Volume 17 Issue 4 – November 1, 2017
The Sputnik, We Orbit Around you News, pg. 5
LET’S TACO BOUT IT
Tacos and discussion about mental health
Features, pg. 6
2017 LAURIER HOMECOMING
Golden Hawks celebrated another year at Laurier
A&C pg. 8
HORROR FILMS TO WATCH
Still want to be spoked? Check out these movies.
Sports, pg. 10
LB DODGEBALL PLACE SECOND
Section, pg. #
WHAT IS APPROPRIATE?
Brantford took on Humber Wearing another culture Lakeshore in tourney for a costume is not okay
QUALITY EDUCATION Ontario colleges continue to strike for job stablility News, pg. 3
JAMAAL OWUSU-ANSAH/DESIGN MANAGER
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03 NEWS EDITOR SHREYA SHAH news@thesputnik.ca
ASSISTANT NEWS EDITOR AVERY MCISAAC assistantnews@thesputnik.ca
EDUCATION
Ontario colleges enter strike week 3 Strike continues as Ontario Public Service Employees Union and College Employer Council in standstill SHREYA NEWS EDITOR
Tensions are rising across the province as Oct 30th marks the third week of the Ontario college strike. And yet, the crowd of Conestoga instructors protesting outside Odeon is a big as ever, if not growing. The strike is a result of the Ontario Public Service Employees Union (OPSEU) and the College Employer Council (CEC) being unable to come to an agreement during negotiations.
This leads to 70 per cent of all college teachers being part time employees, and a lack of assured job security.
OPSEU, which has over 130,000 members and a strike fund of over $70-million, represents the 12,000 instructors on strike. According to the Globe and Mail, OPSEU states that the number of part time positions in colleges has gone up by 40 per cent in the last decade, while full time positions have increased by less than 20 per cent. This leads to 70 per cent of all college teachers being part time employees, and a lack of assured job security. “Well there are about three main causes that we have and our concerned about as the Faculty of Ontario Colleges. I think the chief one for all of us, and we were talking about it today, is fairness for part time contract faculty. We’ve basically seen in the past decade, really, a much more use of precari-
ous work in the education system,” said Russell Foubert, Professor of Software Engineering Technology at Conestoga College.” “The management feels they have reasons for relying heavily on part time work, and those are management’s reasons; what we see as full-time, part-time, and other contract faculty is the effect it has on student learning outcome. So being able to know that your college and university programs are being tended to by full-time professors is really important. You know, those people that are consistently motivated and interested in keeping things fresh, up-to-date, etc... And you don’t get that with part time staff who might not be here four months from now. So that is a big issue.” According to the Employer Council, the union’s demands would increase the cost of running schools by $250 million. Both sides of the table report feeling that their issues have not been addressed, and while both parties state that they are willing to return to negotiations, no further meetings have been scheduled. The Toronto Star reports, “the College Employer Council says it upped its salary offer to 7.75 per cent over four years, putting full-time teachers at a maximum of $115,378. Those with a partial
And so you’ll see what looks like a really good hourly rate actually gets diluted to, in some cases, we have part time faculty making less than minimum wage -Russell Foubert, Conestoga faculty
teaching load — between seven and 12 hours each week — would make a maximum of $154.26 an
ALEX VIALETTE /VIDEO EDITOR
From left, Joe Iacobellis, Amanada Johnstone, Geoff Johnstone, and Russell Foubert form a picket line during strike.
hour.” Additionally, the council states that the union is demanding a 10 per cent wage increase over a period of three years, which would cost an extra $400 million per year. Foubert states, “The other issue as well, is that those part time workers are not compensated for all of the hours that they put in. They are given what appears to be really attractive hourly rate, but that rate is only for a three-hour class. So, it may be, let’s say, $75.00 per hour, but that’s only times three hours per week, and that does not give them anything when you factor in all the marking, prep hours, or the unfortunate circumstance where you might have to deal with academic misconduct. That takes hours of the part time professors and contract teachers own pocket. And so, you’ll see what looks like a really good hourly rate actually gets diluted, to in some cases, we have part time faculty making less than minimum wage.” While the strike involves colleges and instructors, students are
directly impacted. Approximately 500, 000 students may lose up to two full weeks of class time. The College Student Alliance, which is one of the only studentfocused advocacy groups, is working to put public pressure on OPSEU and CEC to come to an agreement. While students are not part of the negotiations, many feel that they are being left out of the dialogue completely. Conestoga student, Marissa White, states, “I think that the situation in its entirety is disheartening. It is disheartening for the students, and for the staff and the faculty of each college involved. At this point, I can’t even formulate my own opinion on the cause for which the colleges are striking because the students have been excluded from the dialogue.” While students have never lost a full semester due to a faculty strike, the affects of a prologue strike can be strenuous. “If it continues, the possibility of an extension of the semester would require me to extend the lease of my student house in April; delay my move home; severely impact my chances of starting a full-time summer job at the beginning of the summer – further adding financial and personal burdens on me as a student. The worst of all of this, however, is that if the strike continues, as a fourth year student, I will not be able to graduate on time which is completely heartbreaking for me,” states White. Foubert shares the concern of students and expresses that instructors would like to get back to teaching. He states, “Now it is a huge concern for all of us; there are many remedies and many ways for us to be able to manage [lost time] when we go back. Some of it’s going to be not so regulated, but some of the solutions on how students will be able to stay on track in their studies will come out at the college level” “The administration will put down some new guidance for us to follow in the classrooms in terms of how to complete all the evaluations for the school year. In some cases, as a professor, it’s going to be up to me to be able to say, y’know, maybe I used to give three assignments and two tests, and [instead], it’ll be two assignments and two tests. Maybe just a different combination of evaluations, that will still prove that the
student will meet the outcomes of the course, and then we can wrap it up successfully.” While there will be options to help students complete their programs, these solutions are not an ideal fit for everyone.
