The Gateway (2010-01-21)

7.3 MB·English

by  University of Alberta

THE GATEWAY
volume C number 29 the official student newspaper at the university of alberta www.thegatewayonline.ca thursday, january 21, 2010
Fentiman assumes
presidential vacancy
JO NATHAN TAVES hour meeting. “But I do appreciate the
faith that Council has placed in me,
and therefore the faith students have
In the early morning of January 15, placed in me.”
Students’ Council chose to appoint Vice Looking ahead, Fentiman sees the
President (Operations and Finance) largest obstacle ahead of the SU, and
Zach Fentiman to fill the vacant posi- students in general, to be the market
tion of Students’ Union President. modifiers that may increase tuition
The appointment came after a two- drastically in some faculties, or the
Blea. etmeeesi onl and-a-half-hour-long in camera session user fees that could fall on everyone.
only attended by councillors regarding “The challenge is going to be
the confidentiality agreement signed launching a campaign in the coming
! PRESIDE NT 2880
between the Executive Committee and weeks to inform and educate the stu-
former president Kory Mathewson. dent population as to what’s going on,
Mathewson cited “personal reasons” [and] who is affected by what,” he
for his resignation on January 11, and said.
the agreement has prevented him and After naming the new president,
current vice presidents from elaborat- Council then voted to create a selec-
ing on why he wasn’t able to fulfill his tion committee to put forward nomi-
obligations. nees to fulfill the newly vacant office
Councillors are prohibited from dis- of the Vice President (Operations and
cussing what was said in camera. Finance).
After resuming normal proceedings The deadline for applicants for the
following a recess, Council decided postion is Friday, January 22 at 4 p.m.
to use a secret ballot by councillors Applicants will be shortlisted and
otO o
choose the next president. interviewed before the five-member
Fentiman and Arts councillor Jon committee, which includes Fentiman,
Mastel were the two people that makes its recommendations to Council
accepted nominations from fellow on January 26.
Council members. Fentiman recognized the concern
Candidates spoke briefly about their of undemocratic practice that some
motives, fielding questions from coun- students might raise with Council
cillors before the ballots were cast. appointing both a new president and
21 first-place votes were cast in favour vice president, rather than holding by-
of Fentiman, who will be president for elections.
the remainder of the term, until April “Council found that the cons of
30, 2010, when the winner of March’s holding a by-election severely out-
general election will take over the posi- weigh the pros — things like the cost,
tion. Mastel earned six first-place votes. confusing the electorate, the time-
“T’s hard to say immediately how I line,” Fentiman said.
PETE YEE
STEP UP Fentiman must now fight to reduce tuition increases — one of the biggest challenges facing students this year. feel,” he said at 1 a.m. after the seven-
Political Science professors condemn prorogation, call for — reform
Experts band together to criticize undemocratic nature of Canadian system
TH MALE
BRENDAN MUNRO representation. results in the under-representation of
“The current system consistently ethnic minorities, women, and other
misrepresents voters. Canada needs groups. Proportional — representa-
Across the country, a growing something like a constitutional assem- tion more effectively represents these
number of voices are condemning bly, or a deliberative process incorpo- voices by offering them more tools,
Stephen Harper’s decision to prorogue rating people from the many walks of resources, and increased visibility.”
Parliament. ife in our country to determine what In essence, proportional representa-
Recently, a group of 132 political sci- type of system of representation would tion allocates representatives to gov-
ence experts added their voices, issuing be best for Canada,” she said. ernment based on the number of votes
a collective statement condemning the In recent years, alternative types of a party receives across all ridings. Small
prorogation and highlighting it as an representation at the provincial level parties which, for example, win five
example of the significant democratic have occurred in British Columbia per cent of the popular vote, would be
deficit they argue exists in Canada. and Ontario. These referendums were entitled to five per cent of the seats in
The statement calls upon Canadians to defeated, but the results were very tell- Parliament.
rethink the current electoral system, ing. In Ontario in 2007, 39 per cent of Under the current system, it would
saying it can produce governments voters voted in favour of the reforms, be rare to see a party with five per cent
which don’t represent the will of the which equated to only five of the 107 of the popular vote have any represen-
CLAUDINE CHAMPION
electorate and aren't highly account- ridings being in favour. tatives at all. TIME FOR CHANGE Adkin and her colleagues are pushing for electoral reform.
able to its citizens. “Federal electoral reform is a com- It has been long argued by the
Laurie Adkin, an associate professor plicated issue and people often tend advocates of PR that this form of elec- fractured and ineffective coalition Coalitions would look much different
of Political Science at the University of to stick with what they know,” Adkin toral system inherently leads to more governments. because of their composition, with
Alberta, and one of the signatories of said. “However, our current elec- fair and democratic governments. “Tf we had a PR system coalition power shifting towards more repre-
statement, commented on the need to toral system favours two main parties Critics, however, have maintained in Canada, we wouldn’t have this sentative parties,” Adkin argued.
update Canada’s antiquated system of that squeeze out smaller parties. This that this structure would result in type of situation [with prorogation].
Inside Behemoth plays * Vehement plays
News 1-4 And you can find out when, where, The Gateways sports staff forcefully
Opinion 5-8
how much, and just how sober the argue why any of the remaining four
A&E 9-12
Polish death metal band will be. NFL teams could win the Superbowl.
Sports 14-17
Comics 18
SPORTS, PAGE17
A&E, PAGE 10
Classifieds 19
2 NEWS
thursday, january 21,2010 * www.thegatewayonline.ca
THE GATEWAY |G SA explores creation of summer U-Pass
fromthe
www.thegatewayonline.ca
arcnives
New passes would enable graduate students to access cheap public transit
thursday, january 21,2010
volume C number 29
while their summer school schedules bring them to and from campus
“Reduced budget slows
Published since november 21, 1910
Circulation 10,000
expansion”
ISSN 0845-356X
Oaérr srr eerss |
MAGGIE EDMONDS
January 23, 1968
News Writer
Suite 3-04
Students’ Union Building
Government financing shortages are
esatiteias
University of Alberta
The Graduate Students’ Association at going to cut into U of A expansion
Edmonton, Alberta
T6G 257 the University of Alberta is seeking plans.
to expand the successful U-Pass proj- Vice-president for finance and
Telephone [phone]
ect to include the spring and summer administration Dr. D. G. Tyndall said
Fax [phone]
Ad Inquiries 780.492.6700 terms for graduate students. “We will have to cut back with the
Email [email protected] Graduate programs often require least harmful impact on our program.”
students to be on campus during the He estimated that of the
editorialstaff
summer months to continue their $35,460,000 needed by the univer-
research and studies. The suggestion sity this year only $25,000,000 will
EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Mike Kendrick
of extending the U-Pass for gradu- be provided by the government.
[email protected] |4 92.5168
ate students to include the spring and Only $43,000,000 is to be divided
summer terms was a natural concept, among the three Alberta universi-
MANAGINGEDITOR Nick Frost
[email protected] |4 92.6654 and brought forth through the GSA. ties for 1968-69 by the Universities
“Graduate students are generally Commission as opposed to
SENIORNEWSEDITOR Sean Steels
here over the summer, so this is some- $47,000,000 last year.
[email protected] |4 92.7308
thing that made sense for their con- The U of A's allotment for 1967-68
DEPUTY NEWS EDITOR Jonathan Taves stituents,” Nick Dehod, vice president SAM BROOKS was $26,000,000 and the U of C’s
[email protected] |4 92.6664 of student life said. NOT-SO-FREE PASS Dehod has helped nurture the U-Pass into its second term. was 16,400,000.
The proposal has undergone com- The combined five-year estimates
OPINIONEDITOR David Johnston
prehensive development. According “From my understanding, the grad- students arent in class during the for the U ofA and the U of C are
[email protected] |4 92.6661
to Dehod, “The GSA executives uate student spring/summer U-Pass summer, it may be useful for other $390,000,000. The government
ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT EDITOR Sarah Stead worked on this through the summer, would be the same cost as a fall term activities. Second-year undergradu- can provide only $175,000,000 for
=}
entertainment @gateway.ualberta.ca |4 92.7052 and then after working with the U-Pass or a winter-term U-Pass,”’ ate student Alison Shillington said, “It the three universities, includintgh e
Edmonton Transit Service, they took Dehod explained. would probably be good for summer University of Lethbridge.
