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Stoked on the Holiday Fire Log turner
DECEMBER 2, 2013
Wookiee imitator
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Rockin’ around the tree Check out The Weal’s holiday playlist
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December 2, 2013 | the Weal.com
NEWS EDITOR
The executive corner
Crystal Schick
NEWS WRITER Sheldon Smith
A&E EDITOR Inonge Chimwaso
saitsa has got your back
A&E WRITER Husson Zaman
LIFESTYLE EDITOR Yashica Anandani
LIFESTYLE WRITER Krista Conrad
OPINIONS EDITOR Monica Henderson
SPORTS EDITOR Steve Sucha
SPORTS WRITER Andrew Halipchuk
PHOTO EDITOR Brent Calver
STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER Evan Buhler
ILLUSTRATIONS EDITOR Susan Kim
BY THOMAS CRUICKSHANK SAITSA VP ACADEMIC
We find ourselves at the tail end of semester and SAITSA has grown substantially. With the increase of services that SAITSA offers, from the Emergency Student Loan Program to the Student Support Centre its easy to forget about the government lobbying we do. Before I get into what I’m going to talk about, I’d like to congratulate my fellow ex-
ecutives on a job well done! I’ve been hearing about this support centre for the past 5 months. Watching every pound of sweat, tears and weird tea that has been sacrificed for it has made this opening all the more sweeter. So a “Great Work Team” must go out to: Katie, Michael, Tegan, and Amanda. In the third week of November the VP External and I travelled to Ottawa to attend the Canadian Alliance of Student Association’s Lobby Conference to advocate the conservative government to help students in various ways. Between the two of us we had around 20 meetings with MP, senators, and other lobby groups. Just so you know we didn’t just walk in swearing and cussing, saying that: 1. Students need more money, 2. Students need moar money and finally STUDENTS NEED MOAR MONEY. We are much more professional than that. Ken and I went into these meeting with
well prepared and extremely well researched “asks”. Now, one might think that these “asks” are completely crazy. Like STUDENTS WANT FREE EDUCATION! That’s not how we roll. We ask for things that are small steps toward the betterment of the student experience like the asking the conservatives to support certain changes to the Canadian Student Loan Program. We asked for a bunch of things. We wanted better treatment of mature learners through the removal of spousal income when student loans are applied for. We wanted study permits to become multiple entry visas as opposed to single entry. We wanted the employment penalty removed from the Canadian Student Loan Program. The list goes on and on. Now when meeting a Member of Parliament you quickly realize that they really are just normal people and they can be rationalized with. Every time I made an
because of a governor overspeed [a device which acts an emergency stop if the elevator moves tooca fast] that was tripped, which was likely the result of excessive movement from the occupants within the elevator. The governor was reset and the elevator was placed back in service.
occupants were identified as students. When the CA asked if the resident had been smoking illegal drugs in their room, they replied that they had. At approximately 4:35 a.m., Security checked the room for any evidence of marijuana. There was a distinct odour of marijuana, but no physical evidence of drugs was found. Security informed the CA accordingly and were off-site at approximately 4:38 p.m.
“ask”, the conservatives were in not only agreeing that this is the right thing to do, they also said that they would do something about it. And don’t worry about follow up, we got that base covered. We’ll be following up with them in the coming weeks. All in all here at SAIT Students Association, we got your student back covered when it comes to federal lobbying. If you have any questions, feel free to find me in my office and chat me up. Finally, no, we couldn’t get your money back from the government. The Executive Corner is a weekly column series written and submitted by members of the SAITSA Students’ Executive Council. This content is unedited by The Weal’s staff.
LAYOUT & GRAPHICS EDITOR Patricia Rye
LAYOUT & GRAPHICS EDITOR Alannah Pohran
WEB MASTER Jennifer Poon
FACT CHECKER Evan Whitmore
COVER ILLUSTRATION Alannah Pohran, Janice Nguyen.
CONTRIBUTORS
Thomas Cruickshank, Janice Nguyen, Robyn Hertz, Cara Howlett, Stephanie Haynes, Thomas Strangward, Carys Richards. Direct letters, questions and concerns to:
PUBLICATIONS EDITOR Giselle Wedemire ph. 284-8458 / fax 210-4216
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Heather Setka, Publications Manager ph. 284-8077 / fax 210-4216 Advertising deadlines Bookings Monday @ noon Published every Monday during the academic year by SAITSA (SAIT Students’ Association). The Weal V219, 1301-16 Ave. N.W. Calgary, Alberta T2M 0L4 Fax: 403-210-4216 The Weal serves the SAIT community by promoting student activities, presenting news of interest to its members, and by fostering a learning environment in which members may participate; the newspaper is supported by student fees. The Weal is a member of the Associated Collegiate Press and the Canadian University Press. Contents do not reflect the views of SAIT or SAITSA. Printed direct-to-plate Adobe Acrobat International Web exPress.
Emergency help
At 10:36 a.m., Security received a call from a SAIT Residence staff member reporting a possible entrapment in East Hall Residence’s elevator 35. Security arrived on-site and confirmed two people were trapped in the elevator on the eleventh floor. Regular checks on the welfare of the entrapped people were made until 10:51 a.m., when the ThyssenKrupp elevator technician arrived onsite. At approximately 10:59 a.m. when the individuals were released on the building’s basement level without incident, and left the area before Security as able to obtain identification. The elevator stopped functioning
Drugs
At 4:24 p.m., Security received a call from a Community Assistant (CA) reporting possible marijuana usage in a residence room in the Begin Tower residence building. At approximately 4:30 p.m., Security arrived onsite and proceeded to the suspected room where they met with a CA. The room’s
Calls for service
At approximately 3:45 a.m, Security received a telephone call from a CA in East Hall Residence, reporting a noise complaint in a residence room. Security arrived onsite at 3:48 a.m. and met with
the CA before proceeding to the suspected room. A resident answered the door and the CA explained that she had received a noise complaint and informed the resident that the party was over. The CA asked how many people were in the room and the resident replied that there were seven people in the room, and said that he would shut the party down. From the hallway, it sounded to Security like there were more than seven people in the room. Security thanked the resident for cooperating and waited by the elevators to count the people exiting the room. In total, Security witnessed eleven people leave the room. There were no further incidents and Security was off-site at 4:08 a.m.
