The Ontarion

Perspectives on the 2010 Vancouver Olympics page 10

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Jan. 28 - Feb. 3, 2010

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Gryphon wrestlers on display

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SARAH DUNSTAN After a triumphant reign at the Brock Invitational in St. Catharines, Guelph wrestlers didn’t fare as well as they’d hoped at the Guelph Open this past Saturday in the W.F. Mitchell Athletic Centre. The Guelph Open is one of Canada’s largest varsity wrestling tournaments, and one of only two tournaments in Canada in which competitors have the chance to grab national team carding. As a byproduct of its prestige, the event featured a mix of Canada’s toughest university wrestling teams and clubs, as well as a variety of national team athletes. Although the Gryphons finished the tournament with seven wrestlers placing in the top three for their respective categories, and an overall team ranking of second place, there was a lingering feeling of disappointment at the Athletic Centre when the matches finished, late Saturday afternoon. While a valiant afternoon of wrestling resulted in Guelph bringing home gold, silver, and bronze medals, the Gryphons didn’t achieve the explosive start to the season that they hoped for. Despite high hopes for Kyle Grant to place first after his OUA championship title and CIS silver medal in 2008-09, Grant only placed second in the men’s 120kg weight division. Allison Leslie, a former OUA gold medalist who also dominated the women’s 67kg category at the Brock Invitational, placed third in Guelph. The Gryphons, however, did not leave the tournament emptyhanded. Korey Jarvis, who won silver at the Hargobind National carding tournament, defeated Brock wrestler Mike Neufeld to win first place in the men’s 96kg class, and Ohenewa Akufo placed first in women’s 72kg. The Brock team defeated Guelph by a mere 12 points, scoring 74 points to the Gryphons, 62. The third highest team total came from the Calgary Dino’s Wrestling Club with 51 points, followed by Lakehead with 37, and Missouri Baptist with 23. Among the numerous Guelph Gryphons and club wrestlers from

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HILLSIDE

5 INSIDE VOLUNTEERS

Julia Schonfield

Protesters gather in downtown Guelph’s St. George’s Square to rally against Prime Minister Harper’s prorogation of parliament.

Perogies not proroguing: the rally arrives DAN HOWSE All the seats in the auditorium were taken and the walls were lined with people two and three deep. Representatives from the conservative party were nowhere to be found. Instead, Knox Presbyterian Church was packed with opposition members, academics and most importantly, community members that care. “We are concerned about the quality of our democracy,” said Byron Sheldrick, a University of Guelph political science professor. The rally against Prime Minister Harper’s proroguing of parliament began at 1pm at St. George’s Square, then found its

way to the Knox Presbyterian Church down the street. According to rally organizers Angela Allt, and Council of Canadians member, Norah Chaloner, the event should be considered a tremendous achievement for concerned Guelph citizens. As the name of the event would indicate, perogies were served and generously so. At the heart of the event were the strong messages delivered by the numerous speakers and the questions raised by the attending citizens. Just as the perogies were plentiful, there was no shortage of opinion, indignation or discussion. While the event began with a few chants and announcements,

things really got going when local CUPE 3913 president Trudi Lorenz addressed the crowd. Lorenz began by indicting Prime Minister Harper the most effective way she knew how—by quoting him directly. “The government will prorogue the house so that it will not be held accountable for its shameful record,” said Lorenz, borrowing the words of the Canadian Prime Minister. Stephen Harper delivered this quotation during Prime Minister Chrétien’s prorogation of the house during the sponsorship scandal when he was opposition leader. >

SEE “A RALLY”, PAGE 3

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16 ATHEIST Arts & Culture Sports & Health Opinion Editorial Crossword Classified

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The Ontarion is now hiring the EDITOR IN CHIEF for the 2010 - 2011 production year Full-time Contract Position, April 15, 2010 to April 27, 2011

The Editor in Chief is responsible for everything concerning the daily operation of the newspaper and all material printed within. They set a vision and direction for the paper in terms of design, format, and content that is consistent with Ontarion Policy. They will manage and evaluate staff, schedule work hours, coordinate volunteers and facilitate regular meetings. They troubleshoot and facilitate conict resolution. While the Editor in Chief will make journalistic or graphic contributions to the newspaper, this is primarily a managerial position.

The successful candidate will possess: s a vision for the Ontarion for 2010-11 s supervisory or leadership skills; excellent communication skills s interpersonal conict resolution skills; strong organizational skills s the ability to work in a stressful environment under tight deadlines s work or volunteer experience in a press environment s training or experience in journalism, editing and/or graphics, some design experience

The Ontarion’s Employment Equity Policy is a proactive measure to recruit qualiďŹ ed people from a variety of ethnic, religious and class backgrounds, lesbians, bisexuals, gays and transgendered people, people of colour, Aboriginal people, people with disabilities and women. Members of the previously identiďŹ ed groups are encouraged to self-identify.

DEADLINE FOR APPLICATIONS IS FRIDAY JANUARY 29, 2010 AT 4 PM. Apply with portfolio of at least 6 writing samples, resume and cover letter to: Ontarion EIC Hiring Committee, UC 264, University of Guelph, Guelph Ontario N1G 2W1

TO OBTAIN A COPY OF THE ONTARION’S EMPLOYMENT EQUITY POLICY AND /OR THE JOB DESCRIPTION FOR THIS POSITION, PLEASE EMAIL US AT ONTARION@UOGUELPH.CA

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NEWS

161.3

U of G community steps up with efforts for earthquake victims

Cable TV channel shut down in Venezuela Radio Caracas Television, a Venezuelan television station critical of president Hugo Chavez, has been taken off the air as of Sunday. The shutdown comes a day after the station did not broadcast a speech by Mr. Chavez at a rally of political supporters. New government regulations require channels to broadcast some of Chavez’s speeches, but RCTV feels they should not be “inappropriately” pressured by the government to follow the new regulations. The new regulations came into effect at a time when Mr. Chavez is facing significant problems throughout the country, including a recession, soaring inflation, shortages of electricity and decreasing popularity. Neighbourhoods in Caracas voiced their concern over the shutdown by honking horns and banging pots and pans outside apartment windows. (The New York Times)

Campus bands together to send aid to Haiti LAURA SHEP Only a couple of weeks have passed since the Jan. 12 earthquake took its devastating toll on the citizens of Haiti. But a number of initiatives, both internationally and locally, have begun to surface in the aftermath. All projects appear to have one unified aim: to extend urgent, immediate help to those who need it the most. In his most recent update on the University’s response to the disaster in Haiti (posted on the online Campus Bulletin on Jan. 20), President Alastair Summerlee commended university students for their impressive ideas for possible charity fundraisers for relief efforts in Haiti. Summerlee said that the University has decided to financially lend support to two different, reputable charity groups helping in Haiti: Doctors Without Borders and Me to We. Doctors Without Borders, an organization that has made immediate medical care possible for many victims of the earthquake, successfully provides lifesaving interventions and emergency surgeries to many injured Haitians.

Adam Rogers

A man exits a restaurant after he looked for his belongings two days after an earthquake rocked Port-auPrince, Haiti on Jan. 12 by many victims following the disaster. Me to We, the other organization being supported by the University of Guelph, is a reputable humanitarian enterprise founded by the generous

My recommendation for [students] is to continue monitoring the CSA website for postings of daily events and ways to help Gavin Armstrong

CSA communications commissioner Many of the medical teams are now focusing on patients who require healthcare for preexisting conditions, infections and wounds that had not yet received complete attention. Additionally, medical teams from the organization have helped with obstetric emergencies and provided valuable treatment for machete and gunshot wounds. Doctors Without Borders has also supported local hospitals, and has provided experienced mental health specialists to help with the psychological trauma experienced

humanitarian brothers Craig and Marc Kielburger. The Kielburgers also began the group Free the Children, which coordinates hundreds of youth volunteer trips to developing countries such as Kenya, China, Ecuador, Mexico, Bogani and India, in order provide opportunities for youth to learn from hands-on experience in communities abroad. The mission of Me to We in Haiti includes: providing healthcare for the injured, shipping medical supplies to Port-au-Prince

and the surrounding areas, and supplying local schools with materials, school kits and trained teachers. The University of Guelph has also begun several more local events to mourn those who passed in the earthquake, and to inspire others to offer their compassion and help. On Jan. 22, a vigil was held at the University of Guelph’s Branion Plaza to mourn the thousands of lives claimed by the earthquake. Readings took place, as well as group and individual reflective discussions. Furthermore, the University of Guelph Central Student Association (CSA) is planning a benefit concert planned for Feb. 7 at the River Run Center, and funds raised from a pub night on Jan. 27 will go to the Canadian Red Cross, an organization that continues to show impressive involvement in Haiti following the disaster. Gavin Armstrong, the communications commissioner for the CSA, expressed deep sympathy on behalf of our school’s

student government. “The Central Student Associate joins others in the world in mourning the tremendous loss of human life and the valiant efforts to locate those still missing,” said Armstrong. “We will be promoting the fundraising efforts of the university community and encourage everyone to stay engaged on this issue.” Armstrong was impressed by the enthusiasm amongst University of Guelph students to lend a hand with this issue. “I greatly appreciate all the emails I’ve been getting from students asking how they can help, and my recommendation for them is to continue monitoring the CSA website for postings of daily events and ways to help,” said Armstrong. Summerlee concluded his statement to the University with words of encouragement, urging students to become actively involved in helping out with the relief efforts in Haiti, and to show compassion to those who have experienced loss and pain from this horrific disaster.

A rally that brings Ukrainian food and politics together like never before <

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Lorenz then further emphasized the Prime Minister’s hypocrisy with some words of her own. “What I find even more shameful,” Lorenz said, “is in how many times governments do not hesitate, when workers are on a legal strike, to legislate them back to work.” The outrage with the Prime Minister’s actions was not limited to labour board advocates. Representatives from the Liberal, NDP and even Green Party representatives took turns condemning the federal government’s actions. Although

Green Party representative Bob Bell acknowledged the similarities between his party’s platform and the Conservatives’, he remained staunchly opposed to what he saw as the abuse of democracy. “The Prime Minister has found this little loophole through which he continues to jump out of democracy and into his own realm,” said Bell. “It’s imperative that the loophole close.” Bell wasn’t the only opposition member to take exception to the Prime Minister’s prorogation of parliament. Liberal MP Frank Valeriote was especially active in the rally, both addressing the crowd

at St. George’s Square and serving as a panelists at Knox Church. Valeriote made it clear that while he was a Liberal, he did not endorse previous abuses of power by liberal governments in the past. “I am not an apologist for former Liberal governments,” said Valeriote. “I want reform as much as anyone.” He also responded to charges made by Campus Conservative President, Michael Sona, that all dropped bills could be resumed after the prorogation. “Harper’s going to bring a motion to reinstitute all of the pieces of legislation that

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died,” Valeriote explained, “but conveniently he will leave off that list [a number of controversial bills] and claim the opposition is holding them back.” He further responded to Sona’s charge that the opposition’s early return to work would cost taxpayers more, by pointing out that despite some additional cost, much of the staff would already be in parliament, being paid and simply unused. “Canadians would rather us be at work and doing the work that Canada needs done to address the issues, than not be there,” said Valeriote.

U of G and GuelphHumber Applicants Increase The Ontario University Application Centre (OUAC) released information last week showing that applications to the University of Guelph were up by 6.2 per cent – almost three times the average – while applicants to the University of Guelph-Humber were up four per cent. The number of students who chose Guelph and Guelph-Humber as their “first choice” increased by 8.6 and 9.9 per cent, respectively, much higher than the 2.7 per cent system average increase. A total of 23,369 were made to Guelph and 4,196 to Guelph-Humber. Provost and vice-president (academic) Maureen Mancuso said that U of G is on target to meet its enrolment targets. Hello, first years.

