FÉUO SFUO

Fédération étudiante
www.sfuo.ca

The
Student Federation

CAMPUS REPORT
SFUO is
March 27th
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Final Toonie Tuesday
For more information April 7th @ 1848
So what are you waiting for?
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(SFUO office)

Letters
Renaud the phenomenon It is an interesting notion because it
begs the question about legitimacy
DURING THE PRESIDENTIAL on a number of different levels, insti-
campaign in the United States, former tutional efficiency and practice, and
secretary of state Henry Kissinger de- the political rights of all implicated.
scribed Barack Obama as an interest- It has set the stage and has put the
ing phenomenon because of his lack system in which we have faith to the
of experience. test. Like a good documentary, it puts
I believe that what has happened the values and beliefs of which we are
over the course of the last month or sometimes ignorant—because they
so at the University of Ottawa, espe- are taken for granted as being correct
cially in regards to the personality and because the status quo is often
of Renaud-Philippe Garner, can be the safe zone—to the test. It is impor-
qualified in those terms. It is literally a tant that people bring forth these is-
phenomenon that has many students sues because otherwise students will
talking. forever remain blind to these sorts of
What has been set in motion by legal and political ambiguities which
Garner is an impressive and unprece- stand critically unchallenged. Some-
dented student political phenomenon times it does take a maverick to stand
which should be studied further. For alone and protest.
once there is a student who is actively Though I was an official volunteer
pursuing what he believes to be the for Garner in the election, I practically
right course of action, but it is his did not partake as I was swept up with
methods that remain paramount. schoolwork and other volunteer work
This is a student who is exercis- which was going on at the same time
ing his rights as a student and as as the elections. I have been in the
protected by the constitution. He is dark as to what’s been going on, only
challenging institutions, rules, and having a vague idea through news-
systems that are in place but which paper readings and meetings about
are rarely questioned or looked into. past events. I therefore don’t know
“What has been set in motion by Garner
is an impressive and unprecedented student
political phenomenon...”
Kevin Létourneau
Third-year political science
and history student
Contents
News I’ll take the win for
$50,000, Alex
Canada’s Next Great Prime Minister is the U of
O’s own Amy Marlene Robichaud. p. 4
p. 4 Allan Rock looks back on his first eight
months in the top job. p. 5
Arts The collective approach
Maria Rondon explores Ottawa’s indepen-
dent film collective. p. 9
p. 9
Nick Rudiak is strong enough for
The Weakerthans. p. 13
Sports I want to ride
Get ready for summer and dust off your bicycle
with our guide to Ottawa cycling. p. 18
Women’s hockey team can’t muster a win at
p. 18 national championship. p. 19
Feature Ever wanted to
know how to...
...start a revolution, write a novel, or found the
world’s greatest rock band? p. 14–15
p. 14 Di deals with peen hood. p. 26
March 26–April 1, 2009
whether I should be writing this let-
ter. Regardless, I believe in quiet and
institutional protest which has been
Garner’s practice to date. He is rightly
flexing the political muscles that are
ours as students. This might be an op-
portunity for students to learn and to
realize their true force as political be-
ings on this campus.
Kevin Létourneau
Third-year political science
and history student
My student rights
I WRITE THIS letter in response to
the so-called coalition of 552 students
that sent out an unofficial mass email
on March 16 regarding grading prac-
tices at the U of O.
This is my declaration of my rights
as a student.
I have the right to not have mili-
tant ideology shoved down my throat.
I have the right not to be harassed on-
line. I have the right to disagree with
certain views without feeling patron-
ized. I have the right to pursue my
education without being interrupted
by a group of individuals who refuse
to bring forward their case in a rea-
sonable manner.
Your email is an amalgamation
of twisted words and questionable
sources: for example, the supposed
“anti-grading” articles. Did you even
read these articles? They are writ-
ten by students who have qualms
about grading, but are not manifestos
thefulcrum.ca poll
This week’s question Last week’s question
What is your favourite part of spring?
Outdoor exercise:
New wardrobe:
Not freezing walking to class:
Go to thefulcrum.ca to vote
Business Department
The Fulcrum, the University of Ottawa’s inde-
pendent English-language student newpaper,
is published by the Fulcrum Publishing Society
(FPS) Inc., a not-for-profit corporation whose
members consist of all University of Ottawa
students. The Board of Directors (BOD) of the
FPS governs all administrative and business
actions of the Fulcrum and consists of the fol-
lowing individuals: Ross Prusakowski (Presi-
dent), Andrea Khanjin (Vice-President), Tyler
Meredith (Chair), Peter Raaymakers, Nick Tay-
lor-Vaisey, Toby Climie, Scott Bedard, Andrew
Wing, and William Stephenson.
To contact the Fulcrum’s BOD,
contact Ross Prusakowski at (613) 562-5261.
Frank Appleyard
Editor-in-Chief
editor@thefulcrum.ca
“Paint your face and hop on a bus! Show
some spirit! Your crosstown rivals sure did.”
against the entire grading process.
They should not be used to support a
conspiracy theory. Also, do you really
consider an article in Maclean’s an ad-
missible source?
If you presume to inform me that
the rights I present are being violat-
ed by the “hierarchy,” which you do,
I will say one thing: do not attempt
to tell me when my rights are being
violated, which is what you are do-
ing with your entire “campaign.” I am
not a sheep, nor am I an idiot. I think
independently, and I do not need a
group of ideologues with no intel-
lectual backing to tell me when my
rights are threatened.
The logical and reasonable portion
of the U of O, which is most of the
student body and faculty, is against
you. Most of us here want to focus on
our education. Though you may say
otherwise, we think it will be useful
in the future.
Carmen Michael Grillo
Second-year political science and
economics student
Where’s the support?
CONGRATULATIONS TO THE
Gee-Gees men’s basketball team.
They had a great run this year and
Do you believe that SFUO executives
voting on their SAC appeal is a conflict
of interest?
Yes:
No:
Advertising Department
Deidre Butters, Advertising Representative
phone: (613) 880-6494
fax: (613) 562-5259
e-mail: ads@thefulcrum.ca
Check out our rate card online.
Go to www.thefulcrum.ca and
follow the link for “Advertisers”.
Multi-market advertisers:
Campus Plus: (800)265-5372
Campus Plus offers one-stop shopping for over
90 Canadian student
newspapers.
The Fulcrum is a proud member of
Canadian University Press:
www.cup.ca
3
Jim McNabb
U of O alumnus
I enjoyed watching several of their
games including the consolation final
at the Canadian Interuniversity Sport
championships in Ottawa March 12–
15. However, I was very disappointed
at the fan turnout for their games at
the championships. There should
have been thousands of students at
each of their games. I can understand
the lack of support if the tournament
had been in Halifax or Vancouver, but
it was in Ottawa.
Paint your face and hop on a bus!
Show some spirit! Your crosstown ri-
vals sure did. Prospects are good for
next year on the court. I hope next
year’s students can do better.
Jim McNabb
U of O alumnus
volunteer@thefulcrum.ca
89%
11%
Got something to say?
Send your letters to
editor@thefulcrum.ca
Letters deadline: Sunday, 1 p.m.
Letters must be under 400 words unless
discussed with the editor-in-chief.
Drop off letters at 631 King Edward Ave. or
email editor@thefulcrum.ca.
Letters must include your name, telephone
number, year, and program of study. Pseud-
onyms may be used after consultation with the
editor-in-chief. We correct spelling and gram-
mar to some extent. The Fulcrum will exercise
discretion in printing letters that are deemed
racist, homophobic, or sexist.
We will not even consider hate literature or
libellous material. The editor-in-chief reserves
the authority on everything printed herein.

