The Eyeopener - December 2, 2009

TOP 10 ATHLETESpages 10-11

pages 9-20

Volume 43, Issue 13 • theeyeopener.com — Ryerson’s Independent Student Newspaper since 1967 • Wednesday, December 2, 2009

photo: jordan roberts

WELCOME HOME

Ryerson scores historic Maple Leaf Gardens for new athletics centre

2 • The Eyeopener

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Wednesday, December 2, 2009

MAPLE LEAF GARDENS

Wednesday, December 2, 2009

The Eyeopener • 3

Federal boost seals Maple Leaf Gardens deal

The potential project is estimated to cost Ryerson $60 million. Loblaw will help fundraise $20 million, $20 million will come from student fees and the university asks the feds for the rest.

Ryerson students pass an athletic referendum to raise fees in support of a new athletic facility. 74 per cent of the voters said “yes” to a $126 fee hike once the centre is built.

Toronto is declared host of the Pan American Games.

Dec. 1, 2009

The Eyeopener releases its MLG special edition, investigating a possible partnership with Loblaw for shared use of the Gardens. Later that day, Ryerson and Loblaw announce they’re in talks.

Sheldon Levy becomes Ryerson’s president and shows an interest in the Gardens.

Mar. 19, 2009

Loblaw Companies Limited moves to buy the Gardens for a rumored $16 million. Months later, the property is for sale again because development seems too expensive. Ryerson is interested, but backs out due to cost. Loblaw later purchases the property.

2005

Maple Leaf Gardens (MLG) is built.

(From left) Galen Weston, Jim Flaherty, John Baird and Sheldon Levy at MLG. photo: jordan roberts

Nov. 6, 2009

Sept. 16, 2009

1931

Hockey fans will once again walk through the turnstiles and fill the seats of Maple Leaf Gardens. But instead of Leafs, they’ll root for the Rams. On. Dec. 1, the federal government announced they’d chip in the final $20 million needed to start construction on Ryerson’s new athletic centre in the historic arena. “A year ago we had a dream... now we have a dream come true,” said President Sheldon Levy at the press conference. The athletic centre, to be designed by Turner Fleischer Architects Inc., must be completed by March 2011. Ryerson’s athletic centre will be on the second and third floors of Maple Leaf Gardens with a Loblaw’s store on ground level. The rest of the $60-million project will be covered by $20 million from the athletic referendum, a $5 million contribution from Loblaw Companies Limited and $15 million from a joint fundraising campaign between Ryerson and

Loblaw. According to Levy, Loblaw approached the university after the referendum passed. Last week, as Levy walked in the rain on his way from Queen’s Park, he received the call he’d been waiting for. “I remember almost like walking above the rain,” said Levy. “You have the whole of Toronto watching over your shoulders so you were either going to be a public failure or a public success,” said Levy, after months of government silence. An emergency Board of Governors meeting held via teleconference on Nov. 26 approved Gardens plans. “They’ve demonstrated before that they can get things done,” said Jim Flaherty, Minister of Finance, about Levy and Galen Weston, Loblaw executive chairman. According to Galen Weston, there will be a memorabilia shop in the Gardens. The athletic building will include an NHL-sized rink, a 200-metre track and other fitness facilities.

Oct. 6, 2009

news editor

2003 /2004

by carys mills

The federal government announces its support for the project.

Ryerson races to beat the buzzer on Gardens renovation by vanessa greco news editor

President Levy (right) must renovate the Gardens by 2011.

Photo: Jordan Roberts

Ryerson doesn’t have much time to celebrate their joint ownership of the historic Maple Leaf Gardens. The school has just over a year to convert one of Toronto’s most iconic buildings into a multi-functional athletic and recreation facility. The Gardens renovation is part of Canada’s Infrastructure Stimulus Fund, which means the project’s deadline is March 31, 2011. “They assured me that they can get it done in that period of time and they’ve showed me the plan,” said Finance Minister Jim Flaherty. Now that the government has chipped in the final third of funding, it’s Ryerson’s responsibility to breathe new life into the Gardens. Part of the school’s vision involves a passageway leading to the site. The building itself might house a student coffee shop and academic programs alongside the planned athletics facilities. Galen Weston, executive chairman of Loblaw Companies Ltd., said the new Gardens will be a place where students can “lift a few weights” and “do a little shopping at a Loblaws store.” In the next few weeks Ryerson executives will start thinking of which academic programs could

