Fulcrum (april 2009)

Letters Helping co-op students Re: “A co-op student is still a student” (Opinion, March 19) DEAR CO-OP STUDENTS, I’d like to start by saying we sympathize with your point of view on the accessibility of services to students who are unable to be on campus from 10 to 5 on weekdays and I would like to take this opportunity to clarify the services’ after-hours availability. As it was mentioned, some of the Student Federation of the University of Ottawa (SFUO) services changed their schedule to stay open after 5 p.m. and that is something the SFUO is looking to increase. Many of our services are by their nature only offered after 5 p.m.: Peer Help’s peer support phone line, Foot Patrol’s walks home, and most of our activities and outreach events for students, including discussion groups and social events that take place in the evening. As for our services that don’t already have altered schedules, I would like to let every student know that we are more than happy to accommodate any student on a special-needs basis. If there is ever a service you

require from any one of the Student Life Services provided by the SFUO, please feel free to email us and we can work something out for you, whether it’s a special meeting after hours or a resource pick-up. We will attempt to better advertise this to students next year. Regarding the university services, the SFUO would work with any student that is dissatisfied with the university services to ensure students’ needs are met. We are dedicated to providing the best possible student life for all students, and we hope to be able to serve you to the best of our abilities in the future. Danika Brisson SFUO vp student affairs The challenge called. We answered. AS YOUR STUDENT Federation of the University of Ottawa president, I am going to take this last letter as an opportunity not to contradict or condemn the recent criticisms of some of my and the executive’s harshest critics. Instead, I turn to look at what a changing experience it has been for the executive and I to have had the

Contents The galaxy’s hugest giant universal newspaper

Emtro

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PULLOUT! State of the union

News

The SFUO executive reflects on the year that was. p. 4–5

p. 4

Amanda Shendruk gives physics students the opportunity to speak. p. 6

Summer’s here

Arts

Peter Henderson previews the summer arts season. p. 9

Frank Appleyard Editor-in-Chief [email protected] April 2, 2009 opportunity of representing you through one of the most challenging and rewarding years for our federation. Code of conduct/Ombudsperson: Some would say that killing the student code of conduct was one of Allan Rock’s first ambitious actions as president. Granted, Rock did overturn Gilles Patry’s past promise to introduce the code; however, the SFUO and Graduate Students’ Association with you put on enough pressure and protested the code out of contemplation for the U of O. The positive effects of this came in two forms: an agreement to work together on a document outlining student rights and approving the creation of the ombudsperson office. Canadian Federation of Students referendum: A challenging experience, but one that brought finality to the question of whether or not to join our national student organization, while sparking interest and record involvement (21 per cent voter turnout) on campus. The SFUO is committed to taking an active role in the Canadian Federation of Students, as has been mandated by our students. Student centre: Rome was not built in a semester, and the student centre will be no exception. One day student space will be more abundant due to the work we have done this year and the work that will be done in the years to come. Regardless of its success to this point, the SFUO brought clarity to the situation of student space on

this campus, which includes using your Jock-Turcot Student Centre levy for the student centre and not programming, and clarifying our equity in the building. Ting Ting Wang: One student, among hundreds this year, who we helped defend because she was mistreated by the university. The SFUO and, more importantly, Ting Ting won this case at the end of March. We will always stand up for our students and our principles. Culture/Social: This year has been a year of growth, accessibility, and inclusiveness for the SFUO. We have developed more accessible and diverse social programming and partnerships than ever before, such as Black History Month, the Dance Competition, Wake Up and Vote, and Pandamonium. Internal restructuring: The SFUO has gone from a more corporate model to one that fits the taste of a student union. We are in the process of striking our first collective bargaining agreement with our employees, which will bring a lot more stability to our organization. U-Pass/OC Transpo Strike: The SFUO partnered with the university during the exam period and beginning of the new year to bring you bus services and fought to ensure you were not penalized by professors because you could not make it to campus. Election turnout: On the heels of accomplishing one voter turnout re-

Thanks to every writer, photographer, illustrator, and proofreader who contributed to the Fulcrum this year.

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cord in November 2008 for the CFS referendum, we broke it again in the February 2009 SFUO elections, with a new record turnout of 27.2 per cent. This increased turnout definitely reflects the involvement we have aimed for and hope to maintain in the SFUO. I will leave my successors with a great quote from Winston Churchill that doubles for a good piece of advice: “Never, never, never give up.” Thousands are counting on you. Best for the summer. Dean Haldenby SFUO president

thefulcrum.ca poll Last week’s question What is your favourite part of spring? Outdoor exercise: New wardrobe: Not freezing walking to class:

31% 9% 59%

Sepideh Soltaninia reviews Some Girl(s). p. 14

p. 9

Ben Myers jumps off with the Balconies. p. 10

The cavalry’s here

Sports

The best of the Gee-Gees are recognized in our year-end Cavalry Awards. p. 16

p. 16 Feature

Brad Sinopoli is preparing to become the U of O’s starting quarterback; Andrew Hawley sits down and talks football with him. p. 19

Spring has arrived Ian Flett captures the bliss that is spring. p. 12–13

p. 12

Di filters through her inbox for sexy gems. p. 20

You rock. Got something to say? Business Department The Fulcrum, the University of Ottawa’s independent English-language student newpaper, is published by the Fulcrum Publishing Society (FPS) Inc., a not-for-profit corporation whose members consist of all University of Ottawa students. The Board of Directors (BOD) of the FPS governs all administrative and business actions of the Fulcrum and consists of the following individuals: Ross Prusakowski (President), Andrea Khanjin (Vice-President), Tyler Meredith (Chair), Peter Raaymakers, Nick Taylor-Vaisey, Toby Climie, Scott Bedard, Andrew Wing, and William Stephenson. To contact the Fulcrum’s BOD, contact Ross Prusakowski at (613) 562-5261.

Advertising Department Deidre Butters, Advertising Representative phone: (613) 880-6494 fax: (613) 562-5259 e-mail: [email protected] Check out our rate card online. Go to www.thefulcrum.ca and follow the link for “Advertisers”. Multi-market advertisers: Campus Plus: (800)265-5372 Campus Plus offers one-stop shopping for over 90 Canadian student newspapers. The Fulcrum is a proud member of Canadian University Press: www.cup.ca

Send your letters to

[email protected] Letters deadline: Sunday, 1 p.m. Letters must be under 400 words unless discussed with the editor-in-chief. Drop off letters at 631 King Edward Ave. or email [email protected]. Letters must include your name, telephone number, year, and program of study. Pseudonyms may be used after consultation with the editor-in-chief. We correct spelling and grammar to some extent. The Fulcrum will exercise discretion in printing letters that are deemed racist, homophobic, or sexist. We will not even consider hate literature or libellous material. The editor-in-chief reserves the authority on everything printed herein.

News

Emma Godmere News Editor [email protected] April 2, 2009

SFUO: year in review W

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HAT DEFINED THIS past academic year? According to the 2008–09 Student Federation of the University of Ottawa (SFUO) executive, it wasn’t the ongoing Student Arbitration Committee elections appeal, nor was it November’s Canadian Federation of Students (CFS) referendum. The six SFUO executives cited achievements in student involvement, ongoing community projects, and continued efforts to maintain a healthy relationship with the University of Ottawa administration as the year’s defining elements. The Fulcrum sat down with the executive to discuss the successes and shortfalls of 2008–09. Working with a new administration

photos by Frank Appleyard

One of the biggest responsibilities laid upon the SFUO executive is the adequate representation of the undergraduate student population in dealing with the university administration, and this year, SFUO-U of O relations were at the forefront of the SFUO’s agenda. When Allan Rock was introduced as the U of O’s new president in July, the SFUO executive was quick to express “cautious optimism” over the appointment in an interview with the Fulcrum. As Rock was a former SFUO president, many U of O students were hopeful that the Rock administration might finally shift its focus to students—especially after the student code of conduct proposed by former president Gilles Patry’s administation was protested by students in April and eventually dropped by the U of O. “At the beginning of the summer, [meeting with Rock] was very positive,” said SFUO VP Social Joël Larose. “We had very high expectations, but we wanted to keep kind of a sense of a reality—that things might not necessarily go the [way] we wanted ... [but] we definitely thought that we would have more leeway and more strength within our voice than previously with Gilles Patry.” The two biggest projects the executive has been working on with the administration, post-code, have been the creation of a student bill of rights and an ombudsperson’s office, which was approved in an SFUO plebiscite in February 2008. VP University Affairs Seamus Wolfe indicated that some progress has been made on both

accounts, but noted his displeasure with the manner in which the year’s meetings have continued between the SFUO and the administration. “I’ll give credit where credit’s due; Allan Rock has made movements on [the creation of the ombudsperson position] and we are finally going to get an ombudsperson, but we haven’t gotten it yet,” said Wolfe. “He’s very good at politicking and making you seem like something was accomplished out of a meeting … You have to actually look at his track record and not a whole lot has been done ... To be honest, I think he’s more interested in the image of the university than the actual university itself.” SFUO President Dean Haldenby, who has met with Rock on many occasions throughout the year, indicated that the new president could work harder to consider the needs of students. “Rock, I think, has really good intentions for the university. However, I think he still has a lot of learning to do with regards to our campus and actually identifying with students,” he said. “I don’t think that he doesn’t try, but I just think that he needs to have a little bit more empathy with regard to student needs.” “There [are] always going to be issues, but I think that’s just the nature of our relationship,” added a diplomatic VP Student Affairs Danika Brisson. “We don’t always defend the same interests, so of course sometimes we will butt heads.” Success in community outreach Student apathy—particularly apparent in low voter turnout in elections and referendums—is an issue the SFUO has been tackling for years. “Especially until this year, a lot of communities on this campus ... were never involved in what the student federation did, ever,” said Wolfe. “Now we have those communities engaged—they come into our offices, they want to do things with the SFUO, they want to put on events and use the SFUO as the tool that they should. [The groups] are actually engaged with the SFUO and we’re engaged with in the issues that they’re [promoting].” Wolfe attributed the increase in participation to general outreach. “You have to target it for the different communities, you have to do things like Black History Month for black students to care about the student federation—and we did that,” he said. “As soon as you start ac-

