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The Plant

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CONTACT: theplantnewspaper@gmail.com

Editorial Staff Editor-in-Chief Alyssia Rubertucci Managing Editor Jordan Stoopler Marketing Executive Maryam El Kahlaoui News Editor Patrick Bazarbachian International News Edito Hillel Steinmetz Lifestyle Editor Helena Tsitouras Arts & Culture Payton Bernett Voices Editor Candice Pye Sports Editor Frank Pavan & Samuel Grenade Comics Sara Capanna Cover Art Aya Suspiria

Contributors Gabrielle Vendette Patrick Bazarbachian Jordan Stoopler

Dearest Dawsonites, Welcome to The Plant’s second issue of Volume 44. Though our bodies are Vitamin D deficient because of the bone-chilling weather and the absence of warm ultraviolet rays, I still feel a sense of warmth knowing that you readers and writers have taken time to help your college newspaper flourish. It delights me to know that you all are able to consult in good ol’ print media, something tangible and permanent. We live in a world where the majority of people resort to their smartphones and tablets for the latest news. These technologically savvy people likely think, “Newspapers are dead.” I am glad to say that the contributions we receive at The Plant are reinforcements that the

printed word is alive and well and intends to stay that way. Within these pages, you’ll find stories of quality that are worth the read. I recommend that you get rid of your electronics while immersing yourself in these twelve pages so you can truly liberate your mind. Take pride in the fact that your peers, even your friends, are producing the content of this publication. Personally, I suggest you take a look at the piece on the #BellLetsTalk movement on page 11 It is crucial for us to raise the global awareness of mental illness. It is scary to think that a large number of people who appear to be happy are fighting a mental battle much bigger than them. Those suffering should know that they are not alone and that they can be treated.

table of contents news 03

I often think of Robin Williams at a time like this. His antics allowed the whole world to be filled with joy and laughter, yet he could not bask in those sensations himself, and that is extremely heartbreaking. I’d like to leave you with a quote from my favorite film, Dead Poets Society (1989) by Robin Williams’ character

Mr. John Keating: “No matter what anybody tells you, words and ideas can change the world.” Thank you, Captain. Also, thank you readers, writers, and staff for doing what you do. Shine on, Alyssia

help us grow...

int news

CUP

lifestyle

voices arts sports comics

07 Write for The Plant 08 10 Submit to: theplantnewspaper@gmail.com 11

Samuel Araujo Sara Capanna Milos Kovacevic Pearl Leung Helena Tsitouras Candice Pye Valeria Cori-Manocchio Julia Jenne Alicia Ardelli Frank Pavan Samuel Grenade

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3 EDITOR: Patrick Bazarbachian CONTACT: p.bazarbachian@live.com

VOL. 44 ISSUE 2 - Thursday, February 5, 2015

Teen sues for police negligence locked.”

GABRIELLE VENDETTE

In addition, the suit also mentions that, once arrived at the police station, the same officer who had left the two in the car, slammed the cell door on the teen’s face, breaker her tooth.

CONTRIBUTOR

After being sexually assaulted in the back of a police car, the young woman, native from Tasiujaq, a small community west of Ungava Bay, is suing for $400,000.

There was also no rape kit performed and the parents of the teenage girl were not contacted.

The 17-year-old was left handcuffed in the car alongside a repeated sex offender, who was not. The lone police officer on duty at the time had received a call from the teenager’s relatives to come and remove the girl, who had been drinking, from their household. Previously, he had received a call from another residence complaining about a disturbance. It is from this residence that the officer, who had been on the job for less than a month, picked up Joe Kritik. Mr. Kritik already had four sexual assault charges against him and was on the

PATRICK BAZARBACHIAN NEWS EDITOR

In other news, with an upcoming October 2015 federal election, Canada’s political parties have their agendas set – more than ever – on maintaining or claiming significant occupancy in the House. Last week’s question periods captured the competitive atmosphere as party leaders butt heads over the Family Tax Cut, trade and the economy, Canada’s role in Iraq and youth unemployment. PM Harper clashed with the Liberal leader on the topic of Family Tax Cut, during which he challenged Trudeau’s genuine concern on the matter by bringing forward his family’s wealth.

The girl herself has commented that she has suffered post-traumatic stress since the attack that took place in September 2011. Photo Credit: Google

Police sirens

Though the Police Force and the Kativik Regional Government have not commented on the events, the officer was suspended from work and later resigned.

“The plaintiff was unavle to defend herself, being handcuffed in her back and unable to leave the vehicle, the doors being locked.” -CBC sexual offender registry.

was on top of the defenceless girl.

ism and gross negligence."

The young woman was left in the car with the man while the police officer interviewed her relatives. When the officer returned, Kritik had his pants down and

The lawsuit against the police officer, as well as against the local police service and the regional government, states that there was "a serious lack of professional-

The lawsuit also claims that “the plaintiff was unable to defend herself, being handcuffed in her back and unable to leave the vehicle, the doors being

The PM furthered his attacks on the Liberal government – who according to ThreeHundredandEight.com projections could potentially form a government in the next elections – by wondering “why the Liberal party still exists […].” The statement stems from Harper’s critique of the Liberals’ passivity on several key debates, namely concerning youth unemployment.

In other news, the death of two members of the Canadian forces last October startled the entire country. The Conservative government almost immediately declared that these events were to threaten Canada in the midst of the jihadist movement in the Middle-East. The men involved in these assaults were labeled Islamic fundamentalists participating in acts of terrorism. Regardless of the mental health and actual intent (whether there was one or not) of both individuals, talks about giving enforcement agencies additional power to restrict citizen rights quickly became an option many ministers and officials considered in order to help prevent future attacks of the sort.

as an amendment to the Criminal Code, giving CSIS (Canadian Security Intelligence Service) and police the promised liberties that are deemed necessary to “lower the threshold of what’s required for police to make an arrest in a terror case.” Here is a synopsis of C-51 at its present state.

Kritik pleaded guilty to sexual assault and will face 39 months in prison for the charge, while all criminal charges against the teen assault victim have been dropped.

In Other News...

Onto the NDP, opposition leader Thomas Mulcair had his share of exchanges with the PM on Canada’s roll in Iraq. With traces of Canadian involvement in air strike support surfacing and no ministers explicitly addressing the issue, Mulcair continues to pour scorn on the government’s lack of transparency.

Legislation was finally tabled last Friday

with equal severity as child pornography and hate speech are. •An officer can now arrest someone on the basis of suspected terrorism and can detain the individual up to seven days rather than three. •Easier to reject an individual to board a plane if considered a threat.

•Give more power to intelligence agencies: in addition to collecting information, law enforcement could now intervene to prevent premature terrorist plots.

