Volume 46 Issue 19

Volume 46

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Issue 19

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February 27, 2012

Two Trent student’s opinions of our food service if you could be rid of Aramark, would you do it?

By Jenna Cameron and Kristen Phoeniks

This past weekend The First Peoples House of Learning at Trent University hosted the thirty-fifth Annual Elders and Traditional Peoples Gathering. The weekend featured a number of workshops, panel discussions, and ceremonial events as a way of sharing traditional knowledge within and between Indigenous and non-Indigenous communities.

The theme of this year’s conference was “Youth and Elders Learning from Each Other.” These three days enabled participants and elders from all corners of the country, some of whom travelled thousands of kilometres, to explore traditional and contemporary teachings in a respectful and welcoming environment.

However, this welcoming environment was compromised when Aramark reneged on its agreement to provide a special menu for the event. In fact, Aramark failed to provide food at all.

Shortly after serving lunch on Saturday, Aramark informed Conference organizers

that they would no longer be offering the set dinner and breakfast menu in Robinson Dining Hall, despite their previous promise.

Citing a lack of profitability, Aramark suggested that the fifteen elders and numerous participants travel to the buffet style Otonobee dining hall where they would be allowed to purchase pizza and burgers.

Saturday night’s dinner was fast food in Otonobee where only 3 staff was working to both prepare food and run the cashier station. Elders lined up with both Otonobee and Gzowski students and were forced to sit in an already messy dining room at dirty tables. The wait was too long for the Elders using walkers.

This not only reflected Aramark’s lack of commitment to their agreement with Elder’s Conference organizers, but also a total lack of respect for the dietary needs of the participants, which had been expressed while planning the menu for the gathering.

This feeling of disrespect and chaos was heightened the following morning when organizers and participants, some of whom had been on campus since 5 am,

found that there was no breakfast to be had. This left organizers scrambling to find alternatives for the University’s guests who were expecting to eat in preparation for the opening ceremony and that day’s sessions.

While organizers of the Conference scrambled to provide breakfast, the confusion led many participants to venture downtown. Aramark failed to post changes to the menu as promised and also failed to inform their staff of the changes. This caused the Conference schedule to be delayed by almost two hours.

Aramark’s behaviour reflected terribly on the University, and was extremely inconsiderate of one of its most highly regarded programs, Indigenous Studies.

This would not have happened without the ironclad contract between Trent University and Aramark, which forced organizers of the Elder’s Conference to utilize Aramark’s “services” in the first place.

If you’re as embarrassed as we are, listen up! Aramark’s contract with Trent ends in 2013 and that means that students have an opportunity right now to impact on the future of food services

at Trent. The TCSA and other campus organizations are currently compiling a list of recommendations to improve food on campus. This list of recommendations is based upon a completed survey, the largest ever done regarding food at Trent.

The university is also putting forth a list of recommendations, or at least their $60,000 consultant is.

Students need to loudly express their support for the recommendations with which they agree. If you would like to get involved email food@trentcentral.ca for more information.

As two students who are deeply ashamed by this weekend’s debacle, and the treatment of Indigenous elders who came to share their traditional knowledge and valuable time with our community, we hope that Aramark and the University administration will take this opportunity to publicly apologize. We hope that future Conferences taking place at Trent University will be treated with more respect, and that both Aramark and Trent will take steps to ensure that this will never happen again.

in the paper this week

centre: A look at the Melancthon Mega-Quarry p. 3 - Re: The Anti-Hipster Manifesto • p. 4 - Building green in Peterborough p. 5 - The bureaucratic side of food services • p. 8 - “More like This Sucks...” p. 9 - Environmental Assessment Laws at risk • p.10 - Prepare for the TCSA election

editorial Volume 46 | Issue 19 | February 27, 2012

Masthead by Jackson Creek Press 751 George Street • Suite 104 Peterborough, ON • K9H 7P5 tel: 705-745-3535 editors@trentarthur.ca • www.trentarthur.ca

Editor in Chief Business Manager Miranda Rigby

Tyson Shennett

Production News Reporters Assistant Matt Jarvis Heather Scully

Anthony Gulston

Copy Editor

Carmen Meyette

Chelsea Rodrigues

Sara Ostrowska

Proofreader

Cornel Grey

Pat Reddick

Distribution Teigan Sparkes

Baby Boomers, their jobs, and how it affects you

Ayesha Asghar Elisha May Rubacha Mitchell Powers

Photography Andrew Tan

Board of Directors Chair • Ki Alleyne Secretary • Not yet named, Treasurer • Not yet named Members at Large • Caitlin Currie, Hazel Wheeler, Jacob Bogaard, Jenna Cameron, Maxim Gertler-Jaffe

Contributors Jenna Cameron • Kristen Phoeniks • Zach Ruiter Brian Lukaszewicz • Dave Taylor • Zankhna Mody Natalie Guttormsson • Chanel Christophe • Caliegh Morrison Elizabeth Thipphawong

Submission guidelines Articles Articles should be submitted via email to editors@ trentarthur.ca, in the body of the message, or as an *.rtf, *.doc, or *.txt attachment. The body should be approximately 800 words. Listings, announcements, or briefs should not exceed 100 words. Feature pieces can be up to 1500, but must be arranged in advance with the editors.

Images Hard copies (photographs, original artwork, etc.) should be brought into the office (751 George Street, Suite 104) to be scanned. If submitting files electronically, please save as *.tif, with a dpi of no less than 300 pixels.

Letters Limit letters to the editors to 250 words. Letters longer than 250 words may be published but Arthur reserves the right to edit for length and clarity (but not content).

Conributors are encouraged to attend the weekly story meeting on Tuesday at 1pm in our office in Sadlier House, or to contact the editors if considering submitting to an upcoming issue.

By Miranda Rigby

Have you thought of your retirement yet? I guarantee Stephen Harper has begun thinking about your retirement for you.

A little over a month ago, Harper announced he is considering raising the first year of Old Age Security to 67.

This, seemingly, has little immediate effect on the average student. If most of us hope to retire by that time, we still have well over forty years to go.

Despite this I have been recently become bombarded with articles about the topic on my news feed on Facebook. Since my Facebook seems to be only taken up by a few friends and their parents, I know my account contains the opinions of the demographic that seems to be most affected by this issue. Their fury and panic as they realize they haven’t made a retirement plan or that they won’t be set to retire when they want scared me when I realized that might happen to me some day.

However, I believe there is a more prominent issue that could affect the students around our age demographic, and it will affect us soon. Our demographic’s parents are mostly of the baby boomer generation. They were born in a time right after the depression, they missed the scary part of the economic down-turns, and they are now at within the age range of 45-65. They are the ones who have begun retiring and will become retired within the next few years.

There are a large group of these baby boomers. They were born en masse, yet somehow the economy was stable enough to support them and their multitudes of jobs. The only problem is they refuse to let go of those jobs that were created for them.

I am not here to cry “get rid of the old people,” but in an effort to create fairness I am here to question the decisions of the current government to take away the older generations

funding. The more this generation refuses to retire, the more our generation will be stuck in entry level jobs that aren’t being created in this economic crisis. Even if you are one of the lucky students who gets a job in your field after retirement, there will be little ability to rise into a higher paying, more appreciated level in your field.

As much as I don’t want to perpetuate the stereotype of the generation we students belong to, I know that the majority of us won’t stand for suffering through an entry level position for over five years. I personally don’t think I have the patience.

This means more of us will return to school in the hope of creating second careers in new fields that we feel we will be respected in.

Now, I am not saying that I expect to have a dream job right out of school. I actually don’t expect to be hired at all in the career I seek after my next couple of years in the classroom. I have been perpetually told by my parents that their aren’t jobs in the career I want ever since I returned to post-secondary education. However, if the government is making it harder for the older generation to retire, they are also making it harder for our generation to succeed. If we, as a generation aged 1825, are forced to work retail and fast food for years after our debt load has been piled up, we won’t get the experience or the wealth to create our own futures.

This is why I believe we need to fight alongside our nearly retired comrades to make sure that they all are able to keep to their original retirement plan as much as they can. I am tired of working for a career that may not happen; I want to work to make a future. If Harper thinks there is no money in the budget to pay for retiring seniors now, wait until he realizes he made an entire generation work at minimum wage until their thirties and that they won’t be able to retire at all.

Would you like to be an editor next year?

All you have to do is run to be elected!

