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NIAGARA NEWS
THE COMMUNITY NEWSPAPER OF NIAGARA COLLEGE
February 15, 2008
Free
C*******
the newest
slur to hit
the streets
By JORDAN BAKER
Staff Writer
What is Canadian?
Is it that weʼre the only people
who will watch an entire day of
curling?
Is it our devotion to the Tim Hortons coffee shop?
Is it our national animal, the beaver? Or that our proudest moment
is winning a hockey game in the
early ʻ70s?
All those aspects make us who
we are as a nation, but some people
donʼt seem to care. The word
“Canadian” has taken on a nasty
connotation.
A racial slur database, rsdb.org,
explains the word “Canadian” is
used as a masked replacement for
n*****.
Texas attorney Mike Trent has
made headlines recently because of
an e-mail he sent in 2003 congratulating a fellow attorney, Robert
Freyer, for winning a conviction.
The section of the e-mail in
question read, “He overcame a
subversively good defence by Matt
Hennessey that had some Canadians on the jury feeling sorry for the
defendant and forced them to do
the right thing.”
Continued on Page 2
Vol 38 • Issue 11
Hurry hard to the house
Jennifer Haynes (centre) sweeps a rock towards the button with skip Wayne Clifford (left) and second Len Doyle at the Rose City Bonspiel.
See Jennifer’s experience as a first-time curler on Page 7.
Photo by Jordan Baker
Niagara College falls under surveillance
on
ati
r
t
s ay
illu tt D
o
a
ot M
Ph by
By SHANE BUCKINGHAM
Staff Writer
“Weʼre very lucky. It wasnʼt a
real gun.”
Sean Kennedy, college vicepresident of student services and
community relations, made that
comment after the Sept. 14 incident involving Daniel Mook that
rocked Niagara College.
Mook, 18, was at the Welland
campus allegedly inebriated and
carrying an unloaded pellet pistol
and was arrested by Niagara Regional Police.
He was charged with mischief
and carrying a concealed weapon
at that time; however, the charge
of mischief was withdrawn.
He will appear at the Welland
Courthouse on March 7 at 9 a.m.
At that time the judge will set a
trial date for the charge of carrying
a concealed weapon. Because of
the flawed response to the incident,
the collegeʼs administration was
prompted to act to improve campus
security.
A working committee was put
together shortly after by Steve
Hudson, vice-president of corporate services, that included four
people: Mal Woodhouse, director
of facilities management; John
Levay, director of information and
technology services; Jim Garner,
director of human resources; and
Rick Demers, manager of health,
safety and security.
“After we had our debriefing with
Niagara Regional Police (NRP) in
early October, Steve charged us
with identifying the things that
needed to be looked at in terms of
increasing the overall effectiveness
of campus security,” said Garner.
NRP assisted in the development
of the emergency evacuation and
lockdown procedure. The committee then looked at ways to ensure
overall campus security was “more
effective.”
“Thereʼs a lot of initiatives
underway,” he said, involving “enhancing physical parameters of the
college.” Such initiatives include
installing security cameras, installing Voice Over Internet Protocol
phones in each classroom and upgrading the public announcement
(PA) systems at both campuses. He
prefers all initiatives be discussed
in detail at a later date because over
the “next couple of weeks” he and
his committee will be communicating them to faculty and staff.
After that happens, he said, the
full plan will be disclosed to the
public. He could, however, offer
that “the PA system upgrade will
be a No. 1 priority. Youʼll see work
commencing on that very shortly.”
Once done, security will be able
to communicate in all areas of the
college effectively.
“We want to make sure we can
put our best foot forward in terms
of providing a structure that will
enhance the ability to remain safe
in the college.”
Instead of having only the Emergency Response Reference Guides
for emergency situations, there will
be a specific protocol designed for
a situation involving an “armed
intruder on campus,” he said.
Continued on Page 2
INSIDE THIS WEEK
Editorial Page 4
•
Black History Month Page 8 – 9
•
Niagara Noise Page 10 – 11
•
Sports Page 12 – 13
2
NIAGARA NEWS
Feb. 15, 2008
Health fair awareness
By LAUREN JONES
Staff Writer
Everybody likes to get free stuff,
especially if that free stuff includes
condoms.
The Niagara College Lifestyle
Health Fair took place Tuesday and
Wednesday at both the Niagaraon-the-Lake campus and Welland
campus, with plenty of giveaways.
Taking place in the Secord hallway near the main entrance, at the
Welland campus, and in the hallway
in front of the cafeteria at Niagaraon-the-Lake, the fair had as its goal
to educate staff and students about
health organizations and lifestyle
choices.
Jennifer Miller, an Office Administration-Executive student doing
her co-op at the Niagara-on-theLake campus, was the main contact
for the fair. She says the purpose of
the fair is to educate people about
different areas of health and life
they werenʼt aware.
Organizations attending both
campuses include Katimavik,
Health Services and the Canadian
Cancer Society, Canadian National
Institute for the Blind, Leave the
Pack Behind and the Crohnʼs and
Colitis Foundation of Canada.
The collegeʼs Health Services and
the Student Administrative Council
organized the event.
“A good portion [of the groups]
come every year,” says Miller.
She says the organizers start with
Katelyn Weylie, a second-year Community and Justice Services student, tests out her carbon monoxide levels
using a MicroCO Metre at the Niagara College Lifestyle Health Fair, Wednesday.
Photo by Michael Bright
a list of health organizations in the
region and send out invitations. This
is the fairʼs 12th year.
“Quite a few have giveaways or
something they can give out.”
Health Services was giving
out free condoms, toothpaste and
tampons.
College nurse Penny McKee says,
“The free swag is the best part.”
Security better
Continued from page 1
“The police have assisted with it
and have put their input into it.”
The two-component protocol
involves evacuation and lockdown, which will require “training and familiarization” for all
staff and faculty, he said.
“We want to review the entire
security operation including how
we staff the front-line operation.”
However, he didnʼt divulge if that
includes finding a new security
company.
“Itʼs fair to say because of Virginia Tech, because of Dawson
College, because of those other
incidents in the [United] States
and that isolated incident in Finland, security is a concern for all
of us,” said Garner.
Heather Minow, Student Administrative Council president, said
one initiative she is aware of is
bringing a Multi-Media Exchange
Network on both campuses.
Matthew Vollarath, of Quebec,
is a volunteer with Katimavik. The
volunteer leadership program was
in attendance for the first time this
year to generate awareness and recruit students to join.
Vollarath says a lot of people donʼt
“get the aspect” of Katimavik.
“[The word] means ʻa meeting
place.ʼ Itʼs to meet new people and
Right now, she said, the netwo
rk runs off a wireless server in
Toronto through which SAC
updates announcements on three
screens on campus.
Thatʼs “supposed to bloom” to
eight or nine by the end of the
project.
“If the server is onsite, then we
have the ability that, if anything
happens, all those screens becomes a safety message only.”
Niagara News will provide an
in-depth analysis of the new protocols in the March 14 edition.
‘Canadian’: offensive slur
Continued from page 1
Trent and Freyer say they had
a conversation before this e-mail,
during which Freyer had said there
were “Canadians” on the jury.
There were no Canadians on the
jury, but there were several African-Americans.
Complaints were made that Trent
may have used “Canadian” in that
context.
Estella Muyinda, executive
director of the National Anti-Racism Council of Canada (NARCC),
says, “We felt it was atrocious.”
Muyinda says she is surprised
the Canadian government hasnʼt
looked into the situation. “They
should take it seriously.”
Since the statement came from
a court of law, Muyinda feels it is
the governmentʼs responsibility to
investigate and Canadiansʼ responsibility to support their leaderʼs
action.
Niagara College Broadcasting
—Radio, Television and Film Production student Josh Juhlke says
the use of the term isnʼt just against
African-Americans but also a jab
at Canadians.
“It seems pretty offensive towards us, but you can kind of expect it in the southern states.”
He says the term lets us know
what some Americans actually
think about their northern neighbours, saying weʼre known as
being more accepting of being a
“mosaic nation.”
The n-word, and any variant or
substitute with the same intentions,
should not be “part of any vocabulary,” says Muyinda.
She says, “We should ask what
the government is doing for Canadians down there [southern United
States.]
“[The government] seems unconcerned toward the lexicon used.”
In the governmentʼs defence, she
adds, “They may be doing something that we donʼt know.”
If so, she says the media need to
ask what that is and what Canadians can do to support them.
She says the reports in the newspaper mark the first time members
of the NARCC have the heard the
word “Canadian” used against African-Americans.
“They were all like, ʻWhat?ʼ
and ʻWhy? Why? Why?ʼ” says
Muyinda.
She suggests the government
send a “strong message” and that
there are “diplomatic” ways of
addressing the problem, adding,
when things are said with this intention, they are “enough to make
anyone upset.
“The racists would try to do anything to continue the hate. I donʼt
know what their mindset is, but
theyʼre racist.
get a better understanding of what
work is.”
Vollarath says the program is for
people between the ages of 17 and
21. Each group visits three different
Canadian cities over a span of nine
months, and they perform a total of
1600 hours of volunteer work for
non-profit organizations.
“Itʼs an unbelievable program.”
Keira Knowles was at the fair to
spread awareness of HIV and AIDS
with AIDS Niagara.
“Weʼre [here] providing condoms and safer sex materials,” says
Knowles.
She says the usual questions sheʼs
asked include “Is it really a problem?” and “How do I prevent the
spread of AIDS?”
AIDS Niagara has over 200 clients, and Knowles says the number
of people in the Niagara region who
are infected or affected could be two
or three times more than that.
