December 2011 - The Student Success Centre

ace the
Stress
exam
indulging the
Travel
bug
the top hostels around
the world P.14
read up on ways
to cope P.13
outside
the bubble
Hungry?
savvy restaurant reviews P.18
Trends on Campus
Gotcha! A Survival Guide P.9
find your study nook P.10
a look at the first
year of med school
P.16
unleashed
creativity
Three writing pieces
P.22
Scholarly scoop december
A new season and two new
editors to the Scholarly Scoop
P.3
Lifestyle
Reviews
The Wardrobe Rut
21
Meet the First-Year Scholars
12
13
Meet the Upper-Years
Beyond Western
How the Story Goes: a History
of Scholar’s Electives
14
16
The World in Your Backpack
03
Letters from the Editors
Scholar’s corner
04
05
07
Campus Life
08
09
Tips and Tricks to Beat Stress
Medical School and Undergrad:
Parallel Universes
Economics
Life After Residence
Block ‘Em, Stalk ‘Em and Sock
‘Em: Surviving Gotcha
17
An Investment in PostSecondary Educaiton
Academia
Bits & Bites
10
18
19
20
Campus Hi-Fi Review
11
2
The Best Places to Study on
Campus
Writing for Publication: The
Scholar’s Story
S c h o l a r ly S c o o p
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December 2011
Aroma Review
Chocolate Skor Shortbread Bars
Recipe
Was it Worth it? A Review of
Transformers: Dark of the Moon
Creative writing
22
24
Spirit: a short story
25
Growth: a poem
The Trees that Hold: a short
story
on the cover
First-years from the Scholar’s
Electives floor in Elgin on the
steps of University College
I
letters from the editors
feel that I must preface my preface by saying that I will be
relying heavily on the metaphor of a mother bird letting
her chicks leave the nest, so please bear with me. Now
that I have that out of the way, I would like to cordially
welcome all the new Scholar’s Electives students to
Western, and welcome all returning students back for
another exciting year. For the new students wondering who the
mother-bird-nutcase is, my name is Evan Lilly, and I was the
editor-in-chief during the inaugural year of the Scholarly Scoop
in 2010. I currently attend medical school at the University of
Toronto, so I must be content watching my “hatchling” project
mature from a distance, just as a mother bird must one day
release her chicks into the wild. Although I have been feeling
a twinge of empty-nest syndrome recently – even though I was
technically the one that did the leaving – I feel confident that I
left my baby with two of the best surrogates possible. I have no
doubt that Sumedha and Ryann will equal and likely surpass
the progress I was able to make last year. I’m really looking
forward to seeing where they take this project, and I hope that
F
ollowing in Evan’s footsteps, we
are proud to present the 20112012 school year’s first issue
of the Scholarly Scoop. After
months of hard work, many emails,
countless hours, and (most importantly)
interaction with this year’s wonderful
writers, photographers and junior
editors, we have finally pulled together
some sheets of paper for your enjoyment.
Jokes aside, though, we hope that
you find the Scholarly Scoop both
informative and entertaining. In keeping
with the spirit of the Scoop, we have
strived to present a magazine that reflects
the academic side of Scholar’s Electives
as well as the diverse interests of Scholar’s
students.
We are honoured to be this year’s coeditors-in-chief. We welcome all feedback and participation,
and we hope you enjoy reading our first issue as much as we
enjoyed creating it. So without further ado, start reading!
the Scholarly Scoop will continue to be
a welcome quarterly diversion from the
grind of university.
Although I’m sure you’ve all heard
this before, I hope that you all take
full advantage of your time at Western
because the campus and atmosphere are
truly one-of-a-kind. In my opinion,
Western is the gold standard in the
Canadian university experience. Hope
you enjoy the issue!
Evan Lilly
Editor-in-chief, Scholarly Scoop, 2010
StafF
Editors-in-Chief
Ryann Kwan
Sumedha Arya
Executive Producer
Lauren Starr
Junior Editors
Writers
Sophie Chang
Jihyen Ha
Radha Joseph
Vincy Kwong
Odre Lefebvre
Alexandra Maringola
Nicole Askin
Rachael Crawford
Sara Ferwati
Ryan Gaio
Robert Norsworthy
Emma Weel
Sarah Ying
Brittney Zigmond
Layout and Design
Deborah Coward
Tea Hadwen
Laura Naus
Photographers
Natalie Yeung
Alice Yoo
Ryann and Sumedha
S c h o l a r ly S c o o p
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December 2011
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scholar’s corner
Meet the First-Year
Scholars
By Brittany Zigmond
Krystal Kramer
Faculty: Arts and Humanities
Program: Honours Specialization in Visual Arts
Research: Krystal will be researching European modern architecture
Mentor: Dr. John Hatch
Why Scholar’s Electives: Krystal applied to Scholar’s Electives to be mentored by faculty members
and to have flexibility in customizing her degree.
Favourite part about Western so far: “Western has it all! I love the campus, the residence life, the
enthusiasm of the faculty and residence staff, the opportunities to get involved, the spirit and energy
of the students, and, on top of that, the great school colours. Rock that purple!”
K rystal
Daphne Wu
Faculty: FIMS
Program: MIT
Research: Daphne will be researching controversial marketing’s strategies and subsequent effects on
media consumers. She wants to focus on how businesses decide on whom to target and what statistics
they rely on to come to certain conclusions before an advertisement is posted.
Mentor: Professor Daniel Robinson
Why Scholar’s Electives: Daphne has a thirst for knowledge and always wants to know more. “I am
a curious individual, so when you ask why Scholar’s Electives, I can't help but ask you in return,
‘Why not?’”
Favourite part about Western so far: Daphne loves Greek life and community spirit. “I'm so proud
to be a Mustang!”
daphne
Alvino Yang
Faculty: Science
Program: Biological & Medical Science
Research: Alvino will be researching different variables involving cancer and cancer cells. He will be
looking into the origin of cancer, how it develops, and how it spreads through the body.
Mentor: Professor Susanne Schmid
Why Scholar’s Electives: Alvino had a family friend who highly recommended Western so he began
looking into Ivey as a double degree with his program. Then, when he discovered the Scholar’s
Electives program, it was like “the icing on top of the cake”.
Favourite part about Western so far: He enjoys the people at Western – especially the people on the
Scholar’s Electives floor.
Alv ino
4
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December 2011
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Natalie Yeung
Faculty: Social Science
Program: Global Economics
Research: Natalie will be researching macroeconomics and international trade.
Mentor: Professor Jim MacGee
Why Scholar’s Electives: Natalie thought the research opportunity was very interesting and she
wanted to see what university research would be like, especially regarding economics.
Favourite part about Western so far: Natalie believes that Western is a very well-rounded school with
many opportunities and provides the best overall student experience!
Natalie
Sanga Lingham
Faculty: Health Science
Program: Kinesiology
Research: Sanga will be researching the effects of knee osteoarthritis. Sanga will be looking at the
results and overall effectiveness of the knee osteoarthritis surgery on tested patients.
Mentor: Professor Trevor Birmingham
Why Scholar’s Electives: Sanga wanted to surround himself with intellectual people to help motivate
himself to keep striving for the very best.
Favourite part about Western so far: Sanga likes Western’s campus. “It is a very attractive and relaxed
campus. You can study outside on UC Hill and you can even get a workout by just walking to class!”
Sanga
Meet the Upper-year
Scholars
emma
By ryan gaio
Emma Weel
Year: Second
Faculty: Arts and Humanities
Research: The banality of evil. Last year I studied what makes people do "evil" things, examining
the trial of Adolf Eichmann and the autobiography of Rudolf Hoess. In second semester I sat in on
my professor’s graduate level course and did a presentation for the class on two holocaust albums:
one that showed the perpetrators enjoying themselves at the Auschwitz resort, and another showing
the arrival of Hungarian Jews and the selection process that was immediately undertaken. Basically,
we examined whether some people are more prone to committing evil acts than others, and looked
into Hannah Arendt's notion of the banality of evil.