fit in the Gardens, said Alan Shepard, provost and vice-president academic. The decision to mix academics with athletics is an attempt to draw more foot traffic to the Gardens, said President Sheldon Levy, adding that the building is for the entire Ryerson community, not just varsity athletes. One of the ways Levy would like to incorporate the landmark building with the rest of campus is paving a passageway from Ryerson to the Gardens. The path could wind around the theatre building and cut through McGill and Granby streets. To make the school’s brand more noticeable en route to the Gardens, the school has considered more signage and distinctive landscaping. “I could see us doing a type of landscaping that is a signature Ryerson landscaping that gets to the building easily,” said Levy. “As important as what goes in there is how to draw people to the place.” Around exam time, Ryerson students could find themselves sitting under the Gardens’ historic rafters instead of the Metro Toronto Convention Centre’s florescent lighting. Despite Ryerson’s push to make the Gardens home, the school intends to preserve the building’s signage. “The building is Maple Leaf Gardens and Maple Leaf Gardens will stay,” said Levy.

EDITORIAL

4 • The Eyeopener

• Masthead

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Amit “BURRITO CHAMP” Shilton NEWS Vanessa “WE’LL MISS YA” Greco Carys “VALIANT EFFORT” Mills ASSOCIATE NEWS Shirley “FLOOR-CROSSER” Lin FEATURES Rodney “4 A.M. VISIT” Barnes BIZ & TECH Lauren “CANDLES” Strapagiel ARTS & LIFE Aleysha “CLIPPINGS” Haniff Amanda “ALUMNI ANNOUNCER” Cupido SPORTS Anthony “FAREWELL” Lopopolo PHOTO Matt “WHIP OUT YOUR DICK” Llewellyn Chris “NO WORRIES” Dale FUN Leif “THE 30 YEAR-OLD” Parker ONLINE GURUS Kerry “ONLINE” Wall John “EXCLUSIVE” Shmuel GENERAL MANAGER Liane “SAVIOUR” McLarty ADVERTISING MANAGER Chris “CRACK THE WHIP” Roberts DESIGN DIRECTOR Ryan “SUCK IT” Price

Wednesday, December 2, 2009

Photo of the week

We told you so amit shilton editor-in-chief

Three months ago, while students were still settling into their classes, our newspaper took a risk. In our first issue we splashed a pretty painting of Maple Leaf Gardens on our cover and crafted a four-page special section on what we thought was a nearly-done deal for the Gardens. We were the first. The same day both the school and Loblaw released statements acknowledging the two sides were in talks. Since then, we’ve been biting our nails along with the rest of the Ryerson community, waiting for the word from the federal government. An important chunk of the Eyeopener’s constitution states that anything published in our newspaper needs some sort of Ryerson connection. It’s why we don’t cover important international news, city hall politics or what the Leafs did last night. It’s also what makes the Eyeopener a whole lot better. If there’s one thing we do better than anybody else, it’s covering the news that happens on our lovely downtown campus. It’s something we’re extremely proud of. So when we applaud Sheldon Levy and the Ryerson team for this historic purchase and cheer our Top Ten athletes (pages 9-20) for their incredible achievements, excuse us while we take a second to pat ourselves on the back. I think we deserve it.

Ryerson President Sheldon Levy announces Rye’s big score inside the Gardens. photo: chris dale

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Wednesday, December 2, 2009

MAPLE LEAF GARDENS

The Eyeopener • 5

Loblaw relationship with Ryerson has history by aleysha haniff arts and life editor

Even before Loblaw Companies Ltd. brought the Gardens to Ryerson, they helped the retail management program start up. Ryerson has a successful history working with Loblaw, said retail management professor Donna Smith. She helped bring Loblaw on board almost a decade ago, in a deal to give a $1 million endowment to the school’s new program. “No one thought of [retail] as a full-time career,” said Smith. At the time, the unique program seemed a little strange to others. When Loblaw got on board, along with other major

retailers, they inspired other companies to consider the new school as a contender, said Smith. She said money from the original endowment funds scholarships and curriculum material such as case studies. Since then, Loblaw has contributed to the school by providing guest speakers, attending award nights and hiring Ryerson grads, said Sean Sedlezsky, program design manager for retail management. “Really, the whole school started because of relationships like this,” he said. Sedlezsky said that hypothetically, the Loblaw Supermarket in the Gardens could help students research purchasing habits or staff scheduling. At the very least, students could seek a part-time job.

