Class 4 - 1st place - Fanshawe College, Winter edition

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CONTRIBUTORS

Konstantinos Drossos, Eric Fry, Zoë Alexandra King, Ainsley Krienselokker, Georgia Newman, Jack Sutton, Briar Wilson

GRAPHIC

Alissa Challis, Mauricio Franco, Ariah Prestanski

ILLUSTRATORS

Mauricio Franco, Caleigh Reid

COMICS

Alan Dungo, Mauricio Franco, Chris Miszczak

PHOTOGRAPHERS

Charlotte Hartman, Cassidy Pelacek-Boutilier, Aida Ulimaeva

Mission Statement: The Interrobang is a student-funded, student-run newspaper at Fanshawe College published by the Fanshawe College Student Union. It serves the student readership by reporting news involving the Fanshawe campus community, surrounding areas and student activities across Canada. The Interrobang strives to be impartial in its reporting and believes in the public’s right to know.

Land Acknowledgment: Interrobang acknowledges that our office is situated on the shared traditional lands of the Anishinaabeg, Haudenausaune, Lenaapeewak, and Attawandaron peoples. The First Nations communities of our local area include Chippewas of the Thames First Nation, Oneida Nation of the Thames, and Munsee Delaware Nation. We affirm the importance of our relationship with Indigenous peoples and students at Fanshawe College.

Legal: Editorial opinions or comments expressed in this newspaper reflect the views of the writer and are not those of the Interrobang or the Fanshawe Student Union. All photographs are copyright 2025 by Fanshawe Student Union. All rights reserved. The Interrobang is printed by Huron Web Printing & Graphics, 395 Broadway St., Wyoming, Ontario N0N 1T0 and published bi-weekly by the Fanshawe Student Union at 1001 Fanshawe College Blvd., Room SC2001, London, Ontario N5Y 5R6 and distributed through the Fanshawe College community.

Letters to the editor are welcome. All letters are subject to editing and should be emailed. All letters must be accompanied by contact information. Letters can also be submitted online at theinterrobang.ca by following the Interrobang links.

Proud Member Of: Canadian University Press (CUP), Ontario Community Newspapers Association (OCNA).

FROM THE EDITOR

Hannah Theodore (she/her

)

Dear readers, A concerning trend is taking over post-secondary campuses across Canada. From The Charlatan in Ottawa, to The Queen’s Journal in Kingston, to The Imprint in Waterloo, to right here at The Interrobang in London, Ont., student newspapers in this country are under attack.

The closures and threats to defund student publications are a microcosm of a larger societal effort to silence the freedom of the press. Whether it’s US President Donald Trump ousting trusted news outlets from press briefings or the targeted murders of countless Palestinian journalists in Israel-occupied Gaza, storytellers all over the world are in crisis, and those with the power to save them are instead choosing to take part in their demise.

While these may seem like extreme comparisons, I want you to consider that student journalism has always reflected the world outside our campus walls. When you silence one of us, you send a message to all of us.

The Fanshawe Student Union (FSU) has made its message clear.

I have devoted the last six years of my life to this publication. I had hoped I would be able to pass it on to the next generation of student journalists, to share all I had worked so hard to build here in collaboration with John Said, Meg Easveld, Brandon Grubb, Darla Stratton, and every other FSU staff member with whom I have had the joy of working.

Most of all, I had hoped I would get to continue to watch as student after student got their start here at this little college newspaper, only to go on to build incredible careers in whatever field they chose to pursue. It has been the pleasure of a lifetime to be a part of your journeys, and my heart aches at the thought of all the future students who will now never have this opportunity.

I also want to thank all of our former writers for their contributions to this final issue. Your stories highlight just how meaningful this publication has been to so many people throughout the years, and I am eternally grateful for your honesty, openness, and passion.

Lastly, to you, our readers–thank you . Every time I questioned the relevance of our work, you showed up in droves, increasing our print pick-up rate year over year, proving time and time again that the power of the pen will never be lost, so long as people like you are here to read our words. Thank you, for reminding me and so many others, that student journalism still matters.

Sincerely,

Fanshawe suspends 40 programs

Hannah Theodore (she/her) INTERROBANG

Beginning this fall, Fanshawe College will suspend 40 programs following a significant drop in international student enrollment and a projected $95 million cumulative deficit by March 2026. Five additional programs will also move from regional campuses in Woodstock, St. Thomas and Simcoe to London, but as of right now, there are no plans to close any regional campuses.

“It’s a difficult day today,” said Fanshawe President Peter Devlin. “As we announce the suspension of 40 programs that underwent a comprehensive, data-driven, evidence-based review based

on declining enrollment, postgraduate work permit eligibility, labour market demands and financial viability.”

The college has spent the last several months engaging with a third-party firm to conduct a comprehensive enterprise-wide review of its program offerings, organizational structure, and leased space portfolio.

“[The review] wrapped up on Monday and was presented to our Board, and that would have included the 40 suspensions,” Devlin said. “There were a number of recommendations in that review, a review that was strategic, thoughtful, deliberate, and driven by data.”

The college is anticipating 64 per cent fewer international students next year, as well as a 36 per cent decrease in full-time enrollment overall in the next two years.

Meetings were held April 1

informing staff and faculty of the cuts, with the official announcement coming the morning of April 2. A full list of the suspended programs can be viewed at fanshawec.ca/admissions-finance/ program-suspensions.

Any prospective students who applied for affected programs will receive an email notifying them of the program suspension and potential alternative program options. Students currently enrolled in affected programs will still have the opportunity to complete and graduate from their program.

Right now, there are no immediate plans to relaunch any of the suspended programs, and the college said none of its decisions would be overturned.

Plans to “right-size” staffing

In March, the college sent out details of its Early Retirement Incentive plan as part of its broader

Federal election to take place April 28

Canadians will head to the polls on April 28 in a snap federal election triggered by Prime Minister Mark Carney’s request to dissolve Parliament earlier this month.

Carney, who officially became leader of the Federal Liberal Party in March, stepped into the top job following Justin Trudeau’s resignation. Known for his roles as governor of the Bank of Canada and the Bank of England, Carney is campaigning on economic resilience and political stability. His platform includes scrapping the federal carbon tax, reducing income taxes for the middle class and defending Canadian industries from new US tariffs.

“We’re facing the most significant crisis of our lifetimes because of President Trump’s unjustified trade actions and his threats to our sovereignty,” Carney said at Rideau Hall in Ottawa after visiting Governor General Mary Simon on March 23. “Our response must be to build a strong economy and a more secure Canada.”

Pierre Poilievre, leader of the Conservative Party since 2022, has focused his campaign on tax cuts, increased savings limits, and a more confrontational approach to Canada-US relations.

“A conservative government that will ax taxes, build homes, unleash our resources so that we can bring home our jobs and confront the Americans in a position of strength,” Poilievre said at a campaign rally on March 29.

Recent polling suggests the race will be competitive. According to a March 27 Ipsos poll conducted for Global News, the Liberals hold 44 per cent support nationally, while the Conservatives are at 38 per cent. The New Democratic Party

(NDP) trails with 9 per cent, and the Bloc Québécois holds around 24 per cent support. The Liberals’ rise in early campaign days may reflect a “Carney bump,” boosted by his reputation for economic leadership during past global financial crises.

The NDP, led by Jagmeet Singh, has continued to advocate for progressive policies like universal pharmacare, affordable housing, and investments in renewable energy. Singh has also called for stronger protections for workers and renters while holding the Liberals accountable for delays in implementing key programs. Bloc Québécois leader Yves-François Blanchet is focused on defending the province’s language and culture while calling for economic diversification amid growing trade disputes.

Foreign interference remains a concern for voters and officials alike. The federal government has

plans to “right-size” its staffing.

“Faculty and staff all would have got their own personal note because of the eligibility of the people involved, how long they've worked at the college, how many years of service they have, pension eligibility. So it is unique for every single employee at the college.”

While the program cuts are expected to impact jobs, Devlin said at a Town Hall last month that there may be options to move staff and faculty into appropriate vacant positions, following a hiring freeze implemented by the college in February.

New programs coming this fall

In spite of the suspensions, the college announced the introduction of new programs at its Spring Open House on March 29, including new veterinary programs and new Information Technology (IT) programs. Devlin said the decision

to cut certain programs while adding others is in an effort to keep up with industry demands and financial viability.

“At Fanshawe, we have an ongoing review of programs and their health,” Devlin explained. “All programs are attached to a Program Advisory Council that helps keep those programs relevant because those are industry leaders that help us there.”

Devlin emphasized that Fanshawe’s focus is on adhering to its mission of creating pathways to success for students.

“We are laser-focused on supporting students achieving their dreams on their pathway to success, and we're equally laser-focused on meeting labour-market needs, particularly in our region here,” he said. “And that's what drives us and that has all been part of the review as well.”

BRT construction to affect Fanshawe’s

Oxford St. campus

Students at Fanshawe College will notice significant changes this summer as part of the City of London’s East London Link rapid transit project, which has officially reached the Oxford St. campus.

Preparation work began on March 20, and while the heaviest construction will occur between May and September, students and staff will start to see visible changes along Oxford St. throughout the summer. The work is part of Phase 4 of the East London Link, an initiative to revitalize more than six kilometres of roadway from Downtown London to Fanshawe’s doorstep.

planners and contractors to minimize disruptions.

“The City sees Fanshawe College as a great location for their rapid transit bussing system,” Luksys explained. “In addition to the London Transit buses, students will have access to a faster service with fewer stops.”

A new pedestrian crosswalk will be installed closer to Second St., and access points along Oxford St. will be modified.

“There will always be pedestrian traffic for students and visitors and staff across Oxford St. through this renovation, but it just might be moving depending on where the work is happening to make it the safest for our students,” Luksys said. “We’ve also asked for that additional crosswalk to make it safer for students crossing to school and home.”

confirmed that the Security and Intelligence Threats to Elections (SITE) Task Force will monitor and respond to any attempts to disrupt or manipulate the electoral process. Measures are also in place to ensure cybersecurity and transparency throughout the campaign.

For young voters, the stakes are high. Each party is offering targeted promises: Liberals are proposing expanded grants for students; Conservatives are pledging to make housing more affordable by easing zoning laws; and the NDP wants to eliminate interest on student loans.

Elections Canada invites all eligible Canadians to verify their registration status, learn about their electoral district, and get to know the candidates in their area. Detailed voting information, including mail-in voting procedures, can be found on the Elections Canada website.

According to Denise Luksys, Project Coordinator at Fanshawe College, the work currently underway includes road and pedestrian walkway surveys, installing temporary traffic signals, and removing fencing and brick pillars along Oxford St.

“You’ll see the buses move from out front of T Building to just slightly east of A Building,” she said. “The new bus stops will be between A Building and the corner of Oxford and Second St. So, it’s in front of the parking lots east of a building, where the new bus stops will be.”

Luksys confirmed that construction will continue through the fall, at which point work will pause for the winter. Crews are expected to return next summer to finish landscaping, apply a second coat of asphalt, and correct any deficiencies.

“The majority of the work will be completed this fall,” she said.

The rapid transit corridor is a City of London initiative. While it’s not a Fanshawe-led project, the college works closely with city

Phase 4 of the project will stretch from Fanshawe College Blvd. and Second St. to Roehampton Ave., progressing westward in stages. This will result in lane reductions, turning restrictions, and possible redirection of municipal services such as water, sewage and electricity.

Fanshawe’s cooperation with the city also includes upgrades to internal roadways and entranceways along Oxford St. One new feature will be a signalized entrance for vehicles on the west end of campus—an addition Luksys called “great” for traffic flow and safety. Ultimately, while the construction may be inconvenient for some, the long-term goal is to improve access, safety and transit efficiency for the entire community.

“It’s going to be a nice benefit,” Luksys said. “We believe the changes will make it safer and more accessible for students, staff and visitors.”

For more details, visit london.ca/ rapidtransit or follow Fanshawe College’s channels for construction updates.

Fanshawe collaboration helps bring Canada’s first Hard Rock Hotel to life

London will soon welcome Canada’s inaugural Hard Rock Hotel, and Fanshawe College students are playing a big role in making it happen.

In collaboration with Dora Hotel Company, the hotel’s US-based operator, Fanshawe students from the Hotel and Resort Management, and Hospitality and Tourism Operations Management programs have been helping the hotel prepare for its official launch.

The hands-on partnership involves 160 students completing weekly four-hour shifts over seven weeks. From installing phones and placing coffee makers in guest rooms to organizing barware and cleaning brand-new culinary equipment, the students contribute to nearly every aspect of the hotel’s setup.

“We have a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity with the Hard Rock Hotel opening this semester,” said Kathy Butler, professor and program coordinator at the School of Tourism, Hospitality and Culinary Arts. “Our senior-level students are working alongside the hotel management team. They’re not just cleaning rooms—they’re learning how to launch a hotel from the ground up.”

Butler and her colleague Omar Smith, a program coordinator and professor in the Hotel and Resort Services Management program,

pitched the idea to Dora Hotel Company last spring. After months of planning and touring Fanshawe’s facilities, the company agreed.

“We were the first to propose getting students involved in a Hard Rock Hotel opening,” Butler said. “Dora saw the potential in our faculty and students and believed in us.”

The collaboration officially began in March and will continue through mid-April. Students are working in teams each weekday during morning and afternoon shifts. In addition to setting up rooms and amenities, they’ve helped install and program telephones, stock closets with hangers and robes, and ensure every guest room is spotless and fully equipped.

“Students have been integral from A to Z,” said Smith. “Everything a paying guest would expect to find in a hotel room—our students have had a hand in placing it there. We’ve had them also working in food service areas, cleaning kitchen equipment and helping organize culinary spaces.”

Smith emphasized the project’s educational value, noting that students are getting a rare behindthe-scenes look at hotel operations before doors open to the public.

“They’re thrilled,” he said. “They’re happier doing this than sitting in a classroom. They never realized how much effort goes into launching a hotel. And the best part? Some of them have already been hired.”

According to both coordinators, multiple students have secured jobs with the Hard Rock Hotel due to their performance during the project. With Fanshawe graduates among the hotel’s new staff, the partnership reflects a growing talent pipeline between the college and the hospitality industry.

The experience also deepens students’ understanding of brand standards, teamwork, and flexibility.

“It’s certainly not just about coming in and cleaning,” Butler said. “They’re being exposed to managers, asking questions, learning inventory management—everything that goes into opening a hotel.”

The Hard Rock Hotel is the first of its kind in the city and the Dora Hotel Company’s first Canadian location. Although no official opening date has been announced, the hotel is expected to welcome guests later this spring.

Butler and Smith are optimistic the collaboration will continue, potentially expanding to include co-op placements and further training opportunities for Fanshawe students.

“There’s a huge sense of pride knowing that the only Hard Rock Hotel in Canada is opening with the help of Fanshawe,” said Smith. “From cocktails developed in our mixology lab to student-built guest rooms, we’ve been a part of every step.”

Marketing students score silver at national competition

Georgia Newman (she/her) INTERROBANG

A team of marketing students from the Lawrence Kinlin School of Business finished second at the 2025 Scotiabank National Marketing Case Competition.

“The team made us very proud,” said Fanshawe marketing professor Liz Gray. “Their solution to a very complex business-to-business case in the finals was pragmatic, intelligent, well thought out and very articulate.”

Fanshawe’s team included students Elise Carlson, Josh Milliard, Zack Lariviere and Jaedyn Laanstra, as well as faculty coaches Stacy Swartz and Liz Gray.