tually actively outreaching to those communities, they want to get involved—and they have.” “We also see a lot of new faces at every meeting,” said VP Communications Julie Séguin. “Whether it’s for organizing Relay for Life, or organizing events, or recruiting for the [Promotions] team, recruiting for the Green Weeks team, there’s always new people and new faces, so that’s encouraging.” VP Finance Roxanne Dubois highlighted the new composition of the SFUO campaigns committee as one of the most successful ways that the SFUO got students involved in its initiatives this year. “I think that’s really important because there’s been criticisms in the past from last year about how the campaigns were arbitrary and they would just come out of nowhere,” she said. “I think this is a process that can be very empowering for students, and I think that is a key word that we talked a lot about at the beginning of last summer—where we want this year to be the start of an empowering process where it’s not just six [executives] that decide everything that’s going on at the [SFUO]; the [SFUO] is powered by students.” Haldenby pointed to the high voter turnouts in both the November CFS referendum (21 per cent) and the February SFUO elections (27.2 per cent) as tangible evidence of increased student involvement. “Just when you thought the record couldn’t be beat, it was beat again, so that’s a huge success,” he said. Larose believed this year’s participation in elections was an effective illustration of increased awareness on the part of students. “I strongly believe that the voter turnout kind of reflects how well we did—or on the opposite side, how pissed off people are,” he said. “We had a very strong elections bureau this [year] too so on that front, I think we reached out very, very well to the issues that [mattered] to students.” Faults and flops “The big goals this year were to kill the code of conduct; to come up with an ombudsperson; to bring clarity to the CFS issue on our campus, and we did that; the student-space issue; some stability within our organization in terms of restructuring because we just restructured last year; getting the voter turnout up; trying to be [a] more inclusive SFUO for everyone; and the U-Pass,” Haldenby said. While a significant number of those

goals were achieved, there were several that were pushed to the backburner. Haldenby had been promoting the creation of a student centre for the majority of the year before making the decision to postpone the project in January. “[With] the student centre, for us, it’s been a year of clarity. And like I’ve mentioned before, Rome was not built in a semester and neither will a student centre be, but in the long term I think we will find our way with that,” he said. “The U-Pass is a huge success,” he continued. “It’s not in place yet, but it will be—give it a year or two. We’ve never gotten this far with the Universal Bus Pass.” Larose explained that an optimal balance between the SFUO’s numerous campaigns and heavy social programming was not always achieved. “I feel like this year, there was a lot of emphasis put on campaigns, on certain issues on that front, and at times I thought that the social [calendar] kind of took a [backseat] to the politically charged executive,” he said. “It’s not necessarily bad; it was the vision of the executive—but I think that it kind of fell [through] the [cracks] at times.” Haldenby also noted that general communication between the SFUO and students was often an issue. “We—namely I—could’ve done a better job communicating our reasons for taking certain positions, our reasons for certain projects,” he said. “Our projects to begin with could’ve been better communicated to students, and I think that that’s going to be something that the incoming executive is going to want to work on.” Brisson echoed Haldenby’s sentiments, pointing to the pro-union stance the SFUO took during the OC Transpo transit strike that began in December as an example of the miscommunication. “Messaging is very difficult and we don’t have a department like the university has,” she said. “Sometimes we’re so busy with what we’re doing ... you’re in it and it’s so obvious to you, but it’s not right because not everyone has the same information.” “It’s been challenging for sure on many fronts, and I think there [were] many big things that happened this year,” Dubois said. “For me, it’s been a non-stop process, and I do feel like throughout all of this the SFUO is becoming stronger. It’s a positive process ... It’s been challenging for the SFUO this year but I do believe that it will come out stronger.”

www.thefulcrum.ca // 04.02.09 //

NEWS // 5

Union calls for more participation

Retaining physics’ reputation

CUPE 2626 resorts to special measures to elect executive by Amanda Shendruk Fulcrum Staff FOR THE SECOND consecutive year, lack of member participation has caused CUPE 2626—the union representing teaching assistants, markers, demonstrators, lab monitors, and research assistants at the U of O—to utilize special measures in order to elect its executive council (EC). On March 25, CUPE 2626 held a special stewards council meeting to address the 2009–10 EC elections that were unable to be held at the March 4 CUPE 2626 Annual General Assembly (AGA) due to a loss of quorum. Sixty-four members arrived at the meeting; however, when the elections were held three hours later, fewer than 35 remained, resulting in the cancellation of the AGA. In order for the union’s AGAs to be held, two per cent of its membership —or approximately 61 members— must attend. According to the CUPE 2626 bylaws, if quorum is lost before the annual elections can be held, a stewards council meeting is organized to select the EC for the upcoming year. There is at least one steward position to represent 48 departments at the U of O; however, due to lack of member interest, these positions are often not filled. There are currently 60 steward positions, only 28 of which are filled. “Nobody is very satisfied,” said current chief steward francophone Sean Kelly. “I think that everybody in the executive and in the stewards council would prefer to have a general assembly with quorum to elect our executive on a non-interim basis.” On March 25 the stewards council chose Kelly to be CUPE president for the 2009–10 academic years. “I think one of the reasons [that members don’t participate] was identified at the general assembly—a lot of people aren’t aware of the union and the general assembly and aren’t aware

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how it works,” said Kelly. “I think the second reason is our election procedures are quite long.” Kelly also noted that the university has neglected to provide the union with an up-to-date membership list, which he claimed has hampered the ability of the EC to distribute information to its members. Current CUPE 2626 President Vinay Mulgundmath agreed that the AGAs are too lengthy but believed that the current EC made an effort to contact its members. “It’s not like we are not reaching across campus. We have reached across campus in every way,” he said. “Members are getting involved—they know about our union—but they still don’t want to come and sit for such a long time … So the only thing that can happen to improve is by changing our bylaws and by streamlining our election process.” “We have members [complaining] when they have to sit through three hours twice a year, and they’re not willing to do it,” said CUPE 2626 President of the Assembly Dan Dicaire. “At the same time, when you don’t have the leadership coming from your executive to inspire these people to do it, then which one is to blame? I think it’s kind of a self-deprecating cycle that we’ve got right now,” he added. Olivier Desharnais-Roy, who was chosen at the March 25 meeting as vp 1 communications for the 2009–10 EC, noted that this year it is especially important that members become involved with the union because on August 30, 2010, the union’s collective bargaining agreement expires. This expiration signals the beginning of an agreement renegotiation period with the U of O, in which a CUPE 2626 bargaining committee will draft a revised agreement. “If we are going to [do] a better job at negotiating, we need to engage our membership,” said Desharnais-Roy.

\\ 04.02.09 \\ www.thefulcrum.ca

photo by Frank Appleyard

Denis Rancourt has garnered widespread media attention for his pending dismissal from the U of O.

Sounding off on Rancourt’s impact on students by Amanda Shendruk Fulcrum Staff IN THE BASEMENT of MacDonald Hall there is a corkboard covered with torn-out newspaper articles that chronicle the four-year saga of suspended University of Ottawa physics professor Denis Rancourt. The board—once adorned with comics, physics jokes, and conference pictures—is now a symbol of the anger and frustration many physics students feel about the situation that they say is grossly misrepresented in the media. “The media has never bothered to come and ask the [physics] students about what they thought [about the Rancourt situation],” explained first-year Master’s physics student Jean-Michel Guay, who took a quantum mechanics course under Rancourt in Spring 2008. He said the media has yet to approach the students closest to the pedagogical controversy—physics students who took the classes for which Rancourt has been suspended. In over 20 years at the U of O, Rancourt has created his own nowdefunct course, been deadlocked in disputes with the physics department and the university, and been locked out of his laboratory. In December the U of O suspended Rancourt from teaching, banned him from campus, and recommended him to be fired, for giving A+ grades to all of his students in a fourth-year physics course. At press time, Rancourt’s dismissal was pending. CBC, CTV, Maclean’s, and the

Globe and Mail are just a handful of national news organizations that have recently brought the U of O, Rancourt, and the physics department into the spotlight. “Don’t get me wrong, I know why people support him outside the faculty,” said Guay. “Because from what they’re hearing from the media, they think that [the] guy is finally someone representing the students.” However, Guay and his peers are trying to set the record straight. They have no sympathy for Rancourt’s situation, claiming that Rancourt has obstructed their education and damaged the reputation of the U of O.

of Science’s office is locked with a key card now. It was never like that. It’s because they kept barging in. And [professors] are afraid of talking [to students]. It’s ridiculous. It bothers me so much.” Phil Vinten, a second-year PhD student in physics, claimed that many physics students feel this way. “I’d say that there are more people with our viewpoint [in the department] than with the opposite viewpoint,” he said. It is not only physics students that are concerned about Rancourt’s impact on life at the U of O—the Science Students’ Association’s official statement to the Board of Governors regarding the Rancourt situation speaks volumes. “[Rancourt] has created a hostile and unproductive environment through his lack of respect for academia, decorum, and any sense of courtesy or civility,” read the statement. “Not only has Dr. Rancourt compromised the integrity of the facShane Scott, ulty, he has belittled the value Master’s student of our degrees and threatened our reputation.” Both Vinten and the Gradu“I’ve never even had any direct ate Students’ Association councillor contact with Dr. Rancourt,” said for physics, Daniel Pohl, were stuShane Scott, a Master’s student and dents in Rancourt’s fall 2007 solid physics department graduate student state physics class. representative. “But I’ve felt that this “Time-wise, [I feel cheated],” has directly affected what I do as a said Vinten, who said he was taught graduate student and what I do as a almost nothing about physics in physics rep. [His actions have] ham- the class. The department of physpered my job.” ics allowed students to re-take the Scott has experienced both inter- course. rupted and cancelled meetings due “Now I have to take the same to the disruptions b Rancourt and course again, for credit, after getting the handful of students who support an A+ for doing nothing,” he said. his activist pedagogy. When Guay, Vinten, Scott, and “[Rancourt and supporters] have Pohl were asked whether they suplocked up our freedoms [as] students, ported the university’s desire to fire in a way. They say they’re fighting for Rancourt, all four answered with a openness, they say they’re fighting resounding “yes”. for transparency, but they’re only “It’s the best thing the physics declosing doors,” said Scott. “The Dean partment can hope for,” said Guay.

“They say they’re fighting for openness, they say they’re fighting for transparency, but they’re only closing doors.”

Vote of confidence

Objects in mirror are closer than they appear

Emma Godmere News Editor I MOVED TO Ottawa when I was six years old. I live downtown now, but my family still lives in the same tiny neighbourhood of Blackburn Hamlet, a 12-minute drive east of downtown on the 417. When I was still an east-end kid, we’d always drive west along that stretch of Queensway to head downtown at least twice a week, and we’d take the Nicholas Street exit every time. The neat thing about the Nicholas Street ramp is that it’s long and winding and takes you on a short, perfect tour of downtown Ottawa—you see the Peace Tower in the distance, ride parallel to the Rideau Canal and the OC Transpo buses zooming along the Transitway, and pass by the south end of the University of Ottawa campus. As a youngster, I would stick my nose to the

window and gaze in admiration at the buildings that towered near the road. The then-brand new and ridiculously attractive SITE building impressed me most, looking like a giant glass citadel guarding the southernmost entrance to campus. I would sometimes see people sitting at tables and walking up those giant red staircases, and while I knew they were university students, they still seemed so much greater and smarter than I could ever hope to be. I couldn’t imagine what it would be like to be a part of the U of O, a community that seemed so enormous, so eminent, and so out of reach. Perspective is a funny thing, isn’t it? I found myself here after all. I’m now concluding my second year on this campus, ready to jump into a third. One would assume that, by now, I should already be on the road to becoming cynical and unimpressed with this campus, especially after covering controversy after controversy for the past year. But I’m not. Despite any criticisms that have appeared in this space over the past several months, I’m still that same six-year-old, as impressed with this university as ever. I love wandering along the pedestrian walkway between Pérez and Simard Halls and having the option to go to the redesigned Café Alt. I love knowing that I’m welcome to walk into the Peer Help Centre or the Bon Ap-

pétit! Food Bank if I need the help. I love having the option of studying in Morisset Library, or Fauteux Hall, or the Unicentre couch lounge. I love knowing I can take my time to figure out what course of study I want to pursue. Above all, I love being able to call myself a member of a diverse community that is lucky enough to have the freedom to engage in respectful debate and discussion. Of course, it would be ignorant to assume that everything at the U of O is all roses. You can’t ignore major issues like rising tuition, barriers to accessibility or racism, but it’s important to keep looking up—and think about those little things you love about this place that make this four- or five- or nine-year stay a little sweeter. So if you haven’t yet, find something small you love about this campus—and maybe you’ll realize, too, that this place is far more impressive than it often appears. [email protected] 613-562-5260 This is the final Vote of confidence of the year. To those who have casually flipped through these news pages, thank you for reading. I hope this year’s news section has helped spark the very discussion and debate that lies at the heart of our campus.

