Caper Times Issue 11

The Caper Times

Volume 30, Issue 11

February 25th, 2009

The Results are In! Congratulations to Ricky MacCarthy and Francis Mvere on their election as

President and Vice-President

of the 2009-2010 Cape Breton University’s Student’s Union The Caper Times is: Editor-in-Chief: Chris Lawrence Associate Editor: Griffyn Chezenko

Business Manager: Marisha Bandaratilaka Distribution Manager: Misty MacPhee

Writers: Eileen Coole Brittany Mullins Suzanne MacNeil Kenny McClean

In This Issue:

Columbian Activist Speaks in Halifax (Pg. 3) YouTube Comedian on HBO (Pg. 2) CT Celebrates Black History Month (Pg. 4) Staying Tuned (Pg. 6) “Our Destination Counts” Part II (Pg. 9) Capers Updates (Pg. 10) Tartans and Triumphs (Pg 11) And Much More!!! The opinions expressed in this paper are not necessarily the opinions of CBUSU or the Caper Times Editorial Board. Have something that needs to be said or just want to say something? Contact the Caper Times at [email protected]. The Caper Times is now being posted on the cbusu website at www.cbusu.com Also, check the new and growing Caper Times website at www.thecapertimes.wordpress.com

Page 2 /// News

The Caper Times

Colombian activist raises concerns about the Canada-Colombia Free Trade Agreement in Halifax By: Suzanne MacNeil In a high profile ceremony in Lima, Peru, a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) was signed between the governments of Canada and Colombia. Many Colombians have raised objections to the agreements with the US and Canadian FTAs. Brother Omar Fernandez of Colombia is currently on tour in Atlantic Canada to speak about the concerns Colombians have about these agreements. On Feb 17, Fernandez gave a lecture to a group of approximately 70 attendees at St. Mary’s University in Halifax. The event was organized by Amnesty International Canada, Americas Policy Group of the Canadian Council for International Cooperation, RedLEIDH York University, Atlantic Regional Solidarity Network, Nova Scotia Public Interest Research Group, and various faith-based social justice groups, all of whom have concerns about the CanadaColombia FTA. Fernandez is an active member of the Coalition of Social Movements and Organizations of Colombia (COMOSOC), representing over 2 million actively involved Colombians working for peace and social justice. In a statement to the media defending the decision to pursue this arrangement with Colombia, Prime Minister Stephen Harper declared, “We are not going to say, ‘Fix all your social, political and human rights problems and only then will we engage in trade relations with you.’” The two main arguments presented by proponents of the FTA are that the human rights situation in Colombia

is improving, and that the FTA will be a valuable piece of leverage to put pressure on Colombia to uphold human rights standards. Fernandez presented a number of arguments to the contrary. “The human right situation in Colombia has not improved at all,” he said, giving the example of death threats against opposition politicians who questioned the government on its ties to paramilitary death squads, which carry out many of the violations. “We don’t believe the FTA will help with human rights. It will only help the current government of Alvaro Uribe strengthen its legitimacy to carry out its own agenda.” Currently, about 70 politicians, many of them high level supporters of Uribe, are in jail over a massive scandal linking them to the paramilitaries. Colombia is regarded by the UN as having one of the worst human rights records in the Western Hemisphere. According to the Canadian Labour Congress, 41 unionists were murdered between January and November of 2008, representing an increase of 71% from the previous year. In total, 2,685 unionized workers have been murdered over the past 25 years, with many thousands more receiving politically-motivated threats and kidnappings. Furthermore, murders of indigenous persons are on the rise. The FTA is meant to bolster the trade links between Canada and the South American country. There is over $739 million total accumulated Canadian investment in Colombia as of 2007, most of which is in extractive indus-

tries. The agreement would give greater access to Canadian mining, oil and gas companies for explorations and operations in Colombia. Canadian exports to Colombia include agricultural products such as wheat, barley, and lentils. Paper and heavy machinery also factors into the export total. Canadian utility companies such as Nova Scotia Power Incorporated and New Brunswick Power have over the years availed themselves to Colombian coal for electricity generation. An Atlantic Canadian campaign called Mining the Connections works to provide the links between local coal consumption and human rights problems caused by mining activity in Colombia. Threats and murders of unionized mine workers, and the destruction of Afro-Colombian and Indigenous communities near the mine are some of the issues that the campaign seeks to address. The United States was pursuing a similar Free Trade agreement with Colombia, only to have the efforts stymied by various lawmakers, many of them Democrat members of Congress who found the human rights climate of Colombia impossible to ignore. Testimonies by various UN organizations, Human Rights Watch, Amnesty International and various other groups made the US-Colombia FTA too controversial to pass through congress easily. Various companies such as CocaCola and Chiquita have been implicated in murders of their workers by giving funding to paramilitary death squads.

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February 25th, 2009

News /// Page 3

YouTube Celebrity Gets Big Break Jon Lajoie transitions from the Internet to the stage to TV By Lindsey Rivait The Lance (University of Windsor) WINSOR (CUP) – More than just a regular everyday normal guy, Montreal comedian Jon Lajoie is setting out to prove his live shows are just as amusing and weird as his online videos. Famous for his music videos, ranging from a gangster rap, “Everyday Normal Guy,” to the sweet love ballad, “2 Girls 1 Cup Song,” and the hip-hop classic, “Show Me Your Genitals,” Lajoie has been recognized by FunnyorDie.com owners Will Ferrell and Adam McKay as one of their personal favourites. Lajoie’s stage show consists of his own version of standup, which he says serves to make fun of traditional stand-up. He also plays videos and skits as well as songs – some new and some from his online videos. “I have this course on creating successful online videos, although it’s not really a coursel; it’s just me being retarded,” Lajoie said. Lajoie, a graduate of Dawson College’s drama program, began as an actor in Montreal where he played the part of Thomas Edison the Anglophone bartender on the Quebec soap opera L’Auberge Chien Noir (The Inn of the Black Dog). “Although I was very happy to have the work, it wasn’t, you know, creatively fulfilling,” Lajoie said. Lajoie, a self-taught musician, was also the lead singer and songwriter in a band for four years. The experi-

