SINCE 1906 TUESDAY APRIL 2, 2019 VOLUME 112 ISSUE 26
Western University’s Student Newspaper USC budget ahead of cuts PG3
’Stangs trainer Miguel Wason PG9
Spur fashion show PG11 BIZARRE SPRING SNOWFALLS SINCE 1906
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james waite
Volume 112, Issue 26 WWW.WESTERNGAZETTE.CA University Community Centre Rm. 263 Western University London, ON, CANADA N6A 3K7 Editorial 519.661.3580 Advertising 519.661.3579
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CULTURE CARMEN MALLIA KRISTIN LEE EMILY TAYLER SPORTS CHARLIE MARSHALL STEPHANIE ORLANDO OPINIONS GABRIELLE DROLET WESTERN TV COORDINATOR JOSH MERIFIELD WESTERN TV ASSISTANT COORDINATOR LAUREN COLES
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We can all learn something from James Waite’s optimism for life. His position as film coordinator at Western Film fell into his path 19 years ago and he has never looked back.
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The Western University alumnus, who graduated with a degree in film studies, has seen Western’s community steadily evolve over the past 30 years. In that time, Western Film has grown from a small student club in the basement of Middlesex College to a fully operational theatre in the University Community Centre, and James has accompanied it the entire way. He feels a strong sense of pride for the movie theatre because it helped him find his way in life. The theatre provides the perfect livelihood for his passion for movies. For James, his Western career immediately led him to become a member of Western Film, which at the time was a University Students’ Council club. He became fascinated with movie theatre operations at their weekly meetings which attracted crowds of students eager to watch second-run films. “Over in Middlesex College we charged a couple bucks to play movies,” he explains. “I really loved it. I’m a big movie guy.” James’ most treasured childhood memories revolve around films dating back to days in middle school when he saw his favourite movie, the original Star Wars. From there, a passion grew that could never be extinguished. Only a few years out of school, James was once again lured back to work at his alma mater when Western Film became a full-service, on-campus theatre. He was drawn not only for his love for films but for the setting that theatre provides. He prefers to watch films in theatres for the big screen and the atmosphere provided by the audience around him. “My main social activity is going to movies,” he states. “It’s really the only social activity I do.” James not only pursued his hobby in-depth, but also made it a full-time career. James’ life appears to have followed a very deliberate timeline; however, his life today actually arose from very uncommon circumstances. These pathways were not always clear, but he has always retained a positive outlook on life. He began at Western in engineering but did not maintain
the required grades. After transferring to computer science, he discovered that was not for him either. Ultimately, he pursued a degree in film studies where he finally found classes that pleased him. After leaving Western, he worked as a projectionist. That was when Western Film converted to a fully operational theatre and began searching for paid staff, including a film coordinator. At the time, the film coordination position required a license to operate the 35mm film projector. Due to safety regulations, the training for this license was extensive, but James was given a stroke of luck. A fluke encounter with a local projectionist gave him a connection to pursue his apprenticeship. “It was an 800-hour apprenticeship and then a written and practical test,” he remembers. “He taught me enough to do the test, and then fibbed that I had done 800 hours.” With this qualification under his belt, he became a prime candidate for the film coordinator position. So began his time at Western as a staff member instead of a student. Today, he lives out his childhood dreams of watching the newest releases and being surrounded by the smell of hot movie theatre popcorn. As for the future of Western Film, James sees a promising future for the establishment. In the past, there have been worries that the theatre would have to shut down due to the expensive switch from film to digital. It took deliberations, but eventually, the USC invested in the new digital projectors and Western Film survived. The only other time that James’ optimism fizzles is when students are away. Western Film is a central part of his life and he only wants to share it with others. “During the quiet part of the year, I tend to take it personally,” he explains. “I feel like I should be doing something better even when I know it’s not me”. James has a profound love for movie theatres and their ability to excite and connect the audience. His work allows him to pass on his passion to others and it shows in the way he serves every customer with care. To him, Western Film is more than a workplace — it is a home that he has been a part of since his first year at university. He started with a passion and grew it into a career, and that is something we all can admire. ■ JENNIFER EVANS
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19 honorary degrees to be awarded by Western during this year's spring Convocation. SISSI CHEN GAZETTE
$420 in mandatory fees each Western undergrad will pay in 2019-20.
$531,230 Amit Chakma made in salary and benefits in 2018.
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news
TUESDAY, APRIL 2, 2019
Lifeline’s pro-life display attracts student protesters ASHLEY GOVEAS NEWS INTERN @UWOGAZETTE Last Friday, a pro-life booth in the UCC atrium was flanked by prochoice demonstrators. One group — Western Lifeline, which has risen to prominence with controversial pro-life demonstrations — held its usual booth in the atrium, featuring blown-up medical images of fetuses. Another group of around six students held simple white and pink signs saying, “unapologetically pro-choice” and “free hugs”. While Lifeline stood in front of The University Community Centre doors, the other students stood a few feet to their left and right. Joseph Shlayen, a third-year actuarial sciences student, led the group with pink signs. They were not explicitly pro-choice and instead wanted to promote positivity. According to Shlayen, students tend to feel uncomfortable with Lifeline’s displays. The group’s goal was not to inhibit the efforts of the club’s display, but instead to make people feel better about being on campus. Shlayen said their reception was very positive: while some people hung around to pet their dog, Shlayen held up the “free hugs” sign and was actively encouraging students to receive hugs. “A lot of people like free hugs, apparently,” said Shlayen. To Lifeline’s left was a group with white signs, who advocated a prochoice approach. Two students, one of whom preferred to remain anonymous, explained that they were there to
support the people’s autonomy. Both students stated that, as sexual assault survivors themselves, they wanted to advocate for the choices they had to make at one point. “Whenever I see images like this, it just reminds me of my decision I made, and I don’t think I should feel guilty about my choice,” the student, Brittney*, explained. At Lifeline’s display, fourth-year philosophy student and president of the Western Lifeline club, Rashad Rehman, was working the booth along with other members of the club. He said the club was only there to share information and spread its message. He also stated that they were grateful to the University Students’ Council for allowing freedom of expression on Western University’s campus. Lifeline is ratified within the USC’s clubs system, which became a campaign issue in last year’s elections. Current USC president Mitchell Pratt and vice-president, Danny Chang, said they would not de-ratify the club, whereas their opponent, Ocean Enbar, said he would consider it. And last year, Lifeline demonstrated near the Wellness Education Centre in the UCC basement, where students can receive information about reproductive choices, drawing sharper criticism than usual. Rehman said he accompanied the club to advocate their belief that abortion “is always a human rights violation.” The groups of protesters seemed to remain respectful, said Rehman. At one point during the day, the
LIAM MCINNIS GAZETTE A protester holds a sign before Western Lifeline’s booth, March 29, 2019.
protesters were blocking view of the club’s display and were asked to move. He said the issue was resolved very quickly. “I said, ‘Thank you so much for moving, I really appreciate it,’ and then we hugged it out,” he said. He added that the response from students passing through the UCC was both positive and negative. He acknowledged it is a controversial issue, so they expected mixed emotions in return. The groups of protesters remained in front of the entrance until Lifeline took down their display. Lifeline members mentioned their view was that the subject had
two sides and that everyone should have a chance to share their beliefs. “We’re not trying as a club to deny anyone’s freedom of speech;
we just want the same in return,” Rehman said. *Full name has been redacted for privacy.
