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WEEKLY NEWSPAPER OF THE SAIT STUDENTS’ ASSOCIATION
VOLUME 88 ISSUE 9
EVERY MONDAY THEWEAL.COM
NOVEMBER 12, 2013
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November 12, 2013 | the Weal.com
NEWS EDITOR Crystal Schick
NEWS WRITER Sheldon Smith
A&E EDITOR Inonge Chimwaso
A&E WRITER Husson Zaman
LIFESTYLES EDITOR Yashica Anandani
LIFESTYLES WRITER Position available
OPINIONS EDITOR Monica Henderson
SAIT STUDENTS STRUT THEIR STUFF AT SHOWCASE BY CRYSTAL SCHICK NEWS EDITOR
After being named the number one research college in Canada, SAIT has the opportunity to prove why by playing host to the eighth annual Polytechnics Canada, Student Applied Research Showcase. Eleven Polytechnics Canada school members from across the country will gather at SAIT on Nov. 14. Each team, including SAIT’s own trio of representatives, will present their projects and innovative
ideas in hopes that theirs is the best in the country. “To have the SAIT students presenting their project is just a really great showcase of why SAIT is number one in applied research,” said Lindsey Brock, industry liaison at Applied Research and Innovation Services at SAIT. Applied research is different from theoretical research, in that it is more than just information gathering. It deals with practical application and problem solving. Basically, it is the hands-on building of
ideas and innovations. The Student Applied Research Showcase is held at a different member school every year and this is SAIT’s second time hosting it. The first time was eight years ago. SAIT will have the opportunity to not only prove why it is the best research school in Canada with its showcase entry, but also to show off the new Trades and Technology complex to the visiting teams, judges and guests at the competition, “which is another great way to showcase what
we have here and what we do best,” said Brock. On the morning of Nov. 14, each participating school will select one student from its team to represent and present their school’s best applied research project of the year. Each school representative will receive five minutes to explain the project, which will be followed by a five-minute question period. A panel of three judges will decide which project is the most innovative based on a predetermined set of criteria.
Introducing Team Wallflower
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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.
When the members of Team Wallflower presented their capstone project to their class this past May, they thought they would be done with school for good. The trio comprised of SAIT information technology computer science (ITCS) graduates—thought wrong. Working with Applied Research and Innovation Services at SAIT and its green-themed line of Discovery Homes, the team’s project, called Centralizing and Virtualizing Smart Home Technologies, reinvented and improved the old prototype system that had been installed in a Net Zero a few years ago in two steps. The Discovery Homes are called ‘Net Zero homes’ because they generate more energy in the summertime than they use, and in the wintertime they use more energy than they generate, creating a net zero effect year-round. If data from sensors within the home are not functioning properly, the homes’ effectiveness is negated. “We took a system that was two separate computers . . . and we condensed them into one central unit, which was the centralizing aspect of things. Then we created virtual machines out of the original computers, and got them working together on our central unit,” explained Perry. All three members of this pioneering and confident team took the time to sit down with The Weal, and share what the journey to the Polytechnics Canada, Student Applied Research Showcase has been like.
Canadian University Press
Jeff Perry, 23, Team Wallflower’s project presenter and 2013 ITCS graduate
What role did you play in the project’s development? I, specifically, was the communications coordinator for things. So I was kind of in charge of being the interface between us and the client [Kevin Kowal of ARIS], making sure everyone was doing what they were supposed to be doing, and making sure we were on track. How has this project affected you? It’s made me realize that I guess I have a lot more potential than I gave myself credit for. If you put your mind to something, you can do it. What were your expectations when you started the project? Definitely not coming as far as we have, that’s for sure. I expected that it was going to be a challenge, and it ended up being a challenge. But what I didn’t expect was how much of a solution we came up with. For sure, that was unexpected. Is there an instructor or an individual who helped the most? Colin Chamberlain, for sure. He was our project mentor, if you will. He was the teacher of the project class. He was there for us every step of the way, making sure that we were where we were supposed to be, and we had what we needed to get the job done. The other was Kevin Cole, who was our client. He was great at providing us with info when we needed it. We could seek him out and he’d get back to us within a couple days with the information we needed to know. He was really good to work with. There was no beating around the bush with him and I really appreciated that. Were there any major setbacks? Well, about 95 per cent into the project, with about a week left to go, we realized a major component of our system wasn’t going to interact with another major component of our system. So we pulled a couple late nights, and had to completely rework about 20 per cent of our project and did it all in a week. That was stressful. We were pretty cer-
Team Wallflower, from left, Rick Then, Ashley Kieran, Jeff Perry, displays DIRTT Student Innovation Award after winning the project showcase. PHOTO COURTESY OF ARIS
tain that we weren’t going to finish at that point.