Canadian University Press
All Incidents Are Provided Courtesy of Paladin Security’s Daily Log Book
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the Weal.com | December 2, 2013
BY CRYSTAL SCHICK NEWS EDITOR
S SU
Ho, ho, hos will be heard echoing throughout the Campus Centre Arena on Sat. Dec. 14, as Santa himself will grace SAIT with his presence and a pair of skates. SAIT graduates and their families are invited to kick off the holiday season with the annually popular Skating with Santa event, presented by SAIT Alumni and Development. “It’s just such a great, festive, wholesome family event and everyone is always smiling,” said Courtney Garlough, student and new alumni coordinator for SAIT Alumni and Development. Attendees of this event, which maxed out at 78 families—which counts at just over 300 people—before registration even closed and has over 292 families on the waitlist, can expect toacquire
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some treasured family memories. After being fed a festive diet of hotdogs, candies, cookies and hot chocolate, participants will have the chance to win door prizes, sit on Santa’s lap, and have their photo taken with Mr. Claus. And, of course, the event will cap off the experience with some quality ice time with jolly old St. Nick, himself. “Last year, we had two female Trojans hockey players come out and help teach the littler kids how to skate,” said
Garlough, who is expecting some Trojans to come out again this year. Kathy Belford, a three-time SAIT graduate, has been to Skating with Santa several years in a row with her family and is attending again this year. She said the reason they continue attending is because everyone in her family can have a great time at the all-ages event. “We enjoy skating with the Trojans, and [it] gives
the little kids a chance to see Santa up close and personal,” Belford said. Some families, such as the Coxes who are returning for their third year in a row, now consider the skate a holiday family tradition. “It completes the Christmas experience,” said Audra Cox, who is a 2010 petroleum land administration program graduate. A new addition to the event this year is something Garlough describes as a mobile photo booth called TapSnap.
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The set-up allows for more background options, which means more Christmas-themed family photos. The franchise owner is a SAIT alumnus. According to Garlough, the main goal of this event, and the many other events organized by the Alumni and Development team for SAIT alumni, is to maintain a graduate’s relationship with his or her alma mater. “It is a way to encourage people to complete their studies at SAIT and become alumni. And then, of course, [it’s] a way to keep our alumni engaged and coming back to SAIT.” Alumnus Cox said she has graduated from three other institutes and that, “SAIT definitely treats their alumni the best.” For information about this and the many other events offered to SAIT graduates,visit sait.ca/calendar.php.
Power outages keep students in the dark BY SHELDON SMITH NEWS WRITER
Nightlong power outages in SAIT’s Begin Tower residence has the students who pay big money to live on campus infuriated. For two consecutive weeks, there have been power outages at SAIT’s Begin Tower residence, irritating the students it houses. On successive Tuesday nights, Nov. 12 and 19, the power in the residence building went out on floors 1 through 11 at 6 p.m. in an uncanny turn of events that left students without electricity.
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Melanie Simmons, public relations specialist for SAIT, said there are 700 students that live in Begin Tower, and that 350 (students) were affected by the November power outages. Simmons also noted that on Friday, Nov. 22, there was a planned power outage, of which SAIT notified the students ahead of time so that electricians could determine where the central location of where these issues were stemming from. Savannah Scheuerman is a 20-year-old respiratory therapy student who lives in the residence building with her boyfriend, Kyle Ceelen. Scheuerman, has
growing concerns about the power outages, which were never commonplace before. “This [power outage] has never happened while I’ve lived here. It was a major inconvenience. I had an essay to write,” she said. Scheuerman is just one of many students who were faced with an inconvenience on both Tuesday evenings thanks to the power failures. “A lot of people had the same problem, too. Students had to go up to other levels to find common rooms with power. So many people were sitting in their rooms, in complete darkness, hoping their phones wouldn’t die so they could re-
ceive updates,” said Scheuerman. Scheuerman added that she never received an explanation with regards to the initial outage, which ended up taking four hours to fix on the evening of Tuesday, Nov. 12, after being told by SAIT residence it would only take an hour to fix. The second outage took 2.5 hours to fix. Despite the convenience of living on-campus, Scheuerman said that such inconveniences does not give her good bang for her buck with the $3,050 she pays for rent per semester. “The only thing that kept me here was that Calgary has such
a low vacancy rate, and I didn’t want to be too far away from campus,” she said. For Scheuerman, living so close to where her classes are located is the only benefit she’s found. According to Scheuerman, she’s unsure of how SAIT can resolve this issue now and in the future. “It seems that staff knows there are problems. If things are working fine one day and not the next, how can that happen? They [the staff] should make it a top priority.” SAIT’s students need power to complete homework and assignments, and more importantly, to live their lives.
