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Follow the yellow brick road
thegazette Eating mushed-up fruit since 1906
Wednesday, March 6, 2013
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The Gazette speaks with director Sam Raimi and actor James Franco about their latest flick, Disney’s Oz the Great and Powerful. >> pg. 4
Volume 106, Issue 79
Students’ council unveils 2013–14 budget Alex Carmona News Editor Tony Ayala is used to working outside the spotlight. As vice-president finance for the University Students’ Council, he probably has the most arcane position in student government. His position isn’t sexy, nor is it particularly easy to understand. But as the executive member responsible for looking out for the organization’s $12 million budget, his position is extraordinarily important. Last week the USC released the budget for the 2013–14 fiscal year. Throughout, Ayala continued his work to streamline and stabilize USC services that, while crucial to the student experience at Western, are almost invisible from the consciousness of the general student population. “We want to up the service levels from our operations that students don’t even know that they use,” Ayala said. “That’s things like the health plan, dental plan, Western Connections, room reservations and our productions department. They’re not the most flashy departments, but they’re things that students and clubs use on an every day basis that they don’t even realize they’re using. They don’t realize that things like setting up tables and chairs for events in the Mustang Lounge and the atrium [requires a service behind it]. To us, that was the most important thing we wanted to flow through this budget because it’s the services students use that they need most on a day-to-day basis.” Ayala predicted the USC would finish off the year roughly $50,000 in the black—over three times the net positive for 2012–13 forecasted by last year’s vice-president finance, Jennifer Valadao. Main campus students will see an increase of $22.69 to their student fee, which includes a $2 base fee increase tied to the previously mentioned service stabilization. The increase will be slightly lower for affiliate students, at $20.62.
This year’s budget also addresses an unexpected $450,000 loss incurred by last year’s affiliate agreement. Under the new agreement, passed by last year’s council under former President Andrew Forgione, affiliate students only pay 35 per cent of the roughly $200 USC fee, which was determined to mainly benefit main campus students. “It might not be public knowledge, but the affiliate agreement actually hit the USC with a $450,000 loss. This is pretty large—it’s about 10 per cent of our operating budget. We’ve had to do certain rescaling and cuts through other areas of the budget to accommodate that. That’s why you’ll see a service stabilization fund in this year’s budget. It’s a $200,000 plug—that’s probably the best way to say it,” Ayala explained. “Basically instead of us cutting $450,000, we hold $200,000 [to help make up for the loss] until we can find more efficiencies in some of our operations. So our operations have been given mandates saying they have to start saving money, which takes time—you can’t arbitrarily start cutting costs. So we set realistic goals for all the operations cost-wise and, at the same time, new mandates have been given out to try to find efficiencies because we have to find savings to accommodate the $450,000 dollar loss.” The 2013–14 budget also formally does away with both InPrint and Purple Door Promotions. They will now be combined into the new Creative Services department, expected to fulfill the roles of both its predecessors. It will, h owe ve r, function very differently. “There’s a
big self-serve component to it, as well as an entire intern development unit. Basically, we’re changing the business model—it’s very different compared to the other operations we’re running,” Ayala said. The new department is only expected to take in 60 per cent of the revenue compared to both InPrint and Purple Door, and is projected to cost next year’s USC roughly $196,000. “We’re conservatively estimating the revenues it’s going to get, just because it’s brand new and we’ll probably be tweaking it a lot in the first year. We term it a hot spot— something that should always be watched every month, to be looked at right away when the monthly reports come in next y e a r,” Ayala
noted. Food and Beverage continued its success story this year, taking in a $150,000 profit. The Wave and Spoke are doing so well, in fact, they have implemented a total price freeze. So, thankfully, a medium coffee at the Spoke will still cost a toonie flat. Food and Beverage will now focus on increasing the volume of sales while retaining its profitability. “Prices a r e n’t
even going up with inflation. There is a shift in the mandate to more monthly promotions and increased sales volume. We want to keep making money, but spread that cost over more students so that, on average, each student is paying less.”
Main campus student fee breakdown, 2013–14
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thegazette • Wednesday, March 6, 2013
Caught on Camera
Andrei Calinescu GAZETTE
NICE ZERO FACE. Come May, The Gazette torch will be handed over to (from left to right) Jason Sinukoff, managing editor, Cam Smith, deputy editor, and Julian Uzielli, editor-in-chief. These three enthusiastic, dedicated, handsome editors have been elected to front office for volume 107.
