Impr int The university of Waterloo’s official student newspaper
Friday, June 4, 2010
Vol 33, No
3
imprint . uwaterloo . ca
Tax Facts According to the Ontario Ministry of Revenue, under the current tax system PST is paid at each stage of the supply chain. By the time products get to the consumer, the multiple embedded PST for each step of the way is included as a hidden cost from the suppliers. The consumer then pays PST on top of that.
How will HST affect you? reporter
S
“
tarting next month, students can expect their expenses to go up. Getting a haircut will cost you a few extra dollars, and a bus ride to Toronto will increase from $12 to $14.50. Those Timmy’s double doubles that make your morning a bit brighter will also suffer a small increase in price; thanks to the new tax package that is soon to be implemented by the provincial government. The Harmonized Sales Tax (HST) is a new package that will be implemented in the provinces of Ontario and British Columbia on July 1. It combines the five per cent Provincinal Sales Tax (PST) and eight per cent Goods and Services Tax (GST) to make a single tax of 13 per cent. While 83 per cent of goods and services will remain untouched by the HST, the remaining 17 per cent, which is currently non-taxable or only applicable to one tax, will be sujected to the full 13 per cent. As a result, students’ cost of living will increase. H o m e r en ova ti o n co sts, depending on the type of services, will be raised by two or three per cent. Landlords are going to be able to apply for rent hikes to help them cover the increase in prices and that money is going to come from the tenants’ pockets. Though auto insurance will be exempt from HST, gasoline, as well as heating and electricity will also rise in price. Under the new tax regulations, the cost of alcohol and cigarettes will
Sports
While 83 per cent of goods and services will remain untouched by the HST, the remaining 17 per cent, which are currently non-taxable or only applicable to one tax, will be subjected to the full 13 per cent. As a result, students’ cost of living will increase. be seeing an increase from 12 per cent to 13 per cent. Services such as taxi fare and gym memberships will be seeing an increase of at least five to six per cent. Fortunetly for students, both Ontario and B.C. governments assure students that university tuition costs and textbooks will remain untouched by HST. However, students will see an increase of prices on some common goods and services that will increase their financial burdens. Meals bought on or off campus will suffer an increase of four to five per cent. This means that a simple coffee, pop, bag of chips or cookie will cost more than it used to, and this is applicable for any other product or service from any restaurant. Consumers will be paying a total of 13 per cent instead of the current five per cent PST. As for services on campus, Feds Vice President of Finance, Sarah Cook, was unwilling to comment on how this new charge will affect student fees and prices. Turnkey Desk manager Scott Pearson said he doesn’t feel that this new tax is going to make a significant difference to the
“
Eduardo Ramirez
Dinh Nguyen
university business or to the students. The tax will, however, affect Greyhound bus tickets which will increase by eight per cent as they are currently only charged at five per cent GST. Students are not the only people who will be negatively affected by the HST. According to an article published by the Vanouver Sun about a protest against the implementation of HST, the biggest opposition to this tax comes from people in the real estate industry who have to pay more for home renovations, and First Nations people who will have to pay an extra six per cent as they are currently exempt from PST. Landlords and real estate agents claim that this tax is going to be a huge burden to Ontarian consumers as they are the ones who will have to pay more for common and necessary goods and services. Furthermore, an Ipsos Reid poll shows that 82 per cent of British Columbians and 75 per cent of Ontarians opposed this new duty. While HST may cause individual cost of living to increase, it may strengthen the province’s economy and create a larger job market. Much research has gone into
13 Special Feature
Former Warrior tries out for Toronto Argonauts
the reaction of the HST in order to analyze the benefits and disadvantages of the new levy. A study conducted by Jack Mintz from the University of Calgary shows that this new tax will create 600,000 new jobs and attract an investment of $47 billion by 2020. By reducing the cost of industrial production in Ontario, companies around the province are expected to save around $15 to 20,000 in their first year under this new reform. When a small business purchases raw materials, office supplies, forklifts, signs or shelves, the eight per cent retail services, taxes which were once an expense, are credited back to them. This is money that is intended to be reinvested back into the business. UW professor and economist Larry Smith agrees that the HST is an appropriate and long overdue move by the governments of Ontario and British Columbia since it is intended for, and should improve, competitiveness of Canadian businesses. He believes that the extra income for companies will mean more money for investment. If used correctly, Smith says, the HST will create a more efficient and effective tax collection system. “I favour jobs, good jobs, that can resist global pressure. That’s what this is about. Our job performance has been exceptional compared to the U.S., and I want to keep it that way,” said Smith. According to the provincial government, the switch to the HST will make it easier for investors and businesses to set up shop in Ontario, creating more employment opportunities.
Under the HST system, HST is rebated at each stage of the supply chain so it does not get passed down to the consumer.
The HST will not be charged on: • Driver’s licence renewals • Auto insurance • Travel originating in Ontario and terminating outside of Canada • Municipal public transit • GO transit • Prescription drugs • Music lessons • Health and education services • Legal aid •Basic groceries (dairy, meat, vegetables, canned goods) • Most financial services • Child care • Tutoring • Music lessons • Residential rents • Condo fees
The HST will be charged on: • Gasoline • Magazines purchased by subscription • Tickets for live theatre with less Than 3,200 seats • Heating fuels • Electricity • Tobacco • Alcohol • Membership fees for clubs and gyms • Taxi fares • Professional services for lawyers • Admissions to professional sporting events
An in-depth exploration on steroid use on campus
10
News
Imprint, Friday, June 4, 2010 news@imprint.uwaterloo.ca
PDEng to be replaced with WatPD - Engineering
Opportunity knocks...
And then steals your stuff Howard Leung reporter
S
Felicia Rahaman
The PDEng Renewal Task Force presented their final report at a town hall meeting this Thursday May 13, 2010. The current PDEng program is still operating and will continue to do so until the new program is developed and released. The PDEng Renewal Task Force hopes that the WatPD-Engineering program will be implemented by Winter 2011. Felicia Rahaman staff reporter
T
he PDEng Renewal Task Force presented their final report at a town hall meeting held in MC on May 13. The report was presented by Adel Sedra (dean of engineering), Wayne Parker (associate dean co-operative education and professional affairs), and Sasha Avreline (former VP Education Eng Soc). The PDEng Task Force presented their recommendation that PDEng be phased out, and that the responsibility of professional development for engineering students be handed to the WATPDEngineering program. The PDEng program was originally developed in 2004 and has endured a considerable amount of criticism from students. A review process was set into motion in 2008. In the fall of 2009, the PDEng Task Renewal Force was formed with the mission of reviewing the current program, and making constructive recommendations in order to resolve the perceived shortcomings of the program. The task force’s goals were to, “improve
student experience, strengthen the connection between the PD program and the faculty, and create the best program possible to support students acquiring the professional (soft) skills required for success in today’s workplace.” Some of the recommendations presented by the PDEng Task Renewal Force include the following. “The PDEng Task Renewal Force recommends that the WatPD-Engineering program contain five new courses (two core courses and three electives) that have a focus on instruction in early stages, balanced workload, assignment flexibility, practical application, and choice.” The task force is also suggesting the formation of a WatPD-Engineering Curriculum Committee that will act as a bridge between the engineering departments and programs, and the WatPD-Engineering program. Ideally the committee will be a representation of all the engineering departments and programs. The presenters in the town hall meeting fielded questions from the audience in attendance after the presentation. Questions arose regarding the time line of the WatPD-Engineering program, and whether
or not there would be a contingency plan if the new program was not ready for implementation by the desired time. Dean Sedra assured students that PDEng 15 would still be available in such an event. Many students were also questioning the changing number of required work term reports, and what it would mean for students who have already completed three. Students were worrying that they would have to complete another report in addition to their completed three. Dean Sedra expressed that the task force had yet to come to a decision regarding that specific matter. The current PDEng program is still operating, and will continue to do so until the new program has been developed. The PDEng Renewal Task Force recommends that changes to marking schemes, the ACE interface, and other areas of concern highlighted by the students begin to take effect at the end of term. The PDEng Renewal Task Force has expressed hopes that the WatPD-Engineering program will be implemented by Winter 2011.
Celebrate in style, you’ve earned it. Three Great Restaurants, One Destination.
2980 King Street East, Kitchener ON, N2A 1A9 p519-893-6570
www.
.ca
frahaman@imprint.uwaterloo.ca
tudents may want to better secure their homes after a rash of long weekend breakins. According to a Waterloo police report issued May 25, 2010 a number of residences around UW reported “numerous break and enter incidences” between May 21 and 23, the Victoria Day holiday weekend. According to Sgt. Sloden Lackovic of the Waterloo Regional Police Service, these number of break-ins spiked during that holiday but still occur regularly during the rest of the year. As of June 1, 2010 there have already been 78 break-ins in the UW area. These incidents are not just confined to off-campus housing. Staff Sgt. Greg Fiss from UW Campus Security confirmed that there was one break-in at St. Jerome’s residence with the suspect identified. He could not elaborate due to the ongoing investigation, but added that the incident occurred a week after the recent holiday. “People tend to break into houses that aren’t kept secure, [and] unfortunately students tend to be the ones that don’t [keep their home secure]” says Lackovic. He noted that a lot of the thieves do not force their way in, but use an open window or even an unlocked front door. Unlocked front doors may be rare for family residences but are more common with student homes. Houses and apartments are both targeted, but “you aren’t going to see many third or fourth floor break ins,” states Lackovic. Also, thieves tend to target easy-to-carry electronics and other such valuables, including laptops, which are “by far, the biggest commodity that has been stolen.” It seems that the thieves are looking for easy opportunities, and that may be related to why one of the largest incidence of thefts on-campus happen at three seemingly coincidental places: the PAC, and DC and DP libraries. Fiss explains that these incidences are high because “thieves can check lockers or cubicles without drawing much attention.” According to Lackovic, students can easily deter potential thefts by following a few easy steps: Keep an inventory of your belongings
Make sure all your valuables are photographed, and for all electronics, write down the associated serial number. It makes it that much easier for the police to return the stolen goods if it is ever found. Communicate with your roommates
Lackovic notes that miscommunication between roommates can lead to break-ins. Assuming that you roommates are going to be here for the weekend, and therefore leaving your door unlocked, may not end well. Respond immediately to break-ins if they DO happen
If you discover a break-in, first make sure that the thief is still not in your home. If they are in your home, do not fight them, but remember their physical description, especially their shoes. Remember to report any break-in to the police, remembering what was stolen, when and how you suspect the thieves entered. These tips appear to be easily accomplished. Lackovic adds that if more preventative measures were in place, potential thieves would be deterred or at least move to another location. And if you have lost some valuables, never give up hope. According to Lackovic, there is a “room full of unclaimed bicycles” in the Waterloo Police Station. Seems like what is lost can be found.
Opinion IMPRINT The University of Waterloo’s official student newspaper
Imprint, Friday, June 4, 2010 opinion@imprint.uwaterloo.ca
It doesn’t have to be a challenge A plea to UW students to take the commuter challenge and run with it, literally
Friday, June 4, 2010 Vol. 33, No. 3 Student Life Centre, Room 1116 University of Waterloo Waterloo, Ontario N2L 3G1 P: 519.888.4048 F: 519.884.7800 http://imprint.uwaterloo.ca Editor-in-chief, Gina Racine editor@imprint.uwaterloo.ca Advertising & Production Manager, Laurie Tigert-Dumas ads@imprint.uwaterloo.ca General Manager, Catherine Bolger cbolger@imprint.uwaterloo.ca Sales Assistant, Dina Hamdieh Systems Admin., vacant Distribution, Sherif Soliman Distribution, Abdul Asmat Volunteer co-ordinator, Travis Myers Web Developer, vacant Board of Directors board@imprint.uwaterloo.ca President, E Aboyeji president@imprint.uwaterloo.ca Vice-president, Angela Gaetano vp@imprint.uwaterloo.ca Treasurer, vacant treasurer@imprint.uwaterloo.ca Secretary, Erin Thompson secretary@imprint.uwaterloo.ca Staff liaison, Keriece Harris liaison@imprint.uwaterloo.ca Editorial Staff Assistant Editor, Adrienne Raw Head Reporter, Dinh Nguyen Lead Proofreader, Ivan Lui Cover Editor, Sonia Lee News Editor, Paula Trelinska Opinion Editor, Andrew Dodds Features Editor, Rosalind Gunn Special Feature, Travis Myers Arts & Entertainment, Felicia Rahaman Science & Tech Editor, Komal Lakhani Sports & Living Editor, Brent Golem Photo Editor, Peter Kreze Graphics Editor, Armel Chesnais Production Staff Alethia Chiang, Angela Gaetano, Amira Hassan, Michael Hay, Mingsze Ho, Mika Ilic, Chantal Jandard, Peter Kreze, Jacky Lam, Joanne Lau, Howard Leung, Jacob McLellan, Divyesh Mistry, Dinh Nguyen, Deanna Ostafichuk, Edward Ramirez, Rajul Saleh Graphics Team Bill Chen, Nikoo Shahabi Imprint is the official student newspaper of the University of Waterloo. It is an editorially independent newspaper published by Imprint Publications, Waterloo, a corporation without share capital. Imprint is a member of the Ontario Community Newspaper Association (OCNA). Editorial submissions may be considered for publication in any edition of Imprint. Imprint may also reproduce the material commercially in any format or medium as part of the newspaper database, Web site or any other product derived from the newspaper. Those submitting editorial content, including articles, letters, photos and graphics, will grant Imprint first publication rights of their submitted material, and as such, agree not to submit the same work to any other publication or group until such time as the material has been distributed in an issue of Imprint, or Imprint declares their intent not to publish the material. The full text of this agreement is available upon request. Imprint does not guarantee to publish articles, photographs, letters or advertising. Material may not be published, at the discretion of Imprint, if that material is deemed to be libelous or in contravention with Imprint’s policies with reference to our code of ethics and journalistic standards. Imprint is published every Thursday during fall and winter terms, and every second Thursday during the spring term. Imprint reserves the right to screen, edit and refuse advertising. One copy per customer. Imprint ISSN 0706-7380. Imprint CDN Pub Mail Product Sales Agreement no. 40065122. Next staff meeting: Friday, June 4 12:00 p.m. Next board of directors meeting: Monday, June 7 12:30 p.m.
I
editor@imprint.uwaterloo.ca
t’s always the same story — at least it is with me. I would love to ride a bike to work but I don’t have time. I would love to roller blade over to my best friend’s house but it’s much more convenient to drive. So what makes this summer different than any of the others where we made the same false promises to get in shape and use alternative, more environmentally friendly methods of transportation but failed? Nothing, I suppose. But here’s my plea to all you secretly super-athletic students out there: let’s extend this year’s commuter challenge in Waterloo to last the whole summer and put the laziness to bed. The 2010 commuter challenge in Waterloo began last week and runs until the end of this week. This is the eleventh year for the annual challenge that promotes a little friendly competition between Canadian cities to promote active and sustainable lifestyles. Did someone say challenge? A little background: this is where I will squint my eyes and metaphorically shield myself from any dirty looks that you’re giving me while reading this. I, Gina Racine, drive to and from work everyday.
