Tuesday, November 24, 2009

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WHAT NEXT?

We finally beat Queen’s at something … p.8

Multi-faceted student packs Chaucer’s … p.5

Part 2 of post-grad series … p.3

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LTC UPDATE

TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 24, 2009

WESTERN’S DAILY STUDENT NEWSPAPER • EST.1906 • VOLUME 103, ISSUE 46

Librarians accept contract offer

STAND CAMP OUT

Talks hit the wall between LTC, union Commission waiting on receipt of written proposal before moving forward

By Cheryl Stone Gazette Staff

By Shreya Tekriwal Gazette Staff

Bus drivers are still on strike and the London Transit Commission has yet to receive a formal revised proposal from the union. No talks between the union and the LTC have been scheduled and union members continue to picket outside the commission’s offices. “I’ve got a bad feeling that we’ll be out until January,” union president Pat Hunniford told the London Free Press over the weekend. According to a press release from the LTC, as of Nov. 20 the LTC “has not received a response to the Nov. 17 request for a written confirmation of any revised proposal from [Amalgamated Transit Union 741].” The press release also mentioned the last proposal from the ATU Local 741 stood at an increase of 20 per cent in wages and benefits. As mentioned on the LTC website, the City of London has the authority to intervene and direct the LTC to arrive at a solution in collaboration with the union. “The council may […] give to the commission a directive concerning the local transportation system policy of the Commission in specific terms and applicable for a specified period, and the Commission shall comply,” the LTC website stated. LTC said it will not provide further comments in regards to the process until a formal position from ATU Local 741 has been received.

Brett Higgs/Gazette

INSERT PITCHING TENT JOKE HERE. Members of the Western chapter of Students Taking Action Now, Darfur are camping out on Concrete Beach for 48 hours this week in an effort to raise money and awareness for the civil war relief efforts in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

King’s TAs uncertain of future Cash strapped sociology department will honour current contracts, unable to renew those expiring before the new year By Meagan Kashty Gazette Staff

As the end of first term draws near, some teaching assistants are beginning to question whether they will have a job to return to in January. Rumours are circulating King’s University College suggesting budget constraints have forced the sociology department to reduce the number of TAs. Chris Tsiropoulos, a fourth-year sociology student and current TA at King’s, is one of the individuals uncertain about his future as a TA. “No one from the administration or the department is telling us what’s going on,” Tsiropoulos lamented. “We weren’t worried about Western not paying us — they’re not a sketchy employer.” “We were told it was a departmental issue,” he added. The TA contracts currently set in place until the end of the year will be fulfilled, but unfortunately some TAs will not have a contract in the new year, according to David MacGregor, chair of the sociology department, noted. “We simply do not have the funding to fulfill some of the contracts,” MacGregor said. “Of course students are not expected to consider to work in a contract for which they are not being paid.”

Dale Dupuis, vice-president student issues with King’s University College Students’ Council, spoke with associate academic dean Sauro Camiletti in regards to the matter. “The dean’s office claims they have made the effort to fulfill all promised contracts for the sociology department,” Dupuis said. “But the additional TAs who currently have jobs but have not been promised contracts cannot be accommodated.” Desmond Dutrizak, academic dean at King’s, added the sociology department voiced concerns about their budget earlier this year. “They submitted a request that had an allocation for TAs and marking assistants — that was approved and went through the February budget as requested,” Dutrizak said. Dutrizak added in anticipation of increased enrollment, five and a half sections of sociology were added. As a result, a number of sections were able to lower their class size substantially. “It came [as] a surprise to us that there was a request for additional support,” Dutrizak said. “We did ask in October when the chair came to us to see what the contracts were. We proposed to him that he could address all those contracts well

within his budget framework. So as far as I know there’s been no cancellation of any TA contracts.” Tsiropoulos noted while an incomplete contract is certainly upsetting, the lack of transparency is all the more frustrating. He has composed a petition to be passed on to the head of the sociology department voicing his concerns and giving students the opportunity to express the importance of TAs in an educational setting. “We’re not asking for extra money or longer hours — we’re just asking that the contract we developed from the beginning be honoured,” Tsiropoulos said. “There’s no transparency whatsoever, so you have no idea who to contact,” Tsiropoulos added. MacGregor noted while no formal e-mails have been sent out to the sociology TAs, he expected communication to occur primarily between the TA and the professor, as opposed to the department.” Dutrizak added he believed the process to be perfectly transparent, and welcomed any student concerns. There will be a meeting between the office of the dean and the sociology department this Wednesday to resolve any budgetary disputes and to discuss the issue of TAs and marking assistants.