Ashley Kieran, 22, ITCS graduate 2013. What role did you play in the project’s development? I did a lot of the front-end stuff, like making [the project] look good, the web design aspect part of it, and research. What has this experience taught you? Not to underestimate ourselves. It was so unexpected how this project turned out. We were all surprised when we were picked as the top project. I don’t think we fully realized the full potential of the project. Who do you/did you draw inspiration from? I definitely drew inspiration from my teammates. We really kept each other going and pushed each other. I was also really inspired by our teachers here. They are all so involved and helped us out so much without ever spoon-feeding us the answers. What are you most thankful for in regards to the project?
I’m just really thankful that I chose SAIT as a school. I am so SAIT proud. I never even thought that I would do a project like this, something that is so real and so applicable and is actually making a difference.
Rick Then, 24, ICTS graduate 2013 Who came up with the idea for the project? It was brought to us by ARIS as one of the options for a project. Since Jeff and Ashley both wanted to get into something that was green and I wanted to get into something that was smart home-related, it just seemed like a perfect fit. What role did you play in the project’s development? I was mostly pointed at the hardware side of things. So, [I was in charge of] getting the physical system up and running, and then virtualizing the current system into that new hardware. Is there anything about the journey or experience you would change? The one thing that I would change is the financial side of
Continued on page 4
the Weal.com | November 12, 2013
Tourism & Hospitality
Explore the world. Discover yourself. Get a well-rounded education in tourism and hospitality management from instructors with extensive industry experience who draw on real-life situations. Gain a strong understanding of the complex and changing realities of one of the world’s fastest growing business sectors. Visit our booth at the SAIT College Transfer Fair and discover how the Royal Roads University experience is anything but ordinary. SAIT College Transfer Fair Stan Grad Centre Atrium November 14th 9am to 3pm
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November 12, 2013 | the Weal.com
things. We had based our expectations on getting [project] money up front, but instead it was a reimbursement thing. I would have handled it differently if I would have known it was like that, but it was a minor piece of misunderstanding. Other than that, I wouldn’t change much, because the little mistakes and errors that cropped up along the way were the main learning points for the project. What was your favourite part of this experience? Well, I’ve got to say winning. Winning was pretty good, as well as just working with a team that I always knew was a pretty awesome team, and that team would lead us
to this great end piece project. I didn’t expect to be winning anything and we didn’t even know about the DIRTT award till the end of the project. It wasn’t something we were striving for but when it happened it was absolutely awesome. Any final thoughts and comments about the project? Really, it’s just been a massive treat to have this experience. I wish more schools had this kind of structured final project for [their students’] final year. It really did bring all the lessons and everything else into reality on how I can use it in the future. Also, I can’t say enough good things about my teammates.
Read the full article at www.theweal.com
Global student challenge launched to redesign INTERNATIONAL SYMBOL OF ACCESS ROBERT LEAMON THE MUSE (MEMORIAL UNIVERSITY OF NEWFOUNDLAND) IN HEALTH, NEWS
ST. JOHN’S (CUP) — After 45 years since its creation, the current International Symbol of Access may be getting a major redesign. The Ontario College of Art and Design University and the Lieutenant Governor of Ontario have partnered to launch the “Reimagining Accessibility” design competition in which postsecondary students from around the world have been asked to submit designs for a new International Symbol of Access. The current International Symbol of Access has drawn criticism from advocacy groups. By picturing a person in a wheelchair, the symbol only represents
a small percentage of persons with a physical disability. Critics also cite that the current symbol, with its depiction of a passive stick-figure in a wheelchair, reinforces negative attitudes towards persons with disabilities. The goal of the competition is to address these issues and create a new symbol or symbols that will be more inclusive and encompassing of accessibility. The current symbol was designed in 1968. New York City has already officially moved to a new, less static image. The competition is open to all post-secondary education students around the world and is being run from September 20 to October 25 of this year. Students are encouraged to show off their designs and view other designs on Twitter using the hashtag #AccessSign.
Drugs
Emergency help
At approximately 6:20 p.m., Security received a telephone call from a Community Assistant (C/A) in the Begin Tower Residence concerning a marijuana smell on a residential floor. Security met with the C/A, and went up to the suspected floor. The smell was strongest in front of a particular room, so Security knocked on the door and the resident answered.
At approximately 11:35 p.m., Security received a call from a C/A in the Begin Tower Residence reporting that people were trapped in elevator number 2. Security arrived on-site and met with the C/A in the main lobby before proceeding up to the elevator, which was stuck halfway between floors. The occupants were quite loud and intoxicated. One of the occupants of the elevator said that the inner door seemed to be off its track. Elevator service provider ThyssenKrupp was called for assistance. Security was informed by one of the male occupants that eight people were trapped inside. Welfare of the occupants was checked every 10 minutes until 12:44 a.m. when the ThyssenKrupp technician arrived onsite. At 12:54 a.m., six people were released from the elevator, not eight as was initially reported. The ThyssenKrupp technician confirmed that the inside door had been booted off its track. The C/A escorted all the occupants to the main floor using the stairs. The elevator was repaired and placed back in service.
