Volume 22, Issue 2 - October 2022

The Sputnik,We Orbit Around You.

Volume 22, Issue 2 - October 6, 2022

News, pg. 3

Features, pg. 6-7

Arts & Culture, pg. 9

Opinion, pg. 10

Sports, pg. 12

HOMECOMING ANNOUNCEMENT

ORIENTATION WEEK RECAP

FROM SCRATCH REVIW

MINIMUM WAGE INCREASE

X-COUNTRY SZN KICKOFF

Laurier releases plans for Brantford Homecoming

Reflecting on O-Week ‘22 through photos

Downtown Brantford’s newest bagel spot

Is a 50 cent increase good enough?

LB’s x-country team starts season at Seneca invitational

MIDTERM REVIEW THE OCTOBER ISSUE

JEREMY VYN/PHOTGRAPHY EDITOR

02

THURSDAY, OCT. 6, 2022

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THE SPUTNIK · NEWS

THURSDAY, OCT. 6, 2022

CAMPUS

Brantford campus prepares for homecoming Laurier shares plans for the campus’ homecoming celebrations FREDDIE HAWSE CONTRIBUTOR

After two years of anticipation, tickets are now on sale for Wilfrid Laurier University’s Brantford Homecoming events on Saturday, Oct. 22.

The Laurier Brantford men’s extramural basketball team will be playing a game against Laurier alumni extramural basketball players from recent years. The game will take place at the YMCA on campus.

A beer garden and concession stands will be provided for hungry fans. A Kid’s Zone and carnival games will also be available for some extra fun at the game.

The doors will open at 2 p.m., with the tip-off beginning at 2:45 p.m.

Tickets are $5 for Laurier students and alumni, $8 for adult advance tickets, $10 at the door and the event is free for children under 12.

After the basketball game, drag queen Crystal Quartz will be providing live entertainment and bingo in the Level 1 Lounge at One Market. These events are for Laurier students only.

Celebrate the Laurier community by attending Homecoming events.

Buy tickets soon as they are limited in supply.

JEREMY VYN /PHOTOGRAPHY EDITOR

THE LAURIER BRANTFORD SIGN AT THE RESEARCH AND ACADEMIC CENTRE.

ADVOCACY

SU’s rally against gendered & sexual violence Laurier Students’ Union held second rally in support of survivors SERENA AUSTIN EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

The Students’ Union’s approach to gendered and sexual violence includes measures like prevention through education, using education as way to create awareness and as a form advocacy and “a call to action to the university that encompasses an institutional commitment to cultural change,” said Symington.

lence exists across the world were read aloud by Lauren Burrows, the manager of the Centre for Student Equity Diversity and Inclusion or CSEDI.

He said they plan to work towards destigmatizing conversations around sexual health and wellness, consent and sexual violence on campus and in our communities.

One way they’ll do this is by improving visibility and accessibility of supports available to students on campus.

Neha Verma, a fourth-year student, the outreach coordinator at Consent is Golden and the coordinator at Laurier Brantford Queer Sphere read her open letter, Sowing the Seeds of Transitional Justice, to the crowd. The letter deals with Verma’s experiences with intergenerational trauma and the gender justice movement.

Sarah Scanlon, the manager of Sexual Violence Response at Consent is Golden, urged students to take their advocacy a step further and find ways to connect with people and organizations who are “doing this work from a [radical], intersectional lens.”

SERENA AUSTIN/EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

Lauren Burrows, manager of CSEDI, with a sign she made for the rally.

The Students’ Union held their second annual Rally Against Gendered and Sexual Violence on the Brantford campus on Thursday, Sept. 22 in the Research and Academic Centre Courtyard.

In addition to several guest speakers, there were community and campus partners at the rally such

as Nova Vita, an emergency shelter and support centre for those experiencing domestic, intimate partner and gender-based violence.

After the crowd of around 25 was lead through some chants, Students’ Union President and CEO, Shane Symington, stepped to the podium.

“You can’t really solve and respond to experiences of sexual and gender-based violence if you’re not looking at who is being most targeted,” she said at the rally.

“Marginalized bodies are being targeted by acts of sexual violence as a tool of systems of oppression.”

Two statements written by a Laurier alum and current Laurier student on how gender-based vio-

At CSEDI, Burrows said she works to provide support, education and advocacy for students “in all the ways that harm intersects.”

Sowing the Seeds for Transitional Justice can be read on students. wlu.ca under Gendered and Sexual Violence Prevention and Support.

Pulling from Verma’s letter, “solidarity should be abundant, and not scarce,” said Symington before addressing the rally’s smaller turnout than last year. “It can’t be reactionary; it needs to be persistent.”

In September 2021, Wilfrid Laurier University’s Student’s Union joined many others across the province in a walk-out in solidarity with survivors of gender and sexual based violence after allegations of numerous assaults taking place in a Western University residence

became public.

Despite the smaller turnout, Paris Snake, a first-year social work student, was proud of those who came out to the rally.

“The people here that came today matter,” said Snake. “There are probably more people who didn’t show up today who really care, maybe they we’re afraid to come.

