The Cord February 8, 2017

THE CORD THE TIE THAT BINDS WILFRID LAURIER UNIVERSITY SINCE 1926

VOLUME 57 ISSUE 21 • FEBRUARY 8, 2017

NOT THE STANDARD Discussing sex, love and “unconventional” relationships Arts & Life, pages 10-14

RESPONDING TO RACISM

CALL ME “DADDY”

BABY GOT BACK!

BIPHOBIA STILL EXISTS

ALWAYS SUNNY IN FLORIDA

Addressing the shooting in Quebec

A look at daddy-dom relationships

Talking about anilingus and why it’s taboo

Why is bisexuality still misunderstood?

Laurier cheerleaders head to sunshine state

News, page 5

Arts & Life, page 10

Arts & Life, page 13

Opinion, page 17

Sports, page 20 WILL HUANG/CREATIVE DIRECTOR

2 •

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 8, 2017

VOCAL CORD

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PHOTO OF THE WEEK

“Someone called me daddy once.”

–Sam Weinberger, firstyear economics

“I got told I have a really nice personality.”

–Alyssa Shields , firstyear biology and math

MARCO PEDRI/LEAD PHOTOGRAPHER

This past weekend, the men’s hockey team celebrated a win against the No. 3 nationally ranked team, the Ryerson Rams. The boys are now 14-9-4.

THIS DAY IN HISTORY: FEB. 8 1865: first black major in U.S. Army appointed during US Civil war: Martin Robison Delany

“You have beautiful eyes.”

1910: The Boy Scouts of America is incorporated by William D. Boyce.

–Rebecca Niedbela, third-year business administration

1915: D. W. Griffith’s silent film “The Birth of a Nation” opens at Clune’s Auditorium in Los Angeles — first 12-reel film in America 1926: Disney Brothers Cartoon Studio becomes Walt Disney Studios 1952: Elizabeth II is proclaimed Queen of the United Kingdom of Great Britain & Northern Ireland, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, etc

“I’m only ugly 75 per cent of the time.”

–Kylie Finnigan, second-year business administration Compiled by Nathalie Bouchard Photos by Marco Pedri

NEXT ISSUE FEBRUARY 15, 2017

CORD STAFF

1983: Wayne Gretzky sets NHL all star record of 4 goals in 1 period

visit thecord.ca for more weird stuff

FEATURES EDITOR Mitchell Consky features@thecord.ca

LEAD REPORTER Nathalie Bouchard news@thecord.ca

ARTS & LIFE EDITOR Manjot Bhullar arts@thecord.ca

LEAD SPORTS REPORTER Pranav Desai sports@thecord.ca

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Bethany Bowles editor@thecord.ca

OPINION EDITOR Madeline McInnis opinion@thecord.ca

CREATIVE DIRECTOR Will Huang creative@thecord.ca

SPORTS EDITOR Rob Fifield sports@thecord.ca

WEB DIRECTOR Brian Phillips online@thecord.ca

GRAPHICS EDITOR Fani Hsieh graphics@thecord.ca

SENIOR NEWS EDITOR Kaitlyn Severin news@thecord.ca

PHOTO EDITOR Paige Bush photos@thecord.ca

NEWS EDITOR Safina Husein news@thecord.ca

ONLINE EDITOR Andreas Patsiaouros online@thecord.ca

NEWS EDITOR Shyenne MacDonald news@thecord.ca

VIDEO EDITOR Garrison Oosterhof video@thecord.ca

LEAD PHOTOGRAPHER Marco Pedri photos@thecord.ca LEAD PHOTOGRAPHER Emi Zibaei photos@thecord.ca SENIOR COPY EDITOR Christian Paron copyeditor@thecord.ca SOCIAL MEDIA COORDINATOR Brittany Ditizio socialmedia@thecord.ca

CONTRIBUTORS

EDITOR’S CHOICE

Drew Yates Eric Flockhart Philip Su Alan Li Emily Waitson Sourabh Pande Brittney Tenhage Chris Luciantonio Karlis Wilde Josh Awolade Kurtis Rideout Julianne Scott Liz Zmijak Scott Glaysher Victoria Panacci Norelle Bladon Tanzeel Sayani Alex Trkulja Qiao Liu Kayla Hegarty Selena Piro Chrissy DiBiasio Mary Ferguson Ayesha Ferdaous

“A ride on the older side”

by Madeline McInnis

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

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

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

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PREAMBLE The Cord will keep faith with its readers by presenting news and expressions of opinions comprehensively, accurately and fairly.

The Cord believes in a balanced and impartial presentation of all relevant facts in a news report, and of all substantial opinions in a matter of controversy.

The staff of The Cord shall uphold all commonly held ethical conventions of journalism. When an error of omission or of commission has occurred, that error shall be acknowledged promptly.

1994: Jack Nicholson uses a golf club to attack a car

When statements are made that are critical of an individual, or an organization, we shall give those affected the opportunity to reply at the earliest time possible.

Ethical journalism requires impartiality, and consequently conflicts of interest and the appearance of conflicts of interest will be avoided by all staff.

The only limits of any newspaper are those of the world around it, and so The Cord will attempt to cover its world with a special focus on Wilfrid Laurier University, and the community of Kitchener-Waterloo, and with a special ear to the concerns of the students of Wilfrid Laurier University. Ultimately, The Cord will be bound by neither philosophy nor geography in its mandate.

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

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

Quote of the week: “That’s klaigerism!”

- Sports Editor, Rob Fifield about someone stealing Photo Editor, Paige (Klaige) Bush’s style of photography

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 8, 2017

News

• 3

SENIOR NEWS EDITOR KAITLYN SEVERIN news@thecord.ca

NEWS EDITOR SAFINA HUSEIN news@thecord.ca

NEWS EDITOR SHYENNE MACDONALD news@thecord.ca

EXPANSION

New institute in the works for Laurier KAITLYN SEVERIN SENIOR NEWS EDITOR

Since Oct. 2016, further updates have been established in developing a Wilfrid Laurier University Milton campus.

On Oct. 26, the Ontario provincial government announced their support in establishing post-secondary in Milton and Brampton.

The university then moved forward with their goal of developing a campus in Milton following the announcement.

Last month, the province confirmed details of the process for Ontario universities to express their interest in both regions. Deborah Dubenofsky, vice-president: Finance & Operations, explained how the government reiterated the focus of importance on STEAM: Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Mathematics; an educational approach as a way of guiding students’ dialogue and critical thinking. Dubenofsky also served as the executive director and senior project lead for Laurier’s bid for a Milton campus.

According to Dubenofsky, the government also provided details in their announcement relating to their expectations to the achievable number of students on each campus, which is one thousand

EMI ZIBAEI/LEAD PHOTOGRAPHER

With the addition of Milton there would be three Wilfrid Laurier campuses.

students on both Brampton and Milton campuses over a two to five-year period. It has also been indicated that there is $180 million available for both campuses. However, there is no indication of how the money would be allocated.

“We anticipate that it will be based on the information submitted to government and the government would assess the scope of the project and determine the funding from that point,” Dubenofsky said.

By March 6, universities who are interested in the expansion to either Milton or Brampton are required to submit a template to the government, which requests

information on financial expectation, academic elements and partnerships.

“They’re asking for a very high level description of what’s intended, so institutions that want to do that will have until March 6 to submit that,” Dubenofsky said.

Between March and May 2017, the government will consider the expression of interests from universities and will select a few to participate in stage two of their process, which, according to Dubenofsky, is focused more on discussing the elements of the proposal that were outlined in the first stage. Between May and July, the government will

participate in focused discussions with the universities which they consider most closely reflect what the government is most interested in accomplishing. From July to the fall, the government will finally consider their interests and announce the successful universities.

According to Dubenofsky, Laurier’s Senate and Board of Governors will consider the preliminary analysis from the university’s senior administration and will give approval to submit a proposal or template as part of the government’s first stage.

“We’ll have the more focused discussions with our governing bodies once we get into the discussion with the government, assuming that we pass that first hurdle of March 6,” she continued.

“All of the senior administration is doing its best to do the financial analysis, the academic program mix, the opportunity for research, the student experience, those are all things that are of primary importance to all of us at Laurier so it is a shared priority for all of us.”

Since 2008, Milton and Laurier signed an agreement to work together in establishing a university presence in Milton. As part of this process, the town of Milton set aside 400 acres called the Milton Education Village. Fifty acres of the land can be developed for univer-

sity purposes.

Laurier would also be the steward of 100 acres of the land that would be available for passive uses, such as trails and recreation.

“It would also be available to us for academic uses, research and so on and it would also be available to our Indigenous program potentially for camps and so on and so all in its 150 acres available to university,” Dubenosky explained.

As for transportation services, Milton is currently served by Go Transit seven times per day.

“There is also planned expansion for Go Transit and so in the short-term there would be shuttle buses and regional and town transportation available to students, but the larger plan is that there would be much more of a transit mobility hub right in that neighbourhood so that students are able to access that.”

While it may seem like the Milton campus is targeting students around the Greater Toronto Area and Halton Region, Dubenofsky confirmed that while students in these areas may be interested in enrolling in the campus, it is open to those from all areas of the province or country.

“I think if you consider the broader geography. It’s going to be of interest to a lot of students.”

INTERNATIONAL

Creating connections in China Van Herzele and Blouw embark on recruitment trip NATHALIE BOUCHARD LEAD REPORTER

Tyler Van Herzele, Wilfrid Laurier University’s Students’ Union president, is embarking on an international leadership and recruitment trip to affiliated universities in China.

Travelling with him is Max Blouw, president and vice-chancellor of Laurier.

Peter Donahue, associate director of International Student Support, has been communicating with Van Herzele to discuss how there is a gap within international student leadership on campus.

Their discussion revolved around how they can explore the leadership gap and how the Students’ Union can better enhance the international student’s undergraduate experience at Laurier.

Chongqing University, a major comprehensive university in the municipality of Chongqing, located on the Yangtze River in Southwest China, is where the Laurier China office is located.

The Laurier office’s initial purpose is to work with the Canadian Consulate in Chongqing to broaden relationships with Laurier’s existing 18 partners in China and

to pursue new opportunities.

“The trip will be from the March 21- April 4 [sic], so it’s a pretty tight turn around there,” Van Herzele said.

“The itinerary is packed, everyday we are going to new areas, speaking to different groups.”

“We aren’t really staying in one place too long. It’s going to be really fast-paced and [an] informative trip to say the least.”

Van Herzele also said the trip will allow for an exclusive look into the specific kinds of leadership styles that Chinese students have and how to better engage them in Laurier-related activities.

This will also encourage international students to choose Laurier for their Canadian university experience because of their large focus on leadership and large international office. The purpose of many Laurier Initiatives is to enhance recruitment efforts, but this trip deals with a lot of leadership education as well.

Van Herzele also explained how recruitment is always a focus but speaking about leadership is also a major focus on this trip.

“My purpose to go, in part, is recruitment. I am a student. I get to speak to my experiences [and] help

students make a decision.”

“But I get to take the knowledge I’ve earned from the trip and apply it back to the students,” he said.

“Recruitment is always [the] purpose of the trip, so the more the name of the institution gets out, it’s a great opportunity.”

Van Herzele later expanded upon how many student leaders in China come to Laurier and do not get as involved as Laurier International and the Students’ Union would hope.

