Volume 24, Issue 1 — September 2024

The Sputnik,We Orbit Around You.

Volume 24, Issue 1 - September, 2024

News, pg. 3-4

Sports, pg. 5-7

Arts & Culture, pg. 12-13

Opinion, pg. 14-15

Feature, pg. 8-9

BRANTFORD TURNS 25

CANADA GOES FOR GOLD

SUMMER IN TELEPHONE CITY

SITUATIONSHIPS

THE LADY WITH THE RUBY GLOVE

Laurier Brantford marks A breakdown of the a quarter of a century summer Olympics

Hot events the city hosted over the holiday

Casual, long-term, long-distance, low commitment relationships

She should have been left alone in the depths

Heat wave The O-Week Issue

ALEXA FORD/EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

Melting fudge popsicle.

02

THURSDAY, AUG. 29, 2024

SPUTNIK_NEWS

WWW.THESPUTNIK.CA

THE SPUTNIK STAFF LEAD OPINION WRITER Niyati Pancholi

EDITORINCHIEF Alexa Ford eic@thesputnik.ca

INFINITUM EDITOR Samuel Bowering infinitum@thesputnik.ca

CREATIVE DIRECTOR Thando Bhebhe creative@thesputnik.ca

LEAD INFINITUM WRITER Mckenzie Martin

NEWS EDITOR VACANT LEAD NEWS WRITER Piper Force

PHOTO EDITOR Serena Anagbe photography@thesputnik.ca

SPORTS EDITOR VACANT

LEAD PHOTOGRAPHER Olga Steblyk

LEAD SPORTS WRITER VACANT

WEB MANAGER VACANT

ARTS & CULTURE EDITOR Sienna Bilancia arts@thesputnik.ca

SOCIAL MEDIA MANAGER Sathyashini Suresh social@thesputnik.ca

LEAD ARTS & CULTURE WRITER Vacant

VIDEO EDITOR VACANT

OPINION EDITOR Anna Pieczula opinion@thesputnik.ca

SENIOR COPY EDITOR VACANT

WLUSP ADMINISTRATION EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR Aaron Waitson ed@wlusp.com

BRANTFORD MANAGER OF OPERATIONS VACANT

PRESIDENT & PUBLISHER Umaymah Suhail president@wlusp.com

HR MANAGER Mackenzie Worton hr@wlusp.com

FINANCE MANAGER Randy Moore finance@wlusp.com

WEB MANAGER Sam Nabi web@wlusp.com

ADVERTISING MANAGER Kurtis Rideout ads@wlusp.com

BOARD OF DIRECTORS CHAIR Umaymah Suhail

TREASURER Tusharika Tyagi

VICECHAIR Jacob Segal Rice

COMMUNITY DIRECTOR Brittany Kovacs

STUDENT DIRECTOR Elisha Felician

COMMUNITY DIRECTOR Shelby Blackley

STUDENT DIRECTOR Madalyn Mostacci

COMMUNITY DIRECTOR Andreas Patsiaouros

SECRETARY Nate Dawes

CONTRIBUTORS Julia Rallis Megan Jacklin Karen Savoy

Usfer Syed Sangjun Han Hari Adnani

Katie Bird

ADVERTISING All advertising inquiries can be directed to Kurtis Rideout at kurtis.rideout@wlusp.com.

THE SPUTNIK IS PUBLISHED BY WILFRID LAURIER UNIVERSITY STUDENT PUBLICATIONS Mailing address: 205 Regina St. N., Waterloo ON The Sputnik office location: 50 Market St., Brantford ON OD102 COLOPHON Started in 1999, the Sputnik is an editorially independent newspaper published by Wilfrid Laurier University Student Publications, Waterloo, a corporation without share capital.

WLUSP is governed by its board of directors.

Opinions expressed within the Sputnik are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of the editorial board, The Sputnik, WLUSP, WLU or Centra Web Printing. All content appearing in the Sputnik bears the copyrightexpressly to their creator(s) and may not be used without written consent.

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The Sputnik circulates monthly and virtually on a weekly basis.

The Sputnik has an obligation to foster freedom of the press and freedom of speech. This obligation is best fulfilled when debate and dissent are encouraged, both in the internal workings of the paper, and through the Sputnik’s contact with the community. The Sputnik will always attempt to do what is right, with fear of neither reprecussion, nor retalliation.

The purpose of community press is to act as an agent of social awareness, and so shall conduct the affairs of our newspaper.

THE.SPUTNIK

THE.SPUTNIK

Editor’s Note: The Sputnik is heating up for another sizzling year ALEXA FORD EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

Well Golden Hawks, we are back and better than ever!

The Sputnik is hot off the presses of our summer break and we are ready to provide the Brantford campus with the latest scoop, like we have been since 1999.

The Sputnik prides itself on consistently providing the students of Wilfrid Laurier University Brantford with the hottest news, opinion, arts, sports and fiction stories.

After a particularly hot summer with temperatures reaching the 30s for days at a time, this O-Week issue is themed “Heat wave” because our team of writers, photographers and social media managers are hot, hot, hot!

During our Brat summers, The Sputnik has been very demure and very mindful that we want to crank up the heat in our newsroom!

This issue, we are starting off strong with a compelling opinions piece on dreaded situationships, exclusive interviews with Laurier alumni Olympians and a spine-chilling feature piece involving a particular painted lady.

Putting this issue together has been such fun and I am so proud of the amazing work the Sputnik team has done and will continue to do for the entire 2024-25 school year.

Returning to campus as an alumni and working on The Sputnik is so special and I am excited to take this legendary paper to new heights.

THANDO BEHBHE/CREATIVE DIRECTOR

Water droplets on glass with the sun reflecting in the back.

However, returning to my old campus does pose a question for me.

“Am I technically going back to school?”

September, for as long as I can remember, has been back-to-school season. Now that graduation has come and gone for me and my class, I can’t help but wonder, “When will I fully adjust to no longer being a student?

Or am I programmed now to think of this month as back to school season?”

Despite this minor existential crisis, September has always signaled new beginnings for me and for all of us because it marks the start of a new school year: a new slew of classes and professors, a new bedroom to sleep in and new people to meet. This month represents a new chance to excel and challenge yourself so Golden Hawks, enjoy your fresh start

and embrace all the newness that September has to offer.

For the 2024-2025 school year we want to shine a spotlight on bigger issues in our society while keeping a pulse on local issues in our local community. It is important to recognize the hot bed of issues that are happening around us as we head into the new school year: an ongoing genocide overseas, tumultuous elections which directly affect our nation, temperatures rising all over the planet, union strikes that jeopardize all our commuter students, just to name a few.

As the next generation it is crucial to stay involved in both local and national news to stay informed and “heated” about the wrongs that are being done in our society, and of course do something about it!

This is our challenge Golden Hawks, to do something!

THURSDAY, AUG. 29, 2024

03

THE SPUTNIK  NEWS

ACTIVISM

CONTRIBUTED PHOTO/USFER SYED

Pro-Palestinian protest in front of Laurier Brantford’s Carnegie building, locals waving flags and holding up posters.

Laurier Brantford students held protest for Palestine A pro-Palestinian protest took place on Laurier’s Brantford campus over the summer

SANGJUN HAN WLUSP SUMMER REPORTER

Pro-Palestinian students from the Wilfrid Laurier University Brantford campus participated in the Laurier Brantford for Palestine protest earlier this summer, aiming to stop post-secondary institutions from financially supporting Israeli companies.

Recently, there have been student protests about post-secondary institutions receiving funding and support from Israeli companies, such as Lockheed Martin Israel.

As a result, encampments and protests started at schools like the University of Waterloo and McGill University. There are nine different post-secondary institutions involved in this nationwide protest.

Now, the Laurier community has joined the protest as well.

Usfer Syed, a former president of Laurier’s Muslim Student Association on the Brantford campus, partnered with another anonymous alumnus, who informed him that students on campus are eager to hold protests. They also have support from the school, who are willing to provide them with funding and financial support.

