Be Safe! Have fun! Budget-friendly apartment décor, pg 14 Sand trucked to the waterfront, pg 16 Moncton drops out of football league, pg 17 ...
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Sept. 9 - Sept. 15, 2011
free
144-02
Be Safe!
Have fun!
Budget-friendly apartment décor, pg 14
Cover Photograph by Angela Gzowski
Sand trucked to the waterfront, pg 16
Moncton drops out of football league, pg 17
September 2 - September 8, 2011 •
Dylan Matthias, Editor-in-Chief
staff
editor@dalgazette.com
Erica Eades, Copy/Arts Editor
copy@dalgazette.com
Katrina Pyne, News Editor
Torey Ellis, Assistant News Editor
news@dalgazette.com
Leilani Graham-Laidlaw
Opinions/Online Editor
opinions@dalgazette.com
Leslie Gallagher, Assistant Arts Editor
arts@dalgazette.com
DSU WEEKLY DISPATCH Ian Froese, Sports Editor
sports@dalgazette.com
Angela Gzowski, Photo Editor
Here is a list of upcoming events that you will want to mark your calendars for: photo@dalgazette.com
Jenna Harvie, Creative Editor
creative@dalgazette.com
Dalfest
Jonathan Rotsztain, Art Director
September 9-10 design@dalgazette.com
Ben McDade, Business Manager
Come out to the DSU’s official welcome back party! This event is full of games, live business@dalgazette.com
entertainment, free food, fireworks and of course a beer tent! There is also a FREE Bedoiun
Soundclash concert!!! contact us
www.dalgazette.com
The SUB, Room 312
The Idlers will be playing the Grawood on Friday Night. This is a ticketed event so be sure to
6136 University Avenue
purchase your tickets at the Info Desk in the SUB or at the door! (This event is 19+) Halifax NS,
902 494 1280
Renowned DJ act The Killabits will be playing the Grawood Saturday Night at 10:00pm to Advertising Inquiries
finish off DalFest! This is a ticketed event so pick up your tickets at the Info Desk in the SUB Aaron Merchant, Ad Manager
or at the door (This event is 19+) 902 449 7281
advertising@dalgazette.com
Be sure to check out www.dsu.ca for a complete list of event details or contact your Vice
President of Student Life, Jamie Arron via email at dsuvpsl@dal.ca.
the fine print
The Gazette is the official written record of Dalhousie This publication is intended for readers 18 years of
University since 1868 and is open to participation age or older. The views of our writers are not the
from all students. It is published weekly during the explicit views of Dalhousie University. All students
Society Fair academic year by the Dalhouse Gazette Publishing of Dalhousie University, as well as any interested
Society. The Gazette is a student-run publication. Its parties on or off-campus, are invited to contribute
Wednesday, September 14 primary purpose is to report fairly and objectively on to any section of the newspaper. Please contact the
issues of importance and interest to the students of appropriate editor for submission guidelines, or drop
Dalhousie University, to provide an open forum for by for our weekly volunteer meetings every Monday
We will be hosting our annual Society Fair in the McInnes Room of the SUB. The event will the free expression and exchange of ideas, and to at 5:30 p.m. in room 312 of the Dal SUB. The Gazette
stimulate meaningful debate on issues that affect or reserves the right to edit and reprint all submissions,
begin at 11:00am and will finish up at 2:00pm. This is your chance to come out and meet new would otherwise be of interest to the student body and will not publish material deemed by its editorial
people with similar interests and get involved! and/or society in general. Views expressed in the board to be discriminatory, racist, sexist, homophobic
letters to the editor, Overheard at Dal, and opinions or libellous. Opinions expressed in submitted letters
To register for a table please email Holly, your Society Coordinator at HYPERLINK section are solely those of the contributing writers, are solely those of the authors. Editorials in The
"mailto:society.cooridnator@dal.ca" \o "blocked::mailto:society.cooridnator@dal.ca" society. and do not necessarily represent the views of The Gazette are signed and represent the opinions of the
Gazette or its staff. Views expressed in the Streeter writer(s), not necessarily those of The Gazette staff,
cooridnator@dal.ca. feature are solely those of the person being quoted, Editorial Board, publisher, or Dalhousie University.
and not The Gazette’s writers or staff.
Skratch Bastid does the Grawood
Friday, September 16
Internationally known DJ will be playing the Grawood for Feel Good Friday. The show is open
to any Dalhousie faculty, staff, students and their guests who are19+.
Advanced Tickets are $5.00 at the SUB Info Desk or $7.00 at the door!
Society Training Day
Saturday, September 17
Society Training day will take place on September 17th from 9:00am - 2:30pm in the McInnes
room. This is a mandatory training day for all societies and at least 1 executive must be
present.
You will find a registration form on www.dsu.ca under the Society Resources/Leadership &
Involvement tab. Please complete this form and submit it to room 222 of the SUB by 2:00pm
on September 14th.
Stay connected with the DSU through Facebook & Twitter
Facebook: Group and Page – Dalhousie Student Union
Twitter: www.twitter.com/dalstudentunion
from
the editor
from the editor
E-mail Dylan at
editor@dalgazette.com
Dylan Matthias Editor-in-Chief
A note on class etiquette
Why you shouldn’t submit late editorials
Dylan Matthias and they're not—curse your unwieldy, list of textbooks and/or a syllabus. think up new and better ones. It can Last of all, if you must learn some-
Editor-in-Chief irregular university course sched- These are important documents, so be tough to do this and then speak up thing from this editorial: submit work
ule. This isn't high school: you have read them. Then buy the books— in front of a large class. Try it anyway. on time, be it for the Gazette or your
So last week, we told you how to fight at least one inconvenient evening all of them, used or new—and read Profs do not eat that many students classes. Writing editorials or essays at
zombification at Dal. Looking back class. You have to manage time now. them, too. Read the course schedule per year, so the chance it will be your the last minute is not fun. Prepare,
on it, while this was sage advice, it The insane tuition you just out found and find at least one lecture to look question that sets them on a spree is and at least think of a topic before you
might not have been what you needed about is calculated from your classes, forward to. Read the blurb on pla- relatively minimal. And your class- dive in. If you need an extension, fol-
right this instant. And we in the news so you may as well do well in them. giarism and then read our article on mates appreciate your courage, brav- low the Gazette procedure: ask for it
business are all about right this That's why you're here. what that really means and why it ery and dedication to the public good, well in advance, when you know your
instant—constant gratification, they So in the tradition of offering sage matters on page five. as great Nova Scotian question-asker editorial will be wildly late. Profs and
tell us, is all the rage. Check us out on advice from your campus paper (for Reading is what universities are Joe Howe would perhaps have said. copy editors both appreciate knowing
your mobile phone. more, see our staff bios and pretty for, it's how they started and it's how At some point in the great insti- in advance.