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December 2, 2013 | the Weal.com
ACAD photographer frames her future BY CARA HOWLETT WEAL WRITER
sees Haynes’ future clearly. She envisions Haynes with a successful photography For Stephanie Haynes, life is business shooting weddings, seen in two different ways: engagements, family portraits through her eyes, and through and dance performances. the lens of her camera. “It’s not too hard to think Haynes, a fourth-year up because that’s basically her photography student at Alberta plan and she knows how to College of Art and Design get there,” said Julia. (ACAD), grew up in the small “[Photography] has always northern Alberta hamlet of been her dream and I can’t Gwynne, and at the age of imagine her doing anything 14 was given her first digital else.” single lens reflex camera. Wedding photography has It may seem surprising that been a large part of Haynes’ the gift of a camera could alter repertoire, and although there the course of someone’s life are added stressors that come and ultimately a career path, with shooting a wedding, she but for Haynes, it did. finds relief in the time she has As a ninth grade student alone with the couples and armed with her brand new their wedding parties. Canon Rebel XTi, Haynes “Probably my favourite part started pursuing photography of the whole entire [wedding] as a hobby, but it soon became is shooting the portraiture that more. happens after the ceremony, “People started asking, ‘Will before the reception. I you take my photos?’ and love being creative and it kind of snowballed from spontaneous with location and there,” said Haynes. the personality of the couple Before even registering at and the bridal party.” ACAD, Haynes had started For Haynes, seeing a taking graduation, portrait and couple’s excitement about wedding photos as her own their photos is “the best thing small business. Now, upon in the world.” her planned-for graduation Mitch Kern, head of in spring 2014, she hopes to photography at ACAD who is continue that pursuit. also one of Haynes’ instructors, Julia Haynes, Stephanie’s not only thinks that she can younger sister of three years, photograph a wedding, but
Fourth-year ACAD photography student Stephanie Haynes. PHOTO COURTESY OF STEPHANIE HAYNES
anything she puts her mind to. “Stephanie would be great at anything, from advertising to editorial to fine art photography. I think there are
no boundaries,” he said. “She has a keen photographic eye—a natural feel for composition. And she handles light extremely well.
“I like the way she puts herself into her work. That is, you can see her personality and outlook on life reflected in her photography.” This past September, one of Haynes’ photographs was chosen during a contest held by Calgary Arts Development and Doors Open YYC to be displayed on the Old King Edward School in Calgary’s southwest area of Marda Loop. For some reason or another, Calgary Arts Development didn’t notify Haynes that her photo was chosen, and she found out by chance through a friend who told her that one of her photographs was on the side of the Old King Edward School. If that weren’t thrilling enough, that same photograph was the featured on Avenue Calgary’s website in an article about Doors Open YYC and the Old King Edward School. “I was freaking out,” Haynes laughed. According to Kern, Haynes has the makings to become someone who will have more than just one photo on a wall. “Stephanie has the perfect blend of talent, natural ability and self-confidence to be extremely successful at the highest level. “The sky is the limit for her.”
‘Tis the season to rock The Weal’s picks for Christmas tunes that best ring in the holiday season later released as a single and featured a chorus from R&B singer Teyana Tayler and guest The holidays and the season verses from hip hop artists of Christmas parties are rap- CyHi The Prynce, Cam’ron, Jim idly approaching, and nothing Jones, Vado, Pusha T, and Big sets the mood quite like a fes- Sean. The song features sevtive playlist that brings out the eral holiday season references holiday spirit. and was featured on Rolling Christmas-themed anthems Stones’ The Greatest Rock & have been integrated into the Roll Christmas Songs list only a holiday itself for as long as year after its release on Decemcarol-lovers can remember. ber 17, 2010. From classic renditions from The track’s opening lyrics the likes of The Jackson 5 and (‘Merry Christmas to all, and to Mariah Carey, to recent original all a good night / Huh, now we songs from popular artists such all livin’ the good life’) referas Michael Buble and Kanye ence both the classic Christmas West, there’s a Christmas song children’s story tale, The Night for just about anyone. Before Christmas, and his reIn the spirit of the season, cording label of GOOD Music. The Weal has compiled a di- This reference will most likely verse list of tunes that will fit bring you back to a moment in perfectly with any festive in your childhood where you holiday parties you might find heard the story and get you yourself hosting. into the holiday spirit, no matter your age.
a range of legendary Christmas songs including ‘Frosty the Snowman,’ and ‘Joy to the World,’ and added it to this single that was made specifically for the holiday album. The song tells a tale of what Christmas was like for the rap group back in Hollis, Queens and has become a timeless record, charting 78th on the billboard in years as recent as 2000. In the single, Rapper D.M.C. starts off his verse by talking about what Christmas was like for him in his hometown of Hollis with lyrics like ‘It’s Christmas time in Hollis Queens / Mom’s cooking chicken and collard greens / Rice and stuffing, macaroni and cheese / And Santa put gifts under Christmas trees.’ Ultimately, it’s a song about one’s hometown that will be sure to evoke childhood holiday memories.
‘Christmas
‘Frosty The Snowman’ by The Jackson 5
BY HUSSON ZAMAN A&E WRITER
in Harlem’ by Kanye West Hip-hop fans everywhere will recognize this release from rapper Kanye West as part of his ‘GOOD Friday’ free music giveaway series back in 2010. The holiday-themed song’s popular remix was
‘Christmas in Hollis’ by Run-D.M.C. This classic hip-hop track was a 1987 single off of a Christmas compilation album, A Very Special Christmas, released by A&M records. Popular hip-hop group Run-D.M.C then sampled
There haven’t been a lot of music groups that have gained the same level of worldwide recognition and popularity that The Jackson 5 held at the time of the 1970 release of their Jackson 5 Christmas Album. The album
featured the brothers’ renditions of classic Christmas hits and has since sold over 3.5 million records worldwide, according to Billboard magazine. ‘Frosty The Snowman’ was originally written by Walter Rollins and Steve Nelson in 1950 and has been covered by plenty of bands, but not many had the lasting effect on listeners like the Jackson 5’s jaunty and festive rendition of the yuletide classic.
‘Jingle Bell Rock’ by Bobby Helms This 1957 release is widely regarded as one of the most popular Christmas songs of all time. Its popularity stems from the fact that it was the first rock and roll Christmas song to reach mainstream audiences. Bands such as The Platters, 38 Special and the Beach Boys have since covered the song. Despite these popular bands’ covers of the classic track, the original version by Helms will remain a Christmas classic come the holiday season. ‘Jingle bell jingle bell jingle bell rock / Jingle bells swing and jingle bells ring.’ These opening lyrics by Helms are easily some of the most recognizable in the Christmas music
world and will be sure to awaken the holiday spirit in anyone.
