The Cord April 3, 2019

THE CORD THE TIE THAT BINDS WILFRID LAURIER UNIVERSITY SINCE 1926

VOLUME 59 ISSUE 26 • APRIL 3, 2019

KEEP ON BLOOMING

THE BEST OF 2019

WHO RUN THE WORLD?

LOW-DOWN ON LEASES

DEGREES VS. CAREERS

PATTISON IS OUTSTANDING

Reviewing top stories of the past term

Thriving as a female athlete at Laurier

Tips and tricks for finding a sublet

Choosing your degree with passion

OWL award recognizes women in sports

News, page 3

Features, page 14

Arts & Life, page 20

Opinion, page 23

Sports, page 26

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WEDNESDAY, APRIL 3, 2019

VOCAL CORD What is the best summer job you’ve had?

The Cord

@cordnews

@thecord.ca

PHOTO OF THE WEEK

CordNews THIS DAY IN HISTORY: APRIL 3 1367: Battle of Navarrete, La Rioja, Castile: alliance of King Peter of Castile and the English defeats Count Henry of Castile.

1868: An individual from Hawaii surfs on highest wave ever; measuring in as a 50-foot tidal wave.

“Working in a bank.”

1953: American magazine “TV Guide” publishes first issue, features on the cover the new born baby of actors Desi Arnaz and Lucille Ball, namd Desi Arnaz Jr.

–Alyssa Irwin, second-year sociology

1973: The first portable cell phone call is made in New York City, United States.

1988: Mario Lemieux wins NHL scoring title, stopping Wayne Gretzki’s seven year streak.

“A factory job - set hours and good pay.”

2006: NHL legend Steve Yzerman scores his final NHL goal (number 692) against the Calgary Flames.

–Pauline Vorachack, second year biology

2012: Former US President, Barack Obama, officially secures Democratic presidential nomination.

SOPHIA COLE/INCOMING NEWS EDITOR

Our 2018-19 team at our last Ed=Board Meeting! Thanks to our readers for a great year!

“Working at the YMCA, getting outside and working with kids.”

–Blaze Welling, second-year english

“Landscaping. It gets you outside, it’s fun and the pay is nice.”

–Blake Parker, second-year political science

MEET THE CORD’S 2019-2020 TEAM: EDITOR-IN-CHIEF: EMILY WAITSON

OPINION EDITOR: JADE HOSICK

CREATIVE DIRECTOR: KATE WEBER

GRAPHICS EDITOR: JAMIE MERE

WEB DIRECTOR: KASHYAP PATEL

VIDEO EDITOR: ANNE MARIE RUSSELL

NEWS EDITOR: SOPHIA COLE

SENIOR COPY EDITOR: VICTORIA MARSHALL

ARTS & LIFE EDITOR: ALYSSA DI SABATINO

ONLINE EDITOR: KATHLEEN MCCOLLOUGH

Compiled by Margaret Russell Photos by Jackie Vang NEXT ISSUE MAY 2019

ARTS & LIFE EDITOR Emily Waitson arts@thecord.ca

CORD STAFF

OPINION EDITOR Alyssa Di Sabatino opinion@thecord.ca

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Safina Husein editor@thecord.ca

SPORTS EDITOR Pranav Desai sports@thecord.ca

CREATIVE DIRECTOR Sadman Sakib Rahman creative@thecord.ca

GRAPHICS EDITOR Kashyap Patel graphics@thecord.ca

WEB DIRECTOR Garrison Oosterhof online@thecord.ca

PHOTO EDITOR Eva Ou photos@thecord.ca

NEWS EDITOR Hayley McGoldrick news@thecord.ca

ONLINE EDITOR Katherine Weber online@thecord.ca

NEWS EDITOR Aaron Hagey news@thecord.ca

VIDEO EDITOR Sarah Tyler video@thecord.ca

FEATURES EDITOR Vacant features@thecord.ca

LEAD REPORTER Margaret Russell news@thecord.ca

WE’RE TAKING A SHORT BREAK FROM STANDS. BUT DON’T FRET.

LEAD SPORTS REPORTER Abdulhamid Ibrahim sports@thecord.ca LEAD PHOTOGRAPHER Jackie Vang photos@thecord.ca SENIOR COPY EDITOR Sara Burgess copyeditor@thecord.ca SOCIAL MEDIA COORDINATOR Vacant editor@thecord.ca CORDCAST PRODUCER Brielle Huang cordcast@thecord.ca

CONTRIBUTORS

EDITOR’S CHOICE

Yitian Cai Breanna Royes Sophia Cole Josh Goeree Madeline McInnis

They’re just all too good to choose this week! I love them all equally.

CHECK US OUT ONLINE FOR SUMMER CONTENT.

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

Started in 1926 as the College Cord, The Cord is an editorially independent newspaper published by Wilfrid Laurier University Student Publications, Waterloo, a corporation without share capital. WLUSP is governed by its board of directors.

Opinions expressed within The Cord are those of the author and do not necessarily refl ect those of the editorial board, The Cord, WLUSP, WLU or CanWeb Printing Inc. All content appearing in The Cord bears the copyright expressly of their creator(s) and may not be used without written consent.

The Cord is created using Macintosh computers running OS X 10.10 using Adobe Creative Cloud. Canon cameras are used

WWW.THECORD.CA WE’LL SEE YOU BACK IN SEPTEMBER for principal photography.

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The Cord’s circulation for a normal Wednesday issue is 4,500 copies and enjoys a readership of over 10,000. Cord subscription rates are $20.00 per term for addresses within Canada.

The Cord has been a proud member of the Canadian University Press (CUP) since 2004.

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: “We’re not being funny tonight we’re being sentimental.”

- News Editor Aaron Hagey when EIC Safina Husein asked for a funny quote.

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 3, 2019

News

• 3 NEWS EDITOR HAYLEY MCGOLDRICK news@thecord.ca

NEWS EDITOR AARON HAGEY news@thecord.ca

TOP FIVE MOMENTS IN NEWS

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News Editor, Aaron Hagey, reviews 2019’s most breaking stories FORD ANNOUNCES STUDENT CHOICE INITIATIVE On Jan. 17, 2019, the Ontario Government announced a series of changes to student tuition fees, the Ontario Student Assistance Program (OSAP) and ancillary fee structure for post-secondary students, beginning in the new year.

This change is intended to make education more affordable and accessible, as well as encourage institutions to offer better value for the tuitions they charge.

This announcement caused a series of peaceful protests to break out across a number of cities in Ontario, including one on Jan. 22.

Many students have spoken out against the changes, noting that they will negatively impact many low-income students.

EXTERNAL COMPLAINT CANCELS WINTER CARNIVAL

Laurier’s annual week-long event, Winter Carnival, was cancelled prematurely due to the alleged actions of one particular team, which included a series of inappropriate and controversial chants.

Initial speculation on the cancellation spread through the Spotted at Laurier Twitter account, and soon after was confirmed in a statement by the Students’ Union.

They noted that, during that week’s mystery event and hockey game, several teams participated in these

3

chants, demonstrated degrading and sexist attitudes and use of language and did not reflect the student experience that Laurier upholds.

Currently, it is unknown whether or not Winter Carnival will return next year for a new generation of Golden Hawks to look at when choosing their future home.

ZEMAR HAKIM ELECTED AS STUDENTS’ UNION PRESIDENT On Jan. 24, Zemar Hakim was announced the incoming president of Laurier’s Students’ Union for the 20192020 period during an explosive elections night.

Receiving 54.29 per cent of the total final vote, Hakim secured 2046 votes in the final round.

The runner-up, Klaudia Wojtanowski, received 45.72 per cent — 1723 — of the final votes.

Overall, voter turnout was 23.61 per cent, slightly more

CROWDS PREVAIL ON EZRA ON ST. PATRICK’S DAY On Mar. 17, over 33,000 individuals participated in St. Patrick’s Day festivities, including unsanctioned street parties, on Ezra Avenue.

Waterloo Regional Police Services (WRPS) and a number of partners provided assistance and services during the day.

Instances of property damage, violence, varying injuries, drug and alcohol misuse, underage drinking,

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open alcohol, public intoxication and damage to public property were noted by WRPS. By 3 p.m. that day, Paramedic Services noted that 41 calls were made, and 18 transports to the hospital were arranged.

Preparations, precautions and initiatives to prepare for future unsanctioned street parties are currently being discussed.

than one per cent higher than last years at 22 per cent.

This represents an approximate 354 voter increase.

The night included a number of other announcements, including incoming directors of the board and president of various faculties and associations such as bike lanes.

4

TURRET REOPENS AFTER SERIES OF MAJOR RENOVATIONS After years of speculation, a budget of $2.2 million and approximately 300 days of major construction, The Turret at Laurier’s Waterloo Campus hosted its grand reopening on Mar. 2.

It was funded entirely by Laurier’s Student Life Levy, an initiative students pay into for special projects and quality of life improvements to the school.

The construction and planning process had to overcome

a number of delays, including furniture delivery and significant updates to mechanical units in the space.

The new space will serve as a social and study area and will offer 260 more seats for students to enjoy, all included within the maintenance package the school purchased.

LAYOUT BY SAFINA HUSEIN/EDITOR IN CHIEF, PHOTOS BY SADMAN SAKIB RAHMAN/CREATIVE DIRECTOR AND EVA OU/PHOTO EDITOR

4 • NEWS

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 3, 2019

NOMINATION When taking a look at the map of Waterloo with its highlighted 27 places of cultural significance, it’s clear to see that a lot of spaces have been identified in Ward 7. Tenille Bonoguore, Ward 7 councillor for the City of Waterloo, stated that “it’s about stages of development.”

I see alot of value in what we have uptown but we need to be very cognizant of what aspects we’re preserving.

-Tenille Bonoguore, Ward 7 councillor for the City of Waterloo

ISAAK WONG/OUTGOING LEAD PHOTOGRAPHER

Laurier named amongst the 27 best heritage places in Waterloo MARGET RUSSELL OUTGOING LEAD REPORTER

This month, Waterloo’s Municipal Heritage Committee presented a draft list of 27 locations of significance that represent heritage value for the city and are looking for the public’s feedback.

A Cultural Heritage Landscape is a location that has been modified by human presence and is integral to the landscape of the community.

This list is presented to city council, as well as the people of Waterloo, with the hopes of receiving feedback that will help the committee gather a better understanding of what the future will hold for these spaces.

Example locations of this list include both Wilfrid Laurier University and University of Waterloo campuses, as well as Veterans’ Green, Waterloo Park, Mount Hope Cemetery and the Uptown Cultural

District. This project launched in 2017, beginning with preliminary public consultation, focus groups and stakeholder meetings.

The consideration of Cultural Heritage Landscapes in land use and infrastructure planning is a requirement of Provincial and Regional policy, which is explained in the executive summary of the “Draft Inventory of Significant Cultural Heritage Landscapes” released by the City of Waterloo.

“In 1947, Veterans’ Green was on the far edge of town … Waterloo was quite small until not long ago, so all of the original architecture and all the original neighbourhoods are mostly uptown. Just by age, it makes sense that we are home to more of the heritage aspects [of the city],” Bonoguore said.

“When it comes to what is left preserving and how we preserve it, I think that is an important conversation. Other cities have seen that efforts to preserve certain things can end up preventing the kind of development that enables people to live there.”

“I see a lot of value in what we

have uptown but we need to be very cognizant of what aspects we’re preserving, how we want to do it, and how we’re still going to make room to be the city that we’re going to grow into,” she said.

Following the current stage of public feedback, the finalized Cultural Heritage Landscape inventory will be presented to council for approval in May. The report published, outlining the specifics behind this project, clarifies that spaces on this list will not inherently be protected.

When the list has been finalized, there remains a discourse on how these areas will be protected and the financial implications that will follow.

“The first step is to figure out what are the areas or neighbourhoods or parks that should be on this list. The next step, is [to ask ourselves] to what extent do we exactly preserve them —there’s a range of approaches,” Bonoguore said.

“This is not all going to be preserved. What they’re trying to do is to work out what makes these [areas] special and how do we move forward retaining some of that specialness.”

It’s also important to recognize how quickly Waterloo region is developing, with the implemetation of the David Johnston Research and Technology Park and the speed of condominium and apartment complex construction taking place, areas of heritage and cultural value need to be evaluated before we continue.

UNIVERSITY

Investigating Laurier’s wireless internet infrastructure AARON HAGEY OUTGOING NEWS EDITOR

The state of wireless internet at Wilfrid Laurier University is one that has been controversial, divisive, complicated and has inspired consistent public outcry this year.

The Laurier-famous Twitter account, “Spotted at Laurier,” has been cataloguing a series of these comments from frustrated students who have felt the impact of the volatile ICT infrastructure at the university.

A poll asking “Is Laurier’s WiFi trash?” currently has 2,211 votes, 91 per cent of which are “yes,” totalling to 2012 students who feel that the current infrastructure at Laurier is in an unacceptable state.

Carl Langford, manager of ICT Infrastructure at Laurier, describes the process of keeping the infrastructure up-to-date and working effectively as being a time-consuming, expensive and “constant game of trying to catch up.”