(Translated from Le Journal de Montréal, 30-01-15)

•Make encouraging or preparing terrorist attacks an illegal act. The maximum prison sentence is 5 years. •Terrorist propaganda would be treated

Dawson mourns beloved Rob JORDAN STOOPLER MANAGING EDITOR

The entire Dawson College community is in shock following the death of staff member Rob Springer early Tuesday morning. A tractor-trailer, driving in the eastbound lane of Highway 401 in eastern Ontario near Cornwall, collided with Springer’s vehicle, tragically killing Springer as well as his 22 year-old stepson Daniel Figura as they were driving into Montreal for work. An investigation is still ongoing at this time as police attempt to piece together details of the accident. Springer, 54, was much loved and respected at the college over the course of

his 15 years at Dawson. He worked at the HelpDesk in Information Technology (IT) and was also involved with the Women’s hockey team as well. Many students, teachers, and colleagues were quick to post their memories of Rob on the Dawson Facebook post announcing his passing. As of Wednesday afternoon, the post had been viewed over 60,000 times, shared 275 times and 300 comments were left. Chris Reid was one of the former students deeply affected by Springer’s passing. “I remember when I was at work near the campus a few years back, having a bad day. Rob happened to walk into my store, recognized me from Dawson and

told me a few jokes to cheer me up. I’ll never forget you Rob. Your memory will live on forever,” Reid wrote. Springer has a long lineage here at Dawson, as his wife Carol Milo is a recently retired Accessibility Center worker and his sister Carrie is a retired faculty member from the Computer Science department. Springer is survived by his wife Carol, his seven remaining children, two from a pervious marriage, as well as his five grandkids. No funeral arrangements are known at this time, but Dawson students and staff are invited to offer their condolences and share memories and pictures of Springer on a new page set up on Omnivox. It can be found on the right sidebar of your account homepage.

Springer at the Dawson Helpdesk

Credit: My Dawson College Facebook Page

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4 VOL. 44 ISSUE 2 - Thursday, February 5, 2015

EDITOR:Hillel Steinmetz CONTACT: hillel.steinmetz1@gmail.com

US, India Declare New Partnership

“Even if countries like the United States curb our emissions, if countries that are growing rapidly, like India, with soaring energy needs don’t also embrace cleaner fuels, then we don’t stand a chance against climate change.” Modi has continued to communicate his intentions to strengthen what he is calling a new friendship. “Barack and I have forged a friendship,” Modi said. “There is openness when we talk, and we even joke and share a lot together. I think this is a chemistry which has not only brought Washington and Delhi, Barack and I, closer, but also the two peoples of the two countries closer.”

SAMUEL ARAUJO STAFF WRITER On January 26th, US president Barack Obama’s three day trip to New Delhi came to a close. Obama and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi have agreed to enact a series of economic plans intended to generate investments between the two countries worth over 4 billion dollars. The plans aim to increase American exports to India, as well as boost investments in renewable energy for the developing country. Modi expressed interest in developing the partnership on January 25th, stating “Our two nations are prepared to step forward firmly to accept the responsibility of this global partnership for our two countries and toward shaping the character of this century.”

“The United States has tried for years to improve their relationship with India as a means of lessening China’s influence on the Asian economy, but India has previously remained independent.” The United States has tried for years to improve their relationship with India as a means of lessening China’s influence on the Asian economy, but India has previously remained independent. However, Modi’s policies have been aimed at increasing foreign investment to allow the developing nation to compete with the

President Obama and Prime Minister Modi watch the Republic Day Parade

economic powerhouse that is China. Obama has voiced his intent to fully realize the potential that India has as a new economic player in Asia. “We do about $100 billion a year in trade with India, which is a great improvement since I took office,” he said. “But we do about $560 billion a year with China. That gives you some sense of the potential both for the kind of growth that India might unleash, and the potential for greater trade between

Photo Credit: Stephen Crowley/The New York Times

our two countries.” Tensions between India and China have been on the rise following a three day visit by Chinese president Xi Jinping. Early on in the visit, Chinese troops confronted Indian troops in a disputed region of Kashmir. There have also been reports of Chinese nuclear submarines patrolling the Bay of Bengal, an important strategic area, which has raised defense concerns. Other topics discussed include climate

change. In a similar vein to a deal made with China in November, plans were made to improve the air quality in Indian cities, as well as phasing out hydroflourocarbons, a category of chemicals that contributes to climate change. Obama has admitted that it is difficult for a developing nation like India to reduce its fossil fuel dependence, but has stressed its importance. “But here’s the truth,” he said in his farewell speech.

“Obama has admitted that it is difficult for a developing nation like India to reduce its fossil fuel dependence, but has stressed its importance. “But here’s the truth,” he said in his farewell speech. “Even if countries that are growing rapidly, like India, with soaring energy needs don’t also embrace cleaner fuels, then we don’t stand a chance against climate change.” Although both leaders seem eager to continue to improve relations, it remains to be seen whether this new partnership will lead to remarkable gains for both countries, or fall through the cracks.

What’s in the Future for Greece? SARA CAPANNA STAFF WRITER In the light of the Greek elections on January 25th, Europe's sixty year attempt to forge a union of various democratic states reveals one of its primary tensions: voters in different countries and what to do when they have opposite demands. The victorious left-wing party, Syriza, has vowed to solve Greece's debt, and were heavily supported by anti-establishment politicians. However, though there are new discussions about the present austerity, there is a deeper conflict between Greek voters, who are desperate for a financial solution, and European powers as such Germany, Finland and Netherland, who are reluctant to continue supplying countries in financial distress with their tax dollars. Mats Persson, director London research organization, Open Europe, corroborated the above, saying, "Germans and Greeks have fundamentally different views on how to run an economy. The Greek vote will force a rethink to some extent in northern Europe, and Germany

Syriza, wich won with 36% of the votes, has vowed to renegotiate Greece’s $270 billion debt

Photo Credit: Getty Images/BBC

Syriza’s goal to solve “the humanitarian crisis”

may agree to some loosening of terms, but it won’t fundamentally change its approach." Although new Prime Minister, Alexis Tsipras, claimed that Syriza's victory as the beginning of the end of austerity, chief of staff for German Chancellor, Angela Merkel, made it clear that no dramatic changes in policy would be occurring, telling Berlin reporters that, "We have pursued a policy which works in many European countries, and we will stick to it in the

future." Syriza, which won with 36% of the votes, has vowed to renegotiate Greece's $270 billion debt. They would take action on Greek jobs and wages, promising 300 000 new jobs in all the possible sectors with an increase in monthly minimum wage. For 300 000 households living under the poverty line, they have promised free monthly electricity, food subsidies and the removal of heating fuel taxes. They have also promised the scrapping of property

taxes for private property owners, as well as closer relations to Russia, one of Greece's major commercial partners. However, most ambitious of all, they plan to write-off the majority of Greece's debt. Syriza wants a European Debt Conference modeled on its London predecessor in

“The new government will find that the Troika plans to play hardball,” - Tom Elliott

1953, where half of Germany's postWorld War II debt was written off, leading to a dramatic increase in economic growth. The party is convinced that if it worked Germany it would work for Greece. In response to this, Tom Elliott, International Investment Strategist for deVere Group states that, "The new government will find that the Troika plans to play hardball," troika being the term used in Greece to refer to the triumvirate that is the European Commission, European Central Bank, and the International Monetary Fund. He also adds that Greece has little leverage in its negotiations to debt holders, stating that debt holders might consider lowering the interest rates or extending their maturity, but that they won't consider debt forgiveness out of fear of encouraging other nations to ask for similar allowances. In fact, the only leverage Greece has is to threaten to leave the Euro, which would cause a severe recession, though only in the short term. In general, this is not a good sign for the current currency union. “This was a huge landslide, a larger win than pretty much anybody expected,” says Ian Bremmer, president of the Eurasia Group. “And this party has taken one of the most directly anti-German, anti-European positions you could take, not just economically but politically.”