Favourite ice cream: Bubble gum
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December 2011
5
...continued from page 5
Radha Joseph
Year: Third
Faculty: Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry (BMSc Honours Specialization in Physiology
with Immunology, themed module created through Scholar's Electives)
Research: Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) is an auto-immune disease. Although there are some
theoretical models explaining its pathogenesis, many aspects of these models have not yet been
experimentally supported. My lab is working to gather experimental evidence that supports a
model for RA pathogenesis. My research is focused on antibodies to citrullinated proteins and
homocitrullinated proteins (modified proteins) that appear to play a large role in RA pathogenesis.
Favourite ice cream: Heavenly Hash
ra dha
Jaimie Franks
Year: Third
Faculty: Social Science (Honours Specialization in History with a minor in Music)
Research: In first year, I did a genealogy project on my family's involvement in both WWI (specifically
the battalion that fought at Vimy Ridge) and their relationship to the Hudson's Bay Company and
the rebellions of Louis Riel (all with Professor Vance). In second year I took the Scholar's course
with Professor Vernon. This year, I am researching female Jewish artists and their responses to the
German occupation of France during WWII (with Professor Nathans).
Favourite ice cream: 3-way tie between mint chocolate chip, cookie dough, and peanut butter
chocolate
jaimie
Larissa Fulop
Year: Third
Faculty: Social science
Research: Transitional justice and post-conflict reconstruction. Transitional justice is an emerging
field in political science and I have had the great privilege of working with Professor Joanna Quinn
in my first and second year. Professor Quinn would assign me various readings to complement my
individual research on topics such as violence and resource exploitation in the DRC, justifications for
international intervention, refugee displacement, war crimes and crimes against humanity, and the
effectiveness of truth commissions and ad hoc tribunals in empowering nations to resolve internal
conflicts. Two of my Scholar's Electives research papers have been published in the Undergraduate
TJ Review. This year my focus has shifted slightly to an anthropological study of the ongoing conflict
in Israel and Palestine under the direction of Professor Randa Farah.
Favourite ice cream: Mint chocolate
larissa
Ryan Gaio
Year: Second
Faculty: Arts & Humanities (Honours Specialization in English)
Research: My research project in first year involved working with Professor Jay Hodgson. We studied
the modern recording practices used in popular music today, focusing in on a specific genre of music
(garage rock) and pinpointing the tricks and techniques used by artists within that genre, and then
getting into a studio and producing an “industry level” recording of one of my own songs!
Favourite ice cream: Orange creamsicle (<3<3<3)
rya n
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December 2011
How the
Every story has a beginning.
The Scholar's Electives program
at Western is no exception.
Story Goes
T
he year was 1972. An idea was brought to the Western
Senate that Western needed a program for highachieving students. A proposal outlining the options
was written and reviewed; it was to be a program that
allowed the best students to create themed modules. This idea
fit in the timely context because in the 70s, Western students
could not take courses outside of their specific program
as students commonly do today. Thus the Undergraduate
University Scholars program was born. However, by the end
of that year, the program was renamed the Academic Electives
Program to ‘reflect the talents of students with superior
potential more accurately’.
Academic Electives was a very small program with only a handful
of students each year. Those who did enrol in the program were
interested in combining their broad range of academic interests
while pursuing degrees they had created themselves. Some of
the modules created by students at the time included Peace &
Conflict Studies and Music & Biology. University Scholars, as
the students in the program were referred to, also met regularly
with faculty members in their area of interest to discuss the
mentor’s research and help students create themed modules.
The program continued to develop, with some changes along
the way. In 1979, the name changed once more, giving rise to
the Scholar's Electives Program.
The program maintained its small size until the mid-1990s
when the school adopted the Political Science department's
proposal to actively promote the program as a way of attracting
high-achieving students to Western. The University made a
list of modules that students could make and advertised the
Scholar’s Electives program throughout the campus—even at
bus shelters. Within a few years, the number of students in
the program skyrocketed. For example,19 students in the 1995
History of
By Jihyen Ha
academic year grew to 312 in 1998. This created a different
problem. There were more students than the faculty members
and staff could efficiently support. There was also the issue of
students enrolling only because of the prestige attached to the
program.
The renovation of the Scholar's Electives Program in 2004
addressed these concerns, as well as the process of enrolment into
the program. Entry was no longer based solely on academics, but
instead, a committee was formed to select 50-75 well-rounded
students each year based on various criteria. This change also
responded to the creation of New Academic Choices, which
allowed every student more freedom in program choice.
Other refinements to the program included formalization of
mentor-student relations, and the establishment of an upperyear seminar course for SE students. Dr. Richard Vernon from
Social Science created, and has taught, this course since its
introduction. He is often cited as students’ favourite part of
the program. Thus Scholar's Electives became the program we
know today.
The Scholar’s Electives program has been successful in recruiting
top students to Western. “The program has been very positive
for the University. There has been a lot of work done to it
and many positive developments have been made,” comments
Dr. Vernon. “...first years [usually] don’t get to work with a
professor. That’s for grad students...” he adds. This year, over
135 students are working right next to graduate students on
ground-breaking research.
Scholar’s Electives: a story that is only getting better and better.
Scholar’s Electives
1972 - (Feb.) University Electives program approved
1972 - (Dec.) Program renamed to Academic Electives
1979 - Renamed to Scholar’s Electives program
1997 - Western Scholar’s Electives Scholarship created
1998 - Creation of Scholar’s Electives floor in residence
2004 - Introduction of essay course
Enrollment
1995 - 19 students
1998 - 312 students
1999 - 358 students
2011 - 138 students
S c h o l a r ly S c o o p
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December 2011
7
campus life
Life
R
esidence life is full of energy,
with late night initiatives and
late night snacks. The University
of Western Ontario boasts that it
provides “the best student experience,”
and residence life is no doubt a part of
that.
Living in residence during your first
year is an ideal way to meet new people
and start integrating into the Western
community. Additionally, residence life
assists with the transition from home
to university by providing a variety of
resources. Advice comes in the form
of upper year leaders and ubiquitous
bulletin boards. The cafeterias provide
healthy choices as well as an assortment
of comfort food for the hard-working
student.
So what happens when first year is over?
One of the most important choices a
student has to make after first year is
where to live the next year. Many students
decide to find places off-campus, while
others stay very involved in the residence
communities.
If you’re having trouble deciding what
to do, remember to keep your options
open. Here are some options and advice
to keep in mind. You'll find the school
year goes by alarmingly fast!
Living Off Campus
There’s no better way to assert your
independence than by getting your own
place. It’s like playing “house” when
you were a kid ... except it’s real. Since
procuring your own place is such a big
deal, it’s important to find a good place
8
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After
Residence
By Sumedha Arya
student events. Sophs are the driving force
behind O-week, and continue to be great
resources throughout the year. Although
certain sophing application processes can
be quite competitive (faculty sophing in
particular), there’s no formula or trick to
becoming a soph. The most important
thing is to show your personality and
passion. It’s always worth a shot – and
you can always apply for more than one
sophing team! Becoming a soph is a great
way to stay involved with residence life
while making a difference.
Residence Staff
systematically. You should look at a
variety of places and have a checklist of
features you are looking for. What’s your
budget? How far away from campus do
you want to be? Is the location safe? How
accessible is transportation? Finding
a place to live can be intimidating,
but knowing what you’re looking for
and using the resources at hand can be
extremely helpful. A great online resource
is offcampus.uwo.ca. You can also receive
personal assistance by visiting room 102
of Elgin Hall during office hours.
