Particularly because Timothée Chalamet is the lead and Zendaya was put in over half the trailer yet was in the movie for 5 minutes max, but that’s a personal gripe.
Based on the popular book series, “Dune”, by Frank Herbert, the second installment of the series will focus on Paul Atreides (Timothée Chalamet) uniting with Chani (Zendaya) and the Fremen while seeking revenge against the conspirators who destroyed his family.
Facing a choice between the love of his life and the fate of the universe, he must prevent a terrible future only he can foresee.
I will be honest, I watched the rst Dune lm twice and I’m still wrapping my head around it, but if you love cinematography and indepth lms, this is a must watch. e Hunger Games: e Ballad
of Songbirds and Snakes (Nov 17)
We are o cially welcoming back the trope of teenagers ghting to death in a futuristic world. e prequel to the Hunger Games is here.
A movie years in the making, we will follow the life of who we know as President Snow, dictator extraordinaire. We’ll see his life before Katniss Everdeen and how he became the villain we despise in the original series.
e prequel follows Tom Blyth as 18-year-old Coriolanus Snow, who is chosen to mentor District 12 tribute Lucy Gray Baird (Rachel Zegler) during the 10th annual Hunger Games. Hunter Schafer, Peter Dinklage, and Viola Davis are part of this ensemble to create the 4th installment of e Hunger Games.
We welcome back the early 2010s with grace.
Wonka (Dec 15)
Once again starring Timothée Chalamet, except this time with a giant top hat and a funny coat. Based on the beloved character created by renowned author Roald Dahl, the musical fantasy prequel revolves around the adventures of a young Willy Wonka and will show how he met the Oompa-Loompas. A fun spin on a classic movie and books we enjoyed as children. Seems like a good way to spend the holidays to me!
Vivienne Westwood, Godmother of Punk
Vivienne Westwood, fashion designer widely known as “the godmother of punk”, passed away on Dec. 29, 2022 at the age of 81. Her namesake company announced her death without specifying the cause.
Westwood’s death follows her long and remarkable career, during which she added elements of couture to punk style. e symbols of rock iconography, royalty, art and religion are evident in her collections.
“[Westwood] was in uenced by art history, old master paintings,” said Véronique Hyland, author of Dress Code: Unlocking Fashion From the New Look to Millennial Pink. “She’s very focused on the English tradition of tailoring.”
At 30, Westwood opened a shop in London with her boyfriend, Malcolm McLaren called Let It Rock
It sold unconventional clothing inspired by the ‘Teddy boy’ look of the 1950s.
Westwood later established an international reputation under her own name. Supermodels and celebrities alike sported her work. When McLaren managed the Sex Pistols, Westwood dressed them in shirts from Let It Rock. It was a perfect t for the band, who made hits like “Anarchy in the U.K.” and “God Save the Queen”.
What’s more, Westwood’s clothes were featured in the 2008 lm adaptation of “Sex and the City.” Actress Kate Winslet also famously wore a gown by the designer to the 1996 Oscars. e hallmarks of Westwood’s legacy are corsets, platform shoes and mini-crini; a mix between a Victorian crinoline and miniskirt. Her other creations include shirts with photos of pinup girls and studded underwear.
“I did not see myself as a fashion designer but as someone who wished to confront the rotten status quo through the way I dressed and dressed others,” Westwood said in her memoir.
Her career was not without controversy- namely, her shirt with the slogan ‘Destroy’ featured a swastika. Westwood later clari ed the message was to destroy anti-semitism. “We were just saying to the older generation, ‘We don’t
accept your values or your taboos, and you’re all fascists,’” she said.
Westwood’s career is padded with accolades; she was the British Fashion Council’s designer of the year in 1990 and 1991. She was also recognized at the British Fashion Awards in 2007 for outstanding achievement in fashion. As well, she was a dame on the Queen’s New Year’s Honors list in 2006.
While her main legacy was as fashion designer, Westwood was also an environmental and political activist. She has used her platform for di erent causes, such as encouraging her audience to adopt green energy in a 2017 show.
She also protested the jailing of Julian Assange, founder of media company WikiLeaks, in 2020. Wearing bright yellow, she locked herself in a cage outside a London court.
“I am Julian Assange,” she declared. “I am the canary in the cage. If I die down the coal mine from poisonous gas, that’s the signal.” rough her activism and designs, Westwood has remained a prominent gure not only in punk, but fashion and society at large.
CONTRIBUTED PHOTO/VIVIENNE WESTWOOD ARCHIVE
So computers can draw, now what?