Haitian Orphans Arrive to Adoptive Canadian Parents Twenty-four Haitian orphans arrived in Ottawa on Saturday, following the massive 7.0 magnitude earthquake that shocked the Caribbean nation. An Air Canada humanitarian flight that brought supplies down to Port-Au-Prince was organized to bring children to their new homes in Canada, moat of them orphaned by the earthquake. Of the entire group, 15 children were headed for families in Quebec while the rest went to British Columbia, New Brunswick and Alberta. In total, 154 Haitian children have been cleared for adoption by the Haitian government and the Canadian government is trying to evacuate adoptees as quickly as possible, finding available flights so that children can be transported safely from orphanage to plane in daylight. (The Globe and Mail)

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JAN. 28 - FEB 3, 2010

NEWS

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City in the running for spot on new allCanadian edition of classic board game DAN O’KEEFE COMMUNITY CHEST

It might be the only place around where parking is still free. Present estimates suggest that over 750 million people have rolled the dice on the classic board game Monopoly, purchased property, and spent time in jail, even if they were just visiting. Many of us can recall late nights fighting to control the world’s most exclusive

ST. JAMES PLACE

has been home to many famous and influential people including: Col. John McCrae, author of the famous poem “In Flanders Fields,” Victor Davis, Olympic gold medalist in swimming, A. J. Casson, member of the Group of Seven, Robert Munsch, famous children’s author, Thomas F. Ryan, inventor of five-pin bowling, and Stephen Truscott, victim of what is possibly Canada’s greatest miscarriage of justice. Charley Fox, born in Guelph and a former member of the Royal Canadian Air Force during the Second World War, is credited with

it, going against every provincial and territorial capital, as well as the nation’s capital. Some of these cities have populations close to 40 times that of Guelph’s. But this doesn’t mean Guelph’s out of it. “The support of the city ultimately determines the location,” said Marisa Pedatella, manager of marketing at Hasbro Canada. At the beginning of the week, Guelph sat in 50th place with 0.8 per cent of all Canadian votes. Saint-

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in the country…[but Guelph] still needs a bit of a push,” said Farbridge. “[If anyone] can bump that up, it’s the University of Guelph community.” Around campus, opinions were generally optimistic. “If we pull together as a city, [we] can accomplish anything. I think we are getting Oriental Avenue,” said Evan Lusty, a U of G student. If you want Guelph on the board, you have to go to www. monopolyvote.ca and vote for Guelph. The number of votes a city receives will determine its position

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real estate, located on less than three square feet. Hasbro Games is now in the process of designing a new Canadian Monopoly board, and they want Canadians to vote for their favourite cities. Guelph is one of 65 cities from across the country in the running to occupy one of the highly coveted and contested spaces on the new Monopoly: Canada Edition board. But with only twenty spots, does Guelph have the right combination to get on-board? Well, here’s a little history. The city is named after one of the royal families of England, hence its nickname the Royal City. Throughout the years, Guelph

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wounding Erwin Rommel, one of Hitler’s top Field Marshalls and his right-hand man. By population, Guelph is Canada’s 25th largest city. The University of Guelph is consistently ranked as one of Canada’s best middle-sized universities. Guelph was the first municipality in Canada to have its own federally charted railway junction, and has one of the most advanced and efficient transit systems in the area. The competition spans the country and will include a city from every province and territory. Ontario alone has 24 cities in the running, followed by Quebec at 12 and British Columbia at eight. Guelph has its work cut out for

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Jean-surRichellieu, QC holds first place with 5.3 per cent of the votes. Chatham-Kent, ON, and Calgary, AB sit in second and third with 4.6 per cent and 4.5 per cent respectively. Ottawa and Vancouver occupy the last two spaces on the board as each holds 2.1 per cent of the votes. Toronto, Winnipeg, and London aren’t far behind. Mayor Karen Farbridge believes Guelph still has a stong chance. “Guelph placed fourth of 5, 500 [communities] in education [and] has the lowest crime severity index

INCOME TAX

on the new board. First place gets Boardwalk, second place gets Park Place, and the pattern continues to the 19th and 20th place cities receiving the spots usually occupied by Vermont Avenue and Oriental Avenue respectively. Baltic and Mediterranean Avenues are a little different though. These spaces will go to wildcard entries. If you’re from a municipality not listed amongst the 65 currently in contention, such as Flin Flon, MB, Corner Brook, NL, or Marathon, ON, but you still want to see your municipality on the board, you can submit its name for the wildcard vote. The top 20 cities will be announced in June, and the new board goes on sale for Canada Day, July 1.

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VISITING

Cuts for Cancer at Guelph sees great showing NICOLE ELSASSER When Bethany Lerman was fifteen-years old she had a second relapse of child leukemia. The human hair wig that she received was the one thing that gave her a sense of normalcy during a time when nothing seemed to be as it should be. Now a two-time cancer survivor and student at the University of Guelph, on Jan. 25 Lerman worked with her peers to organize a fundraiser for the campus club, Cuts for Cancer at Guelph, with the hopes of raising $10 000 for the Childhood Cancer Foundation (CCF) and collecting as much human hair as possible to be made into wigs for children with cancer. According to Lerman, during the time when she battled childhood cancer, she as well as many of

children that she knew in a similar situation, came to see a human hair wig as an important comfort and chance for normalcy while

you’re getting drugs injected in you, you don’t feel like yourself but you can put on the wig and feel like ‘This is me. I’m still me. I’m still normal.’

You’re sick, you’re in the hospital, you don’t look like yourself, you’re getting drugs injected in you, you don’t feel like yourself but you can put on the wig and feel like ‘This is me. I’m still me. I’m still normal.’ Bethany Lerman Cuts for Cancer event organizer undergoing treatment for cancer. “There was one girl in the ward [with me], Lindsay, who would never take her [wig] off, she was thirteen and she refused to take it off,” said Lerman. “You’re sick, you’re in the hospital, you don’t look like yourself,

It gives kids a chance to go out in public and not be the bald kid, or the kid with a bad wig, but just a kid.” Lerman ended up joining forces with Patricia Power and Lisa Kellenberger, both University of Guelph students and founders

of Cuts for Cancer at Guelph. According to Lerman, once the club decided to work with the CCF, organizing the fundraising side of the event became easier thanks to their website, Small Hands, which makes sponsorship and fundraising more convenient. On the day of the event, the organizers surpassed their goal and raised nearly $14, 000 worth of donations, not including change raised from a raffle. Lerman stressed that donations continue to be accepted through the club’s website until Feb. 15 which is International Children’s Cancer Day. During Monday’s event, participants lined up to have their hair cut off and made into wigs. Lerman was thrilled to see that a

majority of the participants donated the full 10 inches of hair required to make a wig for a child with cancer; others were able to donate between six and 10 inches that could be sold commercially with the proceeds going to the CCF. Julia Ranieri, the top fundraiser with a total of $4,581 and a future pediatric oncologist, shaved her head for Monday’s event. Ranieri explained it was a recent cancer diagnosis of someone close to her that prompted her to shave her head, without a second thought. “The person that I know that has cancer is like a sister to me,” said Ranieri. “When she was rediagnosed back in September, I said ‘If she’s going to be bald, I’m going to be bald,’ right from the get go.”

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ARTS & CULTURE

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Hillside’s heroes Volunteers at Hillside make the difference between a meaningful musical experience and a festival flop DAN HOWSE Anyone who has been to a music festival can tell you that a lot more people are involved in putting on a festival than just the musicians. While the bands, artists and other performers naturally get the spotlight, the people holding that spotlight in place are just as important. So are the people providing setup, cleanup, security, merchandising and all aspects of the event. While many festivals choose to hire their own help or outsource to professional security, being the kind of grassroots, community driven initiative that Hillside Inside is, the vast majority of this work is done by volunteers. This year, Hillside Inside will receive contributions from about 275 volunteers. There are 25 different areas for volunteers to get involved in, from pre-production to post-production and all sorts of staging, security, customer service and cleaning help in between. Volunteers during the event are required to donate four hours of their time while volunteers involved in the pre or postproduction are required to donate twelve. In exchange for their help, volunteers receive access to the show, a tee shirt and a 10 per cent discount on Hillside Inside merchandise. So just how important are

the volunteers? Well, to help put things in perspective, Hillside Inside, which is a not-forprofit group, employs only four full-time staff. That makes the volunteers essential to running the event without prohibitive costs. A ticket to Hillside Inside only costs 75 dollars. While that might seem a little steep for one concert, the beauty of a festival is that you aren’t simply getting one act. This year’s line-up features eleven different acts, headlined by folk legend Ani DiFranco. So, for those mathematically challenged arts students out there like myself, that works out to less than $7 an act. Factor in the intimate accommodation that the Sleeman Centre provides, and concertgoers are left with a steal. However, the advantages of a volunteer based festival go beyond financial incentives. The sense of community provided by the volunteers is one of the things that make Hillside Inside such a wonderful experience. Volunteer coordinator Jesse O’Donnell explained that while the event could be run without volunteers, it just wouldn’t be the same. “I’m sure we could [run the event without volunteers],” O’Donnell said. “But it would be a much different atmosphere.” While O’Donnell herself is one of the four full-time employees on the Hillside committee, she has done volunteer work in the past and understands the importance of it in building a communal atmosphere. To help gain a better understanding of this, O’Donnell referred the Ontarion to Amanda Gryzwacz, the Hillside Inside

Tech Help Crew Co-ordinator. While Gryzwacz is new to the responsibilities of being a coordinator, she is not a rookie altogether. With a music and performance background, Gryzwacz volunteered at last year’s Hillside Inside. “Last year I was asked to help kind of last minute,” Gryzwacz said. While some organizations can be exclusive, Hillside Inside wasn’t one of them. “Everyone welcomed me with open arms,” Gryzwacz added. As one of the co-ordinators this year, an aim of Gryzwacz’s is to make sure everyone feels as welcome as she did last year. “Being a volunteer is a wonderful experience,” Gryzwacz said. For her, bridging the gap between performer and concertgoer is a special privilege. “I just love music,” Gryzwacz said, “and I love the feeling of helping to bring a show together.” Local music promoter Spencer Shewen echoed Gryzwacz’s sentiments. “Volunteering just creates a family atmosphere,” he said. Shewen, who has volunteered for both Hillside and Hillside Inside, said that this feeling is not limited to the volunteers. “For both participants and attendees, volunteering creates a special feeling that just makes a show that much more special,” he said. If volunteering sounds like something you’d be interested in, log on to www.hillsidefestival. ca. While all volunteering spots

Rashaad Bhamjee

This year at Hillside Inside, 275 volunteers will cater to every need that a festival demands to run smoothly: from washing dishes to stage electronics. for this festival have been filled, positions for the summer event go up in April. In the meantime,

don’t forget to say a special thanks to your volunteers at Hillside Inside, this Feb. 6.

Mama, don’t take my Kodachrome away Photo III class puts on a collaborative effort at the Zavitz gallery this week ZACK MACRAE Around 150 years ago, a guy named Charles Darwin came up with a crazy idea about the origin of species that is now widely known, and not so widely accepted, as the evolutionary theory. In it, Darwin explains gradual evolution of species as a kind of survival of the fittest. In many ways, technology is perpetuating this notion. Point in case: when was the last time you watched a movie on VHS, or saved a word document on a floppy disk? Much like a species of animal with some genetic deficiency, more sleek and sexy forms have replaced these bulky vessels of multimedia. In the same way, digital photography has forced Kodachrome film to go the way of the Dodo in the last year. Kodachrome is a type of colour reversal film that was trademarked and made by Kodak from 1935 to 2009.

Sarah Mullins

As Kodachrome film slowly goes the way of the buffalo, students in the University of Guelph’s Photo III class try and keep it alive. M a m a , D o n’ t Ta k e M y Kodachrome Away, is a collaborative

photo show put on by the students of the Photo III class here at the

University of Guelph that takes place from Jan. 25-29. The exhibit marks the first time many of the artists involved have shown colour photography in a gallery setting. Keeping this in mind, the exhibit offers a feel of the rich colours and textures that Kodachrome is known for. The variation between the artists’ works provides the viewer with an idea of just how flexible the film can be. Dan Frawley, a student in Photo III challenges Darwin’s theory of evolution, metaphorically of course by using film: “Using film is a very physical process from the ways you handle the film, to playing with the enlarger, and blocking the light when you expose the paper … the process of blocking light (known as burning and dodging) often requires you to cup your hands or make them into playful shapes to lighten or darken areas,” he said. Frawley’s work, “Following a North Star,” appears in the corner of the gallery and wraps the viewer up into an adventure where the North Star is a reference point. Frawley’s work takes the viewer on

a metaphysical trip following the North Star to different, seemingly familiar destinations. “In the work,” said Frawley, “over a couple nights I was trying to follow the North Star to find different perspectives on everyday places and objects.” Another interesting piece in the gallery space that the eye is immediately drawn toward is Emily MacDonald’s work, ‘Blue/ Cyan’. With her piece, MacDonald challenges the ideas of conventional photography by exploring the possibilities of photography without film. MacDonald neglected to use film or an enlarger and instead laid out photo paper on the floor of the darkroom and used glow sticks to record light onto the paper. For Frawley, developing colour film and printing in a darkroom engages the entire body: “From the beginning to the end your body is interacting with objects … I feel more engaged with my work because of this physical connection.” The closing reception for Mama, Don’t Take My Kodachrome Away is on Jan. 28 from 7-10pm.