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5 VOL. 44 ISSUE 2 - Thursday, February 5, 2015

ConU student suing for defamation MILOS KOVACEVIC THE CONCORDIAN

Rose Tandel was a student and model personal trainer with Concordia University’s Le Gym when in May 2013 she refused her boss’ request to ask a Muslim colleague to stop praying. Tandel says her colleague wasn’t in a public space and wasn’t drawing attention but was told praying was against the Code of Conduct. Since then, she alleges a systematic attempt by the university and her boss to discredit her and ignore her complaints, causing her to quit and initiate a $60,000 lawsuit for defamation. Now Montreal’s Centre for ResearchAction on Race Relations (CRARR) has joined her legal counsel before the Quebec Human Rights and Youth Rights Commission. CRARR is a civil rights organization dealing primarily but not exclusively with discrimination based on race. They’ve previously defended Concordia students before the Human Rights Commission and work closely with the Concordia Student Union (CSU) Legal Information Clinic. “We got the official mandate right after the holidays from Ms. Tandel,” said CRARR Executive Director Fo Niemi, after previous attempts at mediation by the Commission des normes du travail du Québec failed. Niemi says it will be his organization’s job to see whether Tandel had been the victim of discrimination throughout the event. “This won’t be based necessarily on her race or religion or ethnicity, but that she

spoke against her manager’s attitude on a Muslim colleague’s prayer,” Niemi said. “Because she objected to discrimination of her Muslim colleague’s religion, she herself became a target of discrimination,” said Niemi. “We intend to file a complaint very soon with the Quebec Human Rights and Youth Rights Commission.” He says the focus will not be on the initial incident, but the way it was subsequently handled by the university. “We don’t know exactly what has happened with the whole issue of Muslim prayers in the workplace. We don’t know what Concordia has done on that issue. That’s the first question we want to ask. And secondly we’re going to ask: what happened to Ms. Tandel when she went to seek help with office of rights and responsibilities and human resource department. The situation turned around to make her into a problem employee.” Tandel had been an employee with the gym for five years with a spotless record free of any issues prior to the fallout. Niemi said based on his information about the case and his organization’s track record, things look good for a positive outcome. “The advantage of a complaint before the human rights commission is that we can ask for non-monetary remedies. In other words, requiring Concordia to correct its policies in these situations or adopt new policies so this does not happen again.” Niemi said another employee could potentially join the complaint, but would not say at the moment if it was the original Muslim employee implicated. “We’re looking at whether this is an isolated incident, or whether this has taken place before or is taking place now.”

“This ordeal has been very hard on her both financially and psychologically,” said Niemi. Tandel says her experiences took a turn for the worse when she made the decision to challenge what she calls false assertions made by her manager and the administration allegedly shielding him. “They [HR] made me believe they had set up a meeting to discuss the issue,” she said. “In fact I walked into a disciplinary hearing without being prepared.” And it wasn’t just one disciplinary hearing but a total of four, including the first two when she discovered her boss had opened up a case with HR against her on accusations of fraud and theft stemming from money and items missing in the workplace and which she successfully defended herself against. She alleges he later spread rumors with the gym staff over her giving a client’s a free membership card Tandel says he himself gave her, in addition to other accusations. Niemi said these unexpected disciplinary hearings were a clear violation of procedure, and despite proving her innocence on those charges she was suspended on other charges of circumventing procedure to help a friend and insubordination. When Tandel continued seeking an explanation, HR accused her of poisoning the workplace. Tandel says her superior has a history of saying the wrong thing at the wrong time, with previous occurrences of what she considers racist, sexist, and insensitive comments. He called her Muslim coworker’s praying an unwelcome ‘sermon’ that brought Islam into the work environment. She also alleges he has been shuffled around previously because of his attitude

and has a track record of accusing others of theft. “They told me they could call a disciplinary hearing whenever they wanted,” she said. This caused an additional 3-week suspension on charges she wasn’t doing her work properly, despite a previous promotion and pay raise. Most importantly, she says the subject of his comments on Muslims was never approached or dealt with in any way by the investigation. “Most of them don’t speak French and they’re international students, and this is the only place they can work at,” she said, regarding the vulnerability of some of her co-workers and their hesitancy in corroborating her story. At one point her Muslim co-worker finally made a grievance. “We were made to believe they would resolve both files. Instead they signed a contract with [the Muslim co-worker] and tied his hands.” She said this binding by non-disclosure was deliberate. Eventually, she said her co-worker was reposted to the Loyola campus. “The normalcy of my work changed. I couldn’t communicate with my managers so I couldn’t stay informed and wouldn’t be available for whatever I was suppose to be available for, and then they would charge me with disciplinary hearings.” At around the same time, she was sent an invoice for approximately $4,500 she owed over incorrectly billed overtime pay, save that the overtime pay was given to all her fellow coworkers and only she, to her knowledge, was required to pay it. Not long afterwards, they received a phone call from Concordia’s HR department for an ‘off-the-books’ meeting where

they offered to drop the overtime bill if she agreed to never set foot in the gym and not speak about her experiences with the public or her clients. When she began her defamation lawsuit, the invoices ceased. “They comfortably buried the issues and focused on me being a thief,” she said. Tandel says her superior was approached with sensitivity training by an interim director at the time, but that it never went anywhere. The labour board will hear the case on Feb. 16, at least the third time Concordia has pushed back the date. Her case was originally set to be heard in November 2014. Tandel believes these interruptions are delaying tactics by the university to exhaust her financially. Despite being given a lawyer by the labour board. “I’m asking for reinstatement, for wages lost, for damages [due to] psychological harassment, for clearance of my employee file.” The court date will last two to three days and will finally look over the evidence from both sides. When she complained about the conduct of the HR director, she received a reply by the Ordre des conseillers en ressources humaines saying that, in his capacities, the HR director had the ‘mandate to support the managers in their decisions.’ “Out of all the other organizations outside of the labour board and my personal lawyer, [CRARR] seems to really care. I really think they’ll work to resolve the issue with me.” The CSU has an agreement with CRARR and will partially pay for their services.