Arts
Editor Amichai
Abraham looks into what A.I. art means for artists and society, coupled with the insight of The Canvas YouTube Channel
You may be aware of the recent innova- tion known as A.I. art. ere are dozens of companies and websites showing o this fascinating technology, which can generate surprisingly accurate and complex images with speci c directions. e media has largely portrayed this technology as a fun and exciting novelty. However, upon further inspection, A.I. has been and will likely continue to be a burden for human artists.
When I rst discovered AI art, my reaction wasn’t to contemplate the socio-economic impact of the tech, nor was it to think about its more signi cant implications; I just typed in ‘hotdog time machine’ and waited to see what the AI would show me and how it would be portrayed.
e Canvas is a YouTube channel that primarily explores art history and breaks down artworks to comprehend their more profound meaning. Recently, the channel released a video (No, Ai “Art” is not art.), where the content creator who runs the channel, Shawn, discusses A.I. art and his concerns surrounding the technology. e video’s other big question was whether A.I. art could be considered actual art or merely an illustration. While his points are likely to cause disagreements among artists and art enthusiasts, they potentially point to humanity’s superiority over machines in producing images.
For clari cation and additional insight, e Cord interviewed Shawn about A.I. art, the struggles faced by artists and the di erences he noted between art and illustration, as someone who consistently creates content around art.
Many critics of A.I art stem from an uneasy feeling about machines managing to create works of art that are indistinguishable from their human counterparts. is is a philosophical problem, but extends beyond metaphysical debates of human versus A.I. ability. ere is a more tangi- ble issue at hand.
As Shawn brings up in his video, au- tomation has been seen as a substantial positive for nearly all societies throughout history. Automation means that certain tasks require less manpower, and people can direct more of their productivity toward other endeavors and passions. Capitalism, however, is an exception to this rule: in a capitalist system, automation means fewer jobs for people and fewer ways for them to earn a living
and feed themselves or people in their households.
Automation as a problem in a capitalist system is not unique to A.I. art; one could spend hours naming the number of jobs that, within the last century, have seen human workers replaced with automated technology. Some have brought up potential ideas to solve this predic- ament (A.I. expert Calum Chace makes some interesting suggestions), but there is no simple or direct solution.
In his video, Shawn points out that the fact that we are talking about art is important, “For art, there is something di erent about automation because we really want the human touch.”
Art feels like a uniquely human activity and has been for millennia. e fact that pictures can now be created with the push of a button seems to diminish it. is is, of course, assuming that A.I. artists create ‘art’, a point that will be ad- dressed later in this article
Although artists enjoy innovating, experimenting and challenging norms, there are concerns that this generally isn’t a lucrative way to make art. Most artists are forced to “sell out” (for lack of a better word). ey create images for corporations that, while not usually creative in themselves, support artists in their endeavors. . You see these works of art daily, typically with marketing in numerous forms. A.I. art is a threat to this vital source of artists’ income. Additionally, this corporate art is infa- mously “stale and soulless.” e recent trend of simplifying logos is a perfect example of soulless, safe art pushed by corporations under the guise of minimalism. Another standard paradigm is the ino ensive, cheeky-looking character that pops up on your webpage whenever you lose internet connection; like the 8-bit dinosaur on google or the happy looking astronaut sitting on the moon on YouTube. ere are many other examples of corporations following this hackneyed art trend. With the assistance of A.I. artists, the staleness of the art is likely only going to grow.
When explaining how a company could utilize A.I. art, Shawn elaborated on his belief that technology will not manage to produce precisely what the companies are looking for every time. Still, the A.I. seems to hold a rm advantage when it comes to preliminary sketching and image modi cation, roles
more traditionally lled by human artists. Even if we consider the possibility that a human can complete the work with the same mathematical detail that an A.I. can, a human will still work signi cantly slower and much more expensive than the machine, since their time and labour are worth more.
It’s tough to predict the future, but we have already witnessed A.I. artists becoming more sophisticated at an alarming rate. e better A.I. artists become, the more di cult it will be for human artists to make a livable wage with their art. Shawn explained that many of his artist counterparts have already begun feeling the e ects of A.I. artists nancially. So a question must be asked: How should artists adapt to this changing environment?
When I see A.I. art, I see us returning to the idea that art is only beauty.
- Shawn, YouTube Content Creator
One thing that is recommended for artists to do is to draw on the advantages they still maintain over A.I. To understand these advantages, we must seriously consider whether A.I. art should be considered ‘art’ in the true sense of the word. For Shawn, A.I. art is not truly art since it fails art’s most important test; creating engagement with its audience. He states in his video, “if it doesn’t create engagement with an audience, aside from creating a sense of beauty… I’m more comfortable calling it an illustra- tion.”
A.I. art functions by compiling millions upon millions of human-made works and combining them to create the most accurate representation of the prompt it was given. When a human creates a true work of art, there is a deeper meaning or intention beyond the surface-level aesthetics of the piece. With A.I., there is no such interior meaning; it is merely what
French Painter Marcel Duchamp dubbed as ‘retinal art’ or art intended only to please the eye.