Crossword By Eugene Sheffer
Parking pressure in the core Jeremiah Rodriguez Gazette Staff Parking rates will be steering regular London commuters away from the downtown core during next week’s World Figure Skating Championships, which will be held in and around the Budweiser Gardens. Impark, the private parking operator owning the majority of spaces in downtown London, will be charging a flat daily fee of $15 on Monday and Tuesday, a $25 flat daily rate during the actual event days from Wednesday through Saturday and a $10 nightly fee for evening events. The normal daily rate is $7.50. Lloyd Stacey, general manager of Impark in southwestern Ontario,
Solution to puzzle on page 7
was well aware of the backlash and accusations of price gouging facing his company. He explained the nature of the size and scope of the event, as well as the sheer amount of traffic, will be the driving forces behind the parking rate hike.
Take the bus, or park just outside the core. I know it’s not a popular thing, but the reality is it’s going to be really busy down here. —Lloyd Stacey
General manager of Impark in southwestern Ontario
“I have around 800 spots available downtown, and we’re expecting to see around 3,000 cars—that’s a problem. The price point is there to provide an incentive for those who are not going to the event to park outside the core,” Stacey said. “The rates are there to make money. [Impark] pays rent on those properties—we don’t own them.” The prices were essentially increased for spectators who don’t typically leave their parking spaces
during events. “The parking lots have to be manned now. It costs extra to run them—we have to take that into consideration. Usually [parking] is run by the machines, but there needs to be people directing and monitoring it [now]. There’s a lot ofmanpower going into this,” Stacey continued. Janette MacDonald, manager of Downtown London, offered a broader perspective. “This is a once-in-a-lifetime event—we really hope Londoners come out and experience it. It’s not just the skating events—there’s a lot going on outside,” she said. “We’ve had the Memorial Cup, and we’ve had Tim Hortons Brier, but we’ve never had an event of this magnitude. You’ll find that any other city with this high-profile of an event changes the parking rates accordingly,” MacDonald continued. What both sources suggested to Londoners was to use public transportation, carpooling or alternative means, like cabs, to deal with the congestion and inconveniences next week. “Take the bus, or park just outside the core. I know it’s not a popular thing, but the reality is it’s going to be really busy down here,” Stacey implored.
News Brief
King’s gets new figurehead
Look here each Wednesday for special offers to Western students on health and wellness products and services from local businesses
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As of last night, King’s University College Students’ Council has a new president. Jen Carter, a third-year criminology student, beat her opponent Joe Harris, a third-year BMOS student, by a scanty seven votes. In total, 827 votes were cast, with 417 going to Carter, and 410 to Harris. Carter has three years of experience with the KUCSC, previously serving as the sociology faculty representative, a promo team commissioner and promo team member. “I think that my well-rounded experience on council [has] given me the skills necessary to make a strong leader for the KUCSC,” Carter stated on her website. Carter will replace current president David Ennett in the 2013–14 year. —Gloria Dickie
The Cryptoquip is a substitution cipher in which one letter stands for another. If you think that X equals O, it will equal O throughout the puzzle. Single letters, short words and words using an apostrophe give you clues to locating vowels. Solution is by trial and error. © 2002 by Kings Features Syndicate, Inc.
73 SHU3H3Z[\K`3IYLHR 3^ P[O3ZVTL3[HRL V\[8 *3 OLJR3V\[3[OL3NYLH[3KLHSZ3 3V U3MVVK3PU3[OL3*V\WVUZ3 3: LJ[PVU3PU3`V\Y3>LZ[LYUPaLY
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thegazette • Wednesday, March 6, 2013
Campus > Life
News Brief
Students freezing their buns for hot dogs Cam Smith News Editor With freezing temperatures and sudden blizzards, Canadian winters can be extremely harsh for Western’s hot dog vendor Jarda Novotny. Novotny, the proprietor of Top Dog Hotdog stand on Concrete Beach, has twice erected a shelter to protect himself, and his wares, from bitter London winters, and has twice been told to remove the shelter by Western administration. According to administration, the structure violated building codes and had unappealing aesthetics. Moreover, Western administration feels Novotny’s work is best suited for warmer weather.
When it’s windy and rainy, it’s impossible to keep the product protected if you’re not against the wall, or in his case a wellconstructed tin house. It can become a real pain. —Kevin Godbout
Third-year PhD student at Western
“He was never meant to have a hot dog stand there for the cold season—that was entirely his decision, recognizing that those types of operations are very seasonal,” Frank Miller, director of Western’s Hospitality Services, explained. “What [Novotny] had done was pretty much build a house around his hot dog stand and, without any
type of code agreement, you need building permits to do that stuff. We simply asked him to take it down.” But Novotny stated his business is focused on students, regardless of the weather. And with lines at Centre Spot often making it impossible for busy students to grab a meal on the go, hot dogs became a viable alternative. “I try to make life better for the students. When it is not winter time, it is fine to work with just umbrella,” he explained. “The awning we set up before winter. The whole summer we were looking for who would OK it, but we could not actually find anybody interested in that.” Novotny explained the original hut was meant to be temporary and was constructed on a platform. “We had it done by a professional company and it was set up so the food was protected. The students can come inside the hut, and it can be removed anytime,” he said. “We have those huts everywhere else at my locations. They’ve been standing 15 years—they never collapse or anything. They are really fantastic for winter, they protect the customers and the food and they also protect me, as an employee.” Novotny acknowledged that while the winter cold was challenging to work in, it’s even worse for his patrons. “I’m here from around 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. and the cold is fine, but when it’s a windy day, it’s very difficult to operate this food service,” he explained. However, Miller maintained the visual presence of the structure was a negative for the campus, garnering community complaints. “It doesn’t look good. We’ve had complaints from library [employees] about the look and his vehicles.