“Almost from day one, the main theme has been to cover off student classroom areas and student gathering areas — communal areas, like lounges — and that sort of thing. It’s proven to be a bit of a moving target,” Langford said.

One of the main reasons for this, Langford said, is the increase in technology that students have access to. Going from having only laptops, to smartphones, tablets and smartwatches, put a greater

strain on the system as a whole.

“Every month we’re installing extra access points … we are looking at a different type of technology as well … before we make a move to a different technology or make a move just to do another wave of replacement, its expensive enough [that] you’ve gotta be right,” Langford said.

You’ve got 200 students in a room, theyre all trying to use their iClicker ... if you don’t have enough equipment in the ceiling, it’s not going to work.

-Carl Langford, manager of ICT infrastructure at Laurier

Changing instructor demands for internet access, and other changes in technology, have also played a key role. “iClicker’s have also been a bit of a challenge as well because, suddenly, you’ve got 200 students in a room, they’re all trying to use their iClicker [and] all of this stuff has to exist in the same airspace ... and if you don’t have enough equipment up in the ceiling, it’s not going to work,” Langford said.

ICT at Laurier has already performed two major overhauls of the wireless internet infrastructure, and a third is currently in its planning stages. Details have yet to be finalized as of this point.

One thing that Langford wants students to get a better understanding of is that a university-wide system of wireless internet is very complicated, more so than standard corporate wireless infrastructure.

“There are security protocols in place and, unfortunately, some of the less expensive devices can’t handle that ... another problem, too, is that there are two bandwidths: 2.4 and 5.0 GHz,” Langford said.

Less expensive devices, which can only operate at 2.4 GHz — a far more crowded frequency — will not have access to the higher quality wireless internet that 5.0 GHz can offer.

“So what people find [is], if they have a device that either only works at that or they’re not aware that it can work at the other frequency, they’re suddenly on a very crowded pathway, and response will be bad, they will have dropped connections,” Langford said.

The other thing is that, if there is an area that is consistently a problem, let the ICT service staff know at the ICT Service Desk.

“We have well over 1000 of these [wireless internet] devices just on the Waterloo campus. If one

KASHYAP PATEL/INCOMING WEB DIRECTOR

of them starts to misbehave [or] powers down for some reason, we don’t necessarily know about it right away … don’t hesitate to let the service staff know,” Langford said.

The ICT staff at Laurier know the current system is “not perfect.”

With limited funds and time, they

have been working within their restrictions to upgrade the system and ensure it is viable for students.

Hopefully, with proper funding — or perhaps increased advocacy and patronage from students — in the future, they will be able to more consistently “beat the curve” of wireless infrastructure at Laurier.

NEWS • 5

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 3, 2019 STUDENTS’ UNION

Looking at the president’s 2018-2019 leadership budget SAFINA HUSEIN EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

With the winter term coming to a close, so too comes the end of Tarique Plummer’s tenure as president CEO of the Wilfrid Laurier University’s Students’ Union.

With this brings a reflection of all he has accomplished during the past year. Plummer’s success in actualizing his platform began a year ago, when the previous board of director’s approved his operational budget.

However, this year’s budget was not approved without its own set of questions and critiques. In particular, Plummer’s proposed “president’s leadership” budget was much higher than what was allocated in previous years.

Kanwar Brar, Students’ Union president and CEO in 2017-18, budgeted himself $43,922.80 in his president’s leadership budget.

Of the amount allocated to Brar, he stated that he only used $9,279 as of Mar. 31, 2018. In contrast, Plummer aimed to allocate $99,690 — over double the amount which Brar budgeted.

This large increase brought forth questions surrounding what the funds would be used for as, traditionally, the president’s leadership budget is used for things such as professional development, transportation costs, supporting events on campus and other expenses used by the president.

Ensuing the budget approval meeting last year, Plummer told The Cord that this unique allocation would allow him to surpass the accomplishments and successes of his predecessors.

“We, for a long time as an organization, have been operating the same way and getting the same results and students are still asking what the organization does.

So when I expanded the scope of my leadership budget increase … essentially I placed programs there that would directly benefit students,” Plummer had said.

“My attempt to include all and to benefit all can be viewed as being very bold, can be viewed as being quite unconventional and can

KASHYAP PATEL/INCOMING WEB DIRECTOR

be viewed as being risky — but I believe it was necessary.”

Indeed, during Plummer’s tenure, he has been able to actualize tangible steps in completing 11-12 points of his 15-point platform. “[The increase] wasn’t essentially taking the money and padding our pockets for food costs or transportation costs, it was going right back to the students,” Plummer said.

As such, much of the increase in Plummer’s president leadership budget was used for funding new initiatives. Approximately $30,000 of the president’s leadership budget went towards the successful student application program created by Plummer this past year.

“The successful student application program that seeks to help students who are going through significant financial hardships,” Plummer said.

Students going through difficult financial periods are able to apply

to the program and may be eligible to receive funds in order to help them get through the rest of the academic year without the weight of financial stress.

Approximately $2000 of Plummer’s president’s leadership was allocated towards his presidential sponsorship program — another initiative created this year.

“The presidential sponsorship program is for those clubs, groups and individuals who are competing locally, nationally and internationally,” Plummer said.

Clubs and associations on campus are able to apply to the program in order to attain funds for competitions, to provide exposure and promote the values and ideals of the university as a whole. $3,000 of the leadership budget also went towards the Students’ Union ambassador program.

“That accounts for the significant surplus or the increase from my predecessors’ year. When it comes

down to everything else, it’s all the customary … and traditional things in that particular line [of the budget],” Plummer said.

A complete breakdown of the rest of Plummer’s president’s leadership budget will be released this Friday, Apr. 5, at the final board meeting of the year, where incoming president Zemar Hakim will also look to approve his operational budget.

In the month of April, his final month as president and CEO, Plummer intends on working to move forward with the last items from his platform which have not fully come into fruition. “[My] platform was very meaningful to me, because the way I did it in my campaigning process was speaking to students and different groups. Each group had something that meant the world to them and I incorporated what each group really loved and wanted and I made it my priority to actualize it because

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it had significant value to their student experience — that culminated to the 15-points,” Plummer said.

“Accomplishing 11 or 12 is absolutely significant because there’s not many operational teams in previous years who can say, ‘these are tangible things that I did,’ that students knew they were committed to that they can showcase.”

Plummer hopes his successes will also translate into expectations leading into the coming years.

“Following through was absolutely critical because the confidence students will have in us after this year is done and the expectation they have will be even higher for upcoming representatives,” he said.

A large accomplishment of the year for Plummer was the launch of “The Perch” — a new app for clubs and associations on campus.

The app, however, has not been without its critiques and many have voiced their concerns in having to adapt to using the app.

Plummer attributes the difficulties and critiques to the adjustment period — with marketing and time, he feels the app will be able to function smoothly and students will be more attuned with its presence.

One of the larger points on his platform which has not been fully achieved was the integrated wellness centre. Although this initiative has not yet come into fruition, Plummer and his team have begun advocating for the change in wellness programs on campus.

“What we have done for this particular year is work on a case for support,” Plummer said.

Plummer has begun the process of attaining information, looking for external and internal reviews, advice and suggestions in order to identify needs on campus and gaps that need filling.

“Before we move ahead we must have a defined plan. We’re trying to prove there’s a need that exists.”

Plummer hopes that, in Hakim’s year as president, the initiative will work towards drafting a proposal, consulting with stakeholders and potentially looking to have a referendum question.

6 • NEWS

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 28, 2018

WELLNESS exams, the self-perpetuating cycle of anxiety and the importance of self-care and preparation during stressful times.

We don’t wait until our teeth are rotten before we go see a dentist — and we shouldn’t do that with out mental health.

-Sarina Wheeler, manager of wellness education at Laurier

JACKIE VANG/OUTGOING LEAD PHOTOGRAPHER

Laurier’s Natural Health Society hosted their own event on Apr. 2 which provided students with self-care products.

Laurier prepares for exam season with events to help mental health SOPHIA COLE INCOMING NEWS EDITOR

With exams just around the corner, Wilfrid Laurier University staff and students have been stepping up to promote the importance of mental health during this stressful time of year.

This week, both the Wellness Education Centre and Laurier’s Natural Health Society hosted events aiming to provide students with resources to help keep their stress levels in check during exams.

On Mar. 6 and Mar. 7, 2019, the

Wellness Education Centre hosted an “Exams and Performance Anxiety” workshop as part of their “Ride the Wave” workshop series.

Sarina Wheeler, manager of wellness education, described the Ride the Wave series as “skill-building workshops designed to offer practical tips for increasing resilience, managing stress and developing skills to cope with the turbulence of life.”

Ride the Wave has been running every term since its establishment in September 2016. The workshops are free to all registered students

and run weekly.

“It’s all practical and skills based … we’re trying to put skills in the hands of students,” said Nathan Reeve, wellness education coordinator for the Wellness Education Centre.

The exams and performance anxiety workshop has been the most requested workshop of this series and received the highest attendance of all the Ride the Wave workshops this year.

It covered the importance of understanding and managing anxiety symptoms before and during

This workshop, like others in the series, was developed by counsellors based on the needs of Laurier students. Chris Kardol, a counsellor and performance coach at Laurier, was the person behind the creation and orchestration of the “Exams and Performance Anxiety” event.

“They’re based on psychoeducational techniques … based on research and evidence,” Reeve said.

This workshop catered to students across all faculties and years of study, providing an inclusive experience for all who attended.

Reeve and Wheeler both emphasized the importance of providing resources to students that promote the maintenance of mental health through proactive and preventative measures.

“We don’t wait until our teeth are rotten before we go see the dentist — and we shouldn’t do that with our mental health,” Wheeler said.

On Apr. 2, 2019, the Laurier Natural Health Society hosted a free “Self-Care Package” event in the Paul Martin Centre on campus.

This was the second self-care package event the group had orchestrated.

Since their first self-care package event, Laurier Natural Health Society switched their governance from the Wilfrid Laurier University Students’ Union to the Faculty of Science Students’ Association (FOSSA).

This resulted in a significant budget increase for the event which gave the executive team more room to expand their vision and cater to a larger number of students.

Aristaea Murrel, founder and co-president of the Laurier Natural Health Society, explained the purpose of the event was to help students take a break and de-stress while providing them with helpful products and connections to local vendors — all free of charge.

“It starts with letting the students know they’re appreciated,” Aruna Rajpal, director of marketing and incoming co-president, said.

Students were given a bag upon entrance to the event, which included a public speaker panel, an interactive sewing workshop and several different services provided by naturopathic doctors and wellness experts, and could choose from a variety of different products including succulents, soaps, candles, natural first-aid kits and more.

“Everyone loves free stuff but having to choose what will benefit you most makes the experience more personalized and makes students consider their own individual needs,” Murrel said.

CEREMONY

Laurier International hosts dinner to celebrate students University recognizes the importance of not only academic success, but academic improvement.

MARGARET RUSSELL OUTGOING LEAD REPORTER

On Mar. 19, Wilfrid Laurier University’s international and global engagement program hosted its first annual Student Recognition dinner to award 24 international students with Academic Improvement scholarships.

“This recognition event was held for international students who received a scholarship for their academic improvement. These were students who were on probation or applied to withdraw, who have since cleared their probation and have been excelling since then,” said Candace Stewart-Smith, international student academic transition advisor for Laurier International.

“Scholarships are given to students with academic success, but not a lot consider students with great academic improvement. In our case, we consider international students coming from another country facing different challenges; adjusting to life in Canada, the academic system …we wanted to ensure that the students we are bringing here [are able to stay],”

Stewart-Smith said.

The event hosted a performance

by Christopher Clarke, a Laurier music student, as well as a keynote speech from Laurier alumnus and financial planner Parker Zhang, a former Laurier international student.

This recognition event was held for international students who received a scholarship for their academic improvement.

-Candace Stewart-Smith, international student advisor

YITIAN CAI/CORD PHOTOGRAPHY

Zhang was invited to speak to the students and guests about his own challenges at Laurier as an international student such as language barriers and environmental adjustments. Further, how Laurier International provided him with

the resources to graduate successfully with a Bachelors degree in economics and a Masters of Business Administration.

“It’s important to continue recognizing these students and encourage other students who may be facing the same challenges and ensure them they have the

opportunity to do well also,” Stewart-Smith said.

Ten of the total students receiving academic scholarships were in attendance at the event, along with many faculty and administration members who came to show their support for the students. All enjoyed dinner, catered by Wilfs.

During the event, students were invited to sum-up their Laurier experiences in one word by writing it down on purple stones with gold markers, which included “Overcome”, “Friends” and “Grateful”.

These stones are now in the Laurier International office as a token of the evening’s spirit.

NEWS • 7

WEDNESDAY, NOEMBER 28, 2018 EVENT

Annual “Turban Up” event aims to educate students HAYLEY MCGOLDRICK OUTGOING NEWS EDITOR

The Waterloo-Laurier Sikh Students’ Association, in partnership with the Waterloo-Laurier Punjabi Association, hosted their fourth annual “Turban Up” event in the concourse on Mar. 27, an event that aims to educate other students on the Sikh faith and the importance of the turban.