So now this will give them motive.”

Taylor Berzins, a sexual violence counsellor and advocate at the Sexual Assault Centre of Brant, was also invited by the Students’ Union to speak at the rally. Having been a student activist around gender and sexual based violence herself, Berzins was pleased to learn of the initiatives the Students’ Union plans to take on.

“It’s exciting to see folks coming out and how invested the Students’ Union is,” Berzins said. “I haven’t seen students’ unions hopping onto this cause in such a pragmatic way.”

Berzins works out of the CSEDI Hub in the Students’ Union Building providing counselling and workshops for students.

Students on Laurier’s Brantford campus in need of immediate support can call the 24-Hour Sexual Assault Crisis and Support Line at 519-751-3471. In the case of an emergency, call 9-1-1.

THURSDAY, OCT. 6, 2022

04

THE SPUTNIK · NEWS

CAMPUS

Poster sale returns for first time since 2019

Imaginus poster sale returns to campus post-pandemic ELISHA FELICIAN CONTRIBUTOR

and their loved ones.

“I really like the presentation of it. It accurately displays any type of category that anyone can be interested in. There’s music, arts, T.V. … everything you could think of and the prices are relatively good, so that’s what attracts more students,” said Fabiana Penagos, a second-year digital media and journalism student. “I like the whole concept of this.”

ELISHA FELICIAN/SPUTNIK PHOTOGRAPHY

an Imaginus Poster Sale sign on campus.

Wilfrid Laurier University had its first in-person poster sale in three years on Thursday, Sept. 15 and Friday, Sept. 16.

The poster sale was held on the Brantford campus in One Market near the Level 1 Games Lounge.

The event attracted students, facul-

ty and staff.

There were a variety of posters displayed to choose from. The options ranged from Star Wars, Marvel characters, anime, K-pop artists, music, sports and television personalities. Participants bought the decorations for both themselves

“I heard about it from a friend… I knew it was going to be posters… and I assumed honestly that it was going to be a single booth with custom art and that it would run out [quickly],” said Micah Visser, a second-year game design student.

“It’s a great opportunity for students to purchase things for their dorms,” said Gurjot Sandhu, a firstyear business technology management student. “This is awesome.”

Maddison Leighton and Janet Wi, both third-year youth and children studies students, also said the event exceeded their expectations

for both its presentation and its variety.

Despite the poster sale’s success, many participants said they heard about it from friends or stumbled upon the event.

“They could’ve done a little more advertising about it,” said Penagos.

“Maybe if there were posters on the

ness technology management student. “They’re closing soon and we’re still deciding what posters we want.”

Other students, like Sandhu, agreed with Samra.

Samra also said he would like them to “categorize it a little better.”

“They have an anime poster next to a signed Kobe poster,” he said.

“But, I still think it’s great.”

There’s music, arts, T.V., everything you could think of. And prices are relatively good, so that’s what attracts more students.

-Fabiana Penagos, DMJ student

street or around campus.”

“I wish we had more time,” said Sukhtej Samra, a first-year busi-

The poster sale was seen as a great success and a way to boost student morale and engagement on campus. The vendors declined to comment.

Jennifer Lavoie, an associate professor of psychology and criminology at Laurier also browsed the selection. For her, it’s been a tradition since her undergraduate at Carleton University and has continued into her professional life. She wishes to take her classes to the poster sale in the upcoming years.

ADVOCACY

Victoria Park walk for affordable housing Second monthly walk organized by community member SERENA AUSTIN EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

JEREMY VYN/PHOTOGRAPHY EDITOR

COMMUNITY MEMBERS GATHERED IN VICTORIA PARK FOR THE WALK

On Thursday, Sept. 15, a Walk for Affordable Housing started in Victoria Park, downtown Brantford.

for Affordable Housing. “They’re being slandered as being useless people.”

Victoria Park, located near several Wilfrid Laurier University buildings such as Carnegie Building and Odeon, is both a common route for students coming to and from classes and a resting place for many unhoused people.

A main concern expressed by attendees was the City of Brantford’s response to unhoused people in the downtown core being too reliant on police. On Aug. 22, Brantford Police Services swore in eight special constables to work out of Laurier Brantford’s Special Constable office patrolling the downtown core.

About six people came out to join the walk, including Ward 5 candidate in the upcoming municipal election, Mike Clancy.

“People talked about how they’re being forced on the street although they don’t want to be,” said Clancy during his time at August’s Walk

Jocelyn is a community organizer at Belonging Brant, where she’s been hearing from community members how “horrible” the housing situation is.

“[We’re] just trying to see what steps can be taken, if there’s anything we can assist with,” said Jocelyn. “Understanding what the true issue is from the people who are experiencing it or who are passionate about it is really what it’s all about.”

At around 5 p.m., the group started their walk up Darling St. and across to City Hall. There, Clove VanCampen, a second-year law and society student and organizer of the walk, wrote “R.I.P. Arrowdale” referring to the $14 million sale of a local golf course in 2020 and “Make housing affordable” on the sidewalk while security watched from inside.

