November 25, 2015

THE CORD

Features, pages 8-9

THE TIE THAT BINDS WILFRID LAURIER UNIVERSITY SINCE 1926

Campus, page 3

Change through conversation Cuban and LGBTQ advocate highlights the importance of dialogue

Mariela Castro Espin wanted the audience to think from a different perspective Monday night.

“The most important thing as a human is to put yourself in someone else’s shoes and fight for them,” said Castro Espin, LGBTQ advocate and daughter of Cuban President Raul Castro.

Castro Espin’s presence was a part of THEMUSEUM’s lecture series for the Havana Dialogues, an exhibition that looks to honour 70 years

NOVEMBER 25, 2015

PHOTO AND PHOTO MANIPULATION BY WILL HUANG

LECTURE

ERIKA YMANA LOCAL NEWS EDITOR

VOLUME 56 ISSUE 14

of Canadian-Cuban diplomatic relations. The exhibit showcases this relationship and Cuban culture through two photo installations. The aim of the exhibit and lecture series is to showcase the possibility of change through dialogue.

Castro Espin spoke in Spanish throughout the lecture, but was interpreted by a translator. Despite most of the audience relying on the translator to understand, Castro Espin’s voice echoed strength, intelligence and passion.

Local, page 6

VANDALISM ARTS & LIFE

Now playing: Drunk Feminist Films Page 10

Hate graffiti sheds dark light SHELBY BLACKLEY EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

OPINION

A naughty holiday gift from Laurier Page 13

SPORTS

The grades are in for Laurier’s fall teams Page 16

On November 18, students notified Special Constable Services regarding graffiti of swastikas located in the men’s washroom of the Student Services Building.

On November 19, Special Constables received another complaint of hate-related graffiti in the men’s washroom of the Science Research Building, this time in the form of a hate message that said, “Kill all Jews.”

Along with an instance of antiblack graffiti where “White Power” was written on the wall, concern has come forward about hate-related messages around Wilfrid Laurier University.

“The fact we’re aware of it is un-

“The fact we’re aware of it is unnerving and despicable.”

-Moshe Goldman, Rabbi for Laurier and UW

nerving and despicable. I don’t understand the attraction of anybody to carve a swastika into a wall,” said Rabbi Moshe Goldman for Laurier and the University of Waterloo.

All tags have since been cleaned,

Campus, page 4

2 •

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 25, 2015

VOCAL CORD

What would be your weapon of choice in the Hunger Games?

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The Cord

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PHOTO OF THE WEEK

“A bow and arrow.”

–Sujaay Jagannathan, fourth-year health sciences

ANDREAS PATSIAOUROS/PHOTO EDITOR

The Cord got a visit from Vaughn, a guide dog in training, during production. He was so excited about our new issue, he got a head start with last week’s.

“Poisonous berries disguised as wine.”

–Danielle Wong, third-year business

“Waffles.”

–Chris Clark, fourth-year environmental studies

“A lightsaber.”

–Jason McCann, fourthyear business

“The invisibility cloak from Harry Potter.”

–Miranda Discola, secondyear business Compiled by Maddy Cutts Photos by Jessica Dik NEXT ISSUE: DECEMBER 2, 2015

CORD STAFF EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Shelby Blackley sblackley@thecord.ca CREATIVE DIRECTOR Lena Yang lyang@thecord.ca CREATIVE DIRECTOR Joshua Awolade jawolade@thecord.ca MULTIMEDIA DIRECTOR Mynt Marsellus mmarsellus@thecord.ca

Bag O’ Crime

Editor’s note

Location: 50 University Place Reported: Monday, November 16, 2015 @ 5:43 p.m.

SCS received a report of a stolen laptop from a student’s residence located at 50 University Avenue East.

It was believed the MacBook had been stolen sometime on Saturday, November 14, 2015. Given the ongoing issues of Break and Enters at this residence, it is believed this incident may be associated with previously reported incidents which are being investigated by SCS and WRPS.

saved and will be passed on to WRPS detectives to assist in their investigation.

Location: Concourse Reported: Tuesday, November 17, 2015 @ 10:30 p.m.

SCS responded to the Concourse after receiving report of a transient female sleeping in the area. The female was located and verbally identified herself. It was determined she had no affiliation with Laurier.

The female was directed to leave the property and complied without issues.

Location: 26 Hickory St. W. Reported: Thursday, November 19, 2015 @ 5:20 p.m.

SCS received a report of a theft from a vehicle at 62 Hickory Street West in Waterloo. The victim’s vehicle was entered sometime between 2 a.m. and 12 p.m. on the reporting date.

Items taken include a Michael Kors watch, Ray Ban sunglasses, a Danier leather coat, a Herschel backpack, several textbooks, and several blank cheques (cancelled). There was no apparent damage to the vehicle.

Location: Student Services Building Reported: Wednesday, November 18, 2015 @ 10:11 a.m.

SCS were notified of hate-related graffiti located in the men’s washroom in the Student Services Building. The graffiti included several swastikas. Physical Resources were notified to remove the offensive ‘tags’.

Location: Library Reported: Thursday, November 19, 2015 @ 3:44 p.m.

SCS received a complaint of a stolen laptop computer from the Laurier library Building from the 7th floor between 3:25 p.m. – 3:30 p.m. Video surveillance captured two suspects in the building that are already suspects in several other recent thefts at Laurier and UW. Still images were

CAMPUS NEWS EDITOR Kaitlyn Severin kseverin@thecord.ca

GRAPHICS EDITOR Vacant

LOCAL NEWS EDITOR Erika Ymana eymana@thecord.ca

PHOTO EDITOR Andreas Patsiaouros apatsiaouros@thecord. ca

FEATURES EDITOR Bethany Bowles bbowles@thecord.ca

PHOTO EDITOR Will Huang whuang@thecord.ca

ARTS & LIFE EDITOR Zach Guitor zguitor@thecord.ca

VIDEO EDITOR Brian Phillips bphillips@thecord.ca

OPINION EDITOR Mitchell Consky mconsky@thecord.ca

LEAD REPORTER Maddy Cutts mcutts@thecord.ca

SPORTS EDITOR Drew Yates dyates@thecord.ca

LEAD PHOTOGRAPHER Jessica Dik jdik@thecord.ca

Location: Science Research Building Reported: Thursday, November 19, 2015 @ 4:54 p.m.

SCS received a complaint of hate-related graffiti in the men’s washroom in the Science Research Building.

The phrase “Kill all Jews” was written in pencil on the wall. The graffiti was removed by investigating officers.

Location: Bricker Residence Reported: Friday, November 20, 2015 @ 10:30 p.m.

SCS officers attended the exterior of Bricker Residence regarding an activated fire extinguisher. Several males were seen running from the area after one unidentified male dropped the extinguisher upon seeing officers. One male was stopped and questioned in the area, but denied involvement. There are no suspects.

SENIOR COPY EDITOR Caitlyn Sageman csageman@thecord.ca

Over the last two weeks, we have published two articles that have garnered a substantial amount of attention, both in positive and negative lights. These articles have also brought certain flaws to our attention.

Firstly, I stand by my writers and their intentions. Our intentions are never to be biased, subjective or oppressive; rather, we strive for the opposite, to bring critical, objective coverage meant to educate and empower our readers. While execution lacked substance in some circumstances, intentions were never in question.

Second of all, thank you. Our job is to engage our readers whether that is positively or negatively. In order for further conversations to develop around certain topics, we need engagement from our readers and the greater K-W community.

And to provide proper discourse, it is imperative we are called out when there are concerns. So thank you to those that brought forth concerns so we can have this discourse.

The first article in question, ‘Straight to the gay club,’ was intended to break down stereotypes often associated with LGBTQ bars.

We wanted to address that these stereotypes don’t mean anything by showing a comfortable place.

To some, they loved the idea; they felt this shed a positive light on the open, comfortable area. But to some, it came off as tokenizing a group of people that shouldn’t be tokenized

EDITOR’S CHOICE:

COLOPHON

“Swiping for hatred” by Bethany Bowles

The Cord is the official student newspaper of the Wilfrid Laurier University community.

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EDITOR’S CHOICE ONLINE:

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further than they feel they already are. It is unfair to anyone who felt oppressed by the execution or felt it lacked purpose.

The second article in question, ‘The impact of extreme student activism,’ looked at the other side of student activism. Over the last two years we have covered multiple acts by students who stand up for what they believe in: their opposition to IPRM, the opposition to the statues, a sit-in at the Wilfrid Laurier University Students’ Union office and student’s and faculty’s response to 22 positions being cut. We have covered all of the advocacy. With this article, our intention was to look at how this activism can be seen from the alternative and administrative point of view and how it is received.

Never was our intention to quiet those that feel greatly they need to advocate for change. Advocacy is what creates change and without it, the status quo will never be questioned.

We wanted to create another side of discussion I felt we’d been missing throughout all of our reporting.

Student voices should have been involved and the editing process, including choice and placement of photos, should have been more thorough on my part. And for that, I am sorry.

We apologize for the errors and oversights we had and we appreciate the continued discourse to help us provide better news to the Laurier and K-W community.

I continue to stand by my writers and their intentions. But we, too, are students and we’re always learning.

We only hope you can help us continue to strive to be Laurier’s premier student newspaper.

If you’d like to discuss this further, feel free to email me at editor@ thecord.ca.

PREAMBLE The Cord will keep faith with its readers by presenting news and expressions of opinions comprehensively, accurately and fairly. The Cord believes in a balanced and impartial presentation of all relevant facts in a news report, and of all substantial opinions in a matter of controversy.

The staff of The Cord shall uphold all commonly held ethical conventions of journalism. When an error of omission or of commission has occurred, that error shall be acknowledged promptly. When statements are made that are critical of an individual, or an organization, we shall give those affected the opportunity to reply at the earliest time possible. Ethical journalism requires impartiality, and consequently conflicts of interest and the appearance of conflicts of interest will be avoided by all staff.

The only limits of any newspaper are those of the world around it, and so The Cord will attempt to cover its world with a special focus on Wilfrid Laurier University, and the community of Kitchener-Waterloo, and with a special ear to the concerns of the students of Wilfrid Laurier University.

Ultimately, The Cord will be bound by neither philosophy nor geography in its mandate.

The Cord has an obligation to foster

freedom of the press and freedom of speech. This obligation is best fulfilled when debate and dissent are encouraged, both in the internal workings of the paper, and through The Cord’s contact with the student body.