If the strike continues, as a fourth year student, I will not be able to graduate on time, which is completely heart-breaking for me -Marissa White, Conestoga student
“I do think that there are programs where [that might not work], such as some trades and apprenticeship programs, some of the paramedic and police services training programs. And they have valuable experiences, like ridealongs and things like this, that will be sacrificed and might not be there. So it is really a concern for all of us,” states Foubert. This sentiment is echoed by worried students. “Thus far, the strike has been frustrating solely from an academic and financial standpoint. Given the nature and intensity of information, readings, and group projects of the Human Resources Program, when the strike is over the students will be completely and utterly overwhelmed. We will not get those classes back, nor will we be refunded. And what we will receive, will be stripped down or ‘streamlined’ as one of my instructors told us,” states White. As the end of the third week approaches, Premier Kathleen Wynne warns both the council and the union to come to an agreement, as she states that she is not ruling out back-to-work legislation. Wynne said, “We really do not want students to lose their term. And you know my expectation and the [post-secondary] minister’s expectation is that both sides of this negotiation will find a way to get back to the table to re-engage because that’s where the agreement has to be forged,”during an event in downtown Toronto as reported by the Toronto Star.
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NEWS
WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 1, 2017
IMMIGRATION
Dreamers speak at Laurier Brantford MEGHAN SLOTEGRAAF STAFF WRITER
Recently, Laurier Brantford hosted two individuals from Mexico who had been deported from the US after being raised there as they were the children of illegal immigrants. Maggie Loredo and Sayra Hernandez are both involved in an organization called “Los Otros Dreams en Acción,” (The Other Dreams in Action) dedicated to providing support to people living in Mexico who have had experiences similar to theirs. The Other Dreamers are the children of illegal Mexican immigrants who grew up in the United States and were forced to move to Mexico as a result of deportation or limited opportunity in the US due to Donald Trump’s immigra-
Coming here has opened my mind to know that there’s other opportunities, not just for me... but for all the community that is still behind us in Mexico. -Sayra Hernandez
tion reform. Trump has declared that Mexican citizens who immigrate to the US illegally are both a financial burden and a threat to public
ANNA PRINCIPATO/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
Dr. Stacey Wilson-Forsberg (left), Sayra Hernandez (middle), and Maggie Loredo (right), at the Coffee House event..
safety. As part of the immigration reform, Trump has put an end to citizenship by birthright. His policy for immigration reform claims, “This remains the biggest magnet for illegal immigration. By a 2:1 margin, voters say it’s the wrong policy, including Harry Reid who said, ‘no sane country’ would give automatic citizenship to the children of illegal immigrants.” Maggie Loredo moved to Mexico
when she discovered she was unable to attend university in the US as her parents were undocumented. She crossed the border from the US into Mexico, knowing she wouldn’t be able to return, with very little knowledge of Mexican culture or the Spanish language. Sayra Hernandez is a 17-year old youth who was deported from the US last August. Her sister is currently still living in the US. Loredo later went on to become
a co-founder of “Los Otros Dreams en Acción”. Their mission statement is, “In Otros Dreams en Acción we are dedicated to mutual support and political action by and for young people who grew up in the United States and are now in Mexico due to deportation, threat of deportation, the deportation of a family member, and/or other obstacles.” They have a Facebook page where they post updates about the ODA campaign and opportunities
for Other Dreamers. Since being deported, Hernandez has become heavily involved in ODA as well. Dr. Stacey Wilson-Forsberg, a professor and researcher in the fields of immigration and multiculturalism at Laurier Brantford, met Hernandez and Loredo when she traveled to Mexico with a group of students in the Human Rights and Human Diversity program to conduct a field placement where they were provided the opportunity to learn about some of the experiences of immigrant youth in Mexico and put human faces to the Other Dreamers issue. Dr. Wilson-Forsberg recently hosted Hernandez and Loredo on campus. They came to Laurier to share their experiences and raise awareness for the Other Dreamers. A live video was posted to the Facebook page for ODA, outlining the details of the trip Sayra said this about coming to Laurier Brantford, “Coming here has opened my mind to know that there’s other opportunities, not just for me…but for all the community that is still behind us in Mexico.” Dr. Wilson-Forsberg has proposed to develop a scholarship for four Other Dreamers to study at Laurier in Brantford. One student a year from the Other Dreamers project would be able to study at Laurier Brantford with their expenses paid for. This scholarship would come from an extra two-dollars charged on top of tuition for each student at Laurier Brantford per semester.
ACTIVISM
LSPIRG takes on capitalism HYRRA CHUGHTAI STAFF WRITER
Laurier Students’ Public Interest Research Group (LSPIRG) hosted their first part of an educational series called Resistance 101 talking about capitalism on Oct 25. LSPIRG is a non-profit organization which helps advocate issues and help openly talk about it with the public. Capitalism was the first topic of this series, educating students and the community to come out and take part in a learning experience to help them understand issues they may have not been familiar with before. Jaydene Lavallie, the Volunteer and Community Engagement Director for LSPIRG was the speaker for the night.