VanCampen went to the first walk back in August as an attendee, where she met Clancy, who has supported her in making the walk a reoccurring, monthly effort.

“We’d like to try and engage politicians, people that are in the position to make decisions in our community,” said VanCampen.

“We’re hoping to be able to inform them, guide them and make use of existing federal and provincial initiatives to end homelessness.”

The next Walk for Affordable Housing will take place on Oct. 15 at 4:30 p.m. in Victoria Park.

“It’s very important, the walk before the municipal election [on

Oct. 24],” said VanCampen.

She’s hoping to see students, politicians and community organizations at the next walk and have a few residents living in Cornerstone House, a youth shelter and housing program run by St. Leonard’s Community Services, speak on their experiences.

According to the 2021 Brantford-Brant Point-in-Time Count, of the 238 people in the area experiencing houselessness, which includes couch surfing and transitional housing, more than half were living in emergency shelters or were left completely unsheltered.

Support Contract Faculty

Contract Faculty Deserve: Fairness Equity Respect

Got a Moment? We have a few questions…

Would it be fair if the person in the next room was paid more than double what you were being paid to do the same job?

Would it be okay having to apply for the same job every four months for years and years – even decades – with no hope of ever getting stable work?

Would it be fair if almost every person at your workplace had good, employer-paid benefits, but you didn't?

Would it be fair if your employer waited until just before your start date to tell you whether or not you had a job? Every. Single. Year.

Each 'would it be' is a reality for Contract Faculty at Laurier: the same Contract Faculty who teach more than half of all students at Laurier year after year after year.

We have been trying to negotiate a fair and equitable agreement with Laurier's Administration for months, but they have rejected almost everything we have put on the table. We deserve to be treated with fairness, equity, and respect for the important work we do, for the quality we bring to your education, and for the value we contribute to your university experience.

For these reasons, you will begin to see posters and information regarding a Contract Faculty Strike Vote around campus. This does not mean Contract Faculty will be going on strike but rather that we have had to begin a process that may end in a strike if Laurier’s administration does not deal with us fairly and equitably at the negotiating table.

You can support us and help avert possible job action (including a strike) by letting the Laurier administration know you support a fair and equitable deal for your Contract Faculty.

Follow and retweet us on Twitter: @PrecariousWLU Be informed about the issues: www.wlufa.ca/contract-faculty-negotiations/ As Contract Faculty continue to pursue a fair and equitable contract that respects our qualifications and experience, be sure of one thing: we remain committed to you and to your education. You are the reason we do what we do.

We wish we weren’t in this position, but here we are.

-Contract Faculty Action Committee

THE SPUTNIK · FEATURES

06

THURSDAY, OCT. 6, 2022 · 07

Reflections on O-Week: Reminiscing Through Photography JEREMY VYN PHOTOGRAPHY EDITOR SERENA AUSTIN EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

The Headphone Disco was a raging success!

We’re sending a big shoutout to the Icebreakers! It was through their hard work and perseverence that O-Week was able to happen. They pushed through their lack of sleep, lost voices, and exhaustion, showing up with the biggest smiles and brightest energies.

The Shinerama car wash was a huge success. Customers got their much-needed car washes, and volunteers got their clothes wet and arms sore.

Can’t have an O-Week without some fire safety tips!

Can’t forget about the menatlist, carnival, drag show, and more!

The Get Involved Fair was a great opportunity to learn about all the amazing clubs Laurier Brantford has to offer.

THE SPUTNIK · A&C

08

THURSDAY, OCT. 6, 2022

EVENTS

Scare in the Square

Halloween celebration returns to Harmony Square MARISA CERASOLI LEAD ARTS & CULTURE WRITER

The City of Brantford announced in a press release the return of the Scare in the Square event held in partnership with the Downtown Brantford Business Improvement Area.

loween roller skating, scarecrow and pumpkin carving contests and more. On Saturday, Oct. 8., the Brantford Food Bank will accept donations of non-perishable food items in exchange for treat bags.

The event will take place on Friday, Oct. 7 from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. and Saturday, Oct. 8 from 12 p.m. to 10 p.m. Halloween-themed activities will take place in Harmony Square on campus and Mohawk Park, located on 51 Lynnwood Dr.

Students can visit the Ghost Hunt in the Sanderson Centre or try to make it out of one of two escape rooms, the Clown’s Dressing Room or the Witches’ Hut.

Community members can participate in Halloween activities such as costume contests, hayrides, Hal-

There will be a free shuttle bus to Mohawk Park where attendees can tour a Halloween movie themed haunted house or race through the Zombie Survival Run.

Celebrations will continue in the evening with live music as Heckle the Band is scheduled to perform rock hits at 7 p.m. followed by headliner, BarCode, performing classic rock and top 40 hits at 8:30 p.m.

All activities are free to attend except for the haunted house, escape rooms, amusement rides, Ghost Hunt and hayride.

For more information, including the full event schedule, visit Brantford.ca/ScareintheSquare.