‘White Christmas’ by Michael Bublé In 2011, Michael Buble was responsible for releasing one of the most popular Christmas records in the past few years with the release of his seventh studio album, Christmas. The album was Buble’s second holiday-themed release and became the first Christmas recording to win the Juno award for Album of the Year. Guinness Book of World Records lists Bing Crosby’s version of ‘White Christmas’ from 1942 as the best-selling song of alltime and the song has been covered by numerous artists on countless occasions, but Michael Buble’s duet with fellow Canadian singer Shania Twain has quickly become a holiday favourite. ‘I’m dreaming of a white Christmas with you / Jingle Bells all the way, all the way.’ These closing lyrics that have been sung by so many famous voices, and its familiarity will be sure to put you in the holiday spirit.
the Weal.com | December 2, 2013
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SAIT student isn’t a Wookie, but he sure does roar like Chewbacca BY INONGE CHIMWASO A&E EDITOR
Those who are familiar with Star Wars are sure to be familiar with Chewbacca, a hairy character from the movie who is a member of the alien Wookiee race. Star Wars enthusiasts are also well aware that Chewbacca doesn’t speak English, but instead has a roar that sounds quite funny, yet disturbing at the same time. During the week of Oct. 27, posters advertising a Chewbacca Roar contest were posted in various areas at ACAD, as well as at the SAIT/ACAD/Jubilee CTrain station. The posters prompted contestants to call the number that the poster advertised and leave a voicemail with their best impression of Chewbacca’s roar. Secondyear environmental technology student at SAIT, Tom Nickel, was then contacted on Nov. 01 – the contest’s deadline – and informed that he had won the $50 grand prize that was promised in the ad. The Weal sat down with Nickel to dig into how he uncovered this talent, as well as to find out how it felt like to win.
The Weal: What was your initial thought when you saw the poster advertising the Chewbacca Roar contest? Tom Nickel: I thought it was a fake, or one of those pranks [the organizer] was trying to pull on one of her friends. And so I thought for sure that I was going to get somebody that was confused and then I’d have to explain why I was doing a Chewbacca roar [over the phone]. TW: You mentioned that you thought it was a fake ad, so what prompted you to still call and submit an entry? Nickel: Lots of alcohol. I took a picture of the ad and later that night my friends and I were having a few beers and I said, “Check out this ad I saw today,” and they said, “Let’s actually call [the contest’s phone number].” TW: Most people practice before auditioning or before entering contests where they may have to put on a performance. Was that the case for you? Nickel: Oh, I took it seriously. I probably spent five or six minutes and at least five or six takes before I finally got the perfect Chewbacca roar. So I did press pound a few times to restart the message, and when I got it perfect, I gave it the ‘send’ and it won. TW: How did it feel to receive the news that your roar had been picked out of all the entries? Nickel: When I got that text message it was unreal. Serious joy came down on me. I was reading the text and I sent a message to all my friends say-
ing, “I actually won, I actually won!” But no one believed me because they thought it was a fake ad. They also didn’t think my roar was that great. TW: What do you mean they didn’t think your roar was that great? Nickel: The responses varied. Some people think I’m amazing and some people think I’m not that good, but I think it all depends on how much beer I have in me. I think the more I drink, the better I do. TW: So how do you plan on spending the $50 that you won? Nickel: I actually went to London, England just a week or two ago and I bought a round of beers for the lads [with the prize money]. All the bars over there love Canadians—especially the Chewbacca roaring ones. TW: I would have to say that being able to roar like Chewbacca would classify as a talent because I certainly can’t do it. When did you discover this talent? Nickel: I’m not the most Chewbacca roar-ish kind of guy, but as soon as I started having a few drinks it just came to me, so I guess I’m a natural. TW: Other than being able to do an insanely good impression of Chewbacca, what other hidden or strange talents do you possess? Nickel: Interesting question. Honestly, that’s the best thing that I can offer to the world. I mean, I’m okay at math and I play basketball sometimes, too. But Chewbacca is definitely my new skill. TW: How does it feel to know
The woman behind the Chewbacca Roar contest speaks BY INONGE CHIMWASO A&E EDITOR
Second-year ACAD student Jennifer Herring sat proudly in The Odyssey looking on in awe at all the buzz that her Chewbacca Roar contest had created. Herring, who surprisingly isn’t a Star Wars fan, said she put on the contest to ease the minds of students who were stressed over exams. “I had the midterm blues, I was so overwhelmed with everything and I thought, ‘What’s the best way to lift everyone’s spirits than to put together some silly contest
to make everyone happy?’” Herring explained. Until this point, Herring has kept her involvement with the contest a secret from everyone, including her friends. Doing so has allowed her to hear whispers of what everyone thinks of the contest. And much like the winner Tom Nickel thought, many speculated that it wasn’t real. Regardless of his doubts, Nickel’s curiosities lead him to submit an entry that won him the $50 prize. According to Herring, it was Nickel’s dead-on impression of the iconically hairy character that made him standout from
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the 26 entries that she received. “In my opinion, it was perfect,” she said. “His Chewbacca roar was exactly the way it should have been. It was spot on and it lasted for about 30 seconds.” Other entries were short compared to Nickel’s, but Herring said putting together the contest “was worth the $50,” which she funded out of her own pocket. Herring said while she may not have any plans for Chewbacca contests in the near future, she is considering putting together a similar contest which will prompt contestants to make an impression of a different fictional character.