“ ere’s more to a pretty image,” Shawn said, “that more that I’m presenting is so much more compelling than the pret- tiness or the beauty of the image; that’s why I love art.”
While this stance does condemn A.I. art to the realm of ‘illustration,’ some human-made artwork is to be caught in the cross re. Many artists create images only intending to present beauty and aesthet- ics. Shawn doesn’t mean to imply that these works are no longer worth creating, but categorizing these works as ‘illustra- tions’ rather than art is controversial, to say the least.
Illustration is most susceptible to takeover by A.I. artists, so there may be more incentive to move away from retinal art. A.I. will (likely) never be able to create a deeper meaning in their images, not in the way humans can create it. Strangely, while likely becoming an economic detriment to the art community, A.I. art may push artists to create more creative and meaningful work that A.I. is incapable of replicating.
If you follow this thought process, this is humanity’s decisive advantage over A.I.; only humanity can create a more profound meaning within their images.
Shawn is optimistic about A.I. art inspiring truly passionate artists who prioritize standing out from the art algorithms. As mentioned earlier, this path is typically not lucrative for artists. Still, he hopes that some develop a certain attitude; “... And if they don’t make money, f*ck it, they’ll continue making art because they love making art.”
He hypothesized a future where artists work part-time jobs to support themselves and passionately endeavor to create meaningful works as their priority, although most part-time jobs do not provide a livable income in contemporary times.
In a system where more automation means fewer opportunities for workers, it’s frightening to see this trend extend to artistic realms. Perhaps this automation will push artists into creating more meaningful works, but is this a fair tradeo for the economic sacri ces they will be forced to make? It’s essential to question who this technology is really helping and whether or not we’d be better o without it.
Looking into cats at the KW Humane Society
BRONTE BEHLING MANAGING EDITOR
All across KW, there are cats and kittens without homes. Many go to local shelters when caught, waiting to be adopted by the perfect family.
One of these organizations is the Humane Society of KW and Stratford Perth (HSKWSP), which operate two self-funded and governed Animal Centres.
Speaking with a member of HSKWSP’s team provided an informative and intriguing look into the adoption process and how the KW community can come together to support cats in the region through emails with e Cord.
First and foremost, HSKWSP is “always looking for volunteers and foster caregivers.”
Alongside monetary contributions, members of the community can support the organization by contributing to the pet pantry program via donations of “essential items, including dog, cat and small animal food, litter, bedding, etc.”
Individuals can also become a “humane ambassador” in their community by helping to “share how the Humane Society supports people and pets, refer people to [the HSKWSP] website for support programs and services, encourage
adopting not shopping and help pets where [they] can!”
Part of being a humane ambassador involves knowing what to do if you suspect there is a stray or feral animal in your neighbourhood.
First, you should identify if the animal is injured, sick or lost. In all three of these scenarios, it is important to call the HSKWSP.
It can also be useful to post a picture or video online of the animal:
“Social media is great! ere are lots of lost pets boards, as well as Ground Search and Rescue, that you can post on and try to spread the word.”
Further, you can “create a poster or yer to spread to neighbours and see if the animal is owned by a local resident.”
If you nd a lost dog, it can be useful to “take it for a walk around your neighbourhood and ask others if they recognize them.”
If all of these methods fail, calling the HSKWSP is important to ensure the animal can be returned to their rightful owner (or have their well-being assessed by the shelter).
Relying on the continued contribution of the KW Region, the HSKWSP has faced many struggles due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
As a charitable organization, HSKWSP relies on the generosity of the community.
“ ere are di erent types of animal shelters – some can be municipally operated and funded, and
others are not for pro ts. Although we all have the same goal, we are not a liated with one another and work separately to help those in our community,” the representative said. “HSKWSP is a charitable organization and receives no funds from the government for our charitable programs and services. We rely on the generosity of donors to keep our doors open and services available to the public.”
One of the struggles currently being faced by the HSKWSP, is that many individuals are grappling with caring for their pets physically and nancially, leading to di culties accessing a ordable veterinary care. e result has been an increase in “medical surrender calls over the last half of 2022”.
However, the pandemic has led to some positives in the world of animal welfare. is “incredible shift” marks a change in the way the industry is supporting people and their pets.
“Where the industry has always focused on animals, we are seeing a fantastic shift to supporting both people and pets.”
One of these bene cial support programs include the Spay Neuter Assistance Program, a low-cost spay neuter clinic in Stratford, and a Community Vet Outreach program to support those who are vulnerably housed or experiencing homelessness.