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JAN. 28 - FEB. 3, 2010

ARTS & CULTURE

Featured artist: Shane Krepakevich Shane Krepakevich is interested in the body’s relationship with space, being either physical or imagined. More specifically, he is looking at the movement and understanding of bodies in a system. Krepakevich utilizes principals of design and elements of architecture and minimalism to investigate a personal geography that is also public. It is universal because the scope is so broad that we can all relate to it and because of the poetry in the ideas and notions in the work. It is a different kind of poetry, a more scientific poetry, finding its beauty in the facts. As a result, a beautiful symbiosis develops between art, science, architecture, and design that is Krepakevich’s work. With his piece, San Giorgio’s Floor Remembered in Plywood, there is a physical relationship to the room where the viewer has to navigate around the floor. There is also a familiarity and unfamiliarity with the floor. I think perhaps it’s the strong similarity to Sol LeWitt (albeit a flattened LeWitt’s) combined with the everydayness of a floor and common materials used to make the floor (plywood). It creates this pleasant disconnect in my head, where I find I am not too sure what to do: walk on it or admire it. The very fact that it is off a plinth heightens the experience, making it seem innocuous yet powerfully dominating. Comparably, with Approximate Drawings, the space is imaginary and

very specific to the artist, yet very familiar to the viewer. Unlike San Giorgio’s Floor Remembered in Plywood, these drawings represent an abstract approach to space and time. Krepakevich quantifies the unquantifiable and investigates the everyday by drawing connections that few would be able to make. He understands the relationships that we have to our surroundings, whether it is a river relative to a first kiss, or the size of an apartment compared to the size of the person living in it. These are all things we have experienced and continue to experience, now condensed into a clean little graph. There is something very ironic and reassuring about life minimized into a graph, it’s the opposite of what we strive for, yet it is inescapable. -Miles Stemp

Clockwise from top-left Approximate Drawings (2), San Giorgio’s Floor Remembered in Plywood (2)

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ARTS & CULTURE

161.3

7

What are you reading?

KE$HA ANIMAL I remember the first time I heard “Tik Tok” by Ke$ha, or rather saw the video on Much Music. I distinctly remember thinking, “is this the end of the hipster as we know it?” Usually, when the trends trickle down to the pre-high school age group, they are usually on their way out with the trendy elite (whoever they are). Ke$ha, the 22-year-old female pop singer, borrows from about every “cool” trend from the past three years, flips it and markets it towards the tweens (smart!). We get subtle autotune, flashy metallic, neon colours and sounds, banana seat bicycles, cheap 808 and snare beats. It’s like carrying an ‘80s style boom box on your shoulder so everyone can hear what you’re listening to, and spelling your name with a “$” (which hasn’t been cool since Too $hort; or your grade nine MSN name). So, if you’re thinking to yourself, “it sounds like a rip off of Lady Gaga who ripped off M.I.A who ripped off The Beastie Boys who simultaneously ripped off Run DMC and hair metal bands,” you would be pretty accurate. But as they say, there is no such thing as original, so why were people so surprised when “Tik Tok” beat out “Bad Romance” on the iTunes sales chart? But just because you’re a pop star trying to make a buck by biting others’ styles, doesn’t mean you make bad music (re: the groups mentioned above) … unless your name is Ke$ha, then you make undeniably horrible music, but damn is it catchy! While she’ll probably never reach the heights of “Tik Tok” again, RCA will no doubt milk Ke$ha’s career into the ground. Ke$ha’s lyrics tend to have that embarrassingly awkward feel, like high school dances where you were grinding up on each other in front of your teachers and volunteer parents. Often her lyrics simply make no sense, which may indicate that she actually attempted to write them herself. Has Ke$ha seen Mick Jagger

lately? Please, I would like to know what it means to “Wake up in the morning, feeling like P. Diddy” and then subsequently realize you are of the opposite sex, race and 18 years younger. Unfortunately for Ke$ha, “Tik Tok” is about the only track in which she can get away with this sort of thing. The rest of the album continues to deal with getting really drunk and liking boys, which just starts to sound desperate and could possibly lead to a “stage 5 clinger.” Unless her friends Katy Perry or Flo Rida can muster out another single for her, I smell a one-hitwonder. Prove me wrong Ke$ha!

Notable Tracks: “Tik Tok” Listeners may also enjoy: 3OH!3 – Want, Stereos – S/T Next Sound Check: Vampire Weekend - Contra

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This week, University of Guelph student Rachel Shoemaker talks about Chris Walter’s Wrong How did you react when you heard that an Olympic torch bearer was knocked down in Guelph? Did your heart swell with pride to be a U o G student when you saw the Globe and Mail front page headline: “A blow to Olympic spirit”? We all know by now that Vancouver will be hosting the winter Olympics starting Feb. 12, and Canadians have become fiercely divided over the occasion. Many Canadians, especially residents of Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside (DTES), question why their government is willing to spend millions of taxpayers’ dollars hosting a party for the rest of the world that lasts just over two weeks, while the desperate need for affordable housing, as just one example, has

been ignored. The problems plaguing the DTES will continue long after the party is over. As a former resident of the DTES, Chris Walter wrote a novel that is fittingly entitled Wrong, in response to what he sees as a serious social injustice against Vancouver’s underprivileged citizens. But don’t be scared about tackling a tiring and unbreakable text that centers on the politics of the Olympic games; Walter claims to write books for people who don’t like reading. The main character of this work of fiction is a strung out DTES junky/ punk singer turned activist. Wrong is incredibly approachable, darkly humourous, and like all of Walter’s books, is wildly entertaining. This text gives

a voice and a scabbed reality to those who are being oppressed by their elected leaders and ignored by the global community, a text which will continue to speak after the athletes leave. If you want to gain perspective on the 2010 Olympics from a Vancouver resident who doesn’t have to answer to a corporate sponsor, pick up a copy of Wrong and get enlightened.

The Ontarion is asking you about what you’re reading, and why you are reading it. If you have a book that you want to share your opinions on, send an email to onarts@uoguelph.ca

SPORTS & HEALTH

8

THEONTARION.CA

Gold or bust Olympic snowboarder Jeff Batchelor gives a peek into the world of an Olympian ELIZABETH MCLEOD Many athletes dream of one day competing in the Olympics. There are very few, however, who ever reach the level to experience it. The abundance of steep competition provides challenging odds for any athlete, and those who do reach this level can truly claim to be the best of the best. The road to the Olympics is by no means a short one, and there are years of training and competition involved in making it to the top. Je Batchelor, 21, is a halfpipe snowboarder from Oakville and has experienced this competitive process to its full extent. And now, Batchelor is on his way to

Courtesy

Je Batchelor will compete in the upcoming Vancouver Winter Olympics. this past Monday after the World Cup event in Stoneham, QC. “The team is picked last minute

I have to try to be on snow as much as possible and try and live day to day without getting ahead of myself. the Vancouver games. Batchelor ďŹ lls one of only three spots on the Canadian team for the halfpipe event, a team that was only ďŹ nalized

in order to ensure the hottest talent at the time,â€? he said. “In order to make it, you must place [in the] top ďŹ ve at least two times in the

Courtesy

Batchelor’s event, halfpipe snowboarding, attracts some of the greatest numbers of fans. World Cup or equivalent events, it is an extremely competitive situation.� Batchelor has been competing and training on the World Cup circuit for four years, has been snowboarding since he was eight, and skied since he was two.

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Considered by many to be one of the most promising talents in this event, Batchelor outlined how he will prepare for the competition in the next two weeks. “I have to try to be on snow as much as possible and try and live day to day without getting ahead of myself,â€? he said. “It’s crucial to keep a level head when training and competing.â€? Batchelor will travel from Quebec to Calgary for training until Feb. 10, at which time he’ll be on his way to Vancouver. The journey to the Olympics is one in which the majority of time is spent on the road competing and training. The schedule is rigorous. “I’m not home very much and I have very little free time,â€? he said. “I make sure to make the most of the time I do get with my friends and family at home because once I get on the road there’s no room for anything but focus.â€? The support of friends and family are crucial factors for Batchelor, as well as the support that he receives from corporate sponsors. “[The sponsors] keep me alive ďŹ nancially and accommodate many of my needs, in terms of equipment and attire as well as help to coordinate events,â€? he said. In return for sponsorship, athletes are expected to stay in a positive media light, portray their brands well and be a positive roll model. Apart from being exceptional athletes, Olympians are people. Snowboarding aside, Batchelor is interested in skateboarding, art and is a self-proclaimed Rock Band expert and enthusiast. Queen’s University is currently holding his spot in the commerce program while he pursues his goal of Olympic gold. “Obviously I’m going for gold. I’ve got to make it really, really big,â€? said Batchelor of the routine

he has planned for Vancouver. Competition will be ďŹ erce and in order to beat his top competition, star American snowboarder Shaun White, Batchelor will have to pull out all the stops. This is an all or nothing competition for many athletes, including Batchelor, and only the gold will do. Competing in his ďŹ rst Olympics in his home country, Batchelor commented on the hometown support.

I’m not home very much and I have very little free time. I make sure to make the most of the time I do get with my friends and family at home because once I get on the road there’s no room for anything but focus. “It will be amazing,� he said. “We will get the full experience as well as a huge base of support from the fans. While it would be nice to travel and be received abroad, being in Canada for the Olympics will be pretty incredible.� The halfpipe event takes place on Feb. 17 at the Cyprus Hill venue. Batchelor will be accompanied in Vancouver by his family, friends and thousands of athletes and fans from around the world.

THE ONTARION

SPORTS & HEALTH

161.3

9

Too little, too late Gryphons fail to overcome slow start in Frosty Mug MIKE TREADGOLD Despite strong play in the second and third periods, a slow start and a propensity for taking ill-timed penalties proved to be their undoing as the Guelph Gryphons men’s hockey team fell 3-1 to the Waterloo Warriors in Saturday’s Frosty Mug event in downtown Guelph. The annual event, which took place at the Sleeman Centre, welcomed nearly 1,200 Gryphon fans as the Department of Athletics looked to showcase university sport in the greater Guelph community. Unfortunately, the muchanticipated match up between the red-hot Gryphons and the speedy, tenth-ranked Warriors, finished in favour of the visitors as Waterloo scored twice in the first period and managed to hold off the hardcharging Gryphons in the final 40 minutes. “When you take as many penalties as we did tonight, you give away momentum,” said Gryphons head coach Shawn Camp. “We were wasting a lot of energy having to kill penalties.” Late in the game, Waterloo began to replicate the undisciplined play of the Gryphons, leading to nine Guelph powerplays that the home side failed to capitalize on. “I think [killing penalties] hurt us when we were on the powerplay too,” said Camp. “We didn’t have the same energy, we didn’t execute as well on the powerplay as we have of late.” Rookie centre Thomas Kiriakou, the Gryphons’ leading scorer this season, echoed his coach’s sentiments concerning the

Gryphons’ lackadaisical start and lack of disciplined play. “When you have a lot of penalties in a game, it’s a little distracting, and as a team your confidence goes down,” said Kiriakou. “In the first period, we came out slow, and in the second we improved. “We normally like to play on our toes, forecheck hard, make a play and take the body. We didn’t do that in the first period and [Waterloo] capitalized on that with a couple of goals. That really cost us the game.” Waterloo came out aggressive in the first period, drawing four Gryphon infractions and tiring the Guelph penalty killers. Chris Ray and Shane Hart beat Gryphon goaltender Scott Van Bommel twice in the first period to put Waterloo in front. After Jake Lalonde answered for the Gryphons halfway through the second, Kyle Schwende scored an insurance marker with less than three minutes left in the period to give the Warriors some breathing room. Keaton Hartigan made 11 saves in the third period to stave off the Guelph attack as the Gryphons outshot Waterloo 26-19. For Kiriakou, his first season as a Gryphon has been nothing short of remarkable. He leads the team with 11 goals and 23 points in 21 games. “I didn’t really know what to expect when I first came here but I’ve been able to gel pretty nicely and coach Camp has been tremendous [with] me and the guys,” said Kiriakou. “We get along so well and I’m really happy to be a Gryphon.” The Department of Athletics had been actively promoting Saturday’s event, particularly by making inroads in the campus residences, similar to Homecoming in September. Given that Gryphon hockey games rarely attract more than 200 onlookers, the

Gryphon skiers dominate On Saturday, at the Mono Nordic Invitational meet in Orangeville, the Gryphons Nordic Ski team dominated the events from start to finish, achieving podium finishes in all four races. In the senior men’s 10km race, Matti Little led from start to finish, winning by 54 seconds. Fellow Gryphon Ian Ritchie finished in a tie for second place. In the junior men’s race, Scott Weersink represented Guelph well, taking a silver medal. Not to be outdone by the men, the Gryphon women held up equally well in their 7km events. Laura Hewitt, Analee Winter and Lindsey Chapman swept the podium for the Gryphons in the senior women’s race as six Guelph racers finished in the top seven. Jennie Hissa and Gillian Rockwell finished second and third, respectively, in the junior women’s race. Rashaad Bhamjee

Gryphons rookie defenceman, Nathan Martine, handles the puck in Saturday’s Frosty Mug event against Waterloo. Frosty Mug was certainly a success in terms of attracting attention. While many of the surrounding seats remained empty, a large contingent of onlookers observed the game from the Draught Picks Tap House & Grill overlooking the ice. As the Gryphons’ level of intensity increased in the latter two periods, the crowd excitement grew accordingly.