Participants had a member from the Sikh Students’ Association tie a turban on them in proper technique, they explained to them why it is significant in the Sikh faith and how their religion operates.

“The idea behind Turban Up is to tie the turban on people to get awareness as to why people wear the turban, that way we can tell people the importance behind tying a turban and the belief system behind that, getting them aware of the Sikh faith in general,” said Pavneet Singh, an executive member of the Laurier Sikh Students’ Association.

“This event has been happening for a few years; every year, we pick the springtime to do it during lunchtime, we set up a stall and advertise it and have people come.

We want to keep an open mindset towards everything — to have an open concept — so anyone who wants to come and learn more

you’ll realize it’s not really crazy, it’s more of a monistic faith: we believe in one God, we believe to serve everyone else, so those core concepts that are applicable to the world in general.”

We believe to serve everyone else, so those core concepts that are applicable to the world in general.

-Pavneet Singh, Laurier Sikh Students’ Association executive

SADMAN SAKIB RAHMAN/OUTGOING CREATIVE DIRECTOR

The WLSSA and WLPA held the event in the concourse on Mar. 27 to celebrate Sikh culture and spread awareness.

about it can learn.”

The clubs hosted a fundraiser alongside the event selling donuts for their club, as the actual Turban Up event was free for all participants to come and learn about the reason that some students on campus are seen wearing the turban.

“We’ve had some great success with this event. We’ve had some professors come and tie turbans, we’ve had a lot of students come by

coming from both Laurier and Waterloo to stop by — it’s been super successful in that regard. It’s just that sometimes, during lunchtime, we get them the most so we try to get everyone involved even when it’s busy,” Singh said.

The event was started by a student at the University of Waterloo who was a victim of racism due to the fact that he wore a turban. The student had been at a McDonald’s

and had a cup thrown at him as well as racial slurs said, all due to his faith.

“I think the main bottleneck is that people just don’t know — its aligned towards people’s perspective. If you want to be able to learn, you will have that open mindset to learning, [so] we try to reach out to people who are willing to learn about the religion,” Singh said.

“The more you learn about it,

The event has grown to a provincial level: the Sikh Youth Federation now holds a Turban Up festival at Yonge-Dundas Square in Toronto every year to spread further awareness of the Sikh faith and why the turban is significant in their religion.

“It’s not something that’s new — it’s been around for hundreds of years, so we just want to be able to relay that to everyone else,” Singh said.

ADMINISTRATION

Draft Strategic Plan 2019-2024 asks for feedback from students AARON HAGEY OUTGOING NEWS EDITOR

CONTRIBUTED IMAGE

On Wednesday, Mar. 27, Wilfrid Laurier University’s president Deborah MacLatchy announced the draft version of Laurier’s “Strategic Plan 2019-2024,” a document that will determine the direction the university will take in the next five years and is officially open for further feedback from students, faculty, staff and alumni.

The current plan will focus on a number of themes that are important to the university as a whole: “thriving culture,” “future readiness,” and “community impact,” which are further divided into a number of sub-categories.

These themes help the university to understand what its foundation is and, moving into the future, where it is that Laurier will be able to outpace the challenges that other universities are experiencing.

It also allows the university’s administration to ask a number of important questions.

“Are there other ways that we’re going to look at diplomas or the ability to ladder certificates into degrees or diplomas?” MacLatchy said.

“Are we going to look at more competency-based opportunities?

So perhaps people are bringing work experience into a particular area — can we give associated credits for that work experience that [then] allows people to enter

into a program at a different phase?”

“What do mature students want ... what is it that there is the potential for Laurier to do and is there some new opportunities here as a university?” she said.

The strategic plan has been a number of months in development. It began with an open call for comments in January, which was designed by a steering committee — a team which has led the research and consultation process thus far — and is made up of board members, staff, faculty, students and alumni.

That committee will be overseeing the full process as the university continues to finalize the direction and focus of the strategic plan.

“Once we got the comments back, we did a lot of research, a lot of comparative data and developed that into the ‘Draft Strategic Plan’ which [has] now gone out for additional comments from the university committee,” MacLatchy said.

The planning stage of the strategic plan is important because it provides an opportunity for the community to come to a consensus around what’s important to them as a university.

Once an agreement has been reached, it then allows these strategic areas of the plan to be actualized and operationalized into various sectors of the university.

“It provides an opportunity for different units of the university to say ‘how do we, first of all within ourselves and then our intersections with other units of the university, pull this together to realize the strategies,’” MacLatchy said.

Student input during this time will be essential to guiding and shifting the decisions that will be made by the administration at Laurier in the creation of this plan.

“Students, of course, bring their particular experiences to play when they’re looking and they think of it from the perspective of a student, which is different than faculty, staff, alumni or community members would. So it’s incredibly important that we get feedback from students,” MacLatchy said.

Due to changes in the provincial government, each university’s grant funding is tied to the existing number of students that it has, versus it being more of a growth model. This means that the university will need to explore more non-traditional alternatives, including “cost recovery programs,” “the ratio of our domestic and international students” and “non-credit programs.”

“The important thing for students to recognize is that these are really developing high-level themes and that it will really be the work of next year to understand how units will begin to roll those out and operationalize them,” MacLatchy said.

8 • NEWS

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 3, 2019

COMPETITION

CONTRIBUTED IMAGE

Three Minute Thesis winners are announced HAYLEY MCGOLDRICK OUTGOING NEWS EDITOR

Laurier’s annual “3-Minute Thesis” competition took place on Mar. 27, 2019, giving students at both the undergraduate and graduate levels a chance to give an “elevator pitch” summary of their thesis for a chance to compete at the provincial level.

The winner of the graduate studies competition was Mariam

Elmarsafy, an MSc with her thesis entitled “Resurrection Ecology: Determining Water Flea Tolerance to Salinity” from the department of biology. “I signed up because I thought it would be something different than I normally do and I know that there’s an opportunity for creative writing which I’ve always loved to do and just for my practice because in science, especially when somebody on the outside asks you what you do, you

kind of give them a long, complicated answer that they don’t understand,” Elmarsafy said. “I thought it would be a nice challenge because I wanted to be able to talk about what I do to anybody — not just people who actually understand what I’m studying, it was really for me, that was my main reasoning.”

Elmarsafy’s research is on the evolution of the water flea and resurrecting water fleas of the past,

an insect at the bottom of the food chain that is integral to the survival of many animals. She will be presenting her three-minute thesis again at McMaster University on Apr. 17.

“I want to work on my hand movements for the provincial competition and also taking it a little bit slower because I was super nervous and I think I need to pace myself a little bit better, those are two areas I’d like to improve on and I think I can do it,” Elmarsafy said.

“I just had a lot of fun and everybody involved was extremely helpful. Faculty especially gave me a lot of support, on Twitter all the faculty of Biology tweeted at me and I felt really supported by my community. I know Laurier is the most supportive community of all, but it really showed, so I really appreciate that. It made it even better of a win because of everyone around me.”

Scott Donald, from the faculty of kinesiology, received the second-place honour for his thesis entitled “Psychological Readiness to Return to Sport After Injury,” being only one of two students from the entire faculty competing in the competition.

“I felt good because it means I got my message across, I had a lot of fun making the speech and preparing it so knowing that other people really responded well to it and accepted it as something worthwhile was a great feeling,” Donald said. “Representing the department of kinesiology was great; there were only two of us who were presenting, so there’s a good feeling in getting that respect from the judges and from the audience.

One of the judges told me they could tell I was going places in life and that’s always great to hear at any point.”

Victoria Parker, from the faculty of psychology, received the honourable mention for a second year in a row with her thesis “Diverging Definitions: The Consequences of Defining “Feminism Differently” which was a different thesis than her 2018 presentation.

“It’s really good practice, especially since it’s a new topic, so I figured it would be an excellent opportunity to refine my pitch and see exactly how accessible my thesis was, especially because both years I was incredibly nervous, I could not sleep the night before and the whole process in having to memorize it and wanting to do it

exactly the way it’s written,” Parker said.

“Once you’re up there, you just have to be able to adapt on the fly even if you miss a line which I did both years. Getting honourable mention even after those mishaps was really incredible, validating is the wrong word, but it was very encouraging.”

The competition was judged by many different faculty members across science as well as established professionals in journalism in business, the Students’ Union president & CEO, the Laurier Brantford dean of liberal arts and more.

“My experience as a judge was actually a bit different than I expected, I didn’t expect to be so excited by everything. In the end I was so engaged, I came away with this feeling of being so impressed by the breadth of research that is being undertaken by students and how creative and articulate they are,” said Eden Hennessey, research and programs director for the Laurier Centre for Women in Science who was a judge for the competition.

“It was not only that piece; it was also super cool to connect with other people on the panel of judges. We had a lot of those conversations as to what is the role of science communication, how important is it to get students to mobilize their work and connecting this to larger things like funding opportunities which in the end really the currency of this profession.”

The 3-Minute Thesis competition was also open to undergraduate students for the first time ever, with Leah Mindorff from the biology department receiving the first-place honour, and Brampton Dakin from the departments of geography, geomatics and earth science receiving second.

“It was the first time I had been a judge ... there were a lot of different topics, a lot of different backgrounds, but I was absolutely amazed at how everyone did, it was such a constraint only having one slide and three minutes, it doesn’t give you a lot of flexibility in what you can do,” said Tristan long, a professor in the department of biology and judge of the competition.

“They put a huge amount of effort into practising their talks, they are putting complex research projects into really understandable fashion.”

NEWS • 9

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 3, 2019

REVIEWING THE STUDENTS’ UNION BOARD The following reviews are based off of interviews with the Students’ Union Board of Directors to reflect on the year and if they best represented Laurier undergraduate students.

TARIQUE PLUMMER PRESIDENT & CEO

ADAM KOVACS

CHAIR OF THE BOARD

OWEN BOURRIE

VICE CHAIR OF THE BOARD

ADAM BECK

President and CEO Tarique Plummer has had a strong year in his role. Accomplishing at least 11 points from his 15-point platform, Plummer has many tangible accomplishments to show for, such as The Perch, the Student Success application program, the presidential sponsorship program and more.

As president, Tarique was approachable, accountable and transparent — he strived to update students about his accomplishments in his monthly updates.

Plummer had good attendance to meetings and was consistent in providing presidential updates for directors in a timely manner.

Plummer is commended for his presence on both campuses. Plummer made it a priority to go to Brantford at least once or twice a week; however, he was often seen engaging with Brantford students, in contrast to simply doing work in the Students’ Union office.

In Plummer’s midterm review, he was encouraged to be cautious of providing suggestions and giving his opinions on the board.

As an individual who has been on the board in previous years, many of the directors, who were all new, were easily swayed by Plummer’s guidance. In this term, Plummer took the suggestions from his midterm review and only stated the essentials while at the board table.

Kovacs, Chair and CGO of the board, is ending the year off on a strong note.

In his second term, Kovacs was able to accomplish more as chair and CGO as directors became more confident in their own roles and required less guidance from Kovacs.

For example, a large focus for Kovacs was increasing voter turnout in this past Students’ Union election season. To his success, the election turnout did see a slight increase of one per cent — the highest voter turnout since 2016.

Kovacs did a good job keeping directors on topic and on track during meetings.

This helped meetings move efficiently and effectively, instead of dwelling on unnecessary discussions.

In a sense, Kovacs’ guidance and leadership during meetings helped navigate away from the conflict

which was rooted in the previous year’s board.

A common critique stems from Chair Kovacs leniency with regard to attendance to meetings, especially at the beginning of the board’s tenure. Kovacs is encouraged to be firm in reiterating the importance of attending meetings in person.

Overall, Kovacs can be commended for his work as chair this year. As a first-time member on the board of directors, Kovacs inhibited strong leadership and guidance despite learning the ins and outs of the board table at the same time.

Director Bourrie has had a strong year as vice-chair of the board. In his first year serving on the board of directors, Bourrie has come prepared to all meetings with an open, honest and transparent mentality. During meetings, Bourrie effectively voices his opinions and is respectful and open to the opinions of others — an important skill in coming to agreements and decisions. As vice-chair, Bourrie has also been an excellent middle-figure between the chair and directors. For these reasons, and more, Bourrie can be considered one of the strongest presences at the board table.

On the board this past term, Bourrie has been involved in committees including Ownership Linkage and Student Life Levy. In addition to his commitment to the board, Bourrie is involved with Best Buddies Laurier, an executive on Laurier Moot Court and was an ice breaker this past orientation week. However, Bourrie’s commitments have not limited him on the board table — he has been in attendance to all board meetings. In addition, as vice-chair, Bourrie has taken on various responsibilities and tasks from Chair Kovacs. These added responsibilities have ultimately

given Bourrie skills and knowledge which he will bring into his upcoming year on the board during which he will serve as chair and CGO of the board.

As incoming chair, Bourrie has placed an immediate focus on training the incoming directors. With most of the 2019-20 directors being new to the board table, Bourrie wants to ensure that they are given the necessary training to confidently step into their roles in May. A common critique of this past year revolved around directors not being confident in their roles until the winter term, after spending eight months becoming familiar with the job of a director.

