campus news - Digilog at UOIT and DC - DC-UOIT
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campus news - Digilog at UOIT and DC - DC-UOIT
NOVEMBER 21, 2006 VOLUME XXXIII, Issue 7 Smoking policy to be enforced By Pavan Sandhu Chronicle Staff Smokers escaping the school for a quick puff during their break might want to watch where they light up. Starting Nov. 20 a new no-smoking policy is in effect at Durham College and UOIT. Campus personnel will be patrolling the campus, to deter smokers away from building entrances and direct them to designated areas. The current campus policy states that smokers are prohibited from smoking within 10 metres of any college and university building entrance. There are signs posted outside entrances showing a cigarette with a red circle and a slash through it, accompanied by text that clearly states that smoking is prohibited except in designated areas. But many students choose to ignore the signs. This causes many problems for students, staff and faculty entering and leaving the school. It lets smoke into the school and exposes non-smokers to second-hand smoke. Second-hand smoke causes about 425 deaths in Ontario annually. It is also associated with heart disease, lung cancer, eye and nasal irritation and respiratory problems, according to the Ministry of Health. Katherine Lazenby is the director of Health Services at the campus. She has heard many complaints by non-smokers. “We have a problem enforcing the smoking policy, at both the college and university,” said Lazenby. “There have been complaints from employees and parents taking their kids to the Simcoe building daycare. We have also had complaints from people with disabilities and mobility issues and people with asthma. It’s mostly complaints about people smoking near doors.” Kathryn Goodman, who works at the Financial Aid Office, has asthma and is bothered by smokers huddling at entrances. “The smell of the smoke makes it hard to breathe,” she said. One area of the school that bothers her is the stairwell near the Marketplace. It is infested with the stench of smoke. Elke Schneider is an instructor in the School of Business and IT. Her office is located in room C125, right next to the entrances doors where smokers can be found puffing away. “The smoke is disgusting. I have to walk through smoke to get to some of my classes,” said Schneider. “They build places for them to smoke. Why don’t they smoke there instead of standing around doorways?” Photo by Pavan Sandhu BUTT BREAK: Starting Nov. 20, the campus non-smoking policy will be enforced. Students lighting up between classes will be asked to move from smoke-free areas. Deborah Kinkaid, the Campus Service Director for the college and university, is actively involved in taking steps to making the campus smoke-free. “We have a ton of entrances,” said Kinkaid. “We are going to target the main ones. Those are the places where the public is coming in.” In the past the school has tried many things to deal with smokers who ignore the policy. “We have tried painting a line on the entrances - it didn’t work,” said Kinkaid. “We even tried more signage – that didn’t work.” Catherine Hunter is a fourth-year student in science at UOIT. She is the team leader for Leave The Pack Behind, a smoking cessation program at the college and university. “Even with more signage, people are still smoking,” said Hunter. “The signs are not going to write you a ticket.” The Smoke-Free Ontario Act came into effect on May 31. This legislation prohibits smoking in workplaces and enclosed public places in Ontario. It includes restaurants, bars, schools, private clubs, sport arenas, entertainment venues, and work vehicles. As a result some post-secondary institutions in Canada have become smoke-free, including Dalhousie University in Halifax, Nova Scotia. In 2003 Dalhousie became the first university in Canada to prohibit smoking on all university-owned property. Bill Louch is the director of Environmental Health and Safety at the university. He is very happy that the school has become smoke-free. “I can now walk around my campus and not meet a smoker,” said Louch. “Before 10 out of 10 times you ran into a smoker.” Fines are not handed out but smokers are asked to comply with the rules. Smokers go off university grounds and onto the streets to smoke. “It shows we care about the health of the people on campus because we are keeping them away from second-hand smoke,” said Louch. Many colleges have a smoke-free environment policy in effect at the campuses, including: Seneca, Centennial, Humber and Mohawk College. Smoking is restricted to designated areas and is prohibited inside See SMOKING Page 21 Porn debate packs gym By Valene Nicholas and Amy Parrington Chronicle Staff Photo by Pavan Sandhu FULL HOUSE: Students filled the gym to hear porn star Ron Jeremy (top left) and pastor Craig Gross (top right) debate the morality of pornography. “Get your sex bags. They can’t guarantee sex, but they guarantee safe sex,” Student Association president Evan Muller-Cheng hollered to students outside the gym doors. On Nov. 8, Durham College and UOIT was the first Canadian campus to host the Porn Debate Tour, featuring legendary porn star Ron Jeremy and Craig Gross, founder of xxxchurch.com. At 11:25 a.m. the bleachers started filling up with eager students. By noon Muller-Cheng and UOIT vicepresident Travis Dutka quizzed the sardine-packed gym on their STD knowledge. A six-foot penis handed out prizes such as a leather-beaded spank, cock-ring and lubricant. Wearing a yellow T-shirt saying “Jesus loves porn stars”, Oshawa resident James Holt sat in the front row, showing support for Gross. Holt said porn is not uplifting and destroys relationships. “It’s a dirty little secret.” Students stood on tip-toe at the top of the stands, while others huddled together on the gym floor as Gross and Jeremy entered the debate zone. As a young pastor in South California, many of the teens in Gross’s youth group were addicted to pornography. It led him to create xxxchurch.com, the largest anti-porn website. The site has been running for four years and has received 60 million visitors since its creation in 2002. Gross and his team visit porn shows, speak at schools and provide online help to individuals wanting to kick the habit. “Many people watch porn by themselves,” Gross said, showing students that it is hidden and not talked about. He believes people have the freedom to watch or refrain from watching pornography, but that it’s important to be educated in the possible consequences of it. Gross received polite hand claps while strolling into the gym. Students yipped and hollered as Jeremy trudged into sight. Known as the biggest porn star in the industry, Jeremy has a repertoire of 1,800 adult films, bachelor degrees in theatrical arts and physi- cal education, an upcoming book release in 2007, and has appeared in various television shows such as The View, Nightline, The Surreal Life and The Chappelle Show. “More women complain that their men are addicted to sports than porn,” Jeremy said in rebuttal to Gross’s opening statement. According to Gross, one-third of U.S. divorces last year were porn-related. “It creates unreal expectations of what sex should be,” he said. “Porn’s not going to bring you closer, it’s going to rip you apart.” “These are unrealistic fantasies. Why are you blaming us?” Jeremy argued. He said it helps couples spice up their time in the bedroom and opens the door to creativity. Two microphones were placed in front of the debaters for students to challenge them. One student claimed porn could be used as an educational tool to promote safe sex. Jeremy and Gross completely disagreed, saying that children should not be exposed to pornography. “We do everything we can to prevent kids from seeing porn,” Jeremy said. Even though the industry See PORN Page 21 2 The Chronicle November 21, 2006 CAMPUS NEWS Students will remember By Pavan Sandhu Chronicle Staff Photo by Robert Sudak HELPING HANDS: These Durham students are three of several volunteers for the drive. Durham drives to feed needy By Robert Sudak Chronicle Staff Money is always tight when you’re a full-time student, but there are those who sometimes need a little extra help. In co-operation with S.H.A.R.E., The Student Association, The Kinsmen Club and Motorcity Saturn, on Nov. 14, students from Durham College and UOIT held a food drive at Simcoe Residence on the Oshawa campus. Fourteen volunteers, armed with four shopping carts on loan from Price Chopper, went to each of the four floors in residence and knocked on every door to collect non-perishable food items and donations. Phillp McNelles, project leader for the second year in a row and S.H.A.R.E treasurer, said he has confidence that enough students will volunteer their time this year to help out, because last food drive they had 70 to 80 students volunteer to help out at both residences. “All the food donated will be made into gift baskets and given to under-privileged students,” said McNelles. “Last year we had a turnout of 70 to 80 students to help collect food.” This year the food drive is split into three phases, the first at Simcoe residence, the second at South Village Residence on Nov. 16 and the last on Niagara Street on Nov. 21, said S.H.A.R.E. President and founder Naheed Dosani. It will be the first time this year that students will be going from house to house to collect non-perishable food items, and McNelles hopes for a great turnout of volunteers for this event. Students who wish to register for the gift baskets may go to the Student Association office located in the student centre. On the 11th day of the 11th month at the 11th hour we pause for a moment of silence, to honour those that fought in the First and Second World Wars, the Korean War and others since then. More than 1,500,000 Canadians served our country, and more than 10,000 have died, according to Veterans Affairs Canada. They gave their lives so that we could live in peace. The annual Remembrance Day ceremony took place on Nov. 10 at the Durham College, Oshawa campus gym. Wearing red poppies, students, faculty and staff came to pay their respects. Poppies are a symbol of Remembrance Day. They are worn every year as an act of remembrance. The ceremony began with a bagpipe processional. Dressed in traditional Scottish attire, Brian Donaldson played the bagpipes. It was followed by the singing of O Canada by Darryl Zuend. Barry Hodgins played the last post on the trumpet, followed by a minute of silence. In Flanders Fields was recited by members of the UOIT Zeta Psi Fraternity. Dressed in black suits, they marched in, and one by one recited a line from the poem. The Student Association held a contest this year that gave students a chance to showcase their artwork/ Photo by Pavan Sandhu PRES WITH A POPPY: UOIT president Dr. Ronald Bordessa addresses students, staff and faculty at the school’s annual Remembrance Day ceremony in the gym. poetry at the Remembrance Day ceremony. This year’s winner was Nadine Abdel-Hadi, who recited the poem Sacrifice. Ron Bordessa, president of UOIT, discussed the importance of Remembrance Day. “Together we gather to honour them for their sacrifices,” said Bordessa. “These heroes did this so that we could be free today. Our freedom today is because of their thoughts and actions.” Bev Balenko, vice-president of Academic Excellence, filled in for Leah Myers, the president of Durham College. “We are privileged to be living in a country that is free, all because people fought for us to be free,” said Balenko. “The number of veterans is getting less and it’s important to keep the memory going.” Murray Genoe, the associate dean and principal of Julian Blackburn College Trent University, discussed the importance of gathering every year on Nov.11. “Not only are we remembering our Canadian veterans but the world as well,” said Genoe. “Our veterans’ courage and dedication helped to make our nation what it is today.” Memorial Park procession By Chad Ingram Chronicle Staff Though it was cold and raining the morning of Nov. 11, about 2,000 people gathered in Oshawa’s Memorial Park for the city’s annual Remembrance Day ceremony. A parade commencing the event featured Oshawa’s military branches, scouts, guides, cadets, veterans and several marching bands, including that of the Oshawa Armoury. The procession made its way to the centre of the park, where it stood, swords drawn, flags waving, before the city’s newly renovated cenotaph. An opening prayer by Major Doreen Sturge of the Salvation Army praised the sacrifices of soldiers past and extended a special message to those currently serving in Afghanistan. After a seven-gun salute and a rendition of the national anthem, The Last Post sounded from a lone trumpet. Several grey-haired veterans could be seen wiping tears from their eyes. “There are few honours bestowed upon a mayor which bear greater responsibility than that of expressing a city’s gratitude, appreciation and heartfelt indebtedness to our nation’s veterans,” Mayor John Gray said from a podium at the foot of the cenotaph. “On this day of remembrance, the city of Oshawa is here, as now and forever, to convey to you, our war veterans and war brides, our Photo by Chad Ingram THE LAST POST: These WWII veterans stand together at the ceremony in Memorial Park. solemn pledge to your memory and legacy,” Gray said. The mayor stressed that society must learn from the past, so that history does not have to repeat itself. Oshawa MP Colin Carrie also spoke. “To you veterans, I thank you for portraying a living reminder of what our brave men and women face in times of war,” Carrie said. “I can only hope that our youth, our children, will look upon our cenotaph and reflect on the sacrifices that have been made for their freedom and their way of life.” He urged young people at the ceremony to talk to the veterans and ask about their stories. Oshawa MPP Jerry Ouellette took the podium too. “What we have achieved today is owed to those in days gone by,” he said. “We will remember.” These sentiments were echoed by Amanda Budd Whithead, a student of the Village Union School, who said she disliked the term “soldier”, preferring the word “hero” instead. She said that in April, her sis- ter is travelling to France for the 90th anniversary of the Battle of Vimy Ridge. Closing remarks from veteran and master of ceremonies Bill Davies followed a rendition of God Save the Queen. “I want to thank you all for coming out for the 11th hour, of the 11th day, of the 11th month,” Davies said. The ceremony ended shortly before noon. During the last century, approximately 116,000 Canadian soldiers have been killed in battle. The Chronicle November 21, 2006 3 CAMPUS NEWS College honours top students By Reka Szekely Chronicle Staff Almost 200 scholarships were doled out to Durham’s best students in each school at a ceremony on Nov. 9. The college has been giving out scholarships since 1973 and this year they totaled more than $140,000. About 400 staff, donors, students and their families turned out for the event. The gym was ringed by sitting areas and large pots of flowers, with billboards for every school listing the winners. College president Leah Myers addressed the crowd and pointed out that Durham has a tradition of excellence. “You are the most recent class of students who achieved a great deal,” she told the group. Both the students and administration thanked those who donated scholarships. “We always want you to remember that your donation makes a difference in many, many ways,” said Betty-Anne Blyth, student awards co-ordinator for the college. Two students addressed the crowd on behalf of all the scholarship recipients. John Slawecki, a third-year Business Administration and Accounting student, was one of them. He pointed out that the entire community benefits from excellence at Photo by Reka Szekely GIVING THANKS: Lincoln Hall thanks donors on behalf of all students for their gifts to the college. INSET: Valene Nicholas gets congratulated by nephew Jordan Jolicoeur. Durham. “For you donors who are employers in the region, you have a large pool from which to draw your future employees,” he said. Lincoln Hall, a third-year Business Administration and Human Resources student, also spoke. In an interview after the ceremony, Hall said he was humbled by being chosen for the Dr. Ronald J. Munro memorial award, which was voted on by the faculty in his program. “For me personally I hold faculty in high esteem,” he said. “There might be a bias there because I do have professors in my family, but for them to actually take the time from their busy day to say hey, this person is deserving of such an accolade, it’s something that I couldn’t fathom.” Hall said his plan for success includes simulating the work environment at school, arriving at 6:30 or 7 a.m. regardless of when classes start. Many of the awards had a story behind them. The Roger Pardy Memorial Award was created by Pardy’s widow, Nathalie, after her husband was killed during the Gagnon Sports robbery 12 years ago. “Her reason for doing that was because the Durham Region Police were so good to the family when this happened,” said Blyth. “The wanted to give something back to the community.” Second-year Police Foundations student Anita Poole won the award after working 40 a per week at GM and still finishing at the top of her class in her first year. “There’s many students who can work 40 hours a week and survive academically, but she shone academically and that’s the commitment the police are looking for,” said Detective Sergeant Herb Curwain of the Durham Regional Police, who sat on the committee that chose Poole. The award will provide some relief for Poole. “It’s a balancing act, and that’s why I was really surprised when I got this award because now I can take some time off,” she said. Community work earns Millennium award By Reka Szekely Chronicle Staff The campus community recognized some of its top scholars at a ceremony for the Millennium Excellence Awards recipients. Six students from Durham and three from UOIT each received a $4,000 scholarship from the Millennium Foundation that grants awards to students across the country. In addition to being excellent students, the award winners must be involved in their communities. At the Nov. 8 ceremony, Durham president Leah Myers said she was blown away by the opportunity to acknowledge the students. All the students gave a brief description of their community work and UOIT president Robert Bordessa told them he was struck by their modesty and said they had every reason to be proud. Durham students Karen Beharell, Jeffrey Cremasco, Stephen Hutchinson, Robert Lakics, Faustion Tuccia and Tracey Pounder received the award. At UOIT, Mehrdad Afroozpanah, Lindsey Forkun and Holly Pelvin were recognized. 2006 Durham College scholarship winners School of Applied Science and Technology Arnulfo Agustin Erin Boulton Jennifer Brady W. Patrick Broadbent Catherine Brown Nicole Brown Robert Brown Pablo Castro Marc Charest Sarah Chesebrough Adam Cochrane David Dean Alexander Debling Daniel Debling Adam Demeester Tammy Deshevy Thomas Duchene Trevor Fougere Terri Gibner Kyle Gill Jochen Heinemann Bryan Jeffers James Kobus Christopher Lambert Li He Dana Liddell Jennifer MacBurnie Jennifer Mansell Kevin Marshall Sarah Marshall David McQuigge Krzysztof Michalik Josh Montgomery Allan Nixon Amanda Poole Candice Quibell Jason Sommer Reinaldo Tan Josh Vreugdenhil Joel Walton Shuai Wei Lisa Weingust Simon Wheeler Nathanael Whitmarsh Daniel Wilson School of Business Jacob Binek Betsy Brown Jeremy Brush Katie Cook Roberto Curvo Natina Da Silva Amanda DaRocha Michelle Doble James Finbow Doug Gibson Matthew Gillette Julie Goffin Brian Gosselin Lincoln Hall Kim Holden Stephen Hutchinson Sarah Kydd Stephen Morrison Meaghan O’Leary Jana Robinson Tammy-Lynn Saunders John Slawecki Hao Sun Stacey Thompson Liliana Tuzi Prasanthan Vignarajah Caitlin Walter Devin Warren School of Career Development William Anthony Kelly Down Sophia Griffiths Barb Milligan Kelly O’Neill Sandra Rioux John Ross School of Communication Arts Melissa Charpentier Troy Elzner Lindsey Evanoff Chad Ingram Valene Nicholas Tracey Pounder Ashley Schofield Robyn Shaughnessy Laura Wright Sara Young School of Design Heather Anderson Mack Carruthers Adam Corby Jennifer Cranston Andrew Farrell William Irving Rasna Jaswal Jordan Kentris Krystle Lukosius Michael Miller Adam Shutsa Boban Stojanovski Teresa Van Belois Jane Wilson Adrian Wobito School of Information Technology Douglas DuQuesnay Cory Funk Derek Goreski Andrew Luxmore Ryan Miniato Jason Pirocchi Ryan Robar Michael Robinson Daniel Wallace Mark Wilton School of Integrated Studies School of Skilled Trades and Apprenticeships Stephanie Brown Kase de Jonge Bradley Deluca Robyn Finner Shane Habib Kristen Hunkin Wendy Kempton Michelle Makitra Tyler Martin Janice McLaren Will Mitchell Mandi Ozimek Tracey Philp Blaise Ratcliffe James Samis Casey Yantha Kaleb Beer Gary Cook Jeffrey Cremasco Ryan DaSliva Jamie Edmond Chris Gooding Benjamin Haight Jeffrey Hassanali Troy Hermsen Jolene Laflamme Rebecca Spencer Travis Stone Faustino Tuccia Daniel Weese School of Justice Jeremiah Baarbe Erin Britnell Linda Clarke-Peckham Ahmed Elhayek Christina Ewart Tammy Felskie Francine Fortier John Fourtounas Elizabeth Kiessling Robert Lakics Nicole Lilly Eleanor Nolan Anita Poole Beki Ylipelkola School of Emergency Services Karen Beharrell Matthew Southwell School of Health and Community Services Jacqueline Bartok Tricia Basler Janet Blackmore Eva Cisneros Cassandra Duncan Waldemar Gozdzik Katrina Grosklag Vanessa Koepke Cigi Manwell Holly Norwick Christina O’Connell Jacqueline Robinson Jennifer Robles Angela Sheridan Kristin Sommerville Vanessa Vella School of Continuing Education Melanie Baker 4 The Chronicle November 21, 2006 EDITORIAL Durham College-UOIT Chronicle Publisher: Robin Pereira Editor-in-Chief: Gerald Rose Ad Manager: Bill Merriott TO CONTACT US Newsroom: Room L-223; Ext. 3068 Advertising: Room L-220; Ext. 3069 E-mail: Chronicle.News@dc-uoit.ca Chronicle.Advertising@dc-uoit.ca Durham Lords lack attendance Durham College and UOIT produce some of the top provincial and national athletes and teams in a wide range of sports every year. However, our students just don’t seem to notice. Blood, sweat and tears are just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to the sacrifices our varsity athletes make to represent our schools. It takes much more than that to be a Lords or Ridgebacks varsity athlete. There long hours of practice, lost wages due to loss of working hours and difficulty keeping up with academic demands.Still our varsity athletes manage to be some of the best in the country winning many provincial and national championships. Our school is respected across the country as one of the top varsity sporting entities. The Lords just took home gold for fastball, baseball and women’s soccer at the provincial level and golfer Will Mitchell placed eighth at the World University and Colleges Championship.This year was also huge for varsity athletics as the UOIT Ridgebacks began Ontario Universities Athletic play in tennis and rowing, with hockey to follow next year. There are also hopes of launching a field lacrosse team. Through all these sporting breakthroughs our campus is still plagued by the major problem of a lack of student support. Angela Cull, sports information and marketing officer, said the Athletic Department has done everything from giving away cash prizes at basketball games to basketball coach Craig Andrews giving bonus marks to students who attend games. Despite these efforts and marketing strategies to get support, our students just won’t bite. It makes one wonder what else can be done to get support for our teams. It shouldn’t take the attendance of professional athletes and celebrities at games to fill the stands. Maybe students are just not aware of the games and when they are played. So how about starting the school year off with what students love most, a big sporting party like homecoming, where students can meet some of the athletes and coaches.We need to support our athletes and transform this campus into a community entertainment complex, a place where students, friends and families can go and watch top sports in quality facilities at a cheap price. By Jason Miller ditors: dvertising sales: E A Bruce Bolton, Chris Bracken, Allyson Brown, Andy Capps, Jessica Carere, Jennifer Domroes, Shannon Dossor, Keith Fernandes, Amanda Gauthier, Mike Gokdag, Marilyn Gray, Katherine Hardwick, Tania Harris, Elise Haskell, Caitlyn Holroyd, Chad Ingram, Byron Jung, Alicia MacDonald, Natasha Mackesey, Lauren Marks, Jason Miller, Andrew Moore, Jocelyn Nespiak, Valene Nicholas, Matt O’Brien, Steve Parker, Amy Parrington, Krystle Pereira, Ryan Peterson, Matt Pozzuoli, Pavan Sandhu, Robert Sudak, Reka Szekely, Luba Tymchuk, Mike Van Veen, Joshua Vanderstam he Chronicle is published by the School of Communication Arts of Durham College, 2000 Simcoe Street North, Oshawa, Ontario L1H 7L7, 721-2000 Ext. 3068, as a training vehicle for students enrolled in Journalism and Advertising courses and as a campus news medium. Opinions expressed are not necessarily those of the college administration or the Board of Governors. The Chronicle is a member of the Ontario Community Newspapers Association. T PUBLISHER: Robin Pereira EDITOR-IN-CHIEF: Gerald Rose FEATURES EDITOR: Virginia Colling ADVERTISING PRODUCTION MANAGER: Kevan F. Drinkwalter Paul Aitken, Melissa Annesley, Shannon Blundell, Sally Bouorm, Nicole Bowden, Jennifer Bradley, Skyler Bristol, Ursula Brum, Melissa Charpentier, Ashley Cooper, Amanda De Souza, Monica Debreceni, Nara Devere-Bennett, Maria Di Carlo, Erin Dickenson, John Dowds-Hotts, Shannon Forestell, Amber Foss, Alexander Gillam, John Gravelle, Jason Grimsditch, Crystal Hache, Elizabeth Hopper, Vivien Ilett, Shannon Kadoski, Ricky Lionetti, Ian Lafleur, Caitlin Macminn, Jennifer Maguire, Andrew Martin, Kelley Martin, James McMurtrie, Sean Mensour, Ashan Mirza, Adrian Monaco, Steven Moore, Jenna Myers, Michelle Obradovic, Adam Pashka, Ryan Paul, Carly Price, Micheal Quinto, Kathleen Rodrigues, Bonnie Shames, Cheryl Silva, Ana-Monica Simionescu, Ian Todd, Laura Wright, Tanya Wright OPINION EDITOR: Tony Doyle PHOTOGRAPHY EDITOR: Al Fournier AD MANAGER: Bill Merriott TECHNICAL PRODUCTION: Darren Fisher The Chronicle November 21, 2006 5 OPINION Durham College-UOIT Chronicle MSN leader in communication ({) (L) ;) (YN) A lot of information can be acIf you understand those symbols, cessed by a simple e-mail address. then you are like the millions of othThe persons MSN profile can er MSN-aholics who depend on the contain a last name, pictures, adInternet-based messaging service as dress information, and depending a primary mean of on how loose communication. the person is MSN meswith informasenger has been tion, a phone Matt around for more number. than a decade, and That’s a pant O’Brien is presently one load of informaof the most used tion, and can instant messaging be dangerous programs floating in the wrong around the web. These days it’s more hands. common to ask for an MSN contact It’s true, talking to an individual than a phone number when talking on MSN is much easier and less to that attractive beer goggled female formal than talking on the phone you met at pub on Wednesday. And or in person, but that simplicity of tell me you haven’t heard someone conversation is making face-to-face say, “Oh man that’s hilarious! This is conversation an endangered spetotally gonna be my MSN name.” cies. Now I’m not saying I don’t also leave my computer on all day with my MSN status on away in hopes that someone left me a message, or sign onto MSN immediately in busy mode and stare at the screen to see if anyone wants to talk, I just think that we as a society are walking down a path to simpler less meaningful communication. There’s a well-known statistic stating that 90 per cent of communication is non-verbal. How are you supposed to pick up on those non-verbal emotions like eye contact, facial and body movements, smell, and even speech variations like sarcasm by staring at a blinking cursor and some text? Dan says: What’s up man!? Carl says: Nothing, I just had the best day of my life…you? Is your sarcasm radar picking up any bogeys? How would you know Carl was being sarcastic unless Dan asked? As a student I’ve even witnessed classmates using MSN to communicate with people directly in front of them. Talk about avoiding verbal communication… but try and not talk about it on MSN. A study of 1,100 adults by King’s College in London, England, states that constant e-mail use and instant messaging temporarily reduces ones IQ by 10 points. That is double the amount of points lost by smoking pot, or missing a night’s sleep. I don’t even want to know what the effects are on an under-slept, stoned college student chatting on MSN-OMFG. Spelling is also a victim when it comes to instant messaging. With the speed of MSN conversations most users fail to check spelling and bad spelling can become a bad habit. Jst think if this terriably spelt sentense made it in-to a schoool essay or say;…a school newspapar. LOL A main perk about MSN is the ease of ending a conversation rather than face-to-face. By simply faking a bowl movement a conversation can be ended with one contact, and continued with another contact. So when it comes to chatting with friends or meeting new people, try and break away from the glow of a computer screen and try chatting face to face or over the phone. An old-fashioned coffee date might be so much fun it could send you ROTFLOL. Iron Maiden’s new Deal or No Deal album is powerful on reality gaming To put out 25 albums and still be able to allow head bangers to let their hair down and twirl it gloriously is a feat only Iron Maiden is capable of. Its latest record, A Matter of Life and Death is another classic that will sit nicely among Brave New World, Fear of The Dark and 1982’s Number of The Byron Beast. Politically Jung driven in many ways, lead singer Bruce Dickinson expresses emotional lyrics fuelled by America’s war and the many struggles that come about because of it. The classic medieval rock and roll sound that is pounded out by a harmony of screaming guitars, a devastating bass and eccentric drum-roles is just as vibrant as it was 26 years ago. The sound cannot be mistaken for any- thing less than powerful. The presence and presentation in each carefully orchestrated guitar solo is still perfect. Track 3 on the album is a prime example of a heavy metal masterpiece. Brighter Than A Thousand Suns displays Maiden’s ability to lyrically move you to a time where literature was of utmost importance. Musically the song embarks on the trail