Volume 72, Issue 14 by Daniel St. Jules

Volume 72, Issue 14 Dec. 1â&#x20AC;&#x201C;7, 2011

Confessions of a 20-something in crisis

pp. 12â&#x20AC;&#x201C;13

INSIDE: Get in the laughing spirit this holiday, p. 14 Personal or professional?, p. 21

Shhhhhhhh... The Fulcrum is holding a silent auction. See p. 3 and 14 for details.

Learning transforms.

Want to be a teacher? Come study at the University of Victoria! Spectacular Southern Vancouver Island setting Four year Bachelor of Education program Post Degree programs Ability to participate in the Centre for Outreach Education

Thinking of doing a Master’s or PhD degree in Education? Physical Education Leadership Studies Counselling Special Education Curriculum Studies

Many exciting opportunities still available for September 2012.

To learn more visit: www.uvic.ca/education

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Mercedes Mueller | editor@thefulcrum.ca | (613) 562-5261

LETTERS

Together yet significantly different Re: “Can I get a side of English, please?” (Opinions, Oct. 12)

IN THE OCT. 21 edition, the Fulcrum, the University of Ottawa’s English student newspaper, published an opinion letter entitled, “Can I get a side of English, please?” The author, Jaclyn Lytle, complained that the university’s policy on bilingualism was greatly flawed and took issue with the university’s “bilingual agenda” and the lack of effort put into ensuring a strong English presence on the campus. Her position stemmed from her inability to understand the menu sign at the Quiznos in the cafeteria, because it was only written in French. Francophones on campus and Ms. Lytle share a common goal: To hold the administration of the University of Ottawa accountable for its bilingualism policy, imperfect as it may be. They may share the same complaints; however, the shortfalls of French services and communications are far more severe than the occasional lapse in English-language signage. This article is neither a passionate rebuttal to Ms. Lytle’s article, nor an inflammatory call to arms for the francophone community on campus. It is an informative and pragmatic reminder of the linguistic realities facing students studying at the University of Ottawa. Every year, the Standing Committee on Francophone Affairs and Official Languages releases an annual report, in which it describes the status of bilingualism at the university. Between May 2010 and April 2011, it received 178 complaints, almost all of them critiquing the status of the French language on campus. We believe that Ms. Lytle’s complaint has merit, and should be taken seriously. However, her issue also brings to light the significant difference between the quantity and nature of language-related complaints brought forward. While anglophones may complain about their inability to order a sandwich in their mother tongue, francophones must face services offered only in English by the university or by hired third parties, English-only computer software required for courses, nonexistent or poorly written French documents, and even vandalism defacing French language signs

on campus. The respect of both official languages must be considered when discussing the university’s lack of accountability toward its bilingualism policy. However, as highlighted in the Standing Committee’s annual report, we must not lose sight of the fact that the lack of compliance with the bilingualism policy has primarily impacted the university’s francophone students. In light of the facts presented in this article, we suggest that Ms. Lytle is misguided in asserting that English is not afforded the same level of presence on campus. While we are sympathetic to her frustration, a closer examination of the linguistic realities at the University of Ottawa reveal that we must continue working toward assuring that French is not further marginalized at the University of Ottawa. It is clear that the shortcomings of the university’s bilingualism policy are far more significant for francophones. Fundamental issues such as access to French-language courses and key services in French are regularly brought up in complaints. However, it is interesting to see that it has taken a complaint from an anglophone about French-only communication in the cafeteria to create such a widespread debate concerning the lack of accountability towards the University of Ottawa’s bilingualism policy. Joseph Morin For the Regroupement étudiant de common law en français (RÉCLEF)

To our SFUO: Drop the U-Pass referendum I AM DISGUSTED with the Student Federation of the University of Ottawa (SFUO)’s handling of the U-Pass. The SFUO claims to be fighting for an affordable U-Pass for all students, even though the U-Pass comes at a huge discount for students. What really bothers me, however, is that the SFUO seems to be placing students on some kind of pedestal, as if students are entitled to more than the average person. This kind of thinking reminds me of the whole one per cent versus the 99 per cent idea created by the Occupy movement, only in this case, the couple thousand students are the greedy one per cent, and the nearly one million residents of the city of

Ottawa are the 99 per cent. You may say that is a rather bold statement; however, a hard-working citizen who relies on OC Transpo to get to and from work would be on the hook for $1,128 in monthly bus passes annually ($94 a month). Students enjoy a U-Pass that costs $290 per year ($145 per semester, or $36.25 per month). That is a savings of $472 in an eight-month school year compared to everyone else in the city. Despite these savings, the SFUO has the audacity to try and fight against a $70 ($35 per semester) increase, even though every other transit user in the city faces the exact same price increase! What makes students so special that they should not be subject to a price increase? The U-Pass is already revenueneutral, but now the SFUO is demanding that the city force the citizens of Ottawa to subsidize the added increase of the UPass. What planet is the SFUO living on? City Hall is left scratching their heads at the nonsense being spewed from the student federations, and I fear that the U-Pass may be in jeopardy. I am a mature student who has a job, a child, and goes to school full time. My life is very busy, yet I am no different than the hundreds of thousands of people who live in the city, beyond the walls of the university. Because I straddle both working life and student life, I see the drastic contrast between the two worlds. Universities may breed a culture of learning and creativity; however, they also shelter students from the harsh realities of life. OC Transpo recently cut $20 million from its budget by eliminating routes. This has adversely affected thousands of people in Ottawa; this is by far a much larger pill to swallow than paying $70 more on an already discounted U-Pass! I will gladly take a $70-dollar hike in my U-Pass, as the amount I save in gas and maintenance during the school year more than makes up for the increase. Perhaps the SFUO needs to live the life of a taxpayer to realize that they have something good before they go ahead and destroy it. Andrew Moore Second-year biology student

Got something to say? Send your letters to editor@thefulcrum.ca Letters deadline: Sunday at 1 p.m. Letters must be under 500 words unless discussed with the Editor-in-Chief. Drop off letters at 631 King Edward Ave. or email editor@thefulcrum.ca. Letters must include your name, telephone number, year, and program of study. Pseudonyms may be used after consultation with the Editor-in-Chief. We correct spelling and grammar to some extent. The Fulcrum will exercise discretion in printing letters that are deemed racist, homophobic, or sexist. We will not consider hate literature or libellous material. The Editor-in-Chief reserves the authority on everything printed herein.

Advertising Department Deidre Butters, Advertising Representative email: ads@thefulcrum.ca Check out our rate card online. Go to www. thefulcrum.ca and follow the link for “Advertisers.” Multi-market advertisers: Campus Plus: (800) 265-5372 Campus Plus offers one-stop shopping for over 90 Canadian student newspapers. The Fulcrum is a proud member of Canadian University Press: www.cup.ca

SAFA shines

Arts executive’s video top in contest

And the award for most dedicated Fulcrumite goes to...

Brennan Bova

For getting around... ...the Fulcrum! Can anyone even count the notches on Brennan’s belt this week?

The Fulcrum is holding a silent auction! Who: The Fulcrum What: Silent auction fundraiser Where: The University Centre When: Dec. 6–7, 10 a.m.–4 p.m.

contents

Why: To help send our amazing staff and volunteers to the Canadian University Press National Conference in Victoria, B.C. in January/to get some legit shit!

Artistic grants: Yay or nay?

Discussing the merits of art grants

Trauma in your 20s 12–13 Keeton Wilcock examines the quarterlife crisis

Afraid of the freshman 15? 18 Ali Schwabe discusses weight loss programs at the U of O

Saddened by Penn State

Check out our sponsors on p. 14 Board of Directors The Fulcrum, the University of Ottawa’s independent, English-language student newspaper, is published by the Fulcrum Publishing Society (FPS) Inc., a not-for-profit corporation whose members consist of all University of Ottawa students. The Board of Directors (BOD) of the FPS governs all administrative and business actions of the Fulcrum. BOD members include Andrew Hawley (President), Devanne O’Brien (Vice President), Des Fisher (Chair), Ben Myers (Vice President Internal Communications), Matthew Conley, Ben Mitchell, Alex Smyth, Sameena Topan, Naushin Vighio. To contact the BOD, email board@thefulcrum.ca. To contact the FPS ombudsman regarding the Fulcrum’s editorial practices, please email ombudsman@ thefulcrum.ca. The ombudsman is an impartial party not employed by the corporation who has the power to investigate and pursue a resolution on your behalf.

Crimes change how one fan sees sports

How do they rank? 23 The Fulcrum grades our SFUO execs’ first-semester performance

NEWS EDITOR Jane Lytvynenko | news@thefulcrum.ca | (613) 562-5260

U of O professor strikes gold with research Constance Backhouse awarded prestigious Canadian research grant Christopher Radojewski | Fulcrum Staff

ON NOV. 25 University Research Chair and university professor Constance Backhouse was awarded the Gold Medal for Achievement in Research by the Social Science and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC). She received the award for leadership and dedication in the fields of feminist history, human rights, legal history, and women and law. “When the University of Ottawa first indicated to me that they would like to put my name forward I explained to them that there was no way on earth that I could possibly win,” said Backhouse, professor of law at the U of O. “It was their tenacity, rather than my optimism, which created the nomination, so I was extremely surprised I had been named the gold medallist.” The mandate of the SSHRC is to support post-secondary research and training in the humanities and social sciences. The SSHRC’s annual award strives to recognize leadership, dedication, originality in the field of study, and the cultural and intellectual impact of a nominee’s work in Canadian society.

“It is a very high honour for a Canadian researcher to win one of these awards,” said Gordana Krcevinac, director of research training at the U of O. “The committee that is put in place to adjudicate these [nominees] really only has a handful of applications each year and that is because it is extremely competitive. “[The committee] is looking for exceptional quality in the nominees [through] research achievement, evidence the nominee has outstanding commitment, creativity, and has made an effort to share the research that has been produced in academia and beyond,” she added. “Their contribution in terms of research results for Canadian society is

photo courtesy Constance Backhouse

RESEARCH AT THE U OF O Law professor Constance Backhouse awarded prestigious SSHRC grant really important, [along with] the international stature and contribution the nominee has made. Constance embodies all of [those qualities].” The award consists of $100,000 to assist the researcher in their area of study, available over a period of five years. “I am a feminist and have been a feminist activist for many decades, so it was a natural thing to focus my research on women,” said Backhouse. “[Women] are

crosscut by issues of race, class, sexual identity, and disability. I have expanded my research beyond the issue of gender into some of these other areas. I research the history of law and I am always looking for stories of individuals who have experienced discrimination or injustice and who have resisted and stood up within the legal system.” Backhouse believes it is important to discover these stories of men and women

who have resisted discrimination, because it inspires future generations to continue to challenge these inequalities. “I love my work, and I think if I had more time to myself what I would do celebrate it more often,” said Backhouse. “[Celebrate] not only the winning of awards more often, but the valiant bravery of those in Canadian history and today who are fighting for greater justice across our world.” f

SAFA finalist in Shinerama video challenge Arts could win $1,000 donation toward campaign Jane Lytvynenko | Fulcrum Staff

SINGING, DANCING, AND fundraising—all that and more can be seen in the Student Association of the Faculty of Arts’ (SAFA) video entry into a national Shinerama video competition for the grand prize of a $1,000 donation to Cystic Fibrosis Canada made on behalf of the winning university. SAFA is in a tight race with Western University— they’re hoping to beat their competitor by the end of the contest on Dec. 2.

Drew Dudley, founder of professional development company Nuance Leadership, is the creator of the contest and a Shinerama supporter and volunteer. “We live in a world where everyone has a camera and everyone is making these wonderful videos,” said Dudley. “The central Shinerama committee doesn’t usually get footage, so instead of just giving $1,000 to Shinerama, why don’t we ask the schools to capture this event?” Shinerama, raises funds and awareness for Cystic Fibrosis Canada. It is the largest post-secondary school fundraiser in Canada, beginning in the 1960s with students shining shoes to collect donations. Today, the campaign involves 60 colleges and universities, raising $1 million annually. “Cystic fibrosis is a genetic fatal disease,” said Nadine Imbleau-Redman,

regional director of the Eastern Ontario Shinerama chapter. “It attacks the respiratory and digestive systems. Most people that are born with it usually have a short life expectancy.” Imbleau-Redman said the life expectancy for those diagnosed with cystic fibrosis went up by 30–40 years thanks to the money being put toward research. Dudley asked colleges and universities to submit videos illustrating their Shinerama fundraising efforts during frosh week. “What I wanted to do is see if people can tell the Shinerama story from their own perspective to have more of a record of what happens every year,” he said. “We have trouble keeping a record of all the amazing people [involved], so I thought we could kill two birds with one stone. When people see success, they want to emulate it.”

For universities, most of the fundraising takes place during 101 Week, but the SAFA decided to make an exception this year. “It was an opportunity we were capable of taking on,” said Sean Green, SAFA president, on their decision to enter the contest. “Our volunteers have been amazing this year.” The winner of the contest will be the video with the most “likes” on Facebook, its creators walking away with the prize. William Joyce, the SAFA philanthropic commissioner, said he and volunteer Natasha Belanger put a lot of effort into the video to make it truly reflect the Shinerama experience. “I think we made big strides this year in terms of engaging volunteers and making more money,” said Joyce. “We’re having a lot more fun this year, which is

something the video brought out. “Shinerama is something that, to me, is very ingrained in the university culture,” he added. “To see it go from a little idea to something that spread over the entire country to something that every volunteer experiences during their 101 Week, I think what we’ve been able to accomplish is pretty incredible.” If they win, the SAFA will have raised $14,050.01 toward their Shinerama campaign this year. “There’s been a lot of development in treatments, and now by funding more research, there have been some big breakthroughs where they’re confident in the foreseeable future there will be a way to control cystic fibrosis, if not cure it,” she said. “Shinerama is such a huge fight for cystic fibrosis. Without the continued support, we will not be able to f reach that cure.”

6 | news

thefulcrum.ca | Dec. 1–7, 2011

Equestrians think pink This week, the equestrian team will be holding a pub night for Top Gun Charity, a student-run charity that puts money toward early detection machines for breast cancer.

Wind-powered innovation

‘She’s such a slut!’ A recent U of O study revealed aggression toward perceived sexuality in women is usually spearheaded by other women. Our online editor sounds off on why this is so poignant, and what we can do to combat it. Occupy Xmas challenges people to buy nothing Holidays are coming, and one writer is seeing red over the latest Occupy movement, which challenges people to buy nothing. Is the movement really accomplishing anything?