Council readies budget for optional fee crisis MARTIN ALLEN NEWS EDITOR @MTRALLEN On Wednesday, the USC solidified the budget they will pitch to students this summer as, for the first time, fees students pay to fund the government will be optional. The University Students’ Council held a special meeting, unanimously passing a fee schedule and an executive budget without debate. The new fee schedule contains 20 ancillary fees totalling $871, or $939.88 for first-years, who can pay an optional orientation week fee. There are 12 other optional fees, which will be put to students as they pay tuition in the summer. It could be until September that the USC learns how many students paid for what, meaning services that rely on the optional fees could face drastic cuts with the academic year already begun. The mandatory fees constitute $420, or 45 per cent of the total amount a student could pay. The largest fees by far are $124 for student buildings, and $262 bus passes. USC president Mitchell Pratt noted a victory in advocating for making transit passes an “essential” fee while he presented to council before the vote. The Jan. 17 mandate from the Progressive Conservatives, which did not make the fee mandatory, was changed two weeks after it was first announced.
He added that student unions were given one PowerPoint slide of elaboration from the government after the bombshell announcement, which already left many details unclear. Though fees for the USC’s health and dental plans are listed as mandatory, they, as always, can be opted out of on a separate website. Both fees increased, however, to $161 and $155, respectively. After council was notified in November that costs to provide the insurance were increasing and a larger fee increase than usual was necessary, the USC held a referendum, which was ultimately invalidated. The fees were nonetheless increased to their maximum without-referendum amount — seven per cent. The 13 optional fees total to $84, or $203 with the O-Week fee. Several notable services now face funding crises as their fee was switched abruptly to the opt-out model: the student refugee service ($0.83), community legal services ($5.72) and government advocacy ($8.75). The Gazette is also funded by an optional fee of $19.43. Council also passed an executive budget, which partitions money to each of the five executive portfolios. The student programs officer, who oversees clubs and O-Week, is allotted by far the largest amount in $297,413. All five positions total $682,388.
MARTIN ALLEN GAZETTE Andreea Bejan, USC secretary -treasurer, produced and presented the budget to council during Wednesday night’s meeting, March 27, 2019.
Council will present the approved fee schedule and executive budget to Western University’s Board of Governors, which is responsible for the school’s land and finances. In the summer, council will refine its budget more, especially the orientation budget. And in the fall, when the USC learns how many students paid for each fee, it could revise almost everything to adjust.
CROSSWORD SOLUTION Solution to puzzle on page 9
news
TUESDAY, APRIL 2, 2019 •
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NO BRT FOR WESTERN
Vote fails for north and west routes JUDY BASMAJI NEWS EDITOR @JUDYBASMAJI
London’s city council voted against pursuing government funding for the north and west connections of the bus rapid transit plan at a meeting on March 26, effectively cutting the plan’s route through Western campus. The motion to pursue funding for the $147 million north connection along Richmond Street and through Western University failed by a 5–8 vote. This route constitutes the highest annual ridership, mainly due to serving Western campus. Members who voted in opposition, including Mayor Ed Holder, cited concerns over spillover traffic to surrounding neighborhoods and potential harm to businesses in the area and to Londoners who commute by car. “It’s really disappointing not to see this go through,” said Danny
Chang, vice-president of the University Students’ Council. “It’s unfortunate that students haven’t been listened to, because we’ve been bringing this up for a very long time.… Students are literally being left at the side of the road, and yet, we make up half of the [London Transit Commission]’s ridership.” The BRT’s $72 million west connection from downtown, through Riverside Road, up Wharncliffe Road and from Oxford Street to Wonderland Road, also failed to move forward for funding by a close 7–8 vote. Motions to pursue funding for the three other routes — the Wellington Gateway, the East London Link and the Downtown Loop — were passed by council. Chang explained these cuts to the BRT plan will leave $94 million of $500 million in available provincial and federal funding for London city transit
unused. He added the tight deadline for bringing forward proposals for government funding does not leave time to use the amount for alternative transit plans that benefit city infrastructure. Rather, the financial burden of future infrastructure needs will be put on the London taxpayer. “There wouldn’t be time to take advantage of that money, which is why we need to move forward on a plan that’s been researched for years by experts with professional degrees related to doing this research,” said Chang. “Moving forward, we’re going to have to improve our roads, we’re going to have to improve the ways that people get through the city, and we have money in front of us right now that this council is not taking advantage of.” The votes passed at the meeting were ratified at a full council meeting on the evening of March 26..
VIA THE BRT WEBSITE
Course on history of beer is coming to Western ASHLEY GOVEAS NEWS INTERN @UWOGAZETTE A new online course about the history of beer will be available for students this May. History 2192A — Beer: The Business, Social and Cultural History of a Global Beverage — is a six-week distance course coming to Western University this
summer. It looks at the story of beer through Mesopotamia and Egypt and moves into medieval Europe to discuss how beer has expanded throughout the world. Mike Dove, assistant professor at Western University, will be teaching the online course in the summer. He said the course takes a global approach to discussing the role that the production and
Western’s top 10 paid made $3.9m in 2018 GAZETTE NEWS @UWOGAZETTE Western’s top ten earners made over $3.9 million in 2018, according to Ontario’s annual disclosure of public sector employee compensation. The disclosures are an annual record of all public sector employees who received a salary of over $100,000. It is sometimes referred to as the “sunshine list.” President Amit Chakma, a fixture of each year’s list, made $531,230 in salary and benefits. He was the third-highest paid university official in the province. Chakma’s 2015 disclosure of $967,244 revealed he had taken administrative leave pay before taking the leave itself, nearly doubling his salary. Davy Cheng, acting dean of Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry and the second-highest at Western University, was 17th in Ontario at $460,675. Cheng’s
salary nearly doubled over the last year. In late 2018, he was promoted from chair of anesthesia and perioperative medicine department to Schulich’s vice dean of faculty affairs. The next highest are economics professor Stephen Williamson and acting dean of Ivey Mark Vandenbosch, who each earn above $400,000 in salary and benefits. Of the top 10, whose collected compensation totalled $3,986,330, only two are women. The first is former Western provost Janice Deakin, who was paid a total of $343,258 last year. The other is vice-president (external) Kelly Cole who was paid a total of $342,307. Further, the list contains several sharp spikes in compensation. Williamson’s total pay increased by 101 per cent, while Schulich vice-dean Jay Rosenfield’s pay increased by 200 per cent.
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consumption of beer has had in world economies and cultures. “We go back as far as when grains were first harvested. So that’s important whether you’re a drinker or not,” said Dove. Dove said the course could easily spark discussion: “It certainly gives you a lot to talk about at the local pub or nightclub on a Friday or Saturday night,” he said. Dove mentioned that the course does not intend to promote the consumption of alcohol. Instead, it looks at the rising cultural relevance that beer has
across the world. Beer production increases employment and tackles gender and sexuality through discussion of the roles women have had in globalizing beer, according to Dove. In light of St. Patrick’s Day, he also mentioned there is a spread of a romanticized representation of Irish traditions which appeal to stereotypes around beer consumption. This picture of an Irish community is an idealization by beer companies, who use it to promote a nostalgia already fueled by events like St. Patrick’s Day. “Most Dublin pubs don’t put
green dye in the beer — it’s an American invention” said Dove. “In Ireland, it’s known more as a religious feast of Saint Patrick, the patron saint of Ireland.” The course hopes to dispel the stereotypes and myths that have grown-up around beer and its promotion. “Students who live here in London who certainly spend a lot of time here as undergraduate students should be aware that there were a lot of good stories around beer production,” said Dove.