of a universal sound of riveting solos and heavy drum kicks. Through the years Maiden has evolved and it’s noticeable in the song writing. They may not sing about demons and beasts these days or have the same “Eddie” driven lyrics like they once did on Number of The Beast, but the song writing ability that made them bigger than Fat Albert on a model’s catwalk is still evident in A Matter of Life and Death. You either love it or hate it A show that involves everybut reality television has been one around - that is the case exciting couch potatoes ever with Deal or No Deal. Hey, it since the first island show, the even has a simple name. one where they get voted off. Last spring, 1.5 million of Now, like all eras of TV, a us were glued to the television bigger plot because of has arrived this new where you breed of Bruce choose game/reyour fate ality show. Bolton randomly The best through part about a simple it is that it game. Inis coming stead of watching people to Toronto and now all of us whisked off for a tropical ad- have a chance to play. That venture, pimping out their is if you want to sign your life belongings, or celebrities liv- away to the 16-page applicaing the life, we can now watch tion on the Global website. the average human open Deal or No Deal isn’t the only briefcases and make deals show that has been entertainwith bankers. ing primetime viewers. Other shows involving high risks with money one never had have too. Shows such as 1 versus 100, Cash Cab and the Rich List, are providing there is nothing better then money. There is something about a good show that makes you watch it. It may be the exciting moments, the awkward weird reality part or the times where we can cheer on others we don’t even know. These shows get viewers and are multiplying like never before. Sure there will be a time when the world gets sick of these shows but that time is not now. This day and age many still love to get their entertainment by bringing strangers, much like themselves, into their living rooms. Environment is prevalent issue As an issue in Canadian politics, nadians support the Kyoto Protothe environment is gaining momen- col. Unfortunately, Prime Minister tum. Stephen Harper’s Conservatives do A recent survey by the CBC not. shows that while Harper tried health care reto divert attenmains the numtion from the Reka ber one issue for issue by introCanadians, the ducing his Clean Szekely environment is Air Act, which now ranked secwould see greenond and rising house targets for since the last fed2050 when emiseral election. sions are to be cut by 45 to 65 per Climate change is no longer a cent from 2003 levels. This amounts theoretical possibility buried in to committing Ottawa to nothing as weekend science sections of popu- it’s impossible to predict what the lar newspapers. It’s front page news. political landscape will be like in the Poll after poll shows that most Ca- next 40 or so years. Would Canadians accept income tax savings targeted for 2050? Health-care transfer payments to be received by 2050? A plan for military victory in Afghanistan by 2050? If Harper thinks the environment is an issue he can bypass with some slight of hand legislation, he’s sorely mistaken. Not only are all the opposition parties united in deriding the Clear Air Act, but the CBC survey also shows that 71 per cent of Canadians don’t think the government’s plan is tough enough. The environment, and specifically climate change, is a tricky issue to navigate for Harper’s Conservatives because there’s a disconnect between what the general public wants and what big business wants. When average Canadians consider climate change, they don’t have the powerful auto industry rushing to their homes to change their minds. Canada had the opportunity to be a world leader on environmental issues at the United Nation’s climate change convention in Nairobi last week. But instead the Conservatives chose to put our country on the defence, justifying our flimsy policy to the rest of the world. Meanwhile opposition parties and delegations from provinces such as Quebec are forced to run around reassuring the international community that Environment Minister Rona Ambrose doesn’t actually reflect the views of most Canadians. Frankly, it’s embarrassing. Still, at least Ambrose is going to the meeting. Harper is ducking his counterparts in Europe and refusing to attend a summit in Finland, most probably because climate change is on the agenda. But he can’t side-step the issue forever. The Conservatives can’t pass the Clean Air Act as it is without a non-confidence motion. Although many Canadians are leery of another election, they may put up with one for the sake of the environment. If Harper chooses to ignore our burning planet, then he will get burned at the polls. 6 The Chronicle November 21, 2006 CAMPUS NEWS Photo by Valene Nicholas CELEBRATION: a student admires the essays displayed in the lower level of the library. Photo by Valene Nicholas TIMOTHY CHOW: won first prize for his photography. International stories displayed By Valene Nicholas Chronicle Staff Canada, along with 85 other countries, celebrated International Education Week on campuses around the world from Nov. 13 to 17. To commence the week’s celebration at UOIT, the International Office held a photo essay contest for international students. More than 20 students packed into the lower level of the library. They awaited contest results while seated in front of the wall glass display. Of 187 students only 14 submitted photos, which will be on exhibit for the rest of the academic year. “It’ll be like a little cultural gallery,” said Kellie Newberry, International Student adviser. Also, Newberry hopes to add to the collection artifacts that students brought from their countries. She said the office decided to hold this contest so the campus can learn more about international students. “The students have amazing backgrounds and amazing stories,” Newberry said. The Erwang Temple in Chengdu, South China, hippopotamuses bathing in the Masai Mara River in Kenya, two young smiling faces in front of Egyptian pyramids and more magnificent snapshots were accompanied by essays explaining the sites or telling tales of times spent at these places. Carlo Rammouz, a third-year Engineering student, could not return to his home in Lebanon last August because of the Israel-Lebanon conflict. His photo submission, The Cedar Revolution, showed thousands of Lebanese civilians protesting against Syrian occupation in March 2005. Rammouz said the people were chanting together for freedom, sovereignty and independence, no matter if they were Christian, Druze or Muslim. “On that day the Lebanese people realized that united they stand, but divided they fall,” Rammouz said. The protest marked the one-month anniversary of the assassination of Prime Minister Rafik Hariri, when 21 were killed and hundreds wounded in the car bomb attack. Rammouz was not at the demonstration, but feels the photos capture the passion of the people in attendance. “It’s a beautiful country. I hope to retire there,” Rammouz said. Third-year Accounting student Timothy Chow won first prize with his pictures from Hong Kong. This past summer Chow returned to Hong Kong to visit his parents, one brother and other relatives for the first time in three years. “Geographically Toronto and Hong Kong are far apart,” said Chow. “Emotionally to me, the two places feel even further apart, as if they were different planets.” During his return flight to Canada, Chow snapped a photo of a United Airlines snack box. The word enjoy was capitalized in yellow, on the dark coloured box. As he stared at the word, memories of his visit and thoughts from the last time he left his country flooded through his mind. Both times when flying across the Pacific Ocean tears streamed down his face, but for different reasons. His first departure he cried tears of sorrow, already missing his home. His recent departure brought of tears of joy, as he realized the opportunity he has to study in Canada, the diversity he’s experienced and his dreams for the future. “I’d love to work in Canada,” said Chow. After graduation he hopes to find employment in Toronto, Montreal or Ottawa. Chow was awarded one-night accommodations in Toronto, two tickets to the Art Gallery of Ontario and a $40 dinner voucher for his submission Enjoy - Moments of Reminiscence. Second-and third-prize winners were not present. Viola Mugamba submitted a photo capturing three generations of her family at Fort Portal, Uganda. Mugamba’s grandmother stood between her and an aunt, clothed in a suka. The purple and gold dress is traditional clothing from the Batooro tribe. Mugamba Saving lives with a gift won a dinner for two at the Mandarin Restaurant. Viviane Rutabingwa also submitted a photo from Uganda, containing nine smiling faces dressed in Ugandan national clothes. “Culture is a celebration of who we are, what we stand for and what we are proud to be,” she stated in her essay. Rutabingwa admires the picture because each person present has a different skin colour. She said it’s the love of culture that unites people. Rutabingwa received an AMC gift certificate for two. The International office purchased the prizes, however the staff did not judge the submissions. To avoid any bias, Newberry requested that the registrar’s office choose the winners. “They were very touching,” Newberry said in regards to the submissions. Students are encouraged to visit the gallery to read about the photos representing heritage, pride and unity in nations around the world. Food and toy drive By Tania Harris By Matthew James Pozzuoli Chronicle Staff Every minute of every day, someone in Canada needs blood. That someone could be a loved one, a friend, a co-worker or even you. On Nov 24, Durham College will be hosting a blood donor clinic in the gymnasium for students and faculty to give the gift of life. Canada’s need for blood has increased by 10 per cent since 1981 and the donation level has plummeted to an all-time low of 3.5 per cent. “ Next year Canada will require 800,000 units of blood to be donated,” says John Bromley, a media spokesperson Canadian Blood Services. “ It is a civic responsibility of Canadians to make at least one scheduled visit to a clinic.” A single donation of 450 ml can save up to three lives from cancer, an organ transplant or a car accident. A scheduled appointment, drinking lots of water, eating high iron vegetable and a good night’s rest is all a person needs to be eligible to donate blood said Bromly. There are 3,000 clinics held yearly in central Ontario. “ We try to make donating blood easy and by offering many clinics in many different locations, I think we accomplish that” Says Bromly. To find out more information, contact 1-8882-DONATE (36-62830) or visit the website at www.bloodservices.ca Chronicle Staff The Student Association is helping to bring food to tables and gifts to awaiting children by holding a food and toy drive event at Durham College and UOIT. The event started on Nov. 13 and ends Dec. 6. CAMPUS NEWS The Chronicle November 21, 2006 7 Loving sex at E.P. Taylor’s Wrapping up sex week with a party at Durham By Krystle Pereira Chronicle Staff From free sex products to explicit images on large television screens, the Student Association wrapped up sex week on campus with the famous sex pub at E.P. Taylor’s. After the huge turnout at the porn debate featuring porn legend Ron Jeremy, staff at E.P. Taylor’s and the Student Association turned the pub into an all-out sex party with music, products and adult films to create a sensual, erotic atmosphere. The event began at 9 p.m. After security checked to make sure guests were at least 19, small white envelopes with a condom and lubri- Photo by Krystle Pereira SEXY: From left, Andrea Furo, Stephanie Kidd and Erica White take a moment and pose for the camera. Students celebrated sex week with music and porn at E.P. Taylor’s. cant were given as a souvenir. It wasn’t until shortly after 10 p.m. that the pub slowly began to fill up with students and their guests eager to see what the sex pub was really all about. Long black and white tapestries were draped across the pipes and polls along the ceilings. Red sheets hung on the walls and balloons shaped like a man’s favourite body part were spread across the floors. Once the crowd grew larger, the music became louder and the television screens changed from sports to explicit adult film clips. The dance floor slowly filled with both sexes mingling and taking in the wide va- riety of hip-hop and R & B. Martina Viduka and Taegan Gardener walked around in black skirts and high heels to promote and give out samples of the new snake peel body wash from Axe. “Axe is all about how dirty boys get clean,” said Viduka. “It’s sexy so it relates to the sex pub. It all falls in Educating students on sex By Pavan Sandhu Chronicle Staff line.” While some students admit they came because the sex pub had no cover charge, others said that from recent experience the pub seems to get a little out of control because males are trying to pick up and bring home females. Ken Swan, assistant bar manager at E.P. Taylor’s, supports the sex pub. “This pub is one of the biggest out of all of them. Probably because the word sex is in the title,” said Swan. He did say that any pub is capable of getting out of control but there is always enough staff to handle everything well. Throughout the evening $800 worth of sex toys and gift certificates to sex stores were given away. Although ladies crowded the room men’s eyes peeled to the big screens, the night was all about creating sexual awareness and promoting safe sex. Jim Kasprzak, assistant bar manager at E.P. Taylor’s, appreciates the message being sent as a result of the sex pub, but never hesitates to be honest. “When students go home after tonight they’ll definitely be having sex,” said Kasprzak. Snow Ball By Tania Harris Chronicle Staff Sex with an Evian bottle is not a good idea. Sperm is high in protein. You can get pregnant if you have sex while on your period. These were the answers given by a group of sex educators who go by the name of sexperts at a presentation on Nov. 7 in the cafeteria. The Sexual Health and Resource Centre will open its doors this month and the Student Association kicked off sexual awareness week with the sexperts from Queen’s University. Sexperts are a group of volunteers who provide information about sexual health, sell non-prescription safe sex items and do teachings on residence. Many areas related to sexual health were covered, including: the proper way to put on a condom, sex toys for males and females, the best battery to use for vibrators, sex toy cleaners and STDs. It was very interactive and students were given prizes for asking questions. What is lube? Was a question asked by an audience member, to which a sexpert replied, “It is not Vaseline, is not vegetable oil and is not peanut butter.” They showed a variety of sex toys, one of them being a suspicious-looking flashlight. This male pleasure toy intrigued many. “It comes in a variety of colours and is made from cyber skin,” said sexpert Rob Hiseler. The sexperts cautioned users of cock rings about the dangers of prolonged use. “If you leave it on for too long it can damage the penis,” said Hiseler. Scott Toole, events programmer from the Student Association thinks it’s important to have the sexperts talk with the students at the cam- It’s time to celebrate. Starting at 6:30 p.m. on Nov. 30 the Student Association will be holding a Snow Ball event. This event is a semi-formal dance, giving students a chance to dress up and celebrate the end of the semester in style. Tickets, sold in the Tuck Shop, are $15 per student and $25 for couples. The dance will be held at Sikorski Hall in Oshawa. There will be a meal provided. It’s party time By Natasha Mackesey Chronicle Staff Photo by Pavan Sandhu SEXPERT: Kat Heintzman, a sexpert from Queen’s University, talks about sexual health. pus. “If the students have any questions, they can get answers,” said Toole “It’s important because the centre is opening.” Morgan Vanek has been a sex- pert for four years. “I like to come and do presentations like this,” said Vanek. “It’s just as important to come talk with women because they are hesitant to talk about it.” Adam Morrison has been a sexpert for two years. “Its great to work with a group of people who are open-minded and who care about sexual health,” he said. It’s time for a sports celebration at E.P. Taylor’s! It’s been a long season for the sports teams of Durham College and now it’s time to celebrate with a special pub night. Durham will be holding an Intramural Team Special pub night on Nov. 20, and Nov. 21 at 6 p.m. “All intramural teams will be given a free team platter,” says Will Ellis, Student Centre manager. Also, all money spent by the team at this event will be tacked on those nights, and at the end of the season 10 per cent of all the team’s spending will be awarded to the team. 8 The Chronicle November 21, 2006 CAMPUS NEWS Students struggle for education By Amy Parrington Chronicle Staff CHAAAA-CHINGGGG! The cost of books, parking, tuition fees, supplies, and residence fees add up to a large chunk of change. Higher education anyone? For many students, the rising cost of tuition tops their list of financial worries. In the early 1990s, tuition rose by more than 15 per cent a year at Canadian universities. Tuition fees have tripled since 1990’91, and the number of students who now qualify under new OSAP criteria has been reduced by 40 per cent. So how bad are tuition fees for students? According to Statistics Canada, the average tuition for a university undergrad in 2006 was $4,347. On top of that there are other expenses that depend on the institution, the province it is in, the program of study and where the student resides. Canada has 806,000 full-time university students and 900,000 fulltime college students, according to the Association of Universities and Colleges of Canada. Generally college students pay less for post-secondary education than university students. Tuition fees are set up by each college and range from $1,800 to $3,300 for an eight-month academic period. In addition to tuition there are ancillary fees, which are compulsory for all students. Durham College students are required to pay $500, and UOIT students pay $550 in ancillary fees, an increase over 2005-‘06 due to higher student enrolment. These fees help pay for building projects and student activities. For example, from 2004-’09 Durham and UOIT students will have collectively contributed $1 million for the campus library, through mandatory ancillary fees, according to a Durham College press release. Students also voted in favour of a fee increase two years ago to help pay for the expansion of the athletic complex. Added to the ancillary fee is the $95 fee from the Student Association (SA). “The SA fees are incorporated into the Student Association’s working budget for the academic year and help pay for school activities,” said SA president Evan Muller- Cheng. These fees add up quickly. Many students struggle to meet the necessary payments for post-secondary education. Often, students are given no other option but to take out a bank loan or apply for Ontario Student Assistant Program (OSAP). In 2002, only 130,687 students received government money, compared to 212,189 students in 1995. This decrease occurred despite a significant increase in enrolment over the same period, according to the Ontario Undergraduate Student Alliance (OUSA). Many students are denied funding based on strict eligibility. The number of students who now qualify under the new OSAP criteria has been reduced by 40 per cent compared to the number of students in 1995, according to The Canadian Federation of Students. Due to increasingly tough government regulations OSAP denies funding to students who are not considered to have financial need, students who are involved in programs not recognized under OSAP, students who are taking less than 60 per cent of a full course load, students who have credit problems or previous OSAP loans that have not been paid back, and students who do not receive parental support. Students’ whose parents are unable or unwilling to provide support project an obvious financial need. Unfortunately, many are rejected on a loan appeal, because the OSAP system assumes parents will support their children to the full extent of their abilities. Forty-six per cent of students receive support from their parents, according to OUSA. “I applied for OSAP because without it I would not have been able to afford to go to school,” said Courtney Collier second-year Electronics Engineering Technology student at Durham. Collier does not receive parental support and needed the assistance of an OSAP loan. Collier said immediately after she completed her OSAP application she received an approval notice. “Once school started it took about three weeks to get my money after signing the forms and waiting for the government to send it,” said Collier. Another problem students face is a lack of adequate funding from OSAP. Currently, the maximum OSAP award for a 34-week school year is $11,900. OSAP bases each assessment on the student’s assumed resources rather than their educational costs, according to the financial aid and awards web site. The Canada Millennium Scholarship Foundation estimates that a student living away from home will need approximately $14,512 annually, while students who live at home will need $9,088. Part-time employment is often the only way students are able to pay for tuition if they are denied a loan or received an inadequate one. Students who receive OSAP are allowed to make $1,700 during the academic year. Once these amounts are exceeded, the funding decreases. “I was lucky. OSAP did not limit me too much due to my mother’s income or my part-time job,” said Collier. Sutandy Morrison, a financial aid officer at Durham and UOIT, said that the difficulty of getting an OSAP loan is a misconception. “Even though there are different requirements from a bank loan, OSAP loans are not difficult to receive. They just have another application approach,” said Morrison. According to statistics from the accounting office, over 2,300 Durham College students and 1,900 UOIT students applied for OSAP for the 2006-‘07 academic year, an increase from the 2005-‘06 school year. Last year fewer than 2,000 Durham College students and just over 1,300 UOIT students submitted an OSAP application. Follow the yellow brick road By Jocelyn Nespiak Chronicle Staff Remember the ruby red slippers? Dorothy’s house uprooted in a storm and it carried for miles, finally landing in Munchkin Land. It crushed the wicked witch of the west and ultimately saved the Munchkins. The ruby red slippers were given to Dorothy by Glinda, the good witch of the north. These help Dorothy find her way home. But what happened before the storm? A new musical, Wicked, presents the untold story of the witches of Oz, a prequel. The Student Association at Durham College and UOIT is inviting students Dec. 7 to watch the performance at the Canon Theatre in Toronto. Tickets are $30 for students and $40 for guests. The bus leaves at 6:30 p.m. The Chronicle November 21, 2006 CAMPUS NEWS CERT to the rescue on campus By Pavan Sandhu Chronicle Staff First there was Superman, then there was Batman. Beginning this term a new team of super heroes are taking over. They are the Campus Emergency Response Team (CERT). Dressed in a red shirt with the CERT symbol engraved on the sides they provide medical response to Durham College and UOIT. The six-person team is led by Robert Nayer, a UOIT Business Commerce student. “It’s a complete student-run initiative,” said Nayer. “Our team motto is a safer campus is a better campus.” This is the first year for CERT operations. The vision started two summers ago after Nayer heard about the CERT program from his co-workers while working at Ontario Place. He decided he wanted the CERT program implemented at the school. “I always had a interest in the first aid field and the health care profession,” said Nayer. “I get to combine business skills with health care. It’s a great learning opportunity.” CERT will be partnering with St. John ambulance, and two Emergency Medical Service paramedics will be volunteering their services to do the training. “It’s pretty much everything paramedics do without the drugs,” said Nayer. “We use a vast majority of the Photo by Pavan Sandhu HEROES ON CAMPUS: The CERT team show emergency response skills at a demonstration on campus. Team members include, from left: Josh Sheppard, Jeremiah Baarbe, Robert Nayer and Erin Ritchie. equipment the paramedics use.” Cert members are trained in an array of emergency situations such as extracting people from car accidents, spinal injury management, airway management, and oxygen therapy. CERT members will be distinguishable by their red shirt with the CERT logo engraved on the left breast, a St. John logo on the left sleeve and a star on the back of the shirt. They also provide services to events on campus. CERT were at Campusfest, the first-year orientation, the pub nights and convocation. In the future the plan is to have 24/7 coverage for this campus and 9 operating hours at the Whitby campus. The school has provided about $45, 000 in funding for the CERT program for the first year to cover all the training and equipment. “It will be beneficial to have the team on campus,” said Nayer. “The response rate will be faster. Any reduction in response time saves lives.” Katherine Lazenby, director of Health Services on campus, thinks it’s important to have the program at the campus. “We have health services but they are not responding to emergencies because they are running a clinic,” said Lazenby. “We need another quick way to respond. Security is already busy- we need someone on campus that is free,” Kevin Pahor, a first-year student in Forensic Science, joined CERT because he wanted to make a difference in the school community doing something that he enjoys. Pahor has been practising firstaid for the last five years. Last summer he worked as an assistant aquatic director training and supervising a team of about 20 lifeguards to manage a local beach. Over the years he has handled a number of emergencies from a small nosebleed to a suspected spinal injury victim. The CERT program is already active on 21 other campuses, including eight colleges in Ontario. “It has worked on other campuses,” said Lazenby. “It’s a good student initiative. It gives them experience.” Raising money and awareness for a cure Curling for spinal cord injury awareness By Shannon Dossor Chronicle Staff It’s the first end, the lead throws the stone where the skip says to. As the stone makes it to the house there are people sweeping, and depending on the strategy they may bump, take-out, draw or peel. Wait… what? The third annual Sports Administration Bonspiel is being held on Nov. 25 at the Oshawa Golf and Curling Club. According to Laura smith, a former Sports Administration student, a bonspiel is a curling event, where 12 groups of curlers get together and play for the day. The third-year Sports Administration students are running the event, along with Smith. “Anyone and everyone at any skill can play,” said Smith. “If you’ve never played before, that’s great. It’s all just for fun and raising money. It’s not competitive.” The event goes from 9 a.m. until 8 p.m. and all curlers are fed breakfast, lunch and dinner. “At the first bonspiel we raised $3,000, and the second year we raised $5,000,” said Smith. “This year our goal is $8,000-$10,000.” All of the money that is raised is split 50/50 between Shoot for a Cure and the Sports Management Leadership Camp. Shoot for a Cure is a campaign of the Canadian and American Spinal Research Organizations (CASRO). Their goals are to raise spinal cord injury awareness, as well as research it and find a cure. At the event there will also be live and silent auctions, a raffle and prizes. So, if an end, rink and peel make sense, or if those words just cause a headache, everyone is welcome, as long as they register ahead of time. 10 The Chronicle November 21, 2006 CAMPUS NEWS Perspectives on post-Castro Cuba By Pavan Sandhu Chronicle Staff He wears military-style uniforms and has held the title of President of Council of State and President of Council of Ministers since 1976. Some describe him as a dictator and an enemy others call him a friend and a leader. He is Fidel Castro. Students, professors and lecturers came together on Nov. 9 to discuss Castro and the special relationship that Canada has shared with Cuba for the last 50 years. Professor Robert Wright from the History department at Trent University hosted the lecture. Dr. Lana Wylie, a professor of politics at McMaster University, opened the night with her view on Canadian-Cuban relations. “Cuba is an important market for Canadian goods,” said Wylie. “This is one area we don’t compete with the U.S.” Since 1961, the United States has adopted an isolation policy. While it broke all ties with Cuba, Canada did the opposite and in the absence of the U.S. has emerged as one of the top trading partners and investors in Cuba. Canada is one of Cuba’s leading tourist markets. Canadians have far exceeded tourists coming from other countries, including Spain, France, Italy and Germany, according to a paper prepared for the Study of the Cuban Economy in 2005. The main airport in Cuba, Varadero, was built by a Quebec company. Canadian companies also supply equipment to hotels and airports in Cuba. Photo By Pavan Sandhu CASTRO LECTURE: From left to right, Professor John Kirk, Dr. Lana Wylie, Mark Entwistle and Dr. Wayne Smith gathered to lecture on Canadian-Cuban relations and Cuba, post-Castro. John Kirk, a professor from Dalhousie University and co-author of The Other Good Neighbour Policy, discussed the positive history that Canada has had with Cuba. “We have normal relations with Cuba,” said Kirk. “We have voted against the U.S. embargo.” “Because we live next door to the U.S. we think our relations are abnormal. We have disagreements but we agree to disagree,” said Kirk. Since 1945, Canada has had a strong relationship with Cuba. Castro even shared good relations with Canadian leaders in the past. He was a close friend of former Prime Minister Pierre Elliot Trudeau. At Trudeau’s funeral in 2000 Castro was an honorary pallbearer. Prime Minister Jean Chrétien visited Cuba in 1998. He was the first prime minister to do so since Trudeau’s visit in 1976. DC grads highly employable By Amy Parrington Chronicle Staff “Hopefully if I do well, my placement will offer me a position after graduation.” Shane Greeley, a second-year Computer Systems Technology