Ariel Norman CUSA VPI
Transcription
Vol 41•Issue 30 • April 5 - May 30, 2012 Ariel Norman CUSA VPI cover by Carol Kan INSIDE: My Little Pony attracts new kind of viewer: the Brony p. 13 • ONLINE: Ravens drop the puck at Sens game see charlatan.ca CUSA and the GSA are proud to announce improvements to the health and dental plan again this year AT NO EXTRA COST to you! Last year, we increased the dental maximum to $600.00 and added Optometrist exams. Effective September 1, 2012 we have added: • A vision care benefit of $150.00 every two years including eye exams. This is a $100.00 increase which can be used toward your eye examination or prescription lenses. • Wisdom teeth coverage has been improved with its own maximum benefit of $500.00 per lifetime. This means that dental coverage has increased in some cases to $1,100.00 for 2012. As always, CUSA and the GSA continue to provide you with: • 80% on most prescription drugs to a maximum of $2000.00. • 75% on most basic and preventative dental care to a maximum of $600.00. • On Demand Travel Insurance* Accidental Coverage: • Physiotherapy (up to $1000.00) • Chiropractic and Massage ($15.00 per treatment up to $300.00) • Accidental Dental (up to $1000.00) For more information on the 2011-2012 plan and the upcoming 2012-2013 plan please contact the CUSA office or go to www.cusaonline.com/health_plan.html. *Some conditions apply. Visit the CUSA office for full details. ATTENTION: OPT OUT REFUND CHEQUES MUST BE PICKED UP BY APRIL 30, 2012. News 3 April 5 - May 30, 2012 News Editors: Jessica Chin and Jane Gerster• [email protected] Carleton divided by divestment A SAIA member partakes in a sit-in last spring, calling for the university to divest from certain companies. || by Oliver Sachgau There are few issues in the Carleton community as contentious as divestment. After numerous protests led by Students Against Israeli Apartheid (SAIA), the issue has only increased in prominence. For over a year now, SAIA has been arguing that Carleton’s pension fund should not include holdings in companies that are “complicit in the Israeli occupation of the Palestinian territories,” said SAIA member Dax D’Orazio. The group is supporting a Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) campaign, calling for Carleton to divest from companies such as Motorola, Tesco Supermarkets, and Northrop Grumman, an inter- national weapons manufacturer. The group also wants Carleton to implement a “socially responsible investment policy,” D’Orazio said. “Right now, the pension fund committee has only one primary concern, and that is to maximize profit,” he said. “A socially responsible investment policy would take into consideration other factors, social, environmental, [and] human rights.” However, Carleton president Roseann Runte said the changes Carleton made to the investment policy in 2010 actually do more than the divestment SAIA is asking for. Carleton created a binding responsible investment policy in the fall of 2010, said Betsy Springer, chair of the pension committee, via email. file “A socially responsible investment policy says we are not going to stand up tomorrow and sell all of our things that might be having anything to do with war or whatever, cigarettes or bad environment things,” Runte said. “What we will do is every time we purchase new ones, we will only purchase ones that we consider to be green, that we consider to be peaceful and good.” With this policy, the pension fund committee is guided by certain principles, “taking into account environmental, social and corporate governance issues may better align the portfolio with the interests of our plan members,” Springer said. Though the policy is a step in the right direction, D’Orazio said it isn’t what SAIA wants. It’s “reaction- ary,” he said. “We could say it is a very tepid advancement, but as it stands it’s basically toothless,” he said. However, the issue of divestment, specifically as it pertains to the university’s pension plan, is much bigger than the recent discussions, said Bill Lawson, an adjunct professor and representative of Carleton’s pension fund committee. “[It’s] a very broad issue. The question is a matter of policy and legal responsibility,” he said. “This is not a simple, ‘Oh yes don’t buy x, y, or z.’” Since divestment is such a complex issue, the best way to understand it is to first understand how the pension plan works, said Ian Lee, a business professor at Carleton. The pension plan receives a premium from every employee at Carleton, according to Lee. An additional premium for every employee is added by the employer, which is, in this case, the university administration. The money is given to investment managers hired by the pension fund committee. Following recommendations by the committee, they then invest the money in the stock market, Springer said. The investment managers, who are fiduciaries of the fund, have a legal responsibility to invest wisely, Lee said. “The legal duty of care of fiduciaries is much higher than normal people,” he said. “If you want squander your own money, you’re perfectly entitled to do so. Fiduciaries can’t do that.” The changes to the pension plan that SAIA is proposing might not even be allowed by Ontario’s Pension Benefits Act, Lawson said, because the act says risk must be minimized and return must be maximized when investing a pension plan. But SAIA’s own research shows the changes they want wouldn’t impact the financial security of the fund, D’Orazio said. “We’ve actually shown that these companies . . . have collectively lost the pension fund money,” he said. However, Springer said she believes the policy is a reflection of Carleton’s investment practices. “We are confident that Carleton’s policy reflects best practice in [responsible investment],” she said. If a divestment strategy like one proposed by SAIA was put into place at Carleton, the effect on the community could be significant, according to Mira Sucharov, political science professor at Carleton. “It would create I think a more polarized atmosphere, so it isn’t any more a discussion about Israeli policies, but it’s a discussion about the legitimacy of Israel itself,” she said. After the Board of Governors declined SAIA’s proposal, the issue was no longer in discussion, Springer said. “The university did not divest, and there are no plans for the decision to be revisited,” she said. However, Runte said the divestment issue could be a non-issue in future years because of the way the new policy works. Ultimately, Runte said the university could divest from the companies SAIA would like them to, but it’s dependant on finances. “If we don’t make money on the committee and just sell things, then we have failed in our duty to [retirees],” she said. “I feel very comfortable that we did the right thing . . . who knows, we might not even have those companies anymore. We won’t know until the end of the year when [the pension committee] makes their report.” q Problems continue for Baha’i educators in Iran by Jakob Kuzyk It’s 1998 in Iran, and a blow has been dealt to the attempts of the country’s largest religious minority to access education. Followers of the Baha’i faith have been virtually banned since the Iranian revolution of 1979 from attending post-secondary institutions. They began what the New York Times called a “stealth university” in 1987 with nearly 1,000 students, 145 alumni, and a network of converted basement classrooms and laboratories. The network was dismantled that September when Iranian security officials raided some 500 homes and several offices, arresting lecturers and confiscating textbooks and laboratory equipment. This blow was not the first, nor would it be the last to the Baha’i Institute for Higher Education (BIHE). However, the institute never entirely ceased their clandestine operations and that year, their efforts would be rewarded with a major international boost. In 1998, Carleton became the first post-secondary institution in the world to recognize the BIHE undergraduate degree. By allowing students into its master’s program, Carleton set off a chain reaction that continued the following year with admissions granted by the University of Ottawa. Now, 65 post-secondary graduate programs from around the world have recognized and admitted BIHE undergraduates, according to their website. Carleton has accepted 36 BIHE undergrads to date. Blockley (centre-left) accepted the first BIHE students. || The issue of Baha’i education returned to the Carleton community in recent months when the university made a public statement in January in support of Nooshin Khadem, a Carleton graduate imprisoned in the country. Arrested on May 22, 2011, photo by Danielle Stinson Khadem appeared in court in September 2011. Members of the Carleton community gathered again March 30 in a discussion and screening of Education Under Fire, a documentary about the sustained and current denial of education to those of the Baha’i faith in Iran, and the covert backdoor provided by the BIHE. A discussion moderated by Sherri Yazdani, former co-ordinator of BIHE students in Canada, and led by Roger Blockley, the former dean of graduate studies and research, followed the screening. It was Blockley who pioneered the pilot program that first accepted BIHE undergraduates to Carleton. He praised the academic strength of the students that came to him, describing them as “really good.” “They were probably the strongest cadre of international students we had taken into the school in my deanship,” he said. For the rest of this story, visit charlatan.ca 4 charlatan.ca/news CU hosts powwow SOS coming to CU by Jakob Kuzyk A performer during the annual aboriginal powwow. || by Lasia Kretzel The rhythmic sounds of drums and song filled the Ravens’ Nest March 31 and April 1 as members of Ottawa’s aboriginal community gathered at Carleton for the 15th annual Aboriginal Family Festival. The two-day event honoured aboriginal youth and featured dance demonstrations, a baby welcoming ceremony, a “tiny tot” special, and aboriginal arts and crafts. Non-aboriginal attendees were invited to join in inter-community dances, learn the steps and experience the culture firsthand. Irvin Hill, Carleton’s aboriginal liaison officer, said the cultural festival is geared towards bridging gaps between communities. “It’s about bringing people who haven’t seen this before, who really don’t know anything about aboriginal culture or people,” Hill said. “It brings things to the modern day. So it’s bridging that gap between aboriginal and non-aboriginal, and from the past to the present as well.” Ottawa Centre Liberal MPP Yasir Naqvi spoke highly of the event in an address to the Ontario legislature. “The festival is truly youth focused and young people are encouraged to be involved not only in the dancing and drumming but to be involved and active in the aboriginal culture and tradition,” he said. A group of local aboriginal organizations started the annual event to find a way to honour and pass on their cultural knowledge to the youth of their communities. The first powwow took place at the Odawa Native Friendship Centre. The festival eventually outgrew the small gym and with the help of Carleton’s Centre for Aboriginal Culture and Education (CACE), it moved to the Ravens’ Nest in 2010. Students, as well as community members, said they were very pleased with the move. Carleton graduate student Naomi Recollet said she has been dancing since she started walking. photo by Lasia Kretzel She said these powwow events help her feel at home, despite being far away from her native Vancouver Island. “Being away from home, [the Aboriginal Family Festival] allows me the chance to connect with other First Nations people and share and laugh like a real community would do,” she said. For the rest of this story, visit charlatan.ca Students Offering Support (SOS), an organization that raises money for developing nations by hosting exam reviews in North American universities, is looking to create a chapter at Carleton. By co-ordinating volunteerrun tutoring sessions across North America, SOS raises money to build sustainable education projects in impoverished nations. The organization, founded in 2004 by then 19-year-old Greg Overholt at Wildred Laurier University, now has chapters at 26 college and university campuses across North America. He’s now expanding to Carleton. The first step, Overholt said, is finding the right student leaders. “Knowing the culture, knowing the community and the people at Carleton University, I am confident the right people exist,” he said. David Williams, a past volunteer who may be helping with the relaunch, said the concept of the SOS is a novel one that Carleton students should be proud to participate in. “Ace your exam, provide medication to a dying child, give a third-world community clean water, or help them to grow food and become sustainable. It’s a winwin,” he said. “Our generation is globally aware, active, and are not waiting for our degrees to begin effecting FASHION MANAGEMENT & PROMOTIONS POSTGRADUATE CERTIFICATE From retail management to logistics: this program offers