“By sharing my own personal leadership experience, I can gage what their leadership style is like compared to what I might see to a domestic student in Canada.”

This will be to further engage in conversations with Laurier International and the Students’ Union about how they can accommodate international students into becoming part of the leadership community and enhancing their overall experience.

“In talks with Peter and Ben Yang from Laurier International, we identified that there is a large difference in the leadership styles which might be part of the barrier that exists when those international students come to Canada,” Van Herzele said.

MARCO PEDRI/LEAD PHOTOGRAPHER

The international trip will be two weeks of recruitment in Southwest China.

4 • NEWS

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 8, 2017

STUDENTS’ UNION

Board of Directors elect new chair and vice-chair Plummer and Del Bono plan to bring unity to the board KAITLYN SEVERIN SENIOR NEWS EDITOR

The Wilfrid Laurier University Students’ Union has elected returning director, Tarique Plummer, as the chair of the Board of Directors for their 2017-18 term.

Running against director-elects Klaudia Wojtanowski and Emily Rezkalla, Plummer won the majority of the votes from his fellow board-elects last Wednesday night in the Students’ Union board room.

This will also be Plummer’s second year on the board and he will be responsible for leading the board meetings and for holding his fellow directors accountable.

Director-elect Michael Del Bono was also elected as vice-chair of the board, beating out fellow director-elect, Kevin Bonnell. As vicechair, Del Bono will be holding the chair accountable and will act as the link between Plummer and the rest of the board.

Current chair, Nick DeSumma, and vice-chair, Nick Molkoski, will be transitioning Plummer and Del Bono until their term ends in late-April.

Before Plummer and Del Bono were officially elected as the 2017-18 chair and vice-chair, the direc-tor-elects, along with current directors of the board and guests in the gallery, had the opportunity to ask the candidates questions about what they hope to accomplish in the roles.

“I was very happy during the campaigning period. I met with each candidate and we spoke about what I was bringing to the table and I answered all of their questions, all of their concerns, and so at the board table we were just there for formality’s sake, asking all of those questions,” Plummer said.

Since last Wednesday, Plummer and Del Bono have been communicating on how they plan on running the board of directors, almost

all of whom are entirely new to the board. According to Plummer, their mantra is overall focused on unity and teamwork.

“We both feel … it would be with unity and going in there as a team and tackling the training program and all of the bumps and growing pains as a team,” Del Bono explained.

Before being elected to the positions, Plummer and Del Bono explained how they decided to prepare for the roles before campaigning in January. Del Bono confirmed that he had his eyes on the vice-chair position since June 2016.

“I would say back in June would be when I decided I would make a run for the board of directors and specifically for the vice-chair position.”

... it would be with unity going in there as a team and tackling the training program and all of the bumps and growing pains as a team.

-Michael Del Bono, incoming vice-chair of the board of directors

Plummer also explained how he started preparing for the role of chair in Sept. 2016, when he began speaking to the current chair, Nick DeSumma, as well as other executive members of the Students’ Union.

“I’d spoken to each individual who were chair like way back in 2001, just so I could have a solid understanding of what the role entails and what I can bring to the role,” he said.

While campaigning to return

as a director for the 2017-18 term, Plummer outlined three crucial things in his platform that he would accomplish: provide strong board leadership and good governance, align the interests of the management team with that of students and develop a cohesive and active board.

For strong board leadership and good governance, Plummer explained that how he conducts himself to each director-elect is crucial to how he can provide strong leadership to the board. As for his second aspect, Plummer explained how understanding the Students’ Union’s policy manual and constitution is imperative in how the board can fully grasp their overall vision and mandate for the upcoming year.

His final aspect, developing a cohesive and active board, speaks to ensuring that the interests of the management team aligns with that of Laurier students.

“I believe in involvement, being engaged and as board directors, we must be engaged with [the] student body and knowing what their concerns are and ensuring that we’re analyzing the plans being brought forward into/from the management team in that sense,” Plummer said.

“We can make the best calls based on the data we have available to us and so ensuring that my board directors are connected and aware are essential to ensuring that the alignment process is intact.”

While Plummer is the only returning member of the board of directors, he has missed various meetings due to his extra responsibilities in Senate and the Board of Governors, amongst others. Plummer, however, said that now he has been elected to chair, he will not be returning to his positions in these organizations.

“I made the decision early-on to cut things off before I got the role to demonstrate to the board

VICTORIA PANACCI/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER

Tarique Plummer is the only returning director-elect for the 2017-18 board.

that I’m committed and I’ve been informing them that they, I’ve had these conversations going so if I’m successful, there are a few more things I’ll be stepping away from to make myself available, which is essential,” he said.

“Tarique’s absences … it wasn’t like it was some big concern, but it was definitely something worrisome,” Del Bono said.

“But when I was able to sit down and talk with him and hear about his action plan and commitment to making sure that absence isn’t an issue I started to feel a lot of confidence in him.”

When asked about how he feels becoming the next vice-chair while also starting his role as a new director of the board, Del Bono explained that his roles as a peer mentor, a director for leadership development of residence councils, as well as his executive positions in the Students’ Union will guide him in his training over the next few months.

“What I’m most diligent on going into training is getting prepared for this role is keeping an open mind and just being very analytical of what I say and how I conduct myself and putting a lot of pres-

sure on myself just to read over that policy manual a lot and study it,” he said.

As for their current plans, Plummer and Del Bono explained that working together, as well as with their fellow director-elects, will help establish a common vision for the upcoming year. Both hope they are put in the “hot seat” during their training period in order to fully understand how they can successfully operate the board of directors once they transition into their roles on May. “Because we have a new board then you’re going to have a new approach ... so I’m looking forward to that and I think Michael is looking forward to that too and hopefully can bring a raw energy to the table and see that happens,” Plummer said.

“The vision we have is so cohesive and collaborative, as of right now I’m talking with the entirety of the board-elect individually, building those relationships me and Tarique agreed that we’re going to take ideas and suggestions I’m going to archive and I’m going to take notes ... so we’re always atone to how other directors are feeling,” Del Bono said.

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NEWS • 5

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 8, 2017 DIVERSITY

Responding to Islamophobia Our Times Forum allowed panelists to speak out after incident in Quebec SHYENNE MACDONALD NEWS EDITOR

“I’m standing before you, not in my capacity as merely a professor, or a secular intellectual, I stand before you as a person,” said Ali Zaidi, professor for global studies and Muslim Studies and moderator of the forum Islamophobia in Our Times.

A social justice forum, Islamophobia in Our Times, was hosted on Feb. 2 at The Hawk’s Nest on Wilfrid Laurier University’s Waterloo campus.

The panel featured staff and professors from Laurier and the University of Waterloo: Jasmin Zine, professor for sociology and Muslim studies, Abderrahman Beggar, professor for Arabic studies, Timothy J. Gianotti, professor for studies of Islam, Humera Javed, education and inclusion coordinator, as well as Laura Mae Lindo, director of the Diversity and Equity office.

We have to say the words. This is about Islamophobia. It’s about injustice and anti-Islamic rhetoric.

-Laura Mae Lindo, director of Diversity and Equity office

All five speakers at the panel addressed Islamophobia in response to the terrorist attack in Quebec on Jan. 29 and President Donald Trump’s executive order to ban immigration from several Muslim-majority countries.

“God breaks the heart again, and again, and again, until it stays open,” Zaidi said, quoting the famous Islamic poet, Rumi.

“So remember, even in the midst of tragedy, there is light. There is light here.”

Zine, the first of the five to speak for the panel, focused on Islamophobia within Canada’s government. She referred the controversial Bill C 51, which passed in 2015 under Stephen Harpers’ administration. The bill, still in practice today, allows for intense scrutiny from police and Canadian Security Intelligence Service (CSIS).

Also addressed was Bill 60, which banned visible religious affiliation within Quebec’s provincial government.

“Those exclusionary practices are showed up by specific ideological underpins. Among them, are the vague notions to pathologize Muslims as terrorists and impending threats to public safety, and so all of that ideology has been manifested into actions that have empirical evidence here in Cana-

da,” Zine said.

The second speaker was Beggar, who spoke about the “us versus them” mentality which is adopted by countries and their leaders and how Muslims are presented by right-wing politicians.

“Muslims are represented like a body and that body is suffering from something, a cancer called radicalism,” Beggar said.

The Muslim Student Association club at Laurier, who have recently joined with the Diversity and Equity Office, unfortunately could not be in attendance but the president of the club, Zulfiqar Baksh, released a statement which was read by Humera Javeed.

“In these times, when we are faced with two forms of extremism, you must learn to work together and look at our differences as a means of coming together and finding strength. Islamophobia is something of a double-edged nature.”

“Indeed, the actions of Islamophobia strengthens the intolerance of the individual … and speed up the process of radicalization …

There’s no benefit, our social structure will simply collapse if hate and ignorance persist.”

Additionally, Lindo touched on the importance of the words people are using when they are describing and discussing the terrorist attack in Quebec, as well the immigration ban.

“We have to say the words. This is about Islamophobia. It’s about injustice and anti-Islamic rhetoric,” Lindo said.

“One of the ways we can honour and respond to the souls that have been stolen from us and all the souls that have been torn and are still with us but are traumatized and bleeding, hiding and hurting, feeling the pain, is by seeking,” said Gianotti, who also closed the panel.

“Seeking a learning that can lead to a cure within our own hearts and our own society.”

All speakers also said that the panel should not be the only step that is taken by allies and witnesses.

The panel all agreed there needs to be a starting point and that there is still much work to be done across Canada and even internally at Laurier.

During the question period, attendees of the panel listened to stories that were shared of Muslim people living in the Kitchener-Waterloo region, struggling with being able to cope and process after the terrorist attack while wondering what they could do to explain this to their children.

“There’s no easy or immediate fix, but it’s extremely important again that we speak the word vulnerability into being and we allow our friends, family and our acquaintances know that this is part of the burden we carry,” Gianotti said.

PAIGE BUSH/PHOTO EDITOR

Students come together to speak out to adress Islamophobia and its presence in Canada and even at Laurier.

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6 • NEWS

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 8, 2017

IMMIGRATION

CONTRIBUTED PHOTO

On Jan. 27, President Donald Trump issued an order which restricted travel into the United States for individuals from seven Muslim-majority countries for 90 days, which includes Syria and Iraq.

Laurier responds to President Trump’s travel ban In response to Trump’s immigration laws, the DEO hosted healing sessions to offer support SAFINA HUSEIN NEWS EDITOR

On Jan. 27, President Trump issued an executive order restricting travel into the United States for individuals from seven Muslim-majority countries for 90 days. Ensuing the announcement, Universities Canada released a statement in response to the U.S. executive order to reiterate their commitment to providing communities that are

diverse and inclusive to all: “Canada’s universities continue to welcome students, faculty and staff from around the world, including those seeking refuge from violence and hardship. They strengthen Canada’s university communities, bringing new knowledge, talent and skills to higher education, research and innovation —to the benefit of all Canadians.”

The statement acknowledged that the ban affects Canadian cam-

puses and has a profound impact on communities and university students.

In response, Wilfrid Laurier University’s Diversity and Equity Office held a healing session for any faculty, staff and students who needed the support. Laura Mae Lindo, director of the Diversity and Equity office, explained that she had received indication from many in the Laurier community that it would be beneficial to have

a space to talk, reflect and organize after Donald Trump was elected as President.