The organization provides support, outreach, support for immigrants who are infected or affected
and supportive housing.
Knowles says the number of
visits to schools she makes in one
month can range anywhere from
one to 20.
AIDS Niagara was giving away
condom packs, bracelets, condoms
and information.
Alysia Covey was hitting up all
the tables to get her free stuff.
The first year Pharmacy Technician student says the fair was
enjoyable and informative.
“Theyʼve got kind of everything,
and theyʼre good about answering
questions. The free stuffʼs not bad
either.”
For more information on
Katimavik or AIDS Niagara,
visit www.katimavik.org and
www.aidsniagara.com.
Fashion show benefits Habitat
By MONICA KEYES
Staff Writer
Celebrate being a woman, this
International Womenʼs Day.
In partnership with Habitat for
Humanity, students from Niagara
Collegeʼs Event Management
Graduate certificate program will
celebrate womanhood on March 8.
Taking place at the Rockway
Glen Golf Course and Estate Winery in St. Catharines, Womenʼs
Wonderland: An Evening of Fashion, Food and Friends will raise
money for Habitat for Humanity.
The evening will include live entertainment, mini-manicures, wine
tasting, a silent auction, vendors
and a gourmet cocktail reception.
A fashion show – Walking In a
Womanʼs Wonderland – will also
take place.
All proceeds are going towards
the independent non-profit housing
ministry, Habitat for Humanity.
Tickets are available for $45
at the St. Catharines Pen Centre
on Feb. 16 from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.
or by phone at 905-641-2252
ext. 6475.
Police recruit students
At the Policing, Security and Justice Career Fair, Sgt. Bill Durrant of
Canadian Forces Recruiting answers photonics student Paul Eagles’s
questions. In attendance on Feb. 13 were local law enforcement
agencies from across the country.
Photo by Jordan Baker
3
NIAGARA NEWS
Feb. 15, 2008
You’re not safe online
Think twice about your Internet profiles, you don’t know who’s watching
By ERIC FANJOY
Staff Writer
As we shift into the cyber age,
online profiles on Facebook and
MySpace can work against you
during your job hunt.
Online profiles are considered
to be in the public domain, allowing others to view photos,
notes and comments ranging
from moments of triumph to
the embarrassing shames of the
weekend.
The hiring process for employers is a financial investment, so
some employers are using these
sites to gain a better perspective
on their applicants, says Janet
Forfar, a consultant for graduate
services at the collegeʼs Welland
campus Job Centre.
She says employers search for
qualities such as good judgment
and strong character, qualities
that canʼt always be found within
the time constraints of an interview.
Those with profiles need to
consider the objective point of
view, Forfar said, so “Put yourself in the employerʼs shoes.”
Posting pictures of your buddyʼs keg party probably isnʼt the
smartest choice although posting
your school credits or recent jobs
might get you a step ahead.
“Perception,” says Forfar, “is
the key message to online profile
users. It is important to keep in
mind the way others will view
you. Think of the impact and the
consequences.”
Peter Conradi, managing editor
of The [Niagara Falls] Review
and part-time Niagara College
professor, says heʼs heard of
employers scanning online profiles of future employees but has
never done it.
Although he does not disagree
with the practice, he compared
the situation to that of searching old newspaper archives to
retrieve information.
“I have no philosophical problem with it.”
With the Internetʼs ever-growing popularity, it is easy to understand that some employers will
search an applicantʼs name and
only the World Wide Web knows
what will pop up next.
“Googleʼs becoming a part of
our [societyʼs] vocabulary,” said
Conradi.
But do employers have the
right to get a sneak peek at their
potential employees?
Kristen Jacobson, 21, a student
administration clerk in the Welland
campus Job Centre, says no.
“If I was employed with a
company and an investigation
surrounding my name was happening, it [the online scanning
process] would be okay, but not
to get information on someone.”
Jacobson said if she were an
employer, “I wouldnʼt do it.”
Safety features give users the
choice to allow only those tagged
as friends to view and add comments to your complete profile.
Thatʼs something to consider, said
Forfar, Conradi and Jacobson.
Your
habits, are
they good
or bad?
By BRAD MOORE
Staff Writer
A studentʼs transition into college from either high school or
the workforce can be difficult, but
those who succeed have found a
way to get organized and accomplish their goals.
Niagara College has awarded
$15,000 toward a project designed
to find out which habits do and do
not work for studentsʼ success.
“Our belief in this is that the
experts are the students,” says
Donna Putman, of Port Colborne,
a counsellor at the college.
Their Voices, Our Ears: Looking
For Ways to Encourage Success is
led by Putman. It is a collaborative
effort between the General Arts and
Science program and the counselling office at the collegeʼs Welland
campus.
It will also include several other
Welland campus programs: Child
Youth Worker, Social Service
Worker, Educational Resources
and Special Needs, New Media
Design among others.
The project plans to assess the
successful habits of Niagara College students by talking with them
first-hand and gathering their point
of view.
“We want to hear in their own
words and their own voices. We
want to give them a chance to hear
their stories,” says Putman.
Their Voices, Our Ears is a “media project” interviewing students
via survey on camera, over tape
recorder or in personal interviews.
Students may also choose to remain
anonymous during the process. Interviews will continue until the end
of the spring 2008 term.
For more information about
Their Voices, Our Ears, visit the
Welland campus counselling office
in S102.
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4
NIAGARA NEWS
NIAGARA NEWS
Editor: Ryan Kelpin
Associate Editor: Terri Giles
Assistant Editor: Matt Day
Photo Editor: Andrew Ramos
Feb. 15, 2008
Editorial & Opinion
We welcome your opinion
E-mail: [email protected] • Mail: V10, 300 Woodlawn Rd., Welland, Ont. L3C 7L3
In Person: Room V10, Welland campus. • Policy: All letters must be signed
and include a day and evening phone contact number for verification purposes.
Publisher: Leo Tiberi
Managing Editor: George Duma
Associate Managing Editor: Phyllis Barnatt
Design/Layout Consultant: Peter Conradi
Editorial Consultant: Nancy Geddie
Photography Consultant: Dave Hanuschuk
Technology Support: Kevin Romyn
V10, 300 Woodlawn Rd.,
Welland, Ont., L3C 7L3
Telephone: (905) 735-2211
Fax: (905) 736-6003
Editorial E-mail: [email protected]
Advertising E-mail: [email protected]
Publisherʼs E-mail: [email protected]
2006 WINNER
Niagara News is a practical lab for Journalism-Print program students studying at Niagara College. Opinions expressed in editorials and columns are not
those of Niagara News management or the college administration. Columns,
identified as such, reflect only the writerʼs opinion.
Readers are welcome to respond to columnists by e-mail at
[email protected]
Advertising rules: The advertiser agrees that the publisher shall not be liable
for damages arising out of errors in advertisements beyond the amount paid
for the space actually occupied by the portion of the advertisement in which the
error occured. This applies whether such error is due to the negligence of its
servants or otherwise. There shall be no liability for non-insertions of any advertisement beyond the amount paid for such advertisement. All advertisers are
asked to check their advertisements after first insertion. We accept responsibility for only one incorrect insertion unless notified immediately after publication.
Errors, which do not lessen the value of the advertisement, are not eligible for
corrections by a make-good advertisement. There shall be no liability for noninsertion of any advertisement beyond the amount paid for such advertisement.
We reserve the right to edit, revise, classify or reject any advertisement.
A week of slacking
Why is it called Reading
Week?
For the most part, the only
thing that students will read
during our week off is a menu
at some restaurant in Cuba or
the label on a beer bottle at a
house party.
If itʼs not that, students will
probably partake of some kind
of 24-hour Halo tournament,
where the only thing they
read or learn about is
how to stick a grenade on
someoneʼs face.
Weʼre not saying Halo
doesnʼt teach you some
valuable life skills, such as how
to drive defensively and how
to appropriately manage your
opposable thumbs, but itʼs not
exactly the same as picking up
some Shakespeare.
Many students say they donʼt
remember what happened last
Reading Week. Perhaps, since
it happened so long ago, their
memory loss has nothing to do
with alcohol at all.
In our student handbook,
it is called Spring Break.
Thatʼs another odd title, as
it is February and absolutely
freezing out. It doesnʼt seem too
springy to me.
Another name is Study
Week, which is just as odd a
choice when kids are NOT at
school. The only thing a lot of
people are studying is how to
mix drinks to get both flavour
and drunk.
So what are you going to
do? Probably play some guitar,
spend time with the girlfriend
and possibly partake in one of
those Halo marathons (after
reading about it, you probably
really have an urge to play it all
of a sudden).
Hereʼs an accurate name for
the week: Slacker Week. What
better name can you come
up with than that? We get a
week off from school. We
are not going to spend it
“reading” or “studying.” We
are going to relax, take some
time off from doing work and sit
back or do something we enjoy.
We donʼt know if the people
behind the naming of Reading
Week were looking for some
kind of ironic humour from
its name, but thatʼs what it is
achieving.
RYAN KELPIN
Correction:
In the Feb. 1 issue of Niagara News on page 11 in the article “Bitter
cold for all smokers,” the girl on the left was mistakenly identified as
Holly Wilson. It is the policy of Niagara News to correct errors of fact.
A proud Canadian anyways
ʻSo, youʼre Canadian, eh?ʼ
In the southern United States,
these harmless words have taken
on a more sinister meaning.
In the south, where racism
towards
African-Americans
and people of different beliefs
or origin has been a recurring
problem, to be “Canadian” has
a hidden meaning.
Calling someone a Canadian
has gone from an innocent
image of someone in a plaid
lumberjack jacket, living in
an igloo, eating poutine and
constantly saying “Eh?” to
replacing the word n***** in
the racistʼs vocabulary.