the unique skills you will need to launch your career as a: • • • . April 5 - May 30, 2012 change,” he said. “The growth of the Carleton chapter has been carefully planned and quietly prepared. We will be ready next September to burst onto the stage and you will see that Carleton students are the best in the country.” Laura Carlson, who wrote about the beginnings of the SOS as news editor at Wilfred Laurier’s student newspaper, said the organization definitely has a place at Carleton. “From what I saw at Laurier, I think it is a really good organization . . . and expanding to other campuses is a really positive thing,” she said. What the chapter needs to get established, she said, is active leadership and academically strong volunteers. Now a master’s student and teaching assistant at Carleton, Carlson said she sees the benefit the organization could have to students. “A lot of TAs are grad students and have [outside of the class] commitments,” she said. “Having people that can help [students] outside designated class hours in different and creative ways to help them prepare for exams is really important.” Also important, Overholt said, is the community the organization creates on campus. “SOS provides the campus a rejuvenation in student leadership and shows the impact students can have. In one year, Carleton SOS could easily raise $10,000 to $15,000.” business.humber.ca For more coverage . . . Giving voice Christian Osier learns about how technology can help sustain aboriginal languages. CUSA council woes Inayat Singh reports on council’s difficulty in scheduling meetings. CU creates dummy Elysha Haun reports on Carleton’s new bicycle crash test dummy. Top 10 of 2011-2012 Missed the news? This year’s top 10 headlines are available online now. charlatan.ca Excellent. Event Manager Logistics Coordinator Product Development Manager Visual Merchandiser WORKS. For the rest of this story, visit charlatan.ca Like you. You deserve the best learning experience possible and Athabasca University knows how to deliver. As Canada’s leader in online and distance education, we offer more than 800 courses in 50 programs to take you and your education to the next level. Learn more at explore.athabascau.ca. April 5 - May 30, 2012 charlatan.ca/news 5 TOP 10 CARLETON NEWSMAKERS OF 2011-2012 3 1. Ariel Norman (207 votes) 1 The CUSA vice-president (internal) made waves when citing CUSA’s bylaws, she attempted to remove 16 people from council, kicking off a legal battle that lasted almost five months and cost upwards of $200,000. 2. Roseann Runte (192 votes) 4 From her handling of on-campus sexual assaults and response to calls for divestment, president Runte has faced intense scrutiny. 3. SAIA (170 votes) Students Against Israeli Apartheid has been pushing all year for the university to divest from organizations they say are complicit in the Israeli occupation of Palestine. 2 4. Obed Okyere (163 votes) The CUSA president sided with the plaintiffs and suspended executive pay in an attempt to solve CUSA’s long-lasting legal battle. 5 5. Karim Khamisa (152 votes) The CUSA vice-president (finance) was unable to pass the CUSA budget for months due to the legal battle. 6 Justin Campbell The CUSA computer science councillor received 149 votes. 7 Michael De Luca The CUSA councillor and vice-president (finance)-elect received 144 votes. 8 Julie Lalonde The co-founder of the Coalition for a Sexual Assault Centre also received 144 votes. 9 Kaisha Thompson The Rideau River Residence Association (RRRA) president also received 144 votes. 10 Sean Finn The CUSA chief electoral officer received 135 votes. National Mint to halt penny production The Conservatives gave their two cents on how the government’s finances should be run as they officially scrapped the penny with the release of their federal budget March 29. The government will stop production of pennies effective September 2012. Getting rid of the coin will save Canadians $11 million per year. “Due to inflation, the penny’s purchasing power has eroded over the years,” according to a pamphlet issued by the federal government. “Some Canadians consider the penny more of a nuisance than a useful coin.” While the Royal Canadian Mint will no longer be making pennies, Canadians can still use the coins “indefinitely,” according to the pamphlet. Annual production of pennies had already gone down about 60 per cent, according to statistics from the Mint. “In removing its lowest denomination coin, Canada will follow on the successful experiences of many other countries, including Austria, Norway, Switzerland and the United Kingdom,” the pamphlet reads. Penny eliminations in New Zealand and Australia didn’t cause any sort of price inflation, according to the pamphlet. — Cassie Aylward 6 April 5- May 30, 2012 National Editor: Cassie Aylward • [email protected] Feds slash Katimavik funding by Inayat Singh Katimavik, a popular nationwide youth volunteer program, will no longer receive government funding after the Conservatives announced a number of federal budget cuts March 29. The program, launched under the Liberal government of Pierre Trudeau in 1977, sends youth from across the country to non-governmental organizations (NGOs) for placements of up to six months. The participants, aged 17 to 21, work in communities away from their homes, and alongside other volunteers picked from different parts of the country. Katimavik’s programming will end in July, according to a message on its website. “We hear different perspectives from around the country,” said Miranda Day, a Katimavik volunteer from Toronto currently working in Nova Scotia. “We get a better understanding of the issues affecting the country.” The Department of Canadian Heritage funds the program with $15 million a year. The per person cost of the program is approximately $28,000, said James Maunder, a spokesperson for Heritage Minister James Moore. “About [one-third] of youth who enroll in the program ultimately drop out,” Maunder said via email. “Ending the Katimavik program is a responsible decision that will save taxpayers over $15 million per year while allowing the [government] to find new, more Katimavik’s programming costs roughly $15 million a year. || efficient ways to give young people the opportunities they deserve.” The Ottawa-based Otesha Project is one of many NGOs that receive volunteers from Katimavik. Shirley Manh, the organization’s development director, said Katimavik means a lot not only to the youth who participate in the program, but also to the organizations that benefit from it. “The nation as whole should be supporting their youth,” Manh said. “I can’t say enough about how these volunteers help not only Otesha, but also other organizations around the country.” photo by Lasia Kretzel “We were really shocked and disappointed by the decision,” she added. Manh said she’s hopeful Katimavik will survive, maybe in some other form, after the funding cut. She said it was important to maintain the philosophy of the program. For Day, a highlight of working with the program was to be able to be a part of the Katimavik legacy. She said she heard from organizations she was placed with about the work and impact previous Katimavik volunteers had. For the rest of this story visit charlatan.ca Protests, elections and riots! Oh my! It was a eventful year across the country. Between protests, riots and elections, Canada was an interesting place for students to be in 20112012. With the year coming to a close, Cassie Aylward provides a run-down on the year’s biggest national stories. A year in headlines Death of an icon In October 2011, Ontarians went back to the polls to elect a new provincial government. Leaders Tim Hudak (Progessive Conservative), Dalton McGuinty (Liberal), Andrea Horwath (NDP), and Mike Schreiner (Green) all unveiled very different plans for how they would save students some money, but it was McGuinty’s plan to give each student a 30 per cent grant to help with tuition that was voted in. McGuinty got his position back, but lost his majority in October. The voter turnout was the lowest the province had ever seen, with only 48 per cent of registered voters casting a ballot. Harper’s majority Canadians headed to the polls to vote in the federal election May 2, 2011. With just over 50 per cent of seats in the House of Commons, Stephen Harper became the prime minister of Canada for the third straight election — except this time, Harper got his long-wanted majority. Not only did the Conservatives get their majority, but the New Democratic Party (NDP) won more than 100 seats in the House, sending the once almighty Liberals to only 34 seats. The Bloc Quebecois descended to naught with four seats. The leaders of both the Liberals and the Bloc, Michael Ignatieff and Gilles Duceppe, lost their seats and stepped down as leaders of their respective parties. The historic election also saw a handful of people under 25 years old elected within the NDP and gave the Green Party its first seat ever to Elizabeth May, the party’s leader who was elected in her British Columbia riding. The voter turnout, however, was underwhelming. Only 61 per cent of Canadians went to the polls, and youth voter turnout was only 59 per cent. Back to the polls no mention of cancelling the increase from the government so far, the uneasiness in the province could continue well into the summer and the 2012-2013 school year. Quebec students are still paying the lowest fees in the country. ‘Occupy’ kicks off Tuition turmoil in QC NDP leader and beloved politican Jack Layton lost his long battle with prostate cancer August 22, 2011. Layton had, only a few months before, led his party to the biggest gains it had ever seen, and had stepped down as leader of the party only less than a month before. Layton’s death was mourned on Parliament Hill, where Canadians brought cans of Orange Crush, orange flowers and notes echoing the words of hope Layton left in a final letter to Canadians he had penned just days before he died. “Love is better than anger. Hope is better than fear. Optimism is better than despair,” Layton wrote. “So let us be loving, hopeful and optimistic. And we’ll change the world.” When Quebec’s provincial government announced that the province’s students would start to pay more in tuition fees, students weren’t taking it lying down. In March 2011, the Quebec government anounced students would have to pay $325 more each year for tuition until 2016. Province-wide protests began in September 2011, and some of them turned ugly. On November 10, 2011, the City of Montreal saw four people arrested and faced charges for assaulting police officers and robberies. On McGill University’s campus, riot police were called. For the following months, francophone schools went on strike, and several more protests turned ugly across the province. With no end to the outrage in sight and They call them the one per cent, and they say they need to share. In September 2011, protesters in New York City began “Occupy Wall Street,” protesting the one per cent of people who hold the majority of the world’s wealth. The protests kicked off a worldwide movement that lasted for several months. Protesters in Ottawa began occupying Confederation Park Oct. 15, 2011. Protests remained peaceful, but the occupiers got the boot Nov. 21. Eight people were arrested early in the morning Nov. 23 after some protesters refused to comply with the National Capital Commission’s eviction notice. q April 5 - May 30, 2012 charlatan.ca/national 7 Boston U paper mocks sexual assault by Sarah Brandon Students at Boston University are saying the university’s paper, the Daily Free Press, took an April Fool’s Day joke too far when they parodied rape and sexual assault. The newspaper publishes an April Fools’ edition every year — this year’s edition was themed “The Disney Free Press.” One of the main stories was called “BROken egos: BU fraternity suspended for assaulting female student.” The story came after a string of sexual assault allegations and ” Not only is it bad PR for the [university], it’s a slap in the face for everyone who’s been victimized this year. — Boston University student hazing have taken place at Boston University. Many students have seen it as insensitive, condemning the student paper for its actions. “Considering the fact that BU’s student body has endured scandal after scandal after scandal, it was in completely poor taste,” a BU student told Jezebel. “Not only is it bad PR for the [university], it’s a slap in the face for everyone who’s been victimized this year.” Students have been engaged in many activities condemning sex- ual assault and rape as of late, such as “Take Back the Night” to raise awareness for victims. Michelle Weiser, a student from BU, told the Boston Phoenix that the Daily Free Press article was “a huge step backwards.” The story, which attracted attention from various media and social media outlets, features girls getting roofied, raped and gangbanged. As a result, the Daily Free Press issued an apology and the editorin-chief, Chelsea Diana, resigned from her position, according to the Boston Phoenix. q 29 95 $ $tudent pricing * New cancer software at U of C Researchers at the University of Calgary have developed a way to detect early signs of breast cancer months before the formation of tumours, according to Postmedia. The software that has been developed uses mathematical algorithms to show changes in the patient’s breast tissue, according to the CBC. In collaboration with the Alberta Breast Cancer Screening Program, Raj Rangayyan, Shantanu Banik and Leo Desautels developed the system that “flags subtle signs of breast cancer,” according to the University of Calgary website. By having a detection system that will catch things earlier, more women will be able to survive the disease, Rangayyan told the CBC. “So if you could incorporate this method in the screening program, it will facilitate the detection of cancer at an earlier stage,” he said. The detection looks at normal breast in which the ligaments, ducts, blood vessels, and tissues all converge towards the nipple. But when cancer is forming, some of these issues get pushed off in other directions, causing distortions, according to the Vancouver Sun. The distortions can be extremely difficult to see. A study from Clinical Radiology, a medical journal, stated that this type of distortion accounts for 12 to 45 per cent of overlooked breast cancer cases. Rangayyan told the CBC that while his research has been “promising,” it may be a while before doctors are able to use his software on patients. — Tatiana von Recklinghausen For just $29.95, walk in with your taxes, walk out with your refund. Instantly. You’ll also get a free SPC Card to save big at your favourite retailers.