student at Durham, hopes to find fulltime work through placement. With Durham’s good reputation, finding a perfect job will be anything but difficult. Durham College is the number one college in the Greater Toronto Area for the seventh year in a row, and stands first for graduate employment, according to the results of Key Performance Indicators (KPI) tests released in April 2006. For students in post-secondary education, years of studying, working hard on assignments and achieving good grades is important, especially if their intentions are to find a job immediately after graduation. The KPI report shows that 92 per cent of employers were very satisfied with how prepared Durham graduates are, and 87 per cent of those graduates were working within six months of graduating. Elaine Vollett, executive director for the Centre for D.R.E.A.M.S, a centre for adults with intellectual disabilities in Ajax, said the placement students she works with are well prepared for their field. According to the career and em- ployment services job site, placement is responsible for 19 per cent of post-graduation careers. Vollett said she has hired two placement students immediately after graduation, and will continue to hire students. “I will always be willing to hire students after their placements because they are so full of energy and enthusiasm,” said Vollett. “Also, as an employer, you invest a lot of time assisting students and educating them on your policies, procedures, mission, vision and core values. If they have been eager to learn and participate as a student they are an asset to your business.” Kristi Gould, who graduated from Durham College’s Business Administration Marketing program in April 2006, said she found a job immediately after graduation. “I found my job after about a month of searching,” said Gould. “I work for a company called Neelands Refrigeration as a receptionist.” Gould said although this is not her ideal career, she is happy to have received work so quickly after graduation and continues to search for a job better related to her degree. Post-graduation employment has increased more than 30 per cent in the last 10 years. In 1995, only 60 per cent of college graduates reported having a full-time job, compared to 93 per cent of 2006 graduates finding full-time work. Mary Noble, a student employment advisor, says Durham is the number one school in post-graduation employment because students are success orientated. “The school’s leadership skills are what make us number one,” said Noble. “We take into consideration the job market and do our best to respond to what employers are looking for.” The Career and Employment Services (CES) office uses job search techniques to prepare students for the workforce. “Students can make an appointment with an employment advisor to assess their job strengths, network development, create a portfolio, and help with interviewing techniques,” said Noble. In 2005, over 1,500 students met with a career and employment advisor to discuss career development and job search needs. And over 3,500 job leads were posted on career and employment’s exclusive job posting system, according to the CES job site. Angie Paisley, a career advisor with the college, also provides a number of services to help prepare them for post-graduation employment. “I spend a lot of time with students on resume and cover lettercritiques, helping them position their skills to showcase their academic and job accomplishment that would be of value to potential employers,” said Paisley. “A s w e l l , I p r o v i d e m o c k i n - ter views and coaching so that they are more confident in handling different interview situations.” Paisley said she also helps with a variety of job search techniques including networking, how to conduct information interviews, and how to think of creative ways to find work. The career and job fair held each February, and the Trade Smart fair at Durham’s Whitby campus in April, give students the opportunity to speak with employers about possible job opportunities. Over 170 employers visited Durham’s Oshawa and Whitby campuses last year to recruit students and offer career advice, said Noble. Adam Semoff, second-year Electronics Engineering Technology student at Durham, was unaware of the graduate employment statistics, but knows Durham is one of the highest of all Ontario colleges. “Knowing that Durham is in fact the highest in post-graduate employment will be an asset when applying for a job,” said Semoff. He also said one of the reasons he applied to Durham was because of the high graduate employment rate. The most useful job search techniques for Durham graduates in 2005 were: field placement, responsible for 19 per cent of careers, family and friends for 17 per cent; the Job Site for nine per cent, and the job fair for 5 per cent, according to the graduate employment report offered by the CES office.. Speakers at the lecture also touched on some of the low points in Canadian- Cuban relations, one of them being the review of relations after Cuba failed to change the regime’s human rights code, after the jailing of four Cubans. Another was the 2001 Summit of the Americas held in Quebec City, where Cuba was the only country excluded. Dr. Wayne S. Smith also spoke at the lecture. He is from the Centre for International Policy and was one of former U.S. president Jimmy Carter’s heads of mission in Havana from 1978 to 1982. Now he is one of Washington’s authorities on Cuba. Smith touched on Cuba and its response to 9/11. “Many of us thought after 9/11 the U.S. would open relations with Cuba,” said Smith. “The Cuban nation expressed solidarity to the U.S. They opened airspace and united with them against terrorism.” Cuba also offered to help during the Hurricane Katrina disaster. Castro offered to send 1,586 doctors and 34 tonnes of medicine to the U.S. Lately many countries have realized the potential Cuba has to offer. The Dominican Republic renewed full diplomatic relations. Diplomats and large businesses from Spain, Japan, France, and Ukraine have all visited Cuba. Several countries are pushing for Cuba to gain readmittance to the Organization of American States, according to CNN. Wether it’s pre-or post-Castro, Cuba will always remain a special obsession for American political leaders. Poker at the pub By Natasha Mackesey Chronicle Staff It’s time to ante up at E.P. Taylor’s. Durham College will be holding student poker championships every Tuesday in November from 6 p.m. until 1 a.m. The Red Hot Poker Company will host this event and it’s expected to be a full house . The Red Hot Poker Company has held this type of event at many schools and companies, but never before at Durham. “This is the first time ever that the student poker championships have been held at Durham, and it should be a really good time,” said Will Ellis, Student Centre manager. All games will be played for chips and there will be very nominal prizes for the students, which may include cash prizes, explained Ellis. A maximum of 80 students will be allowed to participate in the championships, and spots are expected to be filling up fast. All students can sign up for this event and find information at www.saduoit.ca. The Chronicle CAMPUS NEWS November 21, 2006 11 Forensic science prof a go-getter By Krystle Pereira Chronicle Staff Decomposing bodies, tissue samples and missing graves sound dark and mysterious, but they are the interests and focus of research for one committed professor. Shari Forbes flew to Canada from Australia 15 months ago. It was a goal to live across the sea for Forbes and her boyfriend, an environmental scientist for the Ministry of the Environment. She knew that some day she would leave her homeland. Her flight was perfect, everything went as planned except one minor glitch. Forbes noticed her boyfriend’s passport spelt his name wrong. Slight panic ran through her mind as she wondered whether or not to tell him. They had travelled extensively to places like the United Kingdom, Africa and New Zealand and no one noticed then. What were the chances of Canada noticing now? Well they did and Forbes watched as her boyfriend’s face slowly blanched. She chose not to tell him and he found out the hard way. “When we got to Toronto the first thing they said was, ‘ I notice Australia allows spelling mistakes on your passports,’” Forbes said. “My boyfriend was like ‘what!’, he pretty much turned white on the spot.” But they did let the couple in, and UOIT gained more than a well-educated professor. Photo by Krystle Pereira G’DAY MATE: Shari Forbes, Forensic Science professor at the University of Ontario Institute of Technology, came to Canada from Australia 15 months ago, to join the campus and share her love of forensic science with her students. Forbes has appeared on documentaries for National Geographic and The Discovery Channel. She was recently invited to be a part of the forensic educators group, made up of forensic instructors who attend conferences to work on making sure students are being educated properly about science. Forensic science wasn’t her first career aspiration. While growing up in the northern suburbs of Sydney, Forbes’ career goal was to be a pastry chef. It wasn’t until six months before she finished grade 12 that she decided to pursue forensic science. “I always liked forensic science, I read a lot of crime novels. I used to love those but I can’t say that’s why I chose forensic science,” said Forbes. “It was kind of like ‘oh yea, sounds interesting, why not?’” Although her decision seemed random, Forbes proceeded to attend universities, receiving her PhD and postdoctoral fellowship in forensics. She thanks her parents for being her biggest influence. Cranky commuters speak By Elise Haskell Chronicle Staff Commuting to and from school has never been a favourite pasttime for people, but many students find it’s a necessary one, like those who commute from Scarborough to Durham every day in order to attend their classes. “I hate it,” said one General Arts student who wished to remain nameless. “It takes way too long to get there.” Some must commute to Oshawa because they simply can’t move. “I have no choice. I have a family,” said Mariya Andriyesska, who is taking her Bachelor of Education. “I have one daughter who goes to school and one who works.” But the student also added that moving to Oshawa or living in residence just wasn’t an option, because it costs far much more than the GO ticket. “It’s hard,” said Mohamad Hussein, also taking a Bachelor of Education. “It’s time consuming. I’m already settled here in Toronto and the program is only one year, so I don’t see the point in moving. And it’s cheaper.” And although students get a discount from their ID Card, the price of a monthly GO pass to Durham is still $114. “I wish it was cheaper,” said Randa Nosseir, who attends UOIT for a university upgrade. The route is 40 minutes long and “It’s weird because my parents are not scientists, they’re not career focused, neither of them went to university,” said Forbes. “In a very subtle way they encouraged me to do what I wanted to do. If I wanted to be a pastry chef they thought that was the world’s best idea.” Doing just what she wanted was exactly what Forbes did. While in Australia she committed herself to wildlife organizations, helping to save injured animals. Along with her boyfriend she joined World Vision and fosters two children, a 10 year old from Haiti and a seven year old from Columbia. “I enjoy receiving their letters and pictures and seeing the improvements from the first pictures you received. The big thing is that they send them to school.” Travelling, trying cultural foods and exploring markets are her downtime activities. A city girl raised in the capital city of Australia, Forbes feels most at home in downtown Toronto. At work, teaching students about forensics is her day-to-day job, but to her the message of teaching is what counts. “Even though I love research, I want to feel like I’m giving something back. With research you may one day come up with something that wins a Nobel Prize but it’s unlikely,” said Forbes. “I wanted to feel like I was doing something, contributing and certainly helping students, you can see that.” Budget your getaway with Travel CUTS By Tania Harris Chronicle Staff Photo by Elise Haskell GO GO GO: The GO bus carries some unhappy travellers around the Durham Region. goes directly from the Scarborough Town Centre along the 401 to the Oshawa campus. Most students need to travel to the town centre to catch the bus. Adding wait-time between busses, the entire commute can sometimes add up to almost two hours one way. “I back-track actually. I’m from Pickering,” said Kim McKee who at- tends the teacher’s college. “It takes less time to come to Toronto, because the Pickering buses suck.” “It’s a straight route, so it’s not so bad, but I hate the time the bus comes,” said Nosseir, unhappy with how the bus only runs once an hour and doesn’t even begin return trips to Scarborough until 2:10 p.m. Despite many of the complaints from students who take the bus daily, they know that things could be a lot worse and taking a 40 minute GO bus (plus additional TTC time) isn’t as bad as it could be. “It’s okay,” said one Health Sciences student. And with those words, the commute doesn’t seem so bad at all. Spending Christmas with your family doesn’t have to cost you a fortune. On Nov. 22 the Student Association will be holding a talk with Travel CUTS event. Starting at 11 a.m. Travel CUTS, a student, youth, and budget travel planner and organizer, will be at Durham College, UOIT and Trent to discuss how students can travel around the world on a budget. Anyone who is studying abroad or planning on travelling this holiday season is invited to attend this free event. For more information visit www.sadcuoit.ca. 12 The Chronicle November 21, 2006 CAMPUS NEWS Photos by Caitlyn Holroyd ICE ICE BABY: Above, citizens arriving at the open house for the GM Centre, newest home for the Oshawa Generals on Nov. 3. Below left, A talented man chips away at a block of ice hoping to create a masterpiece. Below right, a masterpiece indeed was cleverly created. GM Centre open for business By Caitlyn Holroyd Chronicle Staff The General Motors Centre opened its doors on Nov. 3, becoming the new home of the Oshawa Generals as well as an entertainment facility for concerts and other events. Friday’s celebrations included live entertainment, demonstrations from local community groups and a ribbon-cutting ceremony, which was attended by Bob Hunter, executive vice-president of Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment; Canadian Hockey League Commissioner David Branch; Oshawa mayor John Gray and members of Oshawa city council. A free public skate and guided tour was offered on Saturday along with children’s entertainment provided by MLSE. The GM Centre represents a positive change for the downtown core and the city is expecting it to draw in tourists. “Oshawa is not that far for people to travel, especially those who don’t want to go into Toronto,” Carol Slaughter, business relations manager for Downtown Oshawa board of management, said in an interview. “With the partnership with MLSE, we have the ability of developing a better tourism product, which will draw people. Our major issue is the lack of accommodation close to the arena but stay tuned, as I’m sure that will change.” Slaughter added that the city will be undertaking research in the new year to examine the impact GM Centre has on local businesses in the first year. She noted that Sapraffino’s and The Thirsty Monk were standing room only after the Generals’ first game in the new arena and Fazio’s is fully booked following the upcoming Tom Jones concert. “Already, we have seen new restaurants, coffee shops and other businesses open up in order to take advantage of the increased crowds downtown,” Cindy Symons-Milroy, director of economic development services said in an interview. “Businesses are staying open longer hoping to benefit from the people attending events.” “The investment that the city has made in the downtown has spurred other types of development including residential and commercial development that will create living spaces and jobs.” The GM Centre is located in downtown Oshawa on Athol Street. It seats approximately 5,400 people for hockey games and 6,400 for concerts and other events. Upcoming events include the Oshawa Generals vs. the Sarnia Sting on Nov. 26, a CHL junior game featuring Team Canada vs. Team Russian on Nov. 27, and The Tragically Hip on Jan. 31. There are also many other possibilities for the arena. “We are in the process of developing a bid for the Memorial Cup for 2008,” said Slaughter. “This is coming together because the Oshawa Generals organization feels their venue and the downtown will be able to successfully host this event, which draws thousands of people.” The Chronicle CAMPUS NEWS November 21, 2006 13 Hot yoga has stretched to the Durham Region By Jocelyn Nespiak Chronicle Staff Photo by Tania Harris KEEPING HEALTHY: There are many ways to lose weight. Combining healthy foods, such as fruits and vegetables, with exercise is a good way to lose weight while staying healthy. Burning the fat is easy, but it’s hard to keep it off By Tania Harris Chronicle Staff According to Statistics Canada, almost 50 per cent of the Canadian population, or roughly 17.5 million people, are either overweight or obese, and statistics indicate that obesity is clearly on the rise. Diet clinics are popping up all over Durham Region, providing different ways for people to shed excess weight. The problem with diets, however, is keeping the weight off. Many people lose weight, but few can maintain it, says Sandra Brodie, nutritionist at Good Life Fitness in the Oshawa Centre. Beverly Mills, an Oshawa librarian, says she has tried every diet clinic out there and has wasted thousands of dollars doing so. She recently tried Dr. Bernstein, a wellknown health and diet clinic located across Canada and the United States, and was successful at reaching her goal weight, but within the last two months she has gained 25 pounds back. Dr. Bernstein’s philosophy is to lose an average of 16-20 pounds in one month by burning stored body fat. Participants visit the clinic three times a week to get evaluated by medical personnel. The diet consists of a low calorie intake supplemented with three injections per week of vitamin B6 and B12. “This diet does not meet total daily calorie requirements. The body needs the appropriate amount of calo- ries for safe, long-term weight loss,” says Brodie. Leighanne Gladstone, owner of Healthy Solutions in Whitby, is a registered holistic nutritionist. She analyzes what her clients eat, how active they are and if they have any illnesses. She consults with her clients on a oneon-one basis, helping them with individual nutritional needs and conducting nutrition profiles in order to correct the imbalances. “My clinic is definitely about understanding and educating, rather than telling you about some fad diet, telling you about some magical pill or telling you about some injection that’s going to cure all,” says Gladstone. By organizing an eating plan for her clients, Gladstone ensures they are feeding their bodies with proper fuel and encourages them to stay active and do what they love to do instead of just what they need to do. “It’s about finding that balance, reaching your goals, being able to understand nutrition, understand what your body needs and why it needs it,” Gladstone says. “It’s really important that you’re educated on that factor so you can take it on yourself.” With the number of diets that are advertised in the media, many people get confused as to what to eat and what to avoid. The important thing, says Brodie, is to know that not every diet plan works for everyone. Including the four basic food groups of fruit, vegetables, carbohydrates and protein in your diet and following the food pyramid is a good way for everyone to stay healthy while losing weight. Overweight Canadians • Almost 50 per cent of the Canadian population, or roughly 17.5 million people, are either overweight or obese. • Many overweight Canadians are at increased risk of disability, disease and premature death. • Among young people, the biggest increases in obesity rates over the past 25 years occurred among adolescents aged 12 to 17, where the rate tripled from 3 per cent to 9 per cent. • Canada's adult obesity rate was significantly lower than that in the United States. While 23 per cent of Canadian adults were obese in 2004, the rate was nearly 30 per cent in the United States. • Adult men and women who ate fruit and vegetables less than three times a day were more likely to be obese than were those who consumed such foods five or more times a day. Source: Statistics Canada Sweating. Panting. Flexing those buns. Bending. Stripping. Losing those pounds. Hot Yoga is literally one of the hottest exercises in the world today and it’s available in Durham Region. Last March Asana Body and Mind opened in Ajax. Currently it is the only yoga studio east of Toronto where the average temperature is 102 degrees. But that isn’t what makes it unique. “I built everything you see here. The walls. The ceilings. The floors,” said Ray Pigden, owner and certified yoga instructor. “I put everything I have into this.” Although yoga is one of the most integral parts of his life now, it took a revamp of his character to break him out of his macho shell. “A friend of mine asked me to do a class. I didn’t want to,” he said. “But my friend was persistent and eventually I tried it.” As a contractor he conditioned his muscles lifting heavy materials. He never really liked the idea of going to a gym and picking up a barbell. But after years of laborious work, his back ached and he felt pains in his joints. He needed to fix these problems and, for him, yoga was the answer. “I was blown away. I was amazed at the outcome of the exercise,” he said. “I felt every muscle. I felt everything.” It took him a day or two to try the class again, but when he did he was hooked. It wasn’t long after when he decided to open Asana Body and Mind. To him, Ajax was the ideal location to build. And since there were no other hot yoga studios around, there was no competition. “There are enough people in this area, they’re just not aware of the benefits,” he said. “Yoga has helped me with my back. It takes me to a point where I am comfortable.” Pigden said when a person feels pain, finding the source and fixing the problem should become a priority. “You can live with it or you can fix it.” Every class is a different experience for each person, but Pigden said most feel immediate results. Greg Cassidy participated in a couple of Pigden’s classes. Although he’s never really tried yoga before, he felt the exercise was beneficial. “I feel great. I’m totally relaxed yet I feel like I just did a challenging workout,” he said. At the beginning of the class he was concerned with the amount of heat, thinking he wouldn’t be able to handle it, but after 10 minutes he found the movements were easier and the sweat from his body really helped cool him down. “When you walk into the room you find that wall of heat,” said Pigden. “But it helps to warm you up. After five or 10 minutes, you feel fine because the body uses its natural cooling system.” The environment is inviting. Pigden uses his sense of humour to help others come out of their shell. “Whether you are an advanced level student or are new to yoga, I think Ray’s classes are definitely worth trying,” said Lisa Morrissey, who tried Pigden’s class. “If you are new and come to a class, he would most certainly make you feel comfortable.” Morrissey practises the art of yoga and is currently training to become an instructor. “The heat allows you to detoxify your body,” she said. “It’s very therapeutic doing yoga in a heated room.” Pigden said for safety reasons it is important to drink lots of water during the day, before trying the class. Otherwise people may feel dizzy or pass out. As well, Pigden said, don’t eat a big meal up to three hours beforehand. “Anyone of any age should feel comfortable in my class, even if they’ve never tried it before,” he said. “It’s not a competitive sport. And it’s great because every class helps you strengthen your core and lengthen your muscles.” Asana Body and Mind is at 377 Mackenzie Ave. in south Ajax. For more information check out www.asanabodymind.com. Rising Stars is releasing at pub By Mike Gokdag Chronicle Staff Indie music fans of Durham College and UOIT get to celebrate the new Backrow Records: Rising Stars CD release party. Tickets will be $5 in advance and $7 at the door, along with a copy of It’s Your Independent Music Fix Vol. 2. The event will be all ages with a 19 plus section. The album features bands like Rudely Awakened, Blank Blue Sky, Danny Boy, Emcee Revelation, Sold, Fifth Class and Handheld and live performances by Another Dark Day, Eversince Eve, Rudely Awakened and The Drive Bay. The event is being held at E.P. Taylor’s, and doors open at 8 p.m. 14 The Chronicle November 21, 2006 CAMPUS NEWS Efforts rewarded with bursary Hard work pays off... literally By Amanda Gauthier Chronicle Staff By Jocelyn Nespiak Chronicle Staff Don’t make picking up quarters from the mall fountain part of your routine, because an empty wallet isn’t an incurable disease. Before Mack Carruthers received a $500 bursary at the 2006 scholarship ceremony, his knowledge of financial aid, bursaries and scholarships was non-existent. Although he worked full-time during the summer, tuition costs, living expenses and school supplies eliminated the money he had saved. “I had $75 left. I purchased textbooks at the beginning of the year, and that’s all I had,” he said. Carruthers is in his third and final year of animation at Durham College, but he has never pursued financial assistance. “When my grandmother passed away a few years ago, she left me some money for my education,” he explained. “So that was a start for me.” Without financial worries, he focused solely on his studies. At times he felt he could use more money, but didn’t take the time to pursue it. “I didn’t realize there were other options out there.” A few weeks ago, while checking his mycampus email, he noticed a Women abuse prevention month Photo by Jocelyn Nespiak NO MORE FINANCIAL WORRIES: Mack Carruthers received $500 from the Canadian Federation of University Women, for his efforts in second year. message from student awards. “It was the best email I had ever received,” Carruthers said. “It was a complete surprise for me.” Last year his GPA was 4.03. He spent countless hours working on assignments, creating animations and learning in class. He didn’t re- alize his hard work would pay off financially. “Sometimes I spend 20 to 30 hours a week on projects,” he said. “But the work is fun. I really enjoy animating.” On Oct. 9 his efforts were rewarded. The Legacy bursary donated by the Canadian Federation of University Women was given to him. “These awards are definitely a motivation for people to strive towards excellence,” Carruthers said. “And they help out a lot.” The money will be used to buy supplies for his portfolio. November is International Women Abuse Prevention month. Events will be held throughout this month to raise awareness of the campaign. On Nov. 21, in the University of Ontario Institute of Technology Business Building, a Student Association event will be held in room UB2080 at 5 p.m. Wear Purple Day is on Nov. 24. The faculty of UOIT and DC’s criminology and justice, and social policy, will be wearing Love Shouldn’t Hurt T-shirts and purple ribbons. Nov. 25 is International Day Against Violence Against Women. The Violence Against Women Team, which includes shelters such as Bethesda House and the Denise House, are raising awareness of International Women Abuse Prevention month. The symbol of a purple ribbon is worn throughout the month as a sign of commitment to finding a solution to abuse. During the month of November there are women abuse prevention posters on some Durham Region buses and the Durham police wear the purple ribbon to support the cause. The Chronicle CAMPUS NEWS November 21, 2006 15 What do you think of the new smoking enforcement? By Lauren Marks Chronicle Staff Eric Hughes Third-year Animation “Let’s see it happen. It’s just talk. People are too busy with school work to worry about it.” Kathy Beis Second-year Law and Security “It’s good for non-smokers, so they don’t have to walk through a crowd of smokers.” Fitness fair By Shannon Dossor Chronicle Staff The first fitness and health fair is coming to Durham College this month. The new Fitness and Health Promotions program is hosting the fair in Vendors Alley on Wednesday, Nov. 29. There will be displays set up by students on topics such as yoga, smoking, cancer awareness, the effects of sedentary lifestyle in college students, benefits of health and fitness, and the new gym. A guest speaker will talk about and demonstrate Shiatsu massages, and another speaker talk about Brazilian martial arts. This is the first year this program has been at Durham. The 43 firstyear students are running the fair on topics that interest them. It will run from noon until 2 p.m. One of the student presidents of the program, Chris D’andrea, will be covering the program at the fair. The program teaches students about more than just fitness. “It goes beyond the body, heart rate, testosterone and estrogen,” said D’andrea. “It really goes in depth about things people don’t think about.” Students learn about things such as anatomy, personal training, nutrition and programming. After graduating, students will have three nationally recognized certifications in personal training, group exercise and fitness appraisal. “The program really gives us core knowledge,” said D’andrea. The fair is set up to promote the new course. It will bring attention to the benefits of fitness, how to live longer and how to stay healthy. Krystal Bond Second-year Law and Security “I don’t care because I don’t smoke.” Anna Wasylik Second-year Legal Admin. “If you stand in front of doors, people who don’t smoke have to walk through it. I don’t have a problem with moving away. People should have respect for non-smokers.” Monika Grabluk Second-year Legal Admin. “If you’re standing too close to the doors you shouldn’t get a ticket, but warnings are fine. I don’t care that much because I do smoke, but if I didn’t I wouldn’t want to walk through smoke.” Roll up those sleeves Flu shots are coming to Durham By Robert Sudak Chronicle Staff Flu season is around the corner and it’s the time that every student fears. The Health Centre will have a flu vaccination clinic in the next couple weeks. At Durham College and UOIT the clinic will be held in the dining hall at G213 on Nov. 27, 8:30 a.m.noon, Dec. 1, 8:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m., Dec. 4, 8:30 a.m. -3:00 p.m. and Dec. 6, 8:30 a.m.