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Contents
Contents
I’ll take the win for$50,000, Alex
The collective approach
I want to ride
Ever wanted toknow how to...
News
News
Arts
Arts
Sports
Sports
Feature
Feature
p. 4
p. 4
p. 9
p. 9
p. 18
p. 18
p. 14
p. 14
Canada’s Next Great Prime Minister is the U of O’s own Amy Marlene Robichaud.
p. 4
Allan Rock looks back on his
fi
rst eightmonths in the top job.
p. 5Maria Rondon
explores Ottawa’s indepen-dent
fi
lm collective.
p. 9Nick Rudiak
is strong enough forThe Weakerthans.
p. 13
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 atnational championship.
p. 19
...start a revolution, write a novel, or found the world’s greatest rock band?
p. 14–15Di
deals with peen hood.
p. 26
Renaud the phenomenon
DURING HE PRESIDENIALcampaign in the United States, ormersecretary o state Henry Kissinger de-scribed Barack Obama as an interest-ing phenomenon because o his lack o experience.I believe that what has happenedover the course o the last month orso at the University o Ottawa, espe-cially in regards to the personality o Renaud-Philippe Garner, can bequalifed in those terms. It is literally aphenomenon that has many studentstalking.What has been set in motion by Garner is an impressive and unprece-dented student political phenomenonwhich should be studied urther. Foronce there is a student who is actively pursuing what he believes to be theright course o action, but it is hismethods that remain paramount.Tis is a student who is exercis-ing his rights as a student and asprotected by the constitution. He ischallenging institutions, rules, andsystems that are in place but whichare rarely questioned or looked into.It is an interesting notion because itbegs the question about legitimacy on a number o dierent levels, insti-tutional e ciency and practice, andthe political rights o all implicated.It has set the stage and has put thesystem in which we have aith to thetest. Like a good documentary, it putsthe values and belies o which we aresometimes ignorant—because they are taken or granted as being correctand because the status quo is oenthe sae zone—to the test. It is impor-tant that people bring orth these is-sues because otherwise students willorever remain blind to these sorts o legal and political ambiguities whichstand critically unchallenged. Some-times it does take a maverick to standalone and protest.Tough I was an o cial volunteeror Garner in the election, I practically did not partake as I was swept up withschoolwork and other volunteer work which was going on at the same timeas the elections. I have been in thedark as to what’s been going on, only having a vague idea through news-paper readings and meetings aboutpast events. I thereore don’t knowwhether I should be writing this let-ter. Regardless, I believe in quiet andinstitutional protest which has beenGarner’s practice to date. He is rightly exing the political muscles that areours as students. Tis might be an op-portunity or students to learn and torealize their true orce as political be-ings on this campus.
Kevin LétourneauTird-year political scienceand history student
My student rights
I WRIE HIS letter in response tothe so-called coalition o 552 studentsthat sent out an uno cial mass emailon March 16 regarding grading prac-tices at the U o O.Tis is my declaration o my rightsas 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 withcertain views without eeling patron-ized. I have the right to pursue my education without being interruptedby a group o individuals who reuseto bring orward their case in a rea-sonable manner.Your email is an amalgamationo twisted words and questionablesources: or example, the supposed“anti-grading” articles. Did you evenread these articles? Tey are writ-ten by students who have qualmsabout grading, but are not maniestosagainst the entire grading process.Tey should not be used to support aconspiracy theory. Also, do you really consider an article in
Maclean’s
an ad-missible source?I you presume to inorm me thatthe rights I present are being violat-ed by the “hierarchy,” which you do,I will say one thing: do not attemptto tell me when my rights are being violated, which is what you are do-ing with your entire “campaign.” I amnot a sheep, nor am I an idiot. I think independently, and I do not need agroup o ideologues with no intel-lectual backing to tell me when my rights are threatened.Te logical and reasonable portiono the U o O, which is most o thestudent body and aculty, is againstyou. Most o us here want to ocus onour education. Tough you may say otherwise, we think it will be useulin the uture.
Carmen Michael GrilloSecond-year political science and economics student
Where’s the support?
CONGRAULAIONS O HEGee-Gees men’s basketball team.Tey had a great run this year andI enjoyed watching several o theirgames including the consolation fnalat the Canadian Interuniversity Sportchampionships in Ottawa March 12–15. However, I was very disappointedat the an turnout or their games atthe championships. Tere shouldhave been thousands o students ateach o their games. I can understandthe lack o support i the tournamenthad been in Haliax or Vancouver, butit was in Ottawa.Paint your ace and hop on a bus!Show some spirit! Your crosstown ri- vals sure did. Prospects are good ornext year on the court. I hope nextyear’s students can do better.
Jim McNabbU of O alumnus
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What is your favourite part of spring?
Outdoor exercise:New wardrobe:Not freezing walking to class:
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This week’s questionLast week’s question
89%11%
“What has been set in motion by Garneris an impressive and unprecedented studentpolitical phenomenon...”
Kevin LétourneauThird-year political scienceand history student
“Paint your face and hop on a bus! Showsome spirit! Your crosstown rivals sure did.”
Jim McNabbU of O alumnus
Letters
March 26–April 1, 2009
Frank AppleyardEditor-in-Chief editor@thefulcrum.ca
3
v o l u n t e e r @ t h e f u l c r u m. c a
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