We were horrified when we
found out that “Canadian” was
being used as a substitute for
a hurtful racial slur and that
Canadaʼs multicultural values
had become a tool for racist
bigots in their attempts to
spread hate.
Canada is a multicultural,
tolerant and peaceful country,
led by some occasional fence
sitters, but overall accepting of
any creed, nationality or ideal.
We think these racists have
targeted Canada because of our
easygoing and accepting views
towards others.
How did “Canadian” take on
this hidden meaning?
Is it our heroic actions during
the late 1800s when we helped
thousands of African American
slaves escape to freedom
through
the
Underground
Railroad?
Is it our unquestioning
acceptance of black politicians
into our government?
Or is it the fact that the word
“Canadian,” to the rest of the
world, has meant peacegivers,
safe haven providers, acceptance
and freedom?
Whatever the reason, we are
proud to be Canadian because
of its advocacy of individuality,
no matter what an individualʼs
colour,
sexual
orientation
or creed.
The use of the word
“Canadian” to replace a racist
insult is unacceptable.
We are very proud that Canada
is accepting and welcoming of
other cultures and beliefs. Those
attributes are what makes this
country the best place to live.
We are a cultural mosaic;
therefore, our future generations
will know what is happening in
the rest of the world and will be
more accepting of individual
differences.
If we grow up hating other
cultures and ignorantly judging
them on stereotypes, we
would not be able to wear the
Canadian flag proudly on our
backpacks while travelling
the world and being warmly
welcomed as a result.
TERRI GILES
Letter to the Editor
SAC apologizes for ‘misunderstandings’
Dear Editor:
On behalf of the Welland SAC
(Student Administrative Council)
Executive Committee, I would
like to apologize for the misunderstandings resulting from an
article in the Feb. 1, 2008, issue of
Niagara News.
At our Jan. 22 meeting, the
Welland SAC motioned to cancel
all financial sanctioning of the
Construction Club and the NC
GLBT Club if no response was
received by these clubs by Friday,
Jan. 25.
It was agreed that notification
would be sent to the clubs the following day.
As the Construction Club met all
of their requirements on the morning of Wednesday, Jan. 23, it was
not necessary to send any notification to them.
As a result of the fulfillment of
the clubʼs requirements, the comments in Niagara News turned out
to be inaccurate at the time of print.
The Construction Club remains
a financially sanctioned Niagara
College club.
I would also like to apologize on
behalf of the Welland SAC to all
members of both the Construction
Club and the NC GLBT Club for
any comments noted in Niagara
News in respect to why they did not
hand in a report, as the comments
were inappropriate.
Kat Drummelsmith
Executive Vice-President
Welland SAC
By BRAD
KENNEDY
Columnist
those who donʼt know, the New
York Giants did win the
game 17-14.
Maybe youʼre like me, a bitter
and still upset Dallas Cowboys fan
who was most excited to see the
Super Bowl commercials that cost
companies millions of dollars for a
short spot that may or may not be
effective and may or may not make
the audience laugh a little bit.
The commercials didnʼt disappoint. Although I watched the
game on Canadian cable and only
saw two or three of the Super Bowl
ads, I was able to watch every commercial after the game on www.
myspace.com, of which I am not
a member. Thankfully, you donʼt
have to be a member to watch the
commercials.
The funnier commercials were
the Bud Light ones. AnheuserBusch, who had more commercials
than any other company, didnʼt
disappoint.
Some ads had no comic value
and seemed ineffective. Ads such
as the Claritin commercial or any
of the car ads looked like a normal commercial Iʼd see any day
of the week as I watch re-runs
of Seinfeld.
I would say, though, the best
commercial on television that
night was the Pepsi Stuff one with
Justin Timberlake being “sucked”
across town as a girl sucks her
Pepsi through a straw. As Timberlake gets thrown around through
the town, he is nearly run over by
a jeep driven by none other than
Tony Romo, the Dallas Cowboys
quarterback. Romo looks at Timberlake and says, “Justin?” There
it was, the highlight of Super Sunday, seeing Tony Romo in a Pepsi
commercial.
It wasnʼt how I envisioned seeing Romo on this day. If I had
had it my way, Romo would have
been the Super Bowl MVP and the
Dallas Cowboys would have
walked out as champions. It
wasnʼt to be.
Iʼve watched the Super Bowl
every year, and I will watch again
next year.
Students flock south
Spring breaking somewhere warmer
By AMANDA PAIEMENT
Staff Writer
Itʼs not just geese that fly south
in the winter.
For decades, Spring Break
– or Reading Week to Canadians
– has been a reason for many
post-secondary students to trade
in the frigid cold, slush and ice
storms for palm trees, beaches and
margaritas.
Wendy Van Houten, travel consultant at the Canadian Automobile
Association (CAA), says that most
students opt to book trips online,
rather than visit a travel agency.
“Itʼs fine to look online, but you
are not covered by the Travel Industry Council of Ontario (TICO)
unless you book with an agent.”
TICO is a not-for-profit organization that “investigates disputes between consumers and registrants”
and provides “consumer protection,” according to its website.
“If something happens and you
lose your money, you wonʼt get
it back unless you have that
coverage.”
She adds that in recent years,
Panama City Beach, Fla., has become a hot spot for students.
Fort Lauderdale, once hailed as
the biggest Spring Break destination in the world, has chosen to rid
itself of that reputation.
According to a media release
from the City of Fort Lauderdale,
officials have bid farewell to host-
ing some 400,000 students each
February and have transformed
the beach into a place “where
well-heeled Europeans, sophisticated Northerners and laid-back
Mid-Westerners come to relax and
vacation.”
“Panama City Beach and Daytona Beach cater to students on
Spring Break. They love them,”
Van Houten says.
Home to Americaʼs largest
nightclub, Club LaVela, Panama
City Beach boasts 43 kilometres of
white sand, licensed beaches and
tons of corporate sponsors during
the break period, such as MTV.
If you prefer a more relaxed setting on your vacation, Cuba and
Dominican Republic are popular
choices.
All three of these destinations
are popular with students because
of their low prices and all-inclusive
package extras.
Van Houten says students are
flocking to Florida because of
the cost.
For students on a tight budget,
“itʼs very easy to fill a car and take
turns driving down. If they all drive
and donʼt need to stop for the night,
theyʼll be in Florida in a day.”
To save even more money, book
your airfare and lodgings at the
same time, as all travel agencies
and websites offer discounts when
you purchase a package.
If you must book at the last
minute, Van Houten says you may
still be in luck.
“Overstocked inventory and
cancelled flights are usually available a week before.”
Farecast.com allows you to
input your planned departure and
arrival times and will let you know
when the cheapest tickets will be
available. It shows when airfare
prices are rising and dropping,
allowing you to save money for
something more important, like a
bathing suit.
No passport? There are many
beautiful retreats right here in
Canada too.
British Columbia is a popular
choice because of its famous ski resorts and beautiful scenery. Thereʼs
also Victoria, on Vancouver Island.
It is considered to have the mildest
weather of any Canadian city and
rarely receives snow.
Before travelling anywhere by
air, it is wise to check the safety precautions at your airport, to ensure a
smooth ride through security.
According to the Transportation
Security Administration, the best
way to ensure that is to abide by
all rules for carry-on items and
never take anything questionable or
prohibited.
For a detailed list of what passengers are able to carry-on and
luggage specifications, visit the
Transportation Security Administrations website at www.tsa.gov.
Winning isn’t Ottomatic
ally very nice people.”
By MARYANNE FIRTH
“The media isnʼt looking for the
Staff Writer
Winning isnʼt everything, Itʼs bad story – we have enough bad
stories,” explained Otto.
telling the story that counts.
He went on to say the OLG is
Tom Otto, co-ordinator of the
Broadcasting – Radio, Television “all about promotion, all about
and Film program at Niagara Col- publicity,” adding the importance
lege, stopped by a Public Relations of “being upfront in the public eye”
Graduate Certificate classroom in order to “guarantee prizes are
actually going out.”
Wednesday to give
Otto
stressed
students the gist
the asset of having
of what it was like
“good
interview
working for the
skills” and encourOntario Lottery and
aged students not to
Gaming Corpora“stick to the script”
tion (OLG).
when it came to
Otto spoke about
gaining the right
his experiences as
information.
the media relations
Although someand winner liaison
times turning down
at the lottery cora “better story”
poration. He works
TOM OTTO
when faced with a
with winners of
large sums of money and prepares “moral dilemma,” Otto said he ensured he could “go home that night
them for the media craze.
Public Relations student Dana and sleep.”
Keller said Ottoʼs spot as a guest
Keller, who introduced Otto to the
class, announced him as having speaker gave students an idea of
“what to expect in media relations
“befriended many millionaires.”
Otto explained it was his job to after graduating” by sharing his “realconvince the lucky few that win- life experience in the workforce.”
Rachel Longo-Tosoian, a Public
ning the lottery “should be the best
day of their life,” and to get them to Relations student, said Ottoʼs presentation was valuable for his “ex“tell their story.”
He said many people are scared perience with media relations” as
to speak with the media after their his “career has been very diverse.”
Otto praised his field of choice,
big win.
Itʼs his job, he said, to show that calling “a life in the media a fasci“publicity is a good thing” and that nating thing.”
“It gives you the opportunity to
the media is “not the evil seen on
do things people donʼt normally
American television.”
“Weʼre not vultures. Weʼre actu- get to do.”
Photo by Adam Lantz
High ratings, but
low entertainment
The 42nd Super Bowl has gone
down as the most-watched Super
Bowl in television history and
second most-watched American
television broadcast, behind only
the series finale of M*A*S*H*.