Now is your chance. In order to be elected to be an editor next year you need to be on the staff collective. That means contributing to three or more issues before election day. Those in the grey box below are already qualified to create their editorial platform and run to be editor by themselves or with another staff collective member. Interested? Keep your eye out for more information these coming weeks and start submitting if you are not yet on the staff collective list!

Volume 46 Staff Collective to-date as of Issue 19 Iris Hodgson Miranda Rigby Tyson Shennett Chelsea Rodrigues Andie Hartshorne-Pople Monica Trzeciakowski Matt Jarvis Andy Cragg Carmen Meyette Pat Reddick Wesley Collett-Taylor

Opinions expressed in this publication do not necessarily reflect those of Arthur staff, volunteers or its Board of Directors. Contributors are encouraged to attend the story meetings Tuesday at 1pm or contact the Editors to discuss story ideas. All article submissions are due Monday at noon. Letters, Listings, Classifieds, and Events are due Thursday at 9am and should be sent to listings@trentarthur. ca. Advertisers are encouraged to contact advertising@ trentarthur.ca for ad rates and contracts.

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One contribution needed Matthew Davidson Radz Mpofu Brea Hutchinson Ki Alleyne Zankhra Mody Scott Wannan Robyn Smith Elisha May Rubacha Jenna Cameron Tyler Prozeniuk Troy Bordun Bradley Boyle Brianna Salmon

Mya Rushnell Andrew Tan Heather Scully Teigan Sparks Natalie Guttormsson Sara Ostrowska James Kerr Brett Throop Sarah McDonald Matt Rappolt Zach Ruiter

Two contributions needed Clifford McCarten Cara Moynes Hilary Wear Vanessa Runions Holly Norris Jennifer Boon Daniel Arron Caitlin Currie Jonathan Alphonsus

Alice Scott Joan Michaels Bridget Allin Jacob Speck Daniel Jacobs Rebekah Watson Janna Payne Aaron Campbell James Wilkes Michelle Mackey

Anthony P. Gulston Brian Lukaszewicz Chanel Christophe Cornel Gray Caliegh Morrison Christian Metaxas Yolanda Ajak Matthew Lachappelle Ayesha Asghar Mitchell Powers Norah Winkelaar

Kenji Tokawa Karolyn Givogue Kelsey Gordon Powell Jacob Bogaard Ivan Lam Mary Dirmeitus Nick Kozac Dave Taylor Elizabeth Thippawong Kristen Phoeniks

should you be on this list? email editors@trentarthur.ca

Letters

Re: The Anti-Hipster Manifesto

Re: The Anti-Hipster Manifesto

I was struck with a tang of anxiety while reading The Anti-Hipster Manifesto published in the letters section of the February 13th edition of the Arthur. Rightfully so I imagine, even as I type I’m wearing slim fit jeans and listening to a first edition German pressing of Television’s 1977 album Marquee Moon on my dad’s old turntable. I have heard the term hipster thrown around a lot, and hell, I even did a presentation playfully mocking so called “hipster culture” during my time at Trent. Many friends I’ve made in Peterborough have referred to myself as a hipster, and I to many of them. Of course this is all in jest in between sips of our organic beer.

All joking aside however, I was very shocked at the tone of the letter seemingly aimed against people akin to myself. The author suggests at the bottom of their letter that it is a so called “mock commentary”, yet their words come across with such a spiteful tone it’s hard to believe they not only passionately believe what they wrote, but that they have a very real animosity towards people who fit into this profile. I suppose this is the root of my concern. I think it’s fair to suggest that there are problems, to put it lightly, with profiling an entire group of people. I also find it a shame that all around beneficial practices such as buying local, recycling, and eating organic are regarded as such acts of contention. Should supporting your local businesses/industries and looking after one’s planet have to carry such negative weight? How about the way I choose to dress or my preferred medium of enjoying music? I shop at thrift stores because it’s less expensive and I don’t buy into labelled clothing. I listen to the Smiths because they’re a fantastic band. I purchase vinyl because it’s simply a better format in both quality and durability, and a second hand record is often considerably cheaper than a CD. I’m quite comfortable with myself, I feel I have a good head on my shoulders and have absolutely no problem expressing myself, as opposed to the suggestion otherwise in the original text.

I state all of this not to defend my actions against the author, but because I firmly believe that no one should have to defend the way they choose to go about their business to anyone else. I can’t help but raise the question of why does the author feel so fundamentally threatened by the behaviour described in this letter? Certainly they wouldn’t speak out so harshly against it if there wasn’t a threat. Perhaps I can hazard a guess that this animosity is rooted in the smugness and arrogance often associated with tight knit communities. However, this is universal human behaviour and reaches far beyond the “hipster” and artistic communities. I digress that the letter somewhat redeems itself with an honourable message at the end. It states that university is a time to find one’s self and to allow one’s self to blossom into their own person, and I whole heartedly agree. It was my time in university that made me the person I am today, the person the author is angrily speaking out against! I find it amusing how judgmental the tone of the article is, followed by such a seemingly warm message. The irony of this, and lord knows we love irony, is that the author is coming across displaying the exact smugness and arrogance that they’re speaking out against, culminating in a ridiculously hypocritical message of “Just be yourself! Unless...”.

Publishing an anonymous screed against people who dress a bit differently and listen to older music is beyond lame. To top it off, the author attacks current bands who put music out on vinyl. “They have sold out any creativity and integrity they ever had when they make their music vinyl when it wasn’t recorded on vinyl.” For the record, so to speak, analog recordings are actually made on tape and then pressed to vinyl. Despite this ignorance, the author says he or she will, “go out of my way not to buy their music because they are catering to the people who don’t understand their work.” How ironic! Well, I guess those of us who support the artists we like regardless of packaging just don’t understand music as truly, madly, and deeply as this anonymous author does. Or, more likely, this author’s views about music are as misinformed and superficial as their views about hipsters.

Cody Ovans

Re: The Anti-Hipster Manifesto This letter is in response to the Anti-Hipster Manifesto by Anonymous that was published the February 13 edition of the Arthur. I agree with you Anonymous, when you say “now is the time to be yourself.” Unfortunately I believe that your main point is lost in the approach you take with your article. You provide a list of behaviours, fashion choices, and consumer decisions that you associate with hipsters; however you do not have any evidence why these things are actually bad, beyond a general Smugness at least.

We all think we know what a “hipster” is based on these recognizable cues, but what is a hipster really? One could engage in one or all of the behaviours and not be the conformist you seem to think they are. Some people like organic beer, some people like Turnips and soy extract, some people even like The Smiths. So what’s wrong with that?

Maybe some people just like The Cranberries because they enjoy the music.

Just because some people buy local because it is fashionable it does not follow that others are doing this for the same reason. Nor does it follow that this has any bearing on whether or not it is a good cultural practice. Just because somebody drinks out of a jar it doesn’t mean that they are trying to make you feel like bad person. They are just doing what they feel is right, and you have the choice whether or not to do the same or ignore them.

A lot of people like Molson Canadian, go to banks, and wear baseball caps. Why not turn your “mock commentary” toward them? Why aren’t people who wear socks posers? What about people who exercise? Human beings are all unique, complex, and paradoxical creatures. Any attempt to reduce individuals to a simplistic grouping based on arbitrary behaviours invites misunderstanding and hatred. My advice would be to be yourself, and let others be themselves. If these behaviours aren’t causing you harm, then why do you want people to change them? Smugness is annoying, but it shouldn’t be against the law. Live and let live.

Kelsey Powell

Editor’s Note: According to Arthur’s Policies and Procedures 1.3 “No letters from editor(s) or section editors shall be published.” Despite this, you will see a letter by Mitchell Powers on this page. Mitchell could be seen as a “section editor,” but because we have no longer given writers “section editor” designations, and Mr. Powers has been hired by the Athletic’s Department, I found this specific policy to be moot.

Anonymous Q. Esquire III

Re: The Anti-Hipster Manifesto To introduce myself to you I am an international student on exchange from England.

On my travels to Canada I have been surprised to come across this uncivil and rather venomous attitude towards the so-called ‘hipster’. I never before heard of the term hipster and now everywhere I hear the term and usually in this negative way amongst many young Canadians. I remember before arriving at Trent University I spent a week in a hostel in Toronto. One evening I spent with a Swedish guy and three Canadian girls. After a few beers and several topics later one of the girls began to take a disliking to the Swedish guy.