Capitalism affects everybody’s life that lives in Canada. -Jaydene Lavallie, LSPIRG
“This is our second year here at Laurier Brantford, last year I had such a great large group of students who were interacting with LSPIRG in a variety of different
ways generally or being a part in our action groups and two things I got from their feedback last year was that they wanted more skills based workshop...the second one was that they wanted to have more discussions, big terminology, so often when we are talking about oppressive systems… people have this innate understanding of why they think capitalism is bad but don’t have the language for it and they want to be able to have conversations with like minded people and develop better arguments,” said Lavallie. The evening was filled with talk about the creation of capitalism and the many strong opinions of why it should or should not be present today. “Capitalism affects everybody’s life that lives in Canada. What we are going to be talking about is the origins of capitalism, how it came about, the kinds of stories we are told about growing up here in Canada, which capitalism is also a settler colonial state and the actual implications of its societal inequality,” said Lavallie. Students had come for the learning experience and a debate to spread their message but also learn a more educational way to have a conversation. “I definitely think I can take what I learn here and apply it to other clubs and organizations I’m a part of so, I think the background information will be very beneficial to that. Hopefully a deeper understanding of the roots of capitalism and how to fight those roots and
VIVIAN YAN/LEAD PHOTOGRAPHER
STUDENTS AND MEMBERS OF LSPIRG GATHERED TOGETHER TO TALK ABOUT CAPITALISM AND IT’S EFFECTS ON SOCIETY.
better fight capitalism today in our society,” said Emilee Kloostra, a student at Laurier and a volunteer for action groups. The purpose of the event was to allow anyone that wanted to learn more about capitalism to ask questions and find a deeper underatnding. By learning a few things about a topic, one could develop their own way of conveying a thought. “This is one presentation in a series of presentations that will be happening throughout the year which will also be explaining other
concepts like, what is socialism, what is anarchism, what is direct action, what is colonialism, these kinds of things, so people coming to this event will have a better understanding of these concepts and why some people support them and why some people argue them,” said Lavellie. The event included people sitting , discussing and listening to discussions, while all being a part of a learning experience. It also offered pizza. “I think education is the first
step in making a change but I don’t think it’s the only step, I think we can’t stop once we understand the issue but that’s up to every individual student to make up their own mind to what they want to do,” said Lavellie. Timothy Martin, a volunteer for the Gardening Association in Brantford, also have very strong opinions on what is being learnt through the presentation. “To ask now and learn today and pass down to our younger generations,” said Martin.
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RESOURCES
NEWS
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Tacos & mental health AVERY MCISAAC ASSISTANT NEWS EDITOR
VIVIAN YAN/LEAD PHOTOGRAPHER
Exchange student from France, Laura Bannier, enjoys a taco.
It’s no surprise that midterm season is a stressful time for just about every university student. Even less surprising is the fact that midterms can be almost impossible to deal with if someone is struggling with mental health. In a 2016 the Ontario University and College Health Association, or OUCHA, conducted a study where they interviewed 25000 college and university students. OUCHA found that 65% of surveyed students reported experiencing overwhelming anxiety. 46% said they felt so depressed it was difficult to function. However most concerning, 13% of students admitted they had seriously considered suicide and 2.2% had actually made an attempted. With such high statistics its clear all post secondary establishments need to take mental health seriously and provide resources for their students.
On October 19 all the committees at Laurier Brantford including Hawk Team, the Food Bank, Peer Connect, EcoHawks, the Healthy Lifestyles Committee, Foot Patrol, Snow Week, the Mental Health Education Group, Hiring and Recruitment, and the Faculty of Liberal Arts Association held and event called Lets Taco-Bout it. The idea of the event was to help students learn more about promoting positive mental health and strategies to relieve stress. This including activities like making slime, a what I am grateful because activity in which students would write down what they’re grateful for, and most importantly free tacos. Jessica Chesler who is a member of Peer Connect explained that the event was important because, “Laurier Brantford has a lot of clubs and committees that are all looking to bring out more people to join and be a part of the school and collaborate with others.” Chesler then continued, “The
event is also bringing awareness to what we have to offer. Like with Peer connect students know there are people there to help you through difficult times. There is lots of different things, like the food bank for example, that if you are in need of food there are places for you. It is a great time to come out and see what resources are available.” Both Laurier Waterloo and Laurier Brantford also offer counselling services. At the Brantford Campus counselling and support can be found through contacting and making an appointment with the Wellness Centre. Students struggling with experiences ranging from family or roommate problems, anxiety, depression, abuse, or just about anything in between can find the help they need through the Wellness Centre. Laurier students are encouraged to remember that they are not alone and to not be afraid to ask for help if they need it.
CAMPUS
Microaggressions: A campus portrait Laurier Brantford faculty, staff and students share their ideas and experiences with subtle discrimination SHREYA SHAH NEWS EDITOR
Going across the Laurier Brantford campus, we asked people what their definition of a microaggression is and whether or not they have experienced any form of it. I think it’s subtle discriminations.
Sharyne Williams Fourth Year Criminology & HRHD Microaggressions are verbal, non-verbal and environmental situations that target or snubs or puts down someone in a marginalized group. Whether it’s intentional or unintentional. So, for example, asking someone where they are from instead of asking the what their background is. You’re just assuming they are not from Canada or the country that you are existing in, so, you’re “othering” them. You may not have the intention of saying, “You don’t look like us, you’re not from here,” but that’s what the remarks are giving off. So, I’ve been in classes where we’ll be talking about marginalized groups and we’ll be talking about first, second, third generations and once I had a professor say, “Oh Sharyne, where did you move from?” And I said, “Umm good question. I didn’t. I was born in
Canada.” So that was kind of awkward. He just went on and asked if who wasn’t born in Canada. It was awkward but definitely an example.