“We worked as one, I think, as you practice, you determine the strengths of each person and what they’re better at and so we kind of go into our own roles,” team member Lariviere said. “For example, I was typically the member of our team that was doing the financials and the [return on investment] aspects, while a different member would do more of the tactics to which we would use to market our solution and strategy.”

The experience of the competition was exhilarating, according to Lariviere.

“I’m very appreciative and grateful that I got to represent Fanshawe College at this national marketing company competition.

The team has such good chemistry and I think that truly does make all the difference, especially when competing at that level,” Lariviere said. “You could sense the tension in the air while you’re there but everybody is super friendly, and super social.”

Fanshawe’s silver medal win was well deserved, according to Lariviere.

“We came out of the final presentation and by far that was our best presentation as a team that we’ve ever done,” Lariviere continued. “Winning second place was truly a huge milestone for us. Obviously, we wanted to do our best and come out with the gold medal. However, the silver medal was truly very deserving. It was super nice to see all of our hard work come together.”

The team has been practicing for the competition since the beginning of the winter semester.

“We did a whole bunch of case preps leading up to the marketing competition,” Lariviere

explained. “We did about one case per week in January, and two cases a week in February.”

The competing teams had three hours to look over a marketing problem and then form, as well as present, their solutions to a panel of expert judges at Vanier College in Montreal, QC.

“After analyzing the business

case, we would just discuss what the case entails, what’s currently going on, the overarching problem with the business and then from there, we would identify the problem. We would come up with objectives to then meet the problem. As well as three different alternatives that we would recommend and then ultimately, we would recommend one final solution,” Lariviere explained. Twenty-four teams from colleges across Canada competed, with Seneca College taking home the gold medal and St. Clair College taking home bronze. 2,000 students from 50 Canadian Colleges have participated in the competition in the last 20 years.

Fanshawe culinary students take over The Chef’s Table

Ainsley

Krienselokker (she/her) INTERROBANG

Fanshawe College’s culinary students are gearing up to showcase their talent through an exclusive Spring Special Dinner Series and a high-stake cooking competition at The Chef’s Table restaurant. As the semester comes to a close, these events will provide students with an opportunity to demonstrate their skills in a real-world setting while offering the community a unique dining experience.

The Chef’s Table: A unique learning experience

Unlike traditional classroom settings, The Chef’s Table restaurant provides students with hands-on experience in a live, customer-facing environment, says Patrick Hersey, Fanshawe College’s Culinary School Program Coordinator.

“The Chef’s Table restaurant provides our students with experience in a ‘real-life’ (i.e., paying customers) environment. The students working in The Chef’s Table are participating in a graded course— this is a great example of learning on the job and provides a learning experience that is different from what we teach in our labs,” Hersey explained “Students learn more about large quantity cooking, teamwork, and what it takes to be successful in business.”

Spring Special Dinner Series: A global culinary journey

The Spring Special Dinner Series kicked off March 28, and is set to feature a total of four nights of globally inspired fine dining, each crafted by fourth-level Culinary Management students.

Other nights will be held on April 4, April 11, and April 17, with the series offering a six-course prix fixe menu for $60 per person, with each night highlighting a different cuisine.

The series began with a menu inspired by South American flavours, soon to be followed by European, North American, and Asian culinary themes in the following weeks. Each dining event will be fully designed and executed by a different group of students, giving them the opportunity to plan, prepare, and present an upscale menu in a professional setting.

Hersey emphasized how these types of events shape students’ learning experiences beyond the kitchen.

“The Signature Dinner Series is a project that gives the students an opportunity to hone skills needed for the workplace and exposes them to many things. Skills like teamwork, organizational skills, and creativity are challenged during these events. The course also helps prepare them for future courses offered in higher levels, where they can take what they have learned in this project and apply it to other coursework.”

Guests are encouraged to view the menus online through The Chef’s Table website and social media pages before making their reservations. With limited seating available, early bookings are recommended.

Supporting future culinary professionals

The dinner series highlights The Chef’s Table’s commitment to hands-on learning, providing students with the experience they need to succeed in the culinary industry. These events not only

Student

offer a platform for students to hone their skills but also allow the community to support local culinary education. For Hersey, seeing students take over the kitchen for these events is one of the most rewarding parts of teaching.

“Seeing how far they have evolved skill-wise in such a short period of time and knowing that you played a part in that development is incredibly rewarding. I teach mostly in Levels 1 and 2 of the program, so to see such growth by the time they get to

Levels 4 and 5—where they are pretty much running the kitchen by themselves some weeks—is pretty amazing to see!”

For more information or to purchase tickets, visit The Chef’s Table website or follow them on social media.

THE END OF AN ERA

INTERROBANG LOGOS THROUGHOUT THE YEARS

THE END OF AN ERA

A love letter to Interrobang

Kate Otterbein FORMER INTERROBANG WRITER

Hey there, Fanshawe. It’s been a while. For those of you who don’t know me, I am a Broadcast Journalism graduate who wrote for The Interrobang from 2021 to 2023. It’s unfortunate the circumstances, but it feels great to be writing for you again.

The Interrobang has been an integral part of the college for so many years and I can’t believe it’s come to an end. This newspaper helped me branch out and meet more people within the college community and helped me further improve my writing skills. In addition to my writing skills, I improved upon my interview skills and on-air performance, all are incredibly prevalent in my current role.

Through my time reporting, I covered so many amazing stories, including the lack of diversity in London’s 2023 council, Fanshawe alumni achieving big things in the music industry, and most memorable, the discussion around armed security at Foundry First. Yeah, that was crazy. I also had so much fun working alongside likeminded people and friends. I became so much closer with people

I knew through my program but spent a lot of time with for work outside of the classroom. Those people I consider lifelong friends and those relationships were fostered within these pages.

So where am I now? I currently work at CTV News Windsor as a Multimedia Journalist. But, you may have seen my name locally for CTV News London. I work out of Windsor but cover both as needed. It’s insane to think that in a few short years after I left Fanshawe, I am now working for my dream company.

This job came up in 2024 and I jumped at the chance to take it, even though it was a scary thought to move three hours from home. Because of my demo reel, and all content created during my time at Fanshawe, I secured that job and I am now living out my dream. I couldn’t be happier.

For those reading this who participated in the decision to have the paper that advocates for and educates students on their school community, I hope you see how detrimental this really is. This decision causes many people to lose their jobs, many of whom are using this to help pay off school. Take it from a former student… College is expensive! Although we couldn’t dedicate a ton of hours a week

to a part-time job, at least the hours we could help fund our way through college. Whether that’s paying tuition or making it possible to buy groceries that week, every little bit helps. I hope you reconsider this decision, even if it means students pitch in a couple of dollars to help it work.

To the students, please keep asking the tough questions. The team at The Interrobang works hard to hold your school accountable and transparent on pressing topics. Just because there aren’t reporters asking those questions, doesn’t mean they don’t need to be asked. Know what’s going on around the halls, use your voice for what matters! It might seem like your opinion isn’t going to make a difference in a school of so many… But it only takes one student to stand up and say something.

To the staff of The Interrobang, thank you so much for two amazing years working for you. It was an absolute pleasure to get to know you and those days spent in the FSU building are fond memories of mine. Whatever you do next, take care of yourselves. You are all great people and I know you will do big things. It is with great sadness and tears in my eyes that I bid farewell to the newspaper

that taught me so much and introduced me to so many. Interrobang, you are loved and you will be missed. For the last time, for The Interrobang, I’m Kate Otterbein.

More than just a news column

Zoë Alexandra King FORMER INTERROBANG WRITER

In the midst of uncertainty, Interrobang became more than a news column for me and became a crucial chapter in my story that led me to where I am today. I began writing for Interrobang in 2022 and only recently when my degree came to an end last December did I write what I believed to be my last article. There are so many emotions that come to mind when I think about my time writing for Interrobang. Calmness, gratitude, excitement, and pride are a few to say the least. Keep reading to find out about some of my favourite memories created during this chapter of my life as well as where it has led me to.

The summer I began writing articles was my first summer living in London since moving from a small island in the Caribbean, Barbados. During this season, I found myself exploring areas of the city that have allowed me to grow great appreciation for all that London has to offer. Interrobang took me from thrift stores in the Old East Village to neighbourhood restaurants in Wortley Village, and even to exploring the different markets that the city encompassed. This time brought me an abundance of gratitude which I still feel to this day as it remains in my memories as not only a part of my time at The Interrobang but also my time in college.

I used to live in an apartment on Richmond St. which was very close to the core of Downtown London. I remember frequently walking the strip of Richmond

every weekend and always passing The Grand Theatre on my way to Covent Garden Market. In the beginning of my move, I always wanted to experience a night at the theatre before my degree came to an end. I never imagined that I would be spending countless nights at The Grand Theatre reviewing outstanding productions for the newspaper.

Some of these productions are so ingrained in my mind that I wouldn’t even need a refresher by reading my articles; they were that memorable. My absolute favourite was one of the high school productions which always initiates the season, and this one was The Phantom of the Opera. Runner-up on my list for top productions is Fall on Your Knees by Ann Marie Macdonald. This one was so good, it even had two parts that were told on separate nights. I absolutely can’t forget about In Seven Days by Jordi Mand which took my breath away in various aspects.

The theatre review journey that I had embarked on surpassed the city of London when Interrobang introduced me to The Stratford Festival. To say that my time reviewing productions was a highlight in my time with Interrobang would be an understatement.

As someone who thrives on constantly keeping a busy schedule, whenever I wrote any articles, it served as a great emotional and creative outlet for me. If you’ve read through some of my previous posts, you will see a combination of cultural, news-related, opinion, health and wellness, and other topics in my writing. Interrobang was a safe space for me to grow, connect with the community, and

CREDIT: FSU PUBLICATIONS DEPARTMENT

Zoë Alexandra King reflects on her time at Interrobang and where she is now.

reflect on my time in college. So where am I today? Where has Interrobang led me? Would it be too cheesy to say that it led me to my dreams? Probably. However, there is much truth in those words. As I write this article, I stare out into a beautiful city that I dreamt of living in when I first moved to Canada, after a long day of work in the industry that has always called my name. There

is no doubt that Interrobang has been a part of how I have gotten to where I am today. For that, I write this article with a heavy heart and mixed emotions as I submit my final article of Interrobang after more than 50 years of its production. Through the sadness, my gratitude goes far beyond these words. Thank you to Interrobang and to everyone who has made it what it was.

THE END OF AN ERA

What comes next?

Indiano FORMER INTERROBANG ILLUSTRATOR

Last December marked six years since I first stepped foot in Canada. As is the case with millions of people living in this land, I was not born here. Many of us immigrants arrived here either pursuing a dream, escaping a nightmare, or due to a complex mix of both situations. There are probably exceptions to this rule, but it is safe to say that for most immigrants, arriving in Canada is not the end of a journey but the beginning of another, and uncertainty is almost always unavoidable. I could probably be considered one of the lucky ones. I successfully concluded my college studies, got a job, made friends, and now find myself in the honorable position of being a Fanshawe professor for the program I graduated from. Yet, the feeling of uncertainty remains, and as my immigration journey evolves and new steps are revealed to me, this constant question is repeated in my mind: “what comes next?”

Recent geopolitical developments denote a significant change in the discourse regarding immigration. Immigrants and refugees are being blamed for systemic problems in society, called disrespectful names, and discriminated against because of their culture—and they are just one of the minorities being targeted. Arguably, the ideological source of this line of thought can be traced to the new North American far-right and the old, now modernized, European farright. Not to mention how the global south is also filled with “Trumpian” figures with a local twist. These figures ascend using an oversimplified discourse and presenting simplistic resolutions, often driven by the desire to get rid of a certain kind of people, and by ascending to power somewhat legitimately, their agenda becomes the official institutional narrative of the government.

As of today, I find myself pursuing the first steps of my Permanent Residency application. It is an extremely bureaucratic process that often reduces you to a pile of documents. One variant of this process is called “express entry,” which works with a point system. Each applicant answers a number of questions that result in a numeric qualification, and depending on how high your points are, you may be eligible to send the actual application where you necessarily have to extensively prove every aspect of your points; if you don’t, your application will be refused. Some of the things you need to prove are your work history— in my case, activities I was involved in almost ten years ago—extensive bank statements, tax returns, having your study credentials recognized by international organizations, proving your language skills, and above all, spending tons of time and money to gather all this paperwork.

My life in Canada, as well as my current decision to stay, is not defined by a logical assessment of my qualifications and documentation. Here I have built

My life in Canada, as well as my current decision to stay, is not defined by a logical

CREDIT: IAN INDIANO

assessment of my qualifications and documentation.

friendships, I am building a career as an artist, I have made valuable connections beyond work, followed opportunities that not only bring me financial prosperity but also spiritual growth, and I have contributed to this society not as a Canadian citizen—which I’m not— but as a human being who tries, at least a little, to improve my life as well as the lives of those around me. The soon-to-be-late Interrobang is a good example of that. Having the opportunity to express my thoughts and develop my craft here was an honor that far surpassed what my application would call “work experience.”

Recently, I had the displeasure of hearing a quote by a certain billionaire (or oligarch) currently working within the US government who can afford to not have his name mentioned in this piece, where he said—while being interviewed by a muscular pseudo-intellectual podcast host—that “the fundamental weakness of Western civilization is empathy, the empathy exploit. There it is: they’re exploiting a bug in Western civilization, which is the empathy response.” I was appalled by such a statement. I guess he believes that empathy for individuals is costly to the collective. One of his examples of this is California’s move to provide medical insurance even to undocumented people who qualify for its low-income Medi-Cal program. This oligarch’s family initially made their fortune in South Africa with emerald mining, mostly during the apartheid decades. Although his parents weren’t as vocal about their support for apartheid as his grandparents (who moved to South Africa from Canada), it is undeniable that they profited from the apartheid laws that openly gave

privileges and opportunities to white people while segregating and persecuting black communities.

I don’t claim to know well the complexities of the history of the fights against South African apartheid, but I do know one or two things. After listening to this quote, I can’t help but remember the Ubuntu philosophy, which was one of the bases of the struggle against apartheid and an important part of Nelson Mandela’s worldview. According to the African Journal of Social Work, Ubuntu is “a collection of values and practices that people of Africa or of African origin view as making people authentic human beings. While the nuances of these values and practices vary across different ethnic groups, they all point to one thing—an authentic individual human being is part of a larger and more significant relational, communal, societal, environmental, and spiritual world.” As Archbishop Desmond Tutu describes this perspective, Ubuntu “is not, ‘I think therefore I am.’ It says rather: ‘I am a human because I belong. I participate. I share.’” In essence, “I am because you are.”

The Ubuntu philosophy exists in direct opposition to that quote by said oligarch and what it represents. It preaches a world of unity and compassion, which doesn’t mean docility or acceptance of injustice. The fact that this oligarch has deep connections to apartheid is not a mere coincidence, and the fact that he is now involved in major geopolitical conflicts (including the resolution of Palestinian apartheid, to say the least) again imposes the haunting question—what comes next?

I understand that it is within the government’s duties to control who enters, leaves, and stays in the country, to some

extent. The government needs to protect its people and its land and culture, and it needs to guarantee a number of rights to those who are eligible. The problem is how to calibrate the extension of such obligations and what these obligations mean. The immigration process is utterly dehumanizing. I am learning how in many cases “low class” jobs, for instance, don’t count as Canadian work experience. So someone could work hard for years in a factory or warehouse and discover that all that work doesn’t help if they want to stay in Canada legally. My work on Interrobang, for example, also doesn’t count because apparently the work you do while studying is not considered valid work experience.

