Fulcrum November 06 08

NOW IN OUR 47TH YEAR

7 • 8 • 9 NOV 2008 École publique

Rockcliffe Park Public School

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I want you. I want you so bad.

I want you so bad. It’s driving me mad.

It’s driving me mad. [email protected]

Letters The choice is yours IT IS OFFICIAL. We, the undergraduate students of the University of Ottawa, are finally being asked the question of whether or not to join the Canadian Federation of Students (CFS) as fullfledged members. For those of you who do not already know, the referendum will take place on Nov. 18–20. Stay tuned for polling stations around campus. What is the CFS you ask? Google it; it only takes 0.25 seconds. Now, you are probably asking yourself why should you care about another election. We have been bombarded in the media with our own, arguably pointless, federal election. We have been enthralled with the presidential election in the U.S. for the last year. But most importantly we, as students, typically don’t vote in elections, whether they are on-campus, municipal, provincial, or federal. It is important to make your decision. The decision of joining the CFS is crucial. You have the opportunity to end a long-running debate among your student leaders here at school. Now, you are probably saying that you do not care about student politics. But the reality is that you pay for student politics to happen. You pay for services at your university that are run by your fellow students, you pay for your Student Federation of the University of Ottawa (SFUO) executive salaries, and you pay for tuition, books, rent, and beer. At the end of the

day you pay a lot for your university experience. What is important to note is that joining the CFS will be yet another cost added on to your student fees. You need to make an informed decision for yourself and for future students of this institution of whether or not you think this increased fee will benefit you. Voice your opinion, because this time it actually does matter. So please stay tuned in the coming weeks. There will be two sides of the debate presented to you. And of course they will be bombarding you with propaganda again and again. The most important thing you can do as a student is to pay attention and vote. Liz Doneathy Fourth-year English student A united student voice I AM A strong supporter of the CFS. I come from a working-class family. I have a degree in linguistics and am completing another degree in honours translation. I have had an incredible experience in university. However, I have faced much struggle and hardship. Even now I am trying to pay off about $50,000 of debt. I have been involved in student politics since second semester of first year when we had a rally for lower tuition in Halifax and I was introduced to the CFS. The CFS is focused on students, is organized and run by students, and consistently gets results for students. Like all organizations, it is not perfect,

Contents An on-again, offagain relationship

News

Amanda Shendruk looks into the history of the CFS and the SFUO. p. 4

p. 4

An independent campaign aims to make the U of O smoke free. p. 7

Post-apocalyptic awesomeness

Arts

Peter Henderson reviews Fallout 3. p. 9

p. 9

Danyal Khoral reviews the latest comic take on the Joker. p. 15

Shot down in a shootout

Sports

Women’s soccer team misses out on gold medal in shootout. p. 16

p. 16 Feature p. 12

Football team upsets Golden Gaels in semifinal. p. 17

Pwnd by addiction Dave Atkinson explains the difference between online obsession and harmful addiction. p. 12–13 Di helps you increase your chances of having random sex at home and at school. p. 22

Frank Appleyard Editor-in-Chief [email protected] Nov. 6–12, 2008 but it unites the great majority of students in Canada and lets them have a voice. While the federal and provincial governments are funding so many other things, they are neglecting us: students and recent graduates. The CFS is fighting to change this and unite the voices of students so we can be heard together. Provinces in Canada who have a united student voice have succeeded in obtaining tuition fee freezes and reductions and increased funding to post-secondary education. The CFS and the half-million students across Canada that they represent have seen many victories that have benefited all students. Why do we hear politicians speak about the economy, the elderly, families, etc., but seldom about students? Because there are some who think we are better off independent, screaming with our individual voices and drowning each other out. We need one voice. We need a united student movement or things will never change. Students may not be rich but we are many, and if we can learn to speak together we can effect change. All Canadians should have access to a high-quality university education. Some say we already do, but it is neither equitable nor inclusive. I know many brilliant people who were denied their right to a university education, who dropped out or lost their scholarships, or couldn’t get into grad school because their grades suffered when they had to work fulltime. I know many people who are drowning in debt. You can tell yourself this is normal in a developed country like Canada, you can tell yourself this isn’t true, you can tell yourself that not everyone who is qualified deserves to go to university. But you would be in denial. There is a referendum coming up. Educate yourselves. Examine the issues, not the rumours. Listen to facts, not naysayers. I support the CFS. Find out whether you do too. Amy Morris Former SFUO vp finance Drop fees, not bombs Re: “Don’t drop fees” (Opinion, Oct. 30) AS STUDENTS ASSEMBLE on Nov. 5 to drop fees, we must not forget the very real connections between military spending and a lack of funding for education. As tuition fees rise, we are 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-forprofit corporation whose members consist of all Univeristy 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 and Andrew Wing. To contact the Fulcrum’s BOD, contact Ross Prusakowski at (613) 5625261.

simultaneously witnessing an increased military presence on campus in the form of the Canadian Forces’ aggressive military recruitment campaign, bombarding students with half-truths and easy solutions for education financing. The deceptive tactics of the recruiters is often enough to convince students to trade their debt sentence for a death sentence. While students make demands for better-funded education, we need to link the student debt crisis to areas of wasteful, unethical government spending. Over the next 20 years, Prime Minister Stephen Harper has pledged to spend $490 billion on the military and on Canada’s war in Afghanistan. But let’s put these numbers into perspective: six new warships will cost Canada $4.5 billion. This spending could eliminate all tuition fees in Canada. Four strategic airlift airplanes will cost $2 billion. This equates to a $4,000 grant for every Canadian student. As our right to quality education is being disregarded, rights to life, security, and self-determination in Afghanistan are being bombed to pieces by the Canadian government. The war in Afghanistan has killed thousands of Afghan civilians, and 97 Canadian soldiers. Airstrikes are a common tool in the NATO arsenal; in August an air strike killed over 90 unarmed men, women, and children. At the end of October, the Taliban announced it would only engage in peace talks if all NATO forces leave Afghanistan. Canada’s occupation has proven destructive and fruitless. Throughout the Drop Fees campaign, some students may question if a reduction (or elimination) of tuition fees is economically feasible. Kalin Smith makes several ridiculous arguments against the Drop Fees campaign. First, if tuition fees are reduced, the operational funds of the university are reduced. Smith is misrepresenting our campaign; Drop Fees isn’t targeting the administration, but is targeting the provincial government. If the federal government can allocate $490 billion to the military over the next 20 years, it has the means to properly fund education through a social transfer to the provinces— it’s merely a matter of priorities and political will. Secondly, Smith’s argument that university degrees will lose value if enrollment increases is from the perspective of someone blatantly unaware of his privilege in society. Over 70 per cent 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

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of newly created jobs require a postsecondary education. Those denied an education for economic reasons are at a distinct disadvantage regardless of their intellectual merits. Education must be accessible for all, and this goal is certainly within reach. The first step is student mobilization, but we must make the connections between expensive imperialist wars and under-funded post-secondary education. Drop fees, not bombs! Student Coalition Against War Due to space constraints, we were unable to print all letters received. Please visit thefulcrum.ca/letters to read more about sustainability at the U of O.

thefulcrum.ca poll Will you be campaigning for either side in the Canadian Federation of Students membership campaign? Yes: No: Not sure: Go to thefulcrum.ca to vote!

Last week’s results Which winter-season Gee-Gees team will have the best regular season record? men’s basketball: women’s basketball: men’s hockey: women’s hockey:

women’s volleyball:

31% 0% 13% 19% 38%

Correction An article in the Oct. 30 issue of the Fulcrum incorrectly said that over 70 per cent of students who contact the Student Appeal Centre are visible minorities. The article should have read that over 70 per cent of students who contact the centre concerning accusations of academic fraud are visible minorities. A second article incorrectly stated that over 70 U of O students have filed appeals with the university through the Student Appeal Centre. The article should have read that there are currently over 70 students with unresolved cases. The Fulcrum regrets the errors.

Got something to say? 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 e-mail [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.

Emma Godmere News Editor [email protected]

News

Nov. 6–12, 2008

The CFS and the SFUO: A love/hate history

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by Amanda Shendruk Fulcrum Staff

THE BLACK AND white graphic showed two arms: biceps bulging, hands tightly clasped, locked in an unwavering arm wrestle. On one arm, the letters “CFS” were inscribed; on the other, “SFUO”. The cartoon, published in a 1994 issue of the Fulcrum, and recreated at right, portrayed the turbulent relationship between the Canadian Federation of Students (CFS) and the Student Federation of the University of Ottawa (SFUO) in late 1994, just months before the two federations parted ways. More than a decade later, the SFUO is once again considering a relationship with the CFS, and Nov. 18–20 undergraduate students at the University of Ottawa will have the opportunity to decide whether or not the two organizations should re-visit their past. A decade-long relationship The conference that founded the CFS was held Oct. 14–19, 1981, at Carleton University. The federation was officially formed on Oct. 18, after the merging of two national organizations—the National Union of Students in Canada and the Association of Student Councils. The CFS was founded as a democratic student organization with a mandate to articulate and advance student interests and an ultimate goal of obtaining accessible post-secondary education for everyone. Although the U of O was not a participant in the founding conference, the SFUO attended every CFS meeting up to 1985, when U of O undergraduate students voted to join the federation. The referendum passed with 74.2 per cent of students in favour of membership. In 1990, 77.2 per cent of undergraduate students voted to continue the SFUO’s membership in CFS. “When we were members, we were really active and took leadership roles—we had a national chairperson [and] we were on the national executive a bunch of times. There was a history of us being leaders in the CFS,” explained Seamus Wolfe, current SFUO vp university affairs. “We brought a lot of the stringent bilingualism requirements [to the CFS, and] we put a lot of the campaigns on the table.” One of those leaders was Guy Caron, SFUO president for the 1992–93 and 1993–94 academic years. Upon completion of his term as president, Caron was elected as national chairperson of the CFS. Ironically, Caron’s time with the CFS coincided with U of O undergraduate students’ decision to de-federate from the organization.

The breakup “We left [the CFS] during a bitterly fought referendum during March 1995,” stated the transition report of Alain Gauthier, SFUO president for the 1996–97 and 1997–98 academic years. During the de-federation referendum Gauthier was the organizer of the anti-CFS campaign. “Why we left was a combination of personal politics, [and] a tumultuous political climate,” explained Wolfe, outlining the reasons for the SFUO’s 1995 departure from the CFS. “The mid-1990s were turbulent times for the Canadian student movement: the federal government was cutting social transfers for postsecondary education by the billions of dollars and [former Liberal federal minister responsible for Human Resources Development Canada] Lloyd Axworthy was proposing radical reforms for post-secondary education,” stated the SFUO’s “Ad-hoc Committee on Student Advocacy Organizations Report Concerning the Canadian Federation of Students”, released this summer. University student federations across the country disagreed on how to handle the Liberal cuts,

whether to proceed diplomatically or radically, leading to mass student movements both to join and to leave CFS. During the 1994–95 academic year, 20 affiliation or disaffiliation referendums were held at universities across Canada. “At the time, [the] CFS was accused by the SFUO to be both too slow at reacting and too confrontational to these [political] issues,” stated the report. Additionally, there were suggestions that the CFS was too involved in non-student related causes like free trade issues, and that their goal to abolish tuition fees was unrealistic. SFUO internal politics also played a significant role in the 1995 de-federation. News articles and editorials in 1994 issues of the Fulcrum suggested that the SFUO was doing everything in its power to leave the national organization. These suggestions continued throughout the 1994–95 academic year. Fulcrum articles chronicled a number of suspect actions by the SFUO’s Board of Administration (BOA) of the time. Prior to the March 1995 CFS de-federation referendum, the BOA moved to join the Canadian Alliance of Student Associations (CASA), a rival national student organization.

“The upcoming referendum means that we will have a choice about remaining with the CFS. But the Board of Administration’s recent move to accept CASA’s constitution in principle and take the first step in becoming full members means that this decision was made for us,” read a January 1995 Fulcrum editorial. Furthermore, the BOA approved the motion to lower quorum for the referendum from 12 per cent to five per cent, and to reduce the budget for the elections convener. The lead-up to the referendum was not without its fair share of controversy. Rumours suggested that Alain Gauthier, the SFUO vp internal at the time, disliked Guy Caron, the previous SFUO president and then-national chairperson of the CFS. “Basically, from what I can see and from what I’ve read, it became Alain Gauthier’s goal to take down the Canadian Federation of Students because he knew that it was appreciated by Guy Caron,” said current SFUO president Dean Haldenby. LOVE/HATE HISTORY continued on p. 5

LOVE/HATE HISTORY continued from p. 4 Concerns about the legitimacy of referendum proceedings peaked when the CFS obtained a court injunction against the SFUO. In February 1995, a judge ruled that the SFUO disobeyed CFS by-laws regarding the participation of non-students during the campaigning period. Because of the ruling that the SFUO disregarded CFS by-laws, the initial referendum, held Feb. 13–15, 1995, was voided. The SFUO proceeded to

hold another referendum the following month. In March 1995, U of O undergraduate students voted to pull out from the CFS with 70 per cent in favour of defederation. Over 4,000 students voted in the referendum, which equalled approximately 20 per cent of the U of O’s undergraduate population. Getting back together? For a number of years after the SFUO left the CFS, they continued to attend the national organization’s semi-an-

nual general meetings as non-member observers. “You basically go through everything, but you don’t vote,” explained Wolfe. The SFUO also continued to participate in a number of CFS-led campaigns, such as the “no means no” date rape campaign and the campaign to reduce tuition fees. In the 13 years since the U of O and CFS parted ways, the BOA has re-addressed the question of membership on three separate occasions; however, a CFS affiliation referendum was never called.

During the 2006–07 academic year, the BOA considered joining a national student organization, but decided against it. Last year, the SFUO executive proposed prospective membership in CFS, but the BOA overturned the decision. On July 27 this year, however, the BOA voted in favour of accepting prospective membership in the CFS. The fate of the relationship of the CFS and the SFUO now rests in the hands of current U of O undergraduate students as they head to the polls Nov. 18–20 for a full-membership p referendum.