[T]he psychological and social harm and the potential physical harm of what is being discussed and fought for has to be precedent.

-Laura Mae Lindo, director of the Diversity and Equity Office

The initial healing space, held on both Waterloo and Brantford Campuses, saw a turnout of approximately 60 individuals. After the travel ban was announced, the Diversity and Equity office planned to hold another healing session on Jan. 30 now that the fears of many at Laurier were becoming a reality.

“I think that part of what was necessary was a space to navigate what it feels like when what people have thought in theory is happening in practice. The real fears are actually on the ground,” Lindo said.

The healing session, along with various other events held at Laurier in relation to the travel ban, gave those in the community an opportunity to process and cope with the reality of what is happening while being able to reflect through honest dialogue and hear the thoughts of those who were impacted.

“Given the number of people who came to the healing space, it’s urgently needed. We’re living through a moment where if we choose to sit back, it will be very clear how history will tell the story of anti-Muslim sentiment on Canadian soil. It’s not a theory, it’s the truth in the way that things have been happening,” Lindo said.

Given that the travel ban was issued in the U.S., the order very much affects Canadians. Lindo explained that any ban or discussion that involves where an individual can or cannot go infringes upon the rights of those people, which in this case is Muslim colleagues, friends and family.

“There’s been a lot of questions about how it is relevant to us. The reality is that our borders are fake lines that we’ve drawn.”

From an academic standpoint,

Lindo pointed out that the possibility of scholars from around the world attending Laurier becomes troubled. As well, current students face a moral dilemma in regards to entering the U.S. “There’s questions that come into play … about whether or not it’s perpetuating anti-Muslim sentiment to cross the border or whether it’s challenging and resisting anti-Muslim sentiment to cross the border and exchange knowledge,” Lindo said.

Despite the grappling negativity and harm that the travel ban has brought forth, many positive conversations have begun as a result.

However, Lindo believes that flipping the situation into a positive should remain theoretical. “[T]he psychological and social harm and the potential physical harm of what is being discussed and fought for has to be precedent,” she said. “I can’t say that we came together so it’s good. I can say that it’s horrible and that I have hope in humanity because we came together anyways, despite the negativity, despite the Islamophobia and despite anti-Muslim sentiment,” Lindo said.

There’s been a lot of questions about how it is relevant to us.

The reality is that our borders are fake lines that we’ve drawn.

-Laura Mae Lindo, director of the Diversity and Equity Office

A federal judge in Seattle responded to the executive order and suspended the order on Feb. 3.

Though the issued order is now on hold, the fight for the travel ban to be reinstated is far from finished, as Trump believes the order provides “national security.” Lindo explained that although the order is on hold, it is crucial to proceed with caution.

“I want us to be celebrating with caution. Celebrating with a critical eye to what it is that’s actually happening, a critical ear to what we’re hearing and with real intentionality that we will not stand for that; not in the world and certainly not at home or in our institution.”

NEWS • 7

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 8, 2017 TRANSIT

QIAO LUI/FILE PHOTO

The government’s support will provide the Region with long-term funding.

Transportation changes in K-W SAFINA HUSEIN NEWS EDITOR

Ontario’s provincial government recently announced that they will be boosting funding and support in the Region of Waterloo in order

to improve transportation options.

The support, which will start in 2019, will provide the Region of Waterloo with long-term and reliable funding to ultimately enhance and expand local transit while offering more travel options

for families and individuals who commute.

The decision was made in response to many frustrated daily commuters and from municipalities who struggle to maintain their transit needs.

In order to do so, Ontario will be increasing the amount of funding for the Waterloo Region as well as numerous other municipalities through the gas tax program.

Ontario’s gas tax program was created in 2004 and made permanent in 2013 in hopes of providing a more stable source of funding for municipalities in Ontario.

Within the program, every two cents are funded by Ontario’s government for every litre of gasoline sold.

Since 2004, over 3.7 billion has been committed by Ontario to municipalities throughout the province.

Beginning in 2019, Ontario will gradually increase the gas tax funds.

By 2021, the municipal share will be doubled from two cents a litre to four cents.

The enhanced funding to the program will not result in increased taxes which people in Ontario pay for gasoline.

In past years, the Region of Waterloo received an average of 9.6 million from the gas tax funding program.

With the new boost in funding, the region could potentially see an increase to approximately 12

million in 2019-20, 14.4 million in 2020-21 and 19.2 million in 202122.

“Increased gas tax funding will help improve service and tackle congestion. Supporting our municipal partners, this investment is critical to improving our Region’s economy and overall quality of life,” Daiene Vernile, MPP for Kitchener Centre, said in an email announcement.

With this increase in support, the Waterloo Region will be able to use the funds in order to upgrade infrastructure, improved accessibility, implement fare strategies, extend hours of service and add more transit routes.

The region hopes this will create stronger public transit systems to ultimately create more jobs, develop the economy and help individuals in their everyday lives.

“We’ve heard loud and clear from municipalities that they need more sustainable funding for public transit to keep up with the demand to provide more service,” Steven Del Duca, Minister of Transportation, also said in an email statement.

“By modernizing Ontario’s gas tax program we are helping municipalities improve their local transit service so people can easily get where they need to be.”

The provincial government’s focus and commitment to local transit options also strives to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

One bus can keep up to 40 alternate vehicles off the roads which can reduce 25 tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions out of the atmosphere every year.

Additionally, according to research, every 100 million of public infrastructure investment within Ontario can boost GDP by 114 million, especially within manufacturing and construction related sectors. “[This] announcement will allow Waterloo Region to invest in better public transit, making it easier for individuals and families in our community to go to school, work and back home again,” said Kathryn McGarry, MPP for Cambridge, in an email statement.

“Our government understands that communities need strong, stable funding to be able to build the public transit we need for today and tomorrow.”

place for you here. This is completely multi-cultural. It is not genre based; it’s the study of music with community engagement.”

The philosophy of community music focuses not solely on classical music but music that engages and enhances a community experience. There is no specific instrument or style of music they are looking for, but music that is presented in a creative fashion.

“They need to audition just like any other music program.

We’re looking for different things and different skill sets. We’re not looking to restrict you to a certain

instrument, we are looking at you to perform at a certain skill set. If you come to community music we expect you to present a creative portfolio and present yourself whatever is most appropriate,” Swinden said.

“If you are passionate about music and want to engage the world through music and you have studied music, it doesn’t matter anymore if you have a European symphony orchestra experience. If you play rock guitar and you play it well enough and are creative enough, there is a place for you to study music possibly at Laurier.”

Supporting our municipal partners, this investment is critical to improving our Region’s economy and overall quality of life.

-Daiene Vernile, MPP for Kitchener Centre

EDUCATION

University launches community music program The program will be the “first of its kind” in the world NATHALIE BOUCHARD LEAD REPORTER

Next year, Wilfrid Laurier University’s faculty of music will be launching a new bachelor’s level program called community music. This bachelor’s program is the first of its kind in the world. The community music program originated from Europe and the U.K. where it was a stem of music education. As a discipline, community music arose to be an idea that music instruction would take place outside the formal school setting.

The international society of community music is watching what we’re doing.

-Kevin Swinden, dean of music

Laurier has been offering a master’s program for community music for a number of years. The

undergraduate program will be focused on facilitating music and music making in various settings.

“When we are looking for a new program here, the philosophy took hold very strongly and we launched the first bachelor’s of community music in the world.

This is the first of its kind so the world is watching. The international society of community music is watching what we’re doing,” Kevin Swinden, dean of music, said.

Community music focuses on the process over the performance, whereas traditional music programs are about performance and the perfection of music at a very high level.

“In the community music program, you get all those transferable skills, and performance is in the background. But it’s not really about the perfect performance, but the heartfelt performance, but all the music students get those transferable skills that make musicians employed.”

Swinden believes that community music will fit in well with the culture Laurier has created.

“The Laurier music program has got ourselves a reputation as the music program who cares. Laurier as an institution embodies it, the fact that Laurier has a thriving music therapy program and it became

a natural fit that we at Laurier focus on social justice which is community music.”

The Laurier music program has got ourselves a reputation as the music program who cares.

-Kevin Swinden, dean of music

ALAN LI/GRAPHIC ARTIST

“We study music from the Western European colonization period, you have to play a musical instrument that is appropriate for the symphony orchestra of that classical extraction, which does not look a whole lot like Canada,” Swinden said.

“There is a social justice piece to community music that is if we are a university in Canada we should serve Canadians that are multi-cultural.”

“If you play the Chinese pipa and you play it well and want to engage the world we will find a

8 • PHOTO SPREAD

,

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 8, 2017

LET s T U O B A K L A T

SEX, BABY PAIGE BUSH/PHOTO EDITOR

GAMES • 9

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 8, 2017

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

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

Dear Life, Shout out to the arts courses for scheduling all their midterms, tests, and assignments on the same days. Love it. Great plan.

Sincerely, Dying Inside Dear Cord, Can we get some crosswords next week? I’m feeling the onset of boredoku.

Sincerely, The Spice of Life Dear Rotaract Club, For your next sale, include planting and watering instructions or at least the specific name so buyers can find information.

Sincerely, Crying Over Root Rot Dear Cord, Pls stop leaving sudoku out of some issues.

Sincerely, Avid cord sudoku player Dear Editor-in-Chief who responded to my Dear Life, It’s Struggling Student. I picked up a copy of The Cord this morning in a hurry before my English class. I didn’t get a chance to read until tonight. I had four classes today and found out my grandma in Europe isn’t doing too well. My mother leaves for Europe this Sunday. But I’m not here to look for sympathy, I’m here to update my situation like I promised readers ... That is if anyone read my little dear life and felt the way I did. My eyes lit up when I saw I was published and even though something so small as a dear life it was ... It was the most amazing feeling. And even though I was anonymous, I rushed downstairs and told my parents how important I felt. It was your response, editor, that made me

happy. The assurance, the reply, the extra sentences of volunteering ... Thank you. Little things do go a long way.

Sincerely, Struggling Student

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Dear Struggling Student, Imagine how good it would feel to have a full article published with your name attached to it. Believe me, it’s the best. Seriously, volunteer for us. I hope your grandma and family are okay. There are several services on campus you can utilize if you need a hand — both academically and emotionally.

Sincerely, Bethany Bowles, Editor-in-Chief of The Cord Dear Life, Why must I come to university and learn almost all my favourite songs of all time are about sex?

Sincerely, Deeply troubled Dear Life, Mental health isn’t a one day thing.

It’s a lifetime thing. It’s affected so many of the people I love and care about in my life, and I don’t want to talk about it for just one day. I want to talk about it everyday. I want to be there for my loved ones in every way I can, and not only by talking about it. So I hug them a little harder, I use my active listening skills, and I try to make them smile more when they’re around me.

Sincerely, But I don’t know if I’m doing it right or doing enough Dear Fellow Cord Staff, Thank you for being so positive and comfortable with our little family.

You’re lovely people and I’m so happy to work with all of you!

Sincerely, Loved Dear Life, Roses are Red Violets are blue Valentine’s day is approaching Remember, Harambe loves you too Sincerely, A boy who misses his ape Dear Life, I want every moment to feel like that feeling when your boyfriend puts on a bomb new scent and hugs you.

Sincerely, Yum

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10 •

Arts & Life

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 8, 2017 ARTS & LIFE EDITOR MANJOT BHULLAR arts@thecord.ca

A ride on the older side

I

nnocently or not, the word “daddy” seems to send a shiver down the spines of most students these days — and not in a good way.