SPORTSEDITOR Evan Daum
it to the Transportation Public Works “Graduate students aren't charged festivals, and then you wouldn't have
[email protected] |4 92.6652
Committee [last] week.” The GSA will fees for their spring/summer semes- to park.”
PHOTOEDITOR Pete Yee now present the changes as part of a ter, so from my understanding they “The GSA used a survey [to deter-
[email protected] |4 92.6648 referendum later in the year. If passed, would be paying for eight months [of mine whether this was of interest to From the Archives is a regular fea-
the extension of the U-Pass could U-Pass use] in January.” graduate students] and consulted with ture that explores the storied history
DESIGN & PRODUCTION EDITOR Kelsey Tanasiuk
come into effect for graduate students If the extension to include the their students,” Dehod said. of the Gateway, the University of
[email protected] |4 92.6663
as early as May 2011. spring and summer terms for graduate A similar method would most Alberta’s student newspaper since
ONUNEEDITOR Lucas Wagner The fees for the graduate spring/ students is successful, there is the pos- likely be used to determine if there 1910. To read the full story and to
[email protected] |2 48.1509 summer U-Pass are expected to be sibility future undergraduate students is the possibility of extending the explore our entire archive, check out
consistent with undergraduate fees for will have this option as well. spring/summer U-Pass to under- thegatewayonline.ca/archives.
businessstaff
a one-term U-Pass. Although most undergraduate graduate students.
BUSINESS MANAGER Asia Szkudlarek
STREETERS
[email protected]| 492.6669
As you may be aware, this week is National Non-Smoking Week.
AD SALES REPRESENTATIVE Patrick Cziolek Should the U of A follow other institutions
[email protected] |4 92.6700
Compiled and photographed by and ban smoking completely?
AD/GRAPHIC DESIGNER Lisa Lunn Robert Frigon and Sam Brooks
[email protected] |4 92.6647
CIRCULATION PAL Kristyn Springall
Mike Clarkson See A Lindsay Blake Shelby Stollery _ Henry Tso
CIRCULATION PAL Brendan Fairbridge \ Phys Ed|
Education Hl Phys Ed lil Kinesiology Ill
[email protected]
—
’ » x
+4 eee |
THE GATEWAY is published by the |
Gateway Student Journalism Society
(GSJS), a student-run, autonomous,
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operated in accordance with the
Societies Act of Alberta
THE GATEWAY is proud to
No, | don’t think they should [.] | think Yes, because [smoking is] rude to | don’t know if it needs to necessarily be Yes, | think they should. It's annoying
be a founding membeofr t he
Canadian University Press that it has been ingrained in society not everyone else who doesn't smoke — to banned. | liked what they're doing as far when you're walking through campus
to smoke. | still think there are people that breathes in their smoke, it grosses me as the entranceways, you have to have and then there are just a bunch of people
complaints
choose to do it. | think [smokers] have out. | hate Vegas for that very reason. the 15 metres or whatever away. That's smoking, | also saw some lady smoking
Comments, concerns, or complaints about the
rights, too — they're already crammed always really gross. [Walking through by the bus stop and when the bus came,
Gateway’s content or operations should be first sent to
the Editor-in-Chief at the address above. If the Editor-in- into small areas around the campus. It the smoke?] Yeah, |’m not a fan of that, she threw it down, and she just walked
Chief is unable to resolve a complaint, it may be taken
doesn't really bother me that bad. They but otherwise, | don’t think its that big of onto the bus. She didn’t stamp it out or
to the Gateway Student Journalism Society's Board of
Directors; beyond that, appeal is to the non-partisan are outside. Good enough. a deal. anything, she just walked onto the bus.
Society OmbudsBoard. The chairs of the Board of
That was kind of annoying.
Directors and the OmbudsBoard can be reached at the
address above
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a variety of sizes, styles, and weights of FENICE, Joanna,
Kepler and Whitney. The Manitobanis the Gateway’s
sister paper, and we love her dearly, though “not in that AND LAMBS WHITE RUM FOR $4.25 con
way.” The Gateway’s games of choice are Rock Band and
ever have | ever.
contributors
ALL LADIES AND STUDENTS (WITH STUDENT 1.8.)
athan Liewicki, Matt Pretty, Emerson Csorba, Bren WILL RECEIVE NO LINE & NO COVER UNTIL 11:00P.M.
Cargill, Dustin Blumhagen, Gabby Riches, Kirsten
Goruk, Lance Mudryk, Mike O'Neill, Maddie Smith, Faye
Vi. THEIRONHORSE.CA 780-498-3710
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NEWS
THE GATEWAY ¢ volume C number 29
Business week hosts ‘Apprentice-style
DEWCY’S
challenges for student competition
Monday - Friday, 7:30am — 8pm
JONATHAN TAVES
Deputy News Editor
Albs
RSIT Y -OF
“lta
Breakfast starts at 7:30am!
Though they’re not working for a bil-
lionaire real-estate mogul right now, HOOo f BUSINESS Fresh Baked Cinnamon Buns
that may be the eventual goal for
teams of business students participat-
ing in Business Students Association
Try our special recipe
Apprentice Challenge.
Panini with Daily Soup
The event is a large part of Business
Week 2010, which also includes bar
nights and a gala. The winning team
February private party bookings now available! | >
will be awarded $1,600.
No teams are “fired,” but instead are
Call 780.492.3101 for info
ranked based on the points they earn
for completing their tasks.
“We try to bring education outside
the classroom as well. A lot of the
activities of Business Week have been
about giving them practical experi-
ence,’ said Thomson Leung, BSA
president.
That “practical experience” includes
pantless Chinese fire drills at red
lights, and bungee jumping holding
team signs as part of a photo scaven-
ger hunt.
The designer of the challenge,
Steve Tchir, explained that the out- 7TH FLOOR SUB | NO MINORS | MON-FRI 11AM-LATE |S AT 3PM-LATE
rageous scenarios are designed to get
students out of their comfort zones
and participating.
“Most of the pictures are really
ogistically intensive,” he said.
“Tt’s making them push their own
PETE YEE
imits, and making them talk to IT'S NOTHING PERSONAL Six teams of three or four will try to complete tasks
AND A PINT
people they normally wouldn't talk all week, including possibly getting a photo with an Oiler in a Flames jersey.
NIGHT
to [...] The ultimate goal is really to
make them realize that by talking to Price-Gagnon, a first-year business Other challenges, such as trading
people, you can really make things student and member of the “Wolf up to the best item from a paper clip,
happen.” Pack” team. involve doing anything and every-
Another aspect is a case competition, The solutions’ merits are then thing you can, noted Price-Gagnon’s
where teams have to come up with judged by an expert panel.
teammate, Derek DeGroot.
solutions to real-life scenarios. “We have a few industry judges that “T’s a combination of how smart
“Usually it’s a very open-ended we get from the [Canadian Marketing you are and how ridiculous you are,”
problem; you have to be creative Association], as well as a few faculty he said. “We're basically abusing
with it. Every group usually has a judges,” explained Tiffany Chow, a friendships and calling in every favour
very different solution,” said Ami Business Week organizer. that we have.” ZOMBIELAND starts at 6:30pm
Proportional sharp, followed by the hilarious
Council chooses successor
SHAUN OF THE DEAD
representation
FENTIMAN * CONTINUED FROM PAGE1 to make the totals public when they're
He noted that bylaws require a known.
recommended
21-day break before the vote, plus In regards to the information
two voting days, and that the office shared during the in camera session,
by experts
would have remained vacant during Fentiman said he thought Councillors
that time. got all the information they needed
The new president also defended to make an informed decision, and
the use of student money to pay for the that the Executive Committee had dis- A T A O I W <
egal fees accrued by drafting the con- closed everything.