Yet, all of these things I have to prove in order to stay are not the reasons why I think it’s worth staying. The government sees my presence here as either a good investment or a waste of resources, and it’s up to me to convince them otherwise.

That quote by the richest man in the world shocked me precisely because I think that empathy is probably the only antidote for the imminent collapse we are heading into. Collaboration instead of competition. Comprehension instead of judgment. Integration instead of segregation. Immigration has been a difficult journey, and it doesn’t seem like it’s going to get easier. However, although extremely dehumanizing, it is also very humbling. And in many ways, it taught me that what I found in Canada wasn’t what I was looking for, but in many ways, it was what I needed. I don’t know what comes next. But here I’ve learned to live with uncertainty, and I know that I’ll be here for it, as long as I can stand, with gratitude in my heart, hope in my bones, and curiosity in my eyes.

THE END OF AN ERA

Fanshawe won’t be the same without Interrobang

I’ll never forget how I felt walking into the Fanshawe Student Union (FSU) building for the first time, clutching my notebook of story ideas. It was August 2010, I had graduated from a Journalism program two months prior, and I was having a tough time finding a job that fit what I was looking for. Landing an interview at a weekly campus newspaper intrigued me, and as a recent student and lifelong Londoner, I figured I knew the audience pretty well.

Out of that interview, I was hired into my very first full-time job. I was elated. I worked at Interrobang from 2010 to 2014, and it remains my favourite role I’ve ever held. I had the opportunity to work with dozens of Fanshawe students, faculty, and community members; I wrote hundreds of stories; I edited hundreds of thousands of words. I was honoured to be part of the Fanshawe College community for those four years.

I wrote many articles I was proud of, including a chronicle of my Halloween night campus security ride-along with Special Constable Brent Arseneault, a story about a woman who rallied Londoners on Twitter to support a local family in crisis, and an interview with Canadian media icon George Stroumboulopoulos.

Beyond writing, my favourite part of the role was working with students, many of whom had their work printed for the very first time in the newspaper. I helped them discover a love of writing, build their confidence, and hone their

Erika

voices. Many of the students I worked with have gone on to build successful careers in journalism, marketing, and corporate communications –starting with a portfolio of stories published in Interrobang.

When John Said, who had been my manager during my time at Interrobang, reached out to let me know that the newspaper’s 50-year run was coming to an end this year, I was devastated.

Student journalism is critical to fostering an open, supportive, communicative campus, and graduating from post-secondary education with work experience and published articles can kick-start a career. Shutting down this newspaper deprives students, faculty and local residents of important stories and experiences. This is a great loss for the Fanshawe and London communities and for generations of writers to come.

CREDIT: TRIFONENKO

I know I couldn’t have built my career without the experience and skills I gained at Interrobang: time management, prioritization, teamwork, leadership, and so much more. I will be forever grateful for that experience.

The Interrobang newspaper has been an invaluable platform for student voices for five decades. Fanshawe won’t be the same without it.

My Interrobang Family: A 20-year friendship

Arjun Bhardwaj FORMER INTERROBANG WRITER

Since change is the only constant, we know all that what begins must end. Despite this reality, we never dream about things close to our hearts ever ceasing to exist. But that is not really possible however much we want it to last.

When I went for my weekly visit to the Interrobang office, I was given the heart-breaking news that Interrobang was wrapping up. Normally, when you hear something, you always ask the customary 5Ws and one H of why, when, where, who, what and how? But, while talking to the Publications and Communications team, nothing came to my mind. They told me that April 4 is when the last edition gets published, and I was numb. Nearly so.

Twenty long years ago, I did not only come to Canada to study at Fanshawe as an international student, but the Manager of Publications and Communications

at Fanshawe Student Union (FSU), John Said, also gave me the opportunity to write articles for Interrobang. I still have fond memories of that period when I used to think about a story idea, put my thoughts in black and white and send it to Said for publication. And, then wait and look forward to seeing the article in print with my name.

The printed word with my byline gave me unlimited joy. But there was one thing that gave me more joy than even seeing my writing in print: the $20 cheque I received for each article that got published between 2004 and 2007. I thought those $20 could get me the world. I don’t remember what I did with those $20, but I am sure I tried to live life king size with that amount.

The articles also got me introduced to the Fanshawe community as every week I used to pen my thoughts with the hope that it would introduce me to the Fanshawe World that was completely new to me. I had come from across the seven seas

to this side of the world. How time flies! It has been more than two decades, but the memories are still afresh as if it was just yesterday that I was a student here and I used to write articles for the column, From Myside

But more than anything else, what I have really cherished is my 20 years association with the Interrobang Family. They have always had their doors open for me and made me smile, laugh, talk like I had known them forever.

During the 20 years of my association with them, some wonderful people have left, but they have hired equally wonderful people as part of their team. Thank you to Fanshawe for not only giving me an education, but also a place to work where there are people the likes of those that make the Publication and Communications team, and they make Fanshawe a remarkable place. Interrobang, you have given me a lot and I will never forget the kindness, friendliness and generosity you brought in my life.

THE END OF AN ERA LAST LETTERS

The Fourth Estate

Margaret Sheridan FORMER INTERROBANG WRITER

It’s been more than two decades since I first started along the path to becoming a journalist.

That’s 21 years since my first class as a part of Centennial College’s threeyear print program, and 18 years since accepting the job as Staff Writer with Interrobang as my first full-time writing gig.

And it’s been 13 years since I left the profession.

In that time Canadians have seen a lot of change, both for the better and worse. Of those changes is one that’s often overlooked, despite having and outsized impact on our everyday lives – and that’s the not-so-slow death of the Fourth Estate.

For many Canadians, the Fourth Estate isn’t a common term. They understand that The Fifth Estate is the name of a popular CBC investigative television program, but what does it mean?

The Fourth Estate builds upon the idea of the “Estates of the Realm,” a term used in the Middle Ages to refer to the clergy, nobles, and everyone else (effectively all citizens not of the upper class). The Fourth Estate is a modern term added to the hierarchy and is generally used to refer to mainstream media, with the Fifth Estate focusing more on modern independent or non-traditional media.

While the less regulated Fifth Estate continues to adapt to changing technology, morphing almost seamlessly from blogging to podcasts and into our modern TikTok/Instagram era, the Fourth has struggled to keep up.

And that should be a concern to all Canadians because journalism keeps power to account, and democracy on track. Or at least it’s supposed to.

In some form or fashion, journalists have always existed. Documenting history, telling humanities best and worst stories, keeping record of the lives of everyday people. In doing so they not only shaped how we interact with our government, but they provided

us with information about the people and places well beyond our borders.

But because they’ve always just kind of been there, it becomes easier to overlook them entirely.

And a lot of us have.

The face of journalism in Canada has not just been altered over the last 30 years, it has been completely re-drawn. Our big dailies have become incestuous with most of them now majority-owned by the same conservative American hedge fund. The media landscape in Canada has morphed from a relatively balanced, cross-political spectrum industry into one where 90 per cent of the news coverage we’re provided with is driven by a foreign entity.

There are some holdouts – the last bastions of local news who are often hanging on by a thread – who

are still writing based on the needs of their community, but as they continue to struggle the big losers remain the everyday Canadian.

And losing The Interrobang after 50 years of publication in the London community is yet another loss.

A small, local paper that covered everything from Trivia Night at The Out Back Shack to elections at all levels of government. Heck, it was with the Interrobang that I was given the opportunity to interview NHL stars, scientists at the Canadian Space Agency, and even a researcher in Germany who was developing a spray-on condom (which I don’t think I’ve seen hit the market…).

But as the Fourth Estate continues to lose power – continues to lose respect – I think it’s important for Fanshawe College’s students to take the time to mourn what losing The Interrobang really means. How it shows what we as Canadians are choosing to prioritize, and the power we’re willingly giving up, in a time of increasing uncertainty.

Mourn this loss, but make it count by stepping forward to support and protect the remaining true members of the Fourth Estate before they no longer have the power to protect us.

CREDIT: MAKYZZ

Margaret Sheridan reflects on the loss of Interrobang and the evolving landscape of journalism across Canada.

The end of an era

Christopher Miszczak (he/him) INTERROBANG CONTRIBUTOR

I am just in shock, just plain shock. I was not expecting to see that the Interrobang will finish its publication after years of simply always being there. For nearly 20 years, I have contributed to Interrobang in some way, starting in 2005 and continuing into 2025. It was thanks to Interrobang that I was able to work with the Western Gazette. Thanks to Interrobang, I consider myself a professional writer, a columnist, and an illustrator. Every article and comic published through Interrobang has been a personal milestone and achievement.

Even because of Interrobang, I could network with many incredible people ranging from media and graphic design, journalism, technology, mental health and the field of medical illustration. It feels like the end of a true era. Interrobang has been a foundational part of my journey, and for the first time, it puts into stark realization the things that have

Christopher Miszczak shares his hopes for the future of student journalism at Fanshawe.

been achieved thus far and what is yet to come. It has just always been there, through both the good and the bad.

I have already seen friends work for companies like the CBC, the National, and The Globe and Mail. I have seen friends, fellow students, and cohorts pursue impressive careers in companies that span both Canada, the US and even further. It is inspiring to see where people end up and that you share a part of your journey with them.

From my viewpoint, all is not truly lost. I know what Fanshawe students and

alumni are truly capable of. Fanshawe students are resourceful, resilient, and possess all the potential in the world to accomplish amazing things. Interrobang may be coming to an official end in publication, but this is what I foresee. Someone else will pick up the mantle of a student-published newspaper and provide a new playground for future journalists, storytellers, and even illustrators. Journalism, storytelling, and art cannot die if Fanshawe students and alumni are inspired to surmount the insurmountable. People need stories,

CREDIT: CHRISTOPHER MISZCZAK

journalism, and art to remind themselves to be human. It is how we learn and become more. Journalism, storytelling, and art will never truly die. They will simply evolve.

As much as this news comes as a shock, and as much as it feels like the end of an era, I am hopeful, hopeful for the future. What will future students and alumni create from what has been laid out before? I offer this wisdom, and I offer this advice: Never stop telling stories and continue to inspire and lead the world to better and greater things.

THE END OF AN ERA LAST LETTERS

Goodbye, Interrobang

WRITER

Two weeks ago, my old boss reached out to me letting me know that Interrobang is being shut down after over 50 years of print. He asked me to submit one final article outlining what this newspaper meant to me and honestly, it’s been a hard time thinking of what to write. I worked for this paper, as a feature writer, reporter and casual columnist for almost five years and professionally, it was some of the most fun I’ve ever had.

I could talk about how working for this paper allowed me to indulge my love of writing. I could talk about the joy I felt being able to write about the things I love during my tenure here. What other publication would have allowed me to cover local news, pop culture and European football all at the same time? I could even talk about the huge number of incredible writers I had the privilege of working with, some of whom have gone on to be extremely successful journalists at some of the highest levels.

All of these subjects would be valid, wonderful, and extremely close to my heart, honestly this publication means

the world to me. It’s incredibly important and to see it go is a massive, massive blow that hits right at the core of what this paper was for. So I want to take this final opportunity to write about that.

I know it’s not original to say but right now, we’re in an interesting time. Whether you’re looking at something as simple as who’s starring in the most recent movie, at whatever the hell is happening in the modern political climate, things are getting pretty damn weird. People seem more divided than ever, everything seems to be an argument, and misinformation is absolutely everywhere.

Right now our local newspaper, along with many others across the country are owned not by Canadians, but by an American company with ties to the current (bonkers) US administration, and that ownership is reflected in the coverage of recent events. During times like this, independent, grassroots and student journalism is absolutely crucial in allowing prospective writers to speak passionately, and more importantly freely, about what they see and how they feel. Allowing students to reach their peers like this has been a crucial service of Interrobang, and to see it go right now is a bitter pill to swallow.

I sincerely hope that something can fill that gap at Fanshawe.

Now that I’ve got that off my chest I just want to say thank you to everyone who has made this paper what it is. Thank you to John Said for running the show so well for so many years. Thank you to Erika, Stephanie and Jessica for being fantastic editors, allowing

me to write things both silly and serious. Thank you to the many colleagues I worked with in the writer’s room over the years. You’re all incredibly talented and many of you became lifelong friends. Thanks for helping me form a deeper connection to the city, and all the opportunities you gave me. Thank you, Interrobang. You will be missed.

Interrobang: A paper worth a thousand words

Melissa Novacaska FORMER INTERROBANG EDITOR

When I first heard news of the Fanshawe Student Union (FSU) ceasing Interrobang’s, publication, I was shocked, while a wave of sadness quickly swept through me.

This isn’t the first time a publication I’ve been a part of cut back its publishing, or stopped operations altogether. However, in an industry that is constantly adapting and evolving on the fly, aiming to keep up with readers’ habits, it’s never easy when the lights are turned off for the last time. Interrobang is no exception.

Rather than continue being disappointed, the last few weeks gave me time to reflect on my story with the Interrobang, and what it truly meant to be part of this community.

For reference, my Interrobang adventure began in summer 2016, as head reporter of Volume 49, moving on as editor for Volumes 50 and 51.

Before stepping through Interrobang’s doors, I was vaguely aware of the publication, and all the important work it had already done over the years.

After being welcomed with open arms, and making new friends, I would soon learn Interrobang’s significance to the Fanshawe and London communities and what a tremendous asset it had been for anyone consuming its content through various mediums, including print, audio and visual.

Interrobang was not your typical community paper, but one that gave students and graduates the opportunity to not only

seek out stories around campus, but go out into the greater London community and report on issues impacting readers.

The community boxes located across the city allowed for greater readership, and visibility. Driving around town with colleagues, filling those boxes with fresh issues, was always a highlight of the week.

While the same can be true for any Interrobang contributor, working as a reporter and editor, allowed me to speak with fascinating people. This included students, professors, local businesses, and changemakers, to well-known musicians, athletes and politicians, who rolled into town. Whether it was to seek truth, gain insightful information or share a fun and exciting story, every interview I conducted was significant and helped shape each article.

It always amazed me how a small market publication (though no less important than others), was given access to some pretty eventful opportunities. For me, this included covering former Prime Minister, Justin Trudeau’s town halls, interviewing figure skating and hometown heroes, Tessa Virtue and Scott Moir, as they arrived home from the 2018 Winter Olympic Games, and chatting with Canadian fashion journalist Jeanne Beker, at the 2017 Unbound fashion show. Other notable mentions include covering the Juno Awards activities, and the Canadian Country Music Association (CCMA) Awards.

From highlighting students’ and faculty’s accomplishments, class projects, alumni’s continued success, and sports coverage, to crucial topics such as funding announcements, the Ontario Colleges strike, mental health and sexual violence prevention

pieces, there was always a story to share with readers. Our team had the creative freedom to try new things, and report on stories in unique ways, learning to pivot when needed.

All this to say, readers put their trust in our small, but mighty team, and we delivered the best we could. Breaking news stories, or reporting on large scaled events, I believe, gave our team of cub reporters the confidence to believe in ourselves and capabilities, and further confirm Interrobang was a respected publication.

Collecting some Ontario Community Newspaper Awards (OCNA) awards on behalf of the team was also a nice boost.

Being an editor gave me the reassurance to make decisions on the fly, and continue highlighting as many Fanshawe related stories as possible. Helping other reporters develop their skills and abilities was also a tremendous honour.

The staff was always supportive and helped everyone along the way, in honing their craft. I left the publication feeling proud of the work our team pulled off, and was excited to see it continue to morph into something new.

