Volume 22, Issue 5 - January 2023

The Sputnik,We Orbit Around You.

Volume 22, Issue 5 - January 12, 2023

News, pg. 3

News, pg. 4

Arts & Culture, pg. 8

Opinion, pg. 11

Sports, pg. 12

LAURIER’S NEW PLAN FOR EDI

HI240’S ACTIVE HISTORIANS

2022 IN FILM

SZA: SOS REVIEW

A look back at last year’s big screen releases

The long anticipated album comes five years post ctrl

MAKE THE MOST OF THE LBYMCA

Plan approved to make campuses more welcoming

Class hosts Flashback Downtown Brantford event

How to use the facility to its fullest

BRANTFORD LIGHTS AT GLENHYRST Glenhyrst Art Gallery of Brant’s December light display Features, pg. 6-7

SERENA ANAGBE/SPUTNIK PHOTOGRAPHY

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THURSDAY, JAN. 12, 2023

WWW.THESPUTNIK.CA

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THE SPUTNIK IS PUBLISHED BY WILFRID LAURIER UNIVERSITY STUDENT PUBLICATIONS 205 Regina ST. N., Waterloo COLOPHON Started in 1999, the Sputnik is an editorially independent newspaper published by Wilfrid Laurier University Student Publications, Waterloo, a corporation without share capital.

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THURSDAY, JAN. 12, 2023

03

THE SPUTNIK · NEWS

CAMPUS

Laurier approves Strategic Plan for EDI Approval comes after months of committe deliberations SERENA AUSTIN EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

SERENA ANAGBE/SPUTNIK PHOTOGRAPHY

Artwork in the CSEDI office on campus

Last month, Wilfrid Laurier University launched their first Strategic Plan for Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) after the university’s Senate and Board of Directors approved it in a unanimous vote.

The plan was created by the Strategic Planning Committee for EDI, which was made up of Laurier’s senior administration, staff, faculty, students and alumni.

The committee met from December 2020 to May 2021 deliberating before presenting the plan for approval.

Barrington Walker, Laurier’s Associate Vice President of EDI and history professor, was co-chair of the committee.

“It was important for those of us who worked on it to have the plan recognized by the highest levels of the university,” said Walker.

The committee had three goals when it came to the Strategic Plan for EDI, he said. The first was to use the plan as an opportunity to reflect on Laurier’s history as an institution. The second was to reflect on the current moment. The third was to create and implement

recommendations to improve EDI at Laurier.

At the height of the COVID-19 pandemic when the plan was being crafted, the shift to remote learning raised accessibility issues for many. Meanwhile, the murders of Breonna Taylor and George Floyd along with the Black Lives Matter and Stop Asian Hate campaigns sparked protests worldwide.

Laurier has a long history of studies, initiatives and student activism surrounding EDI, said Walker. But at the time, there were more immediate calls for universities to act.

The report included in the plan has nine key findings, some of which are decentering whiteness and centering decolonization, data and intersectionality.

For Walker, data-informed decision-making is one of the most important recommendations in the plan.

“We need to continue to refine our sense of where we are, who we are,” he said. “How reflective are we of the greater community.”

There are multiple ways data could be collected that aren’t intrusive, said Walker, such as learning about the lived experiences of students on both campuses through surveys. He stressed the importance of students filling out Laurier’s self-identification surveys and polls.

Sobia Iqbal is a contract teaching faculty member in the faculty of science and was on the Strategic Plan Committee for EDI. Contract teaching faculty don’t usually get a seat at the table, said Iqbal. So when there are inequalities, they often go unnoticed.

“Not only did this committee give a voice to contract faculty,” she said. “But it also highlighted the inequities that exist across campus for contract faculty.”

Feeling unheard was part of the reason contract teaching faculty were considering going on strike in the Fall term, said Iqbal, who was a member of the bargaining team.

“I wish that the precarious nature of our job was highlighted, acknowledged and that the appropriate steps were in place to

ensure that we felt more stability and felt welcomed,” she said.

Highlighted in the plan was the work faculty often do that goes unnoticed by the university.

This includes things like writing reference letters, checking in on struggling students and filling a sponsorship role, said Iqbal.