News
Trudeau, Harper, and
now Robichaud?
U of O student crowned
Canada’s Next Great Prime
Minister
by Amanda Shendruk
Fulcrum Staff
COULD YOU KEEP a $50,000 secret for over
a month? Fourth-year University of Ottawa
politics and public administration student Amy
Marlene Robichaud can.
The winner of the CBC reality show Canada’s
Next Great Prime Minister, which pitted contes-
tants aged 18–25 against each other to see who
had the right stuff to be Canada’s next leader,
Robichaud had to keep her $50,000 first-place
secret for over a month. Filmed on Feb. 10, the
CBC show didn’t air until March 18.
“Keeping the secret was overwhelming,”
laughed the 21-year old Calgary native. “I’m
terrible at keeping secrets.”
On March 18, Canadians watched Ro-
bichaud and three other finalists show off their
political prowess—giving speeches, proposing
policies, and reacting to hypothetical situa-
tions—in front of four past prime ministers
and Jeopardy! host and U of O alumnus Alex
Trebek. The panel of prime ministers consisted
of Joe Clark, Kim Campbell, Brian Mulroney,
and Paul Martin.
“They’re so intimidating and also so human
at the same time,” Robichaud said, describing
the former leaders.
The prime ministers commented and pro-
voked debate throughout the hour-long show,
but ultimately it was the studio audience that se-
lected the winner via in-studio vote. Robichaud
captured 50 per cent of the audience vote.
The runner-up was Robert Marsh, a 23-year-
old from Dartmouth, N.S. David Suk of Toronto
took third place and Gabriel Lopez of Montreal
finished fourth.
“[On the show] I was exactly who I am on a
regular basis, and I think that that was some-
thing the audience could relate to,” Robichaud
said when asked why she thought the audience
eventually chose her.
Chosen by Environics Research Group, the
in-studio audience was selected to represent the
demographic makeup of Canada.
Robichaud’s road to the prime-ministerial
position began in September 2008 when she
was only the second entrant in a competition
that eventually gathered just under 200 appli-
cations. Following months of online debates,
phone interviews, and public service challeng-
es, Robichaud found herself in the semifinals—
ready to spend three days at political boot camp
with nine other young Canadians fighting for a
spot in the top four.
“The [boot camp] challenges were intense
… There were cameras on you 24/7,” she said.
During boot camp, the top 10 of young political
hopefuls debated policy and politics, hoping to
be chosen as a finalist by CBC producers.
Robichaud indicated that participants in the
three-day elimination process were respect-
ful. “There’s no better way to test your political
4
Emma Godmere
March 26–April 1, 2009
News Editor
news@thefulcrum.ca
GSAÉD
elections
turnout raises
the bar
Voter attendance sees 2.4 per
cent increase from last year
by Amanda Shendruk
Fulcrum Staff
EIGHT PER CENT of all graduate students
showed up March 17–19 to cast their ballots in
the University of Ottawa Graduate Student As-
sociation (GSAÉD) elections. Three hundred
sixty-six voters elected their representatives
for the 2009–10 academic year, a 2.4 per cent
increase over the 5.6 per cent graduate par-
ticipation in the 2008–09 elections, which were
perilously close to not meeting the 5 per cent
requirement for quorum.
“We’re pretty happy with [the increase],” said
Désirée Lamoureux, chief returning officer for
the elections. “We did work pretty hard to get
the vote out—we hit the pavement and handed
out granola bars, and had coffee incentives.” In
order to draw votes, the GSAÉD offered free
coffee and snacks for voters.
The GSAÉD executive for 2009–10 will con-
sist of Gaétan-Philippe Beaulière as external
commissioner, Myriam Hebabi as university
affairs commissioner, Breanna Roycroft as in-
ternal commissioner, and incumbents Gerardo
Barajas Garrido and Tansy Etro-Beko returning
to the finance and student life commissioner
positions, respectively. All executive positions
were uncontested.
“I think all of the newly elected executive
members are really excited about next year,” said
Beaulière, following the announcement of the
election results on March 19 at Café Nostalgica.
Along with voting for the GSAÉD executive,
students also cast ballots for two graduate seats
photo by Martha Pearce on the U of O Senate and the one graduate seat on
Amy Marlene Robichaud received $50,000 and a variety of internships for her first-place the Board of Governors (BOG), all of which were
finish on Canada’s Next Great Prime Minister. contested. Incumbent Julia Morris will return to
mettle than to put yourself in a room with nine Graeme Cunningham grabbed the runner-up her BOG position for another two years, and in-
other people who are equally passionate but position in the contest. Additionally, 2007–08 cumbent Matthew Mount reclaimed his sciences
have different views from you, and talk.” SFUO president Pam Hrick came in second Senate seat. This will be Mount’s third year in the
In addition to the $50,000 in prize money, place in last year’s show and was working be- Senate. The humanities Senate seat will be filled
Robichaud won paid internships at Magna In- hind the scenes at this year’s competition. by newcomer Paratoo Jashmidi.
ternational, the Dominion Institute, and the “I think Amy did a fantastic job of represent- “I really had no idea how tonight would go,
Canada-U.S. Fulbright Program. She will com- ing the University of Ottawa and women in the and it was great,” said Jashmidi. “It was great
plete her U of O undergraduate degree in July, competition as well,” said Hrick. “There weren’t seeing the support that I had.”
and hopes to start the internships in October. a whole lot of female applicants, but I thought Graduate students also voted on one refer-
“I’m a pragmatist to the very end,” explained Amy did a fantastic job. I thought she nailed the endum question, which asked whether or not
Robichaud. “A bit of [the prize money] has been questions and she was a great representative for they were willing to pay $9 per semester (for
put away in GICs, a bit of it will go to pay off the university and for women.” full-time students) or $4.50 per semester (for
my car loan, and a bit will just go to moving ex- Robichaud doesn’t know where this win part-time students) to the Student Federation
penses to get down to Toronto and to get set up might take her, but she is certainly not worried of the University of Ottawa (SFUO) in order to
there for the internships.” about the future. have access to their nine services, such as the
Canada’s Next Great Prime Minister has not “I have so many doors open right now, I can’t Bilingualism Centre and the Women’s Resource
seen the end of Robichaud. She hopes to be in- wait to find out which one I get to walk through,” Centre. Graduate students voted 59.6 per cent in
volved behind the scenes in the contest next year. she said. “I really think politics is a noble calling favour of the referendum question.
“I want to see what I can do to put some more and I would be really privileged one day if I had “I think it’s very good that it did pass, because
emphasis on recruiting women into the competi- the opportunity to run for office and represent they’re programs that graduate students have
tion next year,” she said. Of the nearly 200 appli- Canadians, my neighbours, and my family. been using [but] have been paid for by the SFUO
cants for the 2009 show, only 16 were female. “I’m 21, I’m about to graduate, I have employ- ... Graduate students need to start contributing
The U of O seems adept at producing prime- ment lined up and I have money in the bank,” [to them] if they want to use these programs,”
ministerial material. In 2007, U of O student she continued. “I’m happy right now.” said Lamoureux.
 A ‘learning’ year
Rock reflects on first year
as U of O president
by Emma Godmere
Fulcrum Staff
AS THE 2008–09 academic year winds down, so do University of Ottawa President
Allan Rock’s first eight months in office. The former Student Federation of the Uni-
versity of Ottawa (SFUO) president, federal cabinet minister, and ambassador to the
United Nations has faced several challenges and enjoyed a handful of successes in
the first year on the job—but certainly has plans to do much more in his remaining
three years as president. Rock sat down with the Fulcrum to discuss the year that
has passed and the months that lie ahead.
Fulcrum: What were your original expecta-
tions for the U of O president position? Has
the job lived up to them?
Rock: It has lived up to my expectations com-
pletely. What I expected it to be was complex
and challenging, but very personally rewarding
and satisfying [and] enormously interesting,
and it’s all of that.
It’s a very complex job. There are many con-
stituencies, many moving parts to this operation.
There are different people with different expec-
tations, whether it’s the personnel, the support
staff, [the] professors, their unions, students
themselves, or their associations ... all these dif-
ferent actors in this one place have different per-
spectives, different aspirations, sometimes con-
flicting objectives too ... It’s very multi-faceted,
but it’s extremely interesting. There’s never a dull
moment.
It’s the first time, I think, [that] I’ve been an
actual CEO. I’ve been a lawyer and acted for
clients, I’ve been a minister in government, but
that’s [a] sort of member of a team, and I’ve been
an ambassador reporting back to a government,
but I’ve never quite before had ultimate respon-
sibility for the management of an operation.
You’ve had encounters with several students
surrounding different issues this year, namely
surrounding Senate transparency. Have these
encounters perhaps tarnished your impres-
sion of the student body as a whole?
I’m trying very hard to make sure they don’t. I
like and respect the stu-
dents who are running
the [SFUO] and [the “I think this year [has]
Graduate Students’ Asso-
ciation (GSAÉD)]. I work
been a year to lay
very well with them. [I] foundations and to
don’t always see eye-to- point directions and
eye with them, but [I]
like and respect them and also to learn.”
really enjoy working with
them.
I have a huge amount of respect for students
generally; I know how hard they’re working ...
sometimes under difficult circumstances. They’ve
demonstrated their confidence in this place by
turning up here, paying tuition, and studying.
They’re going to walk away with a degree from
this university. They’re investing something in us;
it’s their confidence and their faith that [will en-
sure that their] degree is worthy.
And I have an extremely positive attitude to-
ward my job, toward my responsibilities, and to-
ward my working environment. So I’m not go-
ing to let unpleasant experiences interfere with
that. I’m just not going to do it, it’s just not right.
I’m going to focus on the positive, I’m going to
focus on what there is to do, I’m going to focus
on the 35,991 students in this place who want
to make it a better university, who want to con-
front real issues, who want to engage in rational
dialogue, who want to criticize me when I get it
wrong or miss something—but do it in ways so
I can take it on board, learn from it, and try to
improve.
Have some of those experiences been burdens?
Do you feel you’ve been faced with any other
burdens this year?
I wouldn’t say they were a burden, I’d say they
were a distraction. I didn’t always handle them as
well as I should have, but I’m learning on the job.
Were there other burdens this year? I think
the financial situation in the world, generally,
has made it more difficult for us to raise mon-
ey. That’s been a worry. Our income is down
because our endowment is diminished; the in-
come we get from our investments is down be-
cause interest rates are lower, and it’s harder now
when you go to donors and you say, ‘May I have photo by Frank Appleyard
some money?’ They often say, ‘Well, I have to ternal, and we’re going to have a new [vice-pres- proud of and enjoy, where we can have a con-
wait until my bottom line stops moving.’ It’s not ident] governance. In a sense, I get the chance to vocation hall on campus for music concerts, for
as easy as it was to raise money out there during build a new team, and that’s very exciting, that’s our convocation so we don’t have to go and rent
the roaring 90s or the first part of this decade, so a real opportunity. So there’s an upside to that space elsewhere, and I’d like to see a day where
that’s been a worry. transition as well, not just a downside. we fill out the space here and make it more of
Apart from that, well, we haven’t had a [vice- a contiguous and continuous community rather
president] external. That’s been less than optimal. What do you feel have been the U of O’s big- than being broken up by streets with cars on
We [hadn’t] had a [vice-president] of governance gest accomplishments this past year? them. I’d like to get to the point where we fill
until [acting VP Governance Nathalie Des Ros- in the campus here in this neighbourhood and
iers] was kind enough to I’m not sure I’d say ‘accomplishments’, because I make it more integrated.
come in on an interim don’t think I can say something is actually com- And I look forward to the day when every
basis, and she’s made a pleted and on the shelf and done ... I think this student who’s here believes that they’re having
big difference. So [lacking
those two positions has]
year [has] been a year to lay foundations and to
point directions and also to learn. I feel like I’ve
the best years of their lives on this campus, and
they’re going to leave here feeling they’ve had a
been a bit of a drawback. come a long way since last July in terms of intro- truly remarkable experience: they’ve been ex-
ducing myself to the academic community and posed to great minds, they’ve been challenged,
You are indeed current- to people on campus; people have a better sense they’ve been given opportunities that would
ly faced with several va- of who I am and where I want to go. I also think broaden them, they’ve dealt with a university
cancies in the upper ad- that I’ve had a chance to articulate what direc- that valued them, responded to them in a caring
ministration. How are you planning to move tion I want to go [in] with this university. I want way, was concerned about their outcomes and
into the next year, facing such a situation? it to be a global university, bringing in more what they were becoming and where they were
students from overseas, sending more of our going and help them along that way.
Well, just as it’s been a complication not to have students to other countries during their studies,
a full team, at the same time it’s an opportunity linking our researchers with networks of excel- In all, do you feel prepared transitioning from
to build a team. I’m enormously sorry to see [U lence around the world—putting the University this year into the next?
of O VP Academic] Robert Major retire because of Ottawa on the world map.
he’s a giant in terms of academic leadership on I want to continue our growth ... [but] when Everything I’ve lived since I’ve gotten here has
this campus; he’s a remarkable intellectual with, I say I want to continue to grow, I mean I want confirmed my first impression, which is that it’s
I think, an unmatched insight into the culture to work toward the day when we can have the a great job, it’s a terrific environment to work
and traditions of this university and its academic buildings we need, where our laboratories are in, and I consider myself very lucky. So I’ll con-
standards ... But do you know what? We’re going state of the art, where we’re ahead of our needs tinue doing my best, my apprenticeship will
to have a new [vice-president] academic, we’re in that regard. I’d like to see the day when we continue—and what’s a university if not a place
going to have a brand new [vice-president] ex- have a sports stadium on campus that we can be to learn, including for the president?
www.thefulcrum.ca // 03.26.09 // NEWS // 5
Grand opportunity
U of O grad takes
reins of new ByWard
restaurant
by Frank Appleyard
Fulcrum Staff
WHEN THE DOORS swing open to
the ByWard Market’s newest restau-
rant in May, there will be a distinct
University of Ottawa influence be-
hind the establishment.
Stephen Mitchell, an alumnus of the
U of O’s Telfer School of Management,
was recently hired to manage The Grand,
an upscale pizzeria being unveiled at 74
George St. by the same company behind
Market favourites Empire Grill and Mét-
ropolitain Brasserie.
However, pizzerias and lecture halls
wouldn’t have ranked too highly in
the 26-year-old’s plans only a handful
of years ago. Born just outside of Ot-
tawa in Embrun, Ont., Mitchell com-
mitted his early life to pursuing a pro-
fessional hockey career; however, at
20, while playing for the Michigan Ice
Dogs—an amateur team in Detroit—
Mitchell came to a crossroads.
“After playing [in Detroit] for a
year I realized that hockey for me
may not be a career opportunity in
the sense that the guys that were re-
ally good, you [knew] they were going
6 \\ NEWS \\ 03.26.09 \\ www.thefulcrum.ca
to make it,” he said. “A lot of us had
to make decisions as to whether this
was something we wanted to pursue,
or we wanted to go back to school and
maybe do something else.”
Mitchell decided to leave the game
he grew up playing and forge a new
path, enrolling in Algonquin College’s
business program.
“My goal the entire time was to go
to university and get my commerce
degree,” said Mitchell. “My brother
James went to Carleton University
and he’s now a Chartered Accoun-
tant. He was somebody that I always
looked up to as doing something that
I wanted to be able to do.”
After graduating from Algonquin
College, Mitchell made good on his
goal and was accepted into the U of
O’s bachelor of commerce program,
eventually serving as a head teaching
assistant under Telfer School of Man-
agement Assistant Dean Peter Koppel.
However, Mitchell’s experiences
at the U of O only tell half the story.
The ambitious business student had
to finance his studies himself, and af-
ter growing tired of working behind
a desk at a local marketing company,
Mitchell walked into Empire Grill
seeking a new job. He left with a serv-
ing position. In the four years since
he started at the upscale restaurant,
Mitchell has steadily climbed the
ladder, bartending, supervising, and
ultimately managing at Empire Grill
until his graduation from the U of O
in spring 2008.
After splitting his time between the U
of O and Empire Grill, the parallels be-
tween the two were not lost on Mitchell.
“When I was Koppel’s TA, I would
often try to talk about the constant
interaction I would have with clients
[at Empire Grill], and relate it to the
presentation skills I was teaching in
his course,” he said of Koppel’s course,
which focuses on building public
speaking and presentation skills.
When the owners of The Grand
were in search of a manager for their
fledgling project, they turned to
Mitchell, who had both experience
within the company and a commerce
degree. Mitchell felt that his experi-
ence at the U of O best prepared him
to take on the management challenge
presented by The Grand.
“The leadership development pro-
gram at Telfer is something that I’m
continuously reflecting upon in terms
of how I want to carry myself as a
manager,” he said. “I have to hire and
train over 80 people, many of whom
won’t have restaurant experience. It’s
a pretty overwhelming task to have all
those people put under my wing in a photo by Frank Appleyard
brand new place.” Telfer alumnus Stephen Mitchell stands in the under-construction restau-
GRAND continued on p. 8 rant The Grand, which will open at 74 George St. in May.
 A rose by any other name
Vote of confidence