THEWEAL.COM
Second-year environmental technology student Tom Nickel is the winner of ACAD student Jennifer Herring's Chewbacca Roar contest. EVAN BUHLER PHOTO
that you’re going to get published for this talent that you have? Nickel: It’s an honour. Honestly, it’s crazy. I never thought that I was going to get this big, but I knew eventually that one of my talents would pull through. It’s funny that the Chewbacca
thing won, but it’s amazing. TW: So what’s next? Nickel: Obviously I’m going to try to look for more ads and look for more Chewbacca contests, definitely. And, you know, continue school, but my priorities now lay in Chewbacca contests.
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December 2, 2013 | the Weal.com
Swants: The new bottom warmer winter Fashion Trend Just a few Stitches Away BY YASHICA ANANDANI LIFESTYLE EDITOR
Wardrobe staples such as black leggings, track pants and pencil skirts are no match for cold winds, messy flurries, and sub-zero temperatures. If, however, you are still sporting these styles in spite of the weather, your freezing legs may warm up to a new trend of legwear. Stephen West of the blog West Knits has come up with a rather unique invention called Swants. Swants, also known as Sweater Pants, are basically your old, worn-out sweater that has been knitted and converted into a pair of pants that supposedly keep your legs and booty warm like a sweater would do for your torso. Here’s the catch, though – how comfortable are sweater pants actually going to be if you decide to wear them? To help answer that question—and find out whether
the end results of these pants make the hassle of knitting them worthwhile —I decided to get some inspiration from West Knits’ online tutorial and make my own pair of Swants.
Things you will need: • • • •
A A A A
sweater needle spool of thread black marker
What to do: 1. Wear your sweater upside down by inserting your legs into the sweater sleeves (this is to see whether or not your legs will actually fit into the pants).
2. Take the sweater off. Draw three dotted lines around the neck of the sweater, and cut along those lines. 3. Cut the back of the sweater
*ASK US ABOUT THE STUDENT NETWORK PLAN DR. JOHNNY CHUN # 170 1402 8th Ave NW Calgary, AB P: 403.262.3447 E: info@oradentalcalgary.com www.oradentalcalgary.com Located in the Riley Park Medical Centre (previously Grace Hospital) one block south of SAIT C-Train station.
Free reserved parking available for your visits. Located in the monthly lot. Look for ORA Dental signs facing south on 8th Ave.
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about two inches shorter than the front, just to ensure that your butt fits in there as well. 4. Seam the two shoulder ends together. 5. Try the Swants on and then fold about two inches of the fabric around the newly created crotch area on top of the fabric that reaches down to your thighs. 6. Seam the folded area up, and then repeat the same procedure for the back of the pants. 7. Trim any loose strands of thread or extra fabric on the ends of the Swants.
Now comes the fun part – I decided to don these pants for three hours in the cold to report to all of you about how I fared in them.
Observation
In a word, these were itchy. I don’t think I’ve ever felt so uncomfortable in my entire life. I could barely even sit in the Swants, let alone move around in them. Walking around outdoors in -15 degree weather was torture for me because firstly, they didn’t keep me as warm as I thought they would and secondly, I felt like I left a thousand ants to dance and make merry on my bum.
Conclusion
Don’t waste your time on making or wearing these! For the amount of work you’re going to be expected to put in in order to get these pants fit to be worn, you barely reap any rewards. As much as I hate to say this, folks, you’re just going to have to buck up and brace your legs for the biting cold. Trust me, you’d rather have a freezing pair of legs than have them covered in rashes afterwards from having worn such irritating trousers.
Let school come to you.
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the Weal.com | December 2, 2013
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Holiday shopping can be done at SAIT BY KRISTA CONRAD LIFESTYLE WRITER
If final projects, exams and work schedules promise to consume most of your free time before the holidays, finding time to shop for gifts may not seem possible. The solution to your problem can be found on SAIT campus, where gifts for everyone can be found at reasonable prices. The best part is, shopping can be done between classes or during study breaks without even having to leave campus. This way, students can save time and stress by shopping right here at SAIT. SAIT’s main campus offers hundreds of gift ideas just waiting for you to wrap up for every personality type on your list. Proud parents Presents found at the bookstore may be perfect for Mom and Dad, who would be honoured to wear t-shirts, hoodies, or hats boasting the logo of their child’s school. A mug or travel mug emblazoned with the SAIT logo may be a nice addition to their gift or make a good stocking stuffer. There are even aprons and grilling tools at the bookstore for parents who love to cook. Caffeine cravers If you’ve got friends and family who frequent cafés to satisfy their coffee or tea cravings, there are many options on SAIT campus. Gift cards from Tim Hortons, Starbucks, or Second Cup are a good start. Each location also offers a variety of pre-packaged coffee beans to brew at home. Starbucks and Second Cup offer unique, decorative mugs for the coffee or tea lover. For a more inclusive gift, there are also packages which include sweet treats, coffees or teas and mugs. Lovely ladies Girlfriends, besties, sisters and cousins alike may enjoy a gift chosen from the bookstore’s wide selection of aromatherapy
oils and candles, perfumes and natural hand creams. Unique wine glasses and jewellery are also good options for the girls in your life. And for the dramatic ones, there is always the Fancy Feather Ballpoint Pen in bright pink. Manly men There is no shortage of options for boyfriends, brothers and buddies at the SAIT bookstore. Give a diamond plate steel mug or tire tread mug to the coffee drinker, or skull-shaped shot glasses to the tequila drinker. For those that cook, a range of distinctive oven mitts includes elbow-length gloves with fake tattoo sleeves and shorter mitts in the shape of boxing gloves. Lines of cooking utensils shaped like guitars and cars can be added to stockings, along with the Strong Man Corkscrew that flexes its muscles with each twist into the cork. Geeks and gamers A wide array of themed gifts will thrill any nerd or gamer on your list. The bookstore boasts a large selection of glasses, mugs, candy dispensers and themed board games featuring Star Wars, Star Trek, Marvel, DC and Simpsons characters, to name a few. For stocking stuffers, consider a bobblehead version of Dr. Sheldon Cooper from The Big Bang Theory, a Mars Attacks alien, or a Walking Dead zombie. Cute kids The bookstore offers SAIT sweats and hoodies in fun, bright colours available from size 2T – 6X for your children, nieces, nephews, or friends’ kids. If you’re looking for something more fun, the bookstore also offers miniature basketballs and volleyballs with the Trojans logo, Doodleart, stuffies in all shapes and sizes, Lego and children’s books. For the aspiring junior cook, a range of mini-chef apparel
Don’t have enough time between classes to complete your holiday shopping? Gifts for everyone can be found at reasonable prices at various on-campus retailers. EVAN BUHLER PHOTO
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includes pint-sized aprons and oven mitts for the little ones on your list. Décor divas If you need a gift for someone who takes pride in his or her décor or in collecting unique items for the home, SAIT has choices for you. The bookstore carries large
hand-made glass paperweights, artsy porcelain trays painted with witty quotes and elaborately decorated table lamps with paper shades would make fine gifts for your décor-savvy friends and family members. Particular people If you have loved ones who are difficult to shop for, or who are
very fussy about how they dress, decorate, or dine then consider the selection of gift cards that SAIT has to offer. The Station Market in Senator Burns sells prepaid Visa cards, as well as gift cards for iTunes and many retail outlets. A SAITSA card may be a great gift for friends or family attending or working at the school.
