THE CORD THE TIE THAT BINDS WILFRID LAURIER UNIVERSITY SINCE 1926
VOLUME 58 ISSUE 15 • DECEMBER 6, 2017
Season’s Greetings! From ours to yours, best wishes for the holidays and the new year.
TOP FIVE NEWS STORIES
FREE SPEECH, HATE SPEECH
MEMORABLE MOMENTS
SAY NO TO HUGS
GRADING THE GOLDEN HAWKS
Counting down the biggest topics of the year
Greater implications of the debate
Rounding up the top entertainment of 2017
Unwanted embraces are never welcome
Post-season ratings for the fall term
News, page 3
Features, page 14
Arts & Life, page 16
Opinion, page 24
Sports, page 28 MADELINE MCINNIS/CREATIVE DIRECTOR
2 •
WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 6, 2017
VOCAL CORD
What’s the first thing you plan on doing after you finish exams?
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CordNews
PHOTO OF THE WEEK
“Going home to Toronto and doing a lot of cool things.” –Kaya Marcus, first-year film studies.
“Going home and having a family dinner with a home cooked meal.” –Meghan Heck, firstyear English.
LUKE SARAZIN/LEAD PHOTOGRAPHER
Church staff and community members at Parkminster United were shocked to discover that the church had been vandalised on Nov. 30.
THIS DAY IN HISTORY: DEC. 6 1768: First edition of Encyclopedia Brittanica published in Scotland.
“Enjoy time with family and go to the Christmas market.”
1865: 13th Amendment radified in United States, abolishing slavery.
–Sarah Pouramn, fourth-year communication studies.
1867: London becomes the world’s first city to host licenced taxicabs.
“Go home and collapse.” –Cameron Bear, thirdyear history.
Compiled by Erin Abe Photos by Luke Sarazin NEXT ISSUE JANAURY 10, 2018
CORD STAFF
writing, photography, illustration, web development, copy editing, videography ... The Cord is always looking
thecord.ca/volunteer
FEATURES EDITOR Karlis Wilde features@thecord.ca
LEAD REPORTER Erin Abe news@thecord.ca
ARTS & LIFE EDITOR Shyenne MacDonald arts@thecord.ca
LEAD SPORTS REPORTER Abdulhamid Ibrahim sports@thecord.ca
EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Kurtis Rideout editor@thecord.ca
OPINION EDITOR Emily Waitson opinion@thecord.ca
CREATIVE DIRECTOR Madeline McInnis creative@thecord.ca
SPORTS EDITOR Pranav Desai sports@thecord.ca
WEB DIRECTOR Garrison Oosterhof online@thecord.ca
GRAPHICS EDITOR Alan Li graphics@thecord.ca
NEWS DIRECTOR Safina Husein news@thecord.ca
PHOTO EDITOR Tanzeel Sayani photos@thecord.ca
NEWS EDITOR Jake Watts news@thecord.ca
VIDEO EDITOR Sarah Tyler video@thecord.ca
NEWS EDITOR Nathalie Bouchard news@thecord.ca
WEB ASSISTANT Kate Weber online@thecord.ca
LEAD PHOTOGRAPHER Luke Sarazin photos@thecord.ca SENIOR COPY EDITOR Michael Oliveri copyeditor@thecord.ca SOCIAL MEDIA COORDINATOR Danielle Deslauriers socialmedia@thecord.ca
CONTRIBUTORS
EDITOR’S CHOICE
Adina Turkonje Aaron Hagey Hayden Davies Leah Shaw Victoria Berndt Tyler Currie Caitlyn Lourenco John McMorran Alex Pham Stephanie Saunders Nicholas Quintyn Evangeline Hunt Sarah Spragg Dominic Asseline Chris Luciantonio Alyssa Di Sabatino Ahmad Faiq Qiao Liu Sadman Sakib Rahman Will Borys
“Get a taste of the holidays” by Karlis Wilde
ADVERTISING INQUIRIES All advertising inquiries can be directed to Care Lucas at care.lucas@wlusp.com or 519-884-0710 ext. 3560.
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
for principal photography. The Cord has been a proud member of the Ontario Press Council since 2006. Any unsatisfied complaints can be sent to the council at info@ontpress.com. 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
1921: Mackenzie King becomes Prime Minister of Canada. 1989: Marc Lepine kills 14 women at U Montreal in the worst mass shooting in Canadian history. 1998: Hugo Chávez is elected President of Venezuela. 2006: NASA reveals photographs suggesting the presence of liquid water on Mars.
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: “Look at us; listening to hardcore music and cleaning our keyboards.” - Web Director Garrison Oosterhof, to Editor-in-Chief Kurtis Rideout, as Hatebreed plays in the background.
NEWS • 3
WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 6, 2017
News
NEWS DIRECTOR SAFINA HUSEIN news@thecord.ca
NEWS EDITOR NATHALIE BOUCHARD news@thecord.ca
NEWS EDITOR JAKE WATTS news@thecord.ca
Semester in review
News Director Safina Husein breaks down the top stories from News for late 2017
Lindsay Shepherd Controversy surrounding a Laurier teaching assistant, Lindsay Shepherd, has enveloped the Laurier campus for the past month. The controversy stems from Shepherd’s decision to show a Jordan Peterson debate on gender pronouns in her first-year tutorial. When concerns were raised, Shepherd was pulled into a meeting with three individuals from Laurier who condemned her for showing Peterson’s views from a neutral standpoint. Shepherd, who secretly recorded the meeting, took her story to the media which has now blown up on an international scale. Shepherd received an open apology from Deborah MacLatchy, president of Laurier. However, many trans and non-binary students felt silenced after MacLatchy issued her apology. The situation has grown into a public debate between freedom of speech rights and trans and non-binary rights. As a result, the WLU Rainbow Centre and affiliates are demanding an apology from MacLatchy.
Conestoga Strike On Oct. 16, the longest college labour strike in Ontario’s history began. Faculty at 24 Ontario public colleges remained on strike for over five weeks after continuous failed deliberations between the faculty union and the College Employer Council (CEC). The strike affected over 500,000 students and 12,000 faculty. The union presented the CEC an offer which included better job security, a stronger academic voice for faculty and a call to match the number of faculty members on contract. These demands, however, would add over 250 million in annual costs, forcing the CEC to decline their requests. The extended strike led to student frustration; thus, a petition was made by college students asking for tuition money back during the strike to encourage both parties to come to an agreement. On Nov. 21, students returned back to class after the provincial government passed the back-to-work legislation. Many college students will still face extended semesters and shorter breaks. The union and CEC have yet to come on a full agreement but are currently in the process of doing so.
Canada 150 This past year, celebrations took place across the nation for Canada’s 150th birthday. To commemorate the huge milestone, the federal and provincial governments went full throttle — implementing various grant programs and tourist opportunities to give Canadians and visitors meaningful experiences. This included free admission fees to all national parks as well as the 30,000-pound rubber duck which made an appearance at Toronto’s waterfront. Amongst the celebrating, a critical concern surrounding the exclusivity of the celebration was shared by Indigenous people across Canada. Canada 150 coincides with the anniversary of the Indian Act which was created 10 years after Canada entered Confederation. The act is known as an oppressive piece of legislation which has led to a lot of harm for Indigenous people. For Indigenous people, the celebration is exclusive since they have been living on Canadian land for a much longer time period. The Federal government implemented a focus on reconciliation with Indigenous people as part of the 150th milestone to reflect and initiate important conversations involving Indigenous people.
Student Satisfaction Students, staff and faculty at Laurier were enthused to hear that Wilfrid Laurier University ranked number one for student satisfaction for the second year in a row in the annual Maclean’s Ranking of Canadian Universities. Last year, when Laurier received the number one ranking in student satisfaction, banners were hung and the news was publicized to commemorate the achievement. This year also brought on similar celebrations. In addition to student satisfaction, Laurier ranked first in a total of eight out of 10 categories, including course instructors, student life staff, administrative staff, academic advising staff, mental health services, extracurricular activities, residence living and bureaucracy. Laurier also received the number two ranking spot in both experiential learning — a major focus for Laurier this past year — as well as in steps to prevent sexual assault. Laurier staff and faculty have worked diligently the past few years to improve the university’s ranking in many important categories and this commitment has payed off.
Laurier LifeLink On Oct. 24 and 25, Laurier LifeLink, an anti-abortion club on campus, held their annual chalk display. The display included various anti-abortion facts, slogans and affirmations written onto the sidewalk. As a result, a peaceful protest formed across from the display to defend prochoice rights. After the event, Laurier Students for Pro-Choice created a petition. Some goals which students hoped the petition would achieve were for the Students’ Union to take a pro-choice stance on reproductive justice, to defund Laurier LifeLink and prohibit anti-abortion events approved by the Students’ Union. In a meeting, Kanwar Brar, president of Students’ Union, made clear that the union would not be instilling a pro-choice stance as an organization. Laurier Students for Pro-Choice iterated to Brar that they feel Laurier LifeLink has failed to follow the Sexual and Gendered Violence Policy since their event violated individuals’ reproductive rights. It is currently uncertain what next steps students will take to defend pro-choice rights. LAYOUT BY: MADELINE MCINNIS/CREATIVE DIRECTOR PHOTOS BY: MADELINE MCINNIS/CREATIVE DIRECTOR, SAFINA HUSEIN/NEWS DIRECTOR, LUKE SARAZIN/LEAD PHOTOGRAPHER, AHMED FAIQ/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
4 • NEWS
WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 6, 2017
EQUITY
LGBTQ+ friendly church is target of vandalism NATHALIE BOUCHARD NEWS EDITOR
On Thursday, Nov. 30 a local Waterloo church was vandalized with threatening biblical verses. Parkminster United Church is an affirming congregation which means they are educated on topics such as inclusivity. Parkminster is known by the community to be an LGBTQ+ friendly church. “The latest occurrence happened last Thursday Nov. 30 on church property,” Heather Power, minister at Parkminster, said. “It was discovered in the morning by our custodian first at our front door step and main entrance of our church.” “Then as he surveyed the property, the same reference was sprayed in our parking lot where we have our pride flag near Erb street. In both areas of our church it was a reference to Romans 1:32 and that was all that was [graffiti] there.” The biblical reference is translated to reference God’s righteous decree against “sinners.” “They know Gods decree that those who practice such things deserve to die, yet not only do they practice them but even applaud others who practice them,” Power said. “That verse was really perceived as a threat.” “This is our second instance of graffiti this month. A month ago
The first time this happened, the church decided to reclaim the words ‘The church shall remain holy’ which resulted in a community event ... -Heather Power, minister at Parkminster
upcoming project which they hope will occur in the new year. “The first time this happened, the church decided to reclaim the words ‘The church shall remain holy’ which resulted in a community event [where people] from different faith communities and those in the community at large [participated in the painting] of a mural to reclaim those words,” Power said. “The work that we do here, our inclusiveness and our affirming, we believe that is holy work.
Unfortunately, because it was on the ground and the weather this time around isn’t great, the paint wouldn’t adhere … [therefore] it was removed.” The church used this event to promote allyship within the community. The community has recognized that although the graffiti is wrong the church itself is not changing its inclusive views because of a negative criminal action. “Other local churches have reached out to us, and these peo-
ple believe in the allyship of [the] LGBTQ+ [community]. We’ve had a really wonderful response from everybody around us trying to remind us that the work we are doing is good work, the community is recognizing that,” Power said. “In a strange way, the graffiti here has really put it out here to this local community that were here we want be a safe space for everybody and we want everyone to feel like they are welcomed here.” Parkminster has emphasized that their church is a safe space for everyone to come in and practice their faith and to receive support even with events like this taking place. “[It’s about] taking the action to ensure everybody that has been hurt or marginalized can come here and know that they are safe and they are truly welcomed,” Power said.
and Canada. The Schlegel family does not see a need to make any changes immediately and business will continue as usual. “We are proud members of the local community and we’re excited about keeping the farmers’ market in local hands,” Schlegel said. “Hopefully it can grow stronger and more vibrant in the future.” Long-term plans are to be discussed and will include planning and envisioning the market property and market district more comprehensively.
Focus will be put on the strong core remaining in the market, and thinking of ways to make the surrounding areas stronger and more vibrant over time. “Having the core being the farmers’ market but also being able to think about how these other properties link to it in a way that is hopefully reinforcing,” Schlegel said. More properties in the St. Jacobs village core owned by the Schantz family are also working towards a change in ownership, which the
Schlegel family is aware of. “We are going to focus on the St. Jacob’s farmers’ market primarily, we want to make sure we focus and do it right,” Schlegel said. The Schlegel family views the farmers’ market as a gem of the local community. “We’re excited about keeping the farmers’ market in local hands,” Schlegel said. “Making sure it continues to be part of the social fabric of our community and hopefully it can grow stronger and more vibrant in the future.”
LUKE SARAZIN/LEAD PHOTOGRAPHER
we had a different reference to the book of Romans, and with the words ‘the church shall remain holy.,” Power said. “It was thought at the time that the event coincides with an LGBTQ+ ally potluck that was on our church sign,” Power said. The church is handling the vandalism incidents by focusing more on community engagement and reclaiming the words used by the vandal. Although the mural did not turn out as planned, the church has an
COMMUNITY
St. Jacobs is sold to a new local family ERIN ABE LEAD REPORTER
On Nov. 29, St. Jacob’s Market announced the sale to new owners, the Schlegel family, owners of Schlegel Urban Development in Waterloo. The announcement took place last Wednesday and the transaction is expected to be finalized by the early new year. The properties purchased include the St. Jacob’s Market, St. Jacob’s Outlets, Market Road Antiques and the TSC Store, making up 45 acres of land in total. A purchase price was not disclosed. “We are very excited and, in fact, honoured to carry the farmers market tradition forward into the future,” James Schlegel, president of Schlegel Urban Development, said. The Shantz family, current shareholders of Mercedes Corp., and the Schlegel family have had a long history of respect and admiration from their community in Waterloo. “In so many ways it is fairly natural to pass the torch from the Shantz [family] to the Schlegel [family] given that we’ve known each other for so long, and share
local agricultural and Mennonite routes,” Schlegel said. The Schlegel family does not have plans to make any changes immediately, as the market is currently running successfully. Although they hope, in the long term, to have an opportunity to envision creatively and boldly regarding the future of the farmers’ market district.