couldn’t have done a better job News

Emma Godmere
News Editor
THIS YEAR HAS been a tumultuous one for the
Student Federation of the University of Ottawa
(SFUO) executive.
In November, we saw the Canadian Fed-
eration of Students (CFS) referendum, which
stirred up controversy when several SFUO
employees—including VP Student Affairs
Danika Brisson, who was a ‘Yes’ committee
chairperson—were accused of campaigning on
paid time. In December and January, the execu-
tive encountered backlash after President Dean
Haldenby expressed the SFUO’s solidarity with
the striking OC Transpo transit union that af-
fected thousands of students. Most recently, after
the February 2009–10 SFUO executive elections
wrapped up, three candidates filed an appeal
with the Student Arbitration Committee, claim-
ing four of the winning candidates—including
current VP University Affairs Seamus Wolfe, VP
Communications Julie Séguin, and VP Finance
Roxanne Dubois—formed a slate and violated
the SFUO’s constitution. On top of that, Wolfe,
Séguin, and Dubois were widely criticized for
voting in favour of altering their appeal pro-
cess at a recent Board of Adminstration (BOA)
meeting, as many considered the action to be a
blatant conflict of interest. A petition demand-
ing the impeachment of the entire executive has
since been launched.
As the year is winding down, the undergrad-
uate student body is increasingly disenchanted
and disgruntled with their SFUO.
However, VP Social Joël Larose seems to be
immune from this outcry. Regardless of the
SFUO political faux-pas du jour, students still
lined up at 1848 to watch the variety of events
and bands the U of O has hosted this year. They
still engaged in friendly competition during the
Guerre des Tuques snow fort-building competi-
tion and the recent Dance Series. And they will
still cap off the year with a bang at the End of the
Year Bash at Camp Fortune and the Pandamo-
nium concert, at the Civic Centre.
In fact, this year’s Pandamonium is already
creating a lot of buzz on the U of O campus.
The star-studded lineup has been finalized and
includes Bedouin Soundclash, Malajube, and
the ever-popular Metric. There are more stu-
dents clamouring for $10 tickets to the April 1
event than there are signing the online SFUO
executive impeachment petition. It takes one
dedicated and drama-free guy to look past all of
the SFUO gaffes and grudges and create some
climactic year-end events to shake students free
of stress.
This is one of the many reasons why Larose
deserves kudos for all he’s done this year. He is
the sole member of the SFUO executive who has
stayed out of petty politics and chaotic contro-
versy to do his job, and do it well.
Most recognizably, during the CFS refer-
endum Larose successfully removed himself
from the campaigning other employees were
participating in. He’s proven that you can still
be an individual and that you don’t need to
give up your own unique goals, ideas, and plat-
form promises to work within the politically
charged executive. By planning one of the best
101 Weeks and year-long social calendars this
campus has seen in a long time, the 2008–09
vp social gave this campus something new and
exciting to talk about—something other than
petty student politics.
If anything, Larose may be the saving grace
for this year’s executive. Here’s hoping under-
graduate students will walk away from this year
remembering more of the events they partici-
pated in, and less of the shameful politics they
witnessed.
news@thefulcrum.ca
613-562-5260
in brief
Late fees spark possible class-action suit
WINNIPEG (CUP) – A UNIVERSITY OF
Manitoba student has filed a statement of claim
against the U of M on the grounds that its late
tuition payment fee policy is unfair.
If successful, the class-action lawsuit filed by
student Patricia Kelley on March 6 will not lead
only to the reimbursement for the plaintiff, but
to all students who were obliged to pay a late tu-
ition payment fee of $50.
The fee represents an interest rate that “is
criminally high,” according to Norman Rosen-
baum, the lawyer assigned to represent Kelley.
Rosenbaum estimates the number of stu-
dents who have paid the fee could be more than
100,000. If the case continues to argue that all
students who have paid the late fee be reim-
bursed, the university could owe millions.
John Danakas, U of M director of public af-
fairs, says a lawsuit will not be necessary because
the late fee is not collected as interest, but rather
a flat administration fee.
The U of M plans to file its statement of de-
fense, a legal response to Kelley’s statement, in
late March.
—Patrick Gratton, The Manitoban

Important Notice for Students Avis important aux étudiants

with Student Loans
Are you graduating or taking more than six
months off from school?
If you are not returning to full-time studies this fall, you will
need to contact us to discuss repayment options:
• Call the National Student Loans Service Centre at
1-888-815-4514 (TTY for the hearing impaired: 1-888-815-4556).
If you think you might have trouble paying back your integrated
student loan, there are programs available to help you stay on
track.
Ask about the repayment options available to you. For
example, the new Repayment Assistance Plan will ensure the
federal portion of your payments will never be higher than what
you can reasonably afford.
Visit the Spotlight On section of CanLearn.ca for details.
qui ont un prêt d’études
Tu termines tes études ou tu les interromps pendant
plus de six mois ?
Si tu ne retournes pas aux études à temps plein l’automne prochain,
tu dois communiquer avec nous afin de discuter des options de
remboursement.
• Appelle le Centre de services national de prêts aux étudiants,
au 1-888-815-4514 (téléimprimeur pour malentendants : 1-888-815-4556).
Si tu crois que tu pourrais avoir de la difficulté à rembourser ton prêt
d’études intégré, des programmes s’offrent à toi afin de t’aider à maintenir
le cap.
Renseigne-toi au sujet des possibilités de remboursement qui te
sont proposées. Dans le cadre du nouveau Programme d’aide au
remboursement (PAR), par exemple, tu seras assuré que la fraction
fédérale de tes versements ne dépassera jamais un montant
raisonnablement abordable pour toi.
Pour plus de détails, visite la section En vedette
du site cibletudes.ca.

www.thefulcrum.ca // 03.26.09 // NEWS // 7

GRAND continued from p. 6

When it opens in May, The

Grand—located in the George Street
heritage building recently vacated
by Oregano’s—will tear down any
preconceived Canadian perceptions
of pizzerias, according to Mitchell.
“It’s going to be an authentic Ital-
ian pizzeria and bar,” he said. “The
North American thought process
of the pizzeria is walking in and
getting a slice and a pop for $2.50.
But in Italy, a pizzeria can be a very
high-end restaurant.”
For his part, Mitchell identified
money back

fast
why he has become so attached to
the restaurant industry and the
promise of The Grand in particular.
“It’s because I thrive on the fact
that everyday I come to work it’s
always something different, and
I’m always meeting new people,” he
said. “Entrepreneurialism has al-
ways been in my blood, and taking
on this general manager position I
think is one step closer to ... owning
my own restaurant.”

Doing
is the new
learning

volunteer@thefulcrum.ca

walk in with your taxes, walk out with your money

and you could win $5,000 towards a road trip. visit refundroadtrip.ca

come in today or call

1-800-HRBLOCK (472-5625)

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8 \\ NEWS \\ 03.26.09 \\ www.thefulcrum.ca


Arts & Culture
Ottawa’s reel deal
The IFCO provides
education and tools for
aspiring filmmakers
by Maria Rondon
and Peter Henderson
Fulcrum Staff
FILMMAKING IS AN expensive business. A
new 35mm camera can cost upwards of $50,000,
and editing and sound equipment only adds to
the price tag. For amateurs with cinematic as-
pirations, the astronomical cost of making a
film often stands in the way of fulfilling those
dreams. However, where there’s a will, there’s
a way. Enter the Independent Filmmakers Co-
operative of Ottawa (IFCO).
The IFCO was created in the summer of 1991
by five aspiring Ottawa filmmakers: Monica
Szentesky, Scott Galley, Wayne Meade, David
Chow, and Glen Cross. The founders wanted
to provide themselves and other filmmakers
in the Ottawa region with the tools and skills
necessary for film production by splitting the
cost of equipment among a large membership
and providing education in filmmaking tech-
niques. The collective’s manifesto states that
the purpose of the IFCO is “to develop, support
and sustain an innovative and diverse Ottawa-
based community of artists.” The collective is
now run by three full-time staff members: ex-
ecutive director Patrice James, technical direc-
tor Roger Wilson, and membership coordina-
tor Tasha Waldron.
The 130-member collective, located in the
Arts Court (2 Daly Ave.), is currently funded
by yearly memberships and rental fees. Mem-
berships are $40 for students and $80 for the
general public, and allow access to the many re-
sources the IFCO has to offer. A member needs
to complete at least 20 hours of volunteer work
for full membership, at which point he or she
receives a 50 per cent discount on all equipment
rentals, among other perks.
The IFCO also puts on workshops devoted to
teaching members about aspects of film produc-
tion, including sound recording, editing, film
theory, and lighting. Any member of the IFCO
can attend these workshops for a fee, and stu-
dents receive a discount. The collective also offers
9
Peter Henderson
March 26–April 1, 2009
Arts & Culture Editor
arts@thefulcrum.ca
more basic workshops for the general public.
“We do it all,” says Wilson, who runs many of
the workshops. “The use of cameras, sound re-
cording, and even [how to] hand process film.”
One of the best perks of full membership is
access to financial grants. The IFCO gives out a
small number of grants to new and established
Ottawa filmmakers each year to help pay the
fees for use of the IFCO’s facilities.
“[The grants are meant] to encourage and
help [the] IFCO’s members with their produc-
tions,” says James. “It’s not cash in hand, but it’s
towards equipment and supplies—film stock or
film transfer. We have mini-grants for new film-
makers after they gain full membership, and we
also have major grants for the senior producing
members or a filmmaker who has made at least
a couple of shorts.”
Although the IFCO disburses its own grants,
it encourages its members to seek out help from
all levels of government. The cooperative runs
grant-writing workshops to educate members
on the money available from different levels of
government and provides services outside of
those workshops for filmmakers who want to photos by Martha Pearce
learn about their funding options. IFCO executive director Patrice James and technical director Roger Wilson keep
“If they want to seek out other sources of fund- the collective running smoothly.
ing, we point them in the right direction,” ex-
plains James. “Depending on what level they’re
at, they can try to apply for a grant from the City last year,” he explains. “[I] just took it upon my- mersed himself in the IFCO workshops in or-
of Ottawa, from the Ontario Ad Council, or from self to learn everything I needed to know about der to work toward that goal. Mitchell recently
the Canada Council for the Arts if they’re a little shooting with non-digital cameras.” finished a 10-minute film, Lost in the Fine Print,
bit more [experienced]. There are a few different Doucette’s film is called The Darkness Inside, about an introverted and peculiar guy who has
avenues for grants that they can access, and we and premieres at the Mayfair Theatre on April no luck with women.
try to teach them how to do that.” 9 as part of a screening of several short films by “I’ve taken a lot of workshops from cinema-
David Doucette, a fourth-year film studies Carleton University students. tography, production design, grant writing, and
student at Carleton University, has participated James thinks that the IFCO is a great resource all that kind of stuff,” Mitchell says. “Now I’ve
in several workshops and finds the IFCO a use- for film studies students, even those with access been shooting my own stuff. All the equipment
ful resource for furthering his film education. to equipment, because of the freedom the col- you need is here [and] you can shoot your film
Though he studies film theory in school, he be- lective gives them in terms of what, where, and in here. Everything you need is here for you in
lieves that the IFCO teaches him the actual ap- how they shoot. order [for you] to pursue your passion.”
plications of what he’s learning. “Most students who come here have the op- On the first Thursday of every month, the
“It’s really great for aspiring filmmakers and portunity of working on films they have writ- IFCO presents a selection of its members’ work
for people who want to learn,” he says. “It’s espe- ten, as opposed to students who attend Ryerson at the Reel Thursdays event at the Mercury
cially great for those who want to [learn] how to or York [who] usually work on films [in which] Lounge (56 ByWard Market Sq.). This event
shoot [on film].” they have no input [into the writing process] provides a showcase for new and experienced
After completing his 20 hours of volunteer and serve no use for their artistic portfolios,” filmmakers, and keeps the IFCO in touch with
work and gaining full membership to the collec- says James. the Ottawa community. If the next Steven Spiel-
tive last year, Doucette set about learning every- Matt Mitchell, a student at the local arts-based berg wants to remake Jaws in the Rideau Canal,
thing he could about camera work in prepara- Canterbury High School, has used the resources the IFCO is here to help.
tion for shooting his own horror film. of the IFCO to develop work for his portfolio.
“I decided that I wanted to make a horror film He aspires to study film at university, and im- For news, events, and more, visit ifco.ca.
Thank you SFUO Volunteers 08-09!
~ GET INVOLVED ~
Reasons to Volunteer with the SFUO
1. You can give back to the student community and participate.
2. It’s a great way to meet people with similar interests.
3. You get hands-on experience that is just as valuable as classes.
4. And sometimes… you get free stuff!