I suspected as the time she found it difficult to accept that her feminine charms appeared powerless towards him by questioning her reasoning on a topic of conversation. She immediately became aggressive towards him and labelled him a hipster. According to her categorisation, the fact he crossed his legs, wore second-hand jumpers and held contrasting and intelligent views made him a prick and a of course a hipster. I felt that she found his poise cocky and his independence arrogant. I also suspect she felt threatened by this exterior so dissimilar to her own and secretly beneath this veneer she envied him for his confidence and capacity to express him.

This I suspect is also your problem and when you dig deep enough it’s most likely that beneath all your rhetoric, you too have difficulties with individuals who feel comfortable standing apart from the mainstream and in fact make a decision to stay there on principle.

I imagine you don’t feel as moved by the number of young Canadians who where baseball caps and DC branded everything. We can deal with these people, because I suspect you consider them low on self-esteem and imagination.

What concerns me the most when I read your article is the arrogance that you yourself expose when you claim legitimacy over these individuals by accusing them of being devoid of any autonomy. It appears to me that you are merely reflecting outwardly your own imperfections and that you lower yourself further by claiming to know what it is to be sincerely cultured and to be truly independent. I think it’s fair to say that nobody is truly independent, particularly when it comes to culture and fashion. I know that this is the point you think hipsters don’t understand.

I have myself been accused of being a hipster here in Canada. I gather this is because I choose to wear beige suede shoes and on occasion I wore them together with a pair of dark red jeans. According to you I thought so long and hard about how I could be different to everyone else – I sat down scanned through all the fashion magazines and choose the direct opposite of everything I could see just to prove to the world I’m special; but you would be wrong. I have the modesty to recognise I have a friend who wore a pair of similar red jeans that I liked and I once saw a guy in the street who wore a pair of the same shoes. I find it strange to be placed in this category when I find myself in no such category in England.

Without speaking to me and judging me from a distant, you wouldn’t know that I’m from the UK and that fashion, thankfully I might add, is completely different to here in Canada.

I imagine you would prefer it if I brought myself a hockey shirt and wore a baseball cap – I can imagine you would find that less threatening and more reassuring. This is the problem for me with this anti-hipster attitude; I think it’s just people wrestling subconsciously with envy and diffidence. It’s one of my major disappointments with Canadian culture. There is a tendency it seems to classify people as strange or arrogant if you breach convention. Whilst in England we call people who are different ‘quirky’ and I believe are more accepting of the un-conventional and, as opposed to being conservative, we celebrate the eccentric and enjoy those willing to express themselves creatively.

I’m not sure what you expect to see, since I would argue it’s practically impossible to find anyone who is truly original and creative. I look around and see that everyone is part of some trend and some category of fashion – you can’t escape it. Being social creatures we find solace amongst friends who share similar tastes and interests – I think hipsters are no different. They share music and fashion tastes with their friends and think like every one of us that they are choosing objectively. Just as you follow trends and indentify yourself with a particular culture – but I doubt the same people you attack question your authenticity.

Where I believe your argument most falters is support of categorising people whilst standing apart from them and prejudging them on their appearance; it’s like any other form of prejudice. You remove the individual’s own personality and autonomy and make claims to know them better then they in fact know themselves; that is arrogance and pig headed.

You run the risk of striving for homogeneity by taking the hipster categorization too far that anyone who prefers alternative fashion and music is someone who is empty and living a lie.

Mitchell Powers

Volume 46 | Issue 19 | February 27, 2012

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campus

Co12

Creating a Cultural Reaction

By Cornel Grey

It’s that time of year again Trent! There are assignments in abundance, formals and other social events to attend, and of course, Cultural Outreach. The annual event, organized by the Trent International Student Association (TISA) is the biggest production put on by the international community at Trent University. It is a time where all regional groups on campus come together to pool the individual and group talent that then becomes the spectacle that is Cultural Outreach. There will be much variety and patrons will be able to travel around the world in approximately two hours merely by enjoying the show. The regional groups that will be on display include, but is not limited to, the Hispanic Organization for Latin Awareness (HOLA), South Asians’ Association at Trent (SAAT), Trent African Caribbean Student Union (TACSU), Trent University Chinse Student Association (TUCSA), Trent South East Asia Organization (TSEAO) and even the TISA Choir.

So what can the Trent and Peterborough community expect from Cultural Outreach this year? Well according to TISA, patrons will be treated to a rather diverse and dynamic presentation of ethnic artistry. There will be singing, some will be folk songs and other will be more contemporary. However, there is an added twist. Not all songs will be performed in English; students will pay tribute to their homeland in the language of their ancestors so that’s something that we should all look forward to. There will also be several dances being done, all of different tempos and styles. In addition, there will be the spoken word as well as the sweet melodies of guitars and drums. It’s a melting pot of cultural richness that only comes around once a year and it is not something that you want to miss.

So, dear reader, now that you have accepted the fact that you can’t possibly afford to deprive yourself and your friends the opportunity to partake in the success we expect Cultural Outreach to be, I can tell you the ‘when’ and ‘where’ so you can go on and get your ticket. Tickets are available starting this week (February 27) at the Bata Library, the New Canadian Centre, the Whistle Stop Café, and Titles Bookstore. Cultural Outreach will be held on March 10, 2012 at Showplace Performance Centre and there will be two showings to accommodate those of you who have a relatively full schedule. The afternoon show will be at 2:00pm and costs $10. The 7:00pm costs $15. It’s going to be a fantastic presentation, so come out and enjoy the show.

Photos of Cultural Outreach 2010 by Elizabeth Thipphawong

Building a house into a green-home

By Carmen Meyette

With worries about the environment rising world wide, Canada is frequently criticized on a political level for not eagerly signing on to international standard agreements. That being said, all hope is not lost in our country. In fact, Peterborough is the home base for a group called “Endeavour” which plans to build Canada’s “greenest” home this summer, right here in town.

The home will not only strive to meet the highest level of LEED building standards (platinum), but to go beyond them. The team of students working on this home will even work towards building the home to meet the requirements of the “Living Building Challenge”. This will be the first building in Canada to make this achievement.

Considering building materials, waste management in both construction and function of the home, and the quality of the home, students are working with a team of experts to learn and gain hands-on experience for practical green building solutions.

The Endeavour program seeks to prove that green housing can in fact be a practical reality for families. Even more then proving to people today that such a feat as the greenest home in Canada can be achieved, Endeavour wants to teach how to build a green future.

There are several important components involved in this project, all to create a deep and meaningful education for the participants in the five month program.

Not only will they plan and build this home, they will also document the building process and the environmental impacts on an online blog. This helps to promote not only a sense of importance and accountability but public transparency.

With the hope that this program and the few others like it can create and support interest in green homes in Canada and around the world, the home will be put up for sale when the program is complete, with proceeds going to help offset tuition costs for the program.

There is also hope that the sale of the home on an open market will signal to other builders the interest that exists for this extremely high level of environmental standards.

It will be interesting to watch as this process moves ahead, and furthermore as the program moves ahead to hopefully continue creating green living solutions in our Peterborough community.

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campus Opinion

TheDevilandDetailsofTrent’sFoodServicesContract

By Zach Ruiter with notes from Anthony Gulston

Don Cumming, the Associate Vice President of Trent, told Arthur that information about fsStrategy’s work with other public post-secondary institutions is considered “proprietary commercial information” adding “the University has entered into an agreement not to reveal the consultant’s methodology to any other party.”

The consultant in question, fsStrategy, is a member of the Canadian Association of Foodservice Professionals (CAFP), an association counting Trent’s current food service provider, Aramark, as its “platinum sponsor”. After Arthur writer Brett Throop exposed the relationship, we contacted Dr. Kathryn Norlock to evaluate if there was indeed a conflict of interest. Dr. Norlock, the Chair in Ethics for the university, cautiously reserved judgment on the alleged conflict of interest but suggested “to know if fsStrategy comprise the right experts to turn to, you could ask if they have a track-record of successfully helping other universities make major changes to their food services, and it would be even more helpful to know if those other universities were happy with the results a year, two years later”.

According to one insider who requested not to be named, “it is public information because Trent is a public institution that has contracted private services, thus the right to privacy is relinquished in order to ensure public sector accountability”, adding “not releasing information raises serious questions about the transparency and accountability of Trent’s external business dealings”.

In a telephone interview with Arthur Jeff Dover of fsStrategy explained “for a

foodservice master planning job like we are doing at Trent, basically we use reverse site selection, so if you consider McDonlands, McDonalds had a check list and if they are looking at a site they use this check list and determine a whole bunch of factors and if it gets a certain score then they think its going to be a successful site”.