To prevent this from happening and to allow directors to accomplish important tasks from the beginning of their tenure, Bourrie has been holding weekly training sessions for his new directors.

Bourrie has a concrete basis to work off of as he continues to transition from vice-chair to chair and if he continues embodying transparency, accountability, openness, and passion as he has done so this past year, there’s no doubt he shall have a successful year as chair.

As a first-year member of the board, Director Beck has grown since last term in his knowledge of procedure and policy.

One of the main aspects of his campaign period in the previous year, which as been brought into fruition this term, has been keeping up regular communication and developing strong connections with other members of the board, in and out of the boardroom.

Unfortunately, Director Beck has been recovering from a concussion; due to this, he has been absent from a number of board meetings.

Director Beck will not be returning to the board

next year, as he wants to open the floor for new board members and focus on his studies.

10 • NEWS

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 3,2019

BOARD OF DIRECTORS egate in both the fall and the spring, focusing most of his involvement outside of school to board activities.

Although he had a strong year as a director, getting involved with committees within the board on top of extra-curriculars, Director Spourdalakis will not be returning to the board as he is graduating this year.

BRODY SPOURDALAKIS

Named one of the stronger directors by his peers, Director Spourdalakis was eager to have his voice in the interest of students, even as a first-time member of the board.

Ensuring transparency and accountability on the board, he is someone who will challenge the thoughts of the table despite the popular vote and will question choices to ensure the best interests of students are at the forefront of the board table’s decisions.

On the board, Director Spourdalakis has been involved with many committees as well as an OUSA del-

He aimed to run for student body governor, but was unable to submit his platform due to being out of country.

KAWUKI JEROME

In his first year as a member of the board, Director Jerome got involved with many activities such as door knocker campaigns, the ownership linkage ad-hoc committee and the student life levy in Brantford among others.

His attendance at meetings has been exceptional this semester, only missing two last semester due to academic conflicts.

Director Jerome has been a solid contributor to the board table all year, but will not be returning to the board next year.

A first-year member of the board, Director Toameh was the only female director this year.

Timid to speak up at the table during the early months of the board, Toameh came into her role later on in the year to have her input heard, and spoke up as a voice for the students.

Director Toameh has had good attendance to meeting despite her other duties, ensuring she is committed to her role as a director this year.

Outside of the board, she is a residence life don as well as a vice president on both Best Buddies Laurier and Eye to Eye Laurier.

Director Toameh will not be returning to the board

as she believes that previous directors will influence the vote, so for student advocacy to remain objective, a new board is the best option to move forward.

Director Vigneswaran, one of the Brantford directors, had trouble with his in person attendance in Waterloo in his first few months as a director, but worked on his attendance to be more present at the board table rather than on call. Though part of his platform was to be more inclusive at Laurier, his role as a director has helped him get to know Laurier better and understand how inclusive the school already is. Through being on both the Student Life Levy and finance and audit committees on the board, as well as an active member of dance committees and DECA outside the board, Director Vigneswaran has

become very involved in his time at Laurier. Director Vigneswaran will not be returning to the board, as he is actively applying to other roles within the Students’ Union instead.

As a first-time director, Director Alwi has learned a lot about policies and meeting procedures during his term on the board.

Building professional relationships, Director Alwi has been involved in committees such as the Transparency and Accountability committee, Student Life Levy Brantford, Multi-Campus Committee, various Direct Inspections Committees and was the Hiring Coordinator for the Brantford campus. Director Alwi has had an impactful term, missing no board meetings and being the acting Chair for one.

His campaign, geared towards increasing the

accountability and transparency of the board has materialized through his involvement on the board and presenting recommendations to better involve the student body.

Director Alwi hopes to continue to make a positive impact next year when he returns to the board, using the skills and knowledge learned throughout this past year.

LANA TOAMEH

PIRRANAVAN VIGNESWARAN

OSMAN ALWI

These reviews were written collaboratively by News Editor Aaron Hagey, News Editor Hayley McGoldrick, Lead Reportor Margaret Russell and Editor-in-Chief Safina Husein. They are based on observations from board meetings and interviews with directors, chair and president.

NEWS • 11

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 3, 2019

SAMEED HUSSAIN

SHUKAN SHAH

KAREEM ELLIOTT

Director Hussain, being a first-time member of the board, has been credited as becoming more vocal during meetings and improving overall in his final term as a director.

As a director, he has gained the necessary experience which will help in his transition to Vice Chair in the following year.

Director Hussain has had an avid attendance during his term, missing no meetings this term and visiting the Brantford campus twice a month.

Director Hussain has also been a member of the Ownership Linkage Committee, Direct Inspection for Elections Review and Student Life Levy Committee.

Outside of board duties, Hussain is an icebreaker, an

executive for Laurier’s anime club, security guard and sat on the appeals committee for senate.

Director Hussain recognizes how he has fallen short in connecting with the students; however, his campaign platform thus far has been adequately implemented, both in terms of transparency and keeping the students aware of board procedures.

Director Shah has consistently been named one of the strongest directors of the board this term, according to other members.

As acting president in place of Tarique Plummer during periods where he was unavailable, Director Shah has demonstrated a strong sense of initiative and responsibility when necessary.

As a director, Shah has been open to hearing other opinions, has worked towards collective agreements, has not missed any meetings this term and has been a reliable resource for the current Chair when necessary.

Director Shah has been involved in a number of

committees this term, including the Ad-Hoc Committee for Ownership Linkage, Elections Review Committee, Society for Undergraduate Research and Outreach (SURO) and the Senate.

As a new director last term, Director Shah experienced difficulties regarding what the job of director of the board entailed, but has since grown and become more effective in his role.

Director Shah will not be returning next year due to a series of goals outside of the Students’ Union he is interested in pursuing.

Director Elliot, as a member of the board that values honesty, accountability and transparency, has been unable to actualize a number of his campaign promises due to the limited individual power that being a member of the board offers.

Director Elliot has a strong understanding of the sacrifices and compromises that have had to be made this year for the sake of the collective good of the board and its ownership.

He has, however, taken his campaign platform outside of the board room by valuing inclusivity and accountability, building strong relationships with students and collective ownership.

As a director, Elliot has maintained and demonstrated a strong sense of integrity, both in and outside of the board, as well as kept strong working relationships with other directors. Elliot is a member of the basketball team and in a referee-in-chief, and has missed no board meetings this term.

Director Elliot will not be returning to the board next year, noting that it is not cohesive with his career path and that he is interested in pursuing alternate opportunities in the coming year.

In his first year on the board, Director Donnelly has endeavored to make informed and educated decisions while maintaining friendly relationship with other board members, both in and outside of the boardroom.

While on the board, Director Donnelly has kept a professional demeanour and, despite being new to the board, has felt confident enough to ask questions when he feels it is necessary.

Director Donnelly, aside from his duties on the board, is involved in the Association of Political Science Students, the History Students’ Association and

the North American Studies’ Association, as well as being a residence life don.

Director Donnelly has spent the past term in Sweden on exchange and thus has had to attend meetings via phone or skype.

Unfortunately, as a result, Director Donnelly did not respond to The Cord’s request for his final board review.

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CHRISTOPHER DONNELLY

THECORD.CA

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GAMES • 13

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 3, 2019

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 Parnac, I’d go to Leduc and back for you.

Sincerely, Bubble Gum Pro Dear Cordies, Thank you for becoming my family.

A place I thought I would be an outcast became a place that I call home. I’m so sad so many of us are graduating because my Tuesdays will never be the same without you, even you Parnav. I love you all more than I love going to events for free.

Sincerely, Mayley Dear Mayley and Hafina, I’ve never thought of myself as someone who has ever had a lot of really close friends. I’ve always had trouble feeling really close to people, and being comfortable enough around them that my anxiety won’t ruin it. I never expected to find one -- let alone two -- of the most incredible people in this organi-

zation who I could see being my lifelong friends. You two, among others, proved me so wrong. Thank you for two more reasons why I am so happy and proud of myself for joining The Cord, and thank you for genuinely being two of the greatest co-workers I’ve had the opportunity to work alongside this year. I’m very sad that it’s come to an end, but I know it will only be temporary, as I know that I’ve gained something even more important in the process.

Sincerely, You’ve always got a friend in me Dear EIC to be, I know you’re worried about filling the shoes that will be left after this year. But you shouldn’t, because I sure as hell am not. You’ve learned from the best, and soon you’ll be doing the same for someone else who deserves this position as much as you do. Every time you’ve convinced yourself you aren’t good enough, you prove yourself wrong, without fail. That’s because your potential is limitless. You are going to do phenomenal things next year and I’m so glad to be by your side for it. I’m proud of you already.

Sincerely, Lover boy Dear Life, I’ll miss all you graduating Cordies :( Pls don’t leave.

Sincerely, Ali G

Dear Jonas Brothers, Thank you dearly for your return. I am a sucker for y’all.

Sincerely, JoBros4Life

SUDOKU

Dear Laz Business Review, I have worked hard on you all year. I will personally fist fight any haters. Das my baby.

Sincerely, Queen of Laz Dear Stomach, Why do I throw up so much? Why are you like this? Honestly I’m not a mathematician but something doesn’t add up here.

Sincerely, Fatty Lumpkins Dear Parnav, You’re alright.

Sincerely, Mayley Dear Parnav, You WILL miss me.

Sincerely, YA know Dear the Chord, Love you miss you Sincerely, you will always be my baby Dear Life, Here we go.

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14 •

FEATU

FEATURES EDITOR/VACANT/FEATURES@THECORD.CA

A look at the growth of wo

Sports Editor Pranav Desai analyzes the progr In the 1990’s, Wilfrid Laurier University’s athletic facility only had four washroom stalls for the women’s athletic teams and the women’s change room was only a third of the size of the men’s change room.

Now, as of 2019, Laurier women’s varsity teams have won 36 out of the 73 OUA championships and seven of the 14 national championships in the school’s history.

Over the past 20 years, the growth of women’s sports at Laurier has been nothing short of exceptional. Although it would be easy to say that the progression of women’s athletics is a byproduct of an increased athletic budget and the natural growth of the school, there are numerous steps that Laurier has taken in order to make sure that there is equal support for both women’s and men’s sports.

The first and most important decision that Laurier took to make sure women’s sports weren’t getting left behind was changing the athletic facilities.

“We had to renovate the facility and make it an equitable space. So what you see in the men’s change room is what you see in the women’s. All the dressing rooms for the two basketball teams and the two soccer teams are the exact same,” said Peter Baxter, director of athletics and recreation at Laurier.

Baxter began his Laurier career 21 years ago and he has played a major role in changing the culture around women’s sports at Laurier.

“21 years ago when I came here, the infrastructure wasn’t here. We had a building that was built in the 70’s and it was meant for male participation. Back then, the women didn’t participate in high performance sports. There was a 3000 square foot free-weight room for mainly the football team to use. A lot of women were intimated to use that area,” he said.

“We had less than 450 women in instructional classes like group fitness and dance in a year. Now we have over 500 in dance alone each semester and probably about 3000-4000 in the instructional program.”

Funding was one of the biggest concerns for women’s athletics, but as university and college sports expanded in Canada, budgets started to increase and this gave Laurier a platform to improve the equity between men’s and women’s sports.

“In terms of inter-collegiate teams, a lot of women’s sports were dreadfully underfunded. The whole athletic department had a small budget at the time. It was less than a million dollars and we only generated about $200,000 in revenue. Back then we were about 5800 students and the university strategically said that if we want to grow, we got to have proper facilities to attract students,” Baxter said.

“Even the Laurier ambassadors didn’t want to come in our athletic building. So we opened up the space to make it visual, so more people would engage in physical activity.”

“We had a lot of equipment that put people in vulnerable positions. So we bought new equipment that made people more comfortable. We had to make sure that people were comfortable while doing physical activity without feeling like they are being leered at,” he added.

This change has been evident because of the diversity you see within Laurier sports and at the gym in the Athletic Complex. It’s no longer just people of a certain gender, body type or weight who are engaging in physical activity. The improved inclusivity has been one of the keys behind the growth of women in sports at Laurier.

Once these changes implemented by the university and the athletics department were put in motion, success started to follow.

Many of the most important Golden Hawks and teams in Laurier’s athletic history are women.

One of the first and most crucial moments in terms of Laurier women’s sports history was the Golden Hawks soccer team bringing home the national championship in the early 1990’s.

This helped the school develop a bigger and better women’s basketball and hockey program which led to even greater success in the future.

“Our women’s soccer team had won a national championship in the early 1990’s, but we were woefully underfunded. We worked towards improving that over a number of years. Once athletic scholarships began, we made a commitment to [distributing them] equitably between female and male athletes. We first targeted women’s hockey and women’s basketball,” Baxter said.

The Laurier women’s hockey program is considered as one of the best hockey programs in the country due to the tremendous success the Hawks experienced in the mid-2000’s.

The Hawks won seven consecutive OUA championships from 2004 to 2010, including a national CIS championship in 2005 under head coach Rick Osborne.