The Fulcrum is hiring for the 2009–10 publishing year If you are interested in the following positions:

• Associate News Editor • Volunteer and Visibility Coordinator • Copy Editor (Two positions available) • Webmaster • On-campus distributor Contact [email protected] for more information or to apply. Applications are due April 10 at 5 p.m. Email a cover letter, resumé, and clippings (if applicable) to [email protected] or drop them off at 631 King Edward Ave.

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Register today. www.education.uOttawa.ca [email protected] 613-562-5804 Toll-free: 1-800-860-8577

www.thefulcrum.ca // 04.02.09 //

NEWS // 7

Arts & Culture

Peter Henderson Arts & Culture Editor [email protected]

April 2, 2009

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The summer of ‘09 by Peter Henderson Fulcrum Staff AS CLASSES WIND down, Ottawa gears up for the summer festival season. The nation’s capital plays host to dozens of music, theatre, and variety festivals, large and small. But there’s more to summer in the city than the Cisco Ottawa Bluesfest and the Tulip Festival. Here’s the Fulcrum’s guide to upcoming summer events you might have missed hearing about.

The New Art Festival

Magnetic North Theatre Festival

Formerly known as Art in the Park, the New Art Festival is a not-for-profit outdoor art exhibition that showcases the Ottawa arts community. Last year’s event brought out over 250 artists with more than 800 works on display in rows of booths. Central Park in the Glebe will host the festival June 6–7. For the first time, the entire festival will be juried, which means that every submission will be eligible for the final awards. There will be prizes awarded for Best Two-Dimensional Artist, Best Three-Dimensional Artist, and Best Student Artist. Admission is free. For more information, visit artinfoboy.org.

For those who missed the University of Ottawa’s production of Don’t Blame the Bedouins, which recently played at the Alumni Auditorium, it is returning on June 5 as part of the Magnetic North Theatre Festival (MNTF). The MNTF is a yearly festival dedicated to contemporary Canadian English theatre. The location changes annually, and this year Ottawa hosts the festival. The MNTF is a showcase for the diversity of Canadian theatre, with professional companies from all over the country coming to the capital June 3–13 to perform at venues like the National Arts Centre, the Irving Greenberg Theatre Centre, and the University of Ottawa’s Academic Hall. Tickets can be bought for individual shows, and passes are available for the entire festival. For tickets and more information, visit magneticnorthfestival.ca

illustration by Amlake Tedla-Digaf

Pride Week

Ottawa International Buskerfest

The first Ottawa gay pride celebration was held in 1986, and since then the event has grown to a week-long celebration of the gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender community in the capital. Originally organized by a loose collective, the Capital Pride organization now runs the event. The first official Pride Week occurred in 1989, and Capital Pride now puts on events year-round throughout the city. This year’s edition of the festival will occur in August, though dates and events have yet to be announced. The annual pride parade is a summer institution, and drew more than 55,000 people in 2002. Last year’s event included a film festival, a human rights vigil, and even a cabaret show, and the 2009 edition should continue this tradition of mixing entertainment with important issues. For more information, visit capitalpride.ca.

Every summer, musicians and performers from across Canada and the world descend on Sparks Street as part of the annual Ottawa International Buskerfest, the second largest busker festival in the country. Dancing, juggling, and all forms of music are on the menu from July 30–Aug. 3. Originally started by Carleton University radio station CKCU 93.1 FM, the Buskerfest now draws thousands of tourists to watch dozens of performers. Buskerfest costs only what you want to pay. Past participants include Peter Rabbit, a drumming prodigy who grew up to drum for Kanye West on the College Dropout tour; Dream State Circus, a duo that performs acrobatic comedy; and Montreal’s Rafael Sebastian, a street performer with over 15 years experience who combines comedy, juggling, and circus acts. Buskerfest is the most diverse festival of the summer, and with over 40 performances a day on the five-block stretch, there’s sure to be something for everyone. For more information, visit sparksstreetmall.com

Music from above The Balconies combine classical training with stripped-down rock by Ben Myers Fulcrum Staff THE BALCONIES HAVE no problem dissecting their songwriting process. Former U of O music student Liam Jaeger and siblings and current music students Jacquie and Steve Neville spend most of their time deconstructing music already. But when it comes to analyzing their own sound, the poprock trio prefers to keep it simple. “I really liked analysis class,” says Jaeger, who, despite his role as drummer in the band, displays the overgrown right-hand fingernails of a classically trained guitarist. “I really liked listening to music and trying to pick it apart. But if you try to do that while you’re writing stuff, it’s not constructive, because you won’t get anywhere.” Jacquie, whose academic study of the viola translates to blistering guitar riffs on stage, thinks that rock music should never be too cerebral. “If you think too hard about it…” she begins. “…then you can’t make art,” concludes Steve, a double bassist in the classroom and The Balconies’ bassist. The music was getting complicated in Jacquie’s other band, indie rockers Jetplanes of Abraham, and in Jaeger’s now-defunct alternative band For the Mathematics, so the three formed The Balconies in early 2008 as a way to get their songwriting back to its bare essentials. The band is currently recording its first full-length album, and they hope to release it sometime this summer. “In a way, [our process and our music] are simpler,” Jaeger begins. “We eliminated [several] instruments. Even if you have two guitarists on stage…” “…it changes the sound completely,” Jacquie chimes in. According to Jaeger, simplicity is

photo by Ben Myers

Don’t let their piano skills fool you; (left to right) Jacquie Neville, Steve Neville, and Liam Jaeger know how to rock an Ottawa stage. part and parcel of their philosophy of recordings on her computer,” says Jae- says. “For our newest song, Steve had truth, simplicity, and fun. ger. “Then I’ll come home after work, a bridge and I said, ‘No, that bridge is “I’ve seen bands where there are and I’ll hear all this stuff that she’s do- the chorus’.” “We often try to be five people,” he says. “One guitarist is ing and I’ll be like, ‘Oh, that’s really Although they try to avoid making very honest with really dominant and there’s another cool’. their music too complicated, it’s hard guitarist that just sits back, or the bass “Steve’s always got ideas in his for these three students of arrangeour music, and with player just kind of sits in the corner head,” Jaeger continues. “He’s got ment, rhythm, and melody to avoid and doesn’t do anything. With us, ev- everything on paper, and just in his digging into their own material. how we try to erything is right out there. mind. He’ll say ‘Oh! I’ve got this new “I guess that’s what happens, when present ourselves: “We choose not to hide anything song’, and he’ll play the whole song on you study music,” Jaeger says. “You about ourselves,” he continues. “We the bass and sing it.” really get into the analysis.” in a very honest often try to be very honest with our Jaeger prefers to work on his lapway.” music, and with how we try to present top, after which he and his bandmates The Balconies play Café Dekcuf (221 Liam Jaeger ourselves: in a very honest way.” debate how their respective contribu- Rideau St.) with the Urban AesthetJaeger and Jacquie have been a cou- tions can be woven together into a ics and Dinosaur Bones on April 10. The Balconies ple for about two years, though they song. Doors open at 8 p.m. 19+. $8. For prefer to write songs individually. “When we have a new song, we more information, visit myspace.com/ “Jacquie’s always doing multi-track just sort of debate structures,” Jaeger thebalconies

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Murder most funny photo courtesy Eddie May Entertainment

Dinner theatre from Eddie May Entertainment provides mastication, mirth, and murder.

Eddie May murder mysteries put the play in foul play by Peter Henderson Fulcrum Staff IF ANY DETECTIVE has a good case for early retirement, it’s Eddie May. After 25 years of service, May has solved thousands of murders, and he never fails to solve the case. Unfortunately for May, he’s a fictional character, and his retirement looks to be a long way off. May is the titular detective from the Eddie May murder mysteries, dinner theatre performances produced by the Ottawa-based Eddie May Entertainment theatre company. This year marks the 25th anniversary of the shows. There are two types of Eddie May performances: the weekly shows at Scarlett’s Dinner Theatre (62 York St.) and the occasional private shows where the murder comes to you. The interactive Eddie May show features music, singing, dancing, and a healthy dose of humour. As it’s dinner theatre, the price of the ticket includes a three-course meal. An actor is murdered early on in the show, and the other players must try to find out who the murderer is before he or she strikes again. There are several scripted scenes, but there are extended breaks between these scenes in which the actors move amongst the tables and the audience is encouraged to interact with the characters in the story. The troupe has performed many different scripts over the years—the latest is called Without a Clue and is a spoof of the popular Clue board-

game—and, thanks to the improvised nature of the show, every performance is different. The Eddie May troupe has a working group of 30 to 40 actors, with a core group of 16 who work at Scarlett’s. Some do only private shows, some only work seasonally, and some prefer the steady gig at Scarlett’s Dinner Theatre. “It’s a very diverse group of people,” says Noel Counsil, the director and self-proclaimed “crime minister” of Eddie May Entertainment who has spent almost 22 years with the organization. “[They’re from] all types of backgrounds, [they have] all types of abilities. They all are very gifted in their own way.” “The company itself used to be mostly improv-based,” says Natalie Joy Quesnel, one of six people who have graduated with a Master’s of Fine Arts in Directing from the University of Ottawa. Quesnel is heavily involved as both an actress and director in Eddie May shows. “Now we’ve got people from all walks of theatre life: People who are dancers, people who are singers, people who love the improv, and people who are much more comfortable with the printed text,” she says. “It’s evolved throughout the years.” It’s been 25 years since the first Eddie May Murder Mystery premiered in the spring of 1984. The idea for Eddie May came from Mark Monahan, now the executive director of the Ottawa Bluesfest organization. The weekly show moved to its current location in 2005, and it remains as popular as ever. Counsil and Quesnel have different ideas about what gives the show its popularity and longevity. “[The show] is interactive, it’s comedic,” says Counsil. “Even if we’re in the business of killing people, it’s always funny. We have a niche in this town, and nobody else does it.”