This week online. Thefulcrum.ca

DISCOVER FORTY CREEK WHISKY

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Gold Medal Winner The World Selection, Brussels

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A WINNING SMILE

photo courtesy Riadh Habash

Green Engineers revolutionize wind turbines

Green Engineers develop new design for wind turbines Christopher Radojewski | Fulcrum Staff

GREEN ENGINEERS, A club for professors and students, has been developing an innovative wind turbine over the past three years. The invention, already published in academic journals, features two sets of blades to increase efficiency and decrease noise—problems associated with current versions of wind turbines. “We are building a source of energy,” said Riadh Habash, professor in the Faculty of Engineering at the U of O and member of Green Engineers. “Anyone can build a wind turbine, but this is a scientific process. We first looked for a new idea [of how] to enhance the efficiency of the wind turbine. What we thought of was the contrarotating process: Two sets of blades. This is a proven technology in water pumps so we wanted to implement it in wind turbines.” Habash explained the prototypes of the contra-rotating turbines are less noisy and 40 per cent more efficient than regular

wind turbines. “The noise is [caused] because of vibrations [running] through the tower into the ground,” said Habash. “We realized when you have two systems operating in opposite directions that helps reduce the noise. “There is always a problem with poor quality,” he added. “Many wind turbine projects built on farms are not permitted to be connected to the grid, because [wind turbines] have a lot of distortion—it is dirty energy. Our group, along with an industrial partner, have built a generator that gives clean energy.” Habash also explained this is a valuable and unique learning experience for the students involved. “Students are not only learning technology,” said Habash. “This is hands-on experience, research experience, and project management experience. They learn how to develop technologies for the community. We see that in the near future, there will be multiple projects within our communities, so we are working to build technologies for these projects.” George El-Hage, a first-year master’s student in mechanical engineering and member of the Green Engineers, said working on the new turbines gave him an advantage in the professional world. “This is going to be on my resumé afterward,” said El-Hage. “I was happy when I

learned about Green Engineers. I got to learn how to deal with a company I can’t go see and deal with a company I see all the time—deal with finances—things I don’t see in class. In a job interview, I will get the leg up on someone who didn’t have this kind of experience. “I think this was definitely one of the defining moments of my undergrad, working with the Green Engineers group,” he added. “The first thing we’re told when we get into university is, ‘Get involved.’ Only after you get involved do you understand why [you’re told that].” The team has been recognized with a number of awards for their work on the wind turbine. In 2010, they were awarded the Ontario Power Authority’s award for Best Power Conservation Project. The team’s prototypes will also be on display at the National Science and Technology Museum for the next six years. “We have more than 15 industrial, community, and innovation partners,” said Habash. “It is not only [about] teachers and students but industry, community, and government as well. I have been a teacher for more than 30 years and taught in many different ways, but this is an amazing experience for me and I learn more than I teach. It is [not] an exercise that ends, [but] is an exercise that is continuous. It is innovation.” f —With files from Jane Lytvynenko

Ecology Ottawa releases report card City hall graded on green initiatives Jane Lytvynenko | Fulcrum Staff

ON NOV. 23, Ecology Ottawa, a local nonprofit organization that advocates for sustainability, released their Council Watch report card, grading the city’s councillors and mayor on their green initiatives. The report was started by local organizations, like the Sierra Club of CanadaOttawa Group, the Greenspace Alliance of Canada’s Capital, and the Coalition for a Healthy Ottawa, that wanted to bring awareness to the public about what their councillors are doing for the environment. This is the fifth annual report card for the city. According to Trevor Hache, the policy coordinator for Ecology Ottawa, as the original organizations stopped working

on the reports, Ecology Ottawa continued the initiative. “At the time [other organizations] were doing their report card, they were just trying to let the citizens of Ottawa know what the environmental voting record was,” he said. “We just tried to carry on that work.” Hache added the report is meant to benefit citizens who don’t have time to keep up with the city council on a daily basis, but still want to know what the city is doing in terms of environmental initiatives. “Ecology Ottawa tries to, to some degree, act like a watchdog to the environment initiatives taken in city hall,” said Hache. “We’re hopeful if people are concerned about the environment, they will contact their city councillor.” A team of volunteers who meet regularly throughout the year put together the report. The volunteers review what has been voted on during city council meetings, determine the environmental significance,

and judge the individual votes. Doug Thompson, the Osgoode councillor, received a D, the lowest grade of all reviewed, while David Chernushenko from the Capital ward and Diane Holmes from Somerset both scored A+s. Mayor Jim Watson got a B. “Certainly the mayor is doing a lot better than his predecessor did,” said Hache. “The budget included a lot of environmental efforts in it.” Hache said there’s always room for improvement for the city. On Oct. 5, Ecology Ottawa released budget recommendations to the city, outlining green initiatives Ottawa can implement in the near future. “We think the city could be doing more with regard to renewable energy,” said Hache. “The city is prepared to lease some of its rooftops for solar energy projects. They could also work with Energy and Hydro Ottawa. We also want them to do more with regard to energy efficiency.” f

thefulcrum.ca | Dec. 1–7, 2011

news | 7

CFS marks 30th anniversary, prepares for new day of action

photos courtesy CUP

A VOTE AT THE MEETING Campaigns, budgets, and executive reports passed at CFS AGM

Semi-annual general meeting held just outside Ottawa Briana Hill | CUP Ottawa Bureau Chief

OTTAWA (CUP)—THE CANADIAN FEDERATION of Students (CFS) celebrated its 30-year anniversary last week at its 60th semi-annual national general meeting held just outside of Ottawa. Nearly 250 delegates convened Nov. 22–25 in Gatineau, Que. to discuss student issues and offer solutions. Feb. 1, à la rue! Campaigns, budgets, and executive reports were debated and passed, but the overarching theme of the four-day-long conference was the upcoming national day of action on Feb. 1, 2012. Keynote speakers like Justin Trudeau,

next stop Jane Lytvynenko News Editor

CBC is a necessity

Liberal member of Parliament, and Nycole Turmel, NDP interim leader of the official Opposition, both pledged their support for Feb. 1. “This year is really defined by the national campaign,” said Roxanne Dubois, CFS national chairperson, about the day of action. According to the CFS, the Feb. 1 protest will be multifaceted, targeting the reduction of tuition fees and student debt, and increased education funding. For Dubois, two topics stood out at this year’s national general meeting. “The Education is a Right campaign and the day of action obviously are one, because we’ve actually been able to talk about them in various caucuses, and different constituency groups were able to identify some materials that would enable [students] to connect to the campaign more directly,” she said.

“I’m really excited to be able to continue working past this year, to continue working for students all across Canada.”

Election of a new national chairperson During closing plenary, delegates voted for their new national executive for 2012– 13. The national chairperson, the national

deputy chairperson, and the national treasurer make up the executive board. Candidates in each category ran unopposed and all were elected. Adam Awad, current national deputy chairperson originally from the University of Toronto Students’ Union, will take the position of national chairperson. Jessica McCormick of the Memorial University of Newfoundland Students’ Union will become national deputy chairperson and Michael Olson of the Vancouver Island University Students’ Union will become national treasurer. All three will officially assume their new positions next spring. “I’m actually really excited to have such a diverse [team of] at-large members,” said Awad on his election. “I’m really excited to be able to work with three incredibly strong provincial components and to bring the lessons that they’ve learned from the different parts of the country and I think it’s really important to not just have an Ottawa-centric—and Ontariocentric—perspective on how to get the message out.

SINCE THE HARPER government claimed a majority on May 2, rumours about defunding the CBC began floating around. The national broadcaster has also taken heat from Quebecor, a Montrealbased news company, who filed freedom of information requests over the course of the past three years. The requested documents could reveal CBC’s sources, compromising the broadcaster’s journalistic independence. On Nov. 5, the Globe and Mail reported the CBC finally gave in and released some of the sought-after information—something seen as a loss for the broadcaster. Part of the CBC’s official mandate is to “provide radio and television services incorporating a wide range of programming that informs, enlightens, and entertains.”

Whether it’s creating and broadcasting a Canadian television show or publishing an in-depth report revealing corruption, the CBC is meant to serve Canadian interests. Nothing in that description seems outrageous, wrong, or inappropriate. So why are so many people on the broadcaster’s case? Because the CBC is intimidating. When it comes to Quebec, the CBC is Quebecor’s top competitor for viewership. Some columnists in the Toronto Star and the Globe and Mail, various professors, and field experts suggest the freedom of information requests were filed to set the CBC back while Quebecor gets ahead in the market. For example, Quebecor publicly raised questions about CBC’s funding, asking whether the national broadcaster is worth the tax dollars.

That’s where the Conservative government comes in. Rob Anders, Conservative MP from Calgary West, has launched a petition to stop funding to the CBC, saying it has an unfair advantage over competitors and receives too much money from the government. The Liberals, in turn, launched a counterpetition, titled “Hands off our CBC,” calling the crown corporation a “cherished public broadcaster” and describing its need in our country. I tend to agree with the latter. Much like the BBC in the United Kingdom, the CBC plays an essential role in Canadian media. The national broadcaster can be counted on to be unbiased, honest, and accurate. Its audience can depend on a level-headed approach to reporting, a stark contrast to broadcasters like Quebecor’s

Thoughts from a newcomer Mark LaRiviere of Trent University had the last words from the floor at closing plenary, and though his first experience at a CFS national general meeting left him feeling motivated, he had some reservations about its structure. “I was told odds are if you’re a white, male, undergraduate student, [and] heterosexual, then there are very few constituencies that you can fit in,” said LaRiviere. Constituency groups are “composed of individual delegates who share a common characteristic as recognized by the federation,” such as students with disabilities, francophone students, and international students. “It’s very established within the structure of the federation to create a space for groups that are traditionally excluded from many decision-making processes, and so that’s the recognition of very evidenced social inequalities that we recog-

nize and that we allocate a space for,” said Dubois. “I feel strongly toward many of the issues ... It was a bit of a downer, just because I felt like I could definitely be an advocate for a lot of them,” said LaRiviere, who did not participate in any of the constituency groups. Overall, the meeting was characterized by a strong sense of unity among delegates—there was little variance in discourse. For the next two months, the national office will concentrate on the planning and roll out of the upcoming national day of action. “Over the next two months, the work of the national office ... will be to [provide resources to] all of the local communities and campuses that will be organizing for the day of action, with whatever they need,” said Dubois. “And to try and keep a national vision for our goal and for our campaign of putting Education is a Right out there—and really trying to garner public and media and community support for accessible education in Canada.” f

Sun News. That is why Canadians need to stand up for the CBC. Unlike other broadcasters, the CBC doesn’t try to get money out of advertisers and audiences because our tax dollars help fund it. Unless the government orders it to, the CBC will never go out of business, and the CBC is very unlikely to betray the interests of the audience that funds it. Whether it’s by signing a petition, voicing your concerns to a local MP, or picketing in front of Parliament, it’s time to give back to the broadcaster who serves the best interests of its audience. It’s time to tell the government we won’t give up the CBC without a fight. news@thefulcrum.ca (613) 562-5260

8 | news

thefulcrum.ca | Dec.1–7, 2011

news briefS

iGEM team brings gold back to Ottawa U of O competed against 165 schools at world championships

CASA concludes advocacy week Christopher Radojewski | Fulcrum Staff

OTTAWA (CUP)—LAST WEEK, THE Canadian Alliance of Student Associations (CASA) conducted over 120 meetings with members of Parliament, senators, and bureaucrats. Discussion focused on four main areas of concern: The Canada Student Loans Program and unmet student need, copyright legislation and digital locks, the Post-Secondary Student Support Program, and improved access to education for aboriginal Canadians, as well as international students and an easier visa process. CASA’s national advocacy team will continue to work with MPs in their constituencies and lobby on behalf of their member student organizations to advocate for students’ rights. —Briana Hill, CUP Ottawa Bureau Chief Ontario tuition grant ready for January WATERLOO (CUP)—A 30 PER cent tuition grant, which translates to $1,600 off a dependant student’s tuition whose parents make under $160,000, is to be set in motion January 2012. The Ontario Liberal Party promised the post secondary tuition grant if elected this fall—and they won a minority government Oct. 6. According to Sean Madden, president of the Ontario Undergraduate Student Alliance, about 85 per cent of dependant students can expect to qualify for the grant. The Ontario government considers an independent student anyone who has worked full time for two years, or has been out of high school for more than four years. According to this qualification, independent students won’t receive the grant. “[To qualify,] your household income has to be less than $160,000 and you have to be a full-time student—or have 60 per cent of a full course load,” said Madden. “Anywhere from three to five [courses] is full time.” —Amanda Steiner, the Cord Activists launch Quebec government copycat website MONTREAL (CUP)—STUDENT ACTIVISTS HAVE taken to more than just the streets in their efforts to halt tuition hikes. An unknown group recently created an anti-tuition hike website nearly identical to the Quebec government’s pro-tuition hike site. The original website, Quebectuitionfees.com, was launched on the Nov. 10 Day of Action in an effort to counter the growing voices of dissent against the provincial government’s plan to raise tuition fees. The government website states increasing tuition will help “ensure the quality of teaching and research and contribute to maintaining the value of a university degree.” According to Concordia University Student Union President Lex Gill, the Quebec government spent $50,000 on Google keywords like “CSU” and “FEUQ” so their website would be the first result in a Google search. Gill was encouraged by the government’s website, saying it’s a sign they’re losing the battle for increased tuition fees. “Trying to outsmart young people with technology is always a failed venture, and I don’t think this was any different,” she said. —Jacob Roberts, the Link Former interned Japanese-Canadian UBC students to receive honourary degrees

NOV. 5–7, THE University of Ottawa’s International Genetically Engineered Machine (iGEM) team won a gold medal at the fi rst-ever World Championship Jamboree, an iGEM competition, at Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), beating out 165 other schools for the title. iGEM is an undergraduate competition in synthetic biology. Students are responsible for working with the Registry of Standard Biological Parts to design, build, and operate biological systems that create functions in living cells. The regional competition was in Indianapolis, where the U of O placed in the top three. “The way it is divided up now is in regions [of] North America, Europe, and Asia,” said Ian Roney, a third-year student in biomedical science at the U of O. “If you do well enough [in your region], you qualify for the world championship at MIT.” iGEM began in January 2003 as a course at MIT. Eight years later, iGEM saw 165 teams from around the world competing in the championship. “It is a really great feeling to know that you are in the top third of all the teams in North America,” said Matt Orton, fi ft hyear student in biopharmaceutical science at the U of O. “Every noteworthy institution competes in this competition.” The U of O’s iGEM club is required to fulfi l a number of criteria beyond laboratory work, including presentations to the competition judges and maintaining their website. “There are different aspects of the project,” said Roney. “There is a poster presentation, a verbal presentation, and the actual lab research project. Our team was awarded a gold medal this year … based on achieving all criteria with excellence.”

SCIENTISTS HARD AT WORK In addition to winning the gold medal, the U of O has changed the way the competition runs—they have discovered a new way for teams to work with the registry, a collection of genetic parts that can be used to build synthetic biology devices and systems. “Part of our project was optimizing an assembly method for putting these parts together because the older method had several issues associated with it,” said Orton. “We wanted to improve on that assembly method—that was the main part of our project and we demonstrated that this was a successful method, [which] was faster and more cost efficient. For iGEM teams, this is a game changer.” iGEM teams are not just composed of science students, but also include engineering, arts, and computer science students. The iGEM program has also allowed students to get hands-on experi-

ence with research. “In most science programs, you don’t get any lab experience until fourth year, and with iGEM, I was doing lab work after first year,” said Orton. “It is a great way to get introduced to research.” Orton explained the challenge of establishing a project that is feasible, interesting, and contributes to scientific knowledge that can be accomplished in a four month time span is difficult, but rewarding. “The experience really changed my perception of what research is,” said Roney. “The real work environment in a research lab is a lot different from inside a univerf sity school lab. It is really enjoyable.” Those interested in joining the iGEM team can email Igem@uottawa.ca. Work from the 2011 competition can be seen at 2011. igem.org/Team:uOttawa.

What’s he building in there? Cellular scaffolding

blood or bone, our body’s contents are not pure solid or liquid—they’re something inbetween, like jello or honey.

Tyler Shendruk | Fulcrum Contributor

VANCOUVER (CUP)—AFTER MUCH HESITATION and public criticism, the University of British Columbia (UBC) has decided to give interned JapaneseCanadian students honourary degrees—a decision that Mits Sumiya, one of the recipients, said gives him closure on the dark incident from 70 years ago. “With the presentation of this honourary degree, it feels like UBC has opened their arms and said, ‘You are part of our alumni, you’re welcome, come on in’,” said Sumiya, who was interned when he was 18 years old and not allowed to return to his studies at UBC. “It’s a great feeling of belonging.” The university senate decided to present 76 former UBC students with degrees to recognize those who were interned and unable to complete their studies at the institution during the Second World War. After hearing about similar cases at other universities, Mary Kitagawa of the Greater Vancouver Japanese Canadian Students Association has made the degrees a goal for their human rights committee for the past three years. “It’s been a long struggle. It’s been more or less trying to educate people in power to understand the issue and it’s taken this long,” said Kitagawa. —Micki Cowan, the Ubyssey

photo courtesy Zuhair Syed

U of O iGem team wins gold

The problem EVERY CELL THAT makes up our body carries genetic information needed to create a human being. Before birth, those cells become specialized—some cells are blood cells, some are kidney cells, some are neurons, and some are stem cells that have the freedom to become any cell the body needs. Cellular signalling summons stem cells to injuries, but doesn’t completely control the type of cell they turn into. The local environment plays a part in the process, deciding what the stem cells will become. Temperature, acidity, and material properties of the injury are essential to the stem cells. They will act differently whether the site is stiff, elastic, or immersed in a bodily fluid. Adding to the complexity, unless it’s

The researcher Shane Scott, a master’s student in the physics department at the Univeristy of Ottawa, studies the properties of these complex fluids. He is a rheologist—he studies materials that both stretch and flow, like gels or molasses. The project To make stem cells in a lab, you grow them in protein gel. This gel can mimic the properties of different parts of the body. The gel is easy to tweak, and scientists like Scott can add binding domains that act like docking bays for cells to attach to, making them perfect cellular scaffolds. The behaviour of those cells depends on the rheological properties of the gel, making it necessary to categorize the gel before you start growing cells.