The changing face of cheating PEARL LEUNG THE CORD

Academic integrity has been an issue that has long frustrated professors and school officials. With the rapid production of new technology, students have come up with new methods of cheating on assignments, tests and exams. Information can now be accessed more easily, quickly and discreetly than ever before. For professors at Wilfrid Laurier University, technology is also changing the way they monitor cheating and plagiarism. “In the past, to copy off an assignment you had to have the physical assignment,” said Sofy Carayannopoulos, the BU111 course coordinator. “Now it’s easy to share that assignment, and store it, and share it again and again and again.” The advent of wearable technology is a big concern. Google Glass, recently put on the market, is one such example. It is, essentially, a pair of glasses with the capabilities of a computer. Smart watches will also enable students to access information very easily. “We haven’t seen any on the [Brantford] campus yet,” said Judy Eaton, the academic integrity advisor at Laurier’s Brantford campus. “But once that becomes popular — if it ever becomes popular — that could be an issue for us.” Although students are using technology to find new ways to cheat, professors are

also using technology to maintain academic integrity. “In the same way that it’s easier for students to cheat, it’s easier for me to catch them,” said Carayannopoulos. However, because of the fast rate at which technology advances, there will always be a lag between the time a new way of cheating becomes popular and the time professors can stop that method. “I’m sure many of my academic colleagues won’t agree with me, but I don’t think that faculty members can beat students in the use of technology,” said Lea Caragata, the academic integrity advisor at Laurier’s Waterloo campus. “Technology is of [the students’] generation.” Instead of strictly policing students, Laurier has opted to educate them. The purpose of the academic integrity advisors is to promote knowledge about the negative effects of cheating. “When [students] act without integrity, they’re diminishing their degree and everyone else’s degree if people come to think of Laurier as a place where you can cheat,” said Eaton. “So they’re hurting not only themselves, but other people.” Caragata echoed Eaton’s opinion. “I think the way out of this isn’t to try to kind of develop a game plan and stay a step ahead of students, but rather work with students so that they understand that we’re all in this together, that Laurier’s reputation is their reputation,” she said. “If Laurier begins to have a reputation as a university where grades and degrees don’t

matter because everybody knows that integrity lapses are rampant … that affects us all.” At Laurier’s Brantford campus, all students take four core courses, which focus heavily on academic integrity. They learn what it is and how to avoid cheating. One component of these courses is a test on which students must score at least 70 per cent. If they do not pass, they must either retake the test or participate in an academic integrity workshop. “We try to bring them back to the ‘you don’t want to cheat,’ not the ‘here’s how we’re going to catch you,’” Eaton explained. Because the Waterloo campus is larger, students do not take core courses. However, professors often stress the importance of academic integrity within their own classes. For example, all first-year business students are required to complete an assignment that teaches them how to source properly. Additionally, a student-led conference on academic integrity is expected to be held in the spring. “I can talk until the cows come home about academic integrity and why it’s important, but I think the real power of a message will come when the students themselves are talking to each other about integrity and why it’s important,” Caragata said.

Is your work really your own?

Photo Credit: Marco Arment/Flickr

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6 VOL. 44 ISSUE 2 - Thursday, February 5, 2015

EDITOR: Helena Tsitouras CONTACT: helenatsitouras@gmail.com

2015 spring fashion trends GABRIELLE VENDETTE CONTRIBUTOR

Believe it or not, spring is only a couple months away! To emanate the true fashionista in you, it’s time to stock up early in the biggest 2015 spring fashion trends. The classic denim look remerges while knew knock out trends like trouser pants and gingham make a big statement in the fashion world.

1. Denim This season, denim was seen everywhere on the runways. From skirts, to pants, to dresses, and varying in different washes, embrace the American classic and make it a staple in your wardrobe.

Don’t forget to grab the cropped length for that extra chic style.

Fringe Fashion trends

Trouser Suit

Denim

I think fashion

Vogue

2. Trouser pants The oversized trouser pant is very popular this spring, pairing well with the feeling of liberty and freedom that the boho style brings.

Fashion gone rogue

Military Style

I think fashion

Alberta Ferretti

Savoir Flair

Moda

3. Gingham Better known as the “picnic table cloth pattern,” gingham is a smaller version of checkered, a trend that was very big for winter and fall. It reminds us of sunny days spent in the park having a picnic with our family, basically, a beautiful spring day!

4. Fringe Cowboy enthusiasts, this is the trend for you: the faved country fringe is back with a vengeance! But this trend is not reserved for the casual; it can also add a spunky feel to a chicer outfit. You can use this trend on either your outfit or on your accessories.

5. Military inspired Break out the army green, military inspired fashion was a very big trend this year on the runways. It incorporates everything from leather to camo. The point is just to look fierce.

6. Flouncy Dresses This trend incorporates a lot of other trends into it: lacy whites, the flower print and boho. Basically, if you grab a dress that has any of the three mentioned trends above, you’ve succeeded at spring fashion.

Oreo stuffed chocolate chip cookies HELENA TSITOURAS LIFESTYLE EDITOR

Whether you’re in need of some comfort food, celebrating cheat day, or just in the hunt for some great new ideas, to try this one is surely to make you drool rainbows. All you’ll need is some cookie dough, Oreos, and a cookie sheet! It only makes sense to mix these two cookies together. After all, they are milk’s favorite two cookies. The only thing you’ll regret after making these is not thinking of it sooner. The process is surprisingly easy depending on the cookie dough you’re working with. You can use your favorite chocolate chip cookie recipe or do as I did and pick up a couple of tubes of Pillsbury doughboy cookies. Just remember to get the chocolate chip one and not chocolate chunk! Also, you may need more than one pack if you want to make a dozen. The dough is easiest to work with if its a little cold so it won’t stick to your hand too much. Pop your dough into the fridge for a few minutes. Be sure the dough doesn’t harden too much otherwise it’ll be hard to work with. Once your dough is out of the fridge, preheat your oven as directed by your cookie recipe or pack of dough. Then take two scoops of cookie dough and put one on

each side of your Oreo (see image 1). Mold the cookie dough until it completely covers the Oreo. Be sure not to leave any part uncovered. Then place your cookie on the cookie sheet and repeat. Be sure to leave enough space between each cookie since they will expand in the oven. Once you’re done making all your cookies they should look like massive balls of cookie dough (see image 2). Put them in the oven and set your timer as directed. You’ll know when your cookies are ready when they turn golden brown. Once this occurs, take them out of the oven and let them cool for 5 minutes. Depending on your dough they may look like flying saucers (see image 3). Nonetheless they are still delicious. If you want your cookies to keep their shape then you can use a recipe that uses more flour making the dough thicker. Once they have cooled off a little bit and have hardened they’re ready to eat! These are best served with a tall glass of cold milk and shared with others. If you do decide to try out this recipe and want to write a little response please email it to the lifestyle’s editor and it may be put in next week’s issue!