CFS referendum rules released SFUO to experience “one of the most regulated” campaigns in the CFS by Emma Godmere Fulcrum Staff THE REFERENDUM OVERSIGHT Committee (ROC) has made its final decisions regarding how the Nov. 7–20 campaign for the Student Federation of the University of Ottawa’s (SFUO) full membership in the Canadian Federation of Students (CFS) will play out. In a 22-page document dated Oct. 31, the four-person committee consisting of SFUO President Dean Haldenby and Political, International, and Development Studies Student Association President Faris Lehn, along with CFS Northern Ontario organizer Christine Bourque and CFS national director for organizing Lucy Watson detail polling stations and times, Yes and No committee guidelines, campaign material restrictions, and the official referendum question that is to appear on the ballot. “A lot of [the rules] were compromises here and there,” explained Lehn. Fellow committee members Bourque and Watson were not available for comment. The ballot question includes several paragraphs detailing the objectives and history of the CFS. “The Canadian Federation of Students is a national student organization and the Canadian Federation of Students-Ontario is a provincial student organization with a total membership of over 500,000 university and college students,” the official question reads. “The Canadian Federation of Students was formed in 1981 to advocate for an affordable, high-quality system of post-secondary education and to provide services to and provincial and national student representation for students.” The question also details the expected additional student fees, which, when the fees for CFS and CFSOntario are combined, will be $7.15 per full-time student per semester. Part-time students can expect to pay

www.thefulcrum.ca

a total of $3.58 per semester. The question concludes by asking, “Are you in favour of membership in the Canadian Federation of Students and the Canadian Federation of StudentsOntario?” “We feel it’s important for the students to have a base idea on exactly what they’d be voting on,” explained Haldenby. In a press release dated Oct. 29, shortly after the first draft of the referendum rules was published, a group identifying themselves as the No committee expressed their displeasure with the finalized ballot question. “The draft question splits the total membership cost into two components and essentially includes Yes campaign speaking points,” said Michèle Lamarche, identified as the chairperson of the No committee in the press release. “The question should be [rewritten] immediately, or the referendum postponed until a fair question can be decided upon.” According to Haldenby, all of the rules set out in the ROC document are set in stone. “Basically, the [ROC] came up with that question that we feel is fair. It mentions the fees, it mentions factually what the Canadian Federation of Students is, and then it asks the question on whether or not [students] want to become members,” he said. Haldenby identified Lamarche and Communications Student Association President Ryan Kennery as the two No committee representatives, along with SFUO VP Student Affairs Danika Brisson and SFUO executive coordinator François Picard as the two Yes committee representatives. The representatives were not yet official at press time. Another section of the referendum rules that has been met with some concern among students is section 10, entitled “Campaign Expenses”, which contains no evidence of regulations on committees’ campaign spending. Haldenby acknowledged that there will be no spending cap in this campaign, although “there are limits on [putting up posters], there are limits on banners … so we’re controlling materials in that manner,” he said. The issue of capping campaign financing was also addressed in the SFUO’s 1995 CFS de-federation referendum, where a court order issued in February of that year stated, “there

The question: The Canadian Federation of Students is a national student organization and the Canadian Federation of Students–Ontario is a provincial student organization with a total membership of over 500,000 university and college students. The Canadian Federation of Students was formed in 1981 to advocate for an affordable, high-quality system of post-secondary education and to provide services to and provincial and national student representation for students. For full-time students, the fee is $3.90 per semester for the Canadian Federation of Students ($1.95 for part-time students) and the Canadian Federation of Students-Ontario fee is $3.25 per semester ($1.63 for part-time students). Are you in favour of membership in the Canadian Federation of Students and the Canadian Federation of Students-Ontario?

Get to know the CFS The basics • The Canadian Federation of Students (CFS) represents approximately 500,000 students at more than 80 universities and colleges across Canada. • It operates under the premise that there is strength in numbers and with the aim of creating accessible education for all. • It is a national organization that is sub-divided into provincial branches (such as CFS-Ontario). • The CFS portrays itself as an active organization. They research and analyze government policies, and employ strategies such as lobbying, public awareness campaigns, and student mobilization in order to accomplish their aims. • To either join or leave the CFS, the interested student union must hold a referendum, in which each student gets one vote. • There must be two years between either federation or defederation referendums.

Services • The CFS provides prospectivemember and full-member student unions with various services, such as discounted cell phone rates, Student Saver Discount cards, the National Student Health Network, the Student Work Abroad Program, and access to Homes4students.ca. • The CFS partially owns and operates the travel service Travel CUTS, which specializes in cheap airfare and budget travel. • CFS members receive the International Student Identity Card, which can be used for various travel discounts. The $17 card is free for CFS members.

Campaigns

YES will be no restriction as to the people who can campaign or the amount of funds which can be spent on the [SFUO’s de-federation] campaign”. The 1995 court order resurfaced when a motion was put forward at the SFUO’s Board of Administration (BOA) meeting on Nov. 2 to restrict SFUO executives and employees from campaigning during paid hours, after the SFUO had pledged not to take a collective stance in the CFS referendum. When the issue of the court order was raised, the motion was amended to read “be it further resolved that any campaigning by the SFUO executive be done outside of paid time in good faith”, and was passed. The referendum rules contain other regulations regarding committee vol-

NO unteers, such as allowing only up to 30 non-SFUO members to campaign on campus per day; requiring all volunteers for either campaign committee to be identified and recorded by the ROC, as well as hold a campaign permit; and prohibiting campaigning in any service or business owned by the SFUO, among several other detailed rules. “This is one of the most regulated CFS campaigns that I can think of,” said Haldenby. Undergraduate students will have the opportunity to vote in the CFS referendum at polling stations across campus Nov. 18–20, from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. every day. For more information about the referendum, polling stations and times, or to obtain a copy of the referendum rules, go to referendum.sfuo.ca.

Nov. 6, 2008

• Member student unions are not required to participate in every CFS campaign. • Current campaigns deal with matters such as tuition fees and funding, date rape, aboriginal education, copyright reform, racism, and sustainability.

Proposed SFUO Fees • For full-time students: o CFS National Fee: $3.90 per semester per student o CFS Ontario Fee: $3.25 per semester per student • For part-time students: o CFS National Fee: $1.95 per semester per student o CFS Ontario Fee: $1.63 per semester per student

NEWS

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Students petition for a smoke-free campus Independent campaign promotes ban on tobacco products by Len Smirnov Fulcrum Contributor A GROUP OF University of Ottawa students launched an independent, university-wide campaign on Oct. 28 in an effort to promote a smokefree campus. The campaign aims to reach out to undergraduate students and garner support for a petition to include two anti-smoking questions on the 2009 Student Federation of the University of Ottawa (SFUO) referendum ballot. Over 1,500 signatures need to be collected before Nov. 21 for the questions to appear on the ballot. The first proposed referendum question demands a ban on the sale of tobacco products at SFUO businesses, while the second asks the SFUO to restrict smoking to designated smoking areas on campus. The campaign aims to initiate a broad conversation about smoking on campus and the SFUO’s links to tobacco companies. “What’s important is that we ask the students the question and we allow the students to have a conversation,” said Ryan Kennery, one of the campaign organizers and president of

the Communications Students’ Association (CSA). “This conversation is happening on a lot of other campuses, but hasn’t really happened here.” A core group led by Kennery and CSA VP University Affairs Sarah Burke, along with a dozen other volunteers, are leading the Smoke Free Campus campaign. The volunteers plan to reach undergraduate students primarily through in-class presentations. They have already discussed campaign issues with several fellow students and began visiting classes in the first week of November. The organizers are focusing the campaign on the issues of leadership and priorities, both of which they claim the SFUO is lacking by allowing the sale of tobacco products in its businesses. They point to the SFUO’s contradictory roles as an organizer of the annual Relay for Life event, a fundraiser for the Canadian Cancer Society, and as a retailer of tobacco products to reveal the organization’s inconsistent approach to tobacco issues and unwillingness to surrender the profits made from selling tobacco products. Kennery hopes that the SFUO will overlook the financial incentives of selling the products to pursue the principles of a smoke-free environment. “I think that the principle outweighs any financial incentives,” said Kennery in response to concerns that the SFUO would experience financial difficulties in banning the sale of tobacco products.

The organizers insist on promoting the Smoke Free Campus campaign through democratic means. As an active member of several student organizations, including the SFUO’s Board of Administration, Kennery has the ability to promote the campaign through closed channels. However, he believes that student opinion must be solicited prior to presenting the campaign issues to the student body organizations. Kennery explained that a democratic petition will increase the weight of the campaign. “It will give the elected SFUO executive a mandate to go with responsibility to lobby for change,” he said. Kennery anticipates that the petition will make the Smoke Free Campus campaign’s issues a top priority for the SFUO over the next year and hopes that undergraduate students will encourage other university groups to discuss the campaign. “We are tackling the issues through the mechanism for undergraduate students,” said Kennery. “We hope that when the other undergraduate students step up and make a statement, the other constituencies will take notice.” Students can get involved in the Smoke Free Campus campaign by sending an email to [email protected], checking out the Campus Sans Fumée | Smoke Free Campus (uOttawa) group on Facebook, or signing the online petition at petitiononline.com/sfccsf.

photo by Martha Pearce

Communications students Ryan Kennery and Sarah Burke are spearheading the Smoke Free Campus campaign.

U of O administration loses third vice-president in six months Search for vp academic launches alongside ongoing vp external hiring by Emma Godmere Fulcrum Staff

photo by Martha Pearce

Robert Major will leave the position of vp academic once his successor is named.

www.thefulcrum.ca

THE UNIVERSITY OF Ottawa’s administration will soon lose another vice-president, marking the third vp departure in six months. The search for a new vp academic was launched Nov. 1, one day after the application window closed for the position of vp external relations—a position that has been vacant since July. The position of secretary for the university, a job that is considered a vp role, has been vacant for over a week. Current Dean of Common Law Bruce Feldthusen held the position of vp external affairs—under its previous name of vp university affairs—in an interim role until August, while former secretary of the university Pamela Harrod took on the role of advisor to the president for special projects at the end of October. According to U of O President Allan Rock, the position of vp academic will continue to be filled by its current occupant, Robert Major, until a successor is chosen. “[Robert Major] was thinking about retiring this past summer, and I said ‘Robert, I’m

Nov. 6, 2008

newly arrived, I’d be grateful if you’d stay on,’ and he kindly agreed to do that,” said Rock. “We started the [selection] process. That’s going to take a few months to get the right people.” While the administration is faced with the burden of conducting two vp searches at the same time, Rock explained that as far as the vp external search is concerned, they are already finding some success. “We got some terrific applications. We have a pile of very attractive CVs, so we’re going to now get down to the point of meeting with the [hiring] committee and considering them,” he said. “Obviously, it’s in my interest to find someone ASAP because I’ve been carrying a lot of that [position’s responsibilities] myself.” When asked about Harrod’s departure from the secretary position, Rock emphasized her desire to switch roles within the administration. “Pamela [Harrod] has taken on a new role. She’s taking some areas where she’s developed expertise and she’s going to focus on those,” he said. “She was ready for a change—she’s been working very intensively.” At press time, Rock expected that an announcement regarding a replacement for the secretary role would be made this week. Harrod and Major could not be reached for comment. —with files from Frank Appleyard

NEWS

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Vote of confidence

One hundred words of woe

Emma Godmere News Editor THE CANADIAN FEDERATION of Students (CFS) membership referendum ballot question that will be presented to University of Ottawa undergraduate students Nov. 18–20 is unlike any other referendum question the Student Federation of the University of Ottawa (SFUO) has seen in recent memory. Using exactly 100 words, the referendum question established by the Referendum Oversight Committee (ROC) includes a three-para-

graph-long preamble that gives an overview of what the CFS does. In an interview with the Fulcrum, SFUO President Dean Haldenby emphasized the importance of informing students about the CFS. I agree that one needs to be informed to vote; however, that is what the 13-day, committee-regulated campaign is for. The preamble gives the impression of favouring the Yes side of the campaign, which has already concerned many students. Interestingly, in two CFS de-federation referendums that faced the Simon Fraser Student Society and the University of Victoria Graduate Students’ Society in the past year, each student association saw ballot questions that simply stated, “Are you in favour of maintaining membership in the Canadian Federation of Students?” Both referendums resulted in de-federation from the CFS. Vp communications francophone for the Student Association of the Faculty of Arts Michèle Lamarche, who is expected to represent the No committee, explained in an Oct. 29 press release that the SFUO’s referendum question essentially

consists of Yes committee talking points and said that “there should be no preamble, the cost should simply be per semester, all in accordance with how all SFUO referendum questions have been asked in the past.” According to the SFUO constitution, referendum questions are expected to be “concise, precise, and unambiguous.” While the CFS membership referendum is not strictly SFUOled, Haldenby did acknowledge that the ROC attempted to incorporate several commonplace SFUO regulations in their referendum rules. This CFS referendum question clearly does not adhere to the rules that other SFUO referendum questions must follow, and undergrads will be presented with a referendum ballot that will differ from any others seen before. When asked about switching to a mixedmember proportional electoral system last year, Ontario voters were simply asked, “Which electoral system should Ontario use to elect members to the provincial legislature?” with the option to choose either “the existing electoral system (First-Past-the-Post)” or “the alternative

electoral system proposed by the Citizens’ Assembly (Mixed Member Proportional)”. While there was concern over the fact that it wasn’t a yes or no question, nobody voiced a need for there to be an explanation of either electoral systems on the ballot—everyone knew the information would be a part of the campaign. While the referendum rules are set in stone and little can be done to change the ballot question at this point, the issue that the lengthy question raises is the importance of arriving at the polls as an informed voter. If undergraduates on campus can prove they are more aware of the CFS and the pros and cons of full membership than the ROC appears to believe, then the preamble on the ballot will no longer matter. Rather than the influence of a carefully worded preamble, it will be students’ markings on the ballot that decide this referendum, and students had better be ready to see the information arrive at their doorstep this month. [email protected] 613-562-5260

Staff meetings Thursdays at 1 p.m. Drop by 631 King Edward Ave. and pick up a story.