Scott’s proteins are random coils with a helix cap at both ends, which means when he mixes these proteins into a solution, the coils tangle together and form a gel. If he wants a more permanent gel, Scott chemically links the proteins into a network. The key Scott characterized protein gels that were part physically tangled and part chemically linked for different temperatures, acidity, and concentrations. Scott showed when a binding domain was added to the gel to turn it into a cellular scaffold, the rheological properties didn’t change, meaning biologists don’t have to worry about stem cells behaving differently because making a protein gel into a cellular scaffold altered their environment. Are you doing interesting science? Or do you have a professor who can’t stop talking about his research? Let us know at research@thefulcrum.ca

ARTS & CULTURE Sofia Hashi | arts@thefulcrum.ca | (613) 562-5931

ARTS&CULTURE

What’s the merit of arts grants? Following the paper trail Sofia Hashi | Fulcrum Staff

WHETHER IT’S STEPHEN Harper famously saying “ordinary people” don’t care about the arts, or critically acclaimed Canadian dancer Margie Gillis getting slammed on Sun TV for defending artistic grants and subsidies, there is something about arts funding that sparks debate. The Fulcrum recently sat down with Grace Thrasher, public relations manager of the Canada Council for the Arts, a sector of the federal government that gives out grants, to discuss the merits of these subsidies. “It’s a federal crown [corporation] … We report directly to the Minister of Canadian Heritage,” explains Th rasher. “We were originally established with an endowment of $100 million in 1957. “Over time, as you can see, we’ve gotten additional parliamentary appropriation. Now we fund about 6,200 artists and arts organizations across the country in all disciplines, [such as] dance, theatre, music, media arts, and visual arts.” The Canada Council for the Arts isn’t the only way for artists to get funding from the government. Arts grants are available at both the provincial and municipal level as well. Earlier this year, when the federal government announced it was reducing expenditures with a long-term deficit planning goal, many were concerned with the cuts arts and culture would face. But Th rasher assures the Canada Council for the Arts isn’t facing more reductions than any other government sector. “We’re affected by the same request everyone is ... the strategic review, which is looking at the five or 10 per cent reduction. So, everybody in government has

to come up with a plan for that, so that’s what we’ve done,” says Th rasher. Kevin Orr, professional theatre director and theatre professor at the University of Ottawa, has received municipal and provincial grants in the past. He believes artists will continue to fi nd other ways to fund themselves if these grants cease to exist. “If they cut funding, artists will fi nd a way to continue to make their art. It’s what we do,” he says. “It’s like if they cut funding to education, will learning stop? If they cut funding to medicine, will curing or caring stop? No, of course not. What ends up happening is you degrade those systems to a point where they don’t do their functions very well anymore.” The future of artistic budgets at the federal level remain unknown until February. While the artistic community holds its breath until the announcement, Th rasher explains how the grants give artists a chance to work on their craft . “A good example we have is Patrick deWitt, who just won the Governor General’s Literary Award. He was writing his book The Sisters Brothers in 2009, [and]

illustration by Devin Beauregard

he got to a certain point where he had to go out and get another job because he couldn’t afford to stay home, write, and feed his family at the same time,” she says. “He had applied for a Canada Council grant, and the grant came through—$12,000 was all it was, and it enabled him to actually fi nish his book.” Th rasher argues an artist only makes about $23,000 a year, while it only costs taxpayers about $5 yearly to support these grants. “People have made the argument that

[artists] should be able to survive on their own. Selling the work is not always possible right away … Part of what the grant does is give [the artists] the ability to take the time and create the work, which then establishes them [in their] career,” she says. Orr also states artists make living in Canada a better place. “I’m going to [give a quote from] a book that I read: ‘Arts council grants don’t cure cancer; they don’t defend the country; they don’t help to make Canada

a unified monolith in the world—but what they do help is to make living in Canada worthwhile.’ They make this place worth living in,” says Orr. According to Th rasher, it’s these subsidies that help Canada be recognized on the international stage. “It helps to build up that recognition factor and help people who have talent get a foot hold, build a career, and get international recognition. We become known as a country that has a very strong artistic component.” f

The contenders J.J. Abrams sci-fi thriller Super 8 is one fi lm that had Oscar buzz before it was even released. Reminiscent of feel-good movies like Stand By Me and E.T., with a little bit of District 9 thrown in, Super 8 turned out to be a fantastic movie with brilliant child actors and a solid script. Expect to see this movie make an appearance come Oscar night with nods for either Best Director or even Best Picture. Marvel Comics also struck it big this year with their string of superhero movies. In the span of three months, Thor, Captain America: The First Avenger, and

X-Men: First Class all came to theatres and were box office kings. Here’s hoping Marvel comes out a hero with any one of these well-executed movies for Best Visual Effects. Arguably the biggest surprise of the year is Puss In Boots. After Dreamworks dragged the Shrek franchise through the mud with three terrible sequels, it seemed like this spin off wouldn’t be good idea. But the fi lm, featuring a swashbuckling cat, exceeded expectations. Pixar may have dropped the ball with other recent releases, but Puss In Boots could very well take the Oscar back for Best Animated Picture. f

Getting buzz already Our Academy Award predictions Brennan Bova | Fulcrum Contributor

ber one movie in Canada!” gets thrown around an awful lot. With the 2011 Oscars looming in the not-so-distant future, it’s time to dig through the hype, call the bluffs, and decide which blockbusters we can expect to see on the red carpet.

AS WE APPROACH the end of the year, the question that will inevitably come to the minds of movie fans is, “What should we expect to see at the Academy Awards?” Practically every movie is guilty of shameless self-advertising. They put a commercial on TV saying how many people have seen it, what Rolling Stone thought of it, and the phrase “Num-

The so-bad-it-wasn’t-even-good Transformers was quite the disappointment this year with the release of the third movie in the franchise, Transformers: The Dark of The Moon. Critics panned this movie for its bad script and unbearably long running time. It may receive some nods for its impressive special effects, but it won’t get much for acting

or directing. The Immortals suffered from similar problems. Made by the same crew as 300, it boasted brilliant art design and effects, but like Transformers, it was dragged down by a bad story. It would be the upset of the year if this movie was nominated for anything. The Twilight saga strolled into theatres this year with The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn Part 1 and got some piss-poor reviews. If you like Twilight, then you probably liked this movie, but don’t expect to see Kristen Stewart or Robert Pattinson accepting Oscars for Best Actress or Best Actor any time soon.

10 | arts&culture

thefulcrum.ca | Dec. 1–7, 2011

arts briefS

Historical paintings speak volumes

Capital Hoedown’s big announcement OTTAWA—NEXT YEAR’S ROUND of summer music festivals may be a while away, but that didn’t stop the Capital Hoedown organizers from announcing next year’s lineup on Nov. 22. Featuring mega country stars such as Taylor Swift, Reba McEntire, and Brad Paisley, the announcement proves Ottawa’s country music festival is growing in popularity amongst stars and fans. Since the first festival in 2010, attendance has more than doubled in size, with 47,000 country-loving attendees last year. Festival founder Denis Benoit attributes the success to the festival’s youthful makeover. Last year Capital Hoedown attracted well-known names such as Carrie Underwood and Rascal Flatts, along with more traditional acts like Doc Walker. “Now someone can’t say, ‘Oh, they didn’t have the right kind of country.’ There’s something for everyone,” says Benoit, of the current lineup. Capital Hoedown has undergone some other changes for next year. The festival will run Aug. 10–12—Friday to Sunday—instead of previous years’ Thursday to Saturday schedule. Moving from LeBreton Flats to Walter Baker Park in Kanata, organizers hope a new space will hold more country music fans and solve parking space issues from last year. —Sofia Hashi Telefi lm Canada’s new success index TORONTO—TELEFILM CANADA HAS created a new way to measure the level of success a Canadian fi lm reaches. Many viewed the old system as outdated because it didn’t account for DVD sales, worldwide success, and critical acclaim a fi lm received to rate the success of a movie; it mainly relied on box office success within Canada. Th is prevented movies like Incendies, which didn’t gross a lot in its initial release but was nominated for an Oscar, from being fully recognized. A Canadian fi lm’s level of success will now be based 60 per cent on box office performance, both worldwide and in Canada, 30 per cent on awards and festival appearances, and the remaining 10 per cent on how much a fi lm was funded, either publicly or privately. “Just having box office as the most important measurement was not sufficient,” says Carolle Brabant, executive director of Telefi lm. Brabant explains the new success index will give internationally recognized work the chance to be acknowledged in Canada. “A good example is [director] Guy Maddin,” she says. “He’s a true international star. His work has been recognized around the world. But his fi lms are not necessarily reaching huge box office [numbers] in Canada.” —Sofia Hashi Pamela Anderson as the Virgin Mary TORONTO—FOURTY-FOUR-YEAR-OLD British Colombia native Pamela Anderson has been cast to play the Virgin Mary in Russell Peters’ A Russell Peters Christmas Special. The comedy sketch, which is set to air on CTV and The Comedy Network, has generated reactions of rage and amusement. “Pammy’s a Born-Again Virgin”, “It’s Praywatch as Pamela Anderson prepares for her most out-of-character role yet— the Virgin Mary”, and “It’s a Miracle, Pammy’s the Virgin Mary” were some of the more tongue-incheek headlines surrounding the sketch, but Anderson’s casting has caused a stir among religious groups. The Boston Liberal Christian Examiner criticized Peters’ sketch in one of their articles asking, “How low can popular culture go in ridiculing and disrespecting the Christian faith?” While many media outlets were reporting on the irony of Anderson’s casting, the former Baywatch star has remained silent on her newest role. The comedy sketch will also feature comedian Jon Lovitz and Canadian singer Michael Bublé. —Sofia Hashi

Brief you me. arts@thefulcrum.ca

UNVEILING MEE-JEONG CHAE’S PAINTING

photo by Mico Mazza

Painting is a description of human rights

Unveiling a painting about the past Ali Schwabe | Fulcrum Staff

THE DEPARTMENT OF History at the University of Ottawa is presenting an oil-on-canvas painting representing the diversity, importance, and dynamism of what history professors teach and students learn. The painting, done by award-winning U of O fi ne arts graduate Mee-jeong Chae, will be unveiled in Desmarais on Dec. 8 by Huguette Labelle in one of her last official acts as chancellor. Jeff Keshen, chair of the Department of History, describes some of the motivations behind commissioning the work. “The idea was to inspire students to get them to see what they’re studying in this representation of our department,” Keshen explains. “We’ve changed so much as a department over the last 10 years. Th is department at one time, like a lot of departments, was very eurocentric, was very Canadian … but we now have magnificent programs in Asian history, Latin American history, African history, world history, gender history.”

“We had [Chae] talk to more than a dozen professors to see what they teach, how they approach it, then to bring that together in some type of meaningful image that would speak to the students who were taking those classes, and inspire others about the dynamism of the past.” Chae’s fi nal piece may have been influenced by variety of sources, but the painter was able to narrow it down to one central theme: Human rights. “I tried to figure out what would be the common interest. [One professor] mentioned women’s rights and gay rights, and [many] spoke about all the war and genocide and massacre, so I was thinking human rights would be a good thing to pursue,” the artist says. The painting features a number of scenes that relate to human right violations, as well as historical figures who fought for human rights. Chae also wanted to broaden the way students think about history, so her piece also features non-recognizable figures. “I put a little bit of creativity into it. Th is kid [in the painting], for example, has nothing to do with anything historically, but he might make people guess. There is a message,” she explains. “I want [students] to openly and freely think about history. My purpose is to

look at all historical figures as humans. Before they are great leaders, they’re human beings.” Chae believes her painting is unique compared to other works. “It’s a historical painting with some twists. [I used] fragmented images and [put] non-historical figures front and centre to differentiate it from classical and typical historical paintings,” she says. Keshen is impressed with Chae’s concept, and hopes hanging it in the department will inspire conversation. “People that we might not expect to be there are [in the painting], because they’ve done things that were important in the realm of human rights and promoting respect for the rights of minorities and promoting freedom and opportunities in parts of the world where it just doesn’t exist,” he says. “I hope it really does spark discussion among people, and I hope it makes our students feel good about what they’re studying and somehow be inspired.” f

storm. Styled by Hubert de Givenchy himself, Hepburn’s character was relatable to girls living on a budget that still wanted to look fantastic.

one?—to style, this movie is a pop culture staple. Audiences saw a young John Travolta dressed up as the disco-loving Tony Manero, strutting his stuff in bell bottoms, Qiana shirts with butterfly collars, and low-cut shirts. Saturday Night Fever practically encapsulates ‘70s disco culture. Also, who could ever forget Travolta’s black and white suit in the final dance scene?

All are invited to room 4101 in Desmarais at 11:30 a.m. on Dec. 8 for the unveiling of the painting. Lunch will follow at 12 p.m. If you want to attend, email Jeff Keshen at keshen@uottawa.ca.

the fashist Film and fashion Sofia Hashi | Fulcrum Staff

FASHION AND FILM have always had a close relationship. Many movies of the past have impacted styles of yesterday and today. Iconic looks have been born on the big screen and influences from these style moments can be found in our closets today. This week’s Fashist outlines some of the most memorable film fashion moments to date. Breakfast at Tiffany’s (1961) No list referencing the greatest fashion moments in film would be complete without an ode to Breakfast at Tiffany’s. Audrey Hepburn launched the little black dress into modern-day fashion vocabulary. The opening scene, which features Hepburn eating a pastry wearing an elegant pearl necklace, earrings, and oversized black sunglasses, took the fashion world by

Annie Hall (1977) Diane Keaton’s depiction of the quirky Annie Hall as Woody Allen’s love interest may have earned her an Oscar, but the most unforgettable part of this ‘70s classic is the popularization of menswear as womenswear. Throughout the film, Keaton is seen sporting men’s blazers, long and loose trousers, men’s waistcoats, and boots. Also, who can forget the iconic Ralph Lauren tie? After watching Annie Hall, women went out of their way to emulate Keaton’s look, and even today menswear continues to be seen as stylish. Let’s face it: Our “boyfriend jeans” have Annie Hall to thank. Saturday Night Fever (1977) Here’s another ‘70s film that influenced fashion. From sound—“Stayin’ Alive” any-

Resevoir Dogs (1992) In another attempt to capture fashionchanging moments in men’s style, Resevoir Dogs had quite an impact. The crime thriller follows a group of criminals hired for a heist that goes horribly wrong. The film, which turned Quentin Tarantino into a household name, is an action movie with style. These criminals had more than just colours as code names in common. Each thief was seen sporting a classic black suit, white button-down shirt, and skinny black tie. This movie made looking suited up different and cool. We can still see its influence on the red carpets today.

thefulcrum.ca | Dec.1–7, 2011

arts&culture | 11

album reviews Coldplay Mylo Xyloto | Parlophone

THIS ALBUM JUST… baffles me. I like Coldplay, but they seem to have dropped the ball on this one. With a name like Mylo Xyloto, I’m sure many people were just as confused as I was when the album was first announced, and unfortunately, that confusion just doesn’t go away after listening to it. Filled with generic pop hooks and songs titled “Hurts Like Heaven” and “Every Teardrop is a Waterfall”— both sound as cheesy as their names—it seems like Coldplay has stopped being Coldplay and become something more akin to a band trying to be Coldplay. The only song reminiscent of the originality they’ve shown on so many of their other albums is “Paradise”, and I’ll admit, it’s a good song. Not a great song, but likeable. Unfortunately, it’s just one small fish in a sea of mediocrity. The album isn’t terrible, but it’s not far off from being OK. Sadly, this is one Coldplay album I wish I’d skipped. —Brennan Bova

The Forbidden Dimension The Golden Age of Lasers | Saved By Vinyl

FORMED IN CALGARY in the late ‘80s, The Forbidden Dimension’s new album, The Golden Age of Lasers, is a bizarre release that hops back and forth between charming and bad. The band describes themselves as a horror-rock band, but after listening to this album you get the feeling they have no authority to give themselves that label. It just sounds like a cornier version of Metallica if they recorded some show tunes in a basement for kicks. There are a few songs that are pretty interesting, like the opening track, “Where’s My Wolves?”, but overall this record is pretty boring. The band’s charm peels away after a few tracks and you’re left with a grouping of songs that sound pretty much the same and get stale quickly. Th is album is best enjoyed when spaced out and listened to one song at a time, but even then it will disappoint more than a few times. —Brennan Bova