I drive to the grocery store, I drive to the mall, and I even drive to visit my best friend, despite the fact that she lives just a few kilometres away. But, after reading about the commuter challenge and how the littlest steps can make a gigantic difference when it comes to the sustainability of our environment, I was inspired. I had an epiphany. This summer, I’m going to explore the plethora of benefits, both health- and environment- related, of using physical activity as a mode of transportation. Did I mention that challenge is my middle name? Don’t get me wrong, I am a definite lover of physical activity (I walk my dog every chance I get). I am also a huge fan of roller blading and jogging in the summer and am no stranger to outdoors sports. But the idea of using physical activity as a way to get around has been a fairly unexplored concept in what I like to refer to as my oh-so hectic life. Okay, that is not only an over exaggeration but a very lame excuse. Some fun ideas to try that I came up with include the obvious: biking and walking, roller blading and
skate boarding, car pooling, and the ultra-popular: riding public transit. Hey, we all have WatCards, right? That means the cost of public transportation has already been paid for in our student fees, making the latter choice a nobrainer. I’ve already seen several people on campus partaking in fun activities like ultimate Frisbee and a new sport I have discovered called “weave-running” (the act of running while avoiding both geese and geese excrements). Over the course of the next few issues, I will attempt to tackle a few of these methods of transportation and truly challenge myself. Where I can use an environmentally friendly alternative method of transportation, I will, and hopefully inspire others to do the same. According to the City of Waterloo, last year 1,391 people signed up to give their car a vacation during the commuter challenge. We saved 108,410 kilometres total over the week, biked 18,765 kilometres and walked 4,749 kilometres. Let’s motivate UW to leave the cars at home and take the commute challenge.
Talking Turkey (and Brazil) Deal with Iran does not satisfy U.S.
T
hree weeks ago, Turkey and Brazil announced that they had reached a tentative third-party enrichment deal with Iran. This deal essentially mirrored the one proposed by the United States and the rest of the P5; negotiations between Iran and the P5 stalled in December. The deal struck between Turkey, Iran, and Brazil would see Iran ship 1,200 kg of its uranium stockpile — the same amount suggested in the P5 negotiations — to Turkey. One year later, Iran would receive high-enriched uranium, material that Iran needs to fuel its medical research reactor. One might think the U.S. would hail such an agreement; the more realistic among you might already have guessed that Obama did not hail it as a landmark day for diplomacy. Rather, the U.S. roundly criticized the deal, claiming that it was a ploy by Iran to derail U.S.-designed sanctions.
pmcgeown@imprint.uwaterloo.ca
The sticking point — from a U.S. perspective — is that Iran has not agreed to halt its enrichment program. This is an interesting statement seeing as this was not a tenet of the deal that the P5 first put to Iran, nor was it mentioned as a deal breaker in discussions held between the U.S. and Turkey about a possible deal with Iran. The U.S. also claims that 1,200 kg is no longer an agreeable number. They claim that in the seven months since the deal was first proposed, Iran has doubled their supply of low-enriched uranium and that even if Iran ships 1,200 kg of its uranium supply to Turkey, they will have more than enough to develop and fashion a nuclear weapon. This claim in itself is rather irrelevant. Some estimates suggest that 1,200 kg of uranium is necessary to build a single nuclear weapon. Assuming that Iran were to cut its uranium supply in half, they would have enough
uranium to construct a single nuclear weapon; a weapon that would need to be sacrificed to a test of the technology. And this is assuming that Iran could enrich its uranium to weapons-grade levels, which they cannot (and by most accounts are not attempting to) do. Granted, it is difficult to gauge Iran’s intent based on the deal alone; the problem, of course, is that you and I are not privy to a transcript of the negotiations. For example, did Turkey and Brazil ask Iran to transfer an amount beyond 1,200 kg? If the amount of, say, 2,000 kg of uranium was put to Iran and was met with outright refusal, one might have grounds for suspicion; the argument could be made that Iran deliberately waivered on a deal until such time as they had doubled the uranium they were being asked to part with. However, by all accounts Turkey and Brazil were merely negotiating
within the parameters set out by the P5; that is to say, it’s possible that the notion of asking Iran to give up an adjusted amount of its uranium was never breached. Even if it had and was met with Iranian refusal, are we to believe that the U.S. was aware of this (hypothetical) Iranian refusal? The point is this: were the U.S. truly interested in diplomacy, their response to the deal would have been vastly different, something along the lines of, “This is a great stride forward, but is Iran open to a small adjustment?” Rhetoric about Iran buying time and staving off sanctions is nonsensical; it takes years to develop and test a nuclear weapon, not weeks or months. The U.S. is playing the role of the illogical and insecure schoolyard bully, and it looks as though Iran has no one to hide behind. — With files from Zaman
Resistance to a hard stance
T
hough I am inclined to say that Canada takes the approach of befriending everyone on the world stage, we should perhaps become more selective of our friends — after all, one can tell a great deal about a person by their choice of friends, and even the mild-mannered relations of the Canadian government are becoming somewhat disconcerting. Take Canada’s relations with Israel, for example. Here is a government that is annexing the Palestinian West Bank by force while maintaining a crippling siege on the world’s most densely populated open-air prison, known as the City of Gaza. At the same time, Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu officially states that the West Bank should be part of a non-contiguous and demilitarized Palestinian state. What kind of state
bcaradima@imprint.uwaterloo.ca
is that, you ask? It isn’t one, but in any case that is irrelevant since the Israeli government presently undermines its own position by supporting the intensive colonization and implementation of apartheid in the West Bank. The possibility of a resolution to this conflict has been elusive for over 60 years, and Netanyahu’s government has unsurprisingly dashed any hope for peace and justice once again. Yet, while Palestinians are being crushed under Israeli jackboots, Canadian-Israeli military co-operation and corporate ties have never been closer. Indeed, trade relations between Canada and Israel have been sealed and Netanyahu’s opinion of Harper is quite telling, saying that “[Harper] has been an unwavering friend of Israel. He’s been a great champion of
Israel’s right to defend itself. And he stands against all efforts to delegitimize the Jewish state.” In other words, any criticism of Israeli government policy is blindly attacked as anti-Israeli or anti-Semitic, in the same manner that political dissidents of the Soviet Union were called anti-Soviets before being sentenced to the Gulag. On the political and international scene, Canada has consistently opposed or diluted any strong-worded criticism of Israel. In 2004, our Liberal government, under PM Paul Martin, abstained from a UN General Assembly resolution calling for Israel to respect the International Court of Justice ruling against its wall in the West Bank, which was deemed illegal and ordered to be dismantled. Along with the hegemonic United States
and a number of small island states such as Micronesia (self-explanatory), Canada has been alone in compulsively abstaining or opposing the annual UN resolutions calling for the belligerent state of Israel to cease its oppression of Palestinians, even while the rest of the world has voted in favour of such resolutions. It is time to admit that our relations with Israel are ultimately an embarrassment to Canada’s reputation abroad, as our “friend and ally” has acquired foreign land by force and constantly violated international and humanitarian law, as well as numerous conventions of war. Our government has erred terribly on a contentious issue where Canadian values were the only principles that should have mattered, and now we will be left to pay the price.
4
News
Alim Khamisa reporter
Azra Premji reporter
Internet addicts convicted after baby is starved to death
An Internet gaming addiction caused a couple to neglect the basic needs of their three-month-old daughter who was found starved to death. Ironically, the South Korean couple played an online game, in excess of 10 hours a day, which entailed raising a virtual child. They bottle-fed their daughter only once daily and spent the majority of their time without their daughter in Internet cafe feeding their gaming addiction. An autopsy revealed that the cause of death was due to malnutrition, and as the Suwon District Court said in a ruling, “This constitutes an inhumane crime where the defendants abandoned even the most basic responsibilities as parents, and is unforgivable beyond any excuse or reason.” Both parents were sentenced to two years in prison, but since the woman is pregnant, her term has been suspended. Internet addiction is quite common in Korea as there are more than two million addicts in the nation, which often resorts to boot camps to reverse these addictions. Jamaica cracks down on drug lords
More than 60 people were killed in street battles in Jamaica which started as result of the government’s pursuit of one of Jamaica’s
Imprint, Friday, June 4, 2010
largest drug lords, Christopher Coke, or “Mr. Coke” as he is most commonly called. The Jamaican prime minister, Bruce Golding, finally issued an arrest for “Mr. Coke” who upon capture will be extradited to the United States on charges related to drug and arms trafficking. Golding was refusing to issue an arrest for the drug lord for several months until the opposition party uncovered evidence that connected the prime minister to “Mr. Coke” on several dealings. These type of alliances between political leaders and gangsters have been around for more than 30 years in Jamaica, allowing dons and politicians to share power. The dons have traditionally provided security in their slum communities while politicians illegally handed out contracts, among other things, to ensure the continued loyalty of voters. These alliances are finally being brought to the world stage as a result of increased recent violence and now the government has increased pressure to sever their connections with dons and gangsters. Mulroney-Schreiber Affair: A three year Inquiry
Commissioner Jeffrey Oliphant released a report on Monday in Ottawa criticizing the cash dealings of over $200,000 between former Prime Minister Brian Mulroney and German-Canadian businessman Karlheinz Schreiber’s in 1993 and 1994. Mulroney accepted cash-filled envelopes on three different occasions, failed to make a record of the cash payments, and failed to deposit or disclose cash payments that were
made when he had the chance. Collectively, this led Oliphant to believe Mulroney’s actions were secretive and inappropriate. Oliphant stated, “Mr. Mulroney, in his business and financial dealings with Mr. Schreiber, failed to live up to the standard of conduct that he had himself adopted in the 1985 Ethics Code.” According to CBC news, Mulroney said, “I genuinely regret that my conduct after I left office gave rise to suspicions about the propriety of my personal business affairs as a private citizen. I will leave it to others to assess the full impact of these events.” The affair extends back 20 years when a deal was arranged to purchase 34 jetliners from Europe’s Airbus Industries by Air Canada. Airbus transferred millions of dollars to a shell company as each of the 34 planes was delivered across the Atlantic Ocean. Schreiber controlled the shell company, International Aircraft Leasing, and was, at the time, an unknown lobbyist and fundraiser. He was connected to the Federal Progressive Conservative party and two European manufacturers – Thyssen AG and Messerschmitt-Bolkow-Blohm, an armoured vehicle and a helicopter company, respectively. An RCMP investigation sent an intergovernment letter to further investigate these dealings, and within the letter, Mulroney was accused to be a part of a conspiracy to
defraud the government of Canada. When this information was leaked to the public, Mulroney filed a lawsuit for defamation. In 1997, the government and the RCMP apologized to Mulroney and agreed to pay him $2.1 million for his legal fees and public relations costs. However, in 1999, Schreiber was arrested on charges of tax evasion, fraud, and bribery and began revealing his relationship with Mulroney. In 2003, the Globe and Mail revealed the cash transactions made between the former PM and Schreiber, and that Mulroney waited six years to disclose these payments to Canada Revenue Agency. The civil case initiated by Schreiber against Mulroney led Prime Minister Stephen Harper to create a public inquiry on their affair. Harper asked University of Waterloo President David Johnston to craft the terms of reference which focused on the cash payments between Mulroney and Scheibner (and not the previously investigated Airbusrelated events). Even after this $16 million inquiry, many unanswered questions remain on the nature of the dealings of the Mulroney-Schreiber affair.
Justin Dufour
and the Community Advisory Committee. The committees will ensure the camp is imaginative, critical, and innovative. Youth leaders and adult leaders will support and mentor the youth during their stay at the camp. The University of British Columbia has joined forces with TELUS, Out in Schools, the Vancouver Queer Film Festival, Scotiabank and Coast Capital Savings, to provide additional activities. So far 30 campers have registered, and CampOut! hopes that at least 60 youth in total will be able to participate.
reporter
Unfortunate loss at the University of Toronto
Two highly-regarded faculty members from the University of Toronto passed away on May 29. Dr. Andrew Mark Herzenberg and Prof. Avner Magen were on a climbing expedition in Alaska’s Denali National Park and Reserve when they were killed by an avalanche. Herzenberg was an assistant professor in the department of laboratory medicine and pathobiology of the faculty of medicine. He was born in South Africa, and moved to Canada, and was a graduate of the University of Toronto’s medical school. Magen was an associate professor in the Department of Mathemical and Computational Sciences at the University of Toronto Mississauga. He received his Phd at the Hebrew University in Jerusalem. The University of Toronto will fly their flag at half-mast on June 3 in their memory. University of British Columbia announces a new summer camp for queer and questioning youth.
The University of British Columbia has created a new summer camp for a diversity of people questioning their sexuality, and youths of the queer community. The camp, called CampOUT! will be running across the province from August 5 to 8. CampOUT! invites youth aged 14-21 to create a queer positive space and aims to promote spiritual, social and leadership skills in a welcoming environment. The program was created by taking suggestion from the Youth Advisory Committee
— With files from CBC, The Star, The Globe and Mail, the National Post, the Huffington Post, and the New York Times.
Construction begins for Georgian College
After 26 years of offering part-time courses, Collingwood’s Georgian College will be expanding to welcome full-time students. The new 20,000 square foot campus is intended to allow for economic growth in the area of Collingwood. This investment will focus on the labour gap that is taking place in Collingwood. It will give a skilled work force to local businesses. The new Collingwood campus will be located on 10 acres of land that was donated by John Di Poce. It was also made possible by a $4 million contribution from the Community Adjustment Fund of the Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario. The new campus will have nine class rooms and one student lounge. There will also be two computer labs, one “e-lab,” one multi-function health sciences lab, and one community room/small classroom. Classroom walls will be moveable to allow for more space. The new building will accommodate 250 full-time students and more than 3,000 parttime students. The campus is set to open in 2011.
Correction In the May 21, 2010 issue, in the article “Uncovering the Katyn massacre” it was stated that Prof. Szarycz attended the event when it was in fact Prof. Tamara Trojanowski. Also, Katyn is located in Russia, not Poland.