In so many ways it is fairly natural to pass the torch from the Shantz [family] to the Schlegel [family] ... -James Schlegel, president of Schlegel Urban Development
“There is a very strong leadership team there in place who will be continuing in place,” said Schlegel. The market is running so well it has become a tourist attraction for many people across Ontario
QIAO LIU/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
NEWS • 5
WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 6, 2017 CONSTRUCTION
WRPS
Party on Ezra costs region over $80,000
WILL BORYS/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
King Street open for holidays ERIN ABE LEAD REPORTER
Friday Dec. 1 marked the last day of construction for 2017 in Uptown Waterloo. King street has finally reopened, a sign of relief for many of the local businesses that have been affected in the area. The section between Willis Way to Bridgeport Road reopened just in time for the city’s holiday market that took place over the weekend. Although this year has been especially hard for the many businesses located in Uptown Waterloo, it is too soon to tell if business has improved since the reopening of the street. “Right now it’s too early to say, [but] I hope all of the businesses had a successful weekend with the open,” Michelle Maw, public relations and community liaison for the Uptown Waterloo Business Improvement Area (BIA), said. Local businesses and the Uptown Waterloo BIA didn’t expect the streetscape work to be as extensive and impactful as it has been. “A lot of businesses prepared for the road to close for a certain amount of time but then when it’s behind schedule, they maybe weren’t as prepared for that to happen,” Maw said. “I think this year has been a very stressful and challenging year for
business in uptown.” Luckily, a recent news release from the Region of Waterloo shared that construction work on King Street is finished for the year of 2017. Unfortunately, past projects have shown that it takes a while for customers to start going back to an area after it has been closed down for so long.
... it’s even more important for people to come down and support those businesses who need to rebuild their clientele. -Michelle Maw, public relations and community liaison for BIA
“Drivers and others learn that the area is closed so they change their pattern and start maybe going to different stores, or not coming up the street as frequently as they did in the past,” Maw said. First, customers must learn that King Street has reopened and that they can now come back if they had been avoiding the construction. “This Christmas season and the
months going forward before we have construction next year, it’s even more important for people to come down and support those businesses who need to rebuild their clientele,” Maw said. Construction will resume in 2018 to finish up projects that were left incomplete and other new ones. Although, the BIA expects that work in the next year will be minimal and less extensive. Despite this, the BIA always warns businesses to prepare for the worst case scenario and hope for the best. “Businesses in the area overall have been doing a good job of preparing themselves,” Maw said. “More work on social media, more for their current clients and [other] strategies seem to work out fairly well.” The BIA encourages citizens and students to check out the new street and do upcoming Christmas shopping in Uptown Waterloo. 80 per cent of businesses are private and all money spent in uptown goes towards families and people, not corporations. “Even though we have seen a lot of businesses be really impacted over the last year, we hope that people can continue holding on,” Maw said. “If people want to get great gifts for their Christmas list come to uptown and do your shopping here.”
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Waterloo Regional Police Services (WRPS) has announced that Wilfrid Laurier University’s 2017 homecoming cost the Region over 80,000 dollars to implement safetmeasures. WRPS says the additional costs stem from additional amounts of overtime, event training and more. With street parties on Ezra Avenue becoming increasingly bigger each year on both homecoming and St. Patrick’s Day, WRPS has expressed concerns regarding the amount of impact the party creates. “As an organization we just don’t police Ezra Avenue and the university area, we police the whole Region of Waterloo and we have to maintain the safety and security of not only these students who are attending those areas for those days … but also the rest of the region as well,” Michael Haffner, executive officer at WRPS, said. Every year, a lot of planning goes into ensuring student safety during homecoming and St. Patrick’s Day. WRPS works closely with the
ks!
than
Party respectfully.
LUKE SARAZIN/LEAD PHOTOGRAPHER
SAFINA HUSEIN NEWS DIRECTOR
Find out more at waterloo.ca/students
City of Waterloo and representatives from Laurier’s Students’ Union to collaborate and organize these events. However, the size of the street parties often forces WRPS to call in other police agencies to ensure that these street parties remain safe. “We want people — and students especially — to enjoy their time, but we also need to understand that this is a huge impact on our resourcing,” Haffner said. The growing number of costs, however, is just the beginning of the concerns being raised. The increasing number of students who come to Ezra Avenue often leads to critical safety concerns. “We never want to be in a position where something tragic happens to students because of overcrowding or binge drinking and situations like that,” Haffner said. Although planning has already begun for next year’s homecoming and St. Patrick’s Day celebrations, it has yet to be confirmed as to whether of not the street party on Ezra Avenue will be allowed to commence.
6 • NEWS
WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 6, 2017
SOCIAL JUSTICE
LUKE SARAZIN/LEAD PHOTOGRAPHER
Laurier hosts Indigenous event NATHALIE BOUCHARD NEWS EDITOR
Wilfrid Laurier University hosted the Indigenous Research Symposium on Dec. 5. The event featured Indigenous graduate students and special guests speaking about their Indigenous research. The keynote speaker was Laurier alumni Allan Downey, who graduated in 2014 with a PhD in history. Downey is an assistant professor at McGill University, and he spoke about his current research on In-
digenous identity and nationhood. The speakers emphasized that Laurier students can take away from the Indigenous research symposium that research can be conducted in other ways besides the main stream academic way of conducting research. “His research into the game of lacrosse, which is a study that he did where we show how games served a way for the Haudenosaunee peoples and other Indigenous people across the country to assert self-determination and served a kind of a basis for devel-
oping identities as Indigenous distinct people,” Jean Becker, senior advisor of Aboriginal Initiatives at Laurier. Additional speakers included graduate students and PhD candidates from the Indigenous community and the history department Trevor Stace, Cody Groat and Elizabeth Best as well as Tim Leduc, assistant professor of social work. “Elizabeth Best, who just completed a master’s degree in our history department, she’s going to use her art installation as a
way of talking about her graduate research and it’s one of the ways Indigenous people do things quite differently,” Becker said. “Stance is a PhD candidate [and] has been a coordinator for the Indigenous Labour history [project]. Groat, his research is focusing on historic sites and monuments in Canada he is also the author of a book called Canadian Stories which was published in 2016,” Becker said. “Dr. Tim Leduc … is an assistant professor on [the] Laurier Brantford [campus] in the faculty of Indigenous social work and he will be talking about some of his research in ecological studies that he has done,” Becker concluded. Indigenous methodology varies quite differently from the mainstream academic way of conducting research, explained Erin Hodson, the Indigenous curriculum specialist at Wilfrid Laurier University. “First thing that we do when engaging in Indigenous research is that we take time to interview the people that we are researching and that we get to know them and they get to know us,” Hodson said. “Indigenous research must be reciprocal. It must have a focus that it is going to benefit the community in some way. As people in the academy doing research we must leave the community better than when we found it when we are doing research.
Hodson stressed that having a holistic understanding of your participants is needed in order to produce Indigenous research, and that the research should incorporate culturally sensitive and appropriate resources. “What we talk about all the time is that we use Holistic methods not just in research but also in teaching. We believe that learning incorporates the whole person so we’re not just our minds; we are emotional beings, we’re physical beings and we are spiritual beings,” Becker said. “In the research I have previously done — when engaging with Indigenous participants — we make sure we are culturally sensitive to their needs and we have an understanding of what their specific culture requires from them if they are triggered in anyway,” Hodson said. Hodson doubled down on her belief that this kind of research would be beneficial to mainstream academia. “For mainstream students and for mainstream faculty to come and watch and be a part of it and take away with them ways to look at research that will be beneficial … in the long run,” Hodson said. “When you are going into this research [it is important] that you are not only beneficial to you and your research team, but it also is [about] giving something back to the community that you are engaging with.”
NEWS • 7
WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 6, 2017 LABOUR
College strike leaves students scrambling ALEX PHAM CORD NEWS
After five long weeks, the strike at Conestoga College has finally ended. Students have returned to class and faculty have resumed their posts as a result of a back-to-work legislation mandated by the provincial government. As of the official conclusion of the strike, the union and council were in the process of selecting a mediator to resolve the issue. “I think we’re just getting back to work, it wasn’t an easy issue, it’s hard to put blame and there’s enough blame to go around everywhere,” Mike Dinning, vice-president of student affairs at Conestoga College said. “I just hope that we all move past it, it’s going to take time, it’s not just business as usual. I think we have to wait and see what the final decision is with the arbitrator and then we will see how it impacts all of us.” As for students, many have had a difficult time readjusting to their academic schedules since the strike ended. “The way they have it right now is that they’re basically cramming everything together and they’re forcing students to not have their
winter break,” Kowsalya Jeyaraam, a police-foundations student at Conestoga College, said. “I find that unfair because the students weren’t the problem, it was the teachers. Why are they affecting the students for something the teachers did?”
Right when we got back to school, a week later they had all of our midterms, all of our assignments due. -Kowsalya Jeyaraam, Conestoga College student
Due to the five-week delay caused by the strike, the semester at Conestoga College has been extended and course material has been condensed to account for the lost time. “The semester until Christmas has been lengthened to Dec. 22. We’re starting school again on the second of January,” Dinning said. With the increased workload
AHMAD FAIQ/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
and imminent deadlines for assignments and midterms, many students are stressed about their education. “Right when we got back to school, a week later they had all of our midterms, all of our assignments due,” Jeyaraam said. Shankar Srikantharajah, another police-foundations student at Conestoga College, also felt that the strike accomplished very little. “We’re paying great money right now to get school and get our education, we didn’t pay for them to go on strike, we’re paying to get our education,” Srikantharajah said. “From what I know, they didn’t
get anything they wanted, they didn’t get what they striked [sic] for, so they did it for no reason.” The faculty at Conestoga College seem to share this sentiment. “It’s going to take a while for that to be looked at, I don’t know if anything is ever accomplished by a labour dispute,” Dinning said. However, Dinning understands that the strike has negatively impacted students at Conestoga College. “It’s inconvenient to students in the sense that part of what their planned holiday was has been taken away,” he said. “Everything has been tightened
up, there’s more pressure on finishing the work that’s necessary to do,” Dinning said. Despite the setback, he and the rest of the staff are determined to help students get through the rest of the semester. “I’m trying to get us to focus on those issues with students. To get students through the semester, to allow students to be successful at what they’re doing and move on from this,” Dinning said. “I’m very impressed with the fact that students are back into class and they and the faculty are working on getting through to the end of the semester.”
WELLNESS
New funding aims to improve student mental health JAKE WATTS NEWS EDITOR
New funding has been granted to a local organization that will use it to bolster surrounding universities’ mental health services. The funding was dispersed by the Local Health Integration Network of Waterloo Wellington (LHIN) to several local organizations, including the Canadian Mental Health Association of Waterloo Wellington (CMHA WW), who will use that funding to continue ongoing mental health programs as well as to start new ones. The funding is aimed at alleviating mental health problems tied up with opioid abuse, which has been a major public health concern in light of increasing overdose rates and the presence of more powerful opiates, like fentanyl, in the illicit drug trade. “It was given ... to be able to support the universities in a targeted way, to be able to support them around addictions, but also mental health issues that are happening on campuses,” Meredith Gardiner, director of services, regional for CMHA WW, said. “So, just looking at some creative ways to connect with university students and universities,” Gardiner said. One program that CMHA WW will be supporting with the funds is their crisis help line Here 24/7,
We have already been having meetings, starting some planning and looking for opportunities. -Meredith Gardiner, director of services, regional, for CMHA WW
ALAN LI/GRAPHICS EDITOR
which they are seeking to integrate with local post-secondary institutions. “Here 24/7 is this centralized access point for all mental health and addiction services in the LHIN region, which is Waterloo Region and Guelph-Wellington,” Gardiner said. “We have a really unique community in the sense that we have the University of Guelph, Wilfrid Laurier, the University of Waterloo and Conestoga College,” Gardiner said. “And so those dollars were given to CMHA, specifically to Here 24/7, to be able to support
those campuses.” “And so, really looking at how do services in our communities, that are funded by the LHIN, become more accessible to university students. As well as how does Here 24/7 better support initiatives and supports that are already happening on campus,” Gardiner said. Gardiner noted that CMHA WW’s relationship with local post-secondary institutions began last year. “So we became involved with the University of Guelph back last school year, the last academic year when there were a number of
students who had died by suicide who were attending the University of Guelph,” Gardiner said. “There was really an awareness-building piece that we had done with the universities ... to be able to really look at those university students residing in our community and how are we better supporting our campuses for the growing mental health and addiction needs that are happening,” Gardiner said. The funding that the CMHA WW received for this initiative, however, is limited. “The money for Here 24/7 was
one-time money. So it’s just for this academic school year, to be able to look at some innovative and unique projects that we might be able to do with campuses,” Gardiner said. Gardiner also noted that the collaboration with Wilfrid Laurier University has already begun. “We have already been having meetings, starting some planning and looking for opportunities that we might best be able to target the additional resources that we have to support what’s already happening on campus ... I think there’s some really exciting things that we’re going to have in place for students next semester,” Gardiner said. “And hopefully out of that, come some innovative ideas that we may look at opportunities for additional funding and seeking those to continue over time,” Gardiner said.
8 • NEWS
WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 6, 2017
TRANSPORTATION
AHMAD FAIQ/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
GRT installs protective barriers NICHOLAS QUINTYN CORD NEWS
Grand River Transit (GRT) will be piloting the use of protective barriers in some of its buses to protect drivers from violence on the job. “Three protective barriers have already been installed in new buses which are arriving in Waterloo Region, and the Region will be adding five [more] barriers [that] will be received and added to additional buses in early January,” Eric Gillespie, director of transit services for Waterloo Region, said.