News in brief

Ottawatch New cabinet for a new session RE-ELECTED PRIME MINISTER Stephen Harper and his new 38-member cabinet—increased from 31 ministers in his last cabinet—were sworn in before Governor General Michaëlle Jean at Rideau Hall on Oct. 30. Harper included 11 women in his new cabinet, an increase from the seven women previously holding ministerial positions. The decision to include more women may be in reaction to the over 437 women from all political parties who ran in this election, and the 32 female Conservative MPs who were elected. Still, the percentage of female ministers in this cabinet—28 per cent—falls short of former Liberal prime minister Paul Martin’s record of 30 per cent in his 2003 cabinet. One of these new female ministers is Leona Aglukkaq, Nunavut’s former health minister and the first Conservative member of Parliament elected in Nunavut,

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Nov. 6, 2008

who will take over as federal health minister. Algukkaq’s position in the cabinet was seen by many as a a sign of the growing importance of Canada’s North. At the ceremony, Harper announced that the economy would be his government’s “number one priority”, and his selection of ministers seemingly reflects that commitment. Jim Flaherty will continue his role as minister of finance, Peter MacKay will remain as minister of defence, former health minister Tony Clement will take the position of minister of industry, and John Baird is being shuffled from the environment portfolio to the transportation portfolio. Other significant appointments in the new cabinet include Stockwell Day moving from public safety to international trade, the newly elected Gail Shea as the minister of fisheries, and Lawrence Cannon as the minister of foreign affairs. —Jessica Sukstorf

Rapid HIV testing continues on campus THE UNIVERSITY OF Ottawa’s Health Promotion Resource Centre will continue its pilot program offering free, rapid HIV testing to partand full-time U of O students on the second Wednesday of every month. Testing remains anonymous, as date of birth and gender are the only identifying questions asked by health care professionals, while some information on sexual history and practices may be needed to gauge potential risk of contracting HIV. The next testing date on campus is Nov. 12, 9:30 a.m.–2 p.m in room 206 of the Unicentre. Appointment signup is ongoing at the Health Promotions Resource Office (UCU 203) on a first-come, first-served basis. —Jolene Hansell

brary, where students have to log in to use a computer. Within two hours of Memorial University administration hearing about the incident, police had gathered students who had logged in that morning and began a round of questioning. According to Memorial’s Department of Marketing and Communications, the deadline given by the Web threat has passed without incident. Police are still investigating the threat and no arrests have been made. — Ian MacDonald, The Muse

Student threatens Memorial University prof online ST. JOHN’S (CUP) – MEMORIAL UNIVERSITY OF Newfoundland was crawling with police officers on Oct. 27 after a death threat was made against a professor. The threat, which was posted by a student on a website, gave specific details on the date, time, and place the actions would be carried out. Working with the university’s computer services, police discovered the threat was made from a computer in Memorial’s Queen Elizabeth II li-

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Arts & Culture

Peter Henderson Arts & Culture Editor [email protected]

Nov. 6–12, 2008

9

Getting ahead in a post-apocalyptic wasteland Fallout 3 redefines modern gaming by Peter Henderson Fulcrum Staff FALLOUT 3 IS perhaps the most anticipated video game of all time. The first two Fallout games still routinely make best-of lists, a full decade after Fallout 2 was released. The online community dedicated to the franchise has grown as new generations of fans discover the original two games, and excitement has been building to a fever pitch ever since Bethesda Softworks announced in 2004 that it would be releasing a true sequel to the franchise, now available on Xbox 360, Playstation 3, and PC. It’s been ten long years but Fallout 3 was definitely worth the wait. Fallout 3 is a game that defies description. It’s a first-person roleplaying game (RPG) that’s deeper than BioShock, has a better plotline than Grand Theft Auto 4, and is more engaging than Mass Effect. It’s everything you’ve ever wanted in a game, even if you didn’t know you did. Fallout 3 is not without its flaws, but it’s a massively ambitious project that will surely stand as one of the greatest games ever released.

Fallout 3 is set in and around Washington, D.C. in the year 2277, more than 200 years after the Great War wiped out most life on Earth. Many perished, but pockets of human beings survived in underground bunkers called Vaults. After the war was over, some of those hidden in the Vaults emerged to start a new civilization. Some, however, stayed in the Vaults, locked away from the newly developing world. You are one of those people, born in the Vault and destined to live out your remaining days there. Of course, destiny is not always fate, and you soon arrive in the Wasteland, left to fend for yourself while searching for your father. Players create their own character through a simple yet deceptively deep process. You can choose your gender, your ethnicity, and your appearance, as well as your primary characteristics and skills. There are also perks: unique attributes you can choose that give you skill bonuses or provide other advantages. Outside the Vault, as you gain experience and levels, you can upgrade your skills and gain new perks. It feels so natural that you can forget just how complex the system really is. Player creation determines how you survive in the Wasteland outside the Vault, and it is here that the game really shines. You can salvage, repair, and sell equipment, and this scavenging adds another layer of

image courtesy fallout.bethsoft.com

Fallout 3 includes exploring, diplomacy, and giant-ass explosions in equal measure. realism. Other characters can join on your karma, and the karmic de- and agility that allow you to avoid your party, including Dogmeat, the cisions you face will truly test your whatever dangers you come across. friendly canine companion from the conscience. Unlike many other RPGs, Fallout 3 first two Fallout games. There is also The game can be played any num- presents viable options for whatever a system of karma, which tracks your ber of ways, with high speech skills skills you choose. Every character you good and bad deeds, and changes and charisma allowing you to talk create will provide a different gameother characters’ actions accordingly. your way out of almost any situation, play experience. Some non-player characters (NPCs) strength and guns letting you fight FALLOUT continued on p. 14 will join you or shun you depending your way to your goal, and sneak skills

Zack and Miri make a fuck tape Kevin Smith vs. decency by Daniel Harris Fulcrum Contributor

photo courtesy Alliance Films

Director Kevin Smith fought hard to keep his latest film as dirty as possible.

THE LATEST FILM FROM writer and director Kevin Smith, Zack and Miri Make a Porno, has been stirring up controversy south of the border. The film’s premise is all in the title; two platonic friends (Seth Rogen and Elizabeth Banks) are strapped for cash and find themselves making a pornographic film to pay the bills. This is the eighth film from Smith, who is best known for his cult classics Clerks, Mallrats, and Dogma. During a conference call, Smith talked at length about the controversy surrounding his latest film’s content, marketing campaign, and the word “porno”. The film pushed the edge of the rating system to breaking point. “Initially the Motion Picture Association of America (MPAA) gave us an NC-17,” he says. “We made the cuts to get the R but they were still kicking it back at NC-17. After doing that three times I said ‘I’m not comfortable cut-

ting into the movie anymore’.” Smith then made the decision to go for broke and appeal the rating to the MPAA’s appeals board. “The appeals process lets you have this one final bite at the apple. So we put everything we wanted in the movie into the movie and accepted the NC-17 rating.” In the U. S., an NC-17 rating means that no one under the age of 17 is admitted to the theatre. Children can attend R-rated movies in the U.S., but only with an accompanying parent or guardian. Most major movie theatre chains refuse to carry NC-17 films, so the rating means commercial failure for whatever films receive it. Despite having been through the appeals process twice before with Clerks and Jersey Girl, Smith was less confident about the outcome. “Each time the objections had been based on dialogue the characters said,” he claims. “This was the first flick we ever made where they could actually point to visual sequences and be like ‘you’ve got a dude’s face being shit on, you cannot have that in an R-rated movie’. I fought it so hard because I really wanted to keep that shit shot.” The MPAA’s initial ruling was even-

tually overturned and the film was awarded an R rating, but not before Smith had second thoughts. “I was so close to looking over and saying ‘alright, let’s cut a deal’. I’d seen so many Law and Orders and they’re always cutting deals. I was so close to saying ‘I will cut out a lot of the thrusting if you just let me keep the shit shot’.” Due to the MPAA’s control over all marketing materials, Smith’s fight over content didn’t stop with the rating. “They may have lost that little battle, but they more than made up for it in terms of kicking back our trailers and not letting us use any of the posters we submitted,” Smith contends. The poster in question showed Rogen and Banks in split-screen, staring forward with slightly goofy expressions on their faces. On Rogen’s side of the poster, Banks’s hair is visible at roughly his belly button, while on Banks’s side Rogen’s hair is visible at a similar level. It’s meant to be a broad innuendo for oral sex, but it’s tame enough that no one in Canada seemed to notice. KEVIN SMITH continued on p. 14

A dream to live in

by Nigel Smith Fulcrum Staff

NOW IN ITS third year of touring, Dash Arts’ intoxicating reimagining of William Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream makes one of the Bard’s most cherished comedies into a transcendent spectacle that defies categorization. It’s a heady mix that incorporates dance, aerial acrobatics, live music, and song, making this production a testament to the communal power of theatre. Transporting the audience to a foreign landscape of fairies, kings, and queens, A Midsummer Night’s Dream unfolds within one magical evening of mischief and sensual awakenings. Deep in the forest, two pairs of starcrossed Athenian lovers fall susceptible to the magical powers of the fairy, Puck. Under the orders of his master Oberon, king of the fairies, Puck renders each lover lovesick over the wrong partner. Meanwhile, an amateur theatre troupe, preparing a performance for the Duke and Duchess of Athens, also come in contact with

Puck’s naughty ways, transforming their star performer Bottom into a literal ass. The play is filled with romance, comedy, and magic, and ends with a triumphant performance by the acting troupe. Peter Hinton, the artistic director of the National Arts Centre (NAC), deserves praise for bringing U.K. director Tim Supple’s unique vision to Ottawa. Supple served as artistic director for the Young Vic Theatre in London in the 1990s, and formed Dash Arts back in 2005 to collaborate with artists from abroad. Supple’s innovative staging of the comedy is a conceptual marvel. Basing the production in the recesses of India, he argues a case for the universality of Shakespeare. Points are clearly made regarding the rigid and oppressive class system in India, with the theatre troupe inhabiting one of the lower social classes. Furthermore, the darker aspects of sexuality that are hinted at through the domination of the female lovers by their male counterparts are provocative for a comedy. Though these themes are touched upon, they

do not distract from the palpable joy of the production. Dressed in resplendent costumes and acting on top of real dirt, the performers exude universal warmth. Their energy and love for the material is truly infectious. The production’s incorporation of several languages adds to the magic of the play. Hindi is the official language in India, however the Indian constitution recognizes 22 different spoken languages. Along with English and Hindi, the production incorporates six of these dialects, linking India’s wide range of cultures in an ingenious manner. No subtitles are provided, but through the clever staging and distinct characterizations, the story unfolds with surprising ease. Though the tale is well known, this interpretation sheds a whole new light on the plot and lends the comedy a new sense of vitality. Shakespearean adaptations nowadays consistently strive to connect to the younger generation while keeping the older ones entertained. Supple’s take on the Bard succeeds at doing so with deceptive ease, crossing generational and cultural barriers

photo courtesy the National Arts Centre

Real dirt is just one of the innovative components of Dash Arts’ new take on a classic play. with aplomb. otic in the Western world. This new take on A Midsummer You’ll never want to wake from this Night’s Dream is a piece of theatre that dream. has the power to transform. Socially and culturally enriching, it provides A Midsummer Night’s Dream runs an exciting new context for such cel- at the NAC until Nov. 15. Tickets are ebrated material, bringing audiences $32.50–$67, or $11 through LiveRush. closer to a culture often deemed ex- Visit nac.ca for details.

Breaking down the Urban Aesthetics by Peter Henderson Fulcrum Staff OTTAWA-BASED INDIE-ROCK COLLECTIVE the Urban Aesthetics are aiming high in the wild-card round of the Live 88.5 Big Money Shot on Nov. 7. The Live 88.5 Big Money Shot is a multiround battle of the bands organized by Ottawa radio station Live 88.5. Prizes include more than $250,000 worth of recording time and equipment. The Urban Aesthetics made it past the first round, which was decided by text-message voting. They now have one last shot in the wildcard round, where they face a panel of judges for their chance to make the finals. “I think that everyone that’s in it will benefit from it,” says Greg Janssen, founder, lead singer, and principal songwriter of the band. “You get the exposure, having an audience that you wouldn’t necessarily play to, you get live experience, and if you win you get money.” The seven-piece band released their self-titled debut EP in October. It was produced by Dean Watson, who has also worked with fellow Ottawa residents Jetplanes of Abraham, and was released on Janssen’s own label, Indie Empire. The EP’s cover art was drawn by Colin White, a local artist. What started as a solo project for Janssen in January 2007 is now a full-fledged collective. “At first, I only really wanted a three-piece— bass, drums, guitar,” explains Janssen. “But we never found a bass, we just kept finding all these other pieces. When we found a bassist, by that time we’d picked everyone else up.” The band’s current lineup, finalized in May, now consists of Janssen on guitar and vocals, his girlfriend Jen Rouse on vocals, Jon Rifkin on drums, Mike Braia on guitar, Evan Runge on violin, Neil Gerster on bass, and Lawrence Pernica on trumpet. Though ostensibly a collective, the band’s sound is much more like a conventional rock band than other groups of similar size. Their music combines lyrical depth with tight, catchy melodies, weaving the differ-

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The Urban Aesthetics live up to their name as stylish city-dwellers. ent instruments and sounds into a cohesive and neat, and really different, but we’re more along well-directed whole, the very opposite of some the lines of [a traditional] band.” other, jam-band style collectives. The Urban Aesthetics’ first EP was recorded “As much as we’re a collective, we’re more before the addition of Gerster, Braia, or Pernica, song-oriented,” explains Janssen. “We do some with Janssen filling in the bass and guitar tracks jams and things like that, but we’re very much and a session musician playing the trumpet. a tight combo.” “We just hadn’t found anyone at that point,” As to the inevitable comparison to Broken says Janssen. “You can tell when you see us live Social Scene, another collective and one of Can- now. Our sound’s evolved a lot, just from having ada’s most popular bands, Janssen doesn’t see those few extra members. It’s a lot more full, a much in common. lot more dynamic, because they can play their “They’re more interested in textures,” says instruments better than I can.” Janssen. “It seems like everyone’s just throwing All the members of the band live in Ottawa, in sounds whenever they feel like it, which ends and their experience with the local music scene up coming up with something really cool, really has been ambivalent, but Janssen sees room for