What’s coming up next…

Are you looking to give back to those who gave you the best week of your life?
Here’s your chance!!!

Become a 101 WEEK FED GUIDE!!!

For more information please visit www.sfuo.ca or
contact the SFUO’s Volunteer Coordinator at – volunteer@sfuo.ca
 Taking writing to
new heights
U of O Writer in residence Steve Heighton
provides advice for aspiring student writers
by Aaron Kozak
Fulcrum Contributor
WRITING A NOVEL isn’t easy. Just
ask Steven Heighton, the author of
nine books including the Canadian
best-seller The Shadow Boxer and
several poetry and short-story col-
lections. Really, he encourages you to
ask him how to write a novel—giving
advice is his job. Heighton is the lat-
est writer in residence for the Depart-
ment of English at the University of
Ottawa, a job that entails giving feed-
back to students about their writing
portfolios and addressing English
classes about careers in writing. At
the same time, Heighton is working
on a book of poetry and a novel, both
due to be published next spring.
The Kingston-based Heighton has
enjoyed a long career writing fiction
and poetry, and his works have been
nominated for the Governor Gener-
al’s Award, the Trillium Award, and a
Pushcart Prize. He has also been ac-
tive as a translator and teacher, and
from 1988-1994 was editor of the
literary journal Quarry Magazine. He
has held the position of writer-in-res-
idence at Concordia University, the
University of Toronto, and Queen’s
University. As writer-in-residence at
the U of O, he follows in the steps of
other notable writers like Irving Lay-
ton and Dorothy Livesay in advising
students about the craft of writing
and what it takes to be a successful
writer. The position is only filled for
one semester every two years, and
Heighton’s tenure ends in May.
“I’m there as a resource for any-
body, not just creative writing stu-
dents,” says Heighton. “I’m not
leading a class with 20 students; I’m
working one on one with every writer
that comes in. I can engage with them
in the work in a very different way. I
can hone in on what I see as the spe-
cific strengths and weaknesses of each
individual submission.”
Seymour Mayne, a professor in the
Department of English, believes that
Heighton’s role is valuable for stu-
dents who wish to pursue a career in
writing.
“Someone who is creating the work
brings a different perspective from
the professors who come to it from a
more scholarly perspective,” he says.
“The writer [in residence] rebalances
the perspective in the English depart-
ment and provides us with a window
into the creative process.”
Heighton’s primary focus is review-
ing and discussing students’ work. He
gives the aspiring writers tips and
ideas about how to improve their
writing skills, and his advice is not
reserved exclusively for English stu-
dents. Any student at the U of O can
submit his or her work, and Heighton
has met with students from a variety
of different programs.
“They’re tremendously diverse,”
says Heighton. “Not just in their
background but in the work they’ve
given me. When I’m looking at the
work of fairly new writers, the weak-
nesses often tend to be quite similar,
but the strengths are always different
from one to the other.”
Joseph Kuchar, a second-year phys-
ics student who writes poety, thinks
Heighton is a great resource for the
students.
“He gave me advice from a unique
perspective,” says Kuchar. “I was able
to find improvements to be made.”
“My goal as a writer-in-residence is
to give the writers I work with 100 per
cent,” says Heighton. “[That] means
helping them see what’s strongest in
their work, and what still needs devel-
opment.”
Heighton’s website is also a re-
source for aspiring writers. He has
posted a letter from himself to him-
self as a younger writer, full of ideas
for those just starting out in their
careers. He lists 17 hints, including
things like “Let failure be your work-
shop. See it for what it is: the world
walking you through a tough but photo courtesy Bernard Clark
necessary semester, free of tuition,” Steven Heighton uses his writing expertise to advise students of all
and “Stop straining to be ‘original’ departments.
and, with luck and applied time, it
just might happen.”
After his tenure at the U of O,
“When I’m looking at the work of
Heighton plans to return to writing fairly new writers, the weaknesses
fiction full-time.
“I’m just going to focus on trying
often tend to be quite similar, but the
to finish the novel and the book of strengths are always different from
poems,” he says. “Most of the time I
live by writing fiction, so I’d like to one to the other.”
do that for a while and just nail this Steven Heighton
novel once and for all. I just want to U of O Writer in residence
keep doing what I’m doing, support-
ing myself and my family.”

Earth-friendly living for students

Scott Kellogg’s new book
teaches quick tips for a
greener existence
by Gaëlle Engelberts
The Link
MONTREAL (CUP) – DREAMING OF GO-
ING green but think you don’t have the time
and energy to do so? Texas-based activist Scott
Kellogg might have the answer. His do-it-your-
self guide Toolbox for Sustainable City Living is
packed with advice on how to become a perfect-
ly green urban dweller.
With topics like managing your own live-
stock, or building a wind turbine from recycled
bicycle parts, Kellogg’s book makes sustainabil-
ity accessible to the masses.
“It means creating systems that are affordable,
simple, and that utilize a lot of salvaged recycla-
ble materials,” he says.
Kellogg, along with co-writer Stacy Pettigrew,
came up with some of these handy tips while
serving as the co-founder of the educational and
activist organization Rhizome Collective. Some of
the advice is based on innovations that originated
in the collective itself, while others were adapted
from already existing ideas and techniques.
“For instance, the parabolic cooker,” says Kel-
logg. “That’s actually a design that dates back
to ancient Greek times. It’s Archimedes’s ‘death
ray’ that we actually built using similar princi-
ples but we’ve taken it to this point where we’re
using recycled satellite dishes.”
Greek scientist Archimedes was said to have
repelled Roman warships with the use of a
mirror-like device that focused sunlight on the
ships in the enemy fleet, causing them to catch
fire. Inspired by this ancient myth, the Rhizome
Collective created a low-cost and eco-friendly
device that produces enough concentrated heat
to cook and light fires. Suggestions like these
were developed in response to what the collec-
tive perceives as inevitable lifestyle changes that
will be forced upon society in the near future.
“We will need to do a pretty rapid transition
into a society that consumes drastically less as
we’re faced with the converging trends of climate
change and energy depletion,” says Kellogg. “We
want this transition to be as peaceful and gentle
as possible and not to have it result in suffering
and in a [global] die-off.”
In order to survive the transition from a
fossil-fuel based economy to a self-sustainable
society, Kellogg says we have to explore new
methods of living now, while we still have the
leisure to make mistakes and are not completely
dependent on these alternative techniques.
So where should busy students start if they
want to move towards a sustainable lifestyle?
Kellogg suggests that a good way to make one’s
home a little greener is worm composting.
“It involves just having a little plastic bin that
can be kept underneath the sink or on top of a
refrigerator and that contains a species of worm
called the red wiggler,” he says.
The red wigglers, or Eisenia Foetida as they towards sustainability. As he writes in his guide,
are officially named, will eat vegetables and this transition should start today if we are to
other food scraps and turn them into fertilizer “survive the implosion of a society that has
that can be later used for gardens, houseplants, overextended its natural limitations in every
or even sold. capacity.”
“It doesn’t smell,” explains Kellogg. “It doesn’t The future is in our hands, says Kellogg.
take up a lot of space, you don’t have to have a “We, as people, as communities, as neigh-
back garden, and you don’t have to have sun- bourhoods, as grassroot organizations need to
light either.” begin this work now, to take it upon ourselves to
Kellogg’s message is simple: We shouldn’t redesign our communities and build a sustain-
wait for governments or corporations to switch able infrastructure.”

www.thefulcrum.ca // 03.26.09 // ARTS // 11

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 A reunion tour
The Weakerthans’ most recent album, Reunion Tour, was nominated for the 2008 Polaris Prize.
Old friends The Weakerthans
and Constantines hit the
road again
by Nick Rudiak
Fulcrum Staff
IT’S NOT EASY being a punk. John K. Sam-
son, lead singer of Canadian indie rock veterans
The Weakerthans, started his music career in
the early 1990s as the bassist for the Canadian
anarchist punk band Propagandhi, but the poet
and songwriter knew he was destined for bigger
things. After two solo albums in 1993 and 1995,
he decided to leave Propagandhi and formed
The Weakerthans in 1997.
“I come from the pop-punk tradition of bands
like Green Day—they were huge for me—and
bands like the Replacements,” says Samson.
“They were a big deal when I was growing up and
sort of where I learned to try and imitate those
kinds of people, and that’s what became of me.”
The Weakerthans have released four full-
length albums and an EP in their 12 years to-
gether, with Samson filling the role of lead sing-
er, songwriter, and rhythm guitarist. Their most
recent album is the Polaris Music Prize-nomi-
nated Reunion Tour, which hit stores in Septem-
ber 2007. The band has been touring extensively
since the album’s release, playing shows across
Canada, the U.S., and Europe. They have been
touring with fellow Canadian rockers Constan-
tines since early March, doing a series of shows
called the Rolling Tundra Revue. The tour ends
in Whitehorse on May 4.
“We did the same cross-Canada tour with
[Constantines] in 2004, and we did a tour in the
U.S. with them,” explains Samson. “They might
be the band we’ve toured with the most, actu-
ally. I think the point of this tour is to … watch
those guys play.”
The Weakerthans’ sound has evolved over the
years as Samson has matured as a person and a
songwriter, and they’ve moved away from their
punk-rock roots. The folk-punk of 1997’s Fallow
has given way to a rock sound that incorporates
www.thefulcrum.ca // 03.26.09 //
photo courtesy Epitaph Records
elements of country and pop on Reunion Tour.
“I don’t think [the change in our sound] is
conscious at all,” says Samson. “I think it’s about
working together for 12 years and starting out
in our 20s and landing here in our mid-30s.
[It’s] just the regular changes that human beings
go through.”
One consistent element across all their al-
bums, however, is a strong connection to a Ca-
nadian identity. With songs like “Tournament
of Hearts” about the classic Canadian pastime
of curling, and “One Great City”, with its many
references to Winnipeg and its culture, Samson
and company try to capture the essence of what
it is to be Canadian in their work. The albums
frequently contain casual references to explor-
ers, authors, and hockey players from Canada,
including one of the last goalies in the National
Hockey League to go mask-less, immortalized
in the song “An elegy for Gump Worsley” on
Reunion Tour.
Like all great songwriters, Samson is a vora-
cious reader.
“I think [the exploration of Canadian
themes] comes through things I read, view, and
experience in the world,” Samson says. “You get
inspired, and you lift up a corner on some topic
you don’t know anything about and explore it.
I do lots of sitting around in the library just
reading up on things and learning more about
them.”
In spite of the band’s focus on Canada in
their songs, The Weakerthans have been well-
received during their tours overseas.
“The reactions are slightly different just be-
cause of the national character,” Samson ex-
plains. “I think people recognize the weird spe-
cific-ness of local cultures and they can translate
that into the weird specific-ness of their local
culture. All nations and cultures have some-
thing unique about them, a sort of identity.”
Canadian culture looms large in Samson’s
lyrics, and without aiming for it or consciously
seeking it, The Weakerthans have become one
of the most Canadian rock bands around.
The Weakerthans play a sold-out show with Con-
stantines at the Bronson Centre on March 28.
ARTS // 13
 How to
compiled by Hisham Kelati
Fulcrum Staff
write a b

S
IXTEENTH-CENTURY PHILOSOPHER FRANCIS
Bacon said it best when he coined the
phrase “knowledge is power”. With those
words of wisdom in mind, the Fulcrum has
compiled a collection of how-to advice from
University of Ottawa and Carleton University
academics and local professionals that should
help you on your way to world domination.