All classes of drivers are anticipated to benefit from the barriers in the long-term given projections of increases in transit usage in the region. Given this, the hope is that the expansion of the protective barriers will be useful in supplementing current preventative measures. The pilot project comes in response to the most recent contract negotiations with Unifor through which their Health and Safety Committee raised concerns over front line driver safety. “The main challenge with drivers
is that they’re providing a front line customer service, while driving a large vehicle and this places them in a vulnerable position,” Gillespie said. The GRT will be piloting the use of protective barriers in some of it’s buses to protect drivers from violence on the job. Gillespie indicated that one the biggest reasons for piloting vehicles is to obtain the feedback of drivers and the reaction of customers to the new safety measure. The Region is interested in knowing whether drivers have a
specific preference on the basis of the measures utility when operating the vehicle. This is important given that some shields are permanent whereas others are discretionary in usage. The region has more than 500 full-time and part-time bus operators who service 70 different routes. Given the extent of such services in a growing urban area the region has recognized that additional safety measures may be particularly helpful during after-hours when fewer people are around to help in crisis’. “The current measures provide multiple layers of preventative support, which include access to 911 from the operator radio and an emergency silent button with GPS,” Gillespie said. The service area covered by GRT is both urban, suburban and semi-rural in character. Over the past four years, GRT bus drivers have reported 11 physical assaults, seven attempts at physical assault, 30 threats and three cases of being spit on. Although these numbers aren’t alarmingly high, it’s important to remain proactive. “The objective is that there will be no impact on customer service and that customers will continue to feel welcome on vehicles and perhaps feel more secure given that the driver is more secure,” Gillespie explained. “That’s why [the] GRT will conduct outreach in early 2018 to determine if there is an impact [on
customer service] ,” Gillespie said. At the same time the region recognizes the importance of customer feedback and wants to ensure customer service and foster an environment where individual rights to security of the person are maintained.
Barriers are an added component to see whether they enhance the environment for bus operator’s safety. -Eric Gillespie, director of transit services for Waterloo Region
All classes of drivers are anticipated to benefit from the barriers in the long-term given projections of increases in transit usage in the region. Given this, the hope is that the expansion of the protective barriers will be useful in supplementing current preventative measures. “Busses are equipped with video surveillance, which can be helpful with a criminal investigation and [in determining] if more could have been done to de-escalate the situation,” Gillespie said. “Barriers are an added component to see whether they enhance the environment for bus operator’s safety.”
HEALTH
Growing cases of group A Streptoccus cause concern STEPHANIE SAUNDERS CORD NEWS
Just over an hour away from Waterloo in the city of London, nine individuals have died due to an outbreak of invasive Group A streptococcus. “Group A streptococcus (strep) bacteria are commonly found in the nose and throat and on the skin,” according to the Region of Waterloo Public Health. “This bacteria can cause illnesses such as ‘strep’ throat, and in rare instances it can be the leading cause of more serious infections.”
... in some cases it may cause more severe illness such as necrotizing fasciitis, known as the ‘flesh-eating’ disease. -Kathryn Healey, family doctor
These more serious infections are a result from the invasive group A streptococcus invading deeper into the bodies, bloodstream and tissues of those infected, causing
life-threatening illnesses. “Most people are just diagnosed with strep throat when they get infected with this particular bacteria,” Kathryn Healey, family doctor, said. “However in some cases it may cause more severe illness such as necrotizing fasciitis, known as the ‘flesh-eating’ disease”. Vulnerable and marginalized populations are at greater risk for contracting the invasive form of Group A streptococcus. In London many of the cases were among those living in unstable living conditions or those who were drug users. Their immune systems are often compromised and due to the conditions they are residing in, infection transmission is more common. Currently, Waterloo has not declared an outbreak of invasive group A streptococcus in our region. However, there have been 25 confirmed cases in 2017 and two deaths as a result of the dangerous group A streptococcus. “Our walk-in doctors are available during the week on a first come first serve basis,” Karen Ostrander, director of the Student Wellness Centre at Laurier’s Waterloo campus, said. “If you are experiencing symptoms it is important to seek medical attention.” “An outbreak is determined by
Our walk in doctors are available during the week on a first come first serve basis.
-Karen Ostrander, director of the Laurier Student Wellness Centre
ALAN LI/GRAPHICS EDITOR
clusters of activity in a defined population that is above what we would expect for that population,” stated Region of Waterloo Public Health. Typically, regular strep throat symptoms include sudden fever, a sore throat, swollen lymph nodes and trouble swallowing. Strep throat is generally treated with antibiotics and doctors may prescribe penicillin to combat the
infection. In order to prevent infection and the risk of outbreak, maintaining good hygiene is one of most effective ways. This includes keeping your hands away from your face, washing your hands and coughing or sneezing into your elbow. “Strep can be spread by respiratory droplets,” Healey said. “Someone who may be infected and either coughs or sneezes may
transfer the bacteria. That’s why it is important to incorporate basic hygiene into your routine.” In addition, it is important to note that cuts in the skin may also provide opportunity for the bacteria to enter the body. “If you do get an injury or wound, wash it immediately and cover it with a bandage to avoid being exposed to strep,” Healey said. Ostrander explains that she wants students to be aware that the department offers rapid strep tests which can be preformed at the wellness centre on campus. “Our walk-in doctors are available during the week on a first come first serve basis,” Ostrander said. “If you are experiencing symptoms it is important to seek medical attention.”
NEWS • 8
WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 6, 2017
REVIEWING THE STUDENTS’ UNION BOARD The following reviews are based off of interviews with the Students’ Union Board of Directors, and serve to provide you with an update on how things are going as they approach the final four months of their term.
KANWAR BRAR PRESIDENT & CEO
TARIQUE PLUMMER
Kanwar Brar has been noted by others to be a professional and well informed president and CEO. It was said that Brar was so thorough in his preparation that his influence guided the board in early meetings, which — at times — impeded on the process of learning for new board members. There were also problems early in the year that stemmed from a lack of experience throughout the board — this board saw 11 brand new directors — but it was noted that Brar’s knowledge and experience were instrumental in helping to guide board members when they lost focus of the task at hand. Despite problems that occurred earlier in the year, it was noted across the board that productivity has increased dramatically; the many improvements of the board have been noted by all directors. Revamping Orientation Week was a large specific focus for Brar. He noted at the beginning of his role
that there would be a stronger focus on qualitative programming during O-week, which became apparent as the schedule was rolled out, via more intensive and engaging events. Another large focus for Brar has been working on agreement renewals and policy negotiations that dictate the student experience in a long term sense. Along with other board members, Brar noted that many of the effects of this board’s decision making process and policy work will be visible over the next three to five years, as that was originally one of his personal goals. Along with striving to improve engagement with students and volunteers, Brar has represented himself and the team in a demonstrably professional manner, both on campus — via handling controversial topics and making regular appearances — and off — via representation of Laurier’s student body at parliament and elsewhere.
Tarique Plummer has been recognized as an effective chair as well as an approachable resource to his fellow board members. Despite facing hurdles — and some hesitation from the board — following the announcement of his intention to run for president in the upcoming election, Plummer was able to help guide the board to consensus on the polarizing issue, with the board eventually delegating the task of handling the elections portfolio to director Naeem. Early on it was noted that Plummer’s use of Robert’s Rules was inconsistent and at times served to support his own points. However, his knowledge and use of Robert’s Rules is noted to have improved since the beginning of the year, and he — along with the rest of the team — has applied feedback into his role, allowing him to be an open, fair and responsible chair.
As chair of the board, Plummer is required to be on all of the board committees — over 18 — but his presence on campus via extra-curricular activities has also been of note by many. While it was noted by some directors that, at times, Plummer has stretched himself too thin, his involvement in a variety of campus activities has also been said to have a positive effect on his interactions with volunteers and the student body at large. Plummer noted that the working relationships within the board have steadily improved over the semester, and that he has worked to make himself as accessible and transparent as possible amidst previous conflicts at the table. Board members also made note of his efforts to be transparent and accessible, which they say improved over the course of the semester.
Del Bono is the vice-chair of the Board of Directors and member of the finance committee. Del Bono remains a neutral third party in various discussions around the table. He comes prepared to each and every board meeting and has earned the respect of other board members by navigating the discussions at the board table in a respectful manner. The first meeting Del Bono chaired did not go over as well as
anticipated, the difficulties of handling the topic made for a difficult meeting overall. A learning experience developed out of this experience chairing a meeting, where he was tasked with moderating the gallery. Del Bono notably has an open-door policy when it comes to communicating with his fellow directors. He is also a general volunteer for the Food Bank and Peer Connect, but continuosly strives to prioritize the board.
CHAIR OF THE BOARD & CHIEF GOVERNANCE OFFICER
MICHAEL DEL BONO VICE CHAIR OF THE BOARD
These reviews were written collaboratively by News Director Safina Husein, News Editor Nathalie Bouchard, News Editor Jake Watts and Editor-in-Chief Kurtis Rideout. They are based on observations from board meetings and interviews with directors, chair and president.
10 • NEWS
WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 6, 2017
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
EMILY REZKALLA
As a first-time board member, Rezkalla has become confident and comfortable in her position on the Board of Directors since she first started. Like many alongside her, Rezkalla took the first few months while being on the board to accustom herself to being a more open board member which has allowed her to effectively articulate her ideas. As a result, this has allowed Rezkalla to form positive relationships with other directors both in and out of meetings. Rezkalla is considered one of the
stronger directors on the board due to her strong communication abilities and her capacity to help facilitate meaningful conversations at the table, especially pertaining to topics surrounding policies. Rezkalla is currently involved in the ownership linkage committee within the board and is the president of moot court and an upcoming teaching assistant next term outside of the board. Rezkalla has had two regrets and has made an evident effort in going to the Brantford campus.
Hakim had a slower start to the semester as a first-time board member. Throughout the past several months, his relationship with other board members has remained positive and effective. Within the board, Hakim is chair of the ownership linage committee. Outside of the board, Hakim is a winter carnival executive, student rights advisory coordinator, an icebreaker and vice-president:
external affairs for Laurier’s law society. However, Hakim could have put forth further commitment to reaching out to his committee. As a result, Hakim’s performance has been considered to be weaker and can be improved next semester. However, Hakim has made a strong, positive influence amongst students and is encouraged to continue doing so next semester.
ZEMAR HAKIM
Klaudia Wojtanowski’s biggest flaw was noted to be her emotion during board meetings, which is intrinsically tied to one of her biggest strengths: her passion. The potential impacts of Wojtanowski’s reactions were brought to her attention by fellow board members early in the year, allowing her to act on the feedback accordingly. Wojtanowski is a residence life don and piano teacher. Within the board, she is on all three of the student life levy committees and the direct
inspection committee. Wojtanowski has been named one of the strongest directors on the board due to the fact that she presents problems to the board but also brings solutions to the table. Wojtanowski maintains a professional relationship with other directors. She is unbiased when it comes to supporting specific policies from other members of the board. Wojtanowski is encouraged to continue to use her passion to bring matters to the board in a professional manner.
As a first-time board member, Paul seized upon her campaign platform’s commitment to get Laurier students more involved with the Students’ Union through the Get Involved Fair and other events on campus. The board of directors’ rocky beginning made it difficult for Paul to speak up and get her voice heard in meetings. In spite of her potential to contribute
to the board, she was perceived to be quiet at times when she could have made a contribution. However, after the board went through third-party mediation to resolve their difficulties, she has found it easier to present her thoughts and opinions. Nonetheless, Paul is encouraged to take a more active role in board meetings.
During his term thus far, Naeem has had to overcome various struggles during his time on the board. As an international student, Naeem has little knowledge coming into his position as director in regards to regulations, policies, communication and more. Naeem’s performance on the board thus far has demonstrated to be imrpoving. Naeem is encouraged to keep conversations in meetings relevant to the topic being discussed and ensure he brings forth meaningful, articulate contributions to the table.
Despite this, Naeem has often sought the feedback from his board members in order to improve going forward. As stated in his platform, Naeem has worked to represent international students and further open up opportunities to a diverse range of students. Naeem is highly involved on and off the table; he is the chair of the elections portfolio, Student Life Levy committee member for both Brantford and Waterloo, first-year integration marketing executive, member of the Brantford Muslim Student Association and more.
KLAUDIA WOJTANOWSKI
MOUMITA PAUL
MUHAMMAD TALHA NAEEM
NEWS • 11
WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 6, 2017
For his first year on the board of directors, Joseph Small has been lauded for his professionalism and ability to adapt to changing circumstances. This was seen most significantly when he assumed the role of acting chair in place of Tarique Plummer to mitigate the conflict of interest in Plummer’s candidacy for Stu-
dents’ Union president. Small’s contributions to board meetings signify preparation and maturity, and it is clear that he takes his position of director seriously. Small is encouraged to continue filling the responsibilities of his role in this way.
Hailing from the Brantford campus, first-time board member Idris Hassan has not managed to be as cordial or effective a director as he could have been. At times, he has levied scrutinizing comments that have been considered not to be constructive, while at other times demonstrating an inability to hide his frustra-
tion while discussing certain matters. In light of realizing this, Hassan took the initiative to give a well-received apology to the board. Hassan is encouraged to continue to develop his communication skills at the board table and approach polarizing discussions in a more calm and articulate manner.
As a first-time board member, Roitman has made positive progress as a board member since she first started in her position. Throughout the past few months, Roitman has been able to bring aspects of her platform into fruition — a focus for her was to make connections with the student body and she has done a good job doing so thus far. Roitman has established a positive rapport with her board members within
meetings and outside of the board. Roitman is highly involved within the board and within the Laurier campus — she is on the Student Life Levy committee, policy revision committee, involved in various business clubs and accelerate Laurier while also taking part in charity work within the community. Roitman has demonstrated excellent attendance to meetings and has been to one Brantford board meeting.
As a first-year board member, Bonnell has been a policy inspector for ELS and GPS. Outside of the board, Bonnell is involved with numerous extracurricular activities in conjunction with being a director. He is involved as a residence life don, as a diversity and equity advisor, the research president for Bridging the Gap and a member of the social venture entrepreneurship club and co-president of the NDP club. Bonnell has
missed just one meeting for personal reasons, but has not attended a meeting in Brantford due to extracurricular involvement. Unfortunately, Bonnell has failed to significantly participate in board discussions due to the fact that he believes the board has too much tension. Bonnell is encouraged to use his experiences from extracurriculars in order to contribute to programming and events run by the Students’ Union.