Oreo stuffed cookies

Helena Tsitouras

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7 VOL. 44 ISSUE 2 - Thursday, February 5, 2015

EDITOR: Candice Pye CONTACT: candice.pye@sympatico.ca

Trend alert: gay men marrying girls? CANDICE PYE VOICES EDITOR

Even if you don’t regularly tune in for Friday Bride Day to simply relish in the sheer pleasure of kicking back and truly embracing your housewife-esque alter ego (sipping from a glass of wine that’s practically the size of your head, shower towel still wrapped around your hair, etc.), you’ve probably still heard of the television channel TLC at one point or another. Here Comes Honey Boo Boo, Say Yes to the Dress, Sex Sent Me to the ER, and I Didn’t Know I Was Pregnant are just a few of their cut and polished gems. Though I whole-heartedly admit to my guilty-pleasure obsession with the utter stupidity of their shows, and though I can name all 19 of the Duggar children in their birth order (oh man, this is starting to sound more like the sad diary entry of a 40-something divorcée than anything else), I am still thoroughly upset with some of the ridiculous concepts that TLC is allowed to portray. Though the channel claims to be about no discrimination and a completely nonjudgmental viewpoint, they still openly air shows that contain fragments of, or entirely revolve around, anti-LGBT messages. The reason this issue is predominant within TLC is because Mormonism is a

Oh, understandibly.

religion that’s been presented in several of their shows, such as Sister Wives, 19 Kids and Counting, and most recently, their docu-series special that aired in January; My Husband’s Not Gay. Don’t get me wrong, it’s entirely unfair for me to lay an umbrella-effect opinion here, because, in reality, not all Mormons are anti-LGBT. In fact, I’m sure most modern Mormons aren’t. However, the specific groups of people presented in these shows are under the assumption that being of homosexual orientation is a choice - and a wrong one at that. While I’ve rarely heard of anything antiLGBT from Sister Wives, Michelle & Jim Bob Duggar (the ones who popped out their equally ignorant 19 kiddies) actively shame the LGBT community. In all honesty, I’ve never seen an episode of their show in which they’ve done so, but even the act of airing the show of someone who is all over the media projecting truly disgusting ideas about transgendered people and homosexuals is pretty off-putting. To chop away all the extra stuff, the main show I want to get into here is My Husband’s Not Gay, because when I first heard of it, I almost screamed. In the My Husband’s Not Gay promo, TLC introduced the show by saying, “In Salt Lake City, Utah,” (obviously) “There is a group of Mormons who live their lives a little differently…”. Essentially, sure, but actually - they live a lot differently.

The special followed a few Mormon couples who were “happily married”, but there’s a twist: the husbands are gay. It’s a documentary about men who are “interested in men, but just not interested in men”, explained one of the husbands. Thanks for clearing that up for me, guy. A show about Mormon men, who are attracted to men, but still date and marry women… is that not totally insane? Even if the angle that TLC was trying to hit this from was that of mockery, it’s still a super bad idea. These are men who are repressing their true sexuality so they can continue to be accepted by their Church, even though they seemed to claim otherwise in the special. This is an incredibly sad thing, and it hurt my heart to watch it. The men featured in the show talked about how they openly admit to having gay feelings, but they just don’t act on them. The entire vibe I got was basically, “it’s totally okay if you’re attracted to men, as long as you’re not actually gay or engaging in any romantic or sexual activity with a member of the same-sex.” The whole concept is absurd. As a straight woman, there is no way I could be happy by forcing myself to date and marry women. It just isn’t a healthy or practical lifestyle to “change” yourself… it doesn’t make any sense! I fully understand the important role that faith plays in the lives of these people,

and I respect that they’re almost completely engulfed in it within their communities, but what I can’t wrap my mind around is being able to continually devote yourself to a religion that doesn’t really accept who you are. Thankfully, I’m not the only one who was deeply bothered by all of this. A petition on change.org that vied for the cancellation of the special, currently has over 130,000 signatures. Everyone who signed the petition has pretty much the same mindset: the idea that homosexuals can and should choose to be straight is just dumb, and actually very dangerous. Putting up a show like My Husband’s Not Gay is extremely irresponsible. In 2000, the American Psychiatric Association stated that “conversion therapy” programs are scientifically questionable and that reports of “cures for gayness” are simply invalid. Engaging in these harmful programs or repressing your homosexuality by dating and marrying straight people is so scary. It usually leads to depression, anxiety, and suicidal thoughts, all of which the husbands that starred in the show confessed they experienced. Showing this stuff on television is so terrible for LGBT youth who might be struggling with their sexuality - as if it isn’t hard enough to deal with already. You can’t change your sexual orientation by deciding to, or by marrying someone of a cer-

Photo credit: tlc.com

The Duggars. Photo credit: wikipedia.org

Utah logic?

Trade name stimulants such as Ritalin, Dexedrine, and Adderall are commonplace when treating attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). These stimulants, consumed in the form of a pill, calm and help individuals with hyperactivity focus. However, when consumed by students without ADHD or social disorders, effects consist of hyper alertness, increased heart rate, and augmented concentration.

line sites, costing between $1 to $10 per pill. Michel Perron, CEO of the Canadian Centre on Substance Abuse explains to CTV News, “up to 70% of these drugs have been obtained from medical cabinets”. In other words, the second way that the majority of student users obtain stimulants is from someone with an existing prescription.

tain sex. Sexuality isn’t just a regular marital problem that you can overcome; it’s a part of who you are. Some argued that these men might be bisexual and completely content, which is possible, but even so, bisexuality is part of your identity (as any other sexuality is) and these men don’t identify as bisexual or gay. They identify as “attracted-to-men-butwho-knows-not-really-I-guess-maybe-butI’m-married-to-a-woman-so-it’s-okay”, which is - in its entirety - repression. All of this anti-LGBT rhetoric, such as using the term “same-sex attracted” instead of “homosexual”, is wholly detrimental. TLC, and any channel for that matter, should make better choices in terms of what messages they’re presenting to their often young audiences, because honestly, we don’t need America to be inundated with more religious-based homophobia than there already is.

Photo credit: reddit.com

Move aside caffeine, pills are here! VALERIA CORI-MANOCCHIO CONTRIBUTOR

Successfully pursuing higher education is extremely taxing and stressful. Popular stimulant drugs, including Ritalin, Dexedrine, and Adderall are weaving their way into the study regiments of adolescents in our society in order to help us study harder, increase concentration, and simply remain awake to finish assignments. In 2011, the Canadian Centre on Substance Abuse (CCSA) recorded the following: youth aged between 15-24 represent 2.4% of reported stimulant use among Canadians. What’s more alarming is the review reported by the Centre; in North America, the use of non-medical prescription stimulants varied from 5-35% among adolescents and young adults.

The long-term effects are more fatal. High dosages can potentially cause heart attacks, strokes, and seizures. According to the CCSA, these stimulants can also become addictive when misused. Although prescription drugs are legal under the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act, they only possess legal status when administered to those with a prescription by a licensed practitioner; yet these stimulants are made readily available via a simple click on Craigslist or other on-

Although it is difficult to estimate just how many students use these stimulants for non-medical purposes, the Canadian Centre on Substance Abuse plans to regulate this dangerous trend. Thankfully, as of March 2013, the CCSA and the National Advisory Council on Prescription Drug Misuse issued the First Do No Harm strategy, a widespread address of the harm in misusing prescription drugs in Canada.

They’re called “prescription” drugs for a good reason.