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The floor plan illustrates an idea of what the inside of the Maple Leaf Gardens might look like. This design includes spaces designated for a basketball court, volletball court, ice rink and studio space. After a referendum promise of having a new athletic facility by 2011, construction on the building will begin immediately.

6 • The Eyeopener

MAPLE LEAF GARDENS

Wednesday, December 2, 2009

Gardens magic not just for big names by vanessa greco news editor

Sheila Wray Gregoire spent her teenage years behind a counter at Maple Leaf Gardens. Gregoire, now a 39-year-old author, ran one of the concession stands on the arena’s green level in the late 80s. While mention of the Gardens tends to conjure up images of high-profile hockey stars, Ryerson’s move into the building triggers memories for employees and audience members alike. From the spot where she sold hotdogs and popcorn to hungry spectators, Gregoire witnessed everything from fist-fights to topless women doting over Ted Danson. During a Depeche Mode concert, when a crowd of teenagers refused to stop rolling joints on her counter, a 16year-old Gregoire was forced to jump over her booth to call security. “That kind of thing never happened during hockey games,” she said.

“But whenever Detroit played, there’d be a fight,” said Gregoire. “We always had more cops on for Detroit games.” As a child, John Sewell sat six rows behind the visitor’s bench at Maple Leaf Gardens to watch the Detroit Red Wings face off against the Leafs. Sewell, a former Toronto mayor, said seeing a game at the Gardens was an annual tradition for him and his father. “Even back in the 50s, hockey was a big thing,” he said. “You had to dress up, you had to wear a suit and a tie.” Brent Small wore a Pickering Panthers jersey the first time he skated at Maple Leaf Gardens. Small, a forward on the Ryerson mens hockey team, was eight years old and participating in a Timmy Tyke tournament at the time. The final game was held in the Gardens. “As a die-hard Leafs fan, it was one of the biggest moments of my life,” he said, adding that the prospect of returning excites him. “As a hockey player it gives me that awful hope and ambition.”

Gardens rebirth stirs glimmer of golden days

A rendering of the plans for Ryerson’s new athletic facility at Maple Leaf Gardens.

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Trottier bought a Gardens’ seats for his store. photo: chris dale by amanda cupido arts and life editor

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Rick Vaive snapped his wrist and shot the puck. Goal. He looked up at the audience in the Maple Leaf Gardens only to see a standing ovation. The cheers from the Toronto Maple Leaf fans echoed throughout the building and defined the greatest moment of Vaive’s career. “I’ve never experienced anything like that,” said Vaive as he described the moment he became the first Leaf to score 50 goals in one season. Going into the game needing one goal to set the record, he was focused. “It wasn’t a matter of ‘am I going to score?’ it was ‘how many?’” Now, 28 years later, he still feels honoured to have played at the Gardens. “There’s a mystique about that building,” said the former captain. “And the mystique of Maple Leaf Gardens will never change.” Vaive grew up watching the Leafs and hoped to make it to the NHL. When he was selected to play with the Leafs he was thrilled but nervous. Before every game he made sure he had the right mindset. “As soon as I left my house I

was in game mode.” Making his way to Maple Leaf Gardens pumped up Vaive. He said he felt something special about the building. “Everybody did — if they didn’t there was probably something wrong with them.” Michel Trottier felt a special connection too. The Haileybury resident purchased one of the seats that was once in the Maple Leaf Gardens for $450. As a Leafs fan, he was excited to receive the seat in its original condition. “The chair had never been touched,” he said. “There was still some gum underneath.” Trottier owned a local grocery store and set up the chair in his store. “We made a big display,” he said. “We wanted to make things exciting.” For a loonie, customers could sit in the chair. All the proceeds went to charity. “It brings good memories to people,” said Trottier. “There’s a lot of historical significance.” Now Ryerson will be part of the Maple Leaf Gardens’ history. Vaive thinks it will help the hockey program. “It will be a great venue,” he said. “It might be what Ryerson needs to put a hockey program on the map.”