Librarians and archivists at Western have voted 90 per cent in favour of ratifying the latest tentative offer from Western. The vast majority of members participated in the vote by the University of Western Ontario Faculty Association-Librarians and Archivists. According to James Compton, vice-president of Western’s Faculty Association, the agreement contains 1.5 per cent scale increases to pay over the next two years along with adjustments for inflation. It also includes increased job security through clearer job descriptions. Fairer annual reports and employee reviews with clear criteria are also part of the new deal. According to Compton, non-monetary issues the UWOFA felt de-professionalized the librarians and archivists have also been reconstructed. “Any collective agreement is imperfect [however] we believe it’s a fair agreement under the circumstances,” Compton said. These changes were in response to the UWOFA-LA’s requests for increased pay, clarification on annual review criteria and more accurate job descriptions, which would discourage lower paid assistants from doing the work of professional librarians and archivists. Alan Weedon, Western’s viceprovost of academic planning, policy and faculty, added the agreement had yet to be ratified by the Board of Governors, and he was unable to comment on the contents of the agreement until then. “It’s not that we’ve avoided a strike,” Weedon said. “It’s that we’ve achieved a settlement both parties are comfortable with. “I think it’s really great that we have an agreement,” he added. The agreement will be reviewed by BOG on Nov. 26, and then following approval the final contract will be drawn up. “I assume they will accept it,” Compton said. UWOFA-LA represents 54 librarians and archivists at Western. The tentative agreement was reached on Oct. 30 and narrowly avoided a strike by the librarians and archivists. Discussions have taken place since May 2009 to create a new contract. This current contract would last for two years, retroactive to July 1, 2009.

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news

theGazette • TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 24, 2009

EVENTS CALENDAR Tues, Nov. 24 • Celebrating 150 Years of On the Origin When: 7:00 p.m. Where: 3M Centre, Rm. 3250 What: Marc-André Lachance from Western’s biology department will be giving a talk entitled “The Origin of Two Big Ideas” on evolution as a fact and a theory.

NEWSBRIEFS When: 5:30 – 6:30 p.m. Where: Social Science Centre, Rm. 3010 What: Management and Organizational Studies Students Association presents the first of the Career Perspective Series featuring David Mondoux, associate category manager from TSC Stores.

• The Effect of the Palestinian Interior Conflict When: 1:00 p.m. Where: Wemple Student Lounge, King’s University College What: Gahad Hamed will deliver a lecture on the effects of the Palestinian interior conflict on nationstate building, the peace process and the transition to democracy.

Thurs, Nov. 26 • From Eleanor Roosevelt to Qaddafi: The Rise and Fall of Human Rights at the United Nations When: 12:30 p.m. Where: University Community Centre Council Chambers What: Hillel Neuer, executive director of UN Watch, a human rights NGO based in Geneva, Switzerland, will be speaking about his experiences.

Wed, Nov. 25 Management and Organizational Studies Career Perspective Series

If you have an event you would like to share please send your information to [email protected]

Rethinking the value of think tanks Donald Abelson, director of the Centre for American Studies at Western and chair of the University’s department of political science, has published research questioning the influence of think tanks. In his book, Do Think Tanks Matter?, Abelson writes on the growth of think tanks, their references in the media and their role in influencing policy debates. “I think what the research reveals is there’s often a disparity between the amount of visibility think tanks receive and how much influence they can actually have in both shaping public opinion and shaping public policy,” Abelson said. He encouraged individuals to question the extent organizations forming part of our political landscape influence the decisions made in Ottawa or Washington. However, Abelson did not write off the value of research think tanks produce. “It’s not less important because, again, think tanks try to communicate with multiple stakeholders. They want to reach academics, corporations, journalists and policy members, so it doesn’t mean the work they do isn’t important,” Abelson noted. “But we have to keep in mind the work they produce may not shape the decision they would like to see shaped.” Abelson originally published his findings in 2002. His book is being translated into Arabic and Chinese. —Meagan Kashty

Interested in journalism? Gazette News has openings for writers and interns. Visit Rm. 263 and talk to managing editor Jaela Bernstien.

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➤FILM The Cryptoquip is a substitution cipher in which one letter stands for another. If you think that X equals O, it will equal O throughout the puzzle. Single letters, short words and words using an apostrophe give you clues to locating vowels. Solution is by trial and error. © 2002 by Kings Features Syndicate, Inc.

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news ➤ P3

theGazette • TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 24, 2009

What next? Part II: Medical School By Lauren Pelley Western physiology grad Diana Lawrie was accepted into quite a few of the 13 medical schools she applied to, both north and south of the border –– so she must have done something right. Now a first-year med student at McMaster, Lawrie offered her advice to the next generation of hopeful doctors. Q: How did your university involvement help you prepare your med school applications? A: Being on the Student Emergency Response Team showed me what it was like to learn medical skills, work as a part of a team and see that I really enjoyed patient care. I also did a few summers of research, which helped me look at other careers in science and to think critically. Being on Residence Staff at Western gave me a lot of confidence making decisions and communicating with others –– and gave me a lot of exposure to “ethical dilemmas” to talk about in my applications. I also talked about going on exchange, volunteering with a physiotherapist, being part of Theatre Western and being in Scholar’s Electives. Q: What was the application process like? A: Depending on how many schools you apply to and where, the applications will be different, but in general it is a very long and complicated process. The Ontario Medical School Application Service probably has the most sections to fill out. Each school will have different requirements –– sometimes an essay or some short-answer questions. If you can complete your OMSAS application, you can copy and paste most of the information into other applications […] [and after] you submit your initial application, you get to wait anxiously for several months before finding out if you will be getting any interviews. Most interviews are between the middle of February and the beginning of April. Some schools don’t give you much time between notification and your interview –– so leave your weekends as open as possible. The actual interviews can vary widely. McMaster, Northern and most schools out West have adopted the Multiple Mini Interview. I found these interviews to be more fun, but pretty exhausting –– make sure you eat first. The nice