“We continue to grow these programs with our Pet Pantry Program and our partnership with GoodPup
to o er low cost training services, so those who may be experiencing di culty feeding their pet or accessing lower cost training can avoid having to surrender a pet,” the HSKWSP representative said.
Ultimately, “this shift is wanting to keep people and pets together –maintaining the incredibly important human-animal bond – versus separating them.”
e important work done by the HSKWSP is critical to the lives of animals in the KW Region. In its mission statement, HSKWSP states that it is “committed to promoting the human-animal bond with a focus on the responsible treatment of animals through education, collaboration, compliance, advocacy and care.”
is collaboration with the community can be seen in the shelter’s upcoming charity event, “Bake for the Animals”. To take part, interested parties can either host a bake sale fundraiser for the
shelter, or “follow the pastry path” by collecting a stamp card and visiting “partnering bakeries, eateries & co ee shops for a chance to win a Cuisinart Stand Mixer.” Taking place during February, the event directly supports HSKWSP. ere are also ways for children to get involved. From March 13-17, the shelter’s march break camp “includes a week of fun with animal themed activities for children ages 6-12 years. Camp includes special guest presenters, animal visits, a tour of the centre, arts and crafts, and pizza day!”
Running from 9 - 4 pm, the camp is sure to be a hit with young animal lovers.
With multiple ways to get involved for all ages, contributing to HSKWSP’s animal welfare work should be a priority for KW Region. For more info, individuals can reach HSKWSP at kwsphumane.ca, infosp@kwsphumane.ca or 519745-5615.
OPINION EDITOR
VACANT opinion@thecord.ca
Editors Note: Being realistic when starting a new year
YASMEEN ALMOMANI
EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
Welcome back Golden Hawks. Last year, our editorial team has been grateful to be able to have more of an “on campus” presence of the newspaper and WLU Student Publications is eager to continuously deliver news and entertainment as your newspaper in the 2023 calendar year. is editor’s note is dedicated to being realistic with one’s goals at the beginning of a new year as mentioned in the Opinion Section.
Although a whole year may seem like a long time, it’s only 365 days, and most of them are preoccupied with school, work, responsibilities or just getting through life.
Having the illusion that 365 days can be dedicated to a hard-core long-term goal with high expectations will only bring disappointment when you cannot accomplish the goal, or strain when you are focused so hard on succeeding that you miss actually enjoying a new chapter in life.
For example, having the mindset of “I’m going to turn my whole life around this year,” is a long-term goal that can be hard to accomplish fully in 12 months.
is does not in any way mean that long-term goals cannot be accomplished in a year. Everyone knows themselves best and knows their own capabilities, so maybe “turning my life around,” is realistic for some and not others; however, it is important to know your personal capacity before deciding you want to “change everything” within the span of a year.
Taking it step by step and focusing on what you want to change, and then compiling a list of things that can be changed is more realistic and easier done, o ering a sense of satisfaction and a nice tone to your year.
Categorizing it into sections you want to change also helps: Dividing it by social life, health, academics etc. makes goals appear more manageable, and you can combine sections together, like “going outside more” can be a small step you incorporate into life that can contribute to both your health and your social life, since you will be exposed to the environment and more people outside.
Small changes in life may seem inconsequential but they pile up and you will see a positive synergistic e ect in the end when all the steps you have accomplished improve life as you wanted to improve it.
To end o this note, make sure you take of yourself this year since you deserve it.
WLUSP ADMINISTRATION
BOARD OF
DIRECTORS
CHAIR Abigail Heckbert
VICE-CHAIR
Jacob Rice
DIRECTOR Rosalind Horne
DIRECTOR VACANT
DIRECTOR VACANT
DIRECTOR Jack Vrolyk
TREASURER Kash Patel
SECRETARY Grace Corriero
EDITORIAL CARTOON
In defense of Chazelle’s Babylon
CRYSTAL XUE LIFESTYLE EDITOR
Within the rst ve minutes of Babylon, Damien Chazelle’s new lm, an elephant releases its bowels on Manny Torres, an immigrant with big-screen dreams played by Diego Calva. is sets the tone for the rest of the lm, which I saw in theaters for a whopping three hours and nine minutes. It is a daringly funny, action-packed adventure that leaves nothing to the imagination.
their own way, from Nellie’s frustrations at the demands of sound lm to Manny’s failed attempts as her manager to polish her image.
Distributed by Paramount Pictures with a jazzy soundtrack, Babylon was made for the big-screen. Cinematographer Linus Sandgren employs a variety of camera angles, vivid colours and wide shots that capture the scope of work and frenzy on a movie set. As a result, the scenes are incredibly satisfying to the eye.
