I CAN SEE CLEARLY NOW
THE FUTURE OF TECH
TOP TITLES OF 2016
WHERE’S THE JOY?
FAULDS IN THE SPOTLIGHT
King Street reopens in uptown Waterloo
What does the VR industry mean for grads?
Notable movies, music and TV to emerge this year
End of year stresses complicate celebrating
Football coach recognized for great year
News, page 5
Features, page 14
Arts & Life, page 16
Opinion, page 23
Sports, page 27
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2 •
WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 7, 2016
VOCAL CORD
What was the worst trend in 2016?
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Editor’s note: Time for a break
“The worst thing was Donald Trump.” –Saheba Segu, fourthyear political science
BETHANY BOWLES EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
LUKE SARZIN/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
In Arts & Life this week, Marco wrote about the digitalization of photography and the death of physical albums.
“Damn Daniel.” –Jofo Domingo, second-year communications studies
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CONTRIBUTORS Garrison Oosterof Shyenne MacDonald Emily Waitson Omair Waitson Omair Ansarii JJ Doran Meaghan Ince Serena Truong Dylan Leonard Nathalie Bouchard Taylor Donnely Karlis Wilde Zachary Guitor Ayesha Ferdaous Mynt Marsellus Nicole Stumpf Chris Luciantonio Daniel Johnson Pranav Desai Abdulhamid Ibrahim Luke Sarazin Tanzeel Sayani Tristan Renaud Kira Gelbard Alex Trkulja Kayla Hegarty
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It’s that time of year again. Students at Wilfrid Laurier University are locking themselves in their rooms to study for exams; finding a spot in the library seems next to impossible and before they know it, they’re packing up their belongings and heading back to their hometowns for the holidays. Collectively, you should all give yourselves a pat on the back. This is my first year not being a student, my first year observing student life from the outside. For the past couple weeks, I’ve been watching my student volunteers pump out a newspaper every week while simultaneously writing essays, studying for tests and doing online quizzes. I’ve seen the stressed out look on their faces when they know we have to finish the paper on time, but they also have school work. I try to help when I can. I talk to them about their essays. I give them study tips. I try to remember how I felt this time last year, when I was in my fourth-year. But there’s no easy answer. I felt the stress too. I had moments where I didn’t think I would finish on time, where I didn’t think I would pass. But ultimately, I did. So to my team: you guys are doing great. I’ve never met such a smart group of students that are so capable of excelling at so many things. Thank you for not giving up when school got tough. Thank you for still being devoted to The Cord. And to all the other Laurier students who balance extracurriculars, part-time jobs or other obligations on top of school: you can do it and you will do it. Just keep pushing yourself but also take that time to recharge. You may dread school right now but trust me, the second it’s done, you’d do anything to go back.
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.
Quotes of the week: “I have to eat them sparingly because they give me nose bleeds.” - Arts & Life Editor, Manjot Bhullar when asked if he likes mangoes “Can I also get five extra butters?” - News Editor, Emilia Curcic adding on to Editor-in-Chief, Bethany Bowles’ Tim Hortons lunch order
WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 7, 2016
News
• 3 NEWS EDITOR EMILIA CURCIC news@thecord.ca
SENIOR NEWS EDITOR KAITLYN SEVERIN news@thecord.ca
NEWS EDITOR MADDY CUTTS news@thecord.ca
REVIEW
TOP 5 NEWS STORIES POLICY
The latest major story to have come out of Wilfrid Laurier University is that of its new sexual and gendered violence policy and procedures, drafted by the Gendered Violence Task Force, the student group Advocates for Student Culture of Consent (ASCC) and other university partners. The lack of a policy was first discovered by ASCC and work began in late 2014 to begin drafting a policy for the university. The process had to be abruptly sped up with the passing of Bill 132, a piece of provincial legislation, which mandated that all Ontario universities have a sexual violence policy in place by Jan. 1, 2017. The Gendered Violence Task Force ran town halls throughout November at the Waterloo, Brantford and Kitchener campuses in order to gain feedback from the Laurier community and answer questions regarding the policy; although attendance was low, they were nevertheless able to incorporate feedback from the town halls and meetings with student leaders such as the Students’ Union and Graduate Students’ Association presidents.The policy was presented to the Laurier board of governors on Nov. 24 and was passed without issue. The policy will be reviewed on an ongoing basis as needed.
HOUSING Though it ranks among the biggest upsets for students in the Waterloo community, the delayed opening of ICON and K2 condominium buildings were sadly not all that surprising to many of its tenants, with them being only the latest in a string of delayed student housing buildings over the past years. ICON sent out an email to its tenants on Sept. 2 that move-in would not be ready for the scheduled Sept. 1, following delays in construction and a refusal by the City of Waterloo to issue occupancy permits for certain rooms and areas. Though they offered tenants free rent for the month of September, students were nevertheless left waiting for weeks uncertain about the future of their residences and having to commute from hotels around the area. Some tenants of the other delayed building, K2, still have yet to move in, with most anticipating to not occupy their units until late December, well past their promised early September occupancy date. The issues surrounding ICON, K2, and other delayed housing buildings in the area and the problematic relationships between management and students have prompted outcry from university leaders who are attempting to work with regional politicians to strengthen pre-occupancy housing legislation.
CONSTRUCTION The most consistent story of the year by far was for Waterloo Region’s new light rail transit system, a project which has torn up roads and congested traffic for months, causing frustration and chaos for pedestrians and drivers alike. The main artery of uptown Waterloo, King Street, was closed beginning February 2016 due to construction for the upcoming LRT, with many businesses feeling the effect of reduced foot traffic throughout the area, only opening up to two-way traffic on Nov. 30. The project had faced multiple delays since breaking ground, from the discovery of a pioneer corduroy road under King Street which required halting construction while an archeologist came to assess the site, to the delay of the actual LRT launch to 2018 due to Bombardier delaying construction of the trains. Despite the delays thus far this year, the region anxiously awaits the completion of the LRT, both to regain use of their public spaces and roadways and to profit from the promised speed and convenience of the rapid transit system.
STUDENT SATISFACTION Students and staff at Wilfrid Laurier University did not hold back this fall when announcing the news that the school had been ranked first for student satisfaction in the comprehensive category in Maclean’s magazine annual university rankings for 2017.The news was shared enthusiastically by students and staff across social media platforms, as well as appearing on the university’s website and in more tactile form such as brandished on large banners hung up around campus. The fact that student satisfaction had only been added a year prior, as well that this was the first time student surveys had contributed to universities’ overall ranking, simply added to the pride felt by Golden Hawks around. The news came in time for Laurier’s fall open house and was a focal point of the school’s branding throughout the event, a move done by the university with the hope that these results in student satisfaction will have a positive impact on incoming potential students while in the process of choosing a post-secondary institution. Laurier additionally saw improvements in other areas, such as moving up in the overall comprehensive category from tenth to ninth place.
CLOSURE The closing of Wilfrid Laurier University fan favourite Pizza Maniac came as a shock to all, evident by the eruption of questions and messages of sadness shared over social media following the establishment’s September shuttering. Pizza Maniac’s owner, Kamal Cheema, said that they were provided a six-month notice in March that they would have to vacate the premise, because the plaza they were located in was bought out by new owners. Though Cheema tried to negotiate for a way for his restaurant to remain in the plaza, even offering to relocate to the back of the plaza, the new landlord refused, allegedly promising the spot to a national chain and raising rent to double the previous price per square foot and leaving Pizza Maniac unable to find a new locale near the universities. Though everything in the location was moved out in the fall, the signage and window stickers remain on full display, a constant reminder to everyone walking past and a hanging question of what will become of that plaza, which has multiple other empty units sitting unused.
WORDS BY MADDY CUTTS; PHOTOS BY LUKE SAZARIN, TANZEEL SAYANI, TRISTAN RENAUD, PAIGE BUSH AND KIRA GELBARD
4 • NEWS
WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 7, 2016
TECHNOLOGY
A moose on the loose
Canada’s self-driving car gets the green light in Waterloo SHYENNE MACDONALD STAFF WRITER
On Nov. 28, a research team which is part of Waterloo Center for Automotive Research (WatCAR) had their self-driving car sanctioned to begin public road testing. The autonomous car (nicknamed Autonomoose) will be the first in Canada to be driven on public roads.
I think the possibilities are limitless at this point.
-Steven Del Duca, Ontario Minister of Transportation
“There’s excitement in every corner of the province about the fact that we are not only embracing this technology but in the Canadian
context, we’re leading on it. I think the possibilities are limitless at this point,” said Steven Del Duca, Ontario’s Minister of Transportation. The Autonomoose is part of a three-year project at the University of Waterloo, which includes nine professors from four different departments. “As you add more functionalities to the car, the integration of the functionalities becomes increasingly complex,” said Ross McKenzie, managing director of WatCAR. “You introduce something or someone new to the project, they have to adapt to the car and the previous person’s functionality. It’s a very slow and prescribed process.” Along with the University of Waterloo getting the proverbial green light, the Erwin Hymer Group and BlackBerry will also be working on their own self-driving cars. “We do work with BlackBerry but not with this. They’re three separate, autonomous pursuits,” said McKenzie. Testing will begin in parking lots, testing tracks and then at the end of the three-year project, WatCAR hopes to take Autonomoose onto
Production happens where innovation occurs.
-Ross McKenzie, managing director of WatCAR
highways and into bigger cities. “Autonomous cars won’t do things we do on the road. They won’t slow down to look at accidents, or drive through stop lights. So the challenge is having the car adapt to us, to humans. It’s the law to have someone behind the wheel at all times, should anything go wrong,” said McKenzie. The new autonomous car is also allegedly increasing employment in Ontario’s job market. Currently Ontario faces an unemployment rate of 7.2 per cent, but hopes are high that this project will provide an opportunity of change.
CONTRIBUTED IMAGE
“General Motors will be opening a software division. They’ll work on enhancing the computing power of cars, which is one of the biggest challenges,” said McKenzie. “A car is now getting all this information, but it builds more and more content on to the vehicle. There’s a significant opportunity to develop better software here in Canada. Production happens where innovation occurs.” Another advantage to having these cars developed in Canada, McKenzie pointed out, is the weather. “One of the most significant
challenges is winter–driving conditions; when the lanes are covered up or there’s black ice. I think it’s only going to further highlight that companies here have the capability, it is also going to bring attention to Canada,” he said. “Other companies who want to test their products in adverse weather conditions or without the constrictions on roads that America has are going to draw toward Ontario.” The first drive is set to begin in the new year, putting the Autonomoose to the test against a Canadian winter.
HEALTH
Thinking clearly with Klarity New supplement introduced to students in Waterloo DYLAN LEONARD STAFF WRITER
EMILIA ZIBAEI/LEAD PHOTOGRAPHER
Klarity, a product sold through studentXel, was created by Andrew Stubbs.
A new energy supplement has been developed for students by third-year Wilfrid Laurier University student, Andrew Stubbs. ‘Klarity’ is a Health Canada approved natural health product, developed and sold through studentXel. Klarity was approved by Health Canada on Aug. 15. Stubbs is the founder and CEO of the company, which also works with brand ambassadors at the University of Waterloo and Laurier to sell the product. Klarity aims to help students focus and concentrate better and increase their overall efficiency. The product itself is made from a combination of caffeine, L-Theanine, L-Tyrosine, vitamin B3 (niacinamide), Panax ginseng root, vitamin B12 (cyanocobalanin) and hypromellose. “The stimulants in Klarity are caffeine, ginseng and L-Tyrosine and then the calming factors are L-Theanine and niacinamide. So basically the research that I did ... is that when you combine caffeine and L-Theanine, it gives you the effects of caffeine without jitters or crash,” Stubbs said. “Then when you combine that with niacinamide ... it increases circulation and you feel more calm.”
“So basically, we’re combining ingredients to provide a focus that is tailored towards a calm outcome.” Klarity was developed by Stubbs and partnering pharmaceutical companies because of his experience in his first year of university with students who abused prescription drugs like Adderall and Ritalin.
I want this to be more of a movement rather than just a company.
-Andrew Stubbs, founder and CEO of studentXel
“When I was in first-year, I was at Spruce Street residence ... and pretty much, prior to each midterm, I would see a lot of students snort Adderall, snort Ritalin. So I was like, you know what? First of all, that’s a problem ... so I thought to myself, there has to be a mainstream way of taking pills, but in a safe, effective way,” Stubbs said. StudentXel also promotes what
it calls the ‘studentXel Lifecode.’ Among other things, this code encourages students to exercise at least three times per week, aim for eight to nine hours of sleep each night and try meditation to boost their productivity. Health Canada itself encourages healthy dietary, exercise and sleeping patterns. People are encouraged to meet their nutritional needs, primarily through a healthy diet, as described in the Canada Food Guide. Klarity is sold in International News on the Laurier Waterloo campus, where Stubbs himself delivers the supplement. Other participating locations in Waterloo and Toronto also sell the product. The future of studentXel could involve creating products that could potentially treat hangovers, help students with presentation anxiety or help students sleep, according to Stubbs. “I want this to be more of a movement rather than just a company. I feel like it’s important that students can have sort of a reference point to live their lives and that they can take things that are Health Canada approved that can benefit them and not create problems in the future. Once students are aware of our company and its brand message, from there we can branch out to other things to help students.”