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Wednesday, December 2, 2009

NEWS

The Eyeopener • 7

Levy: Rye deserves audit explanation by shirley lin associate news editor

Some of Ryerson’s top executives are calling on the Ryerson Students’ Union (RSU) to explain to students the details of an audit reviewing the union’s operations conducted earlier this year. Months after the scathing $85,000 audit by Deloitte & Touche, there have been few changes. The review, paid for by the university, looked into governing policies and the health and dental plan, calling on the RSU to clean up its act. Ryerson’s president Sheldon Levy said that although the university isn’t owed an explanation, the students deserve one. “It does not necessarily mean they have to accept the recommendations but in any type of business audit, you respond to the community under which you serve,” Levy said. “I do think that in an audit, those that paid their salaries and bills deserve a response.” Julia Hanigsberg, general counsel and secretary, echoed Levy’s point.

“You would expect that they would be clear with at least the directors of the RSU about how they plan to respond to the recommendations,” Hanigsberg said. “It doesn’t mean they have to follow every [recommendation] but we expect transparent process about what they’ve found.” Toby Whitfield, the RSU’s vice-president finance and services, said they are only recommendations. He adds that some have been implemented such as the new time frame for opt-out cheques pickup and having separate accounts. “[Students] hold us accountable by going to the polls and voting, when they come to general meetings and set the direction of the organization.” Deloitte found that election policies and procedures are rife with inconsistencies. It suggested switching to online voting instead. This vote was considered in 2008 but failed to pass. Deloitte added that politicking and personal agendas take priority over serving students, leaving little room for opposing opinions. It suggested an un-

Rye students to carry Olympic flame by steph gellatly

The RSU audit came out in March 2009. photo: chris dale biased general manager to be overseer. Deloitte added the RSU can’t use unclaimed opt-out cheques to fund other RSU initiatives and losses, which is current practice. Tighter budget control is needed to avoid unnecessary cash

shortfalls and loans. This year, the RSU is running an $84,000 deficit. The audit also refers to poor recordkeeping for health and dental opt-outs so the RSU should take extra steps to notify students to pick up their cheques.

When third-year business management student Vanessa Lewis heard that Canada had won the 2010 Winter Olympic bid, she told her twin sister, “we just have to go!” The sisters can’t make it to Vancouver in February, but Lewis will contribute in her own way by carrying the Olympic flame for Canada on Dec. 19 in Milton, Ont. Lewis submitted a self-nomination to run the Olympic flame through a contest, sponsored partly by Coca-Cola. She submitted a short essay about active living and her contribution to help fight climate change. “It just feels like such a patriotic thing, carrying the flame for my country. I can’t go to the Olympics, but this is something I can do,” she said. Lewis got a voicemail from Coca-Cola on Canada Day saying she had been chosen to run the torch. Her twin, Venesse, heard her scream from across the house, “I’m going to carry the torch!” “I had second thoughts at first,” Lewis said, “but then I called back right away.” Lewis’ family is thrilled that she was chosen to represent her hometown. “We’re in a country that’s not perfect, but we have so many liberties to celebrate,” sister Venesse Lewis said. “This is something we should be proud to be a part of.” Fouth-year radio and television arts student, Naomi Cowan, was hand-picked by Ryerson’s President Sheldon Levy to also carry the Olympic torch. “She was on the board, was great at representing the university and I think it’s the right thing for a student to do it,” Levy said.

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NEWS

8 • The Eyeopener

Prof accused of bigoted remarks By Joelle Tomlinson

A business student is accusing his professor of making discriminatory comments towards members of his class. Fifth-year business student and Eyeopener columnist Evan Kosiner, wrote an open complaint letter to Ryerson administration alleging that professor Sean Wise made inappropriate comments towards students. Part of the letter describes situations where Wise allegedly singled out a student whose name had many syllables. Another excerpt accuses Wise of telling a girl who is new to the country to speak without her accent. Wise said he is saddened by the accusations. “I care for my students, and when one thinks I’m being inappropriate, I take it very seriously,” he said. A business student, who chooses to remain anonymous, said Wise “can be rude to some students without provocation.” Jeffrey Peng, director of the StartMeUp Program created by Students in Free Enterprise (SIFE) believes Wise is a great professor. “At no time has Sean ever had any negative malice toward students,” wrote Peng.