Sophing
Soph applications typically come out
in January, so keep your eyes peeled for
these! Soph positions include residence
sophs, off-campus sophs, faculty sophs,
USC sophs, charity sophs, info sophs
and affiliate university sophs. As a
faculty soph, you are a mentor for one
or more floors of students within a given
residence. As a residence soph, you live in
residence as a student leader. Residence
sophs can also be a part of residence
council and help plan and facilitate
December 2011
The main difference between RezStaff
and residence sophs is that the latter are
volunteers. Residence staff are paid upper
year students who monitor the building
and who, like sophs, try to make the
first year student experience as safe and
enjoyable as possible. There are a variety of
positions within RezStaff. Every floor has
a residence advisor (RA) who keeps an eye
on the floor, arranges floor meetings and
floor programs, and patrols the building
on duty nights. Every unit has a Don, a
senior staff member who, in addition to
RA responsibilities, assists RAs and acts in
the capacity of Acting Manager on duty
nights. There are also ALPs, Academic
and Leadership Progammers, and APCs,
Assistant Programming Coordinators.
However, the first step to joining rezstaff
is usually in the capacity of an RA. The
residence staff applications are available,
so if this is something you are interested
in doing you should start the application
ASAP. While being a part of staff can be
a lot of responsibility, it can also be very
rewarding.
Block ‘Em, Stalk ‘Em, & Sock ‘Em:
Surviving Gotcha
A
A comprehensive guide by Robert Norsworthy
s the saying goes, “paranoia will
destroy ya”. Well, the people
who said that probably didn’t
play Gotcha, where caution
and resourcefulness keep you in the
game.
In Gotcha, each player has a sock with
the name of a target, as well as the side
of the building where that person lives.
If the hunter (the socker) finds his or
her target (the sockee) and hits the
sockee with the sock, yelling ‘Gotcha,’
the sockee is out and surrenders his or
her most recently obtained sock. The
successful socker then searches for the
sockee whose name is on that sock. Safe
zones include bedrooms, bathrooms and
eateries.
are nearby. Your socker may lie in wait
outside your room or try to invite you
out of it.
To make yourself more difficult to find,
remove your name from your door and
perhaps place it on someone else’s. Do
not eat in your residence cafeteria. Leave
for classes early so that you have time to
evade your socker and so that the socker
can’t be sure when you have class.
In the morning, estimate your socker’s
tenacity and try to leave earlier than he
or she would be willing to get up to stake
out the hallway or lobby. You could also
take a risk waiting for your sockee in the
lobby.
Though Gotcha experiences vary, there
are tried and true tips for success:
If have an average height, you might try
wearing a disguise. You should make
sure that it doesn’t affect your ability to
run if your socker sees through it.
Networking
The best gotcha players establish and
use networks. Through reports from
friends or sites such as Facebook, you
can learn the identity, location and/or
appearance of their sockers or sockees.
Remove useful information including
pictures from your profiles. Be aware of
possible spies. You can never be certain
who your socker is or if your previous
socker has been caught. Try not to let
anyone untrustworthy within socking
range. Also, friends are good resources.
Ask them to distract your socker if you
get cornered.
Hiding Out
Gotcha is a good excuse to visit areas
of campus that you would not see
otherwise. These will be the places that
you wait between classes when the risk
of returning to residence is too great.
Ensure that you know at least two exit
routes. Also ensure that you will be able
to see a socker’s approach. Stairwells are
excellent for this. Anyone coming from
below or above may be seen relatively
easily, giving you plenty of time to run
to an upper or lower level and escape.
Leaving Residence
Gotcha is usually played within one’s
residence, so your sockee and socker
While it’s unlikely that your socker
will be combing the campus for you, a
good hiding place grants peace of mind,
allowing you to do homework without
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...continued from page 9
risking your return to residence.
If your socker finds you, don’t run into
class unless you’ll be late otherwise. He
or she may have time to wait for you to
come out again. If possible, hide in a
building that is conveniently near the
building where you have class, so you
won’t have to return to it if your socker
finds you and chases you away from it.
Homework and Eating
Bring homework or meals with you to
a hideout and work or eat there. Only
take one object out at a time, one that
will be easy to bring with you, such as a
sandwich or binder, if you need to run
suddenly. Zip up everything else in your
backpack, and keep it ready at hand or
on your back. You don’t want to leave
anything behind when you escape.
Never bring your schedule with you. If
your socker finds that, the game becomes
far more difficult.
These methods have gained success for
players in the past. Remain steadfast,
and make your own luck.
A final tip: If you’re feeling spiteful,
wear your sock. If your socker catches
you at the end of a long, sweaty chase,
peel it off, hand it to him or her, and say,
“Here. You earned this.”
The Best Places to
Study On Campus
By emma weel
1. The Libraries:
4. The Social Science
The basement of Weldon is always a Centre:
productive place to work, and the Law
and Taylor Libraries are great as well.
Personally, I like the upper floors of
Taylor the best because they are typically
less busy. King’s Library is another
option, and if you live in Alumni or
any of the residences around there, it is
actually closer than Weldon.
2. Health Sciences
Building:
If you’re in Health Sci., the second floor
of Health Science is a university student’s
dream study spot. It’s open to you 24
hours with your student card.
3. UCC Student Lounge:
There are great tables on the fourth floor
beside office 4218. There are also new
booths on the third floor that are great
for studying.
5. Somerville House:
If you are in need of a computer and
all of the ones in Weldon are taken, the
basement of Somerville has a computer
lab that hardly anyone seems to know
about. You can get there by the stairs
just past the Tim Horton’s. When it’s
unlocked, Somerville is also a great
building to study in on the weekend,
since you can take advantage of the
empty classrooms. This holds true for the
other buildings on campus as well.
While it can be a bit noisy, if you’re a
late studier and would like somewhere to
go once the libraries close, the Student
Lounge is definitely a good option.
10
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December 2011
academia
Writing for Publication:
The scholar's story
By Nicole Askin
T
ired of tossing your Scholar’s
research into a scrapbook? Want
to do more with it? Thinking
of applying to grad or professional
school? Need to build up your resume?
Consider publishing your research in an
academic journal. While there are some
undergraduate-only journals published
here on campus, with a little effort, you
can author a “real” scholarly publication.
Here are some tips:
Talk to your profs. Your professors are
both teachers and mentors, and generally
have a wealth of experience in writing
for publication. They can give you some
great advice. You may even consider coauthoring a paper with an established
professor as a way to ease into the
scholarly community.
Shop around. Depending on your
field of study, there may be dozens of
journals to choose from. Pick one that’s
an appropriate match for your research
– if you’re not sure, look at their website
or read some back issues of the journal.
Also, while it’s good to aim high, don’t
be too ambitious. Your first-year paper
is probably not going to be published
in Nature. Finally, don’t be discouraged
if your first choice rejects your paper.
It happens, and probably just means
that you should take comments from
the editors and reviewers (if any) into
consideration and submit elsewhere.
Read the fine print. Some journals have
very specific requirements regarding the
type of papers they accept, or even how
these papers should be formatted. If you
don’t follow instructions, the chances of
your paper being published are much
lower.
Engage in dialogue. The paper’s editor
or reviewers may have suggestions for
how you can improve your work. Take
them into consideration, because these
professionals have much more experience
in this area than you do. With their help,
you are much more likely to succeed! That
said, if you disagree with a suggestion,
explain why and don’t just ignore it.
Be bold. If you don’t submit, you won’t be
published. So what are you waiting for?
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December 2011
11
lifestyle
The Wardrobe Rut
I
t would not be an exaggeration to say
that women’s fashion around campus
is quite conformist. This can be seen
by focusing on a few key articles: Ugg
boots (of course) adorned with last year’s
salt stains; the oversized, ostentatious
TNA sweater; and for sure, the Lulu
pants complete with unflattering muffin
tops and uncomfortable wedgies (of
course we never tell the boys). Long gone
are the days of well-cut military jackets
with a well-fitted blouse or tank top and
comfortable jeans. Flattering silk scarves,
cashmere gloves, laced booties, and snug
leather jackets are no more. Clothes
from Aritzia are
paramount
to
achieve the “cool”
look, or at least
to blend in with
fellow colleagues.