* instant cash back & free SPC Card* charlatan classifieds Feeling blocked, stressed? Need help writing, researching, or editing your assignments or term papers? we make taxes painle $$ Follow us on Twitter and Facebook hrblock.ca | 800-HRBLOCK (472-5625) © 2012 H&R Block Canada, Inc. *$29.95 valid for regular student tax preparation only. Cash Back service included. To qualify for student pricing, student must present either (i) a T2202a documenting 4 or more months of full-time attendance at a college or university during 2011 or (ii) a valid high school identification card. Expires July 31, 2012. Valid only at participating H&R Block locations in Canada. SPC Card offers valid from 08/01/11 to 07/31/12 at participating locations in Canada only. For Cardholder only. Offers may vary, restrictions may apply. Usage may be restricted when used in conjunction with any other offer or retailer loyalty card discounts. Cannot be used towards the purchase of gift cards or certificates. We are a professional company with 25+ years experience assisting people to problem solve their way to that perfectly completed assignment at all levels and subject areas. Call us: 416-960-9042 or 1-888-345-8295, our toll free number. Or on the web at customessay.com, or [email protected]. Let us take that headache pain away! Perspectives 8 April 5 - May 30, 2012 Perspectives Editor: Hilary Roberts • [email protected] Making friends along the Onzole River Commentary by Gerrit De Vynck The Onzole River winds through the bright green jungle. At this time of year, it’s fast and high. Cattle stare down from the steep hills. Black and orange birds swoop from tree to tree. As our canoe passes by, children and grandparents smile and wave from the windows of wooden houses. It’s February and we’re in Ecuador. Our team includes students from Carleton, Queen’s University, two high school students and three leaders from Navigators, the Christian fellowship organization through which we’re all connected. We’ve come to spend time along the Onzole River in northern Ecuador. Our base is Santo Domingo de Onzole, a village of around 400. It has a school, a soccer field and several churches. We run children’s camps in three communities up and down the river, playing games and making crafts with kids who never seem to get tired. Last year, a team of students went down to Santo Domingo to help build a community centre. Today, the centre is home to computer classes, a library and a women’s group. Our team was part of a partnership between a few dozen Canadians and some of the people of Onzole. The relationship began over a decade ago when some people from Santo Domingo invited the Canadians to help them develop their community. Together, we have fought to get the Ecuadorian government to fund the river’s schools and health care. Teams have gone down to train people how to make fine furniture and use computers. These skills have given the people of Onzole some of what they need to help others in their communities and bring hope into their lives. There’s a reason the people of Onzole live in such a remote place. They’re the descendants of black slaves who escaped years ago from plantations in nearby Colombia. They went upriver to escape racism, but they could never fully get away from it. The Ecuadorian government has all but ignored them. They only got electricity five years ago. One nurse serves the entire river’s health care needs. Our team didn’t go to Onzole to “help” the people there. A week-long trip can do little to tackle the systemic and social problems of racism, poverty, addiction and domestic abuse that haunt these communities. Instead, we went to make friends, share our lives and learn from them. For years, the people of Onzole have been looked down upon and mistreated. We hope that by visiting them, living and eating with them and playing in the mud with their kids, we can show them how valuable they really are. q Commentary: Memories of a special young man There’s something euphoric about marching through a village leading a train of beautiful children chanting obnoxiously. This was my escape this past reading week from books and classes. Often, when people ask about my trip to Ecuador, I tend to just say, “It was good,” or, “A nice getaway,” but truthfully, it’s what’s helping me get through my program at Carleton. As a student with some knowledge of Spanish, I was able to lead my group of my “turtles” (our group name and mascot) through the camps we set up in different villages across the Onzole River. I remember one of the villages called Sangudo. We were about to run a camp with kids we didn’t know, in a village we had never visited, in a level of heat our bodies were definitely not used to. I think I speak for many in our team when I say I was quite nervous, but we were ready. After a quick lunch on what seemed like the smallest chairs known to mankind, the Residents of Santo Domingo de Onzole play on the village’s soccer field (left). A young camp participant takes a break from playing sports (right). || photos by Marijke Large and Gerrit De Vynck Santo Domingo de Onzole is located on the Onzole River in northern Ecuador, near Colombia. children were split up and I was given my group. We marched to the first activity. I immediately noticed one particular character in my group. He was a young fellow who had a very big influence on the group, which didn’t make my job any easier. We had a tough go that day. But slowly, as I continued to try my best to react kindly to his disruptive behaviour, he began to wait for his turn to speak, treat others kindly, and I saw something in this boy that made him special. At the end of the second day, our last in Sangudo, as he was walking out of the door, he paused and turned to me and gave me a smile I’ll never forget and a quick but sincere hug. With his handpainted T-shirt and craft in hand, he ran into the rain, pausing to grab his toy boat, pulling it down the little stream that flowed through the village. I thought to myself, this is a moment worth storing away. Today, as I wander the halls of Carleton, sometimes I like to just pause and go back to that moment before continuing on my way to my next class. — Rebekah Dalm The Mighty 93 your link to the community Attention All Students… Looking for a fun, exciting part time summer job?! Molson Coors Canada is hiring for our Promotional Summer Team. Our objective is to find those, who can interact with target consumers, engage them in the activities of the promotion while driving brand awareness. If you’re fun, outgoing and want to be at al the biggest events this summer, please bring your resume (in person) to Oliver’s on Thursday, April 12 between Noon-3:00pm. Check us out and listen live over the web at CKCUFM.com Tune in any time, all the time! Find everything from hip-hop to politics or visit us on facebook at facebook.com/CKCUFM swindler the Vol 387•Issue 3.14 • April 5, 2012 the charlatan’s evil twin - since 1945 Charlatan editors to settle feud in boxing ring Web editor Chris Herhalt and editor-in-chief Farhan Devji will settle their bitter rivalry while vying for the ultimate prize: a unicorn. || By Jessica China The Charlatan’s newsroom will be transformed from a buzzing workplace to a sweaty boxing ring April 30. Charlatan editor-in-chief Farhan Devji and web editor Christopher Herhalt will be sparring for glory — and the Charlatan’s unofficial mascot — in the Charlatan newsroom at the end of April. The two originally called the fight after a game of darts in the newsroom turned sour. For the game, they had decided to play until the first player reached an exact score of 200. Devji claimed while he had his back turned, Herhalt cheated to win the game. “There were sparks coming out of the layout computers,” Devji said. “I had my back turned, and as soon as I turned around, there he was all smug. He had a bull’s-eye for a winning shot.” Herhalt said he threw the dart fair and square, but Devji said he didn’t hear the dart being thrown or hitting the board. Herhalt said he decided to call the boxing match after Devji repeatedly called him names. “I said ‘I can’t take any more of this pansy-ass shit. We’re going to fight and I’m going to kick the shit out of you,’” Herhalt said. Both fourth-year journalism students have strict training regimens planned for the coming weeks. Devji said for him, it’s all about hitting the gym, and that’s how he plans to win. “[Herhalt] is in terrible shape. Look at photo by Karol Karlsson the guy. He’s eaten one too many bakesale cookies,” he said. Herhalt dismissed Devji’s comments about his size, and said he plans to win with a better strategy. “I grew up with a shank in my pocket,” Herhalt said. “You think I’m afraid of this skinny boy from Nanaimo? Please — all I gotta do is hit him in the dick,” he said. The match will have three rounds lasting 20 minutes each, and the winner must win two out of three rounds. The winner will take home the Charlatan’s unofficial mascot, a pink and purple stuffed unicorn puppet. The match will be aired on CJTV News and will be posted on the Charlatan’s YouTube channel. tion a m r fo all in ained in es cont e four pagnd thes mplete a is co BS utter ‘Draconian’ banned By Draco Edict Students have voted in favour of banning the word “draconian” from campus in this year’s Carleton University Students’ Association (CUSA) referendum. “It’s a step in the right direction. Dr**onian is a deplorable and despicable term that only serves to make students feel persecuted in a space meant for free speech and democracy,” said CUSA councillor Athena Amenable, who asked for the word to be censored in print. The referendum question, which asked undergraduate students if they supported banning the word “that serves to undermine the value of safe student space and could be found offensive to those who have suffered unfair punishment,” will be banned from all written and verbal communication in CUSA physical and online space. Under the ban, anyone caught using the word will lose access to his or her U-Pass and will have his or her mouth taped shut at all times on campus. The ban will take effect on Sept. 31, 2012. A total of 73 votes were cast in this referendum, more than double the 35 who voted in this year’s CUSA presidential race. Of those 73 votes, 41 were in favour of banning the word, 27 voted against the ban, three ballots were spoiled and two were rejected. “I feel like this is a true victory for democracy,” said CUSA councillor Len Ient. “The students came out in force to show their support of this worthy cause and made their voices heard. I’m proud to be a Carleton student today. This is a human rights issue.” Not all CUSA councillors were pleased with the outcome of the vote. Brutus O’Pressae voiced concerns over the precedent that could be set by banning the word. “This is all because of the hacks,” O’Pressae said, refusing to comment on allegations that he himself is also a hack. Joe Average, a third-year unicorn science student, said he was unaware of the referendum and doesn’t care about student politics. “I didn’t receive a carrier pigeon with the ballot engraved in gold, so I didn’t know there was a referendum,” Average said. “I mean, I’m so much busier than everyone else. How can I possibly have 30 seconds to vote? I have more important things to do, like tweeting about the uselessness of student unions.” J2 the swindler life April 5, 2012 Meet CU’s most eligible bachelor Intrepid Swindler reporter Enaj Retsreg