There was a moderate air freshener smell in the room. The C/A asked if the student had been smoking marijuana in his room, and he said he hadn’t. The window and the washroom door were both closed. A visual check revealed no drug paraphernalia and there was no smell of marijuana inside the residence, only an unusual smell of air freshener. He explained that he had just gotten out of the shower a few minutes prior. Security thanked him for letting them in, apologized for the inconvenience, and carried on checking other rooms on the floor. After finding no issues, Security opted to go back to the first suspected room. The same resident answered again, but this time, the washroom door was open, and there was a strong smell of marijuana. The C/A reviewed the drug rules with the tenant and informed him that he would be required to meet with Residence Management. Security was off-site at 6:41 p.m.
Property damage At approximately 1 a.m., Security discovered that someone had dropped one of the folding signs located outside The Gateway (VA203) one floor down into the Wellness Centre onto one of the ping pong tables. The incident caused a corner of the ping pong table to be broken. Security surveillance video is being reviewed.
Disorderly conduct/ disturbance At 1:05 a.m., Security received a phone call from a C/A requesting assistance with an unruly resident in the East Hall Residence. Security arrived on-site and spoke with the C/A and the resident. The C/A stated that she had asked the resident to turn down his music at which point he became rude and started insulting her. The C/A then decided to issue him a fine for disrespect, but the resident refused to provide ID. The resident was upset and appeared to be intoxicated. He stated that the C/A had given him a warning about the music and therefore lowered the volume and then proceeded to make a joke about the amount the fine would be. The resident stated that getting a fine for music was unfair. Security explained that he would be able to talk with the Residence Management about his fine and explain his side. The resident continued to refuse to show his ID and stated that this treatment was unfair. Another C/A arrived onsite and spoke with the first C/A and Security, while the resident waited in his room. The second C/A informed the resident that a meeting would be held with Residence Management concerning his behaviour and attitude. The resident returned to his room after giving the C/As his ID. Security was off-site at 2:00 a.m.
All Incidents Are Provided Courtesy of
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YOU DON’T PAY UP FRONT FOR COVERED SERVICES. WE DIRECT BILL MOST INSURANCE COMPANIES FOR YOU. SAIT students enrolled in the SAITSA health and dental plan are covered:
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MON-FRI: 8AM-9 PM, SAT: 8AM-6PM3630 BRENTWOOD ROAD NW 403-210-5050 Conveniently located in the Brentwood Village Mall close to Brentwood and University train stations
5
LIFESTYLE
The Doctor is in
YOUR LIFE OUTSIDE THE CLASSROOM
BY DR. JOSEPH MACALPINE, DC SAIT CAMPUS CHIROPRACTIC
EVAN BUHLER PHOTO ILLUSTRATION
Hitting the (Financial) books How to keep track of your spending DURING SCHOOL BY YASHICA ANANDANI LIFESTYLE EDITOR
Managing major finances while adhering to a tight student budget can often pose as a matter of concern for many students. Financial consultant at Investor’s Group Financial Services, Randal Kish, said students tend to have troubles with their finances mainly because they don’t understand the impact of their financial decisions. Factors like changes in academic plans or goals and not being able to find a high-paying job right after graduation, he said, often lead to the scenario where students can no longer repay student loans. According to Kish, a possible solution to this problem is to have a proper plan set out for the upcoming five to 10 years, and to do well in school by putting “yourself to the grindstone” because “halfhearted efforts will cost you
the same [amount] but get you nothing in return.” “Look at the big picture. Lay out a skeleton of a financial plan not just before school, but during and after school,” he said. “Achieve your goals and make the money you spent worthwhile.” Another major aspect of financial stresses among students, according to Kish, is the debt they incur on credit cards. To prevent the after effects of a hefty credit card balance after going on an impulsive shopping spree, Kish suggested that students leave their credit cards at home before heading out and use it for emergency use only by going back to purchase the item after thinking it through. “If you really want something, you can always go the next day and buy it, [but] stop to think about it,” he advised. “If you can’t afford it, you shouldn’t be buying it.”
For further financial help, SAITSA will be hosting a Financial Awareness Day on Nov. 19 in the Stan Grad Atrium to help students understand the importance of financial management better. Amanda Hanna, SAITSA’s VP student life, said the event will help educate students on “why it’s important to have a solid grasp on their finances and what they’re getting into with their finances.” Two guest speakers from Money Mentors and Money Matters will be present, as well as various booths around the atrium. All of these resources will provide students with insights on topics like budgeting, different kinds of credit, resources and services available on campus, and real life examples on what students go through financially in an academic year. For further information on the event, call the SAITSA main office at 403.284.8036.