Liu has had excellent attendance to all the board meetings. He has only missed one for an academic conflict and went to every meeting in Brantford. Liu is a Residence Life don and dodgeball coach. Liu is one of the quietest members at the board table, due to the fact that he is more concerned with the social aspects of the board rather than policy. He is involved with the
finance committee and direct inspection. Liu shows significant commitment to the board but at times lacks understanding of policy and committees involved within the board. Liu is motivated to have a great relationship with the Board of Directors, however, he is encouraged to prioritize the goals of the board at large before considering the social aspects of the position.
JOSEPH SMALL
IDRIS OMAR HASSAN
ILANA ROITMAN
KEVIN BONNELL
RICKY LIU
These reviews were written collaboratively by News Director Safina Husein, News Editor Nathalie Bouchard, News Editor Jake Watts and Editor-in-Chief Kurtis Rideout. They are based on observations from board meetings and interviews with directors, chair and president.
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WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 6, 2017
PHOTO SPREAD • 13
LAYOUT BY: TANZEEL SAYANI/PHOTO EDITOR PHOTOS BY: GARRISON OOSTERHOF, ,SAFINA HUSEIN, LUKE SARAZIN, SADMAN SAKIB RAHMAN, TANZEEL SAYANI
14 •
FEATU
FEATURES EDITOR/KARLIS WILDE/FEATURES@THECORD.CA
Free speech vs
Features Editor Karlis Wilde investig speech acros
^&$*#
The discussion of the discernment between free speech and hate speech is a difficult one, to determine, and the issu with an especially prominent place on the Wilfrid Laurier campus in recent weeks. line must be drawn somew There are enormous discrepancies between the types of speech deemed appropriate, someone. and they are all subjectively organized to reflect their own community and their own comIf hate speech is so diffic munity’s standards. that it almost never qualifi It is that discernment that is at the very heart of the now national conversasituations, is that a positiv the details of hate speech n tion, because there tends to be a much more common agreement that, once it re-examined and restructu crosses into the territory of hate speech, there actually are enforceable meamodern wo sures that can and perhaps should be taken to criminalize the expressions of certain ideas. In order t understand “The criminal code already makes clear how hate speech who limits the constitutional rights to freedom of expression,” or Michael Kennedy, the director of communications and develD opment at the Justice Centre for Constitutional Freedoms (JCCF), said. Br “And the reality is that it’s a very difficult judicial test to determine speech that is actually lawfully considered hate speech; it’s a very, very narrow definition. It essentially requires you to be advocating for genocide. And it’s only been applied in the courts a handful of times since “ the charter, so it’s a very, very narrow definition of what hate speech actually is.” who is Operating out of Alberta, the JCCF “Jorda is a national organization that offers both subje pro-bono legal service as well as education on It w f o constitutional freedoms — especially related to phy i il c n ou der of C s that mu free speech — through the Campus Freedom ne, foun ean Canadian s e h c u oD Europ -Ricard Index. therefo This But its very existence also reflects the national nor is it presente ripple that the controversy on this campus has carried here to address a tren throughout this entire nation: the JCCF had even sent a Whether or not Duc letter to the university advocating for Shepherd, inserting themselves into the discussion and provoking a bigger conversation, a day prior to an analogous conversat claims that his own statem the apology being released. “Universities don’t need to be legislating about hate speech more contentious, have be But neither Kennedy’s le because they’re part of the country,” Kennedy continued. “And the country already has laws about hate speech.” own perception of hate sp “And they already have constitutional determibecause of that, legally, th nations about where the line is drawn between particular situations. freedom of expression and hate speech. So uni“I think if you really go a versities don’t need to reinvent the wheel, student or race and you seek to de explaining what he believe unions don’t need to reinvent the wheel.” “And, more importantly, for them to go further speak in very bad languag than the courts have already determined is the exclude them and not beli appropriate limitation on free speech, that’s other groups. So I am very really a problem because these are public intugroups should have the sa itions. They are receiving a huge portion of “I’m simply asking for a their operational funding from govand diversity. I’m asking w ernments in many cases and It’s just not even a debate a tax payers are on the line to Canada — at this point when these universities hundred thousand people are not abiding by the it’s going to make us bette limitations that make Canada better’ they are already “So that really is the bot in place grations, if anything it’s an by the in Canada.” criminal This is a difficult claim, b code.” Duchesne claimed that There that both decided not to p is a sonable and persuasive pe difficult line Of course, that is a subje
... the y l b i s s I am po fessor, only pro ada n a C n i ic, academ dissenter who is a of mass sue s i e h t n o tion. a r g i m im
URES
WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 6, 2017 • 15
s. hate speech
gates the greater implications of hate ss the country
ue is that that where and by
fact that the press has a responsibility. Surely, a great deal of what those media organizations could gather on Duchesne may have been smart, influential content. But, as Duchesne himself stated, he is the only academic in Canada dissenting cult to define on mass immigration. fies in legal That could be because he is the only one brave enough to take a stand against the ve thing, or do larger cultural narrative, but it might also be because the opposing stance in favour need to be of immigration has far more proponents with far better ideas. ured for the It is the responsibility of the press not to give a platform to someone just because orld? they don’t have one; it is the responsibility of the press to attempt to find the truth in to have a better the world. ding of a figure But that, too, is trying to construct a subjective narrative around facts. o has culturally been more And that is where it becomes muddled and difficult. because in the age of deconr less silenced, I reached out to Ricardo struction, so many things can tangentially be modified to inhabit far more incendiary claims and beliefs than are actually contained within the original statement. Duchesne, a professor at the University of New And these subjective assessments are what people are being attacked for, and these subrunswick, founder of the national organization jective assessments are what are causing considerable, reasonable debate across campuses. ‘Council of European Canadians’, and the author of So is any of it actually hate speech, or is that word being thrown around inappropriately? several books. Duchesne claims that people have tried to label his ideas as ‘hate speech’. The latest of his works is a volume where even the title “Yes, they have tried. They never find anything that really can be classified that way, they summarizes his controversial position: Canada in Decay: Mass have tried. Or they call me racist, bigoted, all kinds of things. But once they start exchanging Immigration, Diversity, and the Ethnocide of Euro-Canadians. ideas with me they find it very hard to look at exactly what it is that I’m saying that is racist “I am possibly, I think, the only professor, academic, in Canada … so their position now is just simply ignore it, just pretend he doesn’t exist.” s a dissenter on the issue of mass immigration,” Duchesne said. If one positive thing can be gained from this situation on the Wilfrid Laurier campus, it an Peterson doesn’t touch that subject. It is the most controversial is in the created opportunity to reinterpret legalities and unify toward whatever ends the ect, it is the one that is most prohibited in academia.” collective deems necessary. would be difficult to fairly summarize his book and his philoso“If anything, you’ll have a positive effect,” Duchesne said. in just a few sentences, but it is fundamentally based on the idea “But I don’t think that anytime soon the monopoly that the left have over academia is ulticulturalism and diversity are not inherently positive and are going to break. They have a very, very tight control, and the control extends all the ore not the goals that society should be working toward. way from the academics to the top, the administration.” idea is not presented within this article as a form of advocacy, “They are all in agreement about this leftist worldview. The academics, you ed as a form of dissent. Instead, the base of his idea is reflected know, they bicker a little bit with the administrators — sometimes it’s mostly nd on the limits of dissenting thought within culture. about money and things like that — but ideologically, they’re identical.” chesne is right in the ideas that he expresses is hardly As the Waterloo Regional Police defines Public Incitement of Hation to the free speech issues across campus. He tred, by their website, “This offence is also committed when someone ments, even though they at least appear communicates statements, other than in a private conversation, that een silenced in a similar manner. willfully promote hatred against any identifiable group.” egalistic description, nor Duchesne’s Again, this is, in itself, a difficult idea peech genuinely limit his ideas. And to tease out, because it suggests the hey do not come into play in these verification of intent within statements and judges on that basis — a after a particular ethnic group much more difficult legal situation emean them,” Duchesne said, that doesn’t have much of a real, es hate speech to be. “You seek to verifiable status. ge about who they are, you wish to There are ideas that a culture can ieve that they have the same rights as any and should find unacceptable, but y consistent with my belief that all ethnic the fact is that so many of those ideas ame rights in Canada.” are not rooted in hatred or the pursuit of vioa debate on the issue of mass immigration lence, even if they — in practice — are executed why it is that, in the media, it’s not allowed. -Michae l Kenned in that way toward a particular end and against a as to why do we have to bring in every year y, directo cations and dev elopme r of communiparticular group. we are bringing in something like 320, 340 for Const nt, Justice Centr e itutional Limiting free speech to only that which the e here — and everybody’s saying ‘this is great, Freedom s hegemony decrees is acceptable is damaging to er’ and if you say ‘well, no, I don’t think it’s going to culture as a whole and provokes an enormous incendiary response. But immediately use a label.” not recognizing the implications of one’s own free speech, and where it ttom line of what I am saying. It’s not an attack on immieven tangentially borders on the cultural idea of hate speech, can also be n attack on the privileged white who control the narrative extremely damaging. It is only through cooperation and empathy — and that is a two way street, because far because the fact is that some ideas are better than others. too much of the response to the Rainbow Centre at Laurier claiming that trans students he has been interviewed by the Walrus magazine and CBC, but deserve an apology has been met with distaste and disdain — that we can collectively publish the content — he believes that this is because he is a rearecognize the merits and demerits in one another’s ideas, and therefore exchange and erson presenting unpalatable ideas. understand them accordingly. ective account that could very well be true, but there is also the
$#@*
Universit ies need to b don’t e legislating ab out free speech b ecause they’re p ar t of the country.
%*#$
MADELINE MCINNIS/CREATIVE DIRECTOR
16 •
Top Arts and Life, 2017 Stories Books Video Games
Arts & Life
WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 6, 2017 ARTS & LIFE EDITOR SHYENNE MACDONALD arts@thecord.ca
Allegations Remember back in 2016 when we all thought 2017 was going to be a breeze? Obviously we were wrong. Nearing the end of 2017, the media was flooded with allegations of sexual harassment and assault in Hollywood. Of course it staggers you to see how many people are saviours of assault and harassment. Reports of sexual misconduct from famous figures like Kevin Spacey, Harvey Weinstein and Louis CK — to name a few — have been everywhere in the media. However, I’m determined to find the good in everything. So here it is: now, in 2017, we are finally able to speak openly about assault and harassment — it’s scary to see how vile this world can be, but now maybe we can begin to see real change in our society. -Shyenne MacDonald
Cuphead Is there a game more devilishly adorable than Cuphead? No, there isn’t, because being cute and dealing with the devil is their whole gimmick. It’s a run and gun indie game with some roleplaying elements that keep the game varied and engaging. You play as the title character Cuphead, and must face off with bosses that get progressively difficult in order to pay off a debt with the devil. Cuphead is unique for its visuals that are inspired by the rubber hose animation style popular in the 1930’s. The game is infamous for its ceaseless difficulty so if you’re looking for a challenge this game is the one for you. -Shyenne MacDonald
Roxane Gay As a fan of Roxane Gay, she certainly did not disappoint with her latest book, Hunger: A Memoir of (My) Body. She is an incredibly raw, honest writer who captures her personal experiences with a staggering amount of grace and poignancy. Detailing her struggles with weight, food and how she looks at her body was not only eye-opening, but incredibly powerful. Unshakable emotion resonates through every page, making it difficult not to feel for her and empathize with the anecdotes that she shares. Reading Hunger felt like I was actually listening to Roxane Gay share her thoughts, rather than looking at the words she wrote. Hunger is a book that expertly demands your attention and will strike a chord with audiences who have also battled with their self-image. -Emily Waitson
Oscars
Death
One of the most memorable entertainment moments of 2017 was the awful, awkward best picture award at the Oscars. After announcing that La La Land was the winner, a long and tense moment commenced as the cast and crew shuffled up and began their speeches. Like any big winner, there were thanks, inspiring words, and tears. And then it hit them — Moonlight was the real winner. Not a joke, just an awful mistake between two of the frontrunners. Memes for weeks. Conspiracy theories. Replaying the video over and over. History was made. This was an awards show slipup that no one really predicted, but that was certainly the biggest blindside and it eclipsed the rest of the whole show. Rather than going down for its fame and prestige, this will go down in film history for its infamy. It’ll be a long time before the Academy can live that one down. -Madeline McInnis
Amidst a growing opioid crisis, rising star and emo-rapper Lil Peep took an overdose of drugs he believed to be Xanax. He passed away only weeks after he turned 21. His death indicates a larger problem relating to the use of prescription drugs — specifically fentanyl. Though reports have not been confirmed, many — including his own family members — have speculated that he was sold drugs unknowingly laced with fentanyl. Peep’s death was met with shock and sadness in the hip-hop community and the media at large. Many believed that Peep was a pioneer in the re-emergence of ‘emo’ music — his major label debut Come Over When You’re Sober, Pt. 1, which was released in August of this year, drew heavily on emo musically, both sonically and thematically. After his death, memorial’s were organized and held across North American and elsewhere. -Kurtis Rideout
Destiny 2 Destiny 2 provides a compelling narrative, unique competitive approach to multiplayer and provides an unprecedented gameplay experience. As someone who has invested way too much of my study time into both the first and the most recent installment I can honestly say Bungie delivered. However, like many others, it contain problems. To begin, after completing the campaign and reaching the max power level it quickly became boring and fell into a stagnant multiplayer experience with little reward for trying to use weapons outside of the competitive realm — that is unless you spend a billion hours practicing. Overall both this game and its predecessor have a special place in my heart and I look forward to wasting much more time when they release new content simultaneously I also look forward to watching my GPA fall as we enter the exam period. -Dominic Asselin
Scaachi Koul Scaachi Koul is a Canadian writer currently working for Buzzfeed Canada. After an onslaught of harassment and abuse online over a tweet about not wanting to hire more white men to work at Buzzfeed, Koul took a break from writing for her safety and mental health. When she came back, she did so in full force. One Day We’ll All Be Dead and None of This Will Matter is an essay that looks into the racism in Canada, why we’re afraid to address it, and what happens when we uplift marginalized voices and the repercussions of silencing them. Koul is honest, vulnerable and still manages to keep her famous wit while tackling the problems that plague our society. If you feel like we’re doomed to repeat the mistakes of our forefathers, read Koul’s book because it won’t only open your eyes to the underlying issues afoot but it will also remind you that all isn’t lost. -Shyenne MacDonald