One of the most iconic hockey players in Laurier hockey’s history, Cheryl Pounder, was also a pioneer for women’s sports at Laurier.

Pounder, a two-time Olympic gold medalist, made a name for herself at Laurier before women’s athletics were at their peak.

“Cheryl was driving to games with the women’s hockey team. It was a club at first then it became an OUA sport. She had to buy her own jersey,” Baxter added.

The success between the soccer, basketball and hockey teams translated into the development and growth of women’s curling, rugby and lacrosse.

“We also partnered with a lot of community groups, like our curling program with the K-W Granite Club. We then became known as a curling school.”

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URES

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 3, 2019 • 15

omen’s athletics at Laurier

ression of female Hawks over the past 20 years The curling school reputation is intact not only because of the OUA and national championships that the school has won, but also due to the post-collegiate success of numerous Laurier curlers such as Laura Walker and Sarah Wilkes. Walker is a national junior champion and a world junior silver medalist, while Wilkes recently won the 2019 Scotties Tournament of Hearts.

“We invested in coaches. Our vision was always [to] invest in people, improve the product and win. We define winning as more than just scoreboard success. It’s academic success, athletic success and community service,” Baxter said.

The success of Laurier athletics’ vision has not led to any complacency. In fact, the attention on women’s athletics has only intensified over the years through events like the Outstanding Women of Laurier (OWL).

The OWL event, which began in 2006, honours female athletes who not only excel in their sport, but also in their community.

The progression of women’s athletics and the attention that female athletes receive at Laurier is something that is unique to the school.

In mainstream sports, the women often take a back seat to the men when it comes to receiving adequate media coverage. The argument has always been that men are physically and athletically superior and therefore people are more likely to watch the men since they are attracted to a superior product.

Even though this isn’t necessarily false, the lack of marketing of mainstream women’s sports is alarming. It’s difficult for sports fans to consume women’s athletics because women’s sports simply aren’t marketed as much as they should be, creating a lack of awareness within the audience.

At Laurier, this isn’t the case. If you walk into the athletic complex, you will see an equal amount of photos and posters featuring both female and male Golden Hawks. The equitable marketing leads to the stands being nearly full at every big Laurier varsity sports game, whether the game features women or men.

There is also a real camaraderie between the Golden Hawk varsity teams.

“Our teams support one another. You’ll go to an inter-collegiate game and you’ll see the men’s football team cheering on the women’s basketball team. You’ll see the rugby team at hockey games cheering us on. There’s a really good sense amongst our student athletes of supporting one another. This is important because I’ve been in athletic departments at other schools and I’ve seen rivalries between teams at the school,” Baxter said.

“We’ve gotten to a point now where the only limitation we have isn’t gender, it’s facility space.

We’re going till 1 a.m. with intramurals and we still have waiting lists. The number of our [athletic] clubs have drastically increased. We’ve got a diverse set of clubs from equestrian to dragon boat.

In the end, everyone wears the Golden Hawk and they have an emotional tie to it.”

Laurier has a rich history of iconic female athletes who have paved the way for women’s sports to thrive over the years and one of those icons is swimmer Jasmine Raines. Although Raines’ Golden Hawk career is far from over, she is well on her way to becoming a Laurier legend because of her accomplishments.

Raines has received lots of recognition from the university and the media throughout her career with the purple and gold.

“Laurier does an excellent job of including everyone. Everybody gets the recognition they deserve. I couldn’t thank the [athletic] department enough for all the support they’ve given to both genders and giving us excellent opportunities to pursue our academics and athletics at Laurier,” she said.

“Athletics was a big part of my decision [to come to Laurier]. It’s a big thing in my life. I had a chat with the coaches at Laurier and I learned about all the support that is given to the athletics department and how the department helps the athletes.”

Raines has won two bronze medals at the U-Sports national swimming championships over the past two years to go along with six OUA medals in her career. When asked about her thoughts on the Outstanding Women of Laurier event, Raines mentioned that she has been encouraged to apply for the prestigious award next year.

“I’ve been encouraged to apply for the award next year. But the three women that were nominated this year were outstanding. They all really deserved it. They all had excellent athletic success and they also do phenomenal things in the community. I really think that’s an excellent event in terms of being inclusive to everybody and supporting female athletics.”

None of the Laurier women’s varsity teams were able to capture an OUA championship this past season, but there were still some stellar individual seasons from athletes like Jasmine Raines in swimming, Sydney Pattison in middle-distance, Rose Williams in lacrosse and Jill Condron in basketball, just to name a few.

The transformation of women’s athletics at Laurier over the past 20 years has changed and improved the sports culture at the school. The atmosphere around varsity sports has gotten better and the Golden Hawk is emotionally connected with every Laurier student.

The improved atmosphere and culture has led directly to athletic success. Laurier women’s varsity teams are now responsible for almost half of the school’s total OUA and national championships and with the way things are going, Laurier fans can expect more championships from the women’s teams in the future.

d in coaches. as always [to] ple, improve the win. We define more than just rd success. mic success, uccess and ity service.

r Baxter, of Athletics

LAYOUT BY: SADMAN SAKIB RAHMAN/OUTGOING CREATIVE DIRECTOR, PHOTOS BY: SADMAN SAKIB RAHMAN/OUTGOING CREATIVE DIRECTOR, EVA OU/OUTGOING PHOTO EDITOR, GARRISON OOSTERHOF/OUTGOING WEB DIRECTOR

16 • PHOTO SPREAD

2019 IN PHOTOS

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 3, 2019

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 3, 2019

PHOTO SPREAD • 17

PHOTOS BY SAFINA HUSEIN/EDITOR-IN-CHIEF, GARRISON OOSTERHOF/WEB DIRECTOR, EVA OU/PHOTO EDITOR JACKIE VANG/LEAD PHOTOGRAPHER, SADAM SAKIB RAHMAN/CREATIVE DIRECTOR

18 •

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 3, 2019

Arts & Life

ARTS & LIFE EDITOR EMILY WAITSON arts@thecord.ca

The top five volunteer stories of the year Arts and Life Editor Emily Waitson compiled the best articles written by volunteer contributors 1. Understanding the emotional value of soulmates and twinflames In a romantic and wholesome article, staff writer Diana Edworthy touched on the details surrounding twin flames — the lesser-known, yet far more emotionally intense and unique version of soulmates. Their value is rooted in their rarity, and twin flames, regardless of the validity behind their existence, is a concept that is intriguing and fitting for a day that is dedicated to love and partnership.

3. Experiencing the Juno Awards live for the first time The Juno Awards have been a well-known and esteemed award ceremony that has recognized Canadian music since its first show in 1970. Being in the crowd of the televised music affair is far different than watching it on television, and staff writer Tyler Currie was fortunate enough to attend and document his experience from this year’s awards hosted in London. While standing in the crowd, Tyler was able to see passion and dedication from acclaimed Canadian artists like The Arkells, who made the night an unforgettable one.

5. The psychology behind kinks and seeking pain in the bedroom The Valentine’s Day issue covered a variety of sex-positive topics this year and longtime staff writer Josh Goeree whipped up an article that discussed bedroom kinks and their psychological roots.

Pulling findings from different sources and using his background in psychology, Josh shed a positive light onto the “taboo” aspects of bedroom life and encouraged readers not to yuck people’s yum, just because they may not enjoy it themselves.

2. “APESHIT” is an award worthy music video and the Carters deserve recognition for it There are some pieces of entertainment media that could be considered works of art, and the most powerful couple in the music industry took that concept quite literally with their Grammy-nominated music video APESHIT. Staff writer Breanna Royes broke down the iconic video with its Louvre backdrop and motifs that focalize black beauty and diversity and deconstructed the meaning behind the numerous artistic nods scattered throughout it.

4. Hangover remedies to try after a night out Even though she’s never experienced them herself, incoming Video Editor Anne Marie Russel compiled a list of potential remedies to aid even the most persistent hangover. From natural remedies like ginger — because no one likes vomiting the morning after a night out — to simply remembering to stay hydrated and drink enough water, she gives advice on how to best tackle the not-so-fun aspects that come along after a few too many shots at Phil’s.

ARTS & LIFE • 19

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 3, 2019 ART

BREANNA ROYES/CORD PHOTOGRAPHY

Local artist paints with passion BREANNA ROYES STAFF WRITER

Upon stepping into Maca Suazo’s studio, my attention was immediately drawn to her vibrant canvases of bright yellows, blues and greens.

Besides the hanging paintings on the walls, Suazo’s studio is covered with book quotes, as her passion for reading has left her consistently channelling the relationship between painting and

literature. Due to the fact that an artist’s culture has a great influence on their work, Suazo’s paintings are tied to her Chilean roots. Suazo was born in Vina del Mar, Chile.

In 1997, Suazo attained a diploma in Physical Theatre from La Mancha International School of Gesture and Image in Santiago, Chile. She moved to British Columbia at the age of 25 to continue a career in acting. Although Suazo acted in theatrical performances

for several years she found that it was a lonely art form and that her Spanish accent did not always work to her advantage. Yet, having painted all of her life, Suazo realized that when she painted she did not have an accent. She could say whatever she wanted to through her canvas and colourful oil palette.

Suazo went on to take courses at Emily Carr in Victoria and graduated in 2010 from Fine Arts at the University of Waterloo, where she grew in painting techniques and developed her own style. In 2013, Suazo completed her Master of Arts in Latina American Literature at the University of Guelph. Today, Suazo currently resides and works as a painter in Waterloo, Ontario.

Between 1973 to 1990, an authoritarian military regime ruled Chile in the form of a dictatorship.

In order to control the greater population, the government restricted things such as books, to prevent people from consuming subversive content. Growing up during this time, Suazo only knew of the single library that existed in her province.

It took Suazo and her mother an hour and a half bus ride to visit the library. Once there, one was not able to browse for books but could only purchase specific ones. Based on this experience in Chile, when Suazo moved to British Columbia she was amazed at the libraries that North America had to offer.

She described calling her

mother and exclaiming, “Mom, it’s amazing. You can take out as many books as you want!”

Like all painters, Suazo’s painting process begins with the canvas.

Suazo emphasized that she loves to stretch her own canvases as an old art teacher once told her, “When you stretch your own canvas there is something about it that makes you a professional artist.”

Once Suazo starts painting in her studio, experimentation is her motivating factor. On some paintings she has drawn onto them, on others, she has cut out book pages and pasted them onto the canvas.

Suazo has also used music to gain inspiration. In one series of paintings, Suazo painted whilst listening to baroque music.

“Music and painting meet at that point where words do not work or serve as tools of communication,” Suazo said.

While it is no secret that artists are influenced by their own life, Suazo confirmed that her childhood memories have been the foundation of her paintings. The sight of boats and canoes within her paintings take her back to her childhood spent near the water and emphasizes the act of going on a journey.

Suazo stated that her grandma is one of her biggest inspirations.

Therefore, her grandmother reappears in various works, often times as an angel. With family being an important aspect of South Amer-

ican culture, Suazo chooses to paint positive reflections of life and sticks to themes of hope, endurance, and love.

“Why would I focus on the tragic when there is enough tragedy in life?” Suazo said.

For the past five years, Suazo has worked each summer on a local organic farm in Waterloo, which as given her another appreciation for colours and light. In a series called Farm Days, Suazo channelled the bright colours and textures that fill farming landscapes. Working outdoors has allowed Suazo to notice how the light changes throughout the day and how it affects the colours of the crops.

“It makes the fruit and vegetables look so bright the tomatoes are like a rainbow of different reds,” Suazo said.

Overall, working as a farmer continues to inspire Suazo’s paintings and allows her to reconnect with nature.

Through her paintings, Suazo has created a world of entirely her own making. Between the beautiful landscapes of her native country, the magic rooted in her Chilean culture and the inspiration she gains from literature, Suazo allows fleeting moments to live forever on her canvases.

Her paintings take viewers away on journeys to colourful lands where the sea is always on the horizon and hints of magic are present.

19 • ARTS & LIFE

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 3, 2019

HOUSING

To lease or not to lease, that is the question ALYSSA DI SABATINO INCOMING ARTS AND LIFE EDITOR

If you’re a student who’s going home for the summer, or someone looking for work in the Waterloo area, you’re probably considering subletting your apartment or finding an apartment to sublet.

After my own personal crusades looking for both sublets and subletters, I think it’s fair to say that I have enough experience to give you all a succinct run-down of what you need to know if you’re either renting your place out or finding a place to rent.

1. Proceed with caution and don’t settle.

This tip is pretty broad, I know.

But it’s easily the most important thing to remember. Regardless of whether you’re subletting or are a subletter yourself, you need to examine all of your options before settling for something. If you’re renting your place out, you should rent it to a person you think you can trust. Handing your lease over to the first person to show interest is a surefire way to screw yourself over. First, it’s important to find out why they’re subletting. Did they get kicked out of their last apartment? It’s probably best to steer clear. Have they secured a

job near your apartment and are looking for local housing? That’s a pretty safe bet. Reversely, if you’re looking to rent a place, it’s equally as important to fully evaluate the aparment before making a decision or settling on something you’re not sure of. If something the renter has said or shown you makes you uneasy or sceptical, ask for clarification. If you’re still unsure, move on. There’s as many subletters are there are places to sublet, so if something you’ve seen or heard is making you uncomfortable, you’re not obligated to commit by any means.