It’s time to expose all of the germophobic habits I have picked up over the last 20 years of postsecondary education and practice. Knock on wood, I have not had the flu in the last 15 years. Paranoia and good habits have served me well. The general theory for staying healthy during flu season rests on these premises: not inoculating ourselves with troublesome bacteria and viruses; a healthy immune system; and seeking help through good self-care and appropriate use of the health care resources available both on and off campus. Okay, ‘paranoia’ is excessive. Perhaps ‘awareness’ is a better word. Become aware that as the winter months bring us physically closer to others as we congregate more indoors, the risk of flu transmission increases and alerts us to the idea that touching contaminated surfaces and then our face, eyes, nose and mouth provides the perfect route to introduce our immune system to new challenges. Most people will touch approximately four surfaces in public and touch their face four times all within the same hour. It may be impossible to entirely stop this, but we can engage the most effective method of stopping transmission by washing our hands. Wash your hands for at least 15 seconds, back and front and in between fingers, with soap and water. That’s right, use soap and not just water. So now that you are aware and you have the best preventative habit, you may ask whether there are specific ways of maintaining a strong immune system and the answer is a resounding ‘yes.’ Proper nutrition, exercise and sleep are the tried and true standbys. Vitamin C has not been
shown to stop the onset of flu symptoms, but it does shorten the flu’s duration and we think it lessens the intensity. Echinacea, a natural herbal remedy, is widely thought to help your immune system fight a cold or flu, but not after the first 72 hours. Other flu protection products sold are debateable but a sound approach is that if it has worked for you in the past, try using it again. However, that does not always work because the genetics of the current flu strain may not be as susceptible to previously successful remedies. Sometimes a bacterial infection can hop along for a ride and in these cases, antibiotics can be helpful. But as we all know, antibiotics do not treat viral infections, which is what the flu is. The flu shot is an attempt to prevent illness by arming your immune system with a mild exposure to some varieties of the flu and it is most effective when the genetic makeup of the flu shot matches the virus you have contracted. Try your best to stay well hydrated because dried out membranes in your throat function poorly and provide an easy access to predatory flu viruses. A genetically well matched flu shot can be highly effective. You can fortify your immune system with some natural products such as Vitamin C, should you fall ill. In the end, the best approach is washing your hands properly with soap and water which, like so many simple solutions, is the best and easiest.
The SAIT Campus Clinic is open Monday to Friday from 8 a.m.—4:30 p.m. Nurses can be consulted on a walk-in basis, and the family doctors and chiropractor require an appointment. Dr. MacAlpine provides Chiropractic Services from Monday to Thursday.
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November 12, 2013 | the Weal.com
arts & ENTERTAINMENT
CULTURE FOR THE SAIT COMMUNITY
Mixtapes are so old school
Better Late Than Never SAIT alumni doesn’t give up on his dream of making it in the music industry BY HUSSON ZAMAN A&E WRITER
Hip-hop artist, music producer and former SAIT student Arlindo Alves has fused his education and his music together in order to pursue his dreams of launching a solo music career. Alves, who goes by his stage name of AC Alves, is a graduate of both business administration and sound engineering at SAIT, and he recently released his first mixtape Better Late Than Never on Oct. 6. While the title of the mixtape is a common saying, Alves said naming it as such is far from cliché as the title was inspired by several delays that he encountered in putting the tape out. “I wasn’t just saying it’s really better late than never—it was long overdue. I’ve been trying to put this [mixtape] out for a long time,” Alves said. Alves initially slated 2009 as the year for his mixtape’s release but had to delay its release due to moving back and forth between Toronto and Calgary. Subject matter and influences on his debut range from Alves’ past relationships to his religious views. While Alves was already actively producing music before graduating SAIT’s sound engineering program in the fall of 2010, he enrolled in the program in order to become the complete package. “I decided to go [to SAIT] to
BY SABRINA SCARPINO WEAL WRITER
PHOTO COURTESY OF T. MITHA PHOTOGRAPHY
learn how things are supposed to be professionally done. I wanted to be able to do all of it myself,” he said. Better Late Than Never can be found online for free on Datpiff. com, and while not all of the content is produced by Alves, it mainly features original production. The album also features international collaborations from R&B artists Eddy Parker and Bianca Tropeano, as well as local artist Yung DRE. While Alves’ passion for music still remains, he balances his musical endeavours with a full-time job at TD Bank in Calgary. As he’s grown older he’s seen his priorities go in a different direction than he’d anticipated. “If you would have asked me two years ago, I would have been looking for career in music but since then, it’s become a hobby really,” he explained. The 27-year-old artist, who first moved to Canada from Portugal when he was 14 years old, attributes the interest that he has for music to his
uncle who went by the stage name MGM Zangado. “He was pretty known back home and he had his studio at our place, I was around musicians all the time and I was intrigued by that,” he said. While Alves had great interest in music when he was first introduced to it in Portugal, it didn’t translate into actual music production until he moved to Canada and bought himself his very first keyboard at the age of 15. Alves soon taught himself how to play piano, which lead him to start producing beats before he transitioned into singing and rapping. “Production came first—the main thing was, I wanted to play the piano like my uncle did— writing music came way after,” he said. Alves expects to keep working on his music and eventually begin recording the second part to Better Late Than Never. Alves urges the public to keep up with his music by liking his Facebook music page ‘AC Alves.’