“I can’t do one without the other,” she said. “It’d be nice if some of these roles were recognized, but it’s okay. They’re recognized by the students.”

The plan includes a section of recommendations pertaining to students. One of them is to dedicate additional attention and resources for international students, especially on the Brantford campus as Laurier plans to accommodate more in the coming years.

Another recommendation is for Laurier’s senior administration to work with faculty to “stakeout ethical and nuanced positions on the balance between free expression and anti-oppression,” as is written in the plan.

There is also a call for the university to address students’

concern that freedom of expression and academic freedom are sometimes “abused” by some faculty, resulting in “marginalizing speech.”

Laurier’s full Strategic Plan for EDI is available to read and download at wlu.ca.

For faculty interested in learning how to incorporate EDI practices in their classrooms, Iqbal encourages them to take the Instructor Self-Assessment for Racial Equity and Belonging.

The assessment is a part of the Instructor Capacity for Equity and Belonging study being conducted by Iqbal and other researchers in the faculties of science, social work, business, economics and human and social sciences.

04

THE SPUTNIK · NEWS

THURSDAY, JAN. 12, 2023

EVENTS

Flashback Downtown Brantford: 1900-1920 Students in HI240: The active historian host exhibition SERENA AUSTIN EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

JEREMY VYN/PHOTOGRAPHY EDITOR

A sign for the exhibition in One Market

In December, Christina Han’s HI240: The Active Historian class at Wilfrid Laurier University put their knowledge on display with an exhibition titled, Flashback Downtown Brantford: 1900-1920.

The exhibition focused on the lives of early Chinese, Italian and Armenian immigrants who called Brantford home. The event lasted one month and was set up in multiple locations in Brantford, including One Market. This is where the class hosted its opening event on Nov. 29 and Dec. 9.

Brantford used to be a very multi-cultural city.

I wanted to highlight that, and share that information with students and community members...

-Christina Han, history professor

The class spent the term researching and preparing for the exhibition. Students were put into groups to focus on different aspects of the event, such as event design and management.

“Instead of writing research papers, they put together exhibitions and public events,” said Han. “[Students] say this is actually more work, but students derive great value and experience out of

this.”

Han has hosted three similar exhibitions in the past, including some virtual events focusing on different communities.

“Brantford used to be a very multicultural city,” she said. “I wanted to highlight that and share that information with students and community members by putting on exhibitions.”

The class created the exhibition using replica artifacts they created as well as photos and articles gathered from the archives of Brantford, Canada, the Hamilton Spectator and Han herself, said Kayla Kendell, a fourth-year social and environmental justice student.

Kendell was part of the exhibition team and shared information on the Italian community.

“They were here working on the railroads,” said Kendell.

“They were responsible for laying a lot of that track,” she said, demonstrating how with a replica 12-pound spike maul.

“It was really hard work in pretty brutal conditions, so they frequently asserted their labour power,” said Kendell, referring to the unions and strikes organized at the time.

Kendell said learning about the Italian banana man who sold bananas door-to-door amused the class.

Hannah Baglole, a second-year history student, and Ben Avetissian, a second-year humanities student, were both part of the class’s event design and management team. The team helped create the floor plan of the exhibition and

the passports attendees were given to navigate it.

I think it’s also really important as Laurier students to know Brantford and what it was.

-Monica Van Ittersum, fourth-year English student

“My role was mostly just knowing what was going on,” said Baglole. “If anyone had a question, that was my job.”

“I love to help facilitate, to be in charge and to support my group,” said Avetissian. “It is a stressful time and it’s a stressful thing to do, so some positivity is always very important.”

Monica Van Ittersum, a fourth-year english student in HI240, said her biggest takeaway from the exhibition was getting to learn about communities that used to be more present in Brantford.

“I think it’s also really important as Laurier students to know Brantford and what it was,” said Van Ittersum. “It gives me a different outlook on Brantford.”