interviews Sean Finn, the man of the hour Sean Finn is a babe. There’s just no way around it. The Carleton student shot to fame for his role in this year’s Carleton University Students’ Association (CUSA) elections, but his real claim to fame is his stare. He stares at things. It’s hot. Finn gave us 30 seconds of his time, which is great, to tell us more about why he’s such a babe. Unfortunately, whether or not he’s available is still unknown. (S): How many times have you been slapped or had drinks thrown at you because of your pick-up line? several hours and then I train in class in front of my teachers and I eat more bacon. (SF): One, two . . . I even got one on St. Patty’s day, look at that, a whole pitcher not even a drink, a whole pitcher. My own beer! (S): Do you put the toilet seat down? Swindler (S): What are your top five tips for picking up the ladies? (S): You have to answer the question. Sean Finn (SF): Google it. One, two, three, four, five. Some wicked websites out there. (SF): Definitely Tarzan. Stealing her heart, of course. (SF): Come to my pahh-ty. (S): In that accent? (SF): Exactly. (SF): Silence. (S): What training regimen do you do use to keep in top bachelor form? (SF): Several eggs in the morning. Several bacon strips and bacon strips. Some more bacon. After the bacon I eat some more bacon and then I go to the gym for (S): Boxers or briefs? (SF): Depends on my mood in the morning. Laughs. If I’m feeling happy definitely the briefs. Laughs. If I’m lazy, boxers. (S): What is your ideal date? (SF): Horseback. Long beach. White sand. Candles. Moonlight. Wine. (S): Best date in Ottawa? (SF): Oooh, long walks along the canal. (S): What are your thoughts on being CU’s most eligible bachelor? (SF): Well, I mean I got here somehow didn’t I? Crisis line If you or somebody you know Is experIencIng serIous mental health problems, call toll free, 24 hours a day. WiTHin OTTAWA 613-722-6914 OUTsiDe OTTAWA 1-866-996-0991 www.crIsIslIne.ca Communion BY DIRECTED BY DANIEL LINDA MACIVOR MOORE TICKETS FROM $39 APRIL 10 –21 Previews: April 10 –11 | Opening Night April 12 | NAC Studio Starring Jenny Munday, Stephanie MacDonald and Kathryn MacLellan Composer Sandy Moore | Set Designer Victoria Marston | Costume Designer Janet MacLellan Co-Lighting Designs Ingrid Risk and Leigh Ann Vardy | Stage Manager Ingrid Risk Produced by KAZAN Co-op (Halifax) nac-cna.ca NAC BOX OFFICE MON.-SAT. 10 a.m.-9 p.m. GROUPS 10+ 613-947-7000 x634 [email protected] OFFICIAL HOTEL PARTNER Photo by Janet Maclellan | Photo retouching by Lorca Moore (S): What’s your best pick-up line? (S): Which of these three men’s dating styles is most like yours? A) Tarzan (kidnapping). B) Edward Cullen (stalker). C) Rhett Butler (vaguely abusive). (SF): Hmm . . . Depends who I’m trying to piss off. Get it? Laughs. J3 the swindler April 5, 2012 Pandemonium strikes! Hacks launch class in stonewalling By Emperor Eastwood Instead of a year-end concert, students in attendance at Pandamonium were shocked, just shocked, to see this lighting set-up. || by Talula Smyth Pandamonium descended into pandemonium April 1 at the Ottawa Civic Centre. Students began rioting at Pandamonium, the year-end concert when they realized they’d paid $20 to literally see lights and a dead mouse instead of the Juno-nominated Lights and Deadmau5. The mix-up came after Carleton University Students Association vicepresident (student life) Tai Keyes accidentally paid someone to install lights and fumigate the Ottawa Civic Centre, leaving all the rodents dead on stage. “It was an honest mistake and could happen to anyone,” Keyes said. “Why would you spell your name like that? It’s just dumb. I mean, who knows who Lights and Deadmau5 are anyway?” Nearly 1,000 fans of the Canadian superstars who came out for the show would beg to differ. Jessica “Je55” Lexington, a first-year architecture student said she’d been waiting at the gates to catch a glimpse of Deadmau5 since 5 a.m. the day before. She built a to-scale replica of the DJ’s mouse head for her final studio project. She said his music was the only thing that kept her going the long nights in Building 22. “[Deadmau5 is] one of the most recognizable Canadian musicians out there. How could [Keyes] not tell something was wrong. Is he blind?” Lexington said, nearly breaking down into tears. Keyes confirmed that he does have 20/20 vision. When asked whether he was suspicious about the low cost of booking the performers or that the booking was photo by Karol Karlsson managed by Dan’s Fumigators, Keyes simply replied he was too busy focusing on keeping costs down. As for the visible difference? “I don’t know what kids are into these days. I thought it was some sort of minimalist performance art group,” Keyes, also sixth-year political science student, said. The student riots broke out shortly after Keyes gave his opening speech welcoming the headliners to the cheering crowd. There was a moment of silence and then expletives, glow sticks and beer cans were hurled at the stage. “I thought it was some kind of April Fool’s joke,” said Mary Vadd, a secondyear psychology student. “I guess the real joke is our student government.” No students were harmed in the riots but one rodent was exterminated and the lights were burnt out. In another push to bring real-world learning opportunities into the classroom, Carleton announced a new course aimed at training future politicians on the complex art of not talking to the media. “We realized our current courses weren’t preparing tomorrow’s politicians and political staffers for today’s fastpaced, demanding media environment,” explained Alexander Link, dean of the Faculty of Public Affairs. “We were training them on how to effectively communicate and work with the press,” Link said. “Who the fuck does that anymore?” The interdisciplinary course, a collaboration between Carleton’s Faculty of Public Affairs (FPA), School of Public Policy & Administration (SPPA) and School of Journalism (SJ), is open to MA and PhD BPAPM students from CU, ASAP BBQ WTF. The course will focus on the theoretical aspects of the relationship between politicians and journalists, including the intertemporal relativity of deadlines, the nuanced differences between shunning and stonewalling, and the historical etymology of “No comment.” In the winter term, students will learn the finer aspects of bringing the fourth estate to its knees with lectures on deliberately misleading the press, muzzling bureaucrats and blackballing whistleblowers. “One class we’re really excited for will have a mock scrum, with the journalism students begging the BPAPM students for comment,” Link explained. “For the BPAPM students, it will be a chance to practice staying on message and saying shit all in as many long words as possible,” Link said. “It’s great for their self-confidence.” Professors Scott McNeil and Jennifer Pagliaro, who will be teaching the course, refused repeated requests for comment. What are you doing this summer? Why not start up, catch up or brush up at Carleton University? This summer, pick up some extra credits to get ahead, get caught up on missed courses, or simply enjoy some intellectual stimulation. Carleton University offers a great selection of university courses within all faculties. 2012 Summer session dates are: Early summer: May 7 – June 19 ■ Late summer: July 3 – August 15 ■ Full summer: May 7 – August 15 ■ Spend your summer at Carleton University Information on summer courses is now available online at carleton.ca/summer. Registration begins May 1 for degree students and May 2 for non-degree students. If you have any questions, please visit the Registrar’s Office in 300 Tory Building or contact the Registrar’s Office at 613-520-3500 Office of the Associate Vice-President (Students and Enrolment) carleton.ca/students J4 the swindler sports April 5, 2012 Treatment of Rodney an ‘outrage’ by Crosstina Fit A recent fundraising initiative by Carleton’s department of recreation and athletics is drawing heavy criticism from the university’s animal rights group. Members of Ravens for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (RETA) are protesting the department’s fundraiser for high performance athletes. Carleton’s mascot, Rodney the Raven, had been in captivity since the Canadian Interuniversity Sport men’s basketball Final 8 in March. He was released April 5. “It’s an outrage,” said RETA president Mark Rainbow. “It doesn’t matter how much money the High Flyers want to raise, locking a raven in the basement is unacceptable.” The High Flyers, the group of athletes on campus responsible for Rodney’s kidnapping, released a video March 23 showing the raven in a basement, locked behind a chain-link fence. He’s being held captive to raise money for the High Performance Athletes’ Fund, which provides financial assistance to Carleton athletes at the international level. Since the CIS Final 8, Rodney had been locked behind a chain-link fence in a basement. || graphic by Lord Sauron Not all athletes support the High Flyers’ actions, either. Elliot Thompson, a fifth-year Ravens basketball player, said Rodney was a major factor in his team’s national championship win. “To see him treated this way is completely unacceptable,” said Thompson. “I know they released him [April 5], but to see Rodney scared and alone like that has shaken up not only me, but the entire basketball team.” An undercover investigation last week by the Charlatan’s special assignment reporters revealed the extent of Rodney’s mistreatment. Posing as caretakers, two Charlatan reporters went to the storage room in the basement of the athletics building where Rodney was being held.” “He was shaking and cawing weakly in a corner,” said investigative reporter Farhan Devji. “His wings were clipped and it was clear he hadn’t been fed in a long time.” Ben Jenning, the director of athletics and recreation, refused to comment on the suggestions of animal abuse by the High Flyers. The Charlatan later learned that her silence was due to a lawsuit that RETA is launching against the university. “We have decided to pursue legal action as a result of the blatant mistreatment and abuse of Rodney the Raven for Carleton’s own financial gain,” Rainbow said. “The university must be held accountable for its abhorrent and inhumane actions against animals.” Thompson said he and the rest of the men’s basketball team are supportive of the lawsuit. “Carleton’s a great school and we have a great athletics department, but this is unacceptable,” he said. “I wouldn’t be able to willingly accept financial assistance from Carleton after knowing the measures they took to raise this money.” 13575 Pathway Ad 4x6.5 2/3/12 3:30 PM Page 1 Coach heading to rehab by Wright Err Renowned CIS featherball coach Gordon Plebiscite announced his addiction to winning and intent to start rehabilitation in a press conference on Monday. At the conference, Plebiscite described how he can only think about winning, no matter the situation. “Every second, every day, I just want to find somebody, and be better than them at something. I want to be the very best, like no one ever was,” he said. The announcement came after Plebiscite's 13th win at the CIS featherball championships, where he lead the Correldyn University Crows to a 127-0 victory against the University of Flin-Flon Gummy Bears. Plebiscite said that the national title had been irrelevant, and that he had only cared about winning the game. “At that point, I needed it. I didn't care if we got that trophy. I only wanted to bask in the glorious feeling that I got when I looked at that scoreboard and saw that we had utterly destroyed the competition.” Plebiscite said that his addiction had started when he was young, describing a game of rock paper scissors he had played with his brother at the age of four. “The first time [I won], I felt like I was looking at creation through the eyes of God. I could see my purpose laid out in front of me. I needed to humiliate everyone in any challenge,” he said. Plebiscite went on to describe how he forced his brother to play rock paper scissors with him every day after that. “I needed that feeling again, no matter the cost. I would wake him up at two in the morning and demand he play with me until I felt that his self esteem had been reduced to a tiny little brittle speck,” he said. “I didn't know it then, but that was the point when my addiction started to take control of my life.” After spending his high school years playing every sport possible, and joining every varsity team in university, becoming a featherball coach was a natural step for him, he said. “I couldn't keep winning, not with my age. I needed to start getting people to do it for me. I made myself a team. They would serve as the instrument through which I would crush anybody that stood in my path,” he said. As head coach of the Crows, Plebiscite won every single game, getting him 30 coach of the year awards, as well as garnering him the nickname “Tenacious Gordon.” “It's a really weak nickname,” said Martin Salt, a fellow CIS coach. “But we didn't want him to get angry at us, so we kept it at that.” During