2. Set guidelines.

If you are renting your place out, it’s a good idea to contact your property manager and ask for any guidelines on subletting.

Usually they will provide you with a subtenant agreement, which is basically like a condensed version of the lease you originally signed.

Outside of this, it’s also a good idea to set any guidelines that you may feel are necessary for your own peace of mind. If you have a rule that you want your renter to follow — like a chore chart, for example — it’s important to establish this immediately so there’s no confusion down the line. If the person you’re renting from hasn’t established any guidelines that you feel are necessary for your comfort, then maybe the place isn’t for you.

This is also the time to establish the rental price, method of payment and when rent is due. A lot of

people who are renting out their apartment do so at a reduced price.

This is worth considering when you’re either looking for a place or looking for a subletter. In regards to payments, e-transfers are the better option because your bank account keeps track of all payments for you. If you want to get paid on the first of every month, establish that from the get-go.

3. Establish a sense of accountability.

By this I mean that you should make it clear on all fronts what you expect from the person you’re either renting to or from. Some people take photos of their room before they have their renter sign off on anything in order to avoid any arguments over potential damages. Sometimes they sign a checklist which lists the condition of the place before renting, again, to keep the renter accountable for any damages.

Most people who are subletting their apartments still pay rent to their landlords, but the person they are subletting to sends their agreed upon rental amount to the original subletter. This means that the original renter is going to be held accountable for payments regardless of if their subletter pays them or not. If you’re subletting, you’re likely not working directly with the landlord, and transactions are happening in a not so official way. Most importantly, you need to establish from the get-go what your expectations are before renting.

EVA OU/OUTGOING PHOTO EDITOR

WELLNESS

Goodvibes Juice Co. provides KW with healthy drinks EMMA MCVICAR STAFF WRITER

If you live in the Kitchener-Waterloo area, you’ve undoubtedly seen the rise of trendy coffee shops, local breweries and health conscious cafes. Goodvibes Juice Co. is one of the companies nestled in the heart of this region and they have a strong message to share.

Their logo is the Flower of Life, an ancient symbol found across the world. It is tied to energy, oneness with all and balance, which are reflected well in the brand’s promise. Drew Butterworth, the founder of Goodvibes Juice Co., is committed to the company and its vision.

“We try to offer products and services that save you time and energy so you can reinvest that time and energy exercising, or spending with family and friends and growing more balanced in the process,” Butterworth said.

What’s special about the company is that it was ultimately birthed from a commitment to follow a passion. Despite his success, Butterworth wasn’t necessarily inspired by money to begin his venture.

JACKIE VANG/OUTGOING LEAD PHOTOGRAPHER

“As much as I want to have success and do well and have freedom, I don’t really believe in money for what it currently is. I would have really been mad at myself if I woke up, was 60 and just worked for a pay-check my entire life … Although I do want wealth, really I just want wealth so I can have freedom,” Butterworth said.

Each bottle Goodvibes serves is made from glass. That way, there’s no chance of chemically contaminated plastic infiltrating your delicious juice. This also allows the company to use a loyalty return

program with the bottles, reducing their ecological footprint.

With two to three pounds of raw, fresh produce going into every bottle, Goodvibes delivers on their promise to help people achieve balance in their lives.

“So they’re putting something into them that they can feel good about, that they’re not going to be able to go out to the grocery store and get. You know they could go out and buy the stuff and juice it themselves, but that takes a lot of time and energy and the cleanup,” Butterworth said.

It’s an easy grab-and-go option when you’re travelling back home, spending a day uptown or if you’re busy with classes and need to fit in some extra nutrients.

A personal favourite juice of mine that Goodvibes offers is the Majestic.

It gets its rich colour from bluegreen algae and the vibrant taste makes my body feel alert, hydrated and ready for the day. If sea nutrients aren’t your thing, don’t worry, they have tons of choices.

At first, they began with simple, cold-pressed juice, but Goodvibes

has quickly expanded with lemonades, smoothie bowls, milks, coffees, kombucha and ginger shots careful with these guys — they’re great for your digestion but their heat packs a punch.

With the summer coming up, Goodvibes is prepared to help their customers level up with a fresh juice cleanse.

They offer one, three and five day cleanses to help your body flush itself of toxins and you brighten up for the sunny months.

If you’re looking for Goodvibes Juice Co., they’re located in the Walper Hotel at 1 King Street West Kitchener, as well as 120 King Street South, uptown Waterloo inside the gym Hustl & Flow.

Their juices can also be found at many other locations across the KW region, including Vincenzo’s grocery, DVLB, Smile Tiger and Legacy Greens.

If you haven’t discovered Goodvibes’ rainbow of colourful juices yet, this time of year is perfect to test one out.

Grab one on the go for a late night study session, early morning or a lazy afternoon to pack your body with extra fruits and veggies to support a balanced lifestyle.

ARTS & LIFE • 21

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 3, 2019 LOCAL CINEMA

FEMINIST FILM EVENTS YITIAN CAI/CORD PHOTOGRAPHY

MADELINE MCINNIS CORD ALUM

On Friday Mar. 29, the Apollo Cinema in downtown Kitchener had their second annual Free Feminist Friday movie night.

This year, the theatre was screening Persepolis, the story of Marjane Satrapi, adapted from the graphic novel of the same name, a young woman who grew up in pre- and post-revolutionary era Iran and in Europe.

The film features themes such as identity, mental illness, race and immigration, as well as the obvious picks of religion and gender.

Though it is relatively short in runtime, many members of the audience thought that it had a strong message.

“It had something for everyone, really,” said Deanna Gooden, a student in the faculty of engineering at University of Waterloo who attended the screening.

“It’s funny, and it speaks to a really particular story and moment in time, but it’s a universal story about growing up and trying to

find who you are, even when there are so [many] outside pressures.”

That’s an analysis that I have to agree with. I found myself tearing

It’s funny, and it speaks to a really particular story and moment in time, but it’s a universial story about growing up ...

-Deanna Gooden, University of Waterloo engineering student

up at times, but I also got a few laugh-out-loud moments, which is rare for me in movies. I found myself talking about the film even days after I saw it, which means it had to have left some impression.

“I’d definitely come to something like this again,” Gooden said.

When I got my ticket, there were

already over 200 people in attendance, and there was quite a line behind me as well.

I think it’s safe to say that there was a very good turnout for the event.

Especially considering that this film is in French with English subtitles, I was surprised at how many people seemed genuinely engaged with the film, as well.

We were all surprised at the not-so-Hollywood ending, and their was a silence in the theatre even after the credits came up and the lights went on.

All in all, it was a different experience, but a good one.

“I loved the different animation styles,” said Claire Thompson, another student that attended the screening.

What Thompson is referring to is the different styles that the film uses to convey its story — the past is in black and white, the present in colour, and other techniques are used for stories within stories, such as paper cutouts when the father describes how the Shah came into power in Iran.

This event was sparked by the success of last year’s Free Feminist Friday screening of Practical Magic.

“Feminism isn’t something that should just be thrown around on International Women’s Day,” Thompson said.

Feminism isn’t something that should just be thrown around on International Women’s Day.

-Claire Thompson, University of Waterloo student

“We should be supporting other women all year round, and that should definitely include women that aren’t already in positions of power.”

“Along with that, we see so many movies by male filmmakers, and this just goes to show that women can tell amazing stories in unique ways, and we don’t see too much of that,” Gooden said. “I never really thought about it, but I think I’m going to make a real effort to see movies that women make from here out, not just movies that star female actresses.”

Most of the Apollo’s free screenings are reserved to members of the cinema, but this screening was open to all. I heard several people in line remarking that this was their first time in the cinema, as well.

If you’re interested in The Apollo’s events, they do have several others already announced for the upcoming month.

On Apr. 14, there is a singalong to Jesus Christ Superstar, and on Apr. 27 they’re showing Uncle Buck with pancakes.

The next free screening is another that’s free for members, and it’s Reality Bites on Apr. 24.

You can find all of the Apollo’s upcoming events listed on their website.

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 3, 2019

22 •

Editorial

OPINION EDITOR ALYSSA DI SABATINO opinion@thecord.ca

Editor’s Note:

EDITORIAL CARTOON

Saying Goodbye together. And I’m so proud looking back at all of our accomplishments.

So, here’s the part of this editor’s note that I’ve been looking forward to: To Eva, thanks for skipping your horrid 7 to 10’s when we needed you. Kate, our online dude, I wish I was as cool as you. And Sarah, thanks for being my honorary copy editor.

I think that everyone should be like Alyssa Ali G; hilarious-commentary on stories and all.

Garrison, I wouldn’t be able to look back on this year and feel as proud as I do if it weren’t for you — you're a good work wife.

I will miss Kash’s ed cartoon’s and funny commentary in my office. And Sadman, what can I say? I will miss being “boss” to you the most.

Parnav, I know you say you won’t miss me, but I know you secretly will and I will miss you throwing shade every Tuesday, you will always be our lilSP. I’m thankful to Hayley, my brother, for writing four news stories a week, for being weird with me and for always letting me win at Words With Friends.

And to Emily and Aaron (my FB’s), thank you for playing trash music to make Tuesday’s calmer and for being my reassurance and pals every step of the way. I know this publication that I love is in good hands with you two.

I could go on about more of them if I had more space.

Tomorrow is going to feel bittersweet. I’m excited to see our paper on stands one more time the morning after a long Tuesday production night -- a mid-week feeling I’ve looked forward to throughout my entire undergrad.

But despite it being bittersweet, I’m glad I get to take away 17 friendships from this job. You’re all coming to my wedding!

SAFINA HUSEIN EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

Every Tuesday night, my best friends and I sit in a grungy house on Regina Street.

A lot of shit goes on — we listen to horrible music, we fight over ginger ale, people unwillingly are forced into submitting dear life’s, but most importantly, we work hard and we work together to create a paper every week.

Writing this last editor’s note was both easy and difficult. It’s easy to reminisce about our countless jokes and shenanigans. But it isn’t easy to say goodbye.

Working for The Cord, each day has presented its challenges. There have been countless days where I’ve been stressed and exhausted looking after this publication; but I know more than anything, that it has been the one taking care of me.

It has been such a huge part of my life. Thinking back to who I was the day I saw my first byline in print four years ago, I am so different and it’s largely because of this paper — It’s made me who I am.

Leaving this paper is going to be hard. But saying goodbye to the people I work with will be harder.

I’m so thankful to have been in this position and to have done this job. I won’t forget it as I move forward. But most importantly — I won't forget I don’t want to say goodbye or leave it behind, but The Cord will always be a part of me. And it’s the memories and stupid stuff we’ve done on Tuesday nights that I’ll always get to keep with me.

This past year, I’ve had 17 people by my side who have worked tirelessly every single week to bring The Cord to life. We’ve made mistakes together and we’ve learnt

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

WLUSP ADMINISTRATION BOARD OF DIRECTORS

DIRECTOR Rosalind Horne

CHAIR Terrence Mroz

DIRECTOR H.G. Watson

VICE-CHAIR Shyenne MacDonald

TREASURER Garrison Oosterhof

DIRECTOR Maiya Mistry DIRECTOR Aaron Hagey

PRESIDENT Terrence Mroz president@wlusp.com FINANCE MANAGER Randy Moore randy@rcmbrooks. com ADVERTISING MANAGER Care Lucas care.lucas@wlusp. com

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR Lakyn Barton lakyn.barton@wlusp. com HR MANAGER Paige Bush hr@wlusp.com CORPORATE SECRETARY Maiya Mistry

KASHYAP PATEL/GRAPHICS EDITOR

Learning to be a good critic GARRISON OOSTERHOF WEB DIRECTOR

As students and academics, we are familiar with critically evaluating scholarly sources. However, the role of criticism in the workplace and in everyday life is often misinterpreted and rarely employed to its full capability.

The confusion lies within Western cultures’ relationship with criticism. For example, in entertainment and social media there is a fictitious middle-aged woman named “Karen” and she has the “I want to speak to the manager” haircut.

Tropes like “Karen” and her complaints damage the image of criticism. I’ve found that criticism outside of essays and articles is often conflated with complaining, whining or ranting.

There needs to be a reframing of the purpose and effect of criticism.

A critical comment shouldn’t be based on emotion. Platforms like Yelp and Google Reviews allow people who are upset to instantaneously “criticize” whomever they feel like lashing out against.

A true criticism should be meditated upon and revised over

several weeks to let the irrational feelings of an immediate reaction fade away. This time is also crucial because criticism needs to be carefully articulated; after all, an idea is only as good as its execution.

A true criticism should be meditated upon and revised over several weeks to let the irrational feelings of an immediate reaction fade away.

It’s also important to think about how the comment will be received, both immediately and in the long run. Often people are simply unreceptive to criticism and it would seem futile to engage with these people. However, even if your criticism makes them upset in the short term, if there is a potential for a positive impact in the long term, I believe it is still worth it.