Dr. Robert Feagan Associate Professor Society, Culture and Environment As I understand a microaggression, I’ve gone to workshops about it and read a fair bit about it, it’s those small moments where a guy like me, a white privileged male cis-gender, who has the kind of a world I take for granted, sees other – the people that I work with, people that I associate with, students and so on – and I carry this sort of story in my head. This unconscious relationship or connection that includes this sort of image or view of those who do not fit in my category. So, I come up with something like – and it’s one that comes up quite often – if a woman of color has this really cool hairstyle, it’s very different than my own, obviously, and I say, “Can I touch that?” Of course not! So, let’s suppose these things happen, I’m sure I do it. I come from a world which has
basically been about, until the 70s when I got out of my little town and finally saw people who didn’t look like me, and I was about 18 or 19 at that point. So, I come from a world which has a dominant set of values and a way that things work. So, when I have to unlearn those kinds of things, it comes with those kinds of, no doubt, things that I have done. Microaggressions that I just didn’t know about. I’m an old dude. So, when we are talking about developing our program and that kind of stuff, people will say, “We are such a young energetic bunch.” And I wonder, am I supposed to take that badly? Should I be sensitive around ageism, for example, as one small moment of [microaggression]. I have a pretty good privilege and place in the world, so I don’t usually have many sensitivities, but I could, I suppose. The fact that I’m bald often comes up, people are always talking about their hair, and it’s kind of rude, I don’t have any. But I don’t care really. So, in moments where I could consider a microaggression, I just kind of shrug it off. It’s not something that I have to worry myself about.
It’s not something that is outspoken or proclaimed at the top of your lungs, it more just in the smaller things that you do. Some people might not even realize. As a person that wears a hijab and chooses to follow religion very openly it can be a problem for a lot of people. Personally, I don’t really care, like your opinion doesn’t really bother me. However, I used to work at Tim Horton’s and there were certain customers that refused to get served by me because they didn’t like the way I dressed, or the fact that I wore the hijab on the job. I had customers who were super nice to my face, but if I wasn’t there one day, then they would tell my coworkers, “Oh good, she’s not here. She should learn to dress like the rest of us.” It was a lot around the way that I dressed and the way I presented myself. Yeah (microaggressions) are definitely there, and I’ve experienced it quite a bit.
Elizabeth Clarke Fourth Year Social Work
Khansa Akram Third Year Child & Youth Studies
White people don’t face oppression, they face hardship. So, when they go around and they say someone’s being racist to them, they can’t be racist to them.
They can be prejudice to them, and do something wrong and it’s rude, but it’s not racism because the system, institutional racism and those sorts of things can’t be used against them because it was used to put down racialized people and marginalized people. It doesn’t affect them in the same way it effects black people and minorities. It’s not up to the racialized person to educate the white person. If you want to earn something, you need to take your own initiative and find the resources and steps to educate yourself. It’s not up to us to do that. As a black person, it’s not up to me to tell you all about the black culture so you don’t offend other black people. Some people will, and that’s their choice, but they don’t have to. Some people don’t feel comfortable [correcting people], you have to do what’s safe for you and how you feel. It’s all about your wellbeing. People won’t put their energy into educating other people because it puts more strain on them in telling this person, “What you’re saying is wrong.” Or, “What you’re doing affects me in whatever way.” It shouldn’t be up to them. I think it’s about reflecting and being able to look in on yourself, And a lot of people don’t do that. In high school I used to do track and cross-country. I remember I had a teacher and he would say the black race is just built differently from everybody else. I wasn’t really believing it, but because he’s the teacher I just kind of went with it. And he said, “No honestly, there’s been research and stuff on that. Black people have extra this and extra that.” So, basically, he was saying that my fastness or my athleticism was because of the fact that I’m black. It’s not. It’s because I work hard. I train. I put in the same amount of work everyone else puts in.
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FEATURES
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WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 1, 2017 ARTS & CULTURE EDITOR ALEXANDRIA CLEMENT arts@thesputnik.ca
HALLOWEEN
Movies For Your Post-Halloween Horror Binge Halloween may have passed, but you can still enjoy a few more spooky moments with these horror films! ALEXANDRIA CLEMENT ARTS AND CULTURE EDITOR
Alien: Covenant (2017) dir. Ridley Scott
October is the month for fear, and spooky movies are the perfect way to get there. If you want to get your scare on this Halloween (and keep it going after!), here are a few movies for you.
If you’re not too shaken by blood and gore, this year’s sequel to 2012’s Prometheus is filled with grim twists and turns throughout the entire film. Filled with romantic exposition and poetic lamenting, the Alien anthology’s monsters are more terrifying and varied than they’ve ever been before, and the movie will fill you with dread.