thing is, if you screw up one station, you still have plenty of other first impressions to make. I had more traditional interviews at Queen’s and Western, which involved two or three people sitting in a room with you, asking questions. These were more relaxed, and the interviewers get to know you a bit better. After interviews are over, you get to wait anxiously again until May 15, while over-analyzing everything and convincing yourself every interview went horribly. They didn’t –– don’t worry. Q: Do you have any advice for those applying to med school right now? A: For those of you who haven’t applied yet, keep track of everything you do and have someone’s contact that knows you did it. The OMSAS applications have space for 48 activities and each requires a verifier, which was probably to most tedious thing I’ve ever done. Be well prepared for your interviews. Be aware of the types of questions you could be asked, and what the current issues are in health care. Your answers shouldn’t be scripted, but it’s a stressful situation and you want to have some idea of how you will answer. That being said, for many questions, there isn’t one correct answer –– if you can make a logical case for what you are saying, that’s fine.

Acing Your Interview If you’re lucky enough to make it to the interview stage, that’s when the real work –– and the fun part –– of applying to med school begins. Med school interviews are a chance for you to round out your application, impress the selection committee and stand out from other qualified applicants. The traditional panel interview is the format used at Western’s Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry. The panel is typically comprised of a representative of the med school, alongside other individuals such as a medical resident and community resident. More a conversation than an interrogation, this style of interview allows you to sell yourself and your abilities. Some are closed, meaning the interviewers have not seen your application. Others have full access to what you provided, so make sure you’re familiar with what you wrote in case you’re asked specific ques-

Teach English Abroad

BEFORE YOUR INTERVIEW • Research and form an opinion on ethical dilemmas, such as euthanasia and abortion • Keep tabs on current events in the medical community — read newspapers and watch the news • Learn about the school and what it offers • Reread your application AT YOUR INTERVIEW • Dress to impress — keep your clothes simple, classy and professional • Don’t chew gum or wear too much perfume/cologne • Be polite, make eye contact and say thank you at the end

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Panicked about your med school interview? Don’t fret –– the Career Centre @ Western holds mock interview sessions to give you a leg up on your competition. The Career Centre’s mock interviews, geared towards med school applicants, will teach you proper interview techniques and allow you to practice your skills in a group setting. They’ll also teach you strategies to address tough ethical and situational questions. Simulated Multiple Mini Interviews are also provided, allowing you to work through the “bell ringer” format in short, structured interviews at different stations. Feedback for both types of practice interview is provided. Visit the Career Centre in the Western Student Services building, Room 3100, or check out the interview workshops online at www.career.uwo.ca/ students/services/workshops.html.

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tions about your experiences. Increasingly more common, however, is the Multiple Mini Interview format, adopted by 12 of Canada’s 17 med schools. The MMI is a series of 10 to 12 eight-minute stations, in which you’ll be given a couple minutes to look over a situation or ethical dilemma posted on a door before entering a room in which you have to provide your answer or act in the situation. Once a bell rings, you move on to the next station where you get a fresh chance at handling another scenario.

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opinions

theGazette • TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 24, 2009

thegazette Volume 103, issue 46 “Slang is a language that rolls up its sleeves, spits on its hands and goes to work.” — CARL SANDBURG

Ryan Hendrick

Carly Conway

Jaela Bernstien

Editor-In-Chief

Deputy Editor

Managing Editor

Editor - [email protected] Deputy - [email protected] Managing - [email protected] website at www.westerngazette.ca University Community Centre Rm. 263 The University of Western Ontario London, Ontario, CANADA. N6A 3K7 Editorial Offices: (519) 661-3580 Advertising Dept.: (519) 661-3579 The Gazette is owned and published by the University Students’ Council.