However, that seems to be all the critics noticed. Babylon received praise for its cast performances, score and cinematography. Conversely, it was criticized for its screenplay and plot.
fueled party where they bond over their desire to “be part of something bigger”. After Nellie’s rise to fame, the two share a tense yet comical taxi ride back from visiting her institutionalized mother.
Another heartfelt storyline is Jack’s inability to cope with his waning popularity. In a powerful scene, he confronts magazine writer Elinor (Jean Smart) about her cover story on his declining fame. Instead of a stereotypical scene about a veteran actor fading out, Babylon gives us a profound message about art’s lasting legacy with which creators of any kind can resonate.
PRESIDENT Abigail Heckbert president@wlusp.com
FINANCE MANAGER Randy Moore randy@rcmbrooks. com
ADVERTISING MANAGER Kurtis Rideoutads@ wlusp.com EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR Aaron Waitson ed@wlusp.com
HR MANAGER Emily Waitson hr@wlusp.com
Babylon begins in 1926 Los Angeles. It stars Brad Pitt as Jack Conrad, a charming lm star who is perpetually on the verge of divorce and Margot Robbie as Nellie LaRoy, a bold, self-described star who wishes to become an actual lm star. Her dreams materialize as Manny also nds success at studio system Kinoscope.
e lm whisks us through Hollywood’s journey from silent lms to sound and musical orchestras that was as dizzying to watch as it must’ve been to experience. Each character struggles to adapt in
e Hollywood Reporter described the lm as “overstu ed yet insubstantial”, while Vanity Fair attested that “Chazelle has no clear idea where all of this is going”. Similarly, Time critiqued the content to be “about dumb sensation”.
I was surprised at the overwhelmingly negative reviews for a lm that, by the end, had me frozen in awe in my seat. In my opinion, the critics missed the heart in Babylon, which shines through the chaos.
e heartbeat of the lm is the relationship between Manny and Nellie, who meet at a cocaine
Also interesting is the lm’s exploration of marginalized groups in Hollywood. Notably, black jazz trumpeter Sidney Palmer (Jovan Apedo) rises to fame yet his race remains the focal point. ere’s missed opportunities to further explore Sidney’s story, as well as that of lesbian artist Lady Fay Zhu (Li Jun Li).
Don’t let the bad reviews fool you; Babylon may be a glitzy and glamorous lm, but it’s really about Hollywood’s depravity, the ways people cope with it, and the value however infrequent of its outputs.
KAREEM CHAUDHRY/ THE CORD GRAPHICS
The arrest of controversial Andrew Tate
NATASHA SHANTZ OPINION INTERN
History has always provided a plethora of fragile male egos, but in the past few years, certain toxic gures have become hot-button topics. It would not be unsurprising to name Andrew Tate as the 21st century’s leader of controversial men on the Internet. But after his arrest for human tra cking charges on Dec. 29, Tate’s time in the spotlight might not be so sweet anymore.
Tate rst became known through his kickboxing career and his eviction from the UK Big Brother house in 2016: a video of him beating a woman with a belt and calling her a “wh*re” surfaced online.
Despite the obvious depiction of his abusive tendencies, Tate had an unprecedented rise to fame. His self-help guru persona, advocating for hard work and supposed masculinity traced with blatant threads of misogyny, has rapidly grown in popularity.
Adopting the title of “top G”, a term Tate’s chess grandmaster father coined to describe someone who is “capable in all realms”, Tate declared himself to the world as a power-hungry megalomaniac. Over the past few years, TikTok has boosted Tate even more despite his personal inactivity on the platform. His marketing scheme does not necessarily involve his own e orts as much as it relies on copycat accounts that repost his content, run by the aggrieved young men of Tate’s online course, “Hustler’s University”. It’s a blatant manipulation of TikTok’s algorithm and guidelines, with Tate’s “students”
being directed to repost his most controversial videos to maximize engagement and pro t.
Several years ago, Tate moved to Romania with his brother, but his online content, mostly distributed through podcasts and YouTube videos alongside TikTok accounts, has been as prevalent as ever.
In a now-deleted video previously posted to his YouTube channel, Tate also explained his sickening reason for moving to Romania in the rst place: it’s easier to get away with rape.
In his own words, “no, I’m not a f*cking rapist. But I like the idea of being able to just do what I want.”
However, with Tate’s arrest and the worldwide recognition of an undeniably awful charge, his toxic reign
may be coming to an end.
On Dec. 27, Tate tagged 19-year-old environmental activist Greta unberg in a tweet bragging about his expensive, gas-guzzling cars, with the mocking request to “provide your email address so I can send a complete list of my car collection and their respective enormous emissions.”
unberg replied, “yes, please do enlighten me. email me at smalldickenergy@getalife.com”. Her quick response to Tate’s childish boasting has now been liked 3.9 million times. Tate’s video response does not have much of a point to it: He continues to insult unberg and make wild claims about her being “a slave of the Matrix” who seeks to “stop the sun
from being hot”. e next day, Tate was arrested by Romanian o cials for human tra cking charges.