The Cord will always attempt to do what is right, with fear of neither repercussions, nor retaliation. The purpose of the student press is to act as an agent of social awareness, and so shall conduct the affairs of our newspaper.

Quote of the week: “You can see my nips.”

- Arts & Life Editor Zach Guitor regarding a “revealing” photo of himself

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 25, 2015

Campus

• 3 CAMPUS NEWS EDITOR KAITLYN SEVERIN kseverin@thecord.ca

CONSTRUCTION

Building to see further delays MADDY CUTTS LEAD REPORTER

The opening of Lazaridis Hall, Wilfrid Laurier University’s newest academic building, has been delayed once more.

The building, which was originally planned to receive students in fall of 2015, had its opening postponed to January of 2016. It now has an undetermined opening date.

Students were excited to see classes scheduled inside Lazaridis Hall for the winter semester, only to have them suddenly moved into the Peters and Schlegel buildings earlier this month.

“I think it caught everybody off guard, because all indications that we were receiving was that the building would be completed in January, or for January occupancy,” said Ruth MacNeil, acting associate registrar for examinations and scheduling.

The mid-semester change sparked the need to move all planned business, economics and math classes while still ensuring class size was maintained, a project led by Laurier’s timetable specialist within a short two-week period.

The move involved subsequently relocating classes displaced in the school of business and economics and math, as well as 12 additionally

MARCO PEDRI/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER

The GIE building was scheduled to receive students in January. A new opening date has yet to be determined.

affected departments, which totaled at 141 rearranged class sections.

“Our first priority [was] to keep courses at the exact same time and date, to have as minimal as possible an effect for students,” said MacNeil.

“We were able to do that, with the exception of four sections and they were all business courses where the date and time had to change.”

An announcement was sent out to students on November 9 within the

enrolment services newsletter, however most only became aware of the postponement after having noticed the changes on their winter semester schedules and were left wondering about the specifics of the delays.

“It’s understandable, like many construction projects, to fall behind, it’s a common feature. However getting the hopes up of students multiple times is no way to go about the project,” said Tyler Petteplace,

a second-year business student.

“Laurier should be more open in communicating updates to students.”

Though the delay will mean many fourth-year students will not have the opportunity to experience Lazaridis Hall, the string of construction delays left many prepared for another year in the same buildings in which they started, such as the Peter’s and Bricker Academic.

“When I was told about the winter

opening, I was initially skeptical about the timeline just due to how much was left to complete so I don’t think it comes as much of a surprise,” said Shadi Varkiani, a fourth-year economics student and star of the Lazaridis SBE “We Saved You A Seat” promotional video.

“Though it would’ve been nice to get to use the new building, it’s a nice feeling to think that I will be ending my undergraduate degree in the same building that I began it in.

My friends and I have built so many memories over the past few years that it feels like we’re coming full circle.”

The delay is currently indefinite, with no one able to provide any estimate on when classes may commence in the building, nor regarding its completion.

“I would say that we are provided with as much information as the faculty is at this point. I do sit in on faculty meetings and they actually have no longer provided an end date to the building in the most recent update,” said Vanessa Buttinger, president of the School of Business and Economics Students’ Association.

“Obviously it would be great to know more about it, but we are facing the same challenges as the SBESS, as the students of the SBE and as the faculty of the SBE.”

PARIS

Laurier responds to Paris JESSICA DIK/FILE PHOTO

Several incidents of Islamophobia and anti-Muslim hate crimes have increased in North America after the Paris attacks, including a Hindu temple in Waterloo being vandalized on November 15.

KAITLYN SEVERIN CAMPUS NEWS EDITOR

The aftermath of the November 13 Paris attacks increased incidences of hate crimes and Islamophobia across the Canada.

With topics of immigration, refugees and religion a focus in the media, it may seem easy for students at Wilfrid Laurier University to get caught up in the wrong information.

However, Laurier professors are open to communicate with students on the grounds of immigration, religion and how they should respond to the refugee crisis.

Immigration During the 2015 federal election, the Liberal party promised their supporters they would bring in 25,000 Syrian refugees into Canada before the end of the year.

Although refugees have started to settle into various parts of Canada, many media outlets have doubted the government’s promise.

Edmund Pries, assistant professor of global studies at Laurier, is an expert on global citizenship and

international humanitarian law.

He said historically, Canada has brought in more immigrants and refugees in the past.

“25,000 plus or minus 10,000 per year is usually what we accepted in terms of immigrants that includes both refugees and non-refugee immigrants. A small percent of that is refugees, so we’ve got a history of that,” he said.

Pries noted the high number of immigrants is not new to Canadian history. In 1913, Canada accepted over 400,000 immigrants, as well as 50,000 Vietnam refugees in 1979 and 1989 “When the Vietnam War refugees came in the late ‘70s and ‘80s, particularly 1979, we accepted over 60,000. This is not new to Canadian history,” said Pries.

However many Canadian citizens are less concerned about the absorption of the Syrian refugees and more about security issues.

According to Pries, in the past refugees have shown to be the least dangerous in terms of security.

“The refugees that are coming now are fleeing from exactly the same thing that people around the world

are concerned about.”

Religion Christopher F.J. Ross is an associated professor in Laurier’s religion and culture department, as well as an expert on social psychological dynamics of the response to terror.

To Ross, more civilians after the attacks on Paris developed a distorted view of Islam that does not represent the true essence of the religion.

“I don’t think this form of Islam is any [more] representative of the true essence of Islam any more than the Klu Klux Klan is a representative of Protestant Christianity,” Ross continued.

As a result of Islamophobia in Ontario, a mosque in Peterborough was torched on Saturday November 14.

The Waterloo Ram Dahm Hindu temple was also vandalized on November 15.

“Somehow people think anything that isn’t Christian or secular mainstream Western must be all the same, so they go and vandalize a Hindu temple,” said Ross.

Jasmin Zine, a professor of sociology, is an expert on Muslim youth

and works in the field of Islamophobia.

She said the impact of the attacks reverberated into many parts of the world, including Canada.

According to Zine, government authorities bring up a lot of fear mongering against refugees and members of a particular religion.

“That kind of Islamophobia is also very destructive and creates a negative climate for all the refugees that we are expecting in Canada in the next couple of months.”

Response Since the attacks in Paris, much has been done to provide support to those affected, particularly the 42 French international students at Laurier, who spoke at the vigil on November 16.

For those wanting to learn more about the refugee crisis, Pries recommended students take a course touching on issues like immigration and migration.

The International Migration Research Centre in Waterloo also serves as a focal point for discussions about migration and mobility.

“I think it’s an opportunity that we should all take seriously because it shows, it really says how we respond to people in these situations [and] it says more about ourselves than about anybody else,” said Pries.

Ross hopes students will go out and meet some of the Syrian refugees expected to come to the Kitchener-Waterloo region.

“It’s worth an evening of your life to go out to a meeting, extend friendship to them and you’d be surprised how much you have in common.”

Zine hopes students will use university recourses to learn more about Islam and Syrian refugees. Laurier resources, such as open forums and panels, are usually open for students.

She urges students to look at alternative sources of media, which also gives students a more balanced view of why refugees are fleeing to Canada.

“I hope that in the K-W region, when we’re expecting about [1,500] refugees coming, that we will continue to have a spirit of welcoming people, understanding their struggles and realizing that it’s people like them that built Canada in the first place.”

4 • CAMPUS NEWS

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 25, 2015

FROM COVER

JESSI WOOD/GRAPHIC ARTIST

Laurier confronts hate crimes

Images of swastikas and anti-black messages have been appearing on the Waterloo campus –cover but the messages have resonated with members of the community.

Laura Mae Lindo, director of theDiversity and Equity Office, said it’s comforting to know students were the ones that reported the instances.

“It shows there is an intolerance from other students,” she said. “It’s a clear indication that this isn’t something the students are okay with.”

Recently, the state flag of Nazi Germany was seen from a window at 271 Lester Street.

This was investigated by Waterloo Regional Police and determined to be a “joke.”

The intention behind the recent tags has yet to be determined. Additionally, Laurier Students’ Public Interest Research Group’s “I Am Not A Costume” campaign was defaced when someone crossed out the “not” this past October.

Lindo and Goldman assert that

regardless of intention, messages of anti-Semitism and racism can be very harmful.

“Even if the person who is doing it felt that it was funny, the harm is very real,” Lindo said.

“Either you’re very serious about what it stands for … or you think it’s a joke, and I’m not sure which is worse,” Goldman said.

Daniel Gottfried, president of Alpha Epsilon Pi, said he feels there is an increase in these messages in light of what is happening around the world, including recent increases in Islamophobia and other instances of hate crimes.

“Even though it is not direct violence, it is the start of something that could lead to that,” he said.

“Sometimes [even] jokes can be very offensive.”

Goldman explained society has come “a long way making certain things unacceptable,” including

“Even if the person who is doing it felt that it was funny, the harm is very real.”

-Rabbi Moshe Goldman

racism, sexism and anti-Semitism from happening because “it’s not appropriate, it’s not right and it’s not kind.” He said it has no place, but it is unnerving when it occurs.

Although the graffiti were done by only a few students, Lindo said it’s important to change the system that perpetuates a space where these messages are okay.

Additionally, it is important Laurier as an institution confronts these

ideals and support the students.

“I think there’s a tendency, when something like this happens, to clean it up and then assume everything is dealt with. And this is not the master plan. That is not going to change the sentiments of hate that are found inside the graffiti,” Lindo said.

The university released a statement Tuesday evening in response to the graffiti which said these messages are “absolutely unacceptable and will not be tolerated.”

It continued to say there is a need to reflect on the values at Laurier, and to encourage students, staff and faculty to speak up against racism and hate messages.

“With a rise in media attention to anti-Muslim, anti-black and anti-Jewish sentiments, Wilfrid Laurier University is on high alert for such incidents and will not tolerate continued defacement of university property to write messages of hate,”

the statement read.

Lindo said there will be a summit on March 21, 2016 for the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination from the United Nations, proclaimed by the general assembly in October, 1966.

This will help examine where matters such as racism, sexism and anti-Semitism are on campus.

To Lindo, Goldman and Gottfried, education, acknowledgement and discourse are important components to create change and to realize what these markings can mean.