What matters most out of all of this is local media, and how it is covered. While it may not be reported on in the same format moving forward, local news plays a pivotal role in the community it serves. It is vital for students, faculty and the Fanshawe community to continue receiving their news, in the best way possible.

While I’ve gone on to report for local papers in Ottawa and the Ottawa Valley (including Metroland Media), to being a news writer and segment booker/producer

CREDIT: MELISSA NOVACASKA

Melissa Novacaska is a former writer and editor for Interrobang, who worked at the newspaper from 2016 to 2019.

at CTV Morning Live Ottawa, my current position looks a bit different. While I’m not working as a full-fledged journalist for a media outlet, my job with the federal government includes editing, writing and coordinating stories for the web. The work and support I received during my time with Interrobang, helped me get to where I am today, and I am internally grateful for that.

On that note, I’d like to thank the staff and family of Interrobang, and the Fanshawe and London communities for taking a chance and giving me that “foot in the door” to an industry that knows no bounds. Without Interrobang, I wouldn’t be where I am today.

The lessons that stuck

Eager, determined, and fresh of out university, I landed my first real job as a writer at the Interrobang in 2005. Not as a wide-eyed student anymore, but as a full-time writer earning actual money. Spoiler alert: I had no idea what I was doing. Fast-forward two decades, and I now realize my time at the Interrobang didn’t just shape my career—it rewired my entire approach to work, life, and learning.

Let’s be real: the job had perks. I sharpened my flag football skills, roamed the halls in pursuit of coffee, and fueled afternoons with wraps from the Oasis and drinks at the Shack. My “extended student life” came with backstage passes, too—interviewing headlining musicians, comedians, and entertainers who graced Forwell Hall. It was a playground of opportunities wrapped up as work.

A one-year contract turned into three more as Editor, and that’s where my true education began. Managing people, juggling deadlines, tweaking content, and wrestling with page counts—it became

my boot camp for the professional world. I learned everything Fanshawe College and the college system, inside and out, mastered the art of negotiation, and honed my problem-solving and project management skills.

I was lucky to learn from some of the best mentors, colleagues and friends, who gave me the grace to stumble while holding me accountable every step of the way. They were instrumental in transforming my missteps into milestones.

Of course, the lessons weren’t all easy. I’ll never forget the day I had to call a grieving mother about her son’s passing in a car accident—a sobering moment that taught me journalism might not be my calling. Or the time John and I were hit with a lawsuit over a satirical piece in The Distorter. Tough? Yes. But each challenge revealed something new about myself and my limits.

The greatest learning curve came from managing students. A constant rotation of characters. There were backpacks, moody musicians, unreliable artists, medical issues, tears, missed deadlines, and constant ghosting. My cubicle stayed open despite Allen “The Bodyguard” Gaynor’s valiant efforts. Empathy,

patience, and finesse became my toolkit for navigating this ever-revolving cast of characters.

And those lessons? They stuck.

In 2009, I graduated from the Interrobang myself, heading off for a post-grad. The transition led me into the world of Communications at another Ontario college. I discovered a passion for that unmistakable September energy— always a student, always learning. Over the next 14 years, I climbed the ranks of marketing, communications, and brand management, carrying my Interrobang lessons every step of the way. By the time I became a Senior Director, I had refined the leadership skills I first stumbled upon in that cubicle.

When I left the college system in 2024, my metaphorical backpack was bursting with even more lessons. Post-secondary education has changed drastically, and not always for the better. For me, the dissolution of The Interrobang and its rich legacy is a profound loss. Independent journalism, real-world student engagement, and hands-on, applied learning opportunities are irreplaceable pillars of the Ontario college experience—or at least, they should be.

In the end, despite my degrees and five years of formal education, it’s those four whirlwind years at The Interrobang that taught me the most. Problem-solving. Creativity. Critical thinking. These are the tools that shaped my career and life—lessons learned not in a lecture hall, but in the chaotic, electrifying heartbeat of a student newsroom.

The best education doesn’t live in textbooks. It’s out there in the world, waiting to be discovered, one glorious mistake at a time.

Thank you, John, Darby, Allen, Sara and the entire FSU team!

Bobbyisms 181: A goofball that could put together a sentence

Bobby Foley (they/them)

FORMER INTERROBANG WRITER

I still write about random things a lot. I still write a lot about random things. In the wake of hearing about the closure of Interrobang, I’ve been thinking a lot about the concepts of community and family, and how proud I once felt being embraced by the publication and by the FSU. I haven’t been on campus in a minute, so I recognize I don’t know what your experience is like, but I wish I could convey to you how it felt to be a Fanshawe student there during healthier times.

Comedian Josh Johnson of The Daily Show is a prolific writer and constantly tours, performing stand-up across the US and uploading new material to his YouTube page every Tuesday. On March 18, Johnson posted, “The Only Way to Survive a Recession” — recorded from his set in Charleston, SC, the week before — touching on the concept of community in light of the climate in the US since the change of leadership in January.

“Your future is your neighbour, there’s no other way forward,” he said, among his anecdotes of early independent life and playful takes on American culture at large. “If there’s a community that you want around you, all you have to do is be its founder. It’s so much

more likely that you’re going to build community than you’re going to become a billionaire.”

I can’t think of a better word than “community” to describe the energy in the Interrobang office at that time. Like countless others, I began working at the publication thanks to the work study program on campus; I’ll never forget meeting publication manager John Said in 2009 and his unexpected advice to write whatever I felt like writing so that I wouldn’t quit a short time later when schoolwork became overwhelming.

A man of few words, he’s always struck me as a Lorne Michaels–type, someone with a keen eye for potential and innate understanding of student life, and did I ever appreciate his guidance, friendship and sense of humour. He built a community around the publication and the office, and being a part of it — and a part of the culture of Fanshawe College and of London itself — was an incredible honour.

I couldn’t be further from a journalist at that time, yet Interrobang gave me an opportunity to develop a voice as a storyteller and a platform to share the stories of others. Along the way I gained so many stories of my own, like traveling to Buffalo for a chance to interview Arkells’ front man Max Kerman in advance of the band headlining our frosh concert in 2010. The band barely made it through US Customs in time

to play that night, while on the other hand I arrived early enough to play road hockey with members of Tokyo Police Club outside their tour bus with a squash ball.

What an epiphany it was to realize I could apply for media accreditation to music festivals, summers were never the same. Interrobang was the first to publish anything on Toronto band PUP, though they played under a different name at the time. A few months into existence, they played at Comfort Zone during NXNE in 2011 and now 14 years later, they’ve toured the world countless times and will release their fifth studio album in May.

Later that same summer I covered Osheaga in 2011, tromping around in the July Montreal heat, shouldering camera equipment borrowed from student resources in the library. I remember being exhausted and navigating the Metro and agreeing to take a photo with someone I didn’t know simply because I was wearing a shirt that said, “relax, I’m hilarious.”

I can track so much of what has happened in my life back to that one meeting in 2009 and all the opportunities that have resulted from it. Connections that I made during my long tenure as a columnist got my foot in the door of the music and broadcast industries, establishing friendships that I cherish to this day.

CREDIT: COURTESY OF BOBBY FOLEY

Bobby Foley began working at Interrobang in 2009, covering various arts and culture stories.

Interrobang has always been a gift, a voice for students and an anchor on campus and throughout the city. I feel immensely grateful to John Said — and to my early editors Jessica Ireland and Erika Faust — for taking a chance on me, a goofball that could put together a sentence. And I feel deeply saddened and disappointed by the shortsighted decision to terminate its operations. One more time, I’m out of words.

THE END OF AN ERA

The Interrobang helped make me who I am today

I guess I am one of the people with the longest tenure with Fanshawe’s beloved student newspaper, Interrobang. I first worked for the publication that we affectionately referred to as “The Rag” in 1980 when I was in the Electronics Engineering Technician program.

I was hired to do paste-up work for the pages that had to be photographed for the printing press. We used wax on our text blocks that we printed out to position them on the page. The wax was so we could reposition them until we got the layout to work. I remember once the Editor told me to fill up a blank space, so I printed the words, “My Editor told me to fill this space—so I did” and inserted it in the hole. I guess that was my first foray into comedy and pushing boundaries. More on that later.

I eventually got assignments to do concert reviews, since I was trying to get into the Music Industry Arts (MIA) program. That was a great job; I was a broke student, receiving free concert tickets for writing a story about what I saw and heard. The biggest feather in my journalistic cap was an interview with Long John Baldry, a very famous blues musician, who discovered Rod Stewart and worked with Elton John to produce Stewart’s first albums.

In 1981, I started writing a humour column with a guy named “Meecher” (Ray Meechum). We wrote really juvenile, off-beat humour pieces that made people laugh. The next year, when I got into the MIA program, I convinced my locker partner Tom Barker (who went on to become country music star Thomas Wade with his band Wayward five years later) to co-write the column Off The Wall with me for the next two years.

With Tom, we upped the silliness and juvenile aspect of our comedy writing. For example, I got my then-girlfriend who was in Advertising Art to draw a picture of a bathroom stall. Tom and I then went to every bathroom in the College (after hours) and collected the best bathroom graffiti in the College and wrote what we found in different handwriting on our stall mock-up.

The FSU (our bosses) were not impressed; they warned us to tone it down.

Of course, we took that as a challenge, and a few weeks later I convinced my girlfriend Heather, to let me use one of her photos that she had recently taken for a study of nudes in one of her classes. One of the reasons I went out with her was because she was as twisted as I was. Her nude was a chicken with its feathers plucked and head chopped off in various Playboy-like poses.

We ran the copy for the Miss Nude Funshawe Contest underneath the risqué pictures of the chicken: “This is Miss Rhoda Island-Red. Her hobbies include getting baked, getting fried, getting stuffed, getting laid and meeting nice cocks. Yes, you too can be our next Miss Nude Funshawe, simply send us one (1) nude photograph with the following information…”

After the column was published, we got an immediate Cease and Desist from the FSU and were unceremoniously fired. Out with a bang!

When I attended the MIA program for the second time in 2002, 20 years later, I immediately made my way to the Interrobang office looking for a part-time job. I guess I forgot to tell them about my last column 20 years earlier,

and the FSU seemed to have forgotten the part about me being fired. They immediately re-hired me.

I revived Off The Wall and used that space to publish quirky and sometimes disturbing humour (including “Dead Baby Jokes” and the hate mail that followed, which I printed the next week). I also wrote two other columns; one sharing thrifty yet nutritious recipes and another talking about my experiences as a 45-year-old student in a school filled with people half my age.

I was paid $20 per column (x3), $60 per week, $240 per month, which paid my rent for three years!! Writing was paying my bills for the first time in my life. During my second stint with “The Rag” I did a expose piece, based on a little bird whispering in my ear (years later I freely admit it was Don Geppart, Engineering Professor for MIA). He told me that some of the extra lab fees that we paid to attend MIA (thousands of dollars per year) were being used to purchase dental chairs instead of supporting our recording studios with equipment and maintenance.

The story ended up with two very distinct outcomes: first we never saw the President of the College after that spring. I don’t know if he was fired or quit, he was just never seen again. The second outcome was that the College and the students of MIA entered into a contract—the first of its kind in North America. The gist of the contract is that our fees were now guaranteed to be used 100 per cent for our

studios and equipment. If the College ever again used our fees for something inappropriate, we could demand our money back.

Twenty years later and almost 45 years after I first worked for the Interrowhatzit, I am starting to make advances in my songwriting and producing career, and John Said, my former Editor and now head of Publications at the FSU, arranged to have two stories about my recent successes and the tie-in to Fanshawe College published in the paper over the past two years.

Here is a link to hear some of my writing and music, if you would like to see how I turned out: knightsoftheroses. bandcamp.com.

I am of the opinion that Interrobang is at least partially responsible for the writer and activist I am today; I have a Disabled Rights Advocacy YouTube Channel called “Wheelchair Ninja” and many of my songs are modern-day protest songs about war, climate change, etc.

The Rag taught me the power of the pen. I will never forget. Thank you.

CREDIT: ERHUI1979

Geoff Tebbutt was an Interrobang contributor from 1981 to 1984, as well as 2001 to 2005.

A letter to my younger self

Stephanie Lai FORMER INTERROBANG EDITOR

Hey you. I hope you’re doing well. I know you always thought about your future and what that looks like. But chill, at 23 you’ve got a whole lot of life ahead of you.

Twelve years later, at 35, you’ve accomplished a few things. You finally found a career path you’re excited about, but that doesn’t mean you should discount all the roles you held before.

You started as a reporter and editor with Interrobang, then made your way into the real estate industry in comms. You thought you would stay in comms for the long haul or move into editing, so you found your next role with a textbook publisher. Not as an editor, but as a digital content developer (DCD), which randomly involved HTML and basic coding. It was the first time you got a taste of working remotely and you loved it. So, you stuck it out for four years.

It was fun for the first two, then you started getting antsy because you were interested in full-time employment and upwards movement, but it never materialized. You floundered until you turned 30 and you promised you would get a new job that year (during a global pandemic).

It didn’t happen.

In fact, it wouldn’t happen until the last quarter of 2021, at the age of 31. An old colleague at the textbook publisher reached out because she remembered you from those days and said you had potential to break into project management.

You were wavering between instructional design and project management anyway. What did you have to lose?

So come November, you start your job as a project manager at an agency. This is also the first time you’re introduced to the pharma industry. And you love it here. Not only do you have a knack for it, but you also carried over skills as an editor and even as a DCD that were fully transferrable in ways that were unimaginable (at the time).

It’s been four years since, and you’re thriving. Sure, you’ve survived enough rounds of layoffs, you’re the most stressed you’ve ever been, but you made something of yourself.

Did I find love?

You did. Not in the traditional way like you initially thought. You did not meet him at church or work. Or the grocery store, even though you knew hot boys go shopping at 8 p.m. You didn’t get set up by your matchmaker friend (who was 3:3 at the time). You met him on OKCupid, and he was kind, intelligent, and best of all—6’ 5”. You differ in a lot of ways, but you also wind up laughing together a lot, but mostly because of how awkward you are. And you found out you actually enjoy stand-up comedy, so you’ve been to a lot of shows in the nine years you’ve been together, including Jerry Seinfeld, John Mulaney, and Louis C.K. to name a few.

You got married by the way. And bought a house. Both come with their own laundry list of struggles, but you and your husband finally feel settled and are taking steps towards creating that family you’ve always dreamed about.

CREDIT: COURTESY OF STEPHANIE LAI Former Interrobang contributor Stephanie Lai writes a letter to her younger self.

I just want you to remember to enjoy the journey life takes you. You never know what skills you’re going to learn or who you’re going to meet. Also, things take time. Don’t rush or compare yourself

to others. Just continue to kick ass at everything that’s thrown at you. I’m proud of you.

Love, me.

From the newsroom to new beginnings: How the Interrobang shaped my life and career

Jessica Walker FORMER INTERROBANG EDITOR

I was the editor of the Interrobang from August 2015 to September 2017— my first job after graduating with my bachelor’s degree in journalism. I was originally hired as the lead reporter, but on my first day, the editor position became available, and John Said decided to take a chance on me. To say my years at the Interrobang were incredible would be an understatement. This time was transformative, not just for my career but for me as a person.

It helped refine my news judgment and put into practice what I learned during my time in school. It gave me a sense of independence and truly helped me understand what hard work looked like. It let me flex my creativity and tell some pretty incredible stories. It also helped me discover my passion for mentorship, leading a team of 25 writers.