Online rumours speculated that it was the pizza box Tate was handed in his video that gave his location away, but it was later clari ed that the Romanian police had already been tracking him and his brother for running a suspected organized crime group. ese are simply the most recent occurrences that have sent the Internet into yet another frenzy of controversy around Tate’s actions.
Many are immensely relieved at his arrest while others still mope at Tate’s supposedly undeserved injustice delivered by a “Matrix attack”, his explanation for the realities of living in a world with
reasonable institutions and laws by which we must abide.
Manipulative, self-serving people like Andrew Tate will always have a following to back themselves up regardless of the extreme circumstances.
-Natasha Shantz, Opinion Intern
Manipulative, self-serving people like Andrew Tate will always have a following to back themselves up regardless of the extreme, current circumstances.
It remains to be seen whether his arrest will have any impact on this following.
Ultimately, regardless of the outcome, Tate’s extreme actions and improper language online have nally led to rm consequences.
Blaming “the Matrix” for charges of human tra cking and rape will not get him too far in the legislative system, nor will it fare well among the broader Internet community.
As we know, the Internet is a cesspool for negativity.
Plus, with Tate’s 11 luxury cars being seized by Romanian authorities, the man’s ego surely must have taken a hit, giving him even less to brag about to his fandom of angry men if he is released.
After Tate’s years as a self-appointed “top G”, I’m hoping it will be a long, painful fall back to reality for him.
Exploring “new year, new me” yearly trend
SARA RISTIC OPINION CONTRIBUTER
I have o cially ipped my calendar to the month of January and with that ip into the new year, new resolutions for the year are here. We collectively agree that the new year is the time to get ourselves and our surroundings aligned, to be better than the year before. I understand the sentiment of a fresh new beginning with the entire year in front of you to accomplish your goals.
It’s a healthy way of improving and re ning yourself to move forward in life.
Yet do we really need the idea of a “new year, new me” shoved down our throats again?
We’ve all learned that the internet moves fast. If you miss a joke from Twitter one day, it’s hard to keep up with the next ve. at’s why as a generation I believe that we have created the ability to move more quickly to and from ideas while retaining them better than ever before. e date on the calendar has virtually no meaning to society online, letting us ignore the constraints of time in our realities that had a greater impact on generations before. e need for the annual “new year new me” resolution has passed.
We move too fast as a generation to sit down and overhaul our life choices to decide what to do for
the next year. We do better at constantly and consistently striving towards little goals throughout the year, which can then amount to a larger collective goal at the end of the year. Basically the same way we work on the internet. Imagine that your yearly goals are the same as Instagram posts. Most people don’t sit down and
plan their entire Instagram feed to each exact post. Instead, people have a general idea for the theme of their feed. at way whatever does happen throughout the year, they can determine how to deal with certain posts in terms of what the general idea is. at’s the same way your goals should work: one step at a time. e idea and under-
standing of taking things day by day is coming back into the forefront of people’s minds again; we understand that it’s better to continue striving towards goals with context in mind, rather than promising yourself the same thing over and over. It’s silly to keep trying at the idea of a better and greater year when life does not adhere to the
date on the calendar. You cannot change in an instant just because you decided to on a random day in the universe. It takes incremental choices to create changes in your life. Whether or not you choose to take part in the beginning of a new year as a new and changed you, continue to make goals in life and strive towards them.
CONTRIBUTED PHOTO
Creating a better school-life balance in 2023
ALEXIS PANKARICAN OPINION CONTRIBUTER
Many of you have probably heard or made a New Year’s resolution about improving your school-life balance.
While it may seem easy to some, a school-life balance is di cult to achieve because it requires more than just time management.
It also requires the ability to prioritize correctly and act in your own best interest, constructively and appropriately of course. ese habits are often di cult to develop because they force you to make tough choices.
Popular tips such as making a schedule, setting timers, exercising daily and getting eight hours of sleep every night can be e ective. at being said, I found that these are easier to maintain after developing the habits of prioritization and constructive self-interest.
I believe that prioritization is one of the core foundations of a balanced life because it allows you to critically think about what is most important in your life at a given moment.
To be able to balance school, friends, family and a job, you must decide what is most important to do in that moment.
It is necessary to recognize that sometimes, your studies are the most important, while at other times, your social life or job are the most important.
Of course, determining which aspect of your life you should be working on at that moment takes practice.
Here are some questions that I
ask myself when deciding between two tasks: Will I regret switching from X to Y in the future?