-noon. For the Whitby campus, vaccinations are only on Nov. 29, 8:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. in the main boardroom. If you miss these times you can go to your family doctor and schedule an appointment to receive the vaccination. 16 The Chronicle November 21, 2006 CAMPUS NEWS Poinsettia the Christmas plant By Valene Nicholas Chronicle Staff The Mexican flame, Christmas star or Noche Buena decorates shop windows, dinner tables and homes during the holidays. Known to most as the poinsettia, these red, pink, burgundy and white plants originated in Mexico and were introduced to the U.S. in 1825 by Joel Poinsett. Poinsett was the first U.S. ambassador in Mexico. The plant with brightly coloured leaves encircling tiny yellow bundles of flowers, caught on like wild fire, and is now the Christmas flower in Canada and the U.S. Each year Rekker’s Garden Centre in Bowmanville grows 70,000 to 80,000 poinsettias in some of their 60 green houses. “We start out with cuttings or plugs in June,” said nursery manager Lynn Roth. Cuttings are shipped from Mexico and nurtured by nursery workers until the holidays. Most of the plants are shipped from Rekker’s to stores across On- Photo by Valene Nicholas HOLIDAY PLANT: Behind nursery manager Lynn Roth are poinsettias, the Christmas plant in Canada and the U.S. tario. Proper care of poinsettias determines their life span. “They can last for years and years.” Roth said. The actual flower stays in bloom for about six weeks. Poinsettias will flourish in bright natural light, in temperatures under 22 degrees Celsius. The plant needs to drink when the soil surface is dry and excess water should be removed 10 minutes after watering. “They don’t like a drafty area,” Roth said. Poinsettias transform back to their green leaves after winter. They can be planted outdoors for the summer months and must return to confinement in September. “Some people can’t do anything to kill them,” said Florene Prins, Rekker’s assistant office clerk. Even though care is simple, poinsettias must be exposed to equal amounts of light and dark. In autumn for about eight to 10 weeks, poinsettias should be placed 12 hours in the dark and 12 hours in sunlight. A perfect spot for darkness is in a closet, said Roth. Since daylight hours in the winter are almost equivalent to night hours, poinsettias can remain in one location. The plants aren’t easy to kill, but for many years myths have been floating around that poinsettias are lethal to children and pets that munch on them. Roth said the rumours are false. Rekker’s has a cat and with thousands of poinsettias hanging around, the cat has never become ill. “They can get sick from ingesting the white sap,” Roth said, but she also stated that a child or pet would have to eat piles of the plants to be affected. The sap from broken stems and leaves is bitter to taste, so snackers would soon learn not to eat them. Even though these plants are not poisonous, Rekker’s recommends their customers keep poinsettias and any plant in a safe area away from little hands and paws. Poinsettias come in four different heights ranging from four to 12 inches. A stubby red flower may be perfect as a centerpiece for Christmas dinner, or an elaborate tall flame may do the trick in livening up a hallway. Whatever the spot, a pot of poinsettias brightens any home during the holidays. Friendships can last More jobs or fade; not all are lost during the By Tania Harris Chronicle Staff You were introduced to them as a child. You played hopscotch on the sidewalk, tag in the field and jumped rope together in the playground. You shared secrets and new experiences with each other, building precious memories that last a lifetime. But time has passed and your childhood days are over. There is no more playtime and your secrets are never revealed because your childhood friend is not around to hear them. Time brings change and amongst these changes your friendship was lost. Many children and teenagers believe that their friendships will last forever, but the reality is many childhood friends drift apart as they grow older. Friendships end for many reasons, but most commonly because of change, says Kelly Lumber, Oshawa psychotherapist. As people mature so do their interests, which changes their priorities and leads them down a different path than they originally planned. In high school many teens begin dating and spending more time with their partner and less time with their friends. A feeling of jealousy and resentment develops resulting in an abandoned friendship. “We were inseparable before she started dating him,” says Dionne Bea, a first-year Business Administration student at Durham College. “As soon as they got together she stopped calling and I felt hurt. She neglected me and betrayed our friendship so I walked away from it all.” A change in geography can also cause a friendship to end. After high school many students go away to college, sometimes moving to another city, province or country. It takes more effort to stay in touch with friends. Ruth Priester, a first-year personal support student at Durham, moved to Oshawa from Holland four years ago to be with her family. She no longer communicates with her friend because of the distance between them. “It’s weird to think about it because we were so close. I guess we aren’t friends anymore because we haven’t talked for so long and I live so far away,” says Priester. “Generally speaking a friendship remains intact if both parties change in similar directions. If different paths are taken then the friendship most likely will be lost,” says Lumbers. Even though a friendship may have been lost it does not mean it is lost for good. Jane Henry, Peoples Jewellers representative in the Oshawa Centre, and Maryann LeRonde met in September of 1974 at the age of 5. LeRonde was sitting alone in the middle of a gray carpet, looking down at her hands. She was nervous to start school and scared of her new surroundings. Her cheeks were still wet from the tears that fell when she let go of her mommy’s hand moments earlier. “Do you want my yellow crayon?” asked a soft voice. LeRonde looked up to see Henry, a skinny little girl with big blue eyes and blond pigtails held up with red ribbons. Before LeRonde could answer, Henry took LeRonde’s hand and led her to a round wooden table where they began to colour and build a friendship. Their friendship, however, was not long lived. LeRonde moved away at the age of 10, which separated the two. “I don’t remember her moving away. It was like one day she just disappeared and I always wondered where she went,” says Henry. But just because their friendship had been lost didn’t mean they couldn’t find their way back to each other. Henry had been working at a jewelry store at the age of 20 when she saw a familiar face. She took another look. “Maryann,” Henry yelled. The familiar face turned around and sure enough it was Maryann LeRonde, her childhood friend. “It was fate that brought us back together and who are we to argue with that,” says Henry. From that day on Henry and LeRonde continued where they left off, developing a strong friendship while making lasting memories. There were, however, a few bumps along the way. “Friendships are not easy to maintain but a separation can be avoided by listening to your friend and desiring the best for each other,” says Lumbers. However LeRonde and Henry, couldn’t avoid another separation. This time they didn’t separate because of a move. In March of 2000 at the age of 31, Maryann LeRonde succumbed to breast cancer. “Her cheeks were wet just like they were the first time I saw her,” says Henry. “I couldn’t do anything except take her hand and keep holding it until the end. I buried her with what brought us together, a yellow crayon.” holiday season By Krystle Pereira Chronicle Staff When you shake your pockets do you notice the sweet sound of nothing? Well, that may soon change. Along with the brightly lit houses, fluffy snow and merry jingles of Christmas comes jobs. Finding a job while struggling to finish all last-minute assignments and studying for exams can be difficult. But don’t frown for too long because seasonal jobs are popping up more quickly than most would imagine. Seasonal opportunities do mean that once Christmas has passed and the rush is over, your contract ends, but they are a perfect way to earn some extra cash, gain more experience, and with some employers, if you do a good job they may consider keeping you after the holidays. Eileen Ozanick, service co-ordinator of Advantage Personnel in Ajax, suggests that students start applying for seasonal jobs in September, but if you haven’t as yet, don’t panic. A lot of stores accept resumes in September, but some don’t start hiring until November, especially those with a tight budget who don’t want the extra staff too soon. Ozanick mentioned that although seasonal jobs appear frequently, the extra effort is still needed in order to have a chance. “People have to consistently do a run of dropping off resumes every week,” Ozanick said. “Pick stores and keep dropping off resumes. Check in with the manager. It is hard but you can’t find a job after only dropping off one resume.” Advantage Personnel doesn’t typically provide retail opportunities but it does have temporary jobs for students that co-ordinate with a student’s busy schedule. Another way to seek seasonal employment is by going online. Several websites such as Groovejob.com and Workopolis also provide current listings for seasonal retail opportunities. The easiest way to apply would be to print off resumes and walk to each store in your nearest mall. In the Oshawa Centre, a lot of stores such as Suzy Shier, HMV and Aldo post signs indicating they are hiring. Larger department stores such as Sears and The Bay have seasonal job fairs where you are interviewed and possibly hired on the spot. To find out information about department store hiring, visit their home websites. Besides stores that have specific postings for job opportunities, pick locations that usually have a lot of staff or require several different positions, such as department stores that need people for stocking and sales and as cashiers. The Chronicle CAMPUS NEWS November 21, 2006 17 Canada’s own weather guru By Jocelyn Nespiak Chronicle Staff During a thunderstorm in Wisconsin, two horses were born. Their names were Thunder and Lightning. During another thunderstorm in Wisconsin, the same two horses, died. A bolt of lightning struck them. That is just one of the weird facts David Phillips uses in the 2007 Canadian Weather Trivia Calendar, as each day of the year has its own story. “My feeling is you must entertain before you inform,” said Phillips. Even though it was early Friday morning his enthusiasm for his subject filled his voice as he spoke at the other end of the phone. As a senior climatologist with Environment Canada for the last 38 years and spokesperson for the Meteorological Service of Canada, he has obtained unofficial status as Canada’s weather guru. “I’m not sure what a guru is,” he admits. Then with a chuckle he said, “I’d rather be called the weather weenie.” He feels guru sounds superior and doesn’t fit with his modest nature. “I just inform. I know very little about the weather,” he explained. Whereas he has rigorously studied the Canadian climate, observed changing weather patterns globally and on a typical day advises the Canadian government about potential risks in the future – potential because the weather isn’t an exact science and changes constantly. With a best-selling calendar 18 years in a row, Phillips said his goal is to make each one different from the last. “It’s important to change the material,” he said. “Loyal readers want Photo by Jocelyn Nespiak WONDERING ABOUT WEATHER: William Poon checks out David Phillips’ new calendar, the Canadian Weather Trivia Calendar for 2007, which is being sold all over Canada. new information.” Even though the events might not change, the stories will. For instance, Hurricane Hazel hit Southern Ontario in 1954 killing 81 people. Phillips has used this event in a number of issues, but found a different fact for each time he mentioned it. One of the most important aspects of his job is to get people talking about the weather and the calendar definitely helps out. This year it features an eagle-eye satellite view of Hurricane Alex. It was born on July 31, 2004 off the northeast coast of Florida. It travelled up the coastline, intensifying to a Category 3 storm. It made history on Aug. 4 when it was recorded as the strongest major hurricane to have developed north of the 38 degree latitude. “The calendar is mostly full of misery… great weather? Who cares?” he said. Having lived in Canada all his life, he understands the meaning behind Canadian weather. “We like to brag about the weather. We have pioneer spirit. We scoff at blizzards and sneer at frostbite,” Phillips said proudly. “We have strength and are great adapters to the ever-changing climate. And we are rarely killed by it.” Although many of the stories Country comes to the city The Royal Winter Agricultural Fair shows a world out of the city By Mike Van Veen Chronicle Staff Moooooooo! Definitely not a typical greeting, but the most common one heard when entering the Royal Winter Agricultural Fair. The Royal is a chance for city-folk to see what goes on outside the city limits and experience what is really involved with agriculture. The smell hits you as you walk in the front gates. It’s like wood with something more foul mixed in. Walking into the vendor’s area, one can’t help but be amazed. An area that looks big enough to hold an airliner is crammed with people and booths. Cowboy hats, boots and chaps line the wall of one booth while right across the aisle sits another booth selling $500 dresses. Just around the corner from that is a fudge-making booth. Along one side of the main wall is a fenced-in ring where a riding demonstration is being held. Two young girls stand by the fence and stare wide-eyed at a thoroughbred and a pony as they circle a jump setup in the centre of the ring. A riding coach gives instructions to the girls on the horses, showing the crowd a wide variety of riding techniques. Finally the thoroughbred heads for the jump and sails almost effortlessly over it, to the applause of the crowd. When hunger hits, it’s time for the food court. Here all manner of foods are available, from roast bison to ostrich sausages and even breaded alligator. A sign above a buffalo burger stand lists the benefits of eating buffalo instead of beef, but with all the taste. After grabbing some Canadian back bacon on a bun, it’s off to the animal barns. Walking into the cow pen, its obvious where the earlier smell came from. Row upon row of cattle line the barn. Holsteins moo back and forth to each other while farm workers move around with carts loaded with grain, hay and empty beer bottles. A teenage girl pulls a small tank with hoses towards a black and white dairy cow. She hooks two of the lines to the udders and begins milking. “They have to be milked every day.” She explains to the people gathered around watching, “otherwise they can die.” After seeing enough cows to fill a McDonalds, visitors could take a short walk over to the next building. This was where the real meat of the show was. A large trailer with the words “From farm to fork” painted along the top was positioned in the middle of the building. Children crammed in to get a closer look at the many piglets that it housed. A young man stood beside the trailer answering questions and explaining how the pigs fit into a cycle. “Manure from these pigs will be used to fertilize fields, which in turn will grow grain in order to feed the full grown hogs,” he explained. “Seventeen hogs will eat 4300 kg of grain in a year.” Next to the trailer were several goat and sheep pens and a booth promoting goat milk that was giving out free samples. The milk was sweet and thick but definitely not better than cow-milk. Other animals that ringed the building included chickens, roosters, llamas and a friendly alpaca that enjoyed a scratch behind the ear. The last area in the building was the produce competition and what a competition it was. John Lyons of Scarborough grew the prize winning giant pumpkin, which weighed a hefty 950.6 lbs. A world record Turkish Turban squash, weighing 86 pounds, was sitting near the winning pumpkin. The grower was Steve Holt of Stouffville who has grown several prize-winning pumpkins in the past. The Royal serves as an escape to a lifestyle that is a little slower paced. It shows Torontonians that there is a world North of the GTA. Children who have never seen a cow or a goat can see, touch, smell, hear and even taste them if they want. It brings the country to the city, if only for a few short days. written in the calendar are based on events occurring outside Canada, national pride is one of its main motives. “It’s lucky we haven’t been hit by a hurricane like Hazel in the last 50 years,” said Phillips. Educating people is Phillip’s main goal, and as he said before, he aims to entertain, then inform. “Our ancestors had it tougher than we did,” he said. “They didn’t have heating and polar fleece.” Phillips said there were more deaths 50 years ago because of the fateful attitude of the time. “They just thought if your number was up, your number was up.” Recently many people made the wrong choices, resulting in a large number of deaths that could have been prevented, he said. “For instance Katrina.” More than 1,800 lives were lost, he said. New Orleans received a number of warnings to evacuate the city, but didn’t because they just didn’t think it would be bad, he added. Katrina was the eleventh named storm of the 2005 Atlantic Hurricane season, which inspired Phillips to use hurricanes as this year’s feature. Safety is part of respecting the weather, he points out. So many of the stories are put in the calendar to warn or scare people from making the same mistake. And of course, there are a lot of funny situations. “What’s the weather like over there?” he joked. Of course a man like him would know the answer. “I am a teacher of the weather. My classroom is Canada. And I have 30 million students,” he said. The calendar sells for $16.95 at Chapters, Indigo and local bookstores. It is also available at Costco and various locations online. End of Campus Idol has arrived By Tania Harris Chronicle Staff Practise your line dancing and throw on your fedora because the end is nearly here. On Nov. 27 the Student Association will be holding its eighth week of competition for Campus Idol. For two hours starting at noon the remaining contestants will be singing a jazz tune and will be paired up to perform a country duet that will be chosen by the judges. The finals will be held the following week and the winner will be crowned Campus Idol Fall 2006 and receive $500. Everyone is invited to attend the event and support his or her favourite idol at E.P. Taylor’s. 18 The Chronicle November 21, 2006 CAMPUS NEWS Veterans pay their respects By Elise Haskell Chronicle Staff Remembrance Day will always be a day to take time and honour those whom have given their lives in wars past so that we could live in peace. Every year since 1919, veterans, members of the armed forces and civilians have gathered to pay their respects to the dead. And although the sentiment was the same this year, for some it was far more powerful than ever before. “This is the first year I’m remembering people I’ve worked with,” said Commander Bonita Thornton, Photo by Elise Haskell WILL YOU REMEMBER? Veterans stand at attention to show their repects to all who have passed. a naval lawyer. Several colleagues of Thornton’s have been posted to Afghanistan at different times, but recent rising Poppies worn with respect By Luba Tymchuk Chronicle Staff We remember. On the eleventh day in the eleventh month of the eleventh hour, Durham Region remembered Canadian soldiers who fought for freedom and peace. Remembrance Day only comes once a year, so it is important for at least this one day to honour the memory of fallen soldiers. The best way for the day to be remembered is to actually go to the observance services. Hundreds of Durham residents remembered this important day when they gathered together at Esplanade Park in Pickering to recognize the achievements and sacrifices of those who served and died in war and United Nations peace- keeping operations. “Approximately 450 residents attended the ceremony, which was a really nice turnout,” said Joanne Finn, event coordinator. “45 wreaths were laid, and everything went as planned.” The wreaths, whether bought or handmade, were laid on the cenotaph in honour of brave Canadians who made sacrifices to protect the freedom and quality of life that we enjoy today. It all started with a march from the Pickering Recreation Complex to the Cenotaph in Esplanade Park. Dylan Jones, an assistant professor at University of Toronto, started the ceremony with the singing of O’ Canada. Listening to 865 Air Cadet Jennifer Blight’s playing of the Last Post brought reverence through the crowd and at exactly 11 a.m., silence filled the air for two minutes. Poppies were worn proudly and attendees showed respect throughout the whole service, whether it was for the pipe lament and reverie or the speeches. Dan McTeague, MP Pickering-Scarborough East and Pickering Mayor Dave Ryan even had a few words to share to the crowd in honour of the event. Other similar events were also held throughout the region. Whitby held a ceremony at Camp X, Intrepid Park to pay tribute to the men and women who sacrificed themselves in the Secret War and served at Camp X. Oshawa held a ceremony and wreath-laying session at the Oshawa Cenotaph and Port Perry held an annual Remembrance Day Parade. hostilities there have led to far more casualties and this was especially poignant to her. “Some of my friends are over in Afghanistan,” she said. Adding that her 24-year-old daughter who is in the army is also thinking of going to Afghanistan. “Most of the casualties happen on the road, from mines planted there, so you’re not safe even if you’re far away from actual combat,” she said, explaining what one of her friends who returned from Afghanistan had told her. Some people around Remembrance Day choose to wear a white poppy to show that they support ending wars. This has angered some veterans, who say the colour and the notion is a disservice to the fallen dead. A group of Edmonton veterans were even talking about taking legal action to stop the production of these poppies. “It’s certainly a slap in the face,” said Thornton, explaining that Remembrance Day isn’t about stopping war, it’s about honouring the dead. She said there is a time and a place to talk about peace, but that’s not on Remembrance Day. “It’s almost like saying their deaths aren’t important because they took part in a war.” Next top models By Krystle Pereira Chronicle Staff Do you consider yourself to be an aspiring model? Could you handle five weeks away from family and friends and be subjected to long days, high heels, drastic fashions and criticism all for the chance to be a winner? Canada’s Next Top Model is beginning its search for season two of the hit show inspired by the famous America’s Next Top Model.This season’s host will be Jay Manuel, who is recognized from America’s Next Top Model as di- recting the girls throughout their intense photo shoots and is never too shy to tell them what he really thinks. His experience from America’s Next Top Model, as host on the Style Network’s Style Her Famous, red carpet fashion correspondent and the many stars he has worked with, including Tyra Banks and Kim Catrell, will hopefully live up to the expectations of all America and Canada’s Next Top Model fans. The search began Oct. 31 and the deadline is Dec. 15. To apply go to citytv.com/cntm for details . New recreational complex Opera performance By Amanda Gauthier Chronicle Staff The cold winter months are quickly arriving, forcing heat-lovers to pack away the barbecue, fold up the lawn chairs, shelve the tanning lotion and close the backyard swimming pool. Swimmers can no longer enjoy the rays of sun while lying on an inflatable tanning bed outside, but one summer item they do not have to pack away is a bathing suit, as the new South Oshawa Community Centre is ready and waiting for the next soul to jump in. This 45,000-square foot building consists of a brand new three-lane swimming pool with a slide and a water sprayer. Once the swimmer has had enough high-energy excitement, the whirlpool and sauna are available for the older crowd to enjoy. The South Oshawa Community Centre is the newest recreational addition to the city of Oshawa. It also includes an aerobics dance studio, fitness equipment and the firstever youth room, organized by the Oshawa’s youth committee. It is located near G.L Roberts Collegiate, at 1455 Cedar St. S. Oshawa skates all year-round By Amanda Gauthier Chronicle Staff People of all ages are invited to enjoy the new ice centre, available to the public not only during the winter months, but year-round. The Legends Centre ice pad can be rented out to associations, schools, clubs, etc. for a cost of $136 for kids or $173 for adults. These prices are in effect during prime ice time. For non-prime rentals, it costs $88 for kids and $113 for adults. The centre also offers birthday packages.One hour on the NHLsized skating pad and two hours in the party room with optional supervision and food is available, as well as a swim and skate or gym and skate package. To book ice time for an up-coming event, call the facility booking office at (905) 436-3888. For more information on ice time, or birthday packages, call (905) 436-5455. Chronicle Staff Greenhouses with 70,000 potted poinsettias, door prizes and light refreshments were all part of Rekker’s Garden Centre holiday open house on Nov.18. Chronicle Staff The Durham Community Choir along with Talisker Players will be putting on an opera performance on Sunday, Nov. 26 at College Park Seventh-day Adventist Church. The choir consists of Durham College and UOIT students and will be performing G.F Handel’s Messiah and Vivaldi’s Gloria. After the Bowmanville Santa Claus parade residents ventured over to Rekker’s to go behind the scenes to learn about poinsettias. Rows upon rows of the red, white, pink and burgundy plants from Mexico reside in some of the 60 greenhouses at the garden centre. “There’s always people coming through,” said Lynn Roth, nursery manager. Roth said customers were welcome to tour the greenhouses themselves or be accompanied by a guide. The open house took place from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. and in-store specials were offered. Colouring was available to entertain the little ones. Michelle DeBoer, a member of the Toronto Consort, will be playing soprano along with Vicki St. Pierre, who will be singing mezzo-soprano. The Talisker Players, a popular ensemble in Toronto, will be accompanying the singers. The Talisker Players Chambers Music are a group of instrumentalists that collaborate with singers and in recent years have grown into a very reputable orchestra. Tickets cost $20 for adults and $14 for children under 12. The show will begin at 3 p.m. Students can do a quick survey for large prizes By Krystle Pereira Special on holiday poinsettias By Valene Nicholas By Mike Gokdag Chronicle Staff For a chance to win Apple IPods, $1,000 and even a semester parking pass, fill out a simple survey online before Dec. 15. The Ontario college student engagement survey helps to identify students’ college experiences and their personal characteristics so that colleges can improve their services. The survey is available to all Ontario college students enrolled in a full-time course of study, regardless of which year they are in. It takes approximately 20 to 30 minutes to complete. Other prizes include HMV and bookstore gift certificates and a Sony PSP player. Go to wincollegetuition.com to identify your needs and inform your college what they can do to help. The Chronicle CAMPUS NEWS November 21, 2006 19 The doorway to discovery By Alicia MacDonald Chronicle Staff On a cold, autumn evening I found myself searching for a quiet sanctuary to relax and get some work done. Living in Whitby means that I live close to the Oshawa Durham College campus, but not close enough to go there every time I need to do homework. I wanted to find a home away from home to get some work done. I needed a place without distractionssomewhere I could avoid watching television or talking on the phone. That’s when I found it. The new Whitby Public Library opened its doors to the public in 2005 and has provided a variety of services, quality resources and a peaceful environment ever since. “Doorway to discovery” is displayed above the entrance of the 55, 863 square foot building on Dundas St. There’s now plenty of space for books, magazines, newspapers and DVD’s. There are over 100 public access computers, providing free Internet access as well as free booking for private study rooms and group study rooms. There are also study tables throughout the library wired for laptops, and plenty of comfortable leather chairs where visitors can relax in front of one the working fireplaces. Rhonda Jessup, Public Services Manager at the library, organizes events and Internet programs. Students can attend classes during the day and on weekends on how to create web pages and Internet searching techniques (learning effective, time-saving techniques to obtain relevant search results.) To register for these programs, call (905) 668-6531. The Town of Whitby Archives can also be found in the library. The Quebec-based Press Café is located in the library and visitors are allowed to bring their food and drinks into the library. CEO of the Whitby Library, Ian Ross, said that the number of visitors and the number of items borrowed have both more than doubled since the opening in May 2005. He said that the library welcomes close to 10,000 visitors each week and the library staff pride themselves on being knowledgeable, friendly and always willing to help students find reliable information quickly. “The current population of Whitby is 110,000 and the old Dundas library was only 16,000 square feet,” said Ross. “It’s no surprise that the library was too small and there was no room for growth, for new books, DVDs or computers. And so in 2000 we completed a space needs study and service plan to determine current and future library needs. With the support of the