Gone are the days of the mixtape where people compiled songs onto cassettes and CD discs in order to have all their favourite tunes on one device. With advances in technology, people have transitioned to making online playlists that are conveniently available at a click of a button. With a variety of music, and a touch of nostalgia from favourite songs, an online playlist offers everything the mixtape had, and more. Below are five playlist services that are perfect for creating the modern day mixtape.
8tracks
Price: Free 8tracks.com allows members to create as many playlists as they desire, with each playlist holding at least eight tracks or more. Listeners have the option of creating an account directly on the 8tracks website, or they can simply choose to connect to the site using a Facebook or Google+ account. Once members are logged onto 8tracks.com, they can listen to songs online so no downloading is necessary. The search box allows listeners to search for songs from any genre, country or artist in order to create a playlist that they can later share with other 8tracks users. For those who don’t have any songs in mind, the website also offers pre-made mixes for any mood or situation. Besides their website, 8tracks also has a free app for Android and iPhone users to listen to their tunes on the go.
Grooveshark
Price: Free, $9/month for unlimited usage On Grooveshark.com, listeners can enjoy free and unlimited music streaming on the web, search through over 15 million songs, and create playlists for themselves. The music available is organized by a number of different genres including ‘60s hits, indie rock, classic and country tunes. Grooveshark also has a broadcast feature that allows users to listen to playlists created by other members. While joining is free, for $9 a month members can pay for Grooveshark Anywhere, which provides unlimited, ad-free streaming. This upgrade also comes with the website’s app for Android and iPhone, and a desktop app, which allows for browser-free listening. The free account still gives unlimited streaming of the site’s media catalogue, but is ad-supported.
Vevo
Price: Free Vevo.com allows members to listen to songs from their favourite artists, as well as watch music videos from three major record labels. The website carries a large catalogue of new hits and popular classics that can be added to a personalized playlist. Playlists can be shared with both friends and other users on Vevo. The website also has an iTunes Sync feature that can sync a member’s account with their iTunes library. This allows Vevo to create a customized playlist based on the music in the user’s library. Signing up for a free account only requires an email address or Facebook account.
Rdio
Price: Free six-month subscription, or $4.99-$9.99/month For $4.99 a month, members can create a web account with Rdio. com, which provides users with unlimited web streaming of any song, playlist or radio station at any time on the Internet. For $9.99, members can upgrade to an unlimited account, which offers users the same thing, as well as additional access to the site through a mobile device or tablet. A six-month subscription will provide streaming for free, but only for that limited time period. After that, listeners must upgrade to either web or unlimited. Rdio has over 20 million songs in their catalogue, and a variety of stations. This website offers a collaboration feature so users can collaborate with other users to create a playlist. Listeners on Rdio can subscribe to playlists created by other members and enjoy their music selections.
Songza
Price: Free Songza.com is a site that mostly provides playlists created by music experts, and while members can create playlists, they cannot use them for personal use because of licensing agreements. Another restriction that Songza poses are the playlists can only be listened to by other members as opposed to people without an account. But with an online account, listeners can search Songza for playlists that suit any mood, occasion or day of the week. Other than connecting to the site using a username and password created on Songza, members also have the option of logging on through their Google+ or Facebook accounts. Songza also has an app available for free download for Android and iPhone users.
the Weal.com | November 12, 2013
7
SAIT student rocks a chic, comfortable look BY JUSTINE CUENCO WEAL WRITER
It’s halfway through the semester, and the temptation to live in sweatpants and Ugg boots may be getting harder to resist. However, as second-year travel and tourism student Alix Gregoraschuk shows us in this week’s edition of SAIT Style, it isn’t impossible to look chic even when on the go. Gregoraschuk, who was spotted at The Odyssey, sat down with The Weal to chat about her personal style and how to look more put together despite having a busy schedule.