There’s a lot to be said about daddy-dom relationships and it seems that the only side to the conversation that is being discussed is the negative views of outsiders.

“Now that it’s more out in the open and talked about, a lot of people kink-shame it. People are saying that it’s only for girls who’ve had daddy issues or whatnot — it’s not true,” said Mikayla Ozaruk, a student at Fanshawe College who is the “baby” in a daddy-dom relationship.

Rather than a daddy-dom relationship being defined by an overarching theme, there are groups in the community who want to stress a more personal connection between the people who are involved.

“I think it can be defined [as a] relationship by relationship basis,” said Daniel Moore*, a “daddy” living in the Waterloo area.

“It depends on the people involved with it and it can range from either just being called ‘daddy’ in bed or it can translate into something outside the bedroom, as well.”

Daddy-dom relationships are not limited exclusively to a male dominant and a female submissive, either.

Though “daddy” kinks are more commonly discussed, the “mommy” kink is also prevalent in the BDSM community and the kink doesn’t have any gender quota.

It’s just something people enjoy in the bedroom; no set requirements necessary. “[People] have these preconceptions and they assume it’s associated with what I’ll call harder things, like BDSM and all that, but it doesn’t necessarily need to be like that,” Moore said.

Often, due to the similar names, a daddy-dom relationship is confused with having a sugar daddy. Though the two are not necessarily mutually exclusive, they do have some key differences.

“I think sugar daddy relationships are too fixated on material wants, not so much love, and

that’s my problem with sugar daddies,” Moore claimed.

Sugar daddies provide monetary value in exchange for sex; daddy-doms just provide an outlet for the bedroom; no money required.

However, like most kinks in the BDSM community, this is not commonly known because no one seems to want to talk about it.

The closest contact most people have to the BDSM community is through the Fifty Shades of Grey series.

Using this as the example, it’s easy to see why there are misconceptions about the BDSM community, but it’s also clear that there is some kind of interest, considering how successful the franchise has been.

What’s the difference between Christian Grey and “daddy”?

Well, in the real world, proper daddies listen to consent and safe words. “[Fifty Shades of Grey] is quite a poor representation and it gives

everyone that’s into it kind of a bad rap because it makes them seem abusive and just wanting to cause pain, when that’s definitely not the case,” Moore said.

With the newest addition to the movie franchise hitting theatres around Valentine’s Day,

Ozaruk cautioned against blindly using the film as a tool to explore your sexuality.

“Research it! Don’t try things based off Fifty Shades of Grey, because, yes, I am a fan of the books and the movies, but I also have educated myself in that kind of stuff, where I know how to do stuff and know stuff that is okay and is not okay,” she said.

Experimenting with your sexuality and learning everything you can about a kink, beyond it’s representation on screen, is imperative to maintaining your safety.

Consent and trust are a part of any healthy relationship and daddy-dom is no different.

A lot of the stigma comes from the connotation of incest, which is a very real, non-consensual aspect that can happen in the real world.

In a daddy-dom relationship, the aspect of playing incest is a misconception, too. The kink, according to members of the community, has nothing to do

with incest at all.

“It’s not like I’m calling him my actual daddy,” says Ozaruk. “It’s just like, not a term of endearment, but like a nickname. Like babe and baby: everybody calls their significant other that.”

The relationship, like any other, seems to come back to love and trust in another person, but babies take it a step further, trusting in a Daddy to care for them and treat them to a kinkier side of their bedroom activities.

But just like every other relationship, the daddy-dom lifestyle does have some downsides.

With all of the trust in this kind of relationship, communication is vital to keep all participants safe and secure.

“I think with some people, going into a relationship like a daddy-dom relationship, it’s either their first time or they really don’t understand what they want and they cross a boundary or they cross a line, either for themselves or for their partner that makes them feel uncomfortable,” Moore said.

The stigma behind the relationship is also a major hurdle for participants to overcome, should they decide to make their relationship public.

“If you go full blown and you’re public with it, wearing collars and stuff that says ‘Daddy’ on it … then it’s off to some people because people don’t always want to hear about your sex life. You know, they don’t want to know your kinks unless they ask you and usually when they ask you, they want something from you,” Ozaruk claimed.

However, for Ozaruk, the passion in the relationship seems to outweigh the potential scorn from the nay-sayers.

“If you’re private with it and it’s just between you and your partner, then I don’t really see any downsides to it.”

So the moral? Communicate and be consensual. Other than that, what happens behind closed doors is nothing to scoff at.

As long as the relationship is safe and consensual, none of us are in a position to parent what people do in their bedrooms. *Name has been changed for privacy purposes

GRAPHICS BY JOSH AWOLADE/CORD ALUM

ARTS & LIFE • 11

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 8, 2017 DATE NIGHT

VALENTINE’S DAY ON A BUDGET

QIAO LIU/CORD PHOTOGRAPHY

terests. Winding down at a café afterwards is simple and affordable, while also being a great opportunity for some quality conversation.

BRITTANY DITIZIO SOCIAL MEDIA COORDINATOR

The Cafe Bookworm Date For couples who share a mutual interest of books and reading, why not head out for a bookstore crawl and some intimate conversation at a café. For those who like to read, spending a couple hours wandering around a bookstore can actually be pretty fun. Not only do you get to check out some books that you’re interested in, but you will even learn a little more about your significant other and their in-

The Take-Out Candlelit Netflix Dinner You’ve seen this in movies more than you’ve heard of it happening in real life, but why wouldn’t people opt for this kind of night? Your favourite take-out food delivered to your door, your favourite smelling candles and your top pick on Netflix? Please tell me how anyone could go wrong with this. A pizza can please the majority of people and there are unlimited movies and TV shows on Netflix that you and your date will agree on. Your night will surely be intimate, with a simple and affordable twist.

The Home-Cooked Romantic Scavenger Hunt Now this date may take some effort, but it will definitely be worthwhile. If you’re not a superstar chef and your specialty is Kraft Dinner, go online for some recipes.

For a perfect meal, you’ll end up spending much less on ingredients than you would if you went out to a restaurant and you have all of the instructions right in front of you.

With an inexpensive wine to top off the dinner, your significant other will surely be impressed.

So what’s next? A romantic scavenger hunt, of course. Put together clues that only your other half will be able to answer and lead them through a scavenger hunt to a homemade gift by you. Your

creative side will come out, whether you think you have one or not, and your date will surely be one to remember.

The Convenient Cheap-Night Movie Date With Valentine’s Day falling on a Tuesday, there is one thing to be thankful for – cheap Tuesday at the movies. Normally a trip to the movies can be a bit costly with a full price movie ticket and popcorn with drinks to boot, but with an almost half price ticket, you’re definitely saving a few bucks.

While you’re at it, splitting the popcorn and drink not only saves some money, but it keeps things intimate.

The best part of this date is that you don’t have to have a signifi-

cant other to benefit from it; it’s a perfect idea for friends too.

The Sweet Skating Date If you’re a fan of ice-skating and are also willing to bear the cold weather, a nighttime date at an outdoor skating rink may be the perfect idea. Outdoor skating is almost always free and odds are if you’ve been to one before, you already have a pair of your own skates.

If that isn’t the case, renting skates for the day is an inexpensive option. After your skating adventure, head to the nearest candy store and pick up some of your favourites.

You can’t go wrong with some beloved treats to make the night that much sweeter.

OPEN RELATIONSHIPS

The gears that make polyamory rotate KARLIS WILDE STAFF WRITER

The internet is a horrible, cold, terrifying place. A place where it’s important to realize the origins, meanings and perceptions of the words you use when you’re speaking to an unknown audience.

Perhaps in the past year you, the archetype of the internet-capable, free-thinking modern generation, have seen the consistent, inane use of the word ‘cuck’ littered across comment threads. It’s a term that has been proliferated in every corner of the world-wide-web through the stupid efforts of the alt-right.

What exactly is the alt-right?

Alternative refers to another option, or substitute, while right refers to absolute, integral truth.

So, for objective purposes we can simplify the term ‘alt-right’ to being the alternative of being correct (specifically, wrong) and assess it accordingly.

Let’s move forward.

The word ‘cuck’ has been heavily popularized because it’s perceived as offensive and it sounds kind of funny. It practically drowns both the articles and the comment threads on every alt-right ‘news’ site.

Cuck is short for cuckold — a man whose wife is fucking another man. It’s rooted in the word ‘cuck-

WILL HUANG/CREATIVE DIRECTOR

oo’ and refers to that bird’s habit of laying its egg in a nest that is not her own.

But when a person uses ‘cuck’ as a derogatory, inflammatory term, it oversimplifies, thereby devaluating the nature of more open relationships.

“Cuckold fantasies might have multiple motivations,” said Kelly McDonnell-Arnold, a sexologist with Bliss Counselling. “[The] factors involved might not be the same across individuals. Social and cultural norms likely play a role in shaping these fantasies,

too. Indeed, internet search trends reveal that interest in cuckold porn has surged in the last decade.”

In the modern world, monogamy is considered the standard — but the roots of that monogamy are in deeply personal, human, emotional ties. The physical nature can be varied.

“All [cuckolding] relationships are unique and feature an explicit agreement that allows partners to have multiple sexual and/or romantic relationships at the same time,” said McDonnell-Arnold.

“Polyamorous relationships

are less about casual sex and more about building a romantic relationship with more than one person at a time. And yes, there are rules, which are created and agreed upon by everyone involved.

The thing that defines a polyamorous relationship is that everyone involved knows about, and agrees to, everyone else’s involvement.

There is informed consent of all the participants.”

Some people don’t feel the necessity of absolute possession in their relationships. Although data is hard to track on something so

esoterically personal, it’s estimated that around 4-5 percent of Americans have admitted to sexually experimenting outside of their monogamous relationship with the consent of their partner.

Our idealistic perception of the modern world doesn’t pass judgment on people for their relationships, whether they’re heterosexual or part of the LGBTQ+ community.

What happens between consenting adults is their own private affair and discrimination based upon that — while it does happen frequently — is just regressive and silly.

In that same vein, it’s important not to devalue open or experimental relationships by the consistent, derogatory use of the word ‘cuck.’

If a relationship requires less rigid types of sexual congregation, that’s going to be at the discretion of the parties involved. So long as it’s done with honesty, openness, trust and communication, stable relationships can still be built on those foundations.

Always remember to be totally yourself in all of your relationships, whether that’s toward polyamory, bi-curiousity, fetishes — there’s nothing to be embarrassed about so long as you are open, honest, trusting and worthy of receiving that trust.

12 • ARTS & LIFE

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 8, 2017

ONLINE DATING

LITERATURE

PAIGE BUSH/PHOTO EDITOR

Cruising for love online JULIANNE SCOTT CORD ARTS

As the butt of jokes and the punchline of any bad Lifetime movie, the Craigslist personals have the reputation of being a catch all for creeps. But is it also a place of hope?

Scrolling through the personals, it’s easy to find ads for rough sex and suspicious hook ups or people who are just looking for brief human contact; there are wordings that would make anyone pause and shudder.

Nearly everyone has heard some kind of horror story about a meet up gone wrong, whether it’s on Tinder, Grindr or even Craigslist.