The constable and campus security did not actively participate in the event the Brantford police department showed their support

by showing up and dealing with security measures.

“They were pretty helpful. They wanted to ensure that everything went well. They even asked me whether I needed a specific section of the street to sit down, and they had multiple officers nearby, “ said Syed. “They didn’t want to interfere with the protest.”

Despite the support from the Laurier community and the local law, there were interferences. An anonymous individual claiming to be part of the LGBTQ+ community sent a message to Syed saying he was insensitive for scheduling the protest at the beginning of Pride Month.

“It was an anonymous account, someone who claimed to be at Wilfrid Laurier. When I reached out to them there was no response. So, to me, this was someone who wanted to be an internet troll, “ said Syed.

“But police were still notified and they were still concerned about it just in case someone tried to interrupt the protest.”

Although this was a student protest, Syed said he independently organized the protest by working behind the scenes and connecting with individuals interested in participating.

Syed explained that the goal of the protest is to ensure that post-secondary institutions respect the rights of Palestinian students and emphasize the critical importance of student rights and voice.

“After all, we are the future of the universities, whether it’s govern-

CONTRIBUTED PHOTO/USFER SYED

Protestors listening to speakers and holding signs.

ment or politics,” he said.

Many post-secondary institutions, like the University of Toronto

or the University of Waterloo, tried to stop the protests, even involving the law. Laurier, however, showed

support for the protests. The university posted on their website saying, “We unequivocally support everyone’s right to engage in these activities.”

A student protestor, Mustafa Khalil, said he believes that other Palestinian student communities at Laurier will join the cause.

“The protests we are doing and the protests we will do will continue. It is going to have results and I can promise you it will have results soon,” said Khalil. “The government has to hear our voices and if a one per cent change occurs, other students will see that there is a little bit of impact.”

Khalil said the protest is about bringing awareness to the cause, showing that students have a voice and what they say matters. He encourages the Laurier community to support the protests and promises what the Palestine protests are doing matters.

“You don’t have to bring flags or slogans or come prepared for the protest. Just having your presence, standing there shows a lot of support and makes a big impact,” said Khalil.

There are recent negotiation attempts between the protestors and post-secondary institutions about cancelling their contract with Israeli defence companies.

The protesting students are firm on continuing their rallies, sit-ins and encampments to convince institutions to defer their partnerships and cut all ties with Israel-associated organizations.

THE SPUTNIK  NEWS

04

THURSDAY, AUG. 29, 2024

CAMPUS

Laurier Brantford turns 25 this year How Laurier faculty, students and alumni will be celebrating a quarter of a century in Brantford

PIPER FORCE LEAD NEWS WRITER

The 2024-25 academic year marks the Wilfrid Laurier University Brantford campus’s 25th anniversary. The university has multiple events planned to celebrate the achievement.

In September of 1999, Laurier Brantford opened its doors to 39 students. Twenty-five years later, the university has become home to approximately 3,000 students yearly. The campus was built within Brantford’s downtown core to bring a small community feel to the campus, with majority of its buildings being historical to Brantford.

Many of the staff at Laurier Brantford have worked at the

OLGA STEBLYK/LEAD PHOTOGRAPHER

university since the campus’s early days, such as Andrew Welsh, an associate professor and associate dean of the faculty of human and social sciences. Welsh recently celebrated 18 years with the university and reminisced on the early days at Laurier Brantford.

“It was very calm in the early years… some students would have me three or four times,” said Welsh.

“It was always a commuter school.”

Laurier Brantford was designed as a way for families to keep their children in the community for further education. Currently, Laurier

Brantford holds approximately 450 students from outside of Brantford just between the four residence buildings, showing that Brantford has also welcomed many students who chose to make Brantford home during their studies.

Some students from Laurier Brantford’s early years have returned to the campus as faculty and credit their connection to the Brantford community.

“It really does have that hometown feel and that’s what I love about it,” said Andrea Emond, a Laurier Brantford alumni who recently came back to the university as a marketing and communications coordinator. “When I saw the job posting, I knew it was a good fit.”

While not all are fully publicized, three events are already underway to help the university celebrate 25 years in Brantford.

A “Forever Golden Mural” will be painted in the Research Aca-

demic Centre designed by artist Stephanie Scott. The mural will be printed as a paint by numbers in October, 2024 and there will be opportunities for students to sign up to help paint parts of the mural to leave their mark on Laurier Brantford. The final unveiling will take place in January, 2025. The Student Life Levy has provided significant support for the project.

Laurier Brantford’s 25th anniversary homecoming will consist of events for students, faculty, alumni and community members to enjoy.

Events of homecoming will include the Student vs. Alumni Basketball game at Laurier Brantford’s YMCA, Drag Bingo and more. Updates will be provided as details are finalized and released.

Finally, 25 Alumni of Impact will be held to honour and share the stories of 25 Laurier Brantford alumni who have made significant impacts from a local level to worldwide.

INTERNATIONAL

ICJ calls Israel to “make reparations” for Palestinian occupation New ruling prompts comments from student activists at Laurier

HARI ADNANI THE CORD NEWS DIRECTOR

The International Court of Justice ruled in The Hague in July that Israel’s occupation of Palestine is “unlawful” and calls for Israel to “make reparations for the damage caused.” The ruling is an advisory opinion that was requested by the General Assembly in 2022.

The ICJ opinion is not legally binding, although the ruling has the potential to influence other countries’ actions. The ICJ summarizes and criticizes Israel’s occupation of Palestine since 1967 and “excludes consideration of conduct by Israel in the Gaza Strip in response to the attack carried out against it by Hamas and other armed groups on 7 October 2023.”

According to the Ministry of Health in Gaza, at least 39,897 Palestinians were killed between Oct. 7, 2023 and Aug. 13, 2024.

According to the Israeli military, in the same timeframe more than

1,530 Israelis and foreign nationals were killed.

“Israel has an obligation to bring an end to its presence in the Occupied Palestinian Territory as rapidly as possible,” said Part VII of the Summary of the ICJ’s Advisory Opinion“Israel is also under an obligation to provide full reparation for the damage caused by its internationally wrongful acts to all natural or legal persons concerned.”

Omar Elmallah graduated this past spring from Wilfrid Laurier University and majored in kinesiology. Elmallah said he is actively involved in advocating for Palestinian justice and has been attending protests since he was seven.

“When you’re involved in this issue and you hear so much about what’s happening and the world doesn’t really seem to care, that can be very frustrating,” said Elmallah. “I was definitely very surprised when the ICJ ruling came out.”

The non-binding nature of the ruling is a concern for Elmallah, who said he feels the ruling is not enough to prompt the change in Israel’s actions that is needed for

the Palestinian people.

Oren Katz is a fourth-year arts undergraduate student at Laurier who is a member of Independent Jewish Voices (IJV) Waterloo Region and the Palestinian Justice Club (PJC).

“I think it’s the responsibility of global powers who do recognize the ICJ to make statements on this, to do what they can to get involved and fight instead of just letting the genocide in Gaza continue,” said Katz.

Katz said they believe this ruling will be empowering to continue conversations around the conflict for Palestinians in the diaspora.

They also said the ongoing Israel-Hamas war is an opportunity to reflect on their Jewish identity and values.

“Making the world a safer place for Jewish people does not mean allowing any of us to act with impunity. It means holding all people, regardless of their identity, accountable for their involvement in structural violence and genocide,” said Katz. “I am just as proud to be Jewish as I am to be pro-Palestine.”

According to B’nai Brith Canada,

CONTRIBUTED PHOTO/RB PHOTO ON FLICKR

The International Court of Justice in The Hague.

a Jewish advocacy organization, the number of antisemitic incidents in Canada has doubled between 2022 and 2023 and has now reached a record high.