REFORM * CONTINUED FROM PAGE1
fidential agreement for Mathewson. Moving on from the Mathewson The shift to proportional repre-
pri“vIanc y,o rdaenrd tpoe rrseosnpaelc t coannc eirnndsi viadsu awla’ss berea , abFleen ttoi meafnfe cntoivteeldy hroepwr esheen tf eesltsu dhee’nltl ostehnetart iocno unthraise s alwrheoasdey gooccvuerrrnemde ntsin on Wednesday Nights
stated in the resignation letter, ensur- interests until the end of the term. were modelled after the British
ipnagr atmhoaut ntt.h oseI daroe tkheipntk cotnhfaitd en[tpiaayli ngis ous“lTyA wsassunm'itn gs omethteh inpgr esIi wdaesn ceyx]p ecotbivnig- APuasrtlriaalmiea ntaanrdy Nseyws teZme,a lmaonsdt. notably in Qur new host Christof will play
egaTlh ef eeSsU] whaassn '’jt usrteicfeiiavbleed, ” anh ei nsvaoiidc. e of wtoa rhda,p paennd, Ib tuhti nIk’ mt heaxtc ittheedr e’ms oavni nogp pofror-- CanTahdea prios cessusp poorft eedl ecbtoyr ai ndreepfeonrdme nitn all your favorite tunes starting at
the legal fees yet, but has committed tunity for us to make good plays.” groups such as Fair Vote Canada.
While it would likely require a great 9 p.m. every Wednesday evening or
deal of grassroots support before elec-
Samanta toral reform became a referendum after any hockey game.
issue, one could envision it becoming
a major election issue supported by
the smaller Canadian parties.
A request for comment was made to
Tim Uppal’s office, the Conservative
MP for the Edmonton-Sherwood Park
riding, but he did not respond as of
press time.
The statement released by the politi-
cal scientists calls upon Canadians
to make electoral reform a priority,
stressing the need to implement a
“Canadian version of a more propor-
tional and fair voting system within
the next five years.”
The statement in its entirety is
available online at fairvote.ca/en/fvc-
"PETE YEE news/132-political-scientists-call-for-
NEW MAN AT THE TOP Fentiman’s presidency will end on April 30, 2010. action-on-democratic-deficit.
4 News
thursday, january 21,2010 « www.thegatewayonline.ca
Olympics displaces B.C. students |E xperts question true effect
of popular ‘detox’ diets
ANDREW BATES
CUP Western Bureau Chief
KELOWNA (CUP) — It’s not unheard LEN SMIRNOV in weight loss, but some dietitians are
of to crash on someone’s couch after The Fulcrum (Uni ity of Ottawa) skeptical about these benefits.
a party, but over 200 students and “Severe restrictions help you feel
fraternity members at the University OTTAWA (CUP) — Grunting under that you got the crap out of your
of British Columbia will need to the heavy weight of holiday pudding system, but it’s not crap that you got
find a couch for the whole month of and New Year’s resolutions, another out of your system — [you simply]
February thanks to the biggest party in swath of people are in the midst of feel lighter, especially after taking too
Vancouver this year: the 2010 Winter cleansing their bodies for 2010. While much food,” said Elizabeth Mansfield,
Olympic Games. detoxification diets and treatments a registered dietitian.
Six of seven houses at the school’s spike in popularity at the beginning of Health officials argue that spe-
Fraternity Village will be renting out the year, however, their effectiveness cial detoxification treatments are not
to an Olympic venue security group, and safety still remain controversial. necessary, since the body has natural
according to Glen Bury, strata chair for Detox diets (also called cleansing channels to detoxify.
the Village. diets) and treatments aim to remove “We have organs in our body that
PHOTO ILLUSTRATION: ANDREW BATES
“We anticipated that there were COUCH SURFER Some B.C. fratboys could find themselves bedless in February. toxins that build up in the body from detoxify naturally,’ Mansfield said.
opportunities with the Olympics bad foods and the environment. “Fasting and drinking mixes of herbs
coming to Vancouver that we could their expense. I hope the fraternities are on board, they were still satisfied with Toxins can be found in items such — none of these are doing anything
potentially use to improve the fra- being decent and compensating these the fact that they were being compen- as pesticides, exhaust fumes, cook- for the body. There is no scientific
ternity, either through the physical students for the upheaval.” sated by the individual benefits.” ing utensils, and dental fillings, while proof that these work.”
facility or through extra funding for The Phi Gamma Delta fraternity symptoms of toxicity may include As an alternative to detoxification
According to Wazeer, some fraterni-
our chapter programming,’ Azim ties students will get incentive packages. opted not to join the project, according headaches, fatigue, and irritability. methods, Mansfield recommends
Wazeer, president of the UBC chapter “Everybody has structured theirs to Wazeer, and will not be moving out “People should not drink from watching the intake of food, particu-
of the Phi Delta Theta fraternity said. differently,” Wazeer said. in February. Several other fraternities [soft drink] cans or use coated Teflon larly during the holidays when people
“We've been thinking about this for “We have provided individual ben- declined to comment on the issue. pans,” cautioned Valerie Thornburg, are most prone to overeat.
two to three years. ” efits for members living within the Financial opportunism during the manager of the Ottawa Wellness and “The real danger is the flip — all the
Fraternity Village — a stone’s throw house, and they also understand that Olympics can sometimes leave tenants Detox Clinic. “You should also always overeating people are doing. It is more
away from UBC’s Thunderbird Arena, they are net beneficiaries also as mem- in the cold, Lewis said. try to reduce the amount of acidic dangerous to overeat than under-eat,”
one of the venues for the Games — is a bers of the chapter.” “The concern was that a lot of people things you take in.” she said.
250-unit development that was designed Members of the B.C. chapter of Phi might be evicted so that the landlords Cleansing regimens range from the Mansfield further warned that some
to move fraternities onto the UBC Delta Theta voted on the proposal, and can rent out at much higher [value],” she moderate raw fruit-and-vegetable diet herbs used in the detox diets may be
campus, according to UBC Properties then residents of the house itself got to said, but noted that demand just hasn't to the more extreme Master Cleanse dangerous. She encouraged all people
Trust. vote, Wazeer said. “We decided that we arrived as anticipated, possibly because —a water fast based on a mixed drink that are thinking of going on a detox
But the move has raised questions. needed to have an absolute majority, so of a rise in Vancouver's vacancy rate. of lemon, maple syrup, and cayenne diet that includes herbs to confirm
“Who had the authority to make we needed at least two-thirds in favour Wazeer said that his fraternity had pepper. Detox proponents claim that with Health Canada’s Natural Health
that decision? With the money they’re of the proposal to go forward, and we been working to find billets in the the diets improve a person’s general Product Database that the supplement
getting, what are they planning to achieved that two-thirds.” greater Vancouver area for members, health and complexion as well as aid has a natural product number.
do with that money?” asked Martha Not all students were happy, but and would compensate families that
Lewis, executive director of Vancouver’s Wazeer said the fraternity felt satisfied hosted members. “It’s more dangerous to overeat than under-eat.”
Tenant Resource and Advisory Centre. with their democratic process. “Clearly Beyond that, the market is fairly
“These students, I hope, are being very not everybody is going to be on board open, according to Lewis. “There’s
ELIZABETH MANSFIELD
well compensated. I hope they’re really with every single plan,” he said. “As far still vacancies in hotels, if they can REGISTERED DIETITIAN
making it worth their while, if it’s at as the members who weren't completely afford the hotels,” she said.
DON’T HAVE ENOUGH money TO
MAKE IT THROUGH THE SCHOOL YEAR?
INELIGIBLE FOR student loans?
HAVING TROUBLE PAYING YOUR bills?
Student Financial Aid Information Centre to find c
University of Alberta Campus
Guest Chereegrapher: Josh Beamish
CA Foundation
for theArts
Contemporary jazz choreographer from
MOVE: the Company in Vancouver, BC
The Access Fund is non-repayable undergraduate financial assistance.