Photo credit: livescience.com

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8 EDITOR: Payton Bernett CONTACT: paytonbernett@hotmail.com

VOL. 44 ISSUE 2 - Thursday, February 5, 2015

Feminism in music: a history lesson JULIA JENNE CONTRIBUTOR

Although feminism in music has been prevalent since, perhaps, the early days of blues onwards, I am not attempting to cover its entirety. My research will zero in on the evolution between three distinct eras—approximately twenty years apart each for the purpose of comparison— when music and feminism entwined in a significant way. These topics are: the Second Wave of feminism of the late 1960s, the Riot Grrrls of the early 1990s, and a brief look at the trending feminism in music today. The respective genres I will be observing are rock, punk and mainstream pop. Aside from my guiding question, there are several other issues I will be keeping in mind over the course of this article: 1. How have different musical genres varied in their openness towards female artists? 2. What is the cause/effect relationship between feminism in music and North American (pop) culture at large? 3. How have mainstream audiences reacted towards feminism within the music industry? 4. Lastly, how have the strong female artists of these eras (whether outspokenly feminist or not) affected music as we know it today? As a lover of music and an advocate of gender equality, I chose to study this topic to expand my knowledge in both areas. The place of women in music has always been an important one, though too often shadowed and forgotten by the overbearing presence of men in the industry. The ultimate goal of this article is to enlighten myself and the reader on the role feminism has played in breaking through the masculine shell of the music industry. Part 1: The Late 1960s The 1960s were a decade of social reform and cultural change, when many of the defining events of the 20th century took place. From the mid-1950s onwards, the African-American Civil Rights movement and its leaders were fighting to end racial segregation. Anti-Vietnam protests filled with flower power, brutality and controversy took place all across the United States. The Second Wave of Feminism had women fighting for their rights, as well, putting forth taboo issues pertaining to reproductive rights, sexuality, and the role of women both at home and in the workplace. These events unfolded spectacularly to the anthems of Bob Dylan, Jimi Hendrix, the Beatles, the Rolling Stones, The Doors, The Who, Led Zeppelin, and so on. It was an exclusive torch of musical fame circulating endlessly among musicians who shared at least one common thing: testosterone. Where were the prominent female artists at this time? Shadowed by the loud, aggressive, sexually confident genre of mainstream music that would come to be known as none other but “Cock Rock.” Cock Rock, in its beginnings, was exclusive to primarily white, heterosexual, ultra-confident male rockers. The essence of the genre could very well be encapsulated in young Robert Plant’s exposed chest and cascading blond locks onstage. The subject matter of the music and more importantly, the lifestyle accorded to it heavily endorsed sex, drugs and rock 'n roll, none of which were considered remotely feminine. The genre had no room for women to begin with and, over time, came to exclude them as all but

sexual objects to sing about. Onstage antics included hip thrusting, stroking of the microphone, and hyper sexualized guitar solos. Offstage life was filled with womanizing, partying and heavy drugs. Any woman who tried to force her way into this otherwise acceptable lifestyle would be called out as promiscuous, delinquent, without shame. There was a huge double standard present between male and female musicians, one that restricted women in rock to being backup singers, wives, girlfriends and groupies. Decades later, in a completely separate context, writer Rachel Shuckert would perfectly sum up this everpresent double standard in an essay about the hatred directed at Courtney Love following Kurt Cobain's suicide: “It took a special kind of guts to be a fuck-up as a woman, I thought. To say to hell with being a nice girl, the responsible one, the one who makes sure the man takes care of himself and eats properly and doesn't take too many drugs. To be just as nihilistic and self-destructive as a man, knowing all along that you'll get crucified for it, because somehow, the world

Hynde and many others. While Joplin did not write songs that were inherently feminist, she did have several that expressed feminist views. “Women is Losers” very playfully expresses the power imbalance between women and men to an upbeat, bluesy tempo. “Women is losers, oh, And then women is losers/Well, I know you must-a heard it all, I said now/Men always seem to end up on top anyway.” In the late 1960s there emerged a musical movement called Womyn's Music (also commonly spelt Wimmins Music) that was founded by groups of musicians who were feminists, lesbians, blacks, peace activists and so on—women who did not and would not fit into mainstream music culture. Olivia Records was founded by lesbian folk singer, Meg Christian, as the first all-female label. While this movement gave women the liberty to express themselves musically, it also in many ways was very restrictive. No women who were involved with Womyn's Music went on to find mainstream success.

Photo Credit: bikinikillarchive

Bikini Kill performing live

will make everything your fault. He'll be a martyr, and you'll be a succubus. He'll be a genius, and you'll be a groupie. He'll be a hero, and you'll be an ugly fat crack whore who deserves to die.” Janis Joplin, born January 19th, 1943 in Port Arthur, Texas, was very much an exception for her time. She rose to fame as the lead singer of psychedelic rock band Big Brother and the Holding Company and found great success as a solo artist as well. Joplin broke the shell of masculinity in rock, and became the first significant female artist to be embraced by mainstream rock audiences. She was tough, rough and not a public feminist, which likely justified her being accepted as “one of the boys.” After years living a life filled with sex, drugs and rock 'n roll, Joplin died of a heroin overdose in 1970. Many consider her death a response to the hideous amount of pressure placed on her to fit in as a woman in rock. Rock critic, Lillian Roxon, stated that Janis Joplin “perfectly expressed the feelings and yearnings of the electric generation: to be all woman, yet equal with men, to be free, yet a slave to real love, to reject every outdated convention yet get back to the basics of life.” She is known to have inspired and paved the way for hugely successful female rock artists including Grace Slick, Stevie Nicks, Melissa Etheridge, Bonnie Raitt, Chrissie

is attributed to a focus on childhood, when girls are innocent and have high levels of self-esteem. The “grrr” was, of course, a telling sign that these women were fierce and not to be messed with. Previously to the Riot Grrrl movement, women had been involved with punk music but not with the liberty and the opportunities that men had. A few notable women of the punk movements are Joan Jett and the Runaways, Patti Smith, and Kim Gordon of Sonic Youth. These female artists greatly influenced the birth of the Riot Grrrls, bands like Bikini Kill, Sleater-Kinney (the band of Carrie Bronstein of Portlandia), Bratmobile, etc. Often alternative-rock/grunge bands, like Hole and L7, are mistaken as having been part of Riot Grrrl, though they were not present at its conception and the messages of their lyrics are much less political. The band Bikini Kill is widely called the pioneers of the Riot Grrrl movement, though they do not consider themselves as such. The Riot Grrrl Movement was founded by young feminist women who wanted to make political statements and