Kreesha Turner Tropic Electric EMI

“R

ock paper scissors” is the name of the first single on Kreesha Turner’s latest album Tropic Electric. The name of the song appropriately entices the listener to take a chance on Turner’s newest record, and surprisingly, the gamble pays off. Turner, who has been called Canada’s answer to Rihanna, has been known to pump out pop, dance, and R&B tunes that are enjoyable and award-winning. This year, more Junos than ever may be rolling in for this Edmonton native, as Tropic Electric is arguably Turner’s best work yet. Soft synths, heavy beats, and Turner’s sweet but powerful voice are all impressively integrated on Tropic Electric. No one sound overpowers another, and the infectious, dance-oriented tracks make you want to get up and sway to the rhythm. Songs like “Killer in the Club” and “Rock Paper Scissors” showcase Turner’s Jamaican roots through the use of tropical rhythms, and tracks like “Love Again” and “My Kryptonite” are all incredibly catchy and fun to listen to. Still, not all of Turner’s songs are instant hits. Some tracks, like “Wherever You Are” and “I Feel My Darling”, should’ve been cut from the album, because, while they’re all right to listen to, they’re not up to par with the rest of the record. Don’t be surprised if you hear Turner’s tunes in a club or on the radio, repeatedly. This Canadian R&B star already has a Juno under her belt, but it seems as if she’s just getting better with each new album. —Sofia Hashi

Petunia and the Vipers Petunia and the Vipers | Independent

AFTER LISTENING TO Petunia and the Vipers’ self-titled LP, it is impossible to contain the band within a single genre. Their music ranges across yodelling cowboy, country, blues, and Elvis-inspired rockabilly. The album opens with the soft iconic sounds of a slide guitar and western swing-style yodelling, misleading the listener into believing it is a traditional country album. The second track, “Mercy”, is a gritty Americana blues song about gambling and sin. By the third track, “Maybe Baby Amy”, which has a distinct rockabilly sound, you realize it is impossible to predict what the next song will bring. With dance-worthy songs like “Bright Lights” and “Che (Guevara’s Diary)”, and Johnny Cash-inspired melodies like “Broken Down Love”, Petunia and the Vipers is an album anyone can jam to. —Leia Atkinson

Ben Caplan & the Casual Smokers In the Time of the Great Remembering | Independent

grades

meh

epic fail fail

legit win

BASED OUT OF Halifax, N.S. Ben Caplan is possibly the most bizarre folk musician you’ll ever listen to. His voice has the ability to be loud and raspy or soft and quiet whenever needed. Th is vocal range suits the diversity of his latest album quite well. In the Time of the Great Remembering is best described as a folk album, but that is a very loose defi nition. You can hear a number of different genres tossed together on the album, making for an unusual assortment of songs. You’ll fi nd a fair number of folk songs, a couple of dirty blues songs, and on the last track, “Strangers”, what sounds like Tom Waits singing vicious klezmer music in a fake accent. Th is album is weird, but it’s interesting. If you get the chance, it’s defi nitely worth the listen. —Brennan Bova

We be bloggin’. answers from p. 19

Check it out. Thefulcrum.ca/category/blog/

12 | features

thefulcrum.ca | Dec. 1–7, 2011

Quarterlife crises The phenomenon faced by students across the country Keeton Wilcock | Fulcrum Staff

o you’re in university, working toward a degree... Then what? Do considerations like paying back student loans, settling into a career, or moving in with a partner sometimes feel like too much to handle? You’re not alone. More university students than ever before are struggling with fears about their place in the world. Th is week, the Fulcrum talks to students and professionals about the phenomenon of the quarterlife crisis.

What’s the deal? The quarterlife crisis is a term reportedly coined by Abby Wilner in 1997 after she graduated from university and promptly moved back home with her parents. Wilner co-authored the books Quarterlife Crisis: the Unique Challenges of Life in Your Twenties and Quarterlifer’s Companion in an attempt to initiate a conversation about the difficulties faced by students transitioning to adulthood. Wilner’s website, Quarterlifecrisis. com, reports the average number of times an American switches careers (eight times before the age of 32) and the average debt college graduates acquire (at least $20,000) are major factors contributing to the quarterlife crisis phenomenon. A May 2011 study led by psychologist Oliver Robinson of the British Psychology Services (BPS) found the people most likely to suff s er from quarterlife crises are those who aspire to be successful in conventional terms, yet are unwilling to compromise their idealistic dreams. The study also reported the more young people tried to pretend all was fine, despite feeling overwhelmed and unhappy, the more they suffered from anxiety and other mental health problems.

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Students’ stories What does a quarterlife crisis look like to today’s students? Brooke Fry, a fourthyear psychology student at Wilfrid Laurier University (WLU), explained her quarterlife crisis was a period characterized by overwhelming worry and uncertainty. “For me, it’s a baseline of anxiety; you go through it every day and it’s not like you’re ever calm—you just feel anxious all the time,” she said. “School’s very stressful and there’s a lot of pressure, because it’s a very competitive environment.” While Fry admitted factors like developing new relationships, dealing with fi nancial debts, choosing a religion, and striving to get good grades play into her feelings of confusion, the number one stressor for her is not knowing what lies ahead after school. “The quarterlife crisis is a feeling of panic toward what you need to do to get somewhere and to do something with your life. You’re thinking of the future,” she said. Emily Sine, who recently graduated from the U of O with a degree in psychology and linguistics, defi nes her own personal quarterlife crisis as “a period of confusion and uncertainty” and “betrayal.” “We’ve been told d our our entire lives that if we go to university and work really hard, we can get a great paying job in [our] field of choice,” she said. “Those promises come up pretty short once you’re thrown into the ‘real world’ after 18 years of schooling.

The current state of the economy is obviously no help to this situation.” Nicole Moffett, a third-year U of O student majoring in geography and minoring in applied ethics, has had difficulty settling on a program of study and setting career goals. “I panic and think that maybe I chose the wrong program and that type of thinking defi nitely comes from the fact that I have changed my program twice,” she said. “Even now, after fi nally settling with geography, I am constantly considering different and completely random career paths. These thoughts are defi nitely the result of a quarterlife crisis and that gut feeling that I have no idea what I am doing and I don’t want to be trapped in a job that I hate.” Why now? The process of transitioning from education to the workforce is nothing new, but the issue of quarterlife crises is only now beginning to rear its head. “I think we probably live in a society that has now been set up for quarterlife crises,” said Marc Molgat, professor of social work at the University of Ottawa. “Th There’s ere s a whole bunch of contradictory norms and possibilities of going beyond some of the traditional norms,” he said. “I think that probably poses problems for people.” Molgat noted young adults are no longer expected to do the

same things at the same times as their peers. “We’re more into a fragmented period where young people follow different pathways or different trajectories,” he said. “Some might fi nd a job and decide to go back to school, because they decide that it’s not exactly what they want to do, so they’ll follow a one-year course then go off to sso something mething else. I would say it’s somewhat of a period of exploration and experimentati experimentation.” a on.” Julie Gosselin, professor at the U of O’s Department n of Psychology, noted the

absence of specific guidelines on how to transition into adulthood can be problematic. “There’s a good reason why we used to have ceremonies to quantify changing from one state of development into another,” she said. “Even if your parents have raised you in a particular faith, for instance, you don’t necessarily have to follow that faith; if your family’s developed a certain career path, you don’t have to follow that.” Too many choices One feeling common among students experiencing a quarterlife crisis is that the flexible education system, while liberating, is confusing at the same time. “People in the past used to go to college to get certain skills to be in certain jobs, so they knew ahead the career path they were going straight into,” said Jessica Maynard, a fourth-year political science major at WLU. “Whereas in university, you go get an arts degree, but then what do you do with an arts degree afterwards? It’s not as defi ned as other roles that you could be going to do.” Sine is no stranger to feeling overwhelmed by options, having mulled over mul multiple career paths and academic endeavours. endeavo “I’ve considered everything from a master’s degree, to applying for jobs out of the co country, to taking the [Teachers of Engli English to Speakers of Other Languages] course, to backpacking, and au pairing,” she said. “I even considered living in Mexico for a few months to try and clea clear my head and figure out what I want. The options are daunting and no one path comes without cons.” For Si Sine, having too many choices is debilitating. debilitat “The u uncertainty of each option alone just leads lead to inevitable inaction,” she said. “It’ “It’s like a trap—it really just comes down to taking risks.” The University U of Ottawa is a perfect eexample exa mple of a school that offers students an overw overwhelming number of education options— options—there are currently 300 programs an and 5,000 courses available at the undergra undergraduate level. “I se see more students coming on campus who are more anxious or more stressed out because there are too many choices and a they get lost in terms of the numbers numbers,” said Donald Martin, manager of th the University of Ottawa’s Counselling aand Coaching Services.

“The number of programs or choices that the university has right now—it’s almost exponential. In terms of the minors and majors, students get lost,” he said. Gosselin noted while students typically regard an abundance of options as a good thing, science tends to disagree. “There’s been some research that shows the more options you’re being presented with, the less happy you are,” said Gosselin. “Th is research basically shows as much as you would think it’s nice to have a lot of options, it creates a lot of doubt. As much as you think the options you pick might be good, there are so many others.” The independence factor There are also many students who haven’t experienced doubt over career choices and probably never will. Greg Gillette, a recent U of O graduate who is currently pursuing a master’s of science in economic history at the London School of Economics, stated he would not describe his graduation experience as a “crisis.” “I applied to one [master’s] degree, was accepted, took out the appropriate loans, and booked a plane to London,” he wrote in an email to the Fulcrum. “Had I not been accepted [to the London School of Economics], I would probably be working as a ski bum in New Zealand right now and then applying again to the same degree.” Gillette admitted there is “certainly a myriad of options” available to him after his fi nishes his current degree; however, he is “not particularly overwhelmed” by the choices he must make. “At this point, my only decision is whether or not to continue with a PhD,” he said. Junaid Ali, a second-year business student from WLU, is another young adult who’s confident with his plan for the future. “I’ve known what I’ve wanted to get into since I was really young, and over the years it’s become more detailed,” he said. “I started to think I wanted to get into something to do with money, then later business, then later accounting, then later fi nance.” So what separates the group of students who are comfortable with their plans from the group questioning their own? While there are several possible answers, Molgat believes it’s not unfair

features | 13

to see an individual’s level of independence as an important factor in their personal confidence through university and beyond. “People who have been earlier on confronted with becoming independent or having to need to become independent for whatever reason—whether there’s too much family confl ict so you have to leave home, or because you just want to be your own person— I would say that those who are able to do that probably have less difficulty making the choices they need to make,” he said. As the child of separated parents, Ali learned to take care of himself earlier than many of his peers. “When you become independent at such a young age, you always have to look out for yourself,” he said. “And how do you do that? You think about your future, and you start planning ahead.” An opportunity for growth For those experiencing a quarterlife crisis, be reassured the experience need not be a devastating one. The BPS study found 80 per cent of respondents who claimed to have experienced a quarterlife crisis believed the end result was positive. Gosselin believes, for many students, a period of questioning is quite natural and even beneficial, as it’s important for students to consider their career path before they’ve already committed to it. “You’re supposed to be lost to some degree,” she said. “A lot of young kids don’t really get the chance to explore opportunities, and they just go with the flow and do what they feel they need to do to get the degree. And then they’re like, ‘Oh, what am I supposed to do with this?’” When feelings of discomfort begin to set in, Gosselin suggests students take the time to consider the roots of their discomfort rather than dismissing them. “I think it’s important for everybody to learn when you’re starting to feel negative emotions to tolerate them to some degree,” she said. “We’re happy with good emotions, positive emotions, [and] we don’t really like negative emotions. But emotions in general are information. We’re hard-wired to feel these things, because they’re going to give us information on what’s going on in the world around us and what’s going on in the world inside us. So tuning them out

is never really a good option.” When Gillette needs to make serious decisions, he turns to a pen and piece of paper. “I list all priorities and options, pros and cons, and establish evaluation criteria and prioritize time for pursuing them,” he said. “That sounds a bit overly systematic, but that’s how I’m dealing with things now. In the past I was a bit more chaotic, usually just biding time until something presented itself and then going that way. The problem is both can end up putting far too much on your plate.” Martin explained when quarterlife crises are properly managed, they can actually provide an important opportunity for positive personal development. “I imagine that most of the [students who] have crises, there’s a potential at least that they will learn from it, grow from it, be stronger, and be better,” he said. “Th is potential is increased if, when they have a crisis, there’s support and they know what to do with it. If there’s proper help, it’s more likely that a crisis can become a teaching moment, or something where you can learn about yourself, and grow, and develop.” Getting help If a quarterlife crisis is really an opportunity in disguise, how do students go about capitalizing on the opportunity? For Fry, the fi rst step is talking about the problem. “I feel like the more I talk about it the better I feel,” she said. “It’s not really that I need to speak to professionals to get advice and help, it’s just that I need to get it off my chest to somebody, it doesn’t really matter who.” Maynard expressed similar sentiments, saying discussing problems with friends is probably the best way to fi nd solutions. “It’s easy to talk to someone [who is] experiencing the same thing at the same time as you and the same situation as well—the same generation, the same circumstances,” she said. Martin notes many students are capable of working through problems on their own, but when a stressful situation persists, it’s important to know that resources are available. “When students are in trouble, it’s wise to use the support system they have,” he said. “[Students will] do the things that usually work best for them,

illustration by Julia Pankova

UNCERTAIN FUTURE The transition from “student” to “adult” can be very difficult like have a good night’s sleep, have a good cry, and sometimes the next day they’ll feel better. But if they try the things that usually work and they still feel miserable, then it’s usually an indication that they need to talk to a professional.”

Last thoughts While the quarterlife crisis seems to be a phenomenon that’s not going anywhere for a while, students need to know that help is available, and when the frustration passes, they’ll probably be better for it.

“I think self-reflection is probably never a very bad thing,” said Gosselin. “To be able to stop for a second and look at where you are and say, ‘Does this feel good?’ I think that’s not a bad thing to do.” f —With files from Kristyn Filip

12 | features

thefulcrum.ca | Dec. 1–7, 2011

Quarterlife crises The phenomenon faced by students across the country Keeton Wilcock | Fulcrum Staff

What’s the deal? The quarterlife crisis is a term reportedly coined by Abby Wilner in 1997 after she graduated from university and promptly moved back home with her parents. Wilner co-authored the books Quarterlife Crisis: the Unique Challenges of Life in Your Twenties and Quarterlifer’s Companion in an attempt to initiate a conversation about the difficulties faced by students transitioning to adulthood. Wilner’s website, Quarterlifecrisis. com, reports the average number of times an American switches careers (eight times before the age of 32) and the average debt college graduates acquire (at least $20,000) are major factors contributing to the quarterlife crisis phenomenon. A May 2011 study led by psychologist Oliver Robinson of the British Psychology Services (BPS) found d the people most likely to suffer from quarterlife crises are those who aspire to be successful in conventional terms, yet are unwilling to compromise their idealistic dreams. The study also repo reported p rted the more young people tried to pretend all was fine, despite feeling overwhelmed and unhappy, the more they suffered from anxiety and other

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mental health problems. Students’ stories What does a quarterlife crisis look like to today’s students? Brooke Fry, a fourthyear psychology student at Wilfrid Laurier University (WLU), explained her quarterlife crisis was a period characterized by overwhelming worry and uncertainty. “For me, it’s a baseline of anxiety; you go through it every day and it’s not like you’re ever calm—you just feel anxious all the time,” she said. “School’s very stressful and there’s a lot of pressure, because it’s a very competitive environment.” While Fry admitted factors like developing new relationships, dealing with fi nancial debts, choosing a religion, and striving to get good grades play into her feelings of confusion, the number one stressor for her is not knowing what lies ahead after school. “The quarterlife crisis is a feeling of panic toward what you need to do to get somewhere and to do something with your life. You’re thinking of the future,” she said. Emily Sine, who recently graduated from the U of O with a degree in psychology and linguistics, defi nes her own personal quarterlifee crisis as “a period of confusion and uncertainty” and “betrayal.” “We’ve been told our entire lives that if we go to university and work really hard, we can get a great paying job in [our] field of choice,” she said. “Those promises come up pretty

short once you’re thrown into the ‘real world’ after 18 years of schooling. The current state of the economy is obviously no help to this situation.” Nicole Moffett, a third-year U of O student majoring in geography and minoring in applied ethics, has had difficulty settling on a program of study and setting career goals. “I panic and think that maybe I chose the wrong program and that type of thinking defi nitely comes from the fact that I have changed my program twice,” she said. “Even now, after fi nally settling with geography, I am constantly considering different and completely random career paths. These thoughts are defi nitely the result of a quarterlife crisis and that gut feeling that I have no idea what I am doing and I don’t want to be trapped in a job that I hate.” Why now? The process of transitioning from education to the workforce is nothing new, but the issue of quarterlife crises is only now beginning to rear its head. “I think we probably live in a society that has now been set up for quarterlife crises,” said Marc Molgat, professor of social work at the University of Ottawa. “There’s a whole bunch of contradictory norms and possibilities of going beyond some of the traditional norms,” he said. “I think that proably

poses problems for people.” Molgat noted young adults are no longer expected to do the same things at the same times as their peers. “We’re more into a fragmented d period where young people follow different pathways or different trajectories,” he said. “Some might fi nd a job and decide to go back to school, becau c se they decide because that it’s not exactly what they want to do, so they’ll follow a one-yea one-year e r course then go off to something else. I would say it’s somewhat of a period period of exploration and experimentation.”