Tickets:
Tickets are available at the Campus Recreation Activity
Access¥Fund
Registration Zone, Sales Office, Room W-79,
$12 in advance
Van Vliet Centre, Monday-Friday, 9-5pm or
$15 at the door
call Campus Recreation: 780-492-223 |
CONTACT INFORMATION
Students Supporting Students in Financial Need
[phone]
[email protected]
For more infownation ...
www.su.ualberta.ca/accessfund
IF YOU ARE IN FINANCIAL NEED PLEASE
&, ALBERT Visit: www.uofaorchesis.org Hours FOR SEPTEMBER - APRIL
UNIVERSITY OF Faculiy of Physical Education & Recreation VISIT US AT THE STUDENT FINANCIAL
Monday, Wednesday - Friday
Campus Recreation Melati Email: [email protected]
RESOURCES CENTER AT 1-80 SUB. 8:30am to 4:30pm
Phone: [phone] Tuesday 8:30am to 6:00pm
Students whe are philosophically opposed to the Fund my opt-out online at www.su.ualberta.ca/accessfund. The Winter opt-out deadline is February 6th.
OPINION
[email protected] ¢ thursday, janu2a1,r 2y01 0
Opening Pandoras
You Suae Youre
box of escapism
OLD ENOUGH To Daivé
SEEMS THE ARTFULLY CRAFTED LANDSCAPES AND
creatures of James Cameron’s fantasy planet Pandora
THIS THING, SON?
have now propelled his new film Avatar on track to
defeat his Titanic as the highest-grossing film of all
time. But Cameron’s creation is proving that it was
crafted a little too artfully, as now certain fans are
becoming depressed at the thought of never seeing
such a “perfect planet” for themselves. In the real
world, it seems, people can get just as blue as their
avatars.
Coping has become so hard for some of the
wistful — and some would say silly — alien pro-
spectives that they have begun to form online com-
munities and fill forums with whimsical wishes for
a magical plane ticket to Pandora. But reading these
forums, the potent mixture of illusion and reality
needed to fall into such scary escapism becomes
immediately apparent.
It’s gotten so bad that some writers on the site
Avatar-forums.com have gone so far as to create a
forum titled “Ways To Cope With The Depression
of The Dream of Pandora Being Intangible,” to help
the more severely afflicted Avatar fans, who compare
leaving the theatre to “waking up in the real world,”
and talk about seeing the movie again, only to relive
the same depression and hopelessness each time they
see the credits roll.
But such a die-hard reaction to Cameron’s film
isn’t entirely incomprehensible, and for reasons
other than film reviewers are jumping on; though to
be fair, his graphics, his budget, and his production
time are all of epic and historical proportion, as are
his sales. Cameron has struck a green chord with his
audience, and by that I mean the lifestyle — not the
dollar bill.
Despite all of the flash and profit of Avatar, it’s ulti-
mately pointless to refute the fact that in addition to
being a work of visual art, the haven of Pandora also
serves another, more political purpose for Cameron.
His seemingly colourful, but ultimately black-and-
white world of immoral miners and noble indigenous
FAYE CAMPBELL
tribesmen builds a cleanly divided reality, in which to
play out our own — and by that, I mean human — the Wikipedia entry on the from Harper to Hillier be made we all lose when they cannot fully
moral dilemma of what to do about our own planet. University of Alberta Students’ to answer. Canada has no proper participate.
Small wonder that in a time when so many of Union was updated. It literally business getting our hands bloody
our citizens cry out for climate justice, that such wasn't even minutes. Wow. in the service of such diabolical B. WHIT
an issue-charged film is finding both resonance Congratulations, Mr. Fentiman. imperialist schemes as those we Vi net
and a paying audience. Or that the easily impres- What the iconoclasts are May you be worthy of many more kill and are killed for. A few musings on
sionable are casting themselves headlong into thinking about Fentiman Wikipedia pages in the future.
wealth and hellness
depression after getting just a quick fix of a world Ju.
devoid of industrialization, made even more real am appalled at the undemocratic ‘SHOCKED STUDENT’ RE: Referendum to decide fate of
by three-dimensional effects unseen before in this decisions the Students’ Council Vi n et proposed health and wellness facil-
magnitude. have made in regards to the former Edumacation issues ity, January 14
But the simplification of life has kept viewers glued Student’s Union President resigning. What everyone else is First: They're going to use natural
to screens big and small since long before Cameron’s Such an important decision should thinking about Fentiman RE: Canadian PhD programs get fail- light because it’s green while at the
new visual toys. Consumers are apparently struggling have gone straight to a by-election, ing grade, January 15 same time the University is covering
to put aside this pseudo-nostalgia, and “wake up” no matter the cost. RE: Fentiman appointed to SU presi- The perceived value of higher- the roof of HUB and adding lighting.
again in their real lives. It could almost go so far for Fellow students, the SU just put a dency, January 14 level degrees should not be, in Where's the net gain?
some of the Avatar fans to be considered a form of price tag on our democracy! The new Who the hell is Zach Fentiman? my opinion, a reason to assume Second: Aren't a number of
brainwashing by Cameron — though obviously not dictator was appointed in complete pri- the certainty of future damage to the functions listed already taken
intentional, of course. Still, the immersive aspects of vacy from the public or the press, so as MIKE SMITH Canada’s economic and research care of by the Students’ Union
the film are pretty much at the forefront of the adver- o avoid our scrutiny. |h ope U of A stu- V output because of the lower Building? Don’t we already have a
tising and publicity. dents now recognize the importance number of graduating candidates. climbing wall in the Butterdome?
A level-seven prorogue
The question now remains, then, what other new or democracy, and how, even in the There are many people who don't We certainly don’t need more
depressions wait for us around the corner, once irst world, it is being slowly degraded have degrees who own busi- study space — even at the height
filmmakers other than Cameron realize the potent by those with hidden agendas. RE: Harper's prorogue has us seeing nesses, employ communities, of exams, there is still plenty of
concoction created by mixing our deepest wants with How is this any different then red, January 15 participate in civic issues, serve room in libraries, classrooms,
the realism of three-dimensional glasses? From the oroguing Parliament? The SU The reason for the Harper gov- he less-advantaged, serving a SUB, and all across campus.
2)
descriptions on Avatar-forum.com — some of which has prorogued our democracy until ernment’s sudden shutdown of ar greater purpose and provide a With regards to space to pray,
sound more like drug addicts finding a way to cope he next elections. To the Student's Parlisi veray mmuchea npantick ed arger benefit to our society Cin my there are chaplain services (rep-
without a three hour, $12 fix to their cravings — the Union politicians, hold your heads in attempt to kill highly dangerous books). resenting a wide range of faiths)
illusion has come as close as it ever has to reality. hame. You should all resign. explorations into serious viola- Over the last 25 years of my and two Christian colleges on
wn
tions of the Geneva Conventions ifetime, I've seen research touted campus.
SEAN STEELS DILLON GARA with respect to the handling of as gospel, only to have the con- Perhaps it would be a better use of
wn oO Afghan Prisoners of War termed clusions questioned or outright money to simply expand the fitness
“detainees.” It is highly pos- debunked a decade later. Maybe facility (which is shamefully small for
Come round soon to rom b
sible that those responsible and Cc orporate Canada is not paying an institution this size), improve and
accountable for handing prisoners P hD’s what they think they (or expand the offerings of food service
the friendly skies
over to known torturers are now the conference board) deserve in CAB (which is central on campus),
exposed to war crimes prosecu- because, in fact, they don’t actu- and save students of the future yet
What the techies are
tion, for their serious breaches of ly produce the additional antici- another fee.
iat}
Protecting the skies thinking about Fentiman the laws of war and proper treat- pated productivity.
Air force free to shoot you down ment of detainees. | think it is more important to MIKE SM ITH
Olympic spirit! RE: Fentiman appointed to SU presi- It is crucial that this whole focus our attention and invest- Vi net
dency, January 15 area of participation in the U.S.- ments toward the almost 50 per
EVAN DAUM The only thing that’s truly sur- led war of terror be thorough cent of Canadians with literacy m
<=
prising about this is how quickly examined and those accountab and essential skills challenges,
Dm
6 OPINION
thursday, january 21,2010 « www.thegatewayonline.ca
supposedly ended. It’s akin to putting just skip to the next song — that would
Opinions are like... OPERA
a little bonus clip after the credits of be far too simpleS.o I've learned to listen
(long, sometimes dull, inexplicably musical, and involving fanny hats) Tue BURLAP
movie for people who like to say “I can't hrough silence and pray that we'll get to
CK
GATEWAY OPINION: believe we waited 10 minutes for that.” he next musical bit as soon as possible
nurturing prima donnas since 1910. But there's no consistency to it. — you know, the music, the stuff | paid
Because of this convention, | frequently or in the first place.