PARANORMAL Mama (2013) dir. Andrés Muschietti
series, it’s accepted knowledge. The movie takes place in a small town plagued by an evil entity – that they call “It” – and who takes the infamously terrifying form of a clown. The movie might remind one of Goonies, or Stand By Me, with young teens riding on bicycles through the town, but it is a truly frightening horror story about child abduction and the concept of fear.
two detectives partner to track down a serial killer who is using the seven deadly sins as his M.O. The ending is infamous and the film is likely full of lines you will recognize. Texas Chainsaw Massacre (2003) dir. Marcus Nispel Okay, this film is arguably bad, but something about it is still nauseatingly disturbing and scary. If
The Silence of The Lambs (1991) dir. Jonathan Demme The Silence of the Lambs is arguably the greatest thriller of all time. If you aren’t such a horror fan, but consider yourself a cinema buff or a movie fan, the film is worth watching. Anthony Hopkins is in this film for roughly twenty minutes total, and he won the Academy Award for best actor. Jodie Foster also won best actress
If you’re not too disturbed by distorted ghosts, or spooky children, check out 2013’s Mama. The movie features two children that are left in a cabin when their father is killed, who are raised by a terrifying entity. It follows them into their new life when they are discovered, and causes mayhem for their new family. The Conjuring (2013) dir. James Wan If you’re a fan of demons and you’re spooked by possession, check out The Conjuring. The ghostly thriller sets up a long background of story that leaves the watcher wanting more – lucky for you! The Conjuring 2 and Annabelle are two prequels to the film that are also available, and also just as frightening. ALIENS Dark Skies (2013) dir. Scott Stewart If you’re more of an alien fan than a ghost fan, you can find your happy medium in 2013’s Dark Skies – an alien, science fiction take on the classic haunting film. Watch the Barrett family deal with a series of life-altering events that wreaks havoc on their home. The creepy events are slowly unraveled during the film, and it does not turn out how you’d expect.
ADRIENNE HOE / GRAPHICS EDITOR
It (2017) dir. Andrés Muschietti This year’s box office smash was a hit for horror lovers and others alike – and yes, Pennywise is an alien. Sure, it’s not important in the movie, but to anyone whose read the book or seen the 90s mini-
Crime Se7en (1995) dir. David Fincher If monsters and ghosts aren’t your thing, and you’re craving something more grounded in reality, this famous film might be for you. Se7en is a crime thriller in which
you’re not too afraid of gore and some pretty strange scenes, this remake of the 1974 cult classic by the same name is worth a watch if you’re looking for something a little harder to believe. Beware some pretty gruesome murder if that’s something that bothers you in a film!
for this film in the same year. The film is filled with infamous lines and scenes (one of the best of all being Lecter’s line: “I ate his liver with some fava beans and a nice chianti.”). A great bonus: If you like this film, follow it up with NBC’s Hannibal – all three seasons are on Netflix and it’s both artsy and scary.
LGBTQ
LGBTQ History Month and cinema Send off October’s LGBTQ History Month with a look back at LGBTQ diversity and representation in film ALEXANDRIA CLEMENT ARTS AND CULTURE EDITOR
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October is LGBTQ History Month in Canada and the United States. The LGBTQ community’s acceptance in society has greatly improved in the last 70 years, and itshistory is long and complex. The existence of LGBTQ characters in film has been a complex issue since the beginning of film. Before the mid-50s, America employed a standard productioncode for all films, as it was decided that First Amendment rights did not extend to film. This code did not allow for the explicit depiction of LGBT people in film during this time. It also banned swearing and offense to the clergy. This code was mainly to avoid moral outrage, and boycott of film
by the Catholic Church. During this time there was no depiction of LGBTQ people in film without heavy innuendo.
When was the last time you saw a gay or transgender person in a Marvel movie? How about Star Wars?
In the 1950s, because of foreign directors and the popularity of television,the production code was
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finally emliminated. Films were made during this time that implied relationships between people of the same gender, but it was largely negative. Many characters implied to be gay were depicted as sadists or villains, or else miserable characters doomed to a sad ending. This is seen as far back as Alfred Hitchcock’s film “Rope” (1948). The film “Lawrence of Arabia” (1962) depicts characters heavily implied to be gay, including the
titular character. The actors were directed to play gay men by the director of the film. This is also seen in “Ben Hur” (1959). American film’s treatment of LGBTQ themes gradually improved into the 1970s. Films were being directed at a more liberal audience, or else an LGBTQ audience in general. The 80s continued to improve – “Maurice” (1987) was an adaptation of a novel that could
not be published until the author had died – and into the 90s, with box office hit “Philadelphia” and more. 1996’s “The Birdcage” was a comedy about a gay couple and their son. LGBTQ films are still mainly created by independent film studios, with large films still relatively lacking in LGBTQ representation (when is the last time you saw a gay or transgender person in a Marvel movie? How about Star Wars?).
“Brokeback Mountain” (2005) – a film that ends in tragedy – was nominated for an Academy Award, which it did not win. “Milk” (2008), a film about gay rights activist Harvey Milk, had the same fate. Gay women and transgender people are seldom depicted at all. Last year, “Moonlight” won best picture at the Academy Awards. LGBTQ representation is slowly improving in both film and television.
This improvement is vital for LGBTQ youth to see themselves on screen. Moonlight won, triumphantly, at the Oscar’s. After watching the incredible moment, here’s hoping the LGBTQ community will be able to see themselves accurately represented in their many diverse forms more in the near future.