Part 2: The Early 1990s When we think early 90's in terms of music, we're all thinking the same thing: grunge. After the release of Nirvana's Nevermind, the spotlight in the music industry was focused on Seattle and the new, hard, and well, grungy, music that was brewing there. The movement produced many important bands such as Nirvana, Pearl Jam, Alice in Chains and Soundgarden, and commercially ended following Kurt Cobain's death in 1994. Very few people know that before the birth of grunge, another musical/cultural movement was brewing in the Pacific Northwest, in Olympia, Washington and Portland, Oregon—the Riot Grrrl Movement, a feminist movement often described as the start of the 3rd wave of Feminism, or post-Feminism (as most feminists refuse to call it). Riot Grrrl was started as somewhat of a response to the punk movements of the late 70s and 80s, which were dominated by men (very much like Cock Rock) and where women had little room to express themselves. The name Riot Grrrl was not officially coined by any one of its members, but developed over time with the movement. The “riot” part was inspired by recent racial riots that had taken place in Washington, D.C. (the Riot Grrrls did not stage any riots) and the use of “girl” instead of “woman” or a variant

create their place within the punk music scene. Riot Grrrl blended the politicalmindedness of feminism and the fearlessness of punk. Publications, demonstrations and protests took place in response to events such as the Christian Coalition's attack on legal abortion. This particular event was countered by L7's Rock for Choice event. The music of the movement attacked subject matter such as rape, domestic abuse, sexuality, racism, patriarchy and female empowerment. The Riot Grrrl bands used concerts as an opportunity to create safe havens for women, because in the past, punk concerts were extremely rough and many women were assaulted, sexually or otherwise, in the chaos of the mosh pits. The women took back the meanings of derogatory terms such as “slut” and “whore” and embraced them. A big part of the movement was taking control of your sexuality. The Riot Grrrl movement severed pretty quickly as a result of the explosion of Grunge, which took the attention off of Olympia and into Seattle. Mainstream media interpreted the messages of the Riot Grrrls, not fully understanding the causes they were fighting for. Most of the stories generated about the Riot Grrrls were very misinformed and antagonistic. Journalist Kim France wrote about the Riot Grrrls in 1993: “They do things like

scrawl ‘rape’ across their torsos before gigs, produce fanzines with names like Girl Germs, and hate the media's guts. They're called the Riot Grrrls and they're coming for your daughters!” The messages of the Riot Grrrls were also subverted by the rise in popularity of all-girl groups like the Spice Girls, whose pro-girl messages were very simplistic. The “Riot Grrrl Is” publication stated, “Because I believe with my whole heartbodymind that girls constitute a revolutionary soul force that can and will change the world for real.” Compare that to the Spice Girls' “Girl Power!” In spite of the fact that the Riot Grrrl movement ended fairly abruptly, it did succeed in passing many feminist and pro-equality messages onto the Grunge movement, which spoke to a broader audience and whose legacy lasted much longer. Grunge is notable as being a genre very inclusive of women, with big-name girl-fronted bands like Hole and L7, and male icons like Kurt Cobain, who was a public feminist and influenced colossal amounts of young people. Riot Grrrl was not a long lasting phenomenon, but it greatly influenced the feminist musicians and acts (Sinead O'Connor, Alanis Morrissette, Lilith Fair music festival) that would follow throughout the 1990s.

Part 3: A Brief Look at Feminism in Music Today Though the 1990s came and went, the feminist attitudes that prevailed in mainstream music back then are reappearing in today's pop music. "I feel like I'm one of the biggest feminists in the world because I tell women to not be scared of anything," said Miley Cyrus, who is hailed as a feminist icon for her beyond-risqué performances, unique fashion choices and outspoken attitude. Taylor Swift, another popular pop artist, used to reject the term publicly and now has revealed that after learning about what feminism really means, she has, in fact, been a feminist all along (!). The problem with feminism today, especially in mainstream music culture, seems to be that although the same definition is shared (women=men), there are many, many variations as to what that means on a practical level. Does it mean that women should be able to do whatever they want, for example, wear skincoloured undergarments and 'twerk' a married man onstage? Or, does it mean that women should have enough self-respect to realize the harm in making themselves sexual objects? Does being a feminist mean supporting sisterhood blindly, or does it mean looking at all things objectively and critically, including the behaviour of other feminists? The straightforward beliefs of 60s feminists and Riot Grrrls has been confused and twisted into mixed messages—it is now very rare that two feminists embrace the same values besides the will for equality between men and women. Their selfempowering behaviour has turned into what often appears to be victim games. Pop music today could have the power to educate millions of young girls about the meaning of feminism in an effective, intelligible way, if only its artists could pick their causes and stick to them. It seems at this time we are attempting to fight everything, including each other, without realizing our self-contradictory behaviour. The ultimate spokesperson for feminism is someone immensely influential, well-respected, non-aggressive and clear in their beliefs. Maybe even male. Where is Kurt Cobain when you need him?

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9 VOL. 44 ISSUE 2 - Thursday, February 5, 2015

EDITOR: Payton Bernett CONTACT: paytonbernett@hotmail.com

Fallout Boy releases new album ALICIA ARDELLI STAFF WRITER

What’s that saying? “Things get better with age?” Well, that is definitely the case with rock band, Fall Out Boy, who has just released their sixth studio album, American Beauty/American Psycho. It is the second album to be released after the band’s comeback from a four-year hiatus. American Beauty/American Psycho (or AB/AP) introduces a slightly new kind of sound that Fall Out Boy had yet to tackle. After six albums, a repetitive genre of music becomes tiresome, so it is with gratefulness that I praise the variety of composition in this album. Multiple songs include a horn fanfare, differing from their usual guitar, bass, and drums. The first single off the album, “Centuries,” provides a familiar sound one expects from Fall Out Boy: an alternative rock vibe. The song is like the ultimate battle song, with a triumphant beat to it. It helps that the accompanying music video features gladiators and an Ancient Roman setting. Speaking of battle songs, the second single “American Beauty/American Psycho”, and my personal favourite, is extremely fast-paced and interesting, to say the least. It features a heavy bass drum

beat and lyrics sang aggressively from lead singer, Patrick Stump. Stump has always been applauded for his ability to hit and maintain ridiculously high notes and once again, he has not disappointed. That man has lungs like those of an Olympic swimmer. Examples of these powerful vocals and perfect falsetto can be heard on “Uma Thurman”, a more pop- centric song paying homage to the actress’ character in Pulp Fiction, and “Novocaine,” a ruthless and fiery track that makes me want to wear leather and start a bar brawl.The slower songs on the album, “Jet Pack Blues,” and “The Kids Aren’t Alright,” add in to the variety I mentioned before. It gives the ears a break from the noisier songs by drawing your attention to the expressive lyrics. One thing I do miss, however, are those absurdly long song titles that Fall Out Boy were most known for. And as someone who spent a large chunk of her days in high school belting out “Thnks Fr Th Mmrs”, I also miss the pop punk-centric music the band used to perform most prominently. But, like with everything and everyone else, growing up is inevitable and exploring a new genre of music can be quite beneficial. The band may not exactly be back to their former glory as they were in their Infinity on High days, but they are well on their way to stealing back the hearts they once had so long ago.