But wait! Frosh week, summer and much the rest of the paper), we'll they still work. It's traditional in the tutional practices of both journal- We've provided twenty pages of
its constant, live-updating, photo- help you through this. It's actually 19th-century-was-cool sort of way ism and academia, coffee became an procrastination this week, all free of
sharing, interconnected-intercom- considered politically informed to that we're all about here. If you go to essential tool in our work. It is impor- charge, with plenty of diverting con-
municative ways are pretty much be reading a newspaper before class, King's, you understand. tant to remember, as we all embark tent. Take a break, read us, then go
over. You spent yesterday sitting in whereas checking your cellphone— Universities have been asking ques- on another year of long classes, that back to Middlemarch. It is long, we
the Life Sciences Centre and it really even checking your newspaper on tions since time immemorial, and so coffee is not a substitute for food. Eat know, and we sympathize, but your
is that stuffy pretty much all the time. said cellphone—is the height of rude- has the Gazette. Students started this breakfast before class, and if you have mind will work better after a foray
You have three months or so of this ness. Do not do this, and do put the paper when they wanted a place to a long day, eat lunch, too. Coffee can into journalism and some coffee. It
to go, it seems like forever, and you're Gazette away when your prof goes to discuss philosophical and scholarly help—ask our news editor on page all asks questions, and you'll need
longing for a chance to check your the front of the room. We don't like issues. Old questions are on display ten or just about any grad student. those when that first essay comes
new friends' latest photos. the guilt on our minds. in our archives, both online and in There is nothing harder than going to around much, much faster than you
On the other hand, you're in class, You will, by now, have received a the library. Your job now is to try to class hungry. think it will.
50 Grads.
One Weekend.
Your Future.
We’re inviting 50 of The 50 Graduates Weekend is a
chance for selected Canadian students
Canada’s top engineering
interested in master’s and PhD studies
students to Waterloo to learn about graduate programs
for one weekend to in the Faculty of Engineering at the
plan their futures. University of Waterloo and experience
life in one of Canada’s most vibrant
communities.
All expenses paid.†
Want to join us? You will tour state-of-the-art
engineering facilities, explore
innovative research programs, and
learn about collaborations with the
region’s growing list of technology,
automotive, financial, health and
environmental companies.
You will also get a taste of the region’s
exciting social life with visits to local
cultural centres, restaurants and the
idyllic village of St. Jacobs.
It’s happening
November 3 to 6, 2011
Apply at:
engineering.uwaterloo.ca/50graduates
Apply by: September 30, 2011
†Details regarding travel expenses can be found at: engineering.uwaterloo.ca/50graduates
3212
Masquerade Part 1 by Jenna Harvie—Heads turned from all directions to see the latest addition to the growing crowd. The sound level dipped as he stepped into the room and tossed his coat onto a hook, as if gasping at his sudden movement. He scanned the club,
news
news
news covers Dalhousie and
the greater Halifax community.
Contributions are welcome!
E-mail Katrina at
news@dalgazette.com
Katrina Pyne News Editor
A word from your presidents
The issues of last year and a look to the future
Katrina Pyne we will charge to students. 2. Merg- grams here. From a long-term per- to the university but also to the gov- he understands the issues and pro-
News Editor ing the Nova Scotia Agricultural Col- spective, this will be important in the ernment. Students have a big stake in cesses and structures of governance
lege in Truro into Dal. We expect history of the university. that in a very practical way. in a university and he did very well
that to come to fruition in the fall of with that last year. So I have a lot of
: What changes will students notice 2012. 3. Improving the level and kind CS: Simply communicating with : What are some big changes that respect for him and I listen carefully
on campus this year? of student services we have avail- students. Finding new and effective occurred over the summer? when he says there’s an issue that
Tom Traves, president of Dalhousie able on campus. More supports for ways to communicate with students needs to be addressed. I don’t sweep
University: More students on cam- international students, to make sure on the issues that we are working on CS: There’s the big win for us with that under the rug.
pus. We have more international stu- that they acclimatize to studying in a and the issues that will affect them in the learning disabilities support spe-
dents on campus, so [there will be] a Canadian environment. the future. I will be working closely cialist, Neera Datta, coming back to : What is it like working with Tom
much more diverse and vibrant envi- with the Board of Governors to try campus. Also in the past, Orientation and the Dal administration team?
ronment, which we’re excited about. CS: 1. Parking. 2. Tuition fees and to establish some guidelines around Week for international students has
government funding to universities. what consultation should look like. occurred during the StudentsUnion’s CS: It’s really nice working with Tom.
Chris Saulnier, president of the Dal- 3. Watch out for changes in level of Orientation Week, so they’ve had to He actually does come from a stu-
housie Student Union: More empha- service because obviously in these : What are the top issues for stu- choose which orientation week they dent union background. He was on
sis on welcoming students back to financial times where the university dents to be following to affect change? wanted to go to. But this year we the exec. of his student union in his
campus. We want to make sure we is seeing their budget shrunk, we are moved the international student’s undergraduate degree so he does
encourage students to continue to be starting to see some services have less TT: Students are obviously always Orientation Week so they can attend have an understanding of the issues
involved after Orientation Week is funding and less support provided. concerned about tuition levels. They both. Also, SeeMore Green is moving that we are facing and the context
over, and not just fall into classes. need to be engaged to understand the their garden to behind the Computer that I work in. We both want Dal
: What is the first item on your list financial challenges the university Science Building. Students should to be a very well respected and very
: What are the top three issues on of priorities? faces, particularly in a period where check that out. good institution, and we might not
campus to look out for this year? the government is cutting grants to always agree on how to get there, but
TT: Frankly, the most significant the universities and the two major : What is it like working with the we both know that at the end of the
TT: 1. We are in discussions with the development for us is in the immedi- sources of funding for universities DSU and Chris Saulnier? day, we are working towards the same
government about funding arrange- ate term is our merger with the Nova are government grants and tuition goal.
ments for next year, which include Scotia Agricultural College because fees. So I think it’s important for TT: Chris is a very effective spokes-
not only the government operating that will create a new Dal campus students to engage in that issue and person for the university. He has the
grant but the level of tuition fees that and a new range of academic pro- speak their minds about this not only advantage of a year’s experience, so
Professor quits over lack of parking
Dal’s ongoing issues with parking spaces reach a boiling point
Torey Ellis
Assistant News Editor
After 30 years of teaching, Dalhousie privileged professor'–and completely
professor Dan Middlemiss quit his rightly so.”
job this month over the school’s lack Middlemiss acknowledges that he
of parking spaces, saying the problem had an option that few other com-
isn’t specific to Dal. muters do. He says some, like his sec-
Last year the Dunn parking lot retary, waited in line for four hours
was oversold by 915 parking passes, without receiving a pass.
according to Samantha Chown’s “It was an outburst of frustration,
article from the Dalhousie Gazette but I at least have an option. I feel
archives. sorry for my secretary and other staff
This year, spaces will only be over- and students, who are all trying to get
sold by 20 to 30 per cent. New short- these spots.”
term parking meters will also be Dalhousie’s Master Plan, which
added.