6
Opinion
Imprint, Friday, June 4, 2010
Queer vs. fear
Lahore questions roar
Compassion heals more ills than condemnation
What is the true nature of Jihad?
eaboyeji@imprint.uwaterloo.ca
S
omething happened in Malawi this week. Savvy news-craving types like myself can probably tell you all about it. Nevertheless, for the benefit of students who might not have heard about it, here is a short synopsis. Last December, a Malawian samesex couple tried to make history by publically holding Africa’s first samesex marriage. (Fun fact: The couple had met in church.) Unfortunately, they were arrested; homosexuality is illegal in Malawi and carries a prison sentence of up to 14 years. Unsurprisingly, the decision had widespread support from Malawians, 80 per cent of whom are Christian and deeply conservative. Soon, there was an international outcry. Money talks. A couple days and stern donor phone calls later, Malawi’s president Mutharika succumbs to international pressure, gives the convicted couple an executive pardon, and releases them. (Fun fact: President Mutharika is also President of the African Union and will be in Toronto for the G20 meeting in a few weeks.) He was not smiling when he did it. “End the satanic gay talk,” he cries. Malawi is not the only African country with anti-queers laws. In virtually all African countries, with the exception of South Africa, homosexuality is punished with hefty sentences up to and including death. More disheartening is the fact that a lot of African countries are making their laws even stricter. This year, Burundi, Uganda, and Nigeria considered laws that will make homosexuality an offence punishable by death. According to queer activists, this wave of homophobia is an import of religious zealots alongside colonialism and the gazillion and one things we love to blame old white men for. This year’s Pew Research Centre polls prove the opposite; 95 per cent of Nigerians think homosexuality is morally reprehensible. Now, whatever their beliefs on homosexuality, most enlightened Africans know homophobia is appalling. Queers have human dignity
and deserve, at the very least, their right to life. Where I have a problem, however, is how queers choose to make that case. Unfortunately, a lot of queer activists are unnecessarily confrontational in battling homophobia. Instead of viewing homophobia as an opportunity to educate, many queer activists see it as an opportunity to condemn. Even here at UW, this sort of divisive, ill-advised activism occasionally rears its head. For example, during the debate on UW’s campus in Dubai, queer activists on this campus were unnecessarily disapproving of any involvement in the UAE solely on grounds that it was not a welcoming environment for our queer community. I wondered, was Canada always the tolerant, accepting environment it is today? Besides, what better way is there to engender tolerance and acceptance than through education? In the Malawian case, a lot of queer activists called for donor countries to show their disapproval by cutting aid to offending African countries, giving many Africans the impression they cared more about imposing their values than about the welfare of the needy amongst them. The truth is, these irrational responses to homophobia are rooted in fear: fear of multiculturalism, of religion, and of people they conveniently brand religious zealots; fear of reasoned debate on same sex marriage, fear Tiwonge could easily be them. Perhaps, some of these fears are justified, but it solves little and breeds more strife than necessary. Going forward, queer activists would do well to understand that homophobia is primarily a function of fear; that this fear is contagious and that knowledge is the perfect antidote for this fear. In responding to homophobia, we must all realise compassionate enlightenment works better than condemnation. In the wise words of Carl Gustav, “condemnation does not liberate, it oppresses,” and the last thing queers need is more oppression.
55
asahi@imprint.uwaterloo.ca
I
n light of the recent massacre in Lahore, it is pertinent to address the widely misconceived notion of Jihad in Islam. On Friday May 28, 2010, radical militant Muslims attacked two Mosques of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community in Lahore, Pakistan. The terrorists killed 94 innocent Ahmadi Muslims and injured approximately 125 others. The same kind of militant extremists and radical clergy responsible for last week’s heinous attacks are also to blame for the widely held misconceptions of Jihad. For political and worldly motives, these fanatical clergy indoctrinate their followers with a completely false understanding of Jihad, inciting them to hatred and violence, all in the name of Islam. This misunderstanding of Jihad has been exacerbated by the media, who often sensationalize and give overexposure to the relatively minute group of Muslims who hold such erroneous and non-Islamic views. As a result, the greater public in western countries is unaware of the true meaning of Jihad in Islam, and as such, I wish to explore the reality of it. As far as physical Jihad goes, it should be noted that Jihad only takes the form of fighting when circumstances are such that Muslims are faced with utter extinction and annihilation. Even then — under extreme tyranny — only self-defense is permitted. Aggression is never allowed. Is this not completely just and reasonable? The Holy Quran points out that if this type of selfdefense for the sake of freedom of conscience was not allowed, then no religious group would ever survive extinction among such circumstances: “…if Allah did not repel some men by means of others, there would surely have been pulled down cloisters and churches and synagogues and mosques…” [22:41] However, the most emphasized form of Jihad is the Jihad against one’s self. The Prophet Muhammad (Peace Be Upon Him) once remarked — upon returning from a defensive battle — that he and his companions were now “returning from a lesser Jihad to a greater Jihad,” referring to the Jihad against one’s self as the “greater Jihad.” In another saying of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH), he
Letters RE: Banning the niqab letters@imprint.uwaterloo.ca
Abdel Rahman Elsayed 3A nanotechnology engineering uw-msa director
L
ast week an article was published by Bogdan Caradima with some insight on Bill 94 and how people opposing it have flawed reasoning. Let me start off by establishing a common ground. We both agree with the principle that people should be given individual freedoms so long as these freedoms do not infringe on the rights of others. I
Teach English Abroad TESOL/TESL Teacher Training Certification Courses
465 PHILLIP STREET LOCATION ONLY
746-6893 LIMITED TIME OFFER
states that “the greater of those who carry out Jihad is he who strives against himself most.” This is because of the great struggle this form of Jihad entails, and the magnificent results that can be achieved by it. This Jihad aims to take ordinary and even unsavory persons and transform them into refined, enlightened, and righteous people. It enables people to become pure-minded, noble-hearted, and more in tune with their Creator and fellow beings. Striving against one’s self allows one to grow in knowledge of the divine and spiritual matters. It’s the ultimate fitness program for the soul — taking it from strength to strength and loftier heights. However, striving against one’s self requires that one be on constant alert against evil inclinations, however subtle, and to be ever ready to confront and end them at their onslaught. This Jihad requires Muslims to employ prayer, concentration, and remembrance of their Creator in every mental process and situation, so that no moral degradation occurs. This requires great personal control and perseverance against temptation and hardships. It requires Muslims to vigilantly guard against any trace of evil inclinations within their minds or hearts. It is a 24/7 struggle, difficult at every step, yet evidently rewarding at every juncture too. As a result, the person’s soul begins to gain strength, undergoing a transformation. The power and majesty of the soul begin to radiate on the person’s face and every action becomes robed with beauty and charm. Ultimately, this struggle brings one intimately close to his Creator, allowing one to reflect the beauty of the Divine within their very person. If more were engaged in this Jihad, monitoring the morality and motive of every thought, then the world would be different. The sooner Muslims practise this true Jihad, the sooner we put an end to tragedies like those committed last week in Lahore. The bitter irony of it all is that the community whose mosques were targeted — the Ahmadiyya Muslim community — is arguably foremost in showing this benign face of Islam, living by the motto “Love for all, Hatred for none.”
• Intensive 60-Hour Program • Classroom Management Techniques • Detailed Lesson Planning • ESL Skills Development • Comprehensive Teaching Materials • Interactive Teaching Practicum • Internationally Recognized Certificate • Teacher Placement Service • Money-Back Guarantee Included • Thousands of Satisfied Students
OXFORD SEMINARS 1-800-269-6719/416-924-3240
www.oxfordseminars.ca
also agree that in the name of catering for minorities, we should not end up causing more inequality. Where we disagree is on the accusations that are levelled against the niqab. They are embodied in the claims that it poses a threat to public security since it conceals one’s identity, that it hinders communication, and that it is a “social handicap.” These sentiments are very popular with the way public opinion is shaped nowadays. However, as Canadian university students, we should look beyond stereotypes and hearsay, and form opinions based on real integration with different cultures and actual facts on the ground. To say that not seeing one’s face is a hindrance to communication has a hint of double standards when communicating with people online has become the norm. May I ask you, Bogdan, have you actually tried to communicate with a woman wearing the niqab? The very fact that Naema Ahmed attended a French-language class shows that she was willing to integrate, but integration does not necessitate that she should make compromises to please the demands of men who wish to see her face during class; the same men who have no problem with even doing business with people they never see in cyberspace. As for security concerns, Muslim women who wear the niqab are willing to lift the veil to female officials for identification purposes. By definition, the niqab is a veil from men, not women. Let’s not ignore the fact that Naema did actually lift her veil at the
behest of an official for identification when she was registering for the French-language class. After identification has been established, there should be no security leftovers. Furthermore, this definitely sets them out from other face-masked individuals, so the voting inequality problem does not really exist. Even in the extreme case where no female officials are present, they are understanding. “If a cop is to pull me over while I’m driving and I have to show my driver’s licence to him (which has a picture sans niqab), I’m not going to request the presence of a female officer. That would be absolutely absurd.” — Maria Arif, UW alumni who wears the niqab. What’s being asked of them here, however, is more than just identification. Here is where the problem exists. “The Parti Quebecois has led opposition to the bill, saying it does not go far enough. The party’s leader, Pauline Marois, seeks to also ban the hijab, the most common Muslim veil that covers a woman’s hair and neck.” — AFP This is the root cause; a religionintolerant form of secularism that is unique to France, hence influencing Quebec, which undermines the multicultural pluralism that has been cherished for so long in Canada. Let’s not forget that not long ago a previous niqab-ban bill was proposed on the very same grounds to the Government of Ontario and it was rejected. I echo Claire Hoy’s response to the leaders of this rejected bill after they claimed that it is a security threat: “That’s just absurd.”
Science & Technology
Imprint, Friday, June 4, 2010 science@imprint.uwaterloo.ca
UW wins a $10 million federal lottery
The university has been granted funds from federal government for conducting research Komal R. Lakhani science and technology editor
T
he federal government has recognized the potential of UW and the university has been granted funding of up to $10 million to be used over the next seven years. Two international researchers have been appointed: David Cory as the Canada Excellence research chair in quantum information processing, and Philippe Van Cappellen as Waterloo’s Canada Excellence research chair in ecohydrology. UW President David Johnston said that the chairholders will be developing quantum devices and helping to establish balanced water guidelines. Cory is joining UW’s chemistry department and the Institute for Quantum Computing. He will lead a new experimental IQC research centre, is a visiting researcher at the Perimeter Institute for theoretical physics and chairs the advisory committee of the Canadian Institute for Advanced Research. His research is expected to have immediate and future applications in medicine, communications, biochemistry, physics and nanoscience. Van Cappellen is not only the Canada Excellence research chair in ecohydrology, but also does research in the area of ground water and how it reacts with surface water and various other chemicals. He will join UW’s earth and environmental sciences department in 2011. Currently, Cappellen is working in the school of earth and atmospheric sciences at the Georgia Institute of Technology in Atlanta along with being a parttime professor in the earth sciences department at Utrecht University. — With files from UW press releases. klakhani@imprint.uwaterloo.ca
Bill Chen
Jinxu Zhang (Steven Zhang) reporter
Ivan Lui staff reporter
Fish hate noises, too Noises made by oil and gas rigs, ships, boats, and sonar have had an impact on fish species, as studied and reviewed by scientists. Unlike in the past where fishes lived in harmonious silence within the currents, sounds now have penetrated into the waters that they live. These increasing noise levels negatively effect the fish’s ability to reproduce, communicate, and avoid predators. “People always just assumed that the fish world was a silent one,” said biologist Dr. Hans Slabbekoorn of Leiden University, The Netherlands. In the journal Trends in Ecology and Evolution, however, it was reported that this was not the case. Though fish’s hearing abilities varies between species, it is definitely proven that fish can hear. Goldfish can hear at higher frequencies, while Atlantic cod have only average hearing abilities. Noise ranges that can be perceived by fish go from 30-5000Hz. Some fish varieties can also hear ultrasounds and infrasound. “The level and distribution of underwater noise is growing at a global scale but receives very little attention,” says Slabbekoorn. Research has only focused on impact on marine mammals such as whales or sharks. These new studies, however, focus on more than just mammals. Not only mammals make noise, but fish use sounds for more than just communication, they also use sound waves while fighting over territory. Another report by Slabbekoorn, published earlier this year, suggested that the cichlids of Lake Victoria, East Africa, used species-specific sounds that had some relation to the size the fish. “Fisheries for example are likely to be much more devastating,” says Slabbekoorn. “However, none of the threats can be considered on their own: any negative consequence of anthropogenic noise will come on top of the fisheries impact, and together they may lead to more critical situations for some species.
The phenomenon is concealed by the fact that underwater sounds are difficult to hear by people living in air.” Breast cancer potential cure Scientists from America might have developed a vaccine that can stop the growth of cancer existing within an individual and even prevent new cases from developing. These findings were published in the journal Nature Medicine. Though plans to use these drugs on humans are in the works, the team of scientists warns that it could be years before this vaccine actually takes to common practice. Vincent Tuohy, from the Cleveland Clinic Lerner Research Institute, led the research. Tuohy explained that the vaccine targets a protein that most breast tumours would have. The testing consisted of a selection of mice that were cancer prone, half of which were injected with the vaccine. Included within the vaccine was a substance known as á-lactalbumin. Those that had the vaccine injected into them had no development of cancer, in comparison to those that lacked of the vaccine, which eventually developed cancer. “If it works in humans the way it works in mice, this will be monumental. We could eliminate breast cancer,” Tuohy said. “We believe that this vaccine will someday be used to prevent breast cancer in adult women in the same way that vaccines have prevented many childhood diseases.” The problem with cancer, however, is that cancer is not recognized as a problem by the body’s defences. Simply put, cancer is an overdevelopment of a body cell, and therefore not detectable as a problem. One should not expect that this vaccine will become effective any time soon. “It will be several years before this vaccine can be tested fully to assess its safety and effectiveness as a way to stop the disease developing in women.” Robert Hawkins, Cancer Research UK’s professor of oncology, said. While the vaccine is still being developed, Caitlin Palframan, of charity Breakthrough Breast Cancer said that women
all around the world should still take steps to prevent breast cancer such as reducing alcohol consumption.” Herbs and spices secrets exposed At the annual meeting of the Association for Psychological Science, scientists expressed the benefits to humans health that comes from common herbs and spices. The toxins,which would normally kill a person in large doses, can actually help our bodies function better. Over time, our human bodies have developed a taste and even a need for these common herbs. Marianne Gillette, a vice president at McCormick & Company, explained that spices tops the list of foods that contains antioxidants. These antioxidants help prevent or slow the oxidative damage to our body. When our body cells use oxygen, they naturally produce free radicals (by-products) which can cause damage. An example of how powerful these herbs are can be seen by comparing the nutrients in one teaspoon of grounded cinnamon, which matches up to half a cup of blueberries. A U.C.L.A. paper published May 9 in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, further stated that by adding herbs and spices into grounded beef burgers it was able to reduced the amount of carcinogenic compounds created by grilling the meat. By grilling meat, a compound known as malondialdehyde forms. Malondialdehyde damages DNA in cells, which is thought to lead to replication errors and possibly cancer. Herbal benefits are nothing to the human civilization given that ancient practices going back a millennia or possibly more have been in usage. Despite this, modern human beings are still committed to testing out the effects that these herbs may have. These studies on herbs, funded by the McCormick Science Institute, hope that people would add herbs and spices so that they are not only to adding to the flavour but to also improve health. — With files from BBC, Scientific American, and chealth.canoe.ca.
