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Septl8,2008} www.themuse.ca NEWS

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Jack Layton talks politics at MUN

If elected, NDP Leader Jack Layton promises to pass legislation for dedicated payments to provinces for post­secondary education funding. CHAD YOUNG

Par 'the

leader calls NDP "tchen party of Canada'

By Ian MacDonald

Surrounded by a slew of people, reporters, and cameras, New Democratic Party leader Jack Layton gave students the chance to ask questions and have a chat last Friday in the University Centre.

Layton told students that his party can best represent the interests of Canadian families.

One of the most important problems these families face, he says, can be found at the gas station.

"There is no better example of the issues that families are facing today than the gouging at the gas pumps that's going on;' he said. cTve got to say if Stephen Harper is not willing to stand up to the big oil companies you can count on me to do so as Prime Minister. I'll watch your back if .he's not prepared to do so:'

Layton says that family is an important part of his campaign and that the most common problems for Canadians are the ones discussed around the kitchen table.

"Here in Newfoundland and Labrador when you have a party you have a kitchen party;' he said. "Well I think the NDP is the kitchen party and there's nothing wrong with that:'

Further separating himself from Harper, Layton also pledges that if he were to become Prime Minister he would honour the commitments made by the federal government in the Atlantic Accord.

Concerning the current campaign in Afghanistan, he says that if elected he will stick by what he said in 2007 - that Canadian troops should be pulled from the mission.

"I'll tell you one thing as a teache1~ you know that students can't acl1ieve their potential as students ifthey1re spending that n1uch tin1e, often in n1inimum wage jobs, and they're coining into class exhausted:' - Jack Layton, NDP leader.

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"Nothing has changed. Our party was the first, really the only party, to say we needed a new direction in Afghanistan;' he said.

"We believe that that the mission, just by all indications, is taking us to more and more problems:'

Layton calls for a change of direction for Canada, back to its roots as a peacemaking nation, avoiding confrontation with other states whenever possible.

On the issue of youth involvement in politics, · Layton points to the NDP's constitution.

Their mandate requires at least one youth to be present in all decision-making efforts.

"You're going to live here a lot longer than I am, so you better be involved in setting the direction and setting the course from the get go:'

He says that the NDP is also working to encourage young women to enter into the political sphere. w

"Just to give you the last election as an example, our party has the highest percentage of women candidates and not

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As a former teacher, Layton says he understands the troubles that students face, including growing debt.

The first step in fixing these problems, says Layton, is sitting in the House of Commons.

This piece of legislation calls for the creation of a post­secondary education act that would assure stable, definitive, transfer payments from the federal government to the provinces.

"Students come into classes and they've worked 15, 20, 30, 40, hours a week over and above their studies. I'll tell you one thing as a teacher, you know that students can't achieve their potential as students if they're spending that much time, often in minimum wage jobs, and they're coming into class exhausted;' he said.

"We're undermining our education system by the way we're doing things now:'

NEWS {SeQtl8,2008 www.themuse.ca

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VVorksernployeesin strike position . By Kenny Sharpe

Employees at The Works have rejected a new collective agreement and are in a strike. position, with staff at both the Field house and Aquarena pushing for higher wages and better benefits.

The Works currently employs over 200 people, many of whom are. full-time students working part-time jobs in order to financially stay afloat. Full-time staff members also work at the facilities.

In mid-August, 98 per cent of Canadian Association of Public Employees ( CUPE) members on staff rejected an offer from the University.

As of Tuesday, September 16, there was nothing official indicating that a strike would actually come into effect.

That being said, many unofficial tips from both Works employees themselves and local union officials pointed in the direction of a mid-week walk out.

~Q!eens

Bill Thistle, voluntary chairper:son for the Board at The Works was optimistic that an agreement could be to be reached between the negotiating parties.

"We have reached a tentative agreement with the Works employees, an agreement that will cost us an additional $800,000 in salaries alone by year four of this tentative agreement:'

"I hope that there won't be a strike. We are going to approach CUPE [on Wednesday] and hopefully find a resolution to this, but at this point in time it is a little concerning for us:'

To remain competitive with other recreation complex facilities across the country, and in anticipation of the gradual shift to a $10 minimum wage in the province by 2010, employees at The Works are seeking higher wages and better benefits, an act which Thistle hopes won't drive up membership fees.

"If we are going to be running an

Unless employees from the Works and administration can come to an agreement, a strike may force the facility to close. KENNY SHARPE

additional $800,000 in salary costs, and we are basically breaking even at this point, you have to find the money from somewhere:'

CUPE national representative Dawn Learning was also tight-lipped.

''What I can say is that the membership did take a strike vote last night and there is a mandate for a

strike;' she said. "I currently have been talking to the

conciliation officer and with the local strike committee about the is6ue and we will have more information in the coming days:l

Editor's note: For updates on the negotiations, please visit www. them use. ca.

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·septl8,2008} www. themuse.ca NEWS MUNSU to work against changes to CEQs New rules give professors the right to veto negative student feedback

By Kenny Sharpe

Whether you're the type who simply shades in the boxes, or the type who provides a little more feedback in the space provided, professors at Memorial now have access to view your Course Evaluation Questionnaires and ultimately select what comments will be made available for other students to see.

Memorial University's Faculty Association (MUNFA) and MUN's administration reached a memorandum of understanding on the issue over the summer.

Campbell says all student representatives on campus were opposed to the proposed changes to the Course Evaluation Questionnaire (CEQ) system, with opposition coming in fewer

numbers from the other side. "The whole of the student

representatives were against it, and Dr. Lily Walker was against it, I believe she was the only administrative member who was against such a move:' he said.

Campbell says the new system could block students from viewing info they should be able see.

"So if a professor gets a negative CEQ he or she can just say, well I don't want other students to see this ... and if students are collectively saying that there is an issue with their professor, or the work load is too little, or the testing is too difficult, or lectures are not decent, then it should be accessible. These are things that potential students should know:'

War resisters demonstrate ....

in St. John's Ex-U.S. solider Ryan J oh11son calls on students to organize against deportation

By Ian MacDonald

Both MUNFA and University administration say that information obtained through CEQs are part of a professor's intellectual property, but Campbell says he can't understand at what point - through the University administering the CEQ forms and the students filling them out - that the professor should actually gain the rights to them.

"I can see the argument where the University administers it and it belongs to them, or I can see the argument where it belongs to the students because they fill them out, but where the professdr comes into play, I don't kn " ow.

Campbell urges students to take caution when registering for a specific course, and in

particular, to realize that if a professor's ratings are not available for viewing, then there must be a reason why.

Memorial English professor and former chair for the senate committee on the CEQ matter Shane O'Dea agrees that valuable information may go unnoticed, however he provides an external alternative.

"I think it is regrettable because the student's level of choice is reduced. I know well that students have complete access to ratemyprofessor.com, so they can pick up the information they are seeking there:'

"But that is not what was intended by the CEQ. They were supposed to be a stand alone thing that pretty much had every student fill these forms out, and

Over 70 people gathered at a rally in support of Iraq war resisters seeking asylum in Canada. The protest, which featured war resister Ryan Johnson, was one of many held across Canada in hopes of convincing the federal government to let these people stay. Iraq war resister Ryan Johnson has spent the last three years trying to stay in Canada. IAN MACDONALD

The MUN Students' Union, the Graduate Students' Union, and the War Resisters Campaign supported the rally.

"The Graduate Students' Union caught wind of a

motion that was passed at the annual general meeting of the CFS [Canadian Federation of Students] last May in support

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of war resisters," said GSU president Matthew Fuchs.

"We followed suit and lobbied the Harper government to stop deportation of war resisters:'

Currently the Liberal, New Democratic Party (NDP), Bloc Quebecois, and Green Party all disagree with the notion of deportation.

If sent back to the United States, the former soldiers face a penalty of jail time and a permanent record, keeping them from getting government assistance. .

Johnson joined the American military in 2003.

With limited his job options, a solid career with health benefits and free education seemed like the best way to start a new family.

Finishing his training in September of 2004, he was told he would be deployed sometime before Valentine's Day.

He then started asking other soldiers what had taken place during their operations.

"They told me about raids on homes where they kicked in people's doors and held all the women and children at gunpoint. Putting bags over the men's heads, zip­cuffing them, ransacking their homes."

Two months later he began to complain about back problems. The doctor told him his problem was a pulled muscle and gave him a prescription of Tylenol-3 and Percocet.

When he was finally diagnosed with two fractured vertebrae, he was denied treatment because it was too close to his deployment time.

Instead, he was to be shipped to Iraq with a year's supply of painkillers.

"It made me question what would happen when I came back, if I had lost an arm or something," he said.

"If, in the States, they won't properly treat me before I'm deployed, what will they do when I'm back and completely useless to them?"

that provided a professor, the administration, and the student with information about all the courses:'

O'Dea said that although the change takes away from the overall purpose of CEQ forms and limits the amount of information available to students, there will be no reasoning provided on behalf of for those professors who choose not to post their results.

With the amendment already approved and put in place MUNSU says that it will be difficult to counter.

The Union has, however, established a committee to look into the matter further, and may even go so far as issuing their own CEQ-based evaluation is fully accessible and confidential.

Shortly after, he made the decision to flee the military and within months came to Canada for refuge.

He has spent ·the last three years fighting for the right to stay in the country.

Now he's calling for students on all campuses to make this a federal election issue and join in his lobbying efforts.

"You can set up a musician to do something in support of us, get people to sign a petition, organize something to go to the Conservative riding, or go to their constituency office."

"They pretty much refuse to meet with us [resisters] on all fronts," he said.

Ryan Cleary, NDP candidate for the St. John's south-Mount Pearl riding, also appeared at the rally to give a speech in support of Johnson and a peaceful Canada.

"Canada should go back to what it was, a nation of peacekeepers;' he said. "How do we want to be perceived around the world?"

'

N:EWS ..

{ SeQtl8,2008 www.themuse.ca

Students to politicians: Stop squabbling Atla11tic student lobby groups reach across party lines to engage students i11 federal election . By Danielle Webb

ANTIGONISH (CUP)- Sam Pikelin doesn't think students are apathetic towards politics. Instead, he says politicians just aren't working hard enough to let students know they care.

"[Politicians] simply are not making the issues we care about relevant;' said Pikelin, a recent graduate of Mount Allison University in Sackville, N.B.

Zach Churchill, national director of the Canadian Alliance of Student Associations, also thinks politicians are not reaching their student constituents.

"Students are very civically engaged, but not necessarily in partisan politics, because our politicians haven't reached out with issues that are important to them:' he said.

"Instead, we see leaders on both sides of the political spectrum attacking one another on a personal level. It quite frankly disgusts me:' Pikelin said.

Pat Connors, a student at St. Francis Xavier University in Antigonish, N .B., agrees.

"It would even make me happy if they could just stop the childish quibbling that has been so prevalent and actually debate issues in a serious manner. I think Canadians of all political stripes are demanding it and deserve no less:' he said.