Nov. 6, 2008

photo courtesy the Urban Aesthetics

growth. “It is difficult sometimes, because it’s just hard to get people out to shows,” explains Janssen. “There’s lots of great stuff in Ottawa, it’s just hidden somehow. We’ve been looking around, just from putting together shows over the past couple months, looking for bands, and you stumble upon all this great stuff that’s coming out of the city that you’ve never heard of. If people knew all the stuff that was going on, maybe it would be a different story.” The Urban Aesthetics play the Live 88.5 Big Money Shot on Nov. 7 at the Live Lounge (126.5 York St.). Admission is $8. Doors open at 8 p.m. 19+.

www.thefulcrum.ca

You’ll never eat brunch in this town again

Gaming’s golden age

Peter Henderson Arts & Culture Editor

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www.athabascau.ca/standout



The Fulcrum is looking for students to join its board of directors. If you are looking for experience in business or not-for-profit organizations, email Ross Prusakowski, the Fulcrum’s business manager. [email protected]

WE ARE CURRENTLY living in something of a golden age for video games. Sales are skyrocketing, the intense competition between personal computers and consoles has led to incredible choice for consumers, and game developers are getting the financial resources they need to make innovative and brilliant games like Portal, Fallout 3, and BioShock. This massive success means that the gaming industry is here to stay, but there are problems on the horizon. Like other creative industries, the gaming industry must straddle the line between business and art—never an easy balance. Gaming is hugely profitable now, with sales of games alone accounting for $9.5 billion in revenues last year. To put that number in perspective, the total worldwide box-office receipts in 2007 amounted to $9.66 billion. The gaming industry already has comparable revenues to the film industry, and it’s growing fast— the 2007 earnings represent a 28.4 per cent increase from 2006, and it doesn’t even include the $9.35 billion spent on gaming consoles and associated hardware. Gaming is a big business, and where there’s business there’s business people, and where there’s business people there’s not a lot of creativity. It isn’t hard to see that the ideas of profit and artistic expression often enjoy an inverse relationship. Business interests aim for the most profit from the biggest audience, while artistic considerations value experimentation and innovation

over appeasing the masses or making a quick buck. Allowing artists to have control over their art is the model the gaming industry should follow, with game designers being allowed creative freedom over their products. Currently, the gaming industry is organized in a very top-down hierarchy, with many of the game studios owned by huge conglomerates. Producing a game is a huge undertaking that requires money most game development studios don’t have, so they rely on larger companies to fund their work. This is a necessary evil, but the business concerns of the conglomerate must be balanced against the creative concerns of the developer. It’s no surprise that the best games are

Now that gaming is a big business, it’s necessary to safeguard the high-quality games we’ve come to expect from the demands of corporate types. made by developers who are free to experiment, innovate, and make the kind of game that they’d want to play. Warren Spector was given free reign at game developer Ion Storm’s division in Austin, Texas, and brought us Deus Ex, the first game to mix role-playing elements with the thrill of a first-person shooter and get it right. The second game he produced from Ion Storm Austin was beset by interference from the businesspeople at the top of the company, and it turned into the underwhelming critical flop that was Deus Ex: Invisible War. Obviously the idea of game designers running the show does have its troubles. Think about Daikatana, the game released by one of the original designers of Doom after years of development. Daikatana was to

gaming what Waterworld is to film: a massive vanity project brought down by hubris and mismanagement. A better idea would be to strike a balance wherein game designers have almost total freedom over design and programming, but business people provide the nitty-gritty management of resources. For an example of the best-run company in video games, look no further than the most successful one: Blizzard Entertainment. Although Blizzard is now a part of a giant corporation, Activision Blizzard, it is left alone to do as it pleases, and its standing policy is to release a game when it’s done. Every game Blizzard has released since 1995 has been a massive hit, including Diablo I, Diablo II, Warcraft II: Tides of Darkness, and World of Warcraft. Its games are successful because they take time to make the gameplay experience unique, engaging, and easy to learn. The business side of Activision Blizzard gives the designers free reign over content, without relinquishing control of management or marketing. They strike the balance perfectly, and as a direct result of that they are the most profitable video-game company in the world. Now that gaming is a big business, it’s necessary to safeguard the high-quality games we’ve come to expect from the demands of corporate types who care about nothing but the bottom line. Games like Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic II, S.T.A.L.K.E.R.: Shadow of Chernobyl, and Call of Cthulhu: Dark Corners of the Earth could all have been great if the business people had let the designers make a complete game instead of rushing it out the door to make a quick profit. Gamers currently have an enviable amount of choice among great games, and only the suits at the top of the chain can take that away from us. So please: let the creative types create, and let the managers manage. [email protected] 613-562-5931

f

If you’re reading this on Thursday, it may already be too late. But don’t worry, we have one every week. Come to the Fulcrum’s staff meetings, Thursdays at 1p.m. Act now, before it’s too late.

www.thefulcrum.ca

Nov. 6, 2008

ARTS

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Surf junkies The dangerous allure of the Internet

by Dave Atkinson Fulcrum Contributor SOME PEOPLE SHOOT heroin cooked on a tinfoil takeout plate into the webbing of their toes in a back alley. Some people take televisions apart in hotel rooms after a week without sleep, fuelled by methamphetamine. Then there are those who spend the hours between 2 a.m. and 4 a.m. updating their cat’s blog to fill everyone in on the life and times of Mr. Mittens, the greatest cat in the blogosphere. Internet addiction is as real as any drug and has escalated into an actual disorder. According to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders IV (DSM), an addiction to drugs or alcohol is present if the patient exhibits three or more of the following symptoms: Tolerance to the substance; consumption of large amounts over a long period; a number of unsuccessful efforts to cut down; time spent obtaining the drug replaces social, occupational or recreational activities; and continued use despite adverse consequences. A person who exhibits these symptoms in relation to Internet use has become addicted. Internet addiction disorder was first thought up as a joke by New York psychiatrist Ivan Goldberg in 1995. Goldberg made it up to show the American Psychology Association that the DSM included disorders that should be consid-

The Internet was originally created as a network between military computers owned by the United States government that allowed the rapid sharing of information over long distances. The network, called ARPANET, was designed and implemented by the Advanced Research Projects Agency in 1969. It had no hilarious pictures of cats, porn, or Facebook. ARPANET remained a purely military and academic system until the late 1980s and early 90s, when it was opened to corporate interest, and most importantly, when the European Organization for Nuclear Research launched its World Wide Web Project in 1990. The Internet was finally made public. Within a few years, the Internet became omnipresent; case in point: there are now refrigerators that can go online. An evergrowing cross-section of the population has gained access to the Internet, and whenever you get a wide enough sample of people, there will undoubtedly be some people in there that can get hooked on something as unexpected as the Internet. The intoxicating Internet In a study published in Computers in Human Behaviour in December 2007, authors Andrew Thatcher and Gisela Wretschko found that most people have what they call “problematic Internet use”, which they defined as the “use of the Internet that creates psychological, social,

South Korean gamer Lee Seung Seop died of exhaustion in 2005 after playing Starcraft for 50 consecutive hours. ered questionable. He was trying to make fun of society’s obsession with its own addictive disorders, and thought being addicted to the Internet was ridiculous. That was before people started to upload hundreds of videos of sneezing baby pandas. Though the makers of ergonomic chairs and Doritos are very happy with people sitting at their computers, Goldberg’s IAD joke is now considered a serious issue by psychiatrists and the general public alike. Internet origins

school, and/or work difficulties in a person’s life”. Some of the symptoms they included in their study were a preoccupation with online activities, needing to spend increasing amounts of time online, and unsuccessful attempts to reduce the amount of time spent online. Nicholas Carr, author of the article “Is Google Making Us Stupid?” published in the Atlantic Monthly, believes the Internet has made life a lot easier in some aspects, such as conducting research, but has also increased our reliance on technology with detrimental effects.

“My mind now expects to take in information the way the net distributes it: in a swiftly moving stream of particles,” he writes. “Once I was a scuba diver in the sea of words. Now I zip along the surface like a guy on a Jet Ski. What the net seems to be doing is chipping away my capacity for concentration and contemplation.” As the Internet becomes increasingly integrated into every facet of life, people will spend more of their free time surfing according to Thatcher and Wretschko. Some will use their time wisely while others will become addicted to the very idea of the Internet. While one person uses the Internet to do research for their economics essay, another spends all their time looking up YouTube videos. They don’t go to class, they don’t wash their rotting laundry, but they have over 1,000 friends on Facebook. It is these people that may have a problem. Jerald Block, a psychiatrist at Oregon Health and Science University in Portland, has spent a significant time researching the idea that the Internet can be addictive. His research has led him to believe that the Internet is actually more than just an addiction; it’s a distortion in the person’s mind. He spoke to the Telegraph in January about his findings on Internet addicts. “The relationship is [now] with the computer. It becomes a significant other to them,” he explained. “They exhaust emotions that they could experience in the real world on the computer through any number of mechanisms: emailing, gaming, porn.” Gaming addiction One of the most popular things to do on the Internet is play video games. Within several months of the Internet’s public release, the nerds took hold and turned it into an all-out gaming network. With the release of Playstation 2 in 2000, the Internet weaseled its way onto video game consoles. Online games like World of Warcraft and The Sims have made it possible to immerse yourself in a world that is forever at your whim, allowing you to create a second life that is like the real world, only you can be an elf or something. Most good things used in excess have detrimental effects, and video games are no exception.

In a 1990 article entitled “Addiction: definition and implications” published in the British Journal of Psychiatry, author Aviel Goodman compared the criteria lists for various addictive disorders such as alcohol dependency, pathological gambling, and compulsive overeating and came up with several characteristics of addiction. Essentially (and this is massively simplified) if you do something more than you feel like you ought to, try to cut back and fail, feel crappy when you’re not doing it and balls-out great when you are, and then feel awful when you finish doing it, you’re probably addicted to whatever “it” is. It’s strange to admit, but some people exhibit this behaviour toward video games. Alleged addiction to gaming has even been the cause of several deaths. For example, South Korean gamer Lee Seung Seop died of exhaustion in 2005 after playing Starcraft for 50 consecutive hours. In China in 2007, recently fired schoolteacher Xu Yan played online video games for 15 days straight. Though these stories are relatively rare considering the sheer number of gamers, they likely make you wonder what the difference is between liking to play video games and needing to play them. Well, for one thing, you’re at far greater risk if you’ve got a penis. According to a Stanford University School of Medicine study on video games completed in February, the part of the brain responsible for rewarding feelings is more stimulated in men than in women when a video game involving territory control is being played. With increased playing of video games comes increased skill, and higher rewards or levels are attained. Alan Reiss, senior author of the study and professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences at Stanford, was not surprised by the outcome. “I think it’s fair to say that males tend to be more intrinsically territorial,” he said in an Ottawa Citizen article in May. “It doesn’t take a genius to figure out who historically are the conquerors and tyrants of our species—they’re the males. Most of the computer games that are really popular with males are territory- and aggression-type games.” Notably, according to a May 2006 Washington Post article, treatment centres and telephone hotlines have opened in South Korea to combat gaming addiction. Also, in August 2005, the Chinese government introduced an “anti-online gaming ad-

diction system” targeti The government’s effort ing time of anyone un gamed for over five ho the screen appeared aft utes of subsequent play “You have entered unh please go offline imme you do not your health and the benefits you ca to zero.” If the gamer r their progress would b This system is still in eff

“Once I was Now I z

So ladies, the questi may be: “Is my boyfrie dict?” Well, probably n addict is dependent on point where they can’t to. Your boyfriend may but if he still finds time t go to school, he is not a

Pornography a

Ask most men and odd you they love their por was a huge hit when it quickly getting as old as just isn’t cutting it anymo ternet and youporn.com ic saviours in the world and Who’s Nailin’ Paylin porn is found either fre these days. In the Thatch study, they found that t main portal for porn du cess, affordability and an However, there are in with over-usage of Inte Psychologist Gabriel Ca a study, “Narratives of S porn Dependents” in th ual Addiction and Comp the problem of Internet He noted, “when com the Internet reaches an of hours per week, it cle user’s involvement, car to his family, and can marriage and sexual rel

ing Internet cafés. ts limited the playnder 18. If players urs, a warning on fter every 15 minying time, saying: healthy game time, ediately to rest. If h will be damaged an win will be cut refused to quit, all be forcibly erased. ffect.

According to the 1996 study Differential Diagnosis of Addictive Sexual Disorders Using the DSM-IV, pornography addiction tends to worsen. Those affected by it are continuously desensitized to common sexual stimuli, so they require hard-core material to become aroused. This is strongly related to the extreme types of porn available so readily on the Internet. Generally speaking, a porn addict isn’t turned on by a naked lady. The naked lady needs to be covered in latex, carrying a whip, flanked by a team of dwarfs and something

s a scuba diver in the sea of words. zip along the surface like a guy on a Jet Ski.”

Nicholas Carr, “Is Google Making Us Stupid?”

ion in your mind end a gaming adnot. A real gaming the activity to the stop if they want y not want to stop, to shower, eat, and addicted.

addiction

ds are they will tell rn. While Playboy first came out, it’s s Hugh Hefner and ore. Luckily the Inm emerged as herod of Jenna Jameson n?. Almost all good ee or cheap online her and Wretschko the Internet is the ue to its “ease of acnonymity.” ncreasing problems ernet pornography. avaglion published Self-Help of Cyberhe July issue of Sexpulsivity examining porn addiction. mpulsive sex use on average of dozens early decreases the re and availability be detrimental to lationships.”

or other involving poo... or something. It needs to be quite extreme. What effect does this have on a normal sex life? Well, we need to remember that porn stars are basically the professional athletes of sex, so trying to work at the same level is like trying to run as fast as that Jamaican Bolt guy who tripped and danced his way to a record-breaking 100-metre time. The World Wide Web If you’re awake at 5 a.m. in the centre of a field of empty Red Bull cans and Dorito packaging, putting in eye drops to counteract the effects of staring at a flat-panel monitor for 19 straight hours, you may have a problem. But this is far from the average person. Most of us use the Internet a lot because it is a great and powerful tool, and it makes what we want to do easier, cheaper, or more fun. While not everybody has a compulsive personality, many of us likely spend far too much time on the Internet. Our television, music, and comedy fixes all come from cyberspace along with our gaming and porn needs. Everybody has had the experience of looking up long-lost friends on Facebook instead of writing that essay due the next day. It is Carr that put it most eloquently: “Never has a communications system played so many roles in our lives—or exerted such broad influence over our thoughts—as the Internet does today.”