CITY OF BRANTFORD

Two girls making scary faces at the last Scare in the Square

REVIEW

Brantford’s best bagels & more at From Scratch Downtown Brantford’s newest bagel shop MARYKA VAN WYNGAARDEN ARTS & CULTURE EDITOR

New to Wilfrid Laurier University’s Brantford campus this year is From Scratch Café Bistro on George Street right across from Post House. This charming gourmet bagel shop is the perfect place to grab lunch with a friend or pick up delicious homemade spinach dip and bagel chips to go.

As the name suggests, all of the café’s offerings are made from scratch, including the dough for their signature bagels. Three different bagel flavours are available each week. Among them are sesame, dill pickle, everything, pizza, poppyseed, cheese and sun-dried tomato.

Their creative menu items also change weekly, so there’s always something new to try when you walk in. If you prefer to browse your options ahead of time, their adventurous weekly menus are announced on their social media, @fromscratchcafebistro on Instagram and Facebook, every Monday.

They have ventured into all sorts of themed menus, from taco week to burger week, “basic” week and most recently turkey week in the spirit of Thanksgiving.

JEREMY VYN/PHOTOGRAPHY EDITOR

From Scratch’s sign above their main entrance

From Scratch also offers seasonal drinks like pumpkin spice and

brown sugar cinnamon cold brews in the fall and virgin piña coladas and fresh juices in the summer.

You heard it here first, there are homemade pumpkin spice s’mores on the menu right now for a limited time.

Holiday-themed or not, all of the stand-alone menu items dreamed up by co-owners Terra Wilton and professional chef James Lorinczi are guaranteed to make you see bagels and café food in a whole new light.

Their sandwiches, burgers, tacos and other hand-held plates are the real deal, often made with topping combinations that are as surprising as they are delicious. A fun bonus is that the food presentation is casual but classy and definitely Instagrammable.

However peculiarly named, the Johnny Depp bagel, topped with spring mix, guacamole, asiago cheese, cucumber, tomato, red onion and sun-dried tomato pesto, is a nice vegetarian option that I can personally recommend. It’s $12, but worth it. I’ve also heard great things about the smoked salmon lox bagel, the spinach and artichoke dip paired with bagel chips and the herb and garlic cream cheese, so keep an eye out for when those items are on the

menu.

The food is undeniably good, but it is on the pricey side for a university student budget. The week-by-week menu items, like burgers, can be upwards of $15, but as a once-ina-while splurge and a chance to try a fun new meal, From Scratch is a great on-campus option.

The place itself has a lovely aesthetic. It’s currently sporting some serious Halloween decor and is in a prime location for Brantford Golden Hawks to enjoy. Wilton, Lorinczi and their staff are very friendly and will go the extra mile to make sure you enjoy your meal!

From Scratch offers dine-in, delivery, pick-up and pre-order. Visit them at 42 George St. or call (519) 751-0217. They’re open Tuesday to Saturday from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.

THE SPUTNIK · A&C

THURSDAY, OCT. 6, 2022

09

MEDIA

Unhealthy Media-Driven Parasocial Relationships When Twitter stans take their loyalty too far MARISA CERASOLI LEAD ARTS & CULTURE WRITER

SERENA AUSTIN/ EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

Instagram explore page with Twitter in the background

I probably fall into the category of what some might describe as “chronically online.” Is my apt classification in such a group causing severe, irreversible damage to my psyche? Most definitely. Does being this way allow me to keep me up to date with the most fascinating behavioural trends to proliferate at the hands of social media?

Naturally.

Among these behaviours is the tendency toward the parasocial relationship. A parasocial relationship is defined as the one-sided interest, and often obsession, one has in another party, in which that party has no idea of the other’s existence.

Granted, these particular “relationships” have been around for as long as celebrities have existed in our cultural sphere and so have the poisonous extremes of these behaviours. Just ask Jodie Foster.

But the way in which social media sites like Twitter and YouTube have escalated this phenomenon cannot be overstated. Undoubtedly, in the case of someone like John Hinckley Jr., there are serious mental health problems factoring into the equation, but I’m more interested in the propagation of the more subtle, normalised circumstances and the negative outcomes surrounding many parasocial relationships.

Let’s explore, if we dare, the world of celebrity and their intense superfans or “stans,” as the term has

since been adopted in reference to Eminem’s 2000s poetic rap hit about when manic fandom goes tragically far.

Now more than ever, the lines are blurred as to what constitutes a healthy amount of interest in our favourite superstars. Take Harry Styles, for instance. The British singer is no stranger to rabid fans – they come with the territory of being in the biggest boy band in the world. Now that Styles has gone solo and even dipped his tattooed toes into the realm of acting, several of his fans have only grown more obsessed. A portion of these fans have also grown even more unreasonable than they were back in 2012. This is quite the feat if you’re familiar with the “Larry Stylinson” ship that has still yet to sail ten years later. Many 1D fans were – and still are – immovably convinced that Styles and bandmate Louis Tomlinson were secretly dating and any of their other romantic relationships or even Tomlinson’s newborn child were all props in some elaborate plot by their management to cover it up.