Another misconception is that criticism is just creating problems, but an important characteristic of a problem is that it inspires solutions. In other words, a problem can’t be solved if it is never pointed out as a problem. Sometimes

there’s value in ruffling feathers.

The underlying problem is that too many people criticize others for personal gain and retribution.

True criticism only works when it represents something more than one person’s agenda. Ironically, genuine criticism requires empathy. When you see other people hurt by a system, idea or organization, standing up for those people is the best form of criticism.

Finally, a lack of humility gets in the way of productive criticism. In my classes, sports teams and, most importantly, my workplaces, I have witnessed the growing trend of people being insulted by criticism.

Our culture is one of an individualistic society and we are increasingly concerned with seeing ourselves as a brand. Rather than humbly taking the time to evaluate the truth in criticism, we perceive it as a threat, put up walls and counter-attack.

To evaluate your criticism, here are some helpful questions: Has anyone else agreed with your criticism? Will it make a positive change for more people than just you? Will the subject be at all receptive?

For an analogy, imagine a wall.

Criticism shouldn’t be like hitting the wall with a hammer, trying to test its strength or destroy it. Criticism should be suggesting to knock the wall over and build something better.

• 23

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 3, 2019

Opinion

OPINION EDITOR ALYSSA DI SABATINO opinion@thecord.ca

Graduating with the degree that you want JADE HOSICK INCOMING OPINION EDITOR

Many students at one point or another have been told that their field of study is not going to get them jobs after graduation, almost making their undergraduate education worthless, but is this really the case?

Having friends in programs ranging from science to drama, I have heard from all ends of the spectrum that the phrase “this won’t get you a job” is pushed onto students a lot, causing them to feel discouraged.

And if I’m being completely honest, I don’t think that is fair.

When trying to figure out exactly why this is said to incoming or current post-secondary students, I asked my dad why he thinks that this is the case. He responded with something that I have heard from him my entire life.

Every person needs to have a plan A and a plan B and so on, a wide range of skills will lead to

CONTRIBUTED IMAGE

more success and, if you spend four years doing something, you should get rewarded for your efforts with a well-paying job. He also stated that most parents want their kids to experience some sort of success and to be happy, they just need a stable income.

While that is a valid case, I think many kids get discouraged when hearing this be said to them.

When I was younger, I was always told I could do whatever I want, but the older I got the less probable that seemed to be.

A good friend of mine is currently a drama major and said that being told this by her parents was really discouraging to her.

She felt judged for something that she wanted to be doing but was firm in her decision to pursue something that she loved. Now she is thriving because she is doing something that she really wants to be doing.

I believe that if you are passionate about something, you can and will achieve anything.

You won’t succeed if you are do-

KASHYAP PATEL/GRAPHICS EDITOR

Is ghosting employers warranted?

ALYSSA DI SABATINO OUTGOING OPINION EDITOR

You’ve probably heard of people ghosting their crappy tinder dates or ghosting on friends they had plans with. Typically, this is looked down upon; no one wants to come off as flaky or unreliable.

In recent years, it’s become more common for people to ghost their employers as well.

Those who are looking for jobs or who are currently employed are always told to be as courteous

and considerate as possible when it comes to letting your employer know if you can’t make a job interview, are calling in for a day off, or giving two weeks notice before resignation.

But often, this consideration isn’t returned. Anyone who has applied to or held a job knows what I’m talking about. Especially now that summer jobs are starting shortly, people are applying to numerous jobs with the hopes of hearing back from at least one.

Employees have learned to accept that they won’t always hear back from potential employers after applying to or even interviewing for jobs.

Some jobs do respond to applications, but not for months after

the fact. I recently got an email for a job I applied to last spring saying that my application has been declined. Thanks for letting me know, I guess.

Even jobs that have “probation” periods are allowed to fire their staff on a whim, without much of an explanation.

Everyone’s heard the quote “treat others the way you would like to be treated,” but this notion isn’t always extended by employers to those looking who are for employment.

Some people believe that those who ghost jobs are showing that they lack the ability to be civil and professional.

I’m not endorsing ghosting your employer. But if you ask me, it’s

ing something you are not invested and passionate about, as proven through my first year at Laurier as a psychology major.

In some cases, happiness is more important to people than money is, and it is hard for students to comprehend why some people feel the need to comment on their life decisions that ultimately do not affect them.

On another note, many students use their undergraduate degrees to go on to do other post-graduate work.

Before applying to Laurier, I was talking to a lot of law school representatives who all said, “spend your undergraduate doing something that you love that will help you get good grades.”

This could be anything from music to communications to physics, the schools just wanted your grades and your LSAT scores.

This is also true for bachelor of science students who are trying to get into post graduate programs: a strong GPA is important when applying.

If this is the case, then students should stop getting judged on what they are using to get to their next phase of life.

The job market for all sorts of

fields is huge and while someone might see a certain industry as one thing, there are multiple different jobs that are contributing to that industry.

The entertainment industry is not just actors and actresses, but lighting, sound, costume designers and more.

With a bachelor of science biology degree, you could go into working as a doctor, at a pharmaceutical company, as a teacher or professor and so many other things.

People might look at a degree and think that it’s a one trick pony of sorts, which is not true.

In fact, a degree of any kind can get you a multitude of different jobs, as technology advances and different career paths are being created.

Being an influencer was not a job 20 years ago, but now with social media, anyone can essentially be apart of that industry.

Don’t let people stop you from achieving what you want.

Ultimately the choices are yours and yours alone.

People giving their opinion is helpful when you’re covering all your bases, but you are the leader of your own life, don’t let people take that away from you.

more of an ironic turn of events that employees are beginning to dish back what they’ve been served.

The job market is strong right now and there are opportunities everywhere, so if you’re not happy with where you’ve landed, who’s to say that you can’t just take off again?

Last summer I was fastidiously looking for a job, and it took me weeks of searching and dead-end interviews to finally land something.

I found employment after an extensive interview process for a minimum wage retail job.

An hour in on my second day on the job, I was sent home. I guess I wasn’t performing to their standards — which, might I add, were pretty high standards for my literal second day at a low-end retail store.

They told me they’d call me, but after an entire weekend of me waiting for them to contact me, and then subsequently trying to contact them myself, I got the hint.

They were purposefully ignoring me with the hopes that I’d come in for my next shift with a renewed perspective, and put in even more work than before.

I didn’t want to give in to their twisted business practice, so I skipped my shift on Monday. They had sent me home without specifying whether I should come back or not, so I didn’t.

I know I’m not a bad employee and that them sending me home was completely unwarranted.

Shortly after, I started working for a renowned Canadian charity, who were much better employers.

In my case those employers kind of ghosted me first, but I think it proves my point regardless. If employers are stringing you along or devaluing your work, do they really deserve your courtesy?

If employers are stringing you along or devaluing your work, do they really deserve your courtesy?

When an employer ghosts you, there’s really no take-away from that experience, except the feeling that you’re not worth their time.

I’m not even going to disagree with those who say ghosting employers is unprofessional, because yeah, it can be.

But they’ll get over it. There are countless people looking for employment, and even more jobs waiting for people to apply to them.

While I do think it’s poor practice to forgo calling in sick or jilting your employer altogether, I think ghosting can be justified in certain situations.

It’s always in your best interest to evaluate the situation and weigh whether it’s worth it to ghost your employer.

While it’s a pretty solid way to burn bridges at your old workplace, the grass may be greener on the other side, or at the next job.

24 • OPINION

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 3, 2019

CONTRIBUTED IMAGE

The Mueller report controversy JOSH GOEREE STAFF WRITER

On the night of Mar. 22, Special Counsel Robert Mueller finally handed in his over 300 page report on his investigation into

the Russian collusion with the 2016 election. Two days later on Mar. 24, Attorney General William Barr released a four page summary basically saying there was no collusion between Russia and the Trump campaign.

After Trump heard this news, he had a field day with it. For the last two weeks, he tweeted that he was “totally exonerated” and that the investigation was a “complete waste of time.”

Even Fox News had banners and reports going up siding with the president. Clearly Fox News and Trump have forgotten what has happened in the last two years.

Thanks to the Mueller Report, 34 people have been indicted or plead guilty, it was confirmed that Russia did intervene in the 2016 election and that Trump may have committed campaign finance laws by paying off a porn star he slept with shortly after his son Barron

was born.

This investigation needed to happen. The democracy of the US was tested and manipulated by a foreign country. The fact that the report doesn’t say that Trump or his team had colluded with Russia doesn’t mean there was rigging in the election.

Furthermore, the report said that it cannot exonerate Trump of obstruction of justice. In his report Mueller notes “while this report does not conclude that the President committed a crime, it also does not exonerate him.”

For the last two years, Trump and his associates have done everything they could to trash Mueller and his investigation, even going so far as saying “Mueller and his team of Democrats” were doing this because the Democrats lost the election.

This is completely ridiculous.

Robert S Mueller the 3rd is a former homicide prosecutor in Washington D.C and was the director of the FBI from 2001 to 2013 under George W. Bush and Barack Obama. He is also a Republican and enjoys catching bad guys and putting them in jail.

When Mueller made his team, he was searching for the best lawyers in the world. A PBS Frontline report on the Mueller Report noted the lawyers he recruited “may be the A-team of prosecutors for a generation.”

This included Aaron Zebley, a former FBI agent, Michael Dreeben, who had argued over 100 Supreme Court cases, Jeannie Rhee, a prosecutor in the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Andrew Weissmann and

Greg Andres, a former mob prosecutor from New York. If this team were to find anything damaging against Trump, they would have found it.

While Mueller’s investigation is over, the debate on what the report means is far from over and could carry on like a dark cloud into the 2020 election.

In November, I wrote an article after the midterm elections saying that if the Democrats wanted to impeach Trump it would have to be now. One of the big pieces that would help with that is the Mueller Report. Now that it’s summary is out, it doesn’t look good for impeachment.

Nancy Pelosi, the Speaker of the House, last month made it clear that impeachment is “not worth it,” according to the New York Times.

Now what needs to happen is that Attorney General Barr has to release the full report.

On Monday, multiple news outlets like CNN, CBC and MSNBC reported that subpoenas are being prepared to have the full report released. While Mueller’s investigation is over, the debate on what the report means is far from over and could carry on like a dark cloud into the 2020 election.

The benefits of taking a reduced course load EMMA MCVICAR STAFF WRITER

An honours undergraduate degree is typically four years in length. Is this always the most reasonable scenario? Some people may find it extremely beneficial to extend their degree.

As students, we contend with more than the five courses we take per semester.

We’re also focused on building good habits, volunteering and developing networks to attract future employers while expanding our skills, and practicing personal hobbies to stay healthy. Can all of this really be done while getting a high GPA? Of course, balancing all these aspects of life is part of the challenge we face in our twenties that prepares us for the next stage of life.

Expanding your undergraduate degree can be part of that balance.

Taking five courses every semester might mean that you get to finish these four years faster and move onto the next big thing.

But why be in a hurry to leave?

Why not take the time to develop further by giving yourself time for all the things that help make us well-rounded people?

10 classes a year can be over-

whelming, but it’s considered the norm. While it does work for most people, it’s often overlooked how flexible your schooling can be if five courses a semester is too heavy to manage.

There are pros and cons to a regular and light load of courses.

It is wise to consider what options can make your dollars go as far as they can.

You pay the university for the opportunity to be here. It is a business that works for you. Taking a lighter course load might be a good way to get the most out of your money.

This year, I decided to take only three courses each semester and catch up over the summer since I’m lucky enough to live in Waterloo.

I’ll admit, personally, three courses was too few to keep me occupied, but I’d consider taking a reduced course load in the future because of the benefits of having extra time.

This year I’ve had the luxury of

exploring novels that relate to my class content and deepening my understanding while still finding time to read my lecture material.

I’ve had time to study in depth, sometimes just thinking about what I’m learning and if it’s right for me.

I also had the time to relax and look around at the world, making connections of what I see to what I was learning.

I’ve had time to seek out professors and converse about the course or anything on my mind that they could offer professional advice on.

My friendships have benefited in this same way — I’ve had the joy of spending more time with my friends without stressing about how much work I had to do.

Most importantly, taking a lighter load could be a substantial help for someone struggling with a health issue.

I’ve had time this year to nurture a health condition I have, taking care of my body and well-being without fearing how much time I was losing from studying or feeling guilty for not being clear mentally when taking tests.

If a regular course load suits you, by all means continue with that route. Getting a degree in four years has its own benefits, like a quicker introduction into the workforce, applying those skills directly to jobs and generally discovering more about the world beyond school.

If you’ve considered taking a

KASHYAP PATEL/GRAPHICS EDITOR

lighter course load, know that it doesn’t have to be stigmatized.

There are benefits that come with taking a lighter load and longer time for school.

Being a student is a prestigious and honourable identity to have.

You’ll never have an opportunity like it again, so why not make the most of it?

By taking a lighter load, you may gain more clarity on what you

want to apply your skills to when you graduate. There’s more time to volunteer and make your resume stick out, as well as widening the scope of understanding you’ll use to contend with the world after graduating.