The Weal: Tell us a bit about your outfit today. Alix Gregoraschuk: It was kind of cold out so I decided that a button-up [shirt], boots, and a scarf would be weatherappropriate but still cute. TW: Describe your personal style. Gregoraschuk: Comfortable, casual, and cute. I’m not too casual though, I still enjoy dressing up. I would never wear sweats to school. TW: Any style icons? Gregoraschuk: Lauren Conrad. I really like her style. She’s always really well put together. TW: What are your fashion
Zara are my favourite stores because they have unique pieces as well as everyday basics. They’re both fashion-forward and offer the latest trends. TW: Do you have any shopping tips that you’d like to share with us? Gregoraschuk: Wear basics when shopping like a white tank and skinny jeans. It’s going to look good with almost everything so you can picture outfits better.
must-haves? Gregoraschuk: Sweaters because they’re warm, cozy and good for any occasion. I’m also really big on jewelry. I collect pieces from everywhere I travel. Each piece is different and adds a new element to an outfit. It can take an outfit from day to night. TW: Do you have a favourite piece of jewelry? Gregoraschuk: Yes, this coral statement necklace by Stella & Dot. TW: What season do you enjoy dressing up for the most? Gregoraschuk: Summer because I love summer dresses—they’re one of my staples. I also like fall because of the sweaters. They’re perfect for school and work. TW: Where do you usually shop? Gregoraschuk:
Aritzia
TW: Lastly, is there anything that you keep in mind to look more fashionable even when there isn’t a lot of time to get ready? Gregoraschuk: It takes the same amount of time to put on sweats as it does jeans and a nice top. Also, jewelry makes you look a bit more presentable and doesn’t take too much time [to put on].
Got style? If you’re fashion forward or have a unique flair, The Weal wants to hear from you! To volunteer for A SAIT Style feature, tweet us at @ theWeal
and
molly IRISH PUB
KELSEY OSTER PHOTO
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SPORTS
Men’s Volleyball squad searches the
for talent
Christchurch, New Zealand
Brisbane, Australia
Melbourne, Australia
For 19-year-old Lachie Pollock, the choice to leave his hometown of Christchurch, New Zealand, and venture to Canada was an easy one. “Basically, [I did it] to play volleyball and get an education at the same time,” Pollock said. “We don’t really have university sports back home, so it’s a good way of [getting] an education.” Pollock found himself enrolled at SAIT after a year of study at Olds College. He is currently playing with the Trojans and is in his first year of studying business administration. Pollock elected to join the Trojans because he had previously played against them as a member of Olds’ volleyball team, the Broncos. Pollock was impressed by their level of skill and competition. He then spoke with the coaches of SAIT at the end of his season with the Broncos. Over a number of phone calls, the coaches offered him a spot on their roster. There aren’t many aspects of the game that differ between Canada and New Zealand, but Pollock said that the competition is much tougher across the Canadian league. “Back home there are one or two teams that are really good, and they basically win everything.”
Tom Menzies is a 19-year-old who hails from Brisbane, Australia, and is currently studying hospitality management at SAIT and is in his first year of studies. Like Pollock; he selected Canada because of the post-secondary athletic programs that are not available in his home country. This is Menzies’ first time residing in Canada, and so far it’s been an easy transition from Australia to Canada. “It’s pretty similar to back home so it’s not too much of an adjustment to come live here,” he said. Menzies chose to study at and play for SAIT at the recommendation of some of his countrymen who had attended SAIT in the past. One of the key differences Menzies notes between volleyball in Canada and Australia is the speed of play, although he admits there’s little variance in the sport. He played senior-level volleyball back in Brisbane and finds Canada’s game to be marginally faster.
The 29-hour flight from Mebourne, Australia to Calgary Alberta, where first-year SAIT student Jonathan Morley calls home, is a long time to spend in transit, but the jetlag from the extended travel was short lived. At 25 years old, Morley had previously lived in Canada and spent a year playing for the Grande Prairie Wolves. He is now studying hospitality management at SAIT and is playing on the men’s volleyball squad. “I played for Grande Prairie last year and we played against [the Trojans] and they had a lot of drive,” said Morley when he was asked why he selected SAIT. “I heard a lot of good things about the team and there’s a new coach on board. So far, I’m loving how things are going.” One of the reasons for the easy transition into Canadian life is Morley’s teammates, who have become his friends in the short weeks since the school year began. All of these players are attending SAIT on athletic scholarships, and like his teammates, Morley has great expectations about the coming season. “We’re going to win.”
BY CARYS RICHARDS WEAL WRITER
It takes hard work and dedication to pursue a passion halfway around the world, and for three members of the men’s volleyball team, making the Trojans men’s volleyball squad was the first step. These three, now men of Troy, came from overseas to help the Trojans find an Alberta Colleges Athletic Conference (ACAC) championship.