This time also saw some incredible “wins” for the paper. We received OCAA Sports Media Coverage awards in 2016 and 2017, and we won an Ontario

Community Newspaper Association (OCNA) Better Newspaper Competition Student News Writing award for a breaking news story we wrote about an attack at the downtown Fanshawe campus. That award-winning story also led to policy change and additional security being hired—a moment that showed me the power of journalism, the power of the Interrobang.

During my time at the newspaper and in London, Ont., I also met my nowwife—you could say I’m grateful for the job at the newspaper.

Fast forward to 2025, and my wife and I are living in North Vancouver, BC, having just welcomed our first baby last August. I’ve also now ventured from journalism into communications (the dark side, as they say) and am happily working in the marketing department at my local hospital. I still use all of the skills I learned back in those early days at the Interrobang.

The ability to write concisely, ask the right questions and think critically has served me in ways I never expected. Journalism, and the Interrobang, gave me a foundation that has been invaluable in

communications—understanding audiences, crafting compelling narratives, and making complex information accessible. While I may no longer be in the newsroom, the lessons I learned there

continue to shape the way I approach my work. And in many ways, that first editorial role wasn’t just the beginning of my career—it was the foundation for everything that followed.

FINDING MY VOICE:

JOURNALISM

CREATIVITY

CHALLENGE

OMY TIME AT THE INTERROBANG

AINSLEY KRIENSELOKKER (SHE/HER) |

INTERROBANG

When I first entered Fanshawe College’s journalism program, I wasn't sure where my journey would take me. I knew I had a passion for storytelling, and that I wanted to explore my creativity and find my niche. I didn't realize that the Interrobang would be where I discovered my love for writing and the confidence to pursue a career in it.

I joined the Interrobang in my second year, eager to gain hands-on experience and see my work published. Writing for a student newspaper is more than just writing words on a page, it’s about engaging with the community, covering stories that matter, and learning the fast-paced turnaround of journalism. Whether it was reporting on campus events, interviewing students and faculty, or tackling more in-depth pieces, every assignment helped me grow as a writer and as a journalist.

ne of the most valuable lessons I learned at the Interrobang was the importance of finding my voice. In the beginning, I approached each article cautiously, trying to fit into a mold of what I thought journalism should be. But, with the guidance of my editor, and support from my peers, I became more confident in my writing, allowing my personality to shine through. I also learned how to adapt. Whether I was writing hard news, opinion pieces, or feature articles, I embraced the challenges that came with switching between different tones and formats.

Now, as I near graduation, I'm stepping into the next phase of my journey: An internship at the National Post for news writing. The excitement of working in a national newsroom is both exhilarating and terrifying, but I know everything I've learned at the Interrobang has prepared me for this. This experience has not only given me technical skills, but also resilience and curiosity, both of which are needed to thrive in this field.

Looking back, I'm incredibly grateful for my time at the Interrobang. It wasn't just about writing articles, it was about discovering who I am as a journalist, and where I want to go next.

As I move forward, I carry with me lessons, friendships, and passion, all of which the Interrobang helped me cultivate. This is just the beginning, and I can't wait to see where this story takes me next.

A ONCE IN A LIFETIME EXPERIENCE

Caleigh Reid (she/her) | Interrobang

You know the quote, “Don’t beat the dead horse?”

Yeah, well…

I spent my summer grinding through classes, and I got so burnt out that I made the decision to switch to part time. Then, because of my amazing decision-making skills, I jumped straight back into classes in the fall. I was studying intermediate accounting 2, calculus, business law and cost accounting.

This term, compared to the last, has been very relaxing. I’ve been focusing on improving my health, trying to reduce my screen time by reading (yes, actual paper books). Just on a side note, as much as I love all the new study spaces, I really miss when Fanshawe had a physical library.

For the past two years, I had been in full-blown academic scholar mode to get into Western. And in late January, I received three offers from them for Management and Organizational Studies with a specialization in Accounting. It still doesn’t feel real for some reason. I think a part of me was so used to things not working out, that I expected this to backfire as well. But I did it. And now, I’m looking forward to where this new chapter will take me.

, I’m the horse.

One thing I’m really grateful for this year? Interrobang. Getting to create art that people will see, in my perspective, has been a oncein-a-lifetime experience, just as I’m finishing up at Fanshawe.

I’m disappointed for the future students, the artists and journalists who have lost this opportunity. At Interrobang, as an artist you are given so much creative freewill that you would never be given in the industry. Not to mention the fact you get to work with and get to know other amazing students from different programs, collaborating and making awesome work.

As I wrap up my time at Fanshawe, I’m feeling all the feels. Excited, nervous, but mostly I’m just grateful. Because whatever happens next, I will always remember all the great friends I’ve made, and fun experiences to look back on.

Although, every midterm that made me cry, I’ll gladly forget that.

THE YEAR WITH A ENDING

Konstantinos Drossos (he/him) | Interrobang

I have been at Fanshawe for the past six years, and it has been a place where I have gotten to grow as a person as well as a student. I have made unforgettable memories with people I get to call my friends and have been able to do incredible things through the programs I have taken.

One such thing was my time working as a writer and host for Interrobang for the last year and a half. I first attended the main campus in the fall of 2022, when I started my first semester in the broadcast journalism program.

I, unfortunately, didn’t start working at the Interrobang till later, but my first year allowed me to learn the craft of article writing and interviewing subjects to gather quotes. When the school year ended, I was having a hard time trying to look for a summer gig. It wasn’t until I went out for lunch with my friend Mauricio Prado that he mentioned he had been hired as a summer reporter at the campus newspaper, and he encouraged me to apply.

I took his advice, not knowing what to expect in terms of how the summer was going to unfold, as this was my first time applying to work as an writer for a paper. That summer turned out to be one of the most fun experiences I had, where I got to spend time writing and working with friends.

It was also the first time I got to explore, research and write on topics I liked as well as share with the rest of the college community. I wrote about a variety of articles explaining my opinion on why I thought video narratives are important to an article listing five haunted areas in the London area.

It was also the first time I was given the torch to carry on the Red Couch Podcast for the summer semester. Alongside my friend Alex, we hosted a total of 13 episodes that explored a variety of topics. It was a fun experience as we got to collaborate every week and brainstorm ideas and talking points to create an intriguing conversation with the guest.

We got to sit down with professionals to discuss men's mental health and talk about the importance of Indigenous Heritage Month. We also got to talk about the difference between

gaming on a console compared to a PC, which was the episode that inspired me to want to one day start my own podcast.

When the summer term ended, I knew for sure that I wanted to continue on as a reporter for the fall semester when I returned from vacation. Around that time the Canadian band, The Beaches, released their album Blame My Ex, and it started to gain a lot of buzz in the rock community. As a rock fan, I wanted to take the opportunity to listen to the album and review it.

I stayed up all night playing the album from front to back, highlighting my favourite instrumental parts and lyrical pieces. Handing in that article also helped me realize my passion for writing about music and also exploring London's local music scene.

For the Navigator, our student lifestyle magazine, I got the opportunity to check out the Palasad Social Bowl, which is a venue where many local acts perform. Students from the Fanshawe Music Industry Arts (MIA) program performed, which was great as a networking environment to meet the bands that could potentially be a good feature for a music article.

I slowly began to get more comfortable writing about music and eventually found my footing in reviewing albums and writing music news, starting with the comeback of the legendary Britpop band, Oasis, after a 15-year hiatus. Next was Linkin Park's comeback with an album after seven years and the announcement of a new lead singer.

Focusing back on the local music scene, I had the privilege of diving into London's hip-hop scene which features many artists with links to Fanshawe. I got to meet various rappers with unique stories and upbringings who all shared their music inspirations and upcoming musical projects

Working at the Interrobang has given me multiple benefits during my time at Fanshawe where I filled the role of a community storyteller. I was able to meet people from various backgrounds who shared their expertise or personal stories with me and got to share them through an article.

FEAR,

GROWTH, and FUN

REFLECTING ON THE PAST FOUR YEARS

GEORGIA NEWMAN (SHE/HER) | INTERROBANG

It’s the end of another winter term here at Fanshawe College and for me, the end of my student career at Fanshawe.

I started at Fanshawe fresh out of high school, taking a general oneyear business diploma program. After flipping and flopping from marketing, to accounting, to finance, I decided to take a break from school and figure out what I wanted to do with the rest of my life.

Cut to three years later and I was still unsure what to do, but I knew I wanted to go back to school. My mom sat me down and said, “Why not take the radio broadcasting program?” and I said, “You know what? Why not.”

And so began my second student experience here at Fanshawe.

Radio broadcasting was different. Business had so many students, it was normal for professors to not know your name. But in radio, I was in a class of 12 students. It felt so much more intimate and thus more intimidating.

I still wasn’t sold, but came to love the smaller classes and more personal learning, so I enrolled myself into broadcast journalism. And now after four years, I am getting ready to graduate and move forward into a full-time job.

Do I know what I want to do yet? Nope. But I am excited for what comes next for me.

During this last year, I had the absolute honour of working for the Interrobang. This has been the best part-time job,

working with peers from my program and meeting new people.

I feel like I've seen huge changes since beginning at the Interrobang. Throughout the year, I’ve noticed how much more confident my writing is and how much more open I am in my pieces.

I was so nervous to have my voice heard through my articles at the beginning of the year and now I am so much more comfortable letting it all hang loose.

I feel like, especially in my last few article submissions, you could really get a sense of who I am as a person.

I am also shocked at how much I came to love opinion articles. Through the journalism program, we are taught that journalism has no bias and although that is true, there is definitely some wiggle room. Especially when discussing romantasy books.

This part-time job has been a huge gamechanger. Before I even graduated with my journalism diploma, I was able to work as a professional journalist with a newsroom that has been the heart of Fanshawe’s community for over 50 years.

Although I don’t know if I'm any closer to figuring out my life and where I want to end up, I can say I had such an amazing year, learning more about my writing style and what I like to write about.

And let me tell you a little secret. I am absolutely terrified of what this next chapter of my life is going to bring

and just generally nervous about the uncertainty of the future. I am getting ready to leave school after dedicating the last four years of my life to it, and entering the unknown.

But even with the fear and excitement of the future, I can’t help but reminisce on my years at Fanshawe.

I feel like I got what I was supposed to get out of my college experience. I made friends that I hope I have for life, I learned, networked within my industry, and overall, I just had fun.

But can I just say: Fanshawe, please for the love of god, calm down with handing out parking tickets. I am paying over $3,000 a semester before parking and if I’m even a minute late I have a lovely $25 ticket waiting for me every freaking time. I hate that you can only pay by the hour. I don’t need a whole hour, I need 10 minutes. We are students, we are broke, we can barely afford parking in the first place, let alone a ticket for being 10 minutes late.

In essence, although improvements could always be made, I am excited to be able to call myself a Fanshawe alumni and I am beyond thankful for my time with the Interrobang.

I want to say a special thank you to Hannah Theodore, and Brandon Grubb. Thank you for reading and listening to my bad puns and my run-on sentences about my fairy books. I have had nothing but positive experiences working with you both.

Lost HOPE HOPE

IS THE LAST THING TO BE

GRACIA ESPINOSA (SHE/HER) | INTERROBANG

It's been almost two years since I started working at Interrobang, where I've tried to bring out news and stories that interested the Fanshawe community, especially all the students.

The announcement of the newspaper's closure caught me by surprise. I didn't expect it since Interrobang has been a symbol of the student union for more than four decades. We're not talking about the newspaper ceasing to be printed in paper, but also all its online output. All of it will stop publishing forever.

On the other hand, the fact that the announcement was made with such secrecy until the last moment seems so dirty to me that I can't help but think that the newspaper is not closing precisely because of the cost it entailed for the institution, but instead because it made more than one person uncomfortable.

For those who say that nobody reads the newspaper, I would like to say that that is entirely false. For over a year, I have distributed the newspaper with our editor, Hannah Theodore and seen how we have left more and more newspapers in every corner of the college.

It is not just a number on an Excel sheet; I have seen it with my own eyes. But since I see that for many, the numbers only matter when making certain decisions, I would like to say that in these four years, 30 per cent more newspapers have been distributed, which confirms the number of readers we have on the main campus and at Western University, and that is only talking about the physical newspaper, because readers also visit the Interrobang website.

In addition, I want to emphasize that Interrobang has been awarded as one of the best student newspapers in this province, receiving recognition for years, which shows once again that the college is training good professionals and that they want to show that journalism is more necessary than ever.

The fact that the paper has improved in terms of numbers and prestige has undoubtedly been thanks to Hannah, who has put her heart and soul into this paper and has supported us in publishing those thorny issues that no one wants to talk about publicly, such as all the measures the government is implementing to reduce the number of international students, the anti-abortion activists who visited Fanshawe, and the tragic suicide of a student.

She has also defended us when necessary, without hesitation, since it seems that in these times that we live in, journalists make

people uncomfortable, and that's annoying for a few. We are not public relations; if our questions make people uncomfortable, we are doing an excellent job.

The closure of the newspaper has not only left students beginning to find their way into the world of work without work, but it also means the loss of many stories that remain to be told.

I only hope that after this bitter farewell, the Fanshawe community will become aware of the situation and stand firm to keep this newspaper and, above all, if the proposal to hold a referendum is successful, it will be carried out without a shadow of a doubt. I want to remind you that the students voted for the executive team and the directors of the FSU, and if the students wish for the newspaper to continue, they must carry out this referendum. Are they not the voice of the students? Well, now they must prove it. They have to be brave enough to make decisions, but they also have to be brave enough to recognize that those who voted against the continuation of Interrobang were wrong.

I will leave this newspaper because the paper no longer needs my services, but I will hold my head high because I have given my all, even putting myself in situations that have taken me out of my comfort zone. I have learned what journalism is like in Canada, and I have felt freer here than in my own country, Spain, where I was not given as big an opportunity as Interrobang has given me. The world of journalism is very competitive, and the first opportunity is the hardest, so I am incredibly grateful to those who believed in me and my work.

I would also like to say that the reporters we have now are doing an incredible job working to save the newspaper, which shows that Interrobang is, as I said at the beginning, a symbol of hope and not simply a newspaper made by rookies. I hope to hear from Hannah in May that they are preparing new features for the next academic year, instead saying goodbye to this publication forever.

Hope is the last thing to be lost.

A letter to our Readers

Briar Wilson (she/her) | Interrobang

Dear reader,

For the past year, I've had the privilege of providing you with education and entertainment as a reporter for the honourable Interrobang. I highlighted the successes of skilled athletes, shared thoughts on pop culture, broke down political issues and most importantly, told stories.

The most sacred form of communication, to share, reflect, and ponder. Storytelling is the closest thing we have to walking in other people's shoes, and reaching into other people's hearts.

I hope to continue on to a successful career in journalism, but I will always hold dear to my heart the first pages my pen touched, and the first people who read my work. I cannot tell you how grateful I am to be here. From the bottom of my heart, thank you

This paper has been a longstanding tradition to this school of over 50 years, and I can't tell you what an honour it is to be a part of its legacy. I have no doubt the next writers will do great things with it and continue yo carry the torch.

It is with great sadness that I write to you my final entry. With the dissolution of the paper, I urge you to not let this discourage you from always seeking the truth, reliable information, and continuing to subscribe to journalism as it is more important now than ever. Knowledge is power, elbows up.

With gratitude and love, Briar Wilson

Say it with a Bang: A letter to Interrobang

Maximilian King (he/hers/them) LETTER TO THE EDITOR

I wanted to write a personal letter to Interrobang expressing my sadness for this glorious era of college that Interrobang helped me feel I belonged in.