Middlemiss, a professor of politi-
outlines the rejuvenation of all three
campuses over the next ten years,
“This is a problem
cal science, resigned on Aug. 29 after
waiting an hour and a half in line for
includes plans for decreasing the vol-
ume of traffic by encouraging bike
that is endemic to
a parking pass. He was turned away
and told to come back the next day.
and transit options.
“If only it were that simple,” says
the whole region.
“It was a Monday spur of the moment
decision after 30 years of frustration,”
Middlemiss. Living in Lower Sack-
ville, a one-way bus trip takes approx-
And it’s getting
he says.
“I didn’t start out to make this a
imately two hours and biking down
two highways is not an option.
worse.”
crusade against Dal or against any- “To be fair to Dal, it’s not their
one else. This is a problem that is problem and they’ve been very forth-
endemic to the whole region. And it’s right about all this,” he says. Middle-
getting worse. There are just more miss sees the real problem as Hali-
and more people coming in.” fax’s transit system, which he says
The new parking system makes would benefit from a more direct
the Dunn parking lot, between Foun- route to universities, and an influx of
tain House and the Dunn building, cars from drivers living close to work
a reserved lot with more expensive or school.
passes in hopes of decreasing demand “If I lived around the university I’d
on spaces. A draw eventually decided take transit. It’s getting to the core
the recipients of these passes. that’s the problem,” he says.
“I felt a bit sheepish afterwards,” Dalhousie’s Master plan is against
he says. Through the media atten- the creation of large parking facili-
tion, his story has led to outpourings ties, in the interests of sustainability
of support from as far away as South and decreasing commuting. It argues
Africa. But there have been a few nay- that “urban campuses” often see a
sayers. decrease in numbers of commuters,
“There are some that are not so as other options become available
positive,” he says. “They say, ‘poor and the cost of driving increases.
This year, parking spaces will be oversold by 20 to 30 per cent. • • • Photo by Torey Ellis
disregarding gawks, and flawlessly found what he had come for. Time slowed as he ran a hand through tussled hair and made his way deeper inside. A glowing waitress bounced in through swinging doors with a tray of sloshing martinis and time caught itself. Giggles and flattery
• September 9 - September 15, 2011 news 5
FIGHTING THE
FRESHMAN FIFTEEN
WHY THE TRADITION OF WEIGHT
GAINS HAS HELD FAST
Sean Gallagher tainers hidden in their purse.”
News Contributor Fifteen pounds may be an exagger-
ation. The average student will gain
three to ten pounds in their first two
In Risley Hall’s cafeteria, a steady years at university, according to kid-
stream of students bearing plates shealth.org.
crowded with fries, hamburgers, piz- But the saying, “freshman fifteen,”
zas and not much else is a familiar makes an important point that inat-
sight. tention to types and quantities of
But although some students avoid food consumed has consequences.
healthy selections, those options are For instance, a whole grain rasp-
available. Third-year commerce stu- berry muffin from Tim Hortons has
dent Samantha Lush recently com- more calories than a medium fries
pleted a work term with Aramark, at McDonald’s (400 vs. 360), yet
Dal’s on-campus food supplier. Tim Hortons is often considered the
“Aramark makes it a priority to healthier option.
provide students with a wide range of Reading nutritional labels and
healthy and nutritious meal options. understanding Canada’s Food Guide
It is up to the students to employ are vital to a healthy body. It recom-
those options," she says in an email mends that students eat seven to ten
interview. Lush praises the effort fruit and vegetable servings per day;
that the national supplier puts into many students consume half of that
its menu and service. on a good day.
For many first-year students, Angela Emmerson, Dal’s on-cam-
proper nutrition is the last thing on pus dietician, says students confused
their minds. Their new freedom, about nutrition are free to contact her
combined with a decrease in physi- at dietician@dal.ca. She advises stu-
cal activity, acts as a swift punisher dents opt for lots of vegetables, sal-
to belts and skinny jeans across the ads and lean proteins when selecting
nation. meals. “You should be filling half your
Chantal Gautreau, a third-year psy- plate with vegetables, ideally,” she
chology student, remembers her first says.
year in Howe Hall. “I had this idea She says a student’s best weapons
that I had already paid $3,000 for against the battle of the bulge are
my unlimited meal plan, so I might Health Canada’s Food Guide, regu-
as well make the most of it,” she says. lar physical activity, and a little bit of
“I stocked up on whatever I felt self-control.
like. I even saw some other students
Please take good care of yourselves. • • • Photo by Angela Gzowski sneaking cake into Tupperware con
Turnitin turned off
University temporarily walks away
from anti-plagiarism software
Katrina Pyne assumed it to be.” Turnitin substitute.
News Editor In a recent CBC article on the “I don’t think it will have that
issue, it was put forward that the much of an effect on students,” says
For many students, it’s a dream cause of the broken trust was that Nick Little, a third-year neurosci-
come true. But for many staff, it's a the Dal IT team found out that the ence student.
nightmare. Dalhousie walked away data on Turnitin was being stored “I think it will be a hell of a lot
from renewing its contract with Tur- in the United States. In the past, it more difficult for [professors] to
nitin, a plagiarism-checking service, has been suggested that data stored determine whether it’s plagiarism
after claiming the company had bro- in the United States is therefore sub- from other sources.”
ken the trust factor. ject to the United States Patriot Act. Still, Dal’s official line is that it is
“That is not the issue though,” looking for alternatives. Fischer says
says Fischer. “We are moving in that that Blackboard, a learning man-
“The trust factor direction anyways. It’s not because
[Turnitin] was storing stuff in the
agement system, is being looked at
very closely. However, even Black-
was less than we States. It has to do with the integrity
of our process with the contract.”
board fails to compare to the much
larger Turnitin database.
assumed it to be.” According to Fischer, only 29 of
the faculty members at Dalhousie
Chris Saulnier, president of the
DSU, says we should take this time
were using Turnitin to begin with, to reignite the conversation on
mostly in the Faculty of Arts and whether a plagiarism-checking ser-
Dwight Fischer, assistant VP of Social Sciences. vice is the right direction. For years,
Information Technology Services at He says they threw them a bit of a faculty and staff have taken issue
Dalhousie, made the final decision curve ball by walking away from the with Turnitin, due to the loss of
at the 11th hour on August 31 as the $20,000 Turnitin contract, but sug- intellectual property and copyright
contract ended, sparking much con- gests that there are still alternatives issues.
troversy. to check for plagiarism for the time “Students don’t get to keep their
“We knew we had an issue in June. being. work as their intellectual property
We have colleagues across Canada “Faculty can just take segments of that they produce in their degrees,”
who use the service as well and we papers and Google them. You’ll find he says.
found out some things about how out rather quickly where stuff is, if it Fischer says it still comes down
the company was operating that we looks suspect,” he says. However, the to students. “What message are we
questioned,” says Fischer. “We found time involved to Google each seg- sending? The message is that we
some elements of our relationship ment of an essay would put a lot of have an academic integrity policy
with them that led us to believe that pressure on faculty, and would likely and you see it on every syllabus.
the trust factor was less than we prove to be far less effective than a Everybody is still accountable.”