However, national and

provincial student associations are busy lobbying the nation's leading political parties to ensure student issues are on the agenda. Their biggest concerns are post­secondary education accessibility and high tuition levels.

Kaley Kennedy, the Canadian Federation of Students representative in Nova Scotia, is calling on the new government to create a post -secondary education act that would ensure that funding for universities would go to the right places.

"We want to ensure that the money is being put into the pockets of students:' said Kennedy.

The Alliance of Nova Scotia Students Association (ANSSA) is also calling on the next government to create policy around post -secondary education in the form of an access agenda.

"This agenda should work to increase the participation rates of under-represented groups across Canada:' said Kelly Wilson, executive director of ANSSA.

"It's no secret that Canada's national economy will ~e facing significant challenges in the not­so-distant future. ANSSA believes that education should act as the key to unlocking many of our national demographic and economic challenges. Our capacity to build a diverse, skilled, and creative workforce will determine much of our success going forward:' Wilson said.

These student associations are also working closely with their member students' unions to ensure students are equipped with all the necessary information come voting day.

Wilson believes politicians will cater to their most demanding demographic.

"Politics creates a forum through which voters can communicate their concerns and priorities. Politicians, in turn, receive the~e concerns and prioritize our national agenda;' she said. "In order to create momentum around student issues, students must vote and participate in the political process:'

Students' unions across Atlantic Canada are busy preparing their campuses for October 14, federal election day.

Campaign signs are abundant at one of the entrances to St. Francis Xavier University in Antigonish, Nova Scotia. DANIELL£ WEBB/CUP

Kyle Steele, president of the Acadia University Students' Union in Wolfville, N.S., hopes the combination of the federal election, ·a municipal election, and a Students' Union byelection will encourage students to exercise their right to vote.

Steele says plans include an all­candidates' debate and information spread through websites, Facebook, and e-mail.

"In my own honest opinion, if you don't vote, you can't complain - so everyone should be out practicing their democratic right;' said Steele.

As well, Jon O'Kane, VP

External for the University of New Brunswick Student Union in Fredericton, is busy with voter registration, ensuring that every student knows they can vote in their hometown or at school.

"When a student casts a ballot, it is a message to whoever wins the election that the student portions of constituencies will hold governments accountable, making what each individual believes an important platform for national debate and discussion:' said O'Kane.

The campus meal hall at Mount Allison University has already been determined as a polling station for the riding of Beausejour.

"This year the campus is politically super-charged; the years when apathetic young people would vaguely reject old-school politics are over. They are now willing to vociferously assert themselves on the political stage by promoting involvement on a local level:' said Mark Brister, VP External of Mount Allison's Students' Administrative Council.

But for Scott Matheson, a St. Francis Xavier University student, this election will be about the issues, not partisan politics.

"I challenge the candidates in [my riding] to convince me why I should vote for them, and I promise to keep an open mind regardless of their party affiliation:'

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Septl8,2008} www.themuse.ca

STAND starts walking

Student grotlp cainpaigns to raise awareness of Darftir ge11ocide

By Ian MacDonald

Activists gathered on Signal Hill to lobby the Canadian government into taking action in Darfur.

Organized by Memorial's chapter of Students Taking Actiop Now, Darfur (STAND) the march, which started at the top of the hill, ended at Bowring Park on Waterford Bridge Road.

Anne Wagner, national chairperson for STAND Canada traveled from Ryerson University in Toronto to attend the march. She says that events like the walk represent the organization's motto of "making it easy to act against genocide."

"We want the government to make taking aggressive and immediate action to end the crisis in Darfur a cornerstone of Canadian foreign policy, and for them to be a leader when the end does occur."

"Things we do, like this walk today, really inform people about what is going on in Sudan half a world away. This creates a grassroots movement that sends a message to our decision and policymakers that it is unacceptable to let this conflict continue."

The war in Darfur began in 2003 when the Sudanese government, along with two rebel groups, began a series of ethnic cleansings in the region.

Since then, the United Nations estimates that as many as 300,000 people have been murdered or have died from starvation.

STAND's campaigning is not stopping at the march, as events are planned to run throughout the federal election.

The organization has launched a 1-800-genocide campaign encouraging concerned students to leave messages for politicians.

"You can call parliament hill and talk to Stephen Harper, Stephan Dion, Jack Layton, and David Emerson, foreign affairs minister," said Trina Porter, STAND Canada's speaker co­ordinator.

Last year MUN students left 400 messages as part of the campaign.

In an effort to get candidates talking about the issue, STAND has also been running a Speak The Name policy with MP hopefuls.

"It's basically saying when a candidate talks about Darfur, we'll talk about them;' said Porter.

"Like an eye for an eye type thing. If they stand up in a public forum ... and tell us about it, then we'll talk about them at our events."

She says that the local Conservative MPs have yet to contact her, but the Liberals and NDPs have been supportive.

STAND activists marched from Signal Hill to Bowring Park to get people talking about Darfur. SUBMITTED

NEWS

According to MUNFA President Ross Klein, the University constitution needs stronger autonomy protection. KEN MACLEOD

Faculty association calls for government to stay out of future hiring By Ian MacDonald

The revelation of presidential search correspondence between senior education department officials and Board of Regents Chair Gil Dalton has provoked more criticism from MUN's faculty association.

The documents, which were obtained through a Liberal access-to-information claim, reveal a set of questions that the Minister had prepared for Memorial's presidential candidates.

The questions centered around government-University relations, how the two could work together in areas of mutual interest, and what government policies are relevant to Memorial.

"What government was looking for was to have somebody in place to take the University in ways that were consistent with the government's own priorities;' said Ross Klein, president of the MUN Faculty Association

Correction

Correction

(MUNFA). Education Minister Joan

Burke defended these interview notes to the CBC on Sept. 10.

"It [was] a very free- flowing type of conversation, so it wasn't structured and scripted - strictly that this was it and there was nothing else said in that meeting;' she said.

Klein says MUNFA has been consistent with its message since it was revealed that Burke dismissed two presidential candidates.

Klein proposed two solutions. The first would allow proceedings to continue as normal, with the second ensuring that this wouldn't happen again.

"One is to issue a very clear commitment that [government] will not interfere any further in the search for a new president and, [second], that they would change the University Act to eliminate the role of the lieutenant governor in council;' he said.

In University legislation, the Board of Regents must have

agreement from the lieutenant governor in council to appoint

' the president. The use of this power, which

was a formality in the past, flies in the face of the spirit of the University Act, says Klein.

"Nowhere in the University act is there a provision where government could interview, let alone have a voice, in the selection of the president."

"Our position would be that Gil Dalton, in his acting as chair of the Board of Regents and of the search committee, acted in ways that were at variance with what is dictated by the legislation:'

Gil Dalton recently announced that he would not move to renew his term as Chair, which expires on Oct. IS.

On Sept. IS, the Board announced the creation of an ad-hoc committee to give the Board recommendations on changing the University Act to ensure Memorial's autonomy.

No Board members could be reached for comment.

•

In the article "What to study'~ (The Mt~se's Student Survi-val Guide, :Vol. 59, issue O)thelvtuse incorrectly identified Police Studies Diploma Program application due date as being.in January. A-pplications for the 2009-2010 class<are due November 12.

N:EWS Students' Union to look into CEQ changes

full and your representation was ready.

Here's the beat:

• Canadian Federation of Students Organizer Keith Dunne, ·who chaired the meeting, opened with a projected image of the evening's agenda.

As he explained, it was an attempt to save paper adapted by this year's MUN Students' Union

-rvtUNS£1 beat (MUNSU) members, indicating By Kenny Sharpe that when thinking about "-------------..... environmental sustainability,

every little bit counts. On Wednesday, September 10, the MUN Students' Union's Board of Directors sat down for what was the first of many midweek meetings yet to come.

The shindig began with a introduction of all board members, new faces or old.

Covering a whole summer's worth of issues, along with the slew that have popped up since the term began, the agenda was

• Director of Advocacy Ryan Marshall told the board that a recent motion passed by the Senate and Memorial University's Faculty Association enables your professor have the final say on whether Course Evaluation Questionnaires - the pieces of paper you fill out during the last few days of classes each semester - can be published.

• our 1n

• •

As Marshall explained, before, students simply filled them out, giving feedback about the course requirements, the workload involved, and the professor's teaching ability.

The professors themselves were not able to view the ratings that students gave until they were anonymously posted on Memorial's banner system.

The issue stirred much debate around the Board, prompting the decision that a committee be formed to look into the matter.

The executive said that their position on the topic will be made official, and that perhaps MUNSU could develop their own evaluation to supplement the CEQs.

• Director of Campaigns, Melissa Penney gave her week in review, recapping her involvement in Shinerama and for the upcoming Sexual Violence Awareness (SVA) week.

"For SVA week I've met with

• IS

as 1m

as our au

United Way, which was really interesting to see so many different community groups working together to highlight the importance of sexual violence:'

She indicated that Shinerama, a fundraiser for cystic fibrosis research, has already raised $12,000 compared to about $6,000 from last year.

• Travis Collins, director of finances and services had some good news about MUNSU's books, saying that budgets have been established and reviewed for Union franchises like CHMR, The Breezeway, and The Attic I Copy Center.

• Director of Student Life Bradley Russell said that orientation was a huge success, giving props to Adam Daniels.

Daniels, who organized this year's events, was also appointed as the MUNSU representative on Memorial's Board of Regents, replacing the outgoing rep Megan

•

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{ Septl8,2008 www. themuse.ca

Mitchell. He will serve for a two­year term.

"The Breezeway also did fantastic, bringing in almost $25,000 in three days:' said Russell, later indicating that this past weekend's Our Lady Peace concert could bring in anywhere between $40,000 to $60,000 in profit.

• Director of External Affairs, Cameron Campbell announced that David Suzuki's national campus tour will be launched in St. John's on September 30.

His discussion tour will highlight the importance of preserving the environment.

The event will take place in Memorial's Field House and is open to students and public. Admission for the event is free.

• Referring to it as 'The Ongoing Saga for Memorial's Next President: Campbell brought up the presidential search process, asking if anybody had any updates.

"They are acting like adults now so hopefully we will see some resolve to that issue, or at least an update .. .in a while:' said Director at Large Colin Corcoran

• Ryan Marshall scraped a few volunteers together to join a committee on the Student Code of Conduct.

He also recruited another member to head a group that will push for a campus-wide wireless upgrade, and indicated that Rob Cooke was looking for volunteers to join his wellness committee, which is currently assessing the quality of food provided at post­secondary institutions.

Marshall said Margaret Atwood will be in town on October 18 at the Arts and Culture Centre as part of the CBC Massey lecture, where she will be presenting on debt.

Septl8,2008} www.themuse.ca NEWS Concordia University ba~s Face book

Administrarion cites security as reaso11 for filter, otl1ers disagree

ace

By Shanthi Benjamin

MONTREAL (CUP)- Concordia University in Montreal blocked Facebook from all campus desktop computers on September 1 - a move that has left some students and professors outraged and confused.

"I was surprised to learn about the ban - and yes, I learned about it while trying to log onto Facebook in my office;' said assistant professor, Lisa Lynch.