Meetings Tuesdays at 5 P.M. in SUB 3-04
ind myself realizing I’ve been listen- To be fair, track division gets rid o
providing students with resources MP3 players may be infinitely more ing to dead air for 30 seconds since he bad feelings, so I’m happy to see
convenient than the bulky alternative. he artist decided to end the album hat some modern musicians are
to be active citizens
However, they are still hampered by a with random phone conversation. If | increasing track counts to accoun
leftover convention from the days ofd isc wanted to listen a boring muffled voice, or this bonus material. Until this is
media. The problem | have is with the ‘d call my cousin and ask what it’s like adopted by all musicians, however, l’m
aptly named “hidden tracks” that fre- o program software for a living. giving the hidden track the Sack, if
quently appear on many albums, both And it's even more frustrating for can just find the damn thing.
old and new. Part of me wishes these me when this hidden track is an actual
tracks would figure out what's good for egitimate song that |l ike.A t least |c ould LANCE MUDRYK
them and just stay hidden. move on with my life if |k new that there
Hidden tracks, if you're not sure what was nothing good coming, but now | The Burlap Sack is a semi-regular
I'm talking about, are usually small riffs am faced with a dilemma. Do | fast for- feature where a person or group who
or pseudo-songs that can be heard only ward through the silence? Do | suffer the needs to be put in a sack and beaten is
Every year APIRG provides approximately $30,000 in
direct grants, as well as in-kind services, support and if one waits through a minute or two of indignity of actually listening to the tripe ridiculed in print. No sack beatings are
training to student working groups, projects and events.
silence after the album's final song has they programmed in? | obviously can’t actually administered.
We also maintain an office and resource centre, which is
open to all APIRG members.
All of this is made possible by undergraduate students
Mixing Parliament would shake things up
like you, who pay $3.12 (full time) or $1.55 (part time) per
term to help students turn their ideas and projects into
reality.
ROBERT representation, but with single- patronage appointments to the House
FRIGON member plurality as well. of Commons and not be account-
To opt out of the APIRG dedicated fee, simply fill out a form
and bring it to the APIRG office (9111 112 St in HUB Mall). This mixture will solve the sys- able to the people. I would maintain
If you prefer, you can also mail in your form
tem’s problems, as well as help that the prime minister is the leader
Opt out forms can be downloaded from www.apirg.org
or picked up at the APIRG office (9111 HUB Mall), SU with regional and personal issues. of the party with the largest number
Executive Offices (2900 GSUB) and SU InfoLink booths.
SNACKS TT AG i” People need to have the opportunity of elected officials. Some things are
to allow their regional issues to be worth keeping.
heard by a representative. In consid- The big issue, though, is that a
LATE NIGHT DELIVERY
eration, if it was just a proportional mixed system would all but elimi-
http://snackattack.ca
arlier this week, 130 politi- representative, then government nate the problem of false majority in
[phone] cal sciences professors from issues raised by small groups would the current system. At the moment,
Canada sent a petition to the never be heard. As well, MPs need a party can receive 30 per cent of
federal government to be part of the to be responsible to their constitu- the popular vote and still obtain a
debate fora reformed electoral process. ents. Each party could run their majority. This is a misrepresentation
I’ve been in favour of reform for many candidates across the country, and of voting blocs, and would all but
years, feeling that the current system with it being an equal 50/50 split, disappear under a mixed system.
leads to voter apathy, disproportionate then no one power could come to Need an illustration? The tale of
power to rural areas, and unbalanced majority with merely popular vote the Green Party speaks to how voter
representation to Ontario and Quebec. or support at the regional level. A representation would help swell
But considering a reformed system mixed-system government would voter support. In the last federal elec-
where each vote counts? This will ensure the best of both worlds. tion, the Greens received 6.8 per cent
only lead to a system where people of the national vote, yet they have
feel that their vote matters and will no members of parliament in office.
want to hit the polls. Considering The tale of the Green That means nearly one million votes
BOT THEM UNCHIES?
voter turnout in the last few years, this meant essentially nothing to the
Party speaks to how
can only be a good thing. structure of the federal government.
voter representation
Under this system, a vote towards And that’s the whole point here —
the party you support will ensure an each vote should matter. One million
would help swell voter
CHIPS/CHOCOLATE BARS CANDY/POPGORN/COOKIES
increased percentage of representa- votes should not be for naught. A new
DIAL-A-BOTTLE ¢
support.
POP/ENERGY DRINKS tion. With this increase, smaller par- system has been a long time coming
ties will receive more funding and to ensure that all voices are heard.
WE ACCEPT GASH/CGREDIT/DEBIT-AT-DODR
get to play a part on the big stage. I believe these changes would lead
This isn’t even a possibility under Of course, any radical overhaul still to a more fair and equal assessment
the current system — the voices needs to come with a few safety nets. of power across Canada. It'd also
of smaller parties simply don’t get We'd have to establish a minimum of give new life to an old game, and
heard. This would also change the three per cent total popular vote for a make strategy and political shuf-
dynamics of Parliament, leaning seat in the house. This would ensure fling less important, but instead let
away from majority to minority that radical fringe groups don’t move the issues rise to the top. Reforming
co-operation. But more changes are onto the main stage. I’dalso argue that the electoral process into a mixed
needed to craft a fully structured MPs could only be on the electoral list system would not only be the
system. for one term, whereupon they must smartest solution, but the one that
So I’m calling for a mixed system be re-elected in a home riding — to we need as we move into the next
— not one that’s just proportional ensure not just anyone can make it by decade.
LETTERS * CONTINUED FROM PAGE5 man’s ankles and the council members [email protected].
would like answers. Website comments might also
Heavens forbid the Opinion
By the Gateway stating in their occasionally be used, if and when
section contains actual
article that Science Councillor Hansra we have approximately one actual
Opinions was asking leading questions designed letter sent in. Print media isn't dead
o trick them makes your journalism yet, Buys.
RE; Mathewson’s response nothing but seem more of a defense for Sarah The Gateway reserves the right
yellow, January 14 Palin. | am sure the Exec commit- to edit letters for length and clar-
“When the Executive Committee ee can handle leading questions, the ity, and to refuse publication of any
made it clear that they weren't will- actual questions you should be asking letter it deems racist, sexist, libel-
ing to say anything further in public is why the council members are con- fous or otherwise hateful in nature.
Black & White Copying Full Colour Digital Printing
about the circumstances surround- cerned about the Exec committee and The Gateway also reserves the right
and Digital Printing or Copying
ing Mathewson resigning, it was time heir role. to publish letters online. We rarely
Paper Single Double Paper hleo Binding Binding Starting
Size Sided Sided Size Minimum 1000+ 3000+ Type Colour at
to move on. It's irresponsible to — as Maybe the Gateway should revert to do, but we reserve the right to.
8.5x11 8.5x11 49¢ 45¢ 39¢ Tape paGeen $1.25
Science Councillor Hansra did — spend some finer works by Andrew Marr or Letters to the editor should be no
8.5x14 8.5x14 69¢ 59¢ 49¢ Cerlox Black $1.25
11x17 11x17 89¢ 79¢ 69¢ Coil Black $2.00 six separate speaking turns trying to John Pilger in helping them understand longer than 350 words, and should
ask the Executive Committee leading the essence of journalistic writing and include the author's name, program,
questions designed to somehow trick research. Good luck. year of study and student identifica-
Fee them into revealing their personal opin- tion number to be considered for
ions about the ex-president.” NIK PATEL publication.
SUB print
I'm sorry, but your statement here Via Internet Furthermore, e-mails featuring
O-21 Lower Level
lacks any kind of intelligence. To ask excessive amounts of exclamation
Students’ Union Building
questions is what you would expect Letters to the editor should be marks, all-caps, large font sizes,
September - April May - August
Copying - Colour -B inding someone to do in a situation like this. dropped off at room 3-04 of the and emoticons, are liable to be ridi-
Monday - Friday Monday - Friday
9:00 am - 5:00 pm 9:00 am - 4:30 pm
The president of the SU left, the exec Students’ Union Building, launched culed mercilessly by members of
Fast & Affordable Service on Campus committee are being shadier than a fat via paper aeroplane or mailed to the editorial staff.