Write a best-seller
“First, you will need a protagonist readers can absolutely fall in love with. A 40-year-
old woman will fare best with today’s readers, one whose husband has left her for a
much younger woman. Call her Advena, or Pat. Give Pat a gay friend—Paulo—[who
is] non-threatening [and] frighteningly supportive. And give Paulo his own gay friend,
Todd, who is young, buff, and dumb as a TV. Paulo and Todd move in arty circles. But Grow vegetables with
limited gardening space
don’t concern yourself about the plot, as it’ll write itself (just take special care that Pat
or Advena meets an adoring straight artist half her age, and that the husband, dumped
by his floozie, comes crawling back just to be stepped on). Forget that you ever loved
language. Forget the complexity of real characters and events. Forget that you once
promised yourself you’d only ever write what you cared about. There, you’re on your “Have you ever wondered where peas come from? The supermarket, of course! But they
way... if you can still remember where you were going, or have forgotten perfectly. could just as well be growing on your balcony or patio. Yes, this summer your landscape
Agents are a big help.” could include ‘edibles’ like peas and beans. These veggies are not just good for you, but their
—Gerald Lynch, vines are mighty attractive, too. Scarlet runner beans have flashy crimson flowers. Broad
U of O English professor beans stand tall without support and have startling black and white flowers. While you’re at
it, why not add spinach to your climber collection. Malabar spinach comes in two varieties—
red or green stems. It grows three metres in one season and the luscious vines have fleshy

Get away with foliage. This plant loves full sun and high heat. If you want to start your own jungle space, all
you need is a sunny outdoor spot, a few containers filled with potting soil and the seeds of

the perfect crime

your choice. Most veggies need at least six hours of sun each day and regular watering. A little
fertilizer now and then doesn’t hurt either.”
—Fleurette Huneault,
“Crime covers a wide gamut of behaviours, some violent, others not, some expressive, Ottawa horticulturist
others more instrumental. Thus, it is almost impossible to come up with a surefire,
one-size-fits-all recipe for the perfect crime. The key is not to get caught—this allows
us to identify some key ingredients of success. The first is to have a victim who does

Meditate while walking

not know they have been taken or who is complicit in the crime. Failing that, make
sure the crime cannot be traced back to you. If stealing, get rid of the take. If it’s vio-
lence, bury the evidence (literally, if necessary). In either case, eliminate or intimidate
any witnesses. Failing this, get the best lawyers you can. Given recent events, it would
appear that big business has this recipe down pat!”
—Ross Hastings,
director of the Institute for the Prevention of Crime
and U of O professor of criminology
“Formal mindfulness practice includes both sitting and walking meditation. In sitting medi-
tation, place your mind—your attention—on the breath as it goes out and comes back in.
With walking meditation pay attention to the movement of your legs and feet. Whenever you
become distracted by thoughts about the past or the future, simply and gently return your
attention to either the breath or the movement of your legs and feet. With both types of medi-
tation, body and mind become synchronized in the present moment. In everyday life it is not

Deliver a stunning speech

necessary to be mindful of the breath or the movement of the body; simply pay attention to
whatever activity you are engaged in, such as washing the dishes or walking to school. Rather
than rushing from one place to another, be mindful and aware of the journey, including the
“Timing, gestures, vocal variety, and eye contact all contribute to giving a great speech. environment around you. If you get distracted by thoughts, just come back to the present.
page 14 | the fulcrum

But what transcends all skills is structure and content. At Parliament Hill Toastmas- In this way, walking becomes much more enjoyable as you begin to appreciate the journey,
ters, we teach the rule of three. A great speech, whether it [is] a one-minute blurb or rather than being fixated on where you’ve been or where you’re going to.”
a one-hour lecture, contains three parts: the opening, the body, and the conclusion. —Henry Chapin,
Use the opening to introduce your topic, the body to make three points, and the con- instructor at the Ottawa Shambhala Meditation Centre
clusion to summarize what you have just said. If you have more than three points to
make, then organize them in groups of three. The rule of three helps you to organize
your thoughts about what you are saying so you can pay more attention to how you are
saying it. Master the rule of three, and you are on the road to mastering the rest.”
—Dave Isaacs, vp of public relations
of the Parliament Hill Toastmasters
best-selling novel…
and eight other practical guides
Start a chart-topping
rock band
“Don’t waste your time worrying about what you want to call your
band—it should come to you in a moment of group epiphany—nor
about what you’re going to wear—fashion hasn’t won anybody a Gram-
my. Understand what music you love and master it. This means exces-
sive and obsessive practicing, something which entails a number of risks
including: a) quitting school b) provoking the indignation of friends and
family [and] c) being poor. Be curious about all music. Only once you
can perfectly cover all of your favourite bands, start writing your own
tunes in the same vein, but with something new thrown in the mix just
to keep it fresh. Perform whenever you get a chance—even if it doesn’t
pay a dime—consistently while maintaining the highest degree of artistic
integrity. Be prepared for a rocky road. Don’t worry about stardom or
being a star until you are one. Then as soon as you are, re-invent yourself.
These days, it’s the only way to stay on top.”
—Christopher Moore,
U of O assistant professor of music

Create a
computer virus
“To make a computer virus, you start with a program that can copy itself.
Such programs are very short and simple, often just a few lines long. You
then add code to allow it to ‘inject’ itself into another program. If you illustrations by Alex Martin
aren’t worried about being sneaky, the injection code is also very simple.
Voila! You’ve got a virus. The only thing technically complicated about
computer viruses [is] their evasion techniques. Unfortunately, here the

virus writers have the upper hand: a basic result of computer science is
that it is impossible to make the perfect automated virus detector. Thus,
as long as we use computers, we will have computer viruses.”
—Anil Somayaji,
Carleton University associate professor of computer science
Start a revolution
“A revolution is a drastic, sudden change in the
way society functions. It is essential to [devel-
oping] an alternative way of being, individually
and collectively. Begin by creating an alterna-
tive view of the world and of humanity that ad-
dresses issues and solves problems the current
system generates or fails to attend to. Then, de-

Launch an expedition velop a new individual identity people find de-

“To start, find a place that interests you, perhaps a site mentioned in a
class, a location that you’ve spotted on Google Earth, or read about in a
book. Anywhere is possible if you put your mind to it. One of the biggest
tasks is to figure out how to get there: remote expeditions might require
sirable and can identify with as well as a sense
of community that promotes a collective vision
and means of action. If you gather enough sup-
port you will have constituted a movement but
you are still far from a revolution. A charismatic
leader is essential; it is the driving force behind the movement. The movement needs to reach
the fulcrum | page 15

that you rent a helicopter, charter a ship, or hike for a week to find your
location. Find a good group of friends or colleagues to travel with that
you don’t mind living with under close quarters. Remember to get im-
munizations well ahead of time, make copies of important documents,
and perhaps carry a satellite phone. Expect the unexpected! Things rarely
go as planned, but if you go with the flow everything works out in the
end. And finally, take more memory cards for your camera than you
expect—and always back them up!”
—Luke Copland,
U of O assistant professor of geography
a critical mass in a short period of time. Otherwise, flaws in your proposed system will come
to light and internal differences will emerge. The movement will be attacked from the outside
and weakened from the inside and the revolution will fail. Bear in mind, neither the strategies
deployed nor the socio-political [and] economic context guarantees the outcome of a revolu-
tion. Revolutions are shaped by the possibilities of otherness the existing system generates. If
your alternative worldview truly embodies that otherness, the main ingredient for a revolu-
tion is there and you are off to a good start.”
—Maritza Felices,
U of O assistant professor of criminology
You’ll never eat brunch in this town again

Celebrities have feelings too

Peter Henderson
Arts & Culture Editor
THIS PAST WEEKEND I had the distinct
pleasure of meeting one of my favourite per-
formers, a former producer on National Public
Radio’s This American Life and current host of
the CBC Radio One program Wiretap, Jona-
than Goldstein. Listening to his show, a farci-
cal and hilarious alternate take on Goldstein’s
daily life, is one of the best parts of my week.
Meeting someone whose work I admire was
nerve-wracking, but I soon realized that I was
nervous about nothing—Goldstein is just a
guy like me, but with a bigger audience. All
celebrities, A-list or D-list, are human beings;
they just have incredibly cool day jobs they ac- qualities as a person. Yes, I hate Nickelback to Under all the makeup, past all the glitz and
quired through talent, luck, or a combination the bone, but I’m sure Kroeger would be a cool glamour, Lindsay Lohan is just a confused young
of both. We too often treat celebrities differ- dude to grab a beer with. girl with too much freedom. The things she went
ently, as though they are instruments for our The dehumanizing of artists can be seen through—an eating disorder, experimentation
own enjoyment and are immune from all the most obviously in the celebrity media—TMZ, with drugs, problems with alcohol—happen to
challenges we regular folk face. We are quick Entertainment Tonight, and the like. Every- millions of teenagers every year, but we don’t cru-
to judge, defame, and expose, but remember: one mocks Britney Spears for going crazy and cify them for it. People make mistakes no matter
artists are people too. shaving her head, but really, wouldn’t you do how much money they make a year. If we treat
As an arts critic, the same? I’m not celebrities like demigods of rationality and intel-
I am often full of saying I’d beat the ligence, we’re going to be disappointed—they’re
harsh opinions and shit out of some- just as dumb as the rest of us.
elaborate metaphors
To quote the rap group Cypress one’s car with an To quote the rap group Cypress Hill, whose
about the quality of Hill, whose song “Rap Superstar” umbrella because song “Rap Superstar” is an in-depth look at
artists’ work (don’t is an in-depth look at the music someone took my the music industry and its many pitfalls, “it’s
get me started on picture, but the a fun job, but it’s still a job”. They make more
the latest Nickel-
industry and its many pitfalls, constant invasion money than we ever will, but celebrities are
back album). But I “it’s a fun job, but it’s still a job”. of your private mo- just working stiffs like the rest of us. Don’t call
always attempt to ments by paparaz- Britney Spears a bitch because Crossroads was
keep my criticism zi and publicity a terrible movie, don’t equate Rivers Cuomo
aimed at the product, not the artist themselves. hounds would surely drive anyone batty. You to Hitler just because Weezer hasn’t released a
It’s fine to say that Nickelback’s Dark Horse is can count on one hand the number of child good album in a dozen years, and don’t slobber
an auditory molestation whose stink lingers stars who grew up without bouts of addiction over a celebrity if you meet them in real life.
long after you listen, but it’s not okay to im- or mental illness—for every Natalie Portman They’re people just like us, and they deserve to
pugn the reputation of Chad Kroeger’s mother there are dozens of Michael Jacksons. We treat be treated as such.
because of it. Too often we see personal attacks celebrities like commodities, not people, and
in the media that amount to people conflating their personal lives are our voyeuristic public arts@thefulcrum.ca
the quality of an artist’s output with the artist’s obsession. 613-562-5931

www.thefulcrum.ca
The Fulcrum is hiring The Fulcrum is hiring
for the 2009–10
a Business Manager publishing year
The Fulcrum Publishing Society is hiring a Business
Manager for a one-year term running from
May 1, 2009 to April 30, 2010.
If you are interested in the following
positions:
If you have experience or interest in basic bookkeeping,
dealing with Mac computer environments, print produc- Associate News Editor
tion processes, non-profit governance and enjoy working
in a student environment, you may be our ideal candi- Volunteer and Visibility Coordinator
date. Copy Editor (Two positions available)
Webmaster
Applications must consist of a cover letter and resume.
These should be submitted to the attention of the
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to business.manager@thefulcrum.ca, by fax to information or to apply.
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Applications are due April 10 at 5 p.m.
Applications must be received by Friday, April 3rd 2009 Email a cover letter, resumé, and clippings
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(if applicable) to news@thefulcrum.ca or
drop them off at 631 King Edward Ave.

16 \\ ARTS \\ 03.26.09 \\ www.thefulcrum.ca

Friday afternoon
journalism workshops
The Fulcrum is hosting free weekly workshops for students
hoping to learn the craft of print journalism.