The
Canadian
goose has been
conceptualized
into a lofty, overrated jacket; plain,
ordinary rubber has fetched an extraordinary price in the form of Hunter
boots, selling for just over $150.00.
It is consumerism at its worst, where
everyone is buying the same thing at the
same places to appease the same crowd.
By Sarah ying
agreed upon: the standards that we have
unconsciously set for ourselves and for
prospective Western girls. The Western
look: Ugg boots, Canada Goose jackets,
Aritzia clothes, Lulu Lemon athletic
wear.
It is understandable that these staple
items in our closet add a certain level of
comfort. However, there is an apparent
price to conformity: the loss of ourselves
into the collective whole. We cannot
afford to lose our individuality; hence, the
notion of dressing as an artistic endeavour
is of individual significance. Fashion is
a way to portray
ourselves—a
way to express
individual
uniqueness
and
character. If we
truly seek to stand
out, the artistry
behind dressing
should undermine its utilitarian purpose
and, above all, supplement our best
personal characteristics.
I am tired of seeing
the letters, TNA,
and not knowing
what they stand for.
Am I the only one who is tired of this
fashion rut? I am tired of tank tops that
cost less than $3.00 to produce but cost
over $30.00 to purchase. I am tired of
seeing sheep perish to warm the feet of
careless girls. I am tired of seeing the
letters, TNA, and not knowing what
they stand for. Most of all, I am tired of
the choices that we have unanimously
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S c h o l a r ly S c o o p
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December 2011
We must remember that fashion is not
about conformity. It does not follow.
Fashion is not about labels. It cannot
read. We must no longer buy the things
that everyone else has. Rather, we must
learn to shop with an artistic eye that
searches for our individual personalities.
In other words, we must buy things
that work for us, that flatter our bodies,
that help us stand out. We must not
lose ourselves to the crowd. So the next
time there is a sale at Aritzia, remember
conformity is not fashion.
AT
E
B
O
T
S
K
IC
R
T
ND
TIPS A
lifestyle
By Ryann Kwan
B
etween academics, extra-curriculars, work and social
lives, university students handle more than their fair
share of stress. As a result, students have learned to
cope with, and even thrive on, the stress of university life.
But there are times when it can be overwhelming, even for
super students. We’ve all been there: drowning under piles
of untouched work with deadlines looming in the near future
and facing an endless to-do list that gets longer with every
passing day. During times like these, it seems like the constant
worrying and pressure will never end; no matter how much
stuff you get done, there’s always more to do.
While a little bit of stress can motivate you to perform better,
a lot of stress all the time isn’t so great. In fact, chronic stress
leads to a ton of health issues that no one wants to deal with,
including headaches, a compromised immune system, weight
gain, and problems sleeping.
1. Take care of yourself. This means eating and sleeping
properly. When university students find themselves with too
much on their plates, the first thing they sacrifice is sleep.
Don’t do this! Sleep deprivation only leads to more stress.
Just think of the hours of work you add to your to-do list, when
you’re nodding off in class or fighting to keep your eyes open
while “studying”.
5. Get some perspective. When we’re stressing, we tend to
build things up in our heads so that minor setbacks and small
tasks seem a lot more daunting than they actually are. Write
things down so you can see exactly what you’re dealing with,
or find someone to talk to. Whether you’re seeking advice or
ranting, talking things out generally helps to put everything into
perspective.
2. Exercise. Physical activity is your body’s natural defense
mechanism against stress; it relieves tension and releases
hormones to help deal with anxiety. So even if you feel like
there’s no time for a work out, you’ll be doing yourself a favour
if you make time for one.
6. Indulge in a little holistic healing. Calm your mind with
relaxing scents like lavender, chamomile and jasmine. Or
even better, eat some dark chocolate. Research shows that
it lowers stress hormones and also triggers the release of
endorphins.
3. Chillax. While it may be counter-intuitive when you know
you need to get things done, taking some time to relax is
exactly what you need. Anything that triggers the release
of endorphins is your friend; not only do they make you feel
happy, but they also help combat the feelings of stress. So
take a break, reward yourself, have some fun, and laugh a
little!
7. Think positive. Picture everything going right and stop
imagining every “what if” situation. Focusing on every little
thing that can go wrong will only make you more anxious.
4. Get organized. Prioritize, schedule, write things down.
Work out a system so that you know exactly what you need
to do, and when you need to do it. But at the same time, be
flexible. Know that things don’t always go as planned, and
that’s okay.
The bottom line: it’s important to get a handle on your stress
so that it isn’t running—and ruining—your life. How? Read
ahead for eight tips that will help you to beat the stress.
8. Say no and let go. Instead of jam-packing your daily schedule
to complete every task on your to-do list, start by shedding a
few obligations and stop taking on more responsibilities. You
can’t do everything. In addition, understand that you can’t
control everything. Don’t stress about it if there’s nothing you
can do.
Learning to cope with stress in a positive way can be challenging, but it’s an essential life skill. The most
important thing to keep in mind is that you control your stress, not the other way around. Now we’re
all in for a pretty demanding end of term, so good luck, and get ready to beat the stress!
S c h o l a r ly S c o o p
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December 2011
13
beyond Western
Do you want to take on
the world? Are you ready
to meet new people?
Think you can handle
living out of a backpack
for an entire year?
By Sophie Chang
Every year, thousands of young
Canadians take on the challenge of
backpacking around the world without
having to worry about tight schedules
or detailed planning. The typical
backpacker is young, adventurous, and
price conscious. Backpackers are tourists
on tight budgets who want to spread
their money over longer periods of time.
We all know that hotels empty our
wallets faster than we realize but what
other options do we have? Before we
start looking into backpacker-friendly
accommodations, let’s get one thing
straight. Your backpacking experience
will be the best time of your life…as long
as you know where to stay.
What Are Hostels?
Geared towards backpackers, hostels
are cheap accommodations found in
both major cities and small villages.
Besides being far less expensive than
hotels, there are plenty of other benefits.
Hostels are fantastic places to meet other
backpackers. You have the option to
Where Do I Stay?
Top 10 Hostels Around The World
1
The Villa Saint Exupéry
Nice, France
The Villa Saint Exupéry has been
named The Lonely Planet’s Top Hostel
for the past five years. Decorated with
purple flowers, stained-glass windows,
and stone floors, the Villa Saint Exupéry
is the definition of low budget luxury.
A former monastery perched on top of
a hill, the chapel has been converted
into a beautiful lounge where you can
order French pastries and take in the
beautiful view of the French Riviera.
14
2
Oasis Backpackers’ Hostel
Granada, Spain
A free welcome drink will be
waiting for you once you’ve reached
the Oasis Backpackers’ Hostel.
Enjoy Granada’s gypsy vibes, Arabic
ornaments, catholic churches, and
the Sierra Nevadas as you relax on the
hostel’s spacious patios. Don’t be afraid
to venture out into one of Granada’s
tasty tapas bars.
stay in a dorm-type room with other
travelers, giving you a chance to hear
their stories, learn about other cultures,
and plan new adventures. Hostels are
the perfect place to share travel secrets as
well– where to go to get the best pizza
in Venice or how to get to that secret
beach in Greece. Many hostels also have
bulletin boards or binders filled with
helpful recommendations left by past
backpackers.
3
La Casa de Las Brujas
Guanajuato, Mexico
“The House of the Witches” is
rumoured to be haunted with the spirits
of Steve Carson, the house’s previous
owner who was arrested for killing a
man, and his daughter who was beaten
by her aunts and starved to death in the
cellar. As frightening and creepy as it
sounds, the hostel itself is decorated with
bright colours and flowers. However,
for a traveler trying to book a room,
information about Las Brujas may be
difficult to find, as they have no website
and all online reviews are in Spanish.