Dover explained “what happens at a university is you’ve got a site where you’ve got a foodservice put in where it is not the primary business. The primary purpose of the university is, you know, education and research”.

When asked if fsStrategy will be taking part in the awarding the contract in addition to determining the scope of the request for proposals (RFP), Dover speculated “we might be involved in the RFP when it comes up; that is something we’ve done at a lot of universities. The recommendations are separate…its two separate things you are talking about—they’re not tied together but in a way they are tied together”.

Dover listed four other universities fsStrategy has consulted for, Ryerson, University of Toronto Scarborough, University of Regina, and Dalhousie. All four universities mentioned have contracts with Aramark and their students regularly give Aramark C’s and D’s across the board in the Globe and Mail Canadian University Report survey. fsStrategy facilitated the renewal of Ryerson’s exclusive food service contract with Aramark and, according to the Eyeopener, a Ryerson student publication, “Aramark Canada made donations to Ryerson while under contract with the school”.

“Too much of the industry is thinking within the box”, argues Brea Hutchison,

Vice-President of the TCSA. The TCSA has conducted its own consultation of over 600 students. “I fear we need to prepare for a closing of a cafeteria - this would undermine the concept of our colleges. No student I have spoken to supports this.”

Says Hutchison who noted the data from the TCSA survey “is open to everyone to inspect”.

“I have no love for Aramark. Why would I have any love for terrible food? Why would I have any love for cheap calories, shoveled into undergraduates?” remarked IDS Chair Haroon Akram-Lodhi in October on the occasion of the David Morrison Lecture in International Development delivered by Raj Patel, a food sovereignty activist. The event was catered by Aramark.

Arthur followed up with Laura Story, Trent’s director of housing who investigated the conflict of interest compliant against fsStrategy and Aramark. Storey explained “any consultant we work with has to sign a conflict of interest statement saying there is no conflict of interest…in this case that was signed. When the complaint came forward I investigated it and asked our consultants

‘because you are part of CAFP and their platinum sponsor is Aramark is that a conflict of interest because are you getting financial gain personally from this?’”. Storey explained further, “I didn’t ask them ‘is this a conflict of interest’ I asked them ‘are you receiving financial gain from a corporation related to this’ and the answer is no.”

Trent student Ian Cameron is skeptical of the process, arguing “the administration constantly tries to hide things from its customers, they pushed the private residence through during the summer which is when most students are not in Peterborough”.

Trent alum Mike Facey speculated, “the administration, I don’t know what keeps them afloat they probably get a little kickback”.

“Consulting is somewhat of a dark art” says Ray Dart, the incoming chair of Trent’s Business faculty, remarking, “the devil is in the details and we don’t know what the details are, we’re left to speculate.… It would be especially good as a community to all share confidence in our information gathering as much as possible.”

campus

HealthServicesinPeterborough

By Ayesha Asghar

Being a student, everyone has different priorities, school work being one of them.

Assignments, deadlines, midterms, research papers, weather, dealing with TA`s and profs, and fighting over marks is of the many.

All these stresses affect our health as at times we ignore our nutrition, fitness, sleep, and mental health. There are times when one will require to be taken care immediately and you will need to go to ER. This is not a huge concern for those who have been a part of Peterborough community for awhile, have family doctors, and have built such relationships. It is concerning for people who are new to Peterborough such as students, people moving from other cities, immigrants, and others. Unfortunately there is no proper walk-in clinic in Peterborough so the ER of the Peterborough hospital is treated like one. The wait time in ER can be anywhere depending on the seriousness of the situation.

So what are your options? Considering

Peterborough is a small community where health care services are not readily available, it’s important to know what sorts of services are available. These are some of the services that you should be aware of at all times.

The services indicated below are not a replacement to emergency 911.

Trent Health Services 705-748-1481 The clinic is open from Monday through Friday 9:00 am - 12:00 pm and 1:30 pm until 4:00 pm. You need to have an appointment to see the physicians. I haven’t heard of anyone just walking in and being seen by the physician the same day. Their phones are often busy and you can neither leave messages for booking appointments, nor there is a system of email to set up appointment.

Telehealth Ontario 1-866-797-0000 TTY : 1-866-797-0007 It is a free access to a registered nurse 24/7.

The calls are confidential and one doesn’t need to provide health insurance number. It

is an excellent service for something which is not severe and small. You can discuss the symptoms and the best course of action over the phone. The wait times are dependent upon the time of the day.

Your Local Pharmacy Believe it or not, pharmacists have lots of information if you let them know of your basic symptoms. They can advise you on over the counter drugs and some of the common ways in which you can take care of yourself and nurse yourself to health. If Shoppers Drug Mart on New Years Day was not open during holidays when Trent Health Services was closed, I would have been sick with a fever and sore throat for a long time.

Peterborough Day Clinic 705-740-6880 This place is the only thing close to a walkin clinic which Peterborough possesses. The clinic is located near Peterborough Hospital.

As an extended service it provides prebooked walk-in. You need to call in at 8:30 AM if you are planning to see a physician

later in the day. They don’t have a voice mail service for walk-ins, so you cant leave messages. Your only option is to speak with a front desk receptionist who can book the appointment for you. Physicians are available from 8:30 AM to 5:00 PM, Monday to Thursday and 8:30 AM to 4:00 PM on Friday. The physicians here can advise you on sexual health and you can get your prescriptions refilled.

Peterborough Hospital-ER The regional hospital is situated on 1 Hospital Drive, Peterborough. Worst come to worst, you can always go to an ER if none of the options work out for you.

For more information on health services available in your local area in Ontario, you can visit http://www.health.gov.on.ca

Volume 46 | Issue 19 | February 27, 2012

5

environmental

Photos by Zach Ruiter

By Zach Ruiter

“The Mega-Quarry has really touched a nerve up here because people know their headwaters are being challenged” argues Michael Sacco, a Trent Indigenous Studies PhD. Student. Sacco was one of the organizers of a five-day 125km walk in late April 2011 to stop the proposed “Megaquarry” planned for Melancthon Township.

They were joined by upwards of three hundred people along the route. The walkers starting by rallying in front of the Ontario Provincial Legislature and ended their journey at the site of the proposed quarry in Melancthon Township, Ontario.

Danny Beaton, who led the walk, credits the media coverage and the people they meet along the route with putting the MegaQuarry on the political agenda.

Melancthon sits on prime agricultural land at the highest point in Southern Ontario, in between Georgian Bay and Lake Ontario, and northwest of Toronto. Less than 3% of Southern Ontario is classified as prime agricultural land.

The hills of Melancthon also provide the headwaters of eight important rivers: the Grand, Beaver, Pine, Nottawasaga, Saugeen, Noisy, Boyne, and Mad Rivers.

The Highlands Corporation proposes to quarry the limestone that filters the drinking waters of approximately ten million people in Southern Ontario. “Quarries are known to drain, burry, or cut off wetlands, headwaters, and creeks from their flow source,” according to Trent Alumni, Allie Kosela of Lake Ontario Waterkeeper.

“Habitats are destroyed and fish populations cannot reproduce as their breeding grounds are polluted, eliminated, and blocked”.

Potato farmer Dave Vanderzaag explains “The water is unique up there because it feeds our headwaters.… Under our farm,

6

Photos by Nick Kozak

HowtheWalktoStoptheMega-Quarry putMelancthononthemap

the water table is only five to seven metres below the surface. We’ve got clean water, we’ve got tons of it, it’s very unique. We can irrigate out of those wells at 500 gallons a minute and the water doesn’t even move.

This quarry site is about a thousand feet from my home and directly across from our wells.”

According to Highland’s 3,000-page application, there will be 3,600 truckloads in and out of the quarry per day. Adam Vanderzaag lives on his family’s potato farm across from the proposed site and he’s done the math: “It’s over 3,000 trucks a day in and out, over 6,000 trips going up Highway 24, it’s the only way out to Primrose and that’s as far as their traffic study goes... if you think about it, a truck every 12 seconds.”

“It’s just ludicrous” says Dr. Neal DenHollander, the president of the Unitarian Camp in Honeywood not far from the planed quarry. DenHollander has read through the entire Highlands application and is concerned about contamination to the ground water.