NEWS • 5
WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 7, 2016 LOCAL
King Street open to Waterloo traffic SAFINA HUSEIN LEAD REPORTER
King Street, in uptown Waterloo, was opened up to two-way traffic last Wednesday night after almost a year of LRT construction caused the road to be closed from Union St. to Erb St. GrandLinq announced early in November that it was their intent to open the street and finish the main portion of LRT construction on Nov. 30—a goal which they were able to accomplish. Although traffic is now able to flow through King St., the main road in uptown Waterloo, construction will still continue for several months, explained Patti Brooks, executive director of the Uptown Waterloo Business Improvement Area (BIA). In addition to the over-head wiring which will power the trains, GrandLinq will continue to do considerable work in regards to the tracks and station-stops which still need to be implemented. “To my knowledge, it won’t affect any closures on King St. There may be some very temporary disruptions for an hour or two, but they will have flaggers in place. The traffic will continue to flow,” said Brooks.
businesses in this event, not just those in the immediate area of the Waterloo Public Square.” Uptown BIA will continue to promote businesses through the Open House event being held this Saturday, as well as their Twelve Days of Christmas which runs from Dec. 13 to Dec. 24.
In spite of the chilly, damp, rainy weather, we had well over 2,000 people out. TRISTAN RENAUD/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
Two-way traffic opened up on Wednesday after LRT construction caused the road to be closed for almost a year.
To celebrate the opening of King St., Uptown BIA hosted “The Festival of Living Streets” this past Saturday, which turned out to be a huge success for businesses in the area. “We thought the event went very well. In spite of the chilly, damp, rainy weather, we had well over 2,000 people out,” said Brooks. The event featured Santa Claus in Waterloo Town Square, free horse-drawn trolley rides and various giveaways provided by businesses that are a part of the BIA.
Additionally, the “Living Gift Guide” display featured perfect holiday gift items from uptown Waterloo businesses and were available for people to see in the town square throughout the entire day. As well, over 30 ballerinas from Centre Stage Dance Studio were dispersed throughout uptown Waterloo. The ballerinas were able to pose and dance in business windows. “Most importantly, the reason that we did this event was
a celebration of movement in uptown Waterloo; to bring people into uptown Waterloo and share with them that our street is open and that our businesses are open, healthy and viable,” said Brooks. Businesses in the BIA felt that the event was a great way to encourage individuals to make their way into uptown Waterloo. Some even said that it was their busiest Saturday in a long time. “We were thrilled to hear that. We went through a lot of effort to include all of uptown Waterloo
-Patti Brooks, executive director of the Uptown Waterloo Business Improvement Area
The Open House will feature a “Holiday Trinket Search,” in which customers will be given a passport with 23 different trinkets listed. Each trinket will be found in a different store around Uptown. After finding five trinkets, individuals will be entered to win a grand prize of over 250 dollars.
6 • NEWS
WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 7, 2016
COMMUNITY
Hosting over the holidays NATHALIE BOUCHARD STAFF WRITER
Many students at Wilfrid Laurier University are unable to go back to their home country for the holidays due to the vast distance and the costs associated with traveling over the holidays. However, four years ago, Wilfrid Laurier International started a holiday host program directed towards accommodating international students. According to Charlene Mak, the international programs coordinator at Laurier International, the program is particularly intended for international students and members of the Laurier community who play host to international students. “The program essentially just started with a couple of students and a couple of staff members mentioning to us that if any international students are on campus over the holidays, that they are welcome to come over for Christmas dinner. Or
we’d see students and they’d [ask], “is anything happening over the Christmas break? We’re not doing anything,”” she said. International students and hosts will fill out a survey to determine when and where the celebration
We have a lot of students that apply who are very far away from their home countries or who don’t have any family in Canada. -Charlene Mak, international programs coordinator at Laurier International
should be. Laurier International then facilitates releasing contact information. The program and the celebration is also an opportunity for the
international students and hosts to introduce themselves, as well as give the location of the holiday celebration and other important information about the gathering. “We have a lot of students that apply who are very far away from their home countries or who don’t have any family in Canada,” said Mak. This program allows for these students to still celebrate and even share some of their traditions with their holiday hosts. Mak also said she received a lot of great feedback from both participants and hosts when she hosted the program. “I found the greatest feedback though, was from staff members who don’t necessarily interact with international students on a daily basis,” said Mak. “It is a way to get a perspective of their holidays and traditions back home. It’s really kind of neat. It’s really a lot of work, but every year, we keep doing it because there is always people interested.”
MEAGHAN INCE/CORD GRAPHICS
Mak also explained that there are always a couple of new people that find out about the program and want to get involved in the holiday tradition. Staff members, particularly, become excited for this program, and are receiving great feedback. According to Mak, this is why Laurier international
puts a lot of work into organizing this program. “Every year, we put out the surveys [and] we have the same staff members asking us about it. They wait for these surveys and are excited about it. It is a great way to have both students and staff engaged over the holidays.”
STUDENTS’ UNION
Tyler Van Herzele increases transparency BETHANY BOWLES EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
At the most recent Wilfrid Laurier University Students’ Union board meeting, held on Nov. 25, Students’ Union president, Tyler Van Herzele, announced that he will be holding office hours on Friday afternoons to increase transparency and communication with the student population. “Open office hours are going to be, I think factually, from 1:00 [p.m.] to 3:00 [p.m.] every Friday. And I’m going to try to carry that into the new year given my schedule [sic]. The purpose behind them is to give anybody who has a question, or just wants to learn more, or is curious about what we’re doing, or has a concern, to just come in and talk directly to
me,” Van Herzele said. “It’s something that I loved doing during the campaign. I love that instant feedback. I love that communication. And I want to get back to that. I want students to know that their president does listen. I know there are concerns right now, and the fact that we’ve been working on them for months, and I want to tell people that.” Van Herzele explained that the majority of students are unaware of what he does on a daily basis. The projects he works on and what he is advocating for are not published; that information is not made accessible. “The idea behind it is to open up that communication gap, again, because I feel like it’s closed a lot since entering the job and getting a full calendar,” he said.
Van Herzele will also start using his Snapchat again, as he did during his campaign. Students can add him on Snapchat and use the app to ask him questions. “The second that you’re actually president, people stop interacting with you the same way they did before. All those people that I would walk up to randomly in [for example,] the Science Atrium, and be like ‘hey, can I talk to you for a minute?’ If I did that now, it’s different. It’s weird. I don’t like that. So I want to try to get back with the Snapchat thing.” Snapchat is also much more accessible than office hours, as students can use Snapchat to communicate with Van Herzele regardless of what campus they are on. Van Herzele expressed how this increased levels of communication
CityWaterloo
pingstreet
get the free app
-Tyler Van Herzele, Students’ Union president
is not just restricted to those within the union. “I also want people with ideas to come in and speak,” he said. In addition to this, Van Herzele has plans for a physical events
ks!
than
Party respectfully.
I love that instant feedback. I love that communication.
Find out more at waterloo.ca/students
calendar to be posted somewhere on campus. This is so that the Students’ Union can communicate with students outside of their immediate social media reach. “We’ve talked about an events calendar — a physical events calendar — not just our digital one, to get imagery up in spaces. Because not everybody is going to like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter and know everything that’s going on. But if you’re walking through the Concourse and you see a big poster that says, ‘hey, events this week,’ that might do something.” Van Herzele is hopeful that these new methods of communication will be successful and that students take advantage of it. “17,000 is a really tough audience to reach.”
NEWS • 7
WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 7, 2016 ACTIVISM
HEALTHCARE
Funding for more physicians SAFINA HUSEIN LEAD REPORTER
CONTRIBUTED IMAGE
Mock camp seeks refuge in concourse EMILIA CURCIC NEWS EDITOR
Wilfrid Laurier University’s chapter of World University Service of Canada (WUSC) held a refugee awareness event in the concourse on Dec. 5. The event included a “simulated refugee camp,” according to the club’s Facebook event and was inspired by a similar event held at Laurier’s Brantford campus last year. According to WUSC’s director of events, Jennifer Thompson, the event had a great turnout and went better than planned. “I was actually really happy with how the tent turned out. I was surprised with how many people actually approached us,” said Thompson. The initiative was inspired by the UNHCR’s campaign to stand #withrefugees by signing a petition to improve refugee conditions. The petition included points that encouraged individuals to pledge their support of refugees and various changes such as bringing education to refugee children, ensuring every family has somewhere safe to live and ensuring every refugee can work or learn new skills to make a positive contribution to their community, according to the campaign website.
I was actually really happy with how the tent turned out. I was surprised with how many people actually approached us. -Jennifer Thompson, WUSC’s director of events
Club members made the petition available to students who approached their booth. The club set up a tent and sleeping bag in the Concourse to signify the struggle that refugees go through on a daily basis. “Our event is based on the UNCHR’s pledge. Their pledge is stand #withrefugees. So it’s based
off of the principle that they did a survey recently seeing all the support of different countries towards refugees and Canada actually had one of the lowest rankings,” said Thompson.
With Laurier students, we are the future and we have to become more educated and aware that these events are actually happening. -Jennifer Thompson, WUSC’s director of events
“That’s kind of surprising because you think Canada would be one of the more supporting of Syrian refugees and refugees coming in from different countries. With our event, we want to create more of an awareness of the actual conditions that refugees are living in.” With recent crises like the Syrian refugee crisis drawing worldwide attention, Thompson pointed out that it is important for Laurier students to become more educated on the matter. “A lot of people don’t understand what’s happening. With Laurier students, we are the future and we have to become more educated and aware that these events are actually happening and this is the reality of refugee crisis and that refugees aren’t refugees — they’re people,” said Thompson. “Especially with what’s going on in Syria, a lot of people are only focused mostly on those refugees, but in reality, there’s over 65 million refugees and displaced people in the world.” WUSC has also played a crucial role in refugee students coming to Laurier. All Laurier students have a portion of their tuition that goes toward funding refugee students’ education at the university. The club hopes to host other events in the future, including events where refugee students at Laurier can share their experiences with the community.
Kitchener’s Grand River Hospital has launched a fundraising initiative in order to recruit more emergency department physicians to help reduce long wait times. The goal of the campaign is to accumulate $365,000 from donations given by Waterloo Region community members. The sum will be split into three years. Each year, a third of the money, approximately $120,000, will be put towards funding a physician resident who will train at Grand River Hospital’s (GRH) emergency department. Tracey Bailey, president and chief executive officer of Grand River Hospital Foundation, explained that Grand River Hospital is in the midst of very large teaching hospitals, such as Hamilton, Toronto and London, which creates a large amount of competition for where emergency department physicians choose to work after they’re done their training. The current situation that GRH emergency department faces is a shortage of one physician every shift to care for patients and tend
to medical needs. “A small number of emergency physicians graduate each year and they’re in great demand all over the country. It’s an area of the hospital that is the first point of contact. People are coming through those doors so we need physicians who have been well-trained in emergency medicine. It’s just a very competitive environment,” said Bailey. The Ministry of Health always funds one resident for the GRH emergency department each year. With the additional funding, another resident can be trained each year, allowing two residents to be working in the emergency department at the same time. “We feel from that pool of six residents who are in training … that we will be successful at recruiting an additional physicians once their training is complete,” said Bailey. With potential future retirements, maternity leaves, individuals choosing to leave to go to other hospitals, amongst other reasons, GRH hopes their creative strategy will allow them to plan ahead and succesfully revruit someone who is trained and already accustomed to the work environment.
“If people train in your hospital, they’re more likely to stay in your hospital when their training is complete,” said Bailey. GRH’s emergency department work load increases six to eight per cent each year. At the same time, the Waterloo Region’s population grows exponentially. “That puts more pressure on your emergency room needs,” explained Bailey. The campaign, which began Nov. 8, has already brought in over 450 donations and has accumulated almost $50,000. In order to reach their goal, GRH sent out letters to homes across the Waterloo Region that are both previous donors and first time donors. Bailey said she expects the fundraiser to take approximately six months before they reach their goal. Currently, 40 physicians reside at the GRH emergency department. Each physician sees over 66,000 patients a year. “We’re really busy with people calling us, donating online and sending back their pledge forms that they received in the mail, I think the community is really excited about the campaign.”
8 • NEWS
WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 7, 2016
ADVOCACY
OUSA aims to increase students’ work experience #MyWILis campaign brings integrated learning to Laurier DYLAN LEONARD STAFF WRITER
Between Nov. 21 and 25, the Ontario Undergraduate Student Alliance (OUSA) hosted its #MyWILis campaign to raise awareness of work integrated learning and gather student feedback on the topic. Work integrated learning (WIL) itself, isn’t a commonly used term and means different things to different people. OUSA defined “WIL” as experiences that help students translate learning into real world scenarios. The goal of the campaign was to gather feedback from students across Ontario on what WIL meant to them. Using this feedback, OUSA aims to figure out what students particularly need from the government. According to the OUSA, 84 per cent of members said that WIL improved their educational experience overall. Students who participated in WIL performed better than those who did not in areas such as employment rate and full time
employment rate. 74 per cent of students who participated in WIL earned over $40,000 per year, compared to only 39 per cent of students who did not participate. “While having a degree is great and having the letters behind your name helps you get the job ... the skills that you can apply to the job are what’s going to make you more competitive. WIL opportunities help students be more able to transfer various skills to the workforce,” said Colin Aitchison, vice-president of Wilfrid Laurier University’s university affairs and steering committee member for OUSA. The #MyWILis campaign follows the June 23 release of the “Building the Workforce of Tomorrow: A shared Responsibility” report by the Premier Wynne’s newly created Highly Skilled Workforce Expert Panel. The panel was tasked with developing a strategy to help Ontario’s current and future workforce adapt to a technology-driven knowledge economy.
The panel gave 28 recommendations, including a recommendation that the government of Ontario commit to strengthening and expanding experiential learning opportunities.