It was a memorable event for everyone, no matter what the reason
for watching.
You may have watched the game
because youʼre a fan of the New
England Patriots and wanted to
see the team complete a historic
National Football League (NFL)
perfect season of 19-0 or a New
York Giants fan who was hoping
for the biggest upset in sports
history.
Maybe you watched because you
love Tom Petty, who was as boring
and predictable as he could be at
halftime, playing his famous songs
exactly how they are played on the
radio. I think the NFL should have
saved some money and just played
a Tom Petty album. It would have
sounded the same.
Maybe youʼre one of the millions of people who claim to be a
football fan on this one day of the
year. Maybe youʼre someone who
likes to gamble and was hoping
for a rich payout from an improbable New York Giants victory. For
5
NIAGARA NEWS
Feb. 15, 2008
6
NIAGARA NEWS
WE HAVE THE CAREERS,
YOU HAVE THE OPPORTUNITIES.
If you are pursuing a technical program or thinking of continuing your training
after high school, consider a full- or part-time career in the Canadian Navy.
As a Naval Technician, you can expect a challenging career that will test your
skills and abilities. We can offer you:
• Paid tuition, books and equipment
• Salary during studies and summer employment
• Guaranteed employment after graduation
• Opportunities to work close to home and abroad
To find out more, visit our Website or your local Canadian Forces recruiting centre.
WWW.FORCES.CA
1-800-856-8488
JOIN US
Feb. 15, 2008
7
NIAGARA NEWS
Feb. 15, 2008
Niagara College student gets taste
of curling lifestyle
By JENNIFER HAYNES
Staff Writer
I am a student with a broom and
a lack of balance.
On Feb. 2, I waltzed into the
Welland Curling Club a little apprehensively. I was trying to curl
for the first time, so I entered the
Rose City Bonspiel. What kind
of impression would I make on
the experienced curlers? Would I
choke? Would my teammates accept my bumbling attempt to play
a sport not many people I know
play or even watch? I would soon
find out.
I paid my $15 entry fee and was
soon fitted with a gripper on my
right foot and tape on my left for
sliding. I was confused already.
I was sure I would want to
slide with my right but since I am
right-handed I would be throwing
with that hand and sliding with
my left. I shrugged and went
with it.
Gingerly stepping out onto the
ice, I was immediately tense.
“Oh Lord,” I thought.
My teamʼs skip (captain),
Wayne Clifford of Welland gave
me a quick tutorial before the
start of the bonspiel.
After throwing a few practice
rocks that barely made it to the
house (target circle at far end of
rink), I suggested to Clifford
I was going to upset my teammates with my lack of ability.
“Are you here to have fun?”
he asked.
I nodded and Clifford reassured
me I had nothing to worry about.
“If people are going to take this
tournament too seriously, they
probably shouldnʼt be playing
today.”
I immediately felt accepted and
relieved.
After a few announcements, all
the teams hit the sheets. Let the
action begin.
There were 10 teams, five representing the yellow side and five
representing the blue. I was playing for the yellow.
I was terrible, and I didnʼt try to
hide it. I could have faked it and
said I was having an off night, but
word quickly spread about this
tournament being my inaugural go
at the sport.
By the fifth end I hadnʼt made
any shot worth speaking about,
and I was pretty sure my teammates were acting as if I wasnʼt
even playing. I was their handicap
Second-year Journalism-Print student Jennifer Haynes throws a few practice rocks before competing in the
Rose City Bonspiel at the Welland Curling club on Feb. 2. “I am relieved that I only fell twice during practice,”
she says.
for the evening.
On the sixth end I had resolved
that this probably wasnʼt the sport
for me. I have never been particularly athletic.
I crouched down, aimed my shot
and away I went.
“Hey,” I thought, “I think this
throw is OK.”
Being nearsighted, I would have
to rely on my teammates for the
yay or nay.
“Good rock,” Clifford called
from across the sheet.
It had not only made it into the
house but also managed to be relatively close to the button (centre
circle).
The rock remained there for the
rest of the end. I had helped the
yellow team score one point.
After 10 ends I was pretty tired.
I had no idea how much exercise
this sport could be.
We all gathered upstairs for a
few drinks and pizza.
The blue team was declared the
winner, and as much as everyone
was surprised at the win, I, however, was not. This would be the
fifth year in a row the blue team
had won this event.
I asked Clifford how he
thought I did.
“You played very well for your
first time out, up until the last
end,” he chuckled.
Jeanette Backus, of Lowbanks, agreed.
“I didnʼt even see you fall,” say
Backus. She has been curling since
1987 so she would know.
I laughed. Obviously she wasnʼt
there to see me fall flat on my ass
during my lesson.
“I fell twice. Jordan captured it
on film.”
Second-year Journalism-Print
student Jordan Baker had
come with me that evening to
take photos.
Hoping for some hilarious
photos to publish, he said
he thought it was a shame
that the falling pictures
Although the blue
team won, Jennifer
Haynes helps her
team
sweep
to gain some
points.
Photos by
Jordan
Baker
didnʼt turn out.
“They both were too blurry.
I canʼt use them. They would
have been great.”
I realized from my curling
adventure that itʼs not so much
about the game but the camaraderie the folks who play have
for one another.
Playing in his second year, Len
Doyle, of Fonthill says curling is
a great way to socialize.
“My wife and I wanted to do
something together. We get to
spend the evening together, but
we donʼt play on the same team.
We get to face off against each
other.”
I would curl again given the
chance.
If I still stink, at least I can take
solace in the fact there would be
an ice-cold beer waiting for me
afterwards, and really, who needs
any more than that?
8
9
NIAGARA NEWS • Feb. 15, 2008
Black History Month
Submitted photo
–excerpt from Harriet Tubman : Imagini ng a Life.
The coun try is sick of heari ng
abou t slave ry and the South ,
the war, the disen franc hisem ent
of black men, the mask ed white
terro rists who ride the nigh t.
Peopl e want to move on.
Many tried, few made it to freedom
By TERRI GILES
Staff Writer
February is Black History Month. What are
you doing to remember the legacy of black
Canadians?
“Black History Month is a time to remember the trials and tribulations that we have
faced to become what we are today,” says
General Arts and Sciences (GAS) student
Anthony Douglas, 20, a member of the college basketball team.
Niagara College international students are
hosting a special pub night at After Hours,
Thursday, Feb. 21, at 7 p.m. to celebrate
Black History Month.
Every Wednesday, the students meet to discuss the upcoming plans for the event including free snacks and live entertainment.
The pub night, which is free to all Niagara
College students, will hold a fashion show,
singers, steel drums and much more to celebrate the history of black Canadians.
The event is being held to educate students
about black history and showcase the different
languages, heritages and cultures of the many
people who have come to live in Canada.
Posters and flyers will be handed out leading up to the event, and a booth will be set up
in the cafeteria on Friday, Feb. 15, for more
information.
Niagara College graduate Chidi Opara of
Nigeria, one of the organizers for the event,
says Black History Month is “a celebration of
who we are and what we are becoming.”
Opara says Black History Month is a time
to learn about different cultures and countries
and he welcomes students to attend this special event on Feb. 21.
Black History Month was created in 1976
to honour the legacy of black Canadians from
past and present and their hard work and
achievements over the years.
Southern Ontario has a rich history to draw
from this month because of its key involvement from the 1500s to the 1800s in the
Underground Railroad, which helped slaves
escape into Canada.
Ironically, the Underground Railroad was
neither underground nor a railroad. Rather, it
was an intricate system of safe houses used by
abolitionists to help slaves escape the southern
states to freedom in Canada. Southern Ontario
was home to many safe houses used as stops
by the slaves seeking freedom.
Harriet Tubman, an abolitionist and humanitarian, was one of the most important figures
to helping slaves escape the southern states to
freedom and was one of the first to make the
dangerous trip to Canada.
Born in the United States as a slave,
Tubman escaped to Canada when she was 30
years old. Tubman came back to Maryland to
help her family escape to Canada.
Tubman made this heroic trip to the southern states many times and is said to have
saved about 300 people from slavery through
the Underground Railroad.
Mildred M. Mahoneyʼs Dollshouse Gallery
in Fort Erie was a safe house and a stop on
the Underground Railroad for black slaves.
The gallery, which some say is haunted, had
a tunnel used to cross the Niagara River into
Canada from 1828 to 1865. The tunnel has
since been closed off and its whereabouts are
unknown.
In St. Catharines, the British Methodist
Episcopal Church and Salem Chapel at the
corner of Geneva Street and North Street was
a place of refuge for slaves and is said to be
the final stop of the Underground Railroad.
St. Catharines, Niagara Falls, Fort Erie and
Queenston, Ont., have plaques and monuments commemorating the lives and hard
work of those escaping slavery. More information about where to visit the plaques is on
the Niagara Parkʼs website.
“Black History Month reminds me of what
we have overcome and our past achievements,” says Lamar Grant, 24, also a student
in the GAS program and member of the basketball team.
The Niagara region is offering a few different events to celebrate Black History Month,
including exhibits at the St. Catharines,
Niagara Falls and Fort Erie Museums and
tours of the regionʼs Underground Railroad
sites.
Niagara Bound Tours will be hosting a
Crossing Point tour on Feb. 16 that will follow the paths used by the slaves coming to
Canada. The tour will provide a historical perspective and local stories. The tour includes
the Town of Fort Erie Coloured Cemetery and
the Mildred M. Mahoney Dollshouse Gallery.
Maryse OʼNeal, 20, says, “Every day to me
is Black History Month.” She says she celebrates her heritage every day, not just for one
month a year.