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WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 1, 2017 SPORTS EDITOR JESSA BRAUN sports@thesputnik.ca
VARSITY
WHKY takes homecoming defeat to UofT JESSA BRAUN SPORTS EDITOR
Laurier’s varsity women’s hockey team suffered a 2-0 defeat at Laurier Brantford’s homecoming game on Friday, Oct. 20. The Golden Hawks took on the University of Toronto Varsity Blues just across the street from campus at the Brantford Civic Centre. Puck drop was at 7:30 pm. “I was proud of the way the team played today,” head coach Rick Osborne said after the game, noting the team has no fourth or fifth years and is coming into the season with 10 rookies. Osborne was especially happy with Cohen Myers’ goaltending performance, saying both teams had “exceptional goaltending.” Of the 38 shots on goal, Myers let in two. At the other end of the ice, the Golden Hawks recorded a total of 29 shots on goal. “We definitely had enough
chances to win this game,” said Osborne. According to Osborne, the size of the rink seemed to be an initial shock to the Golden Hawks, who are used to playing on Olympic sized ice. Jamie Watson, one of the captains of the Golden Hawks, also deemed this to be a factor. “Had a rough first I’d say,” the second year defense said. “But we showed a lot of character coming back in the second. We had a lot of intensity, speed and power, so continuing that on in games to come will be good for us.” The game drew in over 500 fans sporting the purple and gold. “It was nice to see everyone out there with all the cheering,” Watson said. “I think it pumped the team up a lot.” “It was a terrific experience,” said Osborne. “You could really feel the energy.” Since homecoming, the Golden Hawks have yet to rekindle that
ALEX VIALETTE/VIDEO EDITOR
GOLDEN HAWKS GOAL TENDER, COHEN MYERS, BATTLES AGAINST UNIVERSITY OF TORONTO FORWARDS AT HOMECOMING.
energy. The following Sunday they lost 1-0 in overtime to the Ryerson Rams and then 2-1 to the Waterloo
Warriors this past Saturday. The Golden Hawks’ current season record is 2-4-1. Their next game is against the
York Lions at 2 pm this Saturday. The game will take place in Toronto at the Canlan Ice Sports Arena.
EXTRAMURALS
LB dodgeball claims second in tournament SAI GNANAHARAN/GRAPHICS ARTIST
LAURIER BRANTFORD PLAYERS LINE UP TO MAKE A SET PLAY AGAINST THE OPPOSING TEAM IN THE TOURNAMENT FRIDAY JESSA BRAUN SPORTS EDITOR
Laurier Brantford’s dodgeball team claimed second place in their first tournament of the year. The team hosted the tourna-
ment on Friday, Oct. 27 at the Rise Centre in Brantford, Ont. It was Humber Lakeshore that defeated the Golden Hawks 5-2 in the final match with four Humber players left on the court. “The team was amazing, every-
one played their hearts out and you could tell we left it all on the court,” said the one of the Golden Hawks’ team captains, Matt Coomber, despite the loss. The Golden Hawks competed in the tournament with just seven
players, three of them being brand new to the team. “All of our returning players showed amazing leadership and perseverance on the court while our new players exceeded any and all expectations, proving hard work and determination pay off,” said head coach Meg Elmhirst. The four teams in the tournament were Laurier Brantford, Humber Lakeshore, Humber North and George Brown. “When the competition was tough we stayed positive and focused on one target at a time,” said
Elmhirst. Elmhirst says the other three teams are likely to be the toughest competition the Golden Hawks will have to face this year. “Seeing as this was our first tournament as a team I have very high hopes for the rest of the year,” said Coomber. The Golden Hawks compete again in less than two weeks on Nov. 10 at Humber Lakeshore. They hope to keep up the teamwork and do well in their upcoming games.
NHL
Looking at the Leafs HANNAH KASTEIN SPORTS WRITER
The Toronto Maple Leafs have had a very good start to the season, with only being one point off of first place in the entire league. One thing that sticks out about this team is that they have no trouble scoring goals. Their scoring doesn’t come from one line either; every line is able to create offense. Thirteen players on the Leafs have four or more points in seven games. It is clear that the Leafs’ offense
is one of the best in the league right now as other teams have a lot of trouble with their speed, and I believe it will be like that for the entire year. One thing the Leafs need to work on going forward is defense. Leafs have been able to win because they can score almost 5 goals per game, but that will not last. They need to find a way to reduce their goals against if they plan on staying in the top 10 in the league. Record: 6-1-0 (2nd out of 31
teams) GF: 34 (1st) GA: 22 (24th) GF/GP: 4.86 (1st) GA/GP: 3.14 (18th) PP%: 30% (1st) PK%: 84.4% (7th)
To see the full preview and updates article on all the Canadian teams including the Ottawa Senators, the Vancouver Canucks, the Calgary Flames, the Winnipeg Jets, and the Edmonton Oilers please visit The Sputnik website at www. thesputnik.ca or see the Sputnik’s Facebook page.
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11 OPINION EDITOR MEGHAN GAUVIN opinion@thesputnik.ca
Demonization of Persia in History CHRISTOPHER KUNKEL STAFF WRITER
A wise poet, George Santayana, once said, “Those who fail to learn from the mistakes of their predecessors are destined to repeat them”.
But, here, we’ve been told by a movie about 300 brave Spartans that Persia was evil.