Top 10 Words of 2009 LETTERS TO THE EDITOR Every year in mid-November, the New Oxford American Dictionary puts together a list of notable words. This year, the staff determined “unfriend” would take top honours, becoming 2009’s Word of the Year. For those unfamiliar with the Facebook world, “unfriend” refers to removing someone from your list of friends — a harsh practice reserved only for the firmest rejections. Following suit, the Gazette has written its own Top 10 list of 2009’s lingual creations — with a few suggestions of our own. 1. Resister desister: noun Someone who is in the process of being arrested by the Campus Community Police Service and/or the London Police Services on Western’s campus. 2. Hitcher-ditcher: noun The current transit strike has seen many returning to the tried and true practice of hitchhiking. The hitcher-ditcher is a potential hitchhiker who, upon seeing an incredibly sketchy driver behind the wheel, quickly chooses to walk to their destination instead. 3. Strike Buddy: noun The transit strike has also seen a rise in certain friends of convenience — the type of person you normally would never want to be seen in public with, but because of the fact they have a car, they are now your best friend. Off-campus students living at home may also recognize parents as strike buddies. 4. Kanye’d: verb The act of rudely interrupting another in a blatant attempt to draw attention to yourself. Named for Kanye West’s outburst at the MTV Video Music Awards. Adopters are encouraged to shout “Imma tell you” at the beginning of their outburst. 5. Ivey envy: noun The reaction of Western students who do not attend Ivey, after seeing the gobs of money being funnelled into the Richard Ivey School of Business. 6. Funemployed: adj. The state of mind where someone who is currently without a job opts to enjoy their newfound freedom rather than gripe. 7. Intexticated: adj. Meaning either the hampered driving ability experienced while texting or the tendency to text others while drunk. 8. Fustercluck: noun A politically correct term describing a situation which has in some way gone horribly, horribly wrong. Examples of fustercluckery include the ongoing LTC strike and the panic surrounding the H1N1 influenza. 9. Enragement ring: noun A gift from one partner to another in a desperate attempt to get out of the doghouse. Enragement rings vary greatly in quality depending on how upset the significant other is. 10. Business shower: noun The practice of two people showering together in a non-sexual manner with the intention of saving both time and the environment. Ironically, a shower not normally associated with business. Editorials appearing under the ‘opinions’ heading are decided upon by a majority of the editorial board and are written by a member of the editorial board but are not necessarily the expressed opinion of each editorial board member. All other opinions are strictly those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the USC, The Gazette, its editors or staff. Letters: Must include the contributor’s name, identification (ie. History II, Dean of Arts) and be submitted to [email protected]. Letters judged by the Editor-In-Chief to be libelous or derogatory will not be published. The Gazette reserves the right to edit letters and submissions and makes no guarantees that a letter will be published. All articles, letters, photographs, graphics, illustrations and cartoons published in The Gazette, both in the newspaper and online versions, are the property of The Gazette. By submitting any such material to The Gazette for publication, you grant to The Gazette a non-exclusive, worldwide, royalty-free, irrevocable license to publish such material in perpetuity in any media, including but not limited to, The Gazette‘s hard copy and online archives. • Please recycle this newspaper •

Strike calls for sympathy, transparency

It’s no wonder many drivers seem bitter and stressed when riders treat them like servants and their bosses devalue them. LTC bus drivers are simply fighting for fair and equal treatment within their own workplace. We should be supporting them through the strike and help them get back on the road.

Facebook compromises workplace

Re: “Students deal without buses” Nov. 20, 2009

—Marcy Hewson

To the editor: I recently became part of Facebook drama when I commented on a coworker’s status regarding a workplace situation that took place earlier that day. I did not agree or disagree, nor did I give my true opinion; I simply commented on the status, asking what happened and why. Later that night, when I swung by work to check my schedule, I was almost immediately accompanied by another co-worker who thought it was her responsibility to inform me on the current situation. The situation being that someone thought it was appropriate to print off my co-worker’s status, bring it into our workplace and display it to management. Understanding the original status itself may not have been appropriate — it was based on a conflict between my co-worker and a manager. I also believe it wasn’t necessary for our co-worker to print it off and bring it in for our management team. Simply put — it’s none of their business. So, I’m back to asking the classic question: should items — pictures, status, comments — posted on Facebook become a part of the workplace environment? Given the current situation, there are pros and cons to both sides. My coworker shouldn’t have posted it online as her status, but it shouldn’t have been brought to management’s attention the way it was. I don’t know where to put the border, but I do know my co-worker lost her job over a situation that could have been prevented. and I believe everyone would have eventually forgotten about the status and gone on with their lives.

To the editor: I think it’s time for everyone who is angry over the London Transit Commission strike to consider what is going on at the “top.” LTC fares increased for every rider in the city [and] top of this, all levels of government contribute to the LTC and this money, supposedly, is being used to improve our transit system. [But] for all the bells-and-whistles added over the years, the LTC hasn’t actually come up with effective solutions to the problems that have been plaguing the service for years. Complaints before the strike were about late buses, not enough buses, bus hours — none of these things actually have to do with the bus drivers, but the decisions of LTC management. I’ve heard too many complaints that even $23 an hour as a bus driver is undeserved. This is shameful and it speaks volumes on how some of us value other people’s roles in society. The bus drivers are an integral part of a service designed to help people. They drive the elderly to doctor’s appointments, students to school, countless people to their jobs, and increase independence for those who can’t afford a vehicle and for those who may not be able to drive — including the visually and physically-impaired.