There’s a whole Reddit culture devoted to telling stories that may or may not be true, but are nevertheless concerning. Craigslist itself has a page devoted to safety, wherein they tell you that almost no one is murdered in meet ups anymore, but then go on to say never to go anywhere without your cell phone and telling a friend where you’re going first.

“Make sure the people that matter to you know where you are. And don’t trust pictures that people put online — those are too easy to fake,” Inspector Mike Haffner of the Waterloo Regional Police Services said.

But there are also genuine calls for companionship and even pla-

tonic love. Craigslist is an internet pool of people shouting into the void for a connection.

There are endless posts on the missed connection section, from dick pics to poems to pleas, asking for another call after a failed date.

There are ads for threesomes that get disturbingly detailed and quests for ‘unicorns’ that usually go unanswered.

But beyond the sex, there are posts that detail people, from their height and weight to what their hobbies are and what they’re looking for in another person. It’s a bit like reading a personal diary entry and it’s hard not to feel something for the people who put themselves in condensed, typed form in the

hope someone will answer them.

Who knows how much hope these people really have, if they truly believe that they’ll find what they’re looking for.

One post from a woman who described herself as curvy, 45 and divorced was one of the more innocent posts. She asked to be contacted by a man who enjoys spending quiet time with her “fur babies.”

These posts are jarring in contrast to the headings like “Thinking About Having an Affair” and “You Know What They Say About Gingers” (with an attached picture that I did not click).

But they’re all looking to not be alone, especially as Valentine’s Day approaches. It’s a gamble, but Craigslist may just be the way to find (a very specific kind of ) true love.

Some people may be searching for soulmates, but it’s still a good idea to remember that not every post is good intentioned.

The Waterloo Regional Police recommend treating Craigslist or any online interaction like it were any blind date — use caution and remember that any photos posted will be on the internet forever. Any identifiable information should never be handed out via an online chat where you can’t see the other person.

So tell someone where you’re going first and always bring your phone. Some people really do find love this way, but only if they’re safe about it.

SINGLE LIFE

Avoiding blue balls and broken hearts SCOTT GLAYSHER CORD ALUM

Even though it seems like everyone these days is in a healthy, stable relationship in which they couldn’t be happier, that isn’t necessarily the case. If you’re reading this then you too are part of the widespread faction of single guys either tirelessly looking for love on a regular basis or you’re simply fed up of trying to find a female counterpart altogether — either way, Valentine’s Day can be a dangerous day for the lonely, single, straight dude.

There are no rules on how single guys with no romantic options should maneuver on Valentine’s Day because you’ve definitely got some other single pals that would enjoy nothing more than to share a couple beverages while watching anything but Love Actually. However, there are definitely places and situations to avoid if you don’t want to spiral down a vortex of blue balls and broken hearts.

NO STRIP CLUBS Perhaps the most cliché place a lonely straight man can go — but unequivocally the worst. Strip clubs can be a dangerous place for someone looking for a quick shot of love and an even worse place for

NO EX TEXTING This is a very slippery slope that can go from reminiscent to regretful real quick. Sure, you’ve got an ex that you still might be cool with and occasionally hang with but diving into a deep, dark conversation on Valentine’s Day is a one way ticket to the “new phone, who dis” zone. Obsessively texting your ex can make you look desperate, shook and will set back all the progress you made to get over said

LIZ ZMIJAK STAFF WRITER

If you’re looking for a way to express your love to your significant other this Valentine’s Day but simply don’t know how, or if you’re trying to expose yourself to a new perspective of self-love, there’s nothing more personal (or cheesy) than a good poem. Poetry is a creative and personal way to express deep rooted feelings. Don’t know where to start? No worries. I took care of that part for you.

Naomi Shihab Nye As a Palestinian-American, like many others who share two cultures, Shihab Nye has different definitions of what she considers home. She calls herself the “wandering poet” due to her passion for travel. She not only hopes to inspire people, but strives to promote heritage and peace through her work, featuring poems that are not only about love and self-content, but about her Palestinian background, as well. Throughout her career, Nye has won awards and fellowships, honoring her dedication to literature, teaching and hopes to continue to do so in the future.

Pablo Neruda

a dude looking for a quick shot of love on a budget. Exotic dancers also double as incredibly gifted sales people who are working, not looking for love and have no problem turning your “quick dance” into a messy dry humping marathon set to a Ginuwine greatest hits playlist — which will of course cost you a ton of cash. If you find yourself looking up directions to Roxxxane’s, you’ve gone too far.

NO TINDER BINGING The satisfaction of matching on Tinder is a serotonin supernova, no doubt, but mindlessly hopping on the promiscuous app could lead to some bad decisions. If you feel like having a swipe or two on Feb. 14 to see what’s out there, then that’s fine, but when you find yourself sitting in your underwear with a cold Bianca’s pizza at your side and you’ve lost track of time because you can’t get off Tinder, then it might be time to set the phone down.

A laud of love

Although Neruda probably doesn’t resonate with the youth of today, he was once called “the greatest poet of the 20th century in any language,” by Colombian novelist, Gabriel García Márquez.

After winning the Nobel Prize in literature in 1961, Neruda continued to compose love poems which later got adapted into a screenplay called Il Posstino. The movie later was nominated for five academy awards and won an Oscar. A compilation of his most famous love poems that have been put together and translated into English are being featured this month at Indigo and Chapters for Valentine’s Day. Kim Hyesoon PAIGE BUSH/PHOTO EDITOR

femme fatale. You may resume cordial relations on Feb. 15.

and ditch you the second you go to the bathroom.

NO THIRD WHEELING Don’t try and commandeer your friend’s romantic soiree by wedging yourself in between him and one of the only chances he might have at totally impressing his female match. Even if you are friends with a couple that are damn near married, it is unacceptable to tag along. It might seem like a good way to spend the night but seeing their overwhelming cuteness might just be too much for you to handle. Or, they will try

NO TITANIC There is nothing wrong with dudes watching a couple solid “chick flicks” as most of them are light hearted and pleasantly distracting of life’s real qualms.

However, James Cameron’s Titanic is by far the most heart throbbing movie ever made and will guarantee to destroy your outlook on true love. It doesn’t matter if you are the toughest man on earth, when Jack reaches out his hand at the very end — you will cry. Every time.

After receiving her PhD in Korean Literature, Hyesoon was recognized and critically acclaimed in the 1990’s due to a strong wave of women entering the realm of fine poetry. Traditionally, famous historical poets were predominately male. However, Hyesoon made earnest efforts to perpetuate patriarchal structures and improve the reputation of women in poetry, playing the center role of women publishing in literary journals.

She grounds herself in feminine writing and touches upon many of the injustices women face on a constant basis, both past and present.

ARTS & LIFE • 13

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 8, 2017

Every once in a while, there are topics that are so taboo, they tend to evoke one of the two following responses when entered into conversation: awkward laughter combined with averted eye contact, or flat-out, jaw-dropping disgust.

Eating ass is definitely one of those topics.

Whether you are ‘tossing the salad,’ ‘rimming’ or performing ‘anilingus’ on someone, the facts remain the same: you are putting your mouth on someone else’s starfish, and take it from me, there is no easy – or comfortable – way to talk about it.

One phone call to the Sexual Health Options Resources & Education Centre would foreshadow the rest of my interactions, with one thing becoming crystal clear by the end of the conversation: eating ass is not something that people enjoy talking about.

Nevertheless, experts have a duty to inform and despite the fact that it took me thirty seconds to vomit the word ‘anilingus’ into the receiver, the person on the other end of line was both patient, attentive and quick to tell me that the barrier method is still the most effective.

Seeking a second opinion on the topic, I took to the Telehealth Ontario hotline, where the average wait time to talk to a registered nurse was an hour and 45 minutes. “[There is no information] specifically concerning this, just basically that this is a method to pass on sexually transmitted infection,” the nurse said, “so safe sex practices would be recommended.”

She went on to remind me about the importance of the barrier method, advocating the use of a dental dam to reduce the spread of infection.

“Is there anything else I can help you with, today?” she asked.

I felt like I had wasted her time.

It wasn’t until an acquaintance (we will call him Z) stumbled on the topic in a conversation, that I began to see some humanity in the story — some proverbial light at the end of the

tunnel.

“Yeah, eating ass, what do you want to know?” he coaxed, apparently eager to share.

“First of all, I’m probably not going to go down on someone if I am sober, unless that’s like, the ‘ting’ [significant other],” he said, “[but] If I am going to go down on someone, I am probably [also] eating ass.”

“I’m not embarrassed to say that,” he quickly added, noting that although he may be comfortable saying it behind closed doors, he wouldn’t go and shout it from the rooftops.

“Anybody can eat ass,” he continued, noting the recent increase in dialogue about butt-stuff, adding that it is a “less sacred sexual act” that still “contributes to arousal,” nonetheless.

“It’s a universal way to get people off,” he concluded, noting the fact that every human being comes equipped with the parts necessary to participate.

When the time to discuss the actual act inevitably presented itself, the quality of conversation began to see a sharp decline, but Z reluctantly provided some insight that might help to inspire and inform those heavily invested in trying … something new.

“It’s not like [going down on someone] where there is parts to it and you can be bad at it,” he said.

“You can’t be bad at eating ass; the fact that you are doing it makes you good at it.”

Still, however, the idea of pressing your tongue into someone’s nether-regions is a shrill thought for the majority of us, but at the end of the day, it’s all about what you like.

Seeming to draw out his own conclusion, I thanked Z for his time, but there was still one thing left to ask; the story would not be complete unless it at least made an attempt to answer the question on the back of everyone’s minds: doesn’t it taste horrid?

“No,” he said firmly, breaking his gaze.

“Not if it’s clean.”

WILL HUANG/CREATIVE DIRECTOR

14 • ARTS & LIFE

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 8, 2017

FILM

A peculiar movie night

INFECTIONS

QIAO LIU/CORD PHOTOGRAPHY

people can make it work, no matter how outrageously different they may be, you won’t find a better example than in this salacious pseudo-nazisploitation film.

CHRIS LUCIANTONIO STAFF WRITER

There is nothing better than curling up with a significant other on the couch, bathed in the light of the television, as you watch a romantic movie and take it easy for a nice night in. It’s a shame, however, that most romance films nowadays are cliché–ridden bore–fests that don’t stimulate your brain or … other things.

For those more adventurous and who want a more entertaining movie night, here is a little guide into the weird, wild and “what the hell” choices.

The Night Porter (1974) It might be hard to relate your relationship to the depraved sadomasochistic exploits of an SS officer and his concentration camp captive, but Liliana Cavani’s controversial film sure tries to expose you to it. As complex as its morals are, the relationship that guides the film is, at the very least, fascinatingly deep and grotesquely enthralling in a “I can’t believe what they are suggesting” sort of manner.

If you ever needed proof that

I’m a Cyborg but That’s Okay (2006) More known for his disturbing revenge dramas, master director Park Chan-Wook took a swing at the romance genre the only way he could: by setting it in an insane asylum between a schizophrenic kleptomaniac and a delusional, self-destructive woman who thinks she is a cyborg. Quirky and off-putting, the film is his most uplifting, despite the narrative hinging mostly on the cyborg lady attempting to massacre the orderlies of the hospital, it remains sweet and heartwarming with its inexplicable way of looking at love. By offering the most ostracized and mistreated elements of society (the mentally ill) and their chance to seek out meaningful connections with other people, the film transcends its peculiarities and becomes quite a touching love story.