Andrei Calinescu GAZETTE
GOING TO THE HOT DOGS. Jarda Novotny, proprietor of Top Dog Hotdog, barbecues hot dogs on Concrete Beach.
It is a centre of attention in that area,” he said. However, for Kevin Godbout, a third-year PhD student in comparative literature advocating on Novotny’s behalf, administration needs to look past the appearance of the shelter. Godbout, who once operated a hot dog cart in his native New Brunswick, knows the hardships vendors face first-hand in the cool, winter months. “The two things that are really, really troublesome when you’re working are when there are heavy winds and rains, and when there’s
a lot of extreme cold,” he explained. “When it’s windy and rainy, it’s impossible to keep the product protected if you’re not against the wall, or in his case, a well-constructed tin house. It can become a real pain.” In terms of cold weather, Godbout explained that even if you’re completely covered, your face will become frozen or frost-bitten. Godbout acknowledged the convenience of the vendor, and noted students appreciate it there. “It is really convenient,” he said. “I think the students appreciate that he’s there in the first place.”
Western to celebrate Founder’s Day This Thursday, March 7, Western’s Alumni Association, in conjunction with the department of alumni relations and development, will be hosting Founder’s Day—a day meant to commemorate the contributions of Western’s founder Bishop Isaac Hellmuth, as well as celebrate accomplishments of staff, students, faculty and alumni alike. In honour of this, the Alumni Association will be organizing many events on campus and around the world. These include a student refreshment break in the University Community Centre basement on Thursday at 10 a.m. and a staff and faculty coffee break in the Great Hall at the same time. Outside of Western, there will be events taking place in New York, Vancouver, Toronto, Ottawa and London, England. Most events are free of charge, as they are funded by the Alumni Association. A video will also be sent to alumni around the world for those unable to attend, highlighting the importance of the day. President Amit Chakma will be addressing a group of business leaders and alumni at the Canada-UK Chamber of Commerce in London, England. Natalie Devereux, alumni and development officer, is excited about the event, but hopes to see more student involvement in the future. “It’d be great to see more student groups actually organize events of their own, through their clubs [...] tying in a Founder’s Day theme and reminding us all of what we have to be proud of with Western,” she said. —Nusaiba Al-Azem
westerngazette.ca
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thegazette • Wednesday, March 6, 2013
Arts&Life
The yellow brick road. The flying monkeys. The green-tinted witch. These are seminal images from the 1939 iconic film The Wizard of Oz, and though no ruby heels were clicked together, The Gazette had the magical opportunity to talk to director Sam Raimi and actor James Franco about their newest project coming to theatres this week, Oz the Great and Powerful. The film, inspired by the L. Frank Baum novels, acts as a kind of prequel to the well-known adventure of Dorothy. Franco plays the charming yet flawed Oscar Diggs, a travelling circus magician who finds himself transported to a mystical, but volatile world. “He’s selfish, a bit of a womanizer. He thinks that happiness will come from financial success and fame,” says Franco who, in preparation for the role, trained with famous Las Vegas magician Lance Burton. “I needed to be able to do those tricks convincingly, and to hold myself on stage like a magician in a convincing way.” In the film, Franco performs alongside Hollywood powerhouse actors Mila Kunis, Michelle Williams and Rachel Weisz. When it came to casting these roles, Raimi looked for people who could embody their character’s spirit. “I wasn’t looking for necessarily the very best actor or actress in the world. I was looking for that actor or actress that had the qualities of the character they’re going to portray,” explains Raimi, whose previous directorial endeavours include the Evil Dead series, Darkman and the Spider-Man films. “As the old saying is, you want to find the right person for the role.” When it came to casting the infamous Theodora, Raimi needed an actor that could highlight both the innocence and wickedness of the character. The director saw this potential in Kunis, specifically judging from her performance in 2010’s Black Swan. “She had this real dark and nasty witchy quality,” Raimi says. “That told me she could play the other half of the role.” According to Raimi, the same could be said for casting Michelle Williams as Glinda the Good Witch. “Primarily, I thought the most important thing with this character is a source of pure goodness. I needed an actress that had a good soul.” That’s exactly what Raimi found in Williams who, he explains, emits a positive aura. “I consider her to be a very good soul, and that’s something that couldn’t be faked by an actor. I needed her to radiate that goodness.” While the film’s cast is promising, Oz the Great and Powerful also offers a visual representation of the world of Oz aesthetically unlike any other. In creating the unique environment of Oz, Raimi drew from Baum’s initial vision of this alternate world. One particular set that stands out to Raimi is Glinda’s kingdom. “It’s so beautiful. Our production design is that of Robert Stromberg, who designed that castle in
word of the day Ensorcelled Adjective. Under a spell.