Prey My favourite game of 2017 has been Prey, by far. For anyone who has played Bioshock, Dead Space, any other space horror/adventure first-person-shooter game, it is a remarkable experience. Visually, it exists as a multitude of zones: most areas are either a blend of 60’s corporate with futuristic aesthetics — lush green gardens, science facilities or traditional space stations. But then, you’re slapped in the face with the quiet magnificence of outer space, as you’re thrust from the confines of a space station into the absolute silence of a vacuum. Impressive first-person gunplay, an entrancing story that branches in multiple directions, and actually allows you to become a true villain if you wish. Its re-playability is dwarfed only by the customizability the game provides, as it gives you the opportunity to replay it using multiple different fighting styles. This game messes with your head in the best way possible. -Chris Luciantonio
Celeste Ng Little Fires Everywhere by Celeste Ng is a novel broken into three different stories that, when woven together, ask the hard question of what makes a mother. Is it simply biology? Or is there something more crucial needed, like love? Ng also refuses to shy away from racial tension and the overwhelming gap between the rich and the poor. The novel’s setting, which is 1990 Shaker Heights, Ohio, is crucial. It’s a predominately town of affluence which is where the issues of class and race materialize. This is Ng’s second novel, the first one being the successful Everything I Never Told You. -Shyenne MacDonald
ARTS & LIFE • 17
Movies
WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 6, 2017
Baby Driver
TV Shows
Dunkirk
When I first saw Get Out, I had no idea what to expect. I had little idea what the movie was actually about and I sat down in a crowded theatre with relatively low expectations. To my utter delight and surprise, this movie made its mark and has remained one of my favourite films that I’ve seen this year. I find it difficult to narrow down only a few of the best aspects of Get Out, since Jordan Peele outdid himself in creating a near-flawless addition to the horror/ thriller genre. The soundtrack is one of its strongest standouts, along with the expert casting and gripping social commentary that’s woven into an original storyline. From start to finish, I was completely immersed in this film and I have yet to watch any other movie where the entire audience is audibly gasping, yelling and cheering at the screen. The ending had several people standing up and clapping, so I consider that a win in my books. -Emily Waitson
Every so often, a modern movie will come around that we will bring up in every single one of my film studies courses. As soon as it came out, Dunkirk was one of those movies. It’s not just a film, it’s an experience. If you have the opportunity to see it in theatres, do it — as it’s coming back to IMAX. If this movie doesn’t win at least best sound design at the Oscars next year, I’ll know for sure the Academy doesn’t know what they’re talking about. Even if you’re not into history or war films, it’s accessible enough to be considered a thriller, as well. It’s honestly a masterpiece and it will be on film studies syllabi in the near future, mark my words. This will be a film that will stand the tests of time. I would not be surprised if it changes the Hollywood industry with its use of sound technology. It is well worth your time and your money. -Madeline McInnis
Glow
This is us
There isn’t a show better than Bojack Horseman and there’s no point in trying to argue this known fact. Bojack is a brilliant animated cartoon that follows the life of title character and sentient horse, Bojack. There’s a mixture of humans and sentient animals in the show, which can keep things from getting too dark as the show explores some heavy content. At first glance everything seems silly and jovial, but watch one episode and you’ll see that’s far from the truth. The show battles with ideas such as how children inherit their parent’s trauma, but never fully understand it. Bojack struggles with depression and addiction as he tries to navigate his life in Hollywoo. They don’t shy away from subjects that are often difficult to talk about, such as abortion and overdosing. Honestly, I haven’t seen a show better plotted than Bojack but I have seen attempts and nothing is ever as amazing. -Shyenne MacDonald
GLOW (the Gorgeous Ladies of Wrestling) is a Netflix gem that I’m so happy I decided to binge-watch when it popped up in my suggestions list. It has an out-there sounding plot, but it really delivers on the entertainment front. Starring Alison Brie and a supporting cast of hilarious, talented women, it centers on the 1980s syndication of women’s professional wrestling. It’s surprisingly funny and ridiculously empowering, showcasing the talents of women in every shape and form. The characters are ruthless, badass and strong-willed, a blend of likeable and unlikeable that somehow makes you appreciate them all. GLOW highlights the unending sexism that women in the entertainment industry face and the ways in which they defy it by embracing their talents and using them against it. Full of endless quirky charm and a catchy soundtrack, GLOW prevails as a unique and completely original Netflix show that will likely defy all of your expectations. -Emily Waitson
I’m not going to lie — This Is Us made me cry. A lot. It does an exceptional job of reaching into your heart and ripping it apart. As a person who relies heavily on character development in determining whether I like a show or not, I had a significant amount of difficulty finding fault with this show. There were so many three-dimensional, well-written characters that you want to like, that it becomes very hard to pick a favourite — no it’s not, Randall is the best. As a show the way in which it weaves between the past and the present is done immaculately in each episode to draw upon the lessons and morals that are represented. If you are interested in something that makes you question things like family, integrity and self-discovery that’s done in a warm-hearted — but not suffocating — manner, then This Is Us is an emotional treasure to experience. -Chris Luciantonio
Pure Comedy by
Mourn by Corbin
everybody by
For me to be as impressed by an album as I was Mourn is a complete rarity. In this day and age, where attention spans have reached an all-time low — and one of this year’s most popular hip-hop songs consisted of Lil Pump repeating the phrase ‘Gucci Gang’ like 50 times in two minutes — it’s increasingly hard to find an album that pulls its weight the whole way through. Mourn, unlike a growing number of albums these days, contains very few low points, musically. Thematically, there are plenty of lows, but the album’s concept is rooted in post-apocalyptic loneliness, so it fits well. Each song is a unique experience that stands separate from the previous or following track, and that is in reference to more than lyrical content. The production, and the decision to work exclusively with producers D33J and Shlohmo, was incredibly well calculated and timed. When I first watched the striking visual accompaniment that dropped alongside the album, I scrolled through the YouTube comments. The first one I saw read the following: “Drake and 40 are in the studio studying this right now and taking notes.” If they know what’s good for them, they most certainly are. -Kurtis Rideout
Logic’s slogan “peace love and positivity” is fully embodied in his third studio album Everybody. Known for creating concept albums, Logic has done the same for Everybody. Within the album narrative, “God,” played by Neil deGrasse Tyson speaks to Big Von’s character “Atom,” telling him that in order to move to the afterlife he first needs to be reincarnated as every human-being. The album’s third single, ”1-800-273-8255” has been Grammy nominated for Song of the Year, and has brought international attention to the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline, raising their call percentage by 27% in the first three weeks of the album release. Logic seeks to unite everyone through his lyrics; “I just want to spread the message of equality,” he says on “Take It Back”. Each song on Everybody is written from the perspective of a new person, with their own backgrounds, insecurities, and struggles. Through his imaginative lyricism and rhythmic flow, Logic creates a conceptually brilliant album that dismantles discriminatory or prejudiced narratives. -Alyssa Di Sabatino
There was no film this year more indulgent to its director’s specific tastes than Edgar Wright’s musically charged heist thriller Baby Driver. Colliding his love of music with his love of seventies car chase cinema at 100 mph along the twists and turns of Atlanta’s streets, Wright made the film he would most like to watch and the enthusiasm on display is too infectious not to fall in love with it all. Tightly choreographed action, audaciously sharp editing and a soundtrack overstuffed with heart racing road songs, Baby Driver exudes energy with every passing frame, hammering your senses until you’re one with the music and vehicular adrenaline. It’s a dizzying passion project that refuses to slow down if you can’t keep up, making it one of the year’s best. -Aaron Hagey
bojack Horseman
father john Misty
Albums
Get Out
There’s this indescribable quality to Pure Comedy that somehow makes its dulcet ballads and evocative lyricism seem both timeless and very much inseparable from the present moment. Taking aim at the state of technology, fame, entertainment and the state of the human experience when inundated by these things in this bizarre existence we lead, Josh Tillman brings a confrontational emotional severity in his writing but an uplifting sound to his production which makes his latest Father John Misty album a hard, rewarding listen every time I find myself revisiting. As someone who never heard of his work outside of his role with the Fleet Foxes until last year, the clarity and honesty through which FJM speaks about this moment in our culture borders on the uncomfortable at times. Pure Comedy is biting and depressing but when it rises to a melodic high point you damn sure remember it. -Chris Luciantonio
Logic
LAYOUT BY: MADELINE MCINNIS/CREATIVE DIRECTOR COMPILED BY: SHYENNE MACDONALD/ARTS & LIFE EDITOR
WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 6, 2017
18 • ARTS & LIFE COMMUNITY
Looking for the festivities in all the right places EVANGELINE HUNT STAFF WRITER
Upon searching for some cheer to brighten my mood from the looming exam period, I attended the Uptown Waterloo Holiday Marketplace — a weekend of festivities spanning Dec. 1-3. This particular weekend also called for celebration as it was my birthday, and my boyfriend who lives in England had come to visit me. I was keen to show him the character of our small but spirited home. The first thing I noticed upon walking down King Street is how drastically different it looked. All the construction that spanned the whole of Uptown has been taken away, meaning cars and people were free to cascade the street at their leisure. Being new to Wilfrid Laurier University, I have never known Uptown to look so snazzy so this was a nice addition to the festivities. The open road was a great excuse for the festive horse-drawn trolley ride to parade with young
QIAO LIU/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
children who squealed in delight. The horses took the children through all of Uptown and around Waterloo Park, and was free to attend on behalf of Uptown businesses. Many of the shops in Uptown had decorated their window displays to support the festive cheers. Valentina Bridal and Couture had a gold and bronze themed display, with a Christmas tree and giant baubles hanging from the ceiling. The colours of the tree matched the warm colours of the gowns in the window, which were as sparkly as the decorations.
The Friday and Saturday evening saw Waterloo Public Square turn into an intimate campfire singalong, as people warmed their hands on their hot chocolates and sang Christmas carols while sitting around a blazing fire. My favourite part of the weekend was getting cozy to some live music in local café, Death Valley’s Little Brother on Saturday evening. I had never been there, but was drawn in by their unique and extensive selection of coffee, whiskey and cake. Ontario-born singer Madison Galloway was performing and, upon doing some research, I dis-
covered that she was only 17-yearsold. The maturity of her voice and the eloquence of her performance suggested someone who had years of experience so I was surprised and impressed to learn of her youthfulness. Galloway had a unique fusion of sounds; a folky base with hints of rock and blues. She accompanied her vocals with a guitar and a harmonica, of which she changed with every song. She had a variety of harmonicas on the table next to her, each one different in tone and pitch. Galloway was accompanied on a few songs by her boyfriend Jona-
thon Markov, and the two of them performed an original cover of the Christmas classic “Let it Snow!” Markov played the banjo, and they put a spooky yet curious spin on the song, which was performed in a minor key and was completely different to the original. The pair promptly followed with a more traditional cover of John Lennon’s “Happy Xmas”, in which Galloway’s harmonica and Markov’s banjo harmonised to create a folky and festive atmosphere. One of their final songs was a cover of Mumford and Sons “Little Lion Man”, which is one of my favourite songs of all time. I was happily singing away in the corner much to the dismay of everyone else, as I’m not exactly talented in the vocal department. The talent of both Galloway and Markov was exceptional considering their young age and I was blown away by their performance that evening. It was a great way to end Marketplace, and I was impressed by the efforts of so many that had gone into making the whole weekend diverse and inclusive. In August, I moved 3,000 miles to make Canada my home, and four months later, I am proud to call Waterloo my little corner of Canada.
FOOD
Get a taste of the holidays KARLIS WILDE FEATURES EDITOR
ALAN LI/GRAPHICS EDITOR
We inhabit a corporate world and that means that we, as individuals, are valued on a greater scale by our ability to consume. Corporations — both large and small — tap into that need, by which they can tailor our wants and desires to uplift their profit margins. Merry Christmas! Luckily, as a good consumer, this exercise in attaching sentiment and products, to synchronize to the calendar can be — for lack of a better word — fun. There are a hundred different flavours that are in one way or another associated with Christmas, from mulled wine to sugar cookies to turkey stuffing — but this investigation parses four of these fundamental options, the flavours that scale beyond their individual capacity and are thrown into coffee drinks, ice creams, even Pringles. White chocolate peppermint Pringles. It’s a real thing. Look it up. Google reveals the options, and attempting to narrow them down is what becomes difficult. Looking up Christmas snacks online, a red and green box of Cap’n Crunch’s Christmas Crunch boasts a “great fruity taste” — hopefully that means oranges and
spices, though I doubt it. This constructs the narrative that a great deal of Christmas snacks and foods are based on the aesthetic rather than the flavour — and that is incredibly problematic. 2017 was a year that saw the mass release of a Pumpkin Spice cheese over Thanksgiving, an absolutely ludicrous product which truly demonstrates how a season can authentically be distilled down to a single flavour. Below, I’ve decided to run the most popular Christmas flavours through a meticulous rubric in order to determine once and for all the true flavour of Christmas.
#4 Shortbread
Shortbread is delicious but it is also an incredibly limited flavour. Essentially, you are tasting butter and sugar. While it’s inarguably an amazing combination, these fundamental roots are far too simple to qualify as the genuine taste of the season. Instead, shortbread is a base upon which greater, bigger profiles can be established. Shortbread is a great starting point, but it is not the flavour of the season.
#3 Eggnog
The main problem with eggnog is that it isn’t universally loved enough to qualify as the flavour of the season. Yes, it’s milky and frothy and mind-numbingly sweet and — arguably — so delicious, but the accessibility of the flavour kills it for defining the season.
Because of its exclusively seasonal availability, eggnog takes third place.
#2 Peppermint
I expected that peppermint — more specifically, when combined with chocolate — was going to take the trophy of the true flavour of the season for several reasons: it’s cool like winter, yet perfectly sweet, strong and bold in a cup of cocoa. The adaptability is also there and is spread across a wide range of products — peppermint mochas, peppermint M&Ms, not to mention candy canes — but it is the requirement of chocolate to define it in most scenarios that pushes peppermint to second. And we shouldn’t forget about its year round use in a thousand routine products like toothpaste.