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December 2, 2013 | the Weal.com
SPORTS
Trojan of the Month
Jon Morley BY ANDREW HALIPCHUK SPORTS WRITER
Welcome to the December edition of The Weal’s Trojan of the Month. This month’s athlete is Jon Morley, a member of the men’s volleyball team. The Australian-born Trojan is in his first year of the hospitality program at SAIT, and has helped the second-place Trojans to a 5–2 record half-way through the season. Morley currently leads the Alberta Colleges Athletic Conference (ACAC) with 111 kills and has 17 service aces in 31 attempts. The Weal managed to catch up with Morley to see how he came to choose SAIT from Down Under and how life as a Trojan has been so far. The Weal: What part of Australia are you from, and how long did you live there? Jon Morley: I’m from Melbourne and was born [there]. I lived there my entire life until I came to Canada [in 2012]. TW: What brought you to Canada? Morley: I had a few friends that were heading over to play volleyball [in Canada] and they said I should join them, so I did.
TW: Have you lived and played volleyball anywhere else in Canada before coming to SAIT? Morley: Last year, I played for the Grande Prairie Wolves, and it was great for helping to develop my skill, but it wasn’t what I was looking for in a team. TW: What made you want to come to SAIT? Morley: Last year, I applied to the power engineering program and was put onto the waiting list. Only two schools offer power engineering: NAIT and SAIT. I like Calgary a lot more than Edmonton so it was an easy decision. I was also lined up to play for the University of Calgary Dinos in the CIS [Canadian Interuniversity Sport], but I was ruled as a professional player and lost years of eligibility. TW: Have you noticed a difference in the style of play from Australian volleyball compared to Canadian volleyball? Morley: There isn’t really a difference in the style, but there is more dedication to training here [in Canada] while it’s more of an open league in Australia. TW: Has volleyball always been a part of your life? Morley: It wasn’t a major
Trojans volleyball player Jon Morley is in his first year at SAIT, after moving down from Grande Prairie, Alta., where he studied kinesiology. BRENT CALVER PHOTO
part of my life until basketball was ruled out. I had dislocated my shoulder about five times, and I had to make a decision to go for surgery or drop basketball. I chose to drop basketball. I’m lucky that my bad shoulder isn’t my hitting arm and I’m still able to play a sport I love.
TW: What do you love most about the sport of volleyball? Morley: I love that it is a complete team game. You have to rely on everyone to do their job for the team to work, while in basketball and hockey, a team can be good because of one player’s skill.
TW: What are the goals that you and the team have set for this season? Morley: We have set a goal to get to the provincials, and then nationals. We intend on continually improving throughout the season and being the best we can be.
Holiday Classic Tournament returns Men’s basketball team looks to start strong in season’s second half BY THOMAS STRANGWARD WEAL WRITER
Heading into the semester break, the SAIT Trojans men’s basketball team has recorded just two wins. While there is a chance to enter the break with a win against the Red Deer College (RDC) Kings on Dec. 5, the annual SAIT Holiday Classic Tournament is set to begin early in the New Year on Jan. 2. As the Trojans’ first big test after the break, the tournament could be an excellent starting point for them in the second half of the season.
Trojans head coach Mike Stevens recognizes this possibility, but still wants his team focused on the RDC Kings. “We are definitely focusing on Red Deer right now,” Stevens said after returning from a northern road trip on Nov. 25 in which the Trojans dropped two games but were outscored by only eight points combined. “It is definitely something to be part of these close games, we just need to find a way to break through and find a way to win them.” The Holiday Classic could be just the spur the Trojans
need to gallop. Eight teams are looking to take part in this year’s tournament, including a club from Australia and a team consisting of SAIT alumni. The current Trojans team finished 6th at last year’s event while the SAIT alumni won the whole event. The presence of the SAIT alumni at this and past tournaments helps make the event rather unique. “We try to have a close connection with our alumni and this is a way to involve them,” Stevens said. “A lot of those guys are actively playing, some as high
as semi-professional ball.” Stevens also said they come in to provide stiff competition and it is a good way to show the players the type of successful guys that have come through this program. Other teams participating in the tournament include St. Mary’s University College, Olds College, Lethbridge College and Canadian University College. Coach Stevens certainly hopes that, after a successful game against the RDC Kings, his team can build off of the presence of the SAIT alumni team to get their own tournament
championship, which would be the Trojan’s first since 2001. According to Stevens, the tournament is all about “continuing the journey and development of the team, as well as incorporating new players into the system, which will help us win these close games.” The draw for the tournament schedule has not yet been conducted, but the Trojans will have the opportunity to not only start the second half of the season against stiff competition, but also see exactly where they measure up.