the conference, Plebiscite's wife Rita said that his addiction had affected her family life as well. “He would play with the kids, but he always had to build a higher building-block tower, just to show he could. It really affected their self esteem.” She added that she was hopeful that Plebiscite was on the right path to rehabilitation. “I know in my heart that one day, he might be alright with tieing, or even losing,” she said. After hearing the word “losing,” Plebiscite flew into a fit, and challenged everybody in the room to an impromptu game of foosball. Plebiscite said that he will be staying at the Des Moins Rehabilitation Clinic (DORC). “I hope that I can pull through. In fact, I know it. I will pull through better than anybody who's ever been to in rehab before. I will beat them all.” BUSINESS DEGREES $2,500 FIND YOUR PATHWAY TURN YOUR DIPLOMA INTO A DEGREE. Turn your diploma into a degree through Humber's pathways. Apply for advanced standing by transferring your college credits into almost all of our degree programs. Those who qualify will also receive a one-time scholarship of $2,500, the only one of its kind in Canada. business.humber.ca/pathways Features 13 April 5 - May 30, 2012 Features Editor: Victoria Abraham • [email protected] My little brony Noah Lefevre explores the fascinating world of Bronies: men who are fans of My Little Pony Bronies like TV show My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic because of the cuteness of the characters. Adam Pachulski, a second-year aerospace engineering student, is a Brony. || photos by Carol Kan questria is a world full of E colourful images, ponies and unicorns — a world full of ly community that drew Chris Boyd, a 23-year-old Brony from Ottawa, to the show. Boyd says he admires the way the community is bringing people together, and how so many people around the world can come together simply to share their love of My Little Pony. Adam Pachulski, also 23, is another Ottawa-based Brony. Like so many others, the second-year Carleton aerospace engineering student has become a passionate fan of the show. “It’s the closest and most open community I’ve seen online,” he says. True to the show’s values of spreading friendship, love, and happiness, Pachulski says becoming a Brony has “made [him] a happier person.” While the show’s messages aren’t uncommon, it’s the way in which they’re delivered that has created such a following from the Brony community. Many first-time viewers of the show are often swept away by I I Spring Fitness Program registration opens April 4 ! th New classes* this spring/summer are: Tabata, Belly Fit, Dance Hall, Argentine Tango II, ½ & ½. *New noon classes include Zumba, Aerobic Kickboxing, ½ & ½, Tabata! For full class schedule visit www.carleton.ca/athletics. I I I I I I I TEEmedia.ca Want to get in shape for summer? I I Need a Great Website? Ottawa Web Solutions I I the cuteness of the characters, plot lines and the art style. This was the case for Boyd. The show also allows people to “get in touch with their feminine side,” Boyd says, which is something he thinks more people should do. On top of the cuteness, there’s also an atmosphere around it that Pachulski likened to Looney Tunes. It has the same kind of magic that makes it appealing to adults and kids alike, he says. Within the Brony community, culture and fan art thrives. Both Pachulski and Boyd have used My Little Pony as a tool of expression through music and art, and this is common within the community. Fan-made ponies, stories, drawings and music can easily be found anywhere on the Internet. Unlike other collectors, thousands of Bronies are coming together around one common passion and creating a subculture that truly is one of a kind. q I I friendship, love and tolerance. This is the land of My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic — a world that seems perfectly tailored to the dreams of young girls. Yet, this magical realm of ponies has also attracted a different kind of viewer: the Brony. “Brony” is a term used to describe a man, usually in his mid-teens to 30s, who is a fan of My Little Pony. Bronies, who are becoming one of the Internet’s biggest subcultures, are much more common than some might think. My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic is a cartoon series that first aired in October 2010. It’s based off the original My Little Pony series of dolls and shows created in the 1980s. Like most children’s shows, it teaches lessons about the value of friendship and caring for one another. These lessons, along with the various characters, have attracted an audience the show’s creators never intended. The size of the Brony community is overwhelming. Some of the biggest communities on the Internet, including 4chan and Reddit, are home to large Brony communities. For example, on Reddit and 4chan, the Brony communities grew so big that both of those websites had to create new sub-boards just for the Bronies because they were overwhelming other boards. They’ve even created their own social networks such as Brony Square and the Rainbowdash Network. While many online fanbases can be hostile and exclusive, the Brony community seems to embrace the values taught by the show. Simply signing up for Brony Square will get you a handful of friend requests and warm welcome messages. It was this welcoming, friend- 14 charlatan.ca/oped The Education of Charlie Banks For more Fred Durst coverage . . . Opinions Trayvon Martin: Racism lives Efua Bamfo discusses the Trayvon Martin case and what the Florida teen’s death says about the presence of institutional racism in today’s society. No sense in the CFS Chris Thompson disputes last week’s letter by Ruty Skvirsky, which stuck up for the Canadian Federation of Students. The library’s dangerous side Abraham Lau says that there’s a psychological downside to keeping MacOdrum Library open 24 hours a day — even during the exam period. Blog Posts Sex & the Single Student: Sharing our fantasies L.S. Davis explores the idea of a sexual fantasy, even asking some friends to take part in the conversation. Baha’i faith: Search for truth Donald Lucas explains how studying Baha’i writings helped him on his quest for knowledge, allowing him to develop his idea of truth as something that’s both relative and absolute. Islam: Jealousy vs. envy Is jealousy always a bad thing? What’s the difference between envy and jealousy? Religion blogger Muhammad Mohamed answers those questions and more from a Muslim perspective. Judaism: Path to freedom The evening of April 6 marks the beginning of Passover, a Jewish holiday commemorating the biblical exodus from Egypt. But Sammy Hudes wonders if modern day Jews are truly free. Street style on campus Fashion bloggers Katarina Protsack and Devon Cavanaugh spotted some stylish looks on Carleton’s campus. Fashion: Spring looks Laura Kell put together three looks that’ll have you dressing in style this spring. Check out her blog to see some of the hottest trends this season. charlatan.ca In defence of United Way Get loud about construction On behalf of United Way Ottawa, I want to address some irresponsible reporting by Maghen Quadrini in your March 22 edition of the Charlatan and to correct a series of inaccuracies that, left unchallenged, could be extremely damaging to United Way and the many agencies, programs and people it supports. As a journalist with 36 years’ experience, I know the importance of getting the facts straight. As a volunteer in this community, I am also keenly aware of the damage that can result from false accusations and ill-informed opinion. In that vein, let me address some of the misinformation Ms. Quadrini provides as evidence of her conclusion that United Way is “scamming people out of their dollars and cents.” Yes, a United Way of America president was convicted of embezzling funds from United Way of America 20 years ago. This makes United Way a victim, not the perpetrator, of wrongdoing. Ms. Quadrini also cites a New York Times story concerning “double-counting” donations, a practice that has never existed in Canadian United Ways, which all adhere to Canada Revenue Agency-approved accounting procedures. Ms. Quadrini also raises a case in Toronto where a United Way Canada volunteer faced sanctions related to a dispute between the Institute of Chartered Accountants and an accounting firm. She neglects to report that the person was acquitted of any wrongdoing or that the allegations against him had absolutely nothing to do with United Way. The one local situation mentioned relates to some of those who attended our most recent annual meeting. They represented agencies that had seen their funding reduced or eliminated; understandably, they were upset. Ms. Quadrini does not mention that these funds were reallocated to different agencies following a public and competitive call for applications that followed a 10-year long, volunteer-led process of renewing funding priorities to better reflect needs and demographics in our changing city. With no evidence, Ms. Quadrini states that we give “very little back to the people who need it.” In fact, 85 per cent of every dollar raised goes to program spending, representing one of the lowest fundraising and administration costs of the major charities, a fact easily obtainable through published and independently audited financial statements or through Canada Revenue Agency filings. I would offer Ms. Quadrini an introductory lesson in communications — words matter. When applied recklessly they can have devastating consequences. I invite the Charlatan’s readers to find out more about United Way and to consider becoming part of the effort that helps thousands in our community. — Rick Gibbons Publisher and CEO, Ottawa Sun and 24 Hours Ottawa Chair, United Way Ottawa board There was an article in the Charlatan that highlighted low voter turnout and apathy towards decisions involving the student body. I’d make the argument that it starts with our union and extends downwards — but not downwards into the basement of our school’s library. We’re not allowed in there anymore. The university approves contracts for projects involving housing and the buildings here on campus. Much of this comes about due to communication between university administration and the maintenance division of the university. Where is the student voice in these proceedings? We’re in the middle of final exams and students are packed into the library. With the increase in admission numbers that occurred this year, it’s been fairly difficult to find space to get work done (more so than in years past). Something worse happened though: the university went ahead and approved renovations to the library to occur during exams. They have made it more difficult to access a great place to study. Even worse, the con- Tunnel Access - 1st Floor Technology and Training Centre struction is restricting the space available. And nobody’s getting mad about this! We haven’t heard anyone say anything about it. Students haven’t protested against it, and neither has our student union. For all the great work the Carleton University Students’ Association does fundraising for charities, ultimately they haven’t gone beyond quietly lobbying in closed-door meetings for this issue. This is the job they signed up to do, and they just haven’t done it. I guess ultimately I’m frustrated because nobody else is. I’m writing this in between studying on the third floor. I’m going to be honest and say I wanted to end this piece with something witty, and I thought I had something, but I seriously lost it when I heard the construction crew outside the third floor windows hammering into the side of the building. It’s going to be an especially long and loud exam season this spring. Enjoy it, Carleton. — Matt Corluka fourth-year international business GSA vote to divest was unfair Less than 300 out of 3,000 graduate students at Carleton voted and passed a plebiscite March 21 and 22 calling on the university to adopt a “socially responsible” investment policy. While Israel wasn’t explicitly mentioned, it was launched by Students Against Israeli Apartheid, a movement that runs a boycott, divestment, and sanctions campaign against the democratic state of Israel, often comparing it to previous efforts against South African apartheid. Motorola, one of the companies targeted, has run programs to help at-risk teenagers in Israel, provided classes for deaf children, scholarships to students, and employment opportunities for handicapped people, according to Motorola Israel’s 2007 social responsibility report. Their crime? They supply communication technology to the Israeli military. Tesco is a British grocery chain. Their crime? They sell vegetables in disputed territories. Not convinced? Perhaps you’re uncomfortable with any company operating in Israel. As destructive a point of view as that may be, you’re entitled to it. The point of democracy is that we can have disagreements and resolve them by majority vote with fairness, impartiality, and genuine discussion. Unfortunately, the Graduate Students’ Association (GSA)’s largely unnoticed “vote” two weeks