• • • Photo by Katrina Pyne
swallowed the room once more, as he became part of the throng. The hustle and bustle of club life sped on as if no one of consequence had just walked in. He slid into a clean seat at the bar and ordered a natural drink after flashing an enhanced smile at the pale barista, who
6 news September 9 - September 15, 2011 •
Blogging through death camps
A student’s journey through the Holocaust
Laura Hubbard News Contributor riences. A few weeks after her trip,
Katrina Pyne News Editor she blogged about this reflection
process. “I’m carrying on daily life
as if normal, with my thoughts run-
This past May, sixty Canadian stu- ning through my mind. I’ve yet to
dents traveled to Germany and openly talk about my experiences, my
Poland on the March of Remem- thoughts, my struggles.”
brance and Hope, a Holocaust case “Majdanek was hell on Earth and
study program that works to embrace it still is, today. For the most part,
diversity and eliminate genocides and Majdanek is as Majdanek was. And
hatred through the Canadian Centre that made things real. That gave me
for Diversity. goosebumps. And that really showed
Laura Hubbard, a third-year stu- the hell. The reality of it made Pin-
dent of the University of King’s Col- chas’ story come to life and haunt me.
lege, was chosen to take part in the It is this place that is the epitome of
March, one of two participants from evil and fear and horror in my mind.
the Maritimes who attended. And it is this place that is in my mind
Hubbard writes her thoughts and so often during the night as I dream.”
experiences in her blog, chronicling During a trip to Majdanek, Hub-
her journey through some of the most bard walked past 20,000 pairs of
infamous destinations in history. shoes, taken from those entering
Two survivors, Pinchas Gutter of the death camp by Nazi guards. She
Majdanek Extermination Camp, and writes, “I can’t relate to a number. I’ve
Faigie Libman, a survivor of Birke- never seen six-million of something.”
nau, travel with the group, sharing But when she saw 20,000 pairs of
their stories and experiences, inspir- shoes the numbers began to sink in.
ing others to stand up for Holocaust “I could physically see the number. I
education and human rights, and couldn’t believe the amount. And the
continue to do so when the survivors smell of the hot leather, the stale air
are gone. in the barracks. This was powerful.”
“I can’t say I’ve been to hell,” she Students visited Majdanek on day
writes in one entry. “Not in compar- five of their trip. Majdanek was the
ison to the stories we heard while site where survivor Pinchas Gutter
overseas and the stories and facts we was sent for the majority of his child-
all know about the Holocaust. It’s not hood in the Second World War, mak-
fair to compare my suffering now, as ing the visit back even more mean-
I deal with society and humanity, to ingful for Hubbard, as he shared his
the suffering then. It’s minimal in story, and remembered walking the
comparison.” same paths.
“But I can say I survived Auschwitz. It wasn’t until Hubbard was flying
I survived Majdanek. And that’s rare. over Majdanek on the way home that
It’s fantastic that I could visit these she was able to write a journal entry
places and have the opportunity to about the visit. Her blog post the day
witness the sites and atrocities to fur- of the visit was brief:
ther educate and prevent genocide. “This [memorial at Majdanek] was
But it is hell, and I was there. I wit- so powerful and emotional for me:
nessed it too.” we all truly shared a connection—the
While in Europe, students traveled same cause. We were not only hon-
within Berlin and throughout Poland, ouring those whose ashes were in
visiting sites such as the Wannsee front of us, but those who were brave,
Villa, where the Final Solution was strong, and hopeful. The past, pres-
planned, Auschwitz, Treblinka, the ent, and the future.”
village of Tykocin, and many memo-
rials, including the Umschlagplatz in Laura's blog can be found at www.
Warsaw, and Babelplatz—the site of pilgrimagetopoland.blogspot.com.
the book burnings in Berlin. It charts her journey overseas and
She describes the trip as “fantastic, deals with the emotional and edu-
but emotional and exhausting.” cational aftermath and reflection
Since her return, Hubbard has process. Auschwitz, Poland. • • • Photo by Laura Hubbard
continued to write about her expe-
One Night
One night, past November
a quiet shadow sat still,
frozen in the chilled air,
her shoulders shrunken and legs
dangling
The Painting
In my secret playground,
far from Mother’s sight,
I came across a painting,
tucked behind a worn bureau.
Inside
I stare at you
watching without care
soon I will be through,
out from my murky lair.
sudoku
over the balcony banister With simple curiosity I’ll crawl through this door
and she hummed a tender melody, I blew dust from its cool surface and touch your silky skin,
singing along with the and studied the father figure, drive my soul into your core
whistling branches. familiar, yet distant. until I’m the one within.
On a day without a date, Drawn to its static design Your pretty eyes
she lolled her head and flawless brushstrokes and perfect complexion
with the swift night breeze I stowed it atop by desk make my blood rise
and remembered the smell of fresh next to another, of my mother. from within your reflection.
lilies.
His fresh pink lilies. But on one quiet August day It’s time for your body
she came in to find a painting to come through,
But like the soft scent of and a photo, sitting comfortably for your skin to bleed,
those favourite flowers, side by side. because my dear,
his memory faded too I’ve waited this long;
and she was left in the cool air, Without another blink I am escaping.
her mentality slipping off with the I held my cheek in a sweaty palm. No longer will I be the one
passing wind, on that calm night As she left, memory in hand, inside this mirror.
past November. she choked out a delicate phrase
about my father’s suicide. —Jenna Harvie
—Jenna Harvie
—Jenna Harvie; Inspired by the SUBMIT YOUR
poem The Portrait by Stanley Kunitz MICRO-FICTION & POETRY:
CREATIVE@DALGAZETTE.COM
blushed and ran off to fix it. He sat back and waited, while keeping an eye on his wristwatch. Occasionally a woman would steal a glance at him, and grin before turning back to her conversation. And men would pull their dates closer when their eyes met his own. Yet he sat still,
opinions
opinions
gazette opinions welcomes any
opinion backed up with facts, but we
don’t publish rants. E-mail Leilani at
opinions@dalgazette.com
to contribute
Leilani Graham-Laidlaw Opinions Editor
Consent and radical Hayley Gray
Sex Columnist
a huge turn-on, hearing how much
someone wants you, telling someone
how much you want to be with them,
gles have shaped hook-up culture to
be a competition between yourself
and your lover.
vulnerability We’ve all been notified, one way or
another, that individuals are sup-
in them, around them, on them –
whatever, it’s sexy. It’s hot to hear
enthusiastic consent spoken to you
So why compete? Why not
acknowledge your partner as an
amazing individual who you can’t
posed to consent to sex. In theory, we by your partner, so why is it that there wait to jump into bed with? Consent
No, yes, hell yes and all agree. In practice, consent often is still so much non-consensual sex is scary. It involves the vulnerably of
becomes shades of grey instead of a on college and university campuses? telling someone that you want them,
everything in between black and white yes or no. In univer- September and October see the high- and even scarier, asking them if they
sity especially, consent is often pre- est rates of sexual assault in North want you back. You’re asking for per-
sumed. I don't consent directly to America. In Canada, the highest rates mission to be vulnerable and see your
every sexual encounter, and I have are in Nova Scotia and in university- partner’s vulnerability. That’s terrify-
not explicitly asked for consent every aged women. ing. But without it, you end up mak-
time. In theory, I would explicitly ask These are intense and complex ing assumptions, trying to control
for consent every time I have sex. But problems that we are constantly someone else or striving for aggres-
in practice, my consent models are a striving to address on our campuses. sive detachment.