But what if this focus on our predecessors is also a mistake? In North America, we tend to study two things: ourselves and what led to ourselves, which is now known as Western civilization. Typically stemming from the Greeks, this fixation has inspired more than laws and architecture; our very identity is shaped by it. The Cold War helped establish this divide between the East and the West. It was a propaganda battle that painted those east of Greece as lesser beings with backward societies and ideals. However, for a significant length of history, those who lived east of Greece were advanced, and the West was filled with those with backward societies and ideals. Picture a time when any society had: women’s rights and maternity leave; multiculturalism, religious
tolerance and equal rights for other ethnicities; mostly abolished slavery; and a military policy that prioritizes peaceful and sustainable resolution over bloodshed. Many will think of modern Canada because, after all, we’re taught about these recent accomplishments in elementary school. Canada is good; Canada is advanced – at least as of the late 20th century. However, these same social policies were in place over 2500 years ago under the care of the Persian Empire. But, here, we’ve been told by a movie about 300 brave Spartans that Persia was evil. This misconception was born from those responsible for putting the world behind a couple millennia in terms of social advancement: the Greeks. Despite how we glorify them, they were womanizing bigots that accumulated wealth atop the backs of a third of their population who were slaves. They also led a propaganda battle as North America had during The Cold War, and those to their east were considered uncivilized barbarians who were a menace and threat to their ideals. Sadly, those who can instill the greatest fear in their populace tend to inspire the best use of pointy sticks, and an army arose from the Greeks – unified by Alexander of Macedon – and decimated all of Persia. Unlike the Persians, the Greeks raped and dismantled, demanded that their patriarchy be abided by, and practiced antisemitism. Yes, our cultural idols are akin to Nazis. As imbeciles with pointy sticks tend to do in history, the Greeks made a mess of things and fell
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apart themselves – leaving a legacy of three philosophers that firstyear university students are subjected to and the ruins of genuine advancement. This eventually brings us to the Roman Empire that was also revered but depressingly rudimentary. Yes, Rome had an exceptional law system, but it demanded the murder of pregnant women and children if they happened to be slaves and another slave committed a murder in their household. Yes, Rome was slightly better than Greece when it came to women’s rights, but a man could still divorce a woman and steal her dowry if she spoke to a woman from a lesser class. They also maintained the onethird-of-their-entire-populace slave ratio. I could continue along this strain of history, but most people are too enamoured by the fallacy of chivalry to listen to arguments
about the romanticized middle ages. Besides, the intent behind these words is to encourage you to change your focus.
Most people do not know what was held by the losers of military conquests, and so their worth is diregarded when read about in the victor’s histories.
Our schools – if ever – barely talk about the feats and achievements of other parts of the world, and it is high time we pay attention to these
uncommon facts. To name two: China was encouraging accessible public school as early as 2500 years ago, and India developed animal rights – a very modern concept – a few centuries thereafter. However, the most remarkable social advancements in ancient times were accomplished by Persians, who could have truly revolutionized the world. Most people do not know what was held by the losers of military conquests. So their worth is disregarded when read about in the victor’s histories. You can still change this. With an open mind, take a course about another culture’s history, research different ethnicities and religions online, or go to the Royal Ontario Museum. Simply, be curious and share what you learn. The mistake is forgetting the rest of the world.
Stop blaming Disney for ruining us MEGHAN GAUVIN OPINION EDITOR
Everybody loves Disney. And if you happen to be a millennial, you probably feel a close personal connection to their
As it turns out, Disney didn’t actually play as big of a role in our lives as some people might have thought.
movies. If this is the case, than you might be excited to hear that despite how often we have been told, Disney did not ruin us. This is my attempt to prove to everyone once and for all that we are doing just fine, despite some very realistic concerns from sceptics. As much as we enjoy settling down to watch classics like The Lion King or Beauty and the Beast, we also enjoy bashing Disney just as much.
We’ve all taken part in a heated debate over our childhood favourites. The teams usually split up into those who blame Disney for ruining our expectations of love and life and those who are too obsessed to reason with. It is true that a lot of the messages found in the original Disney movies play right into gender roles and stereotypes. The princess will be white with long beautiful hair and pale skin. She will only wear dresses and her favourite pastime is probably something like signing sweetly to animals while she lets everyone walk all over her. And here comes her mighty prince, white and proud. He needs to be strong, much stronger than the princess, so that he can swoop in and save her from her horrible fate. God knows she never would have woken up if Prince Charming hadn’t come along with his kiss of life. This role is played over and over again hardly ever straying from this perfectly crafted image of man and woman. We even accepted a mermaid into the princess line-up before a woman of colour was allowed in. And yet, are we not the same generation who is pushing back against gender roles?
Aren’t we the generation who is ready to welcome racial equality with open arms? As it turns out, Disney didn’t actually play as big of a role in our lives as some people might have thought. Think back to your childhood and ask yourself, did you ever actually want to be a princess? I didn’t. And even if you did, how quickly did you grow out of that? By the time I was in high school the sheer thought of getting mar-
ried was absolutely terrifying. Ending up like one of those pathetic princesses would have felt like the ultimate failure. Now, in university, I know more young women who are critical towards the concept of marriage than those who are not. In the past twenty years, Disney has expanded their credentials and we, the audiance, were finally introduced to another side of the word “princess”. In 1995 Mulan taught us how to kick ass without endouring a
romantic storyline. In 2009 Tiana showed us that hard work pays off and that there is more to life than falling in love. These are the new and improved princesses that our generation fell in love with. Disney is still far from perfect and we should never stop pressuring them to push the boundries of what is accepted. But at the end of the day, Disney didn’t ruin us. They gave us something to fight back agaisnt. And then, they gave us something to believe in.
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OPINION
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Say goodbye to cultural appropriation MEGHAN GAUVIN OPINION EDITOR
It’s that time of season again when the leaves turn orange and yellow, the air gets a little chilly and university students appropriate cultures of all kinds.
Ask yourself one simple question; am I wearing something that belongs to a culture other than my own?