March 27 - Editing
dt g

All workshops begin at 1 p.m. and take place at

631 King Edward Ave. No registration required.
All are welcome to attend.

Sports
Reduce, reuse, and re-Cycles
Local bicycle co-op
sells inexpensive
second-hand bikes
by Anna Rocoski
Fulcrum Staff
SOMETIMES TAKING PUBLIC
transit and driving to school or work
can be a drag—getting stuck in traf-
fic or being packed on a crowded bus
is no fun. With warmer weather just
around the corner, now is the ideal
time to look for a bicycle as an alterna-
tive way of getting around. Re-Cycles
Bicycle Co-op is a small not-for-profit
shop located at 477 Bronson Ave. that
gives students a chance to purchase
a second-hand bike for less than the
price of a monthly OC Transpo bus
pass.
“I would say a second-hand bike is
definitely the way to go, especially for
students who can sometimes be on
a tight budget,” said Derek Roach, a
head mechanic at re-Cycles. “We have
two different kinds of bikes. [Firstly],
bikes that we have completely over-
hauled, taken off all the pieces and
completely re-built everything, and
checked it out top to bottom; those
start at $100 and go up depending
on their quality. We also have bikes
that have come into the shop in pretty
good condition and haven’t needed a
lot of work or [they’re] not as high-
I want to ride my bicycle
With winter ending, cyclists are coming out of the woodwork in Canada’s
capital.
quality bikes; those bikes we do a
safety check, we make sure that they
are safe to put back on the road and
we price those starting around $40
and up.”
Re-Cycles operates in partnership
with Cycle Salvation, which also sells
second-hand bikes at the same loca-
tion. However, re-Cycles is unique in
that it is an almost entirely volunteer-
driven organization.
“A lot of the bike shops I would say
are to some extent focused on profit
because they’re businesses,” said
Roach. “So they have to make money
to stay afloat where as re-Cycles is
run almost exclusively by volunteers.
Re-Cycles is more about trying to
keep bikes out of the landfill and keep
people excited about cycling [than
profit].”
Re-cycles doesn’t just offer bikes
for sale, though. The store has sev-
eral other services, and its staff works
hard to make sure customers leave
satisifed.
For instance, if you’ve been putting
off repairing a bike due to the cost,
re-Cycles runs specific programs in
order to help out people on a budget,
offering inexpensive second-hand
parts and access to tools.
“If you bring a bike that you want
to work on we have two different pay-
ment methods. You can either pay $5
an hour to use our tools and hang out
in our shop space. It’s a bit of a small
shop [and] gets quite busy some-
photo by Alex Martin
March 26–April 1, 2009
Used tires hang from the rafters of re-Cycles Bicycle Co-op at 477 Bronson Ave.
times,” explained Roach. “The other
option is you can come in and volun-
teer to help us fix our bikes, and every
hour that you spend working with us
to help us fix our bikes we give you an
hour of time to use our tools working
on your bike.”
For the store’s volunteers, cycling
is more than just a way to travel from
place to place
Resources for the
Ottawa cyclist
by Anna Rocoski
Fulcrum Staff
IF YOU’RE A cyclist, there are few
cities in North America better than
Ottawa. The city has lots to offer to
cyclists, including biking clubs and
dozens of trails and maps.
One way to get more involved in
the local cycling scene is to join a bik-
ing club, such as the Ottawa Bicycle
Club. They frequently organize group
rides, races and events, transforming
biking from an individual activity to
a social one. The club also publishes a
monthly newsletter that offers cycling
tips and articles on biking around
Ottawa. There is a $40 fee for a one-
year student membership to the club.
More information is available from
ottawabicycleclub.ca.
“Anyone can ride by themselves
and enjoy cycling and that’s just
fine, [but] I think what people join
the bicycle club for is the motivation
David McClelland
Sports Editor
sports@thefulcrum.ca
“I really find that when I am tak-
ing public transit or driving in my
own car, I am isolated from the en-
vironment around me,” said Roach.
“I find when I am walking or cy-
cling I’m part of the environment
around me. That’s something that I
get really excited about. There’s also
the fact that it’s drastically cheaper
than any other means of transpor-
and camaraderie you get from rid-
ing with other cyclists that have the
same common interest,” said Tom
Stratton, president of the Ottawa Bi-
cycle Club.
Closer to home, the U of O chap-
ter of the Ontario Public Interest Re-
search Group (OPIRG) runs the Uni-
versity of Ottawa Bike Club, which
runs group rides and workshops on
bike repair. Membership is free, and
information is available from geoci-
ties.com/uottawabikeclub.
If you’re not interested in joining
a club, there are several of other ways
to get informed about the resources
that are available for Ottawa cyclists.
The National Capital Commission
maintains numerous routes around
the city, and offers an interactive map
of their various trails on their website
canadascapital.ca. The City of Ottawa
also features a biking map on their
website (ottawa.ca) and sells hard
copies of the map for $2 at City Hall
(110 Laurier Ave. West).
No matter what you do to get out
on a bike, Stratton feels that there are
certain aspects of the activity that ap-
peal to everyone.
18
photo courtesy re-cycles.ca
tation and [it’s] wonderful as far as
your environmental footprint [is
concerned].”
Re-Cycles is open 6–9 p.m. Tuesdays
and Wednesdays, and 1–5 p.m. on Sat-
urdays until March 31, when the shop
will switch to summer hours. To keep
up to date with current hours check the
re-Cycles website at re-cycles.ca.
“[Biking gives you] the freedom to
go quietly down the road wherever
the road will go, wherever the pave-
ment will go, seeing different things
from the countryside, getting to know
the environment and getting to know
the areas that [you] cycle through,”
explained Stratton. “You are much
more aware of the environment you
are passing through [because] you are
[moving] slower than a car and you
can smell and feel the air, and you can
hear more things.”
For Jeff Cross, an OPIRG staff
member, biking is an inexpensive
but effective way of getting around,
and is environmentally friendly, to
boot.
“It makes sense to cycle—just in
terms of cost, the effect you’re hav-
ing on your surroundings, [and] your
lifestyle,” said Cross. “When you start
cycling a lot you realize you can do
everything on your own. That feeling
of moving yourself places is amazing:
I don’t need a car, I don’t need a bus.
So [cycling] is also an empowering
thing.”
—with files from Sarah Leavitt
 Winless in Antigonish
Women’s hockey
falls three times at
nationals
by David McClelland
Fulcrum Staff
THE UNIVERSITY OF Ottawa’s
women’s hockey team was shut out
at the Canadian Interuniversity Sport
(CIS) championship in Antigonish,
N.S., March 19–22, dropping all three
of their games and finishing sixth.
The Gee-Gees lost 6-1 to the Laurier
Golden Hawks, 2-1 in overtime to
the Moncton Aigles Bleues, and 5-4
in overtime to the St. Francis Xavier
X-Women. It was the Gee-Gees’ third
consecutive appearance at the nation-
al championship.
The sixth-seeded Gees kicked off
the tournament against the second-
ranked Golden Hawks on March 19,
and couldn’t best the Ontario cham-
pions, despite taking a 1-0 lead into
the first period. Ottawa suffered a
defensive meltdown in the second
and third periods, giving up six unan-
swered goals.
The Gees next played the Aigles
Bleues on March 20, battling for a
chance to play for a bronze medal on
the last day of the tournament. Both
teams got on the board in the first
period, with Janie Leblanc scoring 13
minutes in for Moncton, and followed
up two minutes later by third-year Ot-
tawa forward Kayla Hottot. After two
periods of scoreless play, and an out-
standing 29-save effort from fifth-year
Ottawa goaltender Jessika Audet, the
Gees fell 2-1 just 1:28 into overtime.
“It was a much better performance
than yesterday,” said Audet in an in-
terview with Streaming Sports Net-
work Canada after the game. “I think
if the team that had shown up tonight
had shown up last night, the score
would have been a lot different. So it
was nice for us to bounce back and
show that we deserve to play in this
tournament.”
The Gees rounded off the tour-
nament with a game against the X-
Women for sixth place on March 22.
After a scoreless first period, the Gee-
Gees potted three goals in the second
(with two from rookie forward Sa-
mantha Delenardo) to take a 3-2 lead
into the final frame. However, the X-
Women were able to jump ahead 4-3
by the middle of the period, though
the Gees answered with four minutes
remaining and sent the game into
overtime. Ottawa was quickly defeat-
ed, however, with Brayden Ferguson
scoring the game-winning goal just
27 seconds into overtime.
In the tournament’s other games
that day, Moncton beat the Manitoba
Bisons 3-2 in a shootout to take the
bronze medal, while the McGill Mart-
lets topped the Golden Hawks 3-1 for photo by Normand Leger
the gold. Fifth-year Gee-Gees goaltender Jessika Audet watches the puck whistle by during Ottawa’s 6-1 loss to the Laurier
Golden Hawks

Catching Zs for rest and sleep rather than conflict and worry.
Writers. The Fulcrum needs

Having trouble sleeping?

If you are worried about something, and it’s
keeping you awake, she advises you to get up and Photographers. volunteers to produce Help every issue.
us out.
Illustrators. Staff meetings are Thursdays at 2:30 p.m.
leave the bedroom—go read a book elsewhere.
Some tips to help you “Other obvious things, like improving the No experience necessary.
sleep environment by minimizing noise and
saw logs faster
by Meuren Martins
disruptions might work as well. In addition,
regular exercise—but not close to bedtime—
has been shown to increase early night slow-
Proofreaders. Drop in and say hi.

Excalibur wave sleep in normal sleepers,” said Martha.

TORONTO (CUP) – SLEEP PROBLEMS ARE
pretty common, but experts have some tips for
the tossers and turners among us.
Some people decide to take sleeping medi-
cations, but while they are effective at improv-
ing sleeping habits, they have many risks at-
tached to them. Doctors will not recommend
medication for people with sleeping problems
unless the situation is severe. Medication
runs the risks of dependency and possible
addiction, while other effects can include
drowsiness and dizziness. More importantly,
medication is only a quick fix to one’s sleep-
ing problems.
Susan Martha, a professor in the Depart-
ment of Psychology at Toronto’s York Univer-
sity, has some more natural recommendations
for improving sleeping habits.
Martha encourages that the bedroom be used
Mental health and your emotional state when
you go to bed can also have an effect on your
ability to sleep. A study conducted by the Depart-
ment of Psychology at Grant MacEwan College
in Edmonton found that mindfulness and well-
being are positively correlated with sleep.
Linda Ivan, a social worker at the Centre
for Addiction and Mental Health in Toronto,
recommends that people avoid alcohol before
sleep since it causes poor sleep quality and fre-
quent awakenings during the night. Ivan also
recommends that people limit their caffeine
intake since it interferes with sleep—even caf-
feine consumed early in the day can make it
harder to fall asleep at night.
Another technique for better sleep is to try
establishing a regular routine: going to bed at
the same time every day including weekends
and using the time before you go to sleep to do
the same thing everyday.

If you’re reading this, you have the attention to detail we need in our proofreaders.

Come to 631 King Edward Ave. on Tuesday

evenings to keep the Fulcrum error-free.

www.thefulcrum.ca // 03.26.09 // SPORTS // 19

Lighting the lamp

Stepping stones to success

David McClelland
Sports Editor
IT’S A LITTLE hard for me to believe, but the
2008–09 varsity season is over. Without actually
playing a game, I’ve been about as involved in
varsity sports as it’s possible to be (it’s hard not
to be when you spend entire weekends covering
teams), so in a weird sort of way it’s like a part
of my life has just finished for the year. Now I’m
left with one question: was this year a successful
one for the Gee-Gees? als for the first time in four years. laudable accomplishment, and for six teams
Overall, I would say that yes, it has been a Additionally, the men’s basketball team re- to have done so is incredible. Having U of O
great year for the Gee-Gees. Of the U of O’s 10 turned to the CIS championships after not quali- teams at national tournaments helps build the
varsity teams, six have participated in Canadian fying last year, the women’s hockey team played Gee-Gees as a brand and makes the Gee-Gees
Interuniversity Sport (CIS) championships, and in their third-straight CIS tournament, and the far more attractive for new recruits to university
the remaining four all played in the post-sea- women’s soccer team attended nationals for the sports and transfers from other teams. Every-
son. And several Ottawa 10th time in their 15- body wants to play for a winner, so what better
teams vastly improved year history. Last but not place to go than a school that is consistently able
their performance com-
Qualifying for a CIS tour- least, both the swimming to send teams to the biggest events of the year?
pared to last year. and track teams sent ath- This year should provide a foundation for the
Of course, the biggest nament alone is a laudable letes to compete at CIS Gee-Gees’ future successes. University sports is
success story of the year accomplishment, and for championship meets. all about building an attractive program that al-
was the women’s basket-
six teams to have done so is I think it’s undeniable lows teams to recruit skilled young players year
ball team. This is hardly that the Gees are slowly after year, and the U of O is in an excellent posi-
the first time we’ve incredible. turning into a major CIS tion to do just that—and maybe even boost fan
heaped praise upon them powerhouse. Of course, support at the same time. Success is something
within these pages, but in it’s hard to deny the fact that builds upon itself, and I think in future
my opinion it can’t be said enough. A disastrous that no Gee-Gees varsity teams won a national years we will see more and more U of O teams
2007–08 season in which the team went 3-19 championship—or, for that matter, even qualified excel at the national level.
was countered by a steady hand in head coach for a CIS championship game—but I think our
Andy Sparks this year, as he replaced Carlos athletes are still very much worthy of celebration. sports@thefulcrum.ca
Brown and brought the team to the CIS nation- Qualifying for a CIS tournament alone is a 613-562-5931

The last staff meeting of the publishing year is

Thursday, March 26 at 2:30 p.m.
Drop by 631 King Edward Ave. and pick up a story.
President’s

Global knowledge.
Local learning.