ence came in handy after his band broke up, giving him some free time. “I’ve always loved Monty Python, and Kids in the Hall, and all those guys. I thought maybe I should try some stuff, so I started writing sketch comedy, but then it was sort of hard to write jokes. I wanted to show people,” he said. That’s when he invested in some cheap video equipment and began shooting his videos. “At first I was terrible, and then after like 10 videos I got the hang of it. And then it sort of got weird,” said Lajoie. His low-budget videos have been viewed millions of times; something that still surprises Lajoie. “I was on vacation and I came home and checked my You Tube account. One of my videos, I think it was at a 1,000 or 2,000 views, and I was like: ‘Holy shit, people are watching my videos.’ Really, I did not expect any of this to get where it is today. I still go: ‘Really? What the hell is going on?’” he said. Making videos for the Internet provides Lajoie with the kind of creative control he craves and would be hardpressed to find elsewhere. “There’s no one looking over my shoulder, no one giving me money to make them. Now I’m getting into TV and film and that’s a completely different thing. I’ll never give up this Internet stuff because I’ll think of something, and the next day or two days, my audience sees it without a filter, without anything, and I absolutely love that creative control,” he said. Transitioning from online to stage is a work in progress.

“It’s two very different things that are very similar in some ways,” said Lajoie, pointing out that both the online content and live performance content reaches his audience unfiltered and uncensored. He admits the live show is more difficult, though. “I don’t want it to just be me standing there doing my videos live, because then people just go home and go: ‘Ah, well, his live show is OK, but his videos are funnier.’ I try to shape the show in terms of some bits no one knows, a song that no one knows, then perform live a song they know but in a way that’s sort of new or just fun. This isn’t something they can see online,” he said. Lajoie has signed a deal with HBO to develop a project that will become The Jon Lajoie Show, which is in its early stages. He is also set to record an album in February. A DVD of his music videos will accompany the album. But, Lajoie has hit a few snags along the way. “When you look at my videos on a big screen or a high-definition television or even a 30-inch screen, they don’t look as good as they do on a tiny screen because they’re made for the Web as cheaply as possible. As soon as you put them on a big screen, it’s like: ‘Holy shit, this looks bad.’ I’m very critical with that stuff because it’s always meant to be on the Web so it would be weird on a big screen. It’d just be like: ‘Wow, this guy really does have no money,’” Lajoie said. Lajoie has been concentrating on making music videos

Comedian Jon Lajoie will be staring in his own HBO show lately, which means there haven’t been any of his classic commercials (see: “Rapist Glasses”) lately. “The reason I do songs is really funny; it’s because I don’t have audio recording equipment for film. Whenever I make a commercial, I either pre-record the audio or the sound is pretty bad. If you check out any of the videos where I’m talking, the sound isn’t so good,” said Lajoie. Although he’s limited by his equipment and resources right now, he hopes that will change for him soon. The best part of Lajoie’s career happened recently when he was hanging out with the Kids in the Hall.

“I performed a show in Vegas, which was not really my audience. It was old German couples celebrating their anniversaries. But, the Kids in the Hall were there and they came to see me backstage. We ended up hanging out all night. I was having drinks all night with Kids in the Hall. I could have died after that and been happy. I love those dudes,” said Lajoie. Additionally, Lajoie learned that British comedian Ricky Gervais is a fan of his work. “That also made me want to freak out. I didn’t believe it. I was like: ‘You better not be lying to me.’ But, it was the director of his latest movie that was telling me this,” said Lajoie.

Page 4 /// Features

Black History Month Spike Lee touts importance of education By Charlene Lusikila The Link (Concordia University) MONTREAL (CUP) – Worldrenowned director Spike Lee graced Concordia’s Hall Auditorium to discuss education and American President Barack Obama’s inauguration, as part of the Concordia Student Union speaker series and Black History Month. “Nobody has class today?”

A quiet Canadian hero Not all heroes are made of pomp and circumstance By Marlene Jennings The Link (Concordia University) MONTREAL (CUP) – Recently, much has been written and spoken about the election and subsequent inauguration of Barack Obama as the first African-American U.S. president. Many Canadians participated in the worldwide euphoria of witnessing this historic event and have wondered as to its significance to Canada in general and to visible minority Canadians, black Canadians in particular. As the first black Quebecer to be elected to Canadian Parliament in the history of our Confederation, many media-types have contacted me for my own reaction, and I’ve spouted much of the same thoughts, as have so many other commentators.

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asked a rather amused Lee to the ecstatic crowd filling the auditorium. Lee has built himself an international reputation with his many films dealing with controversial social and political issues taking place in the African-American community. Some of his notable movies include Do the Right Thing, Malcolm X, and Inside Man. “You guys are very lucky to be alive today because there is a man with the middle name Hussein who is the president of the United States,” he continued, explaining how he still smiled to himself whenever he

would hear the president’s name on television. Lee spoke warmly of how fortunate he felt to be able to witness Obama taking his oath of office on the same Bible Lincoln was sworn-in on. “I’m only four generations removed from slavery,” said Lee emphasizing the significance of Obama’s recent election to many AfricanAmericans. He was quick to point out that, despite the United States welcoming their first Black president, racism still exists. In this period of economic instability and financial turmoil the world is facing, Lee told

Concordia students to take their studies seriously. And, according to Lee, this also means following your passion. “Parents kill more dreams than anybody,” said Lee, advising students to trust their gut instincts rather than fulfill their parents’ dreams. Lee, who teaches filmmaking at New York University’s School of Film, made it clear to students that hard work is indispensable to success. “There’s no such thing as overnight success,” said Lee, attributing this notion of instantaneous success to “those goddamn reality shows.” In addition, he had his share of things to say about the

“gangsta” culture and its direct effect on the way education is perceived by Black youth. “If you speak correct English, you’re ostracized. You’re an oreo. You’re a sell-out. You’re a white dude,” said Lee. “They’re some ignorant mother fuckers,” Lee blurted out in front of a cheering audience. He pointed out to how “criminal” the diffusion of such beliefs were to him, which he said were reinforced through films, rap music, and music videos. “My ancestors knew that one day education would be the key that frees us from bondage.”