“It’s the breaking of the fourth wall that’s so exciting about [Eddie May shows],” explains Quesnel, referring to the imaginary barrier between the audience and the stage. “Even though it is very scripted, there’s always elements of improvisation. You don’t know what’s going to happen, so there’s always an element of surprise, there’s always an element of unpredictability. You don’t really get that from watching the same movie five times.” Eddie May Entertainment is putting on several special events for its 25th anniversary. There will be a VIP night on May 23 for local luminaries and a charity show on May 29 at which all the proceeds will go to Habitat for Humanity. Other events are planned for later in the year. The troupe kicked off their year-long anniversary celebrations with a performance at the Ottawa Theatre Challenge at the National Arts Centre (NAC), which was a part of the NAC’s celebration of International World Theatre Day. Eddie May Entertainment received the coveted Rubber Chicken award for placing first in the competition with a five-minute version of their typically three-hour show. “We performed essentially an entire Eddie May show in the span of five minutes: two murders, investigations, a half-time song and dance number, and a full-on summation involving solving the crime,” explains Quesnel. “On top of that, because we do dinner theatre, our crew also served a three-course meal complete with dessert to the judges. It was a microcosm of what we do in three hours, done in five minutes.” “It was crazy, I can tell you that,” says Counsil. “They actually condensed some of our best and worst moments into a five-minute running gag. It was astonishing to watch—I’ve never seen people move so fast or talk so fast in my life. The

energy level was so intense, you just couldn’t stay in your seat through [the performance].” The Rubber Chicken may be theirs, but Counsil won’t let the acclaim go to his or his actors’ heads. Eddie May Entertainment has been around for 25 years, and it looks like Eddie May will be solving crimes for the foreseeable future. According to Counsil, the secret of their success is just a few simple ideas. “Keep doing what we’re doing, [and] listen to the audience,” he explains. “Our aim is to ensure that [the audience] has a grand time. As long as we keep doing that, as long as we never forget it’s about those folks, I don’t worry about [the future]. [We want] to keep them laughing.” For news, events, and ticket information, visit eddiemay.com.

www.thefulcrum.ca // 04.02.09 //

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Winter melts into spring

page 12 | the fulcrum

photos by Ian Flett

the fulcrum | page 13

T

HE U OF O campus comes to life with the emergence of spring, and students wake from their winter slumber to enjoy the great weather. As winter recedes and the end of the semester is in sight, the campus becomes a vibrant setting for socializing, studying, or simply sitting in the sun’s warm rays.

Mending broken hearts Some Girl(s) explores the funny side of heartbreak by Sepideh Soltaninia Fulcrum Contributor

photo by Tim Ginley

Miriam Westland and Joe Marques star in Some Girl(s), a humourous look at one imprefect man’s quest for true love.

MISTAKES MADE IN past relationships are difficult to forget and even more tiresome to mend. But in the play Some Girl(s), a 2005 romance by Neil LaBute, one man attempts to right his wrongs by travelling across the United States to meet with ex-girlfriends in search of closure before he gets married. The story that unfolds is much like any relationship—complicated, bizarre, and comical. Directed by local theatre veteran Ken Godmere and produced by Ottawa’s Vision Theatre, Some Girl(s) is set in several ambiguous and empty hotel rooms throughout the U.S. The play stars Ottawa actor Joe Marques, a nameless writer whose life, including his romantic endeavours, is the basis for much of his work. The witty and sharply written play follows this conflicted writer as he reunites with four old flings: his high school sweetheart, a sultry former college flame, a much-older and married professor who taught him, and a doctor from Los Angeles. More selfish than noble, the man’s convoluted emotions and his search for the true love he thinks

he has lost are both hilarious and profound. Marques, in the role of the protagonist, deftly explores his character’s complex nature. He manages to stay consistent and believable as the scenes become increasingly complicated and amusing. Brilliant scenes by Ottawa actresses Miriam Westland and Jan Murray demonstrate the intimate chemistry of the cast, who truly seem to have years of history together. Westland, who plays the college ex-girlfriend Tyler, delivers her lines with great timing and attitude. She shines throughout her scene and her bravado and youthfulness are a great contrast to the more reserved behaviour of the other characters. Murray portrays Lindsay, the older, married professor, and exceptionally captures both her character’s intelligence and awkwardness. Her acting is that of a seasoned professional, so it’s an incredible surprise that this is Murray’s first public performance. Although Some Girl(s) is well-directed on the whole, some scenes lose their punch because of poor placement of the actors. The dialogueheavy nature of the play forces actors to face each other often, making it sometimes difficult for the audience to see their facial expressions or hear their lines. Nonetheless, Godmere expertly uses the physical space between characters in order to demonstrate both their current and past relationship. The hotel-room setting,

though dull and impersonal, helps to place the audience’s focus squarely on the characters’ diverse relationships. Although constrained by the limited space on stage and the intentionally blasé backdrop, Godmere keeps the audience engaged with the tense conversation and by playing up the wellwritten script. The long scenes, each of which contains only two actors, crackle with tension and energy, and the play manages to explore heavy subjects without losing its sense of humour. Some Girl(s) is a wonderfully written play, which is to be expected considering LaBute’s pedigree. An accomplished screenwriter, Hollywood director, and the author of over a dozen plays, LaBute has an ear for realistic dialogue and knows how to write plays that explore the fundamentals of human emotion like In the Company of Men and The Shape of Things. Some Girl(s) is no exception, and LaBute demonstrates the pitfalls of miscommunication through superbly crafted comic scenes. Godmere uses LaBute’s excellent foundation to construct a funny and touching play that teaches us that it’s important to learn from— and laugh at—past relationships. Some Girl(s) plays at the Arts Court Theatre (2 Daly Ave) until April 4. Tickets are $20 for students. For tickets and more information, visit visiontheatre.ca.

Album reviews Lamb of God Wrath

A METALHEADS REJOICE! AMERICAN heavy-metal group Lamb of God is back, darker, louder, and faster than ever with their sixth release, Wrath. It is everything you would expect, and more, from these gods of metal. The entire album is heavy and complex, filled with awe-inspiring guitar solos, head-banging breakdowns, and demonic vocals. Drummer Chris Adler delivers highly technical beats with his double-kick pedal that are the the highlight of the record, most impressively on “Broken Hands”. “Dead Seeds” is a classic Lamb of God tune, with hard-driving guitars and hostile lyrics like “Betray your prophets, dead seeds buried deep / an army of men will prey on the weak”. It’s also a great display of the growling, screaming narrative ability of vocalist David Blythe, who sounds like Lucifer with a microphone. The instrumentation is sharp as well—both “In Your Words” and “Grace” feature some intricate yet surprisingly soothing guitar work, a hallmark of the band. Heed this warning: prepare to feel the wrath of Lamb of God. —Andrew Champagne

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Julie Doiron I Can Wonder What You Did With Your Day

A+ CANADIAN SINGER-SONGWRITER JULIE Doiron returns with her 10th solo album, I Can Wonder What You Did With Your Day, and it’s one of the finest Canadian albums to come out since the turn of the century. Doiron displays her sultry and versatile voice in quiet acoustic ballads and fuzzed-out rock songs, which harken back to the sound of her former band Eric’s Trip. Her solo albums have typically been subdued and quiet works—some abandoning the electric guitar almost entirely—but thanks to the presence of former Eric’s Trip bandmate Rick White as producer and guitarist, this is one of the most sonically diverse albums she has ever made. The album sounds like it was recorded in a basement, but the lo-fi production lets the quality of the material and her beautiful voice shine. Lead single “Consolation Prize” and the brilliant “Spill Yer Lungs” combine the loud and quiet elements of her signature sound, and contrast noisy punk riffs with her ephemeral yet clear vocals. Doiron sings about unrequited love, domestic life, and Canadian culture in songs like “Nice to Come Home” and the more subdued “Heavy Snow”. In I Can Wonder What You Did With Your Day, Doiron has created a soon-to-be-classic album which improves with each listen. —Nick Rudiak

Propaghandi Supporting Caste

A THERE ARE CERTAIN things you can expect every time you pick up a Propaghandi album. Loud, fast, and catchy punk songs with lyrics centred on political activism have been their hallmark since their 1993 debut How to Clean Everything. Their sound has evolved over the years, and Supporting Caste is a further step away from their punk roots towards a heavier, more metal sound, showcased on songs like “Potemkin City Limits” and “Banger’s Embrace”. The band has reached a new level of polish and confidence here, making this their most mature album yet. The lyrics no longer have the same sense of humour that was displayed on older songs like “I was a Pre-Teen McCarthyist” or “Ska Sucks”, and are more ferociously political than ever before. A line like “history exalts only the pornography of force / that of murderers and psychopaths” from the title track is more direct and aggressive than anything Propagandhi has come out with before, but the album never comes off as obnoxious or preachy. Propaghandi is still the same band at their core, and there’s no mistaking the punk influence on songs like “Night Letters” and “Dear Coach’s Corner”. In all, Supporting Caste shows a faster, heavier version of Propagandhi than we’ve heard before, and it’s their best album yet. —Nick Rudiak

You’ll never eat brunch in this town again

Emerging Ottawa

Peter Henderson Arts & Culture Editor PARTING IS SUCH sweet sorrow— bittersweet, really. My last column as arts and culture editor is bitter because I’m leaving the greatest job I’ve ever had, and sweet because I’ve had phenomenal experiences that will stay with me for the rest of my life. Over my five years at this university, I’ve seen the local arts and culture scene blossom, with resurgent galleries, talented up-and-coming bands, and new events challenge the misconception that Ottawa is a city without a soul. When I first arrived in Ottawa in 2003 from my hometown of Brantford, I knew nothing about the local arts scene and, like many other first-year students, I bought in to the idea that there was nothing to do in the capital

besides legislate. I first got involved in the local arts community through concerts at Zaphod Beeblebrox (27 York St.) and then through the local coverage in the Fulcrum and the Xpress. Fortunately, as my knowledge of the local arts and culture scene grew, so too did the Ottawa scene grow into the thriving community of artists and performers we see today. The theatre scene, already burgeoning when I arrived in Ottawa, has seen substantial growth over the past five years. The Irving Greenberg Theatre Centre (1233 Wellington St.) that opened in September 2007 is a state-of-the-art home for the Great Canadian Theatre Company and the Third Wall Theatre company, and it also plays host to concerts presented by the Ottawa Folk Festival organization. A new awards show, the Rideau Awards, debuted in 2008 with a mandate to recognize the best in Ottawa theatre. Theatre has become so popular that it’s even coming to local taverns thanks to two new companies, SevenThirty Productions and Chamber Theatre. There’s never been a better time to be a theatre fan in Ottawa. The music scene in Ottawa has seen immense changes as well. In

my first year in Ottawa, there were a paltry number of quality local bands, and bars often featured headliners from out of town. Now, local acts like TokyoSexWhale, My Dad vs. Yours, and the Hilotrons headline shows every other week, and the music community has been fostered with the help of a strong online presence, with the flagship website being punkottawa.com. The Dominion Tavern (33 York St.), Irene’s Pub (885 Bank St.), Avant-Garde Bar (135 1/2 Besserer St), and Mavericks (221 Rideau St.) welcome local bands with open arms and allow newcomers to get the stage experience they so desperately need. The music scene may not compare to Toronto or Montreal, but music lovers have a lot to look forward to if the current growth keeps up. Our city’s art galleries have also experienced a renaissance. La Petite Mort (306 Cumberland St.) is just one of the new galleries that have redefined this city as a home for avantgarde art. The National Gallery of Canada (380 Sussex Dr.) is a great showcase for mainstream works, but for those looking for art that’s more off the beaten path, cutting-edge and innovative pieces are being shown at new places like the Wall Space Gal-