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Former Trojan making it big in germany BY CARYS RICHARDS WEAL WRITER
The year is already shaping up to be difficult for professional German basketball club BBV Hagen, but for former SAIT Trojan Keenan Milburn, it’s a golden opportunity to get noticed overseas. Having recently replaced their head coach and lost multiple veteran players, BBV Hagen is considered one of the weaker B-Division teams in the German federal basketball league, Basketball Bundesliga. But new acquisition Milburn currently leads the team in scoring and is content with his own performance. “Hopefully we can win a few games and turn a few heads. As long as I play well and average high numbers, there is always a chance to move up to a better league,” said Milburn. At 23 years old, the Royston, B.C. native already has an impressive athletic résumé. Milburn, who previously studied business administration at SAIT, competed as a Trojan for three
seasons, during which time he was awarded Rookie of the Year in 2008 and MVP in 2009. He has also played two years for the University of Calgary Dinos and one season with Calgary’s American Basketball Association team, the Calgary Crush. In September, the former Trojans point guard departed for Europe after signing a one-year contract with BBV Hagen. Upon landing in Germany, the club arranged for a driver with whom Milburn had previous communications to meet him at the airport. The team had also prepared for his living accommodations— a small apartment within walking distance of both the gym and a market place—and provided him with a cell phone and a vehicle. Milburn cites communication as the biggest challenge he has encountered abroad. Most of his teammates speak English and they often encourage Milburn to practice his German, but it’s been difficult to establish communication with his coach, who
only speaks German. “Usually in practice I have to do a lot of visual learning or ask someone to translate,” Milburn said of his linguistic hurdle. Despite the differences in cultures and languages, there was little transition from Canadian basketball to German, since Mil-
burn’s new league plays by the same rules as SAIT. “One of my favorite things about playing abroad is just the fact that I am still playing the game I love, and I am in a new country meeting new people and gaining valuable life experience,” he said.
When asked for advice for other students looking to follow in Milburn’s footsteps and pursue professional sports, his response was simple: nothing comes easy. “If you want something you truly have to put the time in and work your butt off.”
WOMEN’S SELF DEFENSE CLASS
Basketball standalone photo sait.ca/recreation
Kat Magak of the SAIT Trojans took the ball hard to the net against the University of Alberta Augustana Vikings at SAIT gymnasium on Saturday, Oct. 26, 2013. The Trojans defeated the Vikings 57-52.
JENN SIEPPERT PHOTO
Tuesday Nov. 19, 2013 7:00pm-9:00pm Campus Centre Pre-registration only: $24 Register at sait.ca/recreation
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November 12, 2013 | the Weal.com
Trojan of the Month
Ben O’Quinn BY ANDREW HALIPCHUK SPORTS WRITER
focused for every game by being focused on hockey. TW: Have you always been
Welcome to this month’s edition of The Weal’s Trojan of the Month. This month’s athlete is first-year forward and first-year business administration student, Ben O’Quinn from the men’s hockey team. In 10 games played, O’Quinn currently leads the Trojans and the Alberta Colleges Athletic Conference (ACAC) with 21 points, scoring eight goals, and 13 assists, and managing to stay out of the penalty box while doing so. The Weal managed to catch up with Ben to see what he thought of his play in his second year at SAIT. The Weal: What do you credit for your hot start this season? Ben O’Quinn: Being in my second year at SAIT, I came into the season a lot more confident of myself, but when you play with guys like Mitch Board and Riley Paterson, it’s pretty easy to play well. TW: How do you plan to keep up this pace all season? O’Quinn: I plan to maintain my off-ice habits like hitting the gym every day, and being
a high scoring forward in your career? O’Quinn: I don’t like to pump my own tires, but I have always tried to be that kind of player growing up. TW: Who was your favourite NHL team growing up? O’Quinn: Being from Ontario, it would have to be the Toronto Maple Leafs. I was a big Mats Sundin fan growing up, and it is great to see [the Leafs] doing well after all those years of struggle. TW: Is there a player you emulate your style of play after? O’Quinn: I would guess Wayne Gretzky. Guys on the team say that I have great hockey vision [that is] almost similar to his. TW: How has your role with the Trojans changed this season from last season’s? O’Quinn: Last year was all about getting my foot in the door and trying to show that I can play any role needed on the team, while this season I have tried to become more of a leader on the ice and in the dressing room.
SAIT Trojans forward Ben O’Quinn currently leads the ACAC in points in only his second season.
TW: What has been different for you this season compared to last year’s?
O’Quinn: Well, a lot of guys graduated last season and left the Trojans, so I was fortunate enough to receive a chance to step up and become a contributor this season.
TW: Has it been difficult trying to balance your hockey and school while here at SAIT? O’Quinn: It was tougher for me last year because of my work load, but this year there has been a lot more assignments and less class time so I am able to set my own timetable and really focus
BRENT CALVER PHOTO
on hockey and working out. TW: What can we expect from Ben O’Quinn and the Trojans for the rest of the season? O’Quinn: We plan to keep up the production, and put forth the effort we have so far this season. Also, it would be great to continue putting the puck in the net.