ago not only suffered from severe democratic deficit, but made a mockery of the very idea of democracy. Part of having a GSA is giving students the right to choose. Students can choose to boycott Israel while ignoring mass murder in Syria, the execution of gays in Iran, or the plight of aboriginals in Canada. They can choose to engage in honest criticism of the government of Israel or to vilify their peers and delegitimize the very idea of a Jewish state. At the very least, they should be able to choose. Students can’t make meaningful choices when the question is posed as “Do you support Carleton University adopting a binding social- Your Drug Information Centre 613-526-3666 April 5 - May 30, 2012 ly responsible investment policy that would require it to divest from companies complicit in illegal military occupations and other violations of international law, including but not limited to: BAE Systems, Motorola, NorthropGrumman, and Tesco Supermarkets?” This biased formulation of the issue is sort of like asking someone whether they support child pornography. Vic Toews, anyone? Of course, you can’t blame them — there was seemingly no opposition. This is probably because the email “informing” graduate students that a plebiscite vote was coming led to a page that posed the question with the same opaque wording. In reality, a movement was forming to oppose this message, which was not offered space on the GSA website or given a reasonable opportunity to campaign on campus. Practically no graduate students were aware of the vote until a week before, when SAIA began their aggressive campaign. Even so, it only took opposing students a few days to mobilize. When they got to the GSA’s office the week of the vote, the “deadline” (previously unmentioned by the GSA) had passed and the opposition had been effectively excluded. To add insult to injury, advertisements for the “yes” campaign were prominently featured on every voting table on campus. You know, just like in federal elections where there are Conservative placards decorating the voting booths — yet another campaigning advantage the opposition wasn’t aware of until too late. This partiality against Israel and disrespect for democratic values was so impressive that Iran’s state propaganda machine, Press TV, picked up the story, nostalgically thinking back to their own election debacle in 2009. Graduate students deserve better than this. The GSA owes us all an apology and a new vote. — Jonathan Pinkus first-year NPSIA graduate student On-Campus Full Service Pharmacy - Student Drug Plan On-Line - Private Consultation Area - Travel Clinic Services - Vitamins and Herbal Products - Non-Prescription Medications www.prescriptionshop.ca Opinions/Editorial 15 April 5 - May 30, 2012 Op/Ed Editor: Ilana Belfer • [email protected] A call to keep Katimavik Katimavik is a federally-funded program with a mandate to “engage youth in volunteer service and foster sustainable communities through challenging national youth learning programs,” according to their website. Or, rather, it used to be a federally-funded program. The Canadian government unveiled its budget for the new fiscal year March 29. Among several major cuts, the Conservatives scrapped all funding for Katimavik. Looks like there will be fewer young adults working with the elderly, improving impoverished areas, and helping disabled people — just a few examples of Katimavik initiatives. Scrapping Katimavik is taking away years of invaluable volunteer experience from thousands of at-risk youth across the country. Not to mention, the program only costs the government $15 million annually, according to the treasury board — just a small slice of their budget. So what’s the government’s reason for cutting the program’s funding? In the week leading up to the budget’s release, Liberal MP Justin Trudeau asked Heritage Minister James Moore that very question in the House of Commons. Moore deflected the question with a comment on Trudeau’s boxing match, which was coming up that weekend, against Conservative senator Patrick Brazeau. No answer was given. It appears the Conservatives have no leg to stand on, and it seems like this is pure politics since it’s not the first time a Conservative government has scrapped the program, which was introduced in the ‘80s under a Liberal government. The decision to end Katimavik funding isn’t doing anything to help youth. Well, aside from helping them veer off the path to becoming contributing members of society. Instead, it’s potentially steering them straight to Prime Minister Stephen Harper’s brand-new multi-million dollar prisons.q Add genres to Juno spotlight It’s no secret that in most people’s minds, the Junos don’t stack up to their American counterpart: the Grammys. This speaks to how Canadian music in general is perceived compared to American music. However, the Junos have the potential to help Canada’s music scene flourish. This year, the Junos added a new category for hard/metal album of the year. This category not only recognizes existing Canadian talent in this area, but also allows it to develop. While Winnipeg’s KEN Mode took home the first ever hard/metal album of the year award, they’re far from the first Canadian heavy metal band. Fellow nominee Anvil has been on the scene since the ‘70s — and there were countless others before them. Up until this point, the Junos have just been ignoring metal, hardcore, heavy rock, death metal and all their sub-genres. The addition of new categories paves the way for artists in these genres. A case in point is the electronic album of the year category, which was added to last year’s Juno Awards. With a burgeoning Canadian electronic scene, the Junos couldn’t shelve the artists into different categories anymore. This year, electronic music was front and centre with Deadmau5 performing a heavily electronic set at the awards show. The Junos should work hard to not only introduce these categories, but to also actively promote them. Both categories were relegated to the non-televised awards gala in their inaugural years. Instead, they should be a main focus of the awards show to demonstrate the growth and emergence of Canadian music scenes. If the Junos don’t show them, people will continue to ask where Canada’s developing music scenes are. q charlatan poll the Do you agree with the decision to scrap the penny? Vote online at www.charlatan.ca Last Issue: Are you happy the U-Pass is here to stay? the charlatan Yes: 80 per cent April 5 - May 30, 2012 Volume 41, Issue 30 Room 531 Unicentre 1125 Colonel By Drive Carleton University Ottawa, ON — K1S 5B6 General: 613-520-6680 Advertising: 613-520-3580 www.charlatan.ca [email protected] Circulation: 8,500 No: 20 per cent Editor-in-Chief Farhan Devji [email protected] Production Assistant Andrew Nguyen News Editors Jessica Chin and Jane Gerster National Editor Cassie Aylward Features Editor Victoria Abraham As the budget revealed, Katimavik isn’t a top priority for the Tories — p. 6 Disqualify stigma against mental illness mates that one in five people will suffer from mental illness at some point in their life — that’s 20 per cent of the population. Yet society still looks at people who suffer from mental health issues like invisible lepers. It’s to the point where, according to the CMHA’s website, only about 20 per cent of youth afflicted By now, most of you have probably heard about the with mental illness in the first place will actually get treatment. shenanigans surrounding the Rideau River Residence As- We are treating mental illness like it’s some dirty little secret that no one’s allowed to talk about without getting shunned. sociation (RRRA) elections. And it’s sad that it has to happen here in Ottawa, too, After multiple recounts, the Home Team and Keep RRRA Working slates ended up in a dead tie. Normally, this would because I really thought we were starting to get our act toresult in a run-off election between the two slates. However, gether on mental health. It was less than four years ago that the Royal Ottawa Menit’s looking like that’s not going to happen because the Home Team has been disqualified, according to a press release tal Health Centre teamed up with the greatest hockey player in the history of ever, Daniel Alfredsson, for the “You Know from the chief electoral officer (CEO). Shanee Bailey, the Home Team’s presidential candidate, Who I Am” campaign. In a press conference, Alfredsson discussed his family’s struggles explained her side of the story in a heartfelt letter to There is a larger issue at hand than the to help his sister, who had suffered from depression. supporters on Facebook. results of a student election, though. Less than two years ago, DaBailey, who works as a Res I’m talking about the stigma people ron Richardson, daughter of Luke Commons desk employee, Richardson, the Ottawa Senators’ admitted to suffering from project towards mental illness. assistant coach, committed suidepression for a large part cide at the age of 14. Rather than of her life. wallowing in their grief, the RichIn the letter, Bailey describes the series of events like this: One day, before RRRA ardsons teamed up with the Royal Ottawa and went public nominations started, a combination of personal issues and with the “Do It for Daron” (D.I.F.D.) campaign, which aims to the stresses of work and school caused her to suffer a major establish dialogue between parents and youth about mental emotional breakdown. In desperation, she took the res bind- health. The campaign still enjoys massive support to this day. In fact, RRRA’s election results were announced March 28, er (which contains the contact information of all students in residence) home with her to contact a friend for support. In the day before Carleton’s Power to the Purple Day — a D.I.F.D. her depressed state, she completely forgot about the binder initiative where students wear purple (Daron’s favourite colour) to raise awareness and promote discourse about mental until she was asked to return it. I haven’t heard of any students who complained about be- health issues. I guess not everyone got the memo. I have every ounce of respect in the world for Bailey. Whething called or emailed by the Home Team slate, and I’ve seen no evidence to suggest they used the res binder in their campaign er or not she was actually blackmailed is almost irrelevant. She at all. Yet RRRA CEO Fadi El Masry still saw it fit to disqualify still had the courage to stand up and not only say that she made the Home Team and declare Keep RRRA Working the winners. a mistake, but be honest with us as to why she made it. As for the alleged “blackmail” incident, I can’t say whethThe worst part is that Bailey claims El Masry attempted to, in her words, “blackmail” her into quietly dropping out er or not it actually happened, but a missing res desk binder of the race before the recount by threatening to make infor- isn’t the only thing we should be investigating. For her slate to be disqualified when no one has presented mation about her depression public. Blackmailed with her a shred of concrete evidence that they actually cheated is own mental health. Welcome to politics, folks. There is a larger issue at hand than the results of a student atrocious, and it only furthers the idea that mental illness is election, though. I’m talking about the stigma that people something that has to be hidden from the world. I wish we had a few more Baileys in the world — people who aren’t project towards mental illness. It’s appalling, really. The Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA) esti- afraid to put a spotlight on the darker parts of their lives. q Op/Ed Editor Ilana Belfer Perspectives Editor Hilary Roberts Arts Editor Juanita Bawagan Sports Editor Erika Stark Photo Editor Carol Kan Graphics Editor Don Dimanlig Riley Evans is a first-year journalism student who says we should be raising awareness about mental health, rather than shunning it from our campus amd beyond. Web Editor Chris Herhalt Copy Editor Candice So Staff Photographer Pedro Vasconcellos Social Media Coordinator Shamit Tushakiran Web Guru Tyler Pearce Contributors: Erika Allen, Efua Bamfo, Matt Blenkarn, Sarah Brandon, Devon Cavanagh, Matt Corluka, Harrison Cowman, Rebekah Dalm, L.S. Davis, Gerrit De Vynck, Riley Evans, Cam Garbutt, Nikki Gladstone, Elysha Haun, Sammy Hudes, Jenn Jeffreys, Laura Kell, Adella Khan, Lasia Kretzel, Jackob Kuzyk, Abraham Lau, Matt Lee, Noah Lefevre, Arik Ligeti, Callum Micucci, Muhammed Mohamed, Gianluca Nesci, Lewis Novack, Christian Osier, Jonathan Pinkus, Grace Protopapas, Katarina Protsack, Oliver Sachgau, Jamie Shinkewski, Inayat Singh, Jasleen Singh, Justin So, Christian Thompson, Fraser Tripp, Tatiana von Recklinghausen The Charlatan’s photos are produced exclusively by the photo editor, the photo assistant and volunteer members, unless otherwise noted as a provided photograph. The Charlatan is Carleton University’s independent student newspaper. It is an editorially and financially autonomous journal published weekly during the fall and winter semesters, and monthly during the summer. Charlatan Publications