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Positions available in your area. If interested call 1-888-277-9787 or apply online at www.collegepro.com lery (358 Richmond Rd.) and Cube Gallery (7 Hamilton Ave. N.). Art lovers have never had more varied selection, and I’m excited about the future of fine art in Ottawa. I’m graduating from the U of O and moving on with my life, but I’m definitely going to stay in Ottawa. I love what our arts community has become, and I couldn’t be more excited for the future. Don’t get me wrong,

we still have a ways to go. We’re not a cultural Mecca yet, but we’re on our way to greatness like Led Zeppelin in 1968. Get out and support your local arts community, and together we can forever destroy the misconceptions about Ottawa. Long live Ottawa arts and culture. [email protected] 613-252-2311

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www.tlss.uOttawa.ca www.thefulcrum.ca // 04.02.09 //

ARTS // 15

David McClelland Sports Editor [email protected]

Sports

April 2, 2009

16

The Cavalry Awards The best of the Gee-Gees in 2008–09

Varsity team of the year: men’s basketball While no varsity teams at the U of O had a truly bad season, none were quite so successful as the men’s basketball team. Last season, the Gee-Gees compiled an impressive 16-6 regular season record. They won two games in the playoffs, but were eliminated by the Brock Badgers in the Ontario University Athletics (OUA) third-place game and did not qualify for the Canadian Interuniversity Sport (CIS) championship tournament. While some might have been satisfied with that result, head coach Dave DeAveiro was not. Under his guidance, and with help from former National Collegiate Athletic Association Syracuse Orange point guard Josh Wright, the Gees surged to a 19-3 record this year and qualified for nationals. They dropped their opening game to the Western Mustangs, but went on to best the St. Francis Xavier X-Men and Concordia Stingers to win the consolation final. It was one of the most successful seasons in the team’s history, and could lay a foundation for even greater heights in the future. Runners up: Women’s basketball, women’s soccer —Andrew Hawley

Male rookie of the year: Breakout player of the year: Matthieu Methot, men’s hockey Emilie Morasse, women’s basketball It’s not often that a rookie at the CIS level has an enormous impact on his or her team. In his first year, leftwinger Matthieu Methot has demonstrated leadership and a scoring touch for the U of O’s men’s hockey team. It was an unspectacular but solid season for the team, who went 12-11-5 in the regular season, finishing in fifth place in the OUA Far East division. The Gees scored a combined 86 goals during the year, and five of those came off Methot’s stick. The Ottawa native wasted no time in lighting up the scoreboard. Methot grabbed an assist in his first game as a Gee-Gee, and scored his first goal in the next game. He would finish as a point-a-game player, scoring 13 points in his 12 games played. Methot played a vital role when the Gees faced off against McGill in the OUA playoffs, leading the Gees to their lone victory with a three-point game. Methot will no doubt become a key part of the Gee-Gees offence in the years to come. Runner up: Warren Ward (men’s basketball) —Andrew Hawley

In a season marked by many remarkable turnarounds for the women’s basketball team, secondyear guard Emilie Morasse was one of the team’s most instrumental players. While she put up respectable numbers in her rookie season last year, she truly came into her own in 2008–09. In 20 games last season, Morasse averaged 6.75 points and just under 22 minutes of court time per game. In 22 games this season, she nearly doubled her point production to 13.36 per game and saw her court time increased to nearly 32 minutes per game. With three years of eligibility left, Morasse is poised to become a leader on the resurgent women’s basketball team. Runner up: Davie Mason, men’s football —David McClelland

Coach of the year: Andy Sparks, women’s basketball A year ago, the women’s basketball team was in a rough place, limping to the end of the season with a 3-19 record and a dismal-looking future. Enter Andy Sparks. Under his leadership, the team smashed expectations and soared to a 15-7 regular season record. The team defeated both the Carleton Ravens and Toronto Varsity Blues in the OUA playoffs, and qualified for a berth at CIS nationals for the first time since 2004. And all along, it was not new players or increased funding that generated change. The one who taught, inspired, and led the team back to glory was Sparks. Runners up: Dave DeAveiro (men’s basketball), Steve Johnson (women’s soccer) —Andrew Hawley

THERE WERE NO national championship victories for the Gee-Gees in 2008–09, Competitive club of the year: but that does not mean the season was unworthy of celebration. Now, it’s time women’s fastball to hand out the Fulcrum’s semi-annual Cavalry Awards, for the best individuals When looking at the Gee-Gees’ competitive clubs, the women’s fastball team stands out as one of the most successful. The Gee-Gees were among the and teams at the University of Ottawa.

cream of the crop in the Ontario Intercollegiate Women’s Fastball Association (OIWFA) regular season, collecting an impressive 14-4 record by the season’s end. In the playoffs, the Gees were almost unstoppable, defeating the Laurier Golden Hawks, Queen’s Golden Gaels, and Windsor Lancers in the round-robin portion of the OIWFA championships. Although the team ultimately fell 5-1 to the Western Mustangs in the championship game, this did not marr an otherwise excellent season. The team are perennial medal contenders in OIWFA, and this year has added to their string of success. Runners up: Rowing team, synchronized swimming team —David McClelland

Graduating player of the year: Josh Sacobie, men’s football Although his last season with the team was marred by a seemingly never-ending string of injuries to his corps of receivers, quarterback Josh Sacobie’s contributions to the Gee-Gees men’s football program cannot be understated. Over his five-season career, Sacobie tossed 9,885 passing yards, good for third all-time in the CIS, and first all-time in the OUA. Sacobie was the master of the long bomb, routinely launching dramatic 60- or 70-yard touchdown passes. In 2008, he had 2,976 passing yards and 19 touchdown passes in eight regular-season games. While he never hoisted the Vanier Cup during his career, he did help the team bring home a Yates Cup in 2006, and the team will certainly miss his golden arm. Runners up: Jessika Audet (women’s hockey), Dax Dessureault, (men’s basketball), Dan McDonald (men’s hockey) —David McClelland

Male athlete of the year: Dax Dessureault, men’s basketball Dax Dessureault has been a force in the paint for the Gees over the past five years, and in his final year of CIS eligibility, he came up with the best season of his career. Dessureault scored 335 points during the 2008–09 season—averaging 15.23 points per game, making him one of the top centres in Ontario—and led the Gee-Gees in points during the CIS championship tournament. Dessureault was also named the team’s MVP in all three playoff games. Although Dessureault was unable to lead his team to a national championship, he still capped his university career with an impressive performance, setting the bar high for future Gee-Gees centres Runners up: Davie Mason (men’s football), Josh Gibson-Bascombe (men’s basketball), Dan McDonald (men’s hockey) —Anna Rocoski

Female rookie of the year: Fannie Desforges, women’s hockey Female athlete of the year: Julia Tousaw, track In just her second season running at the CIS level, Julia Tousaw brought home the Gee-Gees’ first gold medal in track and field at the national level since 1999. On top of her win in the 600 metres, Tousaw was also a member the silver-medal-winning women’s 4x800-metre relay team, and took home a gold, two silvers, and a bronze from the OUA-level meet. With three more years of eligibility, Tousaw is a rising star who could win Ottawa many more medals in future seasons. Runners up: Emilie Morasse (women’s basketball), Catherine Scott (women’s soccer) —Anna Rocoski

Throughout Shelley Coolidge’s tenure as head coach, the Gee-Gees women’s hockey team has not relied on a star player to fill the opposition’s net, typically scoring by committee instead. But every year there are always a few players who shine. Rookie foward Fannie Desforges was one of those players in the 2008–09 season. Desforges was a standout early in the season, recording a hat trick in her second game at the CIS level. Since then, Desforges has played a key role for the Gees, amassing 10 points—second-best on the team—during the regular season, in which the team finished second in the Quebec Student Sports Federation. Desforges has shown leadership on the ice, and with six assists throughout the season, has been an important part of the offence even when she can’t find the net. With a few more seasons of experience, Desforges could become a star player for the Gee-Gees. Runners up: Josephine de Jesus (women’s soccer), Jodi Reinholcz (women’s hockey) —David McClelland

www.thefulcrum.ca // 04.02.09 //

SPORTS // 17

Lighting the lamp

Bottom of the ninth, two out...

David McClelland Sports Editor I WAS NEVER much of an athlete. I can hit the button on the curling rink, and I always managed to not hit singles in baseball, but that’s more or less the extent of my sporting abilities. Nevertheless, as regular readers of this space are no doubt aware, I love sports, and while I can’t run I can write. Thanks to my job as sports editor here at the Fulcrum for the past year, I’ve been able to live vicariously through the Gee-Gees, immersed in university sports weekend after weekend. Due to the wide variety of teams and sports on campus, I feel like I’ve witnessed pretty much everything: I’ve been on the field for celebrations following crucial wins, and I’ve done my best to try not to feel like a heel when interviewing athletes after devastating losses. And, increasingly, I can’t help but notice when I see an athlete playing in his or her final game. University sports are a strange and transient thing. You have a finite amount of time to break into a team, get comfortable there, and establish yourself in a key role before your career ends abruptly after your fifth year

of eligibility. I’ve always wondered what it must be like, to be out on the field, court or ice, knowing that you are playing in a garnet-and-grey jersey for the last time. In a way, I guess I do know what it’s like. While, as I said, I was never a terrific athlete, I’ve been on a number of teams and played my share of final games. Playing those games elicits a bittersweet feeling, because you’re doing something you enjoy, but you also know that you’re doing it for the last time with that group of people. And let’s face it, when you’re a member of a close-knit team you form a pretty strong connection with your teammates, so it can be difficult to leave. Of course, it’s important to remember that an athlete’s final game isn’t just an ending; it’s also a beginning. Josh Sacobie, Dan McDonald, Jessika Audet, Dax Dessureault and a number of other Gee-Gees have all finished their university sports careers over the course of the 2008–09 season, and all of them have a younger counterpart waiting for their chance to take the spotlight. It’s been a great year for sports at the U of O, and I’ve had a great time covering them. This is the last time I’ll be penning Lighting the Lamp, and I can only hope that I’ve done my part to promote, challenge, and make students think about the sporting community here at the U of O and in the City of Ottawa. But all good things must come to an end, and my tenure as sports editor is no exception. Thanks for reading, and please—keep supporting the Gee-Gees. [email protected] 613-562-5931