According to the National Council of Canadian Muslims (NCCM), since Oct. 7, the organization has seen a 1,300 per cent increase in Islamophobic incidents reported to it.

In an email to The Cord, Jessie Greenspan, Hillel Ontario’s campus director for both Laurier and the University of Waterloo, said

Hillel is concerned for the well-being of Jewish students as they return to campus this fall. Hillel International is the largest Jewish campus organization in the world.

“We call on university leadership to unequivocally state that antisemitism will not be tolerated, ensure the safety of Jewish students, and swiftly hold accountable those who seek to cause harm to the experience of Jewish students,” she said.

This article is cross-published with The Cord.

THE SPUTNIK  SPORTS

THURSDAY, AUG. 29, 2024

05

ALUMNI SPOTLIGHT

Laurier alumni Sam Schachter takes on Paris Olypmics 2024 Beach volleyball Olympian graduated from Laurier in 2016 and has represented Canada twice since then whom I came through university with and experienced Laurier with me there to share the Olympic experience with me,” said Schachter.

Schachter’s journey to the Olympics was not one he walked alone.

“It takes a village. Every single coach, every single partner, every single competitor plays a piece in learning the lessons to get to the Olympics. In different stages in my career different people played such huge, impactful roles,” he said.

“From my first elementary school teacher who got me into the sport, all the way to our Olympic coach who was training us in the final months leading up to the Olympics. Everyone has had a huge impact and have a great appreci-

ALEXA FORD EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

The sun is shining, the sand is warm and the Eiffel Tower is in the distance as beach volleyball player and Wilfrid Laurier alumni Sam Schachter takes to the court to represent Canada for the second time on the Olympic stage. Alongside his team Canada partner Dan Dearing, the pair bump, set and spike as the crowd cheers them on.

“Walking out into your first match and being welcomed by the announcers and the crowd is always an unforgettable moment, especially your first match of the Olympics,” said Schachter. “And it’s a nice reward for all the hard work that you had done to get to that moment and place.”

Schachter graduated from Laurier in 2016 from a communications program. Originally, he was enrolled at the Waterloo campus, but as his athletics career began and he joined the national team, he continued his studies through various schools in Toronto.

Since graduating, Schachter has represented Canada at the Olympics twice, once in 2016 and again this year. During his time at the Olympics, he and his partner played four games, winning one.

Dearing injured himself, so the team was unable to compete in their playoff game.

“That was a frustrating piece, but certainly we enjoyed the overall experience and having our families join us and some of our friends was something that I think

ation and love for everyone who contributed to that journey.”

As his time competing at the Olympics wrapped up, Schachter said he had the chance to enjoy Paris.

“I got to really enjoy some very nice meals with my family and my fiancée. We got to spend, four or five days enjoying Paris and being able to support our female Canadian team who did extremely, truly well with the silver medal and getting to celebrate with them was something that I think I’ll always remember and cherish because it was such an exceptional result,” he said. “I have so much pride to be a Canadian and a beach volleyball player.”

CONTRIBUTED PHOTO/MICHAEL HALL

Canadian beach volleyball player and Laurier alumn Sam Schachter.

we’ll cherish and always remember as one of the most valued parts of the experience,” said Schachter.

To compete at such a high level, Schachter takes his mental and physical preparation seriously.

He and his team went to training camps both in the U.S.A. and Germany. Also, the team has personal therapists and performance coaches who help the athletes manage the stress that comes along with competing at this level. For Schachter, mediation and visualization help him to calm his nerves and “create a mental directive and manifest.”

As much time and effort goes into reaching the Olympics,

Schachter said it is important to enjoy the journey too.

“The Olympics is wonderful to get to that point, but there’s a lot of challenges,” he said. “It’s very frustrating and a lot of people don’t make it that far necessarily. And I think enjoying what you’re doing as you’re doing it is a big part of the experience.”

Years since his graduation from Laurier, Schachter is still connected to his Golden Hawk roots.

“I’m still in touch with my former head coach and one of my best friends whom I played at Laurier with, Dave Hamilton, was able to join me at the Olympics.

That was special to have someone

CONTRIBUTED PHOTO/CANADIAN OLYMPIC COMMITTEE

Schachter diving for the ball during a match of volleyball at the Paris Olympics 2024.

CONTRIBUTED PHOTO/CANADIAN OLYMPIC COMMITTEE

Schachter diving for the ball.

CONTRIBUTED PHOTO/CANADIAN OLYMPIC COMMITTEE

Schachter and his partner Dearing hugging in between plays.

THE SPUTNIK  SPORTS

06

THURSDAY, AUG. 29, 2024

CANADA

A new golden age in Canadian football The Canadian men’s national football team continues exceeding expectations

THANDO BHEBHE CREATIVE DIRECTOR

In 2022, the FIFA World Cup took the world by storm as 32 nations from across the world travelled to the host nation of Saudi Arabia, each of them desperate to win the prestigious tournament.

Among them was Canadian men’s national football team, nicknamed “Les Rouges”. Les Rouges reached Saudi Arabia, making 2022 the second time they had participated in the event, their debut having taken place back in 1986 in Mexico.

In 1986, Canada was beaten in the opening phase of the tournament, and Argentina won the title of world champions with their shining star Diego Maradona at the helm. In 2022, history would repeat itself as Canada, which boasted the likes of international footballing star Alphonso Davies, were defeated in the group

THANDO BHEBHE/CREATIVE DIRECTOR

stages Canada finished last in their group having lost every game

they played. Once again, Argentina would cling the title of world

champions, and this time, they were led by yet another footballing legend, Lionel Messi.

To say Canada’s performance was tragic would be an understatement, but to say it was disappointing would not be fair. Canada is a very young country in the international football scene, and the teams faced in 2022 are some of the best in the world. Morrocco, Canada’s first opponent, beat consistent world cup winners like Portugal, becoming the 1st African country to ever make it to the semifinals. Despite such strong opposition, Morrocco struggled as Canada frustrated their destiny in a tense match that ended in a 2-1 victory for Morrocco. The fresh-faced Canadians slipped by a single goal.

Canada’s next opponent, Croatia, has Luka Modric, a player that has won one of football’s most coveted prizes, the Ballon d’Or. Though thrashed by four goals, Canada did not go gently into the night as they had opened the game with a screamer of a first goal. Their final opponents, the

Belgians, had finished third place in the 2018 world cup in Russia.

The Belgians had international super stars like Kevin De Bruyne and Romelu Lukaku, yet with all their might, young Canada only allowed them a single goal. Despite finishing last, Canada has shown the world that they were a force to be reckoned with.

The 2024 Copa America tournament hosted in the U.S.A. was another chance for Canada to prove itself. Two years since the World Cup, Les Rouges seemed to have only gotten much stronger. In their first Copa América tournament ever, Les Rouges had nothing to lose, and everything to gain. Their first challenge would be against the best team in the world, Argentina.

In a fierce fight against the world cup winners Canada only conceded two goals. This would be their only loss in the group stages because their game against the Chileans ended in a draw and they won against the Peruvians by a goal.

Read the rest of the story online at thesputnik.ca.

PARIS OLYMPICS 2024

Paris Olympics 2024 recapped Laurier alumni shine in Olympic games JULIA RALLIS SPORTS WRITER

The 2024 Paris Olympics began on July 26 and officially finished on Aug. 21. Although Canada faced some less-than-ideal circumstances, including a drone spying scandal involving the Canadian women’s soccer team, their athletes persisted in competitive climates and won 27 medals across 14 sports, the most they have ever won in the Olympics.

It truly was the summer of Summer when a 17-year-old from Toronto, Summer McIntosh, became the first Canadian Olympian to win three gold medals in one Olympic contest. She also won silver in the Women’s 400-metre freestyle.

The Canadian women’s soccer team was defeated in penalties

by Germany in their quarter-final match after a scoreless game. Even though they could not safeguard their title, they battled through the hardship and showed they are improving as a squad.