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Wednesday, December 2, 2009

$1.5 million left out of RAMSS upgrade by mike DeRuyter

Tyler Metcalf would rather be on academic probation than have to deal with Ryerson’s registration software. Metcalf’s guidance counsellor picks his courses, leaving the third-year sociology student largely free of dealing with Ryerson’s Administrative Management Self Service (RAMSS). The enrolment software, launched in 2005, is used to register for courses and keep track of class schedules, grades and fees. Last year, Ryerson budgeted $6.5 million for upgrades to the student administrative system. At a Ryerson Board of Governors meeting on Nov. 19, it was announced that approximately $1.5 million of the money hasn’t been used to improve the software. “RAMSS is an unbelievable headache,” said Metcalf. “I would be allowed to enroll in certain courses, but when I showed up to the class I found out that I wouldn’t get a credit for it because I didn’t have the

proper pre-requisites.” RAMSS is a product by Peoplesoft Campus Solutions — used by over 200 universities across North America, including the University of Waterloo, Queen’s University and University of Western Ontario. Keith Alnwick, Ryerson’s registrar, said the system has had some issues, but the update in November 2008 was a “super-charged thrust.” The next RAMSS update will take place in March 2010. Sophie Quigley, a computer science professor at Ryerson, doesn’t think the 2008 update was an improvement. In her computer-human interaction course, Quigley and her students went through RAMSS and couldn’t figure out the system. “There’s an overall lack of intuitiveness,” she said. “There’s a lot of information but it’s not clear what it’s telling you. RAMSS is in really bad shape.” Quigley blames the issue on a lack of consultation and on Peoplesoft. “The general rumbling from differ-

Students find it difficult to use RAMSS. PHOTO: chris dale ent professors across universities is that they are not very impressed by the company,” she said. Stephen Hawkins, the director of computing and communication ser-

vices, said improving registration software isn’t a question of getting a better student administrative system. “It’s more a question of how we make the one we have work better for us.”

Wednesday, December 2, 2009

features

The Eyeopener • 2 1

Treasure in the trash Dumpster-dining freegans are fighting capitalist waste and filling stomachs. Who knew that social justice could be so tasty? By Samantha Anderson

I

t’s dark and Michelle Coyne works quickly, lifting and peering inside each of the green bins. She’s wearing her special dumpster diving outfit, which is warm but dark. Finding nothing in the bins she jumps up onto the ledge of a dumpster, grabbing its edges with her thin black gloves. Coyne leans over and the smell of watermelon and other fruit overwhelms her. “It smells good,” she says, closing the lid, her lone find of perfectly packaged noodles in hand. Coyne has her dinner. Freeganism, a word derived from “free” and “vegan,” is a term used to describe taking food that would otherwise go to waste. The York University PhD student is currently researching freeganism. She was invited to Ryerson to speak on the subject during food sustainability week. Her dissertation explores how society got to the point where we think of edible food as garbage. “Freeganism points creatively to what’s wrong with our food system,” she said. We’ve come to think of food in terms of profit, not as something that feeds and sustains people. “It’s our sustenance,” Coyne said. “Food is something we depend upon. We build community around it. It’s not as soulless as the dollar.” Diving is a way for her and other freegans to put this waste to use, engaging in social activism and feeding them-

selves at the same time. If anything, it’s changed the way she thinks about food. “Garbage is not as disgusting as we think it is,” said Coyne.