Three ways to curb your Internet habit 2. Shuffle your habit to another vice. You have a problem, your friends have held interventions, you own four smartphones with burned-out touchscreens, and you want to cut back or even quit the Internet. With these three easy tips, you can break your dependence on the precious network of information and fun.

Why not be addicted to sandwiches? Or kayaking? Or both? After all, if you spend your time slicing ham in a kayak to make a nice hoagie, you’ll have no time for the internet! 3. Maroon yourself on a desert island

1. Go back to dial-up This will allow you to check email and little else. It would be like an alcoholic having to suck his beer through a millimetre-wide straw six kilometres long. The inconvenience alone may allow you to kick your habit completely.

Drastic? Perhaps, but by far the most effective. Who is going to think about the Internet when you’re collecting various bugs for your next meal? And who needs World of Warcraft when you’re spear fishing with a sharpened rock tied to a branch with coconut hair rope?

photo by Alex Smyth

FALLOUT continued from p. 9 The combat in Fallout 3 is a hybrid of the turn-based strategy of the first two Fallout titles and first-person mayhem. Players use the Vault-Tec Assisted Targeting System (VATS), which pauses combat and allows the player to spend action points to target specific areas of an enemy’s body for area-specific damage, like slowing an enemy down by shooting it in the legs or aiming at a vulnerable spot. There are a limited number of action points, and after they are expended the player reverts to real-time until their action points recharge. This makes for an intense combat experience, especially once other people join your party—you must be both strategic and skilled if you are to survive. Fallout 3 is a massive post-apocalyptic tale of mutants and anarchy that is yours to shape

as you see fit. All around the Wasteland are the scope. It seems as though no small detail has remnants of a once-great civilization. When been overlooked, and every NPC you interact you first emerge from the Vault, you look with is believable. Though Fallout 3 out over a destroyed is a triumph on many town,and can see the partially destroyed levels, it falls short in some areas. There is Washington Monument in the distance. Fallout 3 is a massive post- a third-person camera available, but the There are pages of text to be read on comput- apocalyptic tale of mutants animations for your ers detailing the events way and anarchy that is yours character—the he or she walks, interthat led to the Great to shape as you see fit. War and that war’s efacts, or shoots—are so fects on the populace, bad that you’ll stay in first-person whenever as well as dozens of possible. Combat, hours of side quests though intense and that detail the different ways humans (and others) are surviving satisfying, can sometimes be chaotic, and there in the wastes. Even without the compelling isn’t enough variety in the enemies you fight main story, this game would be epic in size and considering the massive scope of other aspects

of the game. Also, the huge amount of content in the game world means that there is no way everything could be play-tested beforehand, and some bugs seem to have slipped through the cracks. Also, the game is not for the faint of heart—even the basic level of gore is pretty shocking, and this is not a game to be played by or around children. Fallout 3 may not be perfect, but it’s the closest a video game has ever come to perfection. It’s a vast, complex, incredible experience that is almost infinitely re-playable, and it only gets better the more you play it. The storyline is nothing short of epic, and proves once and for all that gaming has finally come into its own as a narrative form—no movie can hope to compete with the hours of engrossing gameplay that Fallout 3 has to offer. It is not often that a game transcends the limitations of its medium. Fallout 3 is one such rare beast.

KEVIN SMITH continued from p. 9

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14

ARTS

Nov. 6, 2008

is just a cute word. “You can’t object to the term. How the fuck [else] are we going to “In Canada, Alliance distributors describe it?” Smith adds. “It’s like a said ‘we don’t have a film board and dude walks into Blockbuster and we don’t give a shit, we’re going to sees the sign that says ‘action’ and use that image’,” Smith recalls. “[In goes ‘I object to that term’. And who the US] we were forced into a corner are these fuckers that are confused about how we could and think this is real market and sell the pornography? I don’t movie.” how people are “We didn’t go with know The inclusion of confusing what is so the word “porno” in ‘Zack and Miri Make blatantly a comedy the title didn’t help a Fuck Tape’ or some- with hardcore porthe process much. nography.” thing like that.” Many U.S. television Despite the probKevin Smith lems with the MPAA, networks have cut the word during proSmith hasn’t lost his motional spots and edge. He got the reshown trailers that sult he wanted—a simply call the film Zack and Miri. film filled with comedy, vulgarity “I knew when we titled the movie and sex—all without having to step Zack and Miri Make a Porno we in front of the camera. were going to turn off some people,” “No one needs to see me fucking; Smith says. “But I was flabbergasted I don’t need to see myself fucking. I because I thought we had used the don’t want to see that many rolls jigcutest word possible to describe that gling at one time. The closest I ever industry. I mean, we didn’t go with got was taking a picture of my dick ‘Zack and Miri Make a Fuck Tape’ or with an iPhone and I couldn’t even something like that. Or even ‘make a do that. I mean, how do you take a porn’. It’s got that ‘o’ on the end of it picture and lift the gut up at the same that makes it cuddly and cute; porno time?”

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Good

Film

Zack and Miri Make a Porno

KEVIN SMITH HAS done it yet again, creating a film that intertwines a sweet romantic comedy with so much crude sexual content that you’re still laughing when you leave the theatre. Writer and director Smith is renowned for his low-budget cult-classics like Mallrats, Dogma, and the two Clerks films. Zack and Miri Make a Porno is one of the few where he uses a cast of name actors instead of the close friends who originally performed in his films. Smith’s movies tend to revolve around the same group of characters played by a core group of actors that Smith has used from his beginnings as an independent filmmaker. Though some of these actors return for Zack and Miri, they’re playing different characters. The majority of the main players consist of Judd Apatow’s (The 40 Year Old Virgin, Knocked Up) crew, namely Seth Rogen, Craig Robinson, and Elizabeth Banks. While the film may be mistaken for an Apatow production due to the cast, Smith’s characteristic minimalist comedy shows up in the first 10 seconds of the film, when Zack (Seth Rogen) walks in on Miri (Elizabeth Banks) using the toilet. The combination of toilet humour and romantic moments is a Smith trademark. Zack and Miri Make a Porno has a simple yet wild plot. Zack and Miri are two best friends

A

living under a mountain of debt. They find themselves just before the Thanksgiving holiday with no water, no electricity, no money, and no way to avoid their looming eviction from the apartment they share. After mulling over several options to save themselves, they figure that the best and easiest way to make money is by creating an amateur porno movie with themselves as the leads. Several setbacks put production of the film behind schedule, including the hidden feelings that arise as Zack and Miri put their supposedly platonic relationship aside to film their sex scene. Smith is notorious for creating the most ingenious comedic lines imaginable, and he fills Zack and Miri with some of the dirtiest scenes ever shown in a mainstream movie. Yet the movie is still a romantic comedy at heart, and Smith doesn’t forget that, even during a scene featuring human excrement. The movie is equal parts vulgarity and affection, making it the sweet and sour candy of comedic genius. But be forewarned: Zack and Miri Make a Porno is essentially that—two people making a porno film. Be prepared for some rough, tough, and in some cases, just plain nasty sex scenes that make the movie live up to its title. —Hisham Kelati

Bad

The Haunting of Molly Hartley

Film

d

THE HAUNTING OF Molly Hartley is the High dramatizing the events of this film as if it were School Musical of horror films—it targets a teen- a bad television soap opera. This penchant for age audience and is almost critic-proof. It’s per- melodrama is best exemplified in the main subfectly tailored for its young audience and no one plot of the film; a trite, lifeless, Gossip Girl-style else, so the reviews won’t really matter to the high-school drama that seems to exist only to people who are determined to see it. satiate its target audience’s need for teen angst. For everyone else who’s brave enough to watch The scares are relegated to obvious and rethis film, they’ll probably perceive its writing, petitive jump-out-of-your-seat moments that visual style, and actrequire no skill to ing to be among the produce. Nearly evThe scares are relegated blandest things ever ery character, at one to obvious and repetitive recorded on film. The point or another, plot trudges along in jump-out-of-your-seat moments. suddenly appears eia Frankenstein’s monther behind or beside ster-like mélange of Molly, accompanied other, better horror films. A teenage girl named by an orchestral sting. All the horror in this film Molly Hartley (Haley Bennett) begins to have follows this template and winds up, ultimately, vivid flashbacks to a young age when her mother just being an emotionally vacuous exercise in tried to kill her. Molly’s mother believed that if jump-scares. her daughter reached 18, she would then become This film isn’t nearly as bad as its deplorable property of the Devil. Molly’s frequent, disturb- trailer made it out to be and will serve the needs ing visions of her mother, and strange encounters of its young, intellectually developing audience. at school and at home begin to convince her that For everyone else, the time spent watching this her mother might have been right. film and the price of admission can both go The plot of The Haunting of Molly Hartley is towards something more entertaining, like waludicrous at best, executed awkwardly by jump- terboarding or watching a family pet being auing from scene to scene with no real continu- topsied. ity. Director Mickey Liddell seems just fine with —Danyal Khoral images courtesy Alliance Films

The Joker returns New graphic novel takes on Batman’s worst enemy by Danyal Khoral Fulcrum Staff THE JOKER IS Batman’s greatest and oldest foe, first appearing in the comic Batman #1. He is a relentless psychopath whom the residents of Gotham City and Batman fear the most. Joker, a new graphic novel authored by Brian Azzarello and drawn by Lee Bermejo released on Nov. 4, allows the reader to get a close-up look at the inner workings of the Joker’s insane mind. It chronicles some of the most lurid and subversive things the Joker has ever done, and does its best to explain just why he does them. The graphic novel’s story begins moments after the Joker has been officially released from Arkham Asylum, Gotham City’s home for the criminally insane. The Joker realizes that his position in the city’s underworld has severely diminished because of his long incarceration and begins—in violent fashion—to attempt to regain the respect he once had among the criminals. The entire story is told through the eyes of a low-level thug named Jonny Frost, who becomes the Joker’s

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chauffeur and follows him through the chaos. Joker is a one-shot, which means that it doesn’t directly relate to any continuity in the canonical Batman timeline. One-shots are important for comic book readers because they allow the artist of a book to take an unexpected and sometimes experimental look at a character. In Joker, the artist and writers are not constrained by the events of the canon Batman universe and can therefore take the story in any direction they see fit. In 2006, roughly the same time the film The Dark Knight went into production, Azzarello conceived the design concept for the Joker’s look in Joker. This look happened to coincide with that of Heath Ledger’s universally acclaimed portrayal of the character in The Dark Knight. However, according to Azzarello in an interview with the online entertainment site IGN, the resemblance was just a happy accident. The coincidences don’t end there; both Jokers share a mystery and menace previously unseen, with many of the aspects that made Ledger’s Joker so compelling present in the graphic novel. In terms of the comic’s look and feel, Azzarello and Bermejo portray Gotham City and its residents in a realistic manner similar to director Christopher Nolan’s approach in Batman Begins and The Dark Knight. The artwork is simultaneously gorgeous and surreal, with more than a few pages produced in lavish, near-photo splendour. The city, the characters, and the vio-

lence are all rough and realistic, but beautiful to look at. There can be many interpretations of the Joker’s function in relation to Batman and Gotham City. Azzarello’s Joker is a violent, discordant metaphor for the abominable aspects of society. The criminal characters in this novel continually refer to the Joker as a disease; they’re more frightened of him than they are of Batman. Azzarello reinforces the idea that the Joker is more a concept of corruption and evil than a man. There are truly gruesome and brutal moments in this story that make the Joker seem like the stuff of nightmares. Overall, Joker is an oddly subtle rumination about two men who are ideological opposites but almost require each other to survive. The events in Joker could almost be a sequel to The Dark Knight or could run concurrent to it. While the film is an epic story involving many characters and situations, the graphic novel only has one focus—the Joker. The story allows the reader to have private time with him; the novel functions as almost a character study of the Joker. It explores the nature of evil and our capacity to empathize with a true psychopath. Notably, Joker has an amazingly effective and poignant ending that no fan of Batman or the Joker should go without reading. This graphic novel is an adult and intellectual take on the character and should be read by everyone who enjoyed The Dark Knight.

Nov. 6, 2008

illustration by Alex Martin

ARTS

15

David McClelland Sports Editor [email protected]

Sports

Nov. 6–Nov. 12, 2008

16

Gees can’t find gold in shootout After winning semifinal, women’s soccer team falls to Laurier in gold medal match by David McClelland and Anna Rocoski Fulcrum Staff

much as possible in Brock’s end and not give them those opportunities on goal.” Brock managed to create more chances in the second half, but the Gees hard-working defence and solid goaltending from Jess Charron held the Badgers off the scoreboard. Despite maintaining their strong play into the final against Laurier the next day, the Gee-Gees ended up falling short of the gold medal. “I think the first 45 minutes was maybe the [single] best performance I’ve ever seen us play in a playoff game. I thought our whole performance through the whole match was top class, [and] it’s a shame we didn’t carry that through in the penalties,” said Johnson shortly after the loss

Ottawa Brock

1 Carleton 3 Laurier

to the Hawks. “[Laurier] is a good squad. I thought the game was going to be a bit more difficult than it was, but their back line held firm and they were there when we tried to get through.” Despite the loss, Ottawa dominated throughout the game. During the first half, the Gee-Gees applied consistent pressure on the Hawks, but were unable to score. Ottawa’s attacks were shut down by either Laurier’s tough defence or by goalkeeper Mal Woeller. At the opposite end of the field, the Garnet and Grey effectively slammed the door on the Hawks’ attack and prevented them from taking the ball deep into the Ottawa zone. While the Gee-Gees outshot the

1 Brock 0 Carleton

Hawks 17-5, many of their strikes either sailed wide of the net or seemed to be targeted directly at Woeller. While Charron was not as busy as her counterpart, she was able to keep the Hawks at bay when needed to maintain the tie. “I think we had one of our best games of the year, and it’s unfortunate we couldn’t finish it in [regulation time],” said a disappointed Sarah Bullock, a third-year Gee-Gees striker. “I think we had a lot of great shots on net, we just had trouble finishing. Overall I’m happy with our performance ... It sucks that we lost in [penalty shots], but what are you going to do?” “We’re really happy with what we have going into nationals, it’s just

Gold Medal

1 0

photo by Alex Martin

Ottawa goalkeeper Jess Charron was perfect in 210 minutes of regular play, but was unable to hold off Laurier in a penalty shootout.