Town of Whitby, (and a federal/ provincial infrastructure grant), we planned and built our award-winning facility.” “When we planned this library we wanted to build a ‘community gathering place’ where everyone is welcome,” said Ross. “I think that we’ve achieved that objective.” Snowflakes keep falling Hours extended By Amanda Gauthier Chronicle Staff Winter brings cold weather, hot chocolate, warm jackets and covers the ground in fluffy white snow. Has anyone ever wondered about this phenomenon? What is snow? Are there different types of it? If so, who prefers what? Snow occurs when vapour crystallizes around a tiny piece of ice or dust in the cold air. If you think all snow is created equal, think again. The Innuit have almost 400 different words to identify different types of snow. Anniu is the Inuit word for falling snow. There is also api, which in English is ground snow, and siqoq, meaning smoking, drifting snow. While winter can be tough on drivers, people who like to ski, toboggan or participate in other winter sports have a preferred type of snow. Winter sport-lovers prefer powdery snow, which is fairly dry and not as dense as packing snow – the stuff used for making snowballs. Dry snow is lighter in weight than moist snow. In fact, 20 centimetres of dry snow is the same as only one centimetre of water. The denser the snow, the closer together the flakes are, the easier it is to pack together to make that oneof-a-kind snow fort in the backyard. Winter can bring thoughts of cold, shivering nights and stalled vehicles, or a white blanket during the holiday season. Either way, it represents the few months of the year when the inevitable snow must fall. Rear view for vehicles By Jocelyn Nespiak Chronicle Staff Is your back end too bulky? Hit a curb or two lately? Having trouble seeing what’s behind your vehicle? A new rear-view camera system hit the stores this month. It sells for a reasonable price and allows users to view the area directly behind the vehicle, reducing the chance of hitting anything. “I’ve sold a lot this weekend,” said Jim Spears, an auto parts specialist at Canadian Tire in Oshawa. “It greatly reduces your blind spots when you are backing into parking spaces.” It is an easy system to instal with only two separate parts. Spears said the process should take no more than half an hour. A 2 ½-inch LCD colour screen mounts inside the vehicle, either on the dash or sun visor. It can be connected to the 12V outlet (car lighter) or hard-wired in. The camera mounts onto the licence plate of the vehicle, using the original bolt holes to secure it in place. It connects to the tail lights for power. The image is transmitted through a wireless connection. The manufacturer claims the system is completely weather-proof, handling the hottest or coldest temperatures. Spears said the camera is sealed tight inside a casing to prevent water damage. Ajax has Christmas spirit By Jocelyn Nespiak Chronicle Staff Got the Christmas spirit? The town of Ajax does. Various holiday activities will take place on Sunday, Nov. 26. The Santa Claus Parade begins at 12:30 p.m. and finishes at 3:30 p.m. This year’s starting point is Mills Road. From there the parade will proceed north to Station Street and continue east to Harwood Avenue. It finishes at the south end of the Harwood plaza. To defrost cold noses and hands during the parade, the Ajax Library main branch is hosting a Santa Claus Parade warm-up party. Staff will read holiday stories and provide fun crafts for every age to participate in. The party will begin at 1 p.m. As well the Town Hall Atrium welcomes residents for face painting. After the day’s activities everyone is invited to join the town council at Town Heritage Square for a tree lighting ceremony. It begins at 3:30 p.m. For more information check out www.townofajax.com. Christmas food drive By Caitlyn Holroyd Chronicle Staff Help is on the way for the holidays. Students with children/spouses who are in need of extra help over the holiday season should stop by the Student Association office, located on the second floor of the Student Centre. Those interested must fill out a confidential registration form, which will be available Nov. 13 to Dec. 8. Boxes of non-perishable food items will be delivered to students between 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. on Dec. 17, and students must be available at that time. For more information, students may contact Kathryn Bremner, office manager, at (905) 721-0457 or e-mail her at kathryn.bremner@dcuoit.ca. Oshawa Centre fitting your needs By Krystle Pereira Chronicle Staff There is even more of a reason to convince yourself that you need that extra pair of shoes – there is more time to do it once the mall extends its hours. The Oshawa Centre is extending its shopping hours again starting Nov. 25. From Monday to Friday, the mall will be open until 10 p.m. The biggest change will be on Saturdays when the mall will stay open until 10 p.m. instead of 6 p.m. Steve Gascoine, retail property manager for the Oshawa Centre, feels the extended hours help towards more than extra shopping time. “This is a service-related industry so we have to do our best to accommodate the concerns of customers,” Gascoine said. He also mentioned that because there is such a high volume of transactions, it gives people a chance to pick more times to go to the mall, which will give sales associates and debit transactions a break. The mall will also be open until 6 p.m. on Sundays. Some stores such as The Bay will have different hours than the rest of the mall. The mall will close at 5 p.m. on Christmas Eve. Enjoy it while you can. All hours go back to normal after Boxing Day. Talent fundraiser By Jocelyn Nespiak Chronicle Staff Southern Ontario’s most talented people are scheduled to perform Dec. 2 at E.P. Taylor’s. The talent show will help raise funds for the G.L. Roberts Community Collaborative, a nonprofit organization offering free programs to Oshawa residents. Prizes will be given to top peformers. Anyone interested in participating can contact Natalie Oldfield via email at natalie.oldfield@ mycampus.uoit.ca, or James Gallinger at james.gallinger@mycampus.uoit.ca. Musical bands are not allowed to participate in the show. Tickets are $5 in advance or $10 at the door. It begins at 6:30 p.m. ‘Dimebag’ Darrel By Mike Van Veen Chronicle Staff E.P. Taylor’s will host a tribute to a guitar legend next month. Uprising Entertainment and Roadrunner Records will put on Getcha Pull, tribute to late muscian “Dimebag” Darrel Abott on Thursday, Dec 7. The show will feature music by Step Function, The Skallywags and Tyrant. Abott, the former lead guitarist for Pantara and Damageplan, was murdered by a crazed fan while performing on Dec. 8, 2004 in Columbus, Ohio. He was 38. Doors at 8 p.m. Tickets cost $2 at the door. 20 The Chronicle November 21, 2006 CAMPUS NEWS College gets elementary look By Ryan Peterson Chronicle Staff Like Peter Pan, the teacher resource centre is the second star on the right and straight on till morning, or more appropriately the first set of stairs on the left and straight down till the last door. The teacher resource centre in the library basement officially opened its doors Thursday, Nov. 9. The centre is a place for faculty of education students or other people training to be teachers. Upon arrival there was a refreshment table on the south wall parallel to the centre with juice, cookies, coffee, tea and smiling librarians. Entering the centre is like being transported back in time to an elementary school library with bright colours, easy-to-reach books, and containers filled with teachers tools. At the one table in the room, several librarians congregated after getting their treats at the refreshment table. Carol Mittlestead, associate librarian of Collections, had all sorts of information about the centre. “Approval wasn’t given (for the centre) until May,” she said. “We’ve built this between now and then, which is an amazing achievement, but there’s always room to grow with student input.” The walls, the shelves and the electrical didn’t exist when they started the centre, Mittlestead said. “It’s kind of small, but consider the time frame. This library is emulating an elementary school library. We’re telling them (students) that when you go out to work this is what you’ll expect.” For her part Susan Pratt, the education librarian who facilitated the centre, was beaming, talking to students about the resources and suggesting different applications for them “Susan has been a tremendous asset in putting this resource together,” Mittlestead said. She’s the person who reviewed all the possible resources available to the centre and decided which ones would be best. Students who will benefit the most from the centre are primary- Holiday tour in Whitby By Luba Tymchuk Chronicle Staff Photo by Ryan Peterson TEACHING FUTURE TEACHERS: Education librarian Sue Pratt shows off books at the new education resource centre, which opened Nov. 9. junior teacher candidates, ECE students, and since there are visual resources, graphics students. “When putting this together, we made sure that students would have access to what they need to put lessons together,” said Gaby Mann, from budget and planning for the library. Mann used the kits at the centre as a example of something to help put lessons together. There are kits that help teach fractions or how to put colours together. Students sign these out for their placements. This is the first year the faculty of education has had a primary-junior studies program. Commenting about practical uses for the resources, Pratt said, “Books are integrated (into) what (children) are learning. Books are picked to support the curriculum, that’s how it works. The more you read, the better you’ll do.” The dean of the faculty of education, Bill Hunter, stopped by to see the centre. “The books, kits and equipment found here will give our teacher candidates access to the raw materials they need to prepare engaging lessons and evocative teaching materials,” he said. As Christmas approaches, it is time to think of the different ways of decorating for this holiday season. The 2006 Holiday House Tour on Nov. 25 is a way to see some of Whitby’s homes where holiday decorating and home décor ideas can be picked up. “This is the 17th year of the Holiday House Tour, which is a one-day self-guided tour through some of Whitby’s most beautiful and uniquely decorated homes,” said Paige Sprecker, marketing and development manager for the Station Gallery. “Each individual home was selected through a home nomination process, toured by a Holiday House Tour committee member and selected based on the home décor, appropriate travel pattern, available parking and capacity.” The annual tour is a major fundraising event for the Whitby Station Gallery in support of their child, family and adult art classes, programs, workshops and exhibitions. The tour will be from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tickets are available for $20 in advance until Nov. 17 and $25 after. The Chronicle CAMPUS NEWS Porn debated Continued from Page 1 pays for stars to perfrom grotesque sexual acts, they are against child pornography. The FBI thanked the porn industry for catching a man in France producing child pornography, said Jeremy. Although Gross and Jeremy possess opposing views, they agree everyone has the right to be heard. “We think dealing with the porn industry is part of the solution,” Gross said. His xxxchurch team participates in porn conventions, not to attract clientele to products, but to provide an escape for people wanting out of the industry or wanting to break free from their viewing addictions. “I’m not against what Craig is saying; I’m glad that he is helping these women get out of the industry,” said Jeremy. He said there are two common characteristics in young women who are porn stars: very little education and being raised by a single mom. Many have also been abused by one of their par- ents. “I like to think that my daughter would have lots of education and use her mind more than her body,” he said, in regards to one day having a daughter. “If she chooses to do porn, it’ll be tough, but I’ll go along with it.” Both the negative and positive effects of porn on viewers and participants were discussed. After the 90-minute debate students crowded the porn star for pictures and autographs. A smaller group of 20 huddled around Gross, thanking him for his visit. Brad Bailey attended the debate to discover where his views on porn reside. He liked how Jeremy and Gross would defend each other occasionally. “They both have really good views,” said Bailey. With Gross’s balanced answers and Jeremy’s dodging remarks Bailey said he remains undecided about where he stands. “The debate wasn’t what I expected,” said Katheryn Walker. “I thought it would be funnier and not as serious as it was.” Keeping smoke away Continued from Page 1 the school. Mohawk College has its entrances patrolled and gives smoking fines for any violations. The new policy is the begining towards a smoke-free campus. Over the years Durham College and UOIT hope to become completely smoke-free. “It’s a work in progress,” said Kinkaid. “You can’t expect people to change their behaviour overnight, but we can enforce the policy .” “In the long run I would like to see a smoke-free campus,” said Lazenby. “Everyone deserves to breathe smoke-free air.” November 21, 2006 21 Oshawa goes Gray again, mayor re-elected By Chad Ingram Chronicle Staff The Nov. 13 municipal election saw both incumbent mayor John Gray and incumbent Ward 7 councillor John Neal re-elected in landslides. Ward 7 is home to the DC/UOIT campus. Gray, now in his second term as mayor, reclaimed his seat in a runaway victory with 19,545 votes. Mayoral runner-up, Ratepayers Association president Dawn Turner saw 5,846 ballots cast in her favour, while Alexander Kemp received 1,461 votes. Gray was at his Simoce Street campaign office for the results, surrounded by supporters. “We had a great feeling throughout the campaign. There was always a consistent level of support,” he told the crowd. “Overall, people in Oshawa are happy with where the city is going.” In Ward 7, Neal scored 2,169 votes to seal re-election. Steven Gambsy received 956 votes and Mary Jo Cunha received 113. Neal was straight-forward about the reason for his victory. “I work for the people, that’s what it’s all about,” he said. “If constituents have a problem, I’m here for them.” The councillor, now in his third term, made an appeal to council. “I want more attention on Ward 7,” Neal said. “The ward is diverse, and the city must recognize its diversity.” Election results •Eligible voters - 109,159 •Ballots cast – 27,424 •Voter turnout – 25.1 per cent •Mayor - John Gray received 73 per cent of vote •Ward 7 - John Neal received 70 per cent of vote Source: www.oshawa.ca Neal pointed out the need for increased residence for university students and that his ward extends farther north than a lot of councillors realize. As far as his practices, Neal intends to go about business as usual. “I follow the formula the city of Oshawa and the region are supposed to,” he said. “I will continue to do so.” Gamsby spent election at night at the Waltzing Weasel, watching the numbers come in with family, friends and members of his campaign team. “I want to thank all of you for your positive encouragement, friendship and guidance over the last few months,” he said. “To say that I’m disappointed in the loss is an understatement.” Gamsby said he plans to refocus his energy and spend some well-deserved time with family and friends. According to the city’s website, of Oshawa’s 109,159 eligible voters, 27,424 went to the polls last Monday. That’s a voter turnout of 25.1 per cent. Former Ward 5 councillor Cathy Clarke was the city’s only incumbent to lose a seat. Oshawa ballots also contained three referendum questions. Voters in Durham region voted that the regional chair (currently appointed) should be elected by general vote, and that city and regional councillors should be elected through a general vote, rather than by ward. The decision is not binding, and must now be lobbied at the provincial level. A change in provincial legislation has decided that, rather than three years, municipal terms will now last four. The next municipal election will be held in 2010. 22 The Chronicle November 21, 2006 The Chronicle November 21, 2006 23 24 The Chronicle November 21, 2006 CAMPUS NEWS Be alert for spiders Don’t delay, tune up today By Andrew Moore By Steve Parker Be winter safe Chronicle Staff Chronicle Staff Over the last month and a half some unfortunate grocery shoppers have received something extra, free of charge, when purchasing grapes. Black widow spiders have been appearing in imported grapes in some grocery stores across Canada. A memo was distributed to employees of the A&P chain recently, warning them of the possible tourists in the produce.Black widows are the deadliest spiders in North America and can be identified by the red, hourglass-shaped patterns on their abdomen. Anyone being bitten is advised to report to hospital as a precaution. Maybe you’ve heard the radio commercial about the guy admiring all the beauties winter has to offeruntil he sees the snow-covered stop sign at the last minute and slides through the intersection. It’s pretty funny. What wouldn’t be funny is if you got T-boned by that guy going through that intersection. Winter is coming fast, and getting your car ready for the icy conditions is serious stuff. That doesn’t mean just throwing some winter rubber on your ride and peeling out onto Simcoe Street. “Regular inspections and tuneups should be done more often in the winter,” said Mike Alwyn, a mechanic at Toyota in Pickering. “In the summer your car breaking down can be a problem, but at least you won’t freeze like you would in the winter.” Although tires aren’t the only item on your car to change for the winter, they are an important one. Driving around with low profile tires probably isn’t the greatest way to get where you’re going. Selecting the right tires for winter is critical. • Get a tune-up, make sure all fluids are filled and everything is working as it should. • Get into the habit of checking the weather channel for snow conditions. • Make sure windows are scraped and defrosted before driving anywhere. • Have extra clothing and boots in the car in case of a breakdown. Source: Ministry of Transportation “All season tires are ok for light snow, but when the snow gets heavy it’s better to have winter radials on,” said Peter Cross, a tire expert at Canadian Tire. “Even just putting winter tires on the driving wheels can make a big difference.” Also, you don’t want to wait until winter to check the battery, oil, brakes, heater, defrosters and wipers on your car. It can be dangerous to your passengers, other people on the road, and of course yourself. 40 20 0 Making sure your wipers are in good shape and your car is full of winter windshield wiper fluid is important, says Alwyn. A lot of accidents are caused by poor visibility on the roads, not only from the weather, but also from muddy or frosty windshields, he said. “I always leave in the morning before my windows have defrosted,” said Ryan Murphy, a first-year business student. “Usually I just wait until there’s a hole through the frost big 60 enough to see through and take off.” Checking the weather is a good habit to get into every day before you drive anywhere in the winter, especially if you live north of Oshawa. Students living north of the campus run into a few more problems than those who live a few minutes drive. Travelling at high speeds, heavier snowfalls, and unplowed roads are just extra hazards to be wary of. “There are kits you can buy. They come with things to help assist you in case of a breakdown,” said Alwyn. “The kits usually come with booster cables, flares, matches, candles, a blanket and a first aid kit. And one of the most important things to have in the car in the winter is extra clothing.” Another important thing to carry, not in the car but on a key chain, is a lock de-icer for those frosty days. An ice scraper however, can be kept in the car. In fact it’s probably a good idea, so when you’re driving around looking through your clear windshield you can admire all the beauties winter has to offer. And of course pay attention to your driving. 80 100 120 The Chronicle CAMPUS NEWS November 21, 2006 25 UOIT student brought SHARE and GuluWalk to this school 9/11 triggered Dosani’s need to help others By Marilyn Gray Chronicle Staff At 21, the UOIT student has won the William P. Hubbard Award for Race Relations from the city of Toronto, organized fundraisers for children in Afghanistan, founded Students for Humanitarianism and Action through Respect and Education (SHARE) here, and, most recently, brought an international fundraising initiative, GuluWalk, to campus. In an age that seems to be marked by selfishness and greed, Naheed Dosani is proof that idealism is not dead. In his third year of Biology at UOIT, Dosani is originally from Scarborough. When he was still in high school, he went through a period of depression directly after the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001. He personally felt the effects of the backlash against the Muslim population. He wanted to find a way to take positive action against this unfair reaction. “It was very difficult to see what happened at ground-zero . . . but at the same time there was a backlash so far away, in Scarborough, in my little corner of the earth,” he said. “It made no sense.” “It was ignorant,” he said. “There was a lack of knowledge.” Once, while walking down the hallway at school with a fellow football-player, he said hello to a passing acquaintance, who said “hey what’s up Osama,” to Dosani’s friend because he was Arab. “Really, this was probably the biggest turning point in my life,” said Dosani. “It turned me from a person who kind of cared about what was going on in the world to an actual humanitarian and activist,” he said. “But little did I know that at the time.” For the next two weeks he was depressed because of the ignorant racism that had appeared in his own community. “How could one event that happened so far away, trigger people to blame a whole segment of the world?” he asked. “How could such a large population take the blame? A few bad apples doesn’t mean the whole bunch is like that.” “I didn’t know what to do,” he said. “I wanted to take a positive ap- proach.” What he did was to bring together students from different backgrounds to fight racism and educate people about other cultures and religions. “To make people aware that, number one, not all Afghans and Muslims are terrorists, and number two, the plight of the Afghan people . . . families eating dirt and grass because it is literally all they have to eat to survive.” They then created an education It was very difficult to see what happened at ground-zero...but at the same time there was a backlash so far away, in Scarborough, in my little corner of the earth, ‘ ’ Naheed Dosani program and presented it to four elementary schools around the high school. Their principle said it was a great idea but that they could do more. This was the beginning of the Coins for Afghanistan Drive. “It was a networked fundraising initiative with my high school and four neighbouring elementary schools, raising funds for Afghan orphanages and hospitals,” said Dosani. They would go into the schools and hold assemblies and explain the cause they were fighting for at a level that elementary and high school students could understand. The Coins for Afghanistan Drive ended up raising over $3,000 in coins. “More importantly, we were able to teach people that not all Muslims and Afghanis are terrorists, and the Afghan people have suffered,” he said. “We turned feelings of hatred and ignorance into feelings of sympathy and understanding.” “I would be crazy to say it was all me,” he said. “We had a large group of students doing this.” Dosani says that his inspiration to make the world a better place and not give in to cynicism was not a famous person. “I could go and name famous people but that wouldn’t be right,” he said. “The first people who inspired me, and still do today, were my prarents.” Born in Uganda, they were deported in 1972 when dictator Idi Amin gave all Ugandans of Asian descent 90 days to leave the country. When many countries would not accept the deportees, most found asylum in the United Kingdom and Canada. Dosani’s parents came to Canada with nothing but a $10 gift certificate donated by Dominion grocery stores. “With that they worked and worked and worked, two jobs, three jobs, while going to university and they both graduated from Wilfred Laurier with CMA’s (certified management accountants) and are both accountants,” he said. “It’s not just about feeding you and education, I’m not talking about that,” he said. “All the while they were always so humble, so giving.” Both his parents work with Focus Humanitarian Assistance. “They constantly taught me to be well aware of what’s going on in our society . . . to not just stand back,” he said. “Yes. One person can make a difference.” “Their struggle to make it, to survive has inspired me,” he said. “When it’s 2 a.m. and I’m thinking about giving up on my homework, that’s what I’m thinking about . . . they made it, why would I not make it?” When asked why he has worked so hard to do all he has done, Dosani’s answer was refreshingly simple. “John Lennon, Imagine, that song . . . that is exactly the way I see the world. I’m a dreamer. I’m an idealist.” 26 The Chronicle November 21, 2006 CAMPUS NEWS A new kind of pin-up girl Popular website SuicideGirls.com represents different types of models By Byron Jung Chronicle Staff By Elise Haskell Chronicle Staff When pin-up girls became so popular in the 40s and 50s, a lot of it had to do with a sexually repressed society finding an outlet, so of course as society came to embrace its sexuality over the years, the pin-up girl just kind of disappeared. Until now. SuicideGirls.Com opened in 2001 and brought back the pin-up girl, with a twist. These aren’t your grandfather’s pinup girls, these girls have attitude. Amateur models and photographers have come together under the banner so proudly written on the top of their website: “Pin Up Girls, Tattooed, Goth, Punk, Alt, Emo.” Together they have created something truly unique that has become very popular – and not just because there are a few naked photos there. “The first time I heard of it was at a party,” said Katherine Verhoeven, 19, who recently graduated Eastdale Collegiate And Vocational Institute and is planning on going to the Ontario College of Art & Design next year, “and the host put one of the girl’s slideshows up for us to see. I remember she was really hot- not just hot, but tattooed, and totally in charge. It was something new for me and I got curious, and when a few friends began mentioning it later, I checked it out myself.” Ever since, Verhoeven has wanted to be a model on the site. Her preliminary photos were accepted and now she’s waiting for her first set of pictures to go up, each set consisting from 100 to 400 pictures. SuicideGirls then picks 40 to 50 pictures from the set to post online and the models are paid $300. “You have to send in your age and name, and basic information like that,” says Verhoeven, “as well as three sample photos -nothing fancy, necessarily- and write about why you want to be a SuicideGirl.” All the models from Suici- Clubs for everyone Photo by Elise Haskell ASPIRING SUICIDE GIRL: Katherine Verhoeven is an aspiring model who is currently awaiting her first set of photographs to appear on SuicideGirls.com. deGirls are women who have put themselves on the site. They come up with their own ideas for clothing and locations, always trying to find something new and inventive to add. “Each girl is responsible for the idea and organization of her set,” said Verhoeven. “It’s a responsibility, but it’s also a lot of fun, because we’re in charge.” “We don’t have to fit a certain cookie cutter mold,” said one Toronto model, known only as Posh, 26, who’s been with SuicideGirls since 2003. “We can be ourselves, choose however we want to be portrayed, and be embraced for that.” “I still say it is one of the best decisions I’ve ever made,” said Posh. “I’ve had so many fantastic opportunities, andmet so many great people thanks to SG. There are some super fans, that think you are this rockstar.” Posh explained that her family made things easier by always being supportive. “My friends weren’t initially too keen on it. They couldn’t understand why I’d actually choose to do something like this when I’m not desperate for money. Explaining the fact that SG is actually very empowering helps clear up the confusion. I’ve been able to shed a lot of insecurities and become a much stronger person.” Wanting to go on SuicideGirls and being on there seems to have similar positive results. “A lot of it has to do with defiance,” said Verhoeven, “defy- ing what the norm defines as beauty, defying what people expect of me, and also to an extent, defying my own insecurities. I only recently began to think of myself as potentially beautiful, and I want to model as a way of reaffirming that.” SuicideGirls has also created a community for these women to meet each other and share their lives. Here these women can be who they are and not have to worry about the outside world’s negative views. “SuicideGirls.com is much more than just a website with naked photos,” said Posh. “People may come for the photos, but they stay for the community. No matter how weird your interests are, you’re likely going to find a bunch of people that share it. I think a lot of people also really like that they can get to know the models on a more personal level. We’re more than just a photo.” They’re much more than a photo and they’re much more than a community, they’re SuicideGirls. “People are going to take whatever they want from the site,” said Posh, “but overall, there’s far too much to the site to call it porn. It’s all so subjective.” “A lot of people seem to associate Suicide Girls with tattoos and piercing, when in fact that’s never really been a requirement to be a Suicide Girl,” continued Posh. “Being an SG has a lot more to do with your confidence, your attitude, and being proud of what sets you apart.” The Student Association at Durham College and UOIT has more than 50 school-associated clubs on the go and has made it easy for students to create their own. To start a club there must be at least five members. Clubs co-ordinator Lisa Ramdeen has a variety of clubs in action right now. “We’re more into social clubs,” said Ramdeen. “We’ve