Health Science III

To the editor: According to various statements by the University Students’ Council and the Mustangs moving Mustangs FAQ page, “The USC will utilize a portion of the LTC compensation to fund the initiatives described elsewhere on this site, and any additional initiatives that may be developed.” I would like to see more transparency into where these funds are going — 22,000 undergraduate students with about 50 cents per day yields about $11,000 every day to the USC. I fail to see how hitchhiking flags and the other initiatives cost this much. This also brings up the question of whether this money could be spent more wisely. And if the USC cannot find a way to spend this money, it should be refunded to students. The money was spent solely on the bus pass and should not be used by the USC, unless explicitly allowed by the students. — Kyle Maclean Economics II

Ed note: According to the Mustangs moving Mustangs FAQ section, any compensation from the LTC remaining at the end of the work stoppage will be refunded directly to students.

“What I want people to know is before I became Karl Wolf the artist, I sold over a million records as a producer and songwriter. I’ve got 16 awards in my house. I’ve got platinum records filing up my walls.” —Karl Wolf Producer, songwriter, humble recording artist

Section Editors 2009-2010 News Meagan Kashty Abid-Aziz Ladhani Cheryl Stone Shreya Tekriwal Stuart Thompson Arts & Entertainment Amber Garratt Nicole Gibillini Maddie Leznoff Sports Daniel Da Silva Grace Davis Arden Zwelling

Senior Mike Hayes Lauren Pelley Opinions Jaclyn Haggarty Photography Laura Barclay Brett Higgs Corey Stanford Graphics Ali Chiu Jesse Tahirali Web Stuart Thompson

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Ryan Abreu, Tara Athar, Katherine Atkinson, Erin Baker, Mary Ann Boateng, Jordan Brown, Dylan Clark, Julie-Anne Cleyn, Caitlin Conroy, Sari Rose Conter, Adam Crozier, Angela Easby. Adam Feldman, Mark Filipowich, Allie Fonarev, Jennifer Gautier, Ricki-Lee Gerbrandt, Jeremy Gritten, Elton Hobson, Eliot Hong, Alan Hudes, Aras Kolya, Aaron Korolnek, Jay LaRochelle, Colin Lim, Jared Lindzon, Julia Lovgren, Kevin Melhuish, Paula Meng, Lauren Moore, Ora Morison, Jessie Murdock, Maciej Pawlak, Jonathan Pinkus, Aaron Pinto, Jaymin Proulx, Gennelle Smith, Cali Travis, Jennifer Urbanski, Drew Whitson, Dale Williams, Casey Yetman, Emily Zhou

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P5 TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 24, 2009

ArtsEntertainment

Courtesy of Sam Chang-Gardener

LOCAL MUSIC ROCKS. Media, information and technoculture student at Western Sam Allen serenades the crowd with tracks from his debut album, Landscapes, Saturday night at Chaucer’s Pub.

Western student adds to local music landscape Sam Allen celebrates his debut solo album with friends and sing-along

CONCERT REVIEW

Performance: Openers: Crowd: By Drew Whitson Gazette Staff

The mood at Chaucer’s Pub on Saturday night was one of buzzing anticipation. With the small and intimate Fireplace Room completely packed, a night of local talent was set to usher in Sam Allen’s debut full-length release. Aaron Lozynsky opened up another successful Open House Arts Collective event. Lozynsky brought his rockabilly attitude and entertaining 1950s stage presence to the largely receptive audience. His new attitude and sound is a far cry from his earlier days as a folk singer, but the progression has helped him gain a unique element that seems to separate him from the current indie scene. His songs

Set List: Worth the $$$:

and storytelling had the crowd engaged and happily surprised at his solo act. Quickly following Lozynsky was Handsome Dan and his Gallimaufry. The folk-rock outfit from London played a rare full band set to an audience that was left in awe and eager for more from the band. Handsome Dan played songs from his album Father Noon and a few unreleased singles. Accustomed to playing solo, Dan had a band to support him, which made his catchy folk songs sound more full than usual. Playing favourites like “Fox, Hound, Dog” and “The Sound of Plenty,” Handsome Dan brought about a beautiful set that perfectly complemented the main act. Allen followed the well-received openers with an impressive set of

his own. Playing his debut fulllength album — Landscapes — in its entirety, Allen roused a sense of excitement from the already content audience. The atmosphere in the Fireplace Room was warm, and the support for Allen’s release was overwhelming. Allen, a native of London and current Western student, is also known for his work in the band A Horse and His Boy. Special guests of the evening included the vocal talents of Olenka Krakus, from Olenka and the Autumn Lovers, and Kelly Wallraff on violin and piano. They led the crowd in a sing-along to “Mountain Top Chorus Song,” complete with specially printed pamphlets with the lyrics — it was a highlight that brought Lozynsky and Handsome Dan back onto the stage to join in the fun. A night of great local music — for a charge of $5 — left the audience in good spirits. The intimate location and beautiful set décor only added to the evening. The mix of energy and appreciation for Allen’s debut release resulted in one of the best live performances from The Open House Arts Collective to date.