"Most universities have either embraced or at least grudgingly accepted Facebook;' she added. "In fact, the University of Maryland recently established an emergency alert system using Facebook as means of communicating [with] their students. Concordia's ban on Facebook thus seems out of touch with general trends in universities as a whole:'

According to Chris Mota, a Concordia spokesperson, security concerns were the driving force behind the move

"There were real concerns about having certain elements

Upcoming election fuels climate change tour CPS spreads the \Nord

on tl1e po,ver of votii1g

By Kenny Sharpe and Ian MacDonald

The Canadian Federation of Students is insisting on the importance of student funding, sustainable environment, and the power of voting in this year's federal election. A message, they hope, will sway voters and candidates alike.

According to Daniel Smith, provincial chairperson of the Canadian Federation of Students (CPS), sustainability is paramount in this election.

In collaboration with sustainability organizations like the Sierra Youth Coalition and the David Suzuki Foundation, the CFS has developed a nationwide tour, sending delegates to various post -secondary institutions to spread the word about environmental issues.

Memorial is the first stop on the Students for Sustainability Campus Tour featuring iconic environmentalist David Suzuki. The tour kicks off on Sept. 30.

The Canadian Youth Climate Coalition branch of the Federation will be presenting a Power to Vote campaign that will correlate with the sustainability tour.

"The Power to Vote campaign was created to encourage young people to get out and vote, with hopes to combat climate change and to promote and put front and centre, environmental sustainabilitY:' said Smith.

The CFS will also be lobbying potential MPs to take a stance against Bill C-61, a proposed copyright law the Federation says could bring down fines on students trying to copy material from libraries.

"It's a bill that was written with commercial interests at

CFS National Chairperson, Ketherine Giroux Bougard says Bill C-61 favours Commercial interest. JONATHAN PENNEY '

heart and not for the academic community;' said Katherine Giroux-Bougard, national chairperson of the CFS.

"It was also a bill that was tabled without any consultation:'

Bougard says the group will also be fighting for increased funding for the Post-Secondary Students Support Program, which improves Aboriginal students' access to higher education.

''Aboriginal students are actually the fastest growing demographic in Canada;' she said.

"The last statistic was there was almost 10,000 students that were not getting funding to post­secondary education:'

Since the '90s the program has had a two per cent per-year increase in funding.

Although the CFS officially holds a non-partisan, neutral stance when it comes to party preference, Smith did mention that the national office for the

federation is currently compiling a report card based on the platforms that each party is presenting.

Once released, candidates can work with the CFS to improve their standings on any of the issues they were graded on.

The Federation will also be hosting a debate between local MP candidates, at MUN campus on October 8. According to Smith, they will then hit the road to tell students the importance of voting.

"It is the students of our country that will be leading it in all sectors once they finish their degrees and enter the professional world. What we do now and who we stand up for will make all the difference:' he said.

For more information or to view tour dates and goals for the CFS Sustainability Campus Tour, visit powerupcanada.ca or ourclimate.ca.

of Facebook corrupt our [Information Technology] system. Apparently it was deemed insecure and a decision was made to protect the system:' he said.

Elias Makos, Concordia's technical director for journalism, disagrees. For him, concerns about network cost are much more likely factors.

"The official reason [for blocking Facebook] is complete bullshit. It makes no sense;' he said. "Quite frankly the reason they probably banned it is because it is hogging up bandwidth:'

"I think it sucks: I think it's stupid ... anyone with half a brain can easily circumvent it and get to Facebook anyway. All of these websites are out there, just to go around filters. And there's even other ways to get around filters. Filters do not work. They never have:' he said. "Kids are smarter than this:'

"If an 11-year-old can get around a filter, what do you think a university student can do?" he add~d.

However other social networking sites, such as MySpace and Bebo, which pose greater

threat levels in terms of "spam, viruses and leaks of confidential information;' are still allowed access.

Still, at least one Concordia student agrees with the University's policy.

"This ban will not affect me. Actually, I take that back. I'm overjoyed;' said Roxane Hudon, a political science student.

"If most Concordia students want to spend their time on Facebook, checking which one of their friends is 'really tired' or 'working' or 'had a crazy time last night; then maybe they should just stay home and watch repeats of Gossip Girl instead - it might teach them more about life:'

But for many students, Facebook isn't just used as a social network.

Sarah Deshaies, a first-year student, says Facebook has become a standard tool for information gathering.

"You can even see when you watch TV and someone has died and the coverage shows pictures from Facebook or the messages from friends and family on their

all,

w.

Graduates get less cash Increasil1g ad1nission dimipishes degree returns

A post-secondary education may not give you the advantage it used to, but MUN professor Lewis Fischer says the investment is still worth it. IAN MACDONALD

By Ian MacDonald

According to a report released last year, having a post­secondary education in Canada is becoming less advantageous by the year. But, it doesn't necessarily mean the poor house for those who sought to invest in their future.

The Education at a Glance report is based on a survey of the earnings and education of people in the 25 to 64 age range.

This system of averages raises some problems, says Lewis Fischer, a professor of history at Memorial who has done research in the field.

"You get these 25 year-olds who are getting a starting salary, so their salaries are pretty low:'

''Among the 64 year-olds, you get some CEOs who are making obscene amounts of money ... what I'm saying is, there's a

problem with the methodology here:'

Even so, Canada falls behind a number of countries on the list, a result of its slipping post-secondary profits. The Czech Republic, Luxembourg, Belgium, and Portugal take the top grade with little to none of their citizens earning below the median income level after earning post -secondary education.

But this doesn't mean that higher education is a bad route to take, says Fischer.

"The rates of return from the investments in education were not as great as they were in the mid 1990s;' he said.

It also revealed that large numbers of Canadians are complete post-secondary education. Of Canadians aged 25 to 34, 55 per cent have finished a degree, while the average of the surveyed countries falls at 33 per cent.

"In every nation, even ours, people have been pushing like hell for you to go to university;' said Fischer.

"We've also, in the process, created a labour shortage ... [which] means that the salaries for non-university people, for some groups of non-university people, are rising faster than graduates:'

Fischer says it's important for students to think about the returns of their education. If you go to school for four years, that's four years without any income while spending money on university.

"So the question has to be ... how much do I have to make to offset that:' he said.

The report was released by the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development, a group that analyzes and compares trends and statistics in over 100 democratic countries.

{SeQtl8,2008 www.themuse.ca

MUNSUand Joan Burke still bffl

"If the government thinks it can intervene in Memorial's affairs for politically partisan purposes, then Memorial will not have much stature among the universities in Canada;' former MUN Chancellor John Crosbie told the CBC over a year ago.

Though he provided this comment in the context of Grenfell's autonomy, his words have an eerie relevance today in light of the presidential hiring debacle.

How many commentators, professors, and union reps have uttered that same sentiment in the last month or so?

Well, two too few. The MUN Students' Union

and the Canadian Federation of Students have been disappointingly uncritical in the media on all issues related to the presidential hiring.

MUNSU's Director of External Affairs Cameron Campbell told the Telegram in July that the Union is definitely looking for a new president who's going to keep the interests of students in mind.

New documents obtained under access to information legislation show exactly what government was looking for: A candidate that has its interest - not the interest of students -in mind.

Critics voiced a collective "I told you so" as records showed that Education Minister Joan

Burke asked politically charged questions to candidates she vetoed for MUN's top job.

According to ·Burke's interview notes, she was looking for familiarity with government post-secondary policy and a willingness to co­operate with government on issues of mutual interest.

Burke also asked candidates about Sir Wilfred Grenfell College's forthcoming autonomy.

"They appear more to be questions designed to filter out an individual who doesn't have the same view that the government believes should be held by the individual, or the same view held by government," Ross Klein, the head of MUN's faculty .association told the CBC.

Clearly, this isn't fringe politicians and disheveled basement bloggers who are condemning the search process.

In fact, many key players in post-secondary education in this province have sent a clear message to government out of concern for MUN's autonomy and reputation.

Blinded the tuition freeze and other positive provincial post-secondary policy, however, your student representatives have been hesitant to criticize out of fear of losing an ally.

-Kerri Breen

The world fails (to end) Lije Lessons By Grant Loveys

Congratulations. We made it.

If you're reading this, that means we've survived the world's latest potentially apocalyptic experiment, the Large Hadr.on Collider.

Anyway, for those who don't know what the Large Hadron Collider (LHC) is, let me explain. It's this giant tube thingy under France and Switzerland in which atoms are fired from either end and smash together at the speed of light so that, when they collide, a new type of particle will be created. (Remember to spell my name correctly when you cite this in your physics papers).

The problem is that the scientists involved had very little idea what was actually going to happen, and naturally some people took this to mean it was going to crack the world in two or turn all the air into peanut butter or something.

I'm interested in it mostly because the whole thing is so insanely, mind-bendingly foreign to me. Even the Wikipedia article is utterly impenetrable - my brain feels funny when I'm reading it.

Honestly, though, I'm not surprised. A few years ago I took a first-year math course and barely muddled through it. The next one I failed righteously.

But I'm fine with that. I like that math said to me, "You can go here, but no farther" and kept on going. Now I can leave all

..

NATHAN DOWNEY

that to the scientists and their test tubes.

Failure is neGessary because it shows you where your limits are. I don't subscribe to the idea that we can all be whatever we want if we set goals and aim high. The way I see it, what we are is already inside us. We just have to find it.

Einstein changed our understanding of the universe, but the story goes that he failed every subject other than math and physics on his first university entrance exam. He knew where his limits were, and then put all his energy into the areas where he had none.

Civilization is propelled by the ideas of those incredibly rare individuals whose limits are beyond everyone else's, like these LHC scientists .

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THURSDAY, SEPT H, 2008

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The Muse IS a member of Canadian Umversity Press (CUP). Established in 1950 as a successor to the Memorial Times (est. 1936), it distributes 12,000 copies weekly and is published by The Muse Publications Inc. The M~se reserves the nght to ed1t copy for length, profanity, content, grammatical errors and material that is untairly discriminatory or which contravenes Canadian libel laws. Opinions expressed m fhe Muse are not necessarily those ot the staff, MUNSU, the Board of Directors, or the administration of Memorial University. Material\\ ithin is copyright lhe Muse and its contributors, 2006. Permission is given for any member CUP paper to reproduce (giggady) and alter material for publkation so long as the onginal intent is not altered. 1he Muse is printed by 1 r.1nscontinental.

Septl8,2008} www.themuse.ca · OPINION Talking sex with Sue Johanson

The Loch Sex 1\!Jonster By Krysta Fitzpatrick

Regardless of what my grandma has told me, sex is still important to the elderly - and I don't just mean Blanche from The Golden Girls.

This past Sunday, Canadian sex goddess Sue Johanson spoke to almost 600 people in MUN's field house.

Before the big show I was lucky enough to sit down with the lively 78-year-old to talk about sexual education, pesky myths, and of course, what makes for a great time in the sack.

Even though I've only been a sex columnist for a short while, I still find it difficult to come up with new and insightful topics to write about each issue.