How the 2019 federal budget impacts postsecondary students JUDY BASMAJI NEWS EDITOR @JUDYBASMAJI Released on March 19, the federal government’s annual budget for 2019 announced several investments impacting post-secondary students across Canada, including Indigenous students, graduate students and students with permanent disabilities. Here is a breakdown of the most significant initiatives, totaling nearly $3.5 billion, that target students in higher education: Lower student loan interest rates and 6-month interest-free grace period To ease the financial pressures on students, the budget plans to lower the floating interest rate for Canada Student Loan borrowers from its current rate of prime plus 2.5 percentage points to prime only, starting in 2019-20. It will also lower the fixed interest rate from its current rate of prime plus 5.0 percentage points to prime plus 2.0 percentage points, starting in 2019-20. Further, the budget will make the six-month grace period after leaving school interest-free for student loan borrowers to help them successfully
transition to the labour market. This change effectively reverses the provincial government’s recent decision to eliminate the interest-free grace period after graduation. The budget dedicates $1.7 billion over the next five years to these two initiatives. Together, they are estimated to save the average student borrower around $2,000 over the lifetime of the loan, benefiting around 200,000 graduates per year. Increasing student loan access for vulnerable borrowers The budget invests a total of $111 million over five years to make the Canada Student Loans Program more accessible to students with vulnerable life or financial situations. For students with disabilities, this amount will increase the cap on the Canada Student Grant for Services and Equipment for Students with Permanent Disabilities from $8,000 to $20,000 per year. It will also expand eligibility for the Severe Permanent Disability Benefit so that more students with disabilities qualify for loan forgiveness. To allow students with permanent disabilities to return to school
after a long absence, the budget will also remove the restriction stating that borrowers using the Repayment Assistance Plan for Borrowers with a Permanent Disability who have been out of study for five years cannot receive further loans and grants until outstanding loans are paid in full, starting in 2020-21. For other students with financial struggles, the budget plans to increase the eligibility for loan rehabilitation for borrowers who default on their student loans, so they can access supports such as the Repayment Assistance Plan. The budget will also implement interest-free and payment-free leave in six-month stackable periods up to 18 months for borrowers taking temporary leave from their studies for medical or parental reasons, including mental health leave. In addition, to account for these changes to student loan access, the budget will increase compensation to provinces and territories partnered with the Canada Student Loans Program by $20 million over five years, starting in 2019-20. Check out the rest of this article online at www.westerngazette.ca.
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opinions
TUESDAY, APRIL 2, 2019
Work toward your career, even if stuck in a dingy summer job
CARMEN MALLIA CULTURE EDITOR @CARMMALLIA Summer is quickly approaching, which means some students will land their dream jobs while others will be grilling hot dogs. You always want to be doing work that is as closely related to your field of study as possible. But most times, students are stuck working minimum-wage, bottomof-the-barrel summer jobs that have nothing to do with the careers they wish to pursue. If your dream is to be a computer scientist, there’s a good chance you want to get involved with Silicon Valley tech companies like Google, Intel or Microsoft over the summer. If you want to go into journalism, you’ve probably been fervently sending your portfolio to every Postmedia Network-owned publication across Canada. But in all honesty, most Mustangs won’t land the position of their dreams, because good summer jobs are scarce these days and competition is through the roof. It’s OK though; don’t let your entry-level summer job spent working the cash register at Shoppers Drug Mart or managing a group of obnoxious grade school kids at summer camp be the end of your world. There is so much you can do to get involved in your industry during the next four months, even if you won’t be doing what you love. Researching, networking and building a portfolio are some things you can do this summer to set up the blueprints for next year’s job application spree. For the first time in my life, I had a summer job I loved last summer, working as a communications intern for the City of London. But I
we get letters
Paternalism in residence: My story Content warning: Discussions of mental illness and self-harm. I am grateful that Western University puts so many resources into providing mental health services for their students. I have used these resources and they have helped me get through some difficult times. However, there is a difference between providing help and imposing it. Last week, I called the front desk asking for someone to bandage a cut I had on my wrist. The Student Emergency Response Team came and said that I had to go to the hospital for stitches. The residence
manager also talked to me about my mental health and what supports I would need going forward. I assured her that I was coping well with my depression. I was seeing a psychiatrist, counsellor and was on medication. So, my cut was taken care of, and I had supports in place for my mental health. End of story, right? I am 20 years old. The residence manager insisted that I call my parents to pick me up from the hospital. I explicitly told her that I was not going to do that and assured her I would tell them about my hospital trip in my own time. It was then that I realized I had no choice in the matter because she was going to call
SAMIT KHALSA GAZETTE
BY GAZETTE EDITORIAL BOARD
Childish Carmino
was finishing my third year of university when I got it, meaning that I’d spent the previous two summers doing a job I hated. Every day from May to August, for the previous two years before I landed that sweet internship, I would wake up at 9 a.m. and dread the thought of getting out of bed to work a minimum-wage job in the scorching heat for eight to upward of 10 hours, six days a week. But the truth is, I was content working this type of job, because it made me realize that I had to get the hell out of the service industry and start building credentials for myself in any way possible. I spent most of my spare time trying to achieve this task; reading and networking online was the only shot I had at training myself for the future and making meaningful connections. I spent a lot of my free time networking with people I knew in the industry. I had multiple conversations with peers in great media positions, trying to get my foot in the door while also constantly explaining the level of jealousy I had toward them. I also started writing for a small online publication in order to build my resumé by writing about marketing-related content. Sure, this might not have been the summer experience I imagined I would get, but it was the summer experience I needed in order to work my way up in the media industry. Not only did writing for an unknown publication help me show off my skills going into my third year of university, but it also proved to be a great pastime while stuck in a service job. I know what it’s like to be stuck in a meagre job, feeling down. But it’s important to work towards your career in any way you can — whether that means networking, blogging or volunteering. In all honesty, working an entrylevel job this summer might be the best thing for you. It will force you to do whatever it takes to get out of that position next year.
Procrastination doesn’t mean you’re lazy
Procrastination affects everyone at one point or another, whether it be cleaning the kitchen to avoid studying for a midterm or doing laundry to put off calculus homework. With finals right around the corner, procrastination is a bigger issue for students now more than ever. While you might think your procrastination is the result of laziness, researchers have found that procrastination is actually a way of coping with negative emotions. According to Tim Pychyl, a professor of psychology at Carleton University, “procrastination is an emotion regulation problem, not a time management problem.” Pychyl, along with psychology professor Fuschia Sirois from the University of Sheffield, concluded in a 2013 study that procrastination is focused on fixing short-term emotions rather than finishing a long-term goal. Members of the Gazette editorial board expressed that procrastination is a huge problem in their lives, with a lack of motivation being one of the biggest factors. Some editors state that their procrastination has gotten worse since starting university, becoming a normalized part of getting work done. Others added that they felt burnt out, and that the culture of procrastination has normalized all-nighters. In fact, a 2007 study conducted by professor Piers Steel of the University of Calgary revealed that 80 to 90 per cent of university students engaged in some form of procrastination. Doing things that were viewed as more enjoyable or beneficial was often done to counter feelings of failure and self-doubt from the actual task. But be forewarned: procrastination can have an effect on one’s physical and mental
health, with reported symptoms like chronic stress, general psychological distress, low life satisfaction, depression, anxiety, poor health behaviours and cardiovascular disease. So how does one combat procrastination? The answer is, in theory, self-love. Half of our editorial board was skeptical about the effectiveness of self-love in battling procrastination. Some found that partaking in unhealthy coping mechanisms, like not eating until the task was finished, motivated them to work faster and harder. Others found self-compassion to be inefficient. Even the use of negative self-talk was seen as more effective for some, as it motivated them to overcome those negative thoughts by finishing the task. But despite the unhealthy coping habits students often take on, positivity has been scientifically proven to work. A 2012 study conducted by Sirois concluded that self-compassion provides “a buffer against negative reactions to self-relevant events.” Instead of resorting to unhealthy habits, one could divide the assignment into smaller tasks to gradually overcome the larger issue at hand. Surrounding yourself with other students and friends who have similar goals can also help you stayed motivated. Even the simple change of vocabulary — positive self-talk — is promoted by mental health experts to combat feelings of insecurity and failure. The fight against procrastination is hard. It won’t happen overnight: it may take days, weeks or months to change bad habits. But hey, even if you reward yourself with gummy bears for every paragraph you read, at least the work is getting done — right?