Black History Month celebrates the lives
and achievements of black Canadians, and
this month we should remember their accomplishments and honour such individuals as
Harriet Tubman, Bob Marley, Martin Luther
King Jr., Oscar Peterson, Rosa Parks and
Nelson Mandela. These individuals have had
an immense impact on the world and should
always be remembered, not only this month
but all year long.
“Say it loud,” Grant says, “ʻIʼm black and
Iʼm proud.”
For more information on Crossing Point
Tour visit NiagaraBoundTours.com
Left:
Lamar Grant, left, says
that Black History
Month reminds him of
what we have overcome
and our past achievements."
Anthony Douglas says
it is a month to remember the trials and tribulations that we faced
to become what we are
today.
Right: "Every day for me
is Black History Month,"
says Maryse O'Neal.
Anna Gunn and Jennie
MacDonald think we don't learn
enough about black history in
school and the public schools
should start teaching black
Canadian history.
Shown are the stairs to the Dollshouse Museum's
basement where runaway slaves hid as they ended their
Underground Railway journey in Fort Erie.
Background photo by Matt Day
All other photos by Rachel Sanderson and Terri Giles
10
NIAGARA NEWS
Feb. 15, 2008
Niagara Noise
Putting the rock back in rock show
By DEIDRA LUNARDON
Noise Staff
Rides Again (RA) is driving into
Canadian airwaves with its smash
hit Infected.
Referred to as Canadaʼs new rock
heroes, Oshawaʼs RA can transform anyone into a listener with
music that holds true to Canadaʼs
rock essence.
Guitarist and vocalist Nathan
Peyton says RA gives fans “a show
to remember” and is working “really hard, and our fans know it.”
The trio formed in 2002 with
Nathan on vocals, his brother Chad
Peyton on bass and their cousin
Brad Christiansen on drums.
A couple of years in, Christiansen left the band and went back to
school.
Nathan says he and Chad immediately thought of Mike [McElroy]
to fill in, and their contacting him
ultimately led to his joining forces
with the band.
“Back in the day we used to play
some shows with another band he
was in, and I always thought that
he was a killer drummer.”
Being brothers is hard enough,
but imagine being in a band and
touring with a sibling.
Nathan says itʼs hard to tell if the
relationship between him and Chad
has changed since theyʼve been in
a band together, but itʼs easier having a family member with him.
“We are just typical brothers who
Oshawa’s Rides Again is setting out on a month-long Ontario tour until March 1, promising a “smashing rock
show.”
Submitted photo
share the same love for music, and
this is really all weʼve done with
our lives so far.”
“Itʼs a piece of home with you at
all times when youʼre on the road
for so long. Chad and I get along
great, although Iʼm not afraid to
put him in a headlock when he gets
out of line.”
Looking up to bands such as
the Foo Fighters for years, Nathan
says, each member brings his “own
individual something that when put
together it makes Rides Again.”
Nathan notes McElroy is into
bands such as The Smashing
Pumpkins and The Tragically Hip,
whereas Chad and he are drawn to
punk-rock bands such as MXPX
and No Use For a Name.
It was these various influences
that led them to work with Canadian producer Gavin Brown (Billy
Talent, Three Days Grace) on
Into Existence, the bandʼs debut
album.
Nathan says Brown “helps brings
something out of bands to give
them a unique sound, and thatʼs
really hard these days.”
“Heʼs a great man and a blast to
be around.”
In their radio hit Infected, lyricist
Nathan says he created lyrics from
his own life and experiences.
“Infected was a different song
until the morning I had to record
vocals in the studio. I woke up and
wrote that chorus in my boxers,”
he says, adding, “Some other songs
could take me days to write.”
Nathan says itʼs “surreal” to be
on an independent label and “know
what weʼre doing is being accepted
on the large scale.”
“Even though weʼre not on a
major [label], we have an amazing
team of people working behind the
scenes to help make it happen and
fans across Canada who will call
into radio and request our video.
Weʼre really lucky to have that.”
Setting out on a month-long
Ontario tour until March 1, Nathan
says, the band will “be trying out
some brand-new songs and, like
usual, weʼll play hard and love
every second of it.”
With the live show being called
“the equivalent of an atomic bomb
exploding in your pants,” Nathan
promises RA will put on a “smashing rock show.”
no breakable items within armʼs
reach because Bloodmeat sets the
tone for the album. Everything
from the insane finger-picking
throughout the song (and every
other song on the CD) and the incredible breakdown for 20 seconds
at the end of this song makes it one
of the catchier songs on the CD.
Sequoia Throne is another astonishing song and
finishes
with
one hell of a
performance on
guitar at 2:46.
It will leave you
thinking
differently about
how the guitar is
played.
The
eighth
song on the CD,
Spoils, gives off
the feeling of an
ʼ80s metal song. The guitar riff in
the intro makes you feel like you
are flying an F-18 Tomcat in a Super Nintendo game.
Also, adding a keyboard solo
midway through this song shows
PTH has matured as it is willing
to experiment and expand the
confines of a typical progressivemetal band.
The tandem ending with songs
Goddess Bound and Goddess
Gagged is perfect. When listening,
you know the plot of the story that
is Fortress is reaching its climax.
Walkerʼs screaming at the end
sums it all up: “The silence inside
you when the music has stopped.”
Source: www.amazon.com
By MATT DAY
Noise Staff
Try playing Protest The Heroʼs
(PTH) new album on Guitar Hero
and see how well you do.
The light-speed paced, progressive metal band from Whitby, Ont.,
is back with its sophomore album,
Fortress. If you are one who is
impartial to change, this album is
for you.
Some bands
falter and completely change
direction after
each record, but
PTH picks up
right where it
left off by adding even more
mind-blowing
hammer-ons,
pull-offs
and
bass lines.
Lead singer Rody Walker offers
more than a growl or whine on this
album with a revamped, higherpitch voice that gains new respect
from listeners. Walkerʼs voice reminds the listener of a Coheed and
Cambria or Mars Volta-esque style
now that he adds an actual singing
ability to PTHʼs repertoire of musical weapons.
PTH was known for having a
sporadic, intense sound in its first
full-length album, Kezia, and instead of toning that down to garner
to a broader audience, PTH steps it
up to weed out the pretenders.
The albumʼs single and lead track
is Bloodmeat. Make sure there are
By RYAN KELPIN
Noise Staff
With undoubtedly one of the
most anticipated albums of the
year, as well as a heavy Neil Young
and Bob Dylan influence, City and
Colour made its return this week
with its sophomore album.
Dallas Green, a St. Catharines
native, showed up on the national
scene in the early 2000s with his
punk-hardcore band, Alexisonfire,
but has become more known for
his acoustic, singer-songwriter
material that he debuted on his
gold-selling album, Sometimes
in 2005.
The album marked a major
change in sound, which he carries
over onto his new album, Bring
Me Your Love, which was released
on Tuesday.
The album marks another change
in sound, not quite abandoning the
bare-bones charm of its predecessor, but further delving into the
folk and country infused style that
he exhibited the potential for.
Songs like What Makes a Man
and Sensible Heart are very similar
to the first album, mostly dependent on his acoustic strumming and
his soft yet powerful voice. That
combination isnʼt a bad thing; itʼs
just not enough variety to build an
album off of just those traits.
Green realizes this on songs
like Body in a Box, which features
harmonica as well as organ parts
very reminiscent of that of early
Dylan, only with a far and beyond
better voice.
Sleeping Sickness is a major
Source: www.amazon.com
Fortress confirms Whitby Green displays Dylan influence
rockers’ ranking in music
City and Colour’s second full-length album, Bring Me Your Love, was
released Tuesday.
highlight of the album, featuring
an appearance by Gord Downie,
lead singer and songsmith of Canadian legends The Tragically Hip.
His appearance is only brief, but
it carries a lot of weight on what
will more than likely be the next
single.
The current single, which is getting heavy rotation on radio and
television combines the best of
Greenʼs older and newer material,
to make one of the catchiest songs
in recent years.
Waiting is not exactly the happiest song in the world though.
The chorus features lyrics such as
“weʼre all just waiting, waiting to
die.” Those are not exactly the most
uplifting words, but from the man
who is known for emotional songs
about isolation, love and suicide,
you canʼt expect all optimism.
Bring Me Your Love is clearly
going to pull down some awards
next year, and could possibly outsell the first album, and it is more
than deserving of achieving both.
11
NIAGARA NEWS
Feb. 15, 2008
Niagara Noise
Who let Pavlov’s Dogs out?
By MONICA KEYES
Noise Staff
As they begin to play, the audience responds. Swaying to the
melodies, the same way Pavlovʼs
dog salivated to the bell, the
crowd is enraptured by the unique
and energetic sound.
On Jan. 18, they made the back
room of The Rivoli come alive
on Queen Street West during the
release party for their first English
CD, To whom it may concern.
Based out of Toronto, seven
musicians originally from the
Soviet Union form the Pavlovʼs
Dogs Orchestra with Anton Priz,
27, from Sochi, Ukraine on bass;
Kirill Fondler, 31, from Minsk,
Belarus, playing the keys; guitarist Dima Filipov, 34, from St.
Petersburg, Russia, and 36-yearold Ruslan Nebesov from Odessa,
Ukraine, playing the violin.
From Kiev, Ukraine are Mattski
Falkovich, 26, on drums, Andrey
Marushkevich, 34, on percussion
and 34-year-old Tsoy Lantsman
on guitar.
Because of a lack of opportunities in their home countries, they
decided to immigrate to Canada
with their families and now live
in Toronto.
“We absolutely love it!” says
Falkovich.