www.thefulcrum.ca

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Defending until the end Women’s hockey captain Danika Smith reaches the end of the line by Anna Rocoski Fulcrum Staff DEFENDER DANIKA SMITH has come a long way from being cut from the University of Ottawa’s women’s hockey team the first time she tried out. The Munster-native had been in contact with then-Gee-Gees head coach Marco Ouellette, but by the time she got to the U of O, he had been replaced by Shelley Coolidge, who cut her from the team. Thankfully, Smith had other reasons for attending the U of O. “It was close enough to home, but far enough away that I could move downtown and have a different type of life,” said Smith, who is currently finishing up a Master’s in sport and exercise psychology. “I wanted to make sure I kept up my French. That was important to me. I didn’t really come to the university specifically for the team but it ended up working out that way in my second year [when] I wound up making the team [for the 2004–05 season].” Since then, Smith has risen through the ranks to become team captain for her last two seasons. Having finished her fifth year of Canadian Interuniversity Sport (CIS) eligibility Smith’s university hockey career ended on March 22 with a 5-4 overtime loss to the St. Francis Xavier X-Women. Smith found her experience with the Gee-Gees to be totally different from any other team she’d been on. “There’s not a lot places you can play [hockey] and have [the] hockey team cater to the rest of your life,” said Smith, “We practice at six in the morning [which] doesn’t conflict with school or anything else. Our schedule reflects our school load as well. During exams we don’t practice as much

photo by Martha Pearce

or have as many games. Having such a competitive team that fits so well with your other schedules is [a] pretty neat experience. So absolutely I am going to miss it.” For Smith, being a part of the hockey team opened an opportunity to be active in the local community. She has been involved with the Running and Reading program, which encourages reading and a healthy lifestyle amongst children at local elementary schools, and also chairs the U of O’s Student-Athlete Council. Smith’s contributions to her school and community were recognized at the CIS awards ceremony on March 18, when she was given the Marion Hilliard award for community involvement. “They announce your name and my whole team was there all cheering and I [got] up there [as] they started reading out [my] bio and then they said ‘you can say a few words,’” recalled Smith. “But when I got up there I just blanked out and didn’t know what to say. I mean I was happy and I thanked my teammates but I was pretty surprised.” Smith has found Coolidge to be a

source of inspiration throughout her university sports career. “I can’t believe how much she can get done and her vision of where she wants the hockey program to go,” said Smith. “It’s not just about recruiting players and developing a hockey plan. She’s always looking on how to do outreach in the community. She’s definitely a role model. When you think you have so much on your plate she is able to fit just something else in there. She’s a pretty amazing women.” Smith may be leaving the Gee-Gees at the end of the school year, but she has left a lasting impression on the women’s hockey team. “From our perspective we wish her well in whatever her future career is and hope that she continues on in sports as a player and a coach,” said Coolidge. “Anything she chooses to do she is going to be exceptional at it.” “My experience has been a pretty positive one and there are always things that you can improve on,” said Smith. “I am sure I will not be too far from here in the future anyway.”

Blitzing Brad Sinopoli

Sweet poison? The dangers of drinking too much soda by Parastoo Badie Fulcrum Contributor

photo by Frank Appleyard

Brad Sinopoli (12) is expected to take over as the U of O’s starting quarterback for the 2009 season. by Andrew Hawley After spending two years as a backup quarterFulcrum Staff back with the Gee-Gees, Sinopoli has seen some time on the field, throwing for 355 yards with AT OUR SMALL table in the Royal Oak on four touchdowns in six games in 2008. He’s also Laurier Avenue, I sit across from Brad Sinopoli, had a lot of time to watch Sacobie, who is leava second-year human kinetics student from ing the team after playing out his fifth-year of Peterborough, Ont. Next year he will shoulder eligibility in 2008, and having amassed 9,885 cathe load of becoming the starting quarterback reer passing yards—third-best in Canadian Infor the Gee-Gees men’s football team, emerging teruniversity Sport (CIS) history. For Sinopoli, from the shadow of former five-time team MVP Sacobie has been an important role model. Josh Sacobie. With that kind of challenge ahead, “In my two years here, I think Josh has been Sinopoli cuts a surprisingly humble and unas- the best quarterback in Canada. I learned a lot suming figure. from him, but I’m not going to try to be him. He The sizing up begins when Sinopoli and I dis- was his own player. I need to take what I learned cuss the origins of his passion in football. from him and apply it to myself. I’m not worried “It started with my dad, when I was young- or sitting here feeling pressure, I just want to go er,” the 20-year-old began. “He was the football out and play.” coach at my high school, and I got to see him Sinopoli acknowledged that he and his preevery day when he was coaching. Just to be on decessor have different leadership styles, though the field, around the players, seeing the fun they Sinopoli will be tasked with commanding a simhad … I wanted to be in their position. There ilar-looking squad. was something about that atmosphere. My fa“Josh is a vocal guy. I’m more of a lead-byther’s pretty much 100 per cent of why I love example kind of guy. I think you need both to football.” be an effective leader. He was well-spoken and Sinopoli elaborated on the positive atmo- talented at motivating people, and that’s somesphere at Crestwood Secondary School. thing I need to work on.” “The coaches created the atmosphere. We Sinopoli does have one thing in common were a small school, in a small town. But we with Sacobie; aspirations of winning the Vanier had packed stands [at] every game. There was Cup—a goal that Sacobie did not achieve. a great football tradition [at Crestwood], and I “At the end of the day, it’s not about the numwas lucky enough to be a part of it.” bers; it’s whether the team wins or loses. I just He found a similar atmosphere at the U of want to help my team be the best it can, whether O and immediately made a strong connection we win by 50 or by one. I want to get to the playwith Gee-Gees head coach Denis Piché. offs, and get to the Vanier Cup. That’s what it’s “There was something about the values of about.” coach Piché and his staff the way they ran pracIn the months ahead, Sinopoli will have to step tices, and interacted with the players; [it] felt past his former teammate Sacobie, and make the right. I didn’t have to think about [coming here]. position his own, starting on Sept. 6, when the I knew right away this was the place I wanted Gee-Gees will kick off their 2009 season against to be.” the Western Mustangs at Lansdowne Park.

IT’S ONE OF the world’s most popular beverages. You can find it almost anywhere, and we drink it without even thinking about it. But few people truly understand the possible health effects of soda, something that should be considered before cracking open a can of this ubiquitous beverage. Many people don’t know what exactly goes into soda, or what it can do to their bodies. This becomes a problem when healthy drinks, such as milk, juice, and water are replaced with soda. The average Canadian drinks 95.2 litres of soft drinks per year, according to Statistics Canada, yet most probably don’t know just what it is they’re consuming. Soda is an artificial beverage consisting of several ingredients, including water, sweeteners, caffeine, citric and phosphoric acid, carbon dioxide, preservatives, sodium, and artificial flavorings and colorings. The sweetener in soda is usually a high-fructose corn syrup (HFCS)—milled corn which is processed into a sweet syrup. While actual sugar is used in Canadian soda, HFCS is a much more important sweetening agent, and can have a detrimental effect on health. “The molecular structure [of HFCS] differs from [table sugar] and some say that’s critical in its effect on the human body [as] there may be a link between HFCS and diabetes, and obesity,” explained Evelyn Spanner, a medical research developer at the London Health Sciences Centre at the University of Western Ontario. Ingesting HFCS and sugar in moderate quantities does not lead directly to diabetes, but can play a significant role in the development of the condition, while both HFCS and sugar have been linked directly to obesity. Just one 355ml can of soda contains eight to 15 teaspoons of sugars, and the consumption of one can a day for a year is equivalent to 51,100 calories, which can become up to 14 pounds of body fat.

Many people erroneously believe that drinking diet soda is a healthy alternative to regular soda. In fact, diet soda has the same ingredients as regular soda, but to maintain a similar taste, HFCS is substituted with calorie-reduced artificial sweeteners such as aspartame. Aspartame is 200 times sweeter than sugar and has stirred up controversy since it was first approved for use. While claims of side effects such as cancer and brain damage remain unsubstaniated, there are many scientists who believe that further research into the chemical’s effect on human health is needed. Additionally, there is reason to believe that diet sodas can cause cravings for more sweet foods and drinks. “[Some] research suggests that artificial sweeteners may lead to increased intake of the diet soft drinks because they may interfere with the body’s ability to properly assess caloric intake, leading to overeating,” said Spanner. Some sodas, like cola and root beers, are a common choice amongst students because the caffeine temporarily improves alertness. But it is important to remember that long-term caffeine consumption can cause withdrawal when the consumption is stopped, resulting in severe headaches and exhaustion. “While a moderate amount of caffeine per day is relatively harmless for most people, some individuals may be sensitive to the effects of caffeine [in] very small doses, and pregnancy and aging can [make people more sensitive],” said Beth Mansfield, a nutritionist at Peak Performance, an Ottawa-based health promotion company. Ultimately, if drink soda make sure you don’t overdo it. Soft drinks are only detrimental to health when consumed in excess, so the main thing to do is to consume them responsibly. Spanner agreed that there is nothing wrong with the occasional soft drink, but noted that it must be balanced by a healthy lifestyle. “All foods and beverages including sodas can play a role in a healthy diet if they’re consumed in moderation coupled with regular exercise to maintain a healthy weight.”

The Fulcrum is hiring a Business Manager The Fulcrum Publishing Society is hiring a Business Manager for a one-year term running from May 1, 2009 to April 30, 2010. If you have experience or interest in basic bookkeeping, dealing with Mac computer environments, print production processes, non-profit governance and enjoy working in a student environment, you may be our ideal candidate.

Applications must consist of a cover letter and resumé. These should be submitted to the attention of the “Business Manager Hiring Committee” either by email to business.manager@thefulcrum. ca, by fax to 613.562.5259 or to Fulcrum’s mailbox at 631 King Edward Ave. Applications must be received by Friday April 3rd 2009 by 5 p.m. Late applications will not be considered. Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.

www.thefulcrum.ca // 04.02.09 //

sudoku answers from p. 20

SPORTS // 19

Sarah Leavitt Features Editor [email protected]

Distractions

April 2, 2009

Dear Di

20

If you have a question for Di, e-mail [email protected]. It’s the last issue so I’m purging my inbox! Thank you to everyone who wrote in this year. Enjoy your hot and sweaty summer sexy time! Dear Di, What are some good emergency lubes (when I run out and still want my boyfriend to boink me)? —Sand Clam

sudoku answers on p. 19

Thryllabus Thursday, April 2 Vernissage: Trojan Horse. 5 p.m. Ottawa School of Art Gallery. 85 George St. Free.

Friday, April 3 Concert: The Divorcees. 8 p.m. Zaphod Beeblebrox. 27 York St. 19+. $10. Play: Some Girl(s). 8 p.m. Arts Court. 2 Daly Ave. $20 for students.

Saturday, April 4 Concert: Ottawa Turkish Music Ensemble. 8 p.m. Alumni Theatre. $10 for students.

Sunday, April 5 National Tartan Day celebrations. 12 p.m. Parliament Hill. Free.

Monday, April 6 Film: Cinema Paradiso. 8:50 p.m. ByTowne Cinema. 325 Rideau St. $9, $6 for members.