Creation of artificial cell The mystery of how life started has been is one more step closer to being solved with the creation of an artificial cell by Craig Venter of the J. Craig Venter Institute. According to details published in Science Magazine, the institute has successfully created a human-programmed, self-replicating organism. The technique, which involves injecting bacterium with an assembled DNA string, was successful in synthesizing a predetermined protein structure. The achievement has been lauded as an important step to creating artificial life, but is being cautiously received by the scientific community as it still requires the presence of live bacterium. The discovery is expected to have use in the drug industry for vaccines creation and biofuels. — With files from New York Times
Did you know? In 1986, the Ontario branch of the Canadian Lifesaving Society invented the ACTAR 911 manikin. This inexpensive and easy to produce item is the common manikin used in rescue breathing training and was designed by Richard Brault and Dianne Croteau of Studio Innova. The manikin’s affordability allowed for groups to be able to use more manikins in training sessions, rather than older models which were expensive to obtain. The ACTAR 911 manikin has been awarded the Canada Award for Business Excellence amongst other awards, has been issued on a stamp from Canada Post, and was featured on the CBC television program The Greatest Canadian Invention.
8
Science & Technology Look, Mom! I graduated with a degree in making Jell-O! achiang@imprint.uwaterloo.ca
A
h, June. With spring convocation just around the bend (June 16-19), this time of the year has me thinking what will I be thinking of this time next year, when it’s my turn to graduate? For the computer science alumnus, graduation may conjure up bittersweet memories surrounding this initiation into the world of compilers and debuggers. The mechatronics engineer graduate will no doubt recall many a late-night-turned-early-morning-turnedwho-cares-what-time-it-is-anymore-let’sget-@#$%-done! on the third floor of E3, testing robots with digital multimeters and oscilloscopes. Meanwhile, I, the Snobby Microbiologist, will walk out of our gym’s basement a year from now remembering if but one thing that biology has made me great at making Jell-O. If you think I’m kidding, think again. Known in the lab as “agar agar” (from the Malaysian word for “jelly”), or simply as “agar,” the extract of red algae is to the biologist what rice is to the Chinese: an invaluable staple. Need a solid growth medium for culturing bacteria and fungi?
A porous medium to measure microorganism motility? A matrix to separate large macromolecules based on size? The answer is agar. What most of my peers and labmates don’t know, though, is that agar is in fact, edible. Particularly popular in Asian cuisine, the white and semi-translucent seaweed extract can be purchased in dried or powdered form, and is often used to make dessert jellies, custards, or puddings. Nutritionally speaking, agar is an excellent prebiotic (healthy non-digestible ingredients of food). As a linear carbohydrate derived from the cell walls of certain red algae, it is 80 per cent fibre by composition, and is medicinally used to treat constipation and regulate the intestine. Recently, agar has been explored as a clinical tool for improving glucose intolerance: researchers in Japan have shown that a conventional diet supplemented with agar resulted in marked weight loss and superior metabolic parameters in patients with obesity and type 2 diabetes. Besides all this, agar is simply delicious.
Fortunately, it lacks the artificial taste of conventional Jell-O and has a slightly fleshier texture. I won’t even pretend that I don’t think about eating my agar gel all the time in the lab — even when it’s stained with concentrated bacterial DNA and soaked in phosphate buffer. You can now purchase agar in most health food stores and Asian supermarkets, but I’m privileged to have a friend from Indonesia who brings back fruit-flavoured agar jelly packs for me whenever he goes back home to visit. Sometimes, to channel my inner science geek while simultaneously appeasing my foodie side, I like to prepare the jelly in Petri plates. Sprinkled with sprinkles or currants to emulate bacterial colonies. You may snicker, but I take this process very seriously. Like I said, I’m graduating with a degree in professional Jell-O making. Watch me make agar in Petri plates (just for you) in this week’s “Edible Hypothesis inthe-making!” Go to lafillenaturelle.wordpress. com/t-e-h . Write me if you want an agar plate: aletheiazc@gmail.com
Agar Agar : The scientist’s Jell-O Ingredients
1 Nutri-Jell agar jelly pack + “Fruity acid” 1 cup of sugar 3 ½ cups of water Petri plates Directions
Nutri-Jell powder and sugar to water, 1 Add stirring until well dissolved.
2 Bring to boil. boiled, let it sit for 3 minutes and add 3 Once “Fruity acid” (this comes with the Nutri-Jell pack). Stir to dissolve well.
into Petri plates (or, if you insist on 4 Pour being boring, into ice cube trays or other jelly molds.)
Aletheia Chiang
ATTENTION MATH STUDENTS!
If you are away next semester, book an appointment now to appear in your Class of 2011 Composite! www.lifetouchatwaterloo.com
Imprint, Friday, June 4, 2010
Science Editorial
Why Do We Do What We Do? Jinxu Zhang 1B chemical engineering
T
o anyone or any economist who believes that the answer to the question above involves monetary reward, I pose the following example. Last weekend, while attempting to find a screwdriver for my persistently broken lamp, I stumbled upon a group of individuals discussing the merits of a relatively simple circuit board. One was expertly wielding a soldering gun as a pointer while another frantically gestured to a complex schematic. On the surface, these appear to be electrical engineers enthusiastically conversing; yet, they were simply minimum wage workers at a local hobby shop perfecting a design destined for their online hobby community. These individuals sought neither monetary reward nor widespread recognition for their work. Is this unnatural? This is neither an isolated nor extreme example. All across the industrialized world, people are starting to divert free time away from purely leisurely activities, such as watching television, and towards more work. While this may seem irrational and counterproductive, it is in agreement with a recent MIT study conducted by leading US economists. The study involved giving monetary reward on performances of relatively simple tasks and showed that while money was a positive motivator in purely rudimentary tasks such as moving piles of stone, it was actually a negative motivator in cognitive processes. Simply put, this means that paying an individual more to continue doing mental math would actually reduce the output. While definitive scientific evidence is useful in dispelling the myth that money is the driving force of all our actions, the evidence of such human nature is all around. Why did those hobby shop workers design computing components knowing full well that there was no monetary reward? While the pleasures of creating can certainly motivate, it factors into a human desire for mastery. The pride associated with designing useful components outstripped the desire for monetary reward. Furthermore, there is an inherent, if not always noticed aspect of autonomy in pursuing a personal goal without the due dates and expectations associated with professor or employer directed tasks. Finally, and perhaps most important of all, there is a sense of purpose and self worth associated with designing and creating useful products, if only to a handful of others in the internet community. In many ways, this study and these conclusions are vitally important for university students. The path each and every individual undertakes here is arduous and often frustratingly unfruitful in the short term. For some, the promise of future employment and financial stability is enough to sustain them. For others, as the study would suggest, it has become a hindrance. How many talented individuals have been steered away from the humanities due to the perceived reduced job prospects and future income? This is not to suggest that any engineering or math students do not belong in their current field. I simply wish to encourage you to reflect upon the scientific evidence, which reminds us that we are not all puppets guided along by the invisible hand of commerce. We are free to pursue things which may not yield the greatest financial reward. Some of the most important technologies we rely on today: Linux, which powers the corporate servers of America; Apache, which powers the majority of web servers; and Wikipedia, which powers most of the students on this campus, were all created by talented people. Whether you are in engineering, arts, science, enviornmental studies, applied health studies, or a math student, I hope that the years spent here will not only be intellectually rewarding, but also afford you a field of mastery, a sense of capable autonomy, and a purpose in the world.
Features
Imprint, Friday, June 4, 2010 features@imprint.uwaterloo.ca
Discovering London cshin@imprint.uwaterloo.ca
London here I come! (Day 1) t 6:30 a.m., I landed in the Heathrow Airport in London. I read somewhere in the travel guide book not to exchange money at the airport, since they tend to charge a lot of commission for the exchange, but I ended up doing so anyway because I needed some money for the subway fare. The subway, or the underground, in London is called the “Tube.” FYI, the subway fare here is ridiculously overpriced. For one zone it was 4.50 pounds which is almost $8 Canadian. Thankfully, I met someone very kind on my way to the Royal National Hotel who gave me a list of places to visit in London. Anyway, since I only had a few days in London, I decided to start touring around the city from day one. After having fish and chips for lunch, which is a very typical English meal, I visited many popular places in London like Houses of Parliament, Big Ben, London Eye, and Westminster Abbey. The Houses of Parliament and the Big Ben were as beautiful as I saw them in posters (photos are posted on my personal blog nerdinheels.blogspot.com). Westminster Abbey is integral to the history of England as it is where the coronation of kings and queens have been taking place for centuries.
A
Revelation (Day 2) Sitting on a railing of the fountain right in front of the Buckingham Palace, I was not surprised the place was huge; after all, it is the official London home of Her Majesty the Queen. The building was protected by a golden fence and several
guards although the Queen was not in the house. FYI, you can see if the Queen is in town or not by looking at the top of the palace. If the Royal Standard flag is flown, the monarch is in residence. After visiting the Buckingham Palace, I visited the British Museum as well as the National Gallery. I was astonished by the works of hundreds of famous artists such as Botticelli, Rubens, Hogarth, Renoir, Van Gogh, Monet, and Picasso. It was incredible to be visually reminded of what a human being could achieve with incredulous will power and passion. This city reminded me of the importance of thriving and inspired me to push my limits. Average people like me could achieve great things when they put their mind to it and work their way towards their goal, taking one step at a time. I’m on a boat (Day 3) I was sitting by the windows in a ferry as I was writing this, during the official start day of European Escapade tour from Contiki. I got to meet all 50 people in my tour group, as well as my tour manager Kim, and driver Johnny. It was about an hour drive from London to the border where we saw the White Cliff of Dover. Since England is not part of the European Union, all 50 of us had to go through the customs individually. Then we got on the ferry heading to Paris, which takes about an hour and 30 minutes. I have now officially embarked on my 31day journey across Europe. Bye London, and hello many unknown cities to come.
Clara Shin
Agribusiness and you jbelanger@imprint.uwaterloo.ca
W
e are no strangers to the family farm, rolling hills, pristine blue skies, a white picket fence, and a red barn. This idyllic version of farming was sold to us by the makers of the My Little Farm playset and dairy product marketers. However, this reality is shrinking; with expansive agriculture there is little place for the family farm. Family farms are a vital thread in the social fabric of communities, which is being unraveled by agribusiness. This is largely due to the industrialization of food production, which is synonymous with the transition of farming to agriculture. Since the Industrial Revolution and the Green Revolution, food production is undergoing increasing technological and resource inputs, which results in an abundance of cheap food. Family-owned farmland is being bought out by large companies due to the economic pressures of competing with agribusiness. These transnational corporations are better equipped financially and legally to pay the costs of increasing inputs, seeing as they typically own these new technologies, such as genetically modified seeds. But isn’t cheap food the
best thing since individually-packaged cheese product slices? I would be so bold as to say “you get what you pay for.” Ironically, our cheap food comes at great social and environmental costs. Food produced from large-scale agricultural operations is laced with pesticides and chemicals, and is genetically modified. Animals are treated as commodities and are pumped with antibiotics and growth hormones to survive the crowded and fece-laden conditions in which they bide their time before they are slaughtered. Some research (typically funded by agribusiness) supports that these additives have benign health implications. However, there is an overwhelming body of literature that warns against the perils of dabbling with these new technologies without any third-party longterm research. Personally, I think it’s best to avoid a potential full-blown public health crisis and stick to the time-tested methods of farming. Also most of the “food” produced within large-scale agriculture is not healthful or very appetizing. I feel as if you must add so much
salt and chemical additives to food; something went terribly wrong. Industrial agriculture also requires more oil, water, land and energy than traditional farming practices. It also results in more severe and widespread environmental degradation and increased greenhouse gas emissions. The emergence of large-scale agriculture is disconnecting people from food. There is no seasonality in our supermarkets. We no longer know how our food is produced, nor do we know who grows our food. Consequently, we have become disenchanted with food and our tastes have changed; we typically no longer enjoy earthy tastes but rather the overly salty, sugary and fatty. Food has essentially become a means to an end and not an end within itself. Becoming informed and involved is half the battle. Resources I suggest are the documentary Food Inc. and book The Omnivore’s Dilemma. Purchasing seasonal produce is amongst the easiest way of reclaiming good food and reconnecting with the rhythms of nature, which is amongst the most rewarding aspects of being a mindful foodie.
The secret sauce
U
sing your charms and your clever conversation skills, you’ve finally made a real connection – someone who can open doors for you. You made a great first impression and exchanged contact information. Now what do you do? Letting their business card gather dust in your desk drawer is not an option. It’s time to follow up. The first few ingredients to a great follow-up are put together while you’re meeting someone new. If you paid attention to my last article, you already know that listening is the most important part of making a great first impression. Listening is also important because you need to remember their name. Right after they say their name, repeat it, and then use it the first time you ask them a question. It is okay to ask if you’re pronouncing it correctly; you’ll be more embarrassed if you screw it up later, so just ask. Remembering their name is important, but more importantly, you need to listen up so you can learn what interests them. Details are important here. Figure out how you can relate to this person, or how you can help them accomplish their goals. Can’t think of anything you can do for them? Offer information or referrals of people/contacts/ opportunities they might be interested in. Having something to offer gives you two advantages: a good reason to follow up with your new contact and a chance to earn a favour in return. Of course, there are some people that you will have absolutely nothing to offer, usually industry professionals that are much older and more successful than you. In these cases I’d recommend asking for their contact info so you can ask their expert advice about something. Most people love giving advice and will not refuse. After you’ve dialed in a few details about them and you sense the conversation is coming to a close, offer to follow up with them. If they have a business card, they’ll usually offer it. If not, ask how they prefer to be contacted and have them write it down. For one, this makes sure you’re not messing it up, and for another you can ask them to write their name down beside their number/email. This can be a last ditch effort to remember their name, but also helps you spell it correctly later on. Be clear about your intentions: don’t make any false promises, and if you say you’re going to follow up, do it. Contrary to common belief, the very first thing you should do after they walk away is not pat yourself on the back for a job well done. Before you do that, flip their business card over and scribble down everything you know about them on it. When you sit down in exactly two days to follow up with your new contact, you do not want to draw a blank. Your actual follow up email doesn’t need to be 500 words long. The subject line should be “Nice meeting you at _____” and the body should say the same thing. Include a few details you learned and any information, referrals or opportunities you mentioned during the conversation. It’s that simple. Now that you know the recipe for a successful follow-up, put it to work. Most people never bother following up after meeting new people, and let these burgeoning relationships fade into obscurity because of it. It takes a little bit of time, but once it becomes routine you will naturally build a web of connections you can rely on time and time again. imerrow@imprint.uwaterloo.ca
18
Features
A SCHOOL ON
Imprint, Thursday, March 26, 2010
WHAT ARE STEROIDS?
STEROIDS Written and designed by TRAVIS MYERS
THE TIMELINE FEB. 1 — MARCH 24 Nathan Zettler allegedly takes part in a string of break-and-enters in Waterloo Region prompting an investigation by local police.