Continued on next page…
S c h o l a r ly S c o o p
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December 2011
...continued from page 14
4
The Flying Pig Hostel
Amsterdam, Netherlands
Part of Amsterdam’s notorious
hostel chain, the Flying Pig is a rare
combination of both luxury and
partying. With its bar and pillow lounge,
the Flying Pig gives off a Bob Marley
feel as a constant cloud of smoke seeps
into the streets of Amsterdam at not only
happy hour, but all hours of the day.
5
The Loki Hostels
Peru and Bolivia
Tired from your four-day trek to Macchu Picchu? Don’t get too tired. The
Loki Hostels are known for their late-night themed fiestas, open lounges, and crazy
concerts. Besides throwing the hottest parties in town, this hostel chain also offers the
best views of South America.
6
The Treehouse
Koh Chang, Thailand
Are you into the whole hippy vibe and beach huts made of wooden branches?
The Treehouse is the perfect blend of relaxation and partying. The ambiance at this
hostel will make you feel like you’ve got no worries in the world as you sit back, relax,
and drink.
7
Hostel Celica
Ljubljana, Slovenia
A former prison, the Hostel Celica was part of a detailed
municipal plan to transform each cell into a creative piece of
artwork. Local artists were responsible for the layout of each
individual cell. Feel free to take pictures as you stroll around
the creative cells before heading over to the back garden for a
drink and a conversation with a local artist.
9
Far Out Camping Club
Ios Island, Greece
At Far Out Camping Club, you
can choose to stay in either a beachside
cabin or a tent. If that isn’t relaxing
enough, you can also swim in the two
giant swimming pools right outside,
complete with waterslides and a poolside
bar. Have fun meeting new people at this
hostel-on-the-beach.
8
Friendly Fun Franks
Riga, Latvia
Boasting a 24-hour bar and located in a city known
for outrageous partying, Friendly Fun Franks is the ultimate
party hostel. Housed in the wall of an old medieval castle, this
hostel provides a variety of exciting excursions hosted by its
friendly staff, such as canal cruises or AK-47 shooting ranges.
10
Mellow Yellow,
Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
If you’re looking for the next Jersey Shore complete with having a good
time and a blast, look no further. Not only was Rio de Janeiro named the city with
the most beautiful people in the world, but the city is also home to one of the most
infamous party hostels in South America. After a day of shopping in Rio de Janeiro,
grab your swimsuit and head on out to the nearby Copacabana Beach for a midnight
swim.
Visit success.uwo.ca for
more information and
CareerCentral.uwo.ca
for upcoming events.
The Student Success Centre is your one stop shop for all career,
leadership and experience questions. We bring you employers
who want to hire you, workshops to help you get hired and
resources to help you succeed at work or graduate school.
[email protected]
519-661-3559
UCC 210 | WSS 3100
S c h o l a r ly S c o o p
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December 2011
15
I
can remember feeling overwhelmed
by many things during my first few
days at Western. The first was the
sheer size of the university: being
from Sudbury and only ever having seen
Laurentian, Western represented college
life on a much larger scale. The second
was the prospect of living on my own;
having to cook my own food, do my
own laundry, and essentially become an
adult. The third was the overall diversity
that reached every nook and cranny of
the university: people from different
cultures, interests, religions, etc. were all
living together in the equivalent of a small
town. And of course, I was overwhelmed
(at least initially) by the classes, and not
just by their sheer size. The amount of
work and level of understanding that
the professors expected was well beyond
what I had been used to in high school.
Needless to say, it took a little bit of
adjusting for me to feel comfortable
learning at the university level, but once
I got into my groove, I never expected to
have to make those kinds of adjustments
again.
So I was more than a little surprised
when I experienced recurring episodes of
déjà vu during my first couple weeks of
medical school. If I was intimidated by
the size of Western’s campus and London
in general, then you can imagine how I
might feel moving to Toronto. I know
that this feeling is anything but universal,
especially for people moving to London
from a place like Toronto, but for me it
brought back memories of September
2007. Another thing that triggered my
memories of first year was the significant
lifestyle change that occurred when I
arrived in medical school. Whereas
entering university inherently makes
you an adult, entering medical school
inherently makes you a professional. I
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Medical School & Undergrad:
Parallel Universes
By Evan Lilly
was told that what makes a “job” different
from a “profession” is that jobs allow
people to forget about their work once
the day is done, but professionals cannot:
a profession is a lifestyle, not simply a part
of one. Medical school demands a high
degree of professionalism and integrity,
just as university life demands a certain
degree of maturity.
school, like that in undergrad, always
requires you to play catch-up, and can at
times be overwhelming. The difference
between then and now, however, is that
I have developed and honed techniques
to deal with the stress and help me stay
productive (if you’re wondering, I’ll let
you develop your own unique methods,
rather than giving you all the answers).
If you can believe it, all of these déjà
vu moments happened before we even
started classes! And then by the end of
our first week, I had yet another thing to
remind me how my first year at Western
felt. It took a solid four hours of review
every night to keep up with the lectures
because they all contained so much
material (something to look forward to
if you ever take anatomy – and for those
who have, you know what I’m talking
about). Normally, I like to stay a day
ahead by pre-reading lecture notes, but
I had to sacrifice that part of my routine
because I also make getting a good night’s
sleep a top priority, and these two goals
were impossibly incompatible. And then
they added in anatomy labs and clinical
practice! The workload in medical
I’ll close with some advice. The most
significant thing that I’ve learned during
this first month was not an anatomical
fact or a clinical manoeuvre: it was the
realization that we all must remember to
remain humble. You may have been the
resident genius at your high school or in
your degree program (I was neither), but
it probably won’t always be that way. So
remember to stay confident, but always
be open to celebrating the achievements
of others and accepting that they will very
often have valuable lessons to share with
you. Humility will not only help you be
successful, but will also encourage your
peers to celebrate, rather than begrudge,
your success. Have a great year!
December 2011
economics
An Investment in
Post-Secondary
A
t one point or another, we
have all heard that education
is an investment for our
future. Economically speaking, postsecondary education is an investment in
human capital, the principle being that,
just like physical capital, humans need
time to train in order to become more
productive. Whether you agree on this
premise or not, it cannot be denied that
such an investment in human capital
is rather costly. After all, tuition runs
at about $6000 and books cost around
$1000. Not to mention the high costs of
living including rent, food, clothing and
entertainment! Although the explicit costs
of university are obvious (simply log onto
your student central in August to see the
amount owing on your statement), there
are many hidden, implicit costs that few
of us acknowledge. Such implicit costs,
known as opportunity costs, are costs of
the next best alternative forgone to invest
in human capital. Definitions aside, we
cannot deny that it would be nice to
spend the thousands of dollars that we
By sarah ying
earn on travel, shopping or indulging in
our favourite hobbies and pastimes. The
economic principle here can be phrased
into one simple question: what would
you rather be doing than going to school?
This spans beyond the financial costs of
university as it encompasses time as well.
to the economy by working. In essence,
through an economics perspective, we
are not only losing the amount we see
on student central, but the amount of
money we could potentially be earning
if we had chosen to work out of high
school.
With any decision we make, there are
literally thousands of other possibilities
that we are giving up. This is scarcity at its
cruellest: we simply cannot “have it all.”
Loosely defined, economics is more or
less the study of scarcity, that is, the study
of choices. Relating back to the human
capital discussion, instead of spending
hours and hours studying, there are an
infinite number of choices that we forgo:
watching TV, playing a video game,
shopping, fishing, going on a hot date,
etc. We can group all of these activities
under leisure, and conclude that in order
to invest in human capital, we must
give up some leisure. More importantly,
we are forgoing the choice of being
economically productive, that is, getting
a job out of high school and contributing
So given all of these implicit costs, why
is it that we have all chosen to invest in
human capital? The silver lining in this
decision is that we anticipate that our
future earnings will be sufficiently high;
more specifically, we anticipate that the
present value of our future earnings given
post-secondary education will be greater
than the present value without. Even if
we take into account forgone earnings
that we miss out on due to schooling, our
chances of making a higher salary, and to
have salary advancement, are much more
likely with university. Hence, overall, the
costs of post-secondary – both implicit
and explicit – are undermined by the
benefits of seeking a higher education.