After a series of jam sessions
in 1997, the Pavlovʼs Dogs was
created. The band existed on and
off, as they were all close friends
playing with different bands, but
in 2001 they decided to get serious
about the project. Dima and Tsoy
are the only members left from the
original lineup.
“Some years later someone
suggested adding ʻOrchestraʼ to
the title to make it absolutely
impossible to forget,” comments
Falkovich.
Currently unsigned to a record
Hailing from Belarus, Russia, and Ukraine, the Pavlov’s Dogs Orchestra, a Toronto-based band, is lighting up the independent scene with a unique
sound that can only be classified as indie folk.
Submitted photo
label, they all have jobs outside of cording was finished, their singer lease party was a great success.”
asked to classify their music into
the band but are in the studio four decided to leave the band. They
Writing all of their own music, a specific genre. One description
nights a week, trying to change had to put all mixing on hold and Falkovich believes they have frequently used to describe the
that, Falkovich says.
come up with new vocal melodies recorded enough music for five Orchestra is “wild,” as in wild on
”Weʼve been at it for a couple of and catchier lyrics.
albums over the years. With all stage as they are performing and
years now and the transition point
“Exactly one year later (in of their inspiration coming from the wild reaction the audience
is just around the corner. We are September 2007) after numerous daily life, the first song they wrote gives in response.
all mentally prepared to put in a failed attempts to find a suitable as a band is called Lines.
For information on upcoming
lot more work for a lot less pay lead singer, we had to go back in
“It talks about our struggle to shows and buying their CD, check
as long as we get to ʻplayʼ for a the studio and take a stab at it our- come up with decent lyrics.”
out their Myspace page http://
living.”
selves – that was one of the best
Self-described as “indie folk,” www.myspace.com/pavlovsdogRecording their album cause decisions weʼve made. We had a the Pavlovʼs Dogs Orchestra sorchestra or website http://pavsome adversity. Days after the re- blast making the record and the re- say they are stumped whenever lovsdogsorchestra.com.
Del Asher keeps music positive
By DEIDRA LUNARDON
Noise Staff
By believing in the music and
hiding nothing, St. Catharinesʼ
rock-pop band Del Asher (DA) is
self-described as “one of the most
honest bands out there.”
Refusing to engage in gimmicks
and trends, DAʼs drummer Matt
Murphy says, “Thatʼs why we
write rock music because rock will
never lose its appeal.”
Promising to never reveal the
whole meaning behind the bandʼs
name, Murphy reveals that when
translated “it is the combination of
the memory of a loved one and being happy in that memory.”
As their previous band was falling apart in the winter of 2004,
Chris Charkowy (guitar/backing
vocals) and Murphy joined forces
with the “brainchild” behind DA,
Julian Tomarin.
Tomarin, DAʼs lead guitarist
and vocalist, is the main lyricist
of the band. Acknowledging every
member has input, Murphy says
Tomarin is a “great writer.”
“He takes his subject matter seriously and draws from everything
around him.”
Usually sticking to day-to-day
events, he notes there is always a
positive twist put on DA songs.
“We donʼt want to go around
bumming people out.”
Trying to stay positive as they
look for bassist number 8 at the
moment, Murphy says he blames
the fact “that it has always been the
three of us.”
“It is hard for a fourth member
to come into the mix and truly feel
like a member.”
Acknowledging it as the bandʼs
one weakness, he says, the band is
“getting sick of member changes.”
“Losing a member is like breaking off a long-term relationship.
It just sucks. I think we are just
holding out for that perfect person,
whether or not he/she exists.”
DAʼs influences, Murphy says,
are evolving from pieces of other
music, art and literature.
“We try and soak up influences
from anywhere we can get them.”
Citing two influential artists as
“complete opposites,” Murphyʼs
recent favourites include Lights, a
synthesizer-pop band from Toronto, and Gallows, a hardcore-punk
product of the United Kingdom.
Julius Butty (Protest The Hero,
Alexisonfire) has produced all the
bandʼs material to date. Murphy
says Butty believes in the band
and understands the direction the
bandʼs music is heading.
“Heʼs the kind of guy that can
finish your sentences musically
and really makes you think of the
music you are writing.”
With a self-released, three-song
EP already available, DA is hoping to produce a full-length studio
album.
Although the majority of the
songs have already been written,
Murphy says being able to pay for
studio time at their ideal studio,
Metal Works in Toronto, is posing
a problem.
“It is pretty hard for an indie
band to come up with $20,000. My
advice is to look into all the gov-
ernment and private grants you can
get your hands on,” he suggests.
With two of the members of DA
having waist-length dreadlocks
and Murphy not, he says he hates
the image concept that is a big part
of music these days. He recalls a
Battle of the Bands contest the band
entered where looks were more important than the actual talent they
brought to their performance.
He says, “[The judges] didnʼt
care that we were busting our asses
and that our songs were killer.
“It is not a fun show if you have
to look a certain way and you feel
uncomfortable on stage.”
Pointing out DAʼs music, in fact,
sounds mainstream, Murphy says
the reason for that sound is not
to achieve radio play, but rather
because itʼs the type of music they
love to play.
“This is our career, so obviously
we need to be making money.
However, that is not to say we are
going to write the next Hillary Duff
song to do so. Overall, whoever
our music reaches, we hope that
it shows them that there is honest,
mainstream music out there.”
Inspired by the achievements
of bands, such as Thrice and Say
Anything, who donʼt have to
“scream to be heard,” Murphy
says he admires those bandʼs who
are “successful simply playing the
music they love.”
Including “classic stage banter”
on their upcoming Ontario tour,
Murphy says DA is “going to
be incorporating some ambient
synth[esizer] and drum samples”
into the set.
Priding themselves on their
“energetic shows,” Murphy says
a more tamed performance that
“flows from start to finish” is
planned.
“Sometimes you can just rock so
hard that after three songs you are
spent and end up struggling just to
finish the set,” he says about the
change.
DA is playing Feb. 24 at L3 in
St. Catharines.
12
NIAGARA NEWS
Feb. 15, 2008
Sports
Niagara College and the IceDogs team up
By SARAH JOHNSON
Staff Writer
The Niagara College Alumni
hosted its first event in association
with the Niagara IceDogs of the
Ontario Hockey League this past
Sunday.
Stacey Duncan, project development officer with the Alumni
Affairs Office at Niagara College, said, “Christine, one of
our event co-ordinators here,
her son played hockey and they
are big IceDogs fans. She knew
they had moved into the area and
were looking to do some more
group events, so she [made] the
contact with them and got the
ball going.”
The event at the Gatorade Garden City Complex in St. Catharines
started at noon with a free skate.
A pre-game party with food and
prizes followed.
“It turned out well. We had a
great turnout, close to 100 people,
and we have already had some really great feedback on it. Everyone
seemed to have had a really great
time,” Duncan said.
She said 80 tickets were sold,
but some people had previously
purchased tickets for the game and
came out for the free skate and pregame party.
At 2 p.m. the rivalry game between the Niagara IceDogs and the
Mississauga St. Michaelʼs Majors
began, and the home team fans had
something to cheer about.
Jordan Foreman scored the first
goal of the game for the home team,
but less than two minutes later the
Majors came back to tie the game
with a goal by Kaspars Daugavins.
Children of the alumni and faculty cheer on the IceDogs OHL team during an after-skating snack break.
In the third period, Swift gave score 5-2 for the Dogs.
Second-period action had Ice“It was a great, great game beDogs captain Michael Swift score the home team a two-goal lead by
his first of three goals, but the Ma- scoring a power play goal at 3:16 cause there is a rivalry between
jors game back less than five min- and his third, to make a hat trick, Mississauga and the IceDogs,”
she said.
utes later when Daugavins scored at 10:28.
This was the first event of its
Alex Pietrangelo scored the
his second goal of the afternoon.
That was all the scoring the Majors fifth, and final goal, for the home kind for the alumni from Niagara
team at 16:40 and made the final College and, Duncan said, there
could do.
Photo by Monica Keyes
is a plan for an event next year
as well.
“We have already started [talking] about making this possibly
an annual event, [and] changing
some of the marketing strategy
and possibly making it a bigger
event next year.”
Reiger excels at teamwork and communicating
By SHANE BUCKINGHAM
Staff Writer
Niagara
Knightsʼ
Stephen
Reigerʼs dedication to his teammates and his sport has provided
him with a persevering mindset in
all areas of his life.
“Teamwork and communication”
are the two most important values
heʼs taken from playing volleyball
since Grade 3 and for Niagara
Collegeʼs menʼs team.
Photo by Shane Buckingham
STEPHEN REIGER
“You canʼt do everything by
yourself. You always need somebody to get your back,” No. 3 of
the Knights said. “If you need help,
you need to tell someone.”
To keep the team united, the 19year-old sid, itʼs important to “pick
each other up.”
“I make sure they know that
thereʼs other guys on the court that
have got their back. If someone
screws up, thereʼs no blaming the
problems on each other.”
Not only is Regier, of Zurich,
Ont., an athlete who has more
than 100 points this season, but
also heʼs a Construction Techniques student who “really enjoys” carpentry.
Itʼs a one-year program that trains
students in carpentry, in exterior
framing, in interior finishing and in
excavating and price estimations.
Even in construction, you need
teamwork, he says. You need
“extra hands to help out” whether
itʼs hanging dry wall or framing a
house.
Heʼs been working for his dadʼs
construction business since Grade
8, and if the volleyball career
doesnʼt work, he said, heʼll be
“taking over.”
He “really likes” working in
construction. “I just love being outside. Hot days, cold days, it doesnʼt
matter. I love being out and moving
around, having no boundaries.”