JEREMY VYN/PHOTOGRAPHY EDITOR

Replica railroad tracks and clothing at the exhibition

INFINITUM THURSDAY, JAN. 12, 2023

GAMES & PUZZLES

Sudoku

THE SPUTNIK · INFINITUM

5

THE SPUTNIK · FEATURES

06

THURSDAY, JAN. 12, 2023 · 07

The Glenhyrst Lights: A Brantford Winter Spectacle JEREMY VYN PHOTOGRAPHY EDITOR SERENA ANAGBE PHOTOGRAPHER

In celebration of the tenth anniversary of Glenhyrst’s lights, we chose to dedicate this feature to the beautiful lights that were set up and managed on the grounds of Glenhyrst Art Gallery and Gardens.

While our fingers were getting a little cold by the time we reached Glenhyrst’s main building, we had to capture this beautiful sight.

Christmas lights are always a must-see, but Glenhyrst’s are an extra special spectacle!

What we initially thought to be a hand-held fan turned out to be a peacock - which was even more breathtaking!

THE SPUTNIK · A&C

08

THURSDAY, JAN. 12, 2023

MOVIES

2022: Year in film

A look back at last year’s defining movie releases MARISA CERASOLI LEAD ARTS & CULTURE WRITER

As we bid so long, farewell to 2022, it’s always fun to look back at the artistic heights reached by countless talents who gave their all to their devoted projects. I’d like to zone in particularly on the films that moved audiences this year and some personal favourites that severely altered my brain chemistry.

Marvel Studios saw continued colossal success this year with the releases of the highly anticipated franchise continuations, “Spider-Man: No Way Home” and “Black Panther: Wakanda Forever”.

Yet, in an age of Marvel dominating the box office at every turn, 2022 was also a year for non-mega franchise blockbusters to take cinemas by storm.

The most notable example of which being “Top Gun: Maverick”, the thrilling legacy sequel to the 1986 smash hit “Top Gun”. This follow-up story of Tom Cruise’s iconic cool guy pilot grossed over $1 billion worldwide this past year, but more importantly, it was my favourite movie theatre experience of the year (my personal experience is much more relevant than the entirety of the box office).

“Top Gun: Maverick” was a lovein for action movie lovers, with larger-than-life practical effects, sound design and stunt work that cements Cruise as one of the great action film stars of all time.

In the same vein of blockbuster cinema, the year’s highlights also include part one of Denis Villeneuve’s “Dune” adaptation as well as James Cameron’s $2 billion “Avatar” sequel that has been 13 years in the making. As a strong proponent of going out to the movie theatre, I couldn’t have asked for a better lineup of popcorn cinema in 2022.

The horror genre also showed out in a major way this past year, with releases not only being fruitful fan favourites, but vast critical triumphs as well. Mia Goth and director Ti West were busy with the successful releases of slasher film “X” in March and its prequel story, “Pearl”, later in September.

Of course, Jordan Peele’s “NOPE” was a deeply unsettling extra-terrestrial spectacle that has cemented the comedian-turned-director as one of the most exciting filmmakers of his generation. We can’t forget about “Smile”, just a creepy, jump-scareheavy good time at the movies, which earned over $200 million at the box office thanks to its viral marketing campaign of infiltrating public events with actors to just stand there and smile unnerv-

ingly without breaking character.

It’s plain old spooky stuff that has inspired a similar marketing technique for the first major horror release of 2023, Universal Pictures’ “M3GAN”.

On a more family-friendly side of things, “Everything Everywhere All At Once”, a comedic and highly innovative take on the multiverse concept, blew my brain to smithereens when I first saw it in theaters. EEAAO is an impressive technical achievement without a doubt, with its editing and costume design standing out, but its exploration of familial love (through the lens of its characters’ own nihilism) is also sincerely touching from beginning to end. The film’s integration of Asian-American identity is also a central theme and by that very nature has provided much-deserved opportunities for the hyper-talented Michelle Yeoh and Ke Huy Quan to fully exercise their acting skills. The pair recently took home the Golden Globes for Best Actress and Best Supporting Actor respectively in the Comedy or Musical category.