I must admit though, that with the onset of our annual celebration of Black History Month, I began wondering why we’ve attached so much significance and so much time to Obama and have not given more attention to our own heroes. While we Canadians – much like Americans – tend to define heroes as those among us who’ve achieved celebrity status, I have started to believe that we should instead define our true heroes as those who live their lives in obscurity. Who are these heroes? May I give you readers a brief account of just one? Her name is Elaine. Elaine is an eightysomething black Canadian woman of West Indian origins. I came to know her shortly after I won the Liberal nomination in 1997 for the federal riding of Notre-Dame-de-GraceLachine. One week later, the writ was dropped for the general federal election and without catching my breath, I had

to immediately begin campaigning once more with all that entails. Elaine turned up at my election office, introduced herself, offered her services as a volunteer, and began telephone canvassing. She used public transit and put in long hours, looked up telephone numbers of electors, called people, stuffed envelopes – you name it, she did it. About halfway through this election campaign, Elaine arrived with a little boy of about two years in a baby carriage. Elaine explained that she babysat her grandchild while his mother worked and asked if it was OK to have him with her while she did her volunteer work. My team of volunteers were quite impressed that this woman, then in her 70s, was caring for a young child and everyone agreed it would be great to have him with us. This paved the way for other volunteers to feel comfortable in bringing their children with them when they were unable to arrange alternate

care. Well, I won that election and have won four more since. Each time, Elaine has actively participated as a volunteer, and when she had difficulties with transportation, we’ve arranged to have another volunteer drive her to and from her home. And, we’ve had the privilege of watching her grandson thrive, grow, and begin school. She’s always attended my Town Hall meetings, my open door receptions, the annual meetings of my riding association, and throughout it all, she’s led a quiet, honest, and giving life. She’s supported her children, grandchildren, and many others, asking nothing in return. Elaine, by the very act of getting involved in our political system, has contributed to preserving our Canadian parliamentary democracy, and yet, she probably has never stopped helping others long enough to realize just how much she’s done for us all. Recently, Elaine’s health has

deteriorated and she’s been – and still is – hospitalized. I hope she improves, but she probably won’t. Elaine is a true, quiet Canadian hero whose acts of heroism have been to live her life with dignity, respecting others, working hard to provide for her family, and giving of herself to the preservation of our democratic system. Elaine, thank you for your own acts of heroism. [SIDEBAR] Marlene Jennings is a Member of Parliament for the Notre-Dame-deGrace-Lachine riding, home to Concordia University’s Loyola campus. Jennings was born and raised in the Montreal area and briefly attended Concordia University. She later earned her law degree from the Université du Québec à Montréal. Jennings has been an MP for over 10 years and is currently Deputy House Leader in the House of Commons.]

February 25th, 2009 Putting black history in Montreal By Dorothy W. Williams The Link (Concordia University) MONTREAL (CUP) – Black history in Montreal is largely unknown. Sure, many people recognize that blacks live in the Montreal region. And yes, many people go to dances, exhibits, concerts, occasional lectures, and special events during Black History Month each February. That is a typical Montreal thing to do: We are quite adroit at exposing ourselves to new experiences in Black Montreal. Still, this does not change anything, as I contend that most Montrealers have little knowledge about black history, and even less knowledge about black history in Montreal.

I will even concede that many know about AfricanAmericans in the great behemoth to the south. They can, if prodded, come up with a list of five, perhaps 10, significant African-Americans, be they male or female, with careers as writers, athletes, politicians, actors, or even hip-hop stars. Yet, I challenge you to produce a list of similar personages in Canada. You can? Great, now narrow that list to Montreal. Go ahead; ask your friends or family members to help. Forget the list and just answer these quick questions: “What is the significance of August 1, 1834?” or “Why did the slave-owners in Montreal send Joseph Papineau to Quebec City in 1801?” Here is an easy one: “What was the most likely employment in Montreal for black doctors, lawyers, or labourers up until the 1930s?” Maybe a few will know two of

Features ///Page 5 the three, but I suspect that most readers are stumped on all of them. Sadly, I rest my case – nigh 20 years beyond Black History Month and no further ahead. I am a writer and historian of Montreal. My singular lens is on the impact of the black presence on the island’s development. So when asked why black history is important to Montreal, I could only think: “Because Montreal’s black history is Montreal history.” Certainly we can acknowledge that Italians, Irish, or Greeks, Chinese, Portuguese, and others, brought unique elements to the greatness that is Montreal. Well, take note, because the early beginnings of VilleMarie are thanks to blacks, too – alongside the French who had spiced up the tiny colony. Then with the influx of the British, the Hessians and Jews the mix morphed

again, all the while helping to create the “joie” or “flavour” that permeates our Montreal mega-polis. Historically for blacks, Montreal has been a unique spot on the continent – at once a terminus, a stopover, and even a haven. For others, they called the city home; they shone brightly here when few other cities would let them rise. Sometimes it was just enough to be left alone, at peace to work and raise their family while other blacks had to “make do” as they pushed up against the low glass ceiling that limited their possibilities. Fear sometimes dogged blacks, and at other times, despair. Yet the beacon on Montreal seemed always to attract more blacks. Over time, as their presence spanned the urban landscape, some blacks eventually pushed the ceiling higher.