Courtesy of Sam Chang-Gardner

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arts&entertainment

theGazette • TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 24, 2009

Wolf takes off shirt, puts on great show

ON DISC

Singer shows London audience his talent and swagger

Them Crooked Vultures Them Crooked Vultures DGC/Interscope

Corey Stanford/Gazette

THE KARL WOLF MOVEMENT REACHES LONDON. Canadian artist Karl Wolf rocked his tank top and tattoos Thursday night at the London Music Hall.

CONCERT REVIEW

Performance: Openers: Crowd:

Set List: Worth the $$$:

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The London Music Hall was bursting with excitement for a night of hip-hop and R&B acts last Thursday. Goncept, NA20, Dylan James and headliner Karl Wolf lit up the stage. Local rap artist Goncept started the night by performing to background beats. Though his raps and rhymes were strong, he had difficulty engaging the audience. NA20, a female-fronted act, hit the stage next. They filled the venue with inspirational tracks — one of their lyrics told the audience, “Whatever men can do, women can do better.” The crowd was entertained by a DJ during set changes, and the audience relaxed with some crumping and dancing. However, for those not in the mood to dance, shorter breaks between acts would have been appreciated. Toronto-born artist Dylan James was the night’s third act. The 17year-old proved to be a great per-

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former as he high-fived fans and belted his tunes — his talent shows a lot of potential. He appeared extremely comfortable on stage and seemed to have a great time entertaining the crowd. After a successful set of openers. headliner Karl Wolf emerged with energy and charisma. Taking centre stage, he sang his popular track “Africa,” a remake of the 1982 hit by Toto. In terms of initiating chemistry with the crowd, Wolf was no amateur. Performing in a white tank top, Wolf played the part of the bad boy rapper. Tattooed, muscular and with a confident swagger, Wolf was a definite presence on stage — even ripping off his shirt at one point. Despite playing up his sexuality a bit too much, there’s no doubting Wolf is a dynamic performer — he worked hard and kept the crowd’s energy level up for the remainder of the night. While Wolf may be a larger than life performer, with “Africa” finding itself near the top of Canadian Top 40 charts, his down-to-earth personality was evident after the show. He stuck around to sign autograph and pose in pictures with fans to further engage with the crowd. Overall, Wolf and his openers provided the audience at the London Music Hall with an entertaining Thursday night.

Rock ’n’ roll is alive and well, as is evident in the self-titled debut album by the new super group Them Crooked Vultures. With Dave Grohl (Nirvana, Foo Fighters) kicking it again on the drum set, John Paul Jones (Led Zeppelin) returning to the stage and Josh Homme (Queens of the Stone Age, Eagles of Death Metal) still in the throws of his recent success, the album embraces and converges the styles of the three rock stars. The album is loosely associated with the styles of each of these artists. Jones is still rolling out his classic blues-inspired rock on the bass, sounding like old friends next to Grohl, who lays down a powerful beat in every track. Though Homme’s signature sound is present throughout the album, there are some tracks more reminiscent of Jones and Grohl’s previous projects. For example, in “Mind Eraser (No Chaser)” Grohl sings backup vocals above his overpowering drums, while Homme embraces a blues sound more commonly associated with Jones. Fans of any of these three artists and fans of good rock ’n’ roll alike should rush to get their hands on a copy of this groundbreaking album. — Jared Lindzon

Robbie Williams Reality Killed the Video Star EMI

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Having conquered the pop and jazz markets on previous albums, Williams’ eighth studio release, Reality Killed the Video Star, reveals another side. It is an eclectic collection of ballads and upbeat dance tunes inspired by the music of the 70s and 80s. Technically, the record is well executed. Williams’ vocals are flawless, particularly when smoothly transitioning between modal voice and falsetto on the song “You Know Me.” The instrumentals, background vocals and harmonies are entertaining. From the intimate opening track “Morning Sun” to the witty wordplay of “Blasphemy,” Williams seems to have something to say. Other highlights include the flirty “Do You Mind” and the sentimental “Deceptacon.” Williams’ blast from the past is a pleasant addition to every music lover’s collection. — Joseph Bainbridge

sports ➤ P7

theGazette • TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 24, 2009

Mustangs Men’s Basketball Statistical Leaders Points Per Game

Field Goal Percentage

Andrew Wedemire — 16.3

Brett Lawrence — 57.9

Ryan Barbeau — 15.2

Ryan Barbeau — 55.4

Garrett Olexiuk — 11.7

David Harder — 51.4

Marcus Barnett — 10.5

Garrett Olexiuk — 46.8

Jason Milliquet — 9.2

Marcus Barnett — 45.7

Rebounds Per Game

3 Point Field Goals

Andrew Wedemire — 6.7

(min 10 attempts)

David Harder — 6.2

Ryan Barbeau — 7/12 . . .58.3%

Marcus Barnett — 6.0

Brett Lawrence — 6/14 . .42.9%

Garrett Olexiuk — 6.0

Marcus Barnett — 11/26 .42.3%

Ryan Barbeau — 2.7

Zack Angus — 5/13 . . . . .38.5% Piotr Angiel/Gazette

Jason Milliquet — 12/32 . .37.5%

DID YOU JUST FINSH WORKING OUT OR ARE YOU NATURALLY VEINY? Mustangs point guard Ryan Barbeau, 6, drives past Gaels point guard Baris Ondul, 5, with Bernard Burgesson, 7, in close pursuit. Barbeau finished with 24 points and 9 assists against the Gaels.