“I see it like it’s a flag. It’s symbolic of a bigger issue,” Lindo said.

“In light of what’s been happening in our communities, in light of what’s been happening in North America, in light of anti-Semitic sentiments, anti-Muslim, Islamophobia, antiblack racism, we’ve got to respond.

And we can’t respond just by pretending like it didn’t happen.”

have a decreased royalty fee of $12.00 per full-time equivalent (FTE) each academic year. The university will pay 20 per cent, or $2.40, to cover copying by employees, and students will pay $9.60.

On November 10, the copyright advisory committee conducted a meeting to review the proposed license. According to the board agenda package for November 26, committee members found numerous concerns with the proposed license, including the licenses’ costs in terms of copying under fair dealing or through license agreements paid for by the university.

Other concerns include the expansion of electronic and digital copyright and the five-year span of the agreement, which could be considered a long-term proposal.

The committee’s recommendations for the agreement includes considering an option to terminate before the fourth year of the agreement and to open up the contract if more terms are available.

Students have expressed concern they will be paying for library resources they can get for free through their tuition dollars.

“I know that there have been some discussions around looking at different ways in which course materials are maybe bundled and provided to students who want to have the opportunity to explore some different options,” said Rowe.

“At this point having a license agreement will allow greater flexibility for us and help us in exploring some of those options,” said Ashoughian.

PROPOSAL

Board to review license agreement The proposed license includes a decreased royalty fee per academic year for both the university and students KAITLYN SEVERIN CAMPUS NEWS EDITOR

On November 26, the Wilfrid Laurier University Board of Governors will motion to approve a license agreement with Access Copyright.

Access Copyright is a not-for-profit collective society that represents the reproduction rights of rights holders, as well as a number of Canadian publishers and authors.

When entering into an agreement with Access Copyright, universities receive permission to use copyrighted materials for academic-related activities, such as course packs and course reading lists. The agreement

“Our feeling is that the license agreement is in the best interest of the university at this time.”

-Shereen Rowe, secretary and general counsel

will allow Laurier to copy published work without having to receive permission from the specific individual author or publisher.

In 2012, Laurier entered into the Universities Canada draft negotiated license agreement with Access Copyright. The proposed license agreement would take effect on January 1, 2016.

Gohar Ashoughian, university librarian at Laurier, and Shereen Rowe, secretary and general counsel, are co-chairs of the advisory committee. The committee provides advice and recommendations on copyright related matters.

“Our feeling is that the license agreement is in the best interest of the university at this time. One of the other advantages that we feel having a license agreement will provide is that it will also facilitate pilot projects for e-textbooks and other online learning options that we may want to explore,” Rowe explained.

“The important achievement with this new license agreement is that we have managed to get a lot of value out of Access Copyright,” said Ashoughian.

“At this point having a license agreement will allow greater flexibility for us and help us in exploring some of those options.”

LENA YANG/CREATIVE DIRECTOR -Gohar Ashoughian, university librarian

The current license agreement is based on $26.00 per full-time equivalent student per academic year. Students cover 80 per cent of the costs, or $20.80.

The university covers 20 per cent to address copying by employees, which adds up to $5.20.

As said in the proposed license, if a chapter is copied from a book, it will be copied provided that it is no more than 25 per cent of the book.

Copying above 25 per cent or outside the Access Copyright’s repertoire will be priced by the work’s publisher and subject to a processing fee of $2.50 per title cleared.

The proposed license will also

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 25, 2015

Local

• 5 LOCAL NEWS EDITOR ERIKA YMANA eymana@thecord.ca

REFUGEE CRISIS

All hands on deck for resettlement Waterloo Region continues to prepare for the arrival of refugees despite changes in initial plan MARISSA EVANS STAFF WRITER

The Region of Waterloo is hard at work as it prepares for the arrival of refugees who will soon become permanent residents in the community. The Immigration Partnership of Waterloo Region, a collaboration of community agencies who are committed to helping settle immigrants, is currently looking at the various facets of assisting incoming refugees.

They’ll be addressing issues including housing, education, language services, health care, employment and public reception.

“So far I think the community’s response has been very, very overwhelmingly positive and we’ve had incredible engagement from service agencies across the board who understand this is going to impact them,” said Tara Bedard, manager of IPWR. “They are doing everything they can in order to be as ready as they can.”

She added that IPWR and its partners have received a flood of phone calls from community members looking for ways to help. Bedard explained up until this point they haven’t been able to direct those callers to clear venues, but they will soon be announcing how people can help.

The number of refugees who will be coming to the region is currently unconfirmed. Last week, IPWR estimated the region could receive 1,150

refugees over the next two months.

They arrived at this number based on how refugees have been allocated to reception centres across Canada over the past few years.

Kitchener is one of many reception centres for refugees across the country, which is why a portion of the 25,000 refugees the federal government promised to take in by the end of the year will be coming to the Region. These reception centres receive and support governmentassisted refugees, which most of the 25,000 are reported to be.

“Nobody is under an illusion that this is going to be very easy.”

-Tara Bedard, manager of the Immigration Partnership of Waterloo Region

Based on the past disbursement of refugees to these reception centres, IPWR calculated the Region might receive 850 of the government-assisted refugees.

In addition, they estimated that 300 privately-sponsored refugees could come to the region.

However on Tuesday the federal government announced only 10,000 refugees will arrive in Canada by the

CONTRIBUTED IMAGE

end of the year, with the remainder arriving by the end of February 2016.

Accordingly, the timeline for the estimated 1,150 refugees to arrive in Waterloo Region may be altered by this. Preparation for the arrival of any number of refugees is still needed.

Part of this preparation is ensuring English language services can accommodate for an influx in need.

Saint Louis Adult Learning and Continuing Education Centres offers English language programs and will be coordinating with other community partners who offer the same service.

“We looked at how much space we have available in our classes,” explained Michele Breault, pro-

gram manager of partnerships and proposals at Saint Louis. “And we could, if people are willing, look at afternoon and evening options, even some mornings. We would be able to accommodate between anywhere from 200 to 400 new students.”

In addition to increasing the number of classes offered, Saint Louis is considering to offer classes where children can accompany their parents, hosting classes at community centres that will be closer to where refugees will be living, training staff to recognize and respond to learners who have experienced trauma and having the ability to refer students to other support agencies.

Breault expressed English lan-

guage training is just one need to be filled.

“We’re just a small piece because getting people settled is top priority,” she said. “Getting a bed, a roof over their head, clothes on their body — that’s primary. And then helping them adapt to Canadian culture and English language.”

However she noted the importance language can play in helping immigrants feel at home as relying on a translator can be restricting.

Along with teaching English, Saint Louis gives students the skills to settle into Canadian culture. For example, they teach students how to explain their current state of health to a healthcare professional or how to talk to their child’s teacher.

Bedard acknowledged the concerns she knows many people have about the impact the intake will have on the community.

“Nobody is under an illusion that this is going to be very easy. But I think people should feel good that systems and organizations are really trying to work together to make this a positive opportunity for the community,” she said.

She continued that a positive reception essential as many who will arrive would have suffered serious traumas.

“This is their final destination and so a warm welcome so that people can start to pick up the pieces of their lives and move forward would be really wonderful,” Bedard said.

6 • LOCAL NEWS

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 25, 2015

FROM COVER

JESSICA DIK/LEAD PHOTOGRAPHER

LGBTQ activism through art in Cuba –cover She began the lecture by acknowledging the importance of these Western relations as there is so much to learn from other countries.

As a renowned activist for LGBTQ rights in Cuba and director of the Cuban National Centre for Sex Education, she indicated that people have access to numerous resources at their disposal, many of which they currently lack in Cuba. But she quickly pointed out the global difference in LGBTQ experience — Cuba’s spirituality.

“Spiritual resources can’t compare to material resources,” she said.

Castro Espin provided a brief look into the history and development of Cuba’s LGBTQ community.

Homophobia has a cultural history in Cuba, which is birthed from classism and racism.

Although the Cuban revolution worked to change these patterns, discrimination continued.

The inability to choose a stance on this issue defaults to siding with the dominant opinion, and at the time, a homophobic position was taken due to the lack of public representation for the oppressed LGBTQ community.

Castro Espin said she has always taken the role of a leader and was deeply involved with social issues.

She reminisced on a time when she had a conversation with her father about the purge that led those who identified as LGBTQ to flee Cuba.

She continued to explain the issue of homophobia was a “task” that was always left for later. Although work

on LGBTQ issues needed to be done, tools were scarce.

“Good intentions aren’t enough; you have to be prepared. You have to study. Studying is key or else you get dragged by different fads and trends.”

get rid of homophobia, then a law means nothing,” she said.

In terms of gathering support, Castro Espin said her and her team always use “artistic resources” in their campaigns such as art exhibits and movie discussion nights.

“Art is so important to help people understand. [It] is sharper than science … It is more free.”

Castro Espin said she is always looking to do things differently from other countries, which is why she wants to stay away from doing a pride parade.

Also, during this time, the aim is to gain alliances rather than to provoke.

In her continuous tenure as an LGBTQ advocate, she has been able to witness beautiful change, such as

“Art is so important to help people understand.

[It] is sharper than science ... It is more free."

Studying a particular issue allows one to not only look for the problem, but also understand the process behind it, said Castro Espin.

Through study, she was able to develop a strategy focused on policy.

“If we don’t develop policy to

parents and their LGBTQ-identified children forgiving each other, in places she has visited.

“There are good results that come out of these activities,” she said.

As the lecture came to a close, Castro Espin said Cuba is still in a revolutionary process that involves tearing down these old patterns of domination.

She continued that Cuba is still working to raise particular issues in legislation. Such laws include equal opportunity for men and women as well as sexual education in schools in which the LGBTQ community can be represented in the curriculum.

To sum it up in a few short words, Castro Espin said the main objective is the emancipation of the human being.

“Respect of dignity. That’s our work.”

PARTNERSHIP

Refugee families aided by WLU and local committee Three families are set to arive through the BVOR program EMILIA CURCIC STAFF WRITER

In partnership with the Mennonite Central Committee, Wilfrid Laurier University has sponsored three refugee families to move to the Waterloo Region and Brantford area through the Blended-Visa Office Referral program.

Although the exact date of their arrival has not been confirmed, they are expected to arrive before the end of the calendar year and preparations are underway.

Two of the families will be settling into the Kitchener-Waterloo community and one will be set up in the Brantford area.