Does X have more of an impact on the people around me than Y? Is it better for my physical and mental health to continue with X or should I switch to Y? at last question connects to the idea of constructive self-interest. I believe that the ability to put yourself rst and make di cult choices is necessary for a schoollife balance because it allows you to put up boundaries with the people around you and helps you prioritize. First, you need to be able to say no to your friends and family if coursework or your job are more
important in that moment.
Especially for those with people-pleasing tendencies, this can be a di cult thing to learn.
As someone with people pleasing tendencies, I found it di cult to say no to the people in my life.
-Alexis Pankarican, Opinion Contributer
However, doing so is a crucial
psychological stepping-stone towards improving your school-life balance.
As someone with people-pleasing tendencies, I found it di cult to say no to the people in my life. What helped me learn to say no was knowing that the people in my life who really care about my well-being are going to understand my decision to prioritize something else in the short-term.
e other reason why constructive self-interest is necessary for a school-life balance is because you need to recognize what is best for your life as a whole and not just your short-term happiness. You need to learn to recognize when it is better to work on
something you do not enjoy but must complete instead of something that will give you a shortterm emotional high but make you worse o long-term.
Of course, recognizing when your physical and mental health are more important than your coursework is just as necessary to avoid burnout and keep yourself motivated for the whole term.
I nd that I best achieve this when I consider my future self while making decisions.
For example, I know that I will be better o in the future if I nish an upcoming assignment instead of playing video games or going to a party with my friends.
However, after a busy week, I know that I will be better o in the future if I spend a couple hours doing something I enjoy instead of burning myself out with more coursework.
To help yourself practice thinking about the impact of your present actions on your future self, begin by asking questions about what future you will wish you had done di erently today.
Will they wish you spent more/ less time studying? More/less time with your friends and family? Or more/less time improving your resume with work experience and extracurriculars?
No matter what the answers to these questions are, they provide a good indication of where to start. en, you can prioritize those areas and practice acting in a way that allows you to focus on them. is, in turn, will help you improve your school-life balance and maintain it long-term.
The rise and fall of Elon Musk’s altered Twitter
JACK O’KEEFFE
OPINION CONTRIBUTER
Since Elon Musk’s purchase of Twitter, his decision to turn the platform into a haven for free speech has been a topic of great controversy.
Musk stated that the “new Twitter policy is freedom of speech, but not freedom of reach.” is means that tweets, although they may express unpopular or extreme opinions, will be allowed to exist.
However, they will only be shown if they are liked and interacted with by a substantial number of users.
Following this attempt at rebranding the platform as one for freedom of expression, Twitter revealed that they would be expanding political advertising allowed on the platform, believing it will “facilitate public conversation around important topics.” is new approach solidi es Twitter’s end goal as one to create an equal, free space for the discussion of politics.
Free speech is rightfully valued in democratic societies, and it makes sense why one would wish for the same freedom of expression through the internet, especially when sites like Twitter have become such dominant forms of social. Jordan Peterson, a
gure unbanned by Musk, states in his book 12 Rules for Life that “civilized, open societies abide by a functional social contract, aimed at mutual betterment.”
This new approach solidifies Twitter’s end goal as one to create an equal, free space for the discussion of politics.
-Jack O’Kee e, Opinion Contributer
is social contract is very much exhibited within face-to-face social situations, where we directly carry the responsibility for our actions and are “condemned for everything we do.”
With the implementation of free speech on Twitter, characterized by as little intervention by Twitter’s moderation team as possible, the question that arises is: does this same social contract exist online?
In the past, notable gures have been condemned for their actions on Twitter, including Kevin Hart who was red from hosting the 2018 Oscars for a series of deleted homophobic tweets made in 2011.
Such an observation proves that one is held responsible for their actions on digital platforms like Twitter.
e more troubling cause of Musk’s approach of branding Twitter as a service for free political expression is the existence of anonymous accounts.
If someone is tweeting anonymously, they can break that social contract which “aims us at mutual betterment,” without any repercussions, as they are no longer held responsible for their actions.
To continue with the same example, Peterson, taking a stance against anonymous accounts, claimed that “anonymity enables the psychopaths and narcissists.” ough Peterson did not cite any research backing these claims, the implications of anonymity on social responsibility are clearly visible.
With actions that are deemed socially or ethically wrong, rationale is created to avoid the ostracization of oneself for breaking the “social contract” and to avoid feeling guilt towards one’s actions.
In Fyodor Dostoevsky’s e Brothers Karamazov, it is suggested that “the only real, the only frightening and appeasing punishment, lies in the acknowledgment of one's own conscience."
In the case of Twitter, when someone is no longer held respon-
sible for their actions by hiding behind the mask of anonymity, they no longer feel the need to abide by the “social contract” which permits responsible discussion surrounding political topics – the topic that remains the most prevalent on Twitter.