that style. I thought it was a lovely choice because it’s very feminine, and this is a female kingdom with a female leader,” Raimi explains. “I like the fact that everything in the kingdom would have a pearl essence, kind of a beautiful glow like Glinda’s bubbles, or her dress, with shimmering sheen.” Like Raimi, Franco also found inspiration in the source material. “I’ve been a fan of the Oz books since I was a boy,” Franco recalls. “When I was age 11, they were some of the first books that I read on my own for pleasure. Because I was an Oz fan, I wanted to be sure that they had a sound approach and that they were being loyal to certain things about Oz that people expect, and then also having a fresh take on it. I was already very hopeful because Sam was involved.” Franco’s faith in Raimi as a director comes from their previous collaboration in the SpiderMan series, which Raimi directed and Franco starred in as Harry Osborn, Peter Parker’s best friend turned worst enemy. “He is one of my favourite directors to work with, and he makes some of my favourite films. Sam Raimi identifies with his lead characters very closely, and because my character was trying to kill Peter Parker, I think Sam blamed me for that,” Franco jokes. “Now that I’m the protagonist, Sam is identifying with my character, and so I felt a lot more of Sam’s love on this film.” Raimi and Franco’s involvement in the film isn’t the only reunion from Spider-Man that occurred on the set of Oz the Great and Powerful. Danny Elfman composed musical scores for both films, and Raimi identifies Elfman’s work as a highlight in Oz. “He took the drama and he deepened it. He connects so many threads like that with his music, it just enhances the whole experience for me. He enhances the mood of the picture.” What is the mood of the picture? For Franco, it’s different from other variations and remakes of The Wizard of Oz. “They had all the elements you need in order for people to recognize the world of Oz, but then I saw that their approach into the world was not a male version of Dorothy,” Franco adds. “My character was, instead, a kind of con man that was pretending to be something he’s not, and gets into a lot of awkward situations that could be played for comedy. That comedic edge will help distinguish this version of Oz from other versions.” Expanding on Franco’s sentiments, Raimi hopes the audiences in Oz the Great and Powerful experience more than a few short laughs. “Ideally, I’d like them to feel uplifted. The best thing that stories could do for us is reverberate with truth and show us the way,” Raimi concludes. “There’s a simple beauty in loving another person and friends coming together in being selfless—and that’s what this movie’s message is, and that’s what I’d like the audience to come away with.” Naira Ahmed Gazette
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thegazette • Wednesday, March 6, 2013
Editor’s Picks > The essentials for your week
ON DVD Wreck-It Ralph
It might have missed out on the Oscar for Best Animated Film, but Wreck-It Ralph’s charming tale of a video game villain fed up with being the bad guy is well worth checking out on DVD this week. Featuring the vocal talents of John C. Reilly and Sarah Silverman, it’s a sweet, funny film in and of itself, but it also manages to pack in a host of references that fans of gaming culture will surely appreciate.
ON DISC Amok—Atoms for Peace
Atoms for Peace’s Amok is the brainchild of Radiohead frontman Thom Yorke, who has managed to assemble a super group featuring longtime producer Nigel Godrich, Red Hot Chili Peppers bassist Flea, Beck, R.E.M. drummer Joey Waronker and Brazilian percussionist Mauro Refosco. It’s a heady mix of musical talent, and their debut album Amok is a suitably accomplished record that combines experimental electronica with more traditional alt-rock.
IN THEATRES
ON TV
Oz the Great and Powerful
Disney’s much-anticipated prequel to the beloved 1939 classic, The Wizard of Oz, finally arrives this week. Featuring a stellar cast that includes James Franco, Rachel Weisz and Mila Kunis, and with production headed by the brilliant Sam Raimi, Oz the Great and Powerful seeks to reintroduce us to L. Frank Baum’s fantastical world of wicked witches and emerald cities—years before Dorothy and Toto first set foot on the yellow brick road.