Steven Spielberg’s semi-autobiographical comingof-age drama “The Fabelmans” is another crowd-pleaser to watch with the family, especially if you have so much as a sliver of the love for cinema as the young Sammy Fabelman (a character based on Spielberg’s young filmmaking-obsessed self ). At its core, “The Fabelmans” is the moving tale of a childhood filled with parental unease and the love for film that was ignited and complicated as a result. That same childhood would bring us one of the greatest movie directors to ever do it.

Getting down to what everyone has been dying to hear about: my personal top three favourites if I had to rank them (I don’t have to – no one is asking me to). Foreign films “EO” (Poland) and “Decision to Leave” (South Korea) rank second and third as 2022 bests in my book. The former takes us on one donkey’s surprisingly heartrending journey through life, and the latter is a crime drama romance from the twisted mind of Park Chan-wook (I still haven’t forgiven him for the trauma of 2003’s “Oldboy”).

But my year was permanently coloured by one standout film in particular: “The Banshees of Inisherin”. Martin McDonagh’s masterstroke tale of ripping apart the ties that bind – a darkly comedic film despite the deep sadness that resounds throughout.

I couldn’t tell if I would be laughing or crying at any given minute

(I wept uncontrollably through the entire latter half of the movie and chuckled heartily between sniffles). The rural Irish landscape that soaks every scene sets an incomparably beautiful stage for Colin Farrell and Brendan Gleeson to play out their characters’ shared ruin. If you would have told me last January that my favourite film of 2022 would be a subtle tragedy about the friendship death of two over-the-hill men that acts as a metaphor for the Irish Civil War, I would have said, “OK, but how did you get into my house?”

Farrell’s indelible stamp on 2022 cinema doesn’t lean solely on the remarkable “Banshees”, though. Apart from this

CONTRIBUTED PHOTO

career-high, the lovable Irishman dedicated himself to major roles in three of the most critically acclaimed films of the year: Matt Reeves’ “The Batman”, the gorgeous and heartwarming sci-fi flick “After Yang”, and Ron Howard’s intense biographical survival/rescue drama, “Thirteen Lives”. I can’t think of anyone else who has had quite the exquisite 12-month run of that charming Irish lad.

All in all, if I had to predict this year’s major Oscar winners (which I have never guessed correctly), standout performances of the year that I suspect members of The Academy

will gravitate towards are Cate Blanchett’s nuanced performance of the problematic titular character in Todd Field’s prestige character study, “Tár”, and Brendan Fraser’s poignant portrayal of severely obese recluse Charlie in Darren Aronofsky’s “The Whale”. I will say though, that if “The Banshees of Inisherin” doesn’t win Best Picture, I will absolutely succumb to Will Smith levels of aggravation toward every individual member of The Academy who voted otherwise.

THE SPUTNIK · A&C

9

THURSDAY, JAN. 12, 2023

FASHION

Vivienne Westwood, Godmother of Punk Reflecting on the late fashion icon’s life and legacy CRYSTAL XUE LIFESTYLE EDITOR, THE CORD

Cross-published in The Cord Vivienne Westwood, fashion designer widely known as “the godmother of punk”, passed away on Dec. 29, 2022 at the age of 81. Her namesake company announced her death without specifying the cause.

Westwood’s death follows her long and remarkable career, during which she added elements of couture to punk style. The symbols of rock iconography, royalty, art and religion are evident in her collections. “[Westwood] was influenced by art history, old master paintings,” said Véronique Hyland, author of Dress Code: Unlocking Fashion From the New Look to Millennial Pink. “She’s very focused on the English tradition of tailoring.”

At 30, Westwood opened a shop in London with her boyfriend, Malcolm McLaren called Let It Rock. It sold unconventional clothing inspired by the ‘Teddy boy’ look of the 1950s.

Westwood later established an international reputation under her own name. Supermodels and celebrities alike sported her work.

When McLaren managed the Sex Pistols, Westwood dressed them in shirts from Let It Rock. It was a perfect fit for the band, who made hits like “Anarchy in the U.K.” and “God Save the Queen”.

What’s more, Westwood’s clothes were featured in the 2008 film adaptation of “Sex and the City.” Actress Kate Winslet also

famously wore a gown by the designer to the 1996 Oscars.