Bronze medal

Semifinal

AFTER OVER TWO hours of play, the winner of the Ontario University Athletics (OUA) women’s soccer gold medal was decided in mere seconds. With the battle between the Laurier Golden Hawks and host Ottawa GeeGees on Nov. 2 still deadlocked at 0-0 after 30 minutes of extra time, the match was decided on penalty shots. After each side scored three times, second-year Laurier defender Sadie Anderson stood under the lights at Matt Anthony Field and drove a shot into the corner of the net past GeeGees goaltender Jess Charron, winning her team the gold medal. To get there, the Gee-Gees first had to defeat the Brock Badgers in a semifinal game on Nov. 1. It was a tightly contested match, decided in the 36th minute, when GeeGees midfielder Catherine Scott took a free kick in front of the Brock net. The ball bounced around in front of the goal until it was booted out of the penalty area, but Ottawa midfielder Élise Desjardins connected with the ball to score the only goal of the game. “The little team that could, that’s what we tell ourselves,” said Desjardins following the game, referring to the Gee-Gees relatively small stature compared to other OUA teams. “I mean we’re not the biggest team but we’ve got a lot of heart.” Althought the Gees maintained possession for much of the first half, the Badgers had several close chances in the Ottawa zone that were denied by goalkeeper Jess Charron. “We knew Brock was a team that liked to play very direct, so we tried to keep the ball out of our end. It was going to be a bit of a game of territory,” explained Gee-Gees head coach Steve Johnson following the game. “We wanted to play strong in this game as

unfortunate that we lost on [penalties],” said midfielder Brittany Harrison after the game. “We made [Laurier] look pretty bad compared to what they usually look like. We got through a little bit, but they were pretty strong today so it was tough.” As OUA finalists, the Gee-Gees will now compete in the Canadian Interuniversity Sports championship hosted by Trinity Western University in Abbotsford, B.C. Nov. 6–9. In addition to the Gee-Gees and Golden Hawks, the Trinity Western Spartans, Brock Badgers, Montreal Carabins, Victoria Vikes, Dalhousie Tigers, and defending champions Cape Breton Capers will compete for the national title.

1 Laurier 0 Ottawa

Gees shock Gaels Men’s football team downs undefeated Queen’s team, moves on to Yates Cup by David McClelland Fulcrum Staff THE UNIVERSITY OF Ottawa Gee-Gees are back in business. After tumbling to a 3-4 record late in the regular season, the U of O’s men’s football team has now won three straight games, culminating in a dramatic 23-13 win over the undefeated Queen’s Golden Gaels in an Ontario University Athletics (OUA) semifinal game in Kingston on Nov. 1. The game paralleled last season’s semifinal, in which the undefeated Gee-Gees had their promising season cut short by an underdog when they lost 23-16 to the University of Western Ontario Mustangs. This year, it was the Gee-Gees turn to play the spoiler. “I’m pretty emotional right now,” said Ottawa head coach Denis Piché after the game, surrounded by celebrating Gee-Gees. “What a year this has been! These kids and the coaching staff, they beat a very good football team.” Ottawa struggled during the game’s opening moments. Through much of the first quarter, the two teams battled for field position, with neither defence giving up much ground. Finally with just over two minutes left in the opening quarter, Gaels’ quarterback Dan Brannigan tossed a 51-yard touchdown pass to receiver Devan Sheahan to open the scoring. The Gaels then forced Ottawa to give up a single point on the following kick-off to go up 8-0. The Garnet and Grey then dug in and responded in the second quarter with a pair of touchdowns from third-year running back Davie Mason, who punched through the Queen’s defence with a couple of nard-nosed rushes. Ottawa also added a field goal from kicker Matt Falvo before halftime. On the other end of the field, the Gee-Gees’ defence held strong and kept Queen’s to a single field goal in the quarter, securing a 17-11 lead going into halftime. “We worked hard all week; the coaches put to-

The Gee-Gees defence surrendered only one touchdown and a field goal to a renowned Golden Gaels offence. gether an awesome game plan. [Queen’s] didn’t come out and surprise us with really anything,” said fifth-year Gees linebacker Joe Barnes, who added that the ability of the Ottawa coaching staff to adapt to Queen’s offence on the fly was integral in the Gees’ success. Ottawa may have had the lead going into the second half, but they were missing a key element— Mason, who strained his hamstring late in the second quarter, sat out the rest of the game and Piché indictated he is unlikely to return to the Ottawa

lineup for the remainder of the playoffs. However, by that point the game was all but over. The Ottawa defence kept the Gaels offence in check in the second half, with Queen’s only tally coming from a safety off a blocked punt deep in the Gee-Gees’ zone. The Gees’ offence was able to add a pair of field goals in the fourth quarter to bury the Gaels. The win qualifies Ottawa for the Yates Cup against Western on Nov. 8. Gee-Gees quarterback Josh Sacobie felt his

Dried fruit blues

Goji berries provide a new and possibly very healthy snack by Anna Rocoski Fulcrum Staff TIRED OF CALIFORNIA raisins, cranberries and apricots? Well don’t fret, there is another dried berry on the market that is gaining prominence in North America. Also known as the wolfberry, the goji berry has a tangy and sweet taste, looks like a red raisin, and may also have health benefits. “They are delicious, kind of like raisins if you get them really fresh. They are quite sweet in taste,” said Phillip Bosloy, manager of The Wheat Berry, an organic food store located at 206 Main St. in Ottawa. “They’re rich in vitamins, minerals [and] amino acids, [and] they’re one of the best known antioxidants

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available, and they do enhance your immune system function.” Goji berries are native to China, where they have been used for about 6,000 years by herbalists in Chinese medicine. Claudine Guiet, the coordinator of the peer education and resource centre with Health Promotions at the U of O, explains that in Chinese culture, food is considered an important part of staying healthy. “In all these traditions people look at food as a way to stay healthy and prevent ailment,” she said. Guiet explained that the herbalists in China have used goji berries for many purposes, believing they can protect the liver, help eyesight, improve sexual function and fertility, strengthen the legs, boost immune function, improve circulation, and promote longevity. However, there are few

clinical studies on humans, so most of these benefits are unconfirmed. Goji berries are available in dried fruit form or juice form, but goji berry juice may not be as pure as the actual berry itself, since the extract is diluted. The berry contains seeds (which carry essential fatty acids) that are sometimes omitted during the juicing process. So check the ingredient listing of the goji berry juice before purchasing to ensure the whole berry is being used. Prices of goji berries range depending on the company distributing the berry, the quantity being purchased, and the health food store visited. Most health food stores in Canada carry the dried fruit, with prices tending to be about $10 per 100 grams. Goji juice with seeds is available at The Wheat Berry for $55 per litre (an 18-day sup-

Nov. 6, 2008

photo by Frank Appleyard

team is finally beginning to realize its potential. “I’m just so happy for this win,” he said after the game. “This is our team, what we’re supposed to be. We’re seeing it now, but it’s never too late. This is where it matters. This is the Ottawa GeeGees that I saw at the beginning of the year.” The Gee-Gees will play in the OUA Yates Cup on Nov. 8 against Western in London at TD Waterhouse Stadium. The game will be broadcast on The Score, with the kick-off at 1 p.m.

ply), while the dried fruit itself is also available in bulk form. Since the berry is relatively new to Western culture, few scientific studies have been done on it, and its potential health benefits are still unconfirmed. “In terms of the research that we have on goji berries, it has only been tested on humans in two published studies, which means nothing in the greater scheme of things,” said Guiet. Published studies have shown that cancer patients taking goji berries tended to respond better to treatment. The berries are also believed to contain antioxidants, and may reduce the growth of cancer cells, lower blood glucose, and reduce cholesterol. The goji berry is great for snacking on, mixing with other fruit or yogurt, or as a cereal topping. Though further clinical trials have yet to be done, they are still a healthy snack, and worth checking out if for no other reason than that they’re delicious and make a new and interesting snack.

SPORTS

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Why we bother to watch sports by Tony von Richter The Brunswickan

emphasised in favour of more negative coverage. Then why do we support these FREDERICTON (CUP) – I LOVE teams and athletes? If one of the preSPORTS, and always have. For as long vailing opinions about sports is that as I can remember, sports have been a it is filled with nothing but “punks big part of my life. From first watch- and thugs” as Krause’s character says, ing and playing them, to now writing then by spending time and money on about and studying them, there has sports, aren’t we just encouraging this never been a time when sports haven’t kind of behaviour? been important to me. I don’t think that we are, and Up until last week, though, I never that’s because the vast majority of stopped to think why I consider sports people who are involved with sports to be so important. On the surface, it are good people who just happen seems absurd. Rather than focusing on to have their careers play out in the things that have a direct effect on our public eye. We usually only hear lives, sports fans spend an inordinate about the misbehaving athletes beamount of time watching people put a cause they are the exception to the puck into a net or hit a ball with a stick. rule, and the nature of the media is In fact, many of us will spend hun- to report on the extraordinary, not dreds, if not thousands, of dollars for the everyday. the privilege of watching other people If it’s not purely for entertainment, exercise. and if it’s not beWhy do we do cause we look up to this? It can’t be the athletes, then solely for the enterwhy do we invest tainment value, as so much time into there are hundreds sports? of other forms of enIt’s human naAs long as there tertainment that are ture. have been people cheaper and easier That may seem to access. like an outrageous there has been Is it because we statement, but as look up to the ath- some form of sport long as there have letes and individubeen people there or athletic als involved in the has been some competition. games? Somehow, form of sport or I doubt that’s it. athletic competiMore often than tion. Whether it’s not, these days we’re in organized events confronted with or simple play bestories of athletes tween children, acting out and not behaving as public there are elements of sports such figures should. as our competetiveness and natural Sometimes when watching or read- drive for success that are ingrained, ing current sports coverage, I wonder and sports are how we exercise these if we’re really covering sports at all, elements of our personalities. and I’m reminded of a quote from Since sports have always played an Aaron Sorkin’s fictional TV show, important role in human society, it Sports Night. really bothers me when people mar“Look, I got into this ‘cause I liked ginalize sports. In the grand scheme getting people to like sports. And I’ve of things, of course sports aren’t as turned into a PR man for punks and important as things like national thugs. Any atrocity, no matter how defence and health-care issues. But ridiculous or hideous or childish, it we are far too quick to dismiss the doesn’t matter. I make it sports.” importance of sports in our society. That quote from actor Peter This attitude can sometimes be seen Krause’s character was first broadcast in sports media, and I think it comes 10 years ago last month—and if any- from a desire to be seen as not taking thing, the state of the sports world has ourselves too seriously, as we realize only worsened. there are more important issues than Instead of stories about thrilling sports in the world. However, sports come-from-behind victories and tales are a much larger part of our culture of late round draft picks overcom- than often believed. It’s time to stop ing the odds and becoming all-stars, pretending that sports don’t matter. we’re presented with stories about They do. As long as we keep them in athletes being convicted of assault or perspective, we should celebrate the other crimes. Sure there are stories good parts of sports and give them of athletes donating to charities and the proper respect and attention they similar things, but they tend to be de- deserve.

Watching football—good. Watching football, soccer, basketball, or hockey live, for free—better.

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SPORTS

Nov. 6, 2008

Gee-Gees unable to stop Martlets

photo by Alex Smyth

Despite putting the puck into McGill’s net four times, the Gee-Gees weren’t able to beat a strong Martlets team.

Women’s hockey loses 13th straight game to Martlets by Megan O’Meara Fulcrum Staff THE GEE-GEES WOMEN’S hockey team played one of their most intense games of the season against McGill on Nov. 1 at the Sports Complex arena. In a game highlighted by 10 goals scored and several lead changes, the Gee-Gees ultimately fell 6-4 to the McGill Martlets. McGill dominated the first period, scoring twice before Ottawa could respond when forward Erika Pouliot scored the Gee-Gees’ first goal of the game with a fierce shot that beat McGill goaltender Gabrielle Smith. Before the period ended, the Martlets answered back with forward Vanessa Davidson sending a slapshot past Ottawa goaltender Jessika Audet, leaving the Martlets with a two-goal lead at the end of the first period. Gee-Gees head coach Shelley Coolidge reasoned that her team’s hesitant start was a result of the Martlets’ reputation.

“We were playing against the team that won the national championship last year and we expected them to be tough,” she said after the game. “I think we came out a little bit tentative because of that and just a little too tense.” The Gee-Gees turned the game around in the second period, as Audet blocked all of McGill’s shots while Ottawa tallied two goals to tie the game at 3-3. The first goal belonged to forward Joelle Charlebois, and was followed quickly by forward Jodi Reinholcz’s game-tying goal. The beginning of the third period featured Kayla Hottot taking the lead for Ottawa, getting the puck past Smith less than three minutes into the period. With Martlets’ star goalie Charline Labonté away at a Canadian national team training camp, it seemed the Gee-Gees could finally break their 13-game losing streak against McGill, which dates back to the 2007-08 season. Hottot said after the game that they were determined to show McGill what they could do. “We wanted to prove to them that we were a lot better than we have been in the past, and that we were going to give them a run for their money this year,” she said. At the end of the third period, the Martlets fought hard to bury the GeeGees, managing to score three goals

on Audet in only 10 minutes. This flurry of goals brought the final score to 6-4 and extended the Martlets’ winning streak against Ottawa. While Coolidge agreed that McGill’s sixth goal was hard earned, she was upset that their fifth goal was allowed to stand. “Their fifth goal was on a net drive that I think should have been an offensive charge,” said Coolidge. “I wasn’t happy with the fact that a penalty wasn’t called on the play.” Pouliot felt that her team needed to come out stronger against McGill, but believed they have a real chance at defeating them in future matchups. “I think we need to play harder against them because they are ranked number one, but now we know that we can beat them because it was a close game,” she said. “That was one of the best games we played this year.” Despite the loss, Coolidge was satisfied with her team’s performance. “Jessika Audet played a real solid game for us in net,” she said. “At the end of the game I was really proud of how our team competed and how we fought back.” The Gee-Gees sit in second place in the QSSF with a 3-1-1 record. They next play on Nov. 8, when they host the Concordia Stingers at 2 p.m. at the Sports Complex arena. Tickets are $4 for students.