I think Laurier is taking steps in the right direction. There are always developments to take things one step further... -Colin Aitchison, vice-president of university affairs and steering committee member for OUSA
Specifically, Ontario should commit to ensuring that every student has at least one experiential learning opportunity by the end of secondary school and another by the time they graduate from post-secondary. Wilfrid Laurier
MARCO PEDRI/LEAD PHOTOGRAPHER
Posters for the campaign were hung up by OUSA throughout campus
University incorporates WIL opportunities through co-op options and practicums. “I think [the university] is doing well ... if you look at stuff like our co-curricular record, we’re teaching students how to analyze the skills that they learn through various volunteer opportunities and extracurricular activities and how those apply to real life,” Aitchison said. “So, I think Laurier is taking steps in the right direction. There
are always developments to take things one step further, but it’s definitely working well in Laurier, in my opinion.” During the campaign, there were also exhibits placed in the Concourse and U-Desk on the Waterloo campus and the RCW lobby on the Brantford campus. While the campaign has since ended, OUSA is still looking for lots of feedback from students on the use of WIL and what WIL means to them.
HIRING
New addition to music therapy full-time staff Music therapist-in-residence will be conducting research and teaching in the growing program KAITLYN SEVERIN SENIOR NEWS EDITOR
A new position in Wilfrid Laurier University’s faculty of music will help supervise undergraduate and graduate student placements, as well as provide clinical services at Guelph’s Homewood Health Centre. The new music therapist-in-residence position will conduct research at the Homewood Research Institute and Manfred and Penny Conrad Institute for Music Therapy Research, as well as teach on the Laurier Waterloo campus. The Homewood Health Centre is one of the country’s largest facilities for medical treatment of mental health and addiction disorders. The position is part of Laurier’s music therapy program. The program, established in 1986, was the first music therapy program in Canada and uses music to promote and maintain mental, emotional, physical and spiritual health. In recent years, music therapy has been a growing occupation in Canada. Music, as a form of therapy has shown to treat general mental states, as well as depression, anxiety and cognitive functioning. The program also hopes to place students in various positions and internships around the community.
However, one of the challenges the program faces is finding appropriate placements for students. “We knew we would need to find more sites for our students to work in as part of their degree program and so this is, I think, a terrific way of providing clinical services at Homewood Health Centre in Guelph,” said Glen Carruthers, dean of Laurier’s faculty of music. “She or he will [also] have an appointment at Home and Health Centre and can provide a site for us.”
It’s a big step forward for us and it responds to the growing interests in music therapy...
-Glen Carruthers, dean of faculty of music
...this is, I think, a terrific way of providing clinical services at Homewood Health Centre in Guelph. -Glen Carruthers, dean of faculty of music
According to Carruthers, the music-therapist-in residence position will also become the fourth full-time faculty member in the music therapy program. Currently, the program only features three full-time staff members
SERENA TRUONG/GRAPHIC ARTIST
and numerous part-time. “It’s a big step forward for us and it responds to the growing interest in music therapy, not only at Laurier and Ontario, but across Canada and around the world,” said Carruthers. The position was made possible through a donation by Bryce and Nancy (Sauder McLennan) Walker. Bryce Walker is a former chair of Laurier’s Board of Governors and
he has also received the university’s Distinguished Governors Award for his service to the university as the board chair from 2002 to 2005. According to Carruthers, Walker had originally approached him with the suggestion that more should be done to expand the faculty’s outreach in music therapy through cooperation with Homeland Health Centre.
“It was like he ignited a fuse that then started a series of pretty interesting and intense conversations about ways that we can cooperate,” said Carruthers. “I would give Bryce and Nancy a lot of credit. I think that they have a kind of vision and my job here was to make that vision a reality to figure out the details of how it might work, but it was really they who approached me with the idea.” The music-therapist-in residence position will be filled by the beginning of January 2017 for a three-year term. Interviews for the new full-time residence position will be taking place this week. “We have some strong candidates and we should be able to make an announcement I think early in the New Year, if not before,” said Carruthers.
NEWS • 9
WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 7, 2016
REVIEWING THE STUDENTS’ UNION BOARD The Wilfrid Laurier University Students’ Union’s board of directors are two-thirds of the way done their term. This year, the board is almost entirely new, with only three members returning from last year. With a board this inexperienced, comes an inevitably slow transition, but every meeting shows progress from the last. Directors are asking more strategic-based questions, conversations are increasingly becoming more on track and those in higher leadership positions are becoming more familiar and confident in their roles. A notable issue that the board is facing is equal participation from all members. There are a few directors that have flawless attendance, ask critical questions and always seem to be engaged, while there are other directors that have poor attendance, are near silent at the table and seem distracted or uninterested. With a president and chair both coming in from the Brantford campus, the Laurier community seemed to question how the pair would accurately represent the Waterloo campus and how quickly they could familiarize themselves with the largest Laurier campus, having not studied there. So far, the Brantford members have been more than present at the Waterloo campus and the adjustment does not seem to have been a difficult one. Overall, directors at the board table have improved in their abilities to communicate with their fellow members and bring up concerns surrounding the Laurier student population. It it recommended, however, that directors bring more of their original ideas to the board.
TYLER VAN HERZELE PRESIDENT & CEO
As the first Students’ Union President from the Laurier Brantford campus, Tyler Van Herzele has been doing a great job of recognizing the needs, issues and experiences of students at both campuses. Van Herzele is very much a team player. He speaks highly of the board members and offers support when needed. He has been described as being very approachable to directors. It appears that he is more comfortable involving his colleagues in conversations about certain decisions, opposed to making decisions on his own. Van Herzele is encouraged to trust his own judgment and feel confident to make those tough calls, although he is applauded for his team involvement. Van Herzele comes to every meeting well prepared, organized and with extensive updates. It appears that perhaps these updates are too extensive, so Van Herzele is encouraged to summarize more in order to save time. Van Herzele has a tendency to respond to directors’ questions with, “I’ll get back to you,” if he feels he is not wellversed on the topic in question. Although he does follow up, these delayed responses are not time effective. Van Herzele has constantly been compared to his predecessor, Olivia Matthews, because they campaigned with similar goals. A main difference that has been pointed out, however, is that it was always very clear what specific causes Matthews was advocating for, whereas Van Herzele’s approach to advocacy appears to be more general and all encompassing. It is difficult to point out what specific issues he is solely invested in. Van Herzele’s approach to communication is also worth noting. He is very passionate about hearing from the students directly and is taking necessary steps to make himself more accessible. Overall, Van Herzele has had a good start. He has been making small changes as opposed to offering big ticket items. His approach is more realistic, but that doesn’t mean he should limit himself to what has to be done on the day-to-day operations. Van Herzele is encouraged to continue to be a great team player and communicator, but also narrow in on what specific changes he wants to make during his term. Nick DeSumma seemed like the obvious choice to take the head of the table as chair of the board and chief governance officer after his experience as vice-chair last year. Even with Laurier Brantford as his home campus, DeSumma has made himself accessible and easy to communicate with on the Waterloo campus. So far, DeSumma has been receiving a fair amount of positive feedback based on his performance. DeSumma has been praised for his communication skills and the support that he offers other members of the board. He offers good feedback and can be reassuring and supportive when other directors feel they have made mistakes at the board table. He has been appropriately balancing personal and professional relationships with the directors. DeSumma is encouraged to monitor conversations more heavily when they board gets off track. When it comes to following Robert’s Rules, DeSumma is doing a good job and is able to catch any mistakes as they come. It is also encouraged that DeSumma be more aware of his bias. It has been noted that he has a way of making his own opinions clear, which can sometimes influence the opinions or votes of other members of the board. Moving forward, it is recommended that DeSumma plan more socials or training sessions in the new term for the directors to attend, as it will give them the chance to communicate, socialize or share ideas outside of the boardroom. It is recommended that he continues to grow as a confident leader, be more assertive in meetings and not dwell on small mistakes he may make.
NICK DESUMMA CHAIR OF THE BOARD & CHIEF GOVERNANCE OFFICER
As a second-year student and first time director, Nick Molkoski was thrown into the position of vice-chair of the board quickly, with little experience. Had he been a director first, the transition could have been smoother, but with Nick DeSumma as a mentor, Molkoski has been slowly learning and finding his feet. As chair of the finance committee, it has been pointed out that Molkoski has the background to do this job efficiently and positive strides have been made in that committee as a result of his leadership. While it was consistently pointed out that Molkoski has an abundance of knowledge about governance, that knowledge hasn’t been fully translated into the meetings. Molkoski comes across timid and is encouraged to have more confidence when speaking up in meetings. However, when he does speak, he makes well educated points and asks critical questions. It is encouraged that Molkoski takes a more assertive role if he wishes to be on the board again next year. The knowledge and understanding is clearly there, but the confidence is lacking.
NICK MOLKOSKI VICE CHAIR OF THE BOARD
These reviews were written collaboratively by Senior News Editor Kaitlyn Severin, News Editor Emilia Curcic, News Editor Maddy Cutts and Editor-in-Chief Bethany Bowles. They are based on observations from board meetings and interviews with directors, chair and president.
10 • NEWS
WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 7, 2016
BOARD OF DIRECTORS While Stephanie Bellotto may have had difficulty understanding her role as a director in the beginning of the term, she has come to impress her fellow directors at the board table. During meetings, Bellotto likes to ask for clarification when discussing important issues with the board members, which is beneficial to other members who may be thinking the same thing but are hesitant to speak up. It is recommended Bellotto ask more strategic-based questions during board meetings, yet it is worth noting that Bellotto has greatly participated in discussions around the table. It is also recommended that Bellotto participate more within the board’s internal committees, to enhance her understanding. As another first year member of the board, Bellotto seems to have a comfortable relationship with her fellow directors and often tries to bring a student perspective to the table.
STEPHANIE BELLOTTO Matt DeSumma has been an effective director thus far. Drawing from his experience as a returning director, DeSumma is able to ask critical questions at the table and stay engaged with the board’s role as a governance body. As the only Brantford director, he has been a member on all internal committees and has made a conscious effort to establish a presence on the Waterloo campus. DeSumma has risen to the challenge of being the sole director from his campus by ensuring that Brantford remains relevant in table discussions. DeSumma is encouraged to better assert himself at the table, as well as encourage other directors to engage with Brantford issues and projects.
MATT DESUMMA It is difficult to determine Faraz Iftekharuddin’s contribution to the board as he has been noted to take a back seat in discussions. As a first year member of the board, Iftekharuddin has been able to grasp the basics of his role, albeit a slow learning curve. Based on his performance during board meetings, Iftekharuddin is encouraged to speak up more actively and share his opinions with the board. He should also make more of an effort to come prepared to ask questions. Iftekharuddin should aim to get more involved with board committees and work toward stronger attendance in the new term.
FARAZ IFTEKHARRUDDIN As another new member of the board, Kevin Jang has already shown his involvement both in and out of the board room this term. While Jang comes from a more operational background, it has taken longer for him to transition to a more strategic role on the board of directors. His questions and contributions to the board have been operational-based. While Jang is slowly learning to communicate with the board and contribute to discussions, he needs to speak up about concerns and issues surrounding the Laurier student body; a large part of a director’s role is to engage with students and fellow directors. He also appears to be distracted or unprepared during meetings. Jang is encouraged to speak up during meetings and ask more strategic questions in order to participate in the board’s discussions.
KEVIN JANG Shannon Kelly has been a strong asset to the board thus far in her first year as a director. At the board table, she is able to consistently ask articulate and critical questions that pertain to the board’s governance role. Kelly is not afraid to engage in conversation, likely aided by her familiarity with the function of the board through her role as board secretary last year. She has been heavily involved in committees, having been a member of both the Waterloo and Brantford Student Life Levy, Ownership Linkage and multiple direct inspection committees. Kelly is encouraged to continue to actively participate at the board table and to use her experience to help continue to transition her fellow first-time board members.
SHANNON KELLY
NEWS • 11
WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 7, 2016
As a first time board member, Hubert Lee has been singled out for his active participation in board meetings. He has been pointed out for asking critical questions and is never afraid to speak up. He has been present for all meetings, except for one regret over the summer. He is critical of other members of the board, which shows that he understands the importance of holding others accountable. It has also been noted that his knowledge and confidence in the role is constantly improving. He also understands the difference between personal and professional relationships, as fellow director Shannon Kelly is his good friend, but that has never influenced their decorum at the table. Moving forward, Lee is encouraged to continue asking critical questions and consider how his positive addition to the board can be utilized in other areas of the Students’ Union or the Laurier community.
HUBERT LEE Genelle Martin has been an attentive and passionate director in her first year on the board of directors. While Martin has been late to a few meetings, she brings critical thinking to board discussions. When talking about issues relating the Laurier student body, Martin asks strategic-based questions to board members. She keeps her fellow directors accountable during board meetings and is not afraid to voice her opinions and recommendations on various topics related to the Students’ Union and the student body. While Martin has had a successful first term as a director, there is always room for her to grow. She is encouraged to continue asking strategic questions around the board table and become more consistent with her attendance.
GENELLE MARTIN Along with more than half of the board, Tarique Plummer is another first year director on the board. During the summer, Plummer was absent from the board’s summer meetings due to travel arrangements. During the fall term, Plummer was present at most of the meetings, yet he does not seem to be overly engaged in the discussions. While Plummer articulates his questions and holds most of his fellow directors accountable, he has taken on too many responsibilities outside of the board. Plummer is currently involved in numerous extracurricular activities and seems to not prioritize his involvement with the board. While it is expected that a director participate in committees and organizations outside of the boardroom, Plummer should become more committed to his role as a member of the board. When he is present at meetings, he asks well researched and articulate questions that would be beneficial for all board meetings, had he had better attendance. Plummer is encouraged to have better attendance and prioritize his numerous commitments more efficiently.
TARIQUE PLUMMER Ryan Price has been a good asset to the board through his active participation in the finance committee. However, he should display more confidence in his contributions and be more vocal during meetings. It has been noted that Price can take up too much time analyzing and often has limited input in certain situations. He is encouraged to spend more time getting involved with board discussions and making an effort to build relationships with other board members. Price should also make more of an effort to attend all meetings next semester, as his attendance has not been perfect.