“It’s always nice to play [at the Sleeman Centre],” said Camp. “The facility is so professional, there’s a great atmosphere here and it’s a chance to show our brand of hockey to people in the community.” As the playoffs approach, the Gryphons will look to take advantage of their favourable schedule, playing four of their final five games at home.

“Once you’ve wrestled, everything else in life is easy.” <

CONTINUED FROM COVER

Guelph who participated in the event was four-year club member and eight-year wrestling aficionado Ryan Lue. Although Lue attends Conestoga College in Waterloo, he’s been coming to Guelph regularly since he was in his upper years of high school, eventually becoming a dedicated member of the Gryphon Wrestling Club. The club differs in that its members are excluded from ‘university-exclusive’ events, such as those hosted by the OUA and CIS. Otherwise, these club wrestlers enjoy the opportunity to compete in all the same events as the official team. Lue has the Gryphon wrestling logo permanently tattooed onto his shoulder. The ink is part of an longstanding tradition amongst Guelph wrestlers who place first or second at the national championships. Lue was named Junior National Champion in 2009, and went on to take second place in the men’s 66kg event this past Saturday in Guelph. The next big event for the Gryphons will be the Canadian Interuniversity Sport

Men’s hoops split in Thunder Bay The Gryphon men’s basketball team showed that they can certainly play with the nation’s best teams, splitting a pair of tough weekend road games against the Lakehead Thunderwolves who came in ranked seventh in Canada. Tied at 51 going into the final quarter of Friday’s game, the Thunderwolves used their size to outrebound the Gryphons to secure a 65-61 victory. In Saturday’s rematch, the two evenly matched teams battled each other shot for shot with the Gryphons hanging on for a thrilling 69-62 overtime win. Dan McCarthy played perhaps his best game as a Gryphon, leading the team with 26 points in Saturday’s win.

Women’s hockey sweep weekend The Gryphon women were in tough over the weekend with a pair of road games against UOIT and Queen’s. Led by a hat trick from Dayna Kanis and five points from Jenna Lanzarotta, the Gryphons took Saturday’s game 6-2 over the Ridgebacks. On Sunday, the Gryphons were sparked by 36 saves from rookie goaltender Danielle Skoufranis who shutout the Queen’s Gaels to the tune of 4-0. The Gryphons moved to 127-3 on the season, good for fourth place in the OUA. Gryphon wrestler, Kyle Grant, finishes a take down in Saturday’s Guelph Wrestling Open. Rashaad Bhamjee

Championships at the end of February in Calgary. While pop culture would

suggest that most wrestlers are bloodthirsty monoliths, Lue assures anyone curious about the sport that

as long as you’re willing to put in the effort, wrestling can be a rewarding endeavour for anyone.

Vancouver 2010:

compiled by Rashaad Bhamjee Daniel Bitonti & Mike Treadgold I think that the biggest issue is the appropriation of public money, tax money, to take care of any deficit that the Olympic games may encounter… There’s going to be a lot of public money tax money, federal, provincial, and municipal spent on the games. For instance: security. That’s almost a one billion dollar budget item. That’s public money from the Feds. So a lot of people think, ‘gee wiz, if we’re going to spend tax money, why are we going to spend them on the Olympic games? If the organizing committee is going to put on the games, why not let them pay for it? Why do public monies have to be put in, particularly when public moneys would go, should go, to the betterment of lives of the citizenry, especially in the Vancouver area.’ So they [critics of the Olympics] are looking to the disenfranchised, the poor and the homeless. And there’s legitimacy to these arguments because if you’re spending public money for infrastructure that will benefit the larger mass of the population, then that’s fine. What is that? Well, that’s spending public money on transportation, communication, environment, security measures, and stuff like that. That all benefits the public. But when you spend it on grandiose sports facilities that have little or no chance of recuperating the operational and maintenance costs of the games, that doesn’t go down so well. The hard realities come home after the games in terms of the expense of it all. Now some of them [facilities] have some public appeal like a skating rink for instance, like a swimming pool for instance. What public appeal does a luge run have or a ski jump have?... But if you put these games before three quarters of the world’s population on television, this is going to be good for Vancouver. It may be good for Vancouver in terms of exploiting it to reap greater economic business. They’re good in that way. They’re a great celebration… I think one of the best examples of a domestic corporate program was Salt Lake City. Forty-three per cent of the revenue that the Salt Lake City organizing committee raised to support their games came from their domestic sponsorship program…from their own domestic raising of money and raising of goods in kind for instance. I think Vancouver is probably going to come close to that, if not exceed it. Every dollar they can raise from their own resources will, in effect, lessen what the citizens have to pick up in way of a deficit afterwards.

According to the Olympic Resistance Network: “The 2010 Winter Olympics will take place on unceded Indigenous land. Far from being simply about sport, the history of the Olympics is one rooted in displacement, corporate greed, repression, and violence. The effects of the upcoming Winter Games are apparent to everyone – expansion of sport tourism on Indigenous lands; increasing homelessness across the province and especially in Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside; misdirected public spending and debt; vulnerable working conditions especially for migrant labour; unprecedented destruction of the environment; and unparalleled police and security spending.” “Sports and physical health are a positive aspect of any society. The Olympic industry, however, uses sports and athletes as commodities to market corporate products,” said Gord Hill, a member of the Kwakwaka’wakw nation and editor of no2010.com. “Governments use Olympic Games to attract corporate investment. Despite claims that Olympics are not political, they are deeply political with devastating social and ecological impacts that cannot simply be ignored.” “Because we have no treaty with Canada, the imposition and encroachment of Whistler – their hydro lines, their highways, their railroad, in fact all infrastructure development for the 2010 Games – in our territory is illegal,” says James Louie from the St’at’imc nation, Whistler “Simplistically classifying Olympic resistance and disruptions as violent is a scare tactic. We will do whatever we can to disrupt the 2010 Olympic Winter Games because disruption has proved extremely successful,” says Anna Hunter from the Anti Poverty Committee. “The rich should not just be allowed to carry on with their violent business–as-usual as poor people continue to suffer.” The Olympic Resistance Network is based in Vancouver as the lead organization protesting the Olympic Games. The ORN exists as a space to coordinate all anti2010 Olympics efforts.

the cost of the 2010 Vancouver Olympic Games security Sea-to-Sky highway expansion canada line construction venue construction athlete’s village construction VANOC operating budget vancouver Convention Centre expansion

$900,000,000 $1,980,000,000 $1,900,000,000 $580,000,000 $1,080,000,000 $1,750,000,000 $883,000,000

other*

150,100,000

TOTAL

$9,223,100,000

attendance of the 2010 Vancouver Olympic Games volunteers

25,000

media

10,000

athletes venue construction

5,500

The original intentions of the games from 100 years ago have long gone by the wayside and quite simply, it’s not about sports anymore. It’s about real estate developers in every bid city and every host city trying to get their pet projects funded by the public. It’s socialized welfare for corporations. The public has fallen for these tactics and they do, time and time again. And every time after, some of them say, ‘well, we had a great party,’ but then the financial hangover comes and you end up paying it off for the next 30 years. And that tends to be the typical outcome. What could you do instead with more than $6 billion? Well, I’m a neurological disease researcher and if someone told me to put together a team of 100 people to go cure Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s and ALS, probably the diseases that are going to kill more people than cancer in the next years, it could be done with that kind of money. Assuming that the Olympics costs $6 billion, we’ll have spent more on this 17-day party than we do in ten years of medical research in this country. Think about poverty. The Games were supposed to benefit impoverished areas of town and they simply haven’t done it. We went from something like 400 or 500 people on the streets in 2002 to over 3000 today. There has been an absolute failure to adjust poverty and arguably, it’s been made worse, not only in terms of homelessness, but also real poverty overall. Completely neglected. We now have only one thing left to do and that’s to meet them in the streets. We won’t accept it and we’re going to raise our voices and exercise the civil liberties that we have left. And if the authorities don’t like that, they can do what they think they need to do, but the eyes of the world are on them. If there’s a legacy of these games, it’ll be the revitalized anti-globalization movement. This has the potential to be a watershed games. It hasn’t all come to fruition until now. The protesting at this level is a first. You haven’t seen different social justice groups linking up like this before. You haven’t

5,500 1,600,000 seen alternative media so intent on getting their stories out, regardless of the channel. This is all on the radar for the first time. It’s going to be a very unique Olympic Games. People will not look back at Vancouver 2010 and see it as same old, same old. Dr. Chris Shaw is a neuroscientist at UBC and one of the foremost critics of the Vancouver 2010 Olympics. He is the author of “Five Ring Circus: Myths and Realities of the Olympic Games” and a spokesperson for 2010watch. Full text of his response can be found at www.theontarion.com.

I lived for lacrosse, eventually playing at a high level [and] was fortunate to be offered scholarships to several U.S. universities. And, was on the verge of packing my bags to head stateside, when the late Chief Joe Mathias, one of Canada’s leading Aboriginal thinkers and he challenged me directly: Why not stay in North Vancouver and fight for your people? Help them take their rightful place in the economic and social mainstream of this country. Help them to break stereotype and engage the outer world in a selfactualizing way. Then one day – and I have never forgotten it – Chief Mathias said to us: If we ever get a chance to participate in the Olympics, we must grasp that opportunity; we will get to share our culture with the world. And so it came to pass after many years of the hardest negotiations I have ever taken part in. First, the four Nations – Squamish Lil’wat, Musqueam, Tsleil-Waututh – came together. And, it wasn’t easy…But we did it; we found common ground. And then this first partnership led to another, then another – as we formed alliances with VANOC, the provincial and federal governments, the city of Vancouver, Whistler and many others. We made history: For the first time, Aboriginal people would host the Olympics – as full and active partners in the Games!

I think Canadians ever since the 1960s have been unsure of who they are, or are certainly trying to define who they are. Since the 1960s, individual achievements and the Olympics are something that plays into this. Olympic athletes, who do well, foster that idea of Canadian accomplishment quite nicely. This is something that has played out numerous times in terms of Cold War conflicts between the United States and the Soviet Union, and even these days in terms of China showing that their country can accomplish the most Olympic medals. This reflects very positively on their political systems…that they can also foster great achievement there as well… Certainly you’re seeing a very extensive advertising campaign playing up the idea of this [Vancouver 2010] as Canada’s moment. But I don’t know that this is any different from any other Olympics? There are always campaigns featuring Canadian athletes quite extensively. What is different in the last couple of Olympics is the extent to which funding programs here in Canada have centered on the high achievement…that has moved away from a very egalitarian spreading of funds over as many sports as possible to really focusing on elite athletes. I think that many will be extensively critical of our sports administrators if there isn’t a gold won on home soil. That was the failure of the last two [Canadian hosted] Olympics, to produce a Canadian gold.”