The BVOR sponsorship program was first introduced by the Canadian government three years ago. It splits the cost of sponsoring a refugee family between the government and the private sponsor.

However there is speculation the government’s contributions are often closer to 40 per cent according to Kaylee Perez, refugee sponsorship associate at MCC Ontario.

The families have all been put through an extensive screening process by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees before they were selected by the MCC.

All three of the families are Syrian refugees and have been seriously affected by the civil unrest in their country.

The MCC is a key partner for many private sponsors. According to Perez, there has been a significant increase in sponsorship initiatives through the committee.

“It’s going to be a huge adjustment for them. They are coming here with nothing.”

-Rob Donelson, vice-president of development and alumni relations at Laurier

“Last year MCC worked with eight sponsorship groups, to sponsor 56 refugees. This year from September alone we are already working with over 120 groups and will have approximately 76 families arrive by the end of December. A total of about 298 individuals,” explained Perez.

Rob Donelson, vice-president of development and alumni relations at Laurier, said Laurier has already passed the halfway mark for their

$60,000 fundraising goal to help these families.

Donors have been able to make donations as well as take direct cuts from their pay cheques.

Donelson added that although the financial commitment is only for one year, committee members expect support to last longer.

“There’s going to be some excitement and enthusiasm when these people arrive, but then those weeks and months after that we have to make sure we are providing a lot of personal support for them,” said Donelson.

“It’s going to be a huge adjustment for them. They are coming here with nothing. There’s unrest in their countries, they’ve been traveling for a long time. We hope that they will develop a certain independence over the year.”

The Laurier refugee sponsorship committee is divided into four subgroups: housing, general settlement, health and education as well as events committees.

Each is headed by a committee liaison and focuses directly on specific tasks.

Edmund Pries, liaison for the housing committee, stressed the importance of finding suitable housing as well as preparing furniture and

LENA YANG/CREATIVE DIRECTOR

items for other household needs.

The committee is now accepting the donation of lightly used goods.

When it comes to community involvement, students are welcome to get involved in the project.

Whether it be through raising awareness, providing translation or working with various committees.

Olivia Matthews, president and CEO of the Wilfrid Laurier University Students’ Union and co-chair for the

event planning committee, encourages students to take advantage of this volunteer opportunity.

“They can get in touch with me as a starting point. What we recognize is that students might be in financial need right now and they might not be able to donate.”

“But we’re trying to come up with events where they can be sponsored, or where they can be involved with raising awareness,” said Matthews.

GAMES • 7

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 25, 2015

Dear Life Dear Life is your opportunity to write a letter to your life, allowing you to vent your anger with life’s little frustrations in a completely public forum.

All submissions to Dear Life are anonymous, should be no longer than 100 words and must be addressed to your life. Submissions can be sent to dearlife@thecord.ca no later than Monday at noon each week.

Dear Life, Thanks for buying the last house on Bricker for $900,000, tearing it down and turning it into a parking lot.

Money well spent, I’d say!

Sincerely, Paved paradise to put up a parking lot Dear Life, Would you please start using lubricant?

Sincerely, My Bleached Asshole Dear Life, When I asked if it was possible for you to get any harder, it was a rhetorical question. Not a challenge.

Sincerely, Everyone Dear Life, Why does someone who isn’t currently a student think they should run for Students’ Union President?

You want to represent students, but you could have graduated this term?

Are you just doing it for the money?

Sincerely,

It’s the STUDENTS’ Union, not the Alumni Union.

Dear WLUSU, There’s more to advocacy than gendered violence. I understand the importance of it, and I am proud Laurier students are working hard on this issue. I just wish we’d hear about more achievements from WLUSU than just that of gendered violence.

Sincerely, There are academic issues too

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Dear Cord, How about you stop your anti-black racism? Activism is not ‘Extreme’ if it’s about people fighting for their lives.

Sincerely, Do your research Dear Life, Dear other online dating site users, Stop being so rude when a girl doesn’t want to send you photos.

Sincerely, Trying to maintain professionalism

3. How many pages were in the first issue? ________________________________ 4. In what decade did current psychology professor Don Morgenson start writing for The Cord? a) 1930s b) 1940s c) 1950s d) 1960s

HARD

Dear Life, Why did I get tendinitus in my dominant hand when I have 3 more assignments to finsihed Sincerely, Can’t write or type properly

5. When was The Cord successfully shut down? a) 1991 b) 1970 c) 1930 d) 2000

Dear The Cord, Did I miss my chance?

Sincerely, The 2015 Grad that never submitted anything

6. When did the Students’ Union and Student Publications sign an agreement which distanced the influence the Union had over content? a) 1970s b) 1990s c) The Union never had any influence over content d) The Union still has influence over content

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8 •

FEATU

FEATURES EDITOR/BETHANY BOWLES/BBOWLES@THECORD.CA

Zach Guitor Training score: 7

Will realizes to win the game, he can’t be allies with Mitch. As they are resting at night, a group of hedgehogs — somehow controlled

by Will — attack Mitch with their cuteness. His emotions get in the way! Will then goes for the strike with his throwing knives, landing successful blows to Mitch’s arms to disable him. Mitch tries to run away with no arms while kicking at the adorable hedgehogs. He bleeds out.

11

Shelby Blackley

Training score: 10

Erika Ymana Training score: 6

10

It has now come down to the final four. As Shelby runs through the woods, she can’t handle how crazy Lena has become. She cracks under the stress of her staff turning against each other and has a final epiphany that there’s too much to take care of. She has a heart attack.

12

Finally, Lena and Will are attacked by a group of sloths. Will, being a ninja with cool tattoos and a clan of hedgehogs, channels them to attack Lena. Lena’s jabberjay voice has by this point taken over the entire stadium and she is halted by the sound of her own voice. The sloths attack her very, very slowly.

Will stands victorious.

The o

Editing. Terrible editing. E cism. Workplace confrontati replay. Printer malfunctions. Th shook the organization. And so, t their newspaper and commitment t six section editors, two photo editor a Multimedia Director and an Editorfight to the death in a battle of strength ness. The lone victor, bathed in glory, wo generosity. This is how they remember their fu

The a

Mynt Marsellus

9

As Erika is running away, her sneaks rip on a vine and she has to take them off. She tries to run away without them but ends up running through a pool of quicksand. Lena finds her and takes her weapon of choice, a baseball bat, and hits Erika in the throat as she is sinking in the sand.

Training score: 8

Lena Yang

Training score: 8

This year the tributes will be forced post-apocalyptic Waterloo, with m hogs, jabberjays with infuriating c amongst scorched grounds full games are sure to be a surpr be lost in the chaos? To c publishing year, let the beg

8

Erika is then cornered by Will and Mitch. Shelby, who was in the forest with Lena, wants to save Erika and blindslide Mitch. She tries to throw her giant axe at Mitch’s back but she misses because it’s too big for her. Mitch and Will turn their attention on Shelby and Lena.

Caitlyn Sageman

Training score: 6

7

Meanwhile, Drew and Erika are still in the trees away from threats.

Somehow in the bloodshed at the beginning, Drew acquired a bow and arrow. Seeing Caitlyn below, all alone, he shoots her in the heart. But Drew loses his footing and he falls out of the tree. He breaks a leg, unable to move. Will and Mitch, camouflaged in the rubble like ninjas, come out and kill Drew.

URES

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 25, 2015 • 9

Andreas Patsiaouros

1

Out of pure fear, everyone bands together to attack Mynt right at the beginning near the cornucopia except for Erika and Drew, who run into the forest to find their place in the trees. Mynt dies. Quite quickly.

However during the attack, Mynt manages to wound Bethany with poison-tipped knitting needles.

Training score: 7

2

Andreas is too disturbed by the blood. Not knowing how to use his weapon of choice, the whip, he starts to panic. Will kills Andreas out of annoyance, but everyone remembers him as a transgressing, inspirational artist as they chant, “synergy.” Everyone starts to

3

Bethany goes after Zach, who gets caught in his sweater and begins to strangle himself. Bethany helps by putting all of her final strength into killing him. Zach yells out for his love, Erika, who is above in a tree, but his muffled screams are inaudible. He suffocates.

origin

Errors. Controversy. Critiions. Songs on never-ending These were the problems that to demonstrate their sacrifice to to their loyal readers, it was decreed rs, a copy editor, a Creative Director, -in-Chief — the 12 tributes — would h, cleverness and unrestrained viciousould serve as a reminder of their weekly r their past. This is how they proofread uture.

Bethany Bowles

Training score: 9

Mitchell Consky

Training score: 11

arena

Kaitlyn Severin

4

into an arena designed to imitate a mutated rodents resembling hedgecatchphrases and toxic chronicles l of ruin and rubble. This year’s rise. Who will win? Who will celebrate the Cord’s 90th e annual Cord Games gin!

Bethany is too poisoned to go further. She struggles to find the gift that the sponsors have sent her to keep her alive, but Caitlyn creates a blowtorch from her AXE body spray and burns her, speeding up her death.

Training score: 6

Will Huang Training score: 9

6

Kaitlyn runs out of vodka bottles from drinking while Caitlyn tries to use her AXE body spray, but it runs out. They both don’t have any more weapons and begin to panic.

Because Kaitlyn drank so much alcohol, she is flammable and becomes a human torch, sacrificing herself to get Caitlyn further in the game.

There is a two-day halt in killing as everyone finds a place to hide.

Kaitlyn and Caitlyn become allies after Mitch ditches Kaitlyn for Will, and they find refuge in a rock cavern. Lena, annoyed with the slowness of the game, sends out jabberjays to sing, “Oh my god, you want to die?” — her signature saying. It brings people to pain, and the remaining tributes run out into the rubble to get away. Killing ensues.

5

Drew Yates Training score: 6

WORDS BY BRYAN STEPHENS, EMILY CRUMP, MITCHELL CONSKY, SHELBY BLACKLEY PHOTOS BY WILL HUANG/PHOTO EDITOR, ANDREAS PATSIAOUROS/PHOTO EDITOR PHOTO MANIPULATIONS BY LENA YANG/CREATIVE DIRECTOR

10 •

Arts & Life

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 25, 2015 ARTS & LIFE EDITOR ZACH GUITOR zguitor@thecord.ca

FILM

Oscar bait lacks hook

FEMINISM

Room is exactly what you expect — and not much else

CONTRIBUTED IMAGE

CHRISTOPHER DONALD STAFF WRITER

Room is an infuriating mess of a film, one that attempts both unbearable dreariness and sickening whimsy while rarely ever finding the right mood to carry any one of its dead-end goals.