Most recently in a string of unhealthy parasocial behaviours exhibited by fans is the disgraceful treatment of Don’t Worry Darling director Olivia Wilde after rumours sparked that she and Styles had begun dating on the set of the film, in which the English musician portrays the leading man. Some of

Harry Styles’s superfans searched for any and every way to bash and vilify Wilde solely on account of her alleged romantic connection to Styles (side note: “bash and vilify” would be a great name for a band).

Out of all this sparked a slew of perceived controversies involving the film’s leading lady, Florence Pugh, ex-cast member Shia LaBeouf and the incredibly bizarre accusation that Styles spit on co-star Chris Pine at the Venice Film Festival. While many of us, myself included, found the drama to be harmlessly entertaining, it is insane the degree to which I witnessed Twitter users polarize as they attacked one another over the unsubstantiated friction within a group of people who have absolutely nothing to do with them.

These types of venomous behaviours are not few and far between. If I had a nickel for every time I’ve seen Taylor Swift and Ariana Grande stans go at it in the Twitter replies, I’d be rich beyond my wildest dreams (I would have approximately 80 dollars). And by “go at it,” I don’t just mean two Twitter users arguing back and forth about why their fav superstar is superior, I’m talking about pure vitriol spewed in all directions – racial and gendered slurs, attacks on personal appearance, you name it.

Obviously, the extent to which we are so readily hurtful to one anoth-

er online is a symptom of a much deeper problem and isn’t exclusive to our defending or attacking any given celebrity, but we see this same situation occur repeatedly.

The great Drivers License debacle of 2021 whereby the Olivia Rodrigo song laments a failed relationship and her lover moving on with a “blonde girl” resulted in ex-boyfriend Joshua Bassett and blonde girl Sabrina Carpenter being relentlessly harassed for months.

Celebrities and your average social media users both face these toxic behaviours from exceptionally obsessive fans. I’ve witnessed people get doxed or told to kill themselves because they criticized Blackpink’s new album or tweeted that Nicki Minaj is irrelevant.

Parasocial relationships aren’t limited to our fascination with celebrities’ lives though. This phenomenon extends even towards fictional characters and can end up affecting the actors that portray them. One prominent example of this is the treatment Breaking Bad star Anna Gunn received during the series’ six-year run at the hands of viewers who simply hated her character, Skyler. Putting aside the mostly misogynistic, unjustified disdain for the fictional Walter White’s equally fictional wife, Gunn faced a constant stream of vicious insults, personal attacks and even death threats as a result of fans’ parasocial relationship to Walt, since Skyler was frequently

an obstacle to his interests.

I personally have spent much of my young life fascinated by my favourite celebrities and becoming way too knowledgeable about their lives. I’d like to make it clear that I don’t think this is a bad thing.

Having harmless obsessions and infatuations with superstars is a normal part of adolescence that our parents and grandparents have all experienced too. The issue is when these obsessions cross the line into feeling personally slighted, betrayed or otherwise involved when celebrities or characters act in a way we don’t like. It crosses the line when fans take to social media to personally attack others in “defense” of people who don’t even know they exist and who will likely never even read the original poster’s criticism to begin with.

I don’t know what the psychological causes or consequences of these behaviours are – media addiction, negative social comparison, straight-up stalker behaviour.

I’m not sure, but I do know one thing: today’s average Twitter stan would not be able to survive Fleetwood Mac’s Rumors era controversies if it had gone down in 2022.

THE SPUTNIK · OPINION

10

THURSDAY, OCT. 6, 2022

ROYAL FAMILY

The role of royals in Canada

Reflecting on the true role of the royal family after the death of Queen Elizabeth II VINCE MASSON OPINION LEAD REPORTER

Many years ago, I was at an orientation for a seasonal position at the LCBO. Because it’s a government job, we had to swear an oath to the Queen. Pretty straightforward.

“Any questions?” the LCBO representative asked. One man raised his hand.

“What if you don’t believe in the Queen?”

The question silenced the dozens of occupants in the shimmering event hall we were all jammed into.

The rep narrowed his brows, flustered and approached his table.

hand, the second time in my life, after a very brief stint in the reserves, that I swore an oath to this woman. I could have scarcely told you what she did or why she did it at the time. I probably couldn’t tell you much more now, but that’s the sort of image and impression I’ve had of the Queen, who recently passed away at the age of 96 at Balmoral Castle. A looming figurehead in the background of all Canadian politics. Someone I take an occasional glance at when I hand over some change or a bill.

The man elaborated. It wasn’t that he didn’t literally believe in the Queen, but simply her authority.

If we were in the 17th century, we might have heard his wails of agony from out back as he’s whipped against a post shortly thereafter, but having made some progress in the human rights department since then, he was simply told to keep it blank and stay quiet while everyone else proceeded with the oath.

But they are much more than that.

Apparently, the Queen was patron to more than 600 charities and organizations around the world, 36 in Canada alone. Princess Diana did a great deal as well, including work eradicating landmines from war-torn African nations, not to mention keeping her composure in the face of assaulting paparazzi.