MARCH 25 — 31 During a search of Zettler’s Bridgeport home after the breakand-enters, police find and seize thousands of unidentified pills, vials and capsules.
MARCH 31 Zettler is banned from campus and suspended from the Warriors team pending investigation, along with fellow football player Matthew Valeriote. Former player Eric Legare comes under investigation in relation to the break-ins.
APRIL 1 Football players from Laurier, Guelph, Western and McMaster are tested after news of UW’s investigation goes public.
APRIL 9 Zettler is formally charged with possesion of anabolic steroids for the purpose of trafficking. He is also charged with breaching probation, five counts of breaking and entering, use of a stolen credit card and possession of stolen property.
ARETHEWARRIORS
JUICED? A
The backlash was immediate. Zettler
and Valeriote were banned from campus and barred from participating in the team they had once so proudly played for. Rumours and hearsay began to make their way through the student populace as many struggled to come to terms with their
t the start of April, a scandal hit our
school’s representatives, their team and
school. The hometown heroes, despite
their heroes coming under investigation for
many shortcomings on the field, encountered
something as unseemly as drug abuse.
a disheartening loss off the field — allegations
of doping, robbery and drug dealing surfaced. .
as the football team began to be tested
Nathan Zettler is the player at the centre
for drugs. Canadian Interuniversity Sport
of the controversy, with teammate Matthew
(CIS), the governing body for drug testing,
Valeriote and former Warrior Eric Legare at
widened their net as teams from Western,
either side, under a spotlight of investigation. .
McMaster and Laurier were also tested. The
At the start of 2010, a string of break-
tests, however, go no further than the football
and-enters occurred in Waterloo Region.
teams of each school. Players are given the
The police began their investigation of the
option of refusing testing, but by saving
crime, and the search brought them to the
the embarrassment of a positive test, they
last place anyone would have expected: the
must also face the punishment of a four-year
locker room of UW’s football team — a place
ban from university organized sports, as do
once reserved for the hopes, achievements
those whose tests yield positive results. .
and camaraderie of some of Canada’s best
and brightest football players. A place once
possession of anabolic steroids for the purpose
assumed to be the pinnacle of many boyhood
of trafficking, breaching probation, five break-
dreams of touchdowns and jerseys. But all
and-enters along with the use of a stolen
may not be as it appears from the outside. .
credit card and possessing stolen property. .
Zettler’s home was searched in relation
.
News of the investigation went public
Zettler was formally charged with the
Amidst the proceedings, many
to the break-and-enters. Police, however,
questions remain about these serious
found more than the stolen property
allegations. Little is known of the situation
they were looking for. Allegedly, Zettler’s
prior to the police investigation.
residence was also home to thousands
of unidentified pills, capsules and vials.
the empty field north of campus. Can the
These would later be determined to
Waterloo Warriors recover from this? UW
be anabolic steroids, and the quantity
will just have to watch once more as the
suggests they were intended to traffic.
team’s situation plays out.
.
.
One question in particular hangs over
APRIL 17
MAY 1
MAY 28
Zettler is released on $30,000 bail into the custody of his grandparents with restricted mobility while awaiting his hearing.
The expected results were delayed without explanation, on the date they were to be revealed.
Warrior lineman Joe Surgenor tells Toronto paper he uses, and upwards of ten players on most teams do, too.
Imprint, Thursday, March 26, 2010
HISTORY . Scientists have known that the testes produce hormones for quite some time, with the use of testicular extract in medical settings going back to the 1800s. It wasn’t until 1935, however, that the male hormone testosterone was isolated. The Nazi German scientist responsible for its synthesis won the Nobel prize for this feat. . By the end of the 1930s, it became known through body builder and weightlifting magazines that testosterone propionate was being used offlabel as an aid to those desiring a more muscled physique. . SCIENCE . In the human body, steroids mimic two male hormones, testosterone and dihydrotestosterone, both of
which are naturally found in males and females. These hormones are what create masculine characteristics, such as body hair, voice changes and the other secondary sexual characteristics that appear during puberty. . Most anabolics illegally used are still produced by drug companies and are not homemade. . THE LAW . In Canada it is not illegal to simply have steroids obtained without a perscription. It is, however, illegal to traffic them as they are a controlled substance, such are the allegations against Nathan Zettler. It is also illegal to purchase them without a prescription. The maximum penalty is 18 months of jail time. . Thereisnotasinglemajorsporting association that allows anabolic steroid use in its competitors.
80%
OF CIS DOPING CHARGES SINCE 1990 WERE AGAINST FOOTBALL
1in 25
CIS PLAYERS ARE TESTED RANDOMLY EVER YEAR
HOW DO THEY WORK? HOW THEY ARE TAKEN . Anabolic steroids can be taken in three general ways — by either injecting the drug, taking an oral dosage, or through the use of skin patch similar to birth control or nicotine patches. . Injectionsaredonedirectlyinto the muscle, not the bloodstream, so that the level of hormone in the bloodisnotdramaticallychanged, but gradually increased. . The oral method is associated with liver damage after increased dosage or long term use. The type of drug to be taken orally is chosen specifically to bypass the liver’s filtration. . M AKI NG MUSCLES . Anabolic steroids work within the cells of the body to produce several effects. The main ways by which anabolics increase the
mass of muscle in the body is by first increasing the body’s production of proteins. They also reduce the musculatory recovery time, so that thoseusingthemcanworkharderand more often to achieve their goals. . Anabolics also help to prevent the body from turning more cells into cells that store fat, instead directing these cells to become muscle tissue. . THE DANGERS . Oral steroids create risk for liver damage, and most anabolics increase blood pressure, change cholesterol levels, and create risk for heart disease. Severe acne and acceleration of hair loss are very common, and growth of male breasts is also a risk. Mental side effects are not uncommon,suchasmania.Increased aggression is also a noted side effect, more commonly known as roid rage.
JUNE 14 Final test results expected to be released to the public.
THE NUMBERS
Features
Stay tuned to Imprint in the coming months for more information about this case as it unfolds.
43%
OF CIS PLAYERS WHO FAILED A DRUG TEST WERE ON STEROIDS
96%
OF CIS PLAYERS WHO FAILED A DOPING TEST WERE MALE
18
12
Features
Imprint, Friday, June 4, 2010
When butting out is the easier alternative reporter
“I
t was the right community at the right time” said Ryan David Kennedy in an interview with Imprint regarding the bylaw against smoking passed in Woodstock, Ontario. The bylaw prohibits or regulates smoking in public places. Woodstock — a town that has twice the frequency of smoking as other towns and cities in Ontario — is part of Ontario’s tobacco belt. Two years a g o, Ke n nedy, a PhD candidate in health psychology, went to Woodstock prior to the passing of the bylaw and researched extensively on the matter with smokers and non-smokers alike. A year later, after the bylaw was official, he went back and observed the changes. What he found was surprising and remarkable to say the least, he said. In Kennedy’s final report, he presents the changes in support for the bylaw: smoking behaviour, and the impact and shift in the mindset of smokers. It showed that 73 per cent of smokers supported the bylaw, with 33 per cent saying it has made them cut down the quantity smoked and 19 per cent contemplating dropping the habit. It turns out that 30 smokers had quit within the year, 47 per cent praising the bylaw as a catalyst. Doing their deeds as citizens, approximately half of the smokers stated to following the bylaw even
“
Imprint Archives
Save money on your insurance with group rates!
Have you compared your insurance rates lately? University of Waterloo’s group insurance program may save up to 50% on your insurance home and auto insurance premiums plus your group discount! It takes just a few minutes for us to provide you with a quote. You might be surprised at the savings...give us call or email to compare!
Judy Westman,
Insurance Advisor
519.743.5221 ext. 214 jwestman@staebler.com STAEBLER INSURANCE BROKERS 871 Victoria St North Kitchener ON N2B 3S4 www.staebler.com
if no one was there to catch them. Smokers even spoke of care towards others, where 84 per cent said it helps maintain the health of the children. The most astonishing result was the increase of support from smokers for areas not regulated by law. Areas like outdoor construction sites and university campuses saw a rising of about 15 per cent or more who agreed that less smoking space is desired. Fo r t h o s e wondering, university campuses started at 75.5 per cent of people desiring smoking space and rose to 90.2 per cent. “We need to treat it as a drug,” i s K e n n e d y ’s proclamation. He went on to state that smoking has decreased significantly over the past decades, but has reached a plateau as of late. It is up to researchers to figure out how to fix this problem. By slowly removing smoking areas, smoking becomes that much more difficult and smokers would have to question its worth. So, when smoking, (which is considered the easy route as opposed to quitting,) becomes more difficult than quitting, then the tables may turn. Smokers are becoming aware of their situation and want to quit. They just need something, like the law, to give them a good kick in the rear to get going. For those smokers wishing to quit but unable, these bylaws can only help if you choose to accept them. As for those who disagree, it might be high time you took a different perspective. Smoking is a dying fad, don’t die with it.
The most astonishing result was the increase of suppor t from smokers for areas not regulated by law.
“
Mika Ilic
Enjoy Half Price Mondays and 2-4-1 Wednesdays or else!
Sports & Living
Imprint, Friday, June 4, 2010 sports@imprint.uwaterloo.ca
Warner battles in Argonaut rookie camp
Warrior looking to impress new head coach Jim Barker
A
nyone who reads my column knows that I’m wrong a lot when predicting the future. I was wrong when I said the Patriots would reach the Super Bowl this year. I was wrong when I claimed that Peyton Manning would never throw an interception to lose a game like Brett Favre did. I was, perhaps, most wrong when I predicted that only three teams could win March Madness (only to have them all lose the weekend after my article came out). But this time, baby dolls, I was right. You may recall, back in October, that I wrote a “What do the Hills and the NBA have in common? Drama!” article, in which I pointed out the best storylines for the upcoming NBA season, and filled out a playoff bracket. How did I do you ask? Why thank you for asking, here’s my stat line: 15 of 16 playoff teams correct, five of eight second-round teams, three of four conference finalists, and two of two NBA finalists. Not bad right? Okay, I’ll stop puffing out my chest (before I turn into Heidi Montag) and actually breakdown the finals, which is lined up to be an absolute classic between the Los Angeles Lakers and the Boston Celtics. Let’s go position by position. The point guards: I find it funny to look back on drafts and see where players were taken. For instance, Rajon Rondo was taken 21st overall by the Celtics (via trade from the Suns) in 2006 and Andrea Bargnani was taken first overall by Toronto. Who got the better deal in that one? (All Raptors fans are now banging their heads against a wall). Make no mistake; Rondo is now the best player on the Celtics and probably the best point guard in the league. Meanwhile, the Lakers have 115 year-old Derek Fisher (a small exaggeration, maybe) who tends to act better as a pylon than defender these days, yet continues to hit big shots when they matter most. Still, this is like pitting Oprah against Tyra Banks in a “day-time television” competition, Oprah would win every time. Same goes for Rondo. Celtics for the win. The shooting guards: Kobe clearly took a couple moments in the Hot Tub Time Machine before these playoffs began, because he has looked like a veteran-savvy version of his 2005 self. The best closer in the game has been lights out in the playoffs, with some legitimate “Lebron, who?” performances along the way. See NBA, page 14
Ron Kielstra Jr. staff reporter
W
photos courtesy Adam Gagnon/Toronto Argonauts
Waterloo Warrior offensive guard Michael Warner (#66) blocking during the first day of the Toronto Argonauts’ rookie camp.
“
Head Coach Jim Barker on: Michael Warner
M
ike Warner is an interior guard who could also be a centre. He plays with great leverage and is very, very smart. We believe he can come and compete right now.
Joel Reinders
W
e believe that if he wasn’t signed in the NFL, he may have gone first overall. While he may have an NFL future ahead of him, we felt he was a local guy who was too good to pass up with this pick.
hile most UW students are hard at work this summer, Mike Warner will be spending the next month as an entirely different kind of student. The 6’1”, 293 lb offensive lineman was a fifth-round pick, 32nd overall, of the Toronto Argonauts in the CFL draft on May 2. The Argos training camp started this past Wednesday with three days of rookie practices. Warner will be one of the six rookies heading into the camp already under a contract with the Argonauts. He signed with Toronto on May 25. “Getting to this point has been a lot of hard work and I’m ecstatic to be here. It seemed like forever before my name finally popped up on the draft board and I was so happy when it finally happened,” Warner told Argonauts.ca. “I’ve received so much support from my friends, family and coaching staff, I can’t thank them enough.” War ner, who star ted at offensive guard for the Warriors over the past four years, finds himself in the midst of one of the hottest competitions in camp, as the Argonauts look to improve an offensive line that gave up a league-high 55 sacks in 2009. Argos new head coach Jim Barker will be paying close attention over the next month,
and told Argonauts.ca that he believes Warner “can come in and compete right [away].” Barker was named head coach in February after the Argonauts finished with a 3–15 record and let go of head coach Rich Stubler. Last season saw the Argos finishing last in the East division, missing the playoffs. Barker was formerly the coach of the Argonauts in 1999 when he led them to a 9–9 record and a first round exit. Toronto will have 14 offensive linemen in camp, including three draft picks, in hopes that increased competition will lead to improvements for the 2010 season. Warner will likely compete for a spot at the guard or center positions. He will have to outlast fellow prospects Chris Van Zeyl, Michael Byrne, Joe Eppele, and Cedric Gagné-Marcoux in the rookie camp. Warner, named Warriors’ Lineman of the Year in both his junior and senior years, will be looking to receive an invitation to the main Argonaut camp which begins the following week on June 6. In order to make the final roster, Warner will have to unseat one of the guards, either Jeff Keeping, Mark Dewit, Brian Ramsay, Taylor Robertson, or centre Dominic Picard. Waterloo’s Joel Reinders was also drafted by the Argonauts, but signed with the NFL’s Cleveland Browns. rkielstra@imprint.uwaterloo.ca
OUA forms basketball and hockey marketing committees JJ Maxwell staff reporter
O
ntario University Athletics announced the creation of two new marketing committees for basketball and men’s hockey on May 12. This came after the success of the football marketing committee that was set up in September of 2009. They will be looking for ways to improve the visibility of these sports in the university community. The football committee has been very successful in just a few months of work during the 2009 season, which culminated with a nationally televised game between the Queen’s Golden Gaels and the Calgary Dinos who were
vying for the Vanier Cup. This game, which was a thrilling 3331 win for the Gaels, averaged 706,000 viewers on TSN, while over 1 million viewers tuned in for the final 30 minutes. This shattered the all-time record of 589,000 average viewers set back in 2006. Many people hope that the same type of success can be achieved by the basketball and hockey committees in the near future. Waterloo’s Christine Stapleton, associate director of Athletics, will be part of the basketball committee. Stapleton has been around the basketball block, coaching for the Regina Cougars starting in 1993. She turned that program around, and was recently induced into the University of Regina Athletic Hall
of Fame. She then moved on to Basketball Canada, before finally coming to Waterloo as the assistant athletic director. “Christine had a lot to offer the committee, and has a unique perspective due to her involvement in women’s basketball,” chairman of the basketball committee Darren Cates said. Her coaching success will be valuable, as she will be sitting on the committee with some big names within the Canadian Basketball community. These include Paul Jones of the Fan 590 and Raptors TV, Jonathon Chang, manager of marketing with NBA Canada; Michele O’Keefe, executive director of Ontario Basketball and Howard Bloom, publisher of SportsBusinessNews.com,
Online Exclusive
among others. This strong team will try, among other things, to increase attendance at games and improve the image and sponsorship of university sports across the province. Cates said the committee’s driving purpose is “to improve the game, gfet more people in the stands [and get] more games on TV.” With OUA Basketball being the highest calibre league available within Canada (other then the Raptors), the committee members need to focus on selling the games to basketball fans around the province. See MARKETING, page 15
Waterloo football team results of tests for banned substances Monday June 14
Visit imprint.uwaterloo.ca for more information
Sports & Living
14
Imprint, Friday, June 4, 2010
Legal supplements for self-improvement mjefkins@imprint.uwaterloo.ca
NBA:Final battle Continued from page 13
Opposing him will be Ray Allen, and while Allen may have also spent some time in the tub, it’s impossible to top Kobe right now (just ask Grant Hill, who Kobe wore as a blanket for several of his huge shots in game 6 against Phoenix). Lakers for the win. The small forwards:
I
n the gym, supplements are often a topic of conversation. To the gym rat, these can be as important as water. If you were to ask 10 people the most useful and efficient means of supplementing your diet with the goal of self-improvement, you are liable to get just as many differing opinions; however this anecdotal evidence can only take you so far. When it comes down to the science, which supplements are going to be most effective toward improving you? Without delving into illegal methods, arguably the three most important supplements for the avid gym denizen are as follows: whey protein, creatine and fish oil. Whey protein is arguably the
“
“
Creatine is perhaps the second most used supplement among gym members for a two very simple reasons: it works and it’s natural.