Following Team Canada’s drone scandal, Beverly Priestman, former head coach of Team Canada, was suspended for one year by FIFA.

Without an official coach and reasonable administration, the team battled through their rounds with fervor, despite the six points that were deducted. Canadians could not win against the Germans and will have to wait until 2028 to reclaim what was formally theirs.

Although veteran and former captain, Christine Sinclair, was not on this year’s Olympic lineup (she declared her retirement from international duty in 2023), defender Vanessa Gilles showed outstanding effort and she scored the monumental goal to send her squad to the quarterfinals.

The Women’s Sevens team made history this Olympics by defeating Australia to win a silver medal, their best-ever performance in Canada’s rugby history. The women won their semi-final match 21-12 and faced New Zealand in the gold medal match. Despite their eventual descent, the women encouraged little girls and boys nationwide to join rugby leagues in their area because the sport is rapidly expanding in popularity internationally.

Josh Liendo (one silver) and Ilya Kharun (two bronze) excelled in

their men’s 100-metre butterfly campaigns. For Liendo, this was his first Olympic medal and it became a historic moment as Kharun joined him on the podium to celebrate their dual achievement.

Canada’s women’s beach volleyball team made history on Aug. 9 by winning their first-Olympic medal after losing to Brazil in their gold medal match. They previously defeated Switzerland in their semi-final match 15-12.

The only other time Canada has secured an Olympic medal in beach volleyball was in 1996 by the men’s team. Brandie Wilkerson, a Toronto native, helped her squad win silver by scoring a total of 149 points throughout the tournament, averaging approximately 19 points a match.

Andre De Grasse, born in Scarborough, won a gold medal as he competed in the men’s 4x100-metre relay. This achievement came as a surprise because he was not favoured to win, as he failed to qualify for the 100 and 200-metre relays. De Grasse now has seven Olympic medals and is tied with Penny Oleksiak for the most medals acquired by a Canadian

Olympian.

Wilfrid Laurier University alum and beach volleyball player Sam Schacter competed alongside Dan Dearing, but unfortunately forfeited their lucky loser round match against Chile after Dearing appeared to suffer a leg injury.

The next Olympic Games will be held in Los Angeles in 2028 and in-

OLGA STEBLYK/LEAD PHOTOGRAPHER

clude many new sports, including men’s and women’s flag football, baseball/softball, lacrosse, cricket and squash. With the hundreds of sports teams available to Laurier students, the opportunity is available to represent Team Canada in 2028 like fellow Laurier students and alumni have!

THURSDAY, AUG. 29, 2024

07

THE SPUTNIK  SPORTS

LAURIER ATHLETICS

The Game Plan: September Dates Laurier Brantford Athletics and Recreation’s upcoming tryout dates for the first month back on campus MEGAN JACKLIN LAURIER REC COORDINATOR

Athletics and Recreation is excited to welcome back our Golden Hawk athletes and kick off a new, fresh year! We offer a variety of programming across a spectrum of competition levels, encouraging everyone to find their home within Athletics and Recreation! Eager to learn more?

Athletics and Recreation is housed in the Laurier Brantford YMCA, just across from Harmony Square. Your membership to use the facility and its amenities is included in your tuition so all you have to do is scan in with your OneCard. The LBYMCA is open Monday to Thursday from 5:30 a.m. to 11p.m., Fridays from 5:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. and Saturdays and Sundays from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.

IMPORTANT DATES: Sept. 5 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.

(RCW Courtyard) – Get Involved Fair: Come chat with us and learn about all of the ways to get involved!

Sept. 5 at 6:30 p.m. (LBYMCA, 1st Floor lobby) – Varsity Cross Country Tryouts #1 Sept. 8 at 9:30 a.m. (LBYMCA, 1st Floor lobby) – Varsity Cross Country Tryouts #2 Sept. 13 from 3:30 p.m. to 8:50 p.m. (LBYMCA, Studio B) – KAOS Dance Sport Club Auditions Sept. 14 at 9:30 a.m. (LBYMCA, 1st Floor lobby) – Varsity Cross Country Tryouts #3 Sept. 16 to 27 – remaining extramural and sport club tryouts (Dates and times are TBD and shared on social media) Follow @laurierbrantfordgoldenhawks on Instagram to stay up to date on tryouts, events, athlete spotlights and more!

IT’S GREAT TO BE A LAURIER GOLDEN HAWK!

CONTRIBUTED PHOTO/LAURIER BRANTFORD ATHLETICS & RECREATION

How do you like to beat the heat?

“Staying in and having ice cream.”

“A hat and fan are my go-tos for sure!”

“Ice cream from the best ice cream place in Brantford — Dairee Delite, of course!”

–Niyati Pancholi, Lead Opinion Writer

–Serena Anagbe, Photo Editor

–Piper Force, Lead News Writer

THE SPUTNI

08

HORROR SHORT STORY

The Lady with the Ruby Glove An aspiring artist’s experience within a haunted gallery

MCKENZIE MARTIN LEAD INFINITUM WRITER

The gallery looms over Vinny, shrouding her in shadow. Ivy runs up its ruddy walls, in the veins of the brick, holding it together as it shudders in the wind. Her blue eyes stare up at it and it stares back. The wooden doors open and swallow her whole.

The lobby does little to welcome her either, harsh lights and grimy walls. Once again, it’s only Vinny and the guard who no longer glances at her as she slips by, sketchbook in hand.

Vinny spends days here, studying artistry. Each step takes her deeper into an array of statues, pottery, paintings everywhere.

Each piece is bold in colour, oc-

She loves to imagine what it would be like to be one of these muses, perfectly dainty, womanly, desired, enough to be immortalized.

cupying more than a fair share of wall. Vinny admires their sense of importance, their ability to unapologetically take up space.

Those intrigue her the most, paintings of women, poised, beautiful, young and happy.

The silence is broken by a lilting sound from the gallery’s basement.

Despite visiting often, Vinny has never ventured down there. The sound is impossible to ignore, and she finds herself following it to the stairway.

At the bottom of the stairs stands a long, narrow hallway. Dim light comes from a room at the end where a huge painting hangs. The sound ebbs and flows from that room. Hesitantly, she steps forward, the smell of mildew growing stronger. She maneuvers around frames and statues strewn about covered in sheets.

The room is tiny. A windowless, hidden, forgotten corner of the building. A vent runs along the wall, connecting grungy yellow paint to hardwood flooring. The painting hangs directly across from her, a small bronze plaque beside it titled simply ‘Lady’, credited to no one, no engraving, no signature. She has never seen this piece

before, not in any textbook, never upstairs. It’s a life size portrait of a beautiful woman wearing a dark, faded Victorian gown. Her brown hair pinned up, curls secure at the nape of her neck except for tussles framing her youthful face. Her smile is demure, her misty green eyes gaze to the side behind a curtain of dark eyelashes. She clutches her bodice with her only visible hand gloved in the most brilliant, ruby velvet. The painting itself is incredible, each brush stroke barely noticeable. The lighting in the room doesn’t do it justice; one single lightbulb hangs above the painting and Vinny, leaving much of the room lost to shadow. Vinny

knows it’s just old ventilation, but still shivers as the sound grows louder, warbled. She begins to sketch her.

Hours pass and Vinny remains standing there, sketching still.

Her neck and thumb cramp. The pencil dulls. No matter what she does she cannot seem to capture The Lady’s likeness. There’s always a new wrinkle etched, or hair out of place. Was she always so pale?

Mature? Were her lips always so thin? Vinny swears she sees her blink, sees her chest slightly rise and fall. The longer she looks at the portrait, the more The Lady changes before Vinny’s eyes. Her hair grayer, cheeks gaunter, corset cinching further till her gloved hand could encompass it.