So I've always been amazed at how Johanson seems to find new topics to discuss and explore even after many years in sexual health education.

The question box she sets up at her lectures plays a big part in her discussions.

((I use the question box;' she explained. ((I check and see what's the most common question, what's new, and is there

something I should be concerned about:'

One thing Johanson is very concerned about is the sex education programs in schools, or lack thereof.

She says most grade school sexual education programs to be either ((not good or non -existent;' which is why she began lecturing on sexual health in the first place.

((I ran a birth control clinic for kids in a high school, the first one in North America, and it went crazy;' she said. ((I realized that these kids were having more sex then I was. And they didn't know what they were doing, they had so many questions and I wanted to teach them about sex:'

Since going back to school to become a sexual education teacher, Johanson has been doing just that. As a result, she's discovered a lot about sex over the years.

There are many misconceptions about sex, so I asked Johanson the most ridiculous myths are.

((With men, bigger is better. Guys always think their penis isn't big enough. For women, they think you have to have this catastrophic orgasm every time or else it wasn't good sex. They think

there's something wrong with them, or that they're frigid, or that their partner was a bad lover:'

As she told the Field House, both myths are completely bogus.

No one orgasms every time, and as for penis size, I hate to break it to all you boys packing some major heat, but the top two thirds of the vagina don't even have sensory receptors. As Johanson phrased it in her lecture, ((You can knock away all

b , h , you want, ut no ones orne. Of course, the million-dollar

question was saved for last. According to Johanson, what

makes for great sex? ((Intimacy;' she said. ((That trust

level is right up there. That sense of togetherness, and it doesn't happen all the time ... there's that wonderful sense of closeness. Of bonding, adoration. But then you pull back, because you have to:'

Huh? Pull back? ((Because if you didn't, you'd

lose yourself. Lose yourself as a person, become (the better half"

Wise advice from a woman who knows a lot about sex.

Editor's note: For more information and advice from Sue Johanson, visit www. talksexwithsue.com

New CEQ rules defeat the purpose Randorn Rant By Krysta Fitzpatrick

Near the end of every semester, students fill out course evaluation questionnaires as a way to anonymously express opinions about their professors and courses.

This is an opportunity for students , to be the evaluators, or at least it was.

·r;!

Before taking a class with a certain prof, a student could go online and read what other students had to say about his or her teaching style.

The results for course evaluation questionnaires ( CEQs) were made available on the Student Web system since 2003.

But now, professors now have the right to not only view the CEQs before they're published, but to have the last word on whether or not their

" .. · ratings get posted. This means that if a prof receives a

negative CEQ, he or she can choose to not have it posted online for

" students to view. 'i:!

Yes, you read that right. Thanks to lobbied for by MUN's

Faculty Association, professors can potentially make all the critical or less than flattering comments about them disappear. What a pile of shit.

The entire purpose and function of posting the CEQs online was so students could get a more or less accurate account of how each prof taught - how helpful and organized their courses were, how heavy the workload was, and so on.

Now, all were bound to get is praises.

Every prof has the right to view his or her ratings. It can help indicate what problems - if any - students are having with their courses. This can help them become better at their jobs.

But for students, all the CEQs will provide is part of the picture. How can we fairly judge what a certain prof or course will be like with only potentially filtered feedback to go on?

CHAD YOUNG

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Mem. · ·is a:·$~t1nt- from':~xposrir¢ to sec university. 1here. are sigl'ls hand smoke;.. I£ you have not

' ... post~. ll ac .th~ pus .. · " , experienced this for yoursel~ . · tellhi . . tnat . ring ·.··.. ntea ' · • I would encourage you to try · products is like wearing poison entering the University Centre, to thos~ with a~~.rgies. .\• < wifll()Uthavill~ adou.~ of . ·· Wh.ile Menidr'ial 18. sm{)~ blown·'ln. your face. · applauded for protecting its Smoking is not only harmful staff and students frontscented to staff and students) it is

·· products) I firid-''it to be>quite alsq .~. disgustirlg habit; that , ·' unfortunate thatthe University makes our campus look like does .not have the same foresight an ashtray with cigarette butts when:it comes t<> smoki11g litt~r~ng the c~mpus a.tevcry .,,. ,

Exposure to second·hand turn.. . smoke is far more harmful than IfMUN truly wanted to

;' s<:ent~~:prodp~rsand ~ls bar~ .; .. be a cutting-edge university~ is not]rist limited to th<)se with ' it would b'an smoldng'on environmental sensitiVities. campus at once.

S<iott Hag ell.·

Mouth Off What do you think of the new Face book? By Krysta Fitzpatrick and Elsa Morena

Rhyder Evans Fifth-year philosophy

Oh, it's disgusting. I hate it almost as much as I hate Mouth Off.

Cameron Campbell Third-year political science

I don't like that you can't see your own wall, but other than that it's okay.

Emily Kenny Fifth-year English

It's annoying. I don't know where anything is.

Nick Parsons First-year undeclared

I tried it once for 20 minutes then ran away because I was so terrified.

Sarah Fitzgerald Third-year business

I hate it. I can't even figure out my own profile.

FEATURE

The Muse's student voting guide Q and A with candidates running in MUN's riding By Kenny Sharpe on the bandwagon and get right

political, like.

With all the hype that has surrounding federal election so far, the Muse decided to hop

Here's what candidates running in the St. John's East had to say about key issues and why students should vote for them.

• Conservati11e

fl Lrberal

NOP

Bl<Xk

ln<lependant

Current OIStnbution of Seats woo dut!ng the 2006 electr011

Statistics Canada I Electrons canada

Election Issues

Education

Afghanistan '.

.....-·Economy

Eror.<i<nY

8 Emrironl'll<" .. mt

a Afghanistan Health Care

• Education

Environment

The S!rateg1c Coo11:w.l 2008, rn a:ll.sociatlon with CTV & The Gk:lbe srl<l Mall

Is The Canadian or U.S .. Presidential Electi011 More Important To Canadians

Do Not Know

II Canadian American -..

Do Nol Know

The Strategrc Counsel 2008, m association with CTV & Toe Globe arl<l Mail

Vot.ar ParticipatiOn

Canadian

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Conservative Party of Canada candidate Craig Westcott

Westcott served as a journalist for more than twenty years. He is currently the editor of the Business Post and a regular a commentator for CBC radio.

The Muse: What are some of your national platforms?

Craig Westcott: The thing about the Harper government is that we are very family friendly. We have the $1,200 per­year childcare allowance for every child under age six, and for every child under the age of 18, their guardians will get a $2,000 tax benefit.

Even with the cuts to the GST, because everyone spends money just to live, so that helps.

In terms of basic economic stuff and the ability to live, especially if you are on limited or fixed income, that stuff helps.

TM: What are some of the earliest benefits that students in this riding will see if your party is elected?

CW: If we give Danny Williams the big goose egg that he is looking for with his ABC campaign - no Conservatives from Newfoundland - well that's going to disconnect and isolate Newfoundland from federal politics and the rest of Canada for the next four years.

TM: What is your favourite song and/ or band?

CW: My favourite band is the Tragically Hip, but my favourite song is actually a Dire Straits song, and it's called "Down To The Waterline:'

TM: What are you reading now? CW: I always read; I'm a compulsive

reader. I always have 10 to 15 books on the go. Right now I'm mostly reading Conrad Black's biography ofFDR.

TM: What are your party's thoughts about alternate energy investment and environmental sustainability?

CW: It's different than Dion's carbon tax. If you look at the performance of the Conservatives over the last couple of years they received a lot of criticism for not implementing the accord at the Liberals' side, but the Liberals have yet to step up to that too.

The Conservatives are trying to set realistic targets and meet those targets that they think industry and the country can meet. After that, we want to urge the rest of the world, like India and China, who are growing rapidly and polluting as they do so, to bring them on as well.

So it's pragmatism, and taking a realistic approach and following through on them.

TM: Assess Canada's role as an international peacekeeper.

CW: We are in a hard situation in Mghanistan. We are in a war, not a peacekeeping situation. It was a Liberal government that actually brought us in there.

I was actually against the invasion, but now that we are in there, we have to find some responsible way to pull out, because if you don't we will be like Cambodia. We will have tens of thousands of Mghans

. i " CHAD YOUNG

who have looked up to the Canadian forces for the last number of years, and just pulling out of there will have them slaughtered by the Taliban. We can't just pull out overnight.

We have to bring our [North Atlantic Treaty Organization] allies to our side to force some kind of decision with the Taliban and force some kind of workable peace so that we can extricate ourselves from there as quick as we can but in a responsible way.

TM: Which American duo (Obama/ Biden or McCain/Palin) would you like to see win office?

CW: I really like Obama but I have to tell you that I find McCain's story fascinating. If you look at this arm you see that it's all crooked up and stuff. He basically had to mend himself

I think that anything that isn't George Bush is an improvement.

TM: What are your thoughts and do you support Danny Williams's ABC campaign?

CW: Take the case ofPEI, they were the only province in Canada that didn't send a Conservative to Ottawa - they sent four Liberals who all sat in opposition.

So rather than have anyone in cabinet or caucus representing them, PEl had to rely on Peter McKay, who is the defense minister, an MP for Nova Scotia, a regional minister for that province, and the minister of the Atlantic Canadian Opportunities Agency, with all those duties he also had to somehow find time to look after PEL

Newfoundland will be in the same spot. Danny Williams is the Pete Rose

ofNewfoundland politics, Pete Rose of course being the famous cheater in baseball. He is trying to fix this election; he is trying to fix this result. And the only person who wins, when people cheat, is the cheater himself

If we don't have any Conservative representation from this province in Ottawa, the people ofNewfoundland and Labrador are going to lose. It is very shortsighted on his part to punish the people of the province just so he can carry out this silly feud that he has with Stephen Harper.

TM: If you could reach out and say something to student voters, what would it be?

CW: I am up against two veteran politicians who have at least twenty years of experience each. I'm younger than both of them; I have more energy. I think it would be great to give someone a little younger the opportunity to see what they cando.

The Harper government is going in, you know this is my chance to have a say in how that government acts.

ABC is a bad idea, and a vote for me is a vote against ABC and a vote to participate in the rest of Canada.

f Sept 18, 2008 1 www.themuse.ca '-

liberal candida

Noel holds a degree in economics ve1 from MUN and is current president of the Downtown Development pru Corporation. He was elected as a pr< Member of the House of Assembly in an1 1989, 1993, 1996, and 1999. it.

The Muse: What are some of your national platforms? int

Walter Noel: People must realize that three parties have programs ab for dealing with the climate change taM program, and they are all going to to( cost money. yo1

The NDP is promoting cap and wo trade which costs money ... while the fro Conservatives have yet to release the I cost of the their green plan, saying pe~

that the numbers won't be ready until SOl

the fall, which would be after the do1 actual election.