Changing the nature of film
ON THE CHARTS
Red Widow
“Now”—Paramore
A new show beginning on CTV this week, Red Widow follows Marta Walraven (Radha Mitchell), a wife and mother whose life takes a dramatic turn when she is sucked into the criminal dealings of her mobster family, following the death of her husband. Early reviews are mixed, but a solid premise and compelling lead could make this a show to watch in the coming weeks.
“Now” is the newest single from Tennessee rock band Paramore. The song is also the first single off the band’s new self-titled album, scheduled for release April 9. “Now” brings forth Paramore’s edgy, rock sound to kick off the band’s fourth studio album. It’s been on the charts for just over a month, and it’s proving to be popular—you can find the song in iTunes’ ‘New Singles’ section. The track has received mostly positive feedback from fans, with almost 4 million hits on YouTube.
Department of Earth Sciences SCUGOG Lecture Dr. Stephen T. Johnston University of Victoria
“THE GREAT ALASKAN TERRANE WRECK”
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Brent Holmes Arts & Life Editor For over 30 years, Canadian filmmaker Steven Woloshen has pioneered a unique kind of animated filmmaking with no camera involved. “I’m what’s called a camera-less animator. What I do is I take film— 35mm celluloid film—that’s black or clear, or already shot, and I apply paint and scratch directly onto it,” Woloshen says. “I’ve been doing that since 1982. There are very few people left alive in the world that still do it, or want to do it—I’m hoping that will change. That’s why I tour around and talk about the films I make.” This Thursday, Woloshen’s films will be screened at Hyland Cinema—nine of which will be screened on 35mm film. The screening will be followed by a workshop on Friday for select Western students on campus. Woloshen hopes to show students a new way of thinking about film in his upcoming workshop, teaching that animation is incredibly adaptable. “This is what I’ve been talking about in a lot of workshops— you are going to look at time in an entirely different way. Usually when people think of animation, they think of how things will
move, image by image,” Woloshen explains. “What I am trying to do is show people that anything is a tool of animation—anything can be brought into animation.” Woloshen’s films have received much praise on the film festival circuit. His 2003 film Cameras Take Five was awarded Best NonNarrative Short Film from the International Animated Film Festival. “There’s been a lot of acceptance. The one thing I’ve noticed about film festivals is that they need a variety,” Woloshen notes. “They are always looking for a variety— film festivals, in my mind, are more like a film expo. [At] an expo, if you remember all the world’s great exhibitions, you want to see things that you’ve never seen before.” “The distribution process is a lot of fun and representing the film is even more fun,” he adds. Woloshen’s approach to filmmaking brings in a very unique range of influences due to its completely different style of filmmaking. Woloshen cites jazz music’s improvisation as a part of his influence, and tries to bring its spontaneity to a medium that is typically very structured. “If you know jazz, a lot of it’s improvised. What I try to do is put together a little device so I can listen to music, and make films that
kind of respond in an abstract way to what I’m hearing,” Woloshen says. “If you know film, you know it doesn’t really inspire spontaneity. With camera-less animation and music, all you need is paint on your fingers, or on a brush, and you can really respond to what you listen to. It is a very spontaneous effort for an art form that is not really spontaneous.” Woloshen hopes his filmmaking will inspire new filmmakers to experiment with animation. With advances in digital projection and digital filmmaking, this kind of artwork is even more accessible. “It’s not like the old argument about film being dead, or film being alive makes a difference anymore. Whatever your source material, it’s just a new thing—you want to use film, you can use film, you want to use something else, use something else. But I think that old distinction of something being dead, or not dead, just doesn’t apply anymore,” Woloshen concludes. Steven Woloshen’s films will be screened at Hyland Cinema on Thursday, March 7 at 9 p.m. There will be a workshop with a preselected group of Western students Friday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. at the John Labatt Visual Art Centre, room 302. Spaces are still available for students who contact Jesse Brossoit at jbrossoi@uwo.ca.
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thegazette • Wednesday, March 6, 2013
Opinions Prickly over parking prices London is gearing up to host the World Figure Skating Championships, and along with the increased hype will also come an increased price for downtown parking. But it’s not the City increasing parking rates—it’s Impark. The private company plans to increase their usual flat rate of $7.50 to $15 for the first two days of the competition, and a $25 rate for the rest of the week. Impark has 20 lots in the downtown core, and there is limited alternative parking. For some, this might seem like a huge systemic injustice of capitalistic society. Why should people— tourists or locals—pay double, then triple the cost for parking? Others will argue, however, these prices are to be expected during high-profile events like the World Figure Skating Championships. As a private company, Impark has every right to increase their prices for this event, and it likely won’t negatively affect their business—people expect to pay high parking prices at these events. But whether or not this is necessary, and will affect London, as a whole, is another issue altogether. Increasing parking rates is only a short-term gain for Impark. Sure, they’ll make a couple extra bucks from excited tourists for the week, but it may leave these visitors with a bad taste in their mouths. However, high parking prices are the norm for high-profile events, and London outsiders probably won’t make a fuss. For London residents, this issue might be more sensitive. Many locals work downtown and may suffer from higher parking prices, even if they aren’t attending the event. In that case, compensation should be given. Residents do have the option, however, of taking the London Transit Commission. While this could increase business for the LTC for the week, it will likely also make the buses more congested, and its riders more frustrated. Overall, this price increase won’t affect London’s image in any major way. People will pay the price for convenience, and most will not think twice about having to cough up the extra cash. In our opinion, it will most likely just leave some disgruntled local residents fantasizing about times when parking prices were reasonable.