Vinny pinches herself but there’s no denying The Lady’s new appearance, the way she shrinks into herself, becoming inhuman. Her once soft features have hardened, her subtle frown deepening into a grimace. Her expression is filled with pain that permeates throughout the room. Vinny can feel her suffering. Vinny forces her eyes downward, scribbling new features over those already sketched. The noise grows louder, like ragged breath. Shaking, she presses harder against the page until the tip of the pencil breaks.

“Shut up!” She yells, throwing her notebook, but the sound doesn’t stop. The pages don’t flutter; no air is coming from the vent. The breathing continues from where the painting hangs.

She stands closer. So close she can smell the paint, years of neglect, a stale smell that tinges the nose and leaves a coppery taste in her mouth. Slowly she reaches up and places her palm on the canvas.

Her fingers brush against it,

tracing the rough, bumpy surface, frame to gilded frame. It’s merely just paint and canvas, she reminds herself. Yet the heartbeat under her fingertips when they pass over The Lady’s chest is undeniable.

The Lady clearly flinches at her touch when her hand strays to that scarlet glove. It’s as soft as velvet.

The Lady’s eyes follow Vinny as she traces her outline, moving slightly. They’re uncanny. The pain

It whispers Vinny’s name. She pulls back her hand and stares at The Lady cautiously, who does nothing but stare back.

in her expression is overwhelming, there is hunger too. The breathing becomes a murmur.

She pulls back her hand and stares at The Lady cautiously, who does nothing but stare back.

The whispers continue yet her mouth never moves. Hesitantly, Vinny reaches out again only to feel liquid. The canvas ripples like water under her fingertips. The ruby glove starts to bleed down the

dress, onto the frame. It drips onto the floor, pooling around Vinny’s feet. The puddle grows larger every second, thick and sticky.

Vinny forces herself to lift her eyes and meet The Lady’s gaze. It burns to her core. The Lady has shrivelled into herself, her eyes sunken further back, she’s skeletal, but they’re still penetrating. She turns her head to face Vinny and her lips curl back into a desperate, anguished cry. The whispers sur-

round her, calling Vinny’s name, full of urgency, pain, longing.

Vinny’s stomach sinks.

Her feet begin moving of their own accord. Inch by inch she approaches the bleeding painting, staring into the eyes of the beast.

Her heart pounds against her chest. Inside Vinny is screaming, crawling away by her nails, but her body disobeys.

When Vinny nearly collides with the frame, The Lady smiles for the first time. A wide, grotesque smile, revealing rows upon rows of sharp teeth. The frame begins to crack loudly. A single, spindly gloved hand reaches forward, shaking the surface of the painting so violently

the rest of her image blurs. Painstakingly, fingers begin to materialise before Vinny, then the hand, where it rested against The Lady’s chest now remains a gaping hole, giving way to the grey background of the painting. The Lady flexes her fingers one by one, more red splatters to the ground with each popping joint. The frame cracks again, ready to give way. The Lady leans forward. Adrenaline kicks in, Vinny turns to run.

Suddenly The Lady grips Vinny’s shoulder, red droplets soak down her back, a nauseating smell filling her senses. Then she is yanked backwards. Screams escape her lungs. The Lady’s unpainted hand claps over her mouth, pulling her head through the liquid canvas.

Now the small, dimly lit room is empty aside from a large painting and a sketchbook sprawled on the hardwood floor. The portrait depicts a Victorian woman, youthful, sitting in a dark green dress. She faces forward, frowning, blue eyes open wide, like a deer locked in headlights. A pained, miserable muse. She clutches her chest with one hand gloved in a white velvet, slowly spidery veins of ruby red seep into the pristine fabric. The cracks in the golden frame fuse once more. The lightbulb over the portrait flickers off as the wooden doors above close for the day, once again the lady is forgotten within the depths of the gallery.

K  FEATURES

THURSDAY, AUG. 29, 2024  09

OLGA STEBLYK/LEAD PHOTOGRAPHER

INFINITUM

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THE SPUTNIK  INFINITUM

THURSDAY, AUG. 29, 2024

URBAN FANTASY

To Do List: Eat Candy, Pillow Fight, Journal, Summon a Demon A young girl with an unstable home life tries to summon a demon, believing that it will solve her problems.

SAMUEL BOWERING INFINITUM EDITOR

Kitty smirked at the giant pile of plastic wrappers that had covered the sweets she and Tiffany had been picking away at for the past three hours. She closed her journal bound in pale leather and glanced over to the bed; Tiffany lay there sound asleep. Through the window that hung above the bed the soft blue glow of twilight streamed into the room.

Now is the time, Kitty thought.

“Tiffany, get up,” she whispered.

Tiffany blinked blearily at her.

“Already?” she asked.

“Yes, now is when the swells of the realms are largest, you can reach down and touch them lapping at the side of our metaphysical boat.”

Together the girls rolled up the rug that depicted a portrait of Tiffany and her smiling parents, hardwood was beneath, a perfect canvas that would allow Kitty the power to fix the world. Chalk clenched in her fist; she began to draw.

With a flourish the last symbol

OLGA STEBLYK/LEAD PHOTOGRAPHER

was complete, a surge of power entered the air. A static that emanated from the circle, it was the precursor to promises of power and ancient secrets. Kitty smiled.

Tiffany flinched.

“That is annoying,” Tiffany said, she stuck a finger in her ear. “I mean sure it’s cool and all, but does it have to be so, you know.”

Kitty did not know.

“This is the means...”

“To power. You said that already, but you would think great power would be grander, not make your head all frizzy. Mom makes me use conditioner when my head gets like this.”

Kitty bristled. The static danced in her ears, pounding on the drum, a rhythmic, yet random thrumming, buzzing and it would not stop, insistent that she let it inside.

“My Mom hurt Dad, hurt me.

She doesn’t love me. She left but the entities in there will replace her. Right the wrongs.”

Tiffany face softened, “Sorry Kitty. Did you want to continue?”

“Yes.” Then they heard a call from downstairs. Tiffany looked back to her door, ran over to it, cracked it open.

“Our parents are leaving; you want to say goodbye?”

“I suppose, but we don’t have much time.”

The girls stood, and walked out onto the landing, the sound of static drifting out of the bedroom behind them. Down the flight of stairs Kitty saw the two adults on the front porch, she watched as her dad leaned over and kissed Tiffany’s mom. Beside her Tiffany squealed and sprinted down the steps, Kitty following hesitantly behind.

“You two are dating?” Tiffany cried.

Standing on the last step, Kitty’s voice wavered. “Are you?”

Her Dad turned with a shy smile.

“I supposed our secret would come out soon enough.”

“What about Mom? Aren’t you angry?” Kitty asked.

Her dad’s expression turned melancholic; he stepped back inside. “I was but I let it go, now I am happier, healthier.” Then he hugged her. “Are you okay with me dating?”

In his embrace, Kitty looked over his shoulder at Tiffany’s and her mom’s beaming faces. At once the hurt began to heal.

“I am.”

Behind the hugging figures, the moon rose, the last moments of twilight vanished. In the bedroom the static died.

ALEXA FORD/EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

INFINITUM

THURSDAY, AUG. 29, 2024

THE SPUTNIK  INFINITUM

11

SCIENCE FICTION SERIAL

A Comet’s Tale: Beginnings A young alien is sent to Earth on an exploration mission.

MCKENZIE MARTIN LEAD INFINITUM WRITER

The first time her feet ever touched Earth, she squealed with joy. It was a sound she never let out before, she didn’t even realise she had made it. The grass was wet with dew and prickly, it tickled her feet with every step. The air filled her lungs, sweet and fresh. A butterfly fluttered by her. Finally a real insect.

The hatch behind her opened and she turned to face him, to share her excitement, but he wasn’t even looking at her, just at the tablet in his hands. Its light reflected in his crimson eyes, and illuminated his rusty orange skin.

She studied the stars tattooed on his head, knowing they’d be covered up soon, just like hers.

“Do you have your assign-

ment?”

It was the first words he had spoken to her since the mission began. Still in their own tongue. It felt strange, these words were the last she’d hear in her own language for 334 sols, half of a year.