#1 Gingerbread
This is our winner, and not just because it can be considered an evolved form of shortbread. From gingerbread houses to gingerbread lattes, this spicy, sweet flavour seeps into all sorts of Christmas traditions, and for good reason: it’s warming, it’s accessible and it can be used in a diverse spread of recipes because the flavour is essentially grounded in a simple blend of spices. Gingerbread is delicious enough, seasonably limited enough, and diluted enough to a general essence that only it can truly take the trophy for the flavour of the season.
ARTS & LIFE • 19
WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 6, 2017 SOCIAL
MOVIES
What a lady (bird)!
Keeping it classy in the library ALAN LI/GRAPHICS EDITOR
MADELINE MCINNIS CREATIVE DIRECTOR
Between final essays, projects and exams, it’s the time of the year where everyone is practically living at the library. There’s going to be a lot of other people around you so to make your library stay a little easier, I’ve compiled a list of suggestions — but you should probably take them as rules — for your library etiquette this end-of-term.
Asking someone to watch your stuff
It’s totally fine to ask someone to make sure that your laptop stays exactly where you left it. After the thefts on campus a few years ago, it’s probably a great idea. But if you’re leaving for longer than say, five or ten minutes to go to the bathroom or grab a snack from the vending machines, you should probably think twice. I once watched a guy’s stuff for almost two hours when he went home — that’s ludicrous. I’m all for being neighbourly but you should limit the amount of faith you put into complete strangers.
Personal hygiene
Seriously, I know and I’ve been
there. Sometimes an all-nighter in the cubicle is necessary if we’re going to be ready for the exam the next day. But four days? It’s time to go home and take a shower. Seriously. You’ll feel better if you’re clean, and you’ll be less distracting to those around you. While we’re at it, everyone is packed tightly together in the library. It gets hot and stuffy. It’s really appreciated if you were to wear something to cover the B.O.
Saving cubicles
You know that movie trailer about the guy who hogs all the seats for his friends? Yeah, don’t do that in the library either. As much as I joke about always having somewhere to study, everywhere is packed during exam season. We all have to study at the same time, and it’s really not cool to take up the room that someone else could be using. If you are a set of two-people at a six-person table, let other people sit down. If you just want the cubicle next to you to be free, don’t do that. As much as we want to study comfortably, we have to be considerate of others, especially at such a stressful time.
Respect the floors
For the love of all things that are holy, it is called “silent seven” for a reason. If you’re talking up there, you deserve to have a Spotted
tweet or to get called out. There are very few places on campus to study in silence to begin with. The same thing goes for floor three — if you think people are being too loud, you need to move up a floor. There’s something for everyone and you just need to find what best suits you. While you’re at it, don’t disturb the people who already have found their preferred floor.
SARAH SPRAGG STAFF WRITER
I cried, I laughed and I wanted to watch it 10 more times afterwards — those feelings could only be attained in their entirety by watching Greta Gerwig’s film, Lady Bird. Before going to the Princess Cinemas on Monday night, I had already heard great things about the indie film and director Greta Gerwig. However, I still wanted to go in with an open-mind and experience it completely for myself.
Food
I’m personally okay with food, as long as you’re following the library rules. As long as it’s not messy or disturbing anyone or anything, you’re probably in the clear. I would suggest that you probably bring something that suits the floor you’re going to, though. Chips may be fine on three or four, but I wouldn’t suggest them on seven.
As a viewer, I was immersed in the life of Lady Bird and her family, whole-heartedly feeling their joy, pain, failures and successes.
Sleeping
We have the nap pod for a reason! If you need a snooze, feel free. Again, if you’re a snorer or if you happen to talk in your sleep, I’d suggest moving down a few floors. However, if you’re really that tired, maybe it’s time to go home. As stressful as this season is, selfcare is really important. If you don’t take care of yourself, no one will be there to do your essay or write your exam. Give yourself a break — you’ll sleep better in your own bed anyway.
As an avid movie watcher, I am often times disappointed with the critical acclaim that reviewers give to movies. Once I have seen them for myself, I am left wondering why there was so much excitement surrounding the opening of the film. But, Gerwig’s Lady Bird truly did have the heart, depth and insight that so many viewers claimed it possesses. The film centers around the
teenage years of Christine “Lady Bird” McPherson, who experiences the tribulations that many adolescents go through to figure out who they are while struggling through high school and going off to university. Lady Bird, as a comedy and drama, does not fail to create a perfect combination between the two. As a viewer, I was immersed in the life of Lady Bird and her family, whole-heartedly feeling their joy, pain, failures and successes. Each character works flawlessly alongside each other, exemplifying the complexities of relationships, the humour in the simple moments and how each experience has shaped their lives. Saoirse Rohan, as titular character, effortlessly plays the role of the struggling teen Lady Bird, moving from an angst-driven adolescent at one moment to an enlightened young woman the next. Alongside Laurie Metcalf, her sarcastic hardworking mother in the film, both actresses deliver gorgeous and at times, heartbreaking performances that denote what truly connects a mother and daughter together. Gerwig dazzles with this debut film, establishing herself as a dynamic new voice in the world of filmmaking. She brings new life to the “coming-of-age” genre and derives meaning from her own life, which resonates through the raw emotion and development of her characters. After finishing the movie, I was left wanting to give a one-woman standing ovation to the cinematic magic, which could only have been attained through the spectacular collaboration between Saoirse Rohan, her co-stars and director Grete Gerwig. It was a stand-out film that will definitely be worth keeping an eye out for during the upcoming Academy Awards.
20 • GAMES
WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 6, 2017
WORD SEARCH BOARD CHURCH DONATE GOLDEN GRADES HAWKS HOLIDAYS HUGGING INDIGENOUS KING KITCHENER LADYBIRD MICROAGGRESSION MOURN PEEP REPRESENTATION STREPTOCOCCUS WATERLOO
Happy Holidays From WLU Student Publications & The Cord
GAMES • 21
WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 6, 2017
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 and therefore do not necessarily reflect the opinions of The Cord or WLUSP. They should be no longer than 100 words and must be addressed to your life. Submissions can be sent to dearlife@thecord.ca no later than Monday at noon each week. Dear Life, Marner - Mathews - Martin will be our playoff secret weapon. Sorry Nylander, you fit better on the 4th line. Back end?...we need new three new D before Anderson burns out. See ya in the new year. Sincerely, The Maple Leaf Dear The Cord staff, It’s been a wild one and it’s been full of memories. Thanks for making these past few months bearable and I know you’re all going to do great things in the future. Remember, you’re the tie that binds and what we do is important.
Dear coconut haters,
Dear Life,
Old peoplee like coconuts, they have been around for a while they know what’s good.
Time’s are hard and time’s are tough The wind is cold, my lips are rough. I wish I was curled up in bed, Instead of curled up in my own head.
Sincerely, Coconuts Dear life, End of semester stress. Why?
SUDOKU
Sincerely, Someone who is ready to take a load off and watch corny Christmas movies Dear Life,
Sincerely, Meh Dear Maddie, you are basically the backbone of The Cord the entire team has been able to rely on you since day 1 things aren’t likely to be as smooth or fun without you around Sincerely fam
I went to a concert recently off campus and I was severely disappointed. I love rap music, but I’m not about hearing some people sing over their own voices for like less than 2 hours. The week before I was fortunate enough to see a band off campus as well, most of the members of which were older than my dad. Those dudes and ladies held everyone’s attention past midnight, and they kept coming back for encore’s genuinely. None of that “we planned ahead for an encore bullshit.”
Dear Life, I wish someone would press a warm, cheesy tortilla to both sides of my body so I can finally fulfill my dreams of becoming an enchilada. It’s too cold outside. Sincerely, Enchilada Boy Dear Life,
Sincerely, Back to seeing bands Dear 2017, I hope I can remember to change all my dates to 2018. Funny how we make that same mistake every year, isn’t it? Sincerely, Dawg
Sincerely, Signing off, Positive Vibes Dear Life, oh man this year has been crazy last year i didnt know what i was going to do with myself and here i am now i have discovered things about myself here in waterloo that i didnt plan on discovering i have opened my eyes to things that once left me blinded for with one hand in mine the culmination of something great fate’s hands form a cup beneath me to catch my tears like mr deeds said when we meet in heaven ill bring the beers. Sincerely, Wut
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22 •
WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 6, 2017
Editorial
OPINION EDITOR EMILY WAITSON opinion@thecord.ca
Editor’s note: a time to reflect KURTIS RIDEOUT EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
Another year has wrapped up, another semester has ended and another season of giving is upon us. Before taking the time to appreciate the gifts and the joy doted upon you in the holiday season, make sure you take the time to reflect on all that the universe has served up in this strange, twisted year, 2017. I remember adamantly referring to 2016 as the year of the loss, where it concluded as everyone kind of had to collectively take a knee and reflect on the things we were leaving behind. 2017 was, at least seemingly, the rinse of mouthwash that I — that we — needed after 2016. After losing icons like David Bowie, Prince and Muhammad Ali, we began to ponder what would come next. It seemed that we had reached an all-time low around fall lastyear after a certain individual — who has been accused of sexual assault and sexual harassment by more than 15 women since the 1980’s — was elected to office in the government of one of the world’s superpowers. If 2016 was a year of stagnation: of loss and of uncertainty, then 2017 was the year the pendulum swung back in the other direction, albeit briefly. The quickly materializing sexual assault allegations levelled at Harvey Weinstein seemed to open up the floodgates when it came to upending celebrity perverts and flat-out pieces of shit. Facing similar fates shortly after were the likes of Louis C.K., Kevin Spacey and most recently, Matt
Lauer. While the strides that have been taken forward in Hollywood in the past few months have been immense and progressive, it is still taking some time to see real life results on the ground, in everyday life. Yes, if you are a celebrity that has been sexually assaulted, it is now more likely that your accuser will face justice or — at the very least, hopefully — public shaming via social media. The somewhat divisive #MeToo movement also seemed to emerge from the controversy, and despite some hesitation and backlash from survivors not keen on publicizing their own personal traumas to social media, it served as a bit of a wake up call for those who aren’t aware of how pervasive and deeply rooted acts of sexual violence are in our society. While it’s great to see people get what they deserve, it is important that our focus moving into the new year is on recognizing and addressing the toxic behaviour that goes on around us. I can only hope that amidst the growing number of materializing cases of sexual assault and abuse of power survivors feel encouraged and supported to take a stand against their abusers. I can only hope that in a similar fashion perpetrators of sexual assault recognize that there is no place for them in our society, or anywhere else for that matter. Collectively, it is now time for us to reflect on the ways we can move forward amidst the growing amount of evidence that supports the claims of survivors. Now is the time that we start questioning the people making decisions instead of the people fighting for their own safety and security in day to day life interactions. At the very least, it’s time for observers and witnesses to call those people out.
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ALAN LI/GRAPHICS EDITOR
End of the year wrap-up EMILY WAITSON OPINION EDITOR
Somehow, we’ve almost reached the end of another year and another semester. To avoid sounding like a wistful old man who constantly comments on how quickly time passes, I’ll give my head a shake and talk about the past year constructively. Even though I tend to be a persistently pessimistic person sometimes especially when I feel stressed reflecting on what opportunities I’ve had during 2017 is a way that can keep me annoyingly positive, or as positive as I can be with exams looming on the horizon. It’s easy for me to lament over the things that have gone wrong, or what New Year’s resolutions I inevitably didn’t fulfill, but I try not to allow myself to look down that rabbit hole too deeply. Focusing more on the things that have gone right isn’t always an easy task, but it helps to put things into perspective. Looking back on the year, I mainly want to express gratitude for how things have played out. Working as the Opinion Editor for The Cord has been nothing but an eye-opening, wonderful experience. I never would have thought that
I would be in the position I am today, especially this time last year. My involvement in extra-curricular activities has always been kept to a minimum, as my nagging anxiety has always convinced me that I would never be able to succeed in the roles I’ve undertaken. Trying to convince myself that the bare minimum was always the better alternative than pushing myself to do more has led me to better opportunities. Meeting more lovely people, improving on myself both personally and professionally and realizing that I am actually capable of doing more than what my mind likes to tell me. I’m a list-maker, a compulsive over-planner and a dedicated note-taker. I feel the most content when I’ve organized my to-do’s and my entire schedule down to that last, insignificant detail. That includes “goals” lists and endless written promises of what I want to do and improve on. Although I can’t check off every point for 2017, like showcasing an impressively ripped body, or a hobby that I’ve now mastered, I’m doing what I told myself I wanted to do this time last year. The thing about perseverance is that it isn’t easy. It has highlighted aspects about myself that I used to file away under the “deal with later” category and that I’ve actually had to actively improve on. Forcing myself out of my comfort zone has never been one of my strong suits, but I can safely say
that it’s opened my eyes to the possibilities and experiences I was missing out on before. It’s exposed the potential I hold and the newfound ambition I feel to meet it. Even though this year has brought its own set of particular challenges, from health issues, to more mental breakdowns than I’d like to admit, I have never regretted being in the position I am now.
Focusing more on the things that have gone right isn’t always an easy task, but it helps to put things into perspective.
To the people I see and work with every week, my friends, my family, my unending network of support, I want to thank you for being the extra push I’ve needed to keep moving forward. I’m a mixed bundle of emotions when I think about leaving 2017 behind and moving onto 2018, but I’ll do so with my head held high and my notebook’s blank pages ready for a fresh list of goals in the New Year.