Idea lovers: Join us

for uOttawa’s free
public lecture series
The University of Ottawa is proud to present
the President’s Lecture Series — stimulating Professor Chantal Laroche Professor Stewart Elgie Professor Pierre Bélanger
public lectures on a variety of topics from some Faculty of Health Sciences Faculty of Law Faculty of Arts
of uOttawa’s leading thinkers. With their up- L’impact du bruit sur The Wealth of Nature: Ce n’est pas une révolution que
nos vies, du berceau à la how fixing the economy traversent nos médias. C’est une
to-the-minute response to current events and berceuse (in French only) can save the planet Web-olution. (in French only)
global trends, lectures have a unique power to
April 1, 2009 September 23, 2009 November 25, 2009
expand horizons and challenge assumptions.
To view past conferences, visit our Web site.
All lectures begin at 7 p.m. and are held in Room 4101, Desmarais Building.

Media partners:

Register online to attend:

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If you can’t attend in person, you can join the discussion live on the Web.

20 \\ SPORTS \\ 03.26.09 \\ www.thefulcrum.ca

 Joining the
fight club

photos by Martha Pearce
Mustafa Khalil is just a few days
away from his debut MMA fight.
Fourth-year U of O
student Mustafa Khalil
to make professional
MMA debut
by Megan O’Meara
Fulcrum Staff
ROBERT GUERTIN ARENA in
Gatineau will host “W1: Inception”
on March 28, a mixed martial arts
(MMA) event featuring a headlining
fight between top Canadian fighters
Carlos Newton and Nabil Khatib. The
event will feature 12 other fights, one
of which is the professional MMA de-
but of fourth-year University of Otta-
wa accounting student Mustafa Khal-
il, who will face off against Windsor’s
Manny Alfaro.
Khalil, 22, arrived in Ottawa with
his family from Afghanistan when
he was two years old and has been
dabbling in various martial art forms
since he was young, beginning with
taekwondo. He stopped training for
a while, but five years ago took up
karate, and later Japanese jiu-jitsu,
eventually earning himself an orange
belt in karate and a green belt in Jap-
anese jiu-jitsu.
In 2007, Khalil joined Ronin Mixed
Martial Arts, an Ottawa martial arts
school on Carling Avenue. It was here
that he began learning a greater vari-
ety of fighting styles.
“I started going to Ronin MMA
and from there I was training in Muay
Thai and Brazilian jiu-jitsu … then I
started doing some wrestling here
and there and that’s how [my interest
in MMA] started,” he said.
Khalil has competed in tourna-
ments with Ronin MMA, participat-
ing in several jiu-jitsu tournaments
last summer and one amateur Muay
Thai fight. As he improved his tech-
niques in each fighting style, his
coach put his name out to promoters
seeking new MMA fighters.
“I got my blue belt [in Muay Thai]
in September and the coach got me
my MMA fight soon after,” Khalil
explained. “This is my debut profes-
sional MMA fight.”
MMA, for the uninitiated, is ex-
actly what it sounds like—fights that
allow competitors to use a variety of
martial arts styles to try to best their
opponent.
Khalil has immense goals for him-
self, hoping to be sought out by one of
the better-known MMA leagues if he
finds success in his first few fights.
“Hopefully if I get enough wins I’ll
get a call from a bigger organization
and from there make it my career,” he
said.
While Khalil will certainly not be
ruling out using his accounting de-
gree at some point in life, he hopes
that for the time being he will be able
to go somewhere with MMA.
“If I win—when I win—I’ll prob-
ably be getting another fight in the
summer, and I’ll just keep on going
and see what happens,” he said. “It
will be just the start of my career.”
Mustafa Khalil will face Manny Alfaro
on March 28 at Robert Guertin Arena
(125 Rue Carillon). The event runs
7–11 p.m. Tickets are available at tick-
etmaster.ca and are $30–$200. For a
complete fight card visit w1mma.com.

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www.thefulcrum.ca // 03.26.09 // SPORTS // 21

music theatre dance literature film visual and media arts culinary arts

MUSIC PASS
6 for only $ 50!
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access to each performance is subject to availability. Cannot be combined with any other offers.
 23
Michael Olender

Opinion March 26–April 1, 2009

Executive Editor
executive@thefulcrum.ca

T
40
HE END IS nigh! For many students, the university experi-
ence is coming to a close. Though they never noticed it hap-
pening, almost all those about to graduate have emerged
from this freaky beer-soaked educational challenge as com-
pletely different people. Yet, some students are in denial that they’re
almost finished at the University of Ottawa and insist that they’re
the same person they’ve always been. Well, if you recognize your-
self in any of the following points, sorry, but you’re as done with
school as the rest of us.
1 You can write a B essay in less time than it
takes to make decent spaghetti sauce. 18 You’re considering the purchase of a
third bookcase to hold the learning
materials you’ve accumulated.

2 ways you know

You start to sound like the campus Gan-
dalf: “That classroom hasn’t been used
since the reign of Gilles Patry, young friend. Be- 19 You no longer need to look at the floor
guide at the library to know which

it’s your final year

ware the sixth floor. Danger lurks there.” level your book is on.

3 20 You would punch

You’ve actually cared when a For Sale sign
goes up in front of a house.

of university
your own grand-
4 First-year students seem indecently and
freakishly young.
mother in the throat just to
skip ahead to May 1.
5 The enormous Pulp Fiction poster of John
Travolta and Samuel L. Jackson hung over
21 You managed to get sick of Kraft Din-
by Dave Atkinson
Fulcrum Contributor
the toilet starts to seem tacky instead of “fuckin’ ner. Even the fancy white cheddar kind. and Ben Myers
boss”. Fulcrum Staff

6 22 You’ve moved from horrible apart-

28 35
You buy smaller amounts of beer, but the ment to horrible apartment so many You’ve called a party “too crowded”. You’ve scheduled a haircut more than
beer you do have tastes good, and has a times that you know the U-Haul number by two days in advance.
label on the bottle (unlike that stuff you once heart.

29 36
bought off that shifty guy in your first year). You know that any project worth less You’ve abandoned one of the follow-

23 You’ve finally used up the 690 free than 20 per cent doesn’t deserve the ing: MSN Messenger, video games, or

7 You nap, even when condoms you got during frosh week.
you aren’t hungover.
24 You know that grades are to proof of
privilege of being thought about more than your parents.
three days before it is due.
37 Your resumé no longer mentions your

30
intelligence as the wittiness of a band Twenty minutes of physical activity ability to restock shelves, serve cus-

8 You’ve contemplated marriage, if only for

a second.
name is to the quality of their music. can leave you sore for four days. tomers, or show up on time.

25 31 38 You’ve become so
“It’s winter” is enough of an excuse to You know the drink specials at every bar

9 You never do your readings and yet talk

the most in class because of your finely
sleep through any morning class. near campus for every night of the week.
surly, you begin to

26 You’ve wondered if
32 volunteer at one of the cam-
honed bullshitting ability. You always answer the door with pants
taking out a small on.
pus newspapers.
10 You’ve bought a nice shirt. Like a real
business loan would push you
33
one. Like the kind a professor would You’ve learned that living with more

39
wear. than one other person never works. You’ve considered going to college to
into a higher tax bracket. Not ever. learn something useful.

11 A loud party next door stops being an

27 34 40
opportunity and starts being annoying. You drink wine, but not for lack of For men—you’ve let someone feel your You’ve realized how stupid you were
anything else to drink. balls for legitimate medical reasons. when you came to university, and how

12 You got home at 11 p.m. last Saturday

night and still felt like it had been a
good night.
stupid you still are in so many ways.

13 You’re known by name at a restaurant

or bar on or near campus.

14 Every time you hear someone in your

department talk about a class you im-
mediately ask, “Who with?” and then recount
six to 12 personal stories involving that profes-
sor.

15 You’re on a first-name basis with a

professor who has never taught you.

16 The T.A. marking your paper is only

seven months older than you.

17 You’re so deep into debt you stop liv-

ing cheaply, thinking: “$50 is hardly
much more than $40, right?”

illustration by Amlake Tedla-Digaf

 Freday aftrnoon
jornalism w0rksh0ps
The Fulcrum is hosting free weekly workshops for students hoping to learn
the craft of print journalism.

April 3 - Editing (get it?)

All workshops begin at 1 p.m. and take place at 631 King Edward Ave.
No registration required. All are welcome to attend.
sudoku answers from p. 26

AD UA TE
GR AM S
PRO GR
www.thefulcrum.ca

ON THE
EDGE (Literally.)

GET BEYOND THE CLICHE. ´ Beyond what you’d expect to find at a graduate school on the edge of North America. At
Memorial, our graduate tuition and fees are among the lowest in Canada, thanks to a government tuition freeze since 1999.
Our programs are leading; our research is edgy.
Despite the water, the horizon, the ridiculous beauty and the overwhelming sense of freedom that washes over you, this
is not a place for watching. It’s a place for doing. Literally.

School of Graduate Studies

MEMORIAL UNIVERSITY OF NEWFOUNDLAND

www.mun.ca/become

24 \\ OPINION \\ 03.26.09 \\ www.thefulcrum.ca

Last chance for romance HECKLES:
THAT SPECIAL SOMEONE, who doesn’t know that (s)he’s your spe-
The love note
that you’ve been
cial someone yet, has been taking your eyes away from the professor’s
PowerPoint slides all semester. Maybe you haven’t been able to muster
up the courage to go chat with him or her. Maybe it’s because you
Honey, put some
trying to scribble
don’t know what to say. Well, classes are almost over, so if you’re going
to make a move, now is the time. We here at the Fulcrum are word-
smiths who have scaled the love peaks and braved the love trenches,
goddamn pants on
so we’ve put together the following perfectly worded hello. Just fill in
all semester the blanks below, cut the note out, and slyly drop it on that cutie’s desk
geous thing: black leggings with hik-
during your next class together.
ing socks, matched with a shirt that
does not cover their bums. Don’t pre-

Dear you, tend you don’t know what I’m talking

Ever since our first day in _____________________ class, I’ve been peek-
ing at you from the other side of the room. I know, that sounds a bit
____________ but I’m not __________________. You have to understand
that I’m a little ___________ when it comes to ___________________.
Our class together is almost over and I might never see you again, so
by Emma Godmere
I would like to say a few things. I’ve wanted to tell you this all semes- Fulcrum Staff
ter: I think you’re ___________ and I really like your ______________.
The way you ___________ is _____________. I remember one time YOUR LEGGINGS ARE pissing
me off. Why is that all you’re wear-
when you ______________________________ and I thought that was ing? Why isn’t anything appropriately
______________. Oh, I don’t know if this is coming out right. Look, I’m a shielding your behind? And do you
think the best way to keep warm is by
___________ person. My name is ________________. I’m ____ years old
wearing less than three millimetres of
and I study ____________________________. I enjoy ______________ spandex? I swear you’re only threads
and long walks on the ____________. I work at _________________. My away from walking outside in panty-
hose.
favourite meal is ________________. I like to listen to ________________ I realize that trends are inevitable.
and my favourite TV show is ____________________. My favourite book People buy clothes in stores, and
of all-time is __________________. People say I’m _______________, stores only stock certain clothes, so
consumers must purchase what is
________________, and _________________. And I ________ this class. presented to them by retailers (and
It would be a lot _____________ if I had someone as _______________ often what is most affordable, too).
Look, I understand this. I, too, can
as you to sit beside (I’m really ____________ about the exam!)... Listen, only buy so much clothing every so
I’m sitting _____________________, and I’m wearing _________________ often. But for goodness’ sake, only so
__________________. This little cut-out note is my hel llo. Come over and
hello. much clothing does not have to lit-
erally translate to buying something
___________ after class if you’re interested. that does not properly cover your ass.
It’s about time that someone stood up
and said enough is enough.
Yours (maybe), Speaking of trends, I’m sick and
__________________________ fucking tired of walking from Tabaret
Hall to the Rideau Canal and seeing at
least five girls wearing the same outra-
about. You’ve all seen those big wool
socks with the red stripe on the top
and the black polyester tights they’re
overlapping.
I have no idea where this trend
came from—I’ve even tried Googling
this fugly fad and can’t find a runway
or celebrity that it originated from. I
would love for someone to write in
and tell me where this ‘style’ originat-
ed, because otherwise I bet that it was
someone who accidentally created
the outfit when she was too hungover
to find a skirt to wear with her stu-
pid footless tights, and since she for-
got to do laundry that weekend, she
could only find her silly hiking socks
to wear inside her dated Ugg boots or
Birkenstocks or whatever.
I’m not anti-tights altogether.
Wear them with a skirt or a dress
and you’re ready to shine. You know
what, I’ll even grudgingly allow you
to wear them with a long sweater or
shirtdress or tunic if you really must.
Fellow females, what I’m trying to say
is I know you’re smarter than this. I
know you’re capable of being more
creative and original with what you
wear. If you’re trying to attract men,
there are better ways of using clothing
instead of outright displaying your
ass on some sort of spandex stage for
those walking behind you. And really,
I know you’re not dressing for guys;
it’s a well-known fact that women
dress to impress each other. So, from
another woman: put some goddamn
pants on.