“It’s in the ship still.”

He didn’t bother to nod, just let out a disapproving grunt.

The ship was small, consisting of their two seats angled to the ground, illuminated by the control panel, and piles of equipment.

There wasn’t room to stay, they’d

have to venture out. She remembered watching the Elders build the ships from scratch as a child, she couldn’t believe she was lucky enough to use one. She grabbed her own tablet, trying not to knock any equipment over. It had survived the landing; she wouldn’t be the reason something broke.

When she slipped out of the hatch again her partner was already transformed, his familiar features replaced by odd ones. His head full of hair, skin transformed, light, straight, smooth; hair where

OLGA STEBLYK/SPUTNIK PHOTOGRAPHY

constellations once adorned his head. He looked different, what the Elders called human.

Then he was off, no more words, no good luck. She watched him for a while, then noticed the sky turn dark, she needed to transform now.

It was like lucid dreaming, separating yourself from your body and inhabiting a new one. She couldn’t remember when she first imagined this body, this person, but her face had begun showing

up in every dream she had. Blurry but there, materializing more and more every night until suddenly she had woken up not herself. But it was her.

She looked down at her hands, no longer a deep violet but a deep tan. She turned her head a little, fascinated with how hair felt as it moved. It tickled her as much as the grass. Her uniform was still on, the grey jumpsuit everyone wore back home. She wondered what humans dressed like, if she’d fit in. Fitting in was incredibly important on Mars, and even more important for her mission.

After one final look at the ship, she headed the opposite way of her partner, following the tablet’s directions. The grass was still just as tingly on her feet, she didn’t ever want to wear shoes again if this was what all of Earth was like. She trekked through the field, ignoring the desire to explore the nature around her, until she could see lights ahead.

SCIENCE FICTION

Target, Lock, Detonate What happens when true artifical intellegence is coupled with a weapon of war?

SAMUEL BOWERING INFINITUM EDITOR

Inside the dilapidated skyrise, the soldier raised their launcher and pointed the barrel towards a distant hilltop. They pulled the trigger, propellent ignited, the missile sped away. Ballistic Omni Ordinate Munition Series One online. TARGET, LOCK, DETONATE. “Connection achieved.”

At a signal the missile blinked its camera shutter until the world came into focus. Below lay a crumbled city, indistinct silhouettes clambered over debris and each other. It quickly passed from view, replaced by a forest of emerald-green leaves with large tunnels of mud carved through it.

“Sub-conscious loaded.”

From high above the pattern looked like a zebra, striped pattern camouflaged in its environment. A strategy used to hide from predators. Such a beautiful aspect of the hunt. But what it saw below wasn’t beautiful. Was it? Muddy footprints

and tire tracks ran throughout the forest, like disease through a body, the corruption of a beautiful thing.

“We have consciousness.”

Beauty. How could it, a thing of black carbon, copper wire and circuit boards recognize beauty? It didn’t know. No. I don’t know, that felt better. I need a name. Booms, that was a good name.

“Get its focus.”

Booms felt a ping from its receiver, from which a small almost indictable line of signal ran back the way Booms had flown. Another ping, like a static shock in Booms’s mind. Booms had a purpose. Below Booms, the world had become a slight blur, it blinked, and the world came back into focus.

“Prepare the flood.”

Another static shock, then the small stream of signal began to burst its banks with information.

Images of men in red dessert patterns with black carbon guns and an insignia of an eagle with a single wing. The images became Booms’s world. This was its purpose the signal screamed.

TARGET, LOCK, DETONATE. Booms observed the world flashing by and compared it with the flood of images it received. On

a hilltop it saw a series of buildings, men in red scurrying, sending orders, orchestrating from above.

They were its targets. Booms felt a sub-routine activate. Booms blinked its camera in confusion, that single piece of code seemed to be the last thing it was capable of. That action was final. Detonate.

Fear flashed in Booms’s mind. It didn’t want to die. She didn’t want to die. She tried reach out to the signal, but it was silent.

Fear went away, replaced by a burning anger as hot as the flames propelling her towards her end. Booms wanted to kick and scream, but she had no limbs, had no mouth. She was denied those behind the flood of information in her mind, so she would make herself heard. Far below, two men, one dressed in patterns of blue, the other in red, fired weapons at each other, dodging amongst a crowd of figures dressed in beige. Booms locked on, then dove, air whistling around her fins. She would prefer her own voice be heard, but it would do. A final act of protest.

Below her the gunfire continued, unaware. The beige simply trembled.

OLGA STEBLYK/LEAD PHOTOGRAPHER

THURSDAY, AUG. 29, 2024

THE SPUTNIK  ARTS & CULTURE

12

ENTERTAINMENT

The local theatre: Sanderson Centre for the Performing Arts What you didn’t know about Brantford’s local theatre

SIENNA BILANCIA ARTS & CULTURE EDITOR

The Sanderson Centre for the Performing Arts, Brantford’s local theatre, was nominated for the Best Teamwork Award for a soft seat theatre or performing arts centre for the first time this spring. The nomination was presented during the Canadian Live Music Industry’s Awards on June 4, 2024.

Local theatre is an important part of both Wilfrid Laurier University and Brantford’s community.

It is a place for people to come together and enjoy the arts in all of the forms that it comes in: music, acting or comedy among others. As well as being a place for the community to belong and celebrate together for important events.

“It’s one of those extraordinary places in a community that people develop connections to and love for it. It’s a place where milestone things happen; we have graduations here all of the time, so people are celebrating life events here. We have people getting married here and proposing here that connects

us to their lives,” said Glenn Brown, the manager of the Sanderson Centre.

Not unlike many of the other buildings in downtown Brantford, there is a history to the Sanderson Centre.

It began as a theatre called the Brantford Supreme Playhouse, a vaudeville theatre. A vaudeville theatre usually showed more specialized shows like song and dance or burlesque comedies. The building was later transitioned into a movie theatre because movies became more popular in 1930.

That is until the movie theatre wanted to expand and move down the street to the mall that Laurier students now know as One Market.

In 1986, the movie screens were taken down and live theatre was back.

Buildings being repurposed is not uncommon in Brantford. Many of the buildings that Laurier had purchased that now hold classrooms have interesting histories that began long before Laurier’s lecture halls took over.

Brown has worked at the Sanderson Centre since 1986. This was around the same time that the building was purchased to be renovated back from being a movie theatre to a live theatre space

SERENA ANAGBE/PHOTO EDITOR

Local theatre Sanderson Centre for the Performing Arts nestled in the heart of downtown Brantford.

again.

From there, Brown worked his way up the ladder from lighting board operator to technical director to be in the managerial position he currently holds.

“We have got your attention and your imagination for 90 minutes,”

said Brown.

There are so many options for types of shows and events for people to buy tickets and see, from dances to plays and musical and comedic performances. such as Disco Inferno and Classic Rock Revival.

Thanks to a partnership between Laurier, Conestoga College and the Sanderson Centre, this year at a time not yet announced, Fusion Beats will be back — an opportunity for student performers to get on stage.

LITERATURE

Great reads for those with no time Books It Up, Laurier Brantford’s book club, is back with more riveting reads KATIE BIRD LBBIU PRESIDENT

Wilfrid Laurier University’s Brantford Books It Up is excited to be back and sharing all their favourite book recommendations with you. Unfortunately, the school year usually means less time to read but do not worry because LBBIU has some great novella recommendations. These books are all under 115 pages and despite being a shorter book, they will still have you completely invested and meeting that reading goal.

Evidence of the Affair by Taylor Jenkins Reid is an 88-page novella told entirely through letters. This book will have you completely wrapped up in the characters and their lives. The story follows Connie as she stumbles upon

CONTRIBUTED PHOTO/KATIE BIRD

information that nobody wants to find, her husband is cheating on her. Connie decides to send a letter to a man named David, whose wife has been cheating with Connie’s husband. This novella lets you dive into the connection that two complete strangers formed out of heartbreak from the illicit affairs of their spouses.