One distinct thing about the (0 Liberal program and this topic is YOl that we are going to be revenue neutral. We are going to give people Ob tax deductions, business deductions, an~

and we are going to spend money on De programs to help low income and are middle class people and on programs we to improve the environment. anc

We haven't announced fully our difi program in that regard, but what we need to do is have federal transfers an from the government that will help AB students in their day-to-day activities . I think these platforms will appeal to of students. am

TM: What is your favourite song To and/or band? the

WN: "Ode To Newfoundland" and go) "Let Me Fish Off Cape St. Mary's:' 1

TM: What are you reading now? sp WN: Well I haven't had very Lib

much time during the campaign, just Co keeping up to date via newspapers, the Internet. But normally I read lea all kinds of things. I read a lot of for business stuff, I have a degree in economics and it is really interesting del to view and be up to date on the is. l world's markets right now. He

TM: What are your party's m(l! thoughts about alternate energy son investment and environmental ta sustainability?

WN: A major initiative for this the province is to develop the Lower an Churchill. That is the best source of I th energy that the province has to offer, pollution-wise, and cost-wise. I am hoping that that is going to happen

Septl8,2008 l www.themuse.ca (

,.;

hlterNoel

)On.

mt to persuade the Liberal :Or its commitment to help the tce develop the lower Churchill, ·hink Mr. Dion is favorable of

[: Assess Canada's role as an ational peacekeeper. ~: Well I think we have moved way from peacekeeping and a more aggressive stance. In ; world you have to do that, n't expect others to do the dirty tr you, and then we benefit

tainly Canadians prefer the eeping role more, but when ing more aggressive has to be guess we have to do our share. : Which American duo

'

a/Biden or McCain/Palin) are ting for? : Obama/Biden. I think is a very interesting leader,

[e always identified with the fratic Party in the States. They r most like Liberals in Canada, ~e common beliefs and values, ries of leadership, so it isn't ~t for me to make that decision. 1 What are your thoughts on 1 you support Danny Williams's runpaign? ~:No, I am not a supporter ~hing But Conservative, I ~pporter of voting Liberal. vote ABC could mean that nservatives could return to ment. say if people in St. John's East eir vote between NDP and , well that could mean that the

get back into power. What makes Liberal party

Stephane Dion, the best leader country? : Well I think Harper has

what a poor leader he a man that can't be trusted.

gone back on his word so Canadians have to tell

like that, that we are not

Dion is the most truthful, intelligent, the most honest,

is a leader who can be trusted. Canadians need to put their the confidence of Stephane

KENNY SHARPE

Harris holds a Bachelor of Arts from MUN, a Bachelor of Law from the University of Alberta, and a Master's in Law from the London School of Economics. He was leader of the provincial NDP Party from 1992 to 2003.

The Muse: What are some of your national platforms?

Jack Harris: Well I think our platforms generally want to use government to make the lives of the people better.

Looking after each other are the kind of values which the NDP believe in, going back to Medicare and other federal programs that are so important in people's live. Our programs are for seniors, the unemployed, affordable housing, a national pharmacare program and action on climate change where we will challenge the big polluters to pay up, and using that money to build a greener country.

TM: What are some of the earliest benefits that students in this riding will see if your party is elected to power?

JH: I think that as the NDP we have already launched a fixed student aid campaign aimed at lower interest rates on student loans. We believe in a national needs-based grant for all post­secondary students and we support a national ombudsman for the whole process.

We believe in a better post -secondary co-ordination system between provincial and federal governments.

TM: What is your favourite song and band?

JH: I'll probably reveal my age a bit if I were to say Neil Young. I know he was the father of grunge, but I never quite understood where that came from.

Locally, 'The West Country Lady' by Dermot O'Reilly, that song was actually played by my daughter at the folk festival this summer.

TM: What are you reading now? JH: I just finished a book called

the Birth Of The Modern, five or six hundred pages. It talks about all the changes that came about in the world through industrialization. The changes in society, commerce, politics and many other things.

And I recently just bought a book at the Farmer's Market in St. John's, this past Saturday. The author was actually the daughter of one of my English 200 professors when I attended MUN.

TM: What are your party's thoughts about alternate energy investment and environmental sustainability?

JH: We have a strong - the best plan for a clean energy power. Looking to the Europeans, the NDP are following a strategy which looks at the polluters and makes them pay up if they don't cut back for energy targets.

We have, as a country, a lot of catching up to do so we can't just

ae

KEN MACLEOD

sit back and wait for these things to happen.

Locally, the NDP has been pushing renewable energy for 15 years, and finally Newfoundland Hydro is taking it seriously.

TM: Assess Canada's role as an international peacekeeper.

JH: It sucks. In 1991, there were 10,800 UN-sponsored peacekeepers in the world, Canada supplied 1,100 of them. In 2006, there were over 60,000 peacekeeping soldiers from around the world, Canada provided 56.

This is something that Canadians see as important when it comes to national identity.

Re-establishing Canada's role as an international peacekeeper is something that the NDP are committed to.

TM: Which American duo ( Obama! Biden or McCain/Palin) would you like to see win office?

JH: That's pretty obvious. I think that Mr. Obama and Mr. Eiden's team offer the only ability to save America in the tragedy that has happened over the last 10 to 12 years.

America has lost its place, and I'm not! an anti-American, I think that America has a lot to offer the world, which they haven't been doing in the last number of years.

I think Mr. Bush has destroyed the good name that America did have, but they can be a great force for good and I think that Obama/Biden will reinstall that in that country.

TM: What are your thoughts and do you support Danny Williams's ABC campaign?

JH: Mr. Williams is right on a couple of things though: One, Harper has broken his promises to the people of Newfoundland and Labrador, and two, his policies are totally contrary to the way that we think about the future.

No, we don't support that campaign because that means that you can vote for the Liberals, or the NDP or whoever. The NDP philosophy is to lead with what is in the best interest of the country.

TM: If you could reach out and say something to student voters, what would it be?

JH: I know my way around. I've had the federal and provincial experience. I've spent 16 years in provincial politics.

We have a terrific national leader in Jack Layton, who personifies a lot of things that students want to see in a leader.

If you leave [the future of our country] up to Mr. Harper you're not going to have a good place to live or raise a family in.

I'm prepared to take a stance, stick my neck out for the greater good. I hope a large number of students get out to vote during this campaign because it really is as important as it sounds.

FEATURE Progressive Canadian candidate

Shannon Tobin Tobin holds a degree in political science from Memorial. He is acting president of the Canadian Political Science Student Association, which represents political science students nationwide.

The Muse: What are some of your national platforms?

Shannon Tobin: [My party] proposes to change the national Loan system. We believe that a government should not be making money off of students who choose to take out loans.

Therefore, we propose to make any loans incurred by a student interest-free. We also would relax the restrictions on who could access a student loan. Any individual who wants to take out a student loan during their tenure at a post -secondary institution can do so.

The Progressive Canadian (PC) party would also enact a policy to reduce tuition in Canada by 80 per cent through direct funding to accredited post -secondary institutions.

Together the PC plan offers students access to education at a level that is accessible to everyone as well as an education that is at a higher level than most countries in the world.

TM: What are some of the earliest benefits that students in this riding will see if your party is elected to power?

ST: Almost immediately, student issues are of a high priority to me. Elected, I would work diligently to solve the problems of students in our province as well as students across this country.

I believe everyone has a right to get an education, with as few impediments as possible. There is no greater capital investment than enabling individuals to acquire as much capability of being a contributory member of society as they seek

TM: What is your favourite song and/or band?

ST: "Slow Hands" by Interpol. TM: What are you reading now? ST: Confessions Of An Economic

Hitman by John Perkins. TM: What are your party's thoughts

about alternate energy investment and environmental sustainability?

ST: Two aspects are energy consumption and energy production.

When looking at energy consumption, the PC party wants to help in facilitating Canada in becoming a leader in developing environmentally­friendly new energy, including wind, solar, geothermal, and tidal power.

When looking at energy production, encouraging the development of increased energy efficient technologies and, through positive incentives, fostering their usage in all aspects of

life. Whether individuals choose to

accept the threat of global warming or not, these approaches make sense. They are a Progressive Canadian alternative.

TM: Assess Canada's role as an international peacekeeper.

ST: The role of Canada on the international stage has been seen as a great peacekeeping country. That being said, in recent years Canada has participated in the Afghanistan war as more than just a peacekeeper.

Canada has been a full-fledged participant in an effort for liberation of a group of people from an overly repressive regime, which at the time seemed like a noble cause.

So Canadians at some point must decide whether our role is to be considered as an honest broker in negotiating differences among countries and peoples or as an active participant in international conflicts.

For many, the ideal role for Canada is as a simple peacekeeper, however to others, the ideal role might be a more active participant to solve the social injustices of the world. But whatever role Canada makes, it should be decided by the public.

TM: Which American duo (Obama/Biden or McCain/Palin) would you like to see win office?

ST: After cutting through all the hype and hoopla that is surrounding the election, I think I would like to see McCain and Palin win.

TM: What are your thoughts and do you support Danny Williams' ABC campaign?

ST: I think the campaign is exactly what this province needs to do. The federal government has not properly represented this province's best interests. The actions of John Efford and Loyola Hearn are the epitome of what this province does not need as federal representatives.

During [Williams's] term so far we have yet to see a give away, and our province has benefited finically from many of his decisions. So I sincerely think Danny Williams is doing a good job.

TM: If you could reach out and say something to student voters, what would it be?

ST: This election is perhaps one of those few pinnacles in history that we as a nation get to witness first-hand. So regardless of whom you support, I would like to stress: Please vote.

This time let's stand up for Newfoundland and Labrador, vote for the Progressive Canadian party of Canada.

KEN MACLEOD

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Septl8,2008} www.themuse.ca ARTS & CULTURE 'It can be a really po-werful affirmation' Writer-in-residence Aislinn Hunter says input is important for new writers

By Sarah King

Canadian author Aislinn Hunter has only been in St. John's a few days but she is already absorbing the city - in more ways than one.

((I ended up in a river trying to retrieve a tloaty toy for my dog;' she said. ((I had to walk back forty minutes ... in soaking wet leather boots and skirt and hair, and everybody just looked at me like nothing was wrong:'

Hunter is excited to start work as MUN's new writer-in­residence.

"It's an amazing coup;' she said of the opportunity to work with a university. "It's people saying 'We're interested in your writing and we want you to have time and space to work on your project, and please would you meet with our

d ,,

stu ents. 1he idea behind the writer­

in-residence program is for a university to bring in an outside, published writer to divide his or her time equally between focusing on their own personal projects and working with the students and community of the host institution.

education as a theatre student, a plan that quickly changed after an influential creative writing class.

Hunter soon released four books - two books of poetry, a novel, and a collection of short stories - that have been critically acclaimed and compared to the likes of Canadian legend Michael . Ondaatje.

Hunter, who on her first try lost the position to poet Don McKay, has big plans for her residency at MUN, highlighting both personal and professional goals for the semester. ((Personally, it's a chance for me to get some work done and also let the east coast influence me;' she said. ((To do some thinking about what it means for me to be here, what it's like to live in this part of the country, what this part of the country is about:'

Hunter will start the term with a reading in the next couple of weeks, and then settle into a routine of writing and meeting with MUN students to discuss their work.