The hallmarks of Westwood’s legacy are corsets, platform shoes and mini-crini; a mix between a Victorian crinoline and miniskirt. Her other creations

CONTRIBUTED PHOTO/VIVIENNE WESTWOOD ARCHIVES

Vivienne Westood

include shirts with photos of pinup girls and studded underwear.

“I did not see myself as a fashion designer but as someone who wished to confront the

Sudoku answer key

rotten status quo through the way I dressed and dressed others,” Westwood said in her memoir.

Her career was not without controversy- namely, her shirt

with the slogan ‘Destroy’ featured a swastika. Westwood later clarified the message was to destroy anti-semitism. “We were just saying to the older generation, ‘We don’t accept your values or your taboos, and you’re all fascists,’” she said.

Westwood’s career is padded with accolades; she was the British Fashion Council’s designer of the year in 1990 and 1991. She was also recognized at the British Fashion Awards in 2007 for outstanding achievement in fashion. As well, she was a dame on the Queen’s New Year’s Honors list in 2006.

While her main legacy was as fashion designer, Westwood was also an environmental and political activist. She has used her platform for different causes, such as encouraging her audience to adopt green energy in a 2017 show.

She also protested the jailing of Julian Assange, founder of media company WikiLeaks, in 2020. Wearing bright yellow, she locked herself in a cage outside a London court.

“I am Julian Assange,” she declared. “I am the canary in the cage. If I die down the coal mine from poisonous gas, that’s the signal.”

Through her activism and designs, Westwood has remained a prominent figure not only in punk, but fashion and society at large.

THE SPUTNIK · A&C

10

THURSDAY, JAN. 12, 2023

MOVIES

Most anticipated movies of 2023 A look at what’s coming to the big screen this year SARA RISITIC CONTRIBUTOR

Cross-published in The Cord lute joy to watch as a Marvel fan, and certain to be a fan favourite.

Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One (July 14) It’s hard to understand how Tom Cruise has survived all of these stunts and that fact alone warrants this movie as one of the best of the year already.

Ethan Hunt (Tom Cruise) is back in the seventh installment of the spy thriller franchise as an IMF agent. In typical spy-thriller fashion, there’s going to be deathdefying stunts and fun twists and turns along the way. Cruise even drives off a cliff for this one, and you know it’s not fake.

In addition to Cruise, Ving Rhames, Simon Pegg, Rebecca Ferguson, Henry Czerny, Vanessa Kirby and Frederick Schmidt reprise their “Mission: Impossible” roles. A very highly anticipated film for the already beloved series!

Barbie (July 21)

CONTRIBUTED PHOTO

2023 will be filled to the brim with movies, with production finally being able to return in its normal fashion. Here are some of the most anticipated movies of the year.

Creed III (Mar 3) Michael B. Jordan. Must I say anything else?

This is the third installment of the Creed series, which marks the ninth installment in the “Rocky” franchise. It’s also Jordan’s directorial debut.

Damian (Jonathan Majors) and Donnie (Micheal B. Jordan) were childhood friends, but while the young Creed found success in the ring, Damian was serving hard time for 18 years.

Now, he’s out of prison — and he’s got some issues with his former friend. A boxer himself, Damian feels robbed of his career, and he’s here to take Donnie’s life and everything he’s got.

Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3

(May 5)

Calling all Marvel lovers!

One of the biggest block busters coming from Marvel Studios this year is the newest addition of Guardians of the Galaxy.

In his last Guardians movie, director James Gunn creates a final intergalactic mission that unveils Rocket Raccoon’s (Bradley Cooper) origin story and the return of Gamora (Zoe Saldaña).

With the star-studded cast of Chris Pratt, Dave Bautista, Vin Diesel, Karen Gillan, Pom Klementieff, Sean Gunn, and Elizabeth Debicki, this movie is sure to be a hit mixed with all the Marvel we love.

The Little Mermaid (May 26) This newest live action remake from Disney has already been making headlines for years .

Halle Bailey is reimagining the character, being the first Black actress to play the character

One of the biggest movies of the year.

Directed by movie maker extraordinaire, Greta Gerwig, and filled with stars in its cast from Margot Robbie playing Barbie, Ryan Gosling (our Canadian hero) playing Ken, along with Issa Rae, Simu Liu, Ncuti Gatwa, Hari Nef and Kingsley Ben-Adir.

