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161.4www.theontarion.caFeb. 4 - 10, 2010
CSA equitychange causesuproar
CSA threatens Human Rights O
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At the Central Students Association’s(CSA) board meeting on Jan. 27, anew change to the CSA’s equitableemployment policy was purposedand approved by board members.
e change eliminates theprovision in the hiring processthat gives an advantage to students who identify as being part of amarginalized group in the event thattwo candidates for a job fall withinfive per cent of each other withrespect to merit.
e previous equitableemployment policy requiredapplicants seeking marginalizedstatus to fill out a confidential formindicating which of the followinggroups they identify with: woman,aboriginal person, racialized person,queer person, international student,and/or person with a disability.
e new policy does not factora person’s marginalized status intothe hiring process, but rather tracks whether marginalized persons areapplying for jobs with the CSA forstatistical purposes. Josh Gaber, the CSA’s humanresources & operations commissioner,had a large hand in coming up withthe new equitable employment policy and considers it to be progressive. When the University of GuelphCentral Student Associationexecutives (CSA) presented aproposal for the new Student Helpand Advocacy Centre (SHAC) at a Jan. 27 CSA board meeting, somepeople immediately saw somethingamiss.
e proposed centre is thebrainchild of Nathan Lachowsky,the CSA’s academic commissioner,as well as Momina Mir, theexternal commissioner, and suggestscombining the Human Rights O
ffi
ce(HRO), Financial Resource Room(FRR) and the Legal ResourceRoom (LRR). While the CSA said that some
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BENEFIT FOR
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Cast members of Curtain Call Productions’ latest musical feel the e
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students are celebrating the idea asprogressive, other students took issue with what they saw as essentially the elimination of the HRO, sevenstudent jobs reduced into four andthe lack of adequate consultation when drafting the proposal.Lachowsky explained that theidea for SHAC came out of a desireto make advocacy for students moree
ffi
cient and co-coordinated.“
e real place that this iscoming from is increasing thequality of advocacy services availableto students and right now we have itspread in between multiple serviceo
ffi
ces, we have it in multiple physicallocations and multiple executiveo
ffi
ces,” said Lachowsky. “[Rightnow] we have poor coordination,poor communication and poor filingbetween all of [the o
ffi
ces].”Lachowsky said the bigadvantages he sees is a partnershipbetween the SHAC and the Legal
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Aid Clinic of Guelph, which willallow students to get free legal advicethrough the centre, an increasedquality of output, and a coordinationof training for the center’s sta
ff
and volunteers. As far as Lachowsky andMir are concerned, the benefits out way the costs.“It’s unfortunate that there’s a very small minority of people thathad a very negative attitude becauseit’s initially shutting down things,”said Lachowsky. “We’re not takingdollars away, we’re not trying to shutanything down…so for the people who have a negative attitude rightnow, my question is ‘what is negativeabout this?’ Is it the fact that we’rechanging the name from HRO toSHAC?’”For Dave Hudson, a formerCSA HRO o
ffi
ce coordinator, hisissue with the SHAC proposal doesnot come from the aforementionedname change.“In the current proposal, despitethe way in which it assures thathuman rights will not be lost and thata focus on anti-oppression will not belost, it seems to be quite lacking in aspecific focus on human rights,” saidHudson. “Human rights work, at astudent level, already always standsa risk of being marginalized…noteverybody thinks it’s important.” While Hudson is pleased thatthe CSA executives are discussingand exploring di
ff
erent ways of viewing student advocacy, he feelsthat SHAC might jeopardize thefocus that needs to be placed on thethree very di
ff
erent o
ffi
ces, especially the HRO.“It seems to be very diluted andto bring everything under the bannerof a general help and advocacy centre,it loses the larger context of humanrights,” said Hudson. “Even thoughthose things are already intertwined with other issues, it still requiressomeone to have the kind of nuanceof understanding all three areas,rather than being able to dedicatetheir time to [one].”