getting them before they’re picked up means knowing their schedule. If everything is aligned, all that’s left is to open the lid and dive in. The first time Coyne hopped into a dumpster was ance Marwood, a a strange and perspectivefourth-year arts and altering experience. contemporary stud“Once you get your head ies student, has no probaround approaching a lem taking what businesses dumpster it gets a little easthrow out. ier,” she said. “It’s like having a glass of Stores can make dumpwater when I’m thirsty,” he ster diving difficult and said. “It makes sense.” sometimes dangerous. They He dives casually and said can’t afford to put their licommunity is an important ability or insurance at risk part of freeganism, including if someone gets sick from cooking the food together. He diving in their dumpster, so was introduced to dumpster they use rat poison, put up diving a few months ago by fences or use compactors his friends, an experience he where “any food, any goods found liberating. Since then get destroyed,” Coyne said. he’s learned it takes flexibilOther stores make it easity and a willingness to learn ier for divers, setting aside how to prepare and cook the bushels of peppers or keepfood. It’s especially imporing a bin of squash away tant to know what food is from the trash. And Second good and what isn’t. Coyne digs in to green bin salad. Photo: Chris Dale Harvest, a non-profit organiA dumpster is no different zation that Coyne volunteers than a fridge when it comes to analyz- rule is to leave things cleaner than you for, regularly goes around to specific ing produce, said Coyne. Thick skin find, and to not make it messy,” said stores to deliver food to shelters that and firm flesh are good signs that it’s Coyne. would normally be thrown out. edible. So long as it’s good overall, a Finding the goods in the first place Seeing dumpster diving as related small soft spot can be cut out. And it’s takes some planning and a little luck. to poverty is missing the point. What important to wash everything. Dumpsters and green bins outside freeganism challenges is our willingThere are also general guidelines grocery stores and markets are usu- ness to turn food into garbage as easily when dumpster diving. “The cardinal ally brimming with produce, though as we do.

L

“It forces us to confront so many belief systems we didn’t know we had,” Coyne said. “We are having to confront how much is usable.”

I

t is damp tonight and so is everything inside the dumpster. Coyne throws open the lid while her friend Tammy leans in and pushes aside empty cardboard produce boxes. Nothing so far; then, a small clump of bananas. Tammy climbs in and digs deeper. “I just rediscovered banana bread this week,” says Coyne, “so this is great.” They fill two fabric bags with the bananas and a few apples before moving on. “My parents are going to be so proud,” Coyne says. She will go home and freeze many of the bananas, using them to make food for housemates and for the food-notbombs group, who go out regularly to serve free vegan food to others. On their way to another dumpster Coyne and Tammy pass by a man slumped in the entrance of a boarded-up store. Coyne pulls a bunch of bananas from her bag and lays them down beside him. At the next site the two take different green bins, lifting the lids and peeking in before moving on. The last one they check is threequarters full with lettuce, whole mushrooms, strawberries, a potato — it’s a massive dumpster salad, ripe for the picking.

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22 • The Eyeopener

ARTS & LIFE

Clicking online and on dates

Some students have turned to the Internet in order to meet potential partners. PHOTO: CHRIS DALE BY JENNIFER TSE

There was a discernible grimace in Kitty Wong’s voice as she described a date with a man she found on Lavalife. “In his profile picture, he looked like Zac Efron,” said the fourth-year Ryerson fashion design student. “But in real life, he was scrawny, short and kind of creepy. He was really weird.” According to an article in the Washington Post earlier this year, online dating has spiked due to the poor economic times since people do not want to be alone and financially unstable. Agneta Owen, a marketing consultant for Lavalife Corp., said that only 25 per cent of the company’s demographic fell within the 18 to 25 age range. The disastrous date wasn’t Wong’s first. Before meeting the ersatz Efron, she’d gone on a date with another Lavalife find she described as a decent guy, but not her type. Wong decided to use the popular online dating service after realizing her rigorous studies made it

difficult to meet singles in Toronto. She first heard about the service through friends and remembered seeing Lavalife ads around the city. Lavalife describes its demographic as “hip, urban, socially active, media-savvy, and fun-seeking.” Thirty-nine per cent of its users have a minimum of a bachelor’s degree, and 36 per cent have at least college or technical school training.

...in real life, he was scrawny, short, and kind of creepy. He was really weird.

—Kitty Wong, fourth-year fashion student

But for current students like Wong, online dating just isn’t the way to find that special someone. “I felt like it would be a waste of time and money to keep using it,” said Wong, who gave up on Lavalife after a year. “There were a lot of creepy people. A lot of guys who were really rude.”

Erika Szabo, journalism first-year student can see why students would want to use such services, after a friend of hers used www.okcupid.com with some success. “There is so much accessibility in using a dating site,” she said. “It’s easier than meeting people in public places. But students should be incredibly cautious with whom they meet.” Many online dating sites have faced criticism for failing to authenticate profiles, unbalanced user sex ratios and for providing easy targets for Internet predators. As a result, many students frown upon Internet dating, choosing to look for companions the “real” way. However, a 2002 Wired magazine article by Rufus Griscom made the prediction that efficiency will one day outstrip serendipity in the eyes of busy singles. “Twenty years from now, the idea that someone looking for love without looking for it online will be silly,” wrote Griscom.