Julie Gosselin, professor at the U of O’s Department of Psychology, noted the absence of specific guidelines on how to transition into adulthood can be problematic. “There’s a good reason why we used to have ceremonies to quantify changing from one state of development into another,” she said. “Even if your parents have raised you in a particular faith, for instance, you don’t necessarily have to follow that faith; if your family’s developed a certain career path, you don’t have to follow that.” Too many choices One feeling common among students experiencing a quarterlife crisis is that the flexible education system, while liberating, is confusing at the same time. “People in the past used to go to college to get certain skills to be in certain jobs, so they knew ahead the career path they were going straight into,” said Jessica Maynard, a fourth-year political science major at WLU. “Whereas in university, you go get an arts degree, but then what do you do with an arts degree afterwards? IIt’s not as defi ned as other roles that you could be going to do.” Sine iis no stranger to feeling overwhelmed by options, having mulled over multiple career paths and academic endeavours. deavours “I’ve considered everything from a master’s degree, to applying for jobs out of the country, to taking the [Teachers of co English tto Speakers of Other Languages] course, to t backpacking, and au pairing,” said. “I even considered living in she said Mexico ffor a few months to try and clear my head and figure out what I want. The options are daunting and no one path cons.” comes without w For Si Sine, having too many choices is debilitating. debilitat “The u uncertainty of each option alone just lead leads to inevitable inaction,” she said. s d. “It’s like a trap—it really just comes sai down to taking risks.” The University U of Ottawa is a perfect example of a school that offers students an overw overwhelming number of education options—there are currently 300 prooptions— grams an and 5,000 courses available at the undergraduate level. undergra “I se see more students coming on campus who are more anxious or more stressed out because there are too many choices and a they get lost in terms of the numbers,” numbers said Donald Martin, manager

of the University of Ottawa’s Counselling and Coaching Services. “The number of programs or choices that the university has right now—it’s almost exponential. In terms of the minors and majors, students get lost,” he said. Gosselin noted while students typically regard an abundance of options as a good thing, science tends to disagree. “There’s been some research that shows the more options you’re being presented with, the less happy you are,” said Gosselin. “Th is research basically shows as much as you would think it’s nice to have a lot of options, it creates a lot of doubt. As much as you think the options you pick might be good, there are so many others.” The independence factor There are also many students who haven’t experienced doubt over career choices and probably never will. Greg Gillette, a recent U of O graduate who is currently pursuing a master’s of science in economic history at the London School of Economics, stated he would not describe his graduation experience as a “crisis.” “I applied to one [master’s] degree, was accepted, took out the appropriate loans, and booked a plane to London,” he wrote in an email to the Fulcrum. “Had I not been accepted [to the London School of Economics], I would probably be working as a ski bum in New Zealand right now and then applying again to the same degree.” Gillette admitted there is “certainly a myriad of options” available to him after his fi nishes his current degree; however, he is “not particularly overwhelmed” by the choices he must make. “At this point, my only decision is whether or not to continue with a PhD,” he said. Junaid Ali, a second-year business student from WLU, is another young adult who’s confident with his plan for the future. “I’ve known what I’ve wanted to get into since I was really young, and over the years it’s become more detailed,” he said. “I started to think I wanted to get into something to do with money, then later business, then later accounting, then later fi nance.” So what separates the group of students who are comfortable with their plans from the group questioning their own? While there are several possible

features | 13

answers, Molgat believes it’s not unfair to see an individual’s level of independence as an important factor in their personal confidence through university and beyond. “People who have been earlier on confronted with becoming independent or having to need to become independent for whatever reason—whether there’s too much family confl ict so you have to leave home, or because you just want to be your own person— I would say that those who are able to do that probably have less difficulty making the choices they need to make,” he said. As the child of separated parents, Ali learned to take care of himself earlier than many of his peers. “When you become independent at such a young age, you always have to look out for yourself,” he said. “And how do you do that? You think about your future, and you start planning ahead.” An opportunity for growth For those experiencing a quarterlife crisis, be reassured the experience need not be a devastating one. The BPS study found 80 per cent of respondents who claimed to have experienced a quarterlife crisis believed the end result was positive. Gosselin believes, for many students, a period of questioning is quite natural and even beneficial, as it’s important for students to consider their career path before they’ve already committed to it. “You’re supposed to be lost to some degree,” she said. “A lot of young kids don’t really get the chance to explore opportunities, and they just go with the flow and do what they feel they need to do to get the degree. And then they’re like, ‘Oh, what am I supposed to do with this?’” When feelings of discomfort begin to set in, Gosselin suggests students take the time to consider the roots of their discomfort rather than dismissing them. “I think it’s important for everybody to learn when you’re starting to feel negative emotions to tolerate them to some degree,” she said. “We’re happy with good emotions, positive emotions, [and] we don’t really like negative emotions. But emotions in general are information. We’re hard-wired to feel these things, because they’re going to give us information on what’s going on in the world around us and what’s going on in

the world inside us. So tuning them out is never really a good option.” When Gillette needs to make serious decisions, he turns to a pen and piece of paper. “I list all priorities and options, pros and cons, and establish evaluation criteria and prioritize time for pursuing them,” he said. “That sounds a bit overly systematic, but that’s how I’m dealing with things now. In the past I was a bit more chaotic, usually just biding time until something presented itself and then going that way. The problem is both can end up putting far too much on your plate.” Martin explained when quarterlife crises are properly managed, they can actually provide an important opportunity for positive personal development. “I imagine that most of the [students who] have crises, there’s a potential at least that they will learn from it, grow from it, be stronger, and be better,” he said. “Th is potential is increased if, when they have a crisis, there’s support and they know what to do with it. If there’s proper help, it’s more likely that a crisis can become a teaching moment, or something where you can learn about yourself, and grow, and develop.” Getting help If a quarterlife crisis is really an opportunity in disguise, how do students go about capitalizing on the opportunity? For Fry, the fi rst step is talking about the problem. “I feel like the more I talk about it the better I feel,” she said. “It’s not really that I need to speak to professionals to get advice and help, it’s just that I need to get it off my chest to somebody, it doesn’t really matter who.” Maynard expressed similar sentiments, saying discussing problems with friends is probably the best way to fi nd solutions. “It’s easy to talk to someone [who is] experiencing the same thing at the same time as you and the same situation as well—the same generation, the same circumstances,” she said. Martin notes many students are capable of working through problems on their own, but when a stressful situation persists, it’s important to know that resources are available. “When students are in trouble, it’s wise to use the support system they have,” he said. “[Students will] do the things that

illustration by Julia Pankova

UNCERTAIN FUTURE The transition from “student” to “adult” can be very difficult usually work best for them, like have a good night’s sleep, have a good cry, and sometimes the next day they’ll feel better. But if they try the things that usually work and they still feel miserable, then it’s usually an indication that they need to talk to a professional.”

14 | arts&culture

thefulcrum.ca | Dec. 1â&#x20AC;&#x201C;7, 2011

iPods and headphones or records and gramophones? The digital versus vinyl debate Andrew Guilbert | The Concordian

MONTREAL (CUP)â&#x20AC;&#x201D;IN THE LAST decade or so, the way we experience music has changed drastically. Many now walk around with a miniature music library in their back pockets, downloading music directly to their computers for a fraction of what they used to pay in stores. Still, others have gone retro, touting the virtues of vinyl as the superior method of music enjoyment. But what makes a person prefer one to the other? Twenty-four-year-old Cory Pereira, a.k.a. DJ Pinky Pereira, plays shows world-wide, but currently calls Montreal home. Though he began his career on vinyl, heâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s since moved on to using nothing but digital music for his shows. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I know [DJs] that still appreciate vinyl, but the majority of them [have gone] digital now, including all the international DJs I know; theyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re the ones who fi nally

convinced me to switch to digital.â&#x20AC;? He explains digital has overtaken vinyl in its once iconic role at the turntables mainly for the ease of use and practicality the format allows. â&#x20AC;&#x153;What made me change was cost efficiency and the amount of stuff I used to have to carry for gigs. Now itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s so much easier. I can travel with my laptop, my two controllers, and my soundcard in the same bag and thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s it.â&#x20AC;? The other advantage, he says, is the sheer amount of music he now has access to during his shows. â&#x20AC;&#x153;On my laptop right now, I have maybe 200 GBs of music. On vinyl, Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;d only have three, maybe four, songs per record.â&#x20AC;? For some, the prospect of having thousands of songs at your fi ngertips is exactly what turns them away from MP3s. â&#x20AC;&#x153;There [are] pros and cons to having the ability to access everything,â&#x20AC;? says Sam Mullen, a McGill University graduate in music performance. â&#x20AC;&#x153;If you have endless choices, it destroys your focus. Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;d much rather listen to an album over and over again so I can hear the fi ne details of it.â&#x20AC;?

Algonquin Graduate Programs Offered by many faculties, Algonquinâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s graduate programs address the advanced learning/training requirements of specialized ďŹ elds, including media and design. The Recruitment Team will be visiting the University of Ottawa on: t %FDFNCFS UI Be sure and drop by the Jock Turcot University Centre to speak with us about the complete range of available graduate programs. We look forward to seeing you!

Mullen has been a record collector for years, but admits his stance on musical mediums is not for everyone. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I wouldnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t say limiting yourself is an answer for everybodyâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;but for someone who wants to study music seriously, or wants to get to know music, it can definitely help to limit your choices.â&#x20AC;? As a musician himself, he says those limits are what fuel creativity and bring about new variations of music. He believes when you take away limitations â&#x20AC;&#x153;it leads to monotony everywhere.â&#x20AC;? Sylvain Plourde, a professor of digital audio at Montrealâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Trebas Institute, argues new technology has allowed casual listeners to experience unprecedented sound quality. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Back in the day with Walkmans, you had to deal with the horrible background noise on tapes, so MP3s are better in that sense.â&#x20AC;? That lack of â&#x20AC;&#x153;background noiseâ&#x20AC;? is also what he sees as the big advantage digital recording has over the analog process vinyl uses. Plourde advises music lovers to imagine the recording of analog vinyl as Morse code.

â&#x20AC;&#x153;When hen you make S.O.S. â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;dot dot dotâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; sounds,, they can come out at the other end of the line as â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;dot dotâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; and a lot of garbled d noise.â&#x20AC;? The digital method, on the other hand, has no chance of getting garbled in transit because ause itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s more like writing the message down wn for the decoder to see. As for or the idea that vinyl sounds better? â&#x20AC;&#x153;Youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve uâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve got to be careful not to compare apples ples and oranges,â&#x20AC;? says Plourde. â&#x20AC;&#x153;If you ou take a $100 hi-fi record and put it on a $50,000 turntable, of course itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s going to o sound better than an MP3 fi le. But take a cheap record and nd play it next to a song in [the audio udio editing soft ware] Pro ftware] Tools, and youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll get et the same result.â&#x20AC;? esult.â&#x20AC;? That being said, Plourde believes there here will always be diff erences in sound fferences

quality throughout mediums for those with sharp enough ears to hear it. And for the rest of us? â&#x20AC;&#x153;Ignorance is bliss,â&#x20AC;? he laughs. f

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Comedy show highlights other faiths Kosher Jokes for the Halaladays comes to Ottawa Sofia Hashi | Fulcrum Staff

CHRISTMAS IS A time for celebration and merriment, but while most people are stuffi ng their faces with pastries and drinking copious amounts of eggnog, others are grieving because this is one holiday they donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t celebrate. To keep people entertained who arenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t busy over the holidays, Canadian comedian Eman El-Husseini came up with Kosher Jokes for the Halaladayâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;sâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;a comedy show that started in Montreal and is coming to the University of Ottawa on Dec. 17. â&#x20AC;&#x153;My best friend is Jewish and Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m Palestinian, and we grew up together,â&#x20AC;? says El-Husseini. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We always got so much attention for being best friendsâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;we were really close. I just wanted to celebrate the fact Montreal Jews and Muslims get along.â&#x20AC;? Jeff Schouela, long-time comedian and co-producer, believes the show brings people together who have nothing better to do over the holidays but who still want to go out. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s an excuse mainly to get people,

Jews and Muslims, [from] different groups together,â&#x20AC;? says Schouela. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re using comedy as a forum to not only bring them together, but in a very lonely time for usâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;Christmas, because we donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t celebrate [it].â&#x20AC;? The show started in 2010, and its success so far has been overwhelming. The duo is already planning shows in Chicago and Long Island, and there has been talk of doing a show in Jerusalem. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We did [a show] in Montreal and we sold out almost a 500-seat [theatre] called le Gesu, which is ironically a church theatre. It was just Muslims and Jews telling jokes in a church theatre the day before Christmas,â&#x20AC;? says Schouela. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Next year, if all goes well, weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;d like to do [the show] in Jerusalem on Christmas day â&#x20AC;Ś The feedback was so overwhelmingly [positive], weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re trying this out.â&#x20AC;? Religion, for some, can be a touchy subject, but both Schouela and El-Husseini stress religion isnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t the main focus of their jokesâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;they just want to bring a group of people together and have a laugh. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We defi nitely poke fun at ourselves and each other a little bit. [Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s] nothing offensive,â&#x20AC;? says El-Husseini. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s defi nitely not just about religion. We are Montrealers after all, so everybody can really relate to the jokes we have to tell.â&#x20AC;? According to Schouela, their reli-

gious jokes are done with taste. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I would say, in estimation, that onethird of the jokes on the show will be ethnic and religion based. Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;d say the other two-thirds are about North American situations and life in general â&#x20AC;Ś I think if done properly, then [the jokes] will be really funny,â&#x20AC;? he says. The showâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s title may insinuate itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s meant for only people of Islam and Judaism, but the producers stress that everyone is welcome on Dec. 17. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Christmas is like a whole hype up for a month and itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s dark and quiet. Nothingâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s open, so itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s also an excuse for people to do something. No matter [what] or [how] deep your religion is, I encourage anyone to come to this show,â&#x20AC;? says Schouela. Besides featuring a lineup of wellestablished comics, as well as Ottawaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s very own Dan Ciggy, people can expect to have a hilarious time at the show. â&#x20AC;&#x153;A lot of laughing: Thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s the whole point, thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s the number one goal. Also, just a celebration of two cultures that donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t usually get along,â&#x20AC;? says El-Husseini. f Check out Kosher Jokes for the Halaladays on Dec. 17 at Alumni Auditorium in the University Centre. Admission for the show costs $15. For tickets, call (613) 276-4884.

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by Mic

Rick Mercer (tickets to a taping of the Rick Mercer Reportâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;yeah, thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s right) The Draft (Box seats and dinner for not one but TWO Senators games) Starbucks Compact Music

Life of Pie (one free pie of your liking) Havana Cafe and Catering (din-din for two) Blackâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s photography Adorit Kunstadt Sports

SPORTS Katherine DeClerq | sports@thefulcrum.ca | (613) 562-5258

Skating circles around your friends Programs to prepare for the he Rideau Canal Katherine DeClerq | Fulcrum Staff

WHILE THE WEATHER hasn’t quite hit freezing level yet, the month of December tends to put people in the mood to race at high speeds, glide across ice, or slap pucks into nets. That’s right, it’s the beginning of skating season, and in due time, students will have the opportunity to try their hand at these winter activities on the largest outdoor rink in the world.