Photo Credit: altpress.com

The album art for Fallout Boy’s new record

Creative Corner SARA CAPANNA

Dreams Are - Late

COMICS EDITOR

Idioteque - Radiohead Tick Tock

Jeremy - Pearl Jam The Crystal Ship - The Doors Before I’m Gone - J.Cole Hide and Seek - Imogen Heap Skin and Bones - Foo Fighters Rivers and Roads - The Head and the Heart Poster of a Girl - Metric

Hands in the air, sliding around the world. Fingers touch numbers, erasing minutes. Tick Tock, Tick Tock. Every click brings the sun under the horizon. Every rings brings the moon into the blackness. Tick Tock, Tick Tock. The world spin, pulling life decisions out of space And into the minds of the youth. Nervousness makes their dreams hazy. Tick Tock, Tick Tock. Dizzying, the time is dizzying. It runs away, much too fast. Hastily pull our lives together. Is there even time for regret? Tick Tock, Tick Tock

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10 VOL. 44 ISSUE 2 - Thursday, February 5, 2015

EDITORS: Sam Grenade CONTACT: samgrenade9621@gmail.com Frank Pavan CONTACT: frank.pavan13@gmail.com

Recap of Saturday’s UFC 183 FRANK PAVAN SPORTS EDITOR

UFC 183: Return of The Spider The octagon is typically known as a place where several of the world’s toughest men and women battle it out to see who’ll take home the belt and be declared champion of the world. Let’s just say the fans got their money’s worth in UFC 183. First off, let’s dig deep and look into the history of both these fighters. Silva is a former champion weighing in at 185 pounds and standing at six feet two inches tall. The majority of his career has been spent in the middleweight category, however he has experimented in the light heavyweight division where he fought three times and won all of them by knockout. Diaz on the other hand, stands in at six feet tall and 180 pounds and has never fought in the middleweight category before, although he has gone up in weight for two previous fights. He actually has more experience at lower weight classes having dropped down to 155 pounds for two previous fights before returning to his more usual weight of 170 pounds. Believe it or not, this fight has actually been in the making for the past three years. Diaz constantly trash talked Silva and his coaching staff in 2012 and 2013 saying that he should learn how to box

Anderson Silva (left) connects with right jab versus Nick Diaz (right)

properly and that he should go ahead and fire his head coach. Silva was aware and interested in a possible showdown between him and Diaz but never had an opportunity to do so until UFC president, Dana White, made it official and set the fight for January 31st, 2015. Diaz has made a name for himself as being a very cocky, verbal and in your face type of fighter. On the other side of the

ring, you have Anderson Silva, the greatest UFC fighter of all-time and arguably the most easy-going, calm and kind hearted person known to the league. So, right out of the gate, we know that this fight would be based on how much Diaz bothers and gets under Silva’s skin. This week’s UFC main event was definitely an unusual one. Not to take the spotlight away from any of the other fights. Hats off to Derek Brunson, Miesha Tate,

Photo Credit: La Presse

Thiago Alves, Thales Leites, and Tyron Woodley for their victories however, the fight that had everyone jumping out of their seats was quite obviously the main event which began with Diaz heavily taunting Silva. To the point where Diaz was screaming at Silva to hit him while his arms were drawn back, and laying down in the middle of the ring begging Silva to hit him. This got an extreme reaction out of the

crowd. Nobody appreciated what Diaz was doing but it was understandable due to him wanting to ruffle Silva’s feathers. The fight lasted the entirety of the five round limit and ended with a unanimous decision. To be quite honest with you, it was a bit of a dull fight. No major blows were dealt, besides a minor cut to Diaz’s left eye which drew some blood. Each fighter fought safely and Silva ended up winning with a unanimous decision which was well deserved. Diaz showed his displeasure with the decision, however anyone in their right mind would’ve gave the victory to “The Spider” because he simply fought better than his opponent. Despite the loss, Nick Diaz really grew on me as a fighter. He antagonized and instigated this fight against Anderson Silva and didn’t do all that bad against the most dangerous man in the octagon. Diaz is a hard-nosed guy who fights with a mean streak. I’m sure we’ll be seeing a lot more of Nick Diaz as time passes on. Now that this fight is in the books, Anderson Silva has improved his all-time record to an unthinkable 34 victories and 6 losses. Additionally, with the loss, Nick Diaz’s record drops to 26 wins and 10 losses. “Before the fight, fighters can say whatever they want. But once you get inside the octagon, it all changes!” – Anderson Silva

The #BellLetsTalk Movement The hunt for a stigma-free Canada continues during nation-wide media campaign SAMUEL GRENADE SPORTS EDITOR

It has been four years now that the Bell Let’s Talk day has left a noticeable footprint in social media and around Canada. By texting or tweeting #BellLetsTalk, Bell automatically donates five cents towards the cause. Since 2010, Bell has donated $73.6 million towards mental health initiatives in Canada including the Douglas Mental Institution in Lasalle and to the Psychology Department at Concordia University. “Two in three people suffer in silence fearing judgment and rejection.” - Canadian Medical Association The movement kept on growing in 2015 as #BellLetsTalk broke new records and surpassed old goals. There were 122,150,772 tweets, texts, calls and shares during this year’s 28.5 hours, ranging from midnight Newfoundland time to midnight Pacific time, that raised a grand total of $6.1 million. Reaching these new heights did not come without any help as the famous former Canadian Olympic athlete Clara Hughes and the Bell Let’s Talk Team took the mental health conversation across all mediums and to school assemblies and local events across Canada. Hughes made a film documenting this

Clara Hughes, one of the many faces of the #BellLetsTalk campaign

Photo Credit: Marketing Mag

“Two in three people suffer in silence fearing judgment and rejection.” - Canadian Medical Association cause called “Clara’s Big Ride” depicting her 110 day bike ride across Canada this past summer to raise money and awareness for #BellLetsTalk. Hughes is the pioneer but not the only celebrity to speak out about her mental issues. Names such as Howie Mandel and Michael Landsberg also participated in the

movement. “One in five Canadians will experience a form of mental illness at some point in their life.” - Canadian Institute of Health Research Mental illnesses affect the ones you would least expect but that is because the majority of people who suffer, suffer in si-

lence. Professional athletes have been victims of this and the ones who were believed to be having the times of their lives were really suffering beyond what anyone could imagine. Darryl Strawberry and Stephane Richer were two athletes who lived illustrious ca-

reers and suffered at the peak of their careers with no logical explanation. In 2011, the NHL suffered the loss of three of their “tough guys” due to mental illness which brought up once again fighting’s role in hockey. Rick Rypien, Derek Boogaard and Wade Belak all perished in the offseason of 2011 to the shock of the entire hockey community. These are just a fraction of the hundreds of professional athletes that suffer from mental illnesses in silence. “Suicide accounts for 24% of all deaths among 15-24 year-olds and 16% among 25-44 year-olds.” - CMHA Bell Canada has even developed 5 simple ways to eliminate the stigma that impacts so many people around the world: 1. Language matters - pay attention to the words you use about mental illness. 2. Educate yourself - learn, know and talk more about it. 3. Be kind - Random acts of kindness. 4. Listen and ask - sometimes it's best to listen 5. Talk about it - Break the silence Athletes are the ones capable of making this a public affair to comfort the millions who suffer in silence across the world. With their contribution, it creates a unified group willing to fight this dilemma as a whole rather than as individually.

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11 EDITOR: Sara Capanna CONTACT: saramcapanna@gmail.com

VOL. 44 ISSUE 2 - Thursday, February 5, 2015

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12 EDITOR: Sara Capanna CONTACT: saramcapanna@gmail.com

VOL. 44 ISSUE 2 - Thursday, February 5, 2015