BY THE NUMBERS

46.6%… field goal percentage, second in the OUA

85 average points per game, third in OUA

68… average points per game by Mustang opponents, seventh in OUA

42.3%… 3 point FG percentage, second in OUA

4 Mustangs averaging over 10 points per game

4… Mustangs averaging 6 or more rebounds per game

37.6%… Mustangs’ opponents field goal percentage this season, 4th in OUA

28.5%… Mustangs’ opponents 3 point field goal percentage this season, 2nd in OUA

OUA Men’s Basketball Standings

Carleton Ottawa Toronto Ryerson Laurentian Queen’s York RMC

Pts 12 8 8 6 4 4 2 0

GP 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6

Record 6-0 4-2 4-2 3-3 2-4 2-4 1-5 0-6

Win % 1.000 0.667 0.667 0.500 0.333 0.333 0.167 0.000

PA 392 406 405 428 506 409 509 604

Last 10 6-0 4-2 4-2 3-3 2-4 2-4 1-5 0-6

Streak Won 6 Won 2 Won 2 Lost 1 Lost 2 Lost 1 Lost 2 Lost 6

OUA West Pts Lakehead 12 McMaster 10 Western 8 Windsor 8 Waterloo 6 Brock 4 Guelph 2 Laurier 2

GP 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6

Record 6-0 5-1 4-2 4-2 3-3 2-4 1-5 1-5

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Win % 1.000 0.833 0.667 0.667 0.500 0.333 0.167 0.167

PF 496 444 510 518 421 428 438 404

PA 419 388 410 434 404 461 465 469

Last 10 6-0 5-1 4-2 4-2 3-3 2-4 1-5 1-5

Streak Won 6 Won 3 Won 2 Won 1 Lost 2 Won 1 Lost 3 Lost 3

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HOW TO PLAY Fill in the grid so that every row, every column, and every 3x3 box contains the digits 1 through 9. Solving time is typically from 10 to 30 minutes, depending on your skill and experience. The Gazette publishes Sudoku puzzles with varying degrees of difficulty.

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After losing several key players off of last year’s squad that reached the National championships, the Mustangs are 4-2 to start the season. Here’s some of the pivotal team stats that have lead to their good start.

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Serving UWO for over 25 years Accepts Western One Meal Card

P8 TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 24, 2009

Sports

ON DECK: Women’s hockey... Wednesday

MUSTANGS MEN’S BASKETBALL

Mustangs net two victories on busy weekend RMC no match for Mustangs second stringers

Queen’s can’t stop Barbeau, Wedemire in loss

By Julian Mei

By James Hall

Gazette Writer

Gazette Staff

After the Mustangs men’s basketball team lost to Carleton — the number one ranked team in Canada — a matchup against the winless RMC Paladins was the perfect cure for their woes. The Paladins were over matched all game Friday evening, turning the ball over 18 times as Western cruised to a convincing 105-57 victory. Western started strong with a 17-4 run just four minutes into the game, causing RMC coach Scott James to call a time out to slow the Mustangs down. It worked only briefly, as Western finished the first quarter with a 29-10 lead. “We wanted to crush them early, so that the game would be over and [we could] get ready for tomorrow,” forward Andrew Wedemire, who leads the team averaging 16 points per game, said. He had 10 points and six assists in limited minutes as many starters came out of the game early in the second half. The big story of the first half was the Mustangs’ superb three-point shooting. Western hit 10 threepointers in the first half, accounting for over half of its 57 first half points. They would finish the game 16 of 28 from beyond the arc. “[Western’s] a very good team […] I’m not sure you can shut them down or keep them from getting those open looks. We were a little slow tonight so they had a lot of open looks,” James said. The sharp shooting from the perimeter was key as it also opened up opportunities for the Mustangs to score down low. Garrett Olexiuk, David Harder and Wedemire combined for 34 points and 18 rebounds. Many of the points came from either in the paint or on short jump shots. “The more [three-pointers] you’re able to make the more they are going to have to shade to the outside and we’re going to get better looks inside,” Mustangs head coach Brad Campbell said. The trio of Olexiuk, Wedemire and Harder also combined for seven of the team’s 12 offensive rebounds, giving the Mustangs more opportunities for second chance points. As a team, the Mustangs out-rebounded the Paladins substantially, nearly doubling them up on the glass 36-19, and winning the battle on the offensive boards 12-5. “Rebounding is a team effort, everyone has to box out […] Luckily the ball bounced our way a few times,” Olexiuk said. With the game almost sealed away, Western was able to give the bench some added playing time in the second half. Although RMC was able to generate a little more offence, the Mustangs reserves were still able to dominate, outscoring RMC 48-32 in the second half. Western had a balanced scoring attack with six players scoring in double digits. Rookie Zachary Angus led the way coming off the bench to score a season high 18 points, including 15 points from the three-point line. For RMC, the key was to refocus, put the game behind them and look at the few positives the night had to offer. “We have another game tomorrow so we’re going to forget about this game very quickly and get back to work,” James said. “Our freshmen players were battling hard against players who were much bigger and much faster […] That’s the kind of positive that you have to take out of this — that we didn’t give up tonight.” Despite RMC’s slow start, Western still knew this was a crucial game to get back on track and fix the problems they had against Carleton and Ottawa. “A win is a win. We’re [still] trying to work on some things,” Campbell said. “It’s an opponent that’s a bit down on their luck right now talent-wise, but we won this one and now we’ll move on and focus on tomorrow.”