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lar, as many figure skaters like to stay active and work on their individual skills,” said Sabourin about the program. “It is [also] convenient to be able to take advantage of the ice time available right here on campus.” Learn to Skate costs students $50 for one hour a week, while Figure Skating instruction costs $75 for a weekly two-hour session. Each program lasts for eight weeks. Sports Services acknowledges some students may not have the cash for these classes, and offers recreational drop-in time slots where students have access to the ice rinks in the Minto Sports Complex. Students can present their student card and skate with friends

o n by N

knowledge of skating techniques ues and who want to prepare for the Rideau eau Canal experience. It is led by a qualifi ified instructor who will teach basic skills lls such as skating forward, stopping, turning from forward to backward, and skating backwards. “Th is is a beginner course for participants who would love to learn how ow to be more comfortable on the ice and nd learn how to skate,” said Sabourin. For students with previous figure ure skating experience, the University of Ottawa offers a course designed to hone ne your skills. For two hours a week, an instructor will supervise and provide feedback eedback for those looking to improve. “The Figure Skating class is also o popu-

illustrati

In preparation for this winter wonderland, the University of Ottawa offers skating lessons and recreational programs to students at discounted prices. “These courses are popular,” said Lenny Sabourin, manager of instructional, fitness, and wellness programs at the U of O. “Most students who take part … are looking to learn or improve on their skills in order to be able to enjoy skating on the Rideau Canal. What better way to improve your skills than by working with a qualified instructor?” There are two types of instructional programs at the U of O—Learn to Skate and Figure Skating. The Learn to Skate class is recommended for students who have limited

and family. With winter slowly creeping up on us, Sabourin believes students should take advantage of these programs in order to stay active during the winter season. “What better way to get ready for the canal than to practice on a great ice surface right here on campus?” f Recreational skating is offered during the winter semester on Mondays and Wednesdays 12:30–1:20 p.m., Tuesdays 1:30–2:20 p.m., and Thursdays 10:30– 11:20 a.m. CSA-approved helmets and elbow pads are recommended during lessons and drop-in activities. Visit Geegees.ca to register for instructional skating programs.

Talking with Kellie Ring Star rookie speaks about her love of the game Katherine DeClerq | Fulcrum Staff

EVERY ONCE IN a while, a player deserves the spotlight in the sports section of the Fulcrum. First-year point guard Kellie Ring has proven she will be a powerful contributor on the basketball court this year. After being selected to represent Canada in the Under-19 World Championship in Chile and being well sought after by NCAA teams, Ring made the decision to come to the University of Ottawa to continue her basketball career. This weekend alone, the Ottawa native racked up 19 points, eight assists, and five steals for the Gees. The Fulcrum: When did you first start playing basketball? Ring: I started playing when I was really young, probably around six years old. Were you into any other sports at that point? What made you decide to focus on basketball? I had always played soccer starting at a

young age, and then I took up basketball. It was good, because they were opposite seasons. But a couple years after starting basketball, I started playing hockey and I played until I was 16 years old. It was very tough juggling basketball and hockey at the same time, but I somehow found the way to do it. I did have to eventually pick one sport, and I must say it was a tough decision. But, I think at the end of the day, basketball was always my favourite, because I just got this happiness when I played it—like nothing else mattered. Was there anyone in particular that motivated you or helped you challenge yourself? I’d say my parents are [my] main source of support. They have and will always be there for me, pushing me to be my best. I am so grateful for all the time and effort they put into doing that. Also, I think it is important to have self-motivation, because having the ability to push and challenge yourself is extremely important in being successful. Why did you choose to attend the U of O? I definitely chose to come to University of Ottawa because of basketball. It was a tough decision, but the main factor was the coach. I needed someone who would push me, and

[there was] no doubt in my mind that [Andy Sparks] is the right person to do that. What have you learned since coming here? School [has been] a reality check. They aren’t joking in high school when they say that university is way tougher. I have learned time management, when to do my work and when to go to the gym. How do you feel about your performance on the court so far? There is always room for improvement. I am not satisfied with my play so far, and probably will never be. But I’m working hard to be more consistent and to be able to help the team out as much as I can. After you graduate, is professional basketball something you want to pursue? Definitely. I would love to play overseas one day. It is definitely a dream of mine, but right now I’m just focused on the next five years of my life here as a Gee-Gee. If you could do anything or be anything, what would that “anything” be? I would just love to play basketball for the rest of my life. It is just something I love to do. Maybe one day I will travel the world as well. But right now, all I want to do is play. f

DRIVING DOWN THE COURT Kellie Ring dominates the game against Windsor

photo courtesy Sports Services

16 | sports

thefulcrum.ca | Dec.1–7, 2011

Ouch Student reviews Everything in One fitness class Ali Schwabe | Fulcrum Staff

AS I SIT down to write this review, I am wincing and grimacing while I try to fi nd the gentlest way to lower my aching body onto the couch. Th is week I attended the Everything in One workout offered by the University of Ottawa’s Sports Services. The advertising pitch they use to entice students claims, “Using a variety of types of cardio with intense interval bursts and resistance training, this class will challenge all of your energy systems!” Challenge accepted. Nerves of steel I was nervous going into the class, because rumour on campus was that it is not for the weak. A nurse giving me a shot in Grade 7 told me I had the softest muscle she’d ever seen, so I was worried about being in a little over my head. When I arrived at the classroom, people were getting out mats, stability balls,

photo illustration by Julia Pankova

and giant dumbbells. Th is did nothing to calm my nerves, since I had no idea what was going on and everyone seemed like experts. Thankfully, the other class participants were friendly and quickly pointed out what I needed to get and where I could fi nd it. Don’t let the intimidation factor freak you out. Like every other class I’ve attended so far, there was a huge range of abilities in the room. You want me to do what now? The Everything in One workout goes

through sets of exercises that target specific muscles in sequence, while also getting your heart rate pumped right up. I recognized a number of the moves—wall sits and tricep extensions to name a couple—but for the most part I was working muscles I didn’t know I had. A drawback to the class for beginners is that a number of the moves are very advanced. Without any modified versions of certain moves, I was easily discouraged, and because we progressed fairly quickly from move to

move, I’m not sure how I would be able to work on any of the moves by myself at home to improve and get ready for the next class. The advantages to the class are also important to mention. The instructor pushed each of us to go as far as possible. Her encouragement was enough motivation for me to stay in a squat for much longer than I ever have before. There were way more reps to every move than I expected, but pushing past what you think you can do is really what’s going to get you in the best shape.

The final verdict While attending this workout class likely won’t become a part of my weekly routine, I’m glad I went, and I defi nitely recommend you try it out at least once. The instructor knew a lot of her students by name, and after class I overheard her speaking with a couple of girls about how to improve their forms and where to buy Ezekiel bread. I might try another one at some point, if I ever desire a jolt to my system and want to feel an incredible burn. And, you know, if I ever manage to f get off this couch.

Foolproof fitness TV workouts Sarah Horlick | Fulcrum Contributor

IT’S OFFICIAL: THE parkas and scarves have been retrieved from the back of the closet and dusted off for another five months of use. Foolproof Fitness fans, if you’ve read my earlier column on moving your outdoor workout indoors, you know the time has come to do so. One of my suggestions to keep up your fitness routine through the winter months is to follow an exercise DVD. If you’re ready to challenge yourself, pick up Get Ripped! Slim & Lean with Jari Love ($19.99, Amazon.ca). The title and the background music may be a little cheesy, but don’t be mistaken—this is a fantastic, full-body workout that will kick your ass, in a good way. Love, a certified personal fitness trainer, leads you through 15 exercises that target all of your muscles. It is a fairly fast-paced workout with few breaks and plenty of repetitions, so your heart defi nitely gets pumping. Still not convinced? Here’s why you should give it a try. It’s customizable The DVD has 15 different exercises, or tracks. There’s a squat track, a lunge track, a chest press track, and so on. There’s also a stretching segment and an abs routine. Depending on how much time you have and which muscles you want to work, you can go through the full workout or select a few tracks. Th is

is great when you have a limited amount of time before class or when you have a solid chunk of time on the weekend. No fancy equipment required All I use to complete the exercises is a balance ball, a yoga mat, and a set of dumbbells—items you can find at Walmart or even a garage sale. Since the workout is fast-paced and there are a lot of repetitions in each set, you will likely use a lighter weight than you normally do. For example, if I’m doing tricep extensions at the gym, I use a 15-pound dumbbell. While I’m following the DVD, I use a five-pound dumbbell for the same exercise. If you don’t have dumbbells or you’re just starting out, a good number of the exercises (tricep dips, push-ups, squats) can be done using only your body weight. It’s suitable for all fitness levels Th roughout the workout, Love suggests modifications for different fitness levels, and the three people following along in the background demonstrate these modifications. Unlike many fitness DVDs, you won’t get bored of this one. Since it is so challenging, I find myself making modifications as I improve— from a push-up on my knees to a full push-up, for example. I’ve been following this DVD on and off for a couple of years now and still can’t complete all of the exercises at an advanced level. One day, my friends, one day.

thefulcrum.ca | Dec. 1–7, 2011

sports | 17

McMaster takes Vanier Cup in double overtime thriller Teams exchanged 23- and 24-point unanswered sequences before finale Andrew Bates | CUP Features Bureau Chief

VANCOUVER (CUP)—A WILD BACK-AND-FORTH game for the biggest prize in Canadian university football ended with a simple field goal. A 20-yard field goal in overtime by secondyear kicker Tyler Crapigna gave the McMaster Marauders a 41-38 Vanier Cup victory over the Laval Rouge et Or on Friday night.

photo courtesy CUP

CANADIAN CHAMPIONS McMaster celebrates after taking home the Vanier Cup

The victory was McMaster’s first Canadian Interuniversity Sport (CIS) football championship, and it didn’t come easy. After the Marauders roared to a 23-0 halftime lead, Laval responded with 24 unanswered points to set a back-and-forth ending that had the crowd of over 29,000 at BC Place in pandemonium. Tied at 31, McMaster had a chance to win it on the final play of the fourth quarter, but Crapigna missed a 30-yard field goal wide left, sending the game to overtime. But he made no mistake on his second chance to win the game. “Definitely one of the best kicks of my life,” Crapigna said. “I had the same feeling going into both kicks. Obviously the first one didn’t go in, but I knew the second one was going to go in. “I wasn’t going to miss two in a row.” “We had total confidence in [Crapigna] to make that second kick even though he missed the first one,” said McMaster thirdyear wide receiver and Ontario University Athletics MVP Mike DiCroce. “He’s made so many big shots for us in the past.” “Going down to the wire twice, you

from the sidelines

Katherine DeClerq Sports Editor

Sports is basically ethics

know all of our hearts were beating pretty fast,” DiCroce added. “Knowing that we had the confidence and will to bounce back like we did was awesome.” In the lead-up to the CIS football championship at BC Place, defending champions Laval looked like the favourites. They had won all five Vanier Cups they had contested in the last eight years, including a 29-2 drubbing of Calgary in last year’s game, but after 15 minutes it was McMaster who held a 6-0 lead. However, it was in the second that McMaster looked its best, with a sequence of 12 consecutive completions from quarterback Kyle Quinlan, who finished with 482 yards passing and was named the game’s Most Valuable Player (MVP). Squarely outside of their comfort zone, Laval was shaken in a quarter where they managed just four first downs. The Marauders landed their first touchdown on a 60-yard drive including a running fake, with a three-yard pass to second-year running back James Hill getting the ball over the line. Four minutes later, a 38-yard pass to DiCroce set up a 13-yard run by Chris-

topher Pezetta for a second touchdown. Laval gave up sacks on consecutive offensive drives and looked their most hopeless when bouncing a field goal attempt off the uprights, and a field goal put McMaster up 23-0 at the half. “At the beginning, we were flat and it’s difficult. In offence, it’s us that stopped us. Not them,” said Laval quarterback Bruno Prud’Homme. “At the end, we came back strong with big hits on defensive play.” After halftime, Laval roared back. Minutes into the third quarter, they were able to puncture the McMaster line with a 62-yard punt return by Guillaume Rioux. A minute later, Frédéric Plesius was able to pick off Quinlan and ran 37 yards to bag the Rouge et Or’s second touchdown. McMaster had trouble with Laval’s newfound pressure, managing barely to make it out of their end on the following possession. They nearly grabbed momentum back five minutes into the quarter with a stunning 101-yard run from Ontario University Athletics MVP DiCroce that was ruled offside. Laval pushed strongly, with several nervy moments for McMaster with pass

interference and illegal contact calls that pushed the play closer to their goal line, but limited Laval to a field goal that brought the Rouge et Or within six points at the close of the third quarter. In the fourth quarter, Laval clawed into the lead. An eight-play, 107-yard drive culminated in a 34-yard pass by Prud’Homme finding Sébastien Lévesque, who was able to bring the ball 44 yards and over the line. A successful conversion marked 24 unanswered points for Laval. But the Marauders were dangerous as well. On a seven-play scoring drive that saw a 18-yard run by the rushing Quinlan, Matt Peressini nabbed a nine-yard run and a five-yard convert to re-establish the lead, 31-24 with six minutes to go. That touchdown set the stage for an astounding finale. Laval didn’t stop pushing, and drove their way down the field before Prud’Homme found Julian Feoli for a fiveyard touchdown to establish a 31-31 tie with two minutes and 13 seconds to go. As overtime loomed—only the second in Vanier Cup history and first since 1994— McMaster looked dangerous on a drive that

started on their own seven-yard line, driving 80 yards in just under three minutes before missing a chance to win the game on Crapigna’s field goal. In overtime, McMaster had the ball first and made it count, with a 26-yard pass to Bradley Fochesato. The Rouge et Or responded, however, sinking a 33-yard pass to draw level at 38-38. But Laval lost their chance to follow up, with Stephen Ventresca picking off Prud’Homme on a return play that saw several rugby-style lateral passes but no drop goal attempt. “It was tough. The picks did not help me, you know,” said Prud’Homme. “It didn’t give a chance to the defence. “With overtime, it’s field goal range for a lot of kickers. Throw a pick, [and] you’re not able to do a three point [conversion].” With the chance to force McMaster into a long field goal to win the game, Laval were called for their second too-many-men call of the evening, giving the Marauders a first down on their own 20—too easy of a chance for a team that had been dominant on offence all game long, and now, can call themselves Vanier Cup champions. f

EVERY THURSDAY NIGHT I grab a coffee and head to my 7–10 p.m. international ethics class. In the midst of our discussions on human rights violations, cosmopolitanism, and global environmentalism, our professor takes the time to talk with each of us about our interests. He noticed my name in the Fulcrum, so our conversations generally centre on that. One day, this professor said to me, “You know, sports is just ethics.” My immediate thought was, “Yeah, OK, everything is just ethics to you. You’re an ethics professor,” but after he explained it further it began to make a lot of sense. Let’s take the NHL Penguins vs. Islanders hockey game on Nov. 20 with Sidney Crosby’s return to the ice after his concussion. If you listened to the commentary, both during and after the game, everyone was talking about whether the team won

because the opposition was afraid of hitting someone who had just recovered from an injury. A radio commentator said he didn’t think the team was slamming him as hard as usual, while someone else was saying the team hit them just as hard—but should the team have held back? One can argue if you agree to play a sport such as hockey, then you also agree to the potential consequences and injuries. With that in mind, there shouldn’t be an ethical issue surrounding the treatment of Crosby on the ice. Of course, the entire idea of violence within sports is highly contested ethically, and can’t be resolved by a single statement such as that. Just last week I read an article on the Canadian University Press news wire about whether there is a place for fighting in Canadian Interuniversity Sport hockey. The ar-

ticle argues that for many fans, fighting is just part of the game. In fact, certain leagues have team members whose only job is to protect teammates and start a fight if necessary. Now that doesn’t sound very ethical. The question we should ask is: When do we sacrifice ethics for simple sport conduct? Is violence so integrated into sport culture that without it games can’t be interesting? For example, the commentary during the Grey Cup this Sunday used phrases such as, “This team is trying very hard to get the receiver out of the game.” While the goal of a sports game will always be to win, it involves strategic thinking that may result in unethical play—let’s work to make the other team foul so that we can get a free throw. I’m not saying that’s a bad thing (I’ve seen it work on numerous occasions), but maybe it’s an issue that should be given a second thought.