Since I was a teenager, I have been attracted to art and creative writing as a form of expression; journalism has always attracted me as a form of art. As an autistic person, I’ve always found one of the ways I dealt with stress through the unique difficulties I deal with in society and stressful situations like the pandemic was to find a channel to let myself express my voice, which art allowed me a constructive, therapeutic channel for catharsis. Knowing you and your team of resourceful journalists have made the Interrobang a creative outlet that managed to reflect the struggles and trends that influence most students in their day-to-day lives, which has done more to

represent the ideals of students than any other entity at Fanshawe has.

The positive spirit within the students of Fanshawe doesn’t lie mainly within the student union, what the students do after school, what they have done in class, or what social life they live: the positive spirit of the students of Fanshawe lies within every student’s unique ability to turn the adversities they’ve lived with in life into the motivation that brings progress into the world rather than antagonize the world for when it didn’t have them helping it. I found that the college has been a place where I can grow into a place of society as an individual by finding a creative way to channel my unique motivations into a constructive force to help others, just like how the college has done the same for many students, and how the Interrobang has continually reminded every student that the positive spirit in Fanshawe’s students endures in many different forms.

I think it is nothing like the positive spirit that drives the students at Fanshawe to take

away a channel of letting Fanshawe students use their strengths to grow and make the world a better place (which I think is the main reason why the college exists in the first place). Journalism is not entertainment, it’s a reflection of reality that reminds us why we should look after it. If taking away the student newspaper that reminds students their strengths have a place is something someone wants to do, then I guess that’s the same as not wanting anyone to have a place for their skills in our world.

Even though I hope that the Interrobang can still be resurrected as an independent news source, I’m sad to see that what helped sustain the ideas that inspired the creativity and resourcefulness of Fanshawe’s students is being shut down. Even after the Interrobang is gone, I hope all of the good people working on it will have the opportunity to do the work they loved doing in the future.

Sincerely,

Maximilian King

Student journalism is not entertainment, it’s a reflection of reality.

Lights on or lights off? You decide

Jack Sutton (he/him)

I’ve had a tough time processing the loss of The Interrobang. It’s not just about this paper—although I am sad to see it go—but rather how it represents a microcosm of the overall state of journalism today. Things aren’t looking too great.

The world around us is accelerating at a rapid pace and I do believe we’re living through a sequence of events not too dissimilar from those we studied in school—periods of global destabilization that became turning points for civilizations throughout history. We look back and study those events but, generally, we’re not wellequipped to recognize and make sense of those pivotal moments in real time. Things are happening around us too quickly, we’re not very good at separating the important stuff from the distractions, and all this new technology that was meant to advance humanity has only left us bogged down in a cesspool of misinformation, mistrust and division. However, we still have one crucial tool to help us stay informed: quality, independent journalism—but we have to fight harder to keep it. Independent journalism—your voice, eyes and ears in this crazy world—is under threat. We’re seeing the President of the United States bar journalists from the White House if he doesn’t like their coverage. In Canada, we heard that one of the major parties running in this election will not allow journalists to travel with them on the campaign. Public broadcasters are facing threats to funding. We’ve already seen news outlets across our country bought by private corporations, allowing them to push their own agendas under the guise of journalism. And yes, even right here at Fanshawe, this very publication—meant to give students a voice and hold both the college and the student union accountable—is being shuttered to fund, of all things, a new

Democracy dies in darkness , and they are shutting off the lights one by one.

social media team and another (well-paid) full-time management position. But no one seems to care as we descend full-speed into a real-world version of Idiocracy in which an ever-growing number of people are content to just ignore the world around them—or worse, to “do their own research” on YouTube and TikTok.

As one of the last writers for The Interrobang, here’s my final plea to you: start caring. There are too many people in this

world who want nothing more than to see us ill-informed and apathetic. They are actively striving for it every single day and they have the resources to keep it up. Democracy dies in darkness, and they are shutting off the lights one by one. More than ever before we need news we can trust, presented with accuracy and integrity by qualified professionals—not TikTokkers or corporate mouthpieces. Independent journalism has long been the driving force

in leading people through the swamp of bullshit that is spewed into the world each and every day—separating fact from falsehood with hard evidence and keeping people aware of what is really going on around them. We cannot lose that—because we don’t know exactly where the world is heading right now, but it is shaping up to be one hell of a bumpy ride.

If we let the lights go dark now, we will not like what we see when they come back on.

Say it with a Bang: Sales, journalism and trust

stands out and leaves a lasting impression. I can personally attest to the importance of storytelling and staying informed.

From time immemorial, humans have strived to find ways to express their attitudes, feelings, and inclinations through various media, art, poetry, and writing. In one word: expression. Expressing oneself as an individual is not only a natural instinct but a right that must be utilized in the most effective way.

What am I getting at here?

As many of you know, The Interrobang newspaper has been closed for the foreseeable future. This is deeply unfortunate for those of us who were waiting for the right opportunity to write articles about topics that spark our interest or are close to our hearts. In my case, I’ve been moved to write with urgency to give you a glimpse of the club I currently run, the Fanshawe Sales Association. We were planning a series of articles related to various fields, one being journalism, in the near future, but unfortunately, that will no longer be the case!

To begin, sales and journalism share a unique cornerstone: storytelling. In sales, your ability to tell a compelling story makes the difference between convincing a customer to make a purchase or walking away empty-handed. The same applies to journalism. To succeed, you must learn to inform and engage your audience in a way that

As an international student from Kenya, I found myself halfway across the world in a place that was completely foreign to me. I had to quickly learn about the systems, culture, and places in order to survive and adapt. The Interrobang became an essential part of my journey, helping me navigate not only what was happening within the college but also what was going on in London itself. Through its articles, I gained a deeper understanding of the community, events, and issues, giving me the footing I needed to feel connected.

Secondly, when my colleague Minje Kang and I started this club, we realized we come from different program backgrounds (Business - Finance and Business - Marketing respectively). However, we realized this is a blessing in disguise. We came upon the realization that this club should be inclusive of students from all programs, because sales is a skill that can be transferred to almost every aspect of life, whether you’re convincing a customer to buy the latest CRM software, trying to gain a competitive edge in a job interview, or even trying to convince your friends to order Hawaiian pizza instead of pepperoni (I’m sure half of you are now fuming over that statement!).

Sales boils down to consistent and clear communication, a skill that’s just

as valuable in journalism. I’ve seen this in the writings of student journalists like Briar Wilson, reporting on the latest sports news, Jack Sutton discussing the political landscape, and Zoë Alexandra King offering lifestyle and fashion tips. While I’ve mentioned a few journalists, there are many others who also demonstrate this skill and contribute to the richness of student media. All of them share the ability to connect with their audience through effective communication, something sales professionals also rely on to succeed.

Now, this platform for students to air their views and opinions is being taken away.

Finally, both sales and journalism are hinged on building relationships based on trust. Great relationships take time to build, and The Interrobang has been a trusted avenue for student expression for more than 50 years. Now, suddenly, this avenue is being taken away.

How can we continue to build these relationships and express our voices?

Brittany Broski and her many forms

Social media influencer, Brittany Broski, first became known for her viral kombucha taste test video and now has over 2.5 million subscribers on her main YouTube channel.

She has created a whole identity for herself where she keeps people guessing on which Brittany they’re going to get in the newest video.

Broski has her main YouTube channel, as well as The Broski Report channel, which is her podcast, and the Royal Court channel, where she interviews pop culture icons on a medieval set.

I watch her podcasts mostly, but I also keep up with her Royal Court episodes because they are just plain funny.

Her Royal Court episode with Cole Sprouse will forever have a special place in my heart. It’s become such a comfort episode that if I’m just scrolling on YouTube I’ll replay it and it always makes me cackle.

Her Broski Report podcasts have also become something of a comfort show for me because she makes me feel seen. She expresses such childlike curiosity and allows herself to enjoy childish things. She openly talks about her struggles with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) and gives updates on things that have helped her make lifestyle changes.

She’s also a book girlie, so obviously I love it when she discusses her current reads, but she just has such human emotions, and she really doesn’t hide them even when filming.

She has one Broski Report episode called, “I Would’ve Slayed as a Victorian Woman.”

In this episode, she discusses the book A Court of Silver Flames written by Sarah J Maas. She goes beyond the romance and really digs deep into the meaning of friendship found in the novel, even shedding a tear on how important friendship is and how beautifully it’s portrayed in the book.

I love Broski’s versatility too. Some episodes will start with her in a dragon hat with bedhead hair as she sings an opera version of “Mask Off” by Future, whereas others will start with more serious notes and discussions.

She became famous for trying kombucha in a big t-shirt and crazy hair but has just recently released a beautiful cover of “Adore You” by Harry Styles on her new YouTube account, Brittany Broski Music. In the video, she is dressed in the most gorgeous blue corset dress, her hair and face are done to the Gods, and she’s in a very antique, old-timey set.

I love that she can have these unserious moments, where she talks like a minion from Despicable Me, but she can also sing beautifully in a gorgeous dress.

And I think it says a lot about the image she has curated for herself online, that people are never surprised by her content or her appearance. She has openly talked about how her face is made from a mix of people she loves and she won’t change that just to meet the fleeting beauty trends of today, with Botox and whatever else. She has named her fans Broski Nation, and Broski Nation really does not care about her appearance. We are here for her hilarious anecdotes, her serious takes on politics, her story times, and now, her music career.

Say it with a Bang: Logos, pathos, ethos

Sophistically Kairos (they/them) LETTER TO THE EDITOR

Witnessing the staff at Interrobang navigate this time of loss has been both challenging and deeply moving. I have been watching from the sidelines as the final issue of the Interrobang comes together with heartfelt sentiments, funny memories, and accolades for people who deserve more than just another long day at the office, writing their own eulogies. The morbidity of this whole exercise is heartbreaking.

When someone passes away after a long and fruitful life, we often try to comfort our friends and loved ones with phrases like “they enjoyed a long life” or “they were ready to go.” Although these words may not alleviate their suffering, they help us feel a bit less inadequate for not knowing how to offer comfort. However, the death of the Interrobang was sudden, tragic and (potentially) avoidable. There was no diagnosis to grant it a renewed lease on life, no new diet or course of medicine that could have saved it. A small but mighty uprising sparked hope for a while but has yet to summon the storm needed to breathe new life into it.

Having spent years in the trenches with writers, rebels, and creatives, I have come to appreciate them as heroes, each one a beacon of resilience and inspiration. I mourn for them and with them, acutely aware that nothing anyone could do would ever truly

There will be no replacing Interrobang.

make things “better” or fill the void that the Interrobang leaves behind.

Empty phrases like “thinking of you” or “gone too soon” written in a card or on a Facebook page is a thin veneer of sentiment, masking the absence of genuine emotion. They are hollow words against the profound grief and loss felt by those truly mourning the Interrobang and all that it stood for. It

is a stark reminder of how easily we can hide behind platitudes, avoiding the raw, uncomfortable reality of genuine empathy and connection.

The Interrobang is more than just a chronicle of over 50 years of student journalism. It united people within the college and the community through funny stories, creative challenges, and the unique clash

between company culture and journalistic integrity, with the latter always victorious. However, this is the unfortunate moment where the victor is defeated and dying a painful, yet dignified, death as we all witness the silencing of a once robust and dynamic voice.

The rhetorical trinity of logos, pathos, and ethos, be damned.

You don’t have to monetize your bookshelf

Ainsley Krienselokker (she/her) INTERROBANG

There’s a certain type of person out there. You know who you are. The kind who sips their oat milk latte and says with just a hint of judgment, “Oh, I only read books that help me improve myself.”

Well, congratulations. I wish you well in your lifelong pursuit of optimism. I’ll stick with my morally grey shadow-wielder trying to save the world from a power-hungry monster by becoming one.

Somewhere along the way, books have become yet another thing we’re supposed to “leverage.” If a book isn’t teaching you how to wake up at 4 a.m., meditate for world domination, or launch a start-up by next Tuesday, then what’s the point?

Here’s the point: because I want to.

Curiosity is enough. You don’t need to turn every book into a career move. Reading about dragons, fairies, or vampires is inherently valuable – even if you never apply it in a networking event.

Besides the undoubtedly outstanding argument that I’ve just stated, I will further support my case with evidence on how books on such topics indeed make you smarter.

The science of getting so lost in a book you forget to eat

Ever been so deep in a book that you physically flinched at a dramatic moment? Or looked up three hours later, dazed, wondering what year it was? That’s not just you being a bookworm, that’s your brain in narrative transportation mode.

Basically, when you read, your brain doesn’t just process words like a robot. It creates mental simulations of what’s happening, activating the same regions that light up when you experience something in real life. Your visual cortex treats descriptions like actual images. Your emotions sync with the story. Your brain says, “Oh, we live here now.”

And this isn’t just a fun party trick. Studies show that when you get fully immersed in a book, you:

• Build empathy. Your brain literally experiences what others go through, making you better at understanding people in real life. So no, I don’t need a book on emotional intelligence – I’ve read memoirs from under the mountain.

• Reduce stress. Reading lowers cortisol levels, calms the nervous system, and lets you escape the relentless doomscrolling cycle. It’s cheaper than therapy and requires zero meditation. Although I wouldn’t recommend picking up any romantasy books for this (especially when you get to the last 100 pages).

• Boost creativity. The best ideas come from random connections. Maybe my book about rock chicks being saved by broody macho men will inspire my next big idea –who’s to say?

Read for fun. That’s it. That’s the point. Books are a mental vacation, and I will not apologize for taking one every day.

Life is exhausting. There are too many emails. Too many notifications. Too many people telling you that if you just grind harder, drink lemon water, and sacrifice

CREDIT: DEAGREEZ

Curiosity is enough. You don’t need to turn every book into a career move.

your free time at the altar of productivity, you too can achieve success.

If you genuinely enjoy self-help books, then I don’t believe you (I’m kidding). If you genuinely enjoy self-help books, then I’m happy for you. Just don’t be narcissistic about it; you’re not better than someone

who reads about dragons. Enjoy what you read and read what you enjoy. So, the next time someone asks, “But how does that book help you?” You can hit them with: “It’s helping me mind my own business.” And then turn the page.

One last ride for ink-stained wretch

John Said INTERROBANG

The end of the Interrobang is to me much like experiencing a death in the family. I know this as I begin to write this final column on the anniversary of my dad’s passing 17 years ago on March 26, and my mom’s sudden passing just over two years ago on March 2. Two sorrows to which I still feel to this day. The personal outreach I did to many past staff is very much like having a loved one pass. There’s the reflection, the sharing of stories, the sadness of what will no longer be, and in this instance what the Interrobang meant to them and how for so many, it helped lay the foundation for their careers.

My Interrobang story goes back 35 years or so, first as a student writer, then as a freelancer, then as a contract employee to being hired full-time as Publications Manager and editor. The Interrobang was and still is for so many of our student staff the gateway to being active members of the Fanshawe Student Union (FSU).

For me, if Interrobang had not existed, my time at Fanshawe and with the FSU would have been two years of attending classes and not much else. As a student in the Broadcast Journalism program, my time to be active in the FSU was non-existent. I didn’t have time to run for election and commit to the hours needed, there was no appeal to being a class rep and the time needed for that. I was in a program that demanded I attend classes, work the news desk and on-air shifts that included, mornings, afternoons and evenings. On top of that, I needed to generate two original news stories a day. So, when I discovered that FSU published a newspaper called Interrobang, I had my aha moment, and I never looked back.