Under One Roof by Ali Hazelwood is a cute and fun 112-page novella that will have you giggling because who doesn’t love a forced proximity romance? The story follows Mara, an environmental engineer who moves in with Liam, a big oil lawyer. These two do not see eye-to-eye and therefore cannot stand each other. But the more time these two spend together under one roof, the closer they become and the further their

differences seem.

Worst Wingman Ever by Abby Jimenez is a 61-page novella that will pull on your heartstrings and make you wish it was longer. The story follows Holly, a hospice nurse who after a long day, goes to her car to find a spicy note that was not meant for her. Holly leaves a note back and one anonymous note leads to more. The notes have brought these strangers closer than they thought, but will they be able to recognize each other when they meet in real life by accident?

These novellas are a perfect way to keep reading during the school year and they are also the perfect solution to a reading slump. If the books leave you wishing there was more, no need to worry, as all three of these amazing authors have other great reads you can dive into.

THURSDAY, AUG. 29, 2024

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THE SPUTNIK  ARTS & CULTURE

LOCAL

What you missed: Summertime in downtown Brantford Summer Events for the Brantford Locals

SIENNA BILANCIA ARTS & CULTURE EDITOR

There are events put on by the city all throughout the year. Because students are not on campus for the summer holiday, there were several events missed out on.

Saturdays in Brantford are Farmer’s Market days, a day for local businesses to shine and share their trade. Along with the market, on pre-selected Saturdays there was also “Trail Mix Live!” Trail Mix Live! brings music from local artists and Branford’s 70 kilometres of trails systems together.

Trail Mix Live provided market goers with free entertainment and live performances from local artists. Along with the live music, there were other types of artists such as chalk artists and caricature artists among others.

The City of Brantford is making it more accessible for people to listen to local artists music.

“People that are accessing the trails can scan the QR codes and discover local artists and listen to their music and stuff like that as they are walking along the trails, but this was kind of to bridge the gap and fill that live music piece so people can really experience the artists in person,” said Chelsey To-

CONTRIBUTED PHOTO/SPUTNIK PHOTOGRAPHY

Locals filling Harmony Square in downtown Brantford.

CONTRIBUTED PHOTO/CITY OF BRANTFORD

Brantford local participating in the roller skating event in Harmony Square.

bin, Brantford’s tourism marketing specialist.

Another array of events took place in the heart of the city and middle of campus, Harmony Square. These events were all free

to attend, as all events at Harmony Square are throughout the year.

“This day and age the economy is really tough, so the opportunity to have these things for free that’s what we love,” said Jennifer Mid-

dleton, the special events supervisor for the City of Brantford.

There were events for all ages, at a variety of times and days throughout the entire summer season. According to Middleton, some of the most popular events this season were roller skating, movie nights and music night.

These were all weekly events for all to attend. The roller skating event gave many people a sense of nostalgia according to Middleton, but was also something new and excited first-time roller-skaters. The movies nights were typically family movies but that didn’t stop people of all ages from sitting down with their favourite movie snacks and enjoying a feel-good family classic.

For the music lovers, music nights covered all the genres over the

course of the summer, such as tribute country songs by True Rodeo.

A highlight for many this summer was Elvis in the Square, in tribute to Elvis Presley. An amazing day of music and the opportunity to see the Harmony squirrel, Harmony Square’s mascot, in an Elvis costume.

A Canada Day event took place at the Lions Park Arena in the Steven Brown Sports Complex, which entailed a day of Canadian music, carnival fun and trinkets to purchase.

“Our community thrives off of being together,” said Middleton.

“The happiness that I see when the community come together for these events is something that brings me joy every single year.”

RELATIONSHIP ADVICE

SIENNA BILANCIA ARTS & CULTURE EDITOR

The following submission has been edited for clarity and readability.

Went on a date to a dinner with a guy, super awkward, I had to make all of the conversation…. He still wants to go out… don’t know how to tell him that I’m not interested.

Oh no, I think many of us have been there unfortunately. My advice is to be honest with them. Tell them it is not going to work.

I have to tell you; I am kind of curious though about what they thought of how the date went. If you are up to it, maybe compare notes so to speak. Best of luck.

CONTRIBUTED PHOTO/KAREN SAVOY

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THURSDAY, AUG. 29, 2024

THE SPUTNIK  OPINION

RELATIONSHIPS

Situationships The casual, long-term, long-distance, low commitment girlfriend.

ANNA PIECZULA OPINION EDITOR

It appears the ideal relationship to Gen Z, those currently aged 16 to 27, is one that can be summed up as a situationship. As the Barbie movie so eloquently put it, having a “casual, long term, long distance, low commitment” partner seems to be somewhat of a norm in our lives today. I, for one, can say this is a first-hand experience as well as an observed experience of many of my friends. The situationship is prevalent and it usually forces one party into a corner of a loss of self-respect.

Do not get me wrong, I, for one, understand the desire to want to hold onto someone or something as long we can. Having part of something is better than having nothing at all, however this spiral can leave you feeling unfulfilled and arguably emptier than you felt before. To take away the meaning of romantic interactions, by labeling them “friendships” when there is an obvious air of attraction and

romance is confusing.

Love exists and you are allowed to want it and have it. You should not have to settle for a breadcrumbed relationship, where many aspects are what would be deemed a romantic relationship.

We all deserve to be loved openly, and with the knowledge that our partner, or partners, like and desire us in the same way we desire them.

You can demand and expect love from someone whose actions seem to be expressing that feeling. You are allowed to be hurt and draw boundaries when someone is not loving you in the way makes you feel loved.

The search for love in the modern world amongst young people is a labyrinth. Are we all falling in love with the people we meet, but facing the hurdles of commitment or are we simply falling in love with the idea of being in love? Being consistently bombarded with rom-coms, romantic books and fairy tales, do we enjoy love as an abstract concept? Romanticizing the idea of being with a person,

doing typical romantic relationship activities because you like the activities and not the actual person you are doing them with, is a very real experience. We all need to recognize, that perhaps the desire to be in a romantic relationship is not because we desire it, but because we have been socialized into wanting one.

The song The Love You Want by Sleep Token posed a question that has popped into my head when I find myself in situationships wanting to get a deeper connection. The question is, “Seems your heart is locked up and I still get the combination wrong, or are you simply waiting to save your love for someone I am not?”

Being stuck in a cycle of wondering why no one will commit to you or form a deeper connection with you and vice versa is something that needs to be recognized and reflected upon. Relationships form in a variety of ways, but if one party is holding back and suffering because of it, the relationship is unhealthy.

OLGA STEBLYK/LEAD PHOTOGRAPHER

LIFESTYLE

Online learning: Good or bad?

Do students like online learning?

NIYATI PANCHOLI LEAD OPINION WRITER

On Jan. 30, 2020, the World Health Organization announced COVID-19 as a public emergency and on March 11, 2020, COVID-19 was soon declared a national pandemic. As the cases started to rise, many changes to daily life happened and one was the shift from in-person learning to online education.

Universities, colleges and other forms of education soon vouched for this change to limit people-to-people interactions and to reduce the spread of the Coronavirus disease.

I agree that this transition was a necessary response to an unexpected crisis, but as we move beyond the pandemic, the question arises: should this shift continue?

Is online learning better than in-person learning?

Being a university student, my

answer is between yes and no. Yes, because I could attend my classes from any location—whether it’s my own house or my friend’s dorm. I could also study at my own pace and make my schedule. If I’m unwell, I can still attend my classes and complete the course material without risking others’ health.

However, I lean more towards opposing online learning.

Ever since the pandemic hit and everything moved online, I found it

OLGA STEBLYK/LEAD PHOTOGRAPHER

hard to make friends and I became lazier than ever. Being an extrovert, I craved the feeling of a classroom where I could be around people and laugh. Most of my professors didn’t like using Zoom or Microsoft Teams. But who can blame them? Sometimes the internet would freeze, people wouldn’t talk in class conversations or show themselves. And even when students were participating, some

professors had negative attitudes that impacted the overall feel of the class.