The ethical dilemmas in sports don’t stop there. When a referee makes a questionable call, the commentary reflects it. Was he in the line? Is the referee biased? Have his calls been fair? What are the pros and cons of instant replay? I have no answers to these questions. If you are a student in that international ethics class, you know we can speak about an issue for three hours straight and not come to any conclusion. The purpose of ethical questions—and ethical sport commentary, for that matter—is to make you think. It gives athletics a little bit of depth. As my professor said, sports aren’t just about running, scoring, winning, or losing, but rather about how you play the game. sports@thefulcrum.ca (613) 562-5931

18 | sports

thefulcrum.ca | Dec. 1–7, 2011

Free healthy lifestyles

Ali Schwabe | Fulcrum Staff

STUDENTS ARE WARNED by family and friends about the freshman 15—those dreaded pounds that tend to pack on when you start sacrificing gym time for study sessions and veggies for vending machine treats. According to Canada Health, serious consequences can arise when you become overweight or obese, and for some, the easy addition of 15 pounds can lead to far greater weight gain over time. Having a body mass index (BMI) measurement of over 25 can increase the risk for a number of health issues ,including hypertension, heart disease, Type 2 diabetes, stroke, some forms of cancer, and mental health problems such as depression. Fortunately, the University of Ottawa Health Services’ Family Health Team (UOHS-FHT) offers a free group weightmanagement program to students with a physician at UOHS-FHT. Healthy Lifestyles is a 10-week program co-facilitated by a registered dietician and a certified fitness trainer. The program focuses on creating lifestyle change through

professional advice and discussion about mindful eating, exercise, food choices, and behaviour change. “The first hour of every week we would talk about general nutrition and healthy lifestyle behaviours, and then the last hour we have a certified fitness trainer that works with the program,” explained Catherine Richards, UOHS-FHT registered dietician, regarding the two-hour-long weekly sessions. “He’ll talk about exercise and we’ll go through with the group trial exercises.” “When the program is done, [one] goal is to [have given] people exercises they could do at home with minimal equipment,” she elaborated. “We use stability balls, bands, and hand weights, and we use stairs in the building that we’re in for cardio. As well, the participants in the group have access to work with a trainer for one hour a week for one-on-one training during the 10 weeks of the program. The Healthy Lifestyles program is ideal for individuals who prefer group class settings, which offer the opportunity to share experiences and be supported by others working on making the same lifestyle changes. Groups are limited to around 15 participants per session. Richards explained those interested need to meet two requirements. “Their body mass index needs to be over 25, so that means that they are overweight. To be referred into the program they’d have to be referred by one of the doctors in the Health Services clinic,” she said.

Students can make an appointmentt with OHStheir health-care professional at UOHSFHT to discuss if they would be a good od fit for the program and to get a referral. ealth, “[The program] is improving health, and our focus is on prevention so people eople that come through the program mayy lose weight. People have better disease control—people who have diabetes or people who have elevated cholesterol,” said Richards. “People just generally feell better. We’ve seen a big improvement from people suffering from depression as well.” She also pointed out students who wouldn’t qualify for this program have a number of other options to learn about ment. healthy lifestyles and weight management. “If they’re a student, they have access to the dietician in Health Services as well,” ke Dishe said. “There are a few websites, like eticiansofcanada.ca, where they can find information on different programs that might run in the city, and Ottawa Public Health at Ottawa.ca would have a list of programs that would run as well.” f If students haven’t registered with UOHSFHT, they can visit the service’s website at Uottawa.ca/health or go to the clinic located at 100 Marie Curie St. and speak to one of their reception staff. If they have registered with a health-care professional at the U of O and want more information on the Healthy Lifestyles program, they can call (613) 5643950. Health Promotions also has weight management resources available in room 203 of the University Centre.

Gee-Gees Hour Sports. Every Monday. CHUO 89.1 FM @ 12 p.m.

photo illustration by Mico Mazza

Weight management program offered by University of Ottawa Health Services

scoreboard 3-3

Basketball (M) Gees Gees

72 83

vs.

78 77

Thunderwolves Gryphons

@ Montpetit (Dec. 2, 8 p.m.)

4-2

Basketball (W) Gees Gees Next:

63 68

vs.

52 58

Thunderwolves Gryphons

@ Montpetit (Dec. 2, 6 p.m.)

10-4-2

Hockey (M) Gees Next:

2 vs.

Varsity Blues

@ Minto Sports Complex (Dec. 3, 7 p.m.)

3-8

Hockey (W) Gees

vs.

Martlets

@ University of Montreal (Jan. 6, 7 p.m.)

7-3

Volleyball (W) Gees Next:

3 vs.

Rams

@ University of Montreal (Dec. 2, 7 p.m.)

FEATURES Kristyn Filip | features@thefulcrum.ca | (613) 562-5258

DISTRACTIONS

Dear Di...

Dear Di, I’m a gay man who came out of the closet at eight years old, so imagine my surprise when I started a new job one month ago and promptly became sexually infatuated with one of my female co-workers. I have never been attracted to a woman, so I’m really confused and I think something might be wrong with me. I don’t want to be straight at all, yet I can’t help but wonder if I should explore these feelings. On the off chance something happens between my co-worker and me, can you tell me what to do with a vagina? —Gay Man in Straight Man’s Land Dear GMSML, Never fear, pseudo-doctor Di Daniels is here! My diagnosis? You’re completely normal. Breathe a sigh of relief and relax. Almost everyone experiences something that makes them question their sexuality, if even for a moment. You’re not the first gay guy to grow a little hard at the sight of a sexy lady, nor will you be the last. I am a firm believer that human sexuality is never a black and white subject. For many people, sexuality is fluid, or malleable at the very least. Sure, you’ve been drinking the homo milk for as long as you can remember, but that doesn’t mean there’s something

wrong with you if you happen to feel the urge to sample some other flavours. If you do decide to taste test some vagina, your best bet is to ask the owner of said vagina what she likes done to it. A few key things to remember: The clitoris is located at the top of the lady taco. It’s uber sensitive, so make no direct contact with the love nub until your woman is sufficiently warmed up. To stimulate a girl’s G-spot, put two fingers inside her and make a “come hither” motion. Otherwise, let your lady lead and trust your own instincts. Don’t beat yourself up if something goes wrong; after all, you’re navigating unchartered waters. Maybe you’re bisexual, maybe there’s just something special about this particular gal, or maybe you’ll look back at the situation next year and laugh. Regardless of what happens, stay calm, follow your gut, and rest assured you’re perfectly and wonderfully normal. Love, Di Dear Di, I have a third nipple and it’s ruining my sex life. I’ve always been really self-conscious about it and now I’m finding it difficult to enjoy sex because I’m so worried the girl will notice. Do some girls like guys with extra nipples? —Nipple Nightmare

Sexy Sidenote: In the late 1890s, women could add a little oomph to their breasts by ordering a “bust pad” through the Sears catalogue.

“Puberty” | Brennan Bova

Dear NN, While I must admit I’ve never met a lady who explicitly admitted to having a nip fetish, I don’t doubt she exists. You could scour planet Earth trying to track her down or you could square your shoulders, look at your bare chest in the mirror, and come to terms with your triple nipple. I don’t have any supernumerary fun knobs myself, but experience tells me they aren’t all that uncommon and are usually indistinguishable from the average mole. I don’t mean to downplay your dilemma, but I must ask: Have any of your bedmates ever actually identified your nipple as such? Or do you simply live in fear it might happen? If my suspicions are correct, you’re the only person who’s ever given a flying fuck about your extra abdomen accessory. When the lights are dimmed—the clothes are off and the temperature’s rising—no lady is going to spare a second thought on your slight skin protrusion. I should mention you and your nipple are in quite good company, as many successful and sexy celebrities are also cardcarrying members of the triple nipple club. The chests of Carrie Underwood, Mark Wahlberg, and Lily Allen are all allegedly adorned with a third teat. The bottom line is this: A little extra nip never hurt anyone. Almost everyone has a body hang-up of some kind. Relax, focus on your pleasure and that of your partner, and forget about it. It’s like I always say: Good things come in threes. Love, Di Questions for Di? Email deardi@thefulcrum.ca or find her on Twitter (@Dear_di) or Facebook (Di Daniels)

“Bessie” | Brennan Bova

answers on p. 11 (CUP) — Puzzles provided by BestCrosswords.com. Used with permission. Across 1- Conscription org.; 4- Tree of the birch family; 9- Antlered animal; 14- “The Bells” poet; 15- Mislead; 16- Big name at Indy; 17- Egyptian cobra; 18- Alamogordo’s county; 19- “One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest” author; 20- Dilapidated; 23- St. crossers; 24- Sky light; 25- Lets up; 28- Hit on the head; 30- Buddy; 33- Large drinking bowl; 34- Describes a gently cooked steak; 35- “East of Eden” brother; 36- High-speed separator; 39- Gets the picture; 40- Wall St. debuts; 41- More cunning; 42- Computer key; 43- 1982 Disney film; 44- Biases; 45- Fine hair; 46- Jack of “Rio Lobo”; 47Development of a cancer; 54- Income source; 55- Blew it; 56- Altar in the sky; 57- Hives; 58- Actor Christopher; 59- Baseball club; 60- Hickory-nut; 61- Blender brand; 62- Extra-wide shoe size Down 1- Disagreement; 2- Cubs slugger Sammy; 3- Equinox mo.; 4- Skin emollient; 5- Petrol units; 6- Exploits; 7- French 101 verb; 8- Board’s partner; 9- Eskimo boot; 10- _ a million; 11- _ buco (veal dish); 12- In the public eye; 13- Trick ending?; 21- Spuds; 22- “Lou Grant” star; 25- Divert; 26- Bundles; 27- Early Mexican; 28- Ecclesiastical rule; 29- Scraps; 30- Boston hockey player; 31- Man of many words; 32- Lulus; 34- Bank takeback; 35- Blazing; 37- Wispy clouds; 38- Inhabitant of Oahu, Mindanao, or Java; 43- City in S Arizona; 44- Arm cover; 45- “Band of Gold” singer Payne; 46- “Snowy” bird; 47- Attention; 48- A Baldwin brother; 49- Adopted son of Claudius; 50Metal containers; 51- Kemo _ ; 52- Dies _ ; 53- Fill completely; 54- Dine

It happened this week in history

1992 THE FULCRUM We report outrage over the release of Teen Talk Barbie, a doll programmed to say “Math class is tough.”

1903 OTTAWA Thirty thousand library books are destroyed after a fire sweeps through one of the University of Ottawa’s central buildings.

1969 CANADA The Front de libération du Québec terrorists set off a bomb on the McGill University campus.

2006 THE WORLD An adult giant squid is caught on video for the first time off the coast of the Bonin Islands, which lay directly south of Tokyo.

20 | features

thefulcrum.ca | Dec. 1–7, 2011

thethryllabus Music

(1000 Palladium Dr.), 7:30 p.m.

Dec. 2: The Mercy Now, Djanguar, and The Ditch play Yogi’s Meatlocker (34 Main St.), 8 p.m.

Dec. 7: Neko Case and Lucy Wainwright Roche play Bronson Centre Theatre (211 Bronson Ave.), 8 p.m.

Dec. 2: Fevers, Distractor, and Dreamphone play Café Dekcuf (221 Rideau St.), 8 p.m.

Dec. 7: Paper Lions and The Donna Litas play Raw Sugar Café (692 Somerset St. W.), 8 p.m.

Dec. 2: FUBAR 2 and Night Seeker play Ritual (137 Besserer St.), 8:30 p.m.

Dec. 8: Bat Sabbath, The Comeback Kids, Hunter City Madness, and Texas With A Dollar Sign play Mavericks (221 Rideau St.), 6:30 p.m.

Dec. 2: We Came As Romans, Sleeping With Sirens, Attila, For All I Am, and Lions Lions play Babylon (317 Bank St.), 5 p.m. Dec. 3: Prince plays Scotiabank Place (1000 Palladium Dr.), 8 p.m. Dec. 3: GOOD2GO and The Cutmen play Irene’s Pub (885 Bank St.), 9:30 p.m. Dec. 3: Austra, Young Galaxy, and Tasseomancy play Ritual (137 Besserer St.) 9 p.m. Dec. 5: Feist and Bry Webb play the National Arts Centre (53 Elgin St.), 7 p.m. Dec. 6: The Sheepdogs and Monster Truck play Ritual (137 Besserer St.), 8 p.m. Dec. 6: Bob Seger & the Silver Bullet Band plays Scotiabank Place

Dec. 9: Doll, Muffler Crunch, and A Darker Day play Live Lounge (126 York St.), 7 p.m. Dec. 9: The Blood Red Truth, Placentophagia, and Deformatory play The Brass Monkey (250 Greenbank Rd.), 8 p.m.

Want your event listed on the thryllabus? Email events@thefulcrum.ca

Now–Jan. 8: David Askevold’s Once Upon a Time in the East displayed at the National Gallery of Canada (380 Sussex Dr.) Dec. 2–Jan. 1: Works by François Escalmel displayed at La Petite Mort Gallery (306 Cumberland St.) Dec. 3–12: Works by Tim Packer displayed at the Koyman Galleries (1771 St. Laurent Blvd.) Film Dec. 2: The Help plays at the Mayfair Theatre (1074 Bank St.), 7 p.m. Dec. 2: Shame released to theatres Dec. 3: Circumstance plays at the ByTowne Cinema (325 Rideau St.), 6:55 p.m.

Cinema (325 Rideau St.), 7 p.m. Dec. 9: New Years Eve, The Sitter, Young Adult, and Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy released to theatres Dec. 9: Buck plays at the Mayfair Theatre (1074 Bank St.), 7 p.m. Theatre Now–Dec. 17: I Hate Hamlet plays at the Ottawa Little Theatre (400 King Edward Ave.) Now–Dec. 18: A Midwinter’s Dream Tale plays at the Company of Fools (1233 Wellington St. W.) Now–Dec. 3: His Grace plays at the Arts Court Theatre (2 Daly Ave.) Dec. 1–4: The Nutcracker plays at the National Arts Centre (53 Elgin St.)

Dec. 10: Woodshed Orchestra and The Golden Seals play Raw Sugar Café (692 Somerset St. W.), 8:30 p.m.

Dec. 3: The Rocky Horror Picture Show plays at the Mayfair Theatre (1074 Bank St.), 11 p.m.

Dec. 6–24: Oliver! plays at the National Arts Centre (53 Elgin St.)

Dec.10: Hollerado plays Ritual (137 Besserer St.), 8 p.m.

Dec. 4: 2001: A Space Odyssey plays at the Mayfair Theatre (1074 Bank St.), 12:45 p.m.

Dec. 7–10: Beauté, chaleur et mort plays at the National Arts Centre (53 Elgin St.)

Dec. 5: Scrooged plays at the Mayfair Theatre (1074 Bank St.), 9:30 p.m.

Sports events

Visual art Now–Dec. 6: Works by Maya Eventov displayed at the Koyman Galleries (1771 St. Laurent Blvd.) Now–Dec. 31: Great Big Smalls VII displayed at the Cube Gallery (1285 Wellington St. W.)

Dec. 6: The Ides of March plays at the ByTowne Cinema (325 Rideau St.), 4:30 p.m.

Dec. 2: Women’s basketball: GeeGees play the Wilfrid Laurier University Golden Hawks at Montpetit Hall (125 University Pvt.), 6 p.m.

Dec. 7: Janis plays at the ByTowne

Dec. 2: Men’s basketball: Gee-Gees

play the Wilfrid Laurier University Golden Hawks at Montpetit Hall (125 University Pvt.), 8 p.m. Dec. 3: Women’s basketball: GeeGees play the University of Waterloo Warriors at Montpetit Hall (125 University Pvt.), 6 p.m. Dec. 3: Men’s basketball: Gee-Gees play the University of Waterloo Warriors at Montpetit Hall (125 University Pvt.), 8 p.m. Dec. 10: Ottawa Senators play the Vancouver Canucks at Scotiabank Place (1000 Palladium Dr.), 7 p.m. Miscellaneous happenings Now–Dec. 4: European Union Film Festival is held at Library and Archives Canada (395 Wellington St.) Dec. 1: Illumination Ceremony of the downtown Christmas lights on Parliament Hill Dec. 6–7: The Fulcrum is holding a silent auction fundraiser in the Jock Turcot University Centre (85 University Pvt.), 10 a.m.–4 p.m. Dec. 9: Student Association of the Faculty of Arts is hosting a fundraiser for Toy Drive called “Blanket Fort” at Café Alt (60 University Pvt.), 7 p.m.

dec. 1–10

We are sad to see the ‘staches go. Goodbye, dear Mos. You’ll be missed.