Still, he admits, after playing
volleyball since Grade 3, continuing to play remains his ambition
over schooling or carpentry.
“Volleyball always came first.
Coaches and teachers were always
like, ʻDo your schoolwork,ʼ but I
always found a way to get it done
- and get it done half-assed - so I
could play volleyball,” he laughed.
He receives a $500-a-semester
scholarship to play on the collegeʼs
team, but he hopes to progress to
amateur-level beach volleyball in
the Ontario Volleyball Association
(OVA). He acknowledged he would
need to work hard.
“You have to put a lot of time
and energy in it to make yourself
go to that higher level.”
He has a coach back in Zurich,
Brian OʼReilly, who is a professional, but he still needs a partner
because beach volleyball requires
two members on a team.
He mused of his dream to make
the Olympics.
“I would want to put that in the
back of my mind and keep thinking about it and pushing myself
towards it.”
His family fostered his interest
in the sport throughout his life.
His parents, three brothers and two
sisters all play volleyball, except
for his youngest sister who is 6years-old.
“We love it. This is our familyʼs
main hobby. We just, two years
ago, put up our own beach court.”
His two older brothers, Kevin
and Rick, played throughout high
school and Rick also played for the
Knights.
What else does Regier do?
The five-foot 10-inch blond student drives to Ottawa see his girlfriend, Tara OʼReilly, the daughter
of his coach, “once or twice every
two months.”
His girlfriend is at Carleton
University in her second year of a
four-year program studying human
rights and law and plays for the
varsity hockey team.
They met in Grade 11 and have
been together for three years.
He admits itʼs hard for both
of them to get time to see each
other because of their schedules; however, they remain
close because they “trust in
each other.”
The trust they developed was
from “being around each other non
stop,” he smiled. “Sheʼs my best
friend,” he says, blushing.
“I trust her, believe in her, have
her back and do what I can to be
there for her.”
As for their academic differences, he said, “She keeps her
school out of our conversations,
but I know sheʼs smart and [her
goals are] to become a lawyer and
go to law school.”
“Weʼll see how this summer
works out with beach volleyball.
Then sheʼll go back to Ottawa in
September and maybe Iʼll go with
her.”
Heʼll work as a carpenter while
she continues her education.
Scholarship
tournament
Ball Hockey International and
90.1 The Heat present the fifth
annual Greg Darling Scholarship
Fund Ball Hockey tournament.
The tournament will be on
March 15. Cost to participate is
$150 per team of up to 14 players.
To register for the tournament or
for more information, contact Sarah Zinger a theheat.promotions@
gmail.com. Past tournaments have
pitted teachers against students, always with thrilling results, but the
competition is open to anyone.
Space is limited, and the deadline to register is March 2.
13
NIAGARA NEWS
Feb. 15, 2008
Sports
Fantasy erupts onto the field
By JESSE DOSTAL
Staff Writer
The widespread nature of the
Internet has brought on an entirely
new breed of sports fan.
In the past, sports fans were
predominantly interested in their
favourite team winning and
maybe cheering for a few choice
individuals.
In recent years, that has all
changed. Many sports fans now
play fantasy sports religiously.
The most common website used
for these games, at least among
college students, is yahoo.com.
Yahoo! offers fantasy games in
baseball, hockey, football, golf,
auto-racing, basketball and soccer.
Steve Boesveld, 20, of Hamilton,
says when heʼs cheering for sports,
sometimes fantasy can overtake
gut instincts and pride.
“Sometimes when I go to Blue
Jays games, or I am watching
a game at home, even though I
am a Jays fan, if they are facing
the Cubs, and I am an [Alfonso]
Soriano owner and he is up, deep
down I am hoping he hits a double,
steals third and scores on a sac
fly. That way I get tons of fantasy
Twenty-four-year-old Law and Security Administration students Aaron Porter and Johnny Stickles pick their
fantasy baseball team.
Photo Illustration by Matt Day
points. The Jays can always win he has noticed. “The biggest and not the case for him, but he is “in a
tomorrow.”
most unfortunate effect [of fantasy] minority on that, big time.”
Chris Bahr, senior editor at The is the lack of team loyalty.”
Boesveld says he has tried just
Sporting News, says this is a trend
Bahr says this loyalty issue is about every fantasy sport, but the
two he has settled on are baseball
and football.
“I hated baseball,” says Boesveld
of life before fantasy. “I joined my
league in 2004, and now I canʼt get
enough. Winning a fantasy baseball
league is a marathon. You need to
put in a good amount of time every
day for six or seven months to even
have a chance of winning.”
Boesveld says that football is
good because it is not as time
consuming as baseball, but sports
like hockey and basketball arenʼt as
good because they just donʼt set up
as well statistically.
“Baseball is a game of numbers.
Sports like hockey, basketball, there
just arenʼt as many categories, and
some of the stat categories in them
are pretty makeshift.”
Bahr also says that fantasy affects
how sports are watched.
“I think we are seeing a movement
away from watching a complete
game … With [cable sports
packages] itʼs constant flipping
around to see your players in key
situations ... In many cases people
are happier with live scoring
updates on their computers than
watching the actual game.”
Hockey player gets slashed Fanshawe Falcons fly
By SARAH JOHNSON
Staff Writer
For 20-year-old Ryan Lane,
hockey is life.
Lane started playing after watching his older brothers play.
“I am the youngest of three
boys in my family, and they always played hockey and I always
watched them, so thatʼs what made
me start,” he said.
Lane plays No. 44 for the Chippawa Riverhawks of the Niagara and
District Junior C Hockey league.
A t the beginning of this season he
was stabbed in a Port Dalhousie bar
and missed three and a half months
of the game he loves.
Lane had travelled to the bar with
his two roommates and two female
neighbours in early September.
At the bar, the four had separated.
When the young men left to catch a
cab home, they found the women.
Four male strangers had offered the
two women a ride home. They had
refused and the males had become
physical.
“The guys then started to force
them into the car, and they refused.
Thatʼs when we showed up, and
the one guy had actually shoved
the girl to the ground. I stepped
in front of her, and the guy took a
swing at me and hit me, so I just
backed out of the way and, defending myself, hit him back and he
collapsed on the ground. I went to
go see if the girl was OK. I turned
my back to walk to the girl, and
the guyʼs friend, who was on the
side of me, pulled out a knife and
stabbed me in the back.”
Lane missed three weeks of his
classes at Brock University in the
Business Economics program after
the stabbing.
“I was in the hospital for a week.
“I turned my back
to walk to the girl,
and the guy’s friend,
... pulled out a knife
and stabbed me in the
back.”
– Ryan Lane
Then for the first month, I wasnʼt
allowed to do anything other than
walk, really,” Lane said. “Dec. 20
was when the doctor finally gave
me 100 per cent, which was three
and a half months after it all happened.”
Lane was heartbroken when he
found out he was going to miss
training camp for the Riverhawks.
“Knowing that I was going to
get better, the doctors told me that
it was just a matter of time. I knew
I just had to take it day by day and
eventually I would get back to playing hockey, which is what I wanted
to do,” Lane said. “They had guaranteed me a spot on the team from
last year after everything that had
happened.
Lane said, “First of all, it was
shock and disbelief. You really
donʼt expect anything like that.
You hear about it on TV and in
the papers and stuff, but you never
really think anything is going to
happen to you.”
“I was only hired three or four
days before training camp. I just
went by what people had told me
there. It was like, ʻWow, weʼre losing one of our top players already
this year and it hadnʼt even started
yet,ʼ” Riverhawks head coach An-
drew Joyner said.
“Right after, for the full months
of September, October and November he had been to every outing. He
had been dying to get on the ice and
you feel bad for the kid, cause heʼs
20 years old and he probably only
has the rest of this year to play in
this league. He wants to be playing
hockey and he canʼt, so you see the
frustration on his face. Even though
he wasnʼt playing, he would be in
the dressing room before games or
practices.”
“I want to thank everyone for
all the support I have got from
Chippawa throughout the whole
situation,” Lane said. “The first
few weeks were one of the most
difficult times in my life. My best
friends play on this team and they
all came and saw me in the hospital. Even management phoned me.
They have showed me nothing but
respect since it happened.”
Lane is playing again, and Joyner
says, “Overall he has been doing a
pretty good job. So far he has been
in there, like the other night he got
a hat trick.”
Lane said the experience has
opened his eyes to how fast everything could change.
“It can get taken away from you
pretty quick; it definitely made me
realize that for sure.”
Lane played in the remaining 13
games of the season, scoring eight
goals and getting 14 for 22 points.
As of Feb. 11 Lane has played
in three playoffs games against
the Caledonia Corvairs and has
assisted on three goals that were
scored.
He played Thursday in game four
of the series and will play in game
five tonight, game six on Sunday
and game seven on Monday.
through Niagara
BY MICHAEL BRIGHT
Staff Writer
The Knights fell victim to the
flight of the Falcons Feb. 13, at
Niagara College.
The Fanshawe Falcons of
London defeated the Niagara
womenʼs volleyball team in four
sets Wednesday, 25-15, 18-25, 2518 and 25-21 respectively.
Katie Seys, Falconsʼ No. 7,
scored 19 points with 11 kills, one
block, seven aces and seven digs.
Niagara had double-digit offence
from No. 1 Leah Duke with nine
kills, three blocks and one ace for
13 points adding 13 digs. As well,
No. 15 Alyssa Runyon scored 12
points with eight kills, two blocks,
two aces and six digs.
“There is no excuse why Fanshawe should have beaten the
players,” says Kerby Bentley,
Niagaraʼs head coach. “They were
still in la-la land.”