Atheist Ad Campaign Sets Sights On Montreal By Gabrielle Lefort The Concordian (Concordia University) MONTREAL (CUP) – Montreal may be the next target for a pro-atheist advertising campaign, according to one of Canada’s leading secular groups. Humanist Canada, a nonprofit organization that says you can be “good without God,” claimed to have purchased ads on Vancouver buses last week, but the statement was quickly denied by B.C. transit corporations. “We are currently organizing campaigns in Calgary and Halifax, but Halifax is giving us trouble,” said Justin Trottier, president of the

Freethought Association of Canada. “Montreal is definitely on our radar, although we aren’t planning anything yet.” The Freethought Association of Canada has already set up fundraising activities for a Toronto campaign, and the ads have already been submitted for approval to CBS Outdoors, the firm that takes care of advertising for the Toronto Transit Corporation. Trottier says Montreal would be an ideal next step once those campaigns are done with. “I admire Quebec for its strong leadership and secularism,” Trottier said. “Montreal has led the way since the Quiet Revolution in

terms of open-mindedness and intelligent conversation with minorities, as we could see with the reasonable accommodations.” The association would not be the first to place philosophical advertisements on public transit vehicles. The Catholic Church of Montreal is well known for its ads when fundraising season comes around. Advertisements promoting St-Joseph’s Oratory are also visible in metro stations. “If those advertisement campaigns ever happened, we might launch a countercampaign, but we would have to evaluate first,” said the Montreal Archdiocese’s communications co-ordinator Lucie Martineau. “The

message can discourage some people, but it does not intervene with the Church’s message.” The Société de Transport de Montréal has not yet received submissions from any of the groups. “The STM has to comply to advertising norms. If ever such a submission were made, we would have to treat it like we treat any other advertisement with a religious connotation. We would have to make sure it respects other communities and also respects our clients,” said STM media rep Marianne Rouette. “If they already have set precedents of religious advertisement, I would hope the ground would be clear

So why is black history important to Montreal? It’s a tale of community survival, success, and failure in a city whose social, cultural, and economic development helped to shape a province and a country. Blacks have always influenced and contributed in all these areas. Montreal’s Golden Mile – built by railway wealth – took full advantage of the city’s cheap black labour. Montreal’s world-renowned jazz has its roots in the early black speakeasies and clubs where the genius of black musicians generated enormous wealth in the ‘20s during Montreal’s golden age of jazz. Black history is important because it is an example of courage and determination in this city. It is a narrative of resilience and a multilingual and multi-cultural mix that gives Montreal its soul.

for our ads to get the message across and show the other side,” said Trottier. The first campaign originates from Britain. Back in January, London resident Ariane Sherine noticed ads on buses saying non-believers went straight to hell. As a response, she launched the Atheist Bus Campaign and raised enough money to put her own ads on 800 buses across the United Kingdom. “There is probably no God. Now stop worrying and enjoy your life,” read the advertisement on double-decker buses in London. Similar campaigns have since rolled into prominent cities like Madrid, Barcelona, and Washington D.C.

Page 6 /// Opinions

Letter To the Editor

From Eileen Coole If the general attitude about change in Cape Breton was as good as the pizza, I don’t think i’d ever leave. We’re 20-30 years behind society. It’s a shame when I really think about it. Cape Breton has so much beauty and life when you look at it, and people are generally hospitable. Sadly, what comes along with the positive things is that you realize a lot of things are hushed and swept under the rug. You can’t speak your mind here without someone wanting an explanation or getting needlessly offended by it. The general attitude here almost does the beauty no justice. Unlike the scenery, the attitudes can change. And it will take nobody but us, Cape Breton University students. The older generations aren’t about to change, and who honestly can blame them? They don’t have to change anything if they don’t

Staying Tuned: Ranting and Raving By Eileen Coole Editor’s Note: This article was submitted for our last issue, but didn’t make it due to technical difficulties. It was a cold and snowy night when I attended the Wintersleep concert at Smooth Herman’s last week. Walking halfway across Sydney twice, to and from the bar, is an adventure I wouldn’t normally take part in. Let’s face it, bars are pretty vile, what with so many sweaty primates gyrating and making fools of themselves. But damnit, I was willing to deal with that to see Wintersleep and I certainly was not dis-

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want to. Sure, they can adapt to us but what would be the use? We have longer to live and they already changed society enough in their own time. Their job is done and now they’re living with what they accomplished. Now it’s our turn. We’re the next generation of Cape Bretoners at CBU. The whole point of coming to university is getting out of university with the knowledge and objectivity to make society a better place. We’re the only university in Cape Breton and you’d think that would be especially important for us. But let’s face it: We’re uptight, we’re too serious, we’re whiney, we’re letting the older generation affect the way an entirely different, and younger, generation handles things, and most importantly, we’re scared shitless to do anything about it. Why is this? We have infor-

mation about social issues around us, lots of information. All the while, Cape Breton chooses to ignore information and live by its own rules. The Caper Times is published proof that our generation is afraid of change. The Caper Times is like George Orwell’s “1984” all over again: Every issue by every writer is equally important, but some issues are more equal than others. The Caper Times student newspaper is vital for the community to understand how Cape Breton University is progressing, especially through interactive student opinions. You get first-hand knowledge of what Cape Breton University is like even if you do not attend. More importantly, the newspaper informs the students of what is going on within their own university. If I were to judge Cape Breton University, as a student, from the

Caper Times, I would come to the conclusion that Cape Breton University is a pretty uninteresting place, and that there is no progression at all. If there is no progression of knowledge, how does one become knowledgeable about lifestyles that are changing even as this article is being written? When we do not step out of the box, it is difficult for our community to grow and learn from more prosperous municipalities in Atlantic Canada. I’m not going to go into the lawsuit controversy too much, but suing other municipalities does not make things better for us either. Tradition is a cornerstone of Cape Breton life. Well if that is the case, why aren’t we able start new traditions? Make our own memories of this beautiful island we call home? When our parents and grandparents were our age, an idea of success was the husband (as divorce or common law unions were almost entirely unheard of) being employed at coal mines and

appointed. First of all, the cover charge was not that bad when you take a couple of things into consideration: 1. They had an opening band, Dog Day, who are also relatively big in the indie scene. Seeing two relatively wellknown bands for under $15 is a rare thing these days. As our economy went down the toilet over the years, concert tickets for rising (as well as risen) Canadian musicians skyrocketed to unbelievable prices. In the process of good journalism and as an example of my claims on high concert prices, I googled the Halifax Metro Centre. I clicked on the official website and checked out the “Events” page. It turns out that The Rankin Family is performing at the Metro