RYAN PRICE A veteran of the board, Jonathan Ricci has been able to use his experience to begin the year with a clear understanding of his role and that of the board. This has allowed him to confidently engage in table discussions and ask relevant questions from the start of his term. Ricci comments on almost all topics and is great at starting a conversation. He also appears to have well versed knowledge of student life outside of the board. Ricci has, however, not participated in any internal committees, leaving them to be run by directors in their first terms who could have benefitted from his experience. Ricci should better utilize his accumulated knowledge of the board and governance to help transition his fellow directors and work to engage and socialize with the newer board members.
JONATHAN RICCI
These reviews were written collaboratively by Senior News Editor Kaitlyn Severin, News Editor Emilia Curcic, News Editor Maddy Cutts and Editor-in-Chief Bethany Bowles. They are based on observations from board meetings and interviews with directors, chair and president.
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FEATURES EDITOR/MITCHELL CONSKY/FEATURES@THECORD.CA
“People call virtual reality an empathy machine,” said Bernie Roehl, lab instructor and software specialist at University of Waterloo. The two of us sat down at a William’s café and dove into the possibilities of the emerging virtual revolution. Virtual reality is opening up countless possibilities and with its rapid growth, I found myself hungry to know how far this mesmerizing, Asimov-like tech has come — and how far it can go. Roehl started off our discussion with the affects virtual reality technology could have on a humanitarian stage. He explained that an expanded paradigm, showing new cultures and diverse parts of the world without actually having to be there, heightens your sense of empathy for people in different geographical areas. Virtual reality can expose you to new modes of life and could allow you to literally and figuratively see everything in new ways. In other words, high-resolution headsets can ultimately unite a social and environmental perspective — an engaging thought that takes a few steps beyond virtualized laser-tag. Chances are, this isn’t the first you’ve heard of the impact that VR technology could make, potentially blurring the line between digitalization and our own experiences. But it goes deeper than what we might have anticipated. Today, virtual reality is not only creating new thresholds for gaming and exposure to untouched charters, it can accelerate everything from how we’re educated to how we’re trained in the workforce. “If you were a medical doctor, nobody wants to be the patient for a surgeon’s first operation. We don’t want a new, inexperienced, fresh off the boat kind of surgeon — we want someone who’s been practicing for a long time. But every surgeon has to have a first surgery,” Roehl explained. “The more we can train them in a simulation, the better. They go in with not only the skill, but also the confidence that they know what they’re doing when they get on to a real patient. The same goes for airline pilots. I mean, flight simulators have been around for decades. Putting them in a virtual cockpit, in a virtual world around them, flying a virtual plane so they could gain the skills they need. If they crash, they crash in simulation. Not in the real world.” VR can take a pivotal role in simulations for military combat, fire-fighting, law enforcement and just about any occupation where the stakes are high. With intricate, life-like simulations, people could be thoroughly trained through demanding circumstances, without the risk of danger. But what about professions that aren’t considered high stake? The tech has led to an educational launching pad, with all-new, immersive displays of information that can take us further in countless fields of research. “Museums are thinking about using VR to show people artifacts that they would otherwise not be able to see,” said Roehl. Stepping past the old-school rules of ‘look, don’t touch,’ VR will allow museums to install an all new level of interactive exhibition without any risk of damage. “You could go on a virtual archeological dig and discover artifacts in the ground. You could go on a field trip anywhere in the world, or anywhere in the universe. You want to have a trip on the surface of Mars? No problem. You want to have a field trip inside a human cell to see how it works? No problem.” In this sense, VR is accelerating how we research our own planet. Archeologists, mathematicians, nuclear physics, you name it. From firing an AK-47 to analyzing the details of cancer cells, access to information has never been so powerful. Simply put, we’ve come a long way from equations on a chalk board. For simulated operations, Roehl went on to explain that some virtual reality training would have to go beyond the visual experience. “When they’re cutting through skin and cutting through bone, the physical feedback in their hand is really important to know what they’re doing. There is hardware that will do that — you could hold a physical scalpel and it could give you [vibrating] resistance as you use it. That kind of technology is starting to become available. For combat simulations, you want to simulate being able to move over a large area. Most VR systems are great within an eight-foot by eight-foot area, but if you want to be out there on the field, you’ll need a whole new level of technology for tracking someone in a large area.” I asked him how far beyond the visual experience VR will ultimately be able to go. Roehl explained that some companies are working on mechanisms that introduce the physical experience within VR. “Imagine a jointed lamp on a smaller scale with a surgical scalpel button. As you move it around, they have little motors in it that change the amount of force that’s applied — it gets harder and it gets easier. The computer can actually control that physical resistance.” One of the leading hardware companies for virtual and augmented reality is IMMY Inc. They design, develop and manufacture some of the most advanced tools for VR and AR (augmented reality) in the industry. Their CEO, Doug Magyari, took the time to speak to me and agreed that the technology will radically change multiple areas of the workforce in the coming years. “I do believe it will change every single industry. VR will change countless careers,
but there’s been hyper-criticism on implementing proper training,” Magyari explained. “Training material needs to be introduced through what’s called, ‘in-context.’ Let’s say you’re doing flight maintenance off of helicopters [in a simulated virtual reality]. You need the environment to realistically match the dimensions of a hangar. The audio needs to be properly recorded and received as if the person is actually there.” Magyari explained that auditory cues create essential anchoring points that help people recall and remember instructions with far more accuracy. Therefore, when a worker enters a real-life situation, their training will kick in, depending on prompted noise and visuals. If the sound cues are inaccurate in simulation it can cause problems when the user enters real life situations. “There’s a lot of different aspects for how you use these technologies to get these benefits out of them,” said Magyari. “Virtual reality is when you’re fully immersed in a different kind of environment, like a movie or a video game; you’re not utilizing your outside surroundings,” explained Daniel Gottfried, director of business development at IMMY Inc. and recent graduate of University of Waterloo. “Then there’s the other realm called augmented reality, where you have a transparent pair of glasses. You’re using the real world, but you’ve augmented objects or information into it.” Gottfried explained that there will be massive developments with industrial jobs through augmented reality. Contrasting the advantages of VR being able to train workers through simulations ahead of time, AR will be able to guide workers through the job first hand. “Mechanics will be able to receive augmented instructions over the engine of a car,” Gottfried said. “We can supply signals for disassembling or assembling parts in real time. We can supply step-by-step procedures through visuals, allowing people to take on jobs more efficiently — no matter how complex.” “With AR, you could be looking at your environment in your line of sight,” explained Magyari. “You could be looking at some sort of [augmented] overlay on a medical procedure, while you’re actually performing the operation. You can augment what you’re doing, get a different view or a different angle.” Ultimately, AR can allow us to see the real world, but with informative visuals and prods that expand our visual interpretation. Imagine Iron Man looking through his heads-up display while comprehensive targets and data flash before his eyes. Yup, one day you could be as cool as Tony Stark. However, augmented reality isn’t all smooth sailing. AR has been criticised for distracting viewers from environmental surroundings — a commonly recognized example being the epidemic of Pokémon Go, which allegedly led to countless road accidents and trespassing accusations throughout the summer of 2016. Disorientation and distraction aren’t overly problematic in the confines of an entirely virtual setting, but under the real pressures of the workforce, too much information can be just as blinding as enabling. It’s important that this technology finds a suitable balance between being informative and being overly jarring when the doctor’s performing open-heart surgery in real life. Something tells me the patient would feel the same. With VR, there’s also the issue of desensitization. Parents already feel uneasy about their kids playing video games like Grand Theft Auto because it supposedly normalizes crime and violence. With VR and AR as a form of entertainment, you aren’t playing the game, you are inside it. This introduces a whole new problem: a potential confusion between what’s real and fake. With children given the ability to skydive and rock climb in the comfort of their own living rooms, an unnatural belief of invincibility can take hold of their common sense. But hey, people said that when televisions first came out, too. Some emotions provoked in VR can also amplify realism. Fear, for instance, is strong enough to override logic. That’s the reason YouTube has erupted with videos of old people shouting with headsets on as they drop down a virtual roller coaster, or of people jumping from shock in their kitchens as a shadowed figure appears in a virtualized warehouse. Even with minimally rendered CGI, this stuff can scare the crap out of us. Some VR gaming taps into that; our minds become momentarily compelled enough to believe we are in danger — sort of like a horror movie jump scare after a character walks through a dark coridor. Similarly, your peripherals are limited to what’s in front of
you, and the m tauntingly uns While forms people feel inv that fabricated simply be man to come. “Reality is ex now and there and listen to al voices, clatteri a little bit off w put it down, if should, I’ll go ‘ Acquiring ad tual reality and this technolog while advancin developers bel visually — in th After all, if w have progresse really buckle u tling ride of rap With these im blurring the lin than beneficia As the techn to integrate thr education, our our interaction we’ll have to w see. Stay tuned Humanity will never be the same.
URES
WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 7, 2016 • 15
mere thought of something lurking beyond your field of vision becoms settling. s of VR and AR entertainment could increase desensitization, make vincible and make us run into walls from horror, Roehl explained d reality cannot easily become a product; the complexities cannot nufactured or mimicked. At least not entirely in the next years
xtremely complicated. We’re sitting in a coffee shop right e’s a lot of stuff going on. You could just close your eyes ll the different sound sources. There’s music over there, ing of plates. It’s really complicated and if anything’s we’ll know it. If I pick up this sugar container and it doesn’t sound the way my brain thinks it ‘ah, something’s wrong with that,’” he said. dequate detail to blur the line between vird real life is far away in the progression of gy, but certainly not impossible. In fact, ng other sensory instruments, some lieve it could happen — at least he next twenty or thirty years. we look at how much computers ed since the 90’s, we should up: our tech is in for a hurpid evolution. mplications in mind, is ne more problematic al? nology continues roughout our r jobs and ns, I guess wait and d folks. l
WILL HUANG/CREATIVE DIRECTOR
16 •
Arts & Life
WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 7, 2016 ARTS & LIFE EDITOR MANJOT BHULLAR arts@thecord.ca
The return to the magical world of Harry Potter was even greater than I anticipated it to be. It’s a well-crafted extension of the world that we grew up with and you can tell it was written by J.K. Rowling. The characters are just as kind, loving and imaginative as we have grown used to. The beasts Newt studies won’t leave you disappointed, each with their own unique personalities like our own pets. Even if you’re a no-maj and don’t love the Harry Potter series, it’s worth seeing just for the CGI. Though it’s true there’s no Thunderbird flying around, it’s so good you’ll start to lose track of what’s an effect and what’s not. It’s downright magical.
Danny Brown was known for his “unconventional” style, but with Atrocity Exhibition, he pushed that to its extreme. Creating a sinister and raw trip into the darkest corners of his mind, Danny’s squawking voice and comical delivery betrays the album’s engrossing sense of dread and vulnerability. Atrocity Exhibition sees the artist laying himself bare with a sense of skill which sees him write his most complex and creative rhymes over a cacophony of sinister music. Anyone uninitiated into Danny Brown will only be pushed farther away, but those who know his style will be treated to his evolution as an artist.
It may not seem like a lot of time, but so much can happen in a few seconds. This can be seen in the Clint Eastwood directed film, Sully. Following the aftermath of an emergency crash landing into the Hudson River, Chesley ‘Sully’ Sullenberger faces the results of his actions on that fateful flight, which saved the lives of everyone aboard. Making use of the subtle moments and the national treasure Tom Hanks, the film methodically tells the untold story of what happened after the crash landing in the Hudson River. In a time where superhero movies seem to dominate theaters, Sully proved to us that even an everyday person can be a hero.
Seamlessly transitioning between pop, rap and gospel, Chance the Rapper’s Coloring Book embodies a jangly, fun reimagining of this dark year with the melodic, choral transposition of everything The Life of Pablo was supposed to be. From the beautiful idealism of ‘Angels’ to the bitter melancholy of ‘Same Drugs,’ this unconstrained, perfect album is light on hatred and exclusivity. “I don’t make songs for free, I make ‘em for freedom,” Chance said, with an audible smirk. Featuring spots from Justin Bieber, Future and many others, this star-studded affair is escapist music at its finest: bright, sunny and hopeful.
This new television series aired its first episode in September. It depicts the story of a couple that lost one of their triplets during delivery and adopted a newborn who was abandoned, making them ‘The Big Three.’ The story goes back and forth from their lives as children to nearly 36 years later where the three, very different siblings are experiencing their own lives. Full of challenges and heartbreak, This Is Us takes on everything that life can throw at you and leaves viewers anxious to find out how each of their lives will play out.
Do you remember the movie Oldboy? The one with the hallway fight and the tongue and the revenge that made you forget that you had to read subtitles for two hours? Well, the director of that film is back with a two and a half hour lesbian revenge drama where two awesome women get revenge on the men in their lives who objectify and abuse them in various poetic ways. It’s darkly funny, intensely passionate and at times incredibly powerful.
While the Red Hot Chili Peppers’ newest album, The Getaway, is not by any means the best album of 2016, I believe this album to be one of the most notable to come out this year. The Red Hot Chili Peppers’ best work was when John Frusciante was lead guitarist — no doubt. When rookie guitarist, Josh Klinghoffter, took over for Frusciante in 2010, their first album back, I’m With You, was a musical disaster. Jump five years later to 2016 and it’s clear that Klinghoffer has been practicing. This album shows growth, maturity and seriousness, but with the same level of playfulness and energy that fans love. Just when the Chili’s were appearing to be “washed up,” they redeemed themselves and proved their adaptability as a band.