Prince Harry served his country honourably in Afghanistan. This isn’t an opportunity to downplay the loss of such an iconic figure as the Queen, but simply asking a question following her passing that I haven’t considered before.

He crossed his arms and I rose my

I mean, is it really so bad that

“You don’t believe in the Queen?”

people like people who seemingly represent charity, kindness and deportment? No. But as we have seen, the representation of charity, kindness and deportment isn’t the same as the actual thing. Because the Royal family, it would seem, are no more immune to the dark side of humanity than the rest of us.

Prince Andrew cavorted with Jeffrey Epstein, then made a fool of himself on television when he was asked about it. The current King Charles was married to Princess Diana. Their tumultuous marriage was well publicized and highly scrutinized. A great deal of archival footage shows a soft spoken, perceptive and kind woman being bombarded by the paparazzi as if she was an A-list actor. That wasn’t happening because she wanted it, but because we, the public, wanted it.

This raises an inevitable question, how much of our interest in the Royal Family is academic and how much is morbid curiosity? A great deal more of the latter than the former. A great deal of our interest lies in our lust for drama and gossip and not history or politics.

RYAN JOHNS/UNSPLASH

A mailbox in London with the late Queen Elizabeth II’s initials

Critically acclaimed dramas like Downton Abbey, The Crown and movies like The Queen are also abundant and well produced. They are written by people with admiration and respect for The Royals.

We are invested and riveted by them and as much as we deny their influence, I believe they have given us a romantic view of them.

As I write this, there is a crisis going on in Britain and elsewhere, for that matter. Spurred by high inflation, demand for oil and gas, fallout from COVID and other things, it’s downright sadistic what the citizens of Britain are facing.

Our nation, however, is also wisely coming to terms with its history as well. There’s nothing wrong with having respect and admiration for figures whose authority helped forge our nation, but I also think we need to see the larger picture. Indigenous cultures helped cultivate, facilitate and forge our nation. Many of our ideas about justice, nature and power derived from them. Labour movements have helped balance the power between capital and labour. They aren’t on our money, but we ought to remember them all the same.

TELEVISION

Jeopardy! champs are the coolest Looking back on champ and podcast host, Mattea Roach’s , time on Jeopardy!

VINCE MASSON OPINION LEAD REPORTER

She’d wager a conservative $3,000 every time she found a daily double, get the question right, then chime in with a humble brag.

ster, only to be utterly destroyed by her in categories about a country they were born in can only be estimated.

“I should have bet more,” accompanied by her iconic flick of the wrist where an Elizabethan actress might have said “Oh my!” four hundred years ago.

But that’s also what’s great about Jeopardy and why I celebrate Roach’s new status as a Canadian icon. The stars the show produces have great skill. Jeopardy has no concern for where you came from or what you’ve done. Former Jeopardy champions have included a bartender, a software engineer and a rideshare driver. The only thing that matters is whether you know the answers or not and can buzz in quicker than your opponents. (This one’s pretty important, apparently. Jeopardy’s official website even has an article titled, The Infamous Jeopardy! Buzzer Is the Key to Becoming a Jeopardy!

Champion). Learning the answers requires an inherent curiosity and interest in the world around you and as much I love the debauchery

“Oh, let’s get away from that category,” she’d giggle, then flick. “Oh, why yes, I am from Halifax,” then flick. (Alright, I made that one up).

JEOPARDY PRODUCTIONS INC.

Canadian Jeopardy! champion, Mattea Roach

She casually drops words like “loquacious” on twitter and even my autocorrect was fuzzy on the spelling of that one. Her blazers are like her - bright, bold, colourful. She’s Mattea Roach, Canadian Jeopardy champion.

“Canadian Jeopardy champion.”

I like how that sounds although admittedly, it wasn’t love at first sight. There were these irksome behaviors that managed to slip out of her every game.

But there was also something so interesting, so unique and so powerful about her too. She’s 23, a Gen Zer who mopped the floor with contestants two, sometimes three, times older than her for 23 games in a row. She has a BA in sexual diversity studies, women’s studies and political science. How many elder challengers have dismissed her as some kind of woke young-

in a season of Survivor or the high stakes of Hell’s Kitchen, being a Jeopardy champion requires a confluence of skills, abilities and knowledge that can’t be faked.

Blind guesses will not get you far.

There are no lifelines. There are no Phone-a-Friends. You either have the information at your disposal or you do not.

And Mattea had the information.

She was on a seemingly unbeatable streak, until it happened – she lost. By a single dollar, no less. Her streak ended with a grand total of $560,983 and solidified her as one of the greatest players to grace the Jeopardy stage. She’s now gearing up to host the political podcast, The Backbench. Keep an eye out for the champ when she returns to Jeopardy on Oct. 31 for the Tournament of Champions.