After losing Ontario University Athletics championships in rugby and football to Queen’s, Western was due for a victory over their Kingston-based rivals. Despite a less than dominant performance, the Mustangs men’s basketball team was buoyed by an outstanding second half and clutch free throw shooting, leading to a scrappy 85-72 victory over the struggling Gaels. “I thought it was a win we needed to have,” Western assistant coach Matthew Tweedie said after the game. “We had a couple breakdowns but we have to be happy overall with a 13 point win.” Both teams came out of the gate flat. Western was non-existent on the glass getting out rebounded 10-5 in the first quarter, while Queen’s only shot 28 per cent from beyond the arch. The Mustangs took a narrow 41-40 lead into halftime, despite being dominated by Queen’s centre Mitch Leger, who had 14 points and seven rebounds, four of which were on the offensive boards. “He’s a beast,” Western centre Andrew Wedemire said of Leger. “He’s a tough match-up for a big guy [because] he shoots the ball so well.” The second half was a completely different story. Western opened the half energized and physical, kicking off the third quarter with a 12-1 run. Mustangs head coach Brad Campbell attributed the turnaround to improved rebounding. “I thought in the first half, we didn’t do a great job [rebounding], but in the second half we got more physical and limited their offensive rebounding. That was the difference,” he said. Wedemire answered the bell on both ends of the court for Western, limiting Leger to six points and one offensive rebound in the second half, while contributing 24 points and a perfect 14 of 14 from the free throw line. Wedemire was quick to commend the efforts of Mustangs point guard Ryan Barbeau, who tore up the Gaels’ defence with 24 points and nine assists in a game high 39 minutes. “He carries the load. Without him, we’re kind of lost on offence. We need him out there as much as possible,” Wedemire said. After the game Gaels assistant coach Duncan Cowan expressed his discontent with the officiating. “They shot 35 free throws, we shot 11,” Cowan said. “The whole game we hung around, but we were never really in it — that game was over in the first quarter.” Despite coming away with the victory, Campbell believes there is still room for improvement. “We have talent. We’ve got a lot of new guys and it’s going to take us a little bit of time, but we’re definitely improving. It’s the old cliché — if we just continue to get a little bit better each week, we’ll be successful,” he said. The Mustangs will look to improve upon their 4-2 record this Friday in Toronto against first team OUA allstar forward Boris Bakovic and his Ryerson Rams. Western takes on the Toronto Varsity Blues, the seventhranked team in the country, on Saturday.

Piotr Angiel/Gazette

THIS IS A PRETTY GOOD EXAMPLE OF HOW NOT TO PLAY DEFENCE. Mustangs guard Marcus Barnett, above, drives to the basket on a lay up attempt. Barnett scored nine points and grabbed six rebounds against the Gaels.

GARRETT OLEXIUK 3rd year Forward King’s College Burlington, ON

RYAN BARBEAU 3rd year Point Guard King’s College Belleville, ON

Vs RMC 18 minutes 14 points 3 rebounds 6 assists 6/9 field goal shooting

Vs Queen’s 39 minutes 24 points 9 assists 2 rebounds 4/5 3-point shooting

DAVID HARDER 2nd year Forward Arts Copenhagen, Denmark

ANDREW WEDEMIRE 4th year Forward Health Sciences Sarnia, ON

Vs RMC 21 minutes 10 points 9 rebounds 2 steals 4/7 field goal shooting

Vs Queen’s 32 minutes 24 points 8 rebounds 4 assists 14/14 free throws

Mustangs Men’s Basketball Upcoming Schedule Nov. 27 @ Ryerson . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Jan. 13 @ Guelph Nov. 28 @ Toronto . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Jan. 16 vs. Brock Jan. 3 vs. RIT . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Jan. 20 vs. Windsor Jan. 6 @ Windsor . . . . . . . . . . . . .Jan. 23 @ McMaster Jan. 9 vs. Laurier . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Jan. 27 vs. Waterloo