According to DenHollander, Highlands Corporation plans to use a liquid explosive called ANFO, or Ammonium Nitrate Fuel Oil, to mine the rock “by their own estimates, ANFO is 97% effective under dry conditions. Under wet conditions its efficacy will be drastically reduced, but to be generous, even at 97% the contamination adds up. With each of the 3,600 truckloads carrying 40 tonnes, this works out to 144,000 tonnes of aggregate per day. They expect to generate approximately 3,500 tonnes of aggregate per tonne of ANFO explosive. A daily 144,000 tonne haul will require more than 40 tonnes of ANFO. The unexploded 3% left over amounts to one tonne of fuel oil into the water table each day” The Highlands Corporation application under the Aggregate Resources Act plans

the 2,300 acre quarry on 10,000 acres of Highland property will create a 200+ foot deep gorge, deeper than Niagara Falls. Their own expectations are to pump out 600 million litres of fresh water a day.

It is clear that the water is at stake: NAFTA’s Chapter 11 gives American companies the right to claim the water sources they use and sue for damages if they are blocked.

The Highlands Corporation is owned by a Boston based hedge fund called Baupost.

Baupost Group manages over $23 billion in assets of high-net-worth families as well as the Harvard Endowment Fund.

Hedge funds do exactly what their name implies—hedging bets, maximizing profit and minimizing loss calculated on scenarios and contingencies. Highlands Corporation bought the property under the auspices of potato farming. If Highlands used the guise of a potato farm to apply for a quarry, it follows that they are prospecting on water resources.

Highlands has made offers to purchase all the CN rail lines from Orangeville through to Owen Sound, an economically depressed former Great Lakes port where they can ship the aggregate across the world follow that with a pipeline to export water.

This is not the first time Baupost has gone after the water according to Joyce Nelson’s article ‘Beware of Private Water Speculators’ published by the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives. In 2007 under the name Costal Management Resources, Baupost Group purchased 25,000 acres of ranch land in Southern California. In January 2007 The Santa Barbara Independent reported that Baupost “is seeking to purchase a massive amount of state water rights from the Carpentaria Valley Water District”.

According to Nelson, Baupost is using a “buy and hold” strategy where investors count on “eventually leasing the water back

to those who can pay for it, or selling the water to government for local needs”.

During the five-day walk blessings were given to the rivers buried in culverts at crossing under the roads. On the last day a mist overtook the walkers at source of the headwaters where a large Highlands Aggregate Act Application sign looms over the landscape.

Patricia Watts, Anishinaabekwe, spoke as the walkers and community members shared a feast: “This hurts me, those last four kilometres when I came on to Highlands, this property that is owned by these…

S.O.B.s, it made me sick, it drained my body, it took every effort out of me to make those last four kilometres, but I pray to my Mother Earth, I pray to the spirits of the water, I pray to my spirit that walks with me, I pray to my Mishomis and my Nokomis, which is my grandmother and grandfather who I was taken away from when I was three, but they walk with me and they gave me the strength to continue on.”

According to Watts “this Highland Company needs to stop seeing with eyes filled with dollar signs, ears filled with dollars signs; money. There are more important things in this world than money and building a mega-quarry that is not needed” adding “Highland Companies: we’re going to stop you, this is not going to happen.”

Over 4500 letters of objection and comments made on the Ontario Ministry of Environment’s registry have prompted the Ontario Government to call an environmental assessment (EA) for the quarry. The EA may only be a partial victory as the Environmental Commissioner of Ontario Gord Miller has pointed out EA increasingly stands for Expedited Approval.

B.A.JohnstonsitsdownwithArthur

music

By Matt Jarvis

Trent Alumni and Hamilton native B.A. Johnston will be once again gracing our city with his Casio keyboards, face humping, and sweaty rowdiness. As far as I can tell, Mr. Johnston is as permanent a rotating feature in Peterborough as the winter or the rain. The first time I was blessed by his ambiance, he drank my beer and rolled around in broken glass on the Montreal House floor. Older and perhaps slightly wiser through long talks with his mother, Mr. Johnston has just released his seventh (give or take) studio album of tuneful monologues spanning the history of videogames, chilidogs, loneliness, and cheeky self loathing. Johnston reminds us of our past with his utter refusal to forget it.

Self described as a thirtysomething year-old boy, his banter recalls past mainstays of the Peterborough scene such as Ted’s Video (now a pawn shop) and City Lights (about to become a Pita Pit). If you are new to B.A., do yourself a favour and attend the arts event of the year. If you know all about him, come out anyways, he promises he has learned new songs this time.

B.A. will be playing his Peterborough album release show at the Pigs Ear Tavern on Saturday March 3 with local heroes Nick Ferrio and His Feelings.

Arthur was able to speak with Mr. Johnson on a few matters of importance.

Arthur: A notable portion of your stage banter and general presence has revolved around how fat and tired you are (although I have personally noticed that your fatness/ tiredness has fluctuated throughout the years). How much of this has developed because of your performance career?

Have you ever found yourself about to step onto a treadmill for health and vitality, but then have thrown down your sweatband and grabbed a cheeseburger for the music and the fans?

B.A.: Yeah fat tends to fluctuate. Mostly with touring and summer heat. Usually I am less fat in the summer, fatter in the winter like a raccoon. I have never thought about stepping on a treadmill or doing yoga. The last time I was in a gym was in 1989. Sometimes I think that I should get in “tour shape” as I call it, but then I usually just book a few shows in a couple towns I don’t care about and then get in shape playing there. Let Sarnia see me dry heave.

Arthur: Your old website refers to you as a “fat lazy chud”, “chud” being a crappy 80’s movie acronymn for Canniblistic Humanoid Underground Dwellers. I have always found your nostalgia for the past 30 years worth of B-Movies, fat comedians, and 8-bit consoles charming. Do you have a particular peice of culture you could define as essential in your development towards adult human being?

B.A.: I’m not sure. I guess as I age I tend to romanticize my youth. At the time I hated the 80s. Now that it is impossible

to play Pac Man at the 7-11 I miss it. I miss what we have given up as we advance to people implanting an apple chip into their heads. I guess the corner stores of my life and what has helped to build me into the aging child I am would be the Atari 2600, dirtmall arcades (like Peterborough’s not forgotten Mr. Arcade), AM radio, and John Candy movies.

Arthur: You quite often invoke your mother’s name, whether to thank her for allowing you shelter in her basement, or borrowing her car, getting you dates, etc. Has your mother ever attended one of your performances? what did she think?

B.A.: Mother doesn’t come to my shows. She thinks about it sometimes and then doesn’t come. Probably a bit too late for her. Plus the finest wine she could get at any of the venues I play is probably some kind of boxed wine, which she frowns upon.

Arthur: 39 year-old professional adult movie Actress Lisa Ann recently said in an interview that she would be retiring at 40, unless the “MILF” phenomenon continues to grow. Do you foresee a cut-off age for your musical presentations? Are you hopeful for a BA flavoured “MILF phenomenon”?

B.A.: I would assume that my career could go past 40 unlike Lisa Ann’s, because no one gives a shit about

how I look. Which is why I wouldn’t do well in the porn industry. As long as people come to the shows, and seem to have a good time, and my knees hold out I’d like to keep doing what I do. As long as it stays fun you know.

Arthur: In your composition “Hobo 4 Life”, you write “My philosophy degree, not what it’s cracked up to be, oh these walls keep closing in. Trent University, should have a money back guarantee, oh these walls keep closing in.” Though the words speak otherwise, you are a relatively successful liberal arts graduate from our prestigious institution, full of entrepreneurial spirit. Please share the secrets to your success with this generation of Trent “hobos for life”.

B.A.: I’m not sure if Trent really helped me much in any career way. I wasn’t a great student, I didn’t pay much attention and was too interested in following the cheap draft around town to do any actual work. I did go to school with a bunch of dudes who seem successful. You know, “live in Toronto, drive a hybrid” kind of success. That being said, none of them took philosophy. My secrets of success are never change, try and wash your costume, and you can never go wrong with a captain’s hat.

LocalReggae Powerhouse Release’sMusicalScorcher Review of Dub Trinty’s new album: Alexandria

By Anthony P. Gulston

Toronto dub poets know them, Kamloops community radio knows them, Shaggy knows them, and now with their newest album Alexandria (And Other Cautionary Tales) Juno nominated reggae dub crusader Dubmatix knows them. The Toronto based producer dubbed out two tracks that now appear on Alexandria for this Peterborough soul staple.