Crash (1996) It is important for any healthy relationship to be open with one another in terms of sex, no matter how idiosyncratic, unique or downright implausible. So if you’re

having a problem bringing up a kink with a loved one, why not break the ice with a little David Cronenberg sex thriller?

A psychologically twisted tale of desperate individuals who derive sexual pleasure from taking part in automobile accidents, it is a nice reminder of the many ways you can express your affection for one another. Or if all else fails, it will at least make whatever kink you’re harboring seem harmless by comparison.

In the Realm of the Senses (1976) Okay, come on, there is something undeniably romantic about two people so driven by their lust for one another that they lock themselves away from the world to practically “sex” each other to death. In Oshima Nagisa’s engrossing and amorous true-to-life art porn, you will become very, very familiar with the two brave actor’s bodies as they engage in a myriad of sexual activity again and again, progressing further and transgressing more boundaries until things turn affectionately violent. For some, this could just be an excuse to watch porn with their loved ones under the guise of culture. If you know what you’re getting into though, this could be the best way to test how comfortable you are with each other when a more extreme example is made apparent.

ALEX TRKULJA/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER

Gone, or I guess not SHYENNE MACDONALD NEWS EDITOR

What is typically undetectable, extremely preventable and on the rise? Gonorrhea — and like chlamydia, it’s hard to spell but easy to catch. For those who slept through sex-ed in high school, gonorrhea is a bacterial infection that you can get through oral, anal or vaginal sex.

Recently, Public Health Ontario has noted a rise in sexually transmitted diseases and infections.

“Both chlamydia and gonorrhea, as well as a number of other [diseases and infections], are reported to Public Health, so they do track the numbers. In general, they don’t look at universities specifically, but instead the 15-24 age group; which is an age a lot of our students fall into and the numbers are rising,” Karen Ostrander, director of Student Wellness Centre, said.

On Planned Parenthoods’ website, they have a statistic of 820,000 adults a year getting diagnosed with gonorrhea. It’s a very common disease, so how do you impede it?

“The best means of protection, besides abstinence, is always condoms. People have to remember that the use of the birth control pill only protects against pregnancy, not STD’s,” Ostrander said.

That means going back to the tried and true male condom, which is always in endless supply at the Student Wellness Centre, with a basket in the lobby or five dollars for a box. Also, remembering dental dams for use during vaginal or anal oral sex and female condoms which are also available for purchase at the Student Wellness Centre.

“A lot of the times people will be infected and they won’t realize, a lot of the time there are no symptoms,” Ostrander said, explaining once again how important it is to be using protection.

Often, especially for people with uteruses, you won’t experience symptoms of gonorrhea. When left untreated, gonorrhea can leave you infertile, give you early on-set arthritis, or be extremely damaging to a baby if the person carrying the

baby is infected. If you are experiencing symptoms of gonorrhea and you have a uterus, you may have a fever, swelling, pain or pusslike discharge. Which is gross, but so are STD’s.

“Typically, you can get treated [at the Student Wellness Centre], rather than having to go out and get a prescription,” Ostrander said.

“We also do routine testing, which you can book an appointment for, but if you’re experiencing symptoms or discomfort you can come in and see the doctor.”

Ostrander also explained that this is funded by Public Health Ontario, a government organisation, and treatment and testing is free to students.

All of this is super easy to remember when you’re sober. If you drink, or find other ways to get inebriated, and you’re about to participate in some sloppy drunk sex, you’re likely to forgo or forget the condom. Especially now with a new strain of gonorrhoea that is resistant to treatment, it’s crucial to be aware of who you’re having sex with. Luckily, there’s the free testing that should never go unutilized.

So, say it’s the next morning and even though your partner swore they used a condom but didn’t, or you both forgot in the heat of Friday-night passion. Mistakes happen, so don’t beat yourself up too much. But, don’t extend your mistake to not getting tested.

No matter your gender, if you’re sexually active, you’re susceptible to gonorrhea, as well as any and every STD or STI. Sex is fun, there’s no denying it, but you must also look out for yourself, it’s the reality of adulthood that all fun things come with responsibility. Keep whichever condom you use close by, don’t wait until you’re in pain to get tested and talk to your sexual partner(s); you need to know if they’re infected and they need to know if you’re infected.

Even if you and your partner are monogamous, and you’ve been together for a while, get tested.

It’s easy to do — you pee in cup.

It’s free and who doesn’t love free things?

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 8, 2017

• 15

Editorial

OPINION EDITOR MADELINE MCINNIS opinion@thecord.ca

Sex education should continue past high school Laurier’s done a great job of encouraging consent and safe sex in the last few years, but there’s only so much that they can do without students being forced to listen.

There’s also a disconnect between the types of accessible protection and the types of protection that we may need.

Male condoms aren’t the answer to everything.

Although it’s great to have them easily accessible, there are whole demographics of couples that have absolutely no use for male condoms and need other types of protection that aren’t thrown at you during O-Week.

Especially in the LGBTQ+ community, the education comes from the internet and through friends — both of which can be unreliable.

There’s embarrassment about safe sex and getting tested, though there really shouldn’t be.

Don’t feel embarrassed doing something for your own health.

Talk to the knowledgeable people, and make sure you get tested — it’s confidential and free, after all!

When’s the last time you had proper sex education? For most of us, it came in grade nine gym class.

That was a long time ago for university students.

If one thing’s for sure, it’s that sex isn’t static. Why should our sex education stop at the beginning of high school?

There’s an assumption that grade nine is when people start to be sexually active and there’s even more expectation of sex in university.

That couldn’t be further from the truth and it’s so incredibly harmful to perpetuate these stereotypes.

Students who enter first-year university are coming from a variety of educational backgrounds, like Catholic schools, public schools and private schools. It’s a harsh reality that some were fed misleading and untrue information about sex.

Though the curriculum for sex education in grade school is changing, it does nothing to help our generation with our experiences.

Laurier community’s fast response to current events the gap.

People are still experiencing trauma about the violence that’s happening all over the world and we need to listen.

Creating educational opportunities that are applicable to the real world is the whole point of university.

We have to listen to the people who are actually affected by intolerance and attempt to make their lives more comfortable.

Though many of us didn’t know these events or safe spaces were being offered until after they passed, we hope the people who needed the safe spaces and were looking for somewhere to go were able to attend and feel included in the community.

These events should hit home for all of our students. The intolerance isn’t a world away — our neighbours and classmates need our support and we need to give it to them.

In the news the past few weeks, there have been many scary examples of intolerance around the world. From Trump’s Muslim ban to the mosque massacre in Quebec City, it’s a scary time for Laurier’s Muslim community.

We can’t comment on what other schools did in response to these tragedies, but we were impressed with the fast response from the Laurier community.

There’s no denying that Laurier has a pretty white campus. By acknowledging the struggles of minorities and standing in solidarity with them, our community is showing that these types of actions will not be accepted.

Those with systematic privilege must help those without the inherent privilege. Laurier has recognized that in the past few weeks.

For those of us with the privilege not to be immediately concerned, the events that Laurier, both at Waterloo and Brantford, bridge

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.

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

WLUSP ADMINISTRATION BOARD OF DIRECTORS

DIRECTOR Matt Burley

CHAIR Meghan Roach

TREASURER John Pehar

VICE-CHAIR Abdiasis Issa DIRECTOR Maddy Cutts DIRECTOR Mynt Marsellus

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

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

FANI HSIEH/GRAPHICS EDITOR

Valentine’s without pressure BETHANY BOWLES EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

There are two kinds of people in February: people who love Valentine’s Day and people who loathe it. From my experience, there’s no one who really sits on the fence.

Stereotypically, the people who love it are in relationships and the people who loathe it are single.

For the first time in five years, I’ll be single this upcoming Valentine’s Day. I guess you could say I’m the relationship type. I like being committed to one person.

The relationships I’ve been in have been lengthy and serious, with little time to be single in between.

And in every single one, we did the whole Valentine’s Day thing.

We made dinner reservations at restaurants over our budget. We exchanged cheesy gifts. We went out of our way to see each other even if we worked early the next morning.

And every time, something fell short.

To me, Valentine’s Day is like New Year’s Eve. If you’re cele-

brating Valentine’s Day with a significant other, you have all these expectations that it’s going to be the best and most romantic night of your life.

You spend too much money at dinner, you buy lingerie that you’ll only wear a handful of times and I guarantee you’ll just end up back at home watching some Will Ferrell comedy together that you’d watch on a regular night.

And, if you’re single this year, chances are the world is pressuring you to feel like shit about it on Valentine’s Day. If you tell your in-relationship friends that you’re spending Valentine’s Day alone with an extra-large pizza and a six-pack of beer, you get a concerned “there’s always next year” look.

As someone who has been in relationships for Valentine’s Day, putting pressure on your relationship to reach some sort of romanticized expectation won’t make things better.

If dressing up and going to the Bauer Kitchen for dinner seems stiff to you, chances are that it will be.

If you and your significant other aren’t the kind of people who do stuff like that, then you don’t need to. You can still celebrate while staying within your means, without adding pressure.

This year, if I wasn’t working late

on Valentine’s Day, God knows I’d be with friends chugging back beers celebrating alternate forms of love: the love I have for my friends, my family, my coworkers, my dog, and myself.

As someone who has been in relationships for Valentine’s Day, putting pressure on your relationship to reach some sort of romanticized expectation won’t make things better.

If you’re single this Valentine’s Day, please do the same. Celebrate the relationships that you have in your life that make you feel good about yourself.

It doesn’t have to be all about sex and lust.

And for those of you celebrating with significant others, go easy on each other. Don’t make unachievable expectations.

If you need a calendar “holiday” to express the love you have for each other, maybe it’s time to reevaluate your relationship.

16 •

Opinion

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 8, 2017 OPINION EDITOR MADELINE MCINNIS opinion@thecord.ca

Falling in love with Valentine’s Day again Whether you’re single or in a relationship, the holiday doesn’t have to be a dreadful experience

EMILY WAITSON STAFF WRITER

Valentine’s Day is a holiday that many, if not most people today, regard with general distaste and scorn if it’s even mentioned in conversation. I’ve heard all of the criticisms and I do agree with them — to an extent.

It alienates people who are not in relationships. It’s a glorified occasion that’s a flimsy excuse to needlessly pump money into the Hallmark consumerism that it generates within our society.

It can dwindle the love we should show our partners down to one, cheesy day, instead of every day, as it rightfully should be.

Yet, as much as I see the merit in all of these points, I have a dirty little secret that has nothing to do with the bedroom: I adore Valentine’s Day. This feeling has existed since I was a little kid in elementary school.

I would eagerly look forward to making cards for everyone in my classes. I adored the garish

schoolroom decorations and the nauseatingly pink and red crafts that would plaster every square inch of wall space.

Of course, I had very few complaints about the various candy, chocolate and heart-shaped baked goods that would be thrust into my sticky little hands at every turn.

It’s never worth it to rely on some fuckboy (or fuckgirl) for validation on a holiday attached to coversation hearts and waxy candy that tastes like disappointment and broken dreams.

When I was young, the holiday held a certain level of purity.

There weren’t any expectations or stressful factors attached to it and for almost everyone else I knew it was merely a day of fun.

As I grew older, my views towards Valentine’s Day didn’t budge.

I embraced it and used it as a

NORELLE BLADON/CORD PHOTOGRAPHY

way to treat myself and to show my friends how much I cared about them.