approved everything from religious clubs to snowboarding clubs.” Ramdeen and the SA president are in charge of approving clubs. If approved, clubs have the opportunity of two funding programs. Short-or-long term budgets apply to clubs that require funding for events they plan to put on. To receive longterm funding the club must exist for at least one year and it must outline what the funding will be used for. There is no limit to the number of clubs Ramdeen is able to approve and she expects many more prospective club ideas to be approved this school year. The Chronicle November 21, 2006 CAMPUS NEWS Service solves student disputes Mediation service here for students By Marilyn Gray Chronicle Staff After days or weeks of silence, two roommates have an explosive argument. The differences seem irreparable. What are the two to do? After over a year of planning, Campus Mediation Services has finally become a reality. It might just help roommates in the above situation smooth over their differences. Both the Student Association and Residence Management are supporting the initiative by referring students to the service. Since this is the pilot year for the service, this kind of support is vital, “especially now, because no one really knows about us yet,” said Michael Maynard, Mediation Services Registrar. Though students with disputes are being referred to the service, they will not be required to use it. “Mediation is completely voluntary,” said Maynard. “It is there as a viable option.” A meeting was held last year to discuss the possibility of a joint Mediation and Legal Clinic. The creation of Campus Mediation Services is the first step in putting that plan into action. “We’ve been working non-stop since June,” said Maynard. Presently the legal clinic “is not an entity and may not be,” he said. “Campus Mediation Services is its own entity.” The staff of Campus Mediation Services is made up of students, faculty and outside experts. All stu- Get a handle on Handel By Chad Ingram Chronicle Staff Anyone wishing for some live classical music this Christmas may want to attend the Oshawa Durham Symphony Orchestra’s performance of Handel’s Messiah on Dec. 17. The symphony’s conductor, Montreal-born Marco Parisotto, is in his tenth year with orchestra. An internationally acclaimed musician and director, he has played with orchestras in Europe, Asia and North America. He has won seven international competitions. The concert will be held at Oshawa’s Community Pentecostal Church and feature the orchestra with guests the Bell’Ante Singers. Tickets are $20 for students and $40 for adults. They can be purchased online through the orhestra’s website at contact@odso.ca. Other upcoming performances include Oriental Fantasy, with Canadian-Chinese pop artist Dewada on Jan. 27, and Beethoven Spectacular, featuring Brazilian pianist Jean-Louis Steuerman on May 12. Both events will be held at the Calvary Baptist Church. dent mediators are graduates of the School of Justice Studies’ Advanced Certificate in Dispute Resolution and are using the service to complete the Dispute Resolution Practicum, the highest level of dispute resolution training available at Durham College. Volunteer mediators include students like Maynard, retired police officers, and professors of Justice Studies. Such professors include Laurie Piske, who currently teaches in the Court and Tribunal Agent program at the college, has been a professional mediator in the past. Mediation Services currently has a roster of 14 mediators. The definition of mediation is “facilitated negotiations with the help of a third party that does not take sides, but helps the two parties communicate with each other,” said Maynard. The mediator strives mostly to direct the conversation away from finger pointing and towards the cause of the disagreement. “By asking certain questions, we try to move them off their positions and onto their interests,” said Maynard. One of Maynard’s favourite analogies to explain the mediation process is a story about two kids who are fighting over the last orange. The key is to ask why they want the orange in the first place rather than why they think they deserve it. This type of questioning may lead to the discovery that one wants only the peel and the other wants only the fruit. If people feel like their differences are irreconcilable, “we try to find the underlying reason for why they feel that way,” said Maynard. “Sometimes compromises come out of that.” Mediation Services is still in its infancy and working on its first cases. “We have not had any mediation 27 cases come all the way through the process,” said Maynard. “But we do have files that we are working on currently and we expect to mediate soon.” While the service is here to help students with any disputes they may have, there are certain cases that cannot be accepted. “We do not typically provide mediation services in cases of serious legal or criminal issues, including assault and underage drinking,” said Maynard. “We do, however, provide a referral service for parties involved in issues that may require the attention of managers or authorities.” Campus Mediation Services will not provide mediation to anyone outside the campus community. Students interested in making an appointment to see a mediator or just receive more information regarding Campus Mediation Services should e-mail mediation@ dc-uoit.ca. Online lectures soon a reality for DC/UOIT By Jason Miller Chronicle Staff Durham College and UOIT students will soon get a chance to view and listen to their lectures online. The media service department is currently setting up a pilot project for its new lecture-streaming program. Department director Pat Andreassen said the program will be used to capture lectures which will be streamed to students on a website O that will be started soon. Students will receive visual and audio feeds of these lectures. The pilot program is currently been used by the Nursing program and the department is hoping to stream these lectures to students for the winter session. 28 The Chronicle November 21, 2006 The Chronicle November 21, 2006 29 ENTERTAINMENT Durham College-UOIT Chronicle No tragedy or disaster found here By Chris Bracken Chronicle Staff The night started off angry, but it definitely didn’t end mad. But, when Moneen played at The Groove Lounge on Nov. 11 they opened their set with Start Angry…End Mad, and the crowd loved every minute of it. The Oshawa date marked the mid-point of their southern Ontario tour with their friends Attack In Black, Sydney, and The Reason. Attack In Black opened up the show and the crowd seemed to be into them, but they didn’t seem to be out in full force. Attack In Black played songs like Broken Things, The Love Between You and I, and 1950. Considering the majority of the crowd showed up just before Sydney, Attack In Black got the short end of the stick. Burlington, Ont. is home to yet another solid band, and their name is Sydney. A majority of kids in the audience were singing along with Sydney songs Got Some Purple Stuff…Hey, Sunny D, Jubert’s Path of Destruction, and It’s Worth the Drive to Action. The stage presence of this band got the crowd right into it. Jumping around, rocking out, and putting so much emotion into their performance made Sydney one of the more popular acts of the night. When it came to main-support band The Reason, reactions were mixed. They had the screamo fans when it came to his vocals, but they completely switched it up into a softer, more artistic form of music, and they confused listeners. But that didn’t matter, because everyone knew who was up next. And that was Toronto’s own Moneen. At the beginning of their performance, lead singer Kenny Bridges looked like he wasn’t feeling well. Photo by Chris Bracken IF TRAGEDY’S APPEALING: Then disaster’s not an addiction for Brampton rockers Moneen. Moneen brought others such as Attack in Black, Sydney and The Reason. Singer Kenny Bridges (above) treated the crowd to a giant group hug after their set. That was until the crowd started giving him the feedback to rock him out of his funk. As the set continued, Bridges got so energetic that during The Passing Of America, he hung himself by his legs from the roof and kept playing and singing while up- side down. Other songs they played included If Tragedy’s Appealing Then Disaster’s an Addiction, This Is All Bigger Than Me, and Are We Really Happy With Who We Are Right Now? And with possibly the most surprising song, for their encore, Bridges and guitarist Chris Hughes played a piano-based song on guitar, The Song I Swore To Never Sing brought the night to a close with people itching for more Moneen. When their performance was Step aside Ali G, here’s Borat Borat is out to prove the truth by a few hours of laughing By Elise Haskell Chronicle Staff Borat is the tale of one man’s journey across American in order to meet Pamela Anderson. Along with his trustee producer Azamat (played by Ken Davitian) and a camera, Borat embarks on an unforgettable adventure all captured in one 84-minute documentary. Only, it’s not technically a real documentary, because Borat isn’t real. He’s a character, origi- nated on Da Ali G Show by Sacha Baron Cohen, whose sole purpose seems to be to find and offend anyone he possibly can. That’s what the entire movie is, one long line of offensive jokes, and it’s worth every minute. Cohen is really quite ingenious. By saying terrible things in interviews such as suggesting homosexuals should be killed, he gets others to admit they actually agree with this. The whole point of Borat, and indeed this movie, is not that he’s offensive and terrible, but that there are people – real people – who are that offensive and terrible. Of course, some people are still taken aback by Borat, being too closed-minded to take a joke. And then there’s the Kazakhstan government which actually threatened to sue Cohen. Borat’s very similar to Stephen Colbert in one sense, putting on a façade just to bring attention to how ridiculous some of the things he’ll say in character are. The movie starts off in a small Kazakhstan village, where the movie audience is introduced to life there, which includes fun activities such as bathing in a rather unique thong and The Running of the Jews, (Cohen is Jewish). Then Borat and Azamat head to New York where Borat watches Baywatch and decides he must travel to California in order to marry the woman of his dreams. From start to finish this movie will have audiences laughing, even when something truly offensive does happen, such as a group of drunken frat boys admitting they thought slavery should be brought back. But the movie wasn’t just jokes from start to finish, there were quite a few really sweet moments, dare I say heartbreaking? When Borat is sitting in the back of the ice cream truck and talking to the camera all by himself, trying to keep a smile on his face even though his documentary is crashing down around him, you can’t help but sympathize with the racist, sexist, anti-Semitic shell of a man. That being said, the naked man fight is perhaps the funniest thing ever seen on film. Cohen and Davitian are brave, brave men. And the last scene in the movie will completely blow minds. It’s hard to believe what they did, and most people are theorizing that it was staged. But, audiences will be the judge. Go and see this movie, you won’t be disappointed, though you may be traumatized for life. done, Bridges said he wanted everyone in the middle of the floor for a group hug. He then proceeded to hug every fan in sight. Now that shows dedication and love for the fans. CD release for Backrow By Chad Ingram Chronicle Staff Backrow Records is presenting a CD release party at E.P. Taylor’s on Nov. 25. The show will feature local bands Rudely Awakened, Blank Blue Sky, Danny Boy, Emcee Revelation, SOLD, Fifth Class and Handheld. “We want to get as many people out as possible,” said Aaron Williams, drummer for SOLD. Tickets are $5 in advance or $7 at the door. Door open at 8 p.m. for the all-ages event. 30 The Chronicle November 21, 2006 ENTERTAINMENT NEWS Good guys finish first in Cars Shortbus By Luba Tymchuk Chronicle Staff Vroom. Vroom. The next racing action story is told from the viewpoint of cars. Released on DVD and video Nov. 7, Cars is an animated adventure for all ages. The racing in the movie is realistic from the very beginning, but put into an interesting viewpoint where everyone is a car, even the flies. Cars tells the story of rookie racecar Lightning McQueen (voice of Owen Wilson) who only cares about himself and winning the Piston Cup. When he literally crashes into a small town on Route 66, he realizes the importance of teamwork and friendship. On his way to a tiebreaker race in California, McQueen ends up lost and happens on Radiator Springs when trying to race away from the town’s sheriff (Michael Wallis). He wrecks the town’s road in the process. With the urging of beautiful Sally Carrera (Bonnie Hunt), the town residents decide to force McQueen to fix the road before they will let him leave. During his time there, McQueen befriends redneck Mater (Larry the Cable Guy) and learns to respect and bond with the other inhabitants, including Doc Hudson (voice of Paul Newman) who just won’t trust him. McQueen realizes that it is not just about obtaining a cup that makes a winner, but it is what is inside someone that really matters. Director John Lassester, co-director Joe Ranft, and writer Jorgen Klubien effectively tell the story and add to the visual pleasure with humour and emotion. Also, the animation by Pixar Animation Studios is realistic throughout the movie with all the 3-D effects. The cars all have an authentic look to them and the race itself is almost like watching a real NASCAR race on TV. The music, composed and conducted by Randy Newman, also makes the story flow and entertaining. When watching Cars, get ready to get into a world where dates are leisure drives in the country and cow tipping is tractor tipping. This is one movie that causes you to cheer and smile at the end with all the other cars because good guys really do win. characters bare all Ex-Much Music VJ Sook Yin-Lee stars in hit movie By Lauren Marks Chronicle Staff Writer/director John Cameron Mitchell has created a real masterpiece with Shortbus. His 2001 hit, Hedwig and the Angry Inch (though comparably tame) shares the same witty, visually stunning look at sexuality. Shortbus has no implications, insinuations or tasteful filming around nudity; this is a movie that leaves nothing to the imagination (the working title was The Sex Film Project). Panning through a fantasylike, papier-mâché scale model of New York City, we’re thrown into our main characters’ lives during their most intimate moments. From the first encounter with our frustrated heroes, we’re overloaded with a visual of every page in a Kama Sutra. Though of course, the forwardness of the film’s sexual content is mostly what’s been getting the film so much press, Shortbus is a raw depiction of a handful of New York folk who all have their problems. Mitchell, who worked at length with the actors to build their characters prior to filming, certainly has not forgotten to include emotional impact. Shortbus, the “salon for the gifted and challenged,” is an underground pansexual club where people come to act out their fantasies, meet new people and, truthfully, put all of our sex lives to shame. Canadian ex-Much Music VJ, Sook-Yin Lee (who also appeared in Hedwig), stars as Sofia, a married sex therapist who, ironically, has never had an orgasm. Two of her clients, a gay couple, introduced Sofia to a whole new world of sexuality — namely in the form of Shortbus. Sofia encounters memorable characters, all of whom are as hilarious, sad and pathetic as the rest of us. Though their separate but intertwining journeys may be rooted to an extent in their sexual frustrations, we are quickly sucked into their emotional landscapes. For a film that deals with suicide, voyeurism, fetishes, obsession, and relationship troubles, it’s easy to guess that by the end of the movie, it is the human element that sticks with you. Both the sex and personal traumas of the characters are depicted as vulnerable, unrefined and not glamourized, thus compelling hordes of empathetic audiences. Aesthetically, Shortbus appeals to the viewer as well. The vivid colours and hand-held camera effect and quick cuts attack our senses and add to the sense of realism. There has been an incredible amount of detail paid to our aural fixations; aptly chosen music alternating between wellpaced static silences only furthers the sensory overload. Shortbus is emotional and heartwarming and seeps its way into our own personal lives. Shortbus is explicit, raw, real. Butterfly Effect 2 fails to soar By Pavan Sandhu Chronicle Staff The butterfly has reemerged from its cocoon however, this time it flies away and takes with it the plotline, suspense and the thrill of the original. A sequel to the 2004 smash hit The Butterfly Effect, in which a person can change the future by going back to the past, The Butterfly Effect 2 was a direct-to-video movie released on Oct. 10. The movie is directed by John R. Leonetti who has made such hits as The Mask (1994) and The Scorpion King (2002). Nick Larson is the central character, played by actor Eric Lively who has also appeared in the movie American Pie and the television show The L Word. The plotline focuses around Nick and his attempts for a perfect future. After his girlfriend dies in an accident, Nick goes back in time and attempts to change his future. Unlike Ashton Kutcher’s character in the original who used journals as a teleport, the hero of this movie uses pictures. Each time, Nick finds he is not satisfied with his future until finally settling on a predictable solution to his problems. The Butterfly Effect was a smashing hit with Kutcher in one of his less familiar serious roles. The attempt to make a sequel of equal praise does not match up. The plotline is weak and lacks a steady flow. There is no need for the hero to go back in time and change anything after the first time change. There is also no direct connection to the first movie and instead of focusing on the “effect” itself, the director has cut and pasted another version of the original. Unlike the original which explained the Butterfly Effect from youth into adulthood, in this version Larson wakes up from a coma and has this magical ability to time travel with no explanation of its origin. The environment and characters around Larson do not change in each time change, making it boring and predictable. Fans seeking the thrill of the original will be greatly disappointed. At times the movie drags on with unimportant scenes not adding to the story. Instead of the fast-paced action that was served neatly packaged to the viewers in the original, this time they are served a butterfly with no effect at all. Film brings early start to ski season By Mike Van Veen Chronicle Staff Ski season has come again. Not because the first snow has fallen or the temperature hit the freezing mark, but because Warren Miller’s annual ski film has come to Toronto. Warren Miller’s Off The Grid played to a sold-out crowd of snowriders at the Hummingbird Centre. The film is the 56 annual film from Warren Miller, who showed his first ski movie in 1951. Miller, who is 86, normally gives voice narration for the films. This year however U.S. Olympic team member Jeremy Bloom narrated it with Miller giving small clips of dialogue. The film featured segments following different skiers and boarders on mountains and hills from Colorado to Alaska to Europe and even India. It also featured segments about the U.S. Olympic team qualifiers and the U.S. Freeskiing Open. The crowd enjoyed the film, laughing at the humour, feeling the big crashes and staring in disbelief at many of stunts performed. One segment in particular, in which skier Jamie Pierre completes a world record 245-foot cliff drop, got a rousing applause from the audience. The film closed with a tribute to skier Doug Coombs, who was killed in April of 2006. Coombs had been in several previous Warren Miller films and the segment was composed of clips from all his previous appearances. Warren Miller films are somewhat of a ritual in the ski community with many skiers using it to get motivated for the upcoming season. Hopefully the films continue for another 50 seasons. Bienvenue à Montréal By Jason Miller Chronicle Staff The Student Association will be having its annual college and university trip to Montréal on Dec. 29 and 30. There are two departure dates: Dec. 29 for three nights and Dec. 30 for two nights. Students have an option of staying in suburban or downtown Montreal, with prices ranging by location. Same attractions include Casino de Montréal, Just For Laughs Museum and others. Students will also receive three room options: quad, triple and double. Hotel prices are $119 for quad occupancy, $219 for double and $159 for triple. There will be free daily and nightly shuttles to downtown from suburban hotels. There are also optional activities and parties at additional cost. Itinerary and exclusive wristbands will be issued to entitle students to special deals and events. Students can contact amandaab@breakawaytours.com for booking information by using the booking code DCUOIT. The Chronicle November 21, 2006 ENTERTAINMENT NEWS The decade that won’t leave us By Pavan Sandhu Chronicle Staff Does the flux capacitor ring a bell? How about the Rubik’s Cube? Do you recall who shot J.R? It was the decade where beads, bracelets and half-fingered gloves were the fashion must-haves. When Molly Ringwald showed the drama involved in turning 16 and Tom Cruise taught us just how risky business is. They were the 1980s. Twenty six years ago we entered one of the most creative, risky, and talented decades ever. Today, as we look back, it is clear we have become boring and dull. It was a decade that screamed fun. Creativity leaked in every aspect; the movies, music, in clothes and culture. No other decade has incorporated so much variety in music, fashion and style. It was the decade for daring outrageous hair experimentation. Big hair was in. Girls supported the perm and guys opted for the mullet. Hair accessories such as hair ties and hair bands were worn plentiful. The flock of Seagulls hairstyle was extreme over the top creativity; it has since become a signature of the decade. Pop and rock artists inspired many trends such as Michael Jackson’s red jacket in the Thriller video and Madonna’s white wedding dress worn in the Like a Virgin music video. Leg warmers and off-the-shoulder sweaters inspired by the movie Flashdance were also popular. From the sexy sound of Blondie to the electric techno new wave Duran Duran, music artists created their own unique image and were not manufactured and packaged like many of today’s pop artists. The 1980s also poured creative juices onto the cinema screen. Movies such as Back to the Future and Mannequin, Ghostbusters, and Gremlins crossed the boundaries of normality. Other milestones include The Karate Kid, the Goonies, and the teen flicks led by fiery red head Molly Ringwald: The Breakfast Club, Sixteen Candles and Pretty in Pink. Today’s directors have lost their creative flow and this has resulted in the sequelization of many original hits. The effect of the 1980s is still evident in many things today - just look around and you will find the 1980s embedded in everything. Pop artists such as Britney Spears, Justin Timberlake and Usher have become pop icons of the millennium by emulating their 1980s idols. All you have to do is watch their music videos to see traces of Madonna’s Vogue and Michael Jackson’s electrifying dance moves. The creative unique edgy fashion that once made statements in the streets has been tamed down to shady tops and jeans for the girls and boys of today. Vibrant colours of neon green and pink and daring statements of polka dots and stripes have been replaced with the basic black or white sweater with the 31 occasional daring bold collar flip. Who knows what the next 10 years holds? Lately, traces of the 1980s have popped up in other places. Big earrings are back, and clothing stores such as H&M have adopted the bold daring fashion statements made in the 1980s with their wild colours and designs. Bands such as Duran Duran, Depeche Mode and Bon Jovi are still going strong today. No one has been able to overthrow Madonna as the pop queen. At 48 years old she is still producing albums and touring. Shows like VH1 Bands Reunited has attempted to reform classic acts for one last performance with some of the most memorable reformations being The Motels and The Flock of Seagulls. The 1980s were electric. Who knows when we will get another decade that will be as fun and creative. We don’t have a flux capacitor to take us back in time but we do have the memories; so blast the Flock of Seagulls song ‘I Ran’ and pay tribute to one of the greatest decades there ever was. Video killed music for us all By Chad Ingram Chronicle Staff “Video killed the radio star,” proclaimed The Buggles in their ditty of the same name. Appropriately, it was the first music video to air on that dark day in 1982 when MTV bopped its way into the cultural consciousness. And The Buggles were bang on with their prediction. Television is destroying music. It is beating, bludgeoning, raping, pillaging and murdering music. The integration of television and music has shifted the focus of the latter from artistry and talent to image and advertising. As a result, popular music has become little more than a vehicle for consumer- ism. We now live in an era where recording artists, especially those promoted by MTV and its minions, are not musicians, but rather corporations in and of themselves. They sell fragrances, makeup, clothes and video games – everything, except good music. The culprits are everywhere. Jennifer Lopez, 50 Cent, Jessica and Ashlee Simpson, Britney Spears – they are too numerous to count. Something is seriously awry when Paris Hilton has a best-selling record. Most of these performers can’t even sing, but that can be easily remedied with a little technical wizardry in the studio. It isn’t important anymore what they sound like, it’s what they look like that matters. Are they good-looking enough to piss on a consumer’s head and tell them it’s raining? Yes? Well OK, then sign on the dotted line. Critics will say that consumerism has always been closely linked to popular music. For example, The Beatles, during the craze of Beatlemania, had all kinds of merchandise, ranging from posters to bobble-heads. While this is true, The Beatles also wrote their own songs and played their own instruments. Furthermore, the Beatles’ merchandise consisted of items baring their image, the type of souveniers available at concert concession stands. There was no eau de Paul perfume. John Lennon didn’t get on television and hawk designer jeans and Ringo Starr didn’t star in any acne cream commercials. Back then consumerism emerged as a side effect of music. Now it seems to be the other way around. Television shows such as American Idol manufacture stars with one goal in mind – money. The music that American Idols produce is always the same, homogenous, bland pop that continues to dilute the cultural soundscape. The music is prewritten, prerecorded, and the winner’s vocals are simply auto-tuned and dubbed in at the last minute. The stars then go on to sell vehicles, shoes and makeup. Even worse, this trend has leaked its way into the rock world. Marilyn Manson now has a brand name cologne. I repeat: Marilyn Manson now has a brand name cologne. Even iconic indie band The Flaming Lips recently had one of their songs in a car commercial. Oops . . . I just puked in my mouth. Sorry folks. This consumerist mentality forces real artists underground. Most of them are quit happy to stay there, however, this allows further defilement of mainstream music. It would be nice to turn on the radio and hear an artist that doesn’t conjure up images of consumer products or syndicated television. In fact, it would be nice to hear an artist who doesn’t conjure images other than in the mind’s eye. Sitting in your car, you Incubus returns with 6th album too can be a rock star Light Grenades hits Nov. 28 By Chris Bracken Chronicle Staff Pardon them, but this time they’re not bursting into flames. Multi-platinum alternative rockers Incubus are gearing up to release their sixth studio album, Light Grenades. Record stores will be pulling the pin on Light Grenades for a Nov. 28 release. Incubus is currently set to tour right after the CD release on their first North American tour in two years. But, they’re giving diehard Incubus fans first chance at their tickets. If you pre-order the CD from their website then you have access to pre-sale tickets for Incubus’s upcoming tour. The only thing is the web site selling the CD does not ship to Canada, so you better make some friends to the south. The show in Toronto will be at the Kool Haus on Feb 4. According to their web site, Light Grenades is a mix of hard rocking songs and sublime ballads recorded over the past year. This is Incubus’s first album since its release A Crow Left of the Murder. The first single off Light Grenades, Anna Molly, is already starting to make noise among listeners. It has a similar sound to A Crowd Left of the Murder, but it also has that typical Incubus song, which makes it that much more enjoyable. By Chris Bracken Chronicle Staff Everybody does it whether they mean to or not. Singing in the car cannot be helped, and I don’t want it to be. When I sing in the car I’m a rock star and no one can take that away from me. If you’re like me when you’re driving and listening to music, then you know exactly what I’m talking about. Pulling out a fake microphone and banging on the steering wheel makes me feel like I’m on top of the world for three minutes at a time. It doesn’t matter if it’s Ozzy Osbourne from Black Sabbath, Axl Rose from Guns N’ Roses, or Gene Simmons from KISS. When I hear their tunes in my car I am up on that stage in front of 100,000 screaming my name and singing my lyrics. And I don’t just sing in the car alone. Whoever is riding shotgun joins along in some random singing or helps me out with a guitar solo. Let me tell you, it’s much easier to be famous when you have a partner in crime. But when I’m at a red light no one will see my rock star alter ego. Pulling up beside another car makes things a little more intimidating; it’s kind of like having an audience. It ruins my car ride for the 30 seconds I’m beside them. The funny side of this is when I pull up to a car and the driver is doing exactly what I was doing a few seconds before, singing his or her heart out, eyes closed, a priceless look on his or her face and music that’s so loud so it can drown out their horrible voice. I cannot help but make fun of them, but then I realize…do I look like that when I sing? Don’t forget those ridiculous dance moves either. The classic reach out and pull back manouver, the point to the audience and the rocking of the shoulders back and forth. And for those who can drive with their knees, the sky is the limit for dancing. There is something wrong with the car radio plus rock star equation though. An instant rock star equals worse driver. Although I am somewhat ashamed to admit it, sometimes I don’t even pay attention when I get in my singing trance. But come on, it’s not everyday that you can be Steven Tyler. And just like an actual concert, I know there is always an encore performance, and that’s the car ride home. Only this time I might give some attention to the drummer or guitarist. Every now and then the soul needs a good cleansing so help yourself to a good rock star session in your car, truck, hell, even try public transit. 