Barbie and Ken are going to make waves this summer, that’s all I’m going to say. A must watch!

Oppenheimer (July 21)

and second Black actress to be dubbed a Disney princess.

Directed by Rob Marshall, the Disney classic is to be a hit yet again, along with new songs from Hollywood’s Music Man, Lin-Manuel Miranda. Get your songbooks ready.

Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse (June 2) A perfect way to start the summer in my eyes. The second installment of one of the greatest animated movies of all time is here to make waves again in the Spider-Verse.

The first movie had us praising Miles Morales (Shameik Moore) for his journey as our favourite web-slinger but one that stood out among his other Spider-Man contemporaries, while still combining itself with the other Spider-Man movies and Marvel universe.

It’s going to be an abso-

Anything Christopher Nolan does deserves to be given an Oscar and I don’t want to hear anyone else’s opinion on it, sorry.

The highly anticipated new Nolan film is staring Cillian Murphy as J. Robert Oppenheimer, one of the original creators of the atomic bomb. The biographical film is set in World War II and will go through Oppenheimer’s life regarding the creation of the Manhattan project.

With Cillian Murphy, Robert Downey Jr., Matt Damon, Emily Blunt, Florence Pugh, Kenneth Branagh and Rami Malek, this is bound to be one of, if not THE, biggest movies of the year.

Dune: Part Two (Nov 3) If you weren’t around in 2021 for some reason, Dune was one of the biggest movies of the year. Particularly because Timothée Chalamet is the lead and Zen-

daya was put in over half the trailer yet was in the movie for 5 minutes max, but that’s a personal gripe.

Based on the popular book series, “Dune”, by Frank Herbert, the second installment of the series will focus on Paul Atreides (Timothée Chalamet) uniting with Chani (Zendaya) and the Fremen while seeking revenge against the conspirators who destroyed his family. Facing a choice between the love of his life and the fate of the universe, he must prevent a terrible future only he can foresee.

I will be honest, I watched the first Dune film twice and I’m still wrapping my head around it, but if you love cinematography and love in-depth films, this is a must watch.

The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes (Nov 17) We are officially welcoming back the trope of teenagers fighting to death in a futuristic world. The prequel to the Hunger Games is here.

A movie years in the making, we will follow the life of who we know as President Snow, dictator extraordinaire. We’ll see his life before Katniss Everdeen and how he became the villain we despise in the original series.

The prequel follows Tom Blyth as 18-year-old Coriolanus Snow, who is chosen to mentor District 12 tribute Lucy Gray Baird (Rachel Zegler) during the 10th annual Hunger Games. Hunter Schafer, Peter Dinklage, and Viola Davis are part of this ensemble to create the 4th installment of The Hunger Games.

We welcome back the early 2010s with grace.

Wonka (Dec 15) Once again starring Timothée Chalamet, except this time with a giant top hat and a funny coat.

Based on the beloved character created by renowned author Roald Dahl, the musical fantasy prequel revolves around the adventures of a young Willy Wonka and will show how he met the Oompa-Loompas.

A fun spin on a classic movie and books we enjoyed as children. Seems like a good way to spend the holidays to me!

THURSDAY, JAN. 12, 2023

THE SPUTNIK · OPINION

11

FILM

“Avatar”: A sequel worth waiting For A review of James Cameron’s latest blockbuster SIENNA BILANCIA CONTRIBUTOR

In 2009, Director James Cameron’s “Avatar” came out in theatres and broke box office records around the world for highest-grossing film.

Now almost 15 years later, the sequel “Avatar: Way of the Water” has already surpassed a half-billion USD in U.S. box office sales since its release in mid-December.

The movie has gotten some bad press surrounding issues of cultural appropriation and the white saviour complex. This is especially in light of renewed criticism Cameron has faced from

Indigenous peoples about comments he made in the past about the Lakota Sioux peoples. With that in mind, there was a lot that was still enjoyable about the movie.

This is your spoiler alert.