best thing to add to your diet, dollar for dollar, when it comes to supplements. Derived from cows’ milk, it is the cheapest source there is of the protein needed to build muscle. It is also extremely high in terms of bio-availability — the amount your body can absorb — as compared to soy or other types of protein. While isolates are have a higher purity than concentrates and are better, they are more expensive and, from a cost-to-benefit perspective, may not be worth it depending upon your individual situation. Creatine is perhaps the second most used supplement among gym members for a two very simple reasons: it works and it’s natural. Cre-
Waterloo
Fast & Free Delivery
402 King St., N.
884-8000
Godzilla Deal
$17.99
2 X-Large Great Pizzas 3 Fabulous Toppings on each Add 1 lb. wings for $3.99
Super Blah-Buster 3 Great Pizzas 3 Fabulous Toppings on each 3 Free Dipping Sauces
$22.99 Large $25.99 X-Large $28.99
Medium
Early Bird Special
$20.99 Large $23.99 X-Large $26.99
Medium
2 Great Pizzas, 3 Fabulous Toppings 1 lb. Chicken Wings 1 Garlic Bread,4 Cans of Pepsi www.twicethedealpizza.com
atine is not a steroid; it contains no hormones and cannot affect anything but what it is supposed to — the phosphagen system. Taken daily at recommended levels and with proper hydration, creatine is part of the first system that replenishes the adenosine triphosphate (ATP) stores in your muscle fibers after they have been depleted. This allows for increased amounts of ‘burst’ energy you need during a workout. They have been the subject of studies for decades, aside from water retention — which is not a particularly bad thing. Studies have showed that, in healthy subjects, oral supplementation with creatine, even with longterm dosage, may be considered an effective and safe supplement. Fish oil is another supplement that deserves recognition. In fact, aside from perhaps the snacking benefits a protein shake might have over a sugary drink, fish oil in capsule form is perhaps the best supplement to take, whether training six days a week or rarely leaving the couch. For the trainee, the most beneficial attributes of fish oil capsules are found in their noted anti-inflammatory properties.
With consistent consumption, joint pain from strenuous activity — even full on rheumatoid arthritis — can be drastically reduced; and healthy knees are happy knees. Secondly, and useful to both aforementioned groups, are the potential benefits found in cancer risk reduction. Omega-3 fatty acids have shown to a level of statistical significance to be associated with slowing and preventing breast, colon, and prostate cancers in mice, and seem to correlate within the human population. By getting informed it is certainly possible to achieve goals and improvements faster while staying well within legal limits. Just be sure to talk to your supplement store supplier, as the industry is unregulated and some products have been known to be cut with trace amounts of anaerobic steroids. This doesn’t mean you can expect to see the sorts of results as someone on the cover of a magazine; those goals aren’t realistic without years worth of conditioning, commitment, and serious research. When looking for the best bang for your buck, these three supplements will do well toward getting you to your own genetic potential.
LSAT MCAT GMAT GRE Preparation Seminars • Complete 30-Hour Seminars • Convenient Weekend Schedule • Proven Test-Taking Strategies • Experienced Course Instructors • Comprehensive Study Materials • Simulated Practice Exams • Limited Class Size • Free Repeat Policy • Personal Tutoring Available • Thousands of Satisfied Students
OXFORD SEMINARS 1-800-269-6719 416-924-3240 www.oxfordseminars.ca
NEW extended Hours: Mon-Wed 6 am to 3 pm Thurs-Sat 6 am to 4 pm Sunday 7 am to 4 pm
Paul Pierce has been something of an enigma in these playoffs. Some games he disappears (similar to how any NBA fan’s respect has disappeared for Vince Carter…) and yet some games you get the old Pierce. He has hit massive threes throughout the playoffs, and he still has that top of the key, herky-jerky move that seems to draw a foul every time he does it. Opposing him will be Ron Artest, whose picture you can find next to the word “enigma” in the dictionary. Artest enjoys bashing on fans in the stands and shaving words into his hair, but also has several foundations for the less fortunate and often takes to the LA beaches for pick-up football games with fans. You figure that one out. Pierce is better, but Artest could have the bigger impact. Still, Celtics for the win. The power forwards:
As my buddy JohnnyB likes to say, Pau Gasol has got his swagger these playoffs. Indeed, Gasol has looked dominant at times and is living up to his acting role in CSI Miami where he played a vicious murderer (only instead of killing people, he’s just been owning opposing power forwards). The Celtics have Kevin Garnett, who in the 2008 finals ate Pau for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Not so much this time around, Lakers for the win. The centres:
The Celtics have Kendrick Perkins, the Lakers have Andrew Bynum. Bynum has higher upside, yet Perkins has been much more consistent. Neither really inspires much confidence, but Perkins is playing better. Celtics for the win. The benches:
I cringe every time Kobe and Gasol come off the floor together, because it often leads to the Lakers offence stalling worse than Megan Fox when I tried to ask her out. That being said, the Celtics bench hasn’t been all that great. Both teams have one “you never know what you’re going to get” player in Lamar Odom and Rasheed Wallace. The Celtics have the surprisingly effective Tony Allen, but the Lakers have the fast-paced Shannon Brown. Overall, Odom is the best player on either bench, so th mean only one thing: Lakers Open Novemberthat 16can ! for the win. And so we end with a 3-3 tie. Cora at the Shops near as I can tell, this is about in the Waterloo TownAs Square (beside Valu-mart) as good a series as we could have Enjoy hoped for. Two veteran, tested teams Breakfast (519) 886-8878 with “this could be our last shot at Monday to Saturday 6 a.m. to 3 p.m. on the Patio, a championship” mentalities. Two Sunday 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. teams steeped in a deep feud that opening in spans back generations. Two teams May! that feature some of the best players in the league. In October, I picked the Lakers to beat the Celtics 4-3 in the series and I’ll stand by that prediction. Let the blood-shedding begin.
Waterloo Town Square
519-886-8878
jtoporowski@imprint.uwaterloo.ca
Sports & Living
Imprint, Friday, June 4, 2010
15
Perfection at the ball park jsmith@imprint.uwaterloo.ca
the range of a fielder. A pitcher can’t control where balls are hit and on any given night — even great pitches can become hits by sheer luck; a broken bat flare over an infielder or a check swing grounder that is placed perfectly between the pitcher and third baseman. That’s why perfect games are so rare, which is why talk of them becoming commonplace is so annoyingly misguided. The best part about Halladay throwing a perfecto is that nobody strives harder to be perfect than him. He pounds the strike zone, resulting in very few walks. He’s visibly distraught if he misses his location by mere centimeters and he truly believes that he can get anyone out in any situation. It’s probably the first time that Halladay has walked off of the mound and been satisfied with his performance. Halladay has never wanted the spotlight, opting for a career out of the limelight; as much as is possibly for one of the game’s top pitchers. Which is why the timing of his perfect game makes you think that he arranged it this way on purpose. It was in Florida, where nobody pays attention to baseball. It was game one of the Stanley Cup finals (what is that?) and it was in the middle of the French Open. Only Halladay can manage to throw a perfect game and still stay out of the headlines. A true class act... First down
Roger Federer lost his streak of 23 straight grand slam semi-final appearances (that is more impressive than you think) in a stunning loss to Robin Soderling. The stunning part wasn’t the loss, it was the way Federer was outplayed. Federer played a typical Federer match, the only
MARKETING: Improving OUA sport visibility in the community
“
“
It has to involve students as a priority. We want a campus university feel.
— Ken babock hockey committee chair
courtesy UW athletics
UW Athletic’s associate director Christine Stapleton, currently on maternity leave, will sit on the OUA basketball committee.
difference was it wasn’t good enough to win. That’s disturbing to hear, which means Federer may be nearing the end of his dominance or maybe he just doesn’t feel like playing on clay. Feel free to overreact, but let’s wait until the grass-court season before writing him off... Can anyone remember the last time someone was excited for a women’s grand slam event (Other than friends and families of the participants)? It’s a full-time job just trying to keep track of who is playing, who is retired, who is back from retirement and who is injured. At the end, you’re left wondering why you’re tuning in to see low-quality teenagers from Russia hit unforced errors from the baseline... It’s always comical to hear the American press play off American losses as upsets when they’re clearly the underdog. Just because you can’t pronounce the other guy’s name doesn’t mean he isn’t lightyears better. The Americans can’t seem to come to terms with the fact that they are not a tennis powerhouse anymore. This isn’t 1992 and Pistol Pete Sampras isn’t dominating the ATP. Although he is most likely still dominating somewhere. The sooner they realize they aren’t going to be winning slams in the near future, the sooner they can celebrate the Bryan brothers who are actually the best doubles players in the world. Maybe a few more headlines for them and a few less for Robby Ginepri... Seventh inning stretch
Who is Jose Bautista, what is he eating, and does he have enough for Lyle “Mendoza” Overbay? Bautista has inexplicably kept up his torrid April pace through May and is leading
jjmaxwell@imprint.uwaterloo.ca
Overtime
Are the NBA and NHL playoffs still going on? Isn’t it June? A huge hat tip to anyone still watching... Shout out of the week
A hearty shout out to Daniel Nestor and Aleksandra Wozniak for representing Canada at the French Open. They’re Canadian, they play tennis... terrific. Wozniak took the first set off of Elena Dementieva before falling in three sets in her third round match-up. While Nestor is off to the doubles semis with partner Nenad Zimonjic.
MBA
THE DEGREE THAT WILL CHANGE YOUR LIFE
Continued from page 13
“It’s already a strong product, but not enough people know about,” said Cates. The hockey committee is led by UOIT athletic director Ken Babcock and includes former NHL’er Greg Millen, currently at CBC’s Hockey Night In Canada and Dan O’Toole of TSN Sportscentre. The hockey committee has a tough task laid out before it. Despite the fact that hockey is the most popular sport to watch in Ontario, OUA game attendance has been lackluster at best over the past few years. The Waterloo men’s hockey team — who were very competitive this year — averaged only 325 fans per game. The season high attendance was 500. This team is comprised of many former OHL players, and finished with a 20-7-1 record this season. In comparison, the OHL league — which is comprised mainly of NHL hopefuls — draws nearly 4,000 fans a game. The big shocker comes when looking at attendance for the Greater Ontario Junior Hockey League (GOJHL). The quality of hockey played at this level is much lower than the OUA, and yet the league averages about 500 fans per game. “University hockey has something to offer,” said Ken Babcock, chairman of the committee. “You don’t always want to be the best kept secret.” They will be trying various techniques to get the word out about university hockey. “Were not always satisfied with the coverage that media provides,” Babcock continued. Hopefully the media and fans alike will respond well to the committee’s work, and they are able to replicate the success of the football effort; resulting in a higher intensity of atmosphere at OUA arenas.
the majors in homeruns and runs batted in. If Aaron Hill and Adam Lind heat up and the starting pitching continues to roll, then it’s time to start thinking about printing playoff tickets. While we’re talking about the Jays, there are two glaring issues: first is Lyle Overbay. The guy is seemingly starting to come out of the two month slump that he is mired in but he is still a huge liability. His defense does not make up for his sub-par bat (he’s not John McDonald). The second issue is the bullpen. They aren’t the Arizona Diamondbacks’ bullpen (pronounced 7.50 ERA and climbing) but there is nothing comfortable about the way they are finishing off games these days. If the Jays are in the hunt come the trade deadline, it wouldn’t be the worst thing for them to get another quality arm for the pen. Don’t overspend on a big name, but a solid middle reliever who could work the seventh or eighth inning without cause for alarm would go a long way.
The
R
oy Halladay needs no introduction. He is the ultimate competitor on the mound and arguably the best pitcher in the world. Now he is the 20th pitcher in MLB history to throw a perfect game. Thousands of games are played each season dating back over 130 years and only 20 times has a pitcher not allowed a base runner. Needless to say it’s a pretty special accomplishment. Contrary to things being printed across the continent, we are not about to see a splurge of perfect games. Dallas Braden shocked the world earlier this season by tossing his own perfect game and after Halladay followed less than a month later, people questioned whether more would follow. Something as rare as a perfect game doesn’t come in bunches. It’s true that two in one month is shocking, but it’s not unheard of. The first two perfect games were recorded in 1880 within five days of each other. I’m sure at that time people were scoffing at the feat thinking it would be done hundreds of times after that. One hundred-thirty years later and it’s only been accomplished 20 times. Coincidences happen, that’s all this is, let’s move on... Is anyone surprised to see Halladay throw a perfect game? On its face you have to be surprised because it’s such a rare accomplishment, but let’s be serious: every game he pitches is a chance for perfection. He hardly walks anyone and he is difficult to hit. That is a lethal combination for hitters. Let’s not forget that he was within one out of a no-hitter back in 1998 in just his second start, pitching for the Blue Jays against the Tigers The essence of the perfect game is that it is a lot of luck. You have to be good, for sure, but you also need a consistent strike zone from the umpire, flawless defense, and every ball to be hit in
“The integrated teaching style and team-based approach at Laurier allowed me to function effectively from day one in my co-op work term” Ronald Bell, MBA Co-op
w w w. w l u . c a / m b a Still wondering what to do after graduation? Plan to attend our upcoming Information Session at the University of Waterloo to learn how to prepare your application and how the Laurier MBA with co-op will enhance your career, regardless of your undergraduate degree.