I think [the Olympics] are a fabulous opportunity for athletes. For athletes to compete against each other and do so at that level is amazing. The problem with it though, is that over the years, the Olympics have become so much more commercialized that the pressure to win is not about competition anymore, but rather about the commercial side of the games and the bottom line. I think that’s why you have all these situations with performance enhancing drugs and things of that nature. I think that [the Olympics] have become too commercialized and has certainly become more political. Just the granting of the Olympic Games has become such a political issue. Way back when, the Olympics were much more pure in terms of a competitive environment but it just doesn’t seem that way anymore. I’m not a proponent of professional [athletes] playing in the Olympics – I think that the Olympics are for amateurs and I just don’t agree with [the current situation]. But you know, other people have different views and if your focus is commercialism, professional [athletes] will give you the [greatest benefit]. But I just don’t like it and it’s absolutely only going to get worse too. When it’s all said and done, and all the posturing is finished and the athletes show up to compete, then I think it becomes a fascinating competition and environment. But I think everything prior to that is pretty tainted.

What does this signify? First, the Games provide an opportunity for Aboriginal peoples to showcase their cultures, their entrepreneurial spirit, to share a bit of us with visitors from across Canada and around the world. The Olympics are providing jobs and development to local aboriginal communities; some living in isolated rural areas recognize the Games as an economic stimulus package helping them during the economic downturn. Breaking stereotype, it joins together two words that, in this country, are so rarely put together: Aboriginal and success.

Professor Matthew Hayday is a historian at the University of Guelph. Hayday has taken part in the Intellectual Muscle program developed by the Vancouver Olympic Committee and the University of British Columbia. In his podcast “They Like Us, They Really Like Us! Defining Canada Through International Accomplishments” Hayday discusses Canadian national identity and shows how governments have increasingly attempted to link nationalism to the internationally-recognized accomplishments of Canadian citizens. In particular, the accomplishments of Olympic athletes are playing a key role in this reconfigured national identity.

Tom Kendall Director of Athletics: University of Guelph

Tewanee Joseph is CEO of Four Host First Nations, the not-forprofit society, representing the First Nations who will host the 2010 Games. Excerpts taken from an October, 2009 speech by Tewanee Joseph. Published by Kelly McParland ed. (National Post) http://network.nationalpost.

What we were looking at was the real estate market to see about the economic impact of the Olympics. We were not interested in the real estate market only, we just used it as a tool. The idea was if you have higher economic growth, or more amenities, then the real estate prices will rise. If the Olympics happen somewhere and you’re not seeing this type of growth than that would suggest the Olympics are not having that type of effect. What we do is work with English language countries, so the United States, Canada and Australia, and separately for each group we construct a model for house prices and then see whether the cities that have had the Olympics have had house price growth at the time of the announcement, the lead up to the games and the six years following the games. And we find no consistent evidence that hosting the Olympics leads to a higher rate of house price growth. Tsur Somerville is the director of the UBC Centre for Urban Economics and Real Estate. Sommerville is the co-author of Hunting for the Olympics Bounce: Any Evidence in Real Estate? The study, released on Jan. 26, analysis housing markets leading up to, during and after the 1996 Summer Games in Atlanta, the 1984 Games in Los Angeles, the 2000 Sydney Games and the Winter Olympics in Calgary (1988), Salt Lake City (2002) and Vancouver.

I can’t say I recall The 1988 Olympics vividly, but there were a few moments. I remember “The Keg” was busy as many students wanted to congregate to watch the Canadian Olympians on the large screen TV. There was the night that Brian Orser skated….. and Elizabeth Manley (another popular figure skater), [also] when Canada played Sweden to a draw in men’s hockey. Eddie the Eagle (a popular and entertaining, yet humourously unsuccessful ski jumper) was everyone’s hero and joke of the day. I also remember that there was much buzz over the upcoming summer Olympics (also in 1988 but in Seoul, South Korea) because Victor Davis, the swimmer, was born in Guelph and was a gold and silver medal winner in 1984. There were high hopes that he would win gold again in 1988 but [he] ended up winning a silver (which is still fantastic). In my opinion, people were so proud back then and there wasn’t so much a movement against the Olympics, but rather one in support of it. It symbolized then, what I still think it still symbolizes today, the pursuit of dreams through hard work and dedication. Jacqueline Van Hoorn Sports Editor of the Ontarion in 1988, the last time the Olympics were held in Canada

I’m pro-olympics. Not for any particular reason, I don’t watch them or anything, but I guess it’s good. It keeps up a healthy lifestyle and everybody can aspire to be an olympian. Emily Dinely

I don’t really have much of an opinion, I don’t see why people could be anti-olympics. It seems to be fairly cost effective, it seems to be well done. When people talk about taking over native lands and what not, I think when you see balanced writing about that, or balanced programming about that, you see that a lot of native leaders are in favour of it because it brings economic development, so I don’t really see a reason to be against it. Peter Slade I’m for them, sure. It’s one avenue where the world comes together and people try to do something that’s not strictly financial. I realize the athletes end up getting deals with companies after they’ve done well but that’s not the reason what they are there for; or at least not the intended reason. So I think it’s a good thing.

com/np/blogs/fullcomment/ archive/2009/10/20/tewaneejoseph-vancouver-games-meansno-more-dime-store-indians.aspx.

Martin Schwable I don’t really care. They couldn’t go on, they don’t have to go on it doesn’t bug me. I know it has been going on for centuries so what’s the point in stopping it now? It seems like a tradition that should be upheld but whether it goes on or not it’s not going to affect me in my everyday life. Dan Simpson

I like the idea of the olympics, but it puts the city in a lot of debt, does it not? I’m all for the sport and the competitions between nations because we get together, but I think that (financial) aspect of it is a pain. I’m glad that they are in Canada though, that’s for sure. Andrew Collins

student perspective what some of the students of the University of Guelph are saying about the 2010 Olympics

layout by Duncan Day-Myron

Dr. Robert Barney is the founding director of the International Centre For Olympic Studies at the University of Western Ontario.

Celebration or Resistance?

While the Vancouver 2010 Olympics has certainly created excitment from coast to coast, the Ontarion investigates issues that don’t always surface in the mainstream media by speaking to various organizations and experts from across the country.

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JAN. 28 - FEB. 3, 2010

SPORTS & HEALTH

THEONTARION.CA

DAN O’KEEFE’S VEGAN CHALLENGE

One man’s month long goal to live as a vegan DAN O’KEEFE With preparation and planning, can average Joe go vegan for a month? Last semester, I wrote an article on veganism. I went to Mississauga for a day where I spoke to Alice and Gemma Stanton-Hagan, a set of identical twins who had lived the vegan lifestyle for more than a year at the time of the interview. I was intrigued. I really knew nothing about veganism at the time. I had heard of veganism, and thought it was like vegetarianism. Kind of right, but that’s only the tip of the iceberg. Although usually thought of as just a diet, veganism is a lifestyle. The vegan lifestyle seeks to exclude the use of animals in every way, particularly in diet and clothing. This can be for many reasons: disagreeing with factory farming; believing strongly in animal rights; opposition to animal testing; or for religious or spiritual reasons. The bottom line is that if it came from or was tested on an animal, then it won’t be used. There are, of course, variations among vegans. Some will keep

pets, while others won’t. This could present an issue because many animals, cats in particular, will die unless they consume certain proteins, found only in meat. Some vegans will refuse to sit on a leather chair, while others will use one if there isn’t a fabric chair available. It comes down to an individual’s decision on issues such as these. There is also the matter of pre-vegan, or “pre-gan” possessions. While it would be ideal to have a purely synthetic coat or pair of shoes, it is the lesser of two evils to keep the leather shoes or wool-insulated jacket than to throw it out. If a perfectly good article of clothing was thrown out, then the animal died for nothing rather than just for the clothing. As I learned more about veganism, it became more fascinating to me. Then I wondered if I could ever go vegan. I’m not quite the “meatatarian” in the Wendy’s commercial, but I am a person who enjoys a good steak. Roast beef is a personal favourite. I find seafood divine. There is little I wouldn’t do for bacon. And I laugh every time

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I see that “I love animals – they taste great” bumper sticker. So I bounced the idea off some friends. “What do you think about me going vegan for a month?” Some found it interesting, while most people looked at me, laughed,

all synthetic sugars. Going from five cans of coke daily to none was difficult, but I did it. It was by far one of the hardest things I had ever done, but I was determined, and saw it through. Therefore, I believe that I can replicate this

Some found it interesting, while most people looked at me, laughed, and said, “ You won’t last a week.” They told me to put an ‘emergency steak’ in the fridge for when I went through meat withdrawal. and said, “You won’t last a week.” They told me to put an ‘emergency steak’ in the fridge for when I went through meat withdrawal. So I took this as a challenge, and here we go. I, Daniel O’Keefe, do solemnly swear to live the vegan lifestyle to the best of my ability for the month of February. This isn’t the first time that I have radically changed my diet. Just this past summer, I gave up

success for veganism. I knew that this would take a great deal of preparation, so I took a trip over to the campus Wellness Centre to get some information on iron and calcium, two essentials that I felt I might miss out on with a vegan diet. I also have some multivitamins and supplements that I take to ensure proper nutrition. Furthermore, I had to make my clothing

vegan. I have only worn leather running shoes for the last decade; however, I found a pair made with only synthetic materials. I also picked up a fabric belt to replace my leather belt. I have changed my diet to vegetarianism since returning to school so that the adjustment to veganism would be easier. I feel that I am as prepared as possible. There are only two possible exceptions to veganism that I will make for February. I am not positive if my jacket has wool in it because I cannot find a label listing its materials anywhere. The first exception is my “pregan” jacket. The second exception is that my multivitamins and supplements may not be vegan. The bottles with the ingredients listed are at home (not in Guelph), and therefore difficult for me to check. However, other than these two possible exceptions, it is my goal to remain true to the ideals of veganism for the entire month. When February begins, so will the Vegan Challenge. I will provide weekly updates and accounts of the experience, and you can follow the challenges and changes every week here in the Ontarion. Wish me luck as I commence the Vegan Challenge.

THE ONTARION

SPORTS & HEALTH

161.3

13

To tan, or not to tan? That little bit of extra colour in the winter, is it worth it? JOSH DOYLE As the sun headed south this winter, along with a good crosssection of birds and rich leisurely folk with condos in Miami, the rest of us were left to deal with the many wonderful features of a North American winter. We all know what this means: a lot of wind, a bit of snow, and an almost complete lack of sunlight. Fortunately, we come armed with our own solutions for these problems like jackets for the wind and boards for the snow. But what does one do to replace that light in the sky? Those of us who were unable to take off to warmer climates over the holidays have been left with a skin tone that is less than desirable. The difference from frosh week to frost week is plain to see when looking at the faces of the students: bright tans give way to the pale skin that many of us were born with. But living in a world with options, those who find this lack of colour undesirable can easily remedy the issue with a couple of trips to the local tanning salon. These salons are becoming more Nordic Ski

Volleyball (M))

Mono Nordic Invitational Open Men’s (10km): 1. Matti Little 24:14 2. Ian Ritchie 25:08 5. Erin Purdon 25:37 6. Patrick Twohig 26:15 7. Jordan Forsyth 26:18 8. Mike Weersink 26:25 11. Shaun Guerin 29:13

Guelph vs Laurier: 1-3

Junior Men’s (10km): 2. Scott Weersink 25:42 Open Women’s (7km): 1. Laura Hewitt 21:47 2. Analee Winter 22:04 3. Lindsey Chapman 22:59 4. Vesta Mather 23:40 6. Jessica Blenkarn 26:23 7. Laura Campbell 27:15 Junior Women’s (7km): 2. Jennie Hissa 24:35 3. Gillian Rockwell 26:15

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McMaster Western Queen’s Windsor Guelph Waterloo Laurier U of T Ryerson York RMC

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Volleyball (W)) Guelph vs Waterloo: 3-0 McMaster Waterloo Brock Guelph Western Laurier Windsor

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and more popular, and tanning salons have confirmed that this is a very busy time of year as Seasonal Affective Disorder sets in and the moods of Canadians change in relation to the lack of sunlight and Vitamin D. However, along with the rise in tanning popularity comes a rise in the debate over the health risks. This could be why the United States government has recently decided to place a 10 per cent tax on tanning salons, a tax previously intended for cosmetic surgeries. The process of tanning is one that your skin does naturally as a result of its interaction with ultra violet (UV) rays, usually emitted by the sun. This same effect is recreated when you visit a tanning bed, where the lights emit a similar spectrum of rays. But don’t let the term ‘natural’ convince you that indoor tanning is completely ‘healthy.’ Your skin changes colour in order to protect itself, as darker skin allows less penetration of rays that can be harmful. To one with only their health in mind, it might sound like a no brainer to stay away from UV rays, but the issue is more complicated than that. Tanned skin looks good, and although this can’t be considered a fact, it’s a common belief in our culture today.