Editorials are decided by a majority of the editorial board and are written by a member of the editorial board but are not necessarily the expressed opinion of each editorial board member. All other opinions are strictly those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the USC, The Gazette, its editors or staff. To submit a letter, go to westerngazette.ca and click on “Contact.”
them if I didn’t. As you can imagine, this made things much worse. Reaching out for help was a stressful experience on its own, but can you imagine having your autonomy and privacy taken away because of it? Autonomy is an important right that respects an individual’s dignity. It acknowledges that one is capable of making decisions for themselves and has the freedom to do so, within legal limits. I was shocked that the residence manager was able to bypass this right, so I started examining the residence contract, namely the Self Care and Safety Plan, which is in place to “help you realize that your mental health
and well-being is a shared responsibility.” This plan allows Western, among other things, to contact parents without consent “out of concern for your well-being.” These rules are reflective of paternalism, something that is ethically controversial in medical practice and has somehow found its way into Western’s residence contract. Even though you may tell a residence manager the same thing you would tell a counsellor or psychiatrist, they are not bound by the same obligation to confidentiality. I appreciate Western’s consideration for its students, but I will not be reaching out to residence again
until Western finds a better balance between providing support and respecting the autonomy of its students. I am not discouraging anyone from reaching out when help is needed; my goal is to make this information available to my peers so they can make an informed decision regarding who they reach out to and how their rights are protected. There are many counsellors, psychiatrists and services on and off campus that respect the right to confidentiality, but residence policy is not one of them. — Third-year student* *A name is not being used to protect the writer’s privacy.
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TUESDAY, APRIL 2, 2019 •
Addiction on campus: Resources out of sight, out of mind
KYRA KARAKATSANIS GAZETTE
“I tried my first drug and literally could not get enough. They quickly took over my life, and I became disconnected from almost everyone…. I was constantly thinking about how I could get more,” says Savannah Schnurr. Addiction, the state of being physically and mentally dependent on a substance: it’s not often associated with university students, but perhaps it’s time to re-evaluate. Schnurr, a second-year business student at Wilfred Laurier University, knows this can affect anyone. Western University professor of psychology Riley Hinson believes that the prevalence and extent of addiction on campus communities is far greater than what one might think. While Western has well-known general psychological resources and support groups, resources specifically targeting addiction, recovery or substance abuse are under-discussed. In response to this, Hinson challenged the students of his Addiction: Theories and Research course to create a community engagement event providing support for students who may be struggling. On March 26, a group of students from the course hosted the interactive event, Recovery
Addiction Awareness Day. The event, which was the first of its kind, featured guest speakers, live musicians and booths with various resources from the London community. The speakers shared personal stories of addiction and the booths aimed to educate students on recovery outlets available to them. The event founders, Rebecca Hocke and Taylor Pratt, have seen first-hand the effects of alcohol, drug abuse and the current opioid crisis in London, and they were surprised that no addiction awareness event had previously been held at an Ontario university. The prevalence of addiction combined with the lack of university resources and awareness pushed Hocke and Pratt to close this gap by engaging their peers and raising awareness through RAAD. With the help of executives of the Western University Technology Review — Ally Johnston, Brian Bursic and Mateo Molinaro — the organizing team was able to create an event that fulfilled this goal. FAVOR Canada, The Salvation Army Centre of Hope and Withdrawal Management Centre, Celebrate Recovery, Addiction Service of Thames Valley, Middlesex London Health Unit, and Western’s Wellness Education Centre all partnered with the event, setting up booths for students to see how various organizations around London were involved. The entire event was eye-opening as an uncommon community of resources were displayed in the UCC to kick off the process of
COURTESY OF RILEY HINSON The RAAD organizers stand together after a successful event, March 26, 2019.
“Anytime I had a substance was the only time I felt OK in my skin,”
• MACALL
de-stigmatizing student addiction. The most impactful part of the event was undoubtedly the hour-long panel featuring an honest and candid report between students and two people in recovery from addiction, Katelyn and Macall*. A group of about 20 students gathered to listen to Katelyn and Macall reflect on their time struggling with addiction while at Western. Macall identified the root cause of her addiction as being the pressure to be perfect. She also mentioned that she felt she didn’t fit in. “Anytime I had a substance was the only time I felt OK in my skin,” Macall recalls. Katelyn connected with Macall on struggling with perfectionism and described the overarching theme of her addiction was fueled by substances being used as her crutch. “I was not able to cope in school, and drugs were my solution,” she says. Katelyn continued to describe her time battling addiction while at Western, and her statements are, ironically, sobering. “I used substances to cope as a student, and that translated into using a different substance to achieve whatever it was I needed in the moment: Adderall to study, alcohol to party, weed to sleep,” says Katelyn.
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feature
TUESDAY, APRIL 2, 2019
COURTESY OF BRIAN BURSIC
“I found them extremely accessible.... I went to my first party [at university] and I saw people in the bathroom doing cocaine, and I was just instantly like, ‘Oh, where’d you get that?’
• SAVANNAH SCHNURR SECOND-YEAR BUSINESS STUDENT AT WILFRED LAURIER UNIVERSITY
Schnurr cited using substances for similar reasons to both Macall and Katelyn. She described using alcohol as a means to fit in and feel comfortable as well as a tool to achieve academic success. “I felt like [drinking] made me more interesting, and it was easier to socialize. Adderall was one of the very important ones that was in school culture, but I used to kind of just make me smarter in a sense: to help me focus and help me study,” says Schnurr. One of the problems, as Schnurr explained, was that it was all too easy to get a hold of her drug of choice. “I found them extremely accessible.... I went to my first party [at university] and I saw people in the bathroom doing cocaine, and I was just instantly like, ‘Oh, where’d you get that?’ ” says Schnurr. On the topic of entering recovery, Katelyn remembered the process being extremely difficult and taxing. “The hardest part was acknowledging I had a problem,” Katelyn states. To give context to her struggles, Katelyn told a story of breaking down while studying in the library. No longer having access to substances to cope, she became overwhelmed by her workload and began sobbing in her cubicle. While most students would turn to Netflix or a late night pizza run to help them de-stress from studying, Katelyn, in only her second year of recovery, had to access a much different resource. “I ended up having to call my sponsor,” she says. Wrapping up the prepared panel questions, Hocke and
Pratt opened the floor to the audience. Third-year history student Matthew MacDonald introduced himself as someone entering the process of recovery and asked the panelists if they could recommend any resources for him to access. “Attending AA is nice and all, but I think it might be a little more effective and comfortable if I could find support in my peers as opposed to 65-year-old bikers,” MacDonald says with a laugh. Katelyn empathized with MacDonald, recalling a time after one of her final exams where peers invited her out for wings and beers — what should be a fun and non-stressful outing for most university students — but was a triggering moment for Katelyn. “I remember feeling like it would’ve been so nice if I had a group of people my age to turn to at that time to hangout out with where alcohol didn’t have to be involved,” she says. The panelists believed that the lack of resources for addiction and recovery is associated with the stigma surrounding it. One such major stigma that addicts face is the misconception that addiction is a choice. Schnurr finds this misconception to be the most plaguing and wants peers to understand that when she is struggling or relapsing, it is not from a lack of effort in her recovery process. “I want people to know that [people addicted to drugs] have an illness and not a choice, right? The main point is addiction is an illness and is just not a choice at all,” Schnurr says. Professor Hinson also stressed the difference
between how physical illnesses are treated in comparison to addiction. With physical illnesses, whether it’s a broken bone, a virus or cancer — it’s very clear who, where and how to get help. Society empathizes and supports those with normalized physical conditions. “That’s not the roadmap for addiction,” says Hinson. The difficulties and nuances surrounding those struggling with addiction and recovery is what fuelled the passion Macall and Katelyn used to share their stories and inspired Hocke and Pratt to create RAAD.
“The hardest part was acknowledging I had a problem.”