little more fuzzy. These problems are based on a myr- Brene Brown, a research professor
One way individuals slide consent iad of social dynamics. Two issues at the University of Houston, found
into their sex lives is by asking ques- that come up again and again when that individuals who had a strong
tions: I can remove clothing, get a addressing sexual assault are power sense of love and belonging and who
condom, touch a place, etc. This form and vulnerability. In university (and were able to meaningfully connect
of consent is consultational. Its power the world beyond) individuals often with others shared a common trait of
lies in being able to continuously attempt to exert their drive to dom- fully embracing vulnerability.
check in with your partner while inate, to control, to have power over You're in university. You're figuring
keeping things casual. This is a model others. In the hook-up culture, indi- your shit out, defining and redefin-
where individuals must actively con- viduals keep their power by exerting ing yourself, and falling in and out of
sent, where sex only happens when disdain and aggression to the individ- love. You're fucking vulnerable. Next
there's a “yes.” It is also the model that uals they engage with sexually. time your feeling that intense and
many activists advocate for, including To keep power, they must be less terrifying sense of vulnerability build
Jacklyn Friedman, the author of Yes interested in their hook-up partner up your empathy instead of your
Means Yes. Friedman goes beyond than their partner is in them. This defenses. Assume your partner is
consultational consent to enthusi- strive for sexual power leaves many feeling just as vulnerable as you. Take
astic consent; not just a “yes” but a feeling used, disempowered, hurt or your sense of vulnerability as a sign of
“HELLS YES!” uncared for. It is interesting and ter- mutual empathy. After all, we’re all
Would you fuck him? • • • Illustration modified via briarpress.org This type of active consent can be rifying to see how these power strug- extremely vulnerable.
Rethinking student aid administration
To fax or not to fax (you don't have a choice)
Ben Wedge to tell you the expected wait time and Stewart Rand, a recent graduate
Opinions Contributor the number of students ahead of you of Dal’s computer science program,
in the queue. Once you get through pointed out another huge deficiency
By and large, Canada's student loans to their phone agents, they listen to with this slow-poke model of loan
programs work. Aid is being provided the issues, pull up your file, and tell administration: the Nova Scotia Stu-
to those in need. There are small you to fill out a form. Then you roam dent Loans program is obsessed with
groups of students who aren’t getting your city for a working fax machine paper and letter mail. The time and
enough, and there are small groups to send the information to someone money spent on paper, re-typing
of students getting way too much, but else, who will spend more time re- forms, and mailing them could cer-
that’s not the point of this article—the considering the information you have tainly send dozens, if not thousands
point is method, not size. already provided. more students to school comfortably
Businesses are discovering revolu- They have made progress in pro- every single year.
tionary technology, such as email and viding web-based service, but often Bethany Horne, a former King’s
web forms, all over the world, and require you to fill out information, student and Gazette editor, concurred
the smart money's moving away from such as your name and birth date, in a recent discussion on loan pro-
business models that involve re-pro- which already exists in their system. cessing, herself a victim of OSAP’s
cessing and poor customer service. Logging in is another issue, since you poor administrative practices, par-
Unsurprisingly, and rightly so, stu- must enter an arbitrary identification ticularly their inability to deal with
dent loan offices are not businesses, number rather than an email address students who are not studying in
or at least not in the “make money or username that would be easy to Ontario.
and pay taxes after providing goods remember. Our student loan system should
and services” sense. But they cer- I can’t make this up. I really can’t. look at how much is being spent
tainly have a thing or two to learn. My girlfriend wasn’t able to click administering the loans. Re-pro-
Take, for example, the Ontario Stu- “single, never married” on her ini- cessing, poor customer service, and
dent Assistance Program (OSAP). tial OSAP web application this sum- paper/mail/faxes have largely been
They have convenient office hours mer, because the option wasn’t there. eliminated in the private sector
(8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday to The closest? “Separated.” After two because they take time and money
Friday) which are perfect for stu- days of calling, she managed to get that could otherwise be used to pro-
dents in dire need of help—those through, no doubt eating up all of her vide better goods or services, or to
who couldn’t find a summer job. Stu- cell phone minutes for the month. cut costs. Our student loan programs
dents who have found work during The agent pulled up her file, presum- need new management, with an eye
business hours but aren't being paid ably on a computer, and asked her to for efficient delivery of services, hours
enough to make ends meet in the fall fax a letter in identifying the prob- that suit students, and a focus on get-
are out of luck. They could call during lem. In this age, how could the agent ting more of the already-allocated
their lunch breaks, as OSAP’s phone not just change her marital status money into the hands of students. As simple as that.
• • • Illustration via Panasonic Fax #KXFLM551 machine instruction manual
system is, after all, advanced enough immediately?
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indifferent. “Here ya go, hun,” said the barista, and placed his drink before him. “That’ll be five,” she paused to gulp. “Five twenty-five.” She looked at the ground and waited for a quaint reply. Instead, he slid a crisp ten across the counter, and left his fingers on the bill long enough
8 opinions September 9 - September 15, 2011 •
Brand not books!. • • • Photo by Ian Froese
Satire: Dal's bookstore
A model of efficiency for 21st century schooling
Nick Wright are guards whose job consists of hav- Having realized that print media is of books would normally be an issue riculum without actually fostering an
Humourist ing students leave all of their personal a dying art the bookstore is cleverly for any other business but having a atmosphere of learning. It is a truly
belongings at the door. This not only looking to the future. For this rea- near perfect monopoly on Dalhousie ingenious philosophy which sends a
While certain reactionary bourgeois cuts down on shoplifting, which the son the majority of the floor space is textbook sales in town, the bookstore strong message that all learning to
elements on campus are fighting the management might expect given the devoted not to these archaic relics but is free to set whatever prices they be done is best done through official
good fight to clean up the excessively outlandish prices they charge, but to Dalhousie brand merchandise. wish. channels as well as making it clear to
intellectual nature of university life, also helps business when students are Should one actually be there for the Organization is another feature agitating book-reading types that this
all may not be as bleak as it seems. required to buy an entire new set of purpose of buying textbooks, one will to be commended. Sections are orga- is not a place for them—this is a place
Cradled in the basement of the oth- school supplies to replace the things be able to find them once through nized by department and class num- to buy sweatpants.