Scholars
Career Night
Wednesday, February 1, 2012, 5:30PM
David Chu International Student Centre
Meet with professionals, successful alumni and community representatives who
will be sharing their career paths, the hiring process in their fields, and the inner
workings of their professions. Register at CareerCentral.uwo.ca
S c h o l a r ly S c o o p
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December 2011
17
bits & bites
Campus Hi-Fi Diner
By Alexandra Maringola
Are you looking for an awesome place to chill with your friends? A place with
great food and wallet-friendly prices? I’ll bet you also want a perfect balance
between a low-key atmosphere and the buzzing of students, young professionals
and families alike. If so, Campus Hi-Fi is your place. This traditional lil’ greasy
spoon has been around for ages—a true Western Classic!
It’s no surprise this restaurant has been a
hit for over twenty years due to its yummy
breakfast combos, accessible location,
fantastic prices and super friendly staff.
Offering a great variety of traditional
breakfast foods as well as interesting
and healthier options, Campus Hi-Fi
is a group pleaser. Not only is there
something for everyone, there is a meal
size for every level of hunger. Everyone
can get their fill, all for under ten dollars.
The menu is designed so you can get
more eggs, potatoes, bacon, sausage and
toast than you could ask for. Best off,
everything is pretty delicious. You can’t
go wrong with traditional breakfast.
Nothing screams comfort food more
than eggs and potatoes on your plate.
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If you’re looking to add something
extra to your meal, I suggest the French
toast. They make it home style on thick
sliced bread and fry it to perfection. It’s
definitely one of my favourites—tied
with the chocolate chip pancakes!
You might think you can get good
food—and even cheap, good food—
at just any old place, but let me assure
you this is the place to be. No larger
than your typical res room, this place
gets packed! It’s great to be within
such a lively place, seeing other people
just enjoying their mornings like you
are. There is something extraordinarily
charming about sitting only two feet
over from the next table. You really feel
December 2011
like you’re where the party’s at—even
if everyone is in their sweatpants. On
that note, I recommend going early
because by 10 am, expect to wait about
20 minutes for a table. If waking up
early isn’t your thing, remember they
do breakfast all day long! It dies down
again mid-afternoon when you can pop
in for those pancakes, or a burger. So
next time your down on Richmond
Row, be sure to check this place out.
I’m sure you won’t be disappointed!
Add this location to your “awesome
places” list: 736 Richmond Street,
519-434-5881. See you at breakfast!
Aroma
Mediterranean Restaurant
By sara ferwati
W
hen summer approaches its end and the cold
weather creeps upon us, dining out becomes one
of the limited options offered by London's famous
‘Richmond Row’.
Aroma restaurant is carved out among several three and four
story brick buildings beneath a glass ceiling. The Mediterranean
courtyard feel is apparent through the restaurant; the glass
ceiling creates a spacious atmosphere and the abundance of ivy
climbing the high walls and antique artifacts located in every
nook and cranny warms the space. The Mediterranean outdoor
dining area is the restaurant's greatest asset on cold days.
However, the illuminated sign of the restaurant next door, and
the teeming ventilation pipes and wires situated in the wall
facing the Richmond entrance demeans what might potentially
be the most unique restaurant atmosphere on Richmond.
The night I visited Aroma was a slow night for the restaurant,
as my friends and I were the only customers dining in the
courtyard. Only one waiter was serving. His scruffy look
reflected his clumsy nature, as he constantly spilled water while
refilling our glasses and scattered the money and receipts on
the table as we paid our bills. However, his lack of grace was
redeemed by his smile and quick service.
While Aroma aims for an authentic Mediterranean feel, the
menu reflects the Portuguese background of the founder. The
restaurant's specialties also feature dishes from France, Spain
and Italy. My friends had the Cream of Lobster for starters—a
rich cream lobster soup with grilled fennel and a dash of Port.
The soup became a favourite to all those who ordered it. I,
on the other hand, skipped the starters and ordered the very
pricy Lobster and Crab Risotto entrée; a creamy risotto with
lobster and Dungeness crab topped with parmigiano reggiano.
For desert, I chose the crème brûlée. It was crisp, warm and
caramelized on the top, while the rich custard base was cool,
for a delightful contrast in tastes. Unfortunately, the flavours
at Aroma while good, did not elicit the oooh's and aaah's that
one might expect from the prices.
Aroma's captivating Mediterranean setting is the restaurant's
most valuable asset. The prices may exceed the average budget
to make it a weekly favourite, but sharing dishes amongst
friends will leave your pocket and appetite satisfied. My
experience at Aroma may not have served the restaurant justice,
so I look forward to returning in the near future to renew my
Mediterranean experience.
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December 2011
19
Chocolate
Chip and
Skor
Shortbread
Bars
By Alexandra Maringola
If there is something I have to do after a midterm, it’s bake! I find it super comforting to bring out the hand mixer, crack some
eggs and enjoy the smell of fresh treats wafting from the oven. This is one of my favourite recipes after a big midterm. These
bars are quick and easy, yet they taste like they came from your favourite bakery. Best of all, they are really fun to experiment
with. I suggest baking them after every midterm, exam, stressful day, or any day really! Each time, try different variations of your
favourite chocolates and other candies sprinkled on top. In the meantime, enjoy the classic bar below!
Ingredients
For the shortbread base:
1½ cups all-purpose flour
½ tsp. salt
¼ tsp. ground cinnamon
2 sticks (1 cup) unsalted butter,
at room temperature
¼ cup brown sugar, packed
¼ cup granulated sugar
1 tsp. vanilla extract
3 oz. bittersweet or semisweet
chocolate, finely chopped
For the topping:
6 oz. bittersweet or semisweet
chocolate, finely chopped
5 Skor Bars, crushed
Next time, try with Smarties
or Oreo cookie chunks. Better
yet, trying to impress that special
someone? Find out what their
favourite candy is and bake with
those! Good luck and have fun!
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Directions:
1. Preheat the oven to 375˚F. Line a 9 x 13” baking dish with foil and spray
lightly with cooking spray. To make the shortbread, combine the flour, salt and
cinnamon in a small bowl; stir to blend and set aside. In the bowl of an electric
mixer, combine the butter and sugars and beat on medium-high speed until light
and fluffy (about 3 minutes). Blend in the vanilla. With the mixer on low speed,
beat in the dry ingredients just until incorporated. Stir in the chopped chocolate
until evenly distributed.
2. Transfer the dough to the prepared baking dish and press into an even layer
covering the bottom of the pan. Bake for 18-20 minutes, or until the shortbread
is bubbling. Remove the pan from the oven and transfer to a wire rack.
3. Sprinkle the 6 ounces of chopped chocolate evenly over the top of the cookie
base. Cover the pan with foil and let sit for 5 minutes. Remove the foil and use
an offset spatula to spread the melted chocolate evenly over the crust in a thin
layer. Immediately sprinkle the Skor bits over the melted chocolate and press
down gently to adhere. Let the bars cool to room temperature. Once the pan
has cooled, you may speed chilling by transferring to the refrigerator or freezer.
When the topping is set, remove from the pan, transfer to a cutting board and
slice into bars.
4. Now for the best part: enjoy! Take great satisfaction in savouring these bars when
December 2011
you’ve had a rough day. I promise they will make you feel better.
Was it Worth it?