• KATELYN
“This is a really great event to begin shifting the conversation,” Macall remarks. For those questioning whether they or someone they know might be participating in substance abuse, or are trying to separate normal university behaviour from having an addiction, Katelyn responded that although she can’t speak specifically to anyone else’s experience but her own, she believes that the defining factor of substance abuse is when an individual feels the need to use a substance to function. “What are the motivations behind using? Is it their only coping mechanism? If you are trying to convince yourself you don’t have a problem, you probably do,” she says. After acknowledging you may have a problem, the panelists urge that the next step is to find support. “I isolated myself and burned bridges for over a year,” says Macall. “Don’t do that. Make at least one connection with someone who is healthy and reach out for help.” If you recognize any of the forms of substance abuse outlined in this article in yourself or one of your peers, direction to resources is available from Western’s Wellness Education Centre. *Last names have been omitted for anonymity.
COURTESY OF BRIAN BURSIC Musicians, Cardinal and Crow + Tat, perform for event attendees, Mar. 26, 2019.
sports
TUESDAY, APRIL 2, 2019 •
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Bere recognized for outstanding rookie year
COURTESY OF BRANDON VAN DE CAVEYE
HANNAH DIEBOLD SPORTS STAFF @SPORTSATGAZETTE First-year Western Mustangs volleyballer Jackson Bere was one of seven athletes named to the U Sports All-Rookie team for the
2018-19 season. It was the perfect ending to a fantastic year for this up-and-coming Mustang. Prior to being picked for the U Sports All-Rookie team, Bere was named to the Ontario University Athletics All-Rookie squad. He
was also recognized as OUA West Division Rookie of the Year and an OUA West Division First Team All-Star. Needless to say, it was a highly decorated and successful rookie season for Bere. When asked to describe his season in one word, Bere said, “Amazing. I had a great supporting cast of guys who helped me do my thing.” Bere was strong throughout the entire season and his statistics speak for themselves. He had a striking hitting percentage of .421, which led the OUA, and he averaged 2.22 kills per set. While Bere would certainly indicate attacking as the strongest area of his game, his versatility cannot be understated. He was ranked fifth in the OUA for total blocks during the season. Though the aforementioned statistics are individual, Bere underscored the importance of his teammates. “It was great having a veteran setter,” said Bere on his on-court chemistry with Matt Hooker. “It
is a lot easier for me to hit when I am being set up by one of the best setters in the league.” Bere attributes much of the team’s success to the strong dynamic it has off the court “We are just amazing friends,” said Bere. “We hang out on the court, off the court. Practice is competitive, but we’re always pushing each other to try and make everyone better.” As a whole, the team had a strong season filled with progress and success. “We had some big home wins against strong teams like [the] McMaster [Marauders] and [the] Windsor [Lancers],” explained Bere. “It was all good up until the quarterfinals and the tough loss against the University of Toronto.” In the OUA quarterfinals, the Mustangs played the Toronto Varsity Blues and, in a hard-fought battle, lost 3–2. Bere attributed the unexpected momentum from the Varsity Blues, as well as a loss of focus on the part of the Mustangs, as the deciding factors in the
match. Nevertheless, Bere remains highly motivated to compete for bigger and better things next season. “We have a great group of guys back, and we will be highly competitive,” said Bere. “While we are losing two big pieces, if we push, I know that victory is still ours for the taking.” While Bere certainly has big hopes for the Mustangs program moving forward, he also has his eyes set on representing Canada in international competition. In the more proximate future, Bere is looking to make the Canadian junior national team this summer. Last year, he was a key player on the under-18 Canadian national team. With that experience, alongside the momentum he has gained from his highly successful rookie season with Western, his chances are looking good. If this season is indicative of Bere’s future with the sport, only good things can be expected.
’Stangs hockey taking advantage of analytics CHARLIE MARSHALL SPORTS EDITOR @CWMARSHALL98 Over the past three seasons, the Western Mustangs men’s hockey team has been increasing their use and knowledge of some key advanced statistics. The game tracking department has been aided greatly by the addition of Quinn Thompson two years ago. Thompson, full-time student and volunteer for the Mustangs, has worked in similar roles for both the Vancouver Whitecaps and the Major League Soccer head office. According to Mustangs head coach Clarke Singer, finding a volunteer as trustworthy as Thompson is rare in U Sports. “At the U Sport level, you only have so many good people that you trust to do work for you,” said Singer. “A lot of the budget is used up for your immediate coaching staff, so you [have] to find great volunteers.” Added to the difficulty of finding a good volunteer is the nature of the job. Specifically, Singer pointed to the need for consistency in the role. “With how difficult it is to track
analytics properly, if you don’t have somebody outstanding that you trust and who’s consistent about how they do it, there’s no use doing it because the information would not be valid,” stated Singer. Tracking these stats, as Singer explained, is no small task. Western University currently trusts Thompson to monitor Corsi, zone starts and homeplate shots. As well, this year, the Mustangs have added game score — a statistic that assigns weights to a number of outcomes in order to quantify the productivity of a player on any given night. While these numbers are available to the coaches during every intermission, Singer explained that the most formative work is done after the final whistle. During this time, the coaches are able to digest the statistics along with the other aspects of the game in order to adjust for the upcoming week. But while, the stats are certainly a nice addition for the coaching staff, the information is still not a perfect measurement of game performance, according to Singer.
“The one thing that’s critical about advanced stats is that it’s a piece of the puzzle. It’s not the only thing because there are some weaknesses with it,” explained Signer. “For example, you look at a player’s numbers: well, those numbers may be impacted by who he’s playing with, who he’s playing against, how many minutes he gets, where he starts on the ice every time.” Similarly, while the players are given some access to the numbers, the coaching staff is careful not to pile on additional information to the already crowded mind of a student-athlete. “They have so many things going on: they have school, they have workouts, they have the video we do, we have travel, we have our practices. I mean, the one thing in our level is you really have to balance what information you give to the players,” said Singer. “I would say 95 per cent of it is just in-house with the coaching staff, in terms of how we use it.” Even though these types of statistics have become commonplace in the NHL, Western is likely still one of the few teams in U Sports to track them. Singer
LUCY VILLENEUVE GAZETTE
asserted that Thompson’s work gives the Mustangs an edge over the competition. “I’m not sure, I haven’t talked about it a lot with a lot of my other colleagues,” responded Singer when asked how many other teams rely on advanced stats. “Obviously I know there are a few teams doing it, and I know
it’s very, very important for what we do.” Moving forward, the Mustangs will look to tap into every possible advantage in order to push even farther next season. The 201819 team won 20 games and fell one goal short of making the U Sport national championship in Lethbridge, Alta.
Western rowing hosts fundraiser for alum
COURTESY OF MUSTANG ATHLETICS
STEPHANIE ORLANDO SPORTS EDITOR @SPORTSATGAZETTE Over the last 10 years, the Western rowing team has partnered with the Canadian Cancer Society
and the Canadian Mental Health Association to raise money and awareness for the communities they support. The ergathon is an annual event where the team rows hundreds of
thousands of metres on a rowing machine at White Oaks Mall. This past week, Western rowing hosted their ergathon in honour of a cause that was very close to their hearts. The team dedicated the event to Jennifer Broxterman, an alum of the rowing program. Two weeks after her 34th birthday, Broxterman received devastating news. She was diagnosed with a rare high-grade ovarian cancer that spread into her colon and up through her abdominal cavity. The event donated half of the funds raised to local families through the London Regional Cancer Program in honour of Broxterman. “She rowed here in 2008 to 2010, and now she’s a professor at Brescia
[University College]. She owns a gym with Dave Henry, who is her husband; it’s CrossFit London,” said heavy weight women’s varsity captain Nicole Baranowski. “I used to go to CrossFit last year, so I was kind of friends with her from that and then this past December when she got diagnosed with cancer it really touched me in a way.” Broxterman underwent a massive surgery that not only affected her ovaries, but other parts of her body as well. Post-surgery, Broxterman had to relearn how to walk on her right leg. She successfully did so, showing great strength to this day. Along with rowing for Western, Broxterman was also a Canadian national champion, winning the
singles event at the Canadian University Rowing Championships and leading Western to multiple national banners. She was a huge part of the Western rowing program, making this event so significant for the team. “She had an event in early January to raise money for her expenses and then after that there needs to be more that’s done and, since she’s a Western rowing alum the team should be involved in helping her, so I just tried to think of an event to do that,” said Baranowski. Baranowski brought the idea to her team with high hopes for the event. Along with several other executives on the rowing team, they put upwards of 50 hours into planning the event.