It’s the kind of film where hearing the basic premise — a mother and child leave the room where they have been held captive for years — has you go in expecting it to be about one thing and it turns out to be about that exact thing, which would be fine if the film didn’t carry such a turgid air of self-importance. There is nothing stimulating, intriguing or engaging about Room, inspiring less hope and optimism and more frustration and irritation.

I have no idea from which perspective the events of Room take

place. Is it the kid’s? It would seem like it with the goopy music and periodic bits of his voiceover, but the grey-on-more-grey colour pallet and moments of brutality suggest it is viewed through the mother’s eyes.

So who is the audience’s reference point? The answer is neither, as Lenny Abrahamson directs it all with a disconnect of jittery grey and tries to cram in sappy asides to balance it out. He does not succeed because Room is sweet when it wants to be and dour when it wants to be and finds no interesting way of bringing the two together.

This is like a film like Pan’s Labyrinth, which uses high fantasy and grim reality to highlight the merciless nature of power by showing it from the point-of-view of an imaginative girl.

The performances are fine. Brie Larson is probably going to get an Oscar for her weary and hurt Ma, Jacob Tremblay is suitably obnoxious and vibrant as the kid — even if the character is so contrived in his preciousness it hurts.

The ensemble cast are all game for

being as super-serious or whimsical as the film. It was a pleasant surprise seeing William H. Macy and there are a few interesting stories on the fringes, but they are hardly explored and are pushed aside in favor of the gag-inducing mother-child story.

There’s a kidnapper with a bizarre desire to not only keep his captives alive but fed, warm and entertained.

There are parents who have been reunited with their daughter after years of fear and grief. Even the ‘grandmother getting to know her grandson’ story becomes noticeable just long enough to feel missed when it is dropped for another bit of invasively sappy narration on the part of the kid.

There are two or three good moments here and there but there is rarely any follow-through, instead just being rushed past to get the kid back with his mother.

It all culminates when the mother and son walk away from revisiting the room as the snow falls and even more saccharine piano plays over their departure, as if to say “their horrible trauma will be manageable as long as they have each other.”

Spare me.

I refuse to speculate about why other critics like this film but I don’t think I’ll ever understand it. I left the theater stomping out like a spoiled child and I’m not afraid of saying that in the face of its overwhelming praise. While Brie Larson and the film will likely win a bunch of awards, I can’t say I look forward it.

Room sucks and is a terrible disappointment. Give me The Room any day.

LENA YANG/CREATIVE DIRECTOR

Film discourse drinking game Drunk Feminist Films host showings for the feminist’s perspective on film ZACH GUITOR ARTS & LIFE EDITOR

Feminism doesn’t have to be daunting. It’s certainly an area of intrigue for many people, but some are uncertain where to start.

Luckily, there’s Drunk Feminist Films, an organization that currently hosts movie screenings which encourage feminist discourse in both Toronto and Kitchener-Waterloo. The screenings have a strong reputation of being both fun and accessible for all people.

Whether you have a master’s in women’s studies or you have the slightest inkling for feminism, this organization has something valuable to offer.

The organization aims to challenge the established innocence of many culturally relevant films by inviting community members to engage in film commentary and drinking. Their last event, a screening of Twilight on Oct. 23 in Kitchener, encouraged participants to scream out and drink whenever the dialogue “jumped the shark” or whenever Bella bit her lip.

In fact, Drunk Feminist Films was born out of a Twilight drinking game created by Toronto-based illustrator, designer and writer Gillian Goerz, with the help of a few friends.

As Goerz puts it, the organization is “not the scholarly answer to feminism,” but rather a good “entry point” for those interested in exploring feminist theory. It is also simply a positive space for all to engage in feminist discourse.

A common misconception of feminism is it’s a discipline that only discusses women, while in reality, it explores the intersection of oppression in society, including gender, class and race — to name a few. Goerz pointed out while many problematic film tropes are genderoriented, the film industry also has a tendency to misrepresent race onscreen, as well.

“The whiteness of mainstream film is blinding,” said Goerz.

Notwithstanding, Goerz indicated that balanced and rightly representative writing in film and television exists. A shining example is Aziz Ansari’s Netflix series Master of None. Goerz emphasized the show’s

“The whiteness of mainstream film is blinding.”

-Gillian Goerz, founder of Drunk Feminist Films

excellent characterization, saying the character Denise isn’t simply a “black lesbian,” but rather “a person who happens to be a black lesbian.”

The show’s on-screen personalities need not rely on stereotypes to build relationships and exposition.

Even with all the praise to Master of None, it is not the type of material Drunk Feminist Films is likely to show at one of their events. The organization focuses on films that are “in people’s cultural mindset,” Goerz said. She explained even movies that are universally praised are often overlooked.

“Swallowed without thinking about it,” said Goerz.

“We loved Bridesmaids, but we were unhappy to find that it had a lot of race jokes, which were simply unnecessary.”

In true holiday spirit, their next event invites K-W community members to engage in some banter over the classic Love, Actually at Apollo Theatre in downtown Kitchener. As explained on Drunk Feminist Films’ YouTube account, the film is riddled with “unnecessary power dynamics and language that reinforces unrealistic expectations.”

The YouTube channel has attracted a small yet dedicated following.

But as with any feminist movement on the Internet, there will always be detractors.

“Trolls are trolls are trolls,” said Goerz. “If you’re a woman on YouTube and you say the word ‘feminism,’ expect a heat-seeking mass of wieners.”

In the face of negativity, the crew at Drunk Feminist Films has no plans to slow down. Goerz indicated a strong interest in expanding to other cities and even mentioned that they are interested in making themselves hirable for conferences.

ARTS & LIFE • 11

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 25, 2015 CONCERT

IN THE SPOTLIGHT AN EVENING WITH YONATAN GAT

WILL HUANG/PHOTO EDITOR

JORDAN SOUFIAN STAFF WRITER

Undoubtedly the best hump day I’ve had in a while. The trio of Yonatan Gat, Gal Lazer and Sergio Sayeg made their prodigious return to Waterloo on November 18 to rupture some eardrums in Starlight nightclub.

As their two openers were playing their sets, the trio was aimlessly meandering through the crowd, which didn’t go unnoticed, especially with their avant-garde inspired outfits of undersized blazers and what may have been Gucci loafers.

Soon after the performances finished, Gat, Lazer and Sayeg positioned themselves in the middle of the crowd, in contrast to most con-

The crowd still managed to find a limb on their body to sway or tap along with the reverb-soaked sonic sounds.

ventional artists and it made perfect sense. At that very moment I had a subconscious lapse and fantasized of every concert to which I’d ever been, with the Gat twist of the performers positioning themselves in the middle of the crowd to the great avail of heightened intimacy.

As they finished setting up their gear, Lazer began what the crowd anticipated to be an incredibly long and fast-paced drum warm-up, but just as we expected cessation, Gat

began his blissful strumming and the experience officially began.

Four minutes into the exposition of their album opener “East to West,” from their latest record Director, some crowd members were preparing to jive along to the chorus until the band took a sudden twist and left Lazer alone to perform an incomprehensibly paced drum solo. Illuminated by his red spotlight while his head craned towards the entrance of the venue, Gat and Sayeg turned off their respective spotlights and disappeared into obscurity as Lazer entranced the crowd.

After Lazer’s several spotlight performances, Gat began his improvisational prowess as his genredefying strums shook the room and dazed the audience. Despite the rapidly changing time signatures, all members of the crowd still managed to find a limb on their body to sway or tap along with the reverb-soaked sonic sounds.

At the beginning of the show,

the crowd was desperately trying to grasp onto a rhythm, but soon after many realized it would never come.

Just as the band built up anticipation, they would abruptly cut away and explore a blend of unparalleled sounds taking cues from free jazz

Even after the last note was struck, most of the audience was confounded and didn’t want to leave the human bonfire ...

and African cadences with starkly punk influences.

As the Yonatan Gat experience came to a close, the trio performed a much slower rendition of their

opening track mixed in with Hebrew hymns to further emphasize the jazz spaces they were employing.

The performance was winding down, but the audience was relentless and clapped for what felt like an eternity until the group discretely surrendered to the audience’s delight and quietly re-emerged from the corners of the room to serenade the crowd one last time. Even after the last note was struck, most of the audience was confounded and didn’t want to leave the human bonfire of pleasure and intensity.

Some casually drifted towards the corners of the venue while others relished the experience with closed eyes and their hands raised triumphantly above their heads.

Unlike many bands, each Yonatan Gat performance can undoubtedly be described infinitely many ways.

And as Heraclitus insists: “No man e0ver steps in the same river twice, for it’s not the same river and he’s not the same man.”

MUSIC

Bieb’s failed reinvention Justin Bieber’s latest record has no ‘purpose’ or direction

RYAN CULLEY MUSIC COLUMNIST

Justin Bieber’s latest record is a major disappointment.

Not only because of the quality of the music, but the album was completely underwhelming from start to finish.

Bieber and his team have spent the majority of the last two years recreating Bieber’s image, with tons of rebranding and marketing put into his new look and sound.

After all of this work, it was disheartening to listen to this album and feel a sense of disappointment.

Purpose is a testimony to how our generation creates and consumes music.

With the ability to easily produce music on our laptops and our incessant impatience with wanting

the next big thing, the appreciation for the art that goes into making an album has diminished.

The single’s released prior to this album such as, “Where Are Ü Now” or “What Do You Mean?” saw huge success and showed a new, mature side of Bieber. Backed by producer’s like Skrillex and Diplo, Bieber was able to take his sound from overly produced R&B, to a hybrid of his former style combined it with the contemporary sounds of house and trap.

This all culminated to the major release of “Sorry,” which has an evident dancehall influence.

Despite continued acclaim worldwide, there is simply no flow within this album from song to song and no thesis trying to be conveyed and sadly no direction.

At times there seems to be hope within Purpose. Songs like “Love Yourself” and “Purpose” are instantly likeable with their simple yet enthralling production. Sadly, the whole album sounds too much like a subpar version of early 2000s Usher.