It was quite clear at first glance of the movie that it had been quite a few years since the first one had been released, especially if you watch the first “Avatar” recently. The CGI and graphics that are used to create the

planet, Pandora, and environment that the Na’vi, Pandora’s Indigenous species, inhabit is so lifelike.

It looks no different than many of our forests and oceans, adding of course, the alien species of plants and animals that live among the Na’vi.

The culture of each Na’vi tribe were similar to one another but also very different. Many had shared beliefs despite differences in language. The regions each tribe lived in set them apart from one another, such as near the ocean or

in the jungles. But, we learned that CONTRIBUTED PHOTO/20TH CENTURY STUDIOS when you respect another person’s culture and are willing to learn and Of course, there was the understand their way of life, then big and emotional ending. For all we can co-exist quite peacefully. of you who get super emotional A very special element and cry during movies, there were that was included in this “Avatar” a few tears to hold back. The endmovie was sign language. There ing was an amazing cliffhanger to was an entire language created for lead so many of us wanting to see this movie. I learned while watchthe next movie, which is already in the works with a release date set ing a red carpet interview that the for December 2024. creator of this beautiful language was CJ Jones, an actor who is deaf and made his Hollywood debut in the movie “Baby Driver”.

MUSIC

She’s Back: A Review of SOS SZA realeases sophmore album MARYKA VAN WYNGAARDEN ARTS & CULTURE EDITOR

It has been five long years since SZA released her acclaimed debut album, Ctrl, establishing herself as a defining voice of the 2010s. That’s one reason why the immediate success of her newest release, SOS—it has now spent four weeks atop the Billboard 200 albums chart—is so impressive.

But mainly, credit is due to the R&B heroine’s unmistakable voice, relentlessly authentic lyrics, and melodies that push the boundaries of genre with contagious ambition.

From the first verse of the opening track ‘SOS,’ it’s clear that SZA is fully embracing the clean slate of a new era in her career—offering confidence and acceptance.

Effortlessly switching between belting and melodic rap, she reminds listeners, “Damn right, I’m the one.”

That’s not the only song she raps on, either—‘Smoking on my Ex Pack’ is a highlight, showcasing an exciting new side of her

musical ability—and it’s definitely not the only surprise she had in store on an album with 23 tracks.

A Phoebe Bridgers feature, for example, isn’t something many of us were expecting, but on ‘Ghost in the Machine,’ a personal favourite of mine, Bridgers’ voice complements the spacey, cynical, almost futuristic song perfectly.

SZA taps into the trap genre on the addictive ‘Low,’ gives us a pop-country ballad in the form of ‘Nobody Gets Me,’ and lives out her early 2000s pop-rock dreams on ‘F2F,’ somehow sounding like her authentic self on each of them.

The most jarring moment on the album is the stark contrast between back-to-back tracks ‘Conceited’ and ‘Special.’

On the lighthearted, upbeat ‘Conceited,’ SZA puts her most confident, unbothered foot forward: “I just got my body done, ain’t got no guilt about it. I just

heard your opinion and coulda did without it.”

And with barely a breath in between, somber lyrics sung over light acoustic guitar on ‘Special’ parallel the previous track in a sobering new light: “I wanted to be thick, now I wanna be thin…

Regret that I changed me.”

‘Special’ is reminiscent of Ctrl (songs like ‘Drew Barrymore,’ ‘Supermodel,’ ‘Anything,’ or ‘20 Something’) in that it represents SZA’s signature ability to convey insecurity in a way that feels vulnerable and isolating by nature, but also universally experienced.

“I used to be special, but you made me hate me,” she sings, and we all sighed a ‘she just gets me’ sigh.

SOS is, sonically and emotionally, a rollercoaster of an album. Few could pull off the kind of experimentation she takes on in this hour-long album and make it sound cohesive, but that might be

CONTRIBUTED PHOTO/TOP DAWG ENT.

precisely why SZA is, indeed, special.

THURSDAY, JAN. 12, 2023

12

THE SPUTNIK · SPORTS

FITNESS

How to make the most of the LBYMCA Meet all of your wellness resolutions this year with the LBYMCA JACKSON RICE SPORTS LEAD REPORTER

Ever since it was built, the Laurier Brantford YMCA has been a focal point for the community and the student experience.