Thursday, June 10, 5:30-7:00 p.m. Tatham Centre, TC 1208
For more information, contact: Cheryl Dietrich | cdietrich@wlu.ca | 519.884.0710 x. 3499
The Best Business Schools in the World
Full-Time mBA wiTh Co-op opTion, AugusT 2010 No previous work experience required | Most successful business co-op program in Canada Applications encouraged from all backgrounds | Starts August 16, 2010
Certified Management Accountants
Campus Bulletin UPTOWN WATERLOO BIA EVENTS 2010 Saturday, June 19 – UpTown Country July 16-18 – UpTown Waterloo Jazz Festival August 26-29 – Waterloo Busker Carnival Sunday, September 12 – UpTown Dining Saturday, October 9 – 29th Annual Pancake Breakfast Saturday, October 9 – 32nd Annual Great Oktoberfest Barrel Race Monday, October 11 – Thanksgiving Day Parade November 2010 – UpTown Waterloo BIA Annual General Meeting November 4-6 – UpTown Waterloo Treasure Hunt Saturday, November 20 – Santa Claus Parade November 2010 – Holiday Open House December 2010 – FREE Horse Drawn Trolley Rides December 2010 – Victorian Carolers For more information about the above events call 519-885-1921 or email uptownwaterloobia@waterloo.ca or www.uptownwaterloobia.com.
UPCOMING June 2010 “Studies in Heavenly Things” by Henna Kim (www. hennakimArt.com) presented at Rotunda Gallery, Kitchener City Hall for the month of June. For info 519-741-3400, ext 3381. Friday, June 4, 2010 FREE fashion show/complementary lunch previewing Coquette’s 2011 costume collection at Cambridge Holiday Inn, 200 Holiday Inn Drive from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. RSVP 519-623-9881, ext 288. June 4 to 6, 2010 Subtle Technologies Festival – come experience the “Art & Science of Sustainability” at Innis Town Hall, Toronto. For info www.subtletechnologies.com. Sunday, June 6, 2010 artsawards – “ceremony & stage performance” at 6:30 p.m., Centre In The Square, Kitchener. For tickets/info www.kwartsawards.ca. Saturday, June 12, 2010 Mark your calendars – the annual Service Centre open house is coming up with proceeds from the day will benefit KidsAbility. For info call 519-747-8629 or 519-747-8625. Sunday, June 13, 2010 Neruda Productions – building bridges in our communities with culture, music, dance, drama and visual arts from around the world – “Kite Festival” at Victoria Park. Sunday, June 27 – “Kaleidoscope” at Public Square in Waterloo. For vendor info, etc contact Stephanie at stephvanpelt@gmail.com. June 14 to 18, 2010 Compass Points for Students and Emerging Artists – the most exciting gathering of theatre students and young artists in Canada! The event is sponsored by UW and will be held during the Magnetic North Theatre Festival. For applications/info compasspoints@magneticnorthfestival.ca or www.magneticnorthfestival.ca. Wednesday, June 30, 2010 Student Video Contest – hosted by City of Kitchener – explore your creativity, win cash prizes and have your video digitally projected on City Hall. Deadline is June 30 at 4 p.m. For guidelines and application visit www.kitchener.ca.
July 23 – 25, 2010 Second annual Human Rights Docfest 2010, hosted at the National Film Board’s Toronto Mediateque. Will showcase Canadian films that highlight both national and international human rights issues. For info www.hrdocfest.com. Saturday, June 26, 2010 “Saving Places” – restoration of Canada’s Heritage premieres on History Television beginning June 12. Homer Waterson House, Kitchener will be aired on June 26 at 7 p.m. ET/PT. For more info www.homerwatson.on.ca. Wednesday, June 30, 2010 Applications are now being accepted for the Alzheimer Society of Kitchener-Waterloo awards, with deadline as of June 30. For more info on how to nominate visit www.alzheimerkw.com or call 519742-1422, ext 14. Saturday, July 10, 2010 2010 Call To Artists – The Nonviolence Festival, 6th Annual – at Victoria Park, Kitchener. To participate, info, questions call 519-342-8667 or administrators@nonviolencefestival.com or www.nonviolencefestival.com. Saturday, August 7, 2010 Paddles up! Get ready for the upcoming 12th annual Waterloo Dragonboat Festival, at Laurel Creek Conservation area. A fun community experience with food, live entertainment and of course, racing! Please come out and support the event. For info www.waterloodragonboat.org.
CAREER SERVICES WORKSHOPS Please refer to https://strobe.uwaterloo.ca/cecs/cs for updates/changes to workshops. Monday, June 7: Careers Beyond Academia – 12 to 1:30 p.m., TC 2218. Tuesday, June 8: Writing CVs and Cover Letters: 12 to 1:30 p.m., TC 2218. Wednesday, June 9: Exploring Your Personality Type (Myers-Briggs Type Indicator, Part 1) – note: materials charge of $10 payable at Career Services prior to the first session. 2:30 to 4 p.m., TC 1112. Thursday, June 10: Info Session” WLU - School of Business and Economics – 5:30 to 7 p.m., TC 1208. Tuesday, June 15: Thinking about Med School? Perspectives of a Waterloo Grad – 6 to 8:30 p.m., TC 1208. Wednesday, June 16: Exploring Your Personality Type (Myers-Briggs Type Indicator, Part 2) – 2:30 to 4:30 p.m., TC 1112. Thursday, June 17: Successsfully Negotiating Job Offers – 2:30 to 4 p.m., TC 1208. Tuesday, June 22: Success on the Job – 2:30 to 3:30 p.m., TC 1208. Wednesday, June 23: Career Exploration and Decision Making – 2 to 4 p.m., TC 1112. Interview Skills–Preparing for Questions – note: check out online interview skills module at website above. 3:30 to 4 p.m., TC 1208. Thursday, June 24: Interview Skills – Selling Your Skills – note: check out online interview skills module at website above. 2:30 to 4:30 p.m., TC 1208. Monday, June 28: Exploring Your Personality Type (Myers-Briggs Type Indicator, Part 1) – note: material charge of $10 payable at Career Services prior to the first session. 2 to 3:30 p.m., TC 1113.
IMPRINT The University of Waterloo’s official student newspaper
Systems Administrator
Up to 15 hours/week at $11/hour. Candidates will have Webmail server administration experience, be familiar with medium scale Linux network administration, SAMBA file management, Windows XP workstations, LDAP authentication and Apache admin. Duties include maintaining and strengthening our office’s network system. Applicants must be full-time students and eligible for OSAP. Please send resume to editor@imprint.uwaterloo.ca.
JOBS
Imprint, Friday, June 4, 2010 ads@imprint.uwaterloo.ca
ANNOUNCEMENTS
ONGOING
Remember the Seagram barrels? If you took a barrel at last year’s giveaway, Pat the Dog Playwright Centre wants to know! Contact Charmian at charmian@patthedog.org to tell your barrel’s story! Story writers wanted for free paranormal magazine. Short stories, articles accepted. Free for free exposure. Submit your scariest stories true or fictional. Distributed locally to ghost tours and online. www.kwparamag.com. Tune in to Sound 100.3 FM radio or www.soundfm.ca for great music, prize giveaways, weather, traffic reports, community events and more! jhr seeks submissions for second annual Human Rights Docfest. Deadline is June 1 with lots of great prizes to be won! For info www.hrdocfest. com or sophie.langlois@utoronto.ca or 416-7979444 or www.jhr.ca.
MONDAYS Gambling can ruin your life. Gamblers Anonymous, 7 p.m. at St Marks, 825 King Street, W, basement.
UPCOMING Sunday, July 25, 2010 Memorial fundraiser for Chris Lane, UW alumni who passed away at the age of 29 from Hodgkins Lymphoma. Join us from 12 to 10 p.m. at Waterloo Public Square, UpTown Waterloo. This family-friendly event will include face painting, guitar hero contests, food vendors and much more! Live music with local musicians and bands. All proceeds being donated to the Canadian Cancer Society to fund Lymphoma research.
STUDENT AWARDS & FINANCIAL AID
June 2010 2010/2011 OSAP Application now available – apply early. June 15: recommended submission date for 20102011 OSAP Application for the fall term. June 18: deadline for OSAP Reviews (appeals) for spring term. June 30: last day to submit Full-Time Bursary/ Award Application for spring term. OSAP Access Number (OAN) is now required when accessing your OSAP account online. If you can not retrieve the OAN, you will need to bring in your SIN card and valid, government issued photo ID to get the number. Go to safa.uwaterloo.ca for a full listing of scholarships and awards.
Classified HELP WANTED
Weekend counsellors and relief staff to work in homes for individuals with developmental challenges. Minimum eight-month commitment. Paid positions. Send resume to Human Resources, K-W Habilitation Services, 108 Sydney Street, Kitchener, ON, N2G 3V2.
HOUSING
Housing on campus – St. Paul’s University College has undergrad and grad housing available immediately or throughout the term. Please contact Jenn at jlaughli@uwaterloo.ca. All ensuite bedrooms! Condo style units at 74 Marshall Street present a lavish twist on student living. Each bedroom features an ensuite bathroom. Greens, blues and browns compliment the highend aesthetics, featuring dark cabinets, dark wood flooring and glass tiling – a beautiful way to study and live in style. Price per student is $595/month including utilities and internet (rare for new buildings). Parking available. September start, one year lease. Please call 519-572-0278 to book an appointment. Luxury Lester Lofts – welcome to the start of a new era in student living. Premium, luxury student accommodation steps away from UW. Open-concept
Imprint IMP
floor plans, sleek, urban finishes/colours, high ceilings, kitchen peninsulas, black appliances including dishwasher, large windows, onsite laundry, over 100 square feet in bedrooms, ensuite bathrooms and private balconies. Parking $35/month. Prices from $547 – $600 depending on floor. Includes utilities, hi-speed internet and cable. Call 519-572-0278 for a viewing. Five bedroom house available September 1, 2010. Walking distance from both universities. Recently renovated. Hardwood floors, central heating and air conditioning. Two kitchens, living rooms and bathrooms. Backyard, laundry and parking included. Must see! Please call 519-575-1973.
SERVICES Does your thesis or major paper need a fresh pair of eyes to catch English spelling and grammar errors? Thesis English editing. Five business day turnaround. Neal Moogk-Soulis, ncmoogks@ uwaterloo.ca. Finish your dissertation! ... in 4 to 12 weeks. Proven system to simplify entire process. Works for all disciplines and the most complex theises. 20 years experience and excellent references. Call 519-620-9046.