The inspiration for each song changes between the life of a rich and jaded young adult with a broken heart, to an advocate for change with songs like “Children,” a track that asks the listener empty questions such as “what about the children?”

However I will give Bieber credit for incorporating his own beliefs into his music. After his alleged spiritual awakening with Christianity, it seems Bieber is finding his own path in life and it’s respectable to see him stick to that.

With most of Purpose feeling insincere, lazy and sounding as though it was produced on a MacBook Air, this album is a letdown in light of the success of his recent singles. It was as if Bieber knew it was low calibre work and thus added gimmicks to ensure its success.

All in all, if you’re considering buying Purpose, please do not. Instead, go through the album and pick the particular tracks you like. To buy the album as a whole, if it can even be considered an album, would be a waste of money.

CONTRIBUTED IMAGE

12 •

Editorial

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 25, 2015 OPINION EDITOR MITCHELL CONSKY mconsky@thecord.ca

University transparency seems unavailable for students The long-awaited business building that is beautifully staring Wilfrid Laurier University’s Waterloo campus in the face will not be ready in time to let students study there in January 2016 as promised. Many business students recently checked their schedules to notice the previously arranged location of their lectures, which were said to be at Lazaridis Hall, was switched to other classrooms on campus.

We understand delays occur with construction — this isn’t the first set back — but couldn’t some warning be given? Students received a general newsletter to their emails on November 9 with the heading, “Changes to class locations” buried among the rest. This linked to a news release on legacy.wlu.ca that said, “with the recent announcement in the delayed opening …” yet no further press release can be found.

This is not the first time Laurier has neglected to disclose information, keeping students out of the loop.

A recent example can be the reminder of tuition payments. Many students recently received an invoice that tuition for next term is due in less than a month. This is before many students will be getting OSAP in January and before they even know the expenses they will have to pay for next semester’s textbooks.

Students have been financially kept

in the dark and updated at the last moment possible.

This level of miscommunication is breaking down the transparency of our university.

For around a month, The Cord has been trying to interview university representatives regarding the delayed construction of the new business building. After multiple requests, representatives have either declined or not answered emails and phone calls. It seems they are refusing to disclose developments and they are keeping every one unaware of campus implications.

It seems the only exception where university officials maintain strong communication is in times of tragedy. The recent lockdown incident and cyber threat resulted in detailed press conferences, interviews and constant disclosure to ensure the safety of students and reassurance to guardians. This was great.

However we cannot solely rely on the communication of our school when lives are potentially in danger.

Communication, transparency and accessibility should constantly be practiced to ensure students feel knowledgeable about the everyday happenings.

Overall, there is a requirement of the university’s communication that cannot be ignored. Whether the issue is big or small, students deserve to know what’s happening.

Defeating the growing stresses of ‘old man winter’ regardless of how tedious each step may appear. Don’t allow yourself to break down. Restart your engine and accelerate through — just don’t total your car.

If you’re stressing about an approaching assignment or exam, unsure of how to handle the work ahead, take the time to meet with professors. They are there to help you learn and are normally more than willing to help you achieve your goals. Knowing what your prof expects of you is one way to lighten the burden. It allows you to understand what is being asked of you enough to take control.

Instead of locking yourself in a study lounge and chugging countless energy drinks, time manage your day and make room for other priorities.

Schedule an early morning workout, set aside time to cook a healthy meal, talk to your family on the phone and allow yourself to clear your mind.

Look forward to what’s waiting on the other side of your hard work.

Pretty soon, you’ll remember that it’s all worth it.

The Starks were right: winter has come.

The first snowflakes have fallen, the temperature has dropped, your workload has grown scarier and the taunting thought of finals remind you of your expected doom.

Relax. You’ve made it through before and you’re going to again — you just need to find a remedy.

This is the point in every school year when students begin to doubt themselves. They start feeling like they are incapable of achieving the many tasks that stand before holiday vacation. Many feel helplessly behind. How can you possibly catch up? Locking yourself in the library may not be the best solution.

Our suggestion is to do something that will calm you down. This can be cooking, cleaning, watching a movie, reading a novel or hanging out with friends — anything that will help you take your mind off your endless check list. Find your therapy and meditate away. Free your skull of all those pounding worries and take on each challenge one step at a time,

These unsigned editorials are based off informal discussions and then agreed upon by the majority of The Cord’s editorial board, including the Editor-inChief and Opinion Editor. The arguments made may reference any facts that have been made available through interviews, documents or other sources.

The views presented do not necessarily reflect those of The Cord’s volunteers, staff or WLUSP.

THE CORD IS PUBLISHED BY WILFRID LAURIER UNIVERSITY STUDENT PUBLICATIONS 205 REGINA ST. N., WATERLOO

WLUSP ADMINISTRATION BOARD OF DIRECTORS CHAIR Bryan Stephens VICE-CHAIR Abdiasis Issa DIRECTOR Rafey Sattar DIRECTOR John Pehar

DIRECTOR Tom Lillo

DIRECTOR Angela Foster DIRECTOR Fred Kuntz DIRECTOR Gary Doyle

PRESIDENT Bryan Stephens president@wlusp. com FINANCE MANAGER Randy Moore randy@rcmbrooks. com ADVERTISING MANAGER Caroline Schummer care.schummer@ wlusp.com

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR Lakyn Barton lakyn.barton@ wlusp.com HR MANAGER/ CORPORATE SECRETARY Emily Crump hr@wlusp.com

JOSHUA AWOLADE/CREATIVE DIRECTOR

Nothing new under the sun except performance ERIKA YMANA LOCAL NEWS EDITOR

I am by no means a rap genius, but it is evident the culture of influence is strongest in this genre of music.

From Drake allegedly “jacking” D.R.A.M.’s “Cha Cha” for “Hotline Bling,” to PARTYNEXTDOOR sampling Miguel on “Break from Toronto,” to the beginning of Tyler the Creator’s “Buffalo” sounding a lot like Pusha T’s “Numbers on the Board,” it’s clear ideas — and beats — are recycled in the rap and hiphop community.

At the root, this community glorifies authenticity.

If you can do something different, you’re a legend. Don’t get me wrong, the greats should be honoured in their own right, but how is Kanye West rapping about his job, his mom or his break up any different than

At the root, this community glorifies authenticity.

what’s been done before?

It’s not the creativity of the idea that should be focused on, but rather how it can be transcended in creative ways.

Put simply, how can a recycled idea be put forth so it fits the mold and persona of an artist? Whether it’s through production or how a song is staged, performativity is the opportunity to show uniqueness.

When the public found out about Drake’s ghostwriter — which he didn’t intentionally hide — this past summer, the majority instead looked forward to his new ‘diss tracks’ for Meek Mill because there is an understanding that both individuals are different. Although it was co-written, there would have been a stark difference between Quentin Miller and Drake performing “Know Yourself.”

Even listening to Miguel’s “Girl with the Tattoo” being placed in “Break from Toronto” ultimately changes the vibe of the song and allows PARTYNEXTDOOR to claim it as his own.

Yes, there is a fine line between homage and imitation and I’m not going to claim I know every single example of “swagger jacking.”

That would imply I’ve listened to every single rap and hip-hop record ever created. But with proper execution, it is more interesting to see how something old can be transformed into something new.

Logic, a rapper from Maryland, recently released his sophomore album titled The Incredible True Story.

The album got better reviews than his previous work, but many were unable to overlook the fact some

The ability to transform a body of work and make it your own, no matter where it came from, is what should be celebrated ...

aspects sounded too much like other rappers. I don’t blame them, as the nature of this culture holds the value that even a slight resemblance merits dissent. As a fan with fully-intended bias, I didn’t think much of it, as so much of his personality was finally expressed in this album. Being a witness to his development as an artist, I stand by the notion that influence will eventually lead to the discovery of your own style.

The ability to transform a body of work and make it your own, no matter where it came from, is what should be celebrated rather than avoided. If we were to discredit all art work inspired from someone or somewhere else, then we’d have nothing left. Rap has evolved in so many ways. As much as the past should be honoured, I look forward to what’s ahead, as stating that “90s hip-hop was the best” or “what has rap come to these days” only closes you off to the potential of upcoming artists. Before you pass on any judgements on who did what first, give the artist a chance.

They might surprise you.

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 25, 2015

Opinion

•• 13 3 OPINION EDITOR MITCHELL CONSKY mconsky@thecord.ca

Late invoice, early due date Students have been given minimal notice for tuition payment deadlines

MYNT MARSELLUS MULTIMEDIA DIRECTOR

Last Thursday as I was reclining in my bed after a long week of classes, I saw a little blue light shining on my phone.

This little blue light is there to tell me when I have an email to check and is quite annoying at the end of a long week when I want to just curl up and ignore the rest of the world.

However because I saw the little blue light, I knew I had to check the email.

It was from Service Laurier with the subject line, “Your Laurier invoice is available on LORIS!” Yay! Lovely.

Thank you for announcing that I owe you more money! Exclamation point and all.

It was a very short email and it told me my balance and … wait just one second.

It’s due when now? December 15. My tuition for next term is due on December 15, 2015. Before the ink is dry on my last essay of the fall term, I owe Wilfrid Laurier University money for classes I am not yet taking.

Before the ink is dry on my last essay of the fall term, I owe Wilfrid Laurier University money ...

I owe them money for classes whose syllabi and booklists probably won’t be up until after the money is due.

But that’s not the only factor that filled me with rage.

My OSAP, which covers my tuition in its entirety, gets released on January 1, 2016.

Now, I remember in high school

It is completely nonsensical and provides a significant burden of stress on students.

sitting in an “exciting presentation” about the new streamlined system for student loans where everything would be handled by the office at the school instead of at a government office somewhere far away.

This was supposed to make the system better for students.

However every term, students who receive loans and grants through OSAP see that the date their money is released is, at the very least, a week after when it is due at the school.

Now, I know the late fees that get attributed to our accounts get revoked when OSAP is released.

However I can say without an ounce of doubt in my mind the way tuition and student loans are handled by Laurier is the most asinine bureaucratic garbage I have ever come across.

It is not only completely nonsensical and counterintuitive, but it loads a significant burden of stress on to students every term.

Especially if, for reasons never properly divulged to the students in question, OSAP isn’t released on the day you’re told it will be.

I can remember checking every day in January for when my OSAP would be released and every day seeing the balance on my invoice growing from late charges. It finally arrived the first week of February.