Wednesday, December 2, 2009

You can’t txt msg breakup Halfway into your fifth viewing of New Moon with your beau, you realize this isn’t for you. The lustre is gone from your relationship, but you realize there’s an easy way out. There’s a way to avoid the argument and the tears. However tempting this may sound, don’t pick up the phone. Well, at least cut out the T9. A recent global survey has shown that Canada is the country least likely to arrange a date or break up with someone by text message; in both cases, only 4 per cent of the surveyed cell phone users admitting doing so. But this statistic doesn’t blunt the experience of getting a breakup message. “It was kind of like a huge kick in the stomach,” said Alicia Hayashi, a second-year journalism student. She had a breakup over MSN, which left her unsure if the two and a half year relationship was over. “To me it was a really bad fight. It [was] so informal.” Hayashi said. “If he would have called me, I would’ve been able to hear the emotion.” Facebook is another venue to use for an impersonal breakup. Keith Hodder is a second-year radio and television arts student whose relationship status is hidden. “I just feel like a lot of people on Facebook try to get into other’s people’s business. I’m sure a lot of people like having that kind of support, but some people like to take care of it on their own.” —Matt Demers

Eye asks: What was your worst dating experience? “I chose a movie with Adam Sandler in it for our first date because I thought it would be funny, but it wasn’t. It was fucking horrifying. I ended up crying my eyes out. Needless to say, there was no date number two.”

—Tianna Henry, first-year politics and goverance

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“I was on a date with this guy in Israel and he asked if I was pregnant. I wasn’t.”

—Sasha Fisher, third-year RTA

“Before our date at the movies, I was left outside in the cold for 20 minutes because my date wouldn’t let me into his place. Two weeks earlier he had told me that he had a pool table, which turned out to be a lie he made to impress me, and he didn’t want me to see that he didn’t have one. I was unimpressed.”

—Michelle Berube, first-year psychology

“We were at a bar having drinks and, for no reason, she started weeping. I asked why and she was like, ‘You remind me of my exboyfriend.’”

—Stefan Kostic, third-year engineering

Compiled by Allyssia Alleyne

Wednesday, December 2, 2009

Arts & life

The Eyeopener • 2 3

Rye group reclaims the pussy with pageant

The winner poses with the VDay Vagina Friendly pageant hosts. photo: chris dale by barbora simek

Pinning the tail on the donkey and sculpting with Play-Doh teach you more than hand-eye coordination. At the Vagina Friendly Pageant, 17 contestants had to prove their below-the-belt knowledge through fun and games to snag the crown at the Ram in the Rye last Friday, Nov. 27. Planned by VDay at Ryerson, the pageant aimed to raise awareness for the International VDay campaign, an initiative to end violence against women

around the world. “To say ‘vagina’ out loud is empowering. This event is about having fun and engaging people who otherwise wouldn’t be engaged,” said Ashley Tran, president of VDay at Ryerson. Along with a group of seven other members and her sister, Tran helped bring the campaign to Ryerson. “It’s about recognizing that violence against women is a serious cause but it doesn’t mean women need to victimize themselves and be in a depressed state,” said Virginia Tran, one of the

Drink of the Week Brought to you by the Arts and Life editors. Drinking legally since 2008. “Juicy pussy” This awesome drink will have you thinking about all the awesome women in your life... until you can’t think anymore.

PHOTO CHRIS DALE

event’s organizer. “Instead, we should celebrate.” At the end of the event, judges finally crowned fourth-year politics student Mihial “CunningLing” Salariu as Most Vagina Friendly . “My crown is hilarious,” he said.”It is the biggest vagina I have ever seen; fluffy around the sides. She’s a little dry, but I will take care of that.” Salaris won after pinning the bush on a poster of a woman’s hips, enticing the vagina with clit compliments and moulding a vulva out of PlayDoh. Other events included completing lyrics to vagina-friendly tunes, a speed banana-split eating contest with the plates placed provocatively by the hips of six female organizers and vagina jeopardy. Yet the night also educated the crowd about the impact and severity of violence against women and girls. “I didn’t how much violence there actually is,” said Balu Kanagalingam, a third-year Business Management and Accounting student. “It’s really good for men to know that because we have to make sure that the next generations of men learn from the older generations.” Salariu claimed the title from collecting the most money from the crowd after his pitch of what he’d do if he won, and after some deliberation from the judges. “It’s nice that it’s bringing the issue of violence against women and girls out in the open,” he said. “You can address violence as a whole, but when you address specific issues it makes it easier for people to identify and do something about the problem.” Before hitting the streets with his sash and crown Salariu added, “I am sure there are going to be some people in here who are going to be able to leave and say the word ‘pussy’ without blushing.”