I recall working up the nerve to march on down to the Interrobang office to inquire about how I could be involved. What I found was a perfect match. I found my people. My time commitment was to meet a deadline; it didn’t matter if I worked on my stories during the day or after midnight, the goal was always the same: have your story in by the deadline. It fit my schedule perfectly, as it has for all those students past and present that have contributed to the success of Interrobang. Especially for those students with intense course workloads who were constrained by time.

Interrobang was for me what it was for so many of our staff: family.

The Interrobang office was always a hub of activity of writers, photographers, cartoonists and graphic designers. Student leaders often dropped in to connect. It was an area of debate, an exchange of ideas, love and laughter. I went from being a boy to a man. My student experience was so much the richer in large part to the Interrobang and the opportunities it created to make a difference and an impact that can’t be measured in numbers alone.

It provided a lifeline to not only the staff who worked on the publication, but to our readers who could connect with other students in programs they’d never heard of, celebrating student successes no other news outlets would report since it would only matter to the Fanshawe community.

It’s a message that has been repeated many times over since the announcement Interrobang will be ceasing publication with this last issue. What a loss for the students of Fanshawe this will be. And while the impact may not be felt tomorrow, it will be felt sooner than later. Who will tell the stories of varsity athletes, of students doing good in the community, stories of Fanshawe students winning marketing competitions? Stories on our student filmmakers, fashion designers, photographers and so much more?

How does one encapsulate 35 years of their work life into words and constrained by space? I have an endless amount of personal reflection when it comes to Interrobang. To the columns I wrote as a student championing the FSU’s ambition to open a full-time bar and restaurant that came to be known as the Out Back Shack. To the 10s of thousands of stories we covered, including one where a student was violently sexually assaulted in a boardwalk west of Highbury Ave., who opened up to Interrobang to tell their story to our readers.

Recently, the fence outside of T Building has been in the news after a driver crashed into it, but what you may not know is that fence was erected in the first place to force students to cross Oxford St. at the intersection, because multiple students had been hit attempting to cross in an unsafe manner. Each time Interrobang was there to report the news to Fanshawe students.

One of the first students to open my door as editor and pitch me their column idea was Nauman Farooq, nearly 28 years ago.

The column was a motoring one, reviewing automobiles and talking cars. As he reflected to me recently, that opportunity to contribute to the student newspaper turned into a career for him as an automotive journalist that has been flown around the world to test cars on closed tracks. He’s tested some of the most exotic cars in the world, been loaned vehicles for weeks at a time all the while tracing his start back to Interrobang. I look back and see so many student faces that turned their time at Interrobang into careers as journalists, communications experts and executive roles, and I can’t help but feel so proud of each one of them. I look back at the editors and reporters that helped shape so many of our students…every one of them I have a personal story that I wish I could share about them. But know this if you are reading this: I truly appreciated our time together, and even as time has slipped on by, social media has allowed me to keep up and cheer on your successes.

From a personal standpoint, I would like to thank my editor, Kim Jarmyn Carter. I’m not sure what it was exactly that you saw in me when I first approached you about contributing to Interrobang. Your mentorship and friendship helped shape me as I was finding my people on campus. It helped ignite a fire and passion in me about the importance of student journalism and has fuelled me since. I am very much looking forward to grabbing a can of Coke with you this summer. That you opened the door for me to succeed you as Publications Manager and editor is something I have never forgotten. It turned a student job into a 30-year career at the FSU as of July 2025. I am forever indebted to you, and in a way, all those that I have had the honour of hiring, mentoring and supporting during my tenure should know that you are the root for all that has come since. I took over a role that was an office of one, full-time person and a bunch of part-time students, and grew it to include several full-time roles while always maintaining and growing student positions and insisting that the most important voices were those of our students. That above all, students would drive our content, and their stories would always be our reason why

I want to acknowledge all those individuals over the years who were trusted sources of information. They made columns like the Buzz Box, an entertainment style, edgy column that put the college on notice. Those sources came from every corner of the campus including the highest offices, feeding us the breadcrumbs to publicly alert students to things they should be paying attention to, and calling out potential changes that would not be of benefit to them. I miss the days of the plain, brown, unmarked envelope being slid under the office door with photocopied documents, highlighted and pointing us in directions to expose the backroom decisions being made without transparency.

Finally, I’d like to thank our readers. Without you, there would have been no reason for our existence. There is something to be said for walking around campus helping with distribution and having you readers eagerly picking it up to read it.

As many of you have indicated over the years, this was your connection to the campus. It helped keep you informed, and this will be the greatest loss to our campus community: independent, student-driven storytelling that informed readers with facts, rather than some messaging that is seeking an intended outcome. I know during the lead-up to winding down the Interrobang, it has been cited that the Meta block on Canadian journalism has led to decreased online views, which is true (from about 10,000 views to about 5,000 views an issue). I do believe that is a bit of a red herring argument though, as numbers don’t always tell the full story, or can be used to drive a narrative.

I’ll take the view that despite the Meta block and all it has done to damage journalism in Canada, 5,000+ readers were still seeking out Interrobang content without being driven to it by social media links. Thank you to those who continued to seek out the content despite the obstacles in finding our content.

Remember this: Interrobang is defined as a “?” and “!” fused together to share the same point and means to question vehemently. I urge you all to continue to question vehemently anything and everything, today, tomorrow and forever.

Disclaimer: Stories printed in the Fanshawe Distorter are in fact fictitious. Any resemblance to persons real or dead is intentional and entirely hilarious. Proudly distorting the truth since 2005.

Alt-right thrilled over closure of campus paper

Dawn F. Moon (she/they) FANSHAWE DISTORTER

Alt-right groups are rejoicing following the announcement that the Fanshawe Student Union (FSU) plans to shut down operations of its campus newspaper, Interrobang.

“I just think right now, with fascism on the rise, it’s the perfect moment to tell students, ‘Hey, let’s get rid of the freedom of the press,’” said a member of the political group Students Against Democracy. “Really kind of does our job for us, you know? Thanks, FSU!”

One of Students Against Democracy’s main goals is to push more students towards accessing information from places like Twitter–sorry, X–as they feel it better represents their version of truth.

“Traditional community news outlets that have to abide by things like ‘ethics’ and ‘integrity’ are just not really what we need right now,” said X user, @HeilElon69. “We want to make sure students are getting their information from the right places.”

Students Against Democracy has specifically praised how the FSU made its decision to cut the newspaper. As

previously reported by CBC, CTV, and the Western Gazette, the decision to cancel Interrobang was made by the FSU’s Board of Directors during a series of closed meetings, without consultation of the broader student population.

“Unilateral decision-making that doesn’t call on the input of regular people is a very important part of our ideology,” said one member of the group. “It’s really great to see the FSU is on our side with this. We trust our supreme leaders, and we think all students should too.”

The group said it hopes this decision will lead to more voter apathy from students following what it called a “concerning” uptick in ballots cast in this year’s FSU Elections.

“We weren’t happy about the increase in students voting this year,” a spokesperson for the group said. “Our hope is that by keeping students in the dark about campus issues, they won’t be as likely to vote again next year. The last thing we need is a well-informed voting body.”

One of journalism’s main pillars is speaking truth to power. But supporters of Students Against Democracy allege this is an “outdated” idea.

Graduating students demand money back

Billy Will (she/her)

FANSHAWE DISTORTER

Graduates across the country are seeking legal action against post-secondary institutions after realizing they have to put on their big-kid pants and enter the real world.

Amanda Ethans, a recent graduate of Fanshawe College has had to move back in with her parents. Ethans told Fanshawe Distorter reporters that she’d rather do anything but return to her overbearing parents, who think her degree in general arts is useless and that she has no future.

“The thought of returning home makes me want to bash my head off a wall, I'd sooner be eaten by a hippopotamus,” shared Ethans.

Her problem isn’t only the thought of returning home, but the thought of having to get a job that requires regular attendance.

“What do you mean I need to get a nine to five? I usually sleep from nine to five then go to happy hour,” she said.

She said she’s quickly realized the only way she could fix her problems was with money, because money solves everything. However, Ethans had spent all her money on ridiculous rent prices for crappy college houses for four years and overpriced fruity bar drinks.

“Beer is fattening, I like piña coladas,” said Ethans. I'm not sure who’s

going to tell her that those also have calories and that would be the reason she succumbed to the freshman 15, or that the ugly frat guy she called her boyfriend made her feel like crap about herself for a year.

Ethans has now decided to pursue legal action against her former institution, a decision that her parents have blamed “on that damn phone.”

We reached out to the school for comment, and they actually responded—which is weird because normally institutions in hot water just hide from the media and pretend they never did whatever truly awful thing they were caught for doing—but I digress.

“We acknowledge that tuition is at an absolutely outrageous price and you probably feel no more prepared for the real world than you were before the 30-grand you spent,” said a spokesperson for the college.

“We offer really pretty buildings that cost all your money to build and will be under construction for 20 years, causing major campus dysfunction. So you'd think that by sitting in them for 12 hours a day, cramming for finals you would somehow be more prepared for life,” the college said.

The college would not confirm nor deny if they even could afford to pay back students any money (which probably means they can’t) but they did offer several boxes of Kraft Dinner.

Alt-right groups like Students

“I just don’t see why we need to question people in power–they’re in power for a reason!” said X user @ elon_is_my_king.

Interrobang has previously been recognized for its disability reporting and has also worked with the Black Students Association at

Western University to create collaborative Black History Month issues. Its reporting has even led to changes on campus regarding student safety and academic integrity.

“Yeah, well…that’s DEI, so…” said Students Against Democracy confusingly in response.

Ultimately, the move to cancel Interrobang is a win for the alt-right, according to Students Against Democracy.

“We just really want to send our appreciation to the Board for this,” the group said. “Thank you for making it harder for students to access the truth. It really couldn’t have come at a better time for us.”

London Police asks city for $70B for new F-35s

Jeffrey Grackle (he/him)

FANSHAWE DISTORTER

A London committee has approved a request for more police funding.

London Police Service (LPS) announced they are looking into buying a fleet of F-35 fighter jets, which would only cost Londoners about $70 billion.

LPS hopes to acquire the jets currently on order for the Canadian Forces. With the feds likely to cancel the contract in favour of Swedish Gripens, LPS offered to buy the US planes at a discount.

“These jets are essential to making London safe,” said the LPS Chief. “We hear your concerns: open drug use, break-ins, assaults, neighbours doing renovations that don’t fit in with the street's aesthetic…we simply don’t have the resources to deal with these right now.”

The Chief of Police admitted that the previous $672 million increase had all been spent on paid officer suspensions and take-out and added the purchase of a new light armoured vehicle (LAV) was not as effective as they had hoped.

“Some of the boys took the LAV out to Bad Bunny last Saturday. I won’t go into the details now, but she’s out of commission until she gets a good clean.”

According to an LPS media release, the LAV will likely be sold as-is on Marketplace, as unchallenged air supremacy over the skies of London makes the glorified Hummer pretty much useless, anyway.

“Look, conventional land units are not working—potholes, bad traffic, and drive-thru lines are longer than ever—so the consensus is that we would be more effective from the air.”

The Chief said that it would be a shift in strategy, but they’ve rehired public

relations firm Navigator to help with their messaging.

“Air strikes are proven to be effective,” he read from the PR firm’s suggested script. “Believe me, car thieves and people who run stop signs will get the message when we fly over like, ‘This is LONDON’— then boom…dusted.”

He added that surface-to-air missiles also make it less likely that a criminal will reoffend, making London safer for everyone outside the blast radius.

Long wait-times for 911 calls would also be a thing of the past.

“Our officers are busy. They have Bachelor Nights, Paint Nights, Stitch-andBitch, Bad Boys marathons—it’s a packed schedule. But with the F-35s, we could fly over and be back before the end of a commercial break.”

While London’s council is expected to approve the funding request, some

members did voice concerns about the cost.

“It’s not a great time,” one councillor told LPS. “We just dumped another $20 million into the Bus Rapid Transit project. Our idiot intern bought the wrong shade of paint for the road—we told them fire engine red but it’s clearly more of a cherry red, and the lady at Home Depot said no refunds. You can imagine our predicament.”

Committee members reconsidered, however, after staff assured them that the increase wouldn’t affect their salaries.

“We’ve crunched the numbers,” explained the city’s top accountant. “Londoners are already expecting a 7.3 per cent tax increase—if we switch a couple numbers and move the decimal a few spots to the right, they won’t notice.”

Council will hold the final vote on the funding increase later this month.

Voting begins for Forest City London Music Awards

Jack Sutton (he/him) INTERROBANG

The 23rd annual Forest City London Music Awards (FCLMA) are coming up this summer and you can once again vote for your favourite musicians to win. Local cover band Swagger has clinched their ninth straight nomination—this time for Fan Favourite. The lead singer of the band is the Fanshawe Student Union’s very own Darla Stratton, who works in the Publications Office as a graphic designer.

“Being nominated is a huge honour,” she said. “Obviously it’s great to win, but just being included is a win in itself.”

Swagger has been nominated every year since 2017 in either the Fan Favourite or Cover Band categories, winning the latter award in the first year. Stratton said that the band plays a range of music genres from the 70s to now, but they have one simple rule: “If you can’t dance to it, we don’t play it.”

“If a song doesn’t get the reaction we want after a show or two, it’s gone,” Stratton added. “We don’t just play what we like—we play what works.”

Swagger only plays about one show a month, rotating venues around the London area. Stratton says this approach has helped to develop a fanbase and draw in big crowds—something that makes them a strong contender for the Fan Favourite award.

“To me, Fan Favourite is just like it says,” she explained. “It’s about having a good following, a good social media presence, and getting people to come to your shows.”

The awards are taking place the week of June 1 to 8, and the event’s founder and chair, Mario Circelli is excited to bring the community together again.

“It stitches together all genres and styles and for one night, one week we are a united community pulling together,” he said.

Looking at the nominations list, “all genres and styles” is not an exaggeration, either. There are awards for almost every genre you could think of, from jazz, blues, and classical, to pop, world, electronic and more, with new awards being added periodically. Last year, for the first time, they included categories for Latin and R&B/Soul—both of which are back this year.

“Both are special additions to the awards program as we strive to be as inclusive and diverse as

possible,” Circelli said. “London has a wonderful Hispanic community and we acknowledge that. We also have a great community of artists that work in the R&B/ Soul genre and we’ve captured that as well.”

The FCLMAs are not just for established musicians, either. Circelli said they also do work in the community to help young

musicians find their footing–encouraging them to “start playing, keep playing, and aspire.”

“The Battle of the High School Bands is one way we encourage and support young musicians,” he explained. “The FCLMA Ken Palmer Music Bursary is another way we encourage young high school students to pursue music at a post secondary institution.”

As always, it is the London community who decides the winners of the FCLMAs, and if you want to take part, you can vote on their website until April 24.

In the meantime, if you’re in the mood to dance, Stratton said that Swagger’s next show is happening at 9 p.m. on April 5 at the Wortley Roadhouse.

The Network: How a Fanshawe alum built a music network from the ground up

Konstantinos Drossos (he/him) INTERROBANG

When it comes to exploring the topic of the music business, the spotlight is always focused on the artist and the art they produce. Not much thought is ever given to what goes on behind the scenes.

Managers play a crucial role for every artist, acting as their first mate who overlooks the operations. From booking tours or shows at venues to hooking up their artists with the proper personnel, managers are the connectors that bring the music to life.