This is not a healthy way to run a system.

Laurier talks a big game when it comes to student mental health.

Well Laurier, actions speak louder than words and you’re treating your students like a bookie tracking down someone with a gambling debt.

Do better.

ANDREAS PATSIAOUROS/PHOTO EDITOR

Swiping for hatred BETHANY BOWLES FEATURES EDITOR

Last week, I made a Facebook status fueled by the hatred I had for a guy that messaged me on Tinder.

The status outlined a conversation I had with a guy named Kyle, who went out of his way to message me first. The conversation went like this: Kyle: Hey. Me: Hey! What’s up?

Kyle: You have a flat face. Did you get hit by a shovel when you were a kid or something?

I am sharing this exchange to address how hurtful people can be online when face-to face contact is lost. In my Facebook status, I explained that I am not someone who struggles with my self-confidence any more than most people, but if I had been, this comment from Kyle could have had devastating effects.

While Tinder can be a great app to meet single people in your area, it also opens the door for people to be unnecessarily hurtful. Remembering that a living, breathing person is receiving these messages that you’re sending without a second thought, is not easy for everyone.

In my status, I stressed I wasn’t posting this to get attention for myself. I didn’t want people to comment only to tell me that I don’t have a flat face and that I’m so pretty. That wasn’t what I was trying to achieve. I wanted to start a conversation about how the Internet is affecting human empathy.

I concluded my status with, “The point is I don’t care if you think it’s funny. I don’t care if you think ano-

nymity on the Internet protects you.

It is NEVER okay to be cruel to an undeserving human being. Never. You will never know how harmful your words can be to someone whose situation you’re unfamiliar with until it’s too late.”

As of now, nine days after posting that status, it has 164 likes and 35 comments. The popularity of that status exceeded what I could have ever imagined. I wrote this status for two main reasons. The first reason is that, for some reason, everyone who has Tinder is so embarrassed that they have it. I can only assume Tinder users everywhere receive messages like the one Kyle sent me on a daily basis, but people are too ashamed to talk about it because talking about it would mean admitting you are a Tinder participant. I wanted to voice what so many people suppress. The second reason was to acknowledge that cyber bullying isn’t only a problem children face. Cyber bullying is an issue for everyone who participates in the online world, regardless of age.

All day, people reached out to me to discuss their thoughts about the status I made. The majority of these comments were compliments about my looks, which was just feeding my ego. One comment on my status, written by a woman who babysat me as a child, actually moved me to tears. All day, I was on cloud nine.

I felt as if I started a conversation about something important, and, I mean, the compliments were nice, too. As my ego grew and grew, I started losing sight over what was actually important. It wasn’t until I received a negative comment that I was actually able to be critical of myself and the words I had typed. So here’s what I learned.

I’m not a perfect human being. Just like someone pointed out

after posting that status, I have “talked shit” about people before as a defense mechanism. While some people use physical violence as a defense, I use verbal violence if provoked. So am I really any better than the people I was making harsh accusations against?

Fighting back is different that being a bully. Being a bully is when you are intentionally cruel to someone when they have done nothing to you to deserve emotional harm, just as Kyle did to me. Fighting back is sticking up for yourself when you feel as if someone else is treating you poorly.

Especially on apps like Tinder, almost every person you interact with is someone you haven’t met yet.

Contrary to popular belief, and just to specify my own argument, not everyone who uses Tinder is just looking to have sex and treat people like garbage. I have talked to some lovely people on Tinder who share the same morals and values as myself.

However, meeting strangers on an app specifically geared towards dating puts everyone in a vulnerable position. To take advantage of that vulnerability by being cruel and then to find joy in that cruelty is sick. That makes you a bad person. There’s no arguing it. If I ever have children, I hope they will be the kind of kid that stands up for themselves in a way that teaches other people not to mess with them, while also obtaining the amount of dignity that make people respect them.

I sincerely hope my children will know the difference between fighting back and being a bully. As for Kyle, I really do hope he finds love. I hope he finds a woman on Tinder who meets all of his materialistic needs.

I hope her face is beautifully unflat. I hope he falls in love with her.

And then, I hope she breaks his sad little heart.

14 • OPINION

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 25, 2015

There’s no time to be unhappy We are never too young to start a bucket list and push the boundaries of our life’s happiness

LINDSAY BINDMAN OPINION COLUMNIST

A few years ago, I was working on my bucket list.

I remember someone laughing and saying, “Why are you writing that now? You’re so young.”

I really couldn’t see eye-to-eye with this person because from a very young age, I have been overwhelmingly aware our length of life isn’t guaranteed, and there’s no way of knowing how long you get.

Maybe I’m this way in part because of my dad who’s currently sailing around the world. He worked in the film business for almost 30 years which often entailed 16-hour days and very little free time.

After many hard working years, he

You never know the positive impact it could make.

decided to fulfill his lifelong dream and leave for his three-year trip this past July.

He sold all of his possessions and we worked for six months to get the boat ready.

I’ll never forget the first phone call we had after he’d been gone for six weeks. It was so good to hear his voice.

He told me he encountered a gentleman in the Madeleine Islands who explained he had recently sold his successful business and moved back home.

When asked why, he explained despite his financial success, he didn’t feel like he was actually living.

He now lives off of the sale of his business and spends his days fishing, cooking and enjoying his family.

He said he’s never been happier.

While explaining his lifestyle change, this man said to my dad, “I don’t have time to be unhappy.”

This struck an emotional chord in me when I first heard it on the phone, and has become something I live by despite never having met this man.

The key is to find something special, unique and close to your heart.

Then do it.

For me, the first thing on my bucket list was to go on a hot-air balloon ride.

I did that with my mother a few years ago and it was incredible.

We were so high in the sky as the sun was rising, immersed in complete silence.

You may choose something

The key is to find something special, unique and close to your heart.

completely different, particularly if heights aren’t your thing, but rather than waiting until later, do it today.

Checking off tasks on your bucket list can eventually become a lifestyle.

I realize this may sound overly simplistic and I am no stranger to stress or a busy schedule, but it’s more about the philosophy — the way of thinking.

It can be as simple as going to that restaurant you’ve been meaning to try.

Put a few dollars towards that trip you’ve been day dreaming about.

Tell the person you notice every day that you think they’re special.

You never know the positive impact it could have.

The reality is that we only have so many years to live our lives.

Unfortunately — at least for the time being — time machines don’t exist. There’s no going back. All we can do is move forward and treat each day like it’s our last.

FANI HSIEH/GRAPHIC ARTIST

Climbing the mountain to med school The expectations for medical school acceptance is a constant concern for countless students

This is a pull quote. Take something interesting from the column and put it in here. Make sure it’s not too long or short.

TARIQUE PLUMMER OPINION COLUMNIST

“I want to be a doctor,” is what young science students typically say. Don’t get me wrong, the aspiration is admirable, but it’s easier said than done.

Yes, medical school is a great deal of work; yes, it’s a lot of additional years. And yes, the stress can become unbearable.

However the problem does not lie here. The issue of contention is simply getting in.

It’s no secret that Canada is experiencing a shortage of medical doctors.

The situation becomes interesting when it is argued that the country is creating this scarcity. Caps placed by the government is currently fueling seats in the finite medical schools across the country being limited.

Just like in nature when a resource is inadequate, competition arises.

It is hard to get into medical school in Canada and the facts concur.

The most recent survey conducted in 2015 revealed there are approximately 10,500 students studying in medical schools in the country while 3,600 are studying abroad.

When asked why they chose to study abroad, an overwhelming 75 per cent of the respondents declared their primary reason was they could not secure a place in any of the limited medical institutions in Canada. The painting unfortunately gets more appalling when one sees that over

JESSI WOOD/GRAPHIC ARTIST

40 per cent of the applicants make it into medical schools in the United States while only 25 per cent make it in here.

Why is it so hard to get in? Is it the requirements? Let’s have a look.

The University of British Columbia has a minimum grade average of 70 per cent to enter while McMaster University is only saying that they require a 3.0 on the 4.0 GPA scale.

At this point, I am sure we are both thinking, with such meager academic ask, why is there a struggle?

Here is the reason. Irrespective of the stated minimum requirements,

of the 112 students who made it into McMaster last year, their GPAs were between 3.9 and 4.0. This is an almost perfect grade point average compared to the lowly 3.0. For UBC, despite the 70 per cent minimum, the students who entered the class in 2014 had averages over 85 per cent. Clearly, one would be incredibly lucky to score even an interview with the bare academic minimum.

Here’s another twist: it’s not all about marks. When Dr. Sutton was asked what was looked for in candidates for an article on med school in The Globe and Mail, she replied, “The

complete package.” She went further to elaborate they were looking for a person with amazing extracurricular activities, time management skills, community involvement and a life outside of academia.

Sounds like they are asking for perfection right? Indeed, they are.

Also in the article, Dr. Saleem Razack, assistant dean at McGill University, explained their medical program, were looking for individuals with the perfect combination of communication skills, ability to articulate well in addition to impressive intellectual capabilities.

Wanting to be a doctor in Canada is not something one decides overnight. It is something your entire life seems centered around. A wrong move such as a bad grade and limited involvement could cost you.

You are clay and you must shape yourself into what your medical school of choice is looking for. The sad truth is wanting to be a doctor is no easy feat.

The University of Ottawa had over 10,000 students apply but only 116 made it, which is 1.2 per cent of applicants.

Where is the hope I ask? Some persons have applied over three times and sadly, the only thing that may change on their rejection letter is the font style.

Russell Sterrett, a student at University of Waterloo in nanotechnology engineering said, “If I don’t make it into med school, I’ll go ahead with a PhD.” Josh Abraham, a biomedical engineering student said, “If I do not get accepted to med school on my first application I would apply for graduate work in the area of biology and then reapply after having that completed. I would also apply in the United States.”

In essence, contingency plans are necessary when medicine is your aim. Do you have one?

Will the government ever increase the number of seats in medical institutions in Canada? If your aspiration is med school, can you be a part of that 1.2 per cent?

Can you achieve perfection in order to make it? Or, should you just go abroad where it is supposedly easier?

One thing is clear, if you want to be a physician in this country, hope for the best but brace yourself for the worse.

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 25, 2015

Sports

• 15 SPORTS EDITOR DREW YATES dyates@thecord.ca

HOCKEY

Keep it simple Laurier hockey goes back to basics DREW YATES SPORTS EDITOR

SERENA GILL/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER

[Bottom] Greg Cerilli carries the puck as the Hawks picks up two big points.