OPINION 7
THE GATEWAY ¢ volume C number 29
:GR ADUATE SCHOOL OF
=PUBLIC POLICY
are T
i 7 doh . J mm am et =
Social Policy: Move to Change
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and Diversity: The Aboriginal Experience
Evelyn Peters is an internationally-renowned scholar who investigates the
identities of First Nations and Métis people in urban environments. While
nearly haolff the se populations live in cities, little is known about them,
leaving policy makers reliant on stereotypes or on theoretical conclusions.
Peters believes her research findings will assist governments on matters
of policy, and contribute to a better understanding of Aboriginal Peoples
among non-aboriginal residents.
MAKE A DIFFERENCE. APPLY NOW. The Johnson-Shoyama
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For more information, please visit:
ROSS VINCENT
www. schoolofpublicpolicy.sk.ca
FLAG BASHING Portrait of the United Nations, 2036, meeting to debate Googlestan’s recent annexing of Oh-Henya =
It's not patriotic, it's just business
Ww ie UNIVERSITY OF University
¢y SASKATCHEWAN fRegina
TIM they’ve responded in order to pre- their powers through international
SCHNEIDER serve their market share and to expansion allow them to take a stand
make their shareholders happy, against individual countries, they're
coming to represent what we expect now working with and against
of our government in the process: a countries, but as peers, which is the
representative voice. unheralded situation that’s the cause
Y WINTERLIGH 12010
The power and importance of of so much concern. As consumers
corporations has been strikingly who identify as much with a brand
J
JAN 6 - MAR 13
evident during the recent economic as we do with our countries, is it not
ast week, we had the privi- recession. World governments have out of the question for us to even-
lege of watching the Olympic determined that some corporations, tually identify with companies first
torch being carried through even if what they do seems unethi- and our country second?
our campus. Close behind came cal, are too big to fail. Why? Because While our conception of nations
the advertising — the vehicles plas- these companies are providing citi- continues to change, this matter is
tered in Coca-Cola propaganda, the zens with a service vital to their way important to consider. As students
dancers, the cheap, commercialized of life, either through their prod- emerging onto the world stage, we
patriotism in the form of flags that ucts or by providing employment. will be some of the first to consider
were handed out. We've become They're providing crucial services these issues in a real-world context.
accustomed by now to the presence that the government is not, and so As it stands, the government takes
of advertising and of corporations in their existence must be upheld to a portion of my income to provide
every aspect of our lives. the extent that taxpayer dollars are services, some of which affect me,
Elsewhere in the world last week, funding these corporations. but many that affect others. Would
Google threatened to pull their I be better off investing that capital
search engine out of China, unless in a company that I know would be
Is it not out of the
it’s uncensored. This is in response obliged to provide for me? From a
to a series of cyber-attacks, origi- financial standpoint, it makes sense.
question for us to
nating within the country, on the Currently, we offer a lot of con-
eventually identify
Gmail accounts of Chinese human trol to corporations. We hand over
rights activists. Google has pledged with companies first more of our information to private
to sit down and negotiate with companies now than our govern-
and our country
China to try to reach a compromise. ments have access to. Facebook, for
second?
The initial response I had upon example, with a membership of over
hearing this is that it sounds like 330 million members, has a digi-
Google is acting an awful lot like tal population that overshadows the
a country. This made me wonder: While governments have long United States. Facebook has access
how long until countries become existed to provide services that cor- to the most intimate details of their
simply irrelevant and it is the cor- porations were unwilling to pro- citizens, willingly provided, and
porations to which we are pledging vide, now companies are taking on far more information than even the
Jan 14-24 ICE ON WHYTE
our allegiance? these endeavours as a matter of prac- Patriot Act could gain access to. Is the
Old Strathcona Mon-Fri 2-10pm,
Seems our relationships with tice. Think of developments in toll emergence of Facebookopia far off? Sat & Sun 10am-10pm $2 donation
both our governments and corpo- roads, privatized electricity, or even As companies gain more power
Ice on Whyte is Edmonton's pre-eminent
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dazzling art from ice. www.iceonwhyte.ca
the once-clear lines are starting to stepping in to fill the other aspects nant, the balance and differences
Produced by the Old Strathcona Business Assoc
blur. Publicly traded corporations of government and the distribu- between them and countries will
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democracy than any country does a ubiquitous Internet has allowed no need to worry though. As Telus Snow Valley & Whitemud Park S Fri & Sat 2-99m
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magically lit forest. Produced by the Edmonton Arts Council
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8 OPINION
thursday, january 21,2010 « www.thegatewayonline.ca
Operation Wealth Care: Side effects may occur | readerpoll
“What do you believe
“My peeling skin and depression are probably just the tip of the iceberg,
DAVID
JOHNSTON since my coworkers have been happily and uncaringly bandying should be the focus of the
about urban prescription legends involving rapid hair loss and arm
proposed Physical Activity
< J
discolouration and other such horrible things that maybe probably
\d
and Wellness Centre?”
likely won't happen to me. But they’ve still started calling dibs on my
‘= )
stuff should I unexpectedly croak.”
wh i) ~
S o I’m clinically depressed. “Why, David, prescription infomercials where the rapid-fire ripped in half while embedded in my eyeballs,
you overwhelmingly positive person, droning of side effects often feels longer than the which is an excellent example of a place where
you,” my fictional readers are asking, actual ad. The end result is that viewing audiences pain is not a happy thing. Probably because I
“Why ever are you depressed? Have we done are often forced to watch five minutes of happy, didn’t read the “May cause dry eyes and contact
something to offend you?” That’s kind of you smiling people healthily frolicking while an omi- lens explosion” warning on last week’s drugs.
to ask, fictional readers, but it’s not your fault nous voice makes announcements like “Warning: Still, I've got a six-month supply, which is pretty
directly. No, I know exactly why I’m depressed May cause stomach discomfort, temporary blind- odd given that I'm only provided with contact
at the moment — because the drugs I’m on ness, ankle gangrification, spontaneous pregnan- lenses every 24 months under the exact terminol-
have a little label saying “Warning: May cause cies, Communist takeovers and/or untimely death. ogy of the plan. Perhaps I could try and classify
depression, peeling skin, fictional voices in Consult a physician before watching this ad.” my next set of lenses as actually being prescription
your head, and eventual homicidal rage.” The And it seems that drugs never have any good drugs, although they’d probably get suspicious
last one hasn't kicked in just yet, but otherwise I warnings, like “May cause all food to taste like when the warning said “May cause improved
think I’m pretty well par for the course. What’s chocolate,” or “May cause unexpected four- vision” without any discernible downsides. That'd
that, fictional readers? Really? Kill everyone? hour orgasms.” No, it’s always side effects probably be a bit of a dead giveaway. Also, contact
But I’m in the middle of writing a column! Wait involving nausea or ulcers or aches and pains in lenses wouldn’ really taste very good.
[| Fitness facilities (| love working out) (46%)
until I’m finished, okay? places where pain is not a happy thing. So when everything is said and done, my
At any rate, you might have noticed that I’m In fact, I should be happy — my peeling skin current O:WC total is sitting pretty at $363.14,
[| Meditation areas (I love zoning out) (15%)
tangentially discussing medical terminology, and depression are probably just the tip of the which means I’m officially turning a profit,
so you all know what that means: time for an iceberg, since my coworkers have been happily but I’m pretty confident I can do better.