INGREDIENTS 1 part Irish cream 1 part peach schnapps and a splash of pineapple juice Pour the ingredients into a cocktail shaker half-filled with ice. Shake it up and strain into a glass 1/4 full with more ice. We recommend shaving it for full effect, but that’s totally up to you.

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24 • The Eyeopener

AD

Wednesday, December 2, 2009

biz & tech

Wednesday, December 2, 2009

The Eyeopener • 2 5

Walking in a gadget wonderland Business and Technology editor Lauren Strapagiel picks out the presents for the student on your list (or yourself)

Budget

Mid-range

Google Wave invite

“Screamingly Funny!”

“Non-Stop Awesome!”

Original Toronto Cast. Photo by Paula Wilson. Photo: Daren A. Herbert, Brittany Gray, Jamie McKnight

– Toronto Star

Cooling Laptop Pad

Pulse smartpen

free from wave.google.com

$34.99 from bestbuy.ca

$149.95 from smartpencentral.com

So budget friendly that it’s actually free. Get in on the newest Google offering and beg your geeky friends for invites, or be a friend yourself and gift some out. Google Wave can be used to work on group projects in real time without all having to be together. Plus, you can embed the latest Lady Gaga video from YouTube when things get dull.

This laptop pad from Belkin will let you actually use your laptop where it belongs ­ — on your lap — without the uncomfortable heat. This pad even includes a fan that plugs into a USB port. This is also a plus for the guys on your gift list. Laptop heat transfer can raise scotal temperature by up to 0.7 C, threatening the well-being of the little swimmers inside.

The perfect excuse to slack off on note taking. The Pulse smartpen from Livescribe records audio as you write. Were you in another world when your prof said something important? Tap your doodles and the pen will play whatever was being said when you were in la-la land. The starter kit gets you a 1GB pen and dotted paper needed for it to work.

— 102.1 The Edge

Special Student Matinee Wednesday December 16th, 2 p.m.

All tickets $20 •Exclusive Student Bonus! •Post Show Cast Meet and Greet! •Free Gifts!

ToxicAvengerToronto.com/COOLCAP (416) 644-3665 THE MUSIC HALL • 147 Danforth Avenue Follow Toxic Avenger at: TWITTER.com/TOToxicAvenger

Splurge

Startup 101: Win an iPod Think you got what it takes to make it big? Pitch a business idea to our Startup 101 columnist Evan Wynn Kosiner and you could win an 8GB iPod Touch. Send the following to [email protected]: What’s the business? Why do you think it could be successful? How do you plan to get it off the ground? Keep it under 300 words, include your name, program/year and phone number. Stay tuned in January for deadline details. Go to www.theeyeopener.com to read what Evan’s looking for in a winning pitch.

photo: matt llewellyn

<art> student @chrisjamesdrew

I miss Ryerson, I miss Urban Planning, I miss the Close Gould Street Campaign. Most of all, I miss the Eyeopener. #eyeforatweet

@lukevandezande

I thought I was getting a major in journalism when I came to Ryerson, but mondays I feel like I’m getting a major in complaining.

@eggythemascot

is thinking of getting a new phone. Debate: iPhone or Blackberry Bold? photo: Joel yum

Fourth-year new media student Michael Lawrie’s @Mr_Kenneth_Wong piece, Efficient Mondrian, uses HTML and @eggythemascot is ryerson paying javascript to convert text to the projected image. for that? It can be viewed at the University of Toronto Art Centre Lounge until Dec. 17.

26 • The Eyeopener

FUN

Wednesday, December 2, 2009

Wednesday, December 2, 2009

AD

The Eyeopener • 2 7

AD

28 • The Eyeopener

Wednesday, December 2, 2009

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