• 23
WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 6, 2017
Opinion
OPINION EDITOR EMILY WAITSON opinion@thecord.ca
Giving back to the community this holiday season ADINA TURKONJE STAFF WRITER
It’s that time of the year again, the jolly season of lights and heavy loads of snow, but don’t let that completely distract you from an important aspect of this season. Winter is undoubtedly the most brutal season in Canada, which leaves many people without homes out in the freezing temperatures. According to a current investigation by The Homeless Hub, the Waterloo Region has around 2,726 individuals that stay in emergency shelters which are mostly temporary for the homeless. In order for programs to effectively work in aiding the homeless, the local community must provide support and understand the issues surrounding the problems that the less fortunate face. Over the years, homelessness has been slandered so much, which often results in people turning their backs on those in need. There are a few misconceptions that follow homeless individuals, such as assuming drugs or a bad
MADELINE MCINNIS/CREATIVE DIRECTOR
attitude are reasons for their downfall or current position. Homelessness in Canada happens because of a few important reasons. The lack of low income housing for the lower class is a reason most do not have a home. It has been reported that half of homeless individuals are actually employed but the problem is that they still cannot make ends meet. The second reason surrounds the issue of deinstitutionalization, which means that mentally ill individuals make up a portion of the homeless population. These individuals need support, but with lack of family help and government aid to seek medication which is very needed, they are commonly discharged too quickly out into a community where they are expected to adapt. The justice system is another
reason that has led to the increase of this population. Prisoners are released back out into their community after serving their time but often fall victims to homelessness. It has been noted that prisoners that become homeless increase their chances of re-offending. As well, there has also been a rise of poverty in Canada because of living costs getting too high. The unemployment rate is still in an awkward position, making it hard for individuals to make a living and progress successfully. Local refugees in the Waterloo Region struggle with obtaining basic needs as well, such as access to adequate clothing and food. The government and various campaigns help with providing housing for these families, yet there is still a call for local citizens to pitch in and help donate.
There is no actual time limit to give, help and support, but this season is a particular time of the year where too much stock is put into receiving gifts, as opposed to giving back. The Waterloo Shoebox Project is intended for women. These gifts are not shipped overseas, but locally, and are delivered to shelters around the region. This organization aims to help women in shelters that feel isolated and lonely, particularly during the holidays. Monica Place is an organization that helps both women and children. Their website has provided a needs list which includes various necessities from household items to cooking utensils to pillows to lamps. There is also a call for infant teething toys, diapers, clothing and crib sheets. There are plenty more items that are listed and needed.
like Power Rangers, market themselves on having a diverse cast of characters. Yet in a film like this, their differences are glossed over, a surface difference is evident but that doesn’t advocate for deeper change. A pet peeve of mine is when people evaluate a film purely on its level of representation. I know a number of people who believe a film can be terrible because it lacks representation from a specific group. This is why I believe that representation in film should always aim to be within a specific context. Films should make it their goal to incorporate challenging story elements that make the audience think critically about issues such as race and sexuality.
A perfect example of this is Moonlight. The film’s main cast is made up of African-Americans, and the film itself centres on a young gay African-American man and his experiences with interacting in an ignorant world. It’s a beautiful movie in many ways and it uses its cast as a vehicle to explore these deeper issues. An antithesis to Moonlight would probably have to be something like the Bad Boys films. The two main characters in the franchise are played by very successful African-American actors. While this is an excellent demonstration of how actors of different races can star in a financially successful film, the movie is deeply problematic for its representation of other people of colour.
Toy donations can be given to The Wish Tree, The Salvation Army, The Tree of Angels, Stuffin’ Stockings and, with a bit of Google research, there are probably plenty more organizations out there to help give a child a perfect holiday gift. Clothing and food donations can also be given to The Salvation Army. The Food Bank of Waterloo Region has currently provided a most needed food list on their website that consists of the following: canned meat and fish, canned pasta, canned stews, canned soup, canned fruit, hot cereals, tomato sauces, dried beans, rice and beans in sauce. As for helping out local refugees, Waterloo Region Welcomes Refugees is an organization that allows for many options to help refugees in the area. Their website provides individuals with options to donate money, food, clothing, furniture and household goods. There is also an option to donate a ‘starter kit’ which currently calls for items that are much needed such as frying pans, blenders, curtains, shampoo bottles, toothbrushes and more. Don’t hesitate to help, if you have what it takes and are able to make a difference, do it! You don’t know someone’s story unless you ask.
Diversity in films MICHAEL OLIVERI SENIOR COPY EDITOR
Recently, I’ve encountered a number of discussions about representation on film. This has come up in a number of different contexts, both in and outside of the classroom. While I believe equal representation in film is important, representation without context can be almost as problematic as a lack of representation. As a film studies student, I have found that critical questions on subjects like equitable representation come up fairly often. In a recent class, the mid-sixties exploitation film Faster Pussycat Kill Kill, was discussed for its potentially harmful representation of female agency. What I discovered when talking to classmates in an activity is that the presentation of representation is just as important as its existence. In this film female agency is punished by death, hardly a positive end for a supposedly empowering film. This leads me to think of the Bechdel test. For those of you who are unfamiliar, the Bechdel test is a test relating to the portrayal of women on screen. Films can only pass if
there are two female characters who talk to each other and they also must talk about something other than a man. On the surface, this test is a great idea. Classical Hollywood films are notorious for not being able to even pass these simple criteria. However, the test doesn’t shine so bright when you realize that films like Twilight pass this test.
As a film studies student, I have found that critical questions on subjects like equitable representation come up fairly often.
Personally, I struggle to think of Twilight as a positive or empowering film for any group except for maybe vampires. If you were to delve deeper into the list of films that pass this test you’ll find other problematic examples. It’s becoming apparent to me that testing film purely on what I’ll call ‘surface’ representation is flawed. More recent popular films,
LUKE SARAZIN/LEAD PHOTOGRAPHER
Specifically for its stereotypical portrayal of Latino characters and its harmful depiction and derogatory sentiments towards homosexuality. I think the base problem within surface representation in film is the deception of equality. Studios and financial backers use diversity as a way to sell films to certain audiences. Hollywood lying and using these elements to sell a film is no new thing, but the harm of presenting representation and diversity in a film that portrays women and people of colour in a problematic light is covertly harmful. While I still believe that representation and diversity in film are crucial, as film audiences we must remember that context can make a world of difference.
24 • OPINION
WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 6, 2017
SADMAN SAKIB RAHMAN/CORD PHOTOGRAPHY
Hugs aren’t always wanted EMILY WAITSON OPINION EDITOR
Every holiday season families get together and spend time doing what Hallmark commercials portray to be the picturesque norm. This includes little kids being
dragged from house to house and thrust into the arms of eager and often distant relatives. Some kids obviously don’t mind this and physical affection from extended family members may not bother them. However, there are some who find it uncomfortable and may decide that they don’t want to hug a particular relative. I’ve seen online posts with comments debating this, arguments that claim kids should be “forced”
into hugging others or that it’s disrespectful to allow them to have a choice in the matter. Frankly, it’s a a weird concept to begin with. The notion that it’s somehow acceptable to make your children feel incredibly uncomfortable and potentially unsafe, all because you want them to satisfy Aunt Myrtle’s desires for a hug, are absolutely ridiculous. I don’t think it’s outrageous to say that people, no matter what
age they are, deserve some level of personal autonomy when it comes to decisions surrounding their own bodies. This should always be respected. It may seem trivial and completely harmless, but there are always reasons for why someone doesn’t want to do something. Sometimes, it merely comes down to discomfort surrounding physical touch and affection. If that’s the case, then they should be allowed to show their love in different ways that aren’t solely defined by a hug. I was an incredibly shy child and I don’t recall my parents ever pushing me into the arms of a relative if I didn’t want to. I was never made to feel guilty or bribed to do so if I shook my head no and hid behind my mother’s legs, they just accepted it. They left that decision up to me and if I chose to do it, I did and that was that. I also don’t understand why anyone would want to coerce an unhappy and unwilling kid into their arms if they didn’t choose to be there in the first place and the feeling wasn’t mutual. Adults are adults and they should be able to handle the rejections of a child who may have their own reasoning for opting out of the percieved affection. If your sensitivities are so fragile that you can’t handle a kid who has seen you only one or two times out of the year not feeling eager to run up and hug you, then your priori-
ties are skewed to begin with. Children have just as much of a right as anyone else to make their own decisions regarding family and friends they feel comfortable enough giving or accepting hugs from.
This includes little kids being dragged from house to houseand thrust into the arms of eager and, often distant relatives.
Need I refer back to the Jerry Seinfeld/Kesha incident where she tried to embrace a fully grown man who repeatedly told her not to? The same logic applies here. It is never okay to forcibly push past someone’s boundaries without their consent, regardless of who you are or how old you may be. Don’t be a dick this holiday season. If a kid doesn’t want to give you a hug, don’t take it personally. Give them a high five instead, talk to them like a human being and treat them with the same level of consideration that you would anyone else.
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OPINION • 25
WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 6, 2017
University campuses and microaggression culture The incident with Lindsay Shepherd has raised questions about microaggressive behaviour
HAYDEN DAVIES OPINION COLUMNIST
Lindsay Shepherd, a graduate student at Wilfrid Laurier University, recently made national headlines after she was accused of threatening and harming transgendered students for presenting a TVO debate video during class. An accusation that was later retracted, with a formal apology issued by the president of the university and her supervising professor. For many, it was difficult to fathom how showing university students a short debate video available on public-access television would warrant such heavy criticism. Especially given that Shepherd presented the material neutrally. Nonetheless, one of the panel members accused Shepherd of “causing harm to trans students by [presenting] their identify as invalid or their pronouns as invalid.” As someone who has spent over eight years here at Laurier, served on a variety of committees and been part of many organizations, what happened to Shepherd comes
with little surprise. When attempting to understand the reprehensible behaviour exhibited by the panel, there are a variety of factors we can point to, some of which are outlined in her supervisor’s apology. However, one factor has remained relatively undiscussed and I believe it is critical to understanding the events that took place. Microaggressions, an increasingly popular term on campus, are defined as subtle insults — verbal, nonverbal, and/or visual — directed toward a person of a marginalized group, often automatically, unconsciously or even unintentionally. Dr. Derald Wing Sue, a psychology counselling professor at Columbia University, has argued the cumulative effects of microaggressions can be quite devastating, if not far more problematic. They are more damaging and injurious than overt acts of discrimination. Applying these concepts makes it easy to understand how showing a controversial video would be viewed as threatening, harmful or mentally damaging to the student(s) involved. Therefore, the panel’s reaction would no longer appear unwarranted or disproportionate. Although important to the overall conversation, I am putting aside the problematic notion of holding an individual responsible for
ment is viewed as a difference of opinions. Rather students, faculty and staff are taught or reinforce the notion that these disagreements or controversial views cause devastating impacts to peoples’ health and wellbeing. The ensuing responses by the offended simply resemble this notion.
A recent publication by Dr. Scott Lilienfeld, a professor of psychology at Emory University, argues although microaggressions have provided tremendous insights into critical biases present in our society, it is “far too underdeveloped on the conceptual and methodological fronts to warrant real-world application.” He urges researchers to “avoid strong assertions regarding the causal relation between microaggressions and adverse mental health outcomes.”
Unfortunately, it appears many have not taken heed to Dr. Lilienfeld’s suggestions and the principles of microaggression theory are being used to justify even more egregious and in some cases, outright unlawful responses to perceived acts of microaggression. Last May, the roles were reversed, when Evergreen College was overrun by student protestors demanding the resignation of a professor. The professor had penned a letter stating his objections to a student group event that excluded white students, staff and faculty from being allowed on campus for the day. Unfortunately, threats or acts of violence in response to the presence of controversial ideas or speakers have become the norm on universities campuses. In line with microaggression theory, the protestors of these controversial ideas are causing mental and even physiological damage to marginalized groups. An aggressive, hostile or even violent response is therefore justifiable, even if that involves imprisoning administrative personnel in their own offices or causing excessive property damage. I describe this behaviour as ‘microaggression culture’ and it looks like our university campuses are becoming increasingly rampant with it at various levels. We no longer live in a time where a disagree-
It just means adjusting my plans to suit the right choice for both of us. Spending Christmas with my girlfriend and her family is something that I’ve embraced and I’m beyond grateful for. Toxicity is not something I need to surround myself with, no matter who it is. Standards of behaviour should be set and no one should have to tolerate inexcusable treatment merely because it’s a holiday. Feeling guilty for offences that
aren’t my own will no longer bother me. I’ve finally come to a realization that family — especially a toxic one — should not be the defining factor of my enjoyment. I shouldn’t feel any responsibility or stress about the idea of being around those who fundamentally make me unhappy. Everyone has the right to do what makes them happiest this time of year and if that means spending time with people who aren’t your relatives, then so be it.
Loved ones don’t just have to be defined by genetics in order to deem them worthy to spend Christmas with. The holiday season is, at the end of the day, supposed to be a time where you forget about everything else and focus on what is truly important. If that means time is spent in an uncontrollable state of veiled anxiety, its meaning is lost on me. I now make the choice to no longer let toxic family members get in the way of my life or my holidays.
an unconscious or unintentional action. Instead, I want to focus on one critical assumption this hinges on, that microaggressions cause mental harm or damage.
However, one factor has remained relatively undiscussed and I believe it is critical to understanding the events that took place.
Instead, I want to focus on one critical assumption this hinges on, that microaggressions cause mental harm or damage.
At Laurier this month, we saw microaggression culture manifest itself in a panel of individuals who viewed a controversial video as a borderline act of violence, proceeded to take and unwarranted actions against the graduate student responsible. I only hope this incident serves as a wakeup call to the dangers of this microaggression culture.
Taking out the toxic No one should feel obligated to spend the holidays with a bad family
AARON HAGEY STAFF WRITER
The holidays are usually when people enjoy themselves and relax with their family; a stretch of time that most look forward to. Unfortunately — for most of my life — I’ve dreaded these occasions. It goes beyond the stereotypical “my family is annoying” and veers into, “my family causes me actual mental anguish.” I happen to get along well with a smattering of my extended family and I consider my sister to be the person I’m closest to out of everyone I’m related to. These are the people that have always shown me love and respect and regardless of where I am in life, I care about them and how they’re doing. However, I have grappled with the decision to not spend Christmas with my parents for several years, a choice that many would scoff at. I have my own, very valid reasons for opting out of these family gatherings, none of which should be determined or judged by anyone who only knows my situation
in passing. I am lucky to have a long-term girlfriend who has been nothing but supportive of me and by extension, her ridiculously kind family as well. This group of people has shown me more love and kindness in just over three years than I’ve ever received from many of my blood relatives.