The key to success for the Wilfrid Laurier University men’s hockey team is simple. Really simple.

Literally.

On November 21, the Hawks gained some ground on their opponents in the Ontario University Athletics conference, cruising to a 5-2 victory against the Brock Badgers.

The win propelled them to a tie for seventh place with the Toronto Varsity Blues and the Waterloo Warriors with an overall record of 5-7.

Their sudden recipe for success?

Keeping it simple.

“Sometimes we try to do too much as individuals and we don’t continue to play a team game, so for us to have real consistent success, we need to play together as a team,” said head coach Greg Puhalski.

“You’ve got to keep working at it. It’s not an easy thing to do — the good teams find a way to do it every night.”

“It’s huge,” said captain Greg Cerilli, who scored two goals against the Badgers.

“Keeping it simple. Blue line turnovers are huge. We kept it real simple today — our [defence] made real breakout passes.”

“As a winger, it makes our life a lot easier. It makes our breakouts clean, smooth, our arches were good and we took advantage of our chances,” Cerilli continued.

According to Puhalski, simplicity is crucial for the Hawks if they are to continue to put tallies in the win column, and playing as a team instead

of as individuals.

“We get too much of an individual, that’s when we find ourselves in trouble. We kind of control ourselves also, just keeping it simple, making the play that’s in front of you, don’t try and do too much and rely on each other,” he explained.

“That’s a big recipe for any team to have a lot of wins.”

Adding two goals was also huge for Cerilli, who missed the majority of the season last year when he only played in four of the Hawks’ 27 games, racking up two goals and an assist.

Along with Cerilli, multiple Hawks contributed to the score sheet against Brock. Fourth-year Derek Schoenmakers also kept his hot streak alive when he added his eighth of the season. “[It was] very relieving,” Cerilli said when he scored the goals. “[There were] some frustrations, but I think in all my games to come back around personally, and I think as a team we’re coming back personally.”

With the win, the Hawks improve to 4-1 on home ice. Cerilli believes the team is making a comeback and aims to finish strong heading into the end of the first half of the season.

“The sky’s the limit for us really.

We control our own destiny and we’ve got to have a good finish here coming into the break,” he explained.

Next, the Hawks look to make more ground in the OUA when they face off against the Ryerson Rams before returning home to host the Windsor Lancers.

Puck drops at 7:30 p.m. on Thursday and Saturday night.

BASKETBALL

A new leader on the court KILLIAN CUPPAGE STAFF WRITER

Simon Mikre of the Wilfrid Laurier University men’s basketball team has made his presence felt on the court.

As the team’s primary ball handler, the first-year guard has helped the Laurier offence average 81.4 points per contest in five games. Mikre has been a versatile piece for head coach Peter Campbell and can be plugged into a variety of places in the lineups to provide a wide range of skills, many of which have contributed to the team’s hot start.

“It’s been a great start to the regular season at 4-1, and we’re on a four-game winning streak,” said Mikre.

When deciding where to play university basketball, Mikre spoke of his connection with Campbell as a big part of why he came to Laurier.

He said they had a “good connection right away”.

“I thought that here would be a really good fit,” he continued.

So far, it has been a good fit. Mikre transitioned very smoothly into the Hawks’ system and strategies, leading the team in rebounds on the season with 35 total.

Defensively, Mikre has been a menace for opposing players — he is able to use his size at 6’3 to cover lots

of ground as well as get his hands on opponent’s shot attempts.

In order to effectively learn the Ontario University Athletics process, Mikre gives credit to his great relationships with his coaches, which stems back to his high school days playing for Crescent School in Toronto. It’s also what Mikre attributes much of his early success to — his teammates and coaching staff.

“The team is really helping me a lot. As a first-year starter, playing a lot of minutes, they have really helped guide me early in the season,” he said.

In his rookie year so far, Mikre also established himself as an offensive threat. He leads the team in assists per game at 3.4 and is third on the team in scoring at 10.6 per game.

But Mikre isn’t perfect. He said he thinks one thing he can improve on is to be more vocal as a leader.

Campbell hasn’t been hesitant to keep him on the floor as much as he can — Mikre currently leads the entire OUA in minutes per game.

“Individually I want to become a better leader, right now I’m still pretty quiet,” he said.

As like much of his team, Mikre sets his sights on making playoffs.

“I think playoffs is definitely a goal and to do well in playoffs as well,” he mentioned.

A UNIQUE JOB AN ICONIC LOCATION AN UNFORGETTABLE SUMMER

Become a PARLIAMENTARY GUIDE Applications due January 15, 2016 This summer, be part of the action at the Parliament of Canada.

Find out more and apply online at

parl.gc.ca/guides

16 • SPORTS

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 25, 2015

BEST OF

BEST FIFTH-YEAR PLAYER

ANDREW ZIEDINS The year after all-star pitcher Brett Van Pelt left the men’s baseball team, Andrew Ziedins more than picked up the slack. The fifth-year pitcher earned his spot in the rotation, becoming the team’s ace this season. Ziedins tallied four wins and tied for the highest in OUA and also posted the fourth lowest ERA in the entire league at 2.03.

–Josh Peters

THE BEST OF FALL SPORTS The Cord’s sports staff honour the best of the fall semester

Runner up: Jennifer Gilmour, women’s rugby

BIGGEST UPSET

MEN’S FOOTBALL MAKING SEMIFINALS After finishing the season 4-4, playoff expectations for the men’s football team were slim to none. But the club pulled together an outstanding upset win against the McMaster Mauraders in the first round, coming away with the 29-15 victory. The Hawks had not defeated McMaster since the 2009 regular season.

The Hawks gave No. 2 Western a run but fell 32-18.

–Drew Yates Runner up: Men’s baseball eliminated early

MOST VALUABLE ROOKIE

MOST VALUABLE PLAYER

BIGGEST SURPRISE

ASHLEY ALMEIDA

DILLON CAMPBELL

ERIC MORELLI

Having the responsibility of stepping into the starting goalkeeper role as a rookie is no easy task, but Ashley Almeida make it look easy. The first-year keeper was a big reason why the Hawks made a trip back to nationals this season and claimed the silver medal in the OUA. Almeida gave the Hawks a chance to win in many close situations this season. Leading the OUA in save percentage (.882) and tallying six shutouts, Almeida established herself as one of the top goalkeepers in the OUA for years to come.

–Killian Cuppage

Dillon Campbell was a pivotal force for the men’s football offence during his tenure at Laurier. This season, the fifth-year scored five touchdowns, accumulated 1,115 yards and had two games where he eclipsed over 200 yards. This season, despite battling injury, Campbell also showed amazing receiving skills out of the back field. Campbell also shattered the all-time school record for most yards with 3,061 as of Oct. 9 and will be a challenge to replace next year.

–Drew Yates

Eric Morelli is a great example of the importance of always being ready. After quarterback James Fracas went down with an injury early in the year, Morelli stepped into the starting role and revitalized Laurier’s passing game. As a team known for its powerful running game, Morelli worked hard with head coach Michael Faulds to revitalize Laurier’s passing game and helped lead the Hawks to the playoffs, where they won their first playoff game since 2010 against the No. 4 McMaster Marauders.

–Killian Cuppage

Runner up: Kurleigh Gittens Jr., men’s football

Runner up: Nicole Lyon, women’s soccer

Runner up: Stephan Brudiu, men’s soccer PHOTOS BY SHELBY BLACKLEY/EDITOR-IN-CHIEF, WILL HUANG/PHOTO EDITOR

REPORT CARDS

OUA FALL REPORT CARDS The Cord sports staff assigns grades and critiques the performance of Laurier’s fall sports

WOMEN’S SOCCER

Fresh off an upset in last year’s OUA Final Four, the women’s soccer team made no mistake this season in setting their sights for nothing less than nationals. The club posted a 12-2-2 overall record and captured a first round bye week. The club made their goal in making it to nationals after a 2-1 victory against the Ottawa Gee-Gees in the OUA semifinal, but was eliminated early in nationals to finish tied for seventh in the country. –Drew Yates

A-

MEN’S SOCCER

Going into this year, the Hawks had a lot of question marks surrounding them with a high turnover. Despite this, the Hawks posted a 4-8-4 season record and played arguably their best soccer in years. Going into the postseason looking for some playoff magic for the third straight year, Laurier was unable to get past the potent McMaster Marauders in the first round. –Drew Yates

B-

WOMEN’S RUGBY

The Golden Hawk women’s rugby team took another step in the right direction this year. Finishing the season with a record of 3-2, the squad moved up a place in the standings and placed top three in their division. Highlights in the season include a big win over cross-town rivals, the Waterloo Warriors, resulting in a 52-17 victory, as well as being the first group to score points on a stout Guelph Gryphons defence since 2001. –Daniel Johnson

B

MEN’S RUGBY

The men’s rugby team had a turbulent season, culminating to a 3-5 regular season record and a playoff appearance.

Their season was cut short in a heartbreaking loss to the Western Mustangs. Highlights include a hard-fought win over the Brock Badgers to gain a playoff berth and a strong effort by eight man and the team’s leading scorer Andrew Thomson. –Daniel Johnson

C+

WOMEN’S LACROSSE

Recruitment and rebuilding were the main components for the women’s lacrosse team. Sporting 10 new rookies, the team got mixed results throughout the season and weren’t as dominant as past years going into the OUA championships. The squad earned a third-place finish at the OUA championships, an improvement on last year’s record with the younger squad. –Drew Yates

B

MEN’S BASEBALL

With the core of their squad returning for another year, the men’s baseball team was poised to make another deep run into the playoffs to capture the OUA championship banner. The team finished the season on a 10-game winning streak and carried the momentum going into the playoffs. Weather conditions were not on their side as they fell to the Brock Badgers and the Western Mustangs, the eventual OUA champions. –Drew Yates

B-

MEN’S FOOTBALL

The men’s football squad had many stars who contributed to their success on the gridiron, starting with running back Dillon Campbell returning for a fifth and final season, and Eric Morelli filling in for the injured James Fracas. After starting 1-3, Laurier picked up their momentum in the second half, breaking records along the way. The Hawks rode into the playoffs and made it to the semifinals, eventually dropping to Western 32-18. –Drew Yates

B+