Incorporated, Ottawa, Ontario, is a non-profit corporation registered under the Canada Corporations Act and is the publisher of the Charlatan. Editorial content is the sole responsibility of editorial staff members, but may not reflect the beliefs of all members. The Charlatan reserves the right to edit letters for length and grammar. The Charlatan’s official tributes are Jessica Chin, Adella Khan, Inayat Singh, Marina von Stackelberg, Oliver Sachgau, Tom Ruta, Kristen Cochrane, Callum Micucci, Pedro Vasconcellos, Marcus Poon, Gerrit De Vynck. May the odds be ever in your favour. Contents are copyright 2012. No article or photograph or other content may be duplicated or reproduced in any way without the prior written permission of the editor-in-chief. All rights reserved. ISSN 0315-1859. National advertising for the Charlatan is handled through the Campus Network, 145 Berkeley Street, Suite 500, Toronto, Ontario, M5A 2X1: (416) 922-9392. Arts 16 April 5 - May 30, 2012 Arts Editor: Juanita Bawagan• [email protected] Junos draw in fresh blood Fraser Tripp covered the new and familiar faces that came out for Juno week Feist won artist of the year. She racked her Juno count up to 11 this year. Deadmau5 performed at the Junos. He lost in his three nominated categories. William Shatner and company opened up the Juno Awards broadcast April 1 with a rendition of Trooper’s “Raise a Little Hell.” And he wasn’t the only one raising a little hell at Scotiabank Place for the 41st Canadian music awards. The night was filled with surprises — for those who won and those who didn’t. With the majority of the awards handed out the previous evening at the Juno gala, the actual broadcast recognized the more popular awards, including new artist and album of the year. In keeping with the hellish theme, Nickelback opened the show with what the 81-year-old Shatner described as weak pyrotechnics. “If the drummer survives, what’s the point?” he asked. The pyrotechnics weren’t the only thing about Nickelback that seemed to be lackluster. The Canadian musical heavyweights lost to younger and newer Canadian talent in all four categories they were nominated for. The rest of the show seemed to be a nod to the fresh faces on the Canadian music scene. CU prof wins Juno It was an evening of firsts at the Ottawa Convention Centre for the Juno Awards gala March 31. The event recognized 34 awards that aren’t a part of the televised Juno broadcast, which aired April 1. The 99 first-time nominees are an indication of “Canadian music’s growth,” said Melanie Berry, CEO of the Canadian Academy of Recording Arts and Science, as she opened the evening. Carleton music professor Jesse Stewart, a first-time nominee, also became a first-time Juno award winner. Stewart, along with his bandmates from Stretch Orchestra, took home the Juno for instrumental album of the year for their self-titled EP. “We were quite shocked to have actually won,” Stewart said. He said the win meant a lot to him on a personal level. His bandmates have been nominated and won Junos for their work. He said he was proud to have had a hand in a lot of the less “glamorous” aspects of the award, like writing the grant application that financed the award-winning album or applying to the Junos. Stewart said he was honoured to have been in the company of fellow nominees who he’s seen as his mentors. Above all, Stewart said he became even more aware of the “depth and breadth” of talent in Canada. “I was really impressed with the calibre of musicians that are performing in this country,” he said. Another first of the evening was the Juno for hard/metal album of the year. Winnipeg metal-heads KEN Mode took home the award, which was added this year. Other awards handed out include album of the year for classical, pop and world music. Kiran Ahluwalia, recipient of the world music album of the year, provided an interesting anecdote involving other cultures’ tea, which she said tasted like pee. While travelling, Ahluwali said she experienced many elements of culture shock, like the taste of the tea, but it was “a good omen” because there are always difficulties when working with diverse groups. The night wasn’t a first for everyone. For the fifth time, folk singer David Francey was nominated for folk and traditional album of the year by a solo artist. Even though Francey didn’t win the award, losing out to Bruce Cockburn, he said he was honoured to be nominated again. For the rest of this story, visit charlatan.ca New group of the year nominees Hey Rosetta! provided a bit of contrast to Nickelback’s fiery performance with a more laid back one. Alyssa Reid, JRDN, Mia Martina, Anjulie, and Dragonette also brought a “mixtape” of radio singles to life on stage. While the concept was interesting, allowing a larger number of performers to be showcased, the medley felt disjointed and rushed at times. It may have been because Dragonette frontwoman Martina Sorbara said she had downed 14 Red Bulls earlier. Sorbara won dance recording of the year for Dragonette and Martin Solveig’s collaboration, “Hello.” She described the feeling of winning as “buzzy,” although that might still have been the Red Bulls talking. Both Solveig and Dragonette said they didn’t expect to win against Deadmau5’s infectious electronic hook on “Aural Psynapse.” For those surprised, Shatner offered his version of the selection process for award winners — a game of pin-the-tail on the award Dragonette won dance recording of the year for “Hello.” || photos by Carol Kan winner played by Rita MacNeil drunk on Jäger bombs. While this isn’t the actual selection process, a number of the winners were shocked to discover they had beaten out some of the more mainstream artists. In a few cases, Shatner’s version of the selection process might have proved true to some dissenters. Deadmau5 didn’t seem too bothered by his loss to Dragonette. However, he seemed to be blown away that Michael Bublé’s Christmas took home album of the year. He even asked if he was being strung along when asked to comment on it. While the spotlight seemed to be on the upsets, veteran musicians know it’s not unusual for their career to take unexpected turns. Jim Cuddy, frontman of Canadian Music Hall of Fame inductees Blue Rodeo, said the band started out playing venues like Ottawa’s Rainbow Bistro years ago. Since then, he said “[Blue Rodeo’s] career became one surprise after another.” q A Fucked Up JunoFest Fucked Up was nominated for alternative album of the year but lost to Dan Mangan. People aren’t always fighting to touch a screaming, half-naked, overweight man’s belly but when they do, it might be because they’re at a Fucked Up concert. After a bit of a late start, Fucked Up began and the ground shook March 30 at Babylon Nightclub. A mosh pit formed and bodies crashed against each other as Fucked Up frontman Damian Abraham got up close and personal with the crowd. Hands reached out for the opportunity to touch Abraham as he got face-to-face with those in the front. For nearly an entire song, Abraham was out in the crowd, the microphone cord being guided by fans. Shirtless and pantless, the lead singer made his rounds as he screamed into the microphone before returning to the stage with the cord wrapped around his face. The scene seemed like a fitting end to the night of streamers, blackouts and local bands with names like Pregnancy Scares and Party Knives. The band rocked one of many venues across Ottawa for JunoFest, which featured Juno-nominated groups. Fucked Up was nominated for alternative album of the year, but lost to the much softer cooing of Dan Mangan. Hollerado rounded out the local acts. The indie rockers may be Ottawa natives, but they’ve climbed their way up as international artists and picked up Juno nominations along the way. They were up for video of the year at the ceremony, but got beat out by the Sadies. Before breaking into their set, they warned they have a tradition of playing some of their worst shows during the Juno Awards. “We’re going to try and butcher some new songs and some old ones,” said frontman Menno Versteeg. The show hit a small snag quickly after the first song when they cut out during their first attempt at “Juliette.” “And the tradition continues,” Versteeg said. “This is avant-garde ‘Juliette.’” The band recovered and launched into “Way Down Low.” Streamers were let loose as the band began “Got to Lose.” Versteeg had the audience singing along: “You’ve got to lose love if you want to find love.” The crowd really came to life, however, as the first chords of “Juliette” broke out. A mosh pit quickly formed in front of the stage and pretty much everyone was moving to the music in one way or another. “It’s looking cool to be [in Ottawa],” Versteeg said. q April 5 - May 30, 2012 charlatan.ca/arts 17 Creating poetry to get through a bad day by Adella Khan Shane Koyczan’s poem, “6:59 AM,” is the closest he said he’ll ever get to writing something as beautiful as Leonard Cohen’s work. But Koyczan is already writing, speaking, and singing words as sexy, politically charged, and beautiful as his idol. Koyczan, 35, has been opening the doors to slam poetry and his popularity since his performance of “We Are More,” a homage to Canada, during the opening ceremonies of the 2010 Vancouver Olympics. With two years of experience under his belt since that breakout, Koyczan and the Short Story Long have begun an 18date national tour of their new album, Remembrance Year, which includes a stop at the Black Sheep Inn in Wakefield April 9. A combination of older pieces and unheard work, Remembrance Year flows smoothly from folk melodies to rockabilly bass — all to the strength of Koyczan’s strong voice and stark wit. The album will be followed by a new collection of poetry, Our Deathbeds Will Be Thirsty, which will be released April 18. Koyczan’s ability to capture the experiences others let pass or the memories people sometimes let fade all stems from his undergrad, he said. Koyzcan took up poetry for the first time while studying at Okanagan University College in Penticton, B.C. After having some difficulties in high school, he said it started getting easier to express his thoughts and emotions through poetry. Poems turned to spoken word, spoken word turned to music, and books to albums. “The transition was pretty natural,” Koyczan said. “When I write, I often have classical music playing in the background . . . music gave me the tools I needed to emotionally connect.” Still, the honesty and emotion are themes reflected throughout his repertoire. Koyczan said he pulled inspiration from his own childhood experiences with bullying in Stickboy, a novel-length narrative told through poetry. The novel tells the story of a boy who becomes a bully after years of enduring the hardship himself. )&-1.",&$"3-&50/#"33*&3'3&& "OEXJOBOFXSE(FOFSBUJPO"QQMFJ1BE )PXUPXJO 'SPN"QSJMUPMPHJOUP IUUQXXXHMPCBMBDDFTTJCJMJUZNBQDPN 4JHOVQXJUIZPVS$6*%BTZPVSTDSFFOOBNF$6 &OUFSSFWJFXTBCPVUCVJMEJOHTBOESPPNTPODBNQVT &BDISFWJFXHJWFTZPVBOFYUSBDIBODFJOUIFESBX $IFDLPVU $IFDLPVUIUUQXXXDBTHDBCBSSJFSGSFFDBNQVT GPSNPSFEFUBJMT 1BJEGPSJOQBSUCZUIF$BSMFUPO"DBEFNJD4UVEFOU(PWFSONFOUBOEUIF3&"%*OTUJUVUF IUUQXXXDBTHDB IUUQXXXDBSMFUPODBQND This theme is echoed in his latest poem, “Instructions for a Bad Day.” Koyczan wrote the poem after students at G.P. Vanier Secondary School in Courtenay, B.C. contacted him for an anti-bullying video. “If you think for one second/ No one has felt what you’ve been going through/ Be accepting of the fact that you are wrong/ That the long drawn heavy breaths of despair/ Have at times been felt by everyone/ That pain is part of the human condition/ And that alone makes you a legion,” Koyczan recites above a choral bed. The accompanying student-made video shows one student going through his day with an ever-growing backpack. Eventually, he’s able to let go, leave the burden and help another student leave hers behind as well. The video was released in conjunction with Pink Shirt Day, which takes place across Canada April 11. The anti-bullying campaign started up after a male student in Nova Scotia was bullied for wearing a pink shirt. Students wore pink shirts the next day to show support and derail the bullies. “Everything that has been created was done for love. . . just to keep people here with us just a little bit longer because we know there are those dark days,” Koyczan said in a video post about the collaboration. “It was done with the hope that love would reach those who need it the most.” q 6:59 am “I’ve been told that people in the army do more by 7:00 am then I do in an entire day but if I wake at 6:59 am and turn to you to trace the outline of your lips with mine I will have done enough and killed no one in the process.” — Shane Koyczan The Education of Charlie Banks ForDurst more Fred Juno coverage . . . Judge an album by its cover Erika Allen, matt blenkarn and Jasleen Singh take audiences through a Juno art exhibition with its curator in a video. The sound of a Juno victory Carleton music professor Jesse Stewart drummed up a Juno win. Check out Juanita Bawagan and Harrison Lowman ‘s video for his