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Lighting the lamp

Shootout an unfortunate way to end game

David McClelland Sports Editor IMAGINE YOU’RE WRITING a final exam worth 60 per cent of your grade, but you and several of your classmates are unable to finish before the time is up. The professor then proceeds to award an A+ to the first person who can shout out the answer to a question asked aloud, while the rest of you get a failing grade. Sound arbitrary and an unfair test of your skills? Well, that’s kind of like what ending a championship

soccer game on penalty shots is like. On Nov. 2, I was a (very cold) witness to the Ontario University Athletics women’s soccer gold medal match between the Ottawa GeeGees and the Laurier Golden Hawks, hosted here at Matt Anthony Field. As you can read on pg. 16 of this issue, the Gees lost the match in a shootout. But it was a game Ottawa should have won. The Garnet and Grey outplayed the Hawks throughout the game, and it was only solid goalkeeping and defending that kept the game scoreless until the end of the extra time. And then, suddenly, jarringly, the game is in penalty shots. The ball is placed 12 yards from the net, the goalkeeper is forced to guess what the shooter is going to do and, more often than not at the university level, the ball ends up in the back of the net. Soccer isn’t the only sport to decide games on a penalty shootout, as the National Hockey League has received wide criticism for its introduction of the shootout as a tiebreaker in regular season games, but it somehow seems more

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out of place in a soccer match. While hockey tends to feature sudden changes of momentum and bursts of individual effort on a regular basis, soccer is all about building and shifting momentum as a team. Plays are pieced together intricately, working their way from one end of the field to the other, usually as a string of quick, accurate passes, that, if done right, culminate in a shot on goal. The penalty shot is the antithesis of a typical soccer play. It’s quick and immediate, and doesn’t reward teams for the skills that build a otherwise strong soccer team. Goalkeepers, especially, are hung out to dry as all they can do is guess where the shooter will try to put the ball and hope that they guessed right. The shootout is also an emotional letdown. It was obvious that the Gee-Gees were crushed by the fact that they had played an excellent game but lost due to what essentially boiled down to bad luck. And as a fan, such an ending feels anticlimactic, with none of the payoff that comes from watching a well-executed goal during a

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vintage clothing sale Sunday, November 9, 2008 10:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. Fairmont Chateau Laurier Admission $7.00 Help the Ottawa Food Bank. Bring along a non-perishable food item or make a donation at the sale.

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Around the horn Three varsity teams travel to U.S. for exhibition games

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match. Even if Ottawa had won, it would have been unfulfilling, as it simply would have meant luck was on the Gees’ side. Unfortunately, there’s no effective solution for the penalty shootout in soccer. Many matches would drag on for hours upon hours if there weren’t a strictly enforced end time, and there aren’t really any less arbitrary ways of deciding a winner. Regardless, a shootout is a poor way to end what may otherwise be a terrific match, and to lose in a shootout as the Gee-Gees did is a fate I wouldn’t wish upon any team. The bottom line is that the Gee-Gees played a fantastic game and should not beb blamed for not winning the gold medal. They’ve built an extremely strong team, and one that should be able to compete with the best Canada has to offer at nationals this weekend. The shootout was a bad way to cap off the gold medal game, but one that should not be dwelled upon.

ON OCT. 31 and Nov. 1, three Gee-Gees varsity teams—the men’s basketball, women’s basketball, and men’s hockey teams—travelled to the United States to take on several National Collegiate Athletic Association Division Two teams. On the evening of Oct. 31, the women’s basketball team posted a 55-51 win over the Cortland Red Dragons, led by a 14-point game from third-year point guard Melina Wishart. The following day, the Gee-Gees were unable to top the Le Moyne Dolphins, losing 55-36. The men’s basketball team faced off against the Providence Friars on Nov. 1. The GeeGees had trouble matching the Friars, falling by a score of 85-55. A highlight for Ottawa was rookie guard Warren Ward, who had 13 points and seven rebounds in the game. Finally, the men’s hockey team took on the Colgate Raiders, and lost 6-3. The GeeGees fell behind 3-0 in the first minuteand-a-half of the game and Colgate added a fourth goal later in the period. Scoring three goals, the team attempted a comeback in the

Nov. 6, 2008

second period but were unable to catch the Raiders. —David McClelland Women’s volleyball sweeps Lakehead THE GEE-GEES WOMEN’S volleyball team earned a pair of wins against the Lakehead Thunderwolves in Thunder Bay Nov. 1–2. Ottawa won in straight sets on Nov. 1, downing the Thunderwolves 25-21, 25-20, and 25-18. With nine kills and 18 digs, fifth-year left-side hitter Karine Gagnon was a highlight for the Gees. The Gee-Gees dominated Lakehead again the next day, winning in straight sets but by a wider margin. Third-year middle Aminata Diallo had eight kills and 11 digs leading t to Gee-Gees to scores of 25-15, 25-15, and 2523. With the wins, the Gee-Gees opened up a six-point lead in the Ontario University Athletics East division over the second-place Toronto Varsity Blues. The team plays next on Nov. 8, when they visit the McMaster Marauders. —David McClelland

SPORTS

19

Opinion

Michael Olender Executive Editor [email protected] Nov. 6–12, 2008

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“When I grow up, I want to be...” by Anna Coutts Fulcrum Contributor “WHAT DO YOU want to be when you grow up?” In kindergarten, the answer to this question seemed so simple. Firefighter, doctor, teacher: these were just some of the simple answers we had. By the time age 18 comes around, this question is the bane of students’ existence. As university application deadlines draw nearer, every student begins pondering what they really want to do with their life. Unfortunately, this dilemma doesn’t disappear with an admission offer; even in university, most students still don’t know what they want out of life. I know choosing a career isn’t easy. It took me over 20 years and several in-school program switches to finally figure out what I wanted to do with my life. However, my years of indecision and confusion have taught me several things. The most important thing I’ve learned is that in order to figure out what you want to be, you first need to find out what you can be. Even in university, most of us still think of careers with kindergarten simplicity—we all still want to be teachers, doctors, or firefighters. Whether you ask a counsellor or surf the Web, make sure you spend some time researching what is out there. There are likely thousands of jobs in the world you’ve never heard of, and one of them just might be perfect for you. The more jobs you know about, the more likely you will be able to find your dream job. I learned the hard way. I didn’t research anything; I just went with what I knew. When I applied to university, I was still thinking with kindergarten simplicity. I only knew of a few schools and a few programs. I bounced around from psychology to media to English before I ended up in my current program, educational counselling. I’d never even heard of it when I started university; if I had, I probably would have applied to it years ago. I was limited in my knowledge of my career options, and this limited me in my education. The second significant lesson I’ve learned is that you shouldn’t feel pressured to choose your career overnight. If you don’t know which career

you’re gunning for, or are in a program you don’t think is right for you, don’t forget that there’s nothing wrong with taking some time off from school to experience the world and figure out what you want to do. Don’t be afraid to switch programs or take a break from school. It could save you time, money, and unnecessary stress. In high school I excelled in and enjoyed all of my classes, so when it came time to choose a career path, I was torn. I had no idea what I wanted to do with my life, but I decided to go to university anyway. I thought it was “the thing to do” and I felt pressured to start a post-secondary education as soon as I finished high school. The end result? I switched majors three times and still graduated with an undergraduate degree I didn’t really want. I spent thousands of dollars on an education I wasn’t really interested in rather than taking some extra time to work or volunteer and figure out what I really wanted to do. Like many other people, I had it in my head that I had to finish school quickly and get a start on “real life”. The problem is that rushing into “real life” without an idea of what kind of job you want doesn’t really save you any time. While sometimes it might work out for the best, many people who rush into school or force themselves through a program end up feeling miserable and going back to school for another degree. I pushed myself through an English degree just because I felt I should finish it and didn’t want to stay in school any longer. And just like a lot of my friends, I ended up going back to school anyway. I realized that avoiding an extra year of school or trying to save a few bucks isn’t worth it if it means spending your life doing something you hate. Another important thing I learned on my journey of self-discovery was the importance of gaining real-life work experience. If you aren’t sure what you want to do, try working in the field you’re considering a career in. Even if you can’t get a job, it’s worthwhile to job shadow, take on an internship, or volunteer to get a taste for your potential career. I also learned this lesson the hard way. While I loved all the media courses I took during my undergraduate degree, it wasn’t until I actually worked in media that I realized it

HECKLES:

Bursting the campus technology bubble by Anna Rocoski Fulcrum Staff LEAVING THE COZY confinements of home, the typical University of Ottawa student wedges ear buds in his or her ear canals and a cell phone in in their back pocket, effectively sealing the technology bubble shut. A technology bubble can be defined as the world in which all that matters to a person is their electronic devices. Cut off from reality (and other bubbles), the person’s life is dictated by technology to a fault; in the context

of campus, that fault is disrupting the educational environment and alienating other students. In any class, it isn’t difficult to witness someone stuck in a tech bubble. There is the ‘sloucher’ (someone slouched in perfect texting position, texting productively for the duration of class), the ‘ringer’ (a cell phone blares the latest Britney Spears song in the midst of a class—never gets old), and the ‘notmuch-of-a-sneak’ (someone trying to hide their ear-bud wires under a bulky sweater). Outside of class,

illustration by Amlake T-Digaf

wasn’t the field for me. Even if you’re pretty sure you know what kind of career you want, make the effort to get some work to make sure it’s really the job for you. If you just base your decisions on school, you might discover that while you loved the classes, you hate the reality. The last tidbit of advice I can offer is this: make a list of your values and goals. It may sound silly, but a little list can go a long way. It’s a great way to organize your thoughts. Start by listing and ranking your goals in life. Then, list all of your interests and cross-reference them with your goals. Once you put it all on paper,

there is the ‘Hollywood’ (someone who must have millions of friends because their cell phone is glued to their ear constantly) and the ‘ghetto blaster’ (someone whose iPod is so loud that everyone around them starts to sing). I know it’s going to be hard, but U of O students have got to burst the bubble. When on campus, students are in a learning environment. Maybe some are good at multi-tasking between taking good notes, texting, and listening to music. But for most, constantly switching between ear buds, cell phone, and ballpoint pen threatens a sound education; not just for themselves but also the students around them. Many professors do not use PowerPoint and expect students to devote their full attention to lectures and take comprehensive notes. The typical student brings their bubble to class and distracts others who come to learn. You aren’t

it’s easier to sort out what you want to do with your education. While it may sound ridiculous, I swear by this trick. After I graduated with a degree I wasn’t interested in, I wrote up a list like this to help me figure out my future. Sorting my thoughts on paper forced me to really look at what I wanted out of life. It offered me clarity I’d never been able to find before. So if you’re having trouble choosing a career, hopefully you can learn from my mistakes and save yourself some of the stress, time, and money I lost while struggling to figure out what I wanted to be when I grew up.

going to earn high marks if you are always distracted and really, if you need to bring a distraction to class, you probably shouldn’t be registered in the first place. Before I step down from my soapbox, I want to explain that I used to be a victim of the bubble. Mine popped when I lost my cell phone and forgot to charge my iPod. I was no longer permanently connected to my friends and family and I waited for my bus uncomfortably staring at the ground with no music and no one to call or text. I had no idea what to do—I felt completely exposed. Lots of other students on campus were bopping around in their tech bubbles; why did mine have to pop? It only took a few days to get accustomed to life outside of the bubble. It really isn’t that bad to wait around or walk around campus without something assaulting your ears constantly. I began to appreci-

ate the small things around me like the environment changing as the seasons shift. Actually speaking face to face with friends was quite interesting. I appreciated taking time to myself without being caught up in someone else’s drama. Without a cell phone, I had to make more concrete plans with people since they had no way of contacting me once I left the house. Work and volunteering would contact me via email or by home phone. I would deal with things when I wanted to and I still meet my deadlines. I began to feel more and more as if technology was no longer dictating my life. So try it. Ditch the cell phone and leave the iPod at home. Slow down and take things as they come. School brings enough stress, so don’t bother bringing additional baggage that will just add to it. As a student, education should come first—the world can wait.