RINT
Web Developer
TO APPLY FOR THIS JOB, YOU MUST FIRST BE APPROVED FOR ELIGIBILITY INTO THE INTERNATIONAL WORK STUDY PROGRAM FOR SPRING 2010
Up to 5 hours/week at $11/hour. Qualifications; working knowledge of LAMP servers ; experience with DJango web framework ; proficient with CSS, HTML, experience with JavaScript, JQuery an asset ; experience with PHP & MySQL is an asset ; proficient with Adobe Photoshop CS4 ; knowledge of current web trends, common practices, Web 2.0 SEO optimization. Job description tasks; web exculsive content for sections, web server maintenance ; curating comment/ forum pages ; updating links to other websites ; blogging projects ; promoting Imprint website to students. Please send resume to editor@imprint.uwaterloo.ca
Poke Your Head In And See What We’re Up To Located in the SLC or contact www.imprint.uwaterloo.ca
Student Life Centre room 1116 www.imprint.uwaterloo.ca
Arts & Entertainment
Imprint, Friday, June 4, 2010 arts@imprint.uwaterloo.ca
Animated weekend Colourful costumes paraded the streets of Toronto last weekend as the 14th Anime North took place at the Toronto Congress Centre (TCC). With over 15,000 attendees, Anime North is the biggest convention of its type in Canada. Many locals attended, including UW’s own CTRL-A (Club That Really Likes Anime). “People attend to see and interact with other people, and Anime North has a very good reputation as a meeting point. The community is largely growing, and it’s becoming increasingly hard to define as a result,” said, Kyle Dohring CTRL-A’s external relations officer. Anime North also hosts a substantial gamming community. Although UWGamers have been involved in running some of the gaming events in the past, there has been a lack of organization in that area of the convention. Many gamers were upset over uninformed BYOC (bring your own computer) tournaments for Team Fortress 2 and Left4Dead. Some said an uneven focus on games such as the majority of game time allotted solely for the newly released Super Street Fighter 4 made it feel like it excluded many others. — With files from Sonia Lee and Michael To. Sonia Lee
Those Twisted Turkeys:
TCV play stellar show to a less than stellar turn-out
Paul McGeown staff Reporter
I
refuse to use the s-word when talking about Them Crooked Vultures. Instead, I like to refer to them as a group of Superb and Unmatched Persons with Excellent Resumes, or SUPER for short. They’re a SUPER group. Strained attempts at uniqueness aside, Them Crooked Vultures (TCV) reads like a ballad to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. On drums, Dave Grohl, creative mind behind Foo Fighters; on guitar, Josh Homme of Queens of the Stone Age; and John Paul Jones, (a man who needs no introduction, but will get one anyway) — he was the bassist in Led Zeppelin. For a band featuring three of rock and roll’s most recognizable names, few concert clichés applied to their performance at the Air Canada Centre on the night of Saturday, May 15. For example, I can’t tell you that the place was sold out. Given the pedigree of the three key cogs, it was a little bit surprising to see a mostly-empty upper bowl; of course, this was their first Toronto show, and their first tour period in support of their debut album. As impressive as it may have been that they drew 12,000 people, empty seats tend to stifle the energy in a place, and especially at an arena show. I also can’t tell you that they were tight. Despite the ferocity of opener “No One Loves Me and Neither Do I” — the dominating second riff is what first endeared me to these guys — it was evident that Vultures is still adjusting to one another. Talented as these guys are, they are less than a year removed from their first show together. Given their short history, and their various other commitments, perfection is an unrealistic expectation. That being said, any sloppiness on the part of TCV needs to be weighed against two overriding factors. The first is that these guys are out to have fun. No, I don’t know them personally, but I submit as evidence
Homme’s belly dance during Interlude with Ludes — atop John Paul Jones’ piano stool, no less (Homme after Interludes: “That song is bizarre”). At a rock show, passion and frivolity count. So, too, does an impressive repertoire; this is the second tick in the ‘plus’ column for Vultures. They played through the entire album, and each track held its own, in part because each is a showcase of their combined musicianship. “Scumbag Blues,” the third song of the night, is a terrific example. Not only did it feature several short guitar solos, but it also yielded two — and three — bar bass solos from Jones, who unintentionally stole the spotlight on the night. In fact, I might live another 80 years and not see a bass player receive the kind of love that the ACC lavished on Jones. Upon his introduction he received a minutes-long ovation, and he didn’t disappoint. His keytar work on “Interlude with Ludes” added flavour to an otherwise plodding song and turned it into an exotic gem. His piano solo to open “Spinning in Daffodils” was mesmerizing in a way that even made me forget about the idiot next to me and the Zippo App on his iPhone (for future reference: pretend to take up smoking and buy a 99 cent lighter; you will look like less of a tool). While Jones may have been the most respected Vulture, each was given his due. Touring guitarist Alain Johannes was bloody fantastic, and after hit single, “New Fang” embarked on an envy-inducing, stand-alone solo; it isn’t often that you witness a performance that is truly deserving lighters held aloft — many concert-goers look for any excuse — but this was one of them. It actually played very much like a press release from the band: “We’re going to stick around for awhile, so get used to the new guy.” (In fact, a second album is already in the works.) Homme, too, was terrific. He has one of the most distinct voices in rock, and one that perfectly complements a band that has already forged a unique sonic identity. That, and hearing 12,000 fans try to match his falsetto at the end of the “New Fang” chorus is a
lot of fun. The effervescent and usuallyhighly-visible Grohl easily received the least attention on the night, his drummer switch firmly in the ‘ON’ position. He was solid, however, both on the kit and in providing backing vocals. At the end of the night, having played every song they had (including one from the forthcoming album), the four musicians met at the front of the stage and bowed, as if to say, “That’s all we’ve got.” Not a
person in the building seemed to lament the opportunity for an encore, nor did I hear any griping about the absence of back-catalogue material. Them Crooked Vultures seem to have established themselves as more than a hall-of-fame novelty act, it’s a safe bet that next time through, seats will be much harder to come by. pmcgeown@imprint.uwaterloo.ca
Courtesy of last.fm
18
Arts & Entertainment
Imprint, Friday, June 4, 2010
Gaming clichés: Enemies
A
s gaming has developed over the years certain antagonists have become staples within gaming culture. Certain opponents have become more used and worn out than Leonidas’ “This is Sparta!” line. Yet developers continue to use these antagonists over and over again and probably will until the end of time. While clichéd enemies can be seen as a reflection of our culture, the fact remains that they’re essentially the tool of lazy developers and writers. Nazis In today’s culture, the word “Nazi” has become synonymous with “asshole.” The Nazi, or the National Socialist German Workers’ Party, if you want to be proper about it, managed to accomplish a set of goals that even modern dictators fail to achieve. They brainwashed & subjugated their own people, invaded other countries, and pissed off the entire world at the same time, something very few nations have ever accomplished on such a large scale. When combined with the war propaganda that the allies pumped out, the Nazis soon became ingrained in our social conscious as the villains who set the world ablaze with their ludicrous, racist beliefs. It was also perhaps the last time in history when nations worked
Mercury Hope Larson Simon & Schuster
T
his is my fourth graphic novel this year. I am surprised that at 40 years of age I am being drawn to graphic novels. I started with authors like Holly Black and Cecil Castellucci, because I enjoyed their other works. Larson helped illustrate Geektastic, one of my favourite books this year, so I wanted to check out some of her other works. This is a story told in two parts, the first in 1859 and the second in 2009. It is a story of a family, generations apart, but in part reliving the same events, tragedy, and loss. In 1959 Josey Fraser lives in French Hill, Nova Scotia. She has fallen in love with a young man named Asa Curry, who has found gold on his father’s farm. In the same
tkoshy@imprint.uwaterloo.ca
together to take down a common enemy. Perhaps this is why we enjoy killing Nazis so much. It reminds of that one moment in history when countries got together and said, “Enough of this!” and attacked. With this in mind, the Nazis have become a godsend for lazy developers. For developers who lack the gumption or the imagination to create a worthy adversary, the Nazis are the ultimate catch-all antagonist. By virtue of placing the Nazi in front of the player, we simply assumed that we had to stop their nefarious plot to take over the world. Gamers have never questioned this plot or this incredibly lazy strategy. Zombies Ever since George Romero decided that the walking dead made for an excellent subject, zombies have become ingrained in our modern North American horror culture. Why is it that the walking dead or the undead hold such a grip on our conscious? For one, these walking dead-break one of the most sacred laws of nature, namely death. Additionally in nearly every single incarnation, these zombies want to consume our flesh. When combined with these two characteristics, zombies create an amalgamation of horror and revulsion...and become our favourite enemies to kill. farm house 150 years later, Tara Fraser is dealing with the destruction of the farmhouse and her life is being turned upside down. She is given a family heirloom and it seems to help her in what she is wishing to find. The two stories are told alternately on pages of black with white, or white with black. Josey’s story is on black pages, illustrated in white, and Tara’s are on white pages, illustrated in black. The pages have a wide variety of frame layouts and are wonderfully illustrated in just black and white, without using grayscale. Hope Larson is an Eisner Award winner, the highest honor for comic artists. She has developed a large and loyal fan base. The way she combines her art and words, forming a single powerful narrative, is inspiring to her readers. This is a story told across time, but bound by blood. It is reminiscent of Madeleine L’Engle’s An Acceptable Time. Larson’s current project is a graphic novel adaptation of L’Engle’s A Wrinkle in Time. Reading this book will spark the imagination and bring out dreams, and will cause you to consider the history presented within this story and also your own personal story - your family history. I met L’Engle a number of years ago and she said her characters are real to her. Every now and again she would get a flash of where they are now and what they are up to. I wonder what Tara is doing a year later, what she will be doing in 5 or 10 years? Maybe someday Larson will tell us that tale. smcevoy@imprint.uwaterloo.ca
When combined with their inhuman nature, zombies literally give gaming developers free reign. There is no need to explain their motivations or even remotely attempt to explain their back story. It also removes any restrictions on what the developers could let the player do to the enemy. For instance, carving up a human being (even a Nazi) might garner a few complaints in today’s world. However, substitute a zombie instead and poof. No more problems (unless you’re in Australia). Left 4 Dead, Dead Rising and Resident Evil are just a few of the games which have included zombies as the prime antagonist. Hell, even Mass Effect includes futuristic version of zombies (the Husks) and the Nazi Zombie mode was probably what contributed to Call of Duty: World at War’s success. Russians In the past few years, Russians have all but replaced the Nazis as our favourite antagonists. Whether they are fervent Communists, homicidal ultra-nationalists, or even bitter mercenaries, Russians have become the default standard enemy to attack. Why is it that we, at least gaming developers on this side of the Pacific, have a bizarre fetish for angry Russians who want to introduce us to the business end
of their AK-rifle? For one, there was the Cold War. Decades worth of posturing and threats took place as both sides pumped themselves up for the titanic fight. However, at no point during this decade’s long political-dick-comparing-contest was a shot fired between the Soviets and us (Canada was part of the collective idiocy of the Cold War). We created enough propaganda posters to sink the Titanic again depicting the Russians as evil sons of bitches. We spent millions of dollars, used up thousands of man-hours to craft the best weapons that would take on the those bastard commies. Hell, we even tried to get to the moon, if only to beat the Soviets to the punch. In the end what did we get? Nothing. The Soviet Union was dismantled, but not in some titanic war that forever shaped the world. No, instead it died out with a whimper and so we were deprived our glorious, successful (or so we believed) war. There are probably more clichéd enemies within gaming, but the above three have truly left an impact. With the changing political climate and the fact that videogames reflected our cultural values and insecurities, perhaps newer enemies will be introduced. Maybe in a couple of years gaming’s favourite enemy will be faeces flinging chimpanzees? Or North Koreans?
N
Courtesy of theapolloeffect.com
The Apollo Effect Antisocial Disorder Fontana North
eed some music to rock up your school life? Trying to stay awake? Can’t stop procrastinating on a Wednesday night? Working away on an assignment? Well, a little rock music from The Apollo Effect is just what you need. Not a very well known band (yet), however, they seem to have a very promising future. This rock band originating from Toronto, formed way back in 2005, it consists of five members who enjoy playing out on the street for good causes and have also touring around Canada with their guitar and drums. Brent, the leader of The Apollo Effect, was asked to describe their music at an interview and he said “The smile can be a warning sign.” What this simply means is that their music basically talks about the slice of life. Their second album titled Antisocial Disorder was released July 1, 2008, and like their previous albums, generally talks about life, lies, and love. Their album consists of 12 impressive tracks with strong vocals and accompanied by astounding guitar in the background. This would genuinely be nice background music to put on when doing schoolwork or even just some ordinary house chores, keeping you pumped up and awake. If you like music from Simple Plan, Sum 41, or Good Charlotte, The Apollo Effect is definitely a good try. However, if you are not familiar with the band mentioned above or do not like their music, it doesn’t hurt to give this a try. The Apollo Effect is currently working on a new album for 2010, so definitely look out for that.
Mingsze Ho
Comics & Distractions
Imprint, Friday, June 4, 2010
crossword
sudoku
Z, Time flies like the wind; fruit flies like bananas. a year already? wow. here’s to a crapton more. -L Dear election candidates, We’re not voting for anyone who uses the phrase “clappity clap� Sincerely, Your deeply deeply DEEPLY concerned classmates
19
By Mike Koivusalo
ACROSS 1. In the middle 5. Lengthy poem 9. Taiwanese township 13. “Uh-uh.� 14. Best Musical Tony winner of 1996 15. Bremner and McGregor 17. Horse gait 18. Not loop or whorl 19. Common type of wrap 20. Finished 22. Spiciness meas. 23. Pedalled instrument 24. Undo undo 26. Hates 28. Canadian NYSE? 31. Cloistered woman 32. Cute cat greeting 33. It resists changes 35. Second largest Eastern European country 40. Not one 41. Reeded instrument 42. Immeasurable 46. Ramp 49. “___ just seen a face...� 50. “The Matrix� hero 51. John or Jane 52. Nudges 56. “Kiss From a Rose� artist 58. With 69-across, “dead� man’s cry in Monty Python and the Holy Grail 59. Type of var. 61. Reduce 65. Mom’s mom, informally 66. Piggies? 68. Prima donna 69. See 58-across 70. You have one once per yr. 71. Girls’ name meaning delicate, weary 72. Texas Instruments real-time operation system (abbr.) 73. Certian polycomb proteins 74. Suffixes meaning pertaining to DOWN 1. It’s often upped 2. Follows not long after eve 3. Common headphone attachment 4. Discourage
5. Important period of time 6. Social mask 7. “Hedwig and the Angry ____� 2001 film 8. Lovecraft creature 9. Lose all hope 10. Sit at a bus stop, say 11. Ferguson or McLaughlin 12. Empty 16. Popular cones 21. Villain Harvey 25. Reason for driver’s licence susp. 27. Strong, dense building material 28. Yothers or Turner 29. Stiff neck 30. Start of childrens’ rhyme 34. Where you live (abbr.) 36. Company with Aim 37. The same place (abbr.) 1
2
3
4
5
6
38. Bad idea, informally 39. Bigfoot’s shoe size? 43. Places poorly 44. Actress Gardiner 45. 1970 Beatles hit 46. On the contrary 47. Born, to Pierre 48. Animal fur 52. Not low 53. Iraq Forum for Reconstruction and Development 54. Certain tides 55. Speed, to Bach 57. Soup server 60. Vertex 62. Boardwalk 63. “The Great� or “The Terrible� 64. Cheers 67. Important file ext. 7
8
9
13
14
15
17
18
19
20
21 24
28
29
30
33
22
11
12 16
23
25
26
31
27
32
34
35
36
40
37
38
39
63
64
41
42
43
44
45
46
49 52
10
53
54
47
48
50
55
51
56
57
58
59
65
66
69
70
71
73
74
72
60
61 67
62 68
To the cute girl who’s been watching me: I’ve been watching you too. I regret not having talked to you yet. I’m in the SLC a lot ... look for me? - Long haired guy who drinks his chocolate milk with a straw. :) My Chuck Bass look alike, If only you were a sarcastic and charming rich womanizer instead of your nerdy engineering self... It was great spotting you at the Facebook Co-op info session. Next time though, try wearing purple. - Love, Gossip Girl Missed any connections lately? Got any ideas, gripes, or randomly entertaining thoughts? Send them (with utmost affection) to
distractions@imprint.uwaterloo.ca
Dear ENGL 251A Hottie, I’ve never sent such flirtatious looks to anyone in my life! it’s too bad your married, because your special brand of white pointy shoes, charm, and obvious intelligence really turns me on. Let’s debate poetry again sometime when our TA won’t think we are laughing at him. Maybe over a box of Smarties? Say hi to the wife for me. --the girl in the red coat
Solutions: N O T R U M P
N O H A N D S
Y Z E R M A N
F U Z Z Y
L O T I O N
P E R I G E E
C B R E F L A E N E A N Z I G Z A G
May 21, 2010 R O S S
A Z I L S O L I K O F Z O N S A E T U T T C H O W D O W A Z U S O U Z O R A T E S S E R S O Z A F R I T O Y S M O O N S H Y A W N E D A Z S A Z S A N
I know you like reading this section in the Imprint, so I thought I would write to you. Ever since the first time I saw you in class and you asked me a question, I thought you were too beautiful to be true. The best part of my Monday, Wednesday and Fridays is making you laugh and I would love to continue doing that after this semester. If you ever want to get together you know where to reach me. You are too amazing, -Your not so bilingual friend
H A R D R U N
S T R A I T
E V O K E
A B O L I S H
T E N A N T S
A N E Y E O N
8 5 6 4 9 1 7 2 3
7 9 3 8 5 2 6 1 4
1 2 4 3 6 7 9 8 5
5 6 7 1 4 9 2 3 8
4 1 8 2 7 3 5 9 6
2 3 9 6 8 5 4 7 1
6 7 1 9 3 4 8 5 2
3 4 5 7 2 8 1 6 9
9 8 2 5 1 6 3 4 7
Dear Hunky Kin guy, You’re bright blue eyes caught my attention at our Wednesday lab. But now that our labs are over, I’m afraid I’ll never see you again or have the opportunity to talk to you. :( I dream about you every night, your dirty blonde hair & nice stuble face...*sigh* I saw you at Tim Horton’s the other day...I wanted to ask you a question about one of our reports...but I froze when you turned in my direction. Next time you see a random brunette with green eyes smile at you...you’ll know it’s me ;). Sincerely, Shy Brunette
20
Comics & Distractions
Imprint, Friday, June 4, 2010
RAJUL SALEH (differentperspective@imprint.uwaterloo.ca)
ADRIENNE RAW (araw@imprint.uwaterloo.ca)
MICHAEL TO (irresponsiblyoptomistic@imprint.uwaterloo.ca)
Sonia Lee (loosescrews@imprint.uwaterloo.ca)