I’m one of the biggest hopeless romantics on the planet. I have always watched romantic comedies with an unnerving level of dedication and consumed books with even the slightest hint of romanticism frighteningly quick.

Jane Austen has been one of my heroes since I was ten and the idea of a man catching my attention

SIMRAN DHALIWAL/CORD GRAPHICS

Wrapping up the rap genre SOURABH PANDE OPINION COLUMNIST

I like to think about rap on a spectrum — much like the political one.

Just like there is a left and right in politics, there is a left and right in rap: liberals on the left, who encourage change and a forward way of thinking, conservatives on the right, who cherish and try to

protect fundamental values.

Artists like Young Thug, Future and Migos are leading the transformation of rap, while artists like Kendrick Lamar, J.Cole and Drake are taking a more fundamental approach.

It is obvious that the “left” is becoming more popularized and is slowly taking over the mainstream.

From a rap perspective, most of the music being put out is, quite frankly, bad.

This “new brand” of rap, characterized by songs that focus heavily on the flow and beat, rather than the lyrics, has transgressed from

the old-school principles with little to no value being offered by the lyrics other than to simply compliment the beat.

Rap is a sub-culture of hip-hop and originated from the South Bronx.

Although lyrics weren’t a huge component of rap, they gave a voice to the voiceless by allowing them to speak about their daily life.

The lyrics could be as simple as someone talking about going to the store to buy something.

Later in the ‘90s, lyrics became a huge element of rap, with rappers like Tupac, Biggie and Snoop Dogg

who wasn’t like Mr. Darcy made me scoff.

My schmaltzy views on love have oddly increased my appreciation for Valentine’s Day and I’ve been single for most of my life.

Adding a boyfriend into the mix was just an added bonus; he was another person that I could smother with sappy notes, handmade cards and giant bears holding hearts that said “I Wuv U 4ever” on them.

using the genre to create clever wordplay and to express their deepest thoughts.

This evolution of rap has now dominated for nearly two and a half decades, longer than any other previous evolution.

With it’s success, it’s safe to say that lyrics are key element of rap.

Without lyrics, rap is bland. It holds no value.

I’m not saying the lyrics must always be meaningful or include clever wordplay, but the presence of words should, at least, be clear.

Now, many would try to argue that these new rappers aren’t trying to come up with great lyrics.

They’ll say something along the lines of: the whole point is for it to sound good, not for the song to have great lyrics.

Artists like Lil Yatchy and Lil Uzi Vert are often simply making noises out of words.

This is in no way even close to what rap started as or has been.

To a large number of people, including myself, rap is the ability to use words to tell a story, vent or simply rhyme while matching the words with the beat to come up with a flow.

If a beat is dominated with noises rather words and the foundational element of lyrics is being thrown away, why isn’t it classified as a different genre?

One of biggest problems I have with this new wave is when people call some of these newer artists the “greatest of all time.”

I live for that silly crap.

I think the key to not looking at Valentine’s Day like it’s the end all to your worth as a person, in or out of a relationship, is to see it for what it is.

It’s a tacky occasion to show that you care, no matter who you care about; especially if that person is yourself.

Looking at it like it’s a day for self-care and pampering, or surrounding yourself with the people that make your heart happy, no matter who they are, is how I’ve managed to find joy in an otherwise pointless day.

It’s never worth it to rely on some fuckboy (or fuckgirl) for validation on a holiday attached to conversation hearts and waxy candy that tastes like disappointment and broken dreams.

Fuck society’s standards and expectations of what you should be doing.

Be a Bridget-Jones or a Mindy-Lahiri and prove that you can be content, regardless of whether or not you’re with someone (but without the added fluff of plot fillers and easily cleared up misunderstandings).

Besides, you can always find the real joy on Feb. 15, when all of the Valentine’s Day chocolate and candy is on sale.

How can someone even begin to compare Tupac to Young Thug?

Their music is in no way comparable and both are trying to accomplish two completely different goals.

It’s like comparing apples to oranges. They’re so different that you can’t even begin to compare them.

Although lyrics weren’t a huge component of rap, they gave a voice to the voiceless by allowing them to speak about their daily life.

It’s not fair to either artist to rival the other, as they are not even competing in the same space.

It’s important to acknowledge the fundamental differences within hip-hop and artists should compete with others in their own category.

Rapping and mumbling are two completely different things.

I’m not saying don’t listen to these new artists and I’m not saying they are bad artists.

All I’m saying is that they’re bad rappers.

OPINION • 17

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 8, 2017

Campus biphobia Stigma against bisexuality is everywhere and, in reality, it’s just love

WATCH YOUR LANGUAGE! Use the words that cater to the individual person

MADELINE MCINNIS/OPINION EDITOR

MADELINE MCINNIS OPINION EDITOR

ARLEX TRKULJA/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER

BRITTNEY TENHAGE OPINION COLUMNIST

Last semester, I remember sitting between BA102 and BA101 waiting for my next class, underneath a poster about a Rainbow Centre event.

I was sitting nicely, doing a bit of people watching, when a pair of guys headed towards BA102.

One of them stopped to look at the poster above me, snorted, and said, “It should just be called LGTQ; bisexuals don’t count.”

I’ve never been so “shook” by a statement in my life. I had heard mutterings of the word biphobia online, but I never knew it was that real. I was quite naïve.

It turns out that after hearing it once, you hear it everywhere.

I’ve heard people on campus spreading the rumour that bisexuals are more likely to cheat, which is incredibly biphobic and not true.

Cheating is a choice. Who you’re attracted to isn’t.

I’ve also heard things like, “I love bisexuals and I’m fine with the idea — I would just never date one.”

You might not think this is biphobic and I hate to burst your bubble, but it is.

It’s not new information that the LGBTQ+ community has been marginalized, abused and mistreated for a very, very long time, but the marginalization of bisexual people is not the same as what homosexual people experience.

This is because bisexual people experience hate from both the homosexual and heterosexual community.

Bisexual people can be excluded from many LGBTQ+ events, being told they’re “not welcome” if they have a heterosexual partner.

On the surface, it may appear that they don’t count as part of the

community.

The LGTBQ+ community is supposed to be inclusive and supportive, but for bisexual people, it can feel exclusive and cliquey.

It’s called “PRIDE” for a reason.

That doesn’t mean you get to choose who is prideful about their sexuality and who isn’t.

I know that bisexual people struggle to find a sense of community and that they can feel as if their sexuality means they don’t belong in LGBTQ+ spaces, but I want to remind you that you do belong.

Someone’s partner does not determine whether or not they belong somewhere.

No one has the right to determine whether or not people are welcome in communities.

To everyone else, being accepting of the homosexual community, while constantly questioning the bisexual community isn’t justified.

It’s adding to the constant oppression that the entire LGBTQ+ community experiences daily.

Someone’s partner does not determine whether or not they belong somewhere. No one has the right to determine whether or not people are welcome in communities.

Whether you are straight, gay, ace, pan, or something else: somebody who is bisexual is just as worthy of your love or friendship.

Don’t let the world tell you that bisexual people are more likely to cheat on you, are hyper-sexual, confused or don’t belong in your space.

Love and respect people for who they are.

There’s no doubt that our words have impact. From our earliest days in elementary school, we’re told to watch our words.

Even when your words may seem well-intentioned, the people on the receiving end may not agree. Especially when you’re talking about a person’s personal life, you don’t get to decide that their word choice is wrong.

The biggest example of this in my life happened when I was with my ex-girlfriend. People would always refer to us as “partners.”

It was nice enough to be acknowledged for our relationship — that wasn’t easy to have in a Catholic high school as the only openly gay couple.

What I didn’t like, however, was the word choice of “partners.” Even when I specifically asked for people to refer to me as her girlfriend, I was still her “partner.”

It’s great to start out with the general rules. Using gender-neutral words for relationships, like “partner,” is great and it can work to erase heteronormativity.

I really appreciate the people that use “partner” for all relationships, not just the same-sex partnerships. Inclusive language makes everyone feel included.

However, when “partner” is only being used for LGBTQ+ couples,

that’s where the trouble arises.

Since I’ve been in a relationship with my boyfriend, not a single person has attempted to call us “partners.” It’s easy to call him my boyfriend and for me to be his girlfriend.

Why isn’t that the same for same-sex couples? Why is word choice so hard?

Relationships can be complicated, no matter the scenario. What never helps is making assumptions about how others choose to identify.

If the only time you rerfer to a couple as ‘partners’ is when they pass for the same gender, you may need to reevaluate your use of the word and how correct it actually is.

Using inclusive words, as in every other situation, makes everything a lot easier on everyone involved and can bring comfort to those involved in the relationship in question.

Even if it’s not the generic politically correct language, these are people with real experiences and that needs to be considered.

If someone with a real experience is a minority, no one gets to decide they’re wrong when they

want to be called something else.

A major complaint about politically correct culture is that it’s hard to keep up with what’s offensive and what isn’t.

Although that’s a fair criticism, I don’t think it’s well-founded.

The biggest thing about politically correct language is to make people feel as comfortable as possible while remaining accurate.

However, the individual’s comfort and accuracy can differ from that of the collective whole.

If the only time you refer to a couple as “partners” is when they pass for the same gender, you may need to reevaluate your use of the word and how correct it actually is.

In a world that is so cruel to people who have been marginalized, beat down or hurt in some other way, why can’t we just use simple words to help them feel just a little more comfortable in themselves and their situations?

There’s a certain trust that coincides with making the effort to be inclusive of people and use the terms that they prefer.

But there’s always one easy way to find out what words a person prefers — ask.

As uncomfortable as it may seem at the time, I promise that it’ll be worth it.

It shows that you care enough about the other person to genuinely try to understand them.

Unless you’re referring to every relationship as partners, remember that they’re not cowboys, nor are they doing science experiments together: they’re in a relationship.

Call it what it is and listen if you happen to get it wrong.

18 •

Sports

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 8, 2017 SPORTS EDITOR ROB FIFIELD sports@thecord.ca

CURLING

Preparing for the OUA finals DREW YATES CORD ALUM

The Ontario University Athletics curling championships are only a couple weeks away and for head coach Matt Wilkinson, he's entering familiar territory.

Wilkinson, the new coach of the Wilfrid Laurier Golden Hawks curling team, is preparing for the five-day event with the Hawks men's and women's rinks, who are coming off of sweeping gold at the provincial level.

The women's team remained fairly intact, with the rink only losing lead Megan Arnold to graduation. The rink, with skip Chelsea Brandwood, vice Brenda Holloway and Riley Sandham are joined by Kirsten Marshall, who takes the lead spot. Last year, the women's rink captured OUA gold for the second time in as many years, finishing fourth in the U Sports Championships.

"They've been working well, doing prep," Wilkinson said.

"The Brock exhibition event had some highs and lows, but identified some of the important aspects there that the team and the coaching staff has been working on to make sure that they are ready in two week’s time."

The men's rink is in more of a unique situation.

After successfully capturing gold at the national level, all four members of last year's men's lineup

many many years and we've got this new group of guys, some in their second-year and then there's a couple in their third or fourth, but they're not going anywhere."

"It'll be nice to put a little rubber stamp on it this year and then see where we can go from there. That's our goal," he continued.

One of the other challenges the rink faces is the new venue for the curling championship. For the last six years, the tournament was held at the Guelph Curling Club, but this year, the teams face off in Oshawa.