reaction. A nostalgic trip Jenn Jeffreys reviews Swollen Members’ JunoFest performance. The Juno photo album Go online to see Carol Kan’s photo gallery of everything from the Juno Cup, JunoFest and the Juno Awards. He shoots, he sings Fraser tripp covered Juno nominees’ match against former NHLers at the Juno Cup at Nepean Sportsplex. charlatan.ca 18 charlatan.ca/arts April 5 - May 30, 2012 A year in review of arts at Carleton Elysha Haun and Juanita Bawagan looked at the highlights and challenges in the arts community THEATRE Despite “cartoonishly” bad luck, including a flood that wiped out most of Sock ‘n’ Buskin’s stock, the theatre company had a successful season, said artistic director Michelle Blanchard in an email. The fourth-year journalism student said the Carleton community took on the challenge presented by each of this season’s plays and were “loving” it the whole way through. The season debuted with Macbeth. The play featured some physically demanding swordfights, but Blanchard said it was the eerie witches who stole the show. Another one of the season’s major highlights was This Is Our Youth, which boasted an “outstanding” all-student cast, she said. LITERATURE Carleton’s lit community made its voice heard and its presence known this year, defying the stereotype of quiet, isolated writers. The Moose and Pussy started off by taking sex lit to the web to reach a wider readership, said founding editor Jeff Blackman. The blog was updated periodically with steamy poetry complete with audio clips to create a fully oral experience. They took it one step further by releasing a sensual mixtape of poems for people to listen along to. The title: Codename ORAL. In/Words magazine wasn’t quite as racy but it definitely put out. Incoming editor and third-year English student Jenna Jarvis wrote a sonnet to celebrate the 11th anniversary of In/ Words. In her poem she gave a nod to this year’s literary highlights with verses like “writing circles, writing workshops in the winter/with Capital Slam poet Brandon Wint/and George Johnston Prize winner Bardia Sinaee.” Given the organizational problems that constantly plague In/Words, Sinaee said he’s glad the magazine is still thriving. Jarvis’ sonnet seems to signal hopefulness for next year with her closing line, “We are the youngest we have ever been.” VISUAL ARTS Walking into the the Carleton University Art Gallery this year, visitors could always find something different, said education and outreach co-ordinator Fiona Wright in an email. From contemporary Inuit paintings to multimedia art that changes in the light, Wright said the gallery has seen it all this year. An exhibition on the late Colin Campbell, who photographed himself in drag, was one of the highlights out of this year’s 11 exhibitions, she said. The gallery hosted a discussion on the gender-bending video artist in partnership with the GLBTQ centre, architecture and art history students. DANCE In 2008, the Carleton University Dance Association (CUDA) disbanded. This year, the team of reunited underdogs took second place at Ontario Universities Competition for HipHop (O.U.C.H.), said choreographer Edmund Gyamfi. There was a lot of turmoil within CUDA, but this year marked the end of a long journey of rebuilding, the third-year film student said. The dance team’s thematic performance at the O.U.C.H in November was the year’s highlight, Gyamfi said. “We took risks,” he said. “We were very new but we proved you don’t need an army of people.” The seven-person dance team grew to eight and Gyamfi said doors just continued to open. The team performed for former Governor General Michaëlle Jean at a black history month ceremony and were invited back by Jean to kick off youth week on April 2. The team’s already looking at their next project — a video that tells the story of women who have survived abusive relationships. These stories have been condensed. For the full stories, visit charlatan.ca Sports 19 April 5 - May 30, 2012 Sports Editor: Erika Stark • [email protected] The Charlatan sports top 10 Last week, we gave you numbers 10-6 on our list of Carleton’s top 10 varsity athletes of the year. Here are our picks for the top five. Gianluca Nesci reports. 5. Alyson Bush (Basketball) 4. Brandon MacLean (Hockey) 3. Tyson Hinz (Basketball) 2. Tamber Tisdale (Hockey) 1. Philip Scrubb (Basketball) Carleton’s female athlete of the year kicks off the second half of our list. One of the most explosive offensive players in the country, Bush has an incredible ability to break down the defence on the dribble, causing havoc for opponents all season long. Once she beats her defender, she can finish the play at the rim herself, or dish off to a teammate for an open look. Both of those skills were on display throughout the season. Despite being the focal point for opposing defences, she led the Ravens in points (13.7 per game) and assists (3.0 per game). When last season’s captain Brad Good graduated from the program and turned his attention to the professional ranks, there were some big skates to fill for the men’s hockey team. Before this season started, MacLean was given the extra responsibility of filling those skates and taking over the captaincy. Head coach Marty Johnston and his staff couldn’t have made a better selection. The 6’0” forward – playing in his fifth and final year with the team – capped off an impressive collegiate career this season, leading the Ravens in every offensive category. Skilled big men are the most sought-after commodities in basketball. In Hinz, coach Dave Smart has arguably the best one in the country. Hinz was the focal point of the Ravens’ offence once again, despite seeing his numbers drop slightly from last season, when he was named CIS player of the year. The Ravens were praised all season long for their incredible three-point shooting, but that success starts inside the paint, with the 6’6” forward. His ability to command attention under the basket and draw help from a second defender opens up room for the Ravens’ shooters beyond the arc. Coming into training camp, Tisdale was expected to be part of a trio of netminders who would share the load in goal for head coach Shelley Coolidge. Instead, she took the job and ran with it. The highlight of her season came in late January, when Tisdale led the Ravens to a historic 4-3 shootout victory over the powerhouse from McGill. That marked the first ever win for Carleton in 65 meetings with the Martlets, who came into the game having won 116 of their past 117 regular season contests. Tisdale outdueled her counterpart Charline Labonte, a two-time Olympic gold-medal winner. Was there ever really any doubt about this one? What more can be said about the best collegiate basketball player in the country? The list of accolades in only his second season as a Raven is remarkable. Scrubb was named the CIS men’s basketball player of the year, took home MVP honours from the national championship tournament in Halifax, and was a first-team allstar at that tournament as well. These stories have been condensed. For the full versions, visit charlatan.ca Ravens goalies talk superstition, mental strength by Cam Garbutt Inside the Ice House, amidst the sounds of tape-to-tape passes and fans cheering, Ravens goaltender Ryan Dube finds himself singing songs in his head. “It’s always different songs,” he said. It’s a bit of Jedi mind tricks that keep up his focus and his glove hand quick, Dube said. Unlike a player, a goaltender’s mistake is put up on the scoreboard, so they take strides to mentally block out the prospect of failure. Fellow Ravens goaltender Matt Dopud said he doesn’t like to think too much during a game because that’s when mistakes happen. Dube agreed. Any negative thought could jeopardize a goaltender’s performance, he said. “Whenever you start thinking negative, things start going wrong,” he said. “You misplay a puck once or twice, you just start getting bad thoughts in your mind and it just kind of snowballs.” Ravens head coach Marty Johnston said he understands that goaltenders are a different breed. The amount of pressure Dube and Dopud have to deal with comes with the job, he said. “They have to deal with failure a Matt Dopud said he tries to stay positive when he lets a goal in. lot more critically than the rest of the players,” he said. For this reason, Johnston said he will often use a time-out during a game to help improve his goalies’ state of mind. Pulling the goalie he said, although sometimes necessary, is a tactic he seldom had to use over the last two years. Goals go in — that’s the way it goes. That’s why Dopud said he chooses to stay positive. “What’s done is done,” he said of the goals he allows. “Every goalie is going to let in the crappy goals every once in a while. [You just have to] understand it’s just a hockey game and stop the next one,” he added. However, not all goalies are as mentally tough. Dopud said he remembers a goalie he used to play with and after letting in a bad goal, his shoulders would drop and body language would reveal that his confidence had been shot. Dopud ac- Ryan Dube said he sings songs in his head while playing. || file photos knowledged that moments do come when goalies feel like they can’t stop a beach ball. Often what will bring him out of a funk and psych him up is a big save — a “huge adrenaline rush,” he said. “Mentally, you get real strong,” he said. For these two goalies, the amount of shots they face is what helps them perform better, “100 per cent of the time,” according to Dube. When facing little action, “you get cold and you’re not as into the flow of things,” he said. Just like many other athletes, goaltenders are superstitious. Goalies have been well documented as being among the quirkiest individuals to play the sport. After all, it takes a special person to stand in front of a frozen hockey puck travelling at 90 miles an hour. For the rest of this story, visit charlatan.ca 20 charlatan.ca/sports April 5 - May 30, 2012 Canada edges Team USA in world championship tune-up women’s hockey and has had great events here like the world juniors,” Church said. “I thought the crowd was great [March 31].” “For sure, it’s exciting for us to come back on our home soil and come back from Vancouver and it’s going to be good motivation for us,” Poulin said. Canada won the first eight women’s world championships from 1990-2004, but has only won one of the past five. The other four times, they lost to Team USA. Every final of the tournament has featured those two countries. q by Jamie Shinkewski The Canadian national women’s hockey team defeated Team USA in an exhibition game at the Ottawa Civic Centre March 31 to wrap up their 2012 selection camp. The camp took place March 26-April 1 in Ottawa, with the women skating at the Ottawa Civic Centre and Carleton’s Ice House. Canada defeated the USA 1-0 thanks to Laura Fortino’s first career international goal at the end of the second period. Olympic gold-medallist Shannon Szabados recorded a 24-save shutout for Canada and stopped American forward Amanda Kessel — Toronto Maple Leafs player Phil Kessel’s sister — on a shorthanded breakaway partway through the second period. The game got physical in the third period as Canada took three body-checking penalties, but Canada was perfect on the penalty kill. “Our [penalty kill was] unbelievable,” Fortino said. “It’s always important when you play the U.S. and we’re going to carry this momentum into the world championship.” Canada played the exhibition game without six of the veteran players who won gold at the 2010 For more coverage . . . Ravens honoured Team Canada beat Team USA 1-0 March 31 at the Ottawa Civic Centre. || photo by Carol Kan Olympics in Vancouver, giving some of the younger players a chance to show the coaching staff what they’re capable of. “Everybody stepped up their game,” said head coach Dan Church. “They have made our decision very tough in determining our roster.” Canada’s roster was trimmed down to 23 players April 1. These players will represent Canada at the 2012 IIHF Ice Hockey World Women’s Championship in Burlington, Vt., starting April 7, as well as the 2013 IIHF World Women’s Championship in Ottawa. The roster features 11 members of the 2010 Olympic team, including the face of women’s hockey Hayley Wickenheiser and gold medal game hero Marie-Philip Poulin. Canada will look to win a gold medal at the world championship for the first time since 2007 — the last time the tournament was held in Canada. Next year, the tournament returns to the nation’s capital for the first time since the inaugural tournament was held at the Civic Centre in 1990. “Ottawa is a great host to Callum Micucci covered an Ottawa Senators pre-game ceremony honouring the men’s basketball team. Ringette team looking to move up Grace Protopapas spoke to Carleton’s ringette team about their goals for the future. charlatan.ca BOOK BUYBACK CASH BACK on your CARD www.carleton.ca/bookstore Carleton University Bookstore | RENTAL CHECK-IN Return your rental books now through: April 24 University Centre First Floor
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