Centre and they’re charging $60. SIXTY DOLLARS. For the Rankin Family! Call me cheap but if the Rankin Family performs cozy little shows in Inverness County for $5 like Ashley MacIsaac does in the summer, I’d party it up in Mabou! 2. Smooth Hermans is notorious for being pricey as far as drinks and cover. The cover for Smooth Hermans is approximately $5-7 on a Saturday night. With the $12, you have the cover charge paid for as well as seeing two good bands. The six Halifax –based indie rockers put on a great show, and the crowd among me did not seem to disagree. Man, was there a crowd! A big crowd is a testament to how well known and liked

the band is. If there is such a captain as Captain Obvious, he’s probably staring in my window trying to make ridiculous faces at me. All silly faces aside, A big crowd larger than a fairly big crowd is hard to find in Sydney, a city which is considered rural compared to other cities in Atlantic Canada. The Wintersleep concert had a pretty big crowd. To Captain Obvious, this is a good sign of a local indie-rock band making it, as far as awareness of the band’s existence is concerned. Now, onto the big show itself. This is the first time I attended a Wintersleep concert even though I really liked the band for years. I was excited about what I would expect from their live show

steel plants bringing home the bread and butter, and the mother, who is un-employed, taking care of many children. This could never work now unless the “husband” makes more than $60,000 a year, the cost of living is much higher. The definition of family vastly changed as well. In saying this, ultimately sticking to tradition cannot work in Cape Breton. If sticking to tradition is what this generation wants to accomplish, it is sad to say that Cape Breton will not prosper as we most desire. As a result, we’ll all pack up and leave. The majority of Cape Breton’s young generation are already planning to do that. It does not take Statscan to come to the conclusion that most students have left. As someone who grew up around the beauty of this community, this worries me. This place is truly beautiful and it would be a monstrosity to see Cape Breton become abandoned, and in result, nobody would see the good things that Cape Breton has to offer. as opposed to studio tracks. It was a very energetic performance. I happily noticed that Paul Murphy’s attentiongrabbing live vocals sound the same as when he sings on studio tracks. “But, lyke, OHMIGOD EILEEN. That means he doesn’t edit ANYTHING to make him sound more poppy N better lykedd!!!111” Yes, and that is why he is the man, and why your Katy Perry album is lame. Overall, I enjoyed the show and had no complaints about Wintersleep’s performance. Older and newer songs shared a good balance in their show, and I would definitely recommend seeing them live if you appreciate indie music, or any catchy but un-pretentious band.

February 25th, 2009 Acceptance is a two-way street

By Maelina de Grasse Nexus (Camosun College) VICTORIA (CUP) – Embracing many cultures and welcoming immigrants to share our country is what it truly

Opinions /// Page 7 means to be multicultural. But, with so many ethnic groups coming to Canada, each with their own customs and traditions, there are bound to be differences in

ways of life. Should Canada be expected to change its own customs and traditions to further accommodate those who move here? Or should new

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immigrants adapt to change, since they’re the ones who have chosen to live in this country? Bruce Allen of CKNW Radio’s Reality Check was introduced as a member of the creative team shaping the ceremonies and entertainment of the 2010 Olympics in Vancouver. But, his job was threatened when he disagreed with the proposal to translate the Canadian anthem into Hindi. Many new Canadians found his comments offensive and tried to get him fired. But there’s no reason for people to be offended. Loyalty to one’s country shouldn’t be thought of as an act of racism. Why should the Canadian anthem be sung in anything other than Canada’s official languages? Canada has already opened its arms to people and cultures from all over the world. Most importantly, immigrants are welcome here just as they are. On the other hand, Canadians offer to share their home just as it is. There’s no deal including individual renovation plans. These people have a right to the elements of their culture and home, and so should Canada have every right to its cultural elements, such as the national anthem. There’s a fine line between accepting diversity and maintaining individuality. Changing the ways and traditions of Canada puts it at risk of losing its identity. Multiculturalism is a valued quality of Canada, but it can’t and shouldn’t be its only distinctive feature. Assorted ethnicities in Canada should add to its identity, not replace it. Life is a two-way street. New Canadians should be just as accepting of Canada as Canada is expected to be of them.

Page 8 /// Opinions

Luxury, Sheer Luxury By: Kenny McClean In a time of fiscal uncertainty and poor job security, should anyone really be indulging? Do luxuries have a place in an economy with soaring unemployment rates? Things are tight, no doubt about it. The economy is has taken a beating, and old people are running through the streets shouting victoriously, because we were right and they were wrong. Now we have to take advice from them on how to live through a depression, though they’ll probably tell us a story about turnips instead. So let’s hypothesize for a minute here. Let’s say

you lost a bundle of money when the stock market took a nose dive. Let’s say the bills are piling up, your job security is uncertain, you’ve got nothing left for retirement, and your favorite dish ran away with the spoon. Should you really be dropping half a paycheck on dinner at the local French restaurant, a dozen roses, a box of chocolates, a teddy bear, prophylactics, and cab fare home? You certainly should! There has never been a better time to blow all your money on an extravagant evening. Many holidays are, for the most part, indulgences. As Christmas is a time of frantic shopping, and Easter has come to be symbolized