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TUESDAY, APRIL 2, 2019
Miguel Wason holds nothing back
COURTESY OF MIGUEL WASON
ALEX MCCOMB SPORTS STAFF @SPORTSATGAZETTE If you were to walk into the office of athletic trainer Miguel Wason, the many framed photos of notable athletes he has trained will immediately catch your eye. Athletic Fluency, the athletic facility in the core of downtown London that Wason opened in September 2018, is decorated with many pictures and jerseys of the athletes he holds dear to his heart. Something that you won’t see: his own accolades. On the surface, you would never know that Wason was once a twosport athlete at Western University, playing varsity football and running
track for the Mustangs while completing an undergraduate degree in psychology. Arriving at Western in 2006, Wason began playing football for the Mustangs as a wide receiver but quickly switched over to the defensive side of the ball to defensive back. During his first year, Wason’s performance running track earned him the team’s Most Valuable Player award. Wason said his time in the purple and white provided him with more lessons on life — particularly life after school — than his classes ever did. Wason explained that, while studying and playing at Western, one of the most valuable lessons he learned was how to take a negative
situation and turn it into something positive. “You learn how to become self-sufficient in university, and you learn more about yourself as an individual, being away from everything that you’re used to,” said Wason. Wason didn’t pick up a football until he was 14. He credits his success on the gridiron to his overall athletic ability, as he has participated in a variety of different sports outside of football. “The fact that I could come here at 14 years old and pick up a sport and do as well as I did to spite never playing it before in my life had nothing to do with me being a good football player,” said Wason, who moved to Canada from Barbados at the age of 11. “It had everything into me being good athlete. As long as you’re athletic, it works.” For Wason, it was important to open his own athletic facility, rather than ride the coattails of others at another gym or within a university structure. “There comes a point in time when you realize you’re better at doing things than everyone else who’s trying to do them, and you just say no,” explained Wason. “I’m not looking to work for people anymore who know less about what I’m trying to do than I do. It’s that simple.” Wason emphasized that, oftentimes, young athletes in London can be held back by others — something he strives to avoid. As an example of this, he points to current NCAA football players and twin brothers Chase and Sydney Brown. Chase, a freshman tailback at Western Michigan University, and Sydney, a freshman who ended
Seven Mustangs invited to CFL scouting combine CHARLIE MARSHALL SPORTS EDITOR @CWMARSHALL98 From March 22 to 24, four Western Mustangs football players competed in the CFL National Combine. As well, an additional four Mustangs competed in the Ontario Regional Combine on March 21. Hakeem Johnson, Cedric Joseph, Chris Merchant and Fraser Sopik each competed in the 40-yard dash, vertical jump, broad jump, three-cone drill and shuttle. The three latter Mustangs also submitted scores for bench press, but Johnson did not. Johnson took home the fastest overall time in the three-cone drill at the combine with a final result of 6.75 seconds. In each of the other drills, among fellow defensive backs, the Brampton native finished first in the 40-yard dash, sixth in vertical leap, fifth in broad jump and second in the shuttle run. Sopik entered the combine ranked as the 19th best prospect according to the CFL Scouting Bureau. The reigning Mustangs tackle leader was also listed as the best linebacker and fifth-best defensive player. The Ontario University Athletics First-Team All-Star followed through on his high prospect ranking, finishing first in the 40-yard dash, broad jump, three cone drill and shuttle run,
and second in bench press and vertical jump among linebackers at the event. Merchant was one of just two quarterbacks to attend the competition. Nevertheless, the signal caller bested the Univeristy of British Columbia’s Michael O’Connor in the 40-yard dash, broad jump, three-cone drill and shuttle run. The Thunderbirds pivot overcame Merchant in bench press, though. During the regular season, O’Connor threw for 2,701 yards to Merchant’s 2,094. However, it should be noted that the UBC quarterback recorded 142 more passing attempts – almost double that of Merchant. In total, Merchant posted a 200.6 passer efficiency rating, while O’Connor finished with a rating of 154.1. Joseph finished third or fourth among running backs in each of the combine competitions. Western’s leading rusher still has an expansive regular season resumé to fall back on, however as he finished second in U Sports for rushing yards and first for rushing touchdowns in 2018. Gregoire Bouchard, Philippe Dion and Andrew Thurston competed in the CFL Ontario Regional Combine. Johnson competed in both the regional and national events. Both Thurston and Bouchard finished in the top five in bench press with respective totals of 24 and 23 reps.
this season as a starting safety at the University of Illinois, both hail from London. Wason worked with the brothers since their high school days but mentioned how many people in their hometown told the twins that they were destined to play at Western and nothing more. “For their entire lives, everyone was like, ‘Oh, you’re going end up playing football at Western, and you’re going to be great football players at Western, and then you’re going to the CFL,’ ” recalled Wason. “I was like, ‘No, you’re going to leave Canada. You’re going to go play high school football in Florida, and then you’re going to go to the NCAA, and then you’re going to the NFL.’ ” Wason has worked with a number of other successful athletes at different levels of football, such as second-year Western Mustangs middle linebacker Myles Manalo. During the Mustangs Vanier Cup victory in 2017, Manalo tore his ACL in the waning moments of the game’s fourth quarter. He decided to use his second-year season to recover and train for 2019.
The Burlington native said he was able to make great strides in his recovery since training at Athletic Fluency with Wason. “Going to Miguel, he’s really the one who taught me how to run using my hips and not just my legs, something I never even understood before,” explained Manalo. “He’s pretty straightforward with you, and he’s not the type of guy that hides his thoughts or beats around the bush. He doesn’t hold anything back.” Fraser Sopik and Hakeem Johnson, two other notable Mustang football players, also spent time with Wason ahead of the 2019 CFL National Combine that took place on last week. For Western students and student-athletes alike, Wason’s advice is quite simple. “If you want to do something, go for it and don’t let anyone tell you no,” said Wason. “The people who tell you no can’t fathom how to do what you’re trying to do, so they’re always going to tell you no. Talk to people that believe in what you want to do and will help you get to where you want to be.”
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EVENTS JOIN MEDIEVAL STUDIES at Western for a lecture series at the Central Library on a variety of exciting topics! Tuesday, April 2: Prof. Marjorie Ratcliffe (Spanish) will trek the Camino de Santiago and look at Martin Sheen’s film The Way. Tuesday, April 9: Prof. Jane Toswell (English) will discuss Lord of the Rings. Tuesday, April 16: Prof. Rob Wardhaugh (History) will discuss Dungeons and Dragons. 7 PM at Stevenson & Hunt Room. YEAR END CONCERT UWO Choir Goes to the Movies. Saturday at 1 PM – 3 PM at St. John the Evangelist Anglican Church. 280 St. James St A LECTURE BY James Ashby, Oversize, Overdue: The Architecture of the D.B. Weldon Library. Join us for a lively, informal discussion following Ashby’s lecture with panelists Michael McClelland (Principal ERA Architects Inc., Toronto), Sandra Miller (Architectural Conservancy Ontario, London), and David R. Murphy (Principal, Murphy & Murphy Architect, Inc.), London. Wednesday April 10, 3:00 p.m. Weldon Library, Rm. WL258, Western University TIPS ON HOW TO AVOID BEING PHISHED 1. Never respond to emails that request personal financial information. Reputable companies don’t ask for passwords or account details in an email. 2. Keep a regular check on your accounts Regularly log into your online accounts, and check your statements. Report any suspicous transactions to your bank.