INFINITUM

THURSDAY, OCT. 6, 2022

11

THE SPUTNIK · INFINITUM

SHORT STORIES

Human_Horror_01 MICAIAH “AHLEX” ETTI BALOGUN CONTRIBUTER

FILIP MROZ/UNSPLASH

A streetcar at an empty station at night

October 29, 1986.

They boarded my empty bus at 5:14 p.m., the girl’s dress was heavy with sweat by then. The mom got on first, her strappy heels tapping. The whole bus dipped when the girl stepped on, the mother seemed satisfied with this and chose seats in the centre row. The girl’s belly was swollen, she seemed to be in some pain.

She clutched her chest trying to fit herself into that tiny seat.

I started the countdown for these passengers in my mind; 14 stops, 13 stops, 12 stops. Eleven.

I had sweat dripping down my temples, softening my baby hair.

The hospital couldn’t come fast enough for us three. They came on my route every two, three weeks to check on the girl’s baby. The mother made it my business at 12 weeks and had reminded me for 22 weeks since.

Ten stops. The mother started her drone; yes, the mother spoke non-stop every time she boarded.

At length. With chest. About her hair appointments. About the help. About the local politicians’ children and the office gossip about them. About her trips to that strip the celebrities go to. On and on and on, every other sunset at five-ish. It’s not against the rules, but what can I say? It somehow always came back to the girl’s baby, she – the mother – called it “her baby” always.

—---------------------------------

We hit a long stretch and the mother had slapped the girl on her arm. A lady had noticed too, she looked up from her paper.

I just barely heard the girl mumble, “I’m listening,” but she seemed like she was somewhere far away from us, you know? She was just sitting stiff, swaying to the bus as we wound down a curve.

At nine stops, the mom said, “You could pretend to be more involved,” and that rubbed me the wrong way because the girl didn’t say anything. I had a sister like that, didn’t care about getting the last word in, but that was like bait for some people.

“Ungrateful,” the mom snapped. She had this comb in the back of her hair and the light kept zigzagging in my mirror.

“You’re ungrateful, spoiled, uppity and you’ve had it too good.

But that’s my fault, you’re this way because I’m a bad parent, right?

You blame me for not giving you a father, that’s why you’ve always been so bitter, right?” she said.

—--------------------------------I couldn’t believe it. I’d heard this woman say things that made me hug my kids every night and her daughter didn’t say a word, no matter how big of a scene her mother caused. Eight more stops and that witch will be off my mind for the rest of the evening, so I think.

We roll into that commercial area with all the tramlines and such and I hear this girl clearly say, “By the time I give birth, I would have already been a far better mother than you.”

That took me away. I was so proud because that was the first time I ever heard her stand up for herself and you could tell she loved her child. But, the mother?

Her arm was stiff like someone had wound it back and she said, she really said, “You’re a mother because of me.”

Officer, I’m telling you exactly what she said, verbatim. I didn’t want to hear any of this myself, I was trying to focus on the game.

But, the daughter was still staring ahead – I was watching her in my mirror – and I think she said “What?” or “How?” and that woman just crossed her legs, folded her arms and… laughed. My little nephew laughs like that if you give him a cookie, she was… smug.

She said something along the lines of, “I told you when married women actually want to avoid pregnancy, they take the pill. I thought you and Steven were trying in secret, I thought I was helping.”

—--------------------------------At this point, we had six more stops and I just wanted these two off my bus. It was sick, all of it. I could see the other passenger’s

face behind her paper and I silently sympathized. The daughter didn’t say anything at all and it was like the mother saw this as a challenge again.

She said, “Well, I didn’t know he’d leave… I thought I was helping and in a way, you learned that you couldn’t trust him in your time of need.”

Five stops and the girl just isn’t reacting at all, I’m starting to get nervous. My only other passenger moved up to the seats behind me and that set me off even more. At this point you can see the hospital from this part of the route. We go another minute in silence and I was waiting for the other shoe to drop.

I hear the mom say, “You got pregnant, your husband couldn’t handle the responsibility and abandoned you….”

The daughter is trying to cut in with, “You messed with our birth control?” She’s breathing pretty hard.

The mother is yelling, “Now you know what it feels like, now you know I’m the only one who’s had your back this whole time. I could have taken a new husband and left you behind....” I could have done this and that and all these other vile things.

So finally I speak up and say, well, I start to say, “Ma’am, you’ll have to lower your voice.”

—--------------------------------But the daughter just jumped on her, simply put. I heard a blood curdling scream, but I didn’t know who it came from. I would have stopped the bus or parked or something but we had gotten into a single lane with this big 18-wheeler behind me. They were thrashing around on the ground, they had each other by the hair.

I saw your people putting those stickers around the bus.

I was looking for an exit when I heard someone scream, “She’s killing her!”

The girl had gotten on top of the woman. That was when I rolled over the curb, I’d only looked behind me for a second, but I shouldn’t have looked. I could hear the woman being choked clear as anything. She was gasping, her teeth were just chomping at the air as more and more veins rose under her skin. I think I yelled at the girl something… I don’t remember. I just wanted her hands and knees off her mother’s neck. No matter how disgusting she was, she didn’t deserve to be murdered in the back of a bus, her neck being slowly….