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the Weal.com | November 12, 2013
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Opinions Campaigns, controllers, and consoles, oh my! The Weal dissects which next-gen gaming platform gives you more bang for your buck BY MONICA HENDERSON OPINIONS EDITOR
It’s been months since the Electronic Entertainment Expo, and plenty of PR gaffes have been backtracked while next-generation games have been excessively blogged about. Now gamers are left to decide between the PS4 or Xbox One. When the PS4 and Xbox One were announced earlier this year, the choice seemed like a Sony-based no-brainer with the PS4 at a greater advantage than its Microsoft-produced competition. With the Xbox One, there were hardly any Xbox-exclusive titles, a mandatory online login every 24 hours, and no gamesharing due to a one-time digital install off of a game’s hard copy. Obviously, with all of these horribly delivered aspects of Microsoft’s new console, any previous Xbox fan would have no qualms switching to the brand’s number one competitor. However, due to the intensity of the negative feedback that came from these announcements, Microsoft has pretty much gone back on everything they said in order to revive themselves from a near-death experience in the market. First reported in Giant Bomb, an online gamer resource and publication, was a quote by Don Mattrick, president of Microsoft’s entertainment business. “While we believe that the majority of people will play games online and access the cloud for both games and entertainment, we will give consumers the choice of both physical and digital content,” Mattrick wrote. “We have listened and we have heard loud and clear from your feedback that you want the best of both worlds.”
After looking at price, specifications, and console-exclusive games, The Weal predicts the PS4 will win the upcoming gaming console battle.
SUSAN KIM ILLUSTRATION
So, after Xbox One’s somewhat recovery, consumers are forced to look at gaming specs, consider their operating system preferences, and research exclusive games to decide which system will be on their Christmas list. First and foremost, there’s the issue of price. PS4 has got Xbox One beat there — the PS4 will be $399 and the Xbox One will be $499. The Xbox One is more expensive mainly because it comes with the motion-sensing Kinect built in, but in all honesty, that’s more of an economical hindrance than a bonus. Jonathan Leack of CraveOnline.com made this same point
when he wrote, “The killer point is that the Xbox One is $100 more than the PS4 thanks to the mandatory inclusion of a Kinect camera. For gamers looking to get the most bang for the buck it’s difficult to recommend an Xbox One when they get less power for more money.” After price come the specifications of the systems. They’re nearly identical. IGN.com released a comparison chart that makes it easy for you to pick the two consoles apart, but the biggest differences are ones that already existed with the previous generation. The Xbox One falls to the PS4’s convenience on almost every count.
Xbox One’s controllers still require batteries, and Xbox users are still required to have a costly Xbox Gold subscription to do anything online (including Netflix, which requires another subscription on top of that). The list did show that PS4’s voice commands are estimated to be less well-rounded than the Xbox One’s. Less voice commands for the Playstation? Boo-hoo. Sure, they’re fancy and techy, but they’ll ultimately get used about as much as the iPhone’s Siri does — which, let’s face it, isn’t a lot. The biggest punch to any consumer’s gut is that neither consoles have backwards compatibility, which means that you’ll
have to keep your old chunky consoles tucked away in case you ever get a hankering to play your old school favourites. As for game specs, one of the biggest current discussions is how Call of Duty: Ghosts will likely be featured in a resolution of 1080p on PS4 and 720p on the Xbox One. When it comes to exclusive titles, unless you’re a die-hard fan of Halo, which has always been available on the Xbox platform, there’s something for you on both sides. You can choose Playstation for its franchise of the game Little Big Planet, or Xbox One for its new counterpart, Project Spark. The same goes for exclusive shooters and role-playing games. So with all this technical talk, what’s the best-value decision to make? You guessed it! It’s probably the PS4. The PS4 is now less bulky, cheaper, comes with rechargeable controllers, has free online access to apps like Hulu and Netflix, and comes with a larger resolution in one of the most successful franchises of first-person shooter game history. The only thing gamers would be missing out on with the Xbox One is Halo 5 and Kinect. If you’re a Kinect fan, chances are you already have it and would be paying for it all over again since it’s built into the new Xbox. As for Halo 5, if you’ll really miss it that much, you could buy it for PC or watch the endless gameplay YouTube videos that will soon clog the Internet. Sony did everything right this time around, and though sales will be close, PS4 will probably exceed the Xbox One because of the price, the facts above, and the well-organized release they had earlier this year.
First-year journalism student Robyn Hertz asks the SAIT campus:
“Will you buy a PS4 or Xbox One, and why?”
“We’re students, I can’t afford
“I will buy both at Christmas
“Not until six months after they
“I’d rather spend my disposable
“Xbox One, I have always had
that.”
sales.”
come out, the price will drop.”
income on PC gaming.”
an Xbox.”
“I don’t play video games.”
Adam Masson, second-year travel
Katerina Dulay, first-year travel
David Eisner, first-year power
tion communication technology
Miguel Miranda, first-year Me-
Morgan McCallum, first-year
and tourism student
and tourism student
engineering student
student
chanical Engineering student
business administration student
Justin San, first-year informa-