They paved paradise to put up a parking lot.
—Joni Mitchell, Canadian songstress
Armchair activists lack firm grasp of their own power RySpace
Ryan Hurlbut Opinions Editor
Happy Anniversary! Wait—what do you mean you have no idea what I’m talking about? Don’t you remember Kony 2012? When we look back on this social media outburst, we think of it as three things—a fad, a craze, a viral video. Yet this “fad” represents the accumulation of millions of dollars to what was essentially nothing. Take a look at the Kony 2012 website—funds were spent on a party, of all things. The fact no one cares any more is enough to allow this behaviour to go on unopposed. Armchair charity work is generally frowned upon for being ineffective, but for the wrong reasons. Making a charitable cause go viral can create many funds that provide the charity with the resources necessary to function. While only .01 per cent of people may contribute, this number works well when millions upon millions of people are exposed. Our problem lies within the fact that our society has lost the ability to fully engage ourselves with, and research, the causes in which we share. A video like Kony 2012 provided us with the bare-bone structure of a problem, but our propensity for armchair charity catapulted the cause to the forefront of our minds—at least for a week. Herein lies the problem. We may “like” or “share” something, but after that, it’s out of our minds. The burden
placed upon us by the ills of society is conveniently alleviated, and we are left with a disturbing sense of pride that lasts far beyond the scope of time in which the charity is in the public eye. While sharing something may seem innocent enough, you are attaching your name to a cause, and, in effect, you are supporting it. In this way, your peers tie your personal reputation to that of the charity—if you are looked upon well, this could convince people to donate without research. Society needs to re-evaluate how we approach these situations. A click does far more than we think it does. There is a reason that so many advertising agencies aim to go viral. We cannot continue to be swayed by mindless propaganda. We need to fully immerse ourselves in the things we believe in—or at least appear to believe in through sharing and endorsing. We need to stop using the Internet as a tool that tells us what to think, and start using it as a tool that allows us to inform our own opinions about important issues. Sitting at home in our chairs does not need to have a negative connotation—we just bring this connotation upon ourselves when we continue to make uninformed opinions and underutilize the tools which are provided to us. Our generation has a fundamental problem with our attention span, and the widespread use of such a powerful tool as the personal computer has turned this fact into something that can end up in a gross misallocation of our societal resources and education. Next time a Kony 2012 pops up on your Facebook feed, take the time to research it and fully understand it before sharing. It may just make you look good in the end.
#win
—The Gazette Editorial Board
Four-year-old Anthony Smith of New Hampshire was reluctant to wear his hearing aid until Marvel Comics created a hearing-impaired superhero just for him. The Blue Ear, notable for his superpower earpiece, graced three separate posters that were sent to Smith. Unfortunately, Blue Ear isn’t a real comic book hero.
thegazette
Volume 106, Issue 79 www.westerngazette.ca
Gloria Dickie Editor-In-Chief Nicole Gibillini Deputy Editor Cam Parkes Managing Editor
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Iain Boekhoff, Danielle Bozinoff, Jaclyn Carbone, Mary Ann Ciosk, David Czosniak, Megan Devlin, Jonathan Dunn, Andrew Evans, Chelsey Gauthier, Ross Hamilton, Danny Huang, Amanda Law, Logan Ly, Jared MacAdam, Sarah Mai Chitty, Sarah Manning, Bradley Metlin, Kaitlyn Oh, John Petrella, Sarah Prince, Chen Rao, Herb Richardson, Nathan Robbins-Kanter, Lily Robinson, Jeremiah Rodriguez, Katie Roseman, Jasleen Sembhi, Nathan TeBokkel, Jacqueline Ting, Caroline Wang, Kate Wilkinson, Zoe Woods, Kartikeya Vishal, Usman Zahid, Mason Zimmer
Dear Life
Your anonymous letters to life. Dear Life, Saw a guy with a sign that said “Only eat what you can pronounce.” That’s bad advice for newborns. Dear Life, Why can’t Roll up the Rim be during exam time? Signed, occasional coffee-drinker. Dear Life, Do you have a “slow down” button?