erwise socialist Sodom and Gomor- that have been stolen. The manage- the extended gift shop section of the ber. One will not find a single extra- Truly, the bookstore is a shin-
rah of the SUB, lies a bastion of hope. ment has of course covered all bases store. The books themselves are kept neous volume. Should anyone wish ing metaphor for Dalhousie itself. A
I speak of course of the Dalhousie by posting visible signage stating that exactly where they should be in any to find any other books pertaining place which makes students shell out
bookstore and its truly 21st century they will not be held responsible for establishment of higher learning: to their field of study, the Dalhou- far too much money for things they
approach to education. the inevitability of stolen belongings. a closet like space at the very back. sie Book Store is not the place for are mandated to need, entices them
Before even entering the bookstore Once gaining the privilege of actu- Here one will find all sorts of incredi- them. This is a practice which is actu- to spend more on things they don't,
one cannot help but marvel at its ally entering the bookstore, you are bly overpriced textbooks and required ally implemented in other forms all and in the end leaves them with noth-
ingenious commercial tactics. Liter- made immediately aware of one readings for every course offered dur- around the university and works by ing of substance.
ally standing sentry at the front door thing: there is not a book to be seen. ing the semester. The exorbitant price offering exactly what is on the cur-
Faut-il ecrire en anglais?
Would the Francophiles at Dal please stand up.
Leilani Graham-Laidlaw important encore lire, les articles en paper also publish articles written
Opinions Editor Français publiés ici? in French? Why or why not? What
Pour soumettre un article, discuter about other languages? For all those
Près de la Moitié de cet article est en de la situation du Français en Hali- francophobes or francophiles out
Français. Très différent, pour nous à fax ou de défendre la anglicité de la there, if you’ve got something to say
la Gazette. Mais en un de 36 pays offi- Gazette, cliquez sur www.dalgazette. on or en Français, check out www.
cialment multilingue du monde, avec ca/oped. dalgazette.com to discuss or submit
un population Français pas si petit articles.
à Halifax, pourquoi est notre jour- If none of the above made sense to
nal uniquement en anglais? Seul- you, a brief gist: This is Canada. We
ment 59 pour-cent des Canadiens are a bilingual country and have a
Vive l’Acadie. parlent anglais naturalement, faible fairly decent French-speaking popu-
• • • Photo by Makaristos via Wikipedia majorité. Voulez-vous écrire, ou plus lation here in Halifax. Shouldn’t this
for hers to skim over them. “Change?” she said and pulled her fingers away. He shook his head once and raised the cool glass to his lips as she ran off to gossip with the other females. He remained stagnant, watching, and sipped his drink.
• September 9 - September 15, 2011 sports 9
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PayneAd_StudentEats_HR_Layout 1 27/01/11 3:09 PM Page 1
10 staff bios September 9 - September 15, 2011 •
Dylan Matthias Erica Eades Katrina Pyne Torey Ellis Leilani Graham-Laidlaw
Editor-in-chief Copy Editor/Arts Editor News Editor Assistant News Editor Opinions Editor/
Online Editor
Dylan is beginning to worry that he’s Born in the small town of Almonte, Ninety-nine per cent coffee and one Torey is one of those messy King’s-
been around the Gazette too long, Ont., Erica developed an apprecia- per cent nervous anxiety makes up Dal hybrid students, in her third year Leilani is the opinions editor and
mostly because he’s now been roped tion for the arts at a young age. Her Katrina. She may have only entered of a journalism and Canadian stud- the online editor for the Dalhousie
into running the paper for all of the childhood was filled with drama the journalism program at King’s ies combined honours program. She Gazette. She likes being busy, and
2010-11 year. He’s a fifth-year stu- classes, piano lessons and art camp, because she’d watched a lot of the comes from southern Ontario (not to that effect also works at the CBC,
dent trying to do English, journalism and during her free time, you could Gilmore Girls the night before the Toronto, thanks very much) and writes for various publications, and
and creative writing all at the same find her curled up reading in a comfy registration deadline, but she’s pretty plans to use that very marketable is in her final year of a bachelor of
time. In his (diminishing) spare time, chair, or working on her next great sure she’s in the right field now, she journalism degree to learn about the journalism honours program at the
he covers university soccer on vari- literary masterpiece (the first being thinks. Born and raised in Kings- other 95 per cent of the country. Most University of King’s College. She can
ous blogs and writes speculative fic- “The Baby Dragons,” a short story ton, Ontario, she spent the summer of her time is spent either whittling usually be found either buried deep
tion novels on such themes as death, written at age six about the joys of as a rural reporter for her hometown down that pile of really great books into RSS feeds, anywhere there is lots
power and political corruption. He friendship and Polly Pockets). Erica paper, mostly taking photos of tractor she just hasn’t been able to get to yet, of coffee, or bouncing around like a
enjoys contradictions and wishes later settled in Halifax to begin her races and fishing excursions. She is or wandering around a certain Bar- magpie after some shiny new story.
time-travel existed right now. He ran degree at Dalhousie University. Ini- now pleased—no, thrilled—to be tak- rington St. used bookstore finding
a high school paper called The Wall tially studying international develop- ing on the role of news editor at the even better ones.
for two years in very rural Nova Sco- ment, her childhood love of reading Gazette after many unpaid late nights
tia, and he now realizes that stress and the arts motivated her to switch working to meet the Gazette deadline
then has nothing on stress now. Drop degrees and pursue a major in Eng- over the last two years. She is head-
by the office to chat, eat leftover pizza, lish with a minor in journalism stud- ing into her third year of journalism Tomorrow’s Professionals Apply Today!
or volunteer. This paper’s important, ies. She began writing for the Dal- at King’s doing combined honours
and everyone’s in this together—oth-
erwise Dylan probably would have
housie Gazette in 2009 and moved up
to assistant arts editor in 2010. Now
with international development stud-
ies and apologizes in advance for eat- Apply Online!
found something better to devour his she’ll be taking on a more substantial ing most of the pizza at contributor’s
time by now. role at the paper as both arts editor meetings.
and copy editor. Erica has big shoes to
fill this year, but she brings with her a
solid grasp of the English language, OMSAS www.ouac.on.ca/omsas/
and a desire to further the paper,
whether that’s through increasing Ontario Medical School Application Service
readership, offering top-notch arts September 15, 2011: Last day to create an account
reporting, or providing exceptionally for the online application
clean copy. If you’d like to get in touch October 3, 2011: Application deadline
with Erica, stop by a contributors
meeting on Monday night in room
312 of the SUB. There’ll be pitches,
pizza, and a lot of pretty cool people.