“The facility is much more than just a fitness centre,” said Maya Vidovich, the Co-Rec Program student leader. “Not only can students utilize the gym, but they can also take advantage of the pool, double gymnasium, studios, fitness classes and the student lounge.”

The LBYMCA is a facility made for the people and made to bring the community together here in Brantford. It offers tons of programs and classes for the public and students that most YMCAs wouldn’t.

For students, the LBYMCA offers a double gym to play basketball, soccer, volleyball, badminton and more. If you are not interested in playing games, then maybe the two-floor fitness centre will. The third floor consists strictly of weights, while the second floor consists of both weights and cardio equipment.

“I like the third floor of the LBYMCA, which is the weightlifting room,” said Nia Maidens, Laurier Brantford student athlete.

“We have many different types of equipment, as well as multiple of the same equipment, so people don’t have to wait as long to use the equipment.”

The LBYMCA has more than just physical activity features.

If you are a student who needs quiet time to study or relax, the LBYMCA fourth floor is only accessible to students, faculty and staff. It offers a study space called the Hawks’ Nest. To access this space, students will need their One Card to scan the screen inside the elevator and access the doors that lead to the study space.

“The [LB]YMCA has had an amazing impact on the Laurier community by providing students with a place to workout, as well as a practice space for our sports’ teams,” said Vidovich. “It has become a safe space where students can interact with one another and build a community through sports

JEREMY VYN / PHOTOGRAPHY EDITOR

and fitness.”

A facility more than just a fitness centre is minutes down the street for students and for the com-

munity of Brantford. The LBYMCA looks to see new and returning faces every day and will strive to make an experience of a lifetime.

WORLD CUP

The World Cup Final An recap of the 2022 World Cup in Qatar AYSE ARAS CONTRIBUTER

SERENA ANAGBE/SPUTNIK PHOTOGRAPHY

A World Cup flag display in One Market

On Dec. 18, Argentina won the FIFA World Cup for the first time since 1986 in a penalty shoot-out against France.

The final match of the 2022 World Cup in Qatar was

forced into extra time due to a score of 2-2 after the initial 90 minutes. This brought amazing goals from both Kylian Mbappe of France and Argentina’s Lionel Messi, moving the score to 3-3 and

another draw.

Mbappe scored all three of France’s goals, a feat that secures his status as a legendary soccer player. Despite losing the Cup in the end, Mbappe will remain a hero for soccer fans of France.

As the game moved towards the penalty shoot-out, both France and Argentina fans were anxious for results that would make history.

During the penalties, Argentina scored four penalty shots while France scored two, finishing the shoot-out at 4-2.

Although Emiliano Martinez, the goalie for Argentina, was not able to stop Mbappe’s goals during regulation and extra time, he played a vital role in helping Argentina win during the penalty shoot-out by blocking two shots by France.

With a great deal of pressure on the Argentinian player Gonzalo Montiel, he scored the

winning penalty shot bringing victory to all fans of Argentina.

This was an immense moment for Messi, as the great soccer player has reached the age of 35 and Qatar 2022 may be his last World Cup. Nearing the end of his career, Messi was finally able to accomplish his dream of winning the World Cup. “The truth is that nothing else I will do will be as great as this, winning the Copa America, the World Cup,” Messi said in an interview with TyC Sports after the final. “For all the struggles I had throughout my career, it was given to me almost at the end.”

Although the soccer star’s career is coming to an end and he officially has World Cup Champion on his resumé, Messi stated that he will be playing for a moment longer.

Messi fans all over social media expressed their excitement

for the soccer player’s success, which has been a long time coming in Messi’s nearly two-decade-long career.

Following the win over France, an estimated 5 million fans flooded the streets of Buenos Aires to celebrate. Argentina will remember this historic World Cup victory for a long time.

Soccer fans should stay tuned in for the 2026 World Cup, which will take place across North America, including the United States, Canada and Mexico. It is great news for Canadian soccer fans that there will be two games in Canada, one at BMO Field in Toronto and the other at BC Place Stadium in Vancouver.