Dark of the Moon
By Robert Norsworthy
The third film of the Transformers movie
series, Transformers: Dark of the Moon, is
now on DVD. This series has displayed some
of the best computer animation in movie
history. The elaborate transformations and
colossal battle scenes are spectacular, and the
most intricate designs thus far are exhibited
in the third installment. But was it worth it?
Beyond amazing graphics, the latest
Transformers plot incorporates gaping plot
holes. These can, however, be forgiven,
considering that the film’s discontinuity
isn’t as bad as the incoherence in the second
film (Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen).
In addition, the tremendous action scenes
are distracting enough that the holes pass
unnoticed.
But there’s the clincher. Michael Bay’s
disjointing directing style along with
questionable plot and brief, incomprehensible
exposition cause a disunity that far more
effectively hides the good points of the film
than the bad.
In action scenes, quick camera cuts between
angles frequently disorient the audience.
Periods of slow motion when giant robots
fly through the air or evade rubble and
ammunition simply give viewers time to
anticipate what will happen. They must
then wait impatiently for the action to be
completed.
The storyline is new, but moves from
one action scene to another, displaying
incredible battles without taking enough
time to explain the motivation behind them.
The intricacies of the plan of main villain,
Megatron, the actions of humans involved
with the Transformers other than Sam, and
other reasons for the incredible risks taken
are explained so briefly that it undermines
their significance. Viewers feel no sense of
suspense as they watch a near-anonymous
group slide down a tilting skyscraper or
parasail into a battle zone. The film often
rides on the (expensive) visual spectacle alone
and forgets to give the audience reasons to
care.
The film’s characters continue to cross the
line from quirky to annoying. The audience
must once again endure the antics of former
agent Simmons. The protagonist Sam’s
eleventh grade antics become disgraceful
when he tries to get a job. Worse yet, he
whines that the government won’t get him a
job, even after they’ve paid his college tuition
and given him a medal, which he frequently
flaunts. He also complains that he is expected
to work as a messenger boy (a job he needed)
after his involvement with the Transformers,
which, he seems to think, qualifies him for a
higher position in business.
The parallel between Sam as a messenger boy
in the Transformers war and at work is one
of the better aspects of the script, one that is
easily missed among other details, such as the
awkward use of a stuffed rabbit to symbolize
the status of Sam’s relationship with his
girlfriend and her approval of the way he
lives his life.
to juxtapose his violent acts against those of
Megatron, whose limited actions in the film
include saving someone’s life and choosing
not to crush a human because the person
makes a valid, albeit insulting point. Spoiler:
Megatron dies for the second time in this
third film, with no indication that he cannot
return again, rendering this pivotal moment
meaningless to the viewer.
One of the film’s biggest flaws is the depiction
of the main hero and nemesis of Megatron,
Optimus Prime. The war has understandably
rendered Optimus callous. However, his
actions in this film are troubling, killing
enemy Decepticon transformers under
questionable circumstances and abandoning
humans to die. Optimus’ corruption is
realistic, and provides a valid point of conflict.
However, that conflict is left unresolved.
Now, the most powerful being on Earth is
a corrupted warlord. The film even manages
The new Transformers movie thrills the
audience with spectacular animation that
leaves the negative plot aspects visible. It is
actually much better when viewed a second
time. One now knows the characters’
goals and can focus more on the now
comprehensible plot progression and what
little emotional charge there is. Ultimately,
the film sabotages itself with disunity. The
best way to enjoy it beyond the amazing
graphics is to devote extra attention to
piecing all the events together.
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December 2011
21
creative writing
thing. Still, Shrug
was
confident
that it would
complement the
clean,
elegant
of
the
By Rachael Marie Crawford lines
dress, even if the
his tale could have begun on a dark
miniature top hat he had used for the
and stormy night, had its hero not
base was a tad masculine. It now sat
set forth on a cheerful dawn of
safely on the table beside him, packed in
lingering mists. It could also belong to
a circular box to keep its many flowers
once upon a time, but the traditional
and ribbons pristine.
phrase is much too vague. No, it belongs
to a time when the barrier was still new He stood before a mirror, convinced that
and no wørg had yet set paw across it he looked anything but.
– a time when the quiet country town Although most women did not seem to
of Spirit enjoyed a naïve security that find him particularly unattractive, Shrug
would never be felt again.
was convinced that he looked plain and
But Shrug – for that is what the village scrawny at the least. His infuriating mop
children called our hero – thought little of mud-brown hair refused to lay flat even
of the barrier. He knew it was there, of when drenched with rain, and always
course. He could see it from the window found a way to become trapped in the
of his little hat shop, slicing through the hinges of his tarnished eyeglasses. Even
landscape in a sheer veil of rainbow light. his shirt and waistcoat, expertly tailored
He simply had other, more pressing by his own hands, appeared untidy when
partnered with the mess. He tugged once
matters on his mind.
more at his hems, straightened the bow
Some few days before Shrug had found
at his throat, and sighed.
a mysterious note on his worktable. It
was strange. He had been certain that The lord of Laurel View Road was sure to
both the door and the window had been find him a disappointing sight.
locked that night. More surprisingly, Resigned to the worst, Shrug tucked the
the note was not threatening. There was box under his arm and stepped outside.
hardly any writing to it at all. Just a brief
description of a rather formal event, a
square of emerald cloth accompanying
a sketch of a dress, and a request for a
suitable hat to be delivered to the writer’s
home.
T
Shrug had stopped taking special
orders after a rash of foolish pranks,
but this hat’s destination – Number
7 Laurel View Road – made the order
too fascinating to refuse. Local legend
claimed this had once been the county
lord’s manor. It had been empty for as
long as Shrug could remember.
The finished hat was a deceptively simple
22
S c h o l a r ly S c o o p
|
December 2011
Giving the barrier a nod, he began his
journey. It was nothing more than a
smudge in the fog, but he thought it
looked out of sorts. The colours were
dull, as if it had fallen ill. Although
he scolded himself for thinking such
nonsense, he caught himself wondering
what sort of medicine might cure an
ailing barrier. A cough syrup would
certainly be inappropriate, but there was
that new tonic of the doctor’s . . .
“Out on a delivery already?”
Shrug looked around to find the stout
baker frowning at him from the bakery’s
doorway as the welcoming scent warm
cinnamon seeped past him.
Yes, sir, the young hatter thought. He
tried to say it aloud, but his lips stuck
together and his tongue refused to obey,
so he shrugged instead.
The baker was accustomed to the habit.
“It’s the order you think you got from
the manor, isn’t it? You know that house
is falling apart.”
Another shrug.
The baker stretched in a gesture of both
fatigue and surrender. “Good luck.”
Shrug grew ever more nervous as his feet
brought him closer to his destination.
The village children teased him as he
passed by imitating the uncontrollable
stammer that kept him silent. He forced
them from his mind as he passed into the
market square, and paused to admire the
fountain— or at least the statue that stood
at its centre. It was of a veiled woman,
who gave off an aura of quiet strength as
she wrapped her hands tenderly around a
clock’s face. Shadowed by her presence, a
dove perched unnoticed on her shoulder,
and a cat twined itself around her feet.
No one living in the town knew who the
woman was, but seeing her had always
brought Shrug comfort.
The clock’s quarterly chime prodded
Continued on next page…
...continued from page 22
him onwards.
His destination sat atop a hill, as
mysterious manors are wont to do,
where it was surrounded by a tall hedge.
He supposed that this was what had led
the villagers to call it a mansion, for up
close he found it was no such thing. It
was a quaint cottage with sloping eaves
and wooden shingles. The lovely flower
garden that surrounded it called to mind
a lady’s country retreat. Unsure of how a
hatter was expected to behave in such a
setting, Shrug slipped through the iron
gate and knocked.
The door, of course, swung open on its
own.
Timid, but determined, Shrug entered.
The house was in better shape than the
baker had led him to believe. Every
surface was in good repair, and it looked
as though someone had swept recently.
But there were no people.
“H-Hello? I’ve c-come to deliver your
h-hat.”