32 The Chronicle November 21, 2006 The Chronicle November 21, 2006 33 34 The Chronicle November 21, 2006 ENTERTAINMENT NEWS Brighton Beach splashes Whitby By Ryan Peterson Chronicle Staff Waves crash on the beach; cawing seagulls are heard as if they are circling above your head. In the distance there’s a radio on crackling play-by-play of the latest Yankees game. It’s 1937 in Brighton Beach Brooklyn, New York, or at least it is at the Whitby Courthouse Theatre every weekend until Nov. 25. Brighton Beach Memoirs, a comedy by Neil Simon, was first presented in Los Angeles in 1982. It won the drama critics circle award for best play in 1983, has become one the best coming of age/ historical pieces, and is the most recognized play from Simon’s large body of work. The WCT show is directed by Donald Langley, a third-year journalism student at Durham College, as well as the project and special events assistant to the Student Association and the social convenor for WCT board of directors. I first saw Brighton Beach performed in 2001 by the Windsor Light Opera players in Windsor, Ont. That performance has stayed with me and I think this one shall also. Told through the eyes of 15-yearold Eugene Jerome, the show is about the problems facing a lower middle-class Jewish family in the depression. One of the main hurdles for the family is that, in addition to Eugene, they have three other dependents in the wife (Kate’s) sister and two daughters, Nora and Laurie, who moved in when their husband and father died. The show started 15 minutes late, but it was a dress rehearsal, so the stage, sound and lighting crews were just working out the kinks. The accents were semi-consistent, Laurie had it down, as did Kate and Stanley (Eugene’s older brother), but Eugene and Jack, especially Jack needed some help. It was hard to tell what he was trying to do. He never fully reached the Brooklyn/Jewish blend. Eugene lost it on his long speeches. Another thing about Eugene’s speeches was that they seemed to get away from him. As he went on the energy and expression seemed to peter out and the emphasis didn’t fall where it should. Photo by Ryan Peterson WE’RE A HAPPY FAMILY: From left, Kathy Knight (Kate), Bailey Coyle (Laurie), Lanie Anderson (Blanche), and Megan Svajlenko (Nora) star in a performance of Brighton Beach Memoirs by Neil Simon at the Whitby Courthouse theatre until Nov. 25. The height difference between Eugene and Stanley isn’t enough to illustrate the four-year difference. Aesthetically, however, they do look like brothers. Blocking, the way the actors move onstage, was sometimes an issue, because the audience couldn’t see different characters. The actor who played Stanley (Graeme Robinson) did a great job. His mannerisms, inflection, and body language were all true to the script and portrayed the character the way Simon would have wanted. The play has scenes with a large number of characters, a whole family scene, two-character scenes and of course Eugene’s monologues. In these scenes the actors must have chemistry in order to keep the audience interested. Character relationships of note were between Stan and Nora and Jack and Kate. During the dinner scene in the first act, they had what is known as a wet set. Using real food and liquids, which is a brave undertaking, the actors did well, nothing was spilled. Dinner scenes can be problematic with blocking. Business could also be over the top and take attention from where it’s supposed to be, but once again this cast pulled it off. The scenes were split up well in two aspects. They flowed, one into the other, and they used the full space of the stage. The show ran a little bit overtime, it was supposed to be an hour for each act, but with more performances that will be ironed out. Although the play is a comedy, it has some genuinely touching scenes. A scene between Jack and Stan near the end of the first act brought tears to the audience as Stan talks to his father about having to write a letter of apology to his boss, so he doesn’t get fired, something the family can’t afford. Others came in the second act, including Kate and Blanche having an argument that, as Jack said, was “Two sisters having a fight they should have had 25 years ago.” The two women caught the depth of the characters’ hurt in waves and levels of emotion. This scene rides like a roller-coaster. Another emotional confrontation was between Nora and Blanche. Nora had been acting snobby towards the whole family when her mother decided that Nora could not drop out of school to be a Broadway dancer. All of this came to a head when Blanche went out on a date and Nora didn’t stick around to see her off. Technically, lights and sound were spot on at every point they needed to be although the sound was a little overbearing in some parts. Kate had a good costume change in the second act. In one scene she was in pyjamas and then she was in full day dress in the next. The set, which was apparently unfinished at the dress rehearsal, looked good with some questionable time period props and set pieces. This is a good show that can be viewed by a large range of audiences, from a mature nine-year-old to senior citizens, although the WCT warns there is some mature language and subject matter. Tickets are $15 and can be booked by calling Lafontaine Trading Post at 905-430-3774. Williams strikes warmth in hearts By Tania Harris Chronicle Staff They continue to come in, one right after the other. They are different people, from different walks of life all gathering for the same reasons, to satisfy their cravings while enjoying an evening of relaxation. Whether you have an itch for a morning coffee, want to indulge in some breakfast, or are looking to complete work in a quite place while sipping on a warm beverage, Williams Coffee Pub, in Courtice, is the place to go. As soon as you walk through the large double doors an immediate sensation of warmth and comfort rushes over you. The smell of freshly brewed coffee and newly baked muf- fins invades your senses, allowing childhood memories of weekly visits to grandma’s house to enter your mind. As you walk over to the counter a staff member welcomes you. “What can I get for you today my dear,” she says in a vibrant voice. Once you place your order you receive a number and take a seat wherever you desire. A young employee with a friendly smile then serves you almost immediately. The atmosphere is casual and relaxing. A vast variety of light illuminates the building. The red, light and dark brown brick walls make you feel as though you are dining in a secluded cottage, far away from the chaos of everyday life. There is green panelling on the walls, which complements the classic Monet and Van Gogh art. Booths are everywhere you look, providing comfortable seating for 165 people. Williams’ menu is considerably larger than other popular coffee houses, such as Tim Hortons, but the prices are generally higher. As soon as you take the first sip of your hot cafe latte or when you first bite into your Belgian waffle, however, the tingling sensation that overwhelms your palate makes the experience worth the money. A young girl sits alone reading a novel while sipping on a large cup of warm cappuccino priced at $2.89. A husband and wife sit sideby-side sharing a slice of lemon meringue pie, priced at $3.19. A group of boy scouts dressed in uniform sit at a large table enjoying French onion soup, $3.99, Greek salad, $5.49, and a grilled chicken Caesar wrap, $5.79. No matter the time of day there is always a wide variety of people enjoying their time at Williams. Two men in their 70s sit in the far right corner reminiscing about old times. A group of middle-aged women sits in a booth behind them, laughing at the day’s events. In the back left corner two students sit quietly while completing homework and taking advantage of the free wireless Internet service. It’s nearly 11 p.m. and the once illuminated pub is dimming, the open sign is no longer lit and the friendly staff gets ready to close. One by one customers exit, with smiles on their faces, through the large double doors. They are different people from different walks of life all leaving with the same feeling, satisfaction of time well-spent. The Chronicle November 21, 2006 ENTERTAINMENT NEWS Cha-cha at E.P. Taylor’s By Valene Nicholas Chronicle Staff One, two, three. One, two, three and rock step. Every Monday about a dozen students occupy the top level of E.P. Taylor’s to learn ballroom dancing under the instruction of Wilson Kuang. “I just started dancing from chacha-cha and the jitter bug,” said Kuang, the Durham College Mechanical Engineering student who created the Night Pearl Dance Club. He teaches these famous dances as well as the waltz, rumba and fox trot, with the use of You Can Dance videos. Kuang started dancing just last year. While searching for an Oshawa dance club that teaches a variety of dance, he decided to bring free dance lessons to the campus. “I find most people cannot dance,” he said, while acknowledging that students have differing skill levels. He hopes his students learn from each other, not just from his instruction. “You do not need to be a professional dancer to join the club,” said Sunny Kwatra, a third-year Nursing student. He said most students are beginner dancers who are eager to try something new. “The jitterbug is my favourite,” said Kwatra. “It involves balancing your partner through your body weight, which adds to a lot of hilarious situations since Kathy likes to pull with extra force.” Medical laboratory student Katherine Taboada dances with Kwatra for the two-hour class, beginning at 4:30 p.m. Each class students learn two dances involving partners, but they do not need to register in pairs. “I would highly encourage other students to take advantage of these classes…especially those who feel shy in approaching the dance floor,” said Taboada. Eventually Kuang wants to have 35 Country’s boy band play ACC By Mike Van Veen Chronicle Staff Photo by Valene Nicholas BRING YOUR DANCING SHOES: Katherine Taboada and Sunny Kwatra take part in dancing class that is held at E.P. Taylor’s on Monday nights. weekly dance parties to encourage dancers from all skill levels to participate and have fun. He is in the midst of planning the club’s first party that will be open to all students. Music from swing and salsa, to disco and hip-hop will boom through speakers, bringing different dance styles to life. In the meantime, students are welcome to take part in the Monday night lessons. “It is a wonderful club to go to after class to just relax and have fun,” said Kwatra. Both Taboada and Kwatra find dancing a great stress reliever from academics. The boys had to keep a close eye on their girls when country music’s very own boy band came to town. Rascal Flatts performed to a sold-out crowd at the Air Canada Centre, the only Canadian stop on their tour. The two-hour set had several songs from the band’s Me and My Gang album as well as several of their past hits, including a cover of Tom Cochrane’s Life is a Highway. During Skin, a song about a girl suffering from cancer, the band had audience members hold up their cell phones and wave them back and forth. The group took time between songs to interact with fans, including lead singer Gary LeVox trying to set bandmate Jay DeMarcus up on a date with an eight-year-old girl who was near the stage. DeMarcus also performed a brief stand-up comedy routine about female fans who left their husbands at home to come to the show. At one point during the show, the band boarded a platform that was hoisted into the air and carried to the far end of the stadium floor, where it was set down so fans at the back could get a better glimpse of the band. During a drum solo, DeMarcus had a second drum set brought on stage and assisted with the solo and received an enthusiastic response. The band will finish their tour with a few more stops before taking a break from performing and recording. Sandler clicks Restaurant spices up TO By Matthew James Pozzuoli By Krystle Pereira Chronicle Staff In the movie Click, Michael Newman (Adam Sandler) is married to the beautiful Donna ( Kate Beckinsale) and they have two beautiful children, Ben ( Joseph Castanon) and Samantha ( Tatum McCann). But he doesn’t get to see them much because he is putting in long, hard hours at his architectural firm. Michael figures once he is on easy street, he’ll be able to lavish attention on his wife and kids. At least, that’s what he keeps telling himself. After staying up all night to work, a tired Michael becomes frustrated because he can’t even turn on his own television set. He goes out to find the perfect universal remote. His journey brings him to Bed Bath and Beyond where he meets an eccentric employee, Morty (Christopher Walken) who gives Michael a one-of-a-kind souped-up gadget guaranteed to change his life. Morty wasn’t kidding and soon Michael becomes master of his domain, turning appliances on and off with a flick of a button. But this device has other functions. Michael is soon able to muffle the barking of the family dog and even better yet fast-forward through a fight with his wife. Michael becomes addicted to the new rush of power, which literally allows him to have his cake and eat it to. But before he knows it the remote control is controlling him instead of the other way around. Only then does Michael start to embrace life for what it is worth and he learns that rushing through life isn’t always the best idea. Click offers a chance to see Adam Sandler do what he does best, make people laugh. With a good plot and hilarious characters this film deserves a chance. Chronicle Staff For a taste of the Caribbean without the hundreds of dollars invested in long flights, Irie Food Joint presents the distinct culture’s tastes meticulously. Located in the heart of Downtown Toronto on 745 Queen St. W., Irie offers another piece of the multicultural entertainment and cuisines that paint the city streets. The atmosphere is best presented for an evening date, gathering, or casual dinner. Although not overly spacious, the small but cozy tables lining the sidewalls make the visit easily comfortable. From the walls to the floors, the colours are calm and content, creating a laid-back atmosphere. Simplistic but odd art appears sparingly above the tables, created with millions of actual hair shavings, adding a quirky focus. A small but apparent bar highlights the restaurant with modern splashes of dark wood and stainless steel. Traditional bar stools and shelves of liqueurs make the bar inviting for a casual drink and a hot spot while waiting for a table. Lights are placed vigilantly throughout the room, creating a dim, sensual mood. The back leads to a colourful patio, the walls have stained glass in bright patterns of reds, greens and yellows, which shadow over the room during bright days and offer dim lighting in the evenings. Slow sounds of contemporary jazz mixed with Caribbean rhythms are an ideal background for long conversations and soulful foods. The menu offers traditional Caribbean cuisine. Most appetizers feature spicy flavours, from peppered shrimps to jerk chicken wings. Pastas and salads are available for those who don’t traditionally dig in to authentic Caribbean meals. All meals are uniquely titled to jazz up the menu. Rasta Pasta and Shanghai Dreads may seem odd to eat but the names don’t fool the strong flavourful tastes. A long list of entrees is available for those who visit Irie for traditional Caribbean and West Indian delicacies. Jerk chicken, oxtail, curry chicken, cod, ackee and red snapper fish, shrimp in a spicy coconut cream sauce, salmon, jasmine rice, calaloo and pork. Although the atmosphere and meals create a perfect food joint, Irie is not recommended for those with a sweet tooth, as a small list of desserts is available and changes frequently depending on the season. Each dessert is carefully picked to represent the sweet fruits of the islands. The prices make the stay even more enjoyable. Three people can easily dine for under $50, including drinks, meals and dessert. If you love the distinctive tastes of food from the Caribbean or love to try cuisine from different cultures, Irie Food Joint will certainly please the curious and soulful belly with the perfect laid-back, subtle atmosphere. 36 The Chronicle November 21, 2006 ENTERTAINMENT NEWS Naruto a legend in the making Anime hero a hit with audiences The interaction between all the show’s characters is comical and also intriguing at times due to their differences. The combat scenes are sensational and the writers tend to introduce unexpected plot twists to keep the audience interested. The writers also play on people’s desire to accomplish more than they are capable and to surprise others in doing so, which is illustrated by characters that develop new abili- By Steve Parker Chronicle Staff “I won’t take back my words... that’s my ‘way of the ninja.’” Uzumaki Naruto (in Japan the family name precedes the given name), the main character in the anime Naruto, lives by those words. The anime is about him and his ambition to become Hokage, the most powerful ninja in the village of Konoha, and to make everyone recognize his existence. The series focuses on the acknowledgment of individuals by others, the importance of teamwork, and how working hard can achieve almost any result. Anyone who likes action, humour, surprise plot twists and has a bit of imagination will think Naruto an excellent watch. A diverse cast of characters illustrates many aspects of the series. As a child, Naruto could only express himself through pranks. Upon becoming a ninja and teaming up with Uchiha Sasuke and Haruno Sakura, he began to grow as a person. He’s noisy, unorthodox in his tactics and has an amazing spirit. He never gives up, no matter the odds. ‘ I won’t take back my words... that’s my ‘way of the ninja’ ’ Uzumaki Naruto ANIME NINJA: Just a few of the characters of Naruto, the story of an aspiring ninja and his ambition to become the Hokage, or top ninja, in his village. Sasuke is a survivor of the Uchiha, a noble clan in Konoha that was almost wiped out. He graduated from the ninja academy as a top rookie. Naruto views him as a rival. Sakura has good anticipation and knowledge of illusionary ninja techniques, but when it comes to combat she is lacking. She has a crush on Sasuke. However, Naruto has a crush on her. The scenario makes for some interesting scenes. The three are part of Team Seven, led by sensei, Hatake Kakashi. Together they complete tasks that the village receives from external sources. They are the main team the anime focuses on. ties during combat that turn the tide of battle in their favour. Another impressive part of the series is the music. It does an excellent job in setting the mood of various scenes, further adding to the impact on the audience. The series is televised in Japan can be purchased on DVD at anime conventions as well as stores like HMV. The show is terrific up to episode 130. After that are what anime connoisseurs refer to as “filler” episodes, which deviate from the main plot. The show is at episode 209 right now and there are signs the story is about to pick up again. If it does, and it is as good as the first 130 episodes, fans will gladly look forward to 200 more. Flushed Away not just another animated movie Characters, story add life to film By Krystle Pereira Chronicle Staff As a young child flushing your family’s throne, the toilet, did you ever have vast imaginations about where all of that swirling water ended up? Set in London, England, this animated film uses family pets and toilets and creates a unique imagination ride in the latest DreamWorks flick, Flushed Away. In the posh suburbs of Kensington, London, a young girl leaves her high-class home and cherished pet, a mouse named Roddy, to vacation with her family. The movie kicks into high gear emphasizing Roddy’s luxurious life and what a small mouse does when no one is around. From speeding around in a Barbie-size sports car, playing golf and dating his owner’s dolls, Roddy’s excitement seems inevitable. It didn’t take long for the exhibitions to be put to a halt when Roddy realizes he is not alone. Along RATS ON THE RUN: The characters of Flushed Away prepare to travel down the toilet into the London sewer. Flushed Away opened Nov 3. comes Sid. The complete opposite from the aristocratic Roddy, Sid makes a grand entrance, disturbing the perfection of the family’s home. In an effort to be rid of the troublesome mouse, Roddy attempts to flush away Sid. His efforts fail when he finds himself barrelling down London’s sewage system and into a city below the one above. It is then that Roddy’s adventures begin, pummelling and struggling through the city with other mice, slugs and frogs that have created a mini London to escape the fear of being flushed away by the humans. The realistic settings through state-of-the-art animation keep the eyes wandering and certainly glued to the screen. With each new twist and brought to the characters, come thrilling animations and sound effects that capture attention. Throughout the film, new characters are introduced frequently, which is well needed to keep the storyline humourous and full of interest. There are scenes periodically that offer dry humour and cheesy jokes, which result in a quiet audience almost begging for something thrilling to happen. Although some scenes aren’t as pleasing as expected, creators used baby slugs sporadically to serenade viewers with old music from Tom Jones and Tina Turner. For anyone mesmerized by the intense animation DreamWorks brings to the screen, Flushed Away easily meets the standards of other popular films. The storyline of Flushed Away is geared towards all ages. From the imaginative to the humourous, there are bits and pieces throughout the entire film to appeal to the masses. From using electric beaters as sea-doos and mice mimicking London’s busy life, Flushed Away is worth seeing and leaves the believing about what really lies beneath London’s streets, to you. The Chronicle November 21, 2006 37 SPORTS Durham College-UOIT Chronicle Durham took it to the house By Jason Miller Chronicle Staff The Durham Lords men’s basketball team now has a 2-1 conference record in OCAA regular season play. The Lords opened the season against Cambrian College on Oct. 27, suffering an 86-75 defeat. The first half was back and forth but Durham led at halftime 40-39. The second half got out of control with several foul calls, which resulted in two starters getting fouled out early in the second half. The Lords were also missing big man David George. Team captain Anthony Batchelor came up big for the lords with 27 points while rookie Evan Brown had 19. “We didn’t play very well,” said coach Peter Morgan. “We didn’t have our full roster. We were missing our two forwards inside.” The Lords then upset nationally ranked St. Lawrence Vikings 92-90 in a nail-biting game at home on Nov. 7. The Lords were leading 8671 with six minutes to go before St. Lawrence went on a 15-0 run to tie the game at 86. The teams traded baskets down the stretch until Anthony Batchelor drained two game-winning free throws with 8.5 seconds to go, giving the Lords the victory in their home opener. “I thought before the season started Durham would be the team to beat,” said Vikings coach Barry Photo by Jason Miller COME GET IT: Durham College forward Steve Clarke drives to the hoop in the Lords’ nail-biting 66-65 win over the La Cite Coyotes at the Athletic Complex on Nov. 10 Smith. “I don’t know if we deserved to be in the position to win. You cannot give up 92 points and expect to win.” He said his team broke down defensively and that cost them the game. Batchelor finished the game with 16 points and 15 rebounds, and was 7 of 7 from the free throw line. Rookie Evan Browne stepped up his game, scoring 12 points, 3 rebounds and 3 assists, and was 3 of 4 behind the arc. At the end of the game the Lords’ bench looked like a struggling unit as big man Da- vid George sprained his ankle after scoring 20 points, Troy Dennis went down with an ankle injury, and centre Joe Cyros left the game with a broken nose. The Vikings’ leading scorer was Mathieu Riendeau with 25 points. “It shouldn’t have been that close in the end,” Morgan said. “It really affected us when David George got hurt. We still kept it together and won the basketball game.” It was another exciting night at the campus Athletic Centre on Nov.10, as the Lords defeated the La Cite Coyotes 66-65. The fans were kept on the edge of their seats as the Lords held onto the one-point victory. The Lords trailed the entire game and were down by one point with 12 seconds to go. Anthony Batchelor took a shot behind the arc with 2.3 seconds left and was fouled. Batchelor was 2 for 3 at the free throw line to give the Lords the lead and the win in the dying seconds. “He is one of the best players in the league, so let him earn the game,” said La Cite coach Etienne Jacquet, complaining about the foul call that sent Bachelor to the line for three free throws to win the game. La Cite failed to convert in the last 2.3 seconds of the game. Steve Clarke had a big game with 21 points, 11 rebounds, one assist and two steals, while Batchelor added 17 points. The Lords are still suffering from the injury bug with David George and Joe Cyros out until January. Seneca’s sting too strong for Lords’ men’s volley By Ryan Peterson Chronicle Staff. The men’s volleyball team lost their home opener against the Seneca Sting Nov. 14. The men had a bad start as the Sting got a two-point lead on the Lords in the first set. This was a small, but effective lead that the Lords had a difficult time closing for the rest of the game, leading to a 3-2 loss. The Sting won the first set 25-18. The Lords are still having problems serving. Head coach Gord Williamson asked the men during a break in the action to “play like you want to win.” The team seemed took this resolve into the next two sets, beating the Sting 25-20 in the second set and 25-22 in the third. However, the Lords’ pop fizzled as the Sting won the next set 25-20, forcing a fifth. The Sting put their hammer down, winning the last set 16-14. The starting libero for the game was Ryan McIntosh, who was replaced after the first set by Matt Melissis. McIntosh hurt his knee in the fourth set when he dove for a ball and made contact with the score- keeper’s table. McIntosh finished the game. Before the game, Seneca head coach Jason Cliff said their previous loss was because of inconsistency. “I think that earlier in the season, when we played the exhibition, we were young, we made a lot of rookie errors. But I think that we’ve kind of shored up some of those errors.” The men’s lead scorers were Josh Bowen with 19 kills and five blocks, Dave Crabbe with 10 kills and three blocks, and McIntosh with 10 kills and one service ace. The Lords’ next game was Nov. 16 against Trent. Results were unavailable at press time. Photo by Ryan Peterson JUMP!!!: Libero Matt Melissis is about to dive for a ball, while setter Byron Jung provides some support in the Lords’ 3-2 home opener loss to Seneca on Nov. 14. Women show class at home By Ryan Peterson Chronicle Staff Women’s volleyball beat the Seneca Sting Nov. 14 in the team’s home opener. The women won 3-1. The last time the Lords played the Sting (outside of tournaments) was in the pre-season. The women walked away with a victory there too. Josie Naccarato, captain of the Seneca team explained why they lost last time. “Our one problem was communication and we’re still working on that.” Whatever effect the Sting’s communication problems had on their game the Lords sure took advantage of it. They won the first set 25-23 and the second set 25-22. But instead of spiking the nail in the Sting’s coffin and winning the game three sets in a row, the Lords fumbled the ball and the Sting took the set 28-26. During the fourth set, the Lords looked tired and didn’t leave their feet often. Captain Shannon Littlejohn looked the most worn out in a huddle during a Seneca time-out. Going out on the court Littlejohn earned the next two points through kills. The Lords won the set 25-17. Littlejohn scored high against Seneca with 15 kills, one block and six service aces. Other high scorers were Cheryl Silva with nine kills, two blocks and one service ace and Karlene Risebrough Barnes with eight kills and two service aces. Every set the Lords played there was a new libero on the court. Number 11 Shona Tighe was the libero for the first and third set, and number 8 Amanda Falzon played libero on the second and fourth sets. The reason for this, according to assistant coach Shane Christopher: “Amanda didn’t have a good practice this week…Shona has been passing very well, so we throw them in and out to see who’s going to step up. The first set we threw Amanda in, she still didn’t mentally come through, so we gave her another shot, because she’s been great for us up until now.” 38 The Chronicle November 21, 2006 SPORTS NEWS DC women’s volleyball team dominates George Brown Photo by Jason Miller nate weekend at the Humber Cup Invitational. By Ryan Peterson Chronicle Staff “It was a much better game,” said assistant coach Shane Christopher. Women’s volleyball went to T.O. “We look to carry that success when Nov. 8 and took out George Brown. we play stronger teams.” This was the He said that it’s women’s third hard to put emconference phasis on George game, leaving Brown. We’re a them undefeatmuch better team ed in conference than they are.” play this season. Bouma agreed The women with coach Chrisdominated the topher. “We played Huskies 3-0 (25pretty well. They’re 13, 25-15 and definitely not in our 25-18). league. Sometimes The lead scora team lowers their ers of the game play when taking were veterans on other teams.” Cheryl Silva The reason with five kills, George Brown four digs and wasn’t much comtwo service aces, petition, accordJanet Littlejohn ing to Bouma, is with nine kills because they are a Cheryl Silva and two service newer team, whereaces, Karlene as Durham has more Risebrough Barnes with six kills, experience. Deanna Oliver, the athtwo service aces and one dig, and letics and recreation co-ordinator rookie Carli Bouma with six kills at George Brown, said this season and one block.This was a welcome is the women’s first season in the win for the women after an unfortu- league after a 10-year hiatus. KEEP YOUR HEAD UP: The women’s basketball team couldn’t pull together any wins when playing their first three games and have an early season conference record of 0-3. Women’s basketball can’t pull together a win By Jason Miller Chronicle Staff The Durham College women’s basketball team now has an 0-3conference record after losing to Seneca, Humber and Georgian College in OCAA action. The Lords hosted the 2006 OCAA provincial champions and nationally ranked Seneca Sting in their home opener and first conference game on Oct. 31 and were stung 75-49. “We played well but their key players stepped up and we couldn’t stop them,” said Lords assistant coach Angela Cull. “It was a good learning experience for the girls.” Cull said Seneca is a powerhouse this year, with their entire team from last season returning plus a few key individual players, but that didn’t stop the Lords from battling from start to finish. Natasha Thombs was the top scorer of the game with 23 points for Seneca. Captains Samantha McConnell and Carly McGhie led the Lords in scoring with double digits. McConnell had 15 points, 12 rebounds, four steals, and two assists, while McGhie finished with 15 points, 10 rebounds, two assists, and two steals. Rookie Sarah Tice was named Shoeless Joe’s player of the game, coming off the bench with seven points, one rebound, and one steal. The next game was no different as the Lords were missing seven key players from their lineup. They were no match for a powerful Humber team who defeated them 65-41. Playing short-handed, the Lords were forced to go deeper in the bench against the Hawks. However, the Hawks still could not stop thirdyear sensation McConnell, who scored 23 points, 12 rebounds, and four steals. McConnell is averaging 19 points per game. Rookie Amanda Moore came off the bench and played big for the struggling Lords. “Turnovers was a major factor,” Cull said. “We couldn’t score and that was a problem. Our defence has gotten better but Humber just came at us.” A battered Lords team then lost 61-52 in a close game against the Georgian Grizzlies on Nov. 10. Injuries continue to plague the Lords as rookie starter Jill Leistra went down with an ankle injury. The Lords were also missing eight players, three of whom were in Vancouver for soccer, while veterans Krista Colley and McGhie were out with injuries. “I don’t think we played our best today,” said Grizzlies coach Robin Lawrence. “I am really pleased with coming away with a win on the road. Samantha played really well carrying this team with so much injuries.” McConnell continued her impressive performances in OCAA action, scoring 20 points. She also grabbed five rebounds, three assists, and had one crowd-pleasing rejection against the Grizzlies, whose leading scorer was Cheiko Moriyama with 23 points. Cull said her team was killed by the number of shots made by Moriyama. “The ladies played well,” said Cull. “The only thing that killed us was our 36 turnovers and we didn’t put the ball in the net. The eight players we had stepped up and played great.” Both volleyball teams come up a bit short ing to work on digging, passing off and serves, but we won’t do it in one Chronicle Staff day, so we have a problem.” Marchut was referring to the fact The men’s and women’s volley- the women had a game three days ball teams wound up wounded at later and only had one scheduled the Humber Cup invitational tour- practice. Passing has been a connament Nov. 4 and 5. tinuous problem for the women, Each team played five games affecting their play since the prewith the same schedules. They season. played against Mohawk, Humber, The men played their first match Fanshawe, Nipissing and Georgian. against Mohawk who they tied one Each team won only one match, set apiece, with scores of 25-19 and over Georgian College. 