The Caper Times by chocolate eggs and a rabbit, the original meaning of most holidays has given way. I say “original meaning” and not “true meaning” because tradition is nothing if not malleable, changing with the times as needed. Holidays mean different things to different people, and that’s the great thing about customs: they can be whatever you want them to be, and by God what we want right now is an escape. So many holidays are luxuries, rather than necessities or obligations. Of all the holidays, all the special dates on the calendar, none has grown quite so large and monstrously out of control as Valentine’s Day. Championed by a flying dwarf with a bow and arrow, symbolized with expensive gifts and awkward dinners, Valentine’s Day is as hated as it is loved. When

the economy pulled a Hindenburg and consumed itself in a fiery orgy of scandals, poor fiscal advice, and general jackassery, Valentine’s Day rose to the top of the list of “Holidays That’ll Make You Forget You’re Screwed”. Go on: go out to dinner, get drunk on good wine, have inebriated relations, and pass out, never once thinking of your 401k and how it selfimmolated. You’ll feel better for a while, and that’s about all you can ask for. Times are tough, and they’re going to get better before they get worse. You’ve gotta stand by your man/woman, and tough it out. Tighten your belts tomorrow, but have some fun today, because it’ll be the last for a while. All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy, ladies and gentlemen. You gotta have some fun, or you’ll drive yourself mad. Spoil yourself

and another for an evening, because tomorrow you might be eating cat food. So that brings us back to the original question: do luxuries like Valentine’s Day have a place in a recession? I’d say any excuse to spoil yourself and someone else for an evening will always have a place in society, especially when things are tight. Keep your chins up, and an eye out for coupons.

Courtesy, XKCD.com

February 25th, 2009

Entertainment /// Page 9

Caper Times Short Story: “Our Destination Counts” (Part II) By: Brittany Mullins “Marlee, this is Chris. Chris, this is my fiancé Marlee.” “It’s nice to meet you, Chris.” “Likewise.” Marlee made some snacks for Jake and Chris and went into the study to do some homework. Tonight, however, it was disrupted by raucous laughter and thunderous clapping. Marlee resorted to playing computer games until the early morning and Chris left. By the time Marlee woke up the next day, Jake had already left. Marlee had no class today, which she was thankful for. Jake called mid-morning. “Hello?” “Hey, Marlee. How was your sleep?” “It was good. You guys had a good time last night.” “We sure did! Listen, tonight Chris is coming over with some friends. Is that cool?” “Yeah, sure. I don’t mind.” “Marlee, you’re amazing. Do you know that?” “I’ve been told a few times.” “Cool. I have to get back to class. I’ll talk to you later. I love you. Bye.” “Bye.”

Marlee spent the rest of her day tidying up the spotlessly clean house. She ran to the store to get some chips and beer. She even picked up some wine, just because she was unsure what these ‘friends’ were into. She dressed up nicely and used the best serving dishes she had. She had a feeling Jake would just arrive whenever the guests would; that seemed like something he would do. The knock came at around 8pm. Marlee went to answer it and almost got a door in the face. “I’m sorry, Marlee! I did that so we wouldn’t scare you!” “It’s fine, Jake.” Everyone piled into the house. As everyone sat down, Jake cleared his throat. “Hey everyone! I want to introduce you to my fiancé, Marlee!” Marlee just gave a little wave. “Okay, you can mingle and what-not.” Marlee fiddled with the CD player as people filled their glasses with beer. Marlee poured herself some wine and went out onto the step. Crowds weren’t really her thing, especially people she didn’t know. She listened

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to the laughter and hollers coming from her humble abode. She knew Jake wouldn’t come to look for her until everyone else went home. “Hey, are you okay?” Marlee didn’t recognize the voice, so she went with her default answer. “Yeah, I’m fine.” “We didn’t really get formally introduced. I’m Mark.” “Marlee.” “Did you choose the wine?” “Yes, I did.” “You have very good taste.” “Thanks.” “How long have you two been together?” “Um, over three years, closer to four.” “That’s a long time.” Marlee just raised an eyebrow and took a sip of wine. She let the silence linger. She wasn’t looking for company. She wasn’t looking for anything, really. That was a lie. Marlee wanted everything she had before, but didn’t want to hurt Jake. So, instead of making herself happy, she was just going to swim in the ocean of unhappiness while Jake and the rest of the world floated on by. “Did you want to go inside? It’s getting kind of chilly out here,” Mark said. “No, I’m going to stay out here for a bit. You can go back in.” She heard the door close as he went back into the party. Marlee downed the rest of her drink and

decided she needed another. She made her way back to the kitchen and poured another glass of wine. She looked over to the living room and found Jake sitting on the couch, surrounded by his old friends, lively telling a story. She picked up the bottle and took it with her outside. Jake wouldn’t be looking for her for a long while. Half the bottle was ingested. She was sitting in the chair, watching the stars and moon, falling into a state of depression. She didn’t know anyone. “Are you okay?” She looked up to find Mark. “Yes. I’m just fine.” “You don’t seem fine.” “I am.” The door opened. A crowd exited. “Hey, Marlee, we’re going to the bar. You in?” asked Jake. His arm was around Chris and another woman. “No, no, you go ahead. I’ll be fine.” “Okay, bye!” As the crowd left, Mark stayed behind. “Aren’t you going too?” “No. I’m not into the bar scene.” Marlee just took a swig right from the bottle. “I like sitting here alone. It’s what I’m used to,” she said. “That’s not good. You need to have some social interaction sometimes.” “Why? So Jake can invade that too? No thanks.” Mark pulled up a seat next to Marlee. “You don’t see much of

him, do you?” “Not anymore. I don’t mind.” Again, the conversation dropped. Silence hung in the air like a lost dog that ends up on the doorstep. No matter how much you ignore it, it remains. “I’m going back in the house,” Mark said. “Me too. I’m getting cold.” As Marlee tried to stand, she stumbled and fell. She would have hit the deck, but Mark caught her. His embrace felt comforting and...right. Jake had not held her in a long time. Their eyes met. In that second, an eternity passed. Marlee could see the sun, moon, and stars in his eyes. She felt safe, happy. She got up abruptly as soon as she realized their position. She grabbed the wine bottle and glass and opened the door. She put the bottle down forcibly and sat on the couch. She got lost in the music that was for once her own. Jake had always put her CDs in the very last slots. No one ever got there. Mark sat down next to her on the couch. The snacks were almost all devoured, save for five or six chips on the floor. Marlee did not feel dizzy, or sick. She felt content, happy. She felt things she had never felt before with Jake. A tear escaped before she could blink it away. She began to shake with the reverberations of her emotions. Mark instinctively held her.