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the Weal.com | December 2, 2013
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If you freeze it, they will come When Temperatures decrease, the number of frozen lakes and outdoor hockey rinks increase BY CARYS RICHARDS WEAL WRITER
Winter is coming. Snow has fallen and the rivers and lakes are beginning to freeze, which means ‘tis the season for outdoor skating. There are few activities that Canadians are more passionate about than pond hockey in the winter. “It’s the essence of the true Canadian game,” said Jesse Knowlden, an emergency medical technician student who grew up skating on ponds and backyard rinks. Calgarians like to take advantage of the outdoor ice surfaces to skate on, especially during winter chinooks, when the ice is frozen but the weather is not. “My favourite part of skating is that I get to enjoy the outdoors and get some practice in,” said Zach Owen. Owen recently moved to Calgary from Ontario for work opportunities and was eager to get outside and enjoy the Edgemont community rink. Todd Nelson and his son, Liam, were also eager to use the community rink in Rosemont and were skating on the ice Nov. 23, the day after it was officially opened to the public. There are over 30 volunteermaintained rinks throughout
Calgary. These rinks are often ponds or flooded fields and are shoveled by community members. There are also several more rinks that are maintained by the City of Calgary. Opening dates for these rinks are entirely weather-dependent, but they are generally open to the public by mid-December and rarely close before February. City-maintained rinks include Big Marlborough Park, Bowness Lagoon, Carburn Park, Prairies Winds Park, Prince’s Island Lagoon and Olympic Plaza. Due to flood damage sustained over the summer, the openings of Bowness and Prince’s Island Lagoon this year may be delayed. Heritage Park Town Square also offers free public skating. For students looking to escape the city limits during the weekends or over semester break, Banff, Canmore and Lake Louise offer a variety of outdoor skating surfaces that include boarded arenas and frozen pond surfaces. Outdoor skating can be a fantastic way to appreciate the winter weather and often times informal hockey matches can break out amongst skaters. These games have no age limit and can be enjoyed by everyone
THE CITY OF CALGARY OUTDOOR RINKS Big Marlborough Park 6033 Madigan Dr. N.E. opening mid-December Bowness Park Lagoon 8900 48 Ave. N.W. undetermined due to flood damage Carburn Park 67 Riverview Dr. S.E. opening mid-December Olympic Plaza 228 8 Ave. S.E. OPEN Prairie Winds Park 223 Castleridge Blvd. N.E. opening mid-December Prince’s Island Lagoon 4 St. and 1 Ave. S.W. undetermined due to flood damage
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in attendance. “We’re hoping some people show up so we can play a little shinny,” said Patrick Seguin, who recently moved to Calgary for work and uses the Edgemont
community rink. “The more the better.” Though there aren’t any formal rules regarding impromptu shinny matches, unspoken rink etiquette
requires that all skaters be respectful of games that are already in progress. If there is already a game underway, the best way to approach it is simply to ask players to join in.
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December 2, 2013 | the Weal.com
Opinions Will it blow, or should we let it snow? This holiday season will see an increase in the number of games played in the NHL’s Winter Classics on Jan. 1, 2014. This change to the winter sports tradition has received mixed reactions from fans. Here are two takes on the number of NHL Winter Classics games occurring in the New Year.
ARGUMENT AGAINST
ARGUMENT FOR
BY SHELDON SMITH NEWS WRITER
When the NHL added five more outdoor games to accompany its highly successful Winter Classic, the league made a great decision. The Winter Classic is the NHL’s biggest annual draw, and the fans love it. The opportunity to see the league’s biggest stars against each other in six games playing in a nostalgic setting is just what the fans want. Plain and simple, the NHL is a business, and making money for the league is its top priority. When the players and owners of the NHL were in last year’s labour dispute, losing the Winter Classic made the league lose over $50 million in revenue. On Jan. 1, 2014, the Detroit Red Wings are hosting Original Six rivals Toronto Maple Leafs at Ann Arbor’s Michigan Stadium. As Winter Classic host, not only does the Detroit economy get the shot in the arm it so
BY ANDREW HALIPCHUK SPORTS WRITER
The New Year is just a month away and with it comes the NHL’s annual tradition, the Winter Classic. But will this season’s set of outdoor games live up to the hype? Ever since the 2007/2008 NHL season where Buffalo hosted the inaugural Winter Classic, the league has held a regular season game outdoors on New Year’s Day, aside from the lockoutshortened 2012/2013 season. As a hockey fan, I was thrilled with the outdoor game concept to say the least, and when the league announced it would have a yearly Winter Classic game, I could not wait to hear which historic rivalry would be relived outdoors in bone-chilling atmospheres.
badly needs (seeing as how they’re bankrupt and the $50 million in Winter Classic revenue will really help), it presents the opportunity of seeing two of the league’s most recognizable teams under the big lights. Superstars across the board are set to play outside in this year’s Winter Classic: Pittsburgh’s centres Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin against Stanley Cup champs—and hosts at Soldier Field—Chicago Blackhawks, who boast Jonathan Toews and Patrick Kane as their most marketable stars. Crosby and Malkin are two of the league’s best players, while Toews and Kane might have something to say about that. The 2014 Heritage Classic will pit the Vancouver Canucks against the Ottawa Senators, adding some Canadian flavour for the fans. The NHL will also go up against NFL football twice during the same week when the New York Rangers play host to the New Jersey Devils and
New York Islanders at Yankee Stadium. Though the week will centre on the Super Bowl, having those two games will be the NHL’s stiffest test yet. It’s a wonderful opportunity for the league to showcase itself against the biggest sporting event of the year. The NHL and its schedule makers did a masterful job with the planning of the six games. Judging by Detroit’s calculations, the NHL could potentially make $300 million, if not more, from this venture. When business is good, it doesn’t make sense to mess with the equation. With the Sochi Olympics ending on Feb. 23, 2014, the NHL has made another darling move by having the Heritage Classic take place the week after the Olympic games. That was no coincidence, as fan viewership will still be rampant from the Olympics and will transfer to yet another outdoor game. The truncated 2013 hockey season was the highest viewed regular season in 19 years. By
creating Wednesday Night Rivalry, the league created a night during the week where fans are able to see current and burgeoning rivalries. According to Espn.go.com, 26 out of 30 teams saw an average of 90 per cent capacity in 2013. Fans want to see the league’s biggest names, all the time. For example: Crosby vs. Toews, Soldier Field, and snow falling down. With the game at an alltime high, both parties (the fans and the league) are getting what they want: superstar players battling against one another and deeper pockets for the league’s commissioner and his owners. These sentimental games— which the majority of Canadian kids remember as a chance to throw on a toque, meet up with buddies at the outdoor rink and play some three-on-three—showcases another great series of decisions by the NHL in demonstrating just how important the fans really are. Well done, NHL.