An experienced traveler

She also plans to conduct group fiction and poetry workshops over the next few months, along with several more readings and work within the community.

Aislinn Hunter will soon be helping MUN students with their creative writing. SUBMITTED

and accomplished writer, Hunter's career had a somewhat unconventional beginning.

At age 17, without completing high school, she moved to Ireland and later decidea to complete her

Hunter has previously held similar positions at universities in England and Australia.

looking to improve their writing or just gain a fresh perspective.

':I think you can respect and like your professors;' she said.

She believes that programs such as these are important to stud.ents

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{ Septl8,2008 www.themuse.ca

"Rocket" wear on display at the Roon1s By Mandy Rowsell

A new collection at the Rooms honours the late hockey legend Maurice Richard, famous and infamous for his skill and passion throughout his career with the Montreal Canadiens.

"Rocket" Richard: The Legend - The Legacy opened on Sunday afternoon with special guest, Canadiens' General Manager Bob Gainey, who gave an animated speech and took time to sign autographs.

Anne Chafe, director of The Rooms, says that the travelling exhibit originally from the Canadian Museum of Civilization (CMC) in Quebec, has already been a success, attracting many first-time visitors to the Rooms.

The Rocket collection is quite extensive, displaying 57 memorabilia pieces from Richard's personal estate.

The pieces, purchased by auction by the CMC in 2000 after the legend's death, include such objects as his Stanley cup ring, his original jerseys, significant hockey sticks and pucks from his fiftieth goal and game, and even a pair of his

pyjamas. In addition to these personal

pieces, the CMC added items of merchandise available to the public during the height of the

• Rocket's fame, including cereal boxes, magazine covers, and newspaper warticles.

The exhibit was brought here in part, Chafe says, because of the huge Montreal Canadiens fan base in Newfoundland and because of its historical significance in Canada.

The exhibit highlights a riot that occurred in 1955, when Richard was kicked out of the playoffs for violent behaviour, which is believed to have been a precursor to the Quiet Revolution in Quebec, an event that lead to self-imposed segregation of the French­Canadians.

She emphasizes that it is very important to the Rooms to be able to relate to the interests of as many Newfoundlanders as possible.

"Sports fans is a new area for us and we've already seen that it's attracting many new people:'

Gander native Dawn Baker, a member of the Rooms' Board of Directors and a well-known

Rooms Director Anne Chafe presents Maurice Richard's original hockey sweater, a central piece in the exhibit. SARAH KING

local painter, agrees. "We're such a broad culture,

so we try as an institution to get exhibits and displays that apply

to everybody," she said. The ccRocket" Richard: The

Legend - The Legacy exhibit will be on display at the Rooms until

Nov. 30. Admission is $9.50 for students. There is free admission to the Rooms every Wednesday night.

Local theatre company's latest production taps into rum-running past ARumFor1he

1V1oney highlights a

significant aspect

of Ne\vfoundland

history

By Meghann Jack

The latest production from the Resource Centre for the Arts Theatre Company, A Rum For7heA1one~looksback on Newfoundland's risky and romanticized days of rum­running.

"We're a pretty daring lot, I think:' Amy House, Artistic Animateur for RCA Theatre, said of Newfoundlanders.

The play, a new work by Berni Stapleton, is set in Newfoundland in the 1960s. It follows three fishermen who take a gamble on smuggling rum in the hopes that it will provide a bit of extra money.

Stapleton's work draws on real-life stories of rum-running, which she gathered through interviewing skippers who did it in the 1960s.

A co-production with Theatre Newfoundland and Labrador, the play ran this past summer at the Gros Morne Theatre Festival to positive review.

"It's one of our goals at RCA to find a way to extend the life of theatre pieces and theatre productions:' said House, adding that the play has enjoyed prolonged success with not only RCA and Theatre Newfoundland and Labrador, but the Grand Bank Theatre Festival as well.

House emphasizes that part of RCA Theatre's mandate is to present and preserve Newfoundland and Labrador culture.

"These stories are relative and

RCA Theatre Company's latest play is based on interviews with skippers who smuggled rum in the '6os. DENYSE KARN

relevant to our communities:' she said. "They're also relevant to people who come here, who visit Newfoundland and Labrador and want to see who we are as a people:'

While House admits rum­running is now becoming a thing of the past, she says that theatre productions like A Rum For The A1oney can give audiences a sense of cultural identity.

"This is not who we are today, but this is where we came from:'

she said. ''I've seen audience reactions

to stories that they identify with;' she said. "It gives them a sense of reality and a sense of pride in who they are. I think seeing stories reflected back to us, that are written by us, about us - it just validates who we are and makes us stronger as people:'

A Rum For The A1oney runs nightly September 25 to 28 at The Majestic Theatre.

lite rested in writing about the arts?

Septl8,2008} www.themuse.ca &

Tightrope artist survives twin to.wers

Cinema Series By Mildred Pierce

Surely one of the hottest tickets of the season, this amazing documentary will thrill you to pieces. Man On Wire is the stunning true story of one crazy French man's dream - to walk between the World Trade Centre twin towers on a wire, without a net, and live to tell the tale.

The man was Philippe Petit. Despite his surname, this man had very big dreams and plans to carry them out.

In 197 4, he performed his spectacular and illegal journey from one tower to the other an astonishing eight times. Who knows what possesses someone to defy death in this way, but clearly all men are not created equal.

Man On Wire not only shows us the act itself in all its vertigo-inducing uniqueness, it also shows just how scrupulously Petit and his

Man On Wire documents one man's defiant act and subdely comments on a twentieth-century tragedy.

crew prepared for it. Not surprisingly, the whole

crazy thing had to be done as a stealth operation. You cannot simply toss a tightrope across a gap some gazillion meters into the sky and expect to get it right.

What about wind currents

and the sheer physics of a man on a wire?

The amount of planning and the nature of its secrecy as we see the stunt unfold is an ominous and unavoidable foreshadowing of another kind of advanced plan, the one carried out many years

later on those same twin towers by a very different cast of characters.

That tacit recognition is enough give anyone a chill or two, to say the least.

A huge hit at Sundance this year, Man On Wire relies on a skilful mix of real and dramatized foota-ge in an elegantly seamless way.

The viewer stops wondering very quickly about how much of the film is actual and how much is staged and starts to focus on the thrill of the spectacle itself. It's a creative interpretation of reality, designed to inspire awe and wonder.

The twist on this tale of sound and foolishness is that

Tue., Sept. 23 Days of Glory (Algeria, 2006) Nominated for an Oscar 2007 (best foreign film); won at Cannes 2006 (best ensemble male cast).

Tue., Oct. 7 C.R.A.Z.Y. (canada, 2005) Nominated for an Oscar 2005 (best foreign film); won 11 Genie Awards 2006, lnduding best piature.

Tue., Oct. 21 Turkish Delight (Holland, 1973) Nominated for an ·oscar 1973 (best foreign film); voted best Dutch movie of the cen­tury (1999).

Philipe Petit survived the experiment; the twin towers didn't.

The entire film is heavy with irony, and wisely, the filmmaker, James Marsh, never alludes directly to the fateful day of September 11. But he doesn't have to - we all know what we're watching.

Man On Wire is going to attract a big crowd - so be there early to catch the act on the giant screen, the way it was intended.

Man On Wire plays Thursday, Sept. 25 at Empire Theatres Studio 12 in the Avalon Mall. Tickets go on sale at 6:00pm, and showtime is 7:00pm.

Tue., Nov. 4 The Kite Runner (UK, 2007) Nominated for an <:>scar 2008 (best score); won the Critics Choice Award 2008 (best young actor); nominated for a Golden Globe 2008 (best for­eign film).

Tue., Nov. 18 The 1818nd (Russia, 2006) Won 6 Nlka Awards; won the Grand Jury Prize at the Sun­dance Rim Festival 2007.

Tue., Dec. 2 A Sunday In Kigali (Canada, 2006) Won a 2007 Genie (best adapted screenplay) and nomi­nated in eight other cmegories.

$6 per film or $30 for the series. Tickets are available at the door (exact change is appredated!) or may be reserved in advance by catlang the Division of Ufelong Leaming.at 737-7979. All films take place at 7 p.m. in the INCO In­novation Centre theatre (IIC2001).

ARTS & CUL'fURE The geezers still got it go in' on Righteous Kill Starring Robert DeNiro, AI Pacino, John Leguizamo, and Donnie Wahlberg Alliance Rated 14A 100 Mins

By Brad Stone

Righteous Kill might be as cliched as a bumper sticker, but it still entertains while instiling the hope that one can still be badass as a senior citizen.

Despite its unoriginal plot and predictability, the movie displays promise as film legends Al Pacino and Robert DeNiro remind us that they can still kick butt with wrinkles.

NYPD detectives and longtime partners Turk (DeNiro) and Rooster (Pacino) are recruited to identify the perpetrator of a series of vigilante murders involving former criminals.

Before they decide to pull the pin on their accomplished

careers, the two men must come to terms with their impending retirement and conquer the demons that haunt them everyday on the streets.

If you can look beyond Pacino's hideously grizzled voice and DeNirds less-than-stunning shirtless body, there is no denying that these two geezers still got what it takes to deliver an excellent and convincing performance.

Righteous Kill may not be in the same league as The Godfather Part II or Heat, but there is definitely still chemistry between

.. the two, as they are tougher than ever on screen.

A notable performance from Curtis ((50 Cent" Jackson should satisfy the needs of any original gangstas.

Not-so-New Kid Donnie Wahlberg delivers a great performance that is almost as good as his epic role in his latest

.. music video ((Summertime:' Almost.

John Leguizamo also deserves an honourable mention, and skateboard enthusiasts should enjoy Rob Dyrdek's cameo as a skateboarding pimp (clearly the ideal profession for all aspiring skate kids).

This film completely delivers in the dialogue department, as there is enough wit and conviction in every line to make the plot somewhat believable.

There are some very Tarantino-style lines, and the lingo of popular '70s TV show Underdog should definitely evoke a few laughs.

Its biggest flaw comes not in filmmaking but in the absence of an original story.

The two lead actors are basically just playing two stereotyped characters that they themselves invented. The story line is quite predictable from start to finish, and its plot is riddled with more holes than 50 Cent's body.

Righteous Kill has enough

DeNiro and Pacino reunite in this taining action hit.

adrenaline to keep you awake, but sometimes you will find your rear end sitting comfortably in the seat when it should be somewhere near the edge of it.

That being said, while the movie may not be entirely nail biting, it does a decent enough job of keeping one entertained.

Watching this film is like

Paranoia runs high

{ Septl8,2008 www.themuse.ca

watching two of your own friends having a blast on the big screen.

Fans of the Pacino/DeNiro duo will not be disappointed and, if this is their final film together, Righteous Kill is a decent send-off for a pair who has collectively starred in some of the best movies of all time.

in new Co en brothers movie Burn After Reading Starring George Clooney, Frances McDormand, John Malkovich, Tilda Swinton, and Brad Pitt Alliance 95 mins Rated 14A

By Zaren White .