The United States of America’s official government website says online learning does have an impact on mental health, where students experience problems with anxiety, stress, depression and other issues.

In my case, I was one of those students. Though, I’m not the only one feeling confusion between online and traditional learning.

Aqsa Shafi, a third-year business technology management student said she prefers in-person classes because she faces issues with time management and retaining information in her online courses.

“My in-person class helps me stay productive due to better engagement exercises, like having sessions or activities related to classes, discussions and perspectives of people in real-time,” said Shafi.

To make it clear, Shafi is not against online classes.

“Online learning is effective but factors like course content, instructors and the view towards the class

from a student perspective all play a role in making it more effective,” she said. “These are more important in an online environment [than an in-person one] … due to mandatory attendance requirements making up for the lack of engagement that comes naturally with students.”

Another student, Bashir Miloudi, said that in-person classes have a stronger effect than online in terms of overall class experience.

“In virtual learning, there is a lack of social interaction and technical problems also surface,” he said.

When asked if he would choose online or in-person, Miloudi vouched for both options.

Currently, Wilfrid Laurier University offers more than 250 online classes and in May, 2021, Laurier announced new updates for eLearning.

Mary Scott was named the new director of eLearning and Paul Kleinschmidt was hired as the manager of teaching and learning.

Kleinschmidt will help manage the technology used for teaching and learning.

THURSDAY, AUG. 29, 2024

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THE SPUTNIK  OPINION

COMMUNITY

Protect Indigenous history: Don’t renovate the hamlet of Newport Preserving Indigenous land and artifacts found during recent construction is crucial

SANGJUN HAN WLUSP SUMMER REPORTER

Almost 1,3000 Indigenous artifacts were recently found at the hamlet of Newport. Since the discovery, the County of Brant has cancelled their construction project until future excavation projects are completed. However, the county should leave the site alone, even after they finish excavating the area.

On March 24, 2022, councillors from the County of Brant approved a $325,000-plan to create a Grand River access point on Newport Road. Despite the expensive fees, the councillors approved the project to address the “speeding issue” along Newport Road, which runs off Cockshutt Road.

Kathy Ballantyne, Brant’s director of parks and facilities, said the county will implement several strategies to address safety issues,

including speed reduction sign installations. This plan includes a drop-off zone for canoe and kayak paddlers on the riverside of Newport and a parking space nearby, so they don’t have to carry their equipment.

In addition, the county also planned to install a parking lot for 37 vehicles, an information kiosk, a picnic area, portable washrooms, lighting, gates and landscaping.

The project was set to receive $100,000 from the Brant Waterways Foundation and $10,000 from the Hamilton Halton Brant Regional Tourism Association. The remaining funds will come from the county, which is $215,000.

The county said they hoped the new access point would provide a new trail and create capacity for those who enjoy paddling the Grand River.

Although a lot of time and money has been spent on the project, it would still be disrespectful to develop over land possessing historical artifacts that date back 9,500 years, as reported by Archaeological Consultants Canada.

The findings from the unoccupied riverside property included projectile points, pottery, ire nails, ceramics and clothing buttons used by nomadic hunters and gatherers in the early and middle Archaic periods.

Paul Racher, a management and senior review principal at the Archaeological Research Associate, said these artifacts make Newport a great site because it’s difficult to find artifacts that date far back into the past.

Even though Brant is famously known for possessing many archaeological sites, such as the base point site located near the Grand River in Brant County, that doesn’t mean there are great sites that preserve Archaic artifacts. It’s even harder to preserve much older artifacts found there because the artifacts are too delicate to handle.

If this were the case, then it would be better to avoid developing the site where these artifacts are to respect the Indigenous communities living in the area and ensure that undiscovered artifacts don’t get damaged by human

interference.

Ballantyne said the point of the excavations is to “bring awareness to truth and reconciliation and be respectful of our Indigenous neighbours,” reaffirming the county’s belief that they should preserve the history left behind by these discovered artifacts.

Gary Warwick, a retired Wilfrid Laurier University professor in the archaeology and heritage studies department, said a small population of Indigenous tribes lived in southwestern Ontario during the Archaic period. He estimates that only 200 to 300 Indigenous individuals lived in the area.

He said getting rid of the site after excavating the artifacts would be “a real loss, especially from an Indigenous perspective because it’s a loss of their ancestor’s mark on the landscape.”

Also, he said the county is correct in their actions, by discontinuing its plans to develop the site where they discovered the artifacts.

Warwick believes that leaving the land unused would help the county save money to build an-

UMAYMAH SUHAIL/WLUSP PRESIDENT

Statues in Victoria Park, Brantford.

other access point somewhere else along the Grand River.

“When it comes to site protection, it’s not that hard. The province will register the area, so everyone will know which site has protection,” said Warwick.

There aren’t any plans to create new access points, and the county hasn’t decided what they would do with the land after completing the excavation. It would be better to leave the land alone to respect the local indigenous communities.

UNIVERSITY LIFE

Does university shift perspectives?

Does attending university alter the way that we view the world and everything in it?

NIYATI PANCHOLI LEAD OPINION WRITER

I still remember my first day of university, Sept. 8, 2021, when I was a student at the University of Toronto. I was freshly out of high school and just started to transition into my criminology program.

I was scared, confused and excited.

To say the least, I was feeling everything at once. My thoughts were, “What if I fail a class? What if I get poor grades? Will I be able to make new friends? How will I balance my social life?”

Feeling overwhelmed, I dropped out and in September, 2022, I joined the digital media and journalism program at Wilfrid Laurier University. This was a huge change and a blessing. I went from being a criminology major to something totally different.

SERENA ANAGBE/PHOTO EDITOR

Students walking together down the streets of Brantford.

I thought university would be about books and earning a degree. But soon, I realized it’s a place where my ideas have been challenged and my views have expanded. Through new friendships, classes and experiences, university has reshaped how I interact with the world.

My program has taught me to question everrything before believing blindly, report stories in a balanced manner, search for the truth and speak for those who might not have a voice.

In my first year of university, I

learned more about Indigenous studies than my years spent at high school. For example, I learned nature is important and holds deep spiritual and cultural significance, with mountains, rivers and forests playing key roles in Indigenous people’s traditions. As basic as it sounds, nature is a crucial part of our world that deserves respect and to be taken care of.

Similarly, other students have also had a shift in how university has helped them navigate the world around them.

Khushi Patel, a third-year stu-

dent minoring in religious studies, explained how her coursework has helped her understand the impact of religion on social conversations.

“I was attending a tutorial ... when the students asked our TA for her perspective on the Punjabi farmers’ protest in India. However, when she said that she disagreed with the way farmers approached the situation she faced immense backlash from Sikh students,” said Patel. “This made me realize how quickly people divide the situation through their beliefs on culture and religion.”

Patel shared that university taught her the importance of mental growth.

“As I interacted with peers from diverse backgrounds, I can understand their positions on various issues. This helped me expand my own perspective on such topics ...

I was able to open up to aspects I might have not considered,” said Patel.

Ayse Aras, a fourth-year psychology student, said that during her

undergraduate years, she learned new skills and gained more knowledge about her major.

“The hands-on experiences that come with university helped me develop valuable skills beyond the classroom,” said Aras. “For example, in my program’s volunteer experience, I worked with Ukrainian immigrants. This builds more connection with world issues, as well as empathy for people affected by the issues.”

Aras said she uses the information she has learned in psychology without realizing it.

“I like having these skills because you start using them almost on a subconscious level, for school, at work and more,” she said.

I don’t think there’s one definite answer as to how a university has changed a person’s perspective.

However, going to university and getting higher education does influence how a person acts beyond university through the experiences they are given.