That’s right folks, it’s Halloween! The one time of year that everyone forgets it is NOT okay to dress up in other cultures’ traditional garments or customs. And here we stand, university students, a supposedly educated group of people, and we are the greatest offenders. This is downright embarrassing. Not only did we need to be reminded multiple times that this
is not an appropriate way to celebrate this otherwise meaningless holiday, but people are actually trying to argue that this is unfair. In a world where religious beliefs aren’t a good enough reason to cover your face can we really argue that we are the ones who are being denied our right to free expression? I once overheard a student say that cultural appropriation wasn’t that big of a deal. In fact, this person made the point that people should be flattered that other cultures want to dress up as them for Halloween. They went on to explain that if someone dressed up as a plate of spaghetti and meatballs (since this individual is Italian) that they would think it was hilarious and would not be offended. This person is obviously forgetting that no one has ever been oppressed due to their love of pasta. Think about what these “costumes” symbolize to real human beings every day of their lives. Think about the hardships and struggles that these people, and their ancestors, have faced in order to gain the right to their own culture. A right they should never have had to fight for in the first place. Now think about how disrespect-
ful it is when you or I come along without a second thought and use these meaningful garments as a way to dress up. A holiday celebrated by selling candy to kids was turned into another way that white people can continue to disrespect and ignore the hardships inflicted on minorities. We undermine these people’s heritage and basically tell them that their history, our history, isn’t important to us. Their culture is nothing more than a fun way in which we can play dress up. Does any of this seem fair? We aren’t kids anymore; we can’t keep hiding behind ignorance. It’s time to grow up. Fortunately, there are many of us who understand the importance of respecting cultural diversity. Many, with good intentions, find themselves genuinely confused as to what consists of cultural appropriation. In recent, this Halloween there has been many discussions about little girls wanting to dress up as Moana, and nervous parents unsure if this is okay. After doing some research I discovered a general rule of thumb in figuring out whether or not your costume is offensive.
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Ask yourself one simple question; am I wearing something that belongs to aculture other than my own? If the answer is yes, the safest bet is to steer clear. If you are still confused, consider the following Costume idea for next Halloween!
It is okay to dress up as Princess Tiana as long as you are not in black face. As a pretty standard rule, any costume that invloves changing the colour of your skin is a bad idea. With Halloween behind us, I hope we can remember these simple rules for next year!
Could TV be controlling your life? Ask yourself how often you put television beofore important events, commitments and even people DHRUVI MODI STAFF WRITER
How many times have your friends said to you “I need to catch up on this show” or “I can easily finish this season by the end of today?” We spend so much of our time sitting in front of a television screen or in front of a laptop watching shows and movies. Sometimes we cancel plans with friends in order to watch our favourite show. Ever wonder why the fake world of television is more important than spending time with loved ones? What happens when we’re
Is getting hooked on a television show worth losing friends and sleep?
watching the season finale of our favourite show? We tend to feel sad and wonder what the characters’ fate will be in the next season. So much so that we often lose sleep over worrying about these characters, as if they were personal friends of ours. Our generation has been highly impacted by TV shows. References to TV shows have become so common that even our professors use them to teach their lesson. As convenient as these TV shows are, whether they are being used as a teaching tool or a small escape from reality, is it possible we are watching too much TV? I often wonder if we are becom-
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ing the brainless zombies from the television shows we obsess over. Some students may argue that watching shows is a way of enjoying ourselves and a form of de-stressing. But is getting hooked to a television show worth losing friends and sleep? Watching TV shows hinders our emotions and we soon get attached to the characters of that particular show, resulting in us wanting to dress and behave exactly like them. When we see our favourite character dressed in a certain way, we copy their style, thinking it will make us look more presentable. TV shows have the ability to influence our lives in multiple ways. There are incidents where students will make big decisions based on the shows they watch. For example, students who are into mystery and crime might want to have a career in a field that involves crime and mystery solving. Why? Well, because they are
influenced by a character’s lifestyle and want to be just like that character. TV shows helping a confused person chose their career is not a bad thing. But what happens when you are no longer addicted to that show and you no longer agree with your life changing decision because it was based off a show that means nothing to you now? Or, what about when our expectations become unatainable because they are based on fiction? TV shows have the ability to influence you in small ways as well. Growing up, many children refused to eat certain vegetables because their favourite cartoon character said they didn’t like it. As young adults, we tend to think of ourselves as smarter and less impressionable than children, but as we grow older, T.V shows shape our opinion on extremely important topics. This can include topics such as body image. The need to be skinny and tall, just like [insert character’s
name] so that I can be just like them. How many times have you noticed the lead character being a cute chubby person? I for one have not.
It is important to ask yourself how much power you are willing to give this form of media or, before you know it, you could lose sight of your individuality.
Main character’s in a show are always tall, skinny girls that get all
the guys. But in reality, if we look around, how many girls really look like that? This has the ability to motivate young girls to become skinny and harm their body in the process. Being skinny doesn’t always mean being healthy. Many people strive for unrealistic goals and hurt themselves in the process. Have you ever compared your life with that of a character in a T.V show? In today’s day and age, this is a normal thing to do. Why? Because we want our life to be as exciting as theirs. We tend to forget that all this is a story - fiction We try to achieve the impossible because of what we see on T.V. Our opinions change so quickly, almost as if it is second nature to us. Unknowingly, we start to judge others, since they look or behave like the not so popular characters. T.V shows are not entirely bad, but when they start to control our lives it can be an issue. At what point do we need to press pause and step away from the television? And once it gets to that point, will we even realize? It is important to ask yourself how much power you are willing to give this form of media or, before you know it, you could lose sight of your individuality. Something as unique as who you are, the one thing no one should ever be able to take away, and we are giving it out for free. So how do we make sure that our favourite shows aren’t dictating our lives? As a common practise, it can be helpful to take a step back and think critically about the character you admire so much. Ask yourself if they are truly a good role model, remember they aren’t real and then make your decisions for yourself.