OLSAS www.ouac.on.ca/olsas/
Ontario Law School Application Service
November 1, 2011: Application deadline
for first-year English programs
Leslie Gallagher Ian Froese February 1, 2011: Application deadline
Assistant Arts Editor Sports Editor for first-year French programs
May 1, 2012: Application deadline for
Leslie Gallagher is entering her fifth Born and raised in rural Manitoba, upper-year programs
and (hopefully) final year of a com- Ian is studying journalism at the Uni-
bined honours degree in English and versity of King’s College. Before writ-
creative writing. Last year, she was ing sports routinely for the Gazette
the entirely overwhelmed editor-in- last year, Ian contributed to the stu-
chief of Verso, copy-editor of Fathom, dent paper at the University of Man-
and president of the English society. itoba. This summer he worked as a TEAS www.ouac.on.ca/teas/
She is also a research assistant with reporter/photographer for The Caril- Teacher Education Application Service
the Editing Modernism in Canada lon, an award-winning weekly news- December 1, 2011: Application deadline for English programs
project. Her other interests include paper near his hometown. March 1, 2012: Application deadline for French programs
dancing (alone), cooking (for other
people), and playing hide-and-seek
with Winston, her mostly-affable Jenna Harvie
guinea pig. Creative Editor
Jenna is a writer. She just graduated ORPAS www.ouac.on.ca/orpas/
from the University of King’s Col- Ontario Rehabilitation Sciences Programs
lege with a BA in english and creative
Application Service
writing. She has had the pleasure of
(Audiology, Occupational Therapy, Physical Therapy/
seeing multiple poems and short sto-
Physiotherapy, Speech-Language Pathology)
ries published in Halifax and in her
January 6, 2012: Application deadline
hometown of Ottawa. Throughout
her four years at King’s and Dalhou-
sie she has worked as fiction editor,
design editor, and editor-in-chief of 170 Research Lane
Fathom; design editor of Verso; fic- Guelph ON N1G 5E2
tion editor for the Gazette; and Copy Angela Gzowski www.ouac.on.ca
Editor for Just. She also writes for a Photo Editor
horror blog where she reviews comics
and graphic novels. She is continuing Angela Gzowski was born in Yellw-
Jonathan Rotsztain
Art Director
her education at Dalhousie by start-
ing in computer science where she
knife, NWT. She took her Bachelor of
Fine Arts in photography at NSCAD Advertise in the Gazette!
specializes in graphics, gaming and University. She works for The Coast
Jonathan Rotsztain returns as the media. Her new career path will help as well as a freelance photographer. Contact Aaron Merchant
Gazette's “layout guy” for a sec- her finish her science fiction novels Check out her work at www.angelag-
ond year. He's a freelance graphic as well as provide inspiration for the zowski.daportfolio.com and flickr. advertising@ dalgazette.com
designer available to work on your other genres that she writes in. com/photos/angelagzowski/.
creative projects. Get in touch! 902 449 7281
Editor's note: Masquerade is a serialized short story by creative editor Jenna Harvie. To contribute your fiction or poetry to the Gazette, email creative@dalgazette.com. Jenna is taking requests for how Masquerade should finish. Let her know your ending at creative@dalgazette.com.It’s Orientation Week:
SHOW US YOUR O-FACE!
by Ian Froese and Jonathan Rotsztain
”OOO” ”OOO” ”OOO” ”OOO” ”OOO”
Katrina Pyne Nikeel Premsagar Amanda MacDonald Mike Candlish Shelby Hughes
3rd-year journalism 3rd-year industrial engineering 5th-year enviro-engineering 1st-year engineering Transition Year Program
”OOO” ”OOO” ”OOO” ”OOO” ”OOO”
Laura Vingoe-Cram Kamran Rahimian Danielle Howe Ken Tse Elizabeth Wu
3rd year theatre 2nd-year computer science 4th-year psychology Bachelor mechanical engineering 2nd-year science
On North Street: “I was just hanging in the
Magdalen Islands and I heard a lot of former
FLQ-guys are hiding out around there.”
Drug Education prof: “How would it feel to
be in a burning building filled with 8000 dollars worth of
pot plants? Would you even know you were on fire?“
At Pizza Corner: A fellow drunk,
pizza eating gentleman comes up to me,
starts singing and dancing the Soulja Boi routine.
He drops his pizza on the ground, picks it up, shoves it in
his mouth and runs away screaming “don't judge me!“
EAVESDROP/POST:
OVERHEARD AT DAL
FACEBOOK GROUP!
DO IT NOW!!12 September 9 - September 15, 2011 •
Fall 2011
Part-Time classes
From September 26th to December 2nd
EVENING COURSES AFTERNOON COURSES COMICS WANTED
Offered at 1589 Walnut Street Offered at 1589 Walnut Street submit to comics@dalgazette.com
ONCE A WEEK: 6:30 - 9:00PM ONCE A WEEK: 3:45 - 6:15PM For more information
Regular courses: Beginner 3 - Monday Call us at 902-424-4344 or
25 hours of instruction Conversation (Beginner) - Tuesday fls@usainteanne.ca
Beginner 1 - Mon., Tues., Wed. or Thurs.
Beginner 2 - Mon. or Wed.
Intermediate 3 - Thursday
Advanced 1 - Wednesday Halifax Campus:
STUDENT SPECIAL
Beginner 3 - Tues. or Thurs. 1589 Walnut Street
Beginner 4 - Tues. or Wed.
DAY COURSES
Offered at the Atlantic School of Theology
Conversation (Beginner) - Wed.
on Francklyn Street.
Halifax, Nova Scotia B3H 3S1
Intermediate 1 - Thurs.
ONCE A WEEK
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Join Today!
Beginner 1- Thursday 9:00 - 11:30AM
Intermediate 3 - Mon.
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309
Beginner 3 - Wednesday 9:00 - 11:30AM
only
Conversation (Intermediate) - Thurs.
Beginner 4 - Tuesday 9:00 - 11:30AM
Advanced 1 - Mon.
Conversation (Beginner) Friday 9:00 - 11:30AM
Advanced 2 - Thurs.
Intermediate 1 - Wednesday 1:00 - 3:30PM
Advanced 3 - Wed.
Intermediate 3 - Friday 1:00 - 3:30PM
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Intermediate 4 - Thursday 1:00 - 3:30PM
Conversation (Advanced) - Mon.
Advanced 2 - Monday 9:00 - 11:30AM
Atelier de français écrit - Mon.
Advanced 3 - Monday 1:00 - 3:30PM + tax
TWICE A WEEK: 6:30-9:00PM Atelier de français écrit - Wednesday 9:00 - 11:30AM
Accelerated courses:
50 hours of instruction LEARN SPANISH
Beginner 3 and 4 - Mon. and Wed. ONCE A WEEK
Intermediate 3 and 4 - Tues. and Thurs. Spanish – Thursday 3:45 – 6:15PM
New students: We will hold 3 Information and Registration nights on September 19th, 20th and 21st
between 1:00PM and 7:00PM. Students are asked to come on site to register and undergo a short
assessment to determine their level. The whole process usually lasts 30 minutes.
Former students: Students who were enrolled in Spring 2011 or Summer 2011 session do not need to be
tested and can register anytime, in person, by phone or by fax.
Cost of classes
Class type Early registration (Until Sept. 22nd)
Regular $215 $200
Accelerated $430 $400
Payments can be made
in person (cash, debit, Visa or Mastercard) by phone (Visa or Mastercard) by calling 902-424-4344
or by fax at 902-424-3607 (Visa or Mastercard).