Also, as a jersey enthusiast, I was excited to see what jerseys the teams involved would wear for these yearly games, and to see a throwback to some of the most memorable jerseys in league history. But this season, the league has gone overboard with outdoor games. There have been six games announced that will be hosted outdoors as opposed to the usual one or two, shocking some fans and exciting others. Six games will kill the novelty of playing outdoors and will stunt the excitement built by the yearly game in early January. Sure, in 2011 the league decided to host a second outdoor game that they dubbed the Heritage Classic, and had it hosted here in Calgary, but it was refreshing for us see two of the
then six Canadian NHL franchises battle it out outdoors. This wasn’t the first time there was a Heritage Classic game, though. Back in 2003, the Edmonton Oilers and Montreal Canadiens played in the very first outdoor regulation game. It wasn’t until 2008 that the league started hosting outdoor games regularly. Until that game, only American teams had taken part in a Winter Classic and the league even announced that the Heritage Classic would not be a yearly tradition to avoid having too much of a good thing. The league showed its crafty side by only naming two of the six upcoming outdoor games as ‘Classics,’ while the other four games have been named ‘Stadium Series’ games, which gives me reason to fear that this will
not be a one-time thing, but a yearly event where games are held outdoors, instead. Another thing about these outdoor games is the amount of times teams have taken part in them. Out of a possible 12 games since 2008, the Pittsburgh Penguins and New York Rangers have played in three of them. Also, Detroit, Chicago and Philadelphia have each played in two. I understand that these are some of the most marketable teams, but is it really necessary to have Sidney Crosby playing in 25 per cent of the games? If the NHL hopes to continue to use the Winter Classics as a way to appeal to and gain new fans in America, they need to cut back on how many outdoor games are played per year.
the Weal.com | December 2, 2013
11
Ode to the on-screen Yule Log turner BY MONICA HENDERSON OPINIONS EDITOR
PHOTO COUTRESY OF MORGUEFILE
Every year, Christmas fanatics like me begin counting down the sleeps until their favourite traditions come into play. For some, it’s Christmas music playing on the radio, or Home Alone marathons, or decorating the Christmas tree. For me, I start to feel the holiday magic as soon as The Shaw Holiday Fire Log graces television screens and crackles its way into my living room. Nothing sparks that holiday spirit like the magical moment that the unknown, yet so familiar, log turner pokes new life into those emotionally stirring yuletide hunks of wood. The Shaw Holiday Fire Log—an adaptation of the original televised Yule Log created in 1966 by a New York City TV channel, WPIX—is an underappreciated holiday tradition, often competing for popularity with its festive Shaw counterparts, Easter Bunnies and Pumpkin TV. Even more underappreciated is the log turner. The hand. The fire poker. I want to know something: what is the motivation of the log turner? Is his (or her) yearly performance delivered through natural talent, or did he receive exemplary acting training? Either way, he works harder
than any other holiday figure because Santa himself works from home all but one day of the year.
Some people dare consider the log as the star of the Yule Log, simply because of the greater amount of airtime it
receives in comparison to the log turner. That’s blasphemy. “This movie is a quiet tale of burning passion and
smoldering longing,” writes ANDREA, a reviewer on Amazon.com for Fireplace For Your Home, an adaptation of the Yule Log. She starts her review respectfully enough and with accurate treatment to the content. However, she goes on to write that, “The star of this movie is just on fire! His dramatic flare does a great job of communicating the all consuming conflagration of his character’s glowing existence. “Not only does this flick’s star set the screen ablaze with his talent, but he is also smokin’ hot.” ANDREA clearly missed the entire point of the Yule Log. The star is not “on fire” because the star of the Yule Log isn’t the log. The star is truly the selfless log turner who works long hours on screen to keep our holiday hopes and dreams alight. What other company do we really need during winter break? Family is too nitpicky, friends are too expensive to buy gifts for, and loved ones just let you down. But the log turner? He’ll be there for you. At least, from Nov. 20 to Jan. 7 on the Shaw Channel he will be. He’ll just be patiently listening, turning the fire, and not expecting a Keurig coffee maker for him under the tree. He’s the perfect Christmas companion.
First-year photojournalism student Robyn Hertz asks the SAIT campus:
“What is your favourite part of the holidays?”
“It’s a mini-holiday, because I
“The best thing about the holi-
can’t afford a vacation.”
days is not going to school.”
Nicole McCrea, first-year legal
Cassidy Scheidt, first-year business
assistant student
administration student
“Presents.”
“Spending time with family. And
“Getting to see friends and
“Getting into the holiday spirit by
food.”
family.”
hanging decorations.”
Hind Dabash, first-year geomatics
Nancy Pham, first-year geograph-
Riley Paterson, second-year busi-
Cheilan Sorensen, second-year
engineering student
ic information systems student
ness administration student
hospitality management student