I shouldn’t feel any responsibility or stress about the idea of being around those who fundamentally make me unhappy. ALAN LI/GRAPHICS EDITOR
I’ve come to peace with my past and my upbringing. As an adult, I’ve realized that I am no longer bound by the ties of guilt and supposed obligation in order to keep some sort of peace. I am lucky that I still have a sibling to count on, someone who I will always love and want to be around at any point in the year, especially during the holidays.
26 •
Sports
WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 6, 2017 SPORTS EDITOR PRANAV DESAI sports@thecord.ca
MEN’S BASKETBALL
Hawks lose Battle of Waterloo
— even more so when it’s on your home court — and pessimism and disappointment are natural emotions after a fourth-straight loss.
win in the OUA and Friday night’s game was no exception. The contest began with the Warriors knifing through the Golden Hawk defense to take a 9-point lead inside of the first three minutes of play. But the Golden Hawks fought their way back, aggressively contesting shots and finding enough offense to tie the score at 19 to end the first quarter. However, the momentum gathered in the first-quarter sputtered in the second, when Waterloo outmuscled Laurier on the glass and continued to shoot the ball
well, pulling away from the Golden Hawks to end the half up 45-38. Half-time provided no relief for the Golden Hawks and the third quarter saw them score 13 points to Waterloo’s 20, further opening up the gap between the two teams to create a 14-point deficit heading into the final quarter of play. But, staring down a score of 6551 with only 10 minutes left in the game, the Wilfrid Laurier Golden Hawks did what they do best; they fought. They fought for rebounds, they fought for loose balls and they fought to contest every single shot, sprinting the length of the court, looking both fresh and determined as they turned in a 23-point quarter, their best of the night. The intensity of the quarter put the Warriors on their heels, but it was not enough to overcome the deficit incurred from the two previous quarters. “At the end we played free because we knew we were going to lose. We knew we were going lose but we just played; we were playing with pace, setting up pick-and rolls. [The rest of the night] it was just not there,” Serresse said. When asked what effect the month-long winter break will have on his team, coach Serresse said the team could use the time off. “We’re in a bad rhythm [and] the break is coming at a nice time for us. [We need to] re-gather our thoughts and regain our confidence. Right now I feel like the guys are overthinking. At the end when we didn’t do that it showed.” It’s difficult to lose a big game
Waterloo seemed to be no match. Outscoring the Warriors 17-4 in the quarter, Laurier went into the fourth up 19. “Well, I think individually, our girls were way more responsible defensively. They moved their feet better and they took away what Waterloo wanted to do, which in the first half, we didn’t do that as well,” Falco said. We were able to get them shooting some low percentage shots and we finished the possessions with rebounds. So, the third quarter was a great defensive effort on our part.” In the fourth, it seemed like Waterloo was no longer capable of
pushing back, as the closest they got was within 14 points over the quarter. Laurier was capable of holding the fort and maintaining a comfortable lead throughout the final quarter. The final score of this one was 67-50, pushing Laurier’s win streak versus Waterloo to 17 straight. In terms of what the main factors were behind the Hawks’ ability to come out so strong from halftime and turn it into a blowout, coach Falco said, “Coming out of that third quarter, we did a better job taking care of the ball and we did a way better job defensively and that allowed us to gap them.”
Up next, Laurier will have a few games at the U of T Holiday Invitational tournament during the Christmas break. “That tournament at U of T is really about getting the rust off,” Falco said. “The girls are going to be in exams for the next few weeks, so we can’t get as much basketball in as we’d like. So that’ll give them an opportunity to sort of get their legs back and get some of the rust off from Christmas break.” “We’re going to need some people to get healthy, we’re a little bit injured right now and we’re going to need to keep our form so that we’re ready come January.”
TANZEEL SAYANI/PHOTO EDITOR
JOHN MCMORRAN STAFF WRITER
The Wilfrid Laurier men’s basketball program is in the midst of a four-game slide, and this culminated in an 85-74 defeat coming at the hands of rival Waterloo on the Golden Hawks’ home court. But, if one takes a closer look at the men’s varsity basketball team, they will see a squad rife with talent, but struggling with consistency. After the game, when describing his team’s troubles, head coach Justin Serresse said:
“We were hesitant [and] nervous and it showed tonight. We played scared to lose.” Laurier showed flashes of their true potential, like Ali Sow shooting 7-10 from the field, 2-3 from beyond the arc and amassing a team-high 19 points; or Tevaun Kokko, grabbing two steals, leading his team with four rebounds and hustling all over the court, contesting every opponent’s shot and diving for every ball not anchored to a player’s hands. But it takes more than individual efforts and brief stretches of remarkable play to
We’re in a bad rhythm [and] the break is coming at a nice time for us. [We need to] re-gather our thoughts and regain our confidence. -Justin Serresse, Laurier men’s basketball team head coach
But there is a silver lining amongst the frustration. Friday night’s fourth quarter showed that when the Hawks are energized, focused and in-sync with one another, they are more than just a nuisance to play against. When Laurier is playing at its peak, they are downright scary. Evidently it is not a lack of talent Laurier suffers from, nor a lack of passion, but merely a lack of consistency. If the Golden Hawks can extend their brilliance from a single quarter to a full game, they might just be gearing up for a whirlwind of a run in the second-half of their season. The talent is there, the coaching is there and hopefully — after some contemplation during the break — the wins will be too.
WOMEN’S BASKETBALL
A strong end to 2017 ABDULHAMID IBRAHIM LEAD SPORTS REPORTER
For the final game of the first half of the season the Wilfrid Laurier Univeristy women’s basketball team faced up against the Waterloo Warriors in a contentious battle at home. The Warriors were looking to break Laurier’s win streak against them with it being 16 straight going into the contest. Starting out in the first quarter, both teams came out playing well on the offensive side of the ball. Waterloo got out to a short-lived lead that Laurier took back quickly. That lead would not go far though, as the Warriors showed they were able to push back every time Laurier would get a couple of baskets and stops in a row. The lead was only five for Laurier heading into the second. “I thought we started out, defensively, not as strong as we were hoping. Took us a little bit of a while to get our defensive game going but our offense was pretty good in that first quarter,” head coach, Paul Falco said. The second quarter was even closer as the Warriors closed Laurier’s gap to three or fewer points for
much of the quarter. That changed with less than four minutes to go, as Nicole Morrison scored five in a row for Laurier to make it a sixpoint lead. After trading baskets once more, Laurier went into halftime up six. The third quarter is where the game took a huge turn, as Laurier turned it up defensively — and big time.
Coming out of that third quarter, we did a better job taking care of the ball and we did a way better job defensively... -Paul Falco, Laurier women’s basketball head coach
After giving up a bucket to the Warriors at the 8:01 mark, the Hawks held them scoreless for the next 7:26 as they got out to a lead of 21 points at one point. The Hawks gave them everything as
TANZEEL SAYANI/PHOTO EDITOR
SPORTS • 27
WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 6, 2017 MEN’S HOCKEY
Golden Hawks close the year in style PRANAV DESAI SPORTS EDITOR
The Wilfrid Laurier men’s hockey team demolished the Waterloo Warriors in another Battle of Waterloo, coming away with a massive 9-0 win on Thursday, Nov. 30. Laurier has now racked up five straight wins against their rivals down the road. The Hawks dominated from start to finish and put together their best performance of the season. The goals didn’t stop coming as eight different Hawks ended up scoring the nine goals, with two coming from defenceman Alex Adams. “We capitalized on our scoring chances. We created our opportunities by having good pressure. When we were given time, we made some nice plays,” head coach Greg Puhalski said. The nine goal margin of victory over Waterloo was the biggest for Laurier since 2002, when they beat the Warriors by a score of 10-0.
Up to this point of the season, we have had good depth on our team play. Meaning offensively, we have received scoring from all our players... -Greg Puhalski, Laurier men’s hockey head coach
The offensive output was impressive from the Hawks, but their defensive display was just as good. Goaltender Chris Festarini made 31 saves in what was the first shutout of his career. Following the game against the
GARRISON OOSTERHOF/FILE PHOTO
Warriors, the Hawks took on the York Lions on the second night of a back-to-back on Friday, Dec. 1. Unfortunately, things didn’t go as well for Laurier against the Lions, as they concluded the first half of their season with a 4-1 loss. The only goal for the Hawks in the game came from winger Neil Aird, early in the third period. The goal cut the Lions lead to one, but York added two more in the third and it was just too much for the Hawks to overcome. Laurier just couldn’t find enough offense during the game and it ultimately led to their fourth loss of the season. This loss now puts Laurier at third place in the OUA West division, as they trail York and Guelph by one point. Even though the Hawks would have liked to go into the break on a high note, the loss isn’t too disappointing as their season so far has been very successful. The Hawks have all the makings
of a playoff team as they have even pulled out some victories when they weren’t playing their best hockey. “Up to this point of the season, we have had good depth on our team play. Meaning offensively, we have received scoring from all our players and we are not relying on certain individuals. Defensively, all players understand we need to play a certain way to have success,” Puhalski added. The depth on this team is exactly what makes the Hawks so tough to stop. Opposing teams can’t focus on a single player because the Hawks feature a number of different threats in all phases of the game. However, there are some adjustments that Laurier will have to make in order to be where they want to be in the second half of the season and in the playoffs. Puhalski pointed to turnovers as an area of improvement for the
Hawks. “We need to decrease the number of turnovers we have per game and we need to improve our overall execution of our game plan,” he said. The Hawks’ biggest loss so far has been the 4-1 defeat against the Lions. They have the ability to stay in any game against anybody and that is a testament towards the amazing amount of effort this teams puts in every single day. If the Hawks can figure out a way to cut out some of the cheap turnovers they have been committing, they can turn losses into wins. This is a very well balanced team that is only getting better as the season goes along. The break has come at a good time for the Hawks and with the amount of talent on this team, one can expect them to take the next step forward in the second half of the season.
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28 • SPORTS
WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 6, 2017
FALL 2017: IN RECAP Sports editor Pranav Desai walks you through some of the highs and lows of Laurier Athletics’ 20l7
FOOTBALL The Wilfrid Laurier University football team couldn’t quite repeat last year’s success, as they ended up falling in the Yates Cup against Western. Although it was an unfortunate end to a great season, one couldn’t have expected much more from the Hawks. The Western Mustangs were simply the best team
in the OUA this year and they even went on to win the Vanier Cup. It was still a very successful year for the Hawks, highlighted by great seasons from Kurleigh Gittens Jr., Michael Knevel and Godfrey Onyeka, among others.
A
by an outstanding pitching staff, coach Ballantyne and his team seemed to pull out all the stops when they needed them the most. All the Hawks lacked was a few big plays in the OUA Final and if they managed to make those clutch plays, this season could have been even better.
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throughout the year from Maxine Murchie and Nicole Lyon, the Hawks were one of the most entertaining teams to watch in the OUA. Although this was Murchie’s last year with the team, the Hawks have more than enough talent to still stay competitive, as most of the roster hasn’t even reached their fourth eligible year.
A-
BASEBALL It was an impressive season for the baseball team as they earned an OUA silver medal after losing to the University of Toronto Varsity Blues in the OUA final. The Hawks made some major adjustments and performed at a higher level than last year, when they lost in the OUA semifinals to the Waterloo Warriors. Led
WOMEN’S SOCCER A loss in the OUA quarter finals capped off what was an admirable season for the women’s soccer team. After getting knocked out in the first round of the playoffs in 2016, the Hawks were hungry to go even further this year and that’s exactly what they achieved. With some great wins such as a 7-0 victory against Algoma, a 4-1 win against McMaster and great performances
MEN’S SOCCER After making the OUA playoffs in 2016, the Hawks couldn’t repeat their success as they failed to reach the post-season in 2017. A disappointing year ended for the Hawks with an overall record of 4-7-5. One of the bright spots for Laurier was the play of defender Tahrik Rodriques, who was recognized as an OUA All-Star at the end of the season. Although the expectations
were higher for the Hawks, some regression from 2016 was expected due to the large amount of rookies on the team. There were some growing pains throughout the year and that’s often the case when a roster sees as much turnover as the Hawks did this season. As the Hawks continue to build their team chemistry and as they continue to become familiar with each other’s
C+
WOMEN’S RUGBY The women’s rugby team finished the regular season with a 2-2 record, improving on their 1-4 record from last year. The Hawks made the OUA consolation playoffs, eventually losing to the Brock Badgers in the semi-final. Laurier increased their level of play under new head coach Brian Quistberg and the team
seems to be taking all the steps required to become a playoff team year in, year out. With the increasing awareness of women’s rugby in Canada, expect the Hawks to add some quality recruits in the off season and compete at even higher level next year.
B
MEN’S RUGBY Calling the men’s rugby season historical would be an understatement. The Hawks finished with a 5-3 record in the regular season, a three-win improvement over their 2-6 record last year. Their record was good enough to get them into the OUA playoffs where they exceeded all expectations by defeating the Western
Mustangs in the quarter finals. The win was one for the record books as Laurier recorded their first playoff win since 1999. The Hawks couldn’t continue their great run however, as they ran into Queen’s in the semi-final, undoubtedly the best team in the OUA this season. The Hawks then ended up losing in the bronze
A+
LACROSSE It was a repeat of 2016 for the women’s lacrosse team as they once again made the OUA playoffs. After beating Trent University in the first round, the Hawks lost to Queen’s in the semi-final. Unlike last year however, Laurier was unable to win the bronze
medal game as the Hawks ended up falling against U of T by a final score 12-8. Defender Emily Ferguson was named a part of the OUA all-star first team for her stellar performances throughout the season. The semi-final was a hard fought battle and even
B+
CROSS COUNTRY Both the men’s and women’s cross country teams had solid years and both managed to finish inside the top 10 rankings at the OUA championships. Joe Sheridan led the way for the men’s team at the OUA championships as he established a new career
high on his way to a 25th place individual finish. At the U sports championships, both the teams’ performances dipped as the men’s team finish 16th, while the women’s team finished 18th. Bettina Boucher capped off a phenomenal year with a 22nd
B+
LAYOUT BY: ALAN LI/GRAPHICS EDITOR PHOTOS BY: TANZEEL SAYANI/PHOTO EDITOR, GARRISON OOSTERHOF/WEB DIRECTOR, JESS DIK/FILE PHOTO, REBECCA ALLISON/FILE PHOTO, CONTRIBUTED IMAGES