Submit your letters to life at www.westerngazette.ca /dearlife. Letter to the Editor
Presidential woes To the Editor: Re: The Boys’ Club, Friday, March 1, 2013 As a political science student, I 100 per cent agree women face uphill battles when running for elections. However, in the case of the University Students’ Council, I think the history of the USC not having many female USC presidents or presidential candidates has a lot more to do with strategy than sexism. Only 12 per cent of the total presidential candidates have been female, but there are five other executive positions. I wouldn’t be surprised if there were an equal number of men as women running for, and winning, these positions over the years. These positions are, in my opinion, more interesting and more rewarding. Blaming the student body for having fewer female presidents might be too simplistic. —Jessica Chambers Political Science IV
#fail On Sunday afternoon, local Tim Hortons staff reportedly looked on as a 17-year-old boy suffered an asthma attack. The boy breathlessly asked employees for “phone” and “help,” but was denied the use of the phone due to company policy. A customer called 911 for the boy, but this situation highlights the importance of emergency protocol in companies.
News Alex Carmona Jesica Hurst Cam Smith Aaron Zaltzman Arts & Life Sumedha Arya Brent Holmes Kevin Hurren Sports Richard Raycraft Jason Sinukoff Ryan Stern Opinions Ryan Hurlbut Associate Kaitlyn McGrath
Photography Andrei Calinescu Ritchie Sham Cameron Wilson Graphics Naira Ahmed Mike Laine Illustrations Christopher Miszczak Liwei Zhou Online Julian Uzielli Web Cameron Wilson Video Chris Kay
• Please recycle this newspaper •
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thegazette • Wednesday, March 6, 2013
No need to over-analyze spring training Statistics not indicative of potential season to come The Tables Have Sterned Ryan Stern Sports Editor Spring training is a time for hope, opportunity and a whole lot of meaningless stats. It’s nice to hear the catcher’s mitt pop and the power bats crack, but when fans start taking stock in the numbers—or lack thereof in some cases—of their favourite players, the baseball preseason becomes an unnecessary, stressful mess. When Nolan Arenado leads the
majors in home runs, the statistics need to be taken with a grain of salt. To the untrained eye, spring training is the same as regular season baseball. I mean what can be different about baseball? You throw pitches, you swing the bat, you shag fly balls—so other than a lackadaisical effort, how are the statistics not indicative? This thought process is wrong with a capital ‘w.’ Spring training is a time for players to work on their weaknesses. Stephen Strasburg is not going to bring the heat in his handful of spring training innings, but that’s obvious at face value. To the trained eye though, it becomes apparent Strasburg is probably working on a nasty slider, or working on hitting
the inside corner on a 2–2 count. That being said, it isn’t just pitchers who work on their weaker aspects of their games. Hitters work tirelessly to find holes in their swing and approach, and attack those holes with a vigor and fury they would generally lay off of in the regular season. The master of the pull home run, Jose Bautista, is not just going to take every pitch and slap it down the left field line. Depending on the philosophies of new manager John Gibbons, Bautista will probably spend the spring spraying the ball around the field, leaving pitchers more than just the inside fastball to keep away from. Along with these factors that should be taken into account when
looking at spring training numbers, the most notable of the bunch is the small sample size. The most impressive aspect of the seasons Miguel Cabrera and Mike Trout put together last year is that it was over a 162 game season—or in Trout’s case, slightly shorter due to starting the season in the minors. Over the short sample size, it can appear players have changed their habits, but the lack of data is truly misleading. Adam Lind may potentially regain his silver slugger form, but his .444 spring training is not indicative of some major leap forward to the game’s elite. Grapefruit and Cactus league games may be enjoyable to watch, but to put too much stock in them
is to set you up for disappointment. When Arenado leads the Colorado Rockies to the best spring training record, my advice is to hold off on planning the parade route for a few months.
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UPCOMING EVENTS
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13TH ANNUAL SCUGOG Lecture in Earth Sciences; Thursday, March 7th, 7:00-8:00 pm, WESTERN 3M CENTRE, Room 3250. Dr. Stephen T. Johnston, University of Victoria, will speak on “The Great Alaskan Terrane Wreck: A Plate Tectonic Odyssey & the Origin of the Cordilleran Mountain System of North America.” The evening lecture is FREE and open to all members of the community! All are also invited for a reception to follow. Free Parking in Weldon Lot. Contact Dr. Phil McCausland 519-661-2111 x.88008 for more details.
THE TA AND Post Doc Union’s Foodbank distributes grocery store gift cards of $50-100 to members in need. Stop by the office (1313 Sommerville Hall) or apply at psac610.ca
WESTERN NAVIGATORS- COMMUNITY Meetings on Wednesdays, Room 59, UCC at 6:30 pm. We are a growing Christian community that is eager to discover who God is and how He fits into our lives. We challenge and strengthen our faith through lively discussion dinners, small groups, campus events and volunteering. Come and add your own individuality to this growing Nav community. For more information, contact Tim Bartja, tbartja@uwo.ca or visit www.navigators.ca/western.