Tanning indoors comes with its own set of health benefits. First of all, there is the production of Vitamin D offered by exposure to UV light, a point commonly noted by supporters of the tanning industry. Vitamin D is an essential vitamin, and those of us living life indoors may not be getting enough. “The benefits that have been linked to Vitamin D [exposure] are reductions in breast cancer, colon cancer, multiple sclerosis and diabetes,” said Sam, manager of Fabutan in Guelph, who chose not to give her last name. “Vitamin D is only ever naturally processed through UV exposure. If you take pills or supplements, there is a risk of toxicity whereby you can overdoes on the vitamin. When receiving Vitamin D naturally through the tanning bed, you’re actually able to produce it and store it in your kidneys naturally and then it can be used throughout the body.” This all sounds good, but the debate comes with an intimidating list of risks as well, the most frightening of which is skin cancer. Melanoma is a term often associated with sun exposure, and although it is less common than other forms of skin cancer, it is responsible for the most deaths. Another downside to tanning is

Duncan Day-Myron

its effect on the appearance of your skin. After tanning to an attractive colour, skin tends to age at an increased rate. At the end of the day, the choice is yours, just like it’s your choice to drink, or drive a car, both of which have considerable risks and yet are done frequently by a large percentage of students. The important thing is to be educated about what you’re doing, and perhaps to treat tanning as you should anything: useful in moderation. “We (at Fabutan) constantly stress the importance of

Basketball (M) ( ) Baske Basketball (W) Hockey (M)

West

moderation,” said Sam, who explained that Fabutan, as the largest indoor tanning company in North America, is committed to educating its clients, prior to use. “Being an indoor facility, we want to properly monitor the length of time that people tan for. Fabutan is Smart Tan Certified, which makes sure that all the technicians are well aware of skin types and exposure times. “We guarantee to our clients not to overexpose them. We are more interested in educational purposes than just the tan itself.”

Hockey (W)

Wrestling

Guelph p vs Lakehead:69-62 9 Guelph p vs Lakehead:37-68 Guelph vs Waterloo: 1-3 Guelph vs Queen’s: 4-0 Guelph Open Lakehead Windsor McMaster Waterloo W t Western Brock Laurier G Gue lph p Guelph

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3 4 6 6 7 8 8 9

Windsor Western Lakehea Lakehead McMast McMaster B k Brock Laurier Waterloo Guelph p

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1 4 5 5 6 7 11 12

Western Lakehead Waterloo Laurier York Guelph Windsor Brock UOIT

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18 15 15 14 11 9 8 9 8

4 5 6 6 10 10 10 13 13

0 2 1 2 1 4 4 1 1

Laurier Queen’s York Guelph U of T Western Brock Windsor Waterloo UOIT

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20 14 14 12 11 9 8 8 6 4

0 5 6 7 8 10 11 13 12 14

0 2 1 3 2 3 3 0 3 3

Individual Gold Korey Jarvis (men’s 96kg) Ohenewa Akufo (women’s 72kg) Silver Ryan Lue (men’s 66kg) Danny Brown (men’s 84kg) Kyle Grant (men’s 120kg) Bronze Chris Pricket (men’s 74kg) Allison Leslie (women’s 67kg) Mehdi Klawer (men’s 96kg) Team Men 1. Brock 2. Guelph 3. Team Impact

Women 1. Calgary 2. Brock 3. BMWC 5. Guelph

Overall 1. Brock 2. Guelph 3. Calgary

OPINION

14 ANDREW T

JAN. 28 - FEB. 3, 2010

THEONTARION.CA

KNOWS SOMETHING ABOUT DINOSAURS

Your web idenity Be wise my friend, be wise ANDREW T Good Morning Angels, My ďŹ rst e-mail address was something like (my last name).(my ďŹ rst name)@hotmail.com. Some friends of my mom thought it would be a great idea for my brother, sister,

password. What was said address? Enough mystery! I’ll just tell you! For the longest time friends and family (and strangers too‌I guess‌) could contact me by sending messages to ‘quantumfury@ hotmail.com.’ I know. I know. That’s pretty ballin’. But then I wanted a job, so I picked up an oďŹƒcial sounding

even bother? And not just bother with e-mail, but with life and stu, and democracy in general?� That’s a scary dark road that I cannot go down again—much like Elizabeth St.—so I went with something that was a bit closer to my heart: My own name. Secretly, I believe that studmeister1 is currently the address of ex-Prime Minister William Lyon Mackenzie King,

Your e-mail address is probably your most common and basic form of web identity. It is possible for you to not be on Facebook, not have a blog, and not post videos of yourself playing covers of popular songs with your ukulele on Youtube (it’s possible).But as a University of Guelph student, you are guaranteed to have an e-mail address. and I to have a Hotmail account, even at the tender ages of‌of‌I don’t know. We were young. Get o my back. When I turned thirteen, I—and the rest of the world—decided that I was ďŹ nally a man, and I picked out my own address with my own

Gmail address. But then I hated that, and my Hotmail one, and the smell of used yoga mats, so I got a new address: ‘andrewt.press@gmail. com.’ Honestly, I would’ve changed to anything from studmeister2 to studmeister221, but then I thought, “If I can’t be studmeister1, then why

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who sends me e-mails FROM THE GRAVE!!! So why am I telling you all about e-mail addresses? I’ll tell you! No mystery! It’s because your e-mail address is probably your most common and basic form of web identity.

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Rashaad Bhamjee

It is possible for you to not be on Facebook, not have a blog, and not post videos of yourself playing covers of popular songs with your ukulele on Youtube (it’s possible). But as a University of Guelph student, you are guaranteed to have an e-mail address. Though it may not seem like it, the ‘@uoguelph. ca’ lends a lot of credibility to the e-mails you send. It says that you’re a professional. It says that you’re a smart cookie. Quantumfury says none of those things. All it says is that I may or may not be the name of the Millenium Falcon’s douchebag brother. Now, I know that the Millenium Falcon didn’t have a brother, as it is a highly modiďŹ ed YT-1300 light freighter (not a human), and the closest thing to it’s original design concept is Princess Leia’s Tantive IV. I know that. Get o my back. But your e-mail address is actually a huge part of your web identity, and I think it should reect a large part of who you are in real life. Maybe you noticed that this column is signed as ‘Andrew T’, and not with my full birth name (unless you thought ‘Andrew T’ was my full birth name, which is cool too I guess‌but it’s not that). That’s because I’m slowly cultivating an identity based around a pseudonym, much like how a farmer cultivates crops around a barn. Yes? No? Regardless, anything that I do under Andrew T (be it this column, that column, my radio show, literally anything else I’ll write non-academically) is marginally separated from my academic work, my banking records, my health records, my driving records, or how I sign my uncle’s birthday card—usually with a hearty ‘From Andrew.’ Sure the internet is a great place to be anonymous, but I recommend being anonymous in a way that

makes you look cool. When I ďŹ rst got a Twitter account, my username was ‘Desirefortiger.’ I came up with this identity in the early 2000s, and to this day I still think it’s brilliant. Like, so smart! I think it’s one of the smartest, most clever things that has ever come out of my head, and I will use it until the day I die. It’s my fallback web identity for buying things on Ebay, or naming my blogs (desirefortiger. wordpress.com and desirefortiger. tumblr.com). But when I ďŹ rst got Twitter and I friended my supervisor Professor Mark Lipton, the message I got back from him was “What is desirefortiger? You like big cats? On Twitter, people usually use their real names. . . How do I know it’s you?â€? I mean, of course I like big cats. Who doesn’t? I was actually using ‘Desirefortiger’ for a long time before I admitted to myself that tigers are indeed my favourite animal. Especially Siberian Tigers! They kick so much butt! They kick all the butts! But Dr. Lipton called me out. Sure, I can have my fun web names, but it’s probably a good idea for people to have a real one to connect it to. Luckily for me I was an early adopter to Twitter, so http://twitter. com/Andrew_T was still free (Follow me!). And yeah, when Facebook got us all to come up with a URL I went with http://www.facebook.com/ desirefortiger (Befriend me!), but that’s because it links to Andrew T’s proďŹ le. I may comment on forums or blogs through the universal log in of my blogs, but I sign it with Andrew T, and it all links back to one solid identity that I’m happy to stick with. My friend Scott recently commented on a website of mine (www.drivewayfarerdrive.com) as ScottmanJack, and now he’s sad because he’s stuck with it. I don’t want you to be sad. Don’t make the same mistakes Scott does. Sorry, Scott‌

THE ONTARION

OPINION

161.3

15

L OOSE CANNON

Proroguing democracy, CFS-style GREG BENETEAU This Monday marked the first official day of the proroguing of Parliament. It was the day the House of Commons, Senate and its various committees and subcommittees were supposed to get back to work after the winter break, had Prime Minister Stephen Harper not intervened. A number of rallies were held over the weekend to mark the date, including one in Guelph. People were understandably upset at having Parliament shuttered for the second time in a little over a year. Critics called the decision “anti-democratic” and accused the government of using its powers to silence dissent. Backtrack to the week before, when another important deadline came and went, with little fanfare. Monday, Jan.18 marked the 90th day since a group of University of Guelph students submitted a petition to the Canadian Federation of Students’ National Executive, requesting a referendum on continued membership. They collected 1854 signatures, or 10 per cent of the undergraduate population; the names were later verified by the University’s Office

of Registrarial Services. The petition was sent by process server to the CFS National Executive on Oct. 19, 2009. That means that for over a week, the CFS-National has been in violation of its own bylaws by refusing to coordinate with the Central Student Association on the timing of a referendum. Let’s make one thing very clear: the CFS is very strict about its rules, and its rules regarding membership votes most of all. The Federation has repeatedly shown its willing to quash referendum results, or even go to court, when student unions don’t follow the letter of their law. The U of G students who organized the drive had to use these exact words in their petition: “We, the undersigned, petition the National Executive of the Canadian Federation of Students to conduct a referendum on the issue of continued membership in the Canadian Federation of Students.” That’s section 6.a of CFS Bylaws, if you’d care to look it up. The U of G petitioners also had to collect those 1854 signatures on a deadline, so that a referendum could be held during the window period

mandated by the CFS (Sections 6.b.i and 6.b.ii). Having jumped through all the necessary hoops, the ball went to the Federation’s court. Now, it’s refusing to play. Section 6.b.i of CFS Bylaws states: “Within 90 days of receipt of the petition described in Bylaw I, Section 6.a, the National Executive will review the petition to determine if it is in order and, if it is, in consultation with the member local, will schedule a referendum that is not less than 60 days and not more than 90 days following…” According to CSA Communication Commissioner Gavin Armstrong, that hasn’t happened. There has been no word on the validity of the petition. No communication about possible referendum dates. Nothing. In their latest attempt to coral some kind of answer out of the CFS, Armstrong sent a memo to the National Executive last week “reminding it that it is past due and requesting a response to our inquiries.” So far, there has been no response. Proroguing might be an arcane constitutional power that is

frequently abused, but at least it has a legal basis. What happens when the rule-maker refuses to follow its own rules? As a result of the CFS-N’s inaction, the entire referendum

Having jumped through all the necessary hoops, the ball went to the Federation’s court. Now, it’s refusing to play process has ground to a halt. At its January 13 meeting, the CSA Board chose Armstrong and Local Affairs Commissioner Galen Fick as their representatives on the Referendum Oversight Committee (ROC). As per CFS Bylaws, the ROC is empowered to set campaign rules and resolve disputes during

a membership referendum. But without two appointees from the CFS, no decisions can be made. The CSA could attempt to organize a referendum without CFS input. But if history is any indication, the Federation would likely invalidate those results, and possibly go to court to keep the University of Guelph from leaving the fold. On the other hand, the CSA could go to court (at students’ expense) to force the CFS to run the referendum - to allow students the opportunity to practice their basic democratic rights. I’ve followed the CFS for nearly three years as a student journalist. I’ve heard a lot about the shenanigans that occur when a member union tries to leave, but this is a whole new ballgame. It makes me sick. I encourage everyone to mark Friday, Feb. 12 on their calendars. According to Armstrong, if the CSA hasn’t received confirmation from the CFS by then, it will be too late to organize a referendum in accordance with Federation bylaws. On that day, student democracy on this campus will have been dealt a serious blow.