www.thefulcrum.ca // 03.26.09 // OPINION // 25

 26
Sarah Leavitt

Distractions March 26–April 1, 2009

Features Editor
features@thefulcrum.ca

Thryllabus
Thursday, March 26
Lecture: The lives and lessons of
Lester Pearson by Andrew Cohen.
7 p.m. Ben Franklin Place.
101 Centrepointe Dr. Free.
Czech film: Something Like Hap-
piness. 8:30 p.m. Desmarais Hall.
Room 1150. Free.
Friday, March 27
Concert: Soulbomb, Headbounce,
and Hot Jupiter. 8 p.m. Zaphod
Beeblebrox. 27 York St. $10. 19+.
Saturday, March 28
Comedy: Debra DiGiovanni.
8 p.m. Ottawa Little Theatre.
400 King Edward Ave. $25.
Earth Hour candlelight vigil.
8:30 p.m. Parliament Hill. Free.
Sunday, March 29
Film: Attack of the Killer Tomatoes.
Dear Di If you have a question for Di,
email deardi@thefulcrum.ca.
7:30 p.m. Montpetit Hall. Dear Di,
Room 203. $5. I’m embarrassed that I’m un-
circumcised. When I was in high
Monday, March 30 school, my first girlfriend thought
it was freaky that I had a hood. I’ve
Film: Alien. 8:50 p.m. ByTowne been with women since then and
Cinema. 325 Rideau St. they’re always surprised when they
$9, $6 for members. take my pants off. It’s gotten to the
point where I don’t want to pick up
Tuesday, March 31 women at bars because if they go
home with me they might be too
Play: London Suite. 8 p.m. Ottawa weirded out or disappointed to have
Little Theatre. 400 King Edward Ave. sex with me. I’m tired of feeling like
$10 for students. this. Do you have any advice?
—Robin Hood
Wednesday, April 1
Dear RH,
Workshop: Small organic gardens. I’d like to start off by saying that
7:30 p.m. Sandy Hill Community this question genuinely saddens me. I
Centre. 250 Somerset St. E. $17.50. know that the majority of women I am
friends with couldn’t care less about
whether or not a man’s penis is cut.
According to a 2007 report published
by the World Heath Organization, it
is estimated that a mere 30 per cent of
men over the age of 15 worldwide are
circumcised. According to Dr. Dean
Edell, one of America’s leading medi-
cal broadcasters, the foreskin has three
known functions: protective, sensory,
and sexual. As a child, the foreskin
serves as a barrier against debris and
diaper abrasion. Later in life, the fore-
skin keeps the glans (the head of the
penis) soft and moist while protect-
ing it from trauma. Additionally, the
extra nerve endings in the foreskin
make sex more pleasurable. The same
report also estimated that the preva-
lence in Canada was also 30 per cent,
while in the United States, 75 per cent
sudoku answers on p. 24
of men are thought to be
circumcised. Circumcision
has become somewhat of a
tradition—families do it for
religious reasons, to conform,
or in accordance with the be-
lief that circumcised penises
are cleaner. The idea that the
foreskin is unclean re-
ally depends on the
hygiene of the in-
dividual. University of
Ottawa women, I want you to listen
to me when I say that an uncut penis
should never be discriminated against.
An uncircumcised penis is just as
clean, healthy, and normal as a cir-
cumcised penis. There are arguments
for both sides of the to-cut-or-not-to-
cut debate, but my point is that you are
not a minority and a little extra flesh is
nothing to be ashamed of.
Love,
Di
Dear Di,
My boyfriend and I like watching
porn together. Sometimes we watch
straight porn, but he gets turned on
by lesbian porn too. The thing is, so
do I—but I’m completely straight.
I don’t want to have sex or be in a
relationship with a girl, but see-
ing girls getting it on makes me all
hot and bothered. I’d love to watch
more girl-on-girl porn with my boy-
friend, but I’m kind of embarrassed
to let him know how much I like it.
Am I a closet lesbian, or can you ex-
plain this?
—Clits Are So Cute
Dear CASC,
Many straight
women soak their panties watching
girl-on-girl porn just as much as they
do for guy-on-girl porn. Some ex-
perts suggest that the appeal is all in
the point of view, since straight porn
usually focuses on some muscle-
bound, tribal-tattooed, spray-tanned
dude, and his—as opposed to his
lucky female co-star’s—pleasure.
Girl-on-girl porn, on the other hand,
has no choice but to present a femi-
nine perspective, and instead of re-
volving around a freakishly large cock,
the whole production is more about
mutual sensuality with a romantic
ambience. So your blushing reaction is
nothing to question, and you shouldn’t
be worried about what your boyfriend
might think. Chances are, if he thinks
girls doing girls is hot, he’ll think that
his girl watching girls doing girls is
that much hotter. I’ve always advo-
cated that couples should be open with
each other about what turns them on,
so I want you to stop hiding and sup-
pressing your libido. Saying something
as simple as “those girls were pretty
hot, weren’t they?” the next time you
two watch a pair of lovely ladies buffin’
each other’s muffins can lead to some
charged, passionate sex, or maybe
even something new.
Love,
Di

The Thryllabus needs lots of events to remain so thrilling.

Email features@thefulcrum.ca with suggestions.

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 27
Frank Appleyard

Editorial March 26–April 1, 2009

Editor-in-Chief
editor@thefulcrum.ca

f Rock’s frosh is over

With nothing to fear
but fear itself since 1942.
Volume 69 - Issue 26

March 26–April 1, 2009
phone: (613) 562-5261
fax: (613) 562-5259
631 King Edward Ave.
Ottawa, ON K1N 6N5
editor@thefulcrum.ca
www.thefulcrum.ca
Recycle this paper or
sleep under it.
Staff
Frank ‘ponzi’ Appleyard
Editor-in-Chief
editor@thefulcrum.ca
Ben ‘toxic assets’ Myers
Production Manager
production@thefulcrum.ca
Michael ‘credit default swap’ Olender
Executive Editor
executive@thefulcrum.ca
Martha ‘housing crisis’ Pearce
Art Director
design@thefulcrum.ca
Emma ‘economic downturn’ Godmere
News Editor
news@thefulcrum.ca
Peter ‘deregulation’ Henderson
Arts & Culture Editor
arts@thefulcrum.ca
David ‘housing bubble’ McClelland
Sports Editor
sports@thefulcrum.ca
Sarah ‘global financial crisis’ Leavitt
Features Editor
features@thefulcrum.ca
Danielle ‘fannie mae’ Blab
Laurel ‘freddy mac’ Hogan
Copy Editors
Amanda ‘liquidity’ Shendruk
Associate News Editor
associatenews@thefulcrum.ca
James ‘iceland’ Edwards
Webmaster
webmaster@thefulcrum.ca
Jessica ‘federal reserve’ Sukstorf
Volunteer & Visibility
Coordinator
volunteer@thefulcrum.ca
Megan ‘goldman sachs’ O’Meara
Staff Writer
Alex ‘morgan stanley’ Martin
Staff Illustrator
Inari ‘henry paulson’ Vaissi Nagy
Jiselle ‘blue monday’ Bakker
Ombudsgirls
ombudsgirl@thefulcrum.ca
Travis ‘quantitative easing’ Boisvenue
Ombudsboy
ombudsboy@thefulcrum.ca
Nicole ‘modern money mechanics’ Gall
Staff Proofreader
A
LLAN ROCK WAS hailed as a
saviour for the University of Ot-
tawa when his arrival was first
announced in July. A former Lib-
eral cabinet minister with a vibrant personal-
ity that would add a jolt of life to the school’s
somewhat blasé reputation. An outsider with
a vision of involvement and a plan to rapidly
transform the university experience. The her-
ald of a new era in student-administration
relations. In short, the new president was to
be the U of O’s Barack Obama, replacing the
perceived ivory tower administration of his
predecessor Gilles Patry with a student-centric
approach to governance. His was to be the ad-
ministration of change.
Yet in Rock’s first foray into post-secondary
administration he has perhaps not awed the
school in the way many expected—but rather
satisfied the community. And if satisfaction is
all students feel after one year, we shouldn’t be
disappointed. The fantasies of Rock playing
instant fairy godmother to the U of O’s Cin-
derella were unfoundedly wistful. Rock has
wisely taken time to slowly immerse himself in
the school and incrementally change elements
and focuses of governance at the U of O rather
than hastily revolutionizing an institution with
which he has not been heavily involved since
he was the Student Federation of University of
Ottawa (SFUO) president in 1970.
That is precisely the approach that should
have been expected of a fledgling president.
The former United Nations ambassador has
based his newcomer’s approach to leading the
U of O on quietly improving the status quo.
In lieu of grand moves that would put his new vision, complete with drive and purpose target of excellence will not be forged through
own very public stamp on the U of O, Rock to urge the U of O ahead in Canadian aca- similarly risk-adverse leadership in coming
has seemingly focused on small-scale leader- demia. The U of O has unilaterally adopted the years. Rather, reaching the destination will re-
ship. To many students, Rock’s biggest accom- moniker ‘Canada’s University’—a heady state- quire Rock to identify the qualities, values, and
plishments this year likely include appearing ment that to many observers has signalled a resources lacking at the U of O, plot a clear and
at student events, showing a willingness to desire to be the foremost academic institution decisive path to attain them, and rally a diverse
work with the SFUO and Graduate Students’ in the country. They are powerful words that— campus around his vision. The ambition upon
Association, and handling student nightmares while impressive in print alone—require a which the tag ‘Canada’s University’ is hinged
such as the proposed code of conduct and OC grand commitment from the university to en- requires dramatic changes to every level of the
Transpo strike with aplomb. sure they are not but empty promises. ‘Cana- U of O in order to be realized, as the U of O
Earth-shattering stuff it’s not. But although da’s University’ should be a Canadian student’s in its current form likely isn’t anyone’s ideal of
he has not flexed his revolutionary muscles at first-choice destination, an internationally the country’s premier academic institution. It
the U of O, as a former cabinet minister Rock’s renowned institution committed to the high- is Rock’s leadership alone that will define the
affinity for grand leadership can hardly be dis- est standards of education in the classroom University of Ottawa’s mission to truly earn
missed. And when one considers that Rock is and beyond, a home to innovative professors the lofty title of Canada’s University.
still very much a newcomer to both university and researchers in all fields, and—above all— Rome indeed wasn’t built in a day. But with
administration and the U of O itself, perhaps focused on providing the ultimate student one year of learning under his belt, U of O staff
his careful, understated approach this year is experience through a vibrant, functional, and students alike will be expecting blueprints
understandable. and involved campus environment. With the and some architectural innovation from Rock
However, it’s a performance that will only ‘Canada’s University’ tag now intrinsically at- as he enters his second of four years at the
garner applause for so long. tached to the image of the U of O, aspiring for head of the university. The president has capa-
There is a clear sense that the U of O must anything short of these ideals will only be seen bly overseen the minutia of the school for one
expect much more from its president through as a failure. year; now we await the more ambitious side of
the remainder of his four-year term. As the U While Rock’s neutralist approach has been Allan Rock.
of O’s Vision 2010 strategic plan nears its end appropriate for a president in the early stages
next year, it will be up to Rock to provide a of his term, a path to the U of O’s self-imposed editor@thefulcrum.ca

Robert ‘401(k)’ Olender

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