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6 BDRM. #1 student rentals. Newly built red bricks in all the best locations! Includes 5 appliances, huge, spacious rooms with massive closets. Parking and 24 hour property management included. These ones always go fast so call soon. Call Sam 519-495-7661, samm@londonproperty.ca 3-6 BDRM HOUSES and town homes for rent. Large, modern units, and close to campus. Everything you could ask for, with 5 appliances, free parking, spacious bedrooms/common rooms and full-time maintenance. Call Sam at 519-495-7661, samm@londonproperty.ca 4 BDRM NEW Red Brick townhouses, apartments and single homes for rent. Features 5 appliances, huge rooms and closets, open concept kitchen/living room, and free parking. Located in great student areas. Call Yan: 519-495-5363.
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thegazette • Wednesday, March 6, 2013
Sports
saywhat? “Get to the net, fighting, hitting, whatever, blocking shots. He’s just a complete competitor, great guy in the room and we’re going to miss him.”
Toronto Maple Leafs captain Dion Phaneuf responded to Mike Brown’s trade to the Edmonton Oilers on Monday afternoon
Rundown >> Heading into the Canadian Interuniversity Sport championships this weekend, a few Mustangs were recognized for their bodies of work over the course of the season > Mustangs Taylor Stewart and Caroline Ehrhardt were named Most Valuable Performers in Field for the male and female categories respectively > Along with the on-field achievements, Mustangs Josh Archer and Jenine McCutcheon were given the OUA male and female Community Service award.
History repeats itself in 5–4 heartbreaker Mustangs fall just short of title for second straight season Jason Sinukoff Sports Editor History repeated itself for the Mustangs women’s hockey team this past Friday, when they fell to the ever-dangerous Queen’s Gaels by a score of 5–4 in a heated backand-forth affair. The Mustangs were trying to rebound from the 4–0 trouncing tthe Gaels handed them just days prior, but head coach Chris Higgins knows the large goal differential is by no means indicative of his team’s ability. “The 4–0 loss essentially flattered Queen’s. First of all, one goal was an empty net goal, and secondly, they got some really, really soft goals that just happened to hit skates and things like that,” Higgins said. The win against Laurier in the semifinals also contributed to the Gaels’ shutout.
After an emotional win over a team that we have never really had success against, we were flat Wednesday and Queen’s took advantage of it. We were expecting a big rebound Friday. —Chris Higgins
Mustangs head coach
“We’d also come off from a really emotional win over Laurier, winning 1–0—scoring in the last five minutes. After an emotional win over a team that we have never really had success against, we were flat Wednesday and Queen’s took advantage of it. We were expecting a big rebound Friday,” Higgins said.
Cam Parkes Gazette
Unlike their Wednesday loss, the Mustangs struck first this time around—courtesy of a goal by Stacey Scott four-and-a-half minutes into the first period. However, this is when Queen’s would begin their suspect play and the floodgates would open. “The referee gave what I considered cheesy penalties on us— gave them a five-on-three and they scored,” Higgins said. “Then they got a bounce and scored, and our goalie got hurt from what I would consider rough play from the Queen’s forwards. We put our second goalie in, and they continued the rough play
and she got concussed. So they went 4–1 because of what I feel was rough play on our goalies and the referees were not going to call it.” The ‘Stangs then took their turn to push their foot on the gas—scoring a plethora of goals, leaving the score 5–4 in the final frame. The Mustangs continued their immense pressure, out-shooting the Gaels 16–5 in the third period, but were unable to get the bounce they needed to tie the game up. This is the second time in as many years that the Mustangs claimed second place in the Ontario University Athletics, but despite
Cam Parkes Gazette
the loss, the future looks bright for the Mustangs. With no fourth-year players on the team, the purple and white are in no danger of losing anybody to graduation. This means the team that placed second this year will have one more year of seasoning to go with the incoming class of recruits. “ We don’t have any fourth-year players so all 10 forwards and all six [defencemen] are coming back. We’ll have additions joining us who we think will make us better. We think that since we are going to be a year older, we are going to be that much better,” Higgins said.
With a more experienced team and the same incredible heart that was displayed during this year’s season, Higgins and the Mustangs may finally accomplish their dream of escaping the clutches of the hardest division in the Canadian Interuniversity Sport. “We know how close we were this year and if we can just push ourselves a little harder next year, I think we will go over the top and be in the nationals. Our goal next year is to get out of the OUA, which is by far the hardest division to get out of. There are just so many good teams in the OUA,” Higgins said.
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