Dub Trinity was once a trinity in the beginning: local drummer/tradesman/ activist Greg Roy, dubwise Mad Hatter/ guitar skiffer/Trent alumni Rob Wilkes, and the silky smooth keys stylings of Slips Dixon. After a short EP and a dub LP they collaborated on an album with Toronto Dub Poets Collective founder and poet Chet Singh. This 2005 release became the album that drew crowds to the Red Dog and Sadleir House to skank the nights away.

Live shows involve a writhing mass of

shufflin’ youths groovin’ to the swingin’ horns, funky keys, guitar skanks, boomin’ bass, and an avalanche of rim shots and one drops. They have solid selections when it comes to cover tunes—reggae gold. “Steppin’ Razor,” “Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner,” “Better Must Come,” “Iron Sharpen Iron,” and a whole heap of Bob Marley tunes are to be heard. They also play UB40 and other third wave British pop-ska tunes, but you can’t blame them for their age.

Since those early days Dub Trinity has swelled in numbers, fans, repertoire, notoriety and releases. Keepin’ the reggae riddim rippin’ is the rhythm force of Kirsten “Swingin” Addis, along with the precocious percussive excess with Scotty Blaze and Greg Roy. The bass is heavy, but the treble isn’t weak. Rob Wilkes keeps the skanks skiffin’ and the echoes booming. Chris Collins makes the reggae sound funky with his Jackie Mittoo-style organ chants, and for all those essential guitar solos, local shredder

Jean-Marc Pineau. On the big trombone, Tom “Higo” Reader.

The head cornerstone of reggae music is socially conscience lyrics; psalms that go the head of the weak heart and burn down Babylon with every beat. Greg Roy and Dub Trinity are affiliated with SAGE (Safe and Green Energy), an OPIRG working group that advocates for use of renewable resources and a move away from nuclear energy.

You can definitely note the anti-mining sentiment on the horn heavy, percussively focused song “No Uranium Mine.” The strong voice of labour is heard on the tune “Strike!”: “Beware of media distortion, an organized workforce means benefits for all.”

It’s that kind of unabashed Bolshevism that shakes the boots of baldhead galoots.

The call for no more war has been echoed throughout reggae and dub music as often as rim shots and guitar licks. Dub Trinity remember their musical ancestry with the peaceful scorcher, “Throw Your Weapons

Down.”

The tale of Alexandria itself is one of conquest, commerce, colonialism, and the Greeks meeting the Egyptians along the water. A cautionary tale because it warns of what values we cement our relationships around when treading new soil. This thematic continuity flows throughout the album and is most present and obvious in the first track of the album “Rebuild This Bridge”: “You may challenge me and my ancestry but I’ve got to rebuild this bridge.”

These well mixed sonic fruits can be picked at any Dub Trinity show and more information plus some live tracks can be had at their website www.dubtrinity.com. Dub Trinity’s future is unwritten, but let’s hope they find themselves collaborating with more dub poets and more of Canada’s ska/ reggae/dub heavy hitters.

Volume 46 | Issue 19 | February 27, 2012

7

arts

ThisMeansWar,IfWarMeansASpectacularlyUnfunnyMovie

By Brian Lukaszewicz

You know what you get when you take every bad spy movie cliché and combine them with all of their romantic comedy equivalents? You get This Means War, and you know, a pretty bad movie, if that wasn’t already clear. “How bad” you ask? Bad enough that while I could go into great detail describing to you the great whopping ball of unfunnyness that is this movie, I’m going to spend most of these next 500 words coming up with sarcastic jabs and catty insults It’s probably going to be more fun than the two hours I spent in that theatre.

There’s not even a huge need for me to set up the plot for you. Honestly, you could probably figure out most of the movie just from the trailer – spies, surveillance, contrived romance, etc. It only took me 15 minutes to predict which of the two leads Reese Witherspoon would end up with, how she would end up with them, and most of the stops in between. I think my favourite part of This Means War was all of the snippets and passing mentions of better movies sprinkled throughout the film. They reminded me of all the good times I’ve spent in theatres actually enjoying myself.

But a little predictability is to be expected in a romantic comedy, if only because they have that second part to their title. You know, the comedy part. The laughs per minute in This Means War equates to somewhere around one an hour, while its unintentional laughs per minute surpasses that mark quite easily. I’ve got a few hilariously bad lines still kicking around in my head.

And perhaps the most disappointing part is how the film manages to squander its three main leads, three actors I actually quite liked before this (I still do… I can’t stay mad at them). Remember when Reese Witherspoon was melting our hearts as June Carter? I do! How about Tom Hardy in Inception, or for that matter Chris Pine in Star Trek? Sadly, for these three a more accurate title might have been This Means A Pay Cheque.

This Means War definitely has a target audience though, and there’s a good chance they’ll walk out of the theatre satisfied with what they saw.

But clearly I don’t fall into that group and until I can figure out how a pair of glasses and a couple of skin-deep quirks somehow makes Reese Witherspoon undateable (before her two charming suitors anyway), I doubt I ever will.

I do have to admit though, I did come out of the theatre laughing.

Probably not at all for the reasons the filmmakers would have liked, but laughing nonetheless. I don’t know, perhaps I should give the film credit for how hilariously bad it is. Nope, I think I’m just going to stick with the catty insults.

This Means War – more like This Sucks... umm... hmmm.

Alright, well they’re not all winners.

1/5

“

Sadly, for these three

a more accurate title might have been This Means A Pay Cheque.”

event

AlgonquinParkDay-Trip

By Dave Taylor

The Trent Outdoor Club is pleased to announce that on Saturday, March 3, we will be offering a day-trip to Algonquin Provincial Park for any Trent student or faculty member. This is a great opportunity to look for moose and deer while travelling with friends in the comfort of your motorcoach. We will be visiting the Park’s extraordinary Visitor Centre where you can view the bookstore, viewing deck, theatre, and exhibits.

Also, if you prefer to buy a lunch, the cafeteria will be open.

Additionally, we will be doing a fantastic guided hike on one of the Park’s many trails.

You will not need any special gear and the hike will not be a difficult one. Simply bring your boots, toque, mitts, snacks, and a water bottle.

The Park will certainly look beautiful with its countless snowy hills and lakes. Indeed, Algonquin Park is a winter wonderland.

The cost of the trip is a recommend donation of $25 (please pay in cash on arrival at the bus). We are raising funds for Cara Frost, a local mother of four who was severely burned in a fire before Christmas.

The cost includes your motorcoach transportation and park permit. The Trent Outdoor Club is looking forward to seeing you!

Itinerary: 7:15 a.m.

Bus arrives downtown, across from the city bus terminal 7:30 a.m.

Bus departs for Trent U. 7:45 a.m.

Bus arrives at Trent U., Bata Library 8:00 a.m.

Bus departs for Algonquin Park 10:30 a.m.

Arrives at the Algonquin Park Visitor Centre 12:30 p.m.

Departs Visitor Centre 1:00 p.m.

Arrives at the trail-head 3:30 p.m.

Departs trail-head 6:00 p.m.

Arrives back in Peterborough (Itinerary may change depending on weather) For more information please contact: davidtaylor@trentu.ca

8

column

Canadians for Mining Awareness

Canada’sEnvironmentalAssessmentLawis UnderAttackbytheHarperGovernment

By Zankhna Mody

Environmental impact assessments are the government’s responsibility to First Nations and to communities.

There are currently $350-$500 billion worth of industrial projects on First Nations land that need consultation and environmental reviews, yet Prime Minister Stephen Harper, along with Environment Minister Peter Kent and Natural Resources Minister Joe Oliver, are set on eliminating the requirement for many industrial projects to conduct environmental assessments prior to construction. The Federal Government is presenting regulatory changes to the Canadian Environmental Assessment Act (CEAA) and other related legislation to the House of Commons.

If passed, these changes will undermine the power of the act to scrutinize the potential environmental impacts of small and large scale industrial projects such as oil pipelines, mines, quarries, nuclear power plants and more. Over the past few years the CEAA has suffered many cutbacks to its budget and amendments from the Harper government, resulting in a gradual weakening of the already modest act.

For example, the CEAA was amended in 2010 to exclude projects funded under the federal government’s Economic Action Plan from environmental assessment. Changes to the act have also been made to fast track large scale industrial

projects such as the Tar Sands operations in Alberta, without any concern for the long term environmental and social consequences of such rapid expansion. According to the Green Party leader, Elizabeth May, there are fears that the federal government is prepared to gut the agency: “This is a government that wants a verdict first and evidence later, or a verdict first and evidence never.”