The Coen Brothers' latest cinematic venture is the dark, irreverent, and outlandish crime comedy Burn After Reading.

The film commences with pitifully frustrated alcoholic Osborne (Ozzy) Cox- played with vicious vigor by the ever­brilliant John Malkovich - going on a bender after getting fired from his job as an analyst with the CIA.

To domineering wife Katie, he · insists that he wasn't fired but rather quit his job. • He then proceeds to spend his

bald, bath-robed days composing his ((memoirs" (pronounced with the most artificial and pretentious of French accents).

Meanwhile, Katie is cheating on him with his friend Harry and is advised by her pre­emptive divorce lawyer to back up all his financial information and personal computer files.

and Chad. These secret -agent wannabes

mistake the information for deeply secretive and valuable government documentation and naively set out to blackmail the owner.

Chad and Linda are junior-high-style telephone blackmailing Osborne. Osborne is jobles~, frustrated, and convinced that he is being followed. His wife, Katie, is cheating on him with Harry, and Harry is also convinced that he is being followed.

'Ihe film's notably Coen-esque quality and central strength is the remarkably well-stocked ensemble cast of quirky characters.

The plot revolves around misunderstanding, paranoia, and dramatic irony. It relies on the seamless screen-sharing between five hilariously diverse and solid character performances.

John Malkovich- an actor who is just tailor-made for bizarre and paranoid portrayals after that exercise in egocentrism also known as Being John Malkovich - is at the height of his powers as the outrageously angry, persecuted, and foul­mouthed Osborne Cox.

A ferociously-coiffed Brad Pitt and a feisty Frances McDormand stupidly blackmail a former CIA analyst in hopes of snagging

A multitude of zany characters get drawn into the collective ruining of Ozzy's life when the disc is dropped at Hardbody's Gym and discovered by a hapless pair of gym employees, Linda

George Clooney plays Harry, a fast-talking, womanizing, and paranoid hypochondriac who loves being able to get a run in after sex.

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sweetly daft, polo shirt-wearing gym employee named Linda who is browsing men on the 'net and trying to come up with a way to afford several cosmetic surgical procedures.

Tilda Swinton plays herself, or at least her signature role since being the Queen Ice Bitch of Narnia in The Lion, The Witch, And The Wardrobe. Katie Cox is a cold, insensitive, domineering, and virtually expressionless adulteress.

The film's crowning achievement in ridiculously hilarious and unexpected portrayals is definitely Brad Pitt, who in an odd but apt casting choice, plays Chad, the frosted­tipped, overeager personal trainer.

The dark, comedic writing and directing style of Joel and Ethan Coen is showcased splendidly in this stylish and smart film that mocks, rather than explores or appreciates, human foolishness.

Featuring Clooney's smarminess, McDormand's cluelessness, Swinton's penetrating expressionless, Malkovich's incessant emphatic use of cc what the fuck;' and Pitt's hairdo, Burn After Reading is a rambunctious film that simply maps out just how complicated things get when a bunch of interconnected characters with questionable sanity and judgement are let loose.

Septl8,2008} www.themuse.ca

Do the

Underoath Lost In The Sound Of Separation Solid State Records Post-hardcore

8+ By Tony Moores

Underoath's new release boasts all of the trademarks of the post-hardcore genre: Blazing, heavy guitar riffs, deep growls, and drums that will make you sweat just by listening to them.

I won't lie - I was pretty pessimistic at the start. The first two tracks are disconnected and lacking flow.

The transitions within the songs are messy and sound out of place, something that I'm not used to from this band.

ARTS & CULTURE

Underoath redeem themselves with the rest of the album, however. "A Fault Line, A Fault Of Mine" flawlessly dances the line between being high energy and moody, with a really catchy vocal hook in the chorus.

"Emergency Broadcast: The End Is Near" is appropriately titled, as it feels like a song to listen to while the world is ending.

It's a dark and moody dirge culminating in a viciously heavy outro, both musically and lyrically, with vocalist Spencer Chamberlain screaming, "We are the virus, we are the cancer:'

The drums on first single, "Desperate Times, Desperate Measures" are particularly memorable. For most of this song it seemed like the guitar was keeping the rhythm while

the drums possessed the musical voice.

This is the case for a lot of the album, as drummer Aaron Gillespie performs outstandingly.

Finally, towards the end of the album, Underoath experiment in a way reminiscent of Thrice's Vheissu, with a couple of well-written songs featuring spaced-out instrumentation and mostly clean vocals that you could even recommend to your friends who "hate that screaming junk:'

All considered, if you like Underoath or post-hardcore in general, you're probably going to like this album. It has a few high points, a couple of low points, and will make a nice addition to your CD library.

... You kids do still buy CDs these days, don't you?

OF= THe WEE=K

The best of YouTube-aoke

If you were looking for a reason to stay home and get drunk this weekend, I think I've found one for you.

You Tube not only brings you countless video blogs, music videos, cartoons, and comedic skits, it also has karaoke.

No need to rent or buy fancy equipment, if you're near a computer you can easily enjoy obnoxious fun within seconds - as long as your connection doesn't suck.

Billie Jean- Karaoke (Michael Jackson Style)

URL: http://www.youtube.com/ watch?v= YVRdXGxbxQw

Tags: Karaoke, Michael Jackson

You'll find this one in almost any bar that has karaoke, but why embarrass yourself in public unnecessarily?

You can sing your ass off to this former pop star's hit without any strangers in the room.

The video itself seems pretty well put together, the words light up on cue, and there are no lead vocals, so you don't have to battle to sing over Michael.

Stop - Spice Girls -karaoke

URL: http:/ /www.youtube. com/ watch?v=aKfw YrtAeOO

Tags: Stop, Spice Girls, karaoke

If you remember the '90s, you remember the Spice Girls. So pull up a chair, warm up your vocal cords, and sing along to this homemade karaoke video that shows random clips of someone's day at the beach, complete with apparel from 1996.

Bananarama Venus Karaoke Lyrics

URL: http:/ lwww.youtube. com/ watch?v=cD9gDy8f9w Y

Tags: Bananarama, Venus, karaoke, lyrics

Nope, it's not just a jingle for a lame razor commercial - it was an '80s hit. And whether you remember those days or not, you can relive them via karaoke.

In this video, the music track includes the vocals, which is probably what you should be looking for if you don't actually know how the song goes.

Madam Internet's You Tube Picks of the Week is a weekly column. For the love of fuck, please send your suggestions to madaminternet@gmail. com.

IJIS'fRAC'I,IONS { Sept 11,_ 2008 www.themuse.ca

Across

1. Hemmingway novel, The Sun

_ . Rises

5. Sail the open _

9. To raise

14. Noise a car horn makes

15. A large, sweet variety of

tangelo

16. Sugar Ray song, _

Morning

For Interest

THE GENESIS CONFLICT SERf ES. Prof Walter Veith examines the ·issues between creation versus evolution. Sept 23 (Tues), EN -2006 and Sept 25 (Thu) in the I NCO the­atre. Starts at 7:15 pm. A live stream from Vancouver, BC. Open to public. Free parking in Lots 16116A.

RENNIE'S RIVER DUCK RACE. Sept. 27, the duck race be­gins at the Stephen Herder Bridge on Rennie's Mill Road at 3:00 pm and will take any­where from 20 minutes to an hour and 15 minutes for the Ducks to run the race. $5,000 cash prize. Tickets are only $10 and are available at the Fluvarium. Call 754-DUCK to­day to buy your duck.

Now showing at the First Space Gallery, QEII Library, Burlesque, an exhibition by Janis Coombs, Alumni Printmaker-in-Residence at Sir Wilfred Grenfell College.

17. When you aren't welcome

19. Free Word: Resee

20. Dry wine is very _

21. Trail mix has nuts

23. The U in Law & Order: SVU

25. A type of Asian chicken

26. A type of account

33. India Pale

34. Villian from The Lion King

35. Free from mental

The exhibition runs from September 5 to December 17.

Performing Arts Group is offer­ing adult acting classes and lessons for all Ages. Ten-week program starting Wednesday, Sept. 17 at the Arts and Culture Centre. Classes end with a show. To register call 722- (ACT1) 2281 or e-mail per­formingsrtagroup@nl.rogers. com.

Are you a high school student that needs some volunteer hours? Or a university/college student that would like to get involved in a worthwhile char­ity? Easter Seals may have the opportunity for you. If in­terested in volunteering at our development office, call Amanda at 754-1399. For op­portunities with the Programs and Recreation Department, call Eileen at 726-2622.

der.angement 1. A property law

36. Corn on the 2. Female character in Dragon

38. Heroin addicts have Ball

marks 3. To sew something

41. DeNiro film, _ Driver 4. To express yourself or reveal

42. A fencing sword things to someone

44. Having a toe 5. Expressed in few words

46. Hunter S. Thompson novel, 6. People who thinks highly of

The Diaries themselves have a large one of

47. Where you would wait at an these

office 7. Latin word meaning kind

51. You need it to breathe 8. Spanish nap

52. An exercise Madonna does 9. Characteristic of a hero or

53. Subtle heroine

58. A crystalline amino acid 10. To assert or affirm with

62. A mark used in ancient confidence

manuscripts

63. The front or upperside

65. To man again

66. Once a time

67. Designating tides

68. An instrument with a

bladed head

69. Bugs that live in your hair

70. Spongebob's pet snail

Down

WOULD YOU LIKE TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE in the lives of people living with cancer? The Canadian Cancer Society is seeking a volunteer to drive patients to and from their scheduled appointments. Just a few hours a week can make a difference. For more infor­mation, call Rachel Little 753-6520.

ANNONYMOUS TESTING for H IV, Hepatitis A, B, and C. Sexual Health Centre. 203 Merrymeeting Rd. Tues. 4:30 pm to 7:30 pm. All welcome. The Women's Centre, 150 Lemarchant Rd., Tues. 1:00 pm to 4:00 pm, women only. Offered as part of a study, requires that you complete a confidential questionnaire. Call 1-800-563-6111 or 777-7120 for more information.

Make your coffee count on September 18, 2008. Host a coffee break in aid of the Alzheimer Society. Donations

11. Where a bird lives

12. A member of a North

American native people

13. Having eyelike spots

18. Rick James did a lot of these

22. Contains your balls

24. A male monarch

26. To run off and get married

27. A small, three-masted vessel

28. The Muse of love poetry

from every cup of coffee poured will benefit your lo­cal Alzheimer Society's pro­grams and services. For more information, please contact Amanda at 576-0608.

THE NL SEXUAL ASSAULT CRISIS AND PREVENTION CENTRE Men's Committee needs volunteers. No expe­rience required; all are wel ­come. Contact coordinator@ sexualassaultcentre.nf.net.

MEMORIAL AMBASSADOR. Do you embody the spirit of Memorial? Volunteer to rep­resent Memorial at universi­ty-sponsored events. Apply at www.mun.ca/leadership.

ENGINEERS WITHOUT BORDERS. Idea workshops held every Mon. at 5:15 pm in EN4000. Come learn about in-

. ternational development and social justice, or iust have some free fair-trade coffee or hot chocolate. Everyone is welcome.