[| Academic space (I love geeking out) (10%)
update on everyone’s favourite cockamamie and uncaringly bandying about urban prescrip- Unfortunately, I’ve exhausted a lot of the obvi-
scheme, Operation Wealth Care. tion legends involving rapid hair loss and arm ous payment options, so it’s time for me to start
Recently, my attempts to extract as much discolouration and other such horrible things searching for the more difficult-to-reach cash. | | Social grounds (I love hanging out) (20%)
money as legally possible from the SU Health that maybe probably likely won't happen to me. As per normal, any ideas for illnesses I can
Care Plan have hit a brick wall. Specifically, the But they've still started calling dibs on my stuff contract, vaccinations I can receive, or highly |] Food courts (I love pigging out) (9%)
fact that $10,000 is waiting for me in prescrip- should I unexpectedly croak. And they tell me to expensive therapies I can undergo should
TOTAL RESPONSES: 91
tion drugs, and in order to take advantage of breathe easy for awhile, but I know they're wait- be sent to [email protected]. And
THIS WEEK'S QUESTION:
this, I’m going to have to savour the sorrow of ing and watching me with their beady little eyes. remember, don’t be afraid to get creative! For
“Would you use and pay fees for a
countless prescription side-effects. Until I unexpectedly die or I kill them all, how- instance, they're offering up to $15,000 for acci-
Now, I thought I was ready to bleed for this ever, I'll be happy with the mild side effects I’m dental death and dismemberment. That might be summer U-Pass?”
cause, but it’s worse than that. This always hap- going through, and keep on pill-poppin’ until a feasible option, although I’m going to have to
vote online at
pens when drugs are involved — they just want the SU’s coffers are run dry. look into how many people I’m going to have to
to make it better, but everything is made so, And speaking of dryness, Ican tack on another accidentally dismember before they give me the thegatewayonline.ca
so much worse. It’s like the old convention of $100 for new contact lenses, since my old ones check. Yup, looks like the rage has kicked in.
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[email protected] ¢ thursday, january 21, 2010
British Invasion legend Peter Asher plans
social
intercourse night of music and stories in Edmonton
Big Bad Voodoo Daddy
Friday, January 22 at 7:30 p.m.
Arden Theatre (5 St. Anne St., St. Albert)
$53.50 at Ticketmaster
When Dire Straits sang about the “Sultans of
Swing,” they must have been talking about this
jiving group of guys. Due to a chronic disease called
“No-coordination-itis,” I've never been able to fulfill
my dreams of swinging the night away with a beauti-
ful lady while sporting a sweet fedora. But maybe,
just maybe, if you're in attendance at the Arden on
this night, you'll spot this Hep Cat coming on like
Gang Busters with a fine queen.
Shuyler Jansen
With Foam Lake and Eamon McGrath
Saturday, January 23 at 8 p.m.
Haven Social Club (15120 Stony Plain Rd.)
$10 at the doo
In ajust world, Edmonton’s Old Reliable (Shuyler
Jansen’s former band) would have ascended to the
status of fellow alt-country legends Whiskeytown
and Uncle Tupelo. While the aforementioned acts
achieved notoriety after their implosions, Old Reliable
have continued to live on in relative obscurity. But, in
the alt-country sphere, Ryan Adams and Wilco have
gone on to have successful careers in the wake of
their former bands. The outlaw country of the Swiftys
and the absolutely haunting melodies of former
bandmate Mark Davis have rightfully garnered a lot
of positive attention over the last few years. Now,
Shuyler takes his moment to step out into the solo
spotlight. My heart will always belong to Old Reliable,
but until the reunion tour, I'll take what | can get.
Jane Austen and Zombies
A discussion on the novel Pride and Prejudice and
Zombies
Led by Alexander Carpenter
Saturday, January 23 at 2 p.m.
Stanley A. Milner Library
(7 Sir Winston Churchill Sq.)
musicpreview business as a producer and talent manager until be extremely charming and clever at the same
As any male English literature connoisseur knows, present. He’s currently working with an impres- time as being grumpy and annoying. He was
adies love Jane Austen. In my first year of university, sive roster of artists, including grunge rockers just one of those people that, even when you got
was forced to endure both Pride and Prejudice and Everclear, the Webb Sisters, and Canadian bomb- really annoyed with him, you could never dis-
A Memoir of the '60s
Sense and Sensibility, while sitting through multiple shell Pamela Anderson. like him. He had a tremendous amount of charm
ectures on feminism. With an open mind, | approach Featuring Peter Asher “Tm in the studio producing a Buddy Holly and innate intelligence that overcame all [...]
each new novel as an interested reader, never know- Friday, January 22 at 8 p.m. tribute album for the 50th anniversary of his That memory will live forever, or at least as long
ing what I'm going to get — but |c ould never fully Century Casino (1313 Fort Road N.W.) death,” he says of his current project. “For the as people can be bothered to play our music.”
wrap my head around Austen. It always seemed to $29.95-39,95 at Ticketmaster or Century Casino last couple of days, I’ve been in the studio with After taking some time to grieve, Asher put
be lacking something, but | couldn't quite figure out Stevie Nicks doing a track with her.” together a multimedia show to honour Waller.
what that was. Then one day, while wanderintgh e Combining stories of the ’60s, photographs, video,
aisles of ab ookstore, |h appened upon a revision SARAH STEAD and live performances, the show will share some
“The one thing that I don't
of the classic novel. On that day, | realized what of Asher’s memories and give a nod to the man
her novel about love in England had been missing: he shared the stage with so many times, and with
agree with is the theory that
zombies. Now | read the historical fiction novel with When it comes to being in the right place at the whom he had remained lifelong friends.
‘Oh, they don’t write songs like
sheer delight. The latest rumour is that the author is right time, Peter Asher may well be the lucki- “There are obviously going to be parts where
working on anew novel, Abraham Lincoln, Vampire est man in music. In 1963, Asher met Gordon that anymore, or that music is Gordon will be sorely missed,” Asher sighs.
Hunter. With any luck, he will rid the world of that Waller, another student at Westminster School “Gordon is irreplaceable and I want to make it very
nowhere as good as it was [...]
pasty-faced emo Edward Cullen. who also happened to own a guitar and sing clear that we're not trying to do that.”
The two became fast friends and decided to start Thear things all the time that Currently the show is a one-off, scheduled for a
Giggles for Grad
performing together, simply calling themselves single night in Edmonton only, but Asher is hoping
impress the hell out of me.”
With comedian Paul Brown Peter and Gordon. that a positive response from the performance
Friday, January 22 at 7:30 p.m. “Tt was relatively less common then [to could lead to booking more shows down the road.
PETER ASHER
Dinwoodie Lounge (SUB)
find other musicians at school],” says Asher. “Tve put months of work into this and it’ll all
MUSICIAN/PRODUCER/MANAGER
$15 at the door
“TGordon and I] both liked the Everly Brothers, be over after one night in freezing Edmonton,”
so they were the point of confluence, I suppose he jokes.
The Education Students Association (ESA) is host- [..-.] |w as a bit of'a snob at the time and not very Asher seems so nonchalant about recording Peter and Gordon’s music may have peaked
ing a fundraiser starring local radio personality and keen on pop music. Gordon taught me the value with Nicks that he may as well by talking about in the 1960s, but like their British big brothers
comedian Paul Brown. The 100.3 “The Bear” DJ of rock n’ roll.” picking up his dry cleaning, but it’s just another The Beatles, the influence has been long-lasting.
nown for his antics on his morning radio show, is They started out modestly enough, playing testament to how many music legends he knows Having seen the musical seasons change many
performing a show in SUB. Anyone who has travelled ocal pubs and other small gigs during their on a first-name basis. After decades of managing times in his life, Asher turns his thoughts to the
hroughout the variety of buildings on campus will unch hour, but the turning point came when and producing, however, Asher returned to the future of music and the business.
now that the Education building, despite the funky Asher’s younger sister Jane brought home a stage with his former musical partner Waller in “The one thing that I don’t agree with is the
mural on the outside, is pretty depressing. It certainly new boyfriend — some mop-top named Paul 2005 for the first time in nearly 40 years. They theory that ‘Oh, they don’t write songs like that
jacks the beauty of Engineering or the culture of McCartney, who gave them an unused Beatles’ continued to work and perform together for four anymore, or that music is nowhere as good as
Arts, so take a night to help them out and have a few tune. The song, “World Without Love,” shot the more years before Waller died in July 2009. it was. I think that’s a misperception. There is
aughs. These are the people who will be in charge pair to the top of the charts in the U.K. and across “T don't think we regretted the 38-year hiatus. tons of good music. I hear things all the time
of babysitting and teaching your children one day. the pond, and solidified their position as British We both had a pretty good time in the gap,” says that impress the hell out of me. The future of
Thank them in advance. Invasion front-runners. This was the only group Asher of his late friend. “Looking back now, of the music business is another question, and it’s
that McCartney would write a song for while the course, I’m glad we got back together when we clearly changing tremendously, but the impor-
Beatles were still together. did. We got to try it again and figure out that it tance of popular music in people’s lives and in
DUSTIN BLUMHAGEN The duo parted ways amicably in 1968 to still worked and people still liked it. our culture has never been greater — and this is
pursue other careers, but Asher has stayed in the “He was one of those people who managed to the good news.”