There are pros and cons to a regular and light load of courses.

It is wise to consider what options can make your dollars go as far as they can.

• 25

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 3, 2019

Sports

SPORTS EDITOR PRANAV DESAI sports@thecord.ca

MEN’S BASKETBALL

Honours continue for coach Justin Serresse PRANAV DESAI OUTGOING SPORTS EDITOR

Wilfrid Laurier University’s men’s varsity basketball head coach Justin Serresse coached Team Red to a victory at the Biosteel All Canadian Boys Basketball Game on Mar. 31 in Toronto. The game consisted of the top 24 male Canadian high school basketball players. Coach Serresse coached some of the players on his team in the past and he has now established a little bit of a connection with them.

“What’s fun is that even though I don’t see these kids very often, I see them every now and then when we’re recruiting. So you recreate a little bond with those guys over the summer. Every time we see each other, it’s all love. We all follow each other on Instagram and I follow their careers. Just seeing their growth is amazing. It was a blessing for me in terms of coaching the game,” he said.

Coach Serresse wasn’t the only Golden Hawk at the game as fellow Hawk Chuder Teny also joined Serresse on the coaching staff.

Teny is in his fifth year at Laurier and he played for the men’s varsity basketball team for all five years.

He is now set to help Serresse coach the Laurier team this upcoming fall.

“It was almost like an interview weekend with [Chuder Teny]. I was just observing how he was interacting with players, how he handled himself in practice and stuff like that. I already saw a lot of potential in terms of his ability to relate to players, gathering information for the staff, getting close with

the players and creating trust. He didn’t know any of the guys on the team but it felt like he knew them.

That’s a good sign for me,” Serresse said.

“We have a lot of older coaches and realistically we want a balance of both younger and older coaches.

It’s not going to be perfect, it’s a work in progress and we’re still working on his confidence. It’s going to be interesting to see how he handles it because it’s not always going to be as smooth as it was this weekend.”

Teny and the rest of the Laurier men’s basketball team had an outstanding 2018-19 season as they reached the OUA semi-finals. Under coach Serresse, the team has improved every single season and although the players have learned a lot from their head coach; Serresse has learned just as much from the players as well.

“I have learned a lot from their honesty, commitment, trust and belief. They want it badly and that makes me want it for them. They trust me a lot and each and every year, they trust me even more. This season, we never had an instance where the guys would second guess what I said. As long as I’m confident and I believe in the system that I put in place, the guys will follow one hundred percent,” he said.

“We always ask the players for feedback on everything and it’s very honest. They know that. I’m the type of person that can take criticism and if we disagree, then we all work hard to find common ground. Every single guy on the team has told me that they like the

fact that they can talk to me. They have a voice, they’re going to be heard and respected.”

After a season where the purple and gold exceeded all expectations, coach Serresse wants to take his team even further next year.

“Next year, we want go to even further and compete for a national championship. Every year, people are surprised by how far we make it and every year we overachieve. So why not [overachieve] again next year? If everything goes well, we keep growing, we keep getting better and we stay healthy, we can go even further. Even during my first year, we had the same mentality.

If we make the playoffs, we’re two games away from the nationals.

What’s the big deal about that?”

We always ask the players for feedback on everything and it’s very honest ... They have a voice, they’re going to be heard and respected.

-Justin Serresse, Laurier varsity men’s basketball head coach

Although a national championship may seem too big of a goal for this Laurier team to many, Serresse and the players believe that they can go as far as they want.

“The goal was clearly unrealistic, but we believed that we can do it.

ISAAK WONG/OUTGOING LEAD PHOTOGRAPHER

It’s easy to make excuses but it’s a lot harder to just make it happen.

Our focus is on what we have and it’s all about winning a national

championship. This past year, we were happy with how well we did but we weren’t satisfied. That’s our motto, to never be satisfied.”

SWIMMING

MacDonald and Raines to compete at Canada Trials the team.”

The Kitchener native qualified for the trials at the U-Sports National Swimming Championships in February. Raines has already had a decorated collegiate swimming career and she will now look to take the next step by competing at the international level.

CONTRIBUTED IMAGE

PRANAV DESAI OUTGOING SPORTS EDITOR

Wilfrid Laurier University’s varsity swimmers Jasmine Raines and Tyson MacDonald are all set to compete at the 2019 Canada Swimming Trials.

The trials will take place from

Apr. 3 to 7 in Toronto as MacDonald and Raines will get the opportunity to eventually represent Canada at the international level.

“I’m really excited. This will be my second time competing at the trials. The first time was so much fun. I love being there with the best swimmers in Canada and getting a

chance to compete against them.

I get to learn so much from just watching them,” Raines said.

“During my first time at the trials, it was more about the experience and getting a feel for the scene. Now it’s about seeing what I can do. I’m here to beat as many people as I can and get on

I love being there with the best swimmers in Canada and getting a chance to compete against them. I get to learn so much from just watching them.

-Jasmine Raines, Laurier varsity women’s swimmer

Tyson MacDonald acquired his international classification at the

World Para Swimming Series in Australia in February earlier this year.

Swimming in Australia was a valuable experience for MacDonald and he will now look to carry that experience into the Canadian Swimming Trials.

MacDonald will swim in six different races featuring backstroke, breaststroke and freestyle swimming events. Raines will swim in the 100 and 200-metre breaststroke events.

The Canadian Swimming Trials will also offer the two swimmers a chance to figure out their swimming future once they graduate from Laurier.

Competing for Canada enhances every athlete’s reputation and it can go a long way towards developing one’s athletic career at the professional level.

The competition will be tougher than anything that Raines and MacDonald have faced so far this season and qualification will not be easy to achieve.

26 • SPORTS

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 3, 2019

EVENTS

SAFINA HUSEIN/EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

Pattison wins Outstanding Women of Laurier award HAYLEY MCGOLDRICK OUTGOING NEWS EDITOR

MARGARET ATWOOD

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D OW NTOW N K ITC H E N E R

On Thursday Mar. 28, Laurier Athletics held the fourteenth annual Outstanding Women of Laurier dinner event at Bingeman’s Conference Centre in Kitchener to celebrate the achievements of women in athletics.

The night featured many different sectors, including the presentation of the Dolores “Mitzi” Michael Women Leaders Scholarship, a keynote address by TSN radio host Andi Petrillo and the announcement of the recipient of the Outstanding Woman of Laurier award.

The event is hosted not only to recognize success and leadership of women in athletics, but also to raise money for scholarships for women’s athletics at Laurier, with over $400,000 being raised by the event since its inception in 2006.

“I was really interested, it was the first time I had heard about the event, to be honest with you, so I did some research into it and thought to myself how incredible it was. It’s just another example of women supporting women, women encouraging women to not be sorry for being successful, for working hard and wanting to achieve great things,” said Andi Petrillo, the keynote speaker for the event.

“I wanted to meet so many incredible women too, I have to be honest, it always inspires me.

Sometimes I look back and I think if I was a go-getter in university the way I see so many young women are, so if I can succeed not even being close to half of the success they experience, they will go far beyond.”

The finalists for the award were Jenna Lazarou, a third-year health sciences major who is a midfielder on the women’s soccer team; Sydney Pattison, a third-year kinesiology and physical education major who is a member of both

cross country and middle distance at Laurier and Danielle Wark, a fourth-year kinesiology and physical education major who is a forward on the women’s hockey team.

The evening began with the scholarship presentation, followed

by Petrillo’s keynote address during dinner, where she discussed her defining moments as a woman that led her to continue to take the path that led her to be the host of a TSN radio hockey show.

“I grew up with a woman working — that was my mom, and she always worked in management positions too. For a woman not to be a go-getter, I never really understood that. The more you pay attention to the women out there who want to achieve great things, the more you realize there are a lot of them out there; you can find so many of them to be your role models,” Petrillo said.

Dinner was followed by the presentation of the award by a representative from the title sponsor RBC, where middle distance runner Sydney Pattison was announced as the 2019 Outstanding Woman of Laurier.

“It feels amazing — I think I’m the first track athlete to ever get it which is an honour to represent my sport. Jenna and Danielle are amazing people; I’m glad I had the opportunity to stand up there with them, but it’s such an honour to get more notice into women in athletics and support for women at Laurier,” Pattison said.

Pattison won the bronze for middle distance running at the OUA championships this year — the first medal in program history — as well as placing twelfth at the USPORTS championships.

“What I do [outside of track], I don’t do it for my own gain, I do it for other people. This proves other people notice it — if I can make one person’s day every day, it’s unbelievable that I get to do that and that other people are noticing.”

SPORTS • 27

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 3, 2019 WOMEN’S CRICKET

Hawks finish runners-up at indoor tournament PRANAV DESAI OUTGOING SPORTS EDITOR

The Laurier Cricket Club’s women’s team finished in second place at the first ever Canadian College Cricket Women’s Ontario Cup this past weekend.

The tournament was an indoor cricket competition featuring numerous schools from all over Ontario.

The Hawks defeated the hosts, Ryerson, in the semi-finals to get to the final where they took on York University.

The second place finish from the Laurier women’s cricket team is impressive considering the fact that the team only played in their first indoor competitive game together last year. Now, in 2019, in their first indoor tournament, the women have managed to finish as runners-up.

“We trained really hard over the course of nine weeks. 7:00 a.m. practices on Saturday mornings and weekly workouts and the team was highly motivated. We played the way we wanted to play and had great team chemistry. I am proud of what we've achieved in a short time," Abdul Naeem, founder of the Laurier cricket club and coach of the women’s cricket team, said.

The Laurier Cricket Club (LCC)

was originally launched in 2014 with the club featuring a men’s team.

The women’s team was developed in fall of 2017 and now in their second full year, the women are continuing to exceed expectations. In March 2018, the women’s cricket team finished runners-up in the inaugural Women’s Cricket Tri-Series and a year later, they have managed another impressive performance at a different tournament.

We played the way we wanted to play and had great team chemistry. I am proud of what we’ve achieved ...

-Abdul Naeem, Laurier cricket club founder and coach

The growth and development of the women’s team over the past two years has been exceptional.

They won Club of the Year last year and are now training to play in New York City this Memorial Day

CONTRIBUTED IMAGE

weekend in 2019.

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28 • SPORTS The 2018 season was a historic season for Laurier after capturing their first ever OUA medal. They won bronze on the back of 2017 OUA MVP, fifth year Andrew Quattrin who scored two second half tries including the game-winner leading them to a 17-6 win against the rival Waterloo Warriors.

Another impressive year for coach Scott Ballantyne’s squad as he was also able to capture OUA Coach of the Year again to go along with winning their second OUA title. It wasn’t without any drama either as rookie outfielder and second team OUA allstar Matthew Komonen hit a walk-off home run to win it all. Kiefer Quick and Ryley Davenport were recognized as first team all-stars while Christian Hauck was recognized as a second team all-star along with Komonen.

Another impressive season for the third-year Waterloo local as she was able to capture two gold medals at the OUA Championships between the 100m and 200m breaststroke races. After advancing to the U Sports Championships, she was able to capture a bronze medal in the 200m breaststroke, her signature event, where she swam a personal best putting her in position to advance to the 2019 Canadian Swimming Trials.

TOP 5

JASMINE RAINES

MEN’S BASEBALL

MEN’S RUGBY

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 3, 2019

MOMENTS IN SPORTS

The 2018 season was their best season in eight years. An OUA silver medal due to an 11-6 loss to the Queen’s Gaels in the OUA Championship game to go along with three players being recognized as OUA all-stars. Attacker Rose Williams was recognized as a first-team all-star for the first time, while midfielder Taylor Miller (for the third time in four years) and defender Lauren Hunter were recognized as second team all-stars.

Coach Justin Serresse’s squad enjoyed a bounty of success this past year as they went from a 12-12 squad to 18-6, finishing atop the OUA West Division. In the playoffs, they managed to make it to the OUA semifinals, falling to the veteran-laden #3 Ryerson Rams. They finished the year by earning the respect of many and ending their season as the #8 team in U Sports, behind OUA first team all-star and second team All-Canadian Ali Sow, who was second in the country in scoring averaging 26.6 points per game in his second year.

MEN’S BASKETBALL

The Outstanding Women of Laurier award winner and the first cross country and middle distance runner to win the award. The third-year runner enjoyed a solid cross country season, getting her first top 20 finish at the OUA Championships, finishing 19th and helping her team to an eighth place finish. Her performance in the winter in the middle distance was another story. She won the bronze medal at the OUA Championships in the 1500m distance run, which led to her advancing to the U Sports Championships, where she finished 12th. Her OUA bronze medal was the program’s first medal in history.

SYDNEY PATTISON

WOMEN’S LACROSSE

The 2018-2019 year has been a year full of success for much of Laurier’s teams and athletes and while some have received love, others have not.

Outgoing Lead Sports Reporter Abdulhamid Ibrahim has the highlights!

LAYOUT BY SAFINA HUSEIN/EDITOR-IN-CHIEF, PHOTOS BY EVA OU, SADMAN SAKIB RAHMAN, GARRISON OOSTERHOF