The only answer was his echoing voice.
Knowing that it would be rude to press
further into the empty house, Shrug
decided to leave a note. That’s odd, he
thought as he wrote. The order requested
this specific date and time—
From a distant part of the house, a
clock chimed the seventh hour. Shrug
corrected himself. He had been two
minutes early.
Then, as the seventh chime died into
silence, another door swung open.
This led to a flight of stairs. Shrug’s
first thought was to leave his note as
planned and be gone from the place, but
he thought he had noticed something
moving beyond the top step. Curiosity
drove him up the stairs.
“Is s-someone th-there?”
This time, his call was answered by a soft
mrrt. Several more such noises brought
his eyes to rest on a slender white cat. He
sighed as he set down his box and knelt
to stroke it. There had obviously been
some sort of mistake. Perhaps the order
had been a prank after all. If so, there was
no reason for him to stay.
“Your coming here was no mistake,
Michael Lark.”
Shrug surged to his feet. “Wh-Who . . .”
The cat began to twine itself about his
legs, refusing to stop until he looked
down. It then sat and met his gaze.
“I have called you to this place on this
day at this hour for a reason.”
Had it been any other cat that had
chosen to speak to him, Shrug might
have fled, but there was something about
this cat’s voice that held him in place. It
was warm and reassuring, and he found
to his surprise that he wanted to hear
what the cat had to say.
The cat flicked its tail as it watched him.
“You do not wish to ask why?”
“I a-asu—” Assumed. Shrug grimaced.
He would have to abandon the
cumbersome word. “I thought you
w-would t-tell me.”
give this town a warning.”
For the first time since entering the
house, Shrug felt a flash of panic, and
found himself unable to express it.
“The barrier is failing. In three days time,
it will be thin enough for the wørgs to
cross. You must tell them.”
Shrug shivered. Legend called the wørgs
wolves that were much more than wolves.
They were larger, stronger – and much
more terrifying; for, while they were
capable of reason, they could not know
compassion. If the barrier was thinning,
the town truly was in danger, but . . .
“N-Not me.”
“Michael, you must—”
“I c-can’t speak to them. They w-wouldn’t
l-listen.”
“And why not?” The cat gave him no
time to answer as it walked over to place
its front paws on the hat box. “You are
not the village idiot, Michael Lark, but
an artist who happens to stammer. The
beautiful hat which rests in this box is
proof of that. The townspeople will listen
to you.”
“Wh-Who are y-you?” Shrug asked.
The cat drew itself up as tall as it could
and coiled its tail around its paws. “I am
who I am. But, if the people ask who
has sent you, point to the statue on the
fountain and say that it was the cat.”
To be continued...
“You are a good child. I wish for you to
Open to all students. Confidential, impartial advice and information about
University policies and procedures. This office serves graduate and undergraduate students.
Western Student Services Building, Room 3100b
519-661-3573 • [email protected] • www.uwo.ca/ombuds
S c h o l a r ly S c o o p
|
December 2011
23
The Trees
that Hold
T
By Odre Lefebvre
he night’s sharp teeth
glistens with droplets of
cherry blood. There are dark
naked trees in an the arctic wind, their
stained hands waving through the sky, a
sour attempt at an S.O.S. A small child
stumbles through the shaded forest,
her footsteps loud yet slow, her nose
scratched wildly and her eyes wide and
exposed. A tangled strand of strawberry
blond hair wisps up into a small, devious
branch. A short, tight cry leaves her sore
lips as she pulls against the tree. Her
scalp has become sore and blotchy from
the struggling. Finally, she pulls out
a pair of bright yellow scissors from a
pocket at the front of her shredded dress.
They seem lost, so colourful against the
black of the night and the dirty shreds
of the dress. She cuts the piece of hair
that wouldn’t come back to her and
steps forward into the night. A grimy
tree cackles, pleased as he looks down
at the present that she has given him.
Colour in the dark brightens up even the
vilest of people. He clutches his lock of
strawberry blond hair dearly.
Marigold wanders on. Her feet are sore
and red, blistering on her heels and
bleeding under her toes. Her throat is
raw and chapped. She probably really
should be looking for water right now but
she can barely see a metre ahead through
the thicket of angry bushes. Earlier that
day, she had been playing in the back
yard, keeping to herself like she’d been
taught. Don’t make eye contact with
anyone, don’t say hi and stay where the
soft pads of your bare toes still feel the
tickling of the grass. She’d done all of
24
S c h o l a r ly S c o o p
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that, just like they had asked her. She
had done nothing wrong. The wind had
been strong yesterday, pushing its way
through the neighbourhood and up her
dress. It had set its cold, breezy hands
on her shoulders and shoved her towards
the brink of the forest, she was sure.
The forest itself was dark and menacing.
There is a fetid, olive-green trail of air
emerging from the mossy ground that
makes Marigold’s neck hair stand up and
then fall back down, dead. She’d always
avoided the forest because of that awful,
alive smell. Yesterday, however, the
tree’s bark was a wonderful hazelnut and
covered in soft, dewy lichen that formed
a gentle smile. The trees had grins and
the wind was urging her towards the
forest: of course she had gone in.
There is the child again. This is the third
time that she has stumbled beside him.
Last time, there was something out of
the ordinary, bright, almost hurtful to
the eyes. He didn’t recognize it— it was
too colourful, too entrancing. Marigold
stops to look at a particular tall tree, not
much different from the others with the
same lichen-covered smile and the same
trail of stink coming from it. This tree’s
frail twigs are clasping onto a short mess
of tangled, dirty hair. It looks so out
of place, so innocent beside his smile
(smirk?) and his cinnamon bark. A
small, hesitant hand reaches up for it,
pulling and tugging at the branches. My
twig falters and then breaks cleanly with
a snap. She falls backwards from pulling
a bit too hard. She shoves it in her empty
pocket and stands back up, wobbly, but
marches on. Where bark meets moss-
December 2011
covered ground lie small, kindergartensize yellow scissors. A tall grimy tree
cackles, pleased as he looks down at the
present that she has given him. Colour
in the dark brightens up even the vilest of
people. He clutches his scissors dearly.
Marigold staggers into a small clearing,
wide enough to see that the sun has
started to wake. She falls onto her knees,
panting. Her eyes are shut tightly and
she is leaning over, exhausted. A soft,
slow tear emerges from the corner and
falls down onto the ground with a clear
plop. Marigold opens her eyes quickly.
There is a bit of a flow, a miniature
trickling of water that emerges into
some sort of brook. It rumbles slowly,
quietly, flowing into the darkness. She
will follow the stream.
A drop of water flows with its peers,
giggling as it strokes a stray leaf. It finds
Marigold’s teardrop and they merge,
both swimming with laughter as they
evaporate, wisps of fresh air suddenly
a gorgeous dawn cloud flowing over
melodramatic trees. A roar is heard
from above and suddenly the raindrops
are plummeting downwards, sloshing
headfirst into a tall grimy tree. He shakes
a bit, the water is cold. The teardrop
slides down onto a pair of yellow scissors
and then sinks into his bark. The wind
suddenly stops and a fetid olive-green
trail of stink recedes back into the
ground, fading away. Stained hands no
longer wave through the sky. The need
for an S.O.S. has ceased.
Wet streets and dried leaves
Skipping along with my footsteps
I picked up a pebble
To inspect invented wrinkles
Patted on my favourite
Tree’s shoulder
Embracing her delicate body
We were clad in tender breeze
Which lightly stroked
My cheek
Wiping down
My tattered tears.
Growth
By Vincy Wing Sze Kwong
Scholars
Conference
&
Poster
Showcase
saturday, march 31, 2012
Join keynote speakers and current scholars students
to hear about interesting research.
Want to present your own interesting research? Submit your
abstract by December 15, 2011 to [email protected]
S c h o l a r ly S c o o p
|
December 2011
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