HEUMANNLY POSSIBLE

Everyday ethics, and happiness JAMES HEUMANN What is everyday ethics? How can active listening improve your quality of life? These are two questions that this article will address. But first, let me introduce this column and myself. My name is James Heumann, an upper-year philosophy undergrad with a minor in international development. This will be the first piece in what I intend to be a regular column called “Humanly Possible,” one which focuses on aspects of ethics that are applicable to everyday life, or what some call ‘practical ethics’ (I hope to approach this in a somewhat interdisciplinary way). Most of philosophy, as well as other relevant disciplines, are pretty technical and theoretical; I’ll try to bring it down to earth, apply it to how you and I, as individuals, can live a good life. So, what is ethics? First of all, there are two words I’ll use as synonyms for each other: ‘ethics’ from the Greek ethikos, and ‘morality’ from the Latin moralis, coined by Cicero as a translation of ethikos. Some philosophers have tried to use these two words for different things, but in general these terms are taken as synonyms. That’s what I’ll do as well. So, what is morality (i.e. ethics)? Doesn’t that topic imply religion? No (although religions are certainly one context in which morality is discussed). Plato and Aristotle were talking about ethics (i.e. morality) in the fourth century B.C., and were not basing their moral claims upon any of their supernatural claims.

That means that morality is a human topic, not just a religious topic- one we should intelligently debate, using evidence accessible to everyone (at least when we’re in public discourse, speaking across worldview lines). The branch of philosophy called ethics is the academic field in which we debate what system of ethics we ought to follow, whereas the systems of ethics that specific people do follow rely more upon the social sciences.

flow from this valuation, I believe one should desire the flourishing of oneself and of all (insofar as their flourishing does not impinge upon the flourishing of others in any unjust way). Now we’re ready to make a brief start on my first applied topic for ethics: how active listening can contribute to your lifelong flourishing, and that of certain others around you. One of the biggest factors in the

I believe that the right moral theory incorporates attributing a certain amount of equal, inherent value to all human beings, and seeking or at least supporting and not impinging upon the pursuit of happiness of oneself and of others I believe that the right moral theory incorporates attributing a certain amount of equal, inherent value to all human beings, and seeking or at least supporting and not impinging upon the pursuit of happiness of oneself and of others. Now on the word ‘happiness,’ I actually prefer the term human flourishing – Aristotle’s eudaimonia, which is about doing well, broadly, as a human. You’ll have to wait for more on this term and why I support it in a future column. To bring together flourishing and ethics, flourishing is what one desires for a person when one values that person. Since I believe one should value both oneself and others and follow universal principles that

emotional well being of any human being, according to psychologists, is the quality and depth of one’s close, personal relationships. So how does one develop such relationships? I think we all know the difference between bad friendships, superficial friendships, pleasant friendships and really good, deep friendships. We have to draw distinctions between our acquaintances based upon how deeply we can trust them, and in what contexts we can enjoy spending time with them. I’m talking about the good and the great friendships – the people you can lean on, to bounce ideas off of, brainstorm with on personal dilemmas and so forth. How do you develop, maintain and improve those relationships? I

believe that one extremely valuable tool toward this end is ‘active listening,’ or more specifically, a complex of attitudes towards the person you’re talking to that sees that person as the prime agent in their life, and leaves control of their life in their hands, while retaining control of one’s own life as well; this complex includes active listening as a key tool. One doesn’t seek to control one’s friends, but merely draws lines about where one stands, and where one won’t follow one’s friend. One might add distance to a friendship, or even sever it, if someone acts in ways one cannot personally tolerate, but one doesn’t seek to control that person. Within that approach to other people, active listening is an excellent tool for helping others. And when you find someone willing to reciprocate it, you’ve got a powerful ingredient for an excellent, close friend of a certain kind – the friend you can turn to for all manner of difficult issues you’d like to discuss. So, the competency of active listening, and the attitude of leaving others in control of their lives, are powerful tools that will contribute greatly to flourishing throughout a lifespan, both one’s own and those of one’s friends (since good friendships help greatly at every stage of life). So, what is active listening? I may take this up in my next piece, but for now, I’ll just say it involves a lot of empathy and responding to the other person with questions more than statements, and openended questions more than yes-no questions, to help them explore

the issues for themselves. How can you learn active listening? Again, for now, I’ll just say that any social competencies are best developed in an environment where you can get theoretical training, practice, and feedback on how you’re doing. Volunteering with the Student Support Network on campus was fantastic in this regard, for me, and should be recruiting now, or else soon, but the Peer Helper program also teaches active listening (and is now recruiting). So, until my next piece, I wish you more of the good life.

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16

JAN. 28 - FEB. 3, 2010

OPINION

THEONTARION.CA

Atheism vs. Agnosticism A simplified debate of some not-so-simple beliefs VICTORIA NOWELL Atheist, theist, deist, pantheist, secularist, non-religious, pastafarian… it seems the list of Godly perspectives has begun to grow in a way comparable to that of Sean Combs’ name changes (Daddy, Diddy, Doodle, who knows anymore?). But if you thought the nuances of terminology were the province of theistic denominations only, think again! I often hear that all atheists believe there is no God, and that agnosticism is the middle-ground between atheism and theism. You may be surprised to learn that neither of these statements is true, and although they are commonly presented this way, the reality is quite different. For the sanity (and perhaps for the clarification) of many non-believers, let’s muddle the waters. Let’s first address this issue of belief in God and clear up why not all atheists believe there is no God. To be clear, theism is the belief in one or more Gods, and atheism is

the disbelief in, or denial of, one or more Gods. However, here we need to be careful; disbelief is not the same thing as denial. To put it another way, disbelieving in the existence of God is not the same thing as denying the existence of God. Think I’m crazy? Let me use a sock analogy to persuade you. Suppose I tell you that I’m wearing pink socks. Would you believe me? Let’s look at it logically: people wear socks and certainly some socks are pink, but it’s also possible that my socks are not pink or that I might not even be wearing socks (just please let it not be socks and sandals). Now you have come to a standstill: you don’t know what colour socks I’m wearing, or if I’m even wearing socks. Given this, you may feel it’s logical to adopt a position of disbelief (or nonbelief ) on the subject. You have no positive assertion about my pink sock proposition either way. You don’t claim to believe I’m wearing pink socks, nor do you claim to believe I’m not wearing pink socks. In the same way, “there is no God” is not the default position to “there is a God” because there is also the position “I have no belief in God either way” (in the same way that there’s the position “I

have no belief in whether or not you’re wearing pink socks”). It’s entirely possible for an atheist to adopt a position of disbelief while at the same time making no claim about the existence of God. So what about the atheists that do make the claim: “God does not exist”? How can we tell them apart? There are two main divisions within atheism, and

disbelief and denial, which is why the statement “all atheists believe there is no God” is a false one and doesn’t encompass the whole spectrum of atheism. Hey, wait a minute though, what about agnosticism? Where does it fit into the belief spectrum? The answer is: nowhere. It’s theism/atheism that encompass the realm of belief in God,

It’s entirely possible for an atheist to adopt a position of disbelief while at the same time making no claim about the existence of God. therein lies the difference. Weak (or negative) atheists are the ones I have described above, the ones that make no positive assertions and maintain a position of disbelief. Strong (or positive) atheists are those who believe there is no God and therefore deny God’s existence. Within atheism there is

whereas gnosticism/agnosticism are the realm of ‘knowing’ (about anything, including God’s existence). Agnosticism is not a belief system. So you see, one can be an agnostic atheist, gnostic atheist, agnostic theist, or gnostic theist (in addition to the positive and negative variations of

atheism) because agnosticism and atheism/theism are not mutually exclusive. For example, a gnostic theist is someone who claims to know there is a God, while an agnostic theist is someone who claims to believe in God, but does not know for sure if God exists, or acknowledges that the existence of God is unknowable. This is why the assertion that agnosticism is the middle ground between atheism and theism is false (and why the statement that agnosticism is the more ‘humble’ alternative to the two is also false). All agnostics are either atheists or theists. Theism encompasses “I believe that one or more Gods exist,” and everything else is atheism! (I won’t delve into the point that most theists are atheists as well, in respect to Zeus, Apollo, Cupid, Thor, etc.). Agnosticism can be thought of as a method, or as an approach to truth, but it is not a belief system. If you don’t fall into the position “I believe in God,” you are an atheist, but that doesn’t mean you have to positively assert: “I believe there is no God.” The terms are nuanced and contain just as much diversity within them as the people that they represent.

OPEN CONTENT

Privacy = Freedom MICHAEL RIDLEY

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Dr. Ann Cavoukian, the Ontario Information and Privacy Commissioner, is very impressive. She is passionate, articulate, engaging, and very challenging. Challenging because her primary message, privacy = freedom, is compelling and yet also very difficult math. At a recent meeting of CIOs like me from the public sector (government, universities, hospitals, etc.), Dr. Cavoukian spoke about the importance of privacy and her mission to make privacy protection the default. Technology and privacy have made strange bedfellows for some time. Technology has emerged with only a limited focus on privacy; it’s an afterthought, an add-on when something hits the fan. Facebook, one of the culprits that recently improved its ways, was actually better than many at providing privacy controls. This only tells you how low the bar has been set. Cavoukian wants privacy protection baked in from the start. The initiative is called “Privacy by Design.” It means that we don’t patch things up after the damage has occurred; we build it in from the beginning. Her excellent website is packed with good documentation on this. Of course, it’s not just the technology that needs to be reformed. It’s you as well. We value our privacy, and yet we are so quick to give it away. After all, telling Amazon about

yourself has real benefits. Amazon recommends books to me because it tracks my purchases, browsing, and the browsing of others. I discover books I otherwise wouldn’t find. Same with iTunes and Google. Cool new app on Facebook? Sure, it can have access to my personal info – which also gives it access to my friends and perhaps some of their info too. Yikes. Not sure that’s what I meant to do. Sorry to all my peeps out there; hope you don’t mind this intrusion in your personal life. We are moving into interesting territory where privacy issues are going to be amplified even more. The convergence of Twitter, mobile phones, GPS, etc. has lead to services like Foursquare and others that allow you to release where you are and for others to do the same. These geolocation tools are a cool idea. My friends turn out to be nearby; we can discover this and meet up for a drink. Cool idea? My significant other thought I was in Denver at a meeting but she now knows I’m in NYC for some (possibly nefarious) reason. Cool idea?? The police are tracking me because I was at some demonstration a few weeks ago and they aren’t too sure about me. Let’s see where I go. But geolocation on smartphones is just the tip of the iceberg. Sensors are soon going to start showing up in everything. Network aware sensors (ones that can transmit and receive over the Internet) are going to be embedded in objects like books,

coffee mugs, clothing, whatever. How these sensors are used, who determines what information is transmitted, retained, reused or sold is very much the wild west of this technology. However, protection has limits. Cavoukian is not a fan of anonymity; she is a fan of pseudonymity. The identity of the former is untraceable and unaccountable where the latter is not public but ultimately knowable. Protecting your identity is OK; concealing it is not. Privacy cannot be used as a mask to allow irresponsible action; privacy cannot be protection for libel, harassment, hacking, or other criminal actions. Using pseudonymous avatars in social networking or other online services is likely to become even more popular. Rather than me, a representation of me that has my characteristics but is not easily traced back to me will allow my avatar to obtain and provide the benefits of sharing info but will not expose me personally. One could have many avatars; they could have different characteristics depending on their objective. People are multifaceted, why not their digital representations as well? Cavoukian’s message is simple privacy = freedom. It’s also simple to achieve: privacy by default + privacy by design. Michael Ridley is the Chief Information Officer (CIO) and Chief Librarian at the University of Guelph. Contact him at mridley@uoguelph.ca or www. uoguelph.ca/cio.