The Night Of lays the flawed American judicial system bare in the story of Naz, a young Muslim man accused of murdering his one-night-stand in New York City. The show verges on absurdist comedy, thanks to John Turturro’s portrayal of John Stone, a petty crime lawyer and victim of rampant eczema, while providing poignant commentary on Islamophobia and incarceration. Despite following a similar structure to past underdog crime stories, The Night Of grounds itself in the cynical honesty of Naz’s descent into the criminal justice system. In a mish-mash of divisive political commentary and gross-out humour, emerges a show unlike any other.
What happened to Will Byers? That’s what everyone is trying to figure out, each in their own specific way. If you haven’t watched Stranger Things yet, don’t start now. Seriously. Wait until exams are over, because once you start, you likely won’t be able to stop. Don’t let the genre of “science fiction” turn you off. Stranger Things is anything but ordinary. This 80’s-style show is filled with lovable characters, brilliant cinematography and three amazing plot lines that offer something for almost everyone. Stranger Things will meet and exceed all of your binge-watching expectations. See online for the full Top 5 list WILL HUANG/CREATIVE DIRECTOR
ARTS & LIFE • 17
WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 7, 2016 PHOTOGRAPHY is measurable only to the extent of the interpreter. “I don’t think [photography] is becoming less meaningful, I think it’s becoming what music was in the early 2000s, late 90s where there is still a lot of great stuff but you have to sort through a lot more junk to find the really good gems,” Malcolm Wegg said, an employee at Henry’s — a photography shop in Mississauga.
LUKE SARAZIN/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
Digital photos are just as valid MARCO PEDRI LEAD PHOTOGRAPHER
Gone are the days of gathering around the coffee table with grandma and grandpa looking at old photo albums, reminiscing on the “good ol’ times”. The once tangible book of memories is now stored digitally on websites such as Facebook and Instagram, collecting self-validating likes never to be shared again.
Although this is the current stigmatism around Facebook albums and other media outlets, they do fulfill the same job they were intended for: collecting and re-sharing memories. With photography becoming more accessible than ever before, one has to ask, does photography really mean anything anymore? Having the ability to save thousands upon thousands of photos online, not having to be limited to
the amount of film in your camera, has the prestige and value behind each individual photo been lost? No, it has not. The meaning behind each individual photograph depends us. If the person taking the photo has some connection to it and sees the photograph as having value, whether it be photos from a concert, a leaf or even a selfie, then it does have meaning. The value and meaning placed on any photo
Of course this looks at photography not only as an art form but also on a personal level. Think about it, when you’re out taking dozens upon dozens of photos, posing with your friends, amongst all the blurry, shaking and blinking photos, there is that one perfect photo
that summarizes your night. This one photo is that same gem Wegg is talking about. Now what? You have the photo and it’s on your phone. You post it to Instagram or add it to your Facebook album and just leave it there forever to rot away. Simple, right? Wrong. This mindset is the outcome of oversimplifying what Facebook albums do. You see, we use it only for its present value which is self validation through likes. This may not apply to everyone, but for a fair chunk of people, it is the truth. There is nothing wrong with this, but we have to think about the lifetime value of this image. Facebook albums help us archive images without us even realizing we are doing it. What was once a meticulous task of filing away each individual photo is now a simple click of the upload button to gather the real-time likes of our peers. From a slideshow projector of photographs on film, to sitting around the coffee table reminiscing on dusty photo albums, Facebook is just the next generation of photography memories. We should welcome the easy accessibility of it with open arms rather than criticize it with our negative naysaying.
is a key factor to being in a successful relationship. You also has to be careful to not lose your individuality; it becomes really easy to be completely reliant on the life you have with the person you are with. There is no steadfast way of making relationships work. Unfortunately, there isn’t. At the end of
the day, it all comes down to how badly two people want to make it work. So if you really think the other person is worth it, stop making pro-con lists, and just go for it. The phrase, “age is just a number” sounds so cliché, but age doesn’t define your experiences or how good of a partner you can be.
I think it’s becoming what music was in the early 2000s, late 90s where there is... a lot of great stuff but you have to sort through a lot more junk -Malcolm Wegg, employee at Henry’s
DATING
Is age really just a number? AYESHA FERDAOUS CORD ARTS
There is no formula or equation to make a relationship work. Every single relationship is different and sometimes, even when you try your best, you won’t succeed (excuse my awful Coldplay reference. I just had to). However, when it comes to love, age tends to be a big factor. Some say it is best to be involved with someone your age, while others think an age gap is quite acceptable, even helpful. When two people of the same age are in a relationship together,
it can be argued that they’ll relate better to each other. They’ll be facing the same challenges, in school, socially, or in the workplace. Supposedly, they’ll be more understanding of each other’s situations in life. When we look at the other side of the story, those in a relationship with an age gap can also work out well because they are more removed from each other. If one partner is still in school, while the other has graduated, they’ll have their own separate lives, which really works for some people. That separation can also be a major downfall.
“[My boyfriend’s] insight was reassuring because I knew he knew what he was talking about. His experience made my transition through high school a lot easier than it would have been otherwise,” Zarin Tasnim, a first-year economics student at Laurier said. Nevertheless, each relationship has its ups and downs. While Tasnim was starting university, her boyfriend Phil had graduated and was busy looking for jobs. “After a long day, Phil would be tired and frustrated. I couldn’t relate to his struggles and I was under a lot of pressure myself.” Clearly, being able to empathize
PAIGE BUSH/PHOTO EDITOR
ONCE A MONTH SHAWERMA PLUS WILL DONATE A PERCENTAGE OF SALES TO HELP PEOPLE TRANSITIONING FROM HOMELESSNESS THROUGH MCC’S CIRCLE OF FRIENDS PROGRAM
18 • ARTS & LIFE
WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 7, 2016 CHRISTMAS
EXAMS
Off-campus study spots
PAIGE BUSH/FILE PHOTO
TAYLOR DONNELY CORD ARTS
Settlement Co. (23 King St N, Waterloo) This new addition to uptown Waterloo is becoming a study hot spot. This student-friendly space offers free wifi, a wireless charging station, lots of outlets and arguably most important for this time of year — unlimited coffee refills. With friendly baristas, trendy decor, comfortable seating and great lighting, this cafe will make you feel right at home. This spot is open fairly late, so for those who feel like staying a while, I recommend trying out their unique toast bar. Unity Baking (331 King St W, Kitchener) If you’re like me and appreciate incentives while studying, this is the perfect spot for you. With an array of confections, notably their famous cupcakes, Unity Baking
sweetens the reality of deadlines and exams. Formerly known as Honey Bake Shop, it has moved to Kitchener, away from the hustle and bustle of uptown Waterloo. This bakery has a cozy, intimate vibe and hosts many other studious patrons. As well as sweets, the bakery has delectable sandwiches, a large selection of unique teas and colourful macarons. Unity Baking makes it easy for students to hole up with a cupcake and tea combo and finish an entire paper, freeing up the rest of their evening. Waterloo Public Library (35 Albert Street, Waterloo) For those who desire a traditional study spot free from distractions, but can’t be bothered to hit the library at 6:00 a.m. in hopes of finding a free cubicle, the Waterloo Public Library is a great alternative. Most students forget that we have a public library minutes from campus, which works to your benefit since it isn’t as busy. Also, there are fewer distractions off campus, like seeing friends or awkward Tinder matches. This change of environment and abundance of library resources promotes productivity. Keep in mind the Waterloo Public Library
is better suited to daytime studiers since it closes much earlier than the Laurier Library. LSPIRG Office (65 Albert St., Waterloo) The LSPIRG office is right across from the Library and offers a safe space to study and relax. Not many students know that this space is available for them to use, so the chances of you scoring a quiet, comfortable place to study are very high. The LSPIRG staff encourages students to utilize their resources including the space, research computers and library. Seven Shores Cafe (10 Regina St N, Waterloo) Seven Shores Cafe is close to campus, but tucked away just enough to make it a hidden gem. This bright contemporary space will spark your creativity. Their menu boasts local, ethical and of course delicious options for breakfast, lunch and snacks. As we all know, brain food is imperative for studying, so definitely make this your study destination if you’re looking to enjoy a healthy meal.
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Shining new light on a poor gift BRIAN PHILLIPS WEB DIRECTOR
It’s Christmas morning. You’re sitting with your family, gathered around the Christmas tree, enjoying each other’s company. The floor is littered with gift wrapping, and the time for opening presents is coming to an end. As you take the last sip of lukewarm hot chocolate, you can feel the holiday cheer begin to fade as you realize that Christmas has come and gone again … but wait! Your keen eye spots one more gift under the tree, and you notice that it’s addressed to you! Oh, joy! You excitedly grab it, tear it open, and what’s inside? A crappy gift. Now what? First, try figuring out why it seems like a bad gift. It’s possible that a simple change of attitude or being open to a different perspective can be the easiest way to turn a “bad” gift into one that’s not so terrible after all. Did your grandparents buy you a bathing suit even though you don’t know how to swim and live in an apartment in the city? Rather than whining about having something you will never use, pack it away. In a couple years, when you get invited to a friend’s cottage, you don’t have to go shopping for a new suit — assuming it still fits. Maybe you opened up your gift to find a boring pair of socks. Think about it logically — socks are a great gift. You will never not need them. They are about as practical as a gift can get, even if they aren’t flashy. Next, decide if re-gifting is an option. If the gift you received but don’t like is something that gets used, then you don’t have to worry about the person wanting to see it again. For example: wine, chocolates, candles etc. are all items
that are painless to re-gift. They can also save you a trip to the mall during the busiest time of year. But remember: it’s important to keep in mind the rules of regifting. Don’t regift to someone within the same social circle as the original gifter. This should be fairly obvious since things would get awkward very quickly. Also, this should go without saying, but if you have a personalized gift, do not turn around and give it away. Save yourself the embarrassment and just throw it out, or put it away. I once received a Christmas tree ornament that had the name “Alex” on it … seriously? The best case scenario when it comes to receiving a bad gift is that the giver is already aware of their shortcomings. Nothing fills the heart with a sense of relief more than getting a gift accompanied by a gift receipt and being told, “feel free to exchange it for something else if you’d prefer.” This is a signature “cool aunt” move and can be a total life saver. This situation is rare, but if you are presented with the chance to return a bad gift guilt-free, take it! Lastly, sometimes there are scenarios where you have no choice but to suck it up and pretend you like the present. Grandparents tend to be the biggest offender when it comes to this category. What kind of well-intentioned grandchild wants to tell their sweet old grandparents that the gift they bought just doesn’t meet the mark? In these situations, it’s best to smile, say thank you, and move on. In a worst case scenario, you might just have to wear that ugly sweater when you visit grandma for brunch in the spring. That being said, wearing an unflattering sweater for one day of the year is a small price to pay considering your grandparents do a good job spoiling you 99 per cent of the time. No matter the case, be sure to keep in mind that it’s not the gift, but the thought that counts. So even if you aren’t always happy, always be thankful.
ARTS & LIFE • 19
WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 7, 2016 COMEDY
Foisy brings relatable humour to Princess ZACH GUITOR STAFF WRITER
In celebration of their 10-year anniversary, the Princess Café has planned two stand-up comedy shows featuring some of Canada’s hottest up-and-coming comics. On Dec. 1, comedian and writer Jordan Foisy launched the standup series as part of his Standing on the Edge of Unspeakable Anxiety tour, in preparation for his upcoming comedy album. Inspiration for the inordinately named tour came from a conversation between Foisy and his therapist. As a man unafraid of laying his mental health and political beliefs bare, Foisy blended profound, observational humour with cynical, yet silly banter to deliver an exceptional set. In conversation with Foisy, he noted numerous global events and arising social norms which contribute to his pervasive critique of the human condition. Prior to landing in Waterloo, Foisy tweeted a video sharing his primary anxiety of the K-W tech bubble. Noting the immense surveillance capabilities of local conglomerates such as Google, and in an act of protest against social media saturation, Foisy proudly presented his cellphone: a generic flip phone. I assumed it was a gag, but sure enough Foisy confirmed his ar-
shared that anti-depressants finally allowed him to get over his fear of vampires. This isn’t simply some “so random” punchline, but rather a poignant commentary on our own ridiculous anxieties that paralyze us both emotionally and socially. In my own terms, my “vampire” is a pervasive fear of dying suddenly of a heart attack, despite being young and in good health. It’s like every time I smell something weird I forget what burnt toast is supposed to smell like. Although Foisy is certainly an anxious person, he assured that not all his fears are rooted in his anxiety disorder. Concerning
recent political events, Foisy assured the rise of fascism in the West is very real and demands our attention, but commented on the effects pervasive media has had on our response. “We’re moving into like an enjoyable dystopia in that we can have craft beer and tasty sandwiches, but we’re being spied upon by fascists,” Foisy said. “I’d much rather want to write jokes about food and personal relationships as opposed to reckoning with the fact that Nazis are around again.” Foisy closed out his set recalling recent adventures with his mother. Proving the apple doesn’t fall too far from the tree, Foisy told of a time his drunken mother proclaimed: “I grew up with this guy!” in asserting her relationship with her kin. It drew the end to a deeply personal yet astoundingly funny set where Foisy rarely relinquished the smile on his face. “Stand-up feels really good right now,” Foisy said. “I want to connect with people even more now because hopefully that’ll keep us alive and I think people also want it more than ever.” On Dec. 18, comedians Sara Hennessey, Tim Gilbert and Nick Nemeroff will take the stage at Princess Café to close out their December comedy series.
sy stories. This is why Star Trek, by comparison, doesn’t always look great. Deep space battles, even in more recent iterations of the series, have been represented by the cast obviously throwing themselves around a static set while the camera shook. They were cheesy — especially set against the breathtaking X-Wing dogfights from their perceived rival. But Trek has always been about ideas and progress more than spectacle. While the original Star Wars apparently took place in a universe with only one non-white human, Nichelle Nichols had already participated in the first ever interracial television kiss. While Wars was dressing Leah
up in overly sexualized garb for the Jabba the Hutts of the world to ogle, Trek’s Tasha Yar was standing up to gendered preconceptions of alien cultures as the Enterprise’s head of security. And it took Star Wars until 2015 to cast a female lead, 20 years after Kate Mulgrew lead the cast of Star Trek: Voyager. No one’s ever going to say that Star Wars and Star Trek embody even similar places in the space opera canon, so why must we insist on constantly comparing and contrasting the two? Both franchises are wonderful pieces of fiction that draw huge media attention and create extensive fan communities. The deep reaches of outer space are wide enough for both.