Aside from the venue change, athletes will notice a few other changes. The length of time

between games has increased, meaning that athletes are curling from 7:30 in the morning until close to midnight, and instead of three hour gaps between games, the down time has doubled. The playoff format is also being altered, with the top four teams from each pool making it to the playoffs instead of the top three. All teams play in the quarterfinals, instead of the first-place team receiving a bye into the semifinals.

Currently in his seventh year as a varsity coach, Wilkinson understands that when it comes to the university circuit, rinks can do everything all year, but it all comes down to five days. It's about taking it in little strides at a time, and then there's a quick turnaround, going into a lot of curling in a short time span. That experience, accompanied with the fact that he's done this more than once before with different teams both inside and outside of the school stream.

But one thing he remembers as a former coach for both Brock and the University of Guelph, is that Laurier was always the game he circled and knew that he wanted to have a good game against.

"You knew they were going to be a team going to be there at the end of the week," he said.

"It's nice to put the shoe on the other foot and be that team now and hope that we've prepared both teams well, that we're ready to go come Feb. 16."

double OT of three on three was needed.

In the second overtime period, Laurier’s Danny Hanlon scored and secured the victory for the Hawks and snapped the Rams winning streak at seven games.

Puhalski spoke about how important it was to get these two wins heading into crunch time.

“For us, its about looking to maintain momentum and play good hockey,” he said.

“As you head into the playoffs, you want to be playing your best hockey to build confidence with yourself and your teammates. We want to make sure we have our momentum going the right way.”

With a big weekend for Laurier on the ice, they were able to secure home ice advantage in the opening round of the OUA playoffs.

“It’s about building momentum and feeling good about yourself. If you’re able to secure some home ice you have a little better feeling about the regular season. It doesn’t guarantee anything — home ice isn’t like it used to be years ago. It’s not as intimidating as it was once,” Puhalski said.

The Hawks will look to keep their streak alive when they host the Windsor Lancers to close out the regular season Saturday at Sun Life Financial Arena. Puck drop is set for 7:30 p.m.

KARYN STEPIEN/LAURIER ATHLETICS

Skip Chelsea Brandwood looks to take gold for the second year in a row.

aged out and were replaced with a new lineup.

Wilkinson said one of the biggest challenges for the men's team is that all the players haven't been in the same province for a while.

Currently, lead Russell Cuddie is in Almaty, Kazakhstan representing Canada at the 2017 Winter Universiade, while Matt Hall and Jeffrey Wanless are in Victoria, British Columbia playing in the Canadian World Junior championships.

"One of the more interesting things on the men's side [is] all four gentlemen who were on the men's team last year aged out," Wilkinson said.

"They all played together for

MEN’S HOCKEY

Home ice clinched ROB FIFIELD SPORTS EDITOR

The Hawks had a successful weekend on the ice defeating both the University of Toronto Varsity Blues and the No. 3 nationally ranked Ryerson Rams.

The weekend got going with the purple and gold travelling to downtown Toronto to face off against the Varsity Blues. The Hawks played well but were only able to score once, as they shutout the Blues 1-0.

Laurier goaltender Colin Furlong made 25 saves and earned himself his first OUA shutout.

Head coach Greg Puhalski didn’t seem concerned that his team only managed to score one goal against last place team: the Varsity Blues.

“We haven’t scored a lot of goals as of late as a team,” he said.

“The real difference is we’re winning a lot more of the close hockey games. As opposed to earlier in the year when we lost a lot of close games and a lot of 4-3 games.

We’re scoring a little less but we’re winning more and the wins are what we’re after at this particular time of the season.”

Looking to keep their momen-

tum and win four in a row, the Hawks travelled back home for a Saturday night tilt against the top team in the OUA west, The Ryerson Rams.

The Rams have put together an impressive season going 20-4-2 and are averaging 4.58 goals a game, the most in the OUA. After two periods of play, the game was tied up at one a piece as Laurier’s Neil Aird and Rams’ forward Daniel Clairmont were both able to find the back of the net.

Laurier would reclaim their lead early in the third when Kyle Morrison fired one home to give the Hawks a 2-1 lead.

However, the lead would only last a few minutes as Ryerson quickly answered back when Josh Sterk was able to find the back of the net on the power play and tie it up at 2-2.

Ryerson continued to press for the remainder of the third period, looking to take their first lead of the game, but they couldn’t seem to solve Furlong as the Rams outshot the Hawks 17-5 in the third period.

This one required overtime.

The first period of overtime came and went without a goal and

MARCO PEDRI/LEAD PHOTOGRAPHER

SPORTS • 19

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 8, 2017 PROFILE

Playing in the present PRANAV DESAI LEAD SPORTS REPORTER

The Hawks pulled off a big upset against the first place Ryerson Rams in a double overtime this past weekend, Improving the Hawks’ record to 14-9-4.

One of the key pieces of the Hawks’ success has been third-year right winger, Andrew Fritsch.

His play earned him Laurier Athlete of the Week on January 30.

Fritsch has contributed in a big way this season, scoring 11 goals, along with racking up 16 assists.

The Brantford native spoke about the key to the Hawks’ success this season.

“Individually, I think I’ve just been fortunate enough to be playing with good line-mates. We’ve been together the whole year; we haven’t separated once. Playing with other good players helps you do well individually. As a team we’re just trying to buy in. We’re rolling at the right time and I think we’re feeling pretty good right now going into our last game and into the playoffs,” he said.

The win against Ryerson guaranteed the Hawks home ice advantage in the first round of the playoffs. This stipulation increased the magnitude of what already was

a massive win.

“The win was obviously important for home ice, but it was also important because it gives us some confidence that we can play with the top team. They are first place in our conference and we just beat them. This year, I think we’ve just about beaten every top team and it just gives us confidence that can we beat anyone,” Fritsch said.

There are numerous first-year players on the Hawks’ roster, yet their record is much better than last year. This speaks volumes about the maturity and leadership on the team.

Fritsch mentioned that this team is full of leaders.

“We’ve got great leadership, starting with Kyle [Morrison], going down through the assistants.

Everybody has a say; I don’t think it’s just the guys wearing the letters.

Obviously they’re important and they do a great job. Everybody right from the first-year guys to the fifthyear guys has a say. When someone talks, we listen and we go from there. The first-year players have come in and done a tremendous job and that has definitely helped with our record,” he said.

It's easy for people to look ahead into the playoffs when a team has clinched home ice. But it’s import-

ant for the players not to overlook anyone.

When asked to comment about the Hawks expectations for the playoffs, Fritsch reminded everyone not to look too far ahead.

“We just want to take it game by game. Everybody’s goal in this league is to win a championship.

But I don’t think we want to look too far ahead. We’re still trying to get better every day and if we continue to get better as a team, then our chances are going to be pretty good if we just go game by game,” he said.

Fritsch brings a certain level headedness to this team.

With players like Fritsch, this Golden Hawk squad can go as far as it wants to.

It seems as if the Hawks have caught fire at just the perfect moment.

They have now won four consecutive games and have climbed to third place in their conference.

One can tell that the confidence is flowing through this team, as they head into their final regular season game against the Windsor Lancers.

With the playoffs right around the corner, it’s an exciting time for the Hawks players, coaches and their fans.

TANZEEL SAYANI/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER

Right winger, Andrew Fritsch, has 11 goals and 16 assists for the Hawks.

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20 • SPORTS

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 8, 2017

CHEERLEADING

LAURIER CHEERLEADERS NAMED TO TEAM CANADA Staff writer Eric Flockhart caught up with Jordyn Witmeyer, Meghan Clarke & Emma Heaps set to Every April, the International Cheer Union (ICU) World Cheerleading Championships are held in Orlando, Florida. Teams from around the globe come to compete in a variety of disciplines and to show their routines to the world.

This year, the Canadian National Team will feature a little more purple and gold as three members of the Golden Hawks Cheerleading squad will look to make their mark on the world stage.

Jordyn Witmeyer, a fifth-year communications student, Meghan Clarke, a second-year psychology student and Emma Heaps, a first-year biology student will join a talented group of athletes from across Canada to compete in this years’ event.

For Witmeyer and Clarke, this is not their first experience competing on the world stage, both making return appearances to the ICU World Cheerleading Championships. Witmeyer was a member of the Canadian national team just last year, with Clarke representing Canada in 2014 and 2015.

“It was honestly such an amazing experience,” said Witmeyer, reflecting on last years’ competition.

“I got to meet and train with girls from all over the country and everyone is there for the same reason. They want to be the best in the country.”

Clarke was also quick to speak highly of her past experiences representing Canada.

“It’s just crazy being able to represent your country for something that you’re so passionate about,” she said.

“It’s really hard on your body, too, because you’re training back-to-back for five days. You just really don’t have much time to rest, but it’s all worth it in the end.”

Founded in 2004, the International Cheer Union is the governing body of

PHOTOS AND MANIPULATION BY MARCO PEDRI/LEAD PHOTOGRAPHER

cheerleading around the world. According to the ICU website, the organization encompasses 105 National Cheer Member-Nations, representing over 3.5 Million athletes.

Hosted at the Walt Disney World Resort, the ICU also features a number of other competitions throughout the year, including: the World University Cheerleading Cup which features university teams from around the world; the World School Cheerleading Championship, which features individual high school teams; and the World School and Performance Cheer Championships, which feature both school and all-star teams in a variety of age categories.

The ICU World Cheerleading Championships feature seven national cheer teams in the premier competition, including: Canada, Austria, Denmark, Sweden, Norway, Finland and the United States, who were the gold medal winners at the 2016 World Championships.

Teams competing in the World Championships earn a score based on the execution of tumbling, stunts, pyramids, dismounts and tosses. The team earning the highest combined score in each of these components will be awarded gold.

After a disappointing sixth place finish in 2016, the Canadian team will be looking for redemption with hopes set on a podium finish at this year’s competition.

“I think everyone just has the same mindset and goal,” said Witmeyer.

“We want to work super hard and be the best we can be, just so that we can have a chance at the podium.”

To achieve this success, the national team will conduct two training camps before heading to Orlando in April. Team members from across the country will

gather in Ontario, once in March and once in April to prepare the routine.

However, despite these training camps, much of the work is done right up until competition day.

“We arrive the Saturday and we train Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and compete Friday,” said Clarke. “We’re training right up until the day we compete.”

For each Golden Hawk, the opportunity to represent their country on the world stage is well worth the hard work.

Heaps, who will compete for Canada for the first time, is honoured to have the opportunity.

“Team Canada is a really big accomplishment and it’s really exciting to me because it’s something that many athletes in this sport aim to achieve,” she said. “It has been a goal of mine ever since I started cheerleading.”

Clarke, in her third year with the team, echoed this sentiment: “It’s a great honour,” she said. “A lot of cheerleaders aspire to do this and it’s one of the top things you can do when you’re a cheerleader.”

Witmeyer acknowledged the increased level of competition in making the team this year, making the accomplishment even more special for each athlete.

“The coaches of Team Canada said that it was the largest and strongest turn out for team tryouts that they’ve seen in five years. So that makes it exciting that I made it this year just because there was a larger talent pool coming to the tryout.”

Witmeyer, Clarke, Heaps and the rest of Team Canada, with sights set on the podium, will take to the 2017 ICU World Cheerleading Championships April 26–28 at the Walt Disney World Resort in Orlando.