Finding what drives you ercise as per the professor’s instructions, with the intention of pleasing him and entertaining my classmates. Dear first-years: But when it came time to discuss postponing university what I had done, I had nothing to say, and was unable to fully wrap could enrich your my head around the purpose of the exercise. By working so hard to sateducational isfy the professor without asking the experience right questions, I wasn’t being true to myself; a disservice to the reasoning behind the exercise and my educaby Nigel Smith tion in general. Fulcrum Staff Presumably I grew throughout the I WAS 17 when I first began work- four years, gaining a clearer and surer ing towards my bachelor of fine arts sense of self by my final year of studin 2001. Back then I was the puppy in ies. My professors took note of the class, but nowadays that tender age is change, expressing surprise at my adcommon amongst first-year students. vancement in regards to confidence The age of enrollment decreased in on stage. I had grown to understand 2002 when Ontario abolished grade the techniques developed throughout 13—a grade I never completed. Hav- the four years, realizing what worked ing earned my high school diploma in best for me and what didn’t. However, Switzerland, I got a head start on my though my final year came as a revelaformal education. You could say I was tion of sorts, the first few years of the journey were tough ones; years that lucky, but I would beg to differ. At a university in British Colum- could have been easier, richer, and bia, my year was composed mostly of fuller had I immersed myself more students aged 19–25. I was majoring in my program along the way. The in acting. The majority of my classes elder students in my class, who had took place in the Theatre School, come into the program with a greater a building separate from the main sense of self, left the program further enriched. I, on the campus. It was hardThe time after other hand, began ly your regular university atmosphere. graduating from high my studies in a state elation, which Being a conservatory school should be used of soon withered when program, our class to feel out every I came to terms with was limited to 30 students. Although available option and the fact that I felt lost amongst such I was young, I felt a toy with all the strong individuals. sense of entitlement, having been hand- bustling ideas in your Being too young and not ready to picked along with head. fully appreciate the my fellow classmates following a lengthy audition process. fact that I was getting a high level of We considered ourselves to be the education, I unconsciously squanacting elite of the nation, the first- dered the semesters, only realizing year Julliard class of Canada. And this my potential late in the game. Sure, was before class had even officially my last year was a high, but in hindstarted. The school’s process during sight, I now feel troubled knowing the first semester was to break us that I couldn’t express myself fully down, rid us of any preconceptions until late in my education. I can only we had regarding the craft, and re- imagine how gratifying the entire exbuild us from scratch. My classmates perience would have been had I taken had a wide variety of experience. the time to learn more about myself Two had backpacked through Asia, before applying. There is no doubt that my experia few had performed overseas, and many had worked professionally be- ence mirrors that of a large number fore embarking on their education. I of students. With the majority of on the other hand had an assortment first-year students beginning their of high school and independent pro- studies at 17, how can they be exductions under my belt, but no clear pected to have a firm grasp on what picture of what the acting profession they want to pursue, and what truly drives them to learn? Many individtruly entailed. The format for our introductory uals are fortunate enough to know technique class was a solo exercise what they seek out of a university performed in front of the entire education and work towards obtainclass, followed by a feedback session ing a degree with a goal in sight. But between the student on stage and the there are many who enter into a derest of the class. While the majority gree blindly. Feeling pressured by were adept to the discussion forum either familial demand or society’s process, I felt hindered by my lack rush to get ahead, many embark on of insight. Literally, I couldn’t grap- an education in order to please those ple with what was being discussed. powers that be. How many times When called up, I performed the ex- have you been told that if you wait

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illustration by Amlake T-Digaf

too long you’ll end up never applying? In our bustling society, there’s an innate fear of taking the time needed to reflect. Think back to your time in high school. In the confined nature of most high schools, many students don’t graduate with a true sense of identity. Without truly knowing one’s self and one’s passions, why would someone begin forging the path towards a career they aren’t even sure they like? Now in the midst of your studies, ask yourself: do you feel like you’re reaching your full potential? Do you speak up in class? For that matter, do you feel you have anything of value to bring to the table? Or do you simply not feel the need to, because deep down your studies don’t spike any interest within you? Would taking some time off to discover where your true passion lies really be such a bad thing? The time after graduating from high school should be used to feel out every available option and toy with all the bustling ideas in your head. If there is any doubt that your studies aren’t benefitting you, look within. Travel to inspiring locales, read stimulating books, keep a journal. Focus on what you want out of life and what course of study would benefit you intellectually. From then on, you’ll be forging your future with passion. It’s your life to live, so think every option through because it is easy to let the right one slip by.

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Nov. 6, 2008

OPINION

21

Distractions Dear Di

Sarah Leavitt Features Editor [email protected] Nov. 6–12, 2008

Thryllabus

If you have a question for Di, e-mail [email protected].

Dear Di, I was inspired by last week’s random-sex in the library question. Tell me, how can I increase my chances of random sex with my boyfriend? We’ve been dating for almost three years, and everything about our relationship is great, except for the sex. Every week we do it on the same day, at the same time, and in the same positions. It’s getting harder and harder to find the energy for it. What should we do? —A Clockwork Girlfriend Dear ACG, Sex is as mental as it is physical. It’s all about state of mind, and it sounds like both yours and your man’s need to change. Remember that while sex is an integral part of your relationship, it should never be as dreaded (or as pre-planned) as your weekly chores. Unlike housekeeping, boyfriends don’t have to be done according to a schedule, so don’t have sex for the sake of having sex. A change in attitude can really kickstart the coitus, and it might as well start with you, ACG. It sounds like there is a disconnection between you and your man; it seems that you two are caught up with other things, bored with sex, or just plain tired of each other. So I want you to talk about fantasies and desires and facilitate unspoken communication like eye contact and certain ways of touching, which will increase the energy between the two of you. The better you both get at being present in that moment—enjoying the sense of intimacy, paying attention to authentic reactions, playing off each other’s signals like breathing and shivers, and really exciting each other—the better your chances of fucking like bunnies. After you two have worked on your attitudes, tell him to take time off work and have lunch-break sex on the balcony. Halloween costumes are officially on sale, so buy a sexy cop outfit complete with handcuffs. Have sex when your boyfriend is least expecting it, like in changerooms. Watch TV in your lingerie. Build up anticipation with notes around the house mentioning how much you want to suck his cock. Talk to him about sex and during sex in new ways. All of this should encourage him to think about the relationship and how he acts. I also want you to consider this: does it always have to end in sex? Love, Di

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Thursday, Nov. 6 Mexican cinema: Frida, naturaleza viva. 7 p.m. Arts Hall. Room 257. Free. Speaker: Jennie E. Burnet. “Sorting and Suffering: Gender, Ethnicity, and Social Classification in Post-Genocide Rwanda.” 1 p.m. Desmarais Hall. Room 3120. Free.

Last week, I was stumped by a question on random hookups and didn’t want to give a half-assed reply. I decided to appeal to my readers for a little bit of help. This was the question:

Friday, Nov. 7

Dear Di, My friend told me he got a blow job behind one of the stacks in the Morriset Library by a girl that seduced him while he was studying. I’m so jealous! Is there any way that I can improve my chances of having random sex with strangers? Or do you just have to be really fucking hot? —Wanting Fifth-Floor Fun For shame, dear readers. Like any functioning relationship, there needs to be some give and take for the relationship to flourish. Unfortunately, after presenting this question to readers last week, I only received a single reply: Yo first of all, let me say that it is pretty much impossible to swing that kind of ‘exchange’ without having a hot body (any ab flab and you can forget it!), however that’s not the only ingredient. Let me put it succinctly, you’ve got to ‘work it’. Confident poise and eye contact are among the leading causes of women to make bad decisions! I’d say try to fish out someone who looks bored and take an avid interest, then ask for help with something and lead them into a dark corner. Best case scenario? Oral. Worst case? Sore cheek. So, WFFF, I’ll explain to you what I’ve been ruminating about all week: Confidence, eye contact, and even the results of sheer boredom could affect your chances of randomly hooking up with strangers, but all that is as futile as betting on the Ottawa Senators— there is no way to predict what’s going to happen. People feel and act differently in various situations, so changing yourself to increase your chances of random sexual encounters is impossible. All you can do is groom yourself, smell great, be yourself, and hope for unrestrained horniness. Or you could keep the library hook-up a fantasy and avoid the risk of contracting STIs. Happy studying! Love, Di

The Sexuality Team presents the film: Three Hearts: A Postmodern story. 6 p.m. Unicentre. Alumni Auditorium. Free.

sudoku answers on p. 19

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by Virginia Raynec (CUP)

The Thryllabus needs lots of events to remain so thrilling. Email [email protected] with suggestions.

Hock and Rock: Men’s hockey game followed by a Grace Over Diamonds concert. 7 p.m. Sports Complex. $5 ticket pickup at Morisset 006.

Saturday, Nov. 8 Women’s hockey: Ottawa vs. Concordia. 2 p.m. Sports Complex. Students $4. New Ottawa Repertory Theatre presents: Fires in the Mirror. 7 p.m. Ottawa School of Speech and Drama. 294 Picton Ave. Students $15.

Sunday, Nov. 9 Learn-to-meditate workshop. 2 p.m. Arts Hall. Room 257. Call 613-791-5793 to reserve a seat. Free. Concert: Trio Hochelaga. 3 p.m. Tabaret Hall. Room 112. Students $5.

Monday, Nov. 10 Concert: Generation 2008. 8 p.m. Dominion-Chalmers United Church. 355 Cooper St. Voluntary contribution.

Tuesday, Nov. 11 CDN4700: Les francophonies canadiennes presents the film: Deux voix en un echo. 5:30 p.m. Lamoureux Hall. Room 271. Free.

Wednesday, Nov. 12 Anonymous rapid HIV testing. 9:30 a.m.–2 p.m. Unicentre. Room 203. Free. Chinese cinema: Introduction of Chinese Opera. 7 p.m. Fauteux Hall. Room 147A. Free.

Editorial

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Checking CNN every 30 seconds since 1942. Volume 69 - Issue 12 Nov. 6–12, 2008 phone: (613) 562-5261 fax: (613) 562-5259 631 King Edward Ave., Ottawa, ON K1N6N5 [email protected] www.thefulcrum.ca Recycle this paper or Ohio goes red.

Staff Frank ‘maverick’ Appleyard Editor-in-Chief [email protected] Ben ‘secret muslim’ Myers Production Manager [email protected] Michael ‘tax credit’ Olender Executive Editor [email protected] Martha ‘pit bull’ Pearce Art Director [email protected] Emma ‘hussein’ Godmere News Editor [email protected] Peter ‘the plumber’ Henderson Arts & Culture Editor [email protected] David ‘wriststrong’ McClelland Sports Editor [email protected]

Sarah ‘troop surge’ Leavitt Features Editor [email protected] Danielle ‘exit strategy’ Blab Laurel ‘fist pound’ Hogan Copy Editors Amanda ‘swing state’ Shendruk Associate News Editor [email protected] James ‘W.’ Edwards Webmaster [email protected] Jessica ‘the ticket’ Sukstorf Volunteer & Visibility Coordinator [email protected] Megan ‘i see russia’ O’Meara Staff Writer Alex ‘tina fey’ Martin Staff Illustrator Inari ‘joe six-pack’ Vaissi Nagy Jiselle ‘miss wasillia’ Bakker Ombudsgirls [email protected] Travis ‘yes we can’ Boisvenue Ombudsboy [email protected]

WHETHER YOU LOVE or hate the goals of the recently launched Smoke Free Campus campaign, you have to give organizers Ryan Kennery, Sarah Burke, and company respect. The independently run campaign to limit the use and sale of tobacco on campus is proof that legitimate campaigns don’t necessarily need the backing of an influential student association to gain traction among students and affect change on campus. Campaigns at the University of Ottawa are typically the domain of the Student Federation of the University of Ottawa (SFUO), as campaign ideas are floated by the SFUO Campaigns Committee, and are carried out by the committee, SFUO campaign staff, and volunteers. According the SFUO’s website, the only current SFUO campaign is the Drop Fees campaign, while recent initiatives have urged students to Stop the Security and Prosperity Partnership, Vote Mixed-Member Proportional, and speak out to improve the conditions in First Nations communities. Such campaigns are undeniably expensive—over $30,000 has been committed to Drop Fees— and extremely labour-intensive to run effectively. While it’s understandable that given these costs only a handful of student-funded campaigns can reasonably occur in a given year, there are nevertheless many student views and convictions that do not receive SFUO endorsement. Enter the non-SFUO campaign. The value of independent campaigns cannot be understated. While any undergraduate student has the opportunity to attend SFUO Campaigns Committee meetings and pitch their ideas, there is no guarantee that the committee will approve the concepts, thus relegating the proposed campaigns to the dustbin of history. This process—which is a much-improved system implemented this year—can still leave determined students feeling marginalized where their ideals and convictions are concerned. Every year, students opine that for various reasons the SFUO doesn’t properly represent them, or that the on-campus democratic system bars input from all but the student leaders themselves. The

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illustration by Devin A. Beauregard

Smoke-Free Campus campaign is proof that beyond the complaints and democratic inadequacies, action is possible. The voiceless can be heard in a meaningful way. The Smoke Free Campus campaign has the potential for significant ramifications for the U of O community. If the organizers can get 1,500 signatures on a petition, undergraduate students will have the opportunity to decide during a February referendum whether or not the SFUO should adopt the ideals of the campaign: to restrict smoking on campus to designated areas, and to ban tobacco sales from SFUO businesses. Last year’s SFUO election ballot included two referendum questions and a plebiscite, all directly resulting from SFUO work throughout the year. In recent memory, no independent campaign has led to a

referendum question being posed to undergraduate U of O students. Given this historic context, the Smoke Free Campus campaign’s goal is even more ambitious. Despite their prolonged absence, nonSFUO campaigns meet a vital need in on-campus democracy, as they give students on the periphery of student government an opportunity to legitimately affect change free from the constraints of bureaucracy or the brick wall of student leaders representing opposite views. While running a campaign with the budget of Drop Fees campaign is obviously unrealistic, the Smoke Free Campus campaign has proven that it is possible to reach students without a dependency on deep pockets. Instead, the organizers have reached U of O students through well-planned postering, Facebook, and simple determination.

Perhaps you don’t agree with the Smoke Free Campus campaign. Perhaps you just don’t think its goal is realistic. Regardless, the fact remains that organizers have admirably taken it upon themselves to advocate for change without seeking the SFUO’s stamp, and the addition of their voices to the oft-tiring din of top-down student politics on campus is refreshing. If the Smoke Free Campus campaign achieves nothing else, let it be to prove that any student with any idea is capable of making waves on campus. For those who frequently complain about this campus’ student leaders and their work, consider following this campaign’s lead, and putting the energy spent bemoaning the system into changing it. [email protected]

Contributors

Robert ‘you betcha’ Olender On-campus Distributor

Ross ‘this one’ Prusakowski Business Manager [email protected]

Nov. 6–12, 2008

The necessity of independent voices

Nicole ‘straight-talk express’ Gall Staff Proofreader

Deidre ‘lipstick’ Butters Advertising Representative [email protected]

Frank Appleyard Editor-in-Chief [email protected]

Dave ‘hope’ Atkinson Devin A. ‘vietnam’ Beauregard Hilary ‘p.o.w.’ Caton Anne ‘tax credit’ Charls Anna ‘colin powell’ Coutts Jessica ‘electoral college’ DeJonge

Kenny ‘voting machines’ Dodd Jolene ‘battleground’ Hansell Daniel ‘designer glasses’ Harris Danyal ‘hustler’ Khoral Hisham ‘prank call’ Kelati Jocelyn ‘troopergate’ Robitaille

Anna ‘bristol’ Rocoski Len ‘ron paul factor’ Smirnov Nigel ‘nader factor’ Smith Alex ‘believe’ Smyth Amlake ‘infomercial’ T-Digaf Jack ‘change’ Wang

cover photo by Frank Appleyard

dESIGN: PINO D’ANGELO

For ticket information please