Page 10 /// Sports

The Caper Times

Capers Face Bad Blows And Buzzer Beaters; Get Ready For The Play-off Buzz

The final stretch begins for the Capers By Sean O’Neill As the calendar slowly inches towards March, it means that another season of Cape Breton University athletics is coming to a close. The women’s basketball team has two games remaining on their schedule before the AUS playoffs begin on February 27 at Dalhousie. The men have an extra game to play to conclude this season as the battle intensifies for seedings before all atlantic basketball fans ascend on Halifax for the event of the year. However, the women’s volleyball season has come to an end after CBU lost to the top team in the conference, the Moncton Aigles Bleues. Not only did Moncton finish first in the regular season, they eventually won the playoff tournament after defeating the University of New Brunswick Varsity Reds 3-1 in the final. CBU defeated the St. FX X-Women 3-1 in the late quarterfinal match on Friday, and had to be ready for the early tip-off on Saturday at 4:30. “The first set was close,” said Cape Breton University Director of Athletics, John Ryan, who was in attendance. “But they won 25-23, and then their ability took over and they never

looked back.” Moncton won both the second and third set 25-15. This was the second season in a row when the Capers got to the AUS semifinals, but getting back to this stage will be quite an accomplishment next season as it will lose both Brianne Walsh and Aprill Costello to graduation. These girls should both be celebrated for their fantastic contributions to Capers volleyball during their tenure’s at the university - as well as for being great students and earning their diplomas. ***** The Women’s basketball team played the lastplace UPEI Panthers in Charlottetown and walked away with a surprising split. The first game was as surprising as seeing trickor-treaters on Halloween. CBU won 90-84, with Kelsey Hodgson continuing to up her scoring average for the season as she added another 32 points for the game-high. Karmen Brown almost had a double-double with 17 points and nine rebounds, and Nicole Works added 16 points of her own. The second game was a different matter. The Panthers won 81-79 after Hodgson was fouled by Panthers’ forward Cassandra Goodwin with less than a minute left in the game. “She hip-checked me,” Hodgson said after the fact, “it was an intentional foul and it wasn’t called by the refs.” She was taken to the hospital in PEI, suffered internal bruising from the injury and was questionable

in the build-up to their final home-stand against Dalhousie. Hodgson scored another 30 points before being fouled, and Kari Everett added a double-double with 21 points and 13 rebounds. The Capers finished their 2009 home schedule with a pair against Dalhousie. The Tigers are CBU’s closet rivals for the second spot in the AUS standings, which gives a first-round bye in the playoffs. Hodgson could not be stopped from behind the three-point line. Dalhousie coach Carolyn Savoy used guard Brianna Orr to faceguard Hodgson for the rest of the game and dropping her help-defense duties. This tactic worked until the fourth as Hodgson exploded again. This game was incredibly sloppy. The teams combined for a whopping 37 turnovers, which is almost a turnover every minute. With 2:39 left in the game and the Capers up 66-58, Hodgson drained two freethrows which stretched the lead to ten. The next possession was the game’s dagger as she drained another three-pointer and was fouled, which led to a four-point-play and the game was put out of reach. Cape Breton won 77-60, fueled by Hodgson’s 30 points. She shot 50% from the floor and a blistering 75% from three-point range. She also led the team in rebounds on the day with seven. Dalhousie shot a paltry 14.3% from behind the three-point line in the first

game. That changed in a hurry in the second game as they shot 68.4% from three as Dalhousie took the second game 88-66. To add injury to insult, Hodgson was elbowed in the face in the second quarter which left head coach Fabian McKenzie incandescent with rage. The elbow looked deliberate from the re-play as 6’4 center Leah Girdwood lifted both elbows up as high as her chin and swung behind her head. The ball was away from the incident so there is no logical basketball reason for her elbows to be up so high. Hodgson fell to the floor and the referee’s either didn’t see, or saw nothing wrong with the incident and let play continue. McKenzie was T’d up, and the game continued to get out of reach for the Capers. Kelly Donald and Orr paced the Tigers with 24 and 23 points, respectively, and shot a combined 71% from three. Despite her second knock in as many weeks, Hodgson was still an unstoppable offensive force as she registered another 30 points for the game-high. Added pressure from this loss has landed at the Capers’ feet due to Dalhousie’s massive fourpoint win over after-ran Saint Mary’s on Wednesday night. This win puts both teams level on points going into the final weekend of the season. However, the Tigers currently have the advantage in plus-minus (+196 to the Capers’ +182), and they outscored the Capers in the four games against each other (292-289).

This makes the final two games of the season vital. Both teams have four points left to claim, but the Capers play twice, and the Tigers only once. Cape Breton will travel to Newfoundland for a set against the Memorial Sea~Hawks, while Dalhousie has a four-point game against St. FX. These four teams would be oddson favorites to be in the AUS semifinals in just over a week’s time at Dalhousie, but the placement of each team in the regular season standings is still unknown. Memorial are in first place, but could conceivably drop out of first if the Capers go to Newfoundland and beat the ‘Hawks in their own gym. It may seem inconceivable as CBU have lost five of their last six on the Rock, and will have to win both games and beat Memorial by six points or more combined, as CBU succumbed to a two- and three-point loss at home in early January. If Dal loses at X, and the Capers take one against Memorial, then they will wrap-up second place in the conference and earn a firstround bye in the playoffs. If they sweep Memorial, they will earn a bye regardless of the outcome of the Dal vs. X game. I hope you are not suffering from vertigo after digesting all of the play-off implications. ***** The men’s basketball team played the same schedule as the women’s did over this stretch. Starting off in Charlottetown, the Capers lost the first game in overtime, 97-95. The difference was a last-second dunk by ju-co transfer sensation Gamaliel Rose. He and Andrew Black scored 32 and 30, respectively. Scott Jaspers-