The CEAA is a critical piece of legislation created in 1995 designed in order to protect sensitive environmental areas by requiring an environmental assessment to be conducted for any projects which federal government is involved. The act allows greater public participation, lengthier assessment protocol, and covers more projects than provincial environmental assessment acts alone. The CEAA was due for a parliamentary review in June 2010; however, it was not started until October 2011 by the House of Commons Standing Committee on Environment and Sustainable Development. Not surprisingly, these reviews were conducted with minimal public participation and the final report has not yet been published.

Pronouncements made against the act by Stephen Harper, Peter Kent and Joe Oliver are on the grounds that the CEAA allows too much public input, takes lengthy periods of time for environment assessment, creates uncertainty for investors,

and threatens economic development. According to NDP environment critic Linda Duncan, a leaked memo from the federal government states they plan to present a draft bill which would “exempt from environmental assessment: any Building Canada infrastructure projects under $10 million regardless of the environmental or health risk; any project on federal lands or using federal dollars; and, any project that a provincial government asks to be exempted.” Even large scale projects are in danger of being referred away from the Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency to the National Energy Board, the Nuclear Safety Commission or to smaller provincial agencies, making it impossible to maintain national standards on environmental and human safety.

The Federal government needs to recognize that CEAA is critical as an overarching national structure which is capable of conducting rigorous environmental assessment with public involvement in order to protect the interests of communities and the environment, not just the industrial sector. At the present rate, amendments made by the federal government to the act would render the CEAA impotent.

For more information on how to take action and speak out against the devaluation of the Environmental Assessment Act, visit www.miningwatch.ca.

event

StudentAssociationofInternational DevelopmentpresentsCommunity MovementsConference

By Natalie Guttormsson (SAID)

There is limited space left for the Fifth Annual Community Movements Conference so register now!

The conference will take place March 2-4, 2012.

This year’s conference theme is “Perspectives on Land: A critical discussion on the role of land in the development context both globally and locally”.

The conference aims to explore the relationship between development and land in cultural, political, environmental, and social contexts with an emphasis on the perspectives of Indigenous peoples, women, and social movements.

Featured speakers and workshop topics include: Bruce Moore – The Race for the World’s Farm and Forest Lands, Ronald Plain – Social Justice and Environmental Racism: The Aamjiwnaang Situation, Juan Arellano - Indigenous Peoples and Development Projects in Latin America, Alisha Bhanji - The Role and Extent to which the Land Rights, Research and Resources Institute (LARRRI) Influences Land Policies in Tanzania, Chris Beyers - Difficult Justice: Reconciling Competing Demands for Urban Land in South Africa, Haroon Akram-Lodhi - Land Grabbing and the Corporate Food Regime, Mathew Davidson - Public Health and Land Changes in Haiti, Catarina Moreno - Afro-Colombian Strategies of Resistance

and Forest Carbon Sequestration Projects, Stephanie Rutherford - Political Ecology and Land Issues, Danny Beaton - Native and Environmental Activist and Filmmaker. Also featuring Glen Caradus (KWICPaddling Puppeteers) – interactive puppet/music and dialogue workshop that uses a hand crafted model of the Otonabee watershed to incorporate how the land use has changed over the years and the impact this has on our local watershed.

The Community Movements Conference is organized entirely by students, mostly from the Students Association of International Development (SAID). We are one of the few conferences in Canada that is organized entirely by undergraduate students.

Registration is $20 for students/$25 for waged.

Payments can be brought to the IDS Office (CC H11) or the KWIC Office (bottom floor of Environmental Science Building, B101). The registration fee covers the cost of three full meals, access to all speaking events, workshops and presentations at the conference, and the Friday night social with spoken word artist Ziysah and the Resolutionaries marimba band.

To download the registration form, see full list of speaker bios, and the complete conference schedule, please visit our website: communitymovementsconference.ca

Volume 46 | Issue 19 | February 27, 2012

9

columns

TCSA-ing: Your student union news column

By Chanel Christophe

Welcome to the first of what will be a regular column highlighting what is going on in your student union. We encourage you to keep checking this space in the coming weeks as we continue to keep you informed of the pertinent information regarding The Central.

This particular edition is dedicated to the upcoming student elections. Yes, it is that time again; election season!

As the current executive prepares to end its mandate, the call is now being made for nominations to fill the positions on the new TCSA executive. Nomination packages are available at The Central office or online at trentcentral.ca. The deadline for submissions is March 2 at 4:00 pm and voting will take place from Monday March 12 to Thursday March 15.

The composition of the 2012/13 executive will be slightly different moving forward as there are now only three executive positions instead of the usual four. This change was approved at the last Annual General Meeting of the TCSA earlier in the month.

The new Executive positions in this election will be for the posts of: President Vice President Student Issues and Vice President Campus Life

specific marginalized groups in society or at Trent. According to current TCSA President Sheldon Willerton, these commissioners play a vital role on the executive because of the unique perspectives that they bring. ‘It is immensely important that we have a diversity of voices around the board table so as to make well informed decisions,’ he says. The ten equity commissioner positions to be contested in this spring election are for the posts of: Anti-Racism Commissioner Environment and Sustainability Commissioner Ethical Standards Commissioner Gender Issues Commissioner Indigenous Students Commissioner International Students Commissioner Mature and Transfer Students Commissioner Queer Students Commissioner Students with Disabilities Commissioner Women’s Issues Commissioner Any questions regarding the election can be addressed to the electoral office at elections@trentcentral.ca.

There are also ten equity commissioner positions on the executive to be filled. These commissioners represent

Not Just the Caffeine and Nicotine A Programmer Profile of Wesley Grist Caileigh Morrison: Alright. Wesley Grist.

WG: The “Mmmbop” one is really good too.

Wesley Grist: Hello.

CM: Hmmm… that sounds interesting.

Now what about Discourse and Dissonance?

Caileigh Morrison: What is your programme called and when is it?

WG: I have two. They’re both on Monday.

One is called Hostile Ambient Takeover and one is called Discourse and Dissonance.

CM: Could you explain what your programmes are all about?

WG: For Hostile Ambient Takeover, I use this program called Paul Stretch, which is freeware, so if you want to download it you can just Google it. It uses an algorithm to stretch out a song without slowing it down.

And you can make it as long as you want, hundreds of millennia long, but I just take pop songs and make them an hour long.

They sound really droning and weird, like waves and whales and stuff like that.

CM: I actually remember listening to your first show when you stretched out a Lady Gaga song.

WG: Yeah. I think that was “Marry the Night”.

CM: That was really intense. Good times.

Lots of tones.

10

WG: Right. That’s a philosophy show and a music show. At first it was me taking a theme in philosophy and trying to use musical examples to explain it. Now it’s just me talking about philosophy with musical breaks that may or may not be related.

CM: Very nice. So, when did you first get involved with Trent Radio?

CM: Any other roles?

WG: Oh yeah… and I’m also on the board of directors. That’s fairly important, and I’m on that [laughs].

CM: What drew you to Trent Radio?

WG: It wasn’t until my third year. I think a lot of people have the same story: “oh, I could never do that kind of thing… that’s only for people that are really good” you know?

And then either you just take a chance or someone pushes you and encourages you and then you go for it and then you love it and then you’re there forever. And that’s what happened to me in third year.

WG: Well, I’ve always liked talking about weird things and showing music to people, and everyone gets kind of fed up when I do that after a while. But I could come here, and do all the weird stuff I wanted, and share it with people who like that stuff! So I came to Trent Radio just so I could do weird stuff and show it to people.

CM: Lovely. Other than programmer, what are your roles at Trent Radio?

CM: Very nice. Now, outside of Trent Radio, what do you do with your life?

WG: Well, I’m also an operator, so that means I hang out here on Mondays and make coffee and help people if they have questions and make sure the place doesn’t burn down and various other things.

WG: Well, I’m a philosophy major and I’m in a band called Tender Buttons with Bennett Bedoukian and Dave Grenon.

CM: What is your favourite show other than your own on Trent Radio? An endorsement, if you will.

WG: Hmmm... you know what? I like everything that Brion Wagner does. He’s awesome. Both of his shows are really cool.

The one that I’m thinking of right now is Dog Bites Mannlicher [Tuesdays, 9:3011:30 PM], which is experimental live noise jams he does with people all over the place – I think there’s someone in Los Angeles and someone out east. There’s a delay when they’re talking to each other and it’s just this crazy, live radio jam where there not even in the same room. It’s really cool.

CM: That is pretty sweet. Good endorsement.

Finally, what keeps you around here?