e o
ffi
cial proposal discusseshaving consulted numerous people inthe initial stages but cites “unforeseenhuman resource complications” when explaining the lack of feedback they were able to get from the HRO.Molly McManus, the current HROevents coordinator, acknowledgesthe complications but doesn’t seehow they could have interfered with anyone from the HRO beingconsulted on this proposal.“
ey did not consult with theHuman Rights O
ffi
ce, they also didnot consult with anyone that usedto work in this o
ffi
ce and they didnot consult with any former externalcommissioner who used to supervisethis o
ffi
ce,” said McManus. “
ere
SHAC proposed toimprove studentadvocacy; some areskeptical
1 CENTEVENT!
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Stone Road Mall Women's Club
UNDERGRADUATE RESEARCH ASSISTANTSHIPS SUMMER 2010
Exciting opportunities exist for students interested in summer work under two unique summer research programs.The NSERC Undergraduate Summer Research Awards (USRA) and Undergraduate Research Assistantships (URA)are available for the summer of 2010. The positions are 16 weeks in length.
USRA and URA Position Descriptions
are posted on the respective websites.
SELECTION PROCEDURE
The Department/unit makes decisions on the applicants and selects students for either a USRA or URA, beginning February 24, 2010. A student may only hold one award at any one time
URA & USRA APPLICATIONS MUST BE SUMBITTED TO THE DEPARTMENTS NO LATER THAN FEBRUARY 23, 2010
USRA (NSERC)
STUDENT ELIGIBILITYMust
be a Canadian citizen or permanent resident of Canada.
Must
be registered full-time at the time of application in a baccalaureate program Normally students participating in this program are students at the University of Guelph but students from other institutions who meet the academic criteria are also eligible
Must
have a cumulative average of at least a ‘B-’ standing (
70%) during the courseof their undergraduate studyThere are
no
conditions of
fi
nancial needMust have completed at least the
fi
rst two terms of a baccalaureate programMust
not
have started a graduate program in natural sciences or engineeringat the time of the awardMust be engaged in full-time research in natural sciences or engineering duringthe tenure of the award•••••••
URA
STUDENT ELIGIBILITYMust
be a Canadian Citizen or permanent resident of Canada residing in Ontario
Must
be a full-time or part-time student at the time of application in any baccalaureate program at the University of Guelph
Must
have a cumulative average of at least a ‘B-’ standing (
70%) during the course of their undergraduate study (departments may have additional academic criteria)Must have
demonstrated
fi
nancial need
. Students must submit a Financial NeedsAssessment Form available from Student Financial Service by Feb 23, 2010
Must return
to study in a baccalaureate program in
Fall 2010
Must
not
have completed the last semester of their baccalaureate programMust be engaged in full-time research during the tenure of the award. However, a studentmay register as a part-time student at the University during the award period providingthey are not registered for course(s) totalling more than 1.0 credits•••••••
STUDENT APPLICATION
Provide a transcript (from Undergraduate Program Services for $10.00) (photocopyof a transcript is acceptable if applying for more than one position)Complete the University Form 2 – Student Pro
fi
le from the URSA websiteComplete NSERC Form 202 – Part I (available from NSERC). Forward applicationto the department/unit offering the position•••
STUDENT APPLICATION
Submit a Financial Need Assessment Form to Student Financial Services for assessment by
February 23, 2010
(available from Student
fi
nancial Services or from the URA websiteAttach con
fi
rmation of
fi
nancial need to application (letter provided by Student FinancialServices if your
fi
nancial need application gets approved )Provide a transcript (from Undergraduate Program Services for $10.00) (photocopy of atranscript is acceptable if applying for more than one position)Complete the University Form 2 – Student Pro
fi
le (form available on URA website.Forward complete application to the department/unit offering the position
For more information see: www.uoguelph.ca/registrar/student
nance/index.cfm?usra/index For more information see: www.uoguelph.ca/registrar/student
nance/index.cfm?ura/index
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161.4
Skeptics andpsychics butt headsStudents rally against changes to CSA’s employment policy
Predicting problems
Intelligent, open-minded,logical and willing to try new things.