MARCO PEDRI/LEAD PHOTOGRAPHER
chaic leanings and even called for others to follow suit. “Really, I think we should just get rid of the Internet … whatever gains we got from it I don’t think were worth it,” said Foisy. “Before we had the Internet we still did all the fun shit that we love now. There was still good music, there was still good movies, you could still go to the bar and go on dates.” Concerning dating, Foisy confirmed that the flip phone has made it harder. In his comedy set he detailed the struggles of being single in his 30’s. In a painfully relatable bit, Foisy spoke of ruining every sexy moment by enthusiasti-
cally taking his pants off only to exhibit a landslide of coins onto the floor. Foisy compared the resulting crash to a cautioning alarm for the woman. “Warning, warning, the man you are about to sleep with eats eggs for supper all the time,” quipped Foisy. That one hit way too close to home. In fact, my date could barely contain herself as Foisy ranted about his scarily relatable romantic endeavors. What makes Foisy a great comic is his ability to unravel the absurdity in our darkest, most arbitrary and vulnerable moments. Speaking on his path to improving his mental health, Foisy
MOVIES
Battle of the Star series: Which shines brightest? KARLIS WILDE CORD ARTS
Isaac Asimov once defined the difference between the interconnected genres of science fiction and fantasy, calling the former possible and the latter not. This is the first clue toward the significant differences between the two major Star franchises, and it’s one that generally disqualifies the question of which one is objectively superior. There’s no denying that Star Wars is the more popular brand. In the last year we’ve seen releases from both series and, while Star Trek Beyond raked in $343 million worldwide, it was a paltry drop in the bucket compared to Star Wars: The Force Awakens’ record shattering $2.06 billion total last December. On Dec. 16, the next instalment of the Star Wars series, Rogue One, will be released. With a projected opening weekend domestic gross of $130 million. It is also expected to tower over Beyond’s success. Where Trek wins out is in sheer
volume of content, something that could be argued for lower av-erage grosses as dilution of the brand. The major components of the Star Wars series include seven movies, compared to Trek’s thirteen. And Star Wars may have two separate series with a connected movie, but these are typically considered auxiliary fragments of the brand; nothing compared to the five major Trek series: totaling 703 episodes.
Both franchises are wonderful pieces of fiction that draw huge media attention and create extensive fan communities.
But these comparisons could literally be made between any two major media franchises. So why Trek vs. Wars, besides the obvious superficial association of the word ‘Star’? There isn’t much. While one
details the exploration of an advanced human society acting as diplomat to other worlds and creatures and ideas, the other is a simple tale of knights learning magic in order to advance their sword fighting against the oppressive governing state. In order to especially disqualify the conversation, a controversial insistence must be made here to challenge preconceptions about space-travel and aliens: Star Trek is science fiction, while Star Wars is fantasy. Trek is speculative: a version of the human race that could come to fruition. Wars is indulgent: a tale of good against evil set in the impossible backdrop of “a long time ago, in a galaxy far, far away.” Trek varies its universe to suit the needs of a story; Wars varies its stories to fit within its intricately built worlds. Beyond that, both function as entirely different products: while Star Wars has a more superficial duty: selling a wide breadth of merchandise, it also initially functioned as a revolutionary style of filmmaking. Using models and lights and sounds in an obtuse, creative fashion to create more distinct impressions of deep space, George Lucas solidified his career as a visionary filmmaker inspired by classic science fiction and fanta-
FANI HSIEH/GRAPHICS EDITOR
20 • GAMES
WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 7, 2016
SUDOKU
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GAMES • 21
WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 7, 2016
Dear Life Dear Life is your opportunity to write a letter to your life, allowing you to vent your anger with life’s little frustrations in a completely public forum. All submissions to Dear Life are anonymous, should be no longer than 100 words and must be addressed to your life. Submissions can be sent to dearlife@thecord.ca no later than Monday at noon each week.
Dear Exam/Essay Season, Caffeine levels got me swinging from all the chandeliers. Sincerely, Hit me up, Sia Dear Life, What do you call a tiger with glasses? A scientist tiger! Sincerely, The kindergarten Joke Master Dear Friend, Got you on my mind tonight. Thinking back to highschool and the classes we had together. Can’t believe you’re gone. Didn’t think I would be attending a friends funeral for another 30 years (conservatively). But, just attended yours less then two months ago. If only I took the time to talk to you more maybe things would be different. Life’s a heavy thing on all our shoulders. If only I knew you were struggling to keep it up, I would’ve stepped in to lift it all off your back. I’m sorry. I hope you’re resting easy, man. Me and the friends miss you. You opened our eyes to how precious life is and that we have to watch each other’s backs, even when everything seems to be going good. You really did prove that even the ones with the biggest smiles - always laughing, are sometimes the ones holding on to much darker things. To whoever is reading this, no matter what, text a friend and let them know how much they mean to you. Ask if everything is alright even if it may seem cliche because life hits hard. Then you’re in a position like me and wonder that if only if you had taken the time to get coffee with someone, you could change their life. Please, for me and my friend, message them now. You never know that you may be saving a life. Rest in peace, friend. Sincerely, Anonymous Dear Life, Here’s what excites me about an empty lecture hall: the world keeps moving outside and this large room, normally crammed to the max with eager university students, tired and close to one another like sardines packed in a tin, is absolutely and completely empty. Sure, the lights are blinding and to any student at the end of class, they never wanna see this place again, but seeing a lecture hall out of the classroom context can be quite the sight to behold. Rows upon rows of empty seats, just remaining and softly waiting for their most and least favorite students to return every week, just whispering to each other about how that guy who only showed up to one lecture might be coming back soon since it’s almost exams, or how annoying those guys are who always stick gum under
the seat. Maybe they talk about how worried they are that some students come to class and always seem like they are planning their last days. The lone and quiet hub computer at the front is left at anyone’s grasp to display movies, TV shows or most likely, to be used by the professor to test display a small section of the wealth of knowledge they accumulated over the past eight plus years and are oh-so passionate to share with a group of students who care deeply for the subject they are teaching — even if it is only for a few weeks. If this computer could speak, it could probably tell stories about fascinating lectures, professor meltdowns, accidentally opened files on the big screen and presentations gone wrong at the hands of pranksters and simple technical errors. The walls could tell of those people who came before that went on to do great things, thinking to themselves, “Five years ago, this person was sitting in class in this hall, full of ambition and expertise, now they are out there making the world a better place.” Being proud of how they helped to make that happen. They were part of the reason this person succeeded in their life goals, even if they weren’t what they initially set out to do. Think about the many business majors turned scientists, potential doctors turned educators and introverted arts majors turned politicians. Think about how many of these people went on to do great things and even people who did normal things. How this lecture hall impacted how they think, how they believe, how they live their lives ... So, you wanna know what excites me about empty lecture halls? It’s the impact it’s had on the past population, and the potential for the impact it will be having on the future for generations to come. Sincerely, Lovely Evening Dear Life, If you’re constipated, order a Clover coffee from Starbucks. That stuff will have you RUNNING for the bathroom, seriously. Sincerely, Don’t drink that before an exam Dear Life, BU111 has a terrible marking system. Super subjective, filled with bias. Real world businesses ARE NOT BLACK AND WHITE Sincerely, BU111 is killing me Dear Students’ Union Executive Team, Not going to lie, I’ve been uniformly impressed by y’all this year. You’ve been consistent in your application of policy. Your responses to criticism and concern are spectacular. All around, it feels like you are more available to students than any executive I have seen in my five years at the school. Kudos to you all and have a great break, you deserve it. Sincerely, A Proud Volunteer Dear Life, My friends both love dogs and the one time I forget to tag them all is when it matters. I am sorry !
Sincerely, Homies before Corgis Dear Life, Roses are red Harambe is dead On Christmas He will rise again Sincerely, A boy that misses his ape
Dear Life, The tree is green, I have a beer. I just want my ape For Christmas this year. Sincerely, Happy Holidays to The Boy Who Misses His Ape Dear Life, Hello darkness my old friend,
It’s finals season once again. I have two essays due at midnight! Why do I always procrastinate? With my vision Blurred from my countless tears, I will remain In my room Till Christmas. Sincerely, Seizing and Gryping
22 •
WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 7, 2016
Editorial
OPINION EDITOR MADELINE MCINNIS opinion@thecord.ca
Standing up for your beliefs can make a big difference For the first time since the protests began, it appears that the Dakota Access Pipeline will likely be diverted around Standing Rock. In this case, the protests of the Indigenous people and their allies made a difference to their future. The protests against the pipeline were organized and direct. It attracted the attention of countless people over social media, demanding the attention of news outlets around the world. When we believe in something, we can’t just stand idly by. This is a perfect example of the differences that we can make. Signing online petitions, posting political tweets, spreading information: it all starts with the thought to help. However, we can’t let it end with a thought. If you can’t physically be at an event to protest, make sure you go beyond just setting a passive status. Bodies have more impact than words thrown into the void. If you can’t physically attend a
protest, send your support to your local politician. Support causes that you believe in by giving your time, effort, or even your money. Look at Shailene Woodley, for example. As an ally, she brought so much attention to the pipeline. She was arrested for her protest. Her actions held weight in comparison to the celebrities that just tweeted a hashtag. Do as much as you can for the causes close to your heart. No matter what, don’t give up on your causes. In a culture that thrives on “the next best thing,” resilience is what makes change. Complaining about an issue does nothing to solve it. If you have a way, get to where your presence matters to show your support, rather than being a name behind a screen. But if you can’t, you still shouldn’t silence yourself. Emotions don’t have borders. Standing up for what you believe in shouldn’t be confined to a keyboard. Make your voice heard.
“Study drugs” are a bad habit that should be avoided you in the long run. Sure, you might ace that exam. But when you have five exams back to back? You’re destroying your body for a bad habit. Besides, those habits you’re making now aren’t going to translate well to the workforce. It’s easy to say that you’ll stop, but when you’ve built up a dependency over several cramming sessions, it really won’t be that easy. Instead, take advantage of the resources around you. Go to one of the free study strategies sessions, talk to your advisor or see a counsellor if you’re struggling to cope. Even if you’re a procrastinator, set time aside to study instead of forcing unnecessary chemicals into your brain. With everything piling up on you this exam season, it’s important to remember to treat the problem rather than the symptoms. You’re only as good as your habits allow you to be, so don’t follow a bad strain.
University is a competitive place to be. Everyone is balancing so many things at once — that’s not new information. In a sphere that directly compares us to one another, students seem to be willing to go to any means to get a competitive edge. In the same way that some students pull all-nighters and only eat pizza for weeks straight, others take Adderall and pop caffeine pills. These drugs, especially prescription drugs, are meant to help specific people with their health. They’re not designed for your last minute library preparations; it’s dangerous when you take them out of their intended context. It seems we’ve become experts at taking drugs instead of facing the reasons our problems occur. If you get a headache, you pop some Advil, but still only get three hours of sleep the next night and survive on a coffee diet. These pills are not going to help
These unsigned editorials are based off informal discussions and then agreed upon by the majority of The Cord’s editorial board, including the Editor-in-Chief and Opinion Editor. The arguments made may reference any facts that have been made available through interviews, documents or other sources. The views presented do not necessarily reflect those of The Cord’s volunteers, staff or WLUSP.
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FANI HSIEH/GRAPHICS EDITOR
Treating trauma with decency BETHANY BOWLES EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
Eight years ago, my best friend broke her foot. She had crutches, and even had to do physiotherapy. Even to this day, it bothers her. If she lands on it wrong, or wears shoes with a heel, her foot can cause her pain for a couple of days. The way her body reacted to a broken bone was normal. After you break a bone, or have surgery, or any other form of physical trauma, it’s possible for that part of your body to never quite be the same. We’re patient with loved ones who have gone through physical pain. We help them get around. We bring them ice packs. We understand that they could be in pain, even a year later. So why don’t we treat mental trauma the same way? Silencing mental health is an ongoing conversation. We know that it’s wrong, but we still aren’t treating it with the patience that we would treat a physical injury. That’s because we still don’t regard the two as having equal importance. The same way you wouldn’t
challenge someone to a game of catch the day after a cast is taken off their arm, we shouldn’t expect survivors of emotional trauma to “just get over it,” or speak freely about it, when everyone around them deems that they have been “sad” for a long enough time. As we are all becoming more aware and educated about rape culture, specifically on university campuses, I feel like the emphasis is only on short term care. We’re told what to do if a friend is sexually assaulted. We’re told what to do if we experience gendered violence. We’re told to report it right away. We’re told to talk to a counsellor and seek resources. But what do we do when a friend was sexually assaulted three years ago and they’re still hurting? What do we do when we feel pressured to move on? Or if the support from loved ones feels like it’s fading or being forgotten? I was subjected to domestic violence as a child, nearly 15 years ago. There is still a place in my brain that is not okay. There are still conversations that I would rather not have. There is still pain, but I am continuously telling myself that enough time has passed. Why is this still a part of me? Some people recover from heart surgery quickly and steadily. Some people don’t. Some people get
infections when the cast comes off. Some people are up and running the next day. We understand that physical healing can take longer for some people and we address that. My grandfather had both knees replaced a few years ago and he still has a hard time getting around. We’re patient with him. We lend him an arm if he needs to catch his balance. Post traumatic stress disorder is such a blanket term that is generally only associated with soldiers — another group of people we just expect to quietly “deal with their shit” — when the reality is American soldiers complete suicide at an alarming rate. If you have lived a beautiful life, without experiencing any form of emotional trauma, then you are so very lucky to never have to endure the mental battle the coincides with passing time. For those of you who have, be patient with yourself. Every passing day contributes to your healing. Feeling triggered, or having a break down after enough time has passed to “statistically heal you” isn’t a relapse. It isn’t a step backwards. It’s part of the coping process. Don’t push yourself, take your time and don’t be afraid to take an arm when you lose your balance.
WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 7, 2016
Opinion
• 23 OPINION EDITOR MADELINE MCINNIS opinion@thecord.ca
Is it “joy to the world” for Laurier students? The stresses of school seem to catch up with us during the holiday season, preventing the cheer
EMILY WAITSON STAFF WRITER
Ever since I was a little kid, the holidays have been one of my absolute favourite times of the year. I’m an unabashed lover of repetitive Christmas music, gift exchanges, ugly sweaters, glittery decorations, rich food and the festive movies that I repeatedly watch until it’s officially December 25. I’m a sucker for all of the Disney-approved, glorified joy that goes along with the one day of the year that I can willingly wake up early for. Yet, ever since I was thrust into young-adulthood and began attending university, the holidays hold a different kind of feeling for me than they once did. Now, instead of limitless gaiety and blissful daydreams of the upcoming winter break, I’m propelled into a vortex of stress, starting in mid-November. Unfortunately, students are confronted with the difficulty of going to school during the holiday season. The minute that December hits, the panic-induced jumpstart into finishing end of term assignments
and essays begins. Classes officially end more quickly than we all like to realize and before we know it exams are right around the corner. Studying becomes the main priority for most, balanced with the many who are working parttime jobs in order to sustain their education and themselves. Typically, students work in retail and food service. Young adults are not only dealing with their own school-based stresses, they are also shouldered with the mania of holiday shoppers coming and going to their places of work in hoards, desperate to buy everything under the sun.
Now, instead of limitless gaiety and blissful daydreams of the upcoming winter break, I’m propelled into a vortex of stress, starting in mid-November.
Somewhere, between working and studying, we are also required to attend various holiday parties and exchange gifts with loved ones.
more important things. Instead of making this festive season a to-do list, I would far rather sleep soundly, enjoy the snow and mouth the dialogue while I watch Elf without feeling guilty because there are other things that I should be doing.
There really isn’t the opportunity to just enjoy all of the sappy stuff that you hear being sung in the Christmas songs that are blared in every store.
SERENA TRUONG/CORD GRAPHICS
As much as I love the opportunity to get the people I care about the presents they deserve, I’m faced with two problems by the time I’m tasked with this societal and personal duty: time and money. Like many, I lack both. It’s only been this year that I’ve started to compile Christmas gift lists and budgets to set for myself in early September. The manic state that I sped through the mall last year while I grimaced at price tags was not something I wanted to repeat. Even with all of the planning in
the world, I still seem to lack the time I wish I had, especially during December. It feels like we propel ourselves through exam studying, getting gifts and making appearances at various functions. Before we know it, we’re shuttling home for the break and Christmas has come and gone. There really isn’t the opportunity to just enjoy all of the sappy stuff that you hear being sung in the Christmas songs that are blared in every store. I yearn for a simple enjoyment that seems to be pushed down in order to focus on
the British Royal Family’s background. However, as inter-racial marriage is now a norm, you’d think that this wouldn’t be the scandal it has turned out to be. 4.6 per cent of all married couples in Canada are interracial. Stats Canada also shows interracial couples are more likely to occur with those who are younger, with more than 50 per cent of interracial partners being between ages 25-44. CONTRIBUTED IMAGE
Royally judging a new love JJ DORAN OPINION COLUMNIST
In Canada, the Queen and the British royal family are still very much a cultural symbol. Recently, one member of the British royal family has been in the news more than usual. His Royal Highness, Prince Harry, is currently in the Caribbean,
visiting many nations on behalf of the Queen. On one of his recent stops in Antigua, the prime minister remarked on how his island was one of the top honeymoon destinations and that they would be honoured to host Prince Harry. Amid Prince Harry turning bright red, the speculation of his relationship with Toronto-based actress and Suits star, Meghan Markle, became centre stage. This relationship has been in the press, not just because of the royal family’s celebrity status, but also because Markle is not your typical
royal. She’s previously divorced (a big no-no in the royal family) and of mixed race parents, as her mother is a black woman and her father is a white man. Markle’s public career and Prince Harry’s royal heritage proved too tempting for the media not to investigate. Since the relationship became public, Markle has received death threats. Prince Harry was forced to make a statement of his concern for her safety and well being. This media attention is because there are very few mixed-unions in
This relationship has been in the press, not just because of the royal family’s celebrity status, but also because Markle is not your typical royal.
A century ago, in the time of Prince Harry’s great-great-grandfather King George V, the views would have been a lot different and public opinion more critical. This is not the first time that royal partners have been criticized for circumstances out of their control.
Students don’t have it easy, but I don’t want to sound like one of those whiny millennials that grumpy old men on the bus like to complain about. School makes this upcoming month a difficult one, but that simply means that you’ll be even happier returning home. Relaxing and revelling in the time we have off before the start of second semester ensures that I appreciate the overlooked splendour that is my bed and an alarm that won’t go off in the morning, even if it’s only for two short weeks.
Another more recent example stems back to Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, who gave up his royal titles to the Greek throne to marry then-Princess Elizabeth, first in line to the British Throne. In addition, the Duke’s sisters and German relatives were not invited to the wedding, as it happened so soon after the ending of the Second World War. To top everything off, the first black Queen of England, Charlotte, was born in 1744 and was married to George III. We’ve come a long way since then and our Monarchy has evolved with the times. So why are we still so critical of a mixed-race relationship in the palace? Haven’t we moved on from 1744 by now? In 2016, being critical of one’s romantic interests due to something out of their control is well out of date. All marriages around the world should be about love and not necessarily political viewpoints, income or social status, like in the past. They should be about building a future and one’s stability with their partner. Regardless of your views of the Monarchy as an institution, please do not deny its members the ability to love. Prince Harry, Meghan Markle and even Queen Elizabeth are all still people deserving of a happily ever after.
24 • OPINION
WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 7, 2016
Exercising children’s effort OMAIR ANSARI OPINION COLUMNIST
Canadian kids are dangerously unhealthy. There’s no way around the issue — they simply don’t get enough exercise. ParticipACTION, in a recent study, gave Canadian kids a “D-” letter grade for physical activity, stating that they’re towards the “bottom of the pack,” alongside countries such as England and the United States in terms of children’s activity. This dismal record for health is not a recent trend: Canadian kids have received the same grade for four consecutive years. Gone are the days of free, unstructured play, with tablets and gaming consoles replacing the football and skipping rope. For a nation that swears by the benefits of programs such as universal healthcare and community physical activity programs, the reality is shocking. With only nine per cent of chil-
dren between the ages of five and 17 getting the exercise they need in order to develop physically, it should hardly be a shock that the prevalent diseases associated with obesity have drastically increased in just the last few decades. The problem doesn’t seem to have any end in sight, however, as budget cuts to school boards usually hit the physical education departments. Winnipeg school division trustees announced this March that senior-year high school students would be allowed to receive academic credit for playing on extracurricular teams. The problem with this new measure is that if English classes were removed from the curriculum and students received credit for reading books over the weekend, parents would be outraged. To most parents, it doesn’t really matter what their child scores in gym class. In their eyes, the chances of success in gym class leading to a better quality in life are much lower than an equivalent success in science and math classes. Parents, and thus by extension trustees and school boards, feel comfortable defunding physical education classes.
The link between physical exercise and positive mental health should not be ignored, with studies showing the relationships between exercise and heightened self-esteem, as well as a better performance in school. The truth is, children today in most developed countries are conditioned to be sedentary — and therefore, unhealthy. As children grow, pacifiers take the form of tablets, television and more screen time. They are conditioned to believe that exercise isn’t necessary and is something that only kids interested in sports should do. Thus, bones and musculature and perhaps even self-esteem don’t develop to their greatest extent in children. Something is lost when the spirit of play departs from a generation. The link between personal health and fun is lost. Sedentary kids become sedentary adults and sedentary adults see exercise as work, not play. Kids need play in an unstructured format. Otherwise, the love and joy of physical health is lost and another generation of unhealthy habits comes into the fray.
FANI HSIEH/GRAPHICS EDITOR
Emotional learning Study something that makes you feel something while gaining knowledge
MADELINE MCINNIS OPINION EDITOR
Though I haven’t been very vocal about it, over the summer I worked on the set of a History Channel documentary called Black Watch Snipers, highlighting the men of the Royal Highland Regiment during World War Two. At the time, I knew that the story we were telling was an incredible one, but I didn’t know the magnitude of the narrative I was suddenly becoming a part of. I decided to take on the Black Watch as the topic of my Canadian External Relations paper this semester and, despite the trouble I had finding sources, I don’t regret it for a moment. As students do when they’re writing papers, I was looking through my sources the night before it was due, extremely stressed and near a panic. A very simple line grounded me and left me a crying mess on the floor of my apartment, rather than worrying about hitting that 2500 words. “Not a single man escaped [Dieppe] from the Black Watch; all were either killed or taken prisoner.” That’s the line that got me, from John Mellor’s Dieppe; Canada’s Forgotten Heroes. All around, Dieppe is seen as a bloody battle. It’s considered the practice for D-Day gone wrong. I knew that way before reading that line; I’ve known that since grade 10 Canadian history class. But this experience reminded me of why I decided to study history. These stories, these experiences of people in the past, make me feel a strong emotion. This story is more than my issues of filling a page. It goes far beyond any statistic I could ever write in an academic paper. As a student, especially a student of history, it’s easy to forget the humanity behind our studies. We learn about far off places from centuries ago. In a lot of ways, historical figures are like celebrities. They’re people
we can hear about, analyze and even admire, but they’re inaccessible in our everyday lives. It’s hard to imagine the people of the past as simply human. History is like a good book. Historical events can bring me to tears, impassion me and inspire me. It’s even better than my favourite novels because I know that these things actually happened and they’re possible for a mortal to do. There needs to be no magic involved; a real person did these things and, like them, I can do anything I set my mind to. When I study history, I can be the 301st Spartan led by Leonidas at the battle of Thermopylae. I can experience the courts of the Tudors, visit far off places and have various adventures. I can even know the men of the Second World War.
It’s even better than my favourite novels because I know these things actually happened and they’re possible for a mortal to do. There needs to be no magic involved ...
These stories remind me why the world is so interesting and so worth living in. These experiences stand the test of time and that inspires me to be as great as I can be. I think that’s what all of us should be doing in university; we should be studying something that makes us feel something at the end of the day. These are (at least) four years of your life that you’re never going to get back. Maybe that feeling is accomplishment after solving a complex physics problem. Perhaps it’s the pathos that comes from finishing a good novel. Maybe it’s as simple as looking at your New Venture project and knowing that you managed to pull it off. If all your degree does is stress you out, it’s just not worth it.
OPINION • 25
WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 7, 2016
The importance of representation in media It may seem trivial, but showing minorities and their problems can only bring positive results
FANI HSIEH/GRAPHICS EDITOR
SHYENNE MACDONALD STAFF WRITER
Media is a powerful thing. Everywhere we go, it’s there. In the car, at the bus stops, in schools, malls, our own homes. Hell, even in bathroom stalls. There is not one single waking moment we aren’t connected to the world around us. Because of this influence, it is nearly inexpressible how important representation in media is. Television is a great thing. It gives us media en masse through the commercials and the shows we watch. It has a way of humanizing things, making them relatable in a way that we can either see ourselves in that new car or buying that coffee filter. Or we can see ourselves being the girl with the hilarious awkwardness coming out in a scene, or being the man marrying his husband with all his family there supporting him. We watch these characters, follow these characters, for a reason. They represent what we want, how we feel and operates
under how our society views them. Take Modern Family for example, with the old-timer dads and their sons who were getting married. Throughout the show, particularly leading up to Cameron and Mitchell’s marriage, both fathers of the grooms kept asking (and even fought over) who was the “woman” in the relationship. The husbands must explain that neither of them are the “woman,” they’re both men and will both always be men in the relationship.
The impact of having a protagonist who is confined to a wheelchair but not restricted by it ... has a paramount that most of us take for granted.
Of course, we know what the old-timer dads are implying when they ask who the “woman” is. Who is the submissive one, who is the dependent — the one who takes care of the family, while the other
goes and earns the money? The show doesn’t berate the dads, but it also doesn’t use “born in a different time” to excuse their ignorance. Instead, they present the conflict as a learning opportunity. They explore how alienating it is for Cameron and Mitchell to be asked this by their fathers. At the same time, it shows the audience how alienating and ignorant it is to ask any same sex couple this question. While by no means am I saying Modern Family (or any show for that matter) is the solution to our social problems, but at the very least, the show gives us the chance to feel like we’re not alone for halfan-hour. It also gives a chance for the intolerant to see a different side of these issues. If you’re questioning whether or not this act of representation has validity, then I urge you to consider the Turkish drama What is Fatmagül’s Crime? It’s a heart-wrenching series that touches on a woman’s experience with rape. In the series, Fatmagül’s fiancé is a local fisherman and on an evening when she’s going to see him off on a trip, she is attacked and raped by three men. When word gets out, Fatmagül’s fiancé leaves her and she is forced to marry one
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of the assailants. However, she doesn’t give up. She takes him and the other two to court and refuses to stay silent. In the series final climax, in the court case that would decide if Fatmagül was guilty or her attackers were, an army of women came to production and marched with the character. These were real women who struggle with the knowledge that their attackers are free and unpunished, who had been raped but couldn’t speak up for fear the repercussions. These were women who were inspired by the bravery of this fictional character. Television has the power to give a voice to those who have had their voices silenced in real life. It gives a stage to the struggles we all face. To show that pain is a side effect of the human condition, that we all struggle from the social injustices around the world, unites us. But representation doesn’t just end at social problems; it’s having the protagonist being a visible minority. The impact of having a protagonist who is confined to a wheelchair but not restricted by it, or a Latinx woman existing in a realm other than the background, has a paramount that most of us take for granted. There needs to be more depic-
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tions of minorities in television in a way that allows them to be more than a marginalized group. Believe it or not, marginalized groups don’t just think about how marginalized they are.