Well, the wind was knocked out of me, but I pushed myself up and I turned to face the back. I thought I would have to wrestle the girl off.

I wondered if I could do that without hurting the baby. I wondered if she would care now that she knew the what and the how.

THE SPUTNIK · SPORTS

12

THURSDAY, OCT. 6, 2022

X-COUNTRY

LAURIER BRANTFORD CROSS-COUNTRY

The Laurier Brantford Cross-Country team at the Seneca invitational

X-country team kicks off season with strong start

Laurier Brantford cross-country team attends Seneca invitational JACKSON RICE SPORTS LEAD REPORTER

Wilfrid Laurier University’s Brantford cross-country teams began their season with a strong opener last Friday at Seneca College.

The Golden Hawks showcased their true colors last week and showed what it truly means to be a Laurier Brantford Golden Hawk after grinding it out on one of the toughest courses.

The women’s cross-country team, who was left without their top runner Faith Nieson, fought hard, finishing sixth overall as a team.

Second-year runner Kennedy

Finch led the team finishing 11th, trailing her was Chiara Carinci who finished 13th, Maya Vidovich at 25th and Hayley Schulz rounding off the women in 35th.

“Before the season even started, I learned I had asthma so I wasn’t sure how it would be racing because I had a horrible race in the summer,” said Carinci. “After coming 13th, I felt great. I felt strong during the race and I felt like I could actually breathe.”

The men’s team was battling injury but finished eighth overall

as a team. The men were led by a returning runner who placed 11th overall. Trailing him was Ayden Carr who placed 20th, Kirby Blackman at 47th, Maxwell Landry at 54th and Jonas Dewar rounding off the men at 59th.

“I definitely did not expect to have a top 20 finish in my first race. It really surprised me, but I’ve been putting in the work and I’m happy to see that it’s been paying off,” said Carr, a first-year runner.

Competing at one of the toughest courses they will race this season,

the Golden Hawks did not back down from any adversity.

“It was clear that they all came to compete because everyone did an amazing job. I think they all set the bar really high and now just have to continue working hard to get better with each race,” said Kara Hughes, a first-year assistant coach for Laurier Brantford’s cross-country teams.

Seneca College is a hilly course requiring any runner’s grit and determination. This course last year was canceled due to COVID-19

and a couple of this year’s returning runners have never ran this difficult course before.

“Seneca is a tough course. It’s the one that I always dreaded going to because of the big hill that just keeps going up, but I think that it’s a great course to push yourself on and see what everyone is made of,” said Hughes.

The Golden Hawks continue their season at Fanshawe College on Oct. 1. The gun goes off at 12 p.m. for the women and 1 p.m. for the men.

NFL

The beauty of the NFL

An early glace at what’s to come this NFL season JACKSON RICE SPORTS LEAD REPORTER

The first three weeks have been electrifying and every game has been a must-watch. We have already seen two potential catchof-the-year candidates, Diontae Johnson and George Pickens from the Pittsburgh Steelers.

JEREMY VYN/ PHOTOGRAPHY EDITOR

A football in a grassy field

It’s only been three weeks into the new NFL season and things could not have started any better.

September is always a dreading month or at least for students, but for NFL fans, this is the best month of all. Football Sundays are back!

As the new season kicks off, fans

have already got their fantasy lineups ready to go, wings in the oven and who knows, maybe a couple of cold ones ready to be cracked open.

The same old predictions will arise: Tom Brady will win another, this is our year Cowboy fans, the Jets will suck, etc.

to the Cincinnati Bengals. No fans were expecting these two teams to have this success this early in the season, some didn’t even think these two teams were going to be successful at all.

With every new season, there will always be those surprise teams who either start off well or begin the season below .500. This year, we are seeing a couple of surprise teams who are starting off the season very well and a couple who are struggling in the first few weeks.

Early success does not mean success near the end of the season.

Fans have seen their teams fall apart near the end of the season after a hot start. For some fans, their teams pick themselves up and finish the season strong. For Las Vegas Raiders fans, that is what they are hoping for.

The Philadelphia Eagles and the Miami Dolphins are two teams who are currently sitting at the top of their respectable conferences.

Heading into Week 4, the Eagles are currently the last undefeated team in the league, while the Dolphins just had their undefeated streak come to an end with a loss

The Las Vegas Raiders had a great offseason, acquiring two star players, Devontae Adams from the Green Bay Packers and Chandler Jones from the Arizona Cardinals.

NFL fans and analysts had the Raiders having a great season and potentially winning their division this year. Their big hopes and aspi-

rations came crashing down as the Raiders are the only team in the NFL to not have a win.

With a 0-3 score, Raiders have been disappointing so far this season and star wide receiver Adams is building frustration within the organization.

Struggling teams have bounced back before and Raiders fans are hoping for that this season.

As every Sunday passes by, the more passion NFL fans bring as every week inches closer to the playoffs.

With surprising starts from certain teams, come more unpredictable events and that is the beauty of the NFL. You never know what to expect each season.