WG: There’s always coffee [laughing]. And you’re always meeting interesting people, and it’s great. The longer I stay the more I get attached to it. A lot of people smoke out front and there’s always coffee on, so I used to joke and say “is it really the radio or is it just the caffeine and nicotine that keeps me coming back?” But I think it’s the people.

Listings Peterborough NDP Riding Association AGM Tuesday, February 28, 2012, 5-7pm Lions’ Centre, 347 Burnham Street (just off Hunter Street East) Our annual general meeting and 2012 Executive Election. If you are interested in running for an Executive position please contact Alissa Paxton (alissa.paxton@gmail.com) or Mike Epp (michaelepp@yahoo.com) for more details. The meeting will be followed by a meet & greet with federal leadership candidates.

NDP Federal Leadership Candidate Meet & Greet Tuesday, February 28, 2012, 7-9pm Lions’ Centre, 347 Burnham Street (just off Hunter Street East) Come out to meet candidates for the NDP Federal Leadership. Everyone welcome! This event will be preceded by the Peterborough Riding Association AGM 5-7pm.

The Ballad of D’Arcy McGee: The story of the heroic life and tragic death of Canada’s ‘visionary’ father of Confederation. Poet, rebel, social activist and politician, he worked ceaselessly to help his fellow immigrants overcome class, cultural, racial and religious discrimination here in the mid 1800s. Opposed the militant tactics of the Fenians and the Orange Order. Told through lively narrative, accompanied by traditional music and song, with Mark Finnan, John Hoffman, Glen Caradus and Michael Ketemer. Showplace Lounge, Thursday March 1 7:30pm.

Call 705 742 7469.

International Women’s Day at The KWIC World Issues Cafe: Thursday, March 8: Building a Culture of Peace multi media presentation, panel and discussion, 7-8:30 pm Peterborough Public Library.

Refreshments and child friendly space.

Suggested $5/pwyc. www.kwic.info or 7481680.

The 605 collective coming from Vancouver to Peterborough with performances on March 9 & 10 at Market Hall: presented by Public Energy. The most exciting dance company to come out of the vigorous Vancouver dance scene in years. The 605 Collective aims to become a company known for innovative and physically demanding works, valuing collaboration as an essential tool for new directions in dance. matinee: Friday, March 9 at 12:30 pm evening: Saturday, March 10 at 8:00 pm www.605collective.com Hip Hop Class Thurs March 8, 7-8:30pm Location: At the PCVS Dance Studio, 201 McDonnel St., Peterborough Highly energetic and fun, this class will focus on elements of hip hop, emphasizing individualism and personal style. Cost: $5 Master Class Sat March 10, 10:30am - noon Location: Market Hall, 140 Charlotte St., Peterborough Includes movement repertoire from Audible. This class will include examples of 605’s movement vocabulary from past repertoire, as well as improvisation structures, combining techniques and styles found in both contemporary and hip-hop dance. Cost: $10 Razzamatazz: by the Peterborough Pop Ensemble and the Peterborough Concert Band at Calvary Church, Lansdowne Street West.

Saturday March 10, 2012: 2 p.m. tickets are $20 ($10 for students) from Titles Book Store, Bud’s Music Centre, Chesler Shoes, Happenstance Yarns and Books (Lakefield) . There is a $15 price for prebooked groups of 10 or more – please call the office at 705-740-6052.

Relay for Life is a 12-hour charity even to raise money for cancer research. The event begins at 7 pm and runs all night until 7 am. Relay for Life is more than just a fundraiser. It is an opportunity to get together with family and friends to celebrate cancer survivors, remember loved ones, and fight back against cancer. Trent University will be running our very own Relay for life on March 23 in

the Athletics Complex. For more information about Relay for Life please contact the Relay for Life chair Holly Ottenhof at hollyottenhof@trentu.ca or myself the Survivor chair Brittany Williams at brittanywilliams@trentu.ca. Also, feel free to stop by at our information booth outside of Wenjack Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursdays leading up to the event.

Continuing Study Group in Introduction to Buddhism: Karma, Rebirth and Selflessness. This is an 8-week Study Group based on talks given by The Dzogchen Ponlop Rinpoche and carefully compiled under his direction. The Study Group format includes some meditation and contemplation, while the emphasis is on exploring and discussing the teaching material.

Starts March 1 at Sadleir House. These peer sessions are free of charge. The Source Books are $15. For more information, including Study Group dates and times, and to register, please call and leave a message at 705-755-0063.

We can do it! Everyone is welcome to join and participate in Occupy Peterborough at our General Assembly every Saturday from 2pm-4pm at Sadleir House. Facebook: OccupyPtbo | Twitter: @OccupyPtbo | Email: occupyptbo@gmail.com. Let’s build a better world through consensus!

Tuesday Circus Art Jams: Come run away with the circus one night a week. Bring some circus toys or acts: hulahoop, poi, juggling, clown, dance, etc and come practice, share, and learn new circus skills. Don’t have any skills? Come anyways! There are always extra toys and willing teachers. Takes place at the Sadlier House Dinning Room Tuesdays 7pm10pm. PWYC Donation. So come and enjoy the fun!

workshops happening on 3pm, February 14 at 10am, or March 8 at 10am. Go to www. trentu.ca/careers to register for the workshops.

The Kawartha Sexual Assault Centre is looking for dedicated volunteers to provide Peer Support for the women and men calling our 24-Hour Crisis Line. Free Crisis Intervention Training will be held in February! For more information please call the Volunteer Service Coordinator 705-748-5901 or ksacvolunteers@nexicom. net.

HU Song Contemplation Regardless of your beliefs or religion, you can sing HU to become happier and more secure in God’s love. Join us for a 20-30 minute contemplation, every 1st Monday of the month, 7:30pm Sadleir House, 751 George St. N. No charge.

Need $ for your theatre activity? Theatre Trent’s funding proposal deadline this month! Apply @ www.theatretrent.ca.

We are welcoming new executive members to write cheques for theatre-makers and gain non-profit Board experience: you are needed.You are welcome to borrow props and costumes from the storage space at Sadleir House - email theatretrent@trentu.ca Students Helping Students: Are you a outstanding academic student? Are you looking for a meaningful volunteer experience? Are you hoping to build experience and demonstrate skills in leadership and supportive communication? Then look no further, the Peer Mentoring Program hopes that you will become a peer mentor. Check out www.trentu.ca/peermentoring or email peermentor@trent.ca for more information.

Send your listings in to listings@trentarthur.ca it’s free!

classifieds Need essay help?

Experienced Masters and PhD graduates can help! All subjects and levels, plus resumes, applications, and editing. Nursing, English, Business, Sociology and more! Call toll free 1-888-345-8295 or email customessay@bellnet.ca for a quote today! www.customessay.com

Send your classified ad in to advertising@trentarthur.ca it costs only $7 a week to publish advertisements for student housing!

Dance your Bones: Move freely to music from around the world. Every Thursday 6pm-8pm at All Saints Anglican Church Hall, 235 Rubidge St. Peterborough. The cost is $10 ( sliding down to $5). For more information please contact (705) 750-0411 Students - St John Ambulance is Canada’s leader in first aid training - We offer courses every weekend and many weekdays and weeknights. Renew your CPR in 1 evening - most courses include a student discount. If you need to renew your first aid certificate or take a course for the first time contact St John Ambulance 705 745-0331 sjapeterborough@bellnet.ca sja. ca 30 Crafts Market: a nonprofit initiative to support handcrafting and the connection between artisans/craftspersons and the general public in the Kawarthas.

This event is still open to crafters/ artisans who would like to sell their goods. The market will be held May 12, 2012 in Peterborough Ontario. Booths are 15 dollars. To apply, visit 30craftsmarket.webs.com.

Need a Mid-Year Academic Skills Intervention? Feeling a little discouraged by your mid-year marks but not sure what to do about it? Satisfied with your marks but wanting to achieve the next level?

February is a good time to make a one-onone appointment with an academic skills instructor to brush up on the necessary skills for success at university. Discuss ways to manage your time better, or techniques to improve your listening, note taking, reading, writing and math skills.

Bring an essay or lab you are working on for tips to improve it. Call 705-748-1720 to book your appointment or series of appointments.

Mock Interview: Participate in a Mock Interview! Get interview experience, get valuable feedback, network and meet professionals in a range of fields have your resume reviewed and targeted. Your first step is to attend one of our interview

Volume 46 | Issue 19 | February 27, 2012

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