10 ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT
thursday, january 21,2010 « www.thegatewayonline.ca
Behemoth returns after border issues
STUDENT
A
Favor
musicpreview
are too archetypal. I wanted fans to be
DAWN SERVICES
surprised,” explains Nergal.
Behemoth has toured with an over-
whelming roster of distinguished metal
Behemoth
bands such as Deicide, Nile, Napalm
With Septic Flesh, Weapon, and Death, and Dimmu Borgir. Even with
STUDENTS FOR A SMOKE FREE 1%
Lightning Swords of Death an outstanding tour history, Nergal says
UNIVERSITY (SFASFU)
Friday, January 22 at 8 p.m. that there are still a handful of bands
Starlite Room (10030-102 St.) that he’d like to share the stage with in
$20 at Ticketmaster the future.
FACT: the cigarette butt is the most commonly “T would love to tour with Metallica,
GABBY RICHES Rammstein, and Slipknot, because I
littered item on the planet
Arts & Entertainment Writer look up to these bands and they're the
best in what they do. I would then go
Behemoth is embarking on their first for more underground bands such as
Your ass goes ..and your butts
ever headlining tour in North America, Devil’s Blood and Vesania.”
here... go here and vocalist and lead guitarist Adam Many Edmonton metal fans were out-
“Nergal” Darski is filled with nothing raged in 2009 when they realized that
but extreme enthusiasm. Behemoth didn’t make it over the border
“The ‘Evangelia Amerika’ tour is a for the Summer Slaughter Tour. Nergal
very historical moment for us,” Nergal The band spent some time record- quickly shares his apologies and sighs
shares. “We have played six concerts so ing this past year, working very hard in over the arduous process of clearing cus-
far, and each show has been sold out!” the studio to release their ninth album toms. Nevertheless, Canada maintains a
Formed in 1991, this Polish black- Evangelion in 2009. very special place in the blackened death
ened death metal band has played an “Evangelion is Behemoth’s strongest metal hearts of Behemoth.
important role in establishing their album, and I’ve never been happier “We did some crazy things in the past
home country as having one of the best touring with such a solid record. I'm such as playing a 26-show tour just in
underground extreme metal scenes. finally at peace, and this album reflects Canada. We played at some of the big-
Even with a two-decade history of tre- how happy I am with myself and my gest shit holes where there were only
mendous intensity, the metal lifestyle is work. It feels awesome.” about 50 people in attendance. Yet, we
THIS WEEK IS NATIONAL NON-SMOKING WEEK
not without some obstructions. Nergal continues with satisfaction in still gained a lot of recognition and awe-
“We've had some technical difficul- his voice, “There was a great vibe in the some feedback from the crowd,” Nergal
If you’re thinking about quitting contact the U of A
ties along the way in terms of the bus studio and the album has been greatly laughs.
Tobacco Cessation Program:
generator breaking down. It was freez- received. We've been in magazines and Furthermore, Nergal assures fans
ing outside and we had to spend one polls all across the world, indicating that in Edmonton that Behemoth is going
[email protected]
night sleeping in the bus with no heat. our album is excelling” to compensate for their unintentional
Brought to you by the We had to sleep with all our gear and Though Behemoth is primarily a 2009 absence by putting together an
jackets, hoping not to freeze to death,” death-metal outfit, what may be surpris- unforgettable metal experience that will
Students for a Smoke Free University (SFASFU)
Nergal says. ing about Evangelion to longtime fans of defile morality and breed pestilence.
LED Da <<
Even menacing metal bands like the band is the inclusion of'a Killing Joke “There is going to be complete chaos
Behemoth cannot withstand ominous cover on the special addition. accompanied with pure professional-
North American winters. But besides a “[Killing Joke] is probably one of the ism, intensity, and devotion. We're play-
few chilly nights, Nergal promptly reas- best, but most underrated punk bands ing four songs from the new album, and
sures me that the rest of the tour has been out there. It was a real challenge to featuring Behemoth rarities that will
WWW.SU.UALBERTA.CA/STUDENTGROUPS
easy going, professional, exciting, and, embark on such a non-metal cover, but blow the minds of both old and new
perhaps surprisingly, hangover-free. performing Venom and Slayer covers Behemoth fans.”
Volunteer!
Comedic performances rock Thunderstick
Make a difference to an
Elementary or Junior High Student!
theatrereview
Thunderstick
Directed by Bradley Moss and Del
Surjik
Starring Lorne Cardinal and Craig
Lauzon
Runs until January 31 at 8 p.m., 2 p.m.
on Sundays, No show Mondays
Roxy Theatre (10708-124 St.)
$13-27 at theatrenetwork.ca
We need students who will
DUSTIN BLUMHAGEN
tutor at least one hour a
Arts & Entertainment Staff
week, working with students
on academics and self-esteem.
While wandering through the lobby
of the Roxy, passing by middle-aged a — Mm & ‘ -
women in dresses sipping wine and laughter that had my sides hurting and interesting show. The audience was on
chatting with clean-cut middle-aged powerful moments that had tears rolling an emotional roller-coaster ride, which
men in suits, I began to feel a high down my face, Thunderstick surprised could have easily led to disaster. Every
amount of anxiety building within me at every turn. time the laughter almost drowned out
my chest. In all honesty, it’s been a few The play was pushed as a comedy, the actors, they would bring the audience
What’s in it for you: years since I’ve attended a play, and the and it surpassed all expectations in that back down with serious discussions.
first time it wasn’t related to an attempt regard. I honestly haven't laughed so hard The overall production of the show
* Work in your area of interest or expertise
to impress a girl. As I left the building, I in a long time. Rather, what caught me was wonderful. Set changes were
¢ Experience working with youth
passed through a group of smokers con- by surprise was the inclusion of seri- executed quickly, with the charac-
¢ Enhanced interpersonal communication skills
gregated on the sidewalk and I overheard ters keeping the audience laughing the
* Pride from community involvement ous content. Lauzon’s character, Isaac,
their conversation about the careers of has returned from time spent overseas. whole time. The soundtrack was sparse
We’re recruiting at the UofA! the two actors in Thunderstick, sud- When he took the time to speak of his and suited the situations perfectly. The
denly recalling my conversation with experiences, it was a heart-wrenching hip-hop remix of a speech by Jean
Monday & Tuesday Wednesday & Thursday
Craig Lauzon last week. I reminded moment. As we get to know Lorne Chretien will forever play in my mind
January 25 & 26 January 27 & 28
myself that he’d said it was a play guys Cardinal’s character Jacob and under- alongside images of Jacob vomiting on
Tory Business Atrium Cafeteria, Education Building
could enjoy, so maybe I had nothing to stand the depths of his alcoholism, we him. I enjoyed the show so much that
9:00 am — 3:30 pm 9:00 am — 3:30 pm
worry about. feel sympathy. Interestingly, these starkly I am going to go see it one more time
Shortly after If ound my seat, the lights different characters are swapped between on a night when the actors assume the
dimmed briefly. Faint groans came from Lauzon and Cardinal each night, adding opposite roles. The characters provided a
For further information contact: the stage, where after a few moments another dynamic to the play. hilarious show that managed to put forth
Sherry Melney of darkness, were found to be coming When subjects like child abuse, both more genuine passion than the hundred
from a body lying next toa pile of empty physical and sexual, are approached, other cookie-cutter Shakespeare produc-
Phone: [phone]
beer bottles and Jack Daniels. From the they're confronted with an honesty that tions I have been forced to endure in
3 EDMONTON PUBLIC SCHOOLS
moment of my first laugh, | completely made the audience visibly squirm in the past. And like Lauzon suggested to
let go of any reservations that I had about their seats in discomfort. The play was me during our chat last week, maybe
the show. Alternating between bouts of very well written, which made for an lll bring a date.