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culture
TUESDAY, APRIL 2, 2019 •
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SCIENCE BEHIND:
Getting sick during exams KRISTIN LEE CULTURE EDITOR @KRIIISLEE
Cue the chorus of sniffles and sneezes, the pockets stuffed with tissues and the time of year when everyone seems to get sick simultaneously: exam season. But it’s not a coincidence students get sick right in the midst of all their final papers and tests. Sore throats and pounding headaches during the most inconvenient times of the year can partly be blamed on stress levels, although they’re not a direct cause. In fact, stress only plays a role in influencing behaviours in unpredictable ways. “Lack of sleep, poor diet and lack of physical activity are all behavioural risk factors which may be driven by stressful conditions,” says Saverio Stranges, professor and chair of the department of epidemiology and biostatistics at Western University. When students are under pressure from exams, stress levels inevitably rise, which supports unhealthy lifestyles. For example, losing sleep by studying for an exam may affect
your appetite regulation and may increase the production of certain hormones like leptin, which causes people to eat more, or ghrelin, which causes people to eat less, according to Stranges. Immune systems may also be negatively impacted by these stressors. Stranges says that when immune systems are under pressure, the individual is more likely to get a common illness, like a cold or influenza. Individuals can also be vulnerable to more serious diseases, such as irritable bowel syndrome, which affects the large intestine; anxiety issues, which are intensified by stress; heart palpitations, which are irregular heartbeats; increased blood pressure, which increases the risks of a heart attack or stroke; or even more systemic chronic diseases. “Good health starts with good lifestyle habits,” says Stranges. “When our bodies go outside that physiological window of balance and hormones driven by a healthy lifestyle, we’re more inclined to get diseases, and the immune system is one of those systems which is most
ANASTASIIA FEDOROVA GAZETTE
affected under these circumstances.” One of the most important things, Stranges emphasizes, is trying to keep a good balance in terms of sleep. He advises keeping in mind the amount of hours students spend studying, but also spending time doing physical activity, which also reconciles with good quality sleep. Preparing healthy foods, maintaining social interactions and avoiding social isolation are all things Stranges says students could do to reduce their stress levels and partake in healthy lifestyles. Although these seem obvious, they’re friendly reminders to consider, especially during exam season when the brain tends to be forgetful as it’s preoccupied with other things. This is not to say there’s no pressure, because there is an
overwhelming amount of it when students are focusing on their grades, their social lives and their health at the same time. The education system — and its emphasis on high grades can be detrimental, but at the end of the day, Stranges reminds students that if they are sick or unhealthy, they are less likely to perform their peak in terms of brain function. “This is something you learn to balance over time,” admits Stranges. “In a sense, we need to educate ourselves to living a healthy lifestyle, [and] we need to consider it as part of our life,… not something that you need to do in addition to your daily routine. So you need to allocate time to do this.” In other words, taking an extra 10 minutes the night before a study
day to make a simple and healthy sandwich could go a long way to fuel the brain and body. Even within these stressful periods, building daily routines to incorporate and cultivate a healthy lifestyle is something students should embrace. “Don’t look at your lifestyle as something out of your control,” says Stranges. There are always ways to cope and get support from family, friends, professors and health professionals. Remember to take a break if you need to. Students can receive direction and support from the Wellness Education Centre at (519) 661-2111, ext. 87127. The WEC has drop-in hours Monday to Friday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. in UCC Rm 76.
Staunch women and more: WUFS’s successful year TANIYA SPOILA CULTURE INTERN @UWOGAZETTE
LUCY VILLENEUVE GAZETTE
‘The Mirror’: history gets digital facelift SAMANTHA BLOOM CULTURE INTERN @UWOGAZETTE Canada’s oldest undergraduate history journal, The Mirror, founded in 1981, publishes undergraduate history essays from all across Canada. This year alone, they had 13 submissions across four provinces. Marisa Coulton, Editor-in-Chief of The Mirror and a fourth-year international relations student at Western University, has made it her mission to help The Mirror make its way into the modern world. “Under my tenure, we’ve been able to establish a website, which didn’t exist before, an online submissions wizard, social media presence and platforms, and we started to use Google Drive for edits.” She credits Western Libraries for a lot of this new technology, as they provide students with a platform called Open Journal System, which is a “subsidiary of Western Libraries,” Coulton describes. The platform has risen in popularity among student journals as of late due to the elegant submissions system behind it. OJS exists to provide journals with a free tool to make open-access publishing possible. The software’s mission ties handin-hand with that of The Mirror in that they both seek to share quality research with the public.
Part of the reason this new submissions system is so important is that it widens the scope the magazine can have. In the past, submissions had to be done by mail, and all editing had to be done on paper. This made editing a much lengthier process, and submitting essays — especially from out-of-province universities — was a hassle. Not everyone, however, understands the importance of publications like this one. It may just be a history magazine to some, but to ambitious history students, it can offer the first real chance to get published. Opportunities for publication during your undergrad career can be difficult to come by, but according to Coulton, it’s “kind of a big deal.” Getting research or essays published can bolster your internship and graduate school candidacy, and can also play a key role in obtaining scholarships. The peer-review aspect of The Mirror helps give editors a taste ofwhat a career in publishing might be like while also exposing them to history papers from students across Canada. Making the magazine more varied and innovative has also involved taking away the bias that was previously present in the magazine. Although the editing board consists
of Western students and the magazine is based at Western, the magazine operates on a national scale. “I wanted to alleviate bias, so I established an anonymous submissions process. Because it was anonymous, we ended up selecting two essays by the same guy: Matt Sparling,” explains Coulton. “The fact is, because it was anonymous, both of his essays got a fair shot. At the end of the day, we were like, ‘Oh my god, can we publish twice?’ And we were like, ‘You know what? We have to, because he earned it fair and square.’ ” The editorial board edits for style, content and clarity, but when selecting, they look for new and unique pieces. At the same time, the papers must have been written for an undergraduate history class, they must include the professors comments and have merited a grade of at least 80 per cent. Getting the magazine online is an important future goal for The Mirror, but for now, they’re a print publication that can be purchased online or at The Book Store at Western for $10. The Mirror still has a ways to go in online presence, but the journal represents opportunities for students, and Coulton is working hard to give the journal an “omnipresence” in 2019.
All eyes saw the same thing, but all ears heard different stories. People laughed, others frowned, but all were enraptured by the documentary on the screen. While there were the occasional scoffs of disbelief and snorts of laughter, the room remained otherwise silent as the audience was slowly drawn into the world of the Grey Gardens. The Western Undergraduate Film Society caters to the inquisitive. With weekly screenings of movies handpicked by the executive team and other groups, including the Iconoclast Collective and the Movies and Videos Productions Club, they aim to present a diverse front of films that keeps their audience aware, engaged and curious. Most recently, WUFS has programmed a curated set of four films collectively titled Staunch Women that speak to the various types of femininity. “We got to see women on the margins,” says Seline Boer, fifth-year film student and co-chair of WUFS. “We got a film from Japan dealing with expectations with tradition,… a film that experiences a female on the road,… trans sex workers… and finally Grey Gardens, the return to the glamorous figure of ‘the woman’ but skewed slightly.” Each film was preceded by an informative introduction. Following each viewing was a discussion on the piece. “In many film classes, there’s a certain type of story that’s prescribed for the female.… I’ve always been drawn to films where women were a bit different and a bit nasty. I identified with them,” says Bianca Linhares-Huang, fourth-year media, information and technoculture student and co-chair of WUFS. The event, attended by undergraduate students, graduate students and the executive team, was
overall well-received. This month showcased the beauty and versatility of being feminine. WUFS brought guest speakers, graduate students and outsiders to speak and introduce films speaking to blockbusters, human identity and classics. Screenings aren’t the only events they’ve organized this year. Kino: The Western Undergraduate Journal of Film Studies, a composition of film-related essays, is published annually to bring students’ writing outside of the classroom. The annual Western Undergraduate Film Festival gives students the same opportunity, but this time on screen. This year, WUFS also organized an open-air screening of Edward Scissorhands as an ode to Halloween. “It was a major success; it was cold, but so many people came out,” says Linhares-Huang. And while the organization is all about watching, reading and talking about movies, it provides students with a community to explore. “It’s a chance to watch [films] not just at home, sitting on your laptop on Netflix, but in a community with other students. It’s a chance to have discussions,” says Linhares-Huang. WUFS has given students the opportunity to reach past their immediate social circles and develop a sense of belonging through the common foundation of film. Third-year Ivey student and WUFS director of finance Evan Attard jokes, “I showed up at Ivey, and they were all creatively bankrupt. I needed to find new friends.” So whether you come in for a single viewing or become a long-term member, WUFS encourages Western University students to enter a world they may not have yet considered. For an hour, gain a new perspective and travel a path with fellow students to a world outside campus.