29-27. The Lords also tied Humber Tournament matches were 25-13 and 25-21. played in round robin format. The The men went on to lose their women lost their next two matches first match against 2-0 to Fanshawe Mohawk, 2-0, then It’s just trying and Nipissing. lost to Humber 2to get the guys However, in their 0 as well. Every set last match of the mentally focused tournament they was close with the exception of the to play with some won 2-0 against second set of the Georgian, 25-17 intensity. Humber match, and 25-21. which the women Overall, head Gord Williamson lost by five. coach Gord WilThe Lords were liamson was distied one set apiece appointed with in their match against Fanshawe. the team’s performance. He felt the They lost the first set 25-23, but men didn’t play as well as they can. came back with an impressive 25“It’s just trying to get the guys 13 win. mentally focused to play with some The next match saw the women intensity,” Williamson said. “(It’s) lose 2-0 to Nipissing. Finally, the getting the veterans to focus…for women won 2-0 over Georgian. Seneca and Trent,” who are next on “We’re not passing well,” head the team’s schedule. coach Stan Marchut said. “We’re go- By Ryan Peterson ‘ ’ The Chronicle November 21, 2006 39 SPORTS NEWS Pitcher perfect coach for UOIT sity programs.” Hockey doesn’t end at his coaching job. As DSRR Pitcher views himBe it participating in sports, going self as kind of a referee, as he is here for a run, working toward his PhD, to enforce the rules. “If I’m doing my job effectively, coaching the DC-UOIT women’s extramural hockey team, preparing nobody really notices me,” he said. the Ridgebacks team for OUA varsi- “I’m dealing with problems either ty next year or helping out students, early on or I’m preventing them Gary Pitcher, Director of Student from becoming bigger problems.” The challenge for Pitcher is mainRights and Responsibilities on camtaining balance between the rights pus, is a busy man. He served as a police officer in and the responsibilities of students. To better describe this he used a Toronto for 29 years. When he retired, Pitcher started hockey metaphor. “The balance of letting people on campus as a teacher as well as play (rights), versus having to play the DSRR. After helping start the women’s within the rules where people don’t extramural hockey club and be- get hurt (responsibility),” he said. Students usually receive three coming head coach, Pitcher gave up his teaching job but remained on as strikes with Pitcher before being ejected from the institution. It DSRR. He says coaching isn’t like play- doesn’t happen unless absolutely necessary. ing, however there are “For every stusome similarities beFor every stutween coaching and dent I have re- dent I have removed, I’ve had the teaching. “Coaching and play- moved, I’ve had same number of ing the game are simi- the same num- students come to and say ‘thank lar but very different, ber of students me you for keeping me there’s a whole set of skills you need to learn come to me and in school,’” he said. His background as a coach,” Pitcher say ‘thank you in policing is helpful said. “Coaching is all about teaching, lead- for keeping me in with his DSRR responsibilities, and it ing and trying to get school’. was sports that lead the best out of people.” Since he and assisGary Pitcher him to police work. Pitcher has altant coach Scott Barker ways been involved started the team two years ago, Pitcher feels his biggest in sports. Growing up in Scarborough, accomplishment is on an academic level, converting several players on he played catcher in baseball for a while before moving to third base. his team to university. He believes his love for sports Goaltender Melissa Scott and forwards Cheri Ostroski and Sarah influenced his decision to become Carter were in college when the a police officer.“Women and men who have had athletic background team was started. “They were college students and are attracted to policing because of we converted them over to univer- the physical nature of the job,” said Pitcher. sity students,” Pitcher said. “Having a sports background is a “They took the bridging program and they’ve gone on to take univer- natural fit to policing.” By Steve Parker Chronicle Staff ‘ ’ Photo by Steve Parker EYES ON THE FUTURE: Gary Pitcher, New coach of the DC-UOIT women’s extramural hockey team works out the team at the campus ice centre. Along with coaching Pitcher is also active at the local gym, and is currently working towards his PhD. He says that policing is not easy and you need to have effective coping mechanisms to deal with some parts of the job. “To survive policing you have to be grounded and have a good support system around you,” Pitcher said.Police see people at their best and worst and that teaches them how to relate to people and solve UOIT is about to launch its very own lacrosse team letes to play.” There are several players with Chronicle Staff professional club and Rep lacrosse experience who have shown interIf you would like to play field la- est, including a former national crosse for UOIT, then get your gear team player. and prepare yourself for the chance The first goal is to try to form a to be a part of the team. club team to play in a intramural There are hopes of launching a league on campus, then build on lacrosse team at UOIT to keep some that foundation. of the province’s “We approached top players from We approached the athletic departDurham Region the athletic de- ment because we think representing their it is important to have local university in- partment because them involved,” Partstead of going off to we think it is im- low said. other schools such “We are also interas Western or Mc- portant to have ested in playing at the Master. them involved. varsity level but that “Women’s field might not happen until lacrosse is huge in Beth Partlow 2008.” this area,” said Beth To be prepared for Partlow, UOIT Human Resources varsity play, Partlow said they are representative and one of the orga- now doing development practices nizers. at fields around the region since “For UOIT to offer a lacrosse they don’t have a specific field as team would increase enrolment yet. and offer somewhere for these athThey are also planning to invite By Jason Miller ‘ ’ some varsity teams like Laurier and Western to play practice games. For more information contact beth.partlow@uoit.ca. “I think our difficulty right now is that we started the team late,” Partlow said. “We don’t have a facility or the necessary resources. As the word gets out next year we will increase our athlete base.” Partlow said things look good so far, as the girls want to play but they just need the funds and proper equipment. She said, all they need to start the team is 30 core players. Practices are held on Wednesdays and Thursdays on various fields off campus. “Ken Babcock (Durham College and UOIT athletic director) is very positive about a women’s team,” Partlow said. “He supported our idea of starting as a club team and developing into a varsity team. They are excited about lacrosse and its growth in the community.” problems, explained Pitcher. “If you do your job well in policing you can go home at the end of the day and say ‘I’ve helped that person or this person and made a difference,’” Pitcher said. Pitcher believes experience plays a role in shaping a person and his experiences growing up have determined who he has become.“I think you are a product of everything you’ve experienced,” he said. “I think that if I look at who I am, I’ve been fortunate enough to have a good family, good parents and good experiences growing up.” Watch out for UOIT The UOIT Ridgebacks wom- it past the first round, have upen’s hockey club will be a force to set some of the best clubs in the be reckoned with come fall 2007. league by playing strong defenThey already have the main sive hockey led by hot goaltencomponent in place to be a ding.The Ridgebacks have two championship team.Defence.It’s sturdy goalies who will be inthe single most important detail valuable when they start their that needs to be addressed before varsity season next year.Last, but reaching a competitive status, be not least, the coaching staff has it in the National Hockey League a strong influence on the type of play a team exhibits. or Ontario University Athletics. G a r y The RidgePitcher, head backs defence is coach of solid with Jackie the RidgeM a c A r t h u r, Steve backs, likes Ashley Lucas his teams to and Megan Friel Parker play a feisty, forming a strong hard-worknucleus.And ing, defenthe goaltending, sive style to the backbone of any defensive squad, consists of frustrate opponents. That’s a method that has been Melissa Scott and Carleigh Taggart, two sensational netminders. used constantly to by successful How often in the NHL playoffs defensive squads.With that comhas an elite team been killed by a ponent established, and players hot goaltender? Last year’s gritty such as Sarah Carter, Chrissy effort by the Edmonton Oilers Tereshyn and Hailey Van Seggelwould have been wasted had it en leading an offensive charge, not been for the stellar play of the Ridgebacks are going to be a Dwayne Roloson.In previous thorn in the side of all their oppoyears, clubs such as the Calgary nents next year. Flames and the Anaheim Ducks, who weren’t expected to make 40 The Chronicle November 21, 2006 SPORTS NEWS The Generals’ new home It’s also going to be a great home for the team for many years to come.” Now that the evening is over and the building is open, the team can now move in and enjoy their new home, a place to call their own. GM and head coach Brad Selwood is happy about the new arena and is enjoying the big move. “You know, with the finishing touches coming together, the last of the doors put up, and windows and so forth, this place is really starting to feel like home, and the boys know that as well,” Selwood said. By Bruce Bolton Chronicle Staff After a year and a half of construction at Bruce and Athol Streets the wait is over and the Oshawa Generals now have a new home. The General Motors Centre opened its doors for the first time to Gens fans on Nov. 3, when the team played the Owen Sound Attack. It was a historic event that showed what Oshawa and Durham Region are made of. The building was sold out (all 5,500 seats and 23 private suites) and everyone anticipated the drop of the puck. But the outcome of the game was not what everyone hoped for as the Gens lost a 9-5 shoot-out. The home squad was down early and battled back to make a game out of it, but in the end came up short. The one thing all Gens fans wanted to see was their young star John Tavares score a goal at the new arena, and that is what they got. At 19:32 of the first period Tavares from Clutterbuck and Del Zotto was the first ever Gens goal in the new rink. “It is a world-class building,” Tavares said. “It is amazing to be in and play in. I think the team is going to be really happy here.” Generals veteran goaltender Carlo DiRienzo got the start, which made him the first Gens goalie to play at the GMC. “This is a great arena, one of the best in junior hockey,” DiRienzo What the GMC has: - 5,500 seats for hockey - 23 private suites - Upper and lower bowls Photo by Bruce Bolton - Two level restaurant and bar over looking the arena HOME SWEET HOME: On Nov. 3, the Oshawa Generals moved into their new home, the General Motors Centre in downtown Oshawa. said. He said it will be a great opportunity for the young players who get to play in the arena for years to come. “The arena feels good. We are just trying to put a great product out on the ice.” Also playing in the game from Owen Sound were two players who are natives of Durham, Wayne Simmonds and Marcus Carroll. Simmonds had two goals and one as- sist. Carroll, in his second year in the OHL had a goal and an assist. “Growing up around here I know it is something this area needed,” Carroll said. “It’s a real nice rink and I am just happy my family lives near by and could come out and enjoy this special game.” It is what the city needs as it brightens up the Oshawa downtown core. Fans are no longer see- ing a hockey game at the local community centre, but now they are watching the Oshawa Generals play in state-of-the-art facility. Among the sold-out audience was Gens owner John Davies, who was excited about the new home for his club. “It is just what Oshawa needed,” Davies said. “You really get the vibe that you are going to a hockey game. - 6,400 seats for concerts and other events - 2,900 parking spaces in surrounding areas - State-of-the-art scoreboard with video Source: General Motors Centre Gens streak comes to an end A Memorial Cup bid By Bruce Bolton By Bruce Bolton It has been a good couple of games for the Oshawa Generals but after a three-game winning streak the team gave up a tough one to the Peterborough Petes. It was the third home game in the new building, but the team played like they have been there for years. If it had not been for Steve Downie and some lucky bounces, the Generals could have easily walked away winners. “Downie had a couple of goals, he got one lucky goal off our stick,” said Generals GM and head coach Brad Selwood. “We tried to shut that line down but they are a good line, the line that stirs the drink for them.” He said that even though his team lost the game, they did something right by generating 55 shots. The man in net for the Gens was the same goalie who helped the team win three in a row, Carlo DiRienzo. He stopped 24 shots Photo by Bruce Bolton but came up on the short end of the stick by having two unlucky PROTECTING THE PUCK: Generals left winger Kris Belan, bounces go past him. fights off Peterborough defender in the corner. “This happens. I mean, I am always focused, ready to play, but killing trouble in the second but other than that they sometimes the other team gets breaks,” DiRienzo said. played a good game. “They (the Petes) cashed their “Those are things you cannot control but what I can chances. Every time it bounced off our goaltender control I usually take care of. It was a tough loss but we they were there and got the rebound. I do not think we will rebound from it.” let down at all.” All in all it was another positive weekend for the The good news is that the team still sits in second young Generals, who now know what it takes to win and has a lot more hockey to be played. John Tavares certain games. and Cal Clutterbuck were announced as Canadian “We had 55 shots,” Selwood said. “Their goalten- starters for the Canada-Russia junior series, which der was the difference.” He said the Gens had penalty passes through Oshawa Nov. 27. More hype, a younger look and a new arena. Now the Oshawa Generals and their fans are missing just one thing, a big event. They could have that too, with a successful bid for the 2008 Memorial Cup. During February the city will give the Canadian Hockey League committee its proposal to host the tournament. Dr. Gary Polonsky, former Durham College and UOIT president, has put a team together of volunteers from the two schools to help out with the proposal. The team consists of Durham College and UOIT campus officials including: Terry Caputo, executive assistant of finance and strategy; Donna McFarlane, vice-president of communications and marketing; Marg Greenley, vice-president of student and employer success; and Ralph Aprile, vice-president of facilities and ancillary services. The two schools, along with General Motors Canada and the city of Oshawa are the groups responsible for the bid idea. “Our proposal will recommend that the campus be the headquarters for the travelling teams,” Polonsky said. “The campus has many other amenities: arena (for practices), new fitness centre (which will be ready by then), pub, etc.” Polonsky said the proposal has three key elements, which are the new arena, the team’s performance Chronicle Staff Chronicle Staff and a bid book/ DVD. So far, the arena has had its grand opening, the Gens sit in second place in their division and the bid book is growing. “We’re certainly going into this to win,” Polonsky said. And hopefully they do win. At least that is what game day & special events co-ordinator for the Oshawa Generals, Chris White, is pulling for. “The new arena is a state-of-theart facility and will provide the city with the push for the Memorial Cup. The team is also doing better and will prove that we deserve the chance to host the event,” White said. The Canadian Hockey League will award the 10-day, four-team championship tournament in May of 2007. If Oshawa is chosen, it will be host for 2008, when the tournament will mark its 90th anniversary. By hosting the tournament the city will be given a face-lift much like others have after hosting an event like this. The Memorial Cup tournament is one of the largest annual events in Canada and is broadcast nationally. The only time the Generals won the Cup was in 1990. The last time the city of Oshawa held the event was in 1987, when there was no such thing as bidding for the tournament. Instead Oshawa had to defeat North Bay Centennials in a supper series in order to host the event. It will be a special event that will involve a lot of history, something the city of Oshawa, the Generals, Durham College and General Motors know a little bit about. The Chronicle November 21, 2006 41 SPORTS NEWS NASCAR northbound By Mike Van Veen Chronicle Staff Photo by Matt O’Brien ALL-CANADIAN: Craig Megill, shortstop on the Lords baseball team. Photo by Matt O’Brien ALL-CANADIAN: Adam Sylvestre, left fielder on the Lords baseball team. Two Lords make all-Canadian team By Matt O’Brien Chronicle Staff The Canadian Intercollegiate Baseball Association (CIBA) has announced its All Canadian choices for the 2006 season “dream team”, and for the first time in history two outstanding Lords players from the men’s baseball team made the cut. Shortstop Craig Megill has had a great year with the Lords, and has been necessary to the team’s suc- cess over the past two years. Megill finished the season with 8 hits, 7 RBIs, and a .235 batting average. “It’s an honour to be recognized,” Megill said. “It’s great to see all my hard work the past year has paid off and the CIBA is recognizing it.” Left fielder, Adam Sylvestre was also honoured with a selection. Sylvestre finished with 12 hits, 5 RBIs, 1 home run, and a .316 batting average through 38 at bats this season. The team finished in fourth place in the national standings with a conference record of 13-6. Boogity boogity boogity NASCAR is coming. But it’s not in the form that many had expected. For the past few years speculation has circulated about the stock car association bringing a race to a Canadian track, either a Nextel Cup or a Busch series race. Insiders said the race would be held in Montreal while Ontario fans hoped for a race at Mosport north of Bowmanville. The rumours began when NASCAR announced in a press release that it had partnered with Canadian broadcaster TSN to form NASCAR Canada, a base of operations for the sport in Toronto. Shortly after that announcement came another one, this time from the Canadian Association for Stock Car Auto Racing (CASCAR), that it had partnered with NASCAR to increase fan interest and visibility of racing in Canada. “NASCAR’s experience and resources will strengthen and support racing in Canada while establishing a foundation for future growth,” Tony Novotny, president of CASCAR, said in a press release. Speculation swirled over the summer of 2004 about what the announcement meant for stock car racing in Canada. Finally, in September, NASCAR Canada made the announcement. The Canadian Tire Series will consist of 10 to 12 races running from May until October. While the schedule and list of tracks have not been announced, Durham’s Mosport International Raceway will be included in the series, according to Jerry Priddle, vice-president of Sales and Marketing for Mosport. “We will be a part of the series,” Priddle said. “NASCAR racing is a popular, growing sport in Canada, enjoyed by millions of passionate fans,” Steve O’Donnell, vice-president of racing operations for NASCAR, said in a press release. “The NASCAR Canadian Tire Series will help attract new Canadian fans and competitors and bring the excitement of NASCAR racing to new fans in Canada.” The release also said that in addition to becoming the series main sponsor, Canadian Tire will also become the official automotive retailer for NASCAR and offer exclusive promotions and in-store programs, including developing a new line of NASCAR products. The Canadian Tire Series will mirror the current CASCAR series and will use many of the same tracks and drivers. Peter Gibbons of Uxbridge is one of those drivers making the switch. “Yes, I will be racing in the NASCAR Canadian Tire series next year,” Gibbons said. He also said he thinks the NASCAR name will be beneficial for the sport. “By having NASCAR involved we hope that it will allow other teams to obtain sponsorship, which will help our sport grow,” Gibbons said. “Canadian Tire and NASCAR are both huge companies and the combination of the two can bring only positive results. I am looking forward to 2007 and seeing what’s in store for Motorsports in Canada.” As far as Mosport hosting a race, Priddle said no major changes would be necessary to accommodate the series. “We’ve invested $6.5 million since 1998.” He also said that one event would be held on the road course and one on the oval. Priddle is confident that the NASCAR name will bring fans out. “I’m sure you love watching on TV, so you’re going to want to come out and see these guys live.” ‘It’s just a game’: tell that to parents Hockey moms and dads are getting too excited at the rinks By Mike Gokdag Chronicle Staff As a meaningless house league exhibition game wound down, the crazed antics of a parent from the stands littered the ice with garbage and food. Don McLellan, head coach of the Markham Waxers, watched the man scream, yell and curse at refs to the tune of the end-of-game buzzer. The increasing pressure on children from parents to do well on the hockey rink has put kids in an unfortunate situation. Rob Giammarco and Don McLellan have been around hockey all their lives. They play, coach and referee for the Ontario Minor Hockey Association and its house league affiliates in Markham. And it’s no surprise they’ve been through a lot over the course of those years. Many parents daydream more about their children making it to the NHL than the children themselves. “I have parents come to me after games and complain about their kids playing time constantly. Everyone gets equal time,” said McLellan. Both Giammarco and McLellan say that some parents think too hard about their child’s chances of making it to the pros. The banter that refs and coaches get is harsh. Parents often yell and curse at coaches and refs as if they were watching a game at home. The consequences here are much worse. It’s about setting a bad example for your children and the youngsters playing the game, says Giammarco. To reduce the troubles off and on the ice, all games being played under the Ontario Minor Hockey Association require an ice convener. These conveners regulate the games as attendees. If an incident occurred where there was a serious injury, or a suspension might be in order, the convener would have the final say. They also regulate issues off the ice. Conveners handle parents who are unsportsmanlike and usually hand them with a warning. “If these warnings pile up the parent could be banned from future games. Extreme cases will result in an immediate ban,” said Kathy Crystal a convener with the Oshawa Minor Hockey Association. The Oshawa association also has a parent council, where parents can become active within the league and help prevent future incidents. Through the council parents interact with league officials to get a better understanding of policies and regulations. As the problem continues to grow, Hockey Canada launched a series of ad campaigns with the slogan, Relax it’s just a game. The campaign had multiple commercials all revolving around over-competitive parents embarrassing their children around peers. One commercial had a parent accusing another parent of cheating by taking steroids for a potato sac race. McLellan recalls an experience where a parent actually began to litter the ice after what he thought was a bad call in the game. “The game was put on hold until the parent was kicked out. It was embarrassing,” explains McLellan. The real damage after an event like that is how the teammates perceive the son of the parent. It’s especially hard for young children. Vahe Zakarian is a coach of a competitive peewee team and a referee in the Kiwanis Hockey League with the Ontario Minor Hockey Association in St. Catharines. The kids he coaches are only 13-14 years old and the actions of their parents influence them greatly. Zakarian remembers countless times parents have come up to him and complained about playing time, the positions they play and even the teammates they are lined up with. Zakarian has a 7-year-old child of his own who is in his second year playing hockey and he can already see the amount of pressure some parents are putting on their kids. “There is nothing wrong about being excited about watching your kids play.” But McLellan, Giammarco and Zakarian all say some parents are pushing it a little too hard. 42 The Chronicle November 21, 2006 Saturday Nov.25.2006 19+ Event THE BAR & EATERY 19 + Event • $5 cover at door Monday (All Day) Best Wing Deal on the planet: 5lbs and a Jug $29.95 Tuesday (All Day) Friday November 25th SPONSORED BY: 9 The Wednesday (All Day) Get Stuffed! : All you can eat wings $10 Thursday (5pm-close) You are not here! HWY 2 Anderson ST. With Special Guests Hell no, don’t go Buffalo: Authentic Buffalo wings $5 per pound If we weren’t “The Wing shack,” we’d be the “The Nacho shack”! 1/2 price Nachos and fajitas! Friday (5pm-10pm) 1/2 price appetizers Saturday (11am-6pm) Pint and a Pound $11.95 Sunday (11am-5pm) 2 for 1 Wings (6pm-close) 1/2 Rack of ribs $8.95 THE BAR & EATERY 1121 Dundas Street E, Whitby (905) 665-6007 www.thewingshack.com The Chronicle November 21, 2006 43 44 The Chronicle November 21, 2006
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