ese were the qualities my electric psychic reading claimed I was seeking in my potential mate. While true, this begs the question: who isn’t seeking these qualities ina potential mate?
e Psychic Expo made its 22ndtrip into Guelph this weekend,setting up shop at the Best WesternInn for three days. Bringing inparanormal practitioners fromEngland, Scotland, Ireland andRussia, the Psychic Expo o
ff
ereddemonstrations and readings froma range of disciplines just as diverseas the countries of origin, includingtarot card readings, palm readings,and channeling spirits.“
is is a psychic expo,”organizer Linda Fulcher said.“
ese are people who haveintuitive sixth sense paranormalabilities.” While she has had psychicflashes, Fulcher admits herexperiences with the paranormalare not substantial enough tomerit performing readings. Herskills being “administrative,”Fulcher instead organizes thesepsychic expos, something thathas been a passion and interest of hers for years.
is preference forpaperwork does not stop Fulcherfrom administering readings;Fulcher merely outsources people’sastrological information to aprofessional astrologer online forone of the aforementioned electricpsychic readings.Although entrance to theexpo costs only $8, every reading was priced at upwards of thirty dollars—except for Fulcher’selectric psychic, which cost only ten.
is being within my budget, Igave Fulcher my information and10 minutes later my future waspredicted.University of OntarioInstitute of Technology professor,Christopher Di Carlo, has devotedmuch of his career to debunkingthe paranormal. According to DiCarlo, while human beings have
Women-only food sitesopen in Haiti
e World Food Program’said workers in Haiti have begunhanding out food coupons thatonly women are eligible to redeem.
e move followed reports that young men were swarming aidtrucks and pushing ahead of others. Furthermore, studies haveshown that Haitian women tendto take care of household foodsupply.
ree weeks after thetragic Jan. 12 earthquake, foodaid is being distributed at 16 sitesaround Haiti’s capital, Port-au-Prince.
Human trafficking awareness event oncampus
On Jan. 18, former RCMPo
ffi
cer Marty Van Doren delivereda lecture on the causes, realities,and impact of human tra
ffi
ckingin Canada to a group of Guelphstudents. Entitled “Not for Sale,”the presentation included a variety of perspectives and proposedsolutions to this little-knownsocial problem.
Canada files emissionstarget with UN
Canada gave its emissionsreduction target to the UnitedNations on Saturday Jan. 30,only one day in advance of thedeadline stipulated by December’sCopenhagen Accord. Aspromised, Environment Minister Jim Prentice followed the leadof the United States and set thetarget at a 17 per cent reductionof greenhouse gas emissionsover 2005 levels to be achievedby 2020.
e European Unionmade a much larger pledge, to cutgreenhouse gas emissions by 20per cent compared to 1990 levelsin just a decade.
Taylor Swift, Beyoncesweep music’s biggestawards night
e 52nd annual Grammy Awards were dominated by Beyoncé, who picked up arecord-breaking six Grammysincluding Song of the Year for‘Single Ladies (Put a Ring on It).’ Taylor Swift accepted honours forboth album and country albumof the year for Fearless. Otherhighlights of the night included arendition of ‘Glitter in the Air’ by P!nk, punctuated with stunningacrobatics, and a mash-up featuringLady Gaga and Sir Elton Johnthat culminated in a performanceart extravaganza complete withblue body paint. Canadian actsincluded the country ensembleLady Antebellum and the up-and-coming rapper Drake, whoperformed the finale alongsideEminem and Lil’Wayne.
Compiled by Genna Buck
D
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“
e CSA has been approachednumerous times…that our so-calledpractices for employment equity areactually inequitable,” said Gaber.“
ese practices create two negativeside e
ff
ects. Firstly, using this practiceactually takes away jobs from people who demonstrate that they are morequalified for a position. Secondly, andmore importantly, they reinforce thestereotype that people who identify with a marginalized group require aleg-up [in the] employment world…as a student who identifies in one of these groups, I find such a systemo
ff
ensive.”