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Spur Fashion Show: Everyday sinners TANIYA SPOLIA CULTURE INTERN @UWOGAZETTE It began with a sinister edge promising the lust for power, embodied in fur coats and sunglasses that dehumanized the models. Greed had taken the stage. Before Spur’s first sins, however, was quiet. And before the doors opened, the auditorium set to sit more than 500 guests slipped into silence as the Purple Spur Society executives and over 100 models sat on stage. They listened to co-directors Natasha Crombie and Tess Power give a final pep talk, raising morale before the big show. A celebratory cheer honoured the hard work that had gotten them this far, and then bodies dispersed into action. A glittering green dress blurred by and routines being practiced as models frantically added final touches to hair and makeup inspired by this year’s theme: Cardinal Sin. “Cardinal Sin encompasses all of the seven deadly sins.… It’s a creative concept for us. We chose to use it as a metaphor for what we go through every single day,… a common ground that brings us together as a Western and a Spur community,” says Crombie, a fifth-year Ivey and philosophy student. As the models and executives pieced themselves together, modern pop music welcomed guests who began trickling in, grabbing drinks and taking their seats. This year’s show chose to support Jack.org, a charity that encourages discussion and youth involvement in the pursuit of bringing awareness toward mental health initiatives. “We wanted to choose a charity that we think represents Spur and then do something that highlights the meaning behind the chosen charity,” says Power, fifth-year management and organizational studies student. “[Mental health]’s something the executive holds close to our hearts.” As the space packed with guests, attention was drawn to the stage as an introductory video brought all attendees back to their seats. Opening with speeches from Spur’s executive team, Jack.org representatives and others, it was finally time to start feeling sinful. Models stomped on stage and took their positions; pausing as they looked out to the audience. Then the music shifted to an upbeat song as the models danced, threw money and fell off the platform to gather the bills. As they dominated the stage, their actions represented the insanity that is the pursuit of satisfying one’s unquenchable thirst for greed. Formal wear was next to take the stage, embodying the sin of envy.
Men dressed in tuxes and ladies in beautiful gowns, all donned in black and emerald — they kept their expressions somber and heads held high. Jealousy burned in the sideways glances models inflicted on one another, transporting the audience to a moment in which they themselves felt sinfully envious. The next set, swimwear, was a design by Western University’s own Carina Schiappa. It represented wrath — the manifestation of anger. The emotion was painted by the swimwear, which was coloured in dark burgundy, red and black. Models strutted the stage with elegant anger, heels high and skin bare, personifying the rawness of the emotion. A stage set in a red hue, the audience was in an uproar as models posed with barely contained fury. Keeping the temperature high, the set was followed by a guys’ Magic Mike-like routine and a girls’
inner glutton. This was immediately contrasted with sloth, modelled after Kanye’s Yeezy, which embodied the idea of “less is more.” A minimalist modern wardrobe was presented in muted colours and simple movements. While coloured lights flashed onto the models, showing the bustling nature of life, they kept themselves calm and composed, throwing in the occasional routines and tricks to keep the audience engaged. Next on stage was lust, described as the uncontrollable sensual prowess within all of us. This set generated the most enthusiasm from the audience as models used slow movements and mischievous expressions to draw people in. The clothing followed a theme of red and black, keeping the show cohesive from previous sets. As the final sin, pride invited all models on stage. It encompassed the excessive belief in oneself and
CHARU SHARMA GAZETTE Swimwear designed by Carina Schiappa, March 30, 2019.
gazette crossword
CHARU SHARMA GAZETTE Models engaged in lively dance performances throughout the show, March 30, 2019.
burlesque-style dance before the intermission. “A lot of work has gone into this, so I love seeing it all come together. Seeing people on stage, compared to rehearsal and being in front of the lights is amazing,” says fourth-year media theory and production student Selena Romero. The audience took the 15-minute intermission to visit booths outside of the auditorium, bidding on silent auction baskets and talking to Jack. org representatives before being drawn back toward the stage by musical acts from Patrick James Clark, DEL and Rowan Buratti. Gluttony was next to take the stage, donned in Urban Outfitterssponsored active wear — a fun and vibrant set, with a retro, discostyled dance routines and funky, neon-coloured clothing. There were big smiles and laughter on stage as models threw out candies to the audience, feeding each person’s
personified one’s vanity. This was showcased in an unapologetic tribute to Western and Spur, as models threw on their favourite Western gear, painted their bodies in Western colours and waved the Western flag. Their overwhelming love for the school was matched by the audience, who applauded them on while a sea of purple took the stage over. As the final act came to an end, models and the executive team surrounded the parameter of the auditorium and stood on stage. With tears from co-directors for the journey that this year’s fashion show took them on, they presented $16,000 to Jack.org. “The seven sins aren’t everyone’s journey, but we all experience these feelings. At the end, everyone will walk out with their own interpretation, but we hope that [everyone] can still understand and accept ours,” says Crombie.
CLUES ACROSS
CLUES DOWN
1. Rated horsepower (abbr.) 4. What a cow says 7. Snake-like fish 8. Spiritual leader 10. Catch 12. Car part 13. Extremely small amount 14. Nucleic acid 16. The Greatest of All Time 17. Lustrous 19. India’s least populated district 20. Muckraking journalist Jacob 21. Medicine 25. S. American plant 26. Small amount 27. Dry or withered 29. Where construction takes place 30. Russian river 31. Supervises flying 32. “City of Brotherly Love” native 39. Greeting at meeting 41. Common gibbon 42. Type of TV 43. Corpuscle count (abbr.) 44. Scottish port 45. Computer company 46. One from Asia 48. Former significant others 49. Woven fabrics or garments 50. One’s sense of self-esteem 51. The Science Guy 52. Monetary unit
1. “The Leftovers” actress King 2. Epic 3. Missouri county 4. Chinese revolutionary 5. Get 6. Ancient Greek coin 8. Returned material authorization (abbr.) 9. Part of the human eye 11. A fisherman’s accessory 14. Brazilian state 15. Of a wedding 18. Prosecutor 19. The main constituent of chromosomes 20. Advice 22. Principles of right and wrong 23. Decorate a cake with frosting 24. Headgear 27. New York art district 28. __ Lilly, drug company 29. Car mechanics group 31. Influential U.S. president 32. Quell the anger 33. Swiss river 34. Personal computer 35. Incline from the vertical 36. Wild goats 37. Assert that someone has done wrong 38. Anti-apartheid leader __ Mandela 39. Crop of a bird 40. “A Doll’s House” playwright 44. Autonomic nervous system 47. Consumed
For crossword solution, see page 3
CHARU SHARMA GAZETTE Models strike a synchronized pose for the audience, March 30, 2019.
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