By no means am I advocating for a ban on internet anonymity, but to recognize that, when trying to create a space for free discussion, it is di cult to separate extreme
and rational behavior when “clear principles of disciple and punishment” seemingly no longer exist. When people can interact with each other while disregarding the “social contract” which regulates our behaviour, (and holds us responsible for our actions), promoting the mutual betterment of others is permitted. is creates a thin line between political discussion and political disinformation.
SADIYA TEEPLE/ LEAD PHOTOGRAPHER
CONTRIBUTED PHOTO
HOCKEY
Queens Gaels clip the wings of the Golden Hawks
Queens goalie Vanessa Campeau.
e Golden Hawks closed the 2022 calendar year playing their best hockey. After a miserable start to the season recording only a single point in their rst nine games, the Golden Hawks began nding their rhythm, registering a point in four of ve games heading into the break. Back-to-back shutout victories against Ontario Tech and Western capped o two weeks of stellar play, and thus the Golden Hawks came into Friday’s contest riding a two-game winning streak.
Hayley Szymanowski continued her torrid scoring pace tallying her 3rd goal in three games and Acadia Carlson stopped 39 shots, yet it was not enough to knock o the Queens’ Gaels who put an end to the Golden Hawks’ 2-game winning streak by a score of 5-2.
e Golden Hawks were quick to shake o the post-holiday rust as Hayley Szymanowski opened the scoring just 3:16 into the rst period. She raced through the neutral zone before laying the puck o to her linemate Chloe Davidson.
Not seeing a clear scoring chance for herself and spotting her linemate driving the net, Davidson threw a hard shot at the pads of
Davidson said, “Based on my positioning, I wasn’t in a good shooting spot, and so I aimed for the far pad just like we’ve practiced.”
is generated a juicy rebound into the slot where Szymanowski lied waiting to jump on the loose puck and put her team ahead 1-0.
is marked the fourth consecutive game where the Golden Hawks have scored the rst goal, further proving the team is trending in the right direction.
e growing chemistry between Szymanowski and Davidson has been the catalyst of much of the team’s o ence in recent games and Davidson attributes her line’s newfound success to “getting familiar with one another and becoming aware of where they are on the ice at all times.”
e Golden Hawks’ lead was sustained through 40 minutes of play and Acadia Carlson had stopped all 25 shots she faced to that point extending her shutout streak to 172 minutes. is included what looked to be two absolutely impossible saves on Queens’ forward Mia Morano during a 5-on-3 penalty kill in the second period.
However, the tides began to turn at the start of the third period. After
several opportunities for Laurier to build on their lead, one mishap at the o ensive blueline sent Queens forward Alyson Reeves on the counterattack; while Carlson made the initial stop, Reeves bounced on her own rebound and tied it up 4 minutes into the third. Just 2 minutes later Reeves struck again, this time on the powerplay, to give Queens a 2-1 lead. 90 seconds after the 2-1 goal, FISU Team Canada selected Scout Watkins Southward bounced on yet another rebound opportunity to make it 3-1 for Queens. is 3-goal outburst occurred in a short span of just 3:37 and marks
the rst time since Nov. 20 that Acadia Carlson has allowed more than two goals in a contest. When asked about her goaltender’s spectacular stretch of hockey Davidson proclaimed Carlson as “unreal”.
“[Carlson]makes a lot of the rst stops and we’re just going to keep working to improve getting the second chances away.”
Carlson would consistently make the initial stop, but the rebound would not be cleared from the front of the net, allowing for the Gaels to pot home loose pucks.
Issues such as these are easily xable and is something that Head Coach Kelly Paton will assuredly
focus on in team meetings and practices going forward.
Finding themselves now down 3-1 just past the halfway mark of the third period, the Golden Hawks made it back into a one goal game o the stick of Rylee Crego. e rookie was the recipient of a picture-perfect passing play.
Davidson maneuvered her way through a pair of Queens’ players nding Szymanowski at the side of the goal who then made the headsup pass to the wide open Crego on the back door for the easy tap in. Crego’s second of the season made it 3-2. is was, however, as close as the Golden Hawks would come, as a pair of empty net goals would be tallied to make the nal score 5-2.
While the nal score may indicate otherwise, the Golden Hawks found themselves in a tightly contested hockey game with a team that, on paper, is much better. e team is trending in the right direction led by their dominant top line. Davidson (2 assists), Szymanowski (1 goal 1 assist) and Olovia MacMillan (1 assist) seemed to generate scoring chances every shift. With just under half the season remaining, the Hawks look to face the Guelph Gryphons hoping to end their two game win streak.
CONTRIBUTED PHOTO/ CHARITY MATHESON
JUSTIN COUTO SPORTS CONTRIBUTOR