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EDITOR’S PAGE

161.3

EDITORIAL

The Ontarion Inc.

If nothing else, we’ve learned from our history. Right? It’s hard to remember there ever being so much talk about a Winter Olympic Games before. As the time between now and Feb. 12 grows ever smaller, it seems the ceaseless Olympic chatter gets more and more difficult to ignore; rather it becomes more difficult to ignore the fact that we are not all on the same page. Like any Olympics that came before, there continues to be the customary excitement at the pageantry of the whole thing; red Vancouver 2010 Olympic mittens being sported by a good portion of U of G students, talk in the hallways about how Canada will fare in the gold medal hockey game, envious cries erupting when someone announces that they have tickets to see an event or simply being in Vancouver or Whistler at the same time as the games. On the other side, concerns have been raised about whether the country will have another Montreal 1976 on its hands with Vancouver taking on immense amounts of debt for the sake of the Olympics. Some question the Olympics as a tradition, wondering if a few weeks and a couple thousand athletes really warrant the large sums of money, time, and attention paid for to what is, at its very core, a sporting event. Others view this Olympics as simply a marketing tool where

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non-Canadian companies like McDonalds, Coca Cola, and Nike use “propaganda” to sell us our national pride in the form of material goods. There are arguments flying from both sides. But one point, above all others, has a validity that is impossible to ignore. The Vancouver 2010 Winter Olympics has highlighted our nation’s dark history of colonialism, the lingering influence of that very history and the fact that our country’s leaders would rather pretend that what happened never did and that it isn’t still happening today. Business leaders, politicians and many citizens seem content to pretend as though we are a united, multicultural nation and that the history of our native peoples is of little consequence outside of the really nifty “authentic aboriginal products” now available for purchase on the official Olympic website. Some are trying to encourage a national identity in these Olympic games that ignores the current status of aboriginal people in our country in favour of something a bit easier to swallow, like a gold medal in a hockey game. What we have on our hands is a list of evidence pointing to a disconnect between the image of Canada’s relationship with its aboriginal peoples and the reality

of the situation. First, we have our Olympics taking place on unceded aboriginal land and the aftermath of the games means there is likely going to be an expansion of winter sports tourism on this very land. Next up we have the aforementioned official Olympic website selling the “authentic aboriginal products” like the handmade inukshuk sculptures retailing at $1,880. Many bands are questioning the authenticity of the products, pointing out that many are not made in Canada at all; in order for them to be authentic aboriginal products, aboriginal themselves should distribute them. We’ve got the inukshuk, a strong symbol for the Inuit people, being used as the official Vancouver 2010 Olympic logo rather than a symbol belonging to one of the British Columbia First Nations peoples. Not to mention that they have added a little mouth to the iconic statue, presumably to make it look a little more human. This is just one example of the Vancouver 2010 Olympics appropriating native imagery for its benefit. An array of plush toys vaguely resembling totem pole animals being retailed as Olympic souvenirs is another. The point is that Canada still has deep wounds from our rather unfortunate history. Poverty in

aboriginal populations continues to be an issue. We are still dealing with land disputes that began hundreds of years ago. We have yet to right the wrongs of our history, yet there is a façade that everything is fine and beautiful just in time for the opening ceremonies. One can only point to the fact that Prime Minister Stephen Harper issued the Canadian government first public apology to the aboriginal people for their mistreatment in residential schools in 2006. Now is a time when many of us are trying to locate our national identity in the Olympic games, but we will never find it by pretending our history didn’t happen or that we don’t have unresolved issues related to the treatment of aboriginals in Canada today. While we should never have to atone for the wrongs of others, it is our responsibility as Canadians to be mindful of the impact our history has on our present. Be aware that what we would perhaps like to forget, or pretend has already been dealt with, is inherent to our national identity. During the upcoming celebrations, certainly enjoy the splendor of an Olympic games hosted, once again in Canada, but please, don’t have amnesia.

THE ARCHIVES

 years ago... The Ontarion reserves the right to edit or refuse all letters deemed sexist, racist, homophobic, ableist, advertorial, libelous or otherwise oppressive or unfit for publication as determined by the Editor in Chief. We ask that letters be kept to a maximum of 300 words. We will edit longer letters at our discretion. All letters must include a full name and phone number (#’s not published), including those which are intended to remain anonymous. The Ontarion may occasionally print anonymous letters when personal safety is an issue.

DEADLINE MONDAYS 2PM Send your letters to: ontarion@uoguelph.ca From The Ontarion vol. 101 issue 3, Jan. 23, 1990

University Centre Room  University of Guelph NG W ontarion@uoguelph.ca Phone: -- General: x Editorial: x Advertising: x Accounts: x Fax: -- Editorial staff Editor-in-chief Daniel Bitonti Arts & culture editor Zack MacRae News editor Nicole Elsasser Sports editor Mike Treadgold Web editor Sarawanan Ravindran Copy editor Roland Wilhelm Production staff Photo & graphics editor Rashaad Bhamjee Ad designer Anne Tabata Layout director Duncan Day-Myron Office staff Business manager Lorrie Taylor Office manager Monique Vischschraper Ad manager Chris Hamelin Board of directors President David Evans Chairperson Timothy McBride Treasurer Curtis Van Laecke Secretary Justine Baskey Members Matthew French Andrew Goloida James Hawkins Aaron Jacklin Rachel Jones Marshal McLernon Joanna Sulzycki Contributors Greg Beneteau Scott Dobbin Josh Doyle Sarah Dunstan Dan Howse James Heumann Jamie MacDonald Elizabeth McLeod Victoria Nowell Daniel O’Keefe Michael Ridley Laura Schep Rachel Shoemaker Julia Shonfield Miles Stemp Andrew T Daniel Wright

The Ontarion is a non-profit organization governed by a Board of Directors. Since the Ontarion undertakes the publishing of student work, the opinions expressed in this publication do not necessarily reflect those of the Ontarion Board of Directors. The Ontarion reserves the right to edit or refuse all material deemed sexist, racist, homophobic, or otherwise unfit for publication as determined by the Editor-in-Chief. Material of any form appearing in this newspaper is copyrighted 2009 and cannot be reprinted without the approval of the Editor-in-Chief. The Ontarion retains the right of first publication on all material. In the event that an advertiser is not satisfied with an advertisement in the newspaper, they must notify the Ontarion within four working days of publication. The Ontarion will not be held responsible for advertising mistakes beyond the cost of advertisement. The Ontarion is printed by the Guelph Mercury.

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JAN. 28 - FEB. 3, 2010

COMICS

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A L L I P O N E W N A P E M I G A P O M E S A S

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Deguile University by Michael Slotwinski

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E M P I R E

S T A N S

Congratulations to last week’s winner...

Adam Mazzetti Please stop by the Ontarion office to pick up your

2 Free Bobs Dogs!

And bring in your complete crosswords for your chance to win!

ACROSS 1- Directed 5- Couch 9- Brown-capped boletus mushroom 12- Not “fer” 13- Benefit 15- Clinton’s birthplace 16- Corrosion 17- Molten material 18- “Hard ___!” (sailor’s yell) 19- Exchange need 21- Suffer from oppressive heat 23- Acting part 24- Monetary unit of Bulgaria 25- Relative by marriage 28- High priest 33- About 34- Scottish boys 35- “You are ___” 36- ___ roll (2 words) 37- Fathers

Crossword provided by BestCrosswords.com

38- Not neg. 39- Female servant 41- Driving aids 42- Apparel 44- Sedimentary matter 46- End of a threat (2 wrds) 47- Decoration at the top of a chair leg 48- Busy as ___ (2 wrds) 49- From within 53- Novelty; 57- Fishing reel 58- Vacant 60- Pitfall 61- Portico 62- Caterpillar rival 63- “East of Eden” director Kazan 64- Dusk, to Donne 65- Raced 66- 1996 Tony-winning musical

DOWN 1- Roseanne, once 2- A shivering fit, often a precursor to malaria 3- It may be compact 4- Intestinal 5- Specimen 6- Egg-shaped 7- Cigarette 8- Intentions 9- Young male horse 10- Blunted blade 11- Juror 14- Licentious 15- Confection of Turkish origin 20- New Rochelle college 22- Always 25- Pueblo Indian village 26- Ultimate 27- Fragile 28- Seraglio 29- Mid-month times

30- Drive away 31- Crucifix 32- “Siddhartha” author 34- Place 37- Agitated 40- Governess 42- Approached 43- Go in again 45- Large container 46- Complied 48- Cave 49- Church recess 50- Sever with the teeth 51- Golf club which can be numbered 1 to 9 52- Iowa city 54- Della’s creator 55- Spahn teammate 56- Petty quarrel 59- Energy

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CLASSIFIED

161.3

19

CLASSIFIED EDUCATION

FOR SALE

Bartending school looking for promotion help on and off campus. Part/Full-time positions available to students. Please visit http://cocktailize.me for more information about the available positions. Keep up the good spirits!

One double mattress without boxspring, comfort pad on each side, will deliver $300. 519-820-1433.

MISCELLANEOUS Research Assistance: Were you, as an adolescent or later, involved, or potentially involved, with the law or police due to actions on your part and are now a U of G student? If so, you can help with research concerning factors that help or hinder changes in lifestyle and behaviours. An interview (1-2 hrs.) is involved. If interested phone Dr. John Hundleby at 519823-5125 (evenings) or 824-4120 ext.53562.

SERVICES JEWELLERY + PARTY = $CASH. When you host a handmade jewellery party, YOU, the hostess, receive a percentage of sales. (519)362-2749 or vglavac@uoguelph.ca for more info. Textbooks bought and sold, new & used, online buybacks. Buy, sell, rent at cheapbooks.com (260) 3996111, espanol (212) 380-1763, urdu/hindi/punjabi (713) 4294981, see site for other support lines

EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES Ontarion Job Opening – Editor in Chief - for the 2010/2011 production year. Full-time contract position running from April 2010-April 2011. Deadline for Applications: Friday, January 29 at 4pm. Apply with at least 6 writing samples. Contact ontarion@ uoguelph.ca or x58265 for more information. Have the summer of your life at a prestigious coed sleepaway camp in the beautiful Pocono Mountains of Pennsylvania, 2 ½

hours from NYC. We’re seeking counselors who can teach any Team & Individual Sports, Tennis, Gymnastics, Horseback Riding, Mt. Biking, Skate Park, Theatre, Tech Theatre, Circus, Magic, Arts & Crafts, Pioneering, Climbing Tower, Water Sports, Music, Dance or Science. Great salaries and perks. Plenty of free time. Internships available for many majors. Interviews on Feb 3. Apply online at www.islandlake.com. Call 800-869-6083 between 9 and 5 eastern time on weekdays for more information. info@islandlake. com.

BETTER SLEEP PROGRAM: Decrease insomnia and get more energizing sleep. This 5 session program begins February 5 at 12:00 noon. Brochures at UC Information Desk or visit www.uoguelph. ca/~ksomers.

DIVERSE STUDENTS & STUDENT OF COLOUR SUPPORT GROUPS. Mondays and Tuesday: One on One Support 10am-2pm, Discussion 1:30-3:30pm. Wed: One on one support, 10am-2pm. Discussion 5-7pm. Confidentiality ensured. Munford Centre, Rm 54. Contact: rmcleod@uoguleph.ca or x53244.

COMMUNITY EVENTS

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UofG DANCE Club: Salsa lesson and social dance (Salsa, Swing, and Argentine Tango). MONDAY February 8th at 7:30pm in Peter Clark Hall. $5. No partner or experience required. www.uoguelph.ca/~dance or guelphdance@gmail.com

S_NGLE TH_S VAL_NTIN_S? Ladies.treat your Self! Reiki massage. Create your own jewellery. Refreshments. Door prizes. Portion of proceeds to Anishnabeg Outreach. Sat. Feb 13th, Tickets limited. Janet (519)823-1329. vglavac@uoguelph.ca

Laza Catering will be selling Samosas to raise funds for Earthquake Relief in Haiti. All proceeds to The Canadian Red Cross. Friday/Saturday January 29 & 30, 37 Macdonell, 10am8pm. And Saturday at the Farmers Market, 2-4 Gordon St. 7am12pm. sales@lazacatering.com or www.lazacatering.com

$ #" !

FOR U OF G STUDENTS:

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