These were real women who struggle with the knowledge that their attackers are free and unpunished, who had been raped but couldn’t speak up for fear of the repercussions.
Representation is great and has an important impact. Especially as people become more and more involved with television, we see that importance through shows like Modern Family and What is Fatmagül’s Crime? But there still needs to be more representation. It shouldn’t be ground-breaking for a show like Luke Cage to exist — it should already be the norm. We’re doing well, but we need to start doing better.
26 •
Sports
WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 7, 2016 SPORTS EDITOR ROB FIFIELD sports@thecord.ca
WOMEN’S BASKETBALL
Golden Hawks sweep the weekend ABDULHAMID IBRAHIM STAFF WRITER
Coming off of a tough loss to Windsor last weekend, the Golden Hawks showed they were determined to come out this weekend and end the semester on a high note. It started Friday night with Laurier handily beating the Laurentian Voyageurs with an 83-57 win, where the Voyageurs proved to be no match against the relentless Hawks. Saturday night, it was the Nipissing Lakers’ turn. Laurier opened up the game with a 14-2 run in the first 4:20 of the game before Lakers coach, Marg Jones, decided to take a timeout. The Lakers never got within 10 points of the Hawks from there on. Nothing seemed to be able to slow down the Hawks, momentum that night. They finished out the first quarter with a 13-point lead, stifling the Lakers on defence, picking up 7 steals in the quarter alone and shooting 60 per cent from the field. The second quarter was more of the same. The Hawks managed to push their lead even further as they continued their strong defensive play, not allowing the Lakers to get into any sort of rhythm. By halftime, the Lakers only had four players on the scoreboard as Laurier finished the half on a 12-1 run and a 47-26 lead. In the third quarter, things just continued to go downhill for Nipissing as the Golden Hawks managed to keep them in check allowing them to bring the deficit to under 20 points, and increased
TANZEEL SAYANI/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
their largest lead to 26. The Hawks managed to get five steals and eight points off turnovers in the quarter, as they finished the quarter up 68-45. The fourth quarter was not much different for Laurier, as they put up 26 points in the quarter with 11 coming from Brianna Iannazzo. They went on a 10-0 run from the 5:26 mark to the 3:43 mark, pushing the lead to 34 and the game
ending with a final score of 94-62. The story of the game for the purple and gold was the total team effort put forth. There were four players in double digits, Iannazzo leading the way with 20 points off the bench. The Hawks managed to get 41 points from their bench, as well. They also continued their hot streak from their last game, shooting 45 per cent from the field, 37.5
per cent from distance and 72 per cent from the free throw line. “Well … we offensively shot the ball well, shared the ball well,” head coach Paul Falco said. “A lot of times, we made the extra pass to find an open shooter and our shooters were ready and this weekend, we were knocking down a lot of those shots which I hope we can do, so that was positive when you look at our last 80 minutes of basketball.” Falco also commented on the teamwork they displayed. “We know that Kaitlyn and Nicole are our leaders but they can’t do it alone,” he said. “And we’ve had good support from a number of different people and different people have stepped up on different days to contribute offensively and defensively and the same thing at the other end on rebounding, so if we can get that, we’re a lot tougher team to play when you have contributions from a group.” For Nipissing, it was a tough go from start to finish. Leading the way for them was Jamie Soffer, as she had a strong game, scoring 25 points and grabbing 10 rebounds for the night. She put her team on her back for much of the game, but just could not manage to bring the team back on her own. Nipissing was not able to take advantage of the opportunities they got and struggled to hit shots, especially from distance, only making 3 of 24 attempts. Next up is a home game against the Carleton Ravens on Jan. 6 as the Hawks will look to grab their first win of the New Year.
MEN’S BASKETBALL
One point short PRANAV DESAI STAFF WRITER
The Hawks lost in heartbreaking fashion on Saturday to the Nipissing Lakers. The game had a dramatic finish, as Lakers guard Ismael Kaba hit a buzzer-beating 3-pointer, leading Nipissing to a 66-65 victory. The Hawks appeared to have won as they had possession of the ball with a 2-point lead in the dying seconds of the game. However, they turned the ball over on the inbound play, which eventually lead to the game-winning shot. Head coach Justin Serresse talked about what went wrong after the game. “Again, we rushed our inbound play and we turned it over in a crucial time. But the first half was not good and when you play with fire, you’re eventually going to get
burned. And we’ve been playing with fire. It’s a tough way of ending the first semester, but we’re going to get better from this.” Laurier was down by as many as 11 in the first half, but that did not seem to affect their spirit. The Hawks are showing that they are a very resilient team with great character, as they have come back from double-digit deficits multiple times already this season. “It’s not rocket science,” Serresse said. “You just got to keep focusing on the game plan, follow the game plan, trust the process and then eventually we’re going to get stops. It was a game of runs today. But we have to stop putting ourselves in those positions. Double-digit deficits are just too much, mentally and emotionally.” This ability to fight back no matter how much they are down by and no matter who they are facing,
TANZEEL SAYANI/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
shows that the Hawks have all the characteristics of a playoff team. Despite the loss, Laurier got a magnificent performance from starting guard Shamar Burrows. He put a double-double, scoring 17 points on 8 out of 15 shooting, while grabbing 14 rebounds. Burrows seemed to be everywhere on the court and he was the biggest reason behind the Goldm Hawks
comeback. “He was good. I was waiting for him to figure it out. He did figure it out, today. There were a lot of positives ,today, against a good team” said Serresse of the Nassau native. But Burrows did not get much help from his teammates, as the Hawks were held to just 32.5 per cent shooting from the field. The Hawks also turned the ball
over 13 times, in what was an overall sloppy effort on offence. The good news for the Hawks is that they are still on top of the OUA West division, with an impressive record of 5-4. They had won four straight games before this loss and although this game will be a tough pill to swallow, Laurier’s season has been a successful one so far.
SPORTS • 27
WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 7, 2016 PROFILE
Faulds takes home coach of the year DANIEL JOHNSON STAFF WRITER
Just three seasons ago, the Laurier Golden Hawks men’s football team was 1-7 with a rookie head coach and now they are champions poised to maintain the progress of their program and continue to compete at the national stage with some of the biggest schools in the country. This turnaround is largely due to having head coach Michael Faulds at the helm, who, alongside the team, has shown astronomical progress. “I don’t just try to blow smoke; we really do work harder than every other team,” said Faulds. “We [practiced] all the way up until the Vanier cup. I know most teams don’t do that. The other thing we do is we are allowed 20 out of season practices. We use each and every single one of the 20. I know a lot of teams use 15 or 16 of them.” Faulds also stressed the importance of veteran leadership. However, on his team that, presence is something special. “You’ve got a good mix of senior leadership players who were 1-7 and have that tenacity. They’ve gone through adversity and then
you add a lot of the talent from the next recruiting classes with the hard work and that’s kind of the reason for the turn around,” Faulds said. Having a strong group of older players to usher in the new era is crucial. They have seen the team at a low point and pass on the reins to younger players with an alternate perspective. On Faulds’ team every player is equally accountable. “[It came down to] really changing that culture and making everyone accountable in terms of everyone had to be at workouts. So whether you were a Dillion Campbell … or you’re a scout team player, your football experience is the exact same; same amount of workouts, same amount of commitments, in terms of study hall, same amount of practices. And I think that has brought our locker-room a lot closer,” Faulds said. Faulds’ ability to turn around the team and win the Yates Cup for the first time since 2005 are the reasons he was presented with the coach of the year award. “It’s a reward for all of the hard work and I’ve mentioned it many times: it’s truly the whole staff award. I’m just one of 12-15 who, every day, are working tirelessly to
get our players to understand the system, to understand the culture, the hard work and what it’s going to take to win football games,” Faulds said. The awards are a nice addition, but they are not what Faulds and the program are after. “At training camp, I told the guys that we’re going to all throw out our egos and just try to win football games,” he said. He credits the team for adhering to what he addressed at training camp and to put aside any personal gain and play as a unit. The hallmark of good coaching is the ability to adapt. Players depart, or get hurt and adjustments have to be made. This happened when the team had to replace one of the most successful players in school history: Dillon Campbell. “I kept telling people, obviously Dillon was a very special individual and he did a lot in particular when our o-line was young, but the great thing about where we were coming into this year is that I knew it was going to be more of a running back high committee,” Faulds said. Three years ago, this team was 1-7 and now, they have finished the 2016 season with a Yates Cup win under their belt. Changing a
MARCO PEDRI/LEAD PHOTOGRAPHER
culture, a system and a team in that short of a period is no simple task, but Faulds did it. “Every year, a team wins the Yates Cup, but not every year does a team win the Yates Cup when they were 1-7 just three seasons ago,” Faulds said. “That’s what makes it more spe-
cial and in particular, our team is made up of a lot of guys who were a part of that one [win] in [that] season, so a great thing for me and the rest of the coaching staff was seeing those guys on stage, lifting the Yates Cup, knowing that they had worked so hard and so tirelessly since the 2013 season.”
FREE FUN IN WATERLOO
waterloo.ca/NYE * Dec. 31, 2016 2 - 3:50 PM * ALBERT McCORMICK ARENA
Grab your friends and celebrate with a DJ and extra fun activities. Sponsored by Tim Horton’s.
6:30 - 8:20 PM * RIM PARK
Enjoy an evening skate party. Sponsored by Tim Horton’s.
6 - 9 PM * WATERLOO PUBLIC SQUARE Enjoy fun tunes, children’s activities, and a special early New Year celebration at 9 pm. Presented by TheHUB. $5 skate rentals from McPhails if you mention “Waterloo”. Open 9 am – 3 pm Dec 31.
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• SPORTS
WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 7, 2016 PHOTOS BY WILL HUANG/CREATIVE DIRECTOR, PAIGE BUSH/PHOTO EDITOR, MARCO PEDRI/LEAD PHOTOGRAPHER, TANZEEL SAYANI/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER, ALEX TRKUJA/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER, VICTORIA PANACCI/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
The men’s football team had themselves quite the year, finishing the 2016 regular season with an impressive 7-1 and ultimately becoming, Yates Cup Champions in a historic fourth quarter comback. In both the 2014 and 2015 seasons, the Hawks finished at 4-4. This year however, the Hawks stormed back to win the Yates Cup after being down 21 points in the second half to the Western Mustangs. This was the first time in 10 years that the Hawks were able to defeat the Mustangs. The Hawks were unable to advance to the Vanier Cup after dropping the Uteck Bowl to the eventual Vanier Cup champions the Laval Rouge et Or.
Laurier swimmer Alec Elliot got the chance to compete in the 2016 Paralympics in Rio de Janerio; he had a strong showing and just missed the podium with a time of 58.35 in the 100 metre fly final.
Justin Serresse has swiftly taken over the head coaching role for the men’s basketball team since he was hired this past May. Serresse took over as the new bench boss after long-time head coach Peter Campbell announced his retirement last season. Campbell, a Laurier fan favourite, was head coach of the program for an impressive 16 years. Seresse and the men’s basketball team have turned around from a shaky start and are now 5-4 and sit atop the OUA west division.
The golf team had a successful 2016 season that was highlighted with Austin Ryan taking home gold at the OUA golf championships, shooting back-to-back 69’s, giving him a combined score of four under par for the tournament. Eric Flockhart also had a solid season winning three consecutive gold medals.
The victorious season from the Golden Hawk football team earned them some serious hardware in this year’s OUA awards. Head coach Michael Faulds headlined the awards by winning U- Sports Coach of the Year, he turned the football program around since his first year as bench boss four seasons ago with a 1-7 record this year finishing the season at 7-1 and becoming Yates Cup champions for the first time since 2005. Other notable awards for the Hawks included Godfrey Onyeka, Malcolm Thompson and Nakas Onyeka named U- Sports First Team All Canadians and Kwaku Boateng was named a Second Team All Canadian.
The Laurier swim team got off to an amazing start this season. Jasmine Raines and Kate Vanderbeek both took home five gold medals at the deBray Divisional Championships. Vanderbeek, a backstroke specialist, took home three gold medals in backstroke and another two in relay. Raines, a breaststroke specialist, won three events in her specialty and another two came paired with Vanderbeek in relay.
The women’s basketball team is off to an impressive campaign heading into the winter break with a record of 7-2, good enough for second place in the OUA west division. The team has been led by Nicole Morrison and Kaitlyn Schenck who have a combined 295 points so far this season. The Hawks will look to continue their momentum after the break as they host Carleton on Jan. 6.
Niklas Bauer had himself quite the year as he led the men’s soccer team to host a playoff game this season. Bauer finished the regular season tied for first in OUA points with 19 and second in goals with 15. He also won OUA athlete of the week twice this season. Bauer, who took up the game when he was only fiveyears-old is hoping to one day fulfill his dream of playing professionally after graduation.