LIKE US ON
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Other conditions may apply, see club for details.arts&culture
arts&culture
arts covers cultural
happenings in Halifax.
E-mail Erica at
arts@dalgazette.com
to contribute.
Erica Eades Arts Editor
Rattle and hum
Local improv collective begins new season at the Bus Stop
Nick Laugher ania blues thing.” narrative, where the music is just as
Arts Contributor Lauding the talents of his cohorts, integral and up-front as the acting,
Adams is quick to praise both artists in an improvisational performance of
Outlandishly articulate and fiercely for their bold dynamics and ecclectic Oscar Wilde's The Picture of Dorian
dedicated, Norm Adams is an arbiter styles. Gray. It's something I've never done
of challenging ideas and unbridled “Arthur is this immaculate blues before, and I'm both enthralled and
sonic experiences. The artistic direc- guitar player who's been deeply terrified,” chuckles Adams.
tor for the boundary-pushing impro- ensconced in the wilderness in Digby In preparation for Hoarse Rattle,
visation collective, suddenlyLISTEN, Neck for about three years. He does Adams says that little to no rehears-
and the principle cellist for Sym- a lot with found objects, where he's ing or planning takes place before-
phony Nova Scotia, Adams is vehe- manipulating his sound with paper hand, leaving the piece to a sponta-
mently dedicated to discovering and plates and tinfoil. He's got this neous navigation of the ambiance of
showcasing the obscure, incendiary insane, murky, front-porch blues the performance and the nuances of
talents of Canadian improvisational sound going on. Whereas Isaiah is it’s performers.
artists. playing just this one, huge drum. But “It'll be the most sonically explor-
Deeply mired in preparation for he makes it sound as if he's playing a atory concert this year, a heavy
the 11th incarnation of his impro- thousand-piece percussion set. He's emphasis on sound manipulation,”
visational concert series, beginning extremely versatile—almost star- explains Adams, referring to the
September 15 at the Bus Stop The- tlingly so." miasma of avant-garde textures col-
atre, Adams is ecstatic about unleash- In addition to the concerts, Adams lected by him and his colleagues. “I'm
ing another year. and suddenlyLISTEN also run art- going to be utilizing the body of my
“It's a series of concerts I started ist workshops, starting September 19 cello for some really out-there acous-
11 years ago, dedicated to provid- and occurring every other Monday tic percussion things, as well as doing
ing Canadian musicians, especially night, where they engage and per- some digital processing of my sound
improvisational musicians, with the form with the public to further show- with a couple of programs I've been
opportunity to play and share their case musicians and elaborate on the working with.”
music. Each year I kind of agonize concept of improvisational playing. Existing predominantly in the
over these brilliant artists who I love “It's a really great program,” beams realm of ideas, Hoarse Rattle will be a
and respect, trying to unveil their Adams. “We've been running these very loosely strung-together, off-the-
brilliance and set up interesting col- workshops for about six years now cuff experience.
laborations,” says Adams. and they're always a huge success.” “We'll jam together two or three
Throwing open the floodgates for As for the forthcoming concerts in times, if we're lucky, but we won't
2011 will be a gritty, thunderous wash the 2011/2012 calendar year, Adams rehearse anything and we'll have
of cold-blooded bayou beats and is anxiously enthusiastic about an forgotten everything by the time
murky swamp blues, known, tongue even denser collaborative idea the we actually perform. That way, you
in cheek, as Hoarse Rattle. collective will be attempting. get to feel out the other artists, and
“I had these two artists in mind “We wanted to do something crazy immerse yourself in their style and
to work with,” says Adams, “Isaiah this year, kind of push the envelope sound without becoming to reliant
Ceccarelli, who's this noisy, rattly, further. In November we're going on parts or pieces. When you go out
immense drummer and Arthur Bull, to be putting on a show that's a col- there and perform it's all based on
who's this savage, dirty, blues gui- laboration between improvisational ideas. You find yourself tapping into
tar player. It will be those two amaz- musicians and the Irondale Ensem- this kind of symbiotic, implicit sense
ing artists, as well as myself on cello, ble, which is a Halifax based the- of collaboration, without weighing
playing a kind of improvisational, atre group. We're going to attempt to yourself down with ideas of what you
Artistic Director of suddenlyLISTEN, Norm Adams. • • • Photo by Angela Gzowski jaggedly rhythmic, haunted Louisi- integrate the two in sort of a parallel ‘should’ be playing.”
*A*R*T*S B*R*I*E*F*S*
Bombay Bicycle Club go Stephen Malkmus decided to join together to record,
back to their roots returns with one of the motivating factors
being the unexpected nature of the
Following a historic performance Last week also saw the release of collaboration.
at this year’s Reading festival, Brit- the new solo album by ex-Pave-
ish indie-rockers Bombay Bicycle ment frontman, Stephen Malkmus GLAAD responds to
Club released their new album last and his backing band, the Jicks. Tyler, the Creator’s
week to glowing reviews. Mirror Traffic is the fifth album VMA win
The U.K. four-piece gained pop- by the 1990s guitar god in the past Speaking of unexpected, at the
ularity in early 2006 by winning decade and has him continuing his recent MTV Video Music Awards,
an opening slot at London’s Virgin delivery of wry prose and sunny Odd Future rapper/producer Tyler,
Festival through a competition in guitar-pop. the Creator surprised viewers by
part with Channel 4. After releas- Coming off 2008’s mostly for- winning the best new artist award.
ing their debut album, I Had the gettable Real Emotional Trash and But not everyone was pleased
Blues But I Shook Them Loose in the subsequent Pavement reunion with the 20-year-old artist’s grow-
2009, the band made a brief foray world tour in 2010, Mirror Traf- ing acclaim. The Gay & Lesbian
into acoustic guitar-rock with their fic has Malkmus delving into less Alliance Against Defamation
sophomore effort before releasing abstract songwriting and more (GLAAD) spoke out about the win,
their new album, A Different Kind concise wordplay. citing his rampant use of anti-gay
of Fix on August 30. and misogynistic lyrics and Twitter
Speaking with BBC 6 last
Wednesday, bassist Ed Nash
*** posts. Although he has spoken out
about his shock-based rap as being
pointed toward an interest in Jack White’s new posse nothing more than experimental
dance music from front-man Jack In stranger music news, Pitchfork. narratives, GLAAD felt his win at
Steadman as the reason behind the com reports that White Stripes gui- the VMA’s could push a broader
band’s new electronic-based sound. tarist Jack White has teamed up acceptance of his hate-speech
With influences ranging from with the Insane Clown Posse and among fans of his music.
recent indie-rock hit makers Deer- garage rockers Jeff the Brother-
hunter and Panda Bear, A Different hood to produce a new single. —Matthew Ritchie
Kind of Fix offers fans a more in- The unusual team-up came
depth record in comparison to the about after ICP member Violent J
bare bones guitar rock of their pre- ran into the fellow Detroit-native in
vious releases. an airport a few months ago. After
discussing their careers, the twoYou can also read