Local music manager James O’Rourke, who also goes by the moniker “The Jammin’ Man,” was originally a native of Seaforth. He first came to London to attend Fanshawe’s Hotel and Restaurant Management course. While attending classes, he picked up a gig managing a bar before moving on to working as a concierge at the Delta Armouries in downtown London for 10 years.

It wasn’t until 2009, when he attended a local show for two artists, that he felt his first true make-it-or-break-it moment.

“I started my journey with London music in 2009 when I saw these two guys, Casper Marcus and Kyle ‘Kehmak’ McIntyre, at the Embassy and I was like, ‘Whoa,’ O’Rourke recalled. “Six months passed and I got on Facebook and saw Kehmak and said, ‘Wait I know this guy.’ So we texted and they were the first crew I was with, and from then I branched out.”

After becoming involved with the local music scene, O’Rourke started to expand his reach online through social media and gather contacts.

“At that time, I thought it was more of a hobby, so I started networking through Facebook and social media, and I got to know some of the American independent artists in the first crew I worked with, at Dead Zone Entertainment,” said O’Rourke. Through his American contacts, O’Rourke worked with many notable names in the business, like Grammy-award-winning music producer Hugo Diaz. Diaz then took O’Rourke under his wing and mentored him before allowing him to show off his skills in the trade.

O’Rourke worked with Diaz’s team in Miami doing public relations (PR) under the name Huge Music.

“From there, things started and I worked with numerous artists in the city. You could call it putting them on the map, but I would call it more artist development,” said O’Rourke.

With all this experience, O’Rourke then shifted his focus to creating his own artist PR initiative for Canadian artists so they could have representation of their own. He called it The Network, which now involves many local artists from the underground scene in London.

“Everything changed in November 2019 when I was at the Wave/Spoke at Western, and I saw this young artist named Asante perform at the Black Students’ Association Fashion Show called Through the Decades,” said O’Rourke.

O’Rourke began working alongside Asante and other talent booking shows at venues around town.

“I focused a lot on Asante and then we brought in a couple of other artists as well,” said O’Rourke.

O’Rourke credits him as being the first Canadian talent he got to manage at the start of the initiative.

“He still is like family, but it was time for him to spread his wings and fly in his direction. To work

CREDIT: JAMES O’ROURKE

Pursuing what was first a hobby, James “The Jammin’ Man” O’Rourke has set off and built his own brand, representing indie Canadian talent from the ground up.

with him was an absolute blessing,” O’Rourke said.

O’Rourke grew the group, which now represents numerous artists, some of them even being Fanshawe students like The Finesser, Trizzy, and Aidan Hough. He also became close with rising Canadian-born Jamaican hip-hop artist and the grandson of Bob Marley, King Cruff.

The collective of artists is more than just his clients that he represents, as he considers them his extended family.

“If it wasn’t for the music… and if it wasn’t for my artists that I work with, I would have given up. They are my strength, they keep me going and they help me overcome obstacles,” said O’Rourke.

CROSSWORD

ACROSS

Across

1. Sitcom set in Korea

1. Sitcom set in Korea

“Let’s Go Bowling” by Allen Vaughan

5. Calls, in a way

5. Calls, in a way

10. Battle memento

10. Battle memento

14. 1967 event in Montreal

14. 1967 event in Montreal

15. Stage whisper

15. Stage whisper

16. Enamelware

16. Enamelware

17. Side with ribs

17. Side with ribs

18. Housing style

18. Housing style

20. Roll call response

20. Roll call response

21. Bench

21. Bench

22. Work by Delibes

22. Work by Delibes

23. Mineral water brand

23. Mineral water brand

25. Casual

25. Casual

26. Copyright

26. Copyright

28. Bird of verse

28. Bird of verse

30. Blazing

30. Blazing

31. Sound quality

31. Sound quality

32. ___ of Eden

32. ___ of Eden

36. Jalopy

36. Jalopy

37. Resident of Camaguey

37. Resident of Camaguey

38. CSA general

38. CSA general

39. Very, in Versailles

39. Very, in Versailles

41. Last words?

41. Last words?

42. Stirs up

42. Stirs up

44. King of Narnia

44. King of Narnia

46. Building material

46. Building material

47. Tragedy set in Denmark

47. Tragedy set in Denmark

50. “Dad” alternative

50. "Dad" alternative

51. Winged

51. Winged

52. Go by glider

52. Go by glider

54. NT book

54. NT book

57. Pitchers’ stats

57. Pitchers' stats

59. Asian garment

59. Asian garment

60. Nuremburg negative

60. Nuremburg negative

61. Knickknack

61. Knickknack

62. Ollie’s partner

62. Ollie's partner

63. Genealogy diagram

63. Genealogy diagram

64. Actor/filmmaker Welles

64. Actor/filmmaker Welles

Nevertheless

1. Interlock 2. Spindle

3. Flat replacement 4. Nevertheless

Correct text

5. Mid-size VW

Inflexible

6. Colorado resort town

7. Desert “monster”

8. Correct text

Opener to instructions 11. Use a tarp 12. Watchful 13. Team race 19. Easy gait 24. Chemical suffix 25. "Frozen" reindeer 26. Treaty 27. At a distance

28. Entertainer Thicke

65. “The Worldwide Leader in Sports”

65. "The Worldwide Leader in Sports"

Down

1. Interlock

2. Spindle 3. Flat replacement

9. Inflexible 10. Opener to instructions 11. Use a tarp 12. Watchful 13. Team race 19. Easy gait 24. Chemical suffix 25. “Frozen” reindeer 26. Treaty

31. Member of

Salesperson

Stalemate

Undertake

One-time king of late-night

Goes without

Salesperson

Stalemate

Undertake

Modify 49. Madame Curie 50. Terrace

52. Like some pickles

One-time king of late-night TV

Goes without

53. Anagram of 52D 55. Ensnare

Modify

Madame Curie

56. ___ Fein, Irish political party

58. System starter?

50. Terrace 52. Like some pickles 53. Anagram of 52D

27. At a distance

29. Pre-med course, shortly 31. Member of the brass section

28. Entertainer Thicke

33. Urban strays

29. Pre-med course, shortly

Observed

Trial

CRYPTOGRAM

Ensnare 56. ___ Fein, Irish political party

System starter?

Decipher which letter each number represents. Hint: The most common letters used in the English language are “a”, “e”, “i”, “n” “o” and “t”. Solve any single letter words first (the only single letter words in English are “I” and “a”). Look for common, short words next (e.g. “the”, “of”, “and”, “to”, “in”, “is”, “that”, “be”, “it”, “by”, “are”, “for”, “was”, “as”, “he”, “with”, “on”, etc.). Then look for contractions and possessives; there are only a small number of letters that appear after an apostrophe.

http://www.dailysudoku.com/

“Journalism

Horoscopes

Aries

You’ll have plenty of job options this summer. A personal change to the way you treat a friend or relative will create an unexpected response. Diplomacy will be necessary to avoid an argument. Make a point to take better care of your health. Curb any bad habits you’ve picked and get some exercise. Emotions will be difficult to control. Separate your feelings from your responsibilities and do your best to get things done.

Taurus

Stay active over the coming weeks to help bust stress. Idle time will leave you feeling anxious. Stop worrying about what others do or the things you cannot change and spend time making adjustments that are possible. Gather information and implement changes that will keep your skills and knowledge up to date. Personal or spiritual growth will encourage positive interpretation of the options available to you.

Gemini

Listen to your intuition when dealing with an offer that’s questionable. Deception is apparent and can lead to misfortune. An open conversation with one of your peers, mentors or relatives will help you gain insight into an opportunity requiring you to use your skills or experience in a different format. Someone you’ve worked with in the past will make you an offer, but before you make a move, you are best to find out exactly what’s expected of you. An important detail is likely to be left out or misleading.

Cancer

Your emotions will be erratic the coming weeks sending you off on in tangents. Calm down and think before you engage in a conversation with someone who is just as sensitive as you. Resurrect hobbies, friendships or activities you used to enjoy. Ask someone you love to join you. Check into new methods or technology that can help you expand your interests and improve the way you do things or move forward. Reveal your intentions to someone you love and want to spend more time with. Plans can be made that will bring you closer together.

Leo

Make your point heard and you will be able to bring about changes that will help you improve your life. An emotional matter can be resolved with honesty and positive suggestions. Don’t overdo it or make a big fuss over nothing. Negativity will result in opposition from someone who has a bad habit or thinks you do. Conversations will open up a window of opportunity to learn and expand what you know and have to offer. Do your best to get along with friends and relatives.

Virgo

You’ll be prompted to make a personal change that will encourage you to pay closer attention to the way you look as well as give you incentive to get into shape. A gathering of people you haven’t seen for a long time will spark memories that will motivate you to stay in touch and to revive old dreams. Socializing doesn’t have to be costly if you keep your plans simple. You’ll face an emotional tug of war with someone you live with. Listen to complaints and wager your options. Someone may not be completely honest with you.

By Christopher Miszczak

Libra

Look inward and consider what you can do differently in order to improve your relationship with others. Keeping the peace will help you avoid an argument, but it won’t solve the problem. Stay in touch with reality when dealing with personal finances. Knowing how much you have and what you can afford to do will help you avoid a costly mistake. An emotional incident will surface this week. Walk away from anyone trying to control or manipulate you.

Scorpio

Feel your way through whatever situation you face. Listen to confirm what’s being said to make sure you don’t misinterpret the information or intention someone is offering. It’s OK to think big but not OK to be extravagant or to exaggerate. Offer accurate information to avoid leading someone astray. You may not agree with a friend or relative but you are best to listen and to consider his or her logic. What’s good for you may not be good for someone else.

Sagittarius

Host a group meeting or invite friends over who are willing to help you move things around to accommodate something you want to pursue. Someone will take advantage of your friendliness if you are too accommodating and willing to lend possessions or money to help out. Offer suggestions instead of something tangible. Pour your energy into something that will benefit you. Building stronger ties with the people you live with or improving your surroundings will result in greater happiness. Take better care of your health. Moderation, rest and avoiding negative people will help.

Capricorn

You’ll find it difficult to make up your mind or to avoid being caught in someone’s melodrama. Put greater emphasis on physical changes that include pampering and positive thought. An interesting opportunity will come to your attention. Your reputation or status will get a boost if you take advantage of what’s available. Offering to help others will encourage positive change. Contributing to a cause or someone’s happiness will result in unexpected rewards. Say no if someone infringes on your emotional or mental wellness.

Aquarius

Reunite this summer with people you don’t see often. It will give you a better sense of what you can do to help and how you can protect yourself from experiencing similar problems. Overindulgence on your part or on the part of someone you are with will be a reminder of why you should try to be more moderate. The harder you work the better the returns. Don’t take on responsibilities that don’t belong to you. Finish first and be proud of your accomplishments.

Pisces

Listen carefully when dealing with people asking for your help or your money. Don’t feel you have to give in to someone using emotional manipulation to make you feel guilty. Doors will open up if you explore creative possibilities. Don’t let anyone discourage you from going after your dream. Someone will mislead you in order to redirect your attention to something that isn’t fair or won’t benefit you. Question the motives behind the request and make adjustments to even up the outcome. Stand up for your rights and make your position clear. Don’t expect to please everyone.

Fanshawe Falcons end-of-season recap

As this school year closes out, it’s time to reflect on all the successes the dedicated Falcons had this season. This season Fanshawe brought home some big titles, hardware, and lots of good memories.

The school year opened strong, with Fanshawe winning big at the CCAA Golf National Championship.

The men’s team won a silver medal, just missing the gold by two strokes. Individually, golf star Luke Evans clinched the national gold medal, finishing four-over for the tournament. His teammate, Ben Landers, earned the bronze medal with a plus-12 overall score.

Evans joined the Interrobang on the Red Couch Podcast to talk about all things golf and all the exciting success, telling the Interrobang it’s been a long time coming, and came with a lot of hard work.

Fanshawe’s women’s curling team brought home the OCAA gold championship title. Parker Doig was named Most Valuable Player and a First Team Champion All-Star.

CREDIT: DIEGO GUILLEN

It’s time to highlight some of the biggest athletic successes of the year, including some major wins by the Fanshawe men’s golf team.

Head coach Barry Westman earned OCAA Women’s Curling Coach of the Year honours.

The team then headed out to Alberta to compete in the national championships, where they played proudly and finished in 5th place.

The Fanshawe men’s volleyball team then brought home an OCAA bronze, marking their third year with a podium finish. The birds were beaten out by Humber College, before Humber went on to win the gold medal.

Head coach Patrick Johnston shared that next year will be a big year for the birds, with new opportunities to bring home banners.

“We have a really strong core back and lots of good recruits coming in. Humber who beat us,

are graduating their whole starting line. Everyone’s gone. So, this was like the peak of their cycle. So that’s great news for us,” Johnston said.

Fanshawe is home to numerous athletic teams that are stacked with athletes who are passionate about what they do.

There is no doubt that even if some of these teams go unmentioned or didn’t bring home national or provincial titles this year, their individual athletic success and their hard work and training do not go unnoticed.

That’s a look at another successful season with standout performances from our athletes. The birds will return next year for another season of sports at Fanshawe College.

Memorable season for Fanshawe Fuel Esports

Fanshawe Fuel Esports has had a jam-packed season, with many of its teams coming out victorious. The team saw success in various games like Call of Duty, Valorant, and Overwatch 2

One of the most notable highlights this past year was the major rebranding Fuel underwent before the start of the season.

“We shifted away from the namesake of the Fanshawe Ultimate Esports League” said Adam Boyce, a team manager for Fuel.

Fuel originally started before the COVID-19 pandemic when it was named the Fanshawe Ultimate Esports League or “FUEL.”

When the world came to a halt and everything shifted online, the program followed, which allowed it to evolve. As time passed, the team at “FUEL” felt like it was time for a change, and so that was when Fanshawe Student Union’s (FSU) graphics team went to the drawing board to create its new look.

“The graphics team in the FSU office spent a lot of time last summer going over a couple different things to basically modernize it, make it easier to work with, working with merch and graphics and different things,” said Boyce. “It was just inspired by a necessary change to make things easier for us and players have loved it so far.”

Fuel also kicked off its first ever league featuring marginalized players in the program, the Game Changers league. Although similar leagues have been around, it’s the college’s first of its kind as it was introduced last fall.

“The leagues have always existed for us to go into, there’s just never been a college-specific one until last year, when they finally opened a college-specific Game Changers league.” said Boyce.

Boyce added that showcasing the new league at Fanshawe Open House tours has introduced a welcoming feeling for future Falcons to join when they come to Fanshawe.

Focusing on how well the teams competed, Fuel’s Call of Duty team had some remarkable highlights this past season, which resulted in a championship win.

“We’ve had a couple of guys who’ve been playing for us for a pretty long time—like two or three years—and they’ve been one of our better teams, consistently competing at the higher levels compared to some of our other rosters. They’ve been fighting for a championship win for a couple of years, which they finally got. So I know they were super excited about that and it was awesome to watch that happen,” said Boyce.

With another eventful chapter completed in their Esports legacy, the 2024-25 season was a success on two fronts for the program. As they move into the off-season, many key members who have been part of the Fuel community are graduating and moving on, making it a bittersweet moment.

“Almost everyone is graduating so we’re losing a lot of key players and people that have been around in the program for a long time,” said Boyce. “I think that the people we’ve had over the last couple years have put the program in an amazing position for success and I think everyone should be proud of themselves. And I hope that next year the people that come in can and pick up what we left behind.”