February 25th, 2009 Fayer and Phil Nkrumah both registered double-doubles for CBU as Jaspers-Fayer registered 24 points and 11 assists, while Nkrumah had 22 points and 10 rebounds. The Capers could not afford to drop all four points, so they did very well to come out with a split as they won the second game 87-66. Ryan Roper continued to impress in his rookie-year with the Capers as he scored a game-high 23 points; Nkrumah had 16 points and 13 rebounds; and Tremaine Fraser scored 14 points and collected seven boards. The home-schedule came to an end with a doubleheader against Dalhousie. Before the first game tipped-off, coach Jim Charters presented fourthyear starting guard Mark McGarrigle with a gift as he was about to graduate with a degree in business. Thankfully for Capers fans, the sharp-shooting comboguard will be back wearing the green and orange for a fifth and final season in 2010. This was the most eventful moment of the men’s games, because these two victories were not difficult. They won the first game 9153. Nkrumah surprisingly did not record a double-double, but scored 31 points to offset the loss of registering only -- note sarcasm -- eight rebounds. The second game was much of the same, as CBU steamrolled again, 76-61. Ryan Roper scored a gamehigh 24, which included seven threes; Fraser had 15 points, four boards, three assists and three steals; and Jaspers-Fayer was a rebound away from a double-double as he had 10 points and nine boards. After these two victories,

it was time to hope that the team CBU had just beaten could lend them a hand in the battle for a first-round bye in the playoffs. Which is exactly what happened as Dalhousie won a massive four-point game against Saint Mary’s, which makes the Capers’ run to the firstround bye much easier. If the Capers take both games against second-last Memorial this weekend in Newfoundland, they will clinch a first-round bye in the AUS playoffs, and still have an outside chance of getting first going into the final game of the season at St. FX, depending on how the X-Men fare away to Acadia and at home against Dalhousie. If they drop one to Memorial, and Saint Mary’s take the their final six points on offer, then the X game is a must-win because the Huskies hold the tie-break by defeating CBU twice in two games. Until then, Go Capers!

Sports /// Page 11

File Photo: Chris Lawrence//CT

Tartans and Triumphs By Kenny McClean

We here at CBU don’t have prestige on our side. Nor do we have extravagant fiscal resources, or even numbers on our side. We’re a small university, in a small town, this fact is unavoidable. That doesn’t seem to stop us from sending any and all challengers home with their tails between their legs. CBU isn’t high on the list of top academic schools, this is true. That’s not to say we don’t have some very clever people playing with scary stuff in the “B” wing, but our focus is a little more narrow. Dalhousie can have

their G13 standing, and St. FX can keep whatever it is they’re good at: sports is the name of the game here, and we take it to heart. Without a huge endowment, there’s little to be done. We can’t change what we do, and we shouldn’t. We’re too small to afford huge research labs and an army of staff to run it, so we do the best with what we’ve got, and I daresay we do it quite well (just ask the women’s soccer team). As Walt Whitman once said, “If you done it, it ain’t bragging.” I’m not proposing poor sportsmanship or gloating, I’m telling it like it

is: CBU is dominant on the field and on the hardwood. This school lives and dies with its athletes, and that support shows when the Capers start tearing apart challengers. It’s painful to watch sometimes: teams from big universities file into the Field House, bringing their egos with them. If you listen closely, however, you might catch the sound of a balloon popping. That’d be the rapidly dissipating collective ego of the visiting team, after Phil Nkrumah runs over a point guard for the third time in a row. Come one, come all, bring your “A” game and your egos. By all means, give it a shot. Pts We welcome all challengers, 40 but I’ll tell you now, you’ll be going home disappointed. 36 Defeat stings at the best of 32 times, but when a team like 28 the Dalhousie Tigers lose 22 by 40 points to a basketball 16 team from a school half the 10 size, well… it’s gonna hurt, 8 that’s all I’m saying. We are the Gàidhealtachd, the Capers out of the Cape Pts Breton Highlands. Step up your game when you see 46 the tartan, and be warned: 42 we are the best at what we 42 do, we are Colouring Book 34 University, and we don’t take 14 $%!7 from anyone.

2008-09 Men’s Basketball Standings GP 4W 2W L StFX 17 5 10 2 Cape Breton 17 5 8 4 Saint Mary’s 18 5 6 7 Dalhousie 17 4 6 7 UPEI 18 2 7 9 Acadia 17 2 4 11 Memorial 18 2 1 15 UNB 18 1 2 15

Pct. 0.882 0.765 0.611 0.588 0.500 0.353 0.167 0.167

Home 7-0 9-1 7-2 7-2 7-3 1-6 2-6 2-8

Road 8-2 4-3 4-5 3-5 2-6 5-5 1-9 1-7

PF 1483 1366 1382 1239 1406 1420 1225 1230

PA 1240 1162 1334 1103 1465 1422 1498 1527

+/- 243 204 48 136 -59 -2 -273 -297

2008-09 Women’s Basketball Standings GP 4W 2W L Memorial 18 7 9 2 Cape Breton 18 8 5 5 Dalhousie 19 7 7 5 StFX 18 3 11 4 Acadia 18 1 5 12 UNB 18 1 5 12 Saint Mary’s 19 1 1 17 UPEI 18 1 1 16

Pct. 0.889 0.722 0.737 0.778 0.333 0.333 0.105 0.111

Home 7-1 7-3 8-2 7-1 4-3 4-6 1-9 1-9

Road 9-1 6-2 6-3 7-3 2-9 2-6 1-8 1-7

PF 1319 1376 1391 1317 1126 1150 1089 1144

PA 1146 1194 1195 1130 1271 1302 1317 1357

+/- 173 182 196 187 -145 -152 14 -228 6 -213 6

Page 12

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