Tuesday, April 7 Slam Poetry: Serge Lamothe. 6 p.m. Alliance Française. 352 Maclaren St. Free.

Wednesday, April 8 Play: The Blue Dragon. 7:30 p.m. National Arts Center. 53 Elgin St. $14.25 for students.

Dear SC, Stay away from motor oil and hummus! In a pinch I usually just spit and shine. If that’s not your style, here are some items you might have about your boudoir: • Baby oil: It’s pretty diluted and you’ll have to use a lot to have any meaningful, longlasting effects. It gets pretty messy. • Vaseline (petroleum jelly): Not just for dry hands anymore. • Cold Cream: It’s an emulsion of water and fat. If that doesn’t get your motor going I don’t know what will. I should add that any oil-based lube should not be used with condoms as it weakens them. And, if you’re always running out, why not just buy in bulk? Love, Di Dear Di, My partner always wants to have sex with the lights on. It makes me feel so uncomfortable and I feel fat. Eventually, I just end up turning the lights off to his disappointment. How can I overcome this? —Doing It In The Dark Dear DIITD, Sex in the light can make some people feel like all their flaws are on display. But think of it this way: your partner obviously loves your body as is, otherwise he/she wouldn’t be having sex with you—regardless of whether the lights are on or off. Try starting with some clothes on to cover up whatever makes you the most self-conscious. Try smaller lamps or candles to start. The more comfortable and accepting of your body you become, the more you’ll have great, uninhibited sex. Love, Di Dear Di, How deep is a vagina? Does it go all the way up to their stomach, like if you just reach in? —Poon Probin’

Dear PP, I see someone fell asleep in sex-ed. Vaginal depth is as variable as penis length. And, like a flesh flute, during arousal the vagina expands in preparation for intercourse. In a recent survey published in Men’s Health, the average North American cooter measured between six and seven-and-a-half inches, while the maximum was about nine inches. The vagina ends at the cervix, which is located in the centre of the pelvis and in no way connects to the stomach. It connects instead to the womb, where babies come from. As for “reaching in”, that’s called fisting. Love, Di Dear Di, I want to rename my apartment Fuckingham Palace. Where can I get some discreet signs made? —Queenly Shagging Quarters Dear QSQ, I’m not sure why you would want the sign to be discreet. I mean, how will people know how to get to “Fuckingham Palace” if they can’t find your sign? I say get a neon sign. It can be off in the day and so very on in the nighttime. Love, Di Dear Di, I think I have a flabby poonani and I’m considering getting labiaplasty. What do you think about surgery? —Loose Lips Dear LL, I just don’t understand this new phenomenon of women getting cosmetic surgery to reduce the size and even change the colour of their labia. Where do women get these ideas that their private parts aren’t good enough? Are you comparing yourself to women in porn videos and magazines? The surgery can help with legitimate health problems, like repairing the labia after childbirth and injury, but it is most popular for simply allowing women to reconstruct their vaginas to their liking (like most unnecessary cosmetic procedures). While I understand that having elongated labia might embarrass some women, even decrease their self-esteem or their libido, I think you all should know that most men don’t give a damn about the size of your labia—they’re just happy to be with you. As with any cosmetic surgery, there are risks: loss of sensation, asymmetry, and scarring. If you can avoid these risks, why wouldn’t you? Listen, you’re beautiful the way you are, so please don’t go under the knife if you don’t have to. Love, Di

Opinion

Michael Olender Executive Editor [email protected] April 2, 2009

21

So long, fuckers! Reflecting on four years of time served at the U of O by Dave Atkinson Fulcrum Contributor SEPTEMBER 2005 WAS a simpler time, when iPods were slightly larger and only hippies were calling George W. Bush a war criminal. I had arrived at the University of Ottawa with nothing but a towel, two pairs of pants, book money, and a pocketful of dreams. Now it’s 2009. I have replaced the towel, bought a third pair of pants, and I’m balder, exactly as rotund, and a scant few weeks away from a bachelor’s degree. After four academic years, a deep plunge into debt, and more beer and inexpensive instant noodle products than I care to recall, I find myself a grizzled U of O veteran faced with entering the dreaded “real world” (featuring crippling recession!) and putting this place behind me. I have a lot to say before I leave this party. If allowed to let loose I could fill this entire newspaper with compliments and gripes, but I’ll limit myself to talking about a few things since my arrival that made the university experience memorable and what has made it almost unbearable.

The best

The construction of Desmarais Hall: When I arrived, there was a dirt parking lot across from the Laurier bus stop. Now there’s a big office tower shaped like a toilet. Some may cry foul at the fact that most of the building is dedicated to office space rather than classrooms or the fact that other buildings on campus are in such awful condition that falling through the floor and into a philosophy seminar is a distinct possibility, but I say shut your damn traps. Desmarais Hall adds some glitz and makes us look like a grown-up school full of grown-up people. Filling the building with shirt-and-tiewearing business students allows the university to distract people from what students are really like: drunken morons trying to memorize just enough information to pass classes. As for naming the building after one rich donor and the school of management within it after another, that’s fine by me. This may be an unpopular stance, but I’m all for sponsorship. If it means I have nice new facilities and resources, I’ll gladly go to class in the Pepsico Tampax Microsoft Starbucks Centre and scoff at the nay-saying hippies from my princely corporate tower. Kudos to the U of O administration for making Desmarais Hall a success. Rabaska: Kids, let me tell you a story about a piece of software pulled from the arse of Lucifer himself and then reprogrammed by a crack squad of glue-huffing monkeys. It was called Registration Navigator, and before Rabaska was introduced in early 2007 the system was used by U of O students to register for courses. Your de-

gree would appear as a series of “islands” where the different kinds of courses would live. There was philosophy island, essay-writing island, and the wild and crazy pastel purple elective island! If you actually wanted to register for a course, you would have to click through a never-ending series of prompt windows that would typically freeze due to some horrible Java glitch, forcing you to start all over. Many a computer was hurled through a window. If none of that made sense to you, thank your lucky stars. Just know that Rabaska is one of the greatest things ever to happen to U of O students.

The worst The SFUO (sort of): In the last two years, I’ve sounded more and more like an old man in a hardware store (“Hell in a hand basket, that’s where we’re headed, Earl!”) when it comes to talking about the Student Federation of the University of Ottawa (SFUO). While the SFUO does a lot of good on campus through its services and events, the way the SFUO executive conducts itself leaves something to be desired. As I’m leaving forever, it’s time I touched a torch to this fucking bridge once and for all. The SFUO executive has been full of shit for the past two years. They rage against a lack of transparency in the administration, and then hold closed-door meetings for everything from hiring to what kind of muffins to buy for the office Christmas party. They claim neutrality in any number of issues while clearly and blatantly choosing a side. They’ve turned the campus bar into their clubhouse and hire chiefly within their group of friends. They are closing off student government to the students and defining hypocrisy over and over again. I know I’m just a blowhard asshole for saying this on my way out, but my being a blowhard doesn’t make any of what I just said untrue. With the shenanigans surrounding SFUO executive elections this year, all I have to say is: enjoy the shit to come, kids. Dealing with the U of O administration: I’ve stood in endless lines and received advice that turned out to be untrue, and then I had to stand in more lines only to be told that the only person who is capable of fixing my scheduling problem loves four-hour lunch breaks and taking Fridays off. All of the above is standard operating procedure when dealing with the U of O administration. I’ve taken two classes I didn’t need to take because an academic advisor hadn’t read the course requirements and I’ve waited in line for hours just to give the university my money! Why not hire more people, train them well, and for the love of god put some of this shit online? I mean, why am I waiting four hours to get two rubber stamps on a form and a surly grunt from the one poor sucker who’s working the financial aid desk? I hope everybody I’m leaving behind has got comfortable shoes and a lot of patience. I’m happy to say that I will never, ever, stand for hours holding a little number ticket at InfoService again.

photo by Alex Smyth

For four years I’ve lived in the university bubble where what the SFUO does really matters, a professor being a jerk could make an entire year miserable, and spending more on booze than furniture made perfect sense. But as much fun as it has been, this experience has to end sometime. This is it: I’ll soon have the piece of paper I came for, so it’s time to pop the bubble and let the rest of the world into mine. I’m finished with this place, I’ve gotten what I wanted, and now I’m diving into the moving getaway car and never looking back. Thanks for the laughs. Enjoy the mess I left, and don’t call me in the morning.

So long, fuckers!

All good things…

Lord Jones is dead

Frank Appleyard Editor-in-Chief THIS ISSUE BRINGS to an end the Fulcrum’s 2008–09 publishing year, wrapping up a 27-issue run that has aimed to provide University of Ottawa students with a window on their community by exploring the events and individuals that have shaped the U of O in the last 12 months. Since its inception in 1942, the Fulcrum has al-

ways sought to be a student voice and a platform for involvement, debate, and the presentation of alternate viewpoints. These are values that will certainly not disappear with the end of this publishing year, but will endure throughout this newspaper’s existence. This issue is especially meaningful for me, as it will be my last as the editor-in-chief of the Fulcrum, and the culmination of three years of continuous writing for its pages. Since my first day as a student at the U of O I have been a part of this newspaper, and while I was very much a U of O outsider when I arrived, through writing for the Fulcrum I have developed a distinct connection to the campus community. This connection is made up of equal parts curiosity to understand how the community operates and interacts, and desire to see improvement, growth, and success in every element of the U of O student experience. Throughout my time at the Fulcrum I have as-

pired to better inform and connect the U of O community, and I have shared my own experiences, thoughts, and encounters in hopes of fostering in each and every reader the same passion for this campus that I hold dear. I have committed myself to covering the events and personalities that have shaped this campus, and the words I have written and edited have become a part of my life. While I know they could not possibly mean as much to anyone else, I am hopeful that they have indeed helped readers to better understand the community in which we live. Naturally, the stories that have appeared in the Fulcrum would never have existed if not for the presence of the countless personalities that define this community. The U of O is blessed with a wealth of intelligent, passionate, and gifted individuals committed to improving the student experience and to ensuring that the U of O is far more than the sum of its lecture halls and degrees conferred. This diverse group of student and com-

AFTER FOUR LONG, tough years, I’m finally on my way out. I’m facing a shrunken job market, a momentarily useless degree, and a completely new career path. But I’m ready for the transition because I took the best parts of my university experience and used them to make me a better and stronger person. And in an act of solidarity, I’m going to offer some sage words of advice so that when you graduate you’ll be as ready as I am. Memorize everything written below, for they are true words of wisdom from someone who has seen it all. The best bathrooms on campus can be found in the basement of Marion Hall, the basement of Colonel By Hall, and on the third floor of Arts Hall. Additionally, all bathrooms in D’Iorio Hall and Pérez Hall are fantastic. Unless you’re in some sort of engineering program, a Grade 8 math level will carry you far in life. You do not need calculus. Writing for the Fulcrum has been the best part of my university experience.

Go ahead and join a school club, sport or activity. You’ll meet friends, have fun, and maybe learn something along the way. Try the Knit-Wits (knitting group), International Socialists (revolutionary group) or hey, why not write for the Fulcrum?

more garnet and grey that covers your body and the closer to the finals, the higher your chances of bucking like a stallion.