OPINIONS Jaclyn Lytle | executive@thefulcrum.ca | (613) 562-5258

OPINIONS

Can the personal and professional be separated? The opinions expressed here are the author’s own RECENTLY AT THE Fulcrum, a debate was sparked among our editorial board about whether our private personalities affect our professional personas. While some agreed the personal and professional are two separate spheres, others argued an individual is just that—one person, no matter how hard they try to split themselves in two. Taking the debate to some of our volunteers, we sought to answer the question: Can personal and professional lives remain separate? illustration by Devin Beauregard

Career comes first

I am what I am, depending on where I am

point

counterpoint

As students, the line between personal and professional life isn’t stark, because most of us haven’t established professional lives yet. The majority of students work at part-time jobs we don’t intend to keep past graduation. Once our “real” careers begin, however, we’re faced with the complicated problem of trying to be ourselves via social media while projecting a professional image. The bottom line, unsavoury as it may be, is personal and professional lives cannot be kept completely separate online. They will reflect on each other to some degree, regardless of how much we try to distinguish between them. Your career has to come first, and that may mean keeping certain aspects of your personal life off the web. There are plenty of horror stories about people who have been embarrassed at work or even dismissed because of an inappropriate Facebook post or tweet. Social media sites offer a variety of privacy features—locked Twitter accounts, Facebook lists, Google+ Circles—but don’t let these lull you into a false sense of security. Anything you put online can be traced back to you. All it takes is for you to forget

to make a post private instead of public, or for your laptop with its keychain of saved passwords to be stolen, and the words or images you didn’t want to reflect on your professional life are suddenly on public display.

the people in your life, then you probably shouldn’t be doing it. It’s not easy to make the transition from straightforward social media to social media for professional purposes. As students, Facebook and Twitter are just for fun and

The bottom line, unsavoury as it may be, is personal and professional lives cannot be kept completely separate online.

Is it worth damaging your reputation to post a profanity-filled rant, a photo from a wild party, or a joke in bad taste? For professionals, social media presence is like an ongoing resumé. Every time you tweet or post, you’re projecting who you are and how you operate to an audience of potential colleagues and clients. No one wants to work with someone who appears immature, irresponsible, or acts like a jerk. If you couldn’t stand to have what you do online discovered by

staying connected to people and events. But as we leave university and move into our various professional fields, the way we interact online has to change too. The messages, pictures, and jokes you want to share with your close friends can be exchanged via email, phone, or in person. When you send content out on social media sites, be the kind of person others would want to hire or work with, because your career will follow you online. —Abria Mattina

The separation of personal and professional is as important to a healthy lifestyle as the separation of church and state is to a happy democracy. Big statement, I know, but an important philosophy as social media becomes an increasingly important part of both our personal and professional lives. On any given day, I am many different people. I am a student, a writer, an editor, a volunteer, a friend, a daughter, a girlfriend, and a certified tanning consultant. I am an expert in grammar and lotion, hard-working in my academics and my relationships. The only way it is possible for me to give as much energy as I should to each of these many facets of my life is through meticulous separation—no matter what my Twitter bio says. Everyone has come across a situation in their professional life that is incongruous with their personal values. Frankly, no, I do not have a passion for hiring prostitutes or marginalizing the francophone population of my university. But do any of the Fulcrum’s regular readers (or Sun Media, for that matter) know it? Heck no! Why? Because, when I am active in my professional life, I am able to put my personal perspective on the back

burner. As a student journalist, it is my job to report on issues that affect my community. As an opinions editor, it is my responsibility not only to present the opinions of U of O students, but also to inspire them. While this is something many of my critics refuse to understand, what I write as a part of my job is just that: My job. It is not always—or even often—representative of my actual values. Sure, I may have posted a frustrated Facebook status or two about my job in my life, but did I do it while I was at work? Nope. Did I present it in a way that could damage the business that employed me? Absolutely not—that would have been unprofessional. Posting a line or two about having a long day at work when I’ve been clocked out for over an hour, however, is not. What I do and say on my personal time has nothing to do with my professional persona, as long as I keep it away from those who I encounter in that sphere. A person cannot be a barista or a denim expert 24-7, and the employers and professionals of the social media age need to get that. —Jaclyn Lytle

22 | opinions

thefulcrum.ca | Dec. 1–7, 2011

Toddlers in tiaras And high heels, and spray tans… Kristyn Filip | Fulcrum Staff

FAKE NAILS, FAKE eyelashes, fake tan, five-year-old girl. One of these things is not like the other, and it doesn’t take a rocket scientist to discern which does not belong. Last week, a co-worker and I sat down to watch an episode of TLC’s hit show Toddlers and Tiaras. The documentarystyle series follows little girls and their families—who typically hail from the American Deep South—as they prepare for and participate in beauty pageants. Others in the office walked by with arched eyebrows and shot us looks of contempt, but we couldn’t tear our eyes away from the controversial show. It was like the proverbial train wreck: Looking made us feel sick to our stomachs, but

turning away meant never knowing the answers to our many questions. Would that mother actually take her 14-month-old infant to the nail salon for a set of acrylics and a French manicure? Would the pageant coach convince the parents to spray tan their three-year-old daughter? Would the judges of the competition look kindly upon the sevenyear-old girl’s padded bikini top? Our shock and horror resulted in an insatiable desire to fi nd out what would happen next—not only in the episode, but also in the rest of the young girls’ lives. Judging from what I’ve witnessed on a few episodes of Toddlers and Tiaras, it seems most child beauty pageants require the contestants to parade around in evening wear, “talent” costumes, and bathing suits. Watching two-year-olds waddle across a stage in frilly bikinis begs the question: What could the judges possibly be scoring the toddlers on? I can’t seem to divine an answer that does not make my skin crawl. Perhaps the most disturbing component of beauty pageants are the titles awarded to the contenders. In almost all of the episodes of Toddlers and Tiaras

I’ve seen, onee little girl is crowned “Most Beautiful,” while the so-called “lessbeautiful” children hildren burst into tears. I’m not naive. I know people judge each other based on appearances and I’m aware ware this will probably never change; ge; however, I can’t help but wonder why a parent would not want to shield eld their child from this harsh realityy for as long as humanly possible. Why hy would a mother or a father choose to prematurely introduce their daughter ter to the idea that beautire “winners”? Once again, ful people are I fi nd myself lf unable to come up with any good answers. nswers. ld, I played with Barbies, As a child, wore Sleeping ing Beauty pyjamas, and experimented ed with makeup. It could be argued my participation in these activities sexualized ualized me at an age when I could barely ly pronounce the names of my own reproductive organs, ans, but I managed ged to become a adult capable with a healthy thy level em and the of self-esteem nderstand my ability to understand

worth as a person iis not tied up in appeara my physical appearance. That’s not to say s I don’t struggle with self-ac self-acceptance—I am human, after all—but I feel confident if one on were to measure the num number of negative thoughts I have hav about myself, she or he woul would find me to be a relatively well-adjusted wel individual. I fear the young pageant participants wil will have a much tim learning to acmore difficult time cept themselves than t the average North American does. It seems a snowball has a better chance in hell than pageant princesses—or, in much rarer cases, case princes—have of growing up to bec become healthy and happy adults. Hav Having been raised surrounded by people who p place so much emphasis on facial and physical beauty, these youngsters know no other ster world worldly currency than th f their looks.

illustration by Nicole Leddy

Responding to pain at Penn State Determined.

The sadness of one sports fan Ryan Babington | Fulcrum Contributor

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I’LL PUT THIS as simply as I can: I love sports more than any healthy person should. Growing up and being a highschool athlete, I found myself influenced by various sporting figures, whether it was teams or individual athletes. My attitude, my work ethic—even my mood— were all inspired by sports. I remember watching ESPN’s 30 for 30 documentary on the South African rugby team and their unlikely championship—I cried. I remember the fi rst gold medal Canada won by Alexandre Bilodeau at the 2010 Olympic games and watching him share that moment with his brother—I needed a whole box of tissues for that one. All of a sudden, I was no longer just influenced by athletes’ successes, but perhaps even more so by their failures. A loss by my dear Montreal Canadiens put me in a bad mood all night; Notre Dame blew it against another team they should’ve easily beat and my afternoon consisted of sheer frustration. But then I read about the Penn State

scandal, and I realized I hadn’t felt anger toward the sporting world—real, justified, blood-boiling, head-steaming anger—until news like this has broken. I went to a football-obsessed high school—for a school in Canada, that is pretty surprising. We were a dominant team and still are. The coaches loved to talk about one college in the United States that influenced them, coached by a legend who mixed football smarts, gentlemanly class, and a mantra stating hard work and dedication are the staples of all facets of life, not just football: Penn State. As it turns out, the entire time I was in high school, Penn State hadn’t been doing things the right way. They had been hiding their deepest, darkest secret for three years before I entered highschool, and would hold on to that secret for almost three years after I left . Th is was the school that had a program, an attitude, and a coach I was told all should aspire to, but we were all fooled. Th at attitude consisted of words alone, not actions. A program of inspiration will now forever be known in infamy for failing to live up even remotely to the standards it held itself to, the same standards that inspired a footballcrazed school in Canada. Joe Paterno, while not the ultimate monster in this tale, chose to look the other way. He enabled the betrayal and abuse of so many young men, and he let more than just those young men down. In my hometown, there are people

who defend Paterno, but who can blame them? When our heroes fall, we feel betrayed—we feel the need to justify and to explain. We need to say we understand what they did, but this prolific inaction cannot be understood, cannot be forgotten, and cannot be forgiven. These crimes go beyond any of those capacities. A program was ruined, a lifetime legacy was ruined, a school’s reputation was ruined, but the most heartbreaking of all, lives were ruined. Lives of innocent people who are forced to suffer evermore. What has this taught me personally? I need to reconsider who I hold in high esteem. Athletes amaze me, delight me, they make my day and ruin my night. Does that mean I should continue to put them on pedestals? No. Not all athletes will let me down, some would argue. Many are the ideal role models, out in the world inspiring everyone they meet every day. But when the most respected of those inspirations has fallen from grace so suddenly and so dramatically, no one is safe. I love sports, but worshipping them only leads to heartbreak. It’s inevitable, and if you’re really unlucky, your heart will get broken in a way—beyond suffering a playoff loss. If you loved Penn State like I did, you will be forced to confront the suffering of others and the sickness that comes with real tragedy, not the fleeting frustration we feel through organized comf petition.

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Mercedes Mueller | editor@thefulcrum.ca | (613) 562-5261

EDITORIAL

Volume 72, Issue 14, Dec. 1–7, 2011 Judging the SFUO since 1942. Phone: (613) 562-5261 | Fax: (613) 562-5259 631 King Edward Ave. Ottawa, ON K1N 6N5

Strengths: Savva has made herself visible to the University of Ottawa community, frequently making the effort to engage with students and bridge the gap between the Student Federation of the University of Ottawa (SFUO) and both the U of O administration and students. The student survey launched earlier this month and the SFUO’s collaboration with the administration in selecting a food service provider for the new Vanier Hall building are good examples of this commitment. Weaknesses: Like other SFUO presidents and executives before her, Savva’s high level of involvement with the Canadian Federation of Students (CFS) has raised concerns over CFS initiatives trumping those of the student federation in importance. Next steps: Savva has worked hard to foster good relations with students this year, but getting a high voter turnout in February will be a challenge— hopefully one she accepts. The organization and success of the Education is a Right campaign will also be something to watch for.

Recycle this, or risk impeachment.

staff Mercedes ‘mad skills’ Mueller Editor-in-Chief editor@thefulcrum.ca Michelle ‘ failures’ Ferguson Production Manager production@thefulcrum.ca

Strengths: Given the business finished in the red last year, the renovations to 1848 were a lofty but necessary project for King to take on—one that appears to have been relatively successful. The SFUO’s budget and a breakdown of student fees being online fulfils campaign promises of increased transparency of and accessibility to the federation’s finances. Creating financial incentives for the student associations to regularly submit their audits was a good initiative for the vp finance to undertake given how prevalent issues with audit completion have been in the past.

Jaclyn ‘liars and cheats’ Lytle Executive Editor executive@thefulcrum.ca Mico ‘may need improvement’ Mazza Art Director design@thefulcrum.ca Jane ‘ justified’ Lytvynenko News Editor news@thefulcrum.ca

Weaknesses: Social media, among other things, needs to be used more effectively in order to promote the SFUO businesses. The budget and breakdown of student fees—among other things—needs to be more easily accessible online. Next steps: In order to maintain her commitment to transparency, King should give financial updates at the monthly Board of Administration meetings so students have a better idea of how their money is being spent throughout the year—not just when next year’s budget is presented. That said, watching those numbers—primarily the lines on the SFUO businesses—should be at the top of King’s priority list, as two out of four businesses finished in the red last year.

Sofia ‘smart choices’ Hashi Arts & Culture Editor arts@thefulcrum.ca Kristyn ‘ for real?’ Filip Features Editor features@thefulcrum.ca

Strengths: Galette handled the hacking of the SFUO website efficiently, and at the end of the summer, the SFUO launched its new website—a marked improvement from the previous one. The SFUO’s calendar of events was also completed this fall, and is regularly updated with various events on campus. Events, especially those put on by the services, and SFUO campaigns and initiatives have been well publicized through mediums such as student press (check out p. 4 for their weekly advertorial), social media, poster campaigns, and the SFUO’s new site.

Katherine ‘damn good’ DeClerq Sports Editor sports@thefulcrum.ca

Weaknesses: Complaints surrounding communication between the vp communications and various groups on campus have always been a problem for the SFUO—Galette is no exception. The town hall meetings she proposed during her campaign—though well received—have not happened yet this year.

Charlotte ‘could be better’ Bailey Online Editor online@thefulcrum.ca

Next steps: Galette should use the platforms she has already developed—the website, Twitter, etc.—to reach out to the student body, giving them all the information they need to both participate in and actively engage with campus life.

Christopher ‘unrealistic’ Radojewski Associate News Editor associate.news@thefulcrum.ca Ali ‘superb’ Schwabe Copy Editor Keeton ‘what did they do?’ Wilcock Staff Writer Sam ‘killer’ Cowan Staff Proofreader Julia ‘perfect’ Pankova Staff Illustrator Joshua ‘pathetic’ Pride Volunteer & Visibility Coordinator volunteer@thefulcrum.ca

Strengths: Kessler responded quickly to the problems with the U-Pass distribution, and it was ultimately carried out in a timely fashion. She has been active in talks with the student association of Carleton University and the city about the proposed price hike for the U-Pass. She has also been a very visible part of the SFUO’s various campaigns, such as Education is a Right. Weaknesses: The distribution of the U-Pass this year was a disaster, and most of the issues can be attributed to poor management and miscommunication with students. The behind-the-scenes work she does with respect to relaying the concerns of students to the administration are not well publicized to or known by most students. Next steps: The biggest challenge for Kessler will be keeping the U-Pass alive as the continuation of the project will be put to a referendum in February.

Danielle ‘didn’t notice’ Vicha General Manager business.manager@thefulcrum.ca Deidre ‘brilliant’ Butters Advertising Representative ads@thefulcrum.ca

Strengths: The SFUO services have been more visible this year, especially through various events they have held that are well publicized to the student body through the SFUO website and social media.

contributors Leia ‘lame’ Atkinson Ryan ‘bad’ Babington Devin ‘brutal’ Beauregard Brennan ‘amazing’ Bova Kyle ‘hard to say’ Hansford Sarah ‘horrible’ Horlick Andrew ‘insane’ Ikeman Jaehoon ‘credible’ Kim Nicole ‘leaders’ Leddy Ben ‘been there done that’ Martin Abria ‘mildly effective’ Mattina Tyler ‘sensational’ Shendruk

Weaknesses: The websites of the SFUO services are poorly managed. Some of the information on the websites is over two years old, forcing students to rely on Facebook or the SFUO website to find out what events the services are planning. Considering the volume of seminars, workshops, and awareness weeks the services organize, the access to this information needs to be made available to all students—not just those with Facebook. Similar to the position of vp university affairs, the ways in which the vp student affairs works with different communities on campus is not very visible to the student population. Next steps: Hammett needs to build on the momentum of the success and growth of the services in the first semester, while also increasing the visibility of the vp student affairs for student body at large.

Strengths: 101 Week was a success this year, appearing problem-free compared to the issues faced by other vp socials in previous years. Weaknesses: The majority of the events happening on campus have been organized by the SFUO services, student associations, or various clubs and student groups on campus—at least, the ones we’ve heard of. The actions and presence of the vp social have not been as prominent as other members of the SFUO executive. Volume 72, Issue 14 Dec. 1–7, 2011

Confessions of a 20-something in crisis

pp. 12–13

cover art by Julia Pankova

INSIDE: Get in the laughing spirit this holiday, p. 14 Personal or professional?, p. 21

Next steps: Her campaign focused on reaching out to various groups on campus in order to increase participation in events on campus; however, Noël should work

to build a stronger presence that isn’t overshadowed by what other groups at the U of O are doing. More campus-wide events hosted by the SFUO are needed.