“Iʼve seen Alyssa [Runyon]
become one of the bigger hitters,”
says Bentley, although she asked
to come off the court in the final
minute of the game.
“Great players want to play
the big games, the tight games,
the important games, at the right
parts and compete hard and
perform.”
“Itʼs a weakness,” adds Bentley.
“I hope Alyssa will learn that,
that weakness is not acceptable on
this team.”
Cassandra Musungayi Knightsʼ
No. 11 says, “We had a tape of the
last game we played them, and we
made the same mistakes.”
“Weʼre not going to take anything from this game. Weʼre going
to need to do the exact opposite of
what we did in this game,” says
Alyssa Runyon Knightsʼ No. 15.
“When we finally did start to
win a set, we stopped swinging. If
nobody swings hard on our team,
then how can we expect to win?”
says Bentley.
“I donʼt think we were completely there. Our team has been
pretty sick lately,” says Michelle
Schinkel Niagara Knightsʼ No. 5.
“A few of the teammates werenʼt
here because they were sick.”
No. 3 Nicole Vandermeer and
No. 7 Jackie Sexton were absent
from the teamʼs bench.
Bentley says that strep throat is
going through the team.
“We were expecting Nicole to
start today,” says Bentley.
Runyon says the game was lopsided was because Niagara had a
horrible warm-up.
“We were serving pretty good.
Everything else didnʼt fall into
place,” says Schinkel.
“Without a good pass you
canʼt make a play. We were struggling to put it back over every
time, and itʼs not working,” says
Musungayi.
“You canʼt play volleyball
like that. We need to talk. Weʼre
not helping each other out. We
start to yell at each other, that has
to stop,” says Runyon.
“When life gives you a
lemon
you make lemonade, and right now
we got to make some lemonade,”
says Bentley.
This Sunday in the Mackenzie
building at the Welland campus,
Niagara will host a cross-over
game to open the Ontario College
Athletics Association provincial
championships.
14
NIAGARA NEWS
Feb. 15, 2008
Entertainment
Juno isn’t just
another teen film
Juno stars
Michael Cera
and Ellen Page
By ALLIE GIAMPRINI
Staff Writer
Moviegoers have been sucking up comedy and other plot
lines in movies from Napoleon Dynamite to Superbad
and, most recently, Juno.
Newbie Ellen Page plays
the pregnant teen Juno Macguff. Rising superstar Michael
Cera, with his nerdy passiveness, plays the father, Paulie
Bleaker.
Like the Roman goddess she was named
after, Juno is an
intelligent, sharptongued girl who
prides herself on
her observant cynicism, utter bluntness
and sarcasm.
Camille
Hollett,
21-year-old JournalismPrint student, a hopeful
aspiring actress herself,
says Junoʼs character
“got old after awhile.”
“She became annoying very
fast.”
Once she became pregnant,
Juno researched her options
and found rich “yuppie” parents (Jennifer Garner and Jason
Bateman) to adopt her “bun
in the oven.” Showing off
her maturity, Juno tells
her parents (Allison Janney and J.K. Simmons)
about her predicament along with
her solution.
Simmons played a supportive
dad with a humour that so often
comes with a father/daughter relationship.
When Juno fesses up as to who
the father is, Simmons character
replies with, “Oh, I didnʼt know he
had it in him.”
Cera, who plays Bleaker in the
movie, does another outstanding
job playing the same character,
but this time in in Superbad, but
whoʼs complaining? Heʼs good
at it. He has a talent for making
utter normalcy funny.
Juno was obviously the one calling the shots in their relationship or
lack thereof.
When Juno told Bleaker about
the pregnancy, she took charge and
told him what was going to happen
while he passively agreed.
As a fan of the comedy of Superbad, I was expecting to laugh out
loud throughout this movie, but, to
my surprise, I leaned over to my
neighbour in the chair beside me and
said, “I thought I was going to be
laughing, but I think I wanna cry.”
Juno had its moments of
humour, but by the end, itʼs surprisingly deep, thoughtful and
touching.
Itʼs not your regular teen pregnancy kind of movie. In fact, the
plot is the opposite of what would
usually happen in Hollywood.
Sing your heart out to win
By DEVON MERON
Staff Writer
Itʼs not quite Canadian Idol, but
it is idol nonetheless. Itʼs called
Campus Idol.
Niagara
Collegeʼs
Student
Administrative Council (SAC) at
both campuses is offering students
a chance at college glory, or bragging rights. Itʼs official: the second
annual Campus Idol is here.
Welland Idol is the first of two
qualifying rounds when participating students gather to compete vocally for a shot at Niagara College
Idol and, if selected, Campus Idol,
March 15.
Both SAC employees and crowd
response will determine the winner
of Welland and Niagara-on-theLake (NOTL) Idol, as each con-
testant will be rated out of 100.
NOTL will be hosting similar
qualifying events, advancing its
winners to Niagara College Idol on
March 5 at After Hours. This is the
combination of winners from both
campuses.
One winner selected from Niagara College Idol will travel to The
Underground at York University in
North York to represent Niagara
College in the Campus Idol finale.
The competition will feature
winning students from Idol contests all over the region.
The school that the previous
yearʼs winner attended decides the
Campus Idolʼs host. Niagara College
hosted last yearʼs Campus Idol.
Idol qualifying dates were held
at After Hours Feb. 5, when the
Spring Wedding
Show
Sunday, February 17th
1PM TO 4PM
FORT ERIE LEISUREPLEX
For information or pre-registration:
onestopweddingshoppe.ca
905-871-9898
62867974
winner was Scott Spence. Final
qualifier contests will be Feb. 13
and Feb. 21 from noon to 2 p.m.
NOTL held its first contest Feb. 6,
with two more chances to come,
Feb. 15 and Feb. 19.
Prizes have not yet been decided,
but will be announced in the near
future.
Barbara Jean Lick, a Welland
Campus SAC representative, encourages students to “come out and
have some fun.”
Come on any scheduled day, sign
up and sing for the stars.
“You donʼt have to be a part of
the contest to participate. Itʼs all
about having fun,” she says.
For more information on Campus Idol and upcoming events, visit
www.nasac.ca.
Please help
all of us
Recycle
Scaryʼs
not scary
anymore
By ANDREW RAMOS
Staff Writer
Boo! Did I scare you? I hope
so, because todayʼs horror movies wonʼt.
Today, scary movies have become almost a joke. They have
lost all sense of originality and rely
far too much on the stereotypical
Japanese horror movie.
It started with The Ring, a remake of the Japanese Ringu, and
followed up with The Grudge, a
remake of the Japanese Ju-on: The
Grudge. Both movies featured a
young women who had been
murdered, only to come
back as a zombie and
have her face hidden by
long black hair. Both
spawned poorer sequels.
“We canʼt think
of our own stuff,
so we have to steal
other
peopleʼs
stuff,” says Dan
Ricci, 19, of the
Broadcasting Radio, Television
and Film (BRTF)
program.
The first problem
in those movies was the
overwhelming density of characters. Thereʼs a moment in The
Grudge that struck me as unbelievably absurd. A character stands in a
tunnel of stairs, where she sees the
zombie girl crawling up the stairs
with her feet contorting around her
back and over her head. Now, instead of the character freaking out
about this zombie coming after
her, she merely struggles to get
her cell phone into her purse. She
ends up dead shortly afterwards.
I will also forever remember a
scene in the same movie in which a
police officer makes a remark that
goes along the lines of “everyone
who steps into that house ends up
dead.” He said those words right
after he and his fellow officer had
entered the house, yet they gave
that idea no thought.
I know if I knew that anyone
who writes about poor remakes
of poor Japanese horror movies
would have their eyes sadistically
removed, I would go into a state
of complete panic and paranoia.
Speaking of eyes, we now have
another Japanese remake on our
hand, The Eye.
I havenʼt seen it yet, but I can at
least commend it thus far on the
fact that it is unlike the previous
two movies mentioned in that
there doesnʼt seem to be a zombie
with hair covering her face as the
antagonist, nor is the lead another
blonde bombshell.
“A lot of remakes are a lot worse
than the originals,” says Jeremy
Perry, 19, also in the BRTF program.
The premise of the movie has
been done to death, though. It
seems as though the release of this
movie is several years too late.
When I first saw the commercial
for it, I was immediately hit with
the memory of an episode in The
Simpsons in which Ned Flanders
discovers he witnesses peopleʼs
deaths before they happen.
Apparently this Simpsons moment is a parody of the novel The
Dead Zone, although Iʼve never
read that book.
There is a similar Smallville
episode of a character witnessing
the death of other characters before it happens.
“The problem
is, weʼre seeing the same
thing over
and over
and people
donʼt like
change.
They
get
used to it, so
companies
wonʼt change
what
works
for them,” says
Ricci.
“Itʼs why weʼre
stuck with the dead
girl crawling up the
stairs.”
With all this stealing of
ideas, you would think a movie
that vastly differs from the others would pop up, but no, we
get the likes of One Missed Call
and Untraceable, both with plots
seeming to be heavily influenced
by The Ring and Fear Dot Com,
respectively.
I havenʼt seen either of those
movies, but after how disappointing and just bad the latter were, Iʼm
going to have to give One Missed
Call and Untraceable a pass.
They just donʼt seem to be worth
my time or money when Iʼve essentially seen them a few years ago. My
decision to not see them is a shame
because Iʼm sure a lot of hard work
went into the making of it.
They just apparently lacked original hard work.
10
Top
scariest movies
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
Nightmare on Elm Street
Darkness Falls
Right At Your Door
The Thing
30 Days of Night
Flatliners
Cabin Fever
Children of the Corn
28 Weeks Later
It
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