The bookworms are the biggest freaks in the sack. That’s right, I’m talking about you, history/philosophy/humanities students.

Forget relying on classes to get smarter; you’ll know you’ve reached the highest level of mental clarity when you can watch Blade Runner in its entirety and at the end say, “I get it.”

Facebook destroys lives. Abandon it before it destroys yours. There is a high statistical probability that during your university years you’ll find both your best friend and your arch-enemy. In my case, they are one and the same: Carl Chan. In 35 years, a few dozen scientific papers will be published that will prove without a shadow of a doubt that U of O cafeteria food is the shittiest food in existence. If you attend a Gee-Gees home win, your chances of getting laid by another Gees fan are proportionate to the extent of your devotion to the team and the significance of the game. The

[email protected] 613-562-5261

Open yourself to opportunity on campus

What I’ve learned by Hisham Kelati Fulcrum Staff

munity leaders has brought life to the U of O, and I have nothing but the deepest respect for them. In all, the Fulcrum has been more than just my employer—it has been my passion. And after spending three years ardently covering stories from every corner of this campus for its pages, I feel as if I am leaving a home. As I depart, I wish I had some sort of profound message or overarching thought to offer about life at the U of O, but I feel that all I have learned is that on a campus as diverse as this, the experiences that define each student’s life at the U of O are as inherently different as each of us. I only hope that each and every student is fortunate enough to find a source of incredible experiences that will define your time at the U of O in the way that the Fulcrum has defined mine. Thank you for reading.

Sucking up does have its advantages, especially in university.

Later in life, you may find yourself in a situation where you will be defined by the best university story that you’ve got. This happens because after university, most people never get a chance to get down and dirty again. I once got into a bar fight over an issue of Esquire. I’ve won a karaoke competition by singing The Who’s “The Seeker” but was too drunk to remember the experience. I’ve gotten an A+ in a class I never went to, other than for the midterm and final. And I dated a girl for over five weeks without knowing her name. Have as much fun as you can, go as wild as you can, and see how much you can get away with while you still have the chance.

WANT TO START YOUR CAREER BY STARTING A COMPANY?

by Ben Myers Fulcrum Staff I CAME TO the University of Ottawa fresh out of high school in 2004. It was practically a clean break for me— almost everyone I knew had gone to Carleton University. But instead of embracing the opportunity to redefine myself, I turned inward and, for almost three years, I took no pride in being a student at this university. So here’s the message I would give myself if I could communicate with that naive first-year I used to be. Stop listening to Rage Against the Machine. Stop it right now. That shit is turning you into a liberal neo-anarchist and making you hate everyone around you. So take those earphones out of your ears and stop separating yourself from campus. Universities, your fellow students, and professors are not evil. They’re not out to steal your money either, so stop thinking that everyone’s an asshole and try having a conversation with somebody. Anybody! You know those kinetic frosh leaders that say that they’re so happy

that they got involved? They’re right. So stop immediately bussing home after class every day, and commit yourself to this university. Commit yourself to improving your mind, your perspectives, and your fashion sense (please!). There are so many opportunities waiting on this campus and all you have to do is scrape away your own blinding cynicism to see them. Sure, you might fuck up. You might make an ass of yourself, and you might barf all over someone’s bathroom. But you’ve got to find some sort of catalyst to make this whole university thing worthwhile, so start looking. The random, obscure facts that are fed to you are only a small part of the fleeting experience. You might not know what you want to do at the end of your four- or five-year career (yeah, sorry about that…) but the mental tools and selfconfidence that you gather along the way are worth more than your inflated ego. And, can I recommend a song for you? “Imagine” by John Lennon. It’s gonna blow your fucking mind.

If you’re reading this, you have the attention to detail we need in our proofreaders. But it’s the end of the publishing year, so go be meticulous somewhere else.

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Editorial

f

Strategic restructuring each April since 1942. Volume 69 - Issue 27 April 2, 2009 phone: (613) 562-5261 fax: (613) 562-5259 631 King Edward Ave. Ottawa, ON K1N 6N5 [email protected] www.thefulcrum.ca Recycle this paper or you’ll be fired... out of a cannon.

Staff

Frank Appleyard Editor-in-Chief [email protected] April 2, 2009

23

Making every voice count

Frank ‘given the axe’ Appleyard Editor-in-Chief [email protected] Ben ‘terminated’ Myers Production Manager [email protected] Michael ‘given notice’ Olender Executive Editor [email protected] Martha ‘sacked’ Pearce Art Director [email protected] Emma ‘redundant’ Godmere News Editor [email protected] Peter ‘streamlined out’ Henderson Arts & Culture Editor [email protected] David ‘downsized’ McClelland Sports Editor [email protected]

Sarah ‘replaced’ Leavitt Features Editor [email protected] Danielle ‘outsourced’ Blab Laurel ‘to india’ Hogan Copy Editors Amanda ‘pink-slipped’ Shendruk Associate News Editor [email protected] James ‘let go’ Edwards Webmaster [email protected] Jessica ‘two weeks’ Sukstorf Volunteer & Visibility Coordinator [email protected] Megan ‘canned’ O’Meara Staff Writer Alex ‘sent away’ Martin Staff Illustrator Inari ‘shit-canned’ Vaissi Nagy Jiselle ‘clean out your office’ Bakker Ombudsgirls [email protected] Travis ‘escorted out’ Boisvenue Ombudsboy [email protected]

W

HILE IT IS a fact largely forgotten amid the politics playing out only a few blocks from campus on Parliament Hill, the University of Ottawa student community is an active representative democracy. The Student Federation of the University of Ottawa (SFUO) and Graduate Students’ Association (GSAÉD) are both headed by elected leaders with a mandate to connect and represent their constituents in dealings with the university administration and organizations beyond campus. This mandate is undoubtedly a heady one. Accurately representing the views, needs, and opinions of 35,000 unique students on an incredibly diverse campus is no easy feat, but this is the responsibility with which the U of O’s student leaders are entrusted. Throughout the year, U of O students have watched as their elected leaders have attempted to balance common student values in every decision made on our behalves. And ultimately, the organizations’ approaches to student representation have influenced many of the most significant events that have occurred at the U of O this year. The coordinated efforts by the SFUO and GSAÉD to force the university administration to retract the proposed student code of conduct were perhaps the best example of student interests represented accurately. The code was identified by student leaders for what it was: a thinly veiled attempt to impose a glut of restrictions on U of O students, and the actions to have it abolished were indeed indicative of the sentiments of students across campus. The SFUO’s lobbying efforts to secure a Universal Bus Pass for undergrads also stands as a triumph of the campus’s democratic system. The SFUO took a project that was overwhelmingly approved by students in a referendum and passionately pitched it to city officials in hopes of seeing it implemented. The student leaders’ passionate

Nicole ‘forced out’ Gall Staff Proofreader Robert ‘obsolete’ Olender On-campus Distributor Deidre ‘laid off’ Butters Advertising Representative [email protected] Ross ‘forcibly removed’ Prusakowski Business Manager [email protected]

lobbying efforts—and the sparkling impression of U of O students that was fostered among city councillors through their efforts—should be a source of pride for all U of O students. However, alongside the success stories came several failures in the campus’s democratic system, where the representation of students’ voices was far from comprehensive. The Canadian Federation of Students (CFS) referendum that took over undergraduate life in November was focused entirely on a perceived need for U of O students’ voices to be represented on a national level. But the ideal that all U of O undergraduates could be accurately represented by the left-leaning CFS turned out to be something of a myth, as close to 49 per cent of students that voted in the referendum did not want to accept membership in the national lobby group. The SFUO’s January decision to support the Amalgamated Transit Union Local 279 in the recent OC Transpo strike similarly didn’t take the sentiments of all—or even the majority—of U of O undergrads into account. In standing in solidarity with the drivers precisely because they are a fellow union, the SFUO managed to split public opinion on campus. Simply put, the SFUO should have opted to stay out of the politically charged dispute, and focus solely on their work of ensuring students’ lives saw minimal disruptions. In analyzing each of these events—and countless others this year—political ideology has proven to be the determining factor in the effectiveness of representation of the U of O student body. U of O students’ greatest successes came when personal politics was cast aside in favour of working in support of our common interests—such as abolishing the code of conduct. Our greatest failures have come from political maelstroms, such as the one spawned

by hopes that CFS membership would encompass all U of O undergrads’ voices— hopes that disappeared as the membership debate degenerated into a divisive battle between students of opposing political stripes. By virtue of attending the U of O, every student—whether apolitical, ardently conservative, or far-left socialist—is a member of either the SFUO or GSAÉD and pays fees to support their organization. Each has a right to see their money spent on initiatives and views that they can support as students—not as political entities. With such a diverse and often ideologically opposed membership, the SFUO and GSAÉD must be continuously careful to ensure that their actions and decisions do not alienate swaths of their membership. Politics is incredibly personal, and U of O students are seemingly never more divided than in their political views. As our student unions exist to connect us and allow us to speak with one voice, it is essential that student leaders leave personal politics outside of their duty to represent the community’s common interests. This is not to say that an apolitical student union must be an irrelevant student union. Inclusive initiatives like Wake Up and Vote, Take Back the Night, and Green Weeks have proven that student unions can be active in political and progressive causes without ideology compromising the ties that fundamentally bind us as students. Ultimately, the successes for U of O students this year did not come from politically soaked initiatives, but rather from ensuring that the needs and views that connect us as students were placed above all else. We have seen this year that student unions are most effective and most representative when student values are paramount to the politics of the organization’s leaders. [email protected]

Contributors Evan ‘kicked to the curb’ Abrams Dave ‘moving in a new direction’ Atkinson Parastoo ‘not working out’ Badie Andrew ‘sent home’ Champagne Katie ‘transitioned out’ DeClerq Kristyn ‘simplifying’ Filip Ian ‘the long walk’ Flett Desmond ‘replaced by automation’ Fisher Andrew ‘no longer needed’ Hawley Hisham ‘decomissioned’ Kelati

Kaitlin ‘got the boot’ Milroy Anna ‘chao youyu’ Rocoski Maria ‘RIFing’ Rondon Nick ‘dismissed’ Rudiak Émilie ‘discharged’ Sartoretto Len ‘expelled’ Smirnov Alex ‘rationalizing’ Smyth Sepideh ‘reduced hours’ Soltaninia Amlaké ‘eject’ Tedla-Digaf

Cover photo by Frank Appleyard

The SFUO’s employees and volunteers would like to thank

all students for making this

another fantastic year! good luck on your exams, and we’ll see you in September! On Thursday April 9th, join us FOR the last party of the year…

SFUO’s End of Year Bash! Tickets are $5 at the SFUO Office

Remember to stay on top of summer and fall SFUO activities by visiting our website: www.sfuo.ca And if you’re up to the challenge… Become a 101 Guide, for those first years coming in September 2009! Contact [email protected] You can also get in touch with your student association to be a 101 guide with your own faculty!