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always been fascinated with theconfigurations of the stars, theformation of the celestial bodieshave little to no scientifically observed impact on our world at all.“If we’re going to talk aboutenergy, the gravitational e
ff
ect of planets is less than [a] stapler hason us in terms of mass and therelationship between [two] people,”said Di Carlo.Di Carlo went on to explainthat astrological predictions are“su
ffi
ciently ambiguous to apply toalmost anybody.”Of course, astrology was notthe only form of prediction beingpracticed at the expo. While almostall psychics, mediums and readersdeclined to comment on their work,most attendees were more willingto share their experiences. Havingreceived free passes to the event,Care Lucas and Denny Schummercame were originally more skepticalthan many other people at theexpo. However, while both left stillnot entirely convinced, they were atleast now questioning a bit more.Lucas explained her readingreferenced her interest inhumanitarian work and her beingboth tough and loving at the sametime, statements that, accordingto Lucas, fit her to a “T.” Despitethese congruities, she declinedbeing fully “converted,” as many of the psychics failed to win her overduring demonstrations.Although both Lucas andSchummer maintained theirreservations, Schummer, inparticular, felt that he connected with one psychic.“He looked at me and said you’re very easy to read,” saidSchummer.According to Professor DiCarlo, however, this is merely anexample of what is called a coldreading.“You’re somewhat intuitive,”said Di Carlo, “and someone comesin, you see how they’re dressed,how they behave, you determine whether they’re distraught and youpaint a psychological profile almostimmediately with a cold reading.”More advanced (and expensive)readings almost always require your name and some factual databeforehand, which allows thepsychic to research the subject andperform what is called a warmreading.“
ey’ll just google you,” saidDi Carlo.For Di Carlo, one of the mostsignificant pieces of evidenceagainst psychics is their refusalto portray customers negatively.Ironically, this refusal to tell peopleanything but what they want tohear results in what Di Carlo seesas fraud. If someone really waspsychic, they could simply predictlottery numbers or sports gamesoutcomes and invest their money in that. Instead, hopeful believersare charged forty or fifty dollars tobe told that “love is just around thecorner.” While Lucas, Schummer anda multitude of expo-goers enjoyedtheir time and took away positiveexperiences, Di Carlo believes they are being fleeced.“When [psychics] say ‘I havespecial powers and I can help you’ they’re lying, they’re beingfraudulent and they are preying onthe vulnerability of individuals whoare coming to them in the hopesthat they can o
ff
er them genuineguidance,” said Di Carlo. “Sincethey can do none of those things, Icall them out.” Whether you agree or disagree with his position or not, all psychicsDi Carlo has ever contacted havedeclined his invitation to join himfor demonstration and discussion.
After hearing of these changesto the equitable employment policy,a large group of interested studentscame to the board meeting to speak out against such changes. One of these students was Melissa Bryan, asecond-year Sociology student at theU of G, who didn’t take issue withthe specific changes to the policy, butrather the haste with which she feltthe decision was made.“[
e CSA] is taking away partof a
ffi
rmative action, which at firstI thought was okay until I realizedthat no research [seemed to have]been done on it to see whether it was working or not,” said Bryan. “I wanted to know why they decidedto make that change and there wasno straight answer which is why Iopposed it.”Bryan’s concern also stems fromthe fact that a
ffi
rmative action is aprogram put in place in Canada by the government and perhaps shouldremain in the CSA’s hiring process.“[A
ffi
rmative action] is a publicsystem,” said Bryan. “I feel like if something like this is going to bechanged [and] that our school pridesitself in hiring equally among the racesand diverse groups…do we even havethe right to be taking programs like thisaway at a government funded schoollike this? Especially in a place likeGuelph that isn’t as diverse as Toronto.”Despite the concerns expressedby students, Gaber feels that thischange shouldn’t present any negativeconsequences for marginalizedstudents interested in employment with the CSA.“If anything, this will encourageour organization to evaluate thebarriers we have for people whoidentify within these groups,” saidGaber. “Our former practice actedsimply as a smokescreen for whatthe real issues are within our hiringprocess, our sta
ff
environment, andthe CSA as a whole.”
Ruxandra Moldoveanu
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