29. A cereal wheat

30. To deprive or relieve of

arms

31. A means of connection

32. Cutting a little bit off your

hair

33. Trees or shrubs having

winged fruit

37. A honey-lovin' bug

39. The fur of a rabbit

40. Fuels a lantern

43. Limited

45. An elected chief

48. Male neck decoration

49. Full of intense anger

50. To propel with

53. Cartoon explorer

54: A wild goat

55. Informal

56. Wu-tang

57. An antelope of east Africa

59. Eureka!

60. To be close to

61. Sports station

64. A bird of large size and

strength

OVEREATERS ANONYMOUS. If your eating habits cause you concern, there is help. Overeaters Anonymous is a group of people who want to stop eating compulsively. For weekly meeting times or other information, please contact us at 738-1742 or www.oa.org.

Jobs

FREE ACCOMODATION on St. John's waterfront in exchange for light housekeeping, or­ganizing research interest­ing old ships and sailing ves­sels of coastal Newfoundland. Languages including German useful. Bruce R. P. Parsons, Marine Consultant/Researcher (709) 726 -3998, cell (709) 743-6263.

Clubs and Societies

MUN Pagan Society Mabon (Fall Equinox) Ritual, UC-3018, 7:00,

-------......

Summerville Dental Office The Closest Dental Oflicc to l\IIUN Can1pus

We Accept MUN Student Insurances New Patients Welcome

Fo r ch eck up, cleaning and a ll your d ental care Please c all u s

. Tel: 738-3384 (73-TEETH)

1 Pat n n Street, Suite 220 (at S u nll1lerviJie Pla:~;a, on'-" hlo<..:k VV~w·s t uf Pidd Hou.se o n Elizab e th Ave, o nly fc \" IIlinule:-. \\'a lk Cn>m cmnpus

SCIENCE & 'I,ECHNOLOGY { Septl8,2008 www.themuse.ca

Men1orial joins nationwide network New fiber-optic connection means faster data transfer for schools

Researchers and programmers discussed wide-ranging implications of the new high speed network in the INCO Center on September 8. HEATHER KING

By Ashley Lockyer

MUN is now connected to a national multi-gigabit network that which will improve communication and data transfer between universities.

The network is intended to assist researchers, graduate students, and those interested in video conferencing as an educational tool.

"Advances in computing and communications technology have given today's researchers significant capabilities for exploration in a range of fields, but these increasing capabilities also generate the need for institutions, such as Memorial University, to co-operate with other institutions on projects

and initiatives:' said Andrew K. Bjerring, president and CEO of Canadian Advanced Network and Research for Industry and Education (CANARIE) in a press release.

"The network that we are celebrating today is a bridge to innovation and increased competitiveness, not just for Newfoundland and Labrador, but for Canada as well:'

To showcase the network's speed at a conference last Monday, Keith Thompson, a marine researcher at Dalhousie University, was brought in to speak via video conferencing from an office in Halifax.

Thompson explained how his research with a program called Global Ocean-Atmosphere

Weighing in on Wii Fit By Ashley Lockyer

Nintendo recently released its ultimate answer to the video game couch potato stereotype - Wii Fit. The game focuses on the relationship between balance, posture, and physical activity.

With the aid of the Wii balance board, Wii Fit monitors a player's weight and wei_ght distribution, and it's not afraid to tell you if you've gained a few pounds.

To begin, you create your own Mii, a cartoon version of yourself. Then be prepared as you step on the board and the game adjusts your cartoon's physique to match your Body Mass Index.

Upon weighing you, the game then asks you to complete some balance activities, such as staying perfectly still, to calculate your Wii Fit age. The game is surprisingly motivating considering that the animated trainers' mouths don't even move.

Wii Fit is all about the numbers: It graphs your weight, monitors the time you spend exercising, and rewards you with new activities the longer you play.

Wii Fit even gives valuable health information related to

nutrition and the effects of sleep deprivation, not to mention guilt­trips if you miss a day.

The game offers four different kinds of popular activities available at most gyms: Yoga, strength training, aerobics, and balance games.

In or.der to successfully hold the poses, and not wobble or fall on your face, a player must have good posture and balance.

The strength training is quite intensive. Push-ups, lunges, jackknifes, and many other activities allow players to really test their endurance by increasing repetitions.

You can even challenge your trainer in a competition.

The aerobics portion strives to increase your heart rate, helping you burn more calories. You can participate in a virtual step class or take out your frustration with some boxing. A run around the entire virtual Wii Park is guaranteed to give you some killer calf muscles.

The balance games really make use of the balance board technology. Play a tilt-the-tables game, using your own center of balance to direct balls across

Prediction and Predictability (GOAPP) was impacted by the speed of this new network.

"GOAPP brings together about 20 researchers from across the country. These researchers span about eight universities from east coast to west coast:' he said.

GOAPP's data is displayed in complex models that run up to a terabyte in size. ·

"One of the problems is moving this data around ... so we can do further analysis and also back it up. This is where this enhanced network is absolutely critical:' Thomson said.

For MUN physics researcher Ivan Saika-Voivod, similar computer simulations have become increasingly important over the last

few decades in gaining insight into experimental data.

"The other day I was ... dazzled perhaps, to see graduate student Jason Mercer's real-time visualization of a rather large simulation that was running on many processors in Placentia. [It showed] a magnetic film laying across the atmosphere ... showing these growing magnetic domains as it occurred:' Saika-Voivod explained.

"Whether required for accessing remote computing clusters across Canada, transferring large amounts of data or shortening the vast Canadian distances through conferencing, our national network is a vital part to my research , program.

The new network doesn't just facilitate science.

Grant Etchegary, a music teacher at Holy Heart of Mary high school, has found other uses for this high­speed connection.

"Just recently, three students from the Holy Heart music program, playing the drums, piano, and the vibraphone, performed jazz music simultaneously with students from the International Baccalaureate School in Geneva, Switzerland:' he said:"The benefits of this technology are obvious:'

The province became a part of the network through the Atlantic Canada Organization of Research Networks, which receives assistance from the Ottawa-based CANARIE network.

The Wii balance board offers you the choice of private exercise. ASHLEY LOCKYER

a board. The hula-hoop game really demonstrates the full use of the board, as besides leaning left and right to catch hoops, the player must maneuver their hips (center of balance) in full circles to succeed.

Compared to actual trainers, the Wii Fit virtual instructors are quite plain and their rhetoric gets old quickly.

The Wii Fit instructors are even safety-conscious, warning you to warm-up before exercising and giving handy hints as you do the exercises.

One thing that the game lacks is the very warm-up stretching it preaches for players to do.

The fitness board itself, being a new technological addition to the video game world, is kind of

quirky. Weight varies by up to five pounds just within a single 20-minute workout. However, the measurement of that weight's distribution seems quite accurate.

Wii Fit has Nintendo's famous fun while bringing fitness into players' own homes. Hopefully the Wii will continue to use the balance board technology for future games.

Septl8,2008 l www.themuse.ca J SPORTS & HEALTH

Sea-Hawks looking to

• soar once again

Sea-Hawks coach says this year's women's basketball team is a little taller. CHAD YOUNG

Women's basketball coach Doug Partridge readies team for season

By Jon Dykeman

Doug Partridge, the longest running, most successful coach in Sea-Hawks history, with a total of eight conference championships, has been busy preparing for what can be expected to be another successful season.

The MUN Sea-Hawks women,s basketball team has won the Atlantic University Sport championship seven times in the last ten years, and claimed bronze just two years ago at the Canadian Interuniversity Sport national championship as hosts.

Coming away from the 2008 national championship with hopes of finishing comparatively to their 2007 third-place finish, the women found themselves not out­skilled, but vastly out -sized.

"I think we had survived

for years with not real tall lineups;, said Partridge.

Most teams in the National Championship were, on average, advantaged in height compared to MUN.

"We had to get bigger, we had to get taller. .. It just felt that if we were to take another step nationally, we needed to get a bigger step ... we needed to get a bigger lineup;, he said.

During the off-season, Partridge and his staff we able to get some recruits.

"We have a 6,3 post out of Ottawa, Erica Verton, a 6,2 post out of Kingston, Stephanie Stewart, and a 6,2 post from Newfoundland ... and a girl by the name of Grace Fishpine we recruited out of Waterloo, Ontario."

"I think that we,re just as athletic as we have been, but now we have a little bit more . ,, SlZe.

Partridge knows that the

Who would have thought your complaints could get you $1,000? Come to a Rant like Rick Mercer audition, and the top ten qualify for a Rantastic death match on Wednesday October 22nd, American Idol style. Top Three win big. Sponsored by Memorial's Office of Student Recruitment.

Come prepared to rant on camera Date: Monday, September 29 Time: 12 - 4pm Place: Education 1037 A, Distance Education Studio

Rants must be between 30 seconds and 90 seconds Finals on Wednesday, October 22nd, 12 - 2pm

Fear not, recyclables - help is on the way. Aaron Critch has saved more than one bottle from the trash and safely tucked it away in a recycle bin. But that's not all that makes this Arts honours student a global guy. From his multilingual skills to a passion for all things European, Aaron has interests that span the earth. Explains why he's thinking of travelling overseas to volunteer. And if that's not enough, he's also going to use his planetary powers to become an archeologist.

Amazing Students, a program offered by Student Affairs and Services, recognizes Memorial's student superheroes. They are outstanding role models and irwolved contribLltors. They are leaders in academics, student societies, and the community. www.mun.ca/student/amazing

team will likely need a few more years before the team can get a national medal. He sees that possibility less than likely this season.

"I am pleased that we have done a pretty good job at trying to set up a spread of the years:, he said.

Partridge notes the key cogs from fifth-years Kelly Himmelman and Meghan Dalton, Victoria Thistle in her third year, and Brittney Dalton and Robin O,Reilly

who are in their second year. Once Himmelman and Dalton graduate, a core group will be together for three seasons.

"It allows us to be able to transition each year into a group of players that will be solid;, he said.

Even with the loss of forward Melissa Prunty and Atlantic University Sport (AUS) conference all-star Katherine Quackenbush due to graduation, Partridge remains optimistic that his team can get

J.MUNc~ap

the job done again this year. "We,re going to be quite

young, but I think that we should be among the best two or three teams in our league and I think we should, by the end of the year, in a position to challenge for another AUS title;, he said.

The women make their first appearance at home on October 24 in a three-game weekend set versus the Royal Military College in exhibition play.

...

SPORTS & HEALTH { Septl8,2008 www.themuse.ca

Targa Newfoundland hits the road

Drivers say it's not just the racing bringing them back each year

By Jon Dykeman

In its seventh year, Targa Newfoundland has attracted 66 cars and drivers from as far away as New Zealand, the Bahamas, and Germany.

In the 2,200 km race, each car speeds from point to point against the clock, vying for the best time in each circuit.

Modern cars compete in the Targa, while older cars take part in a different category, the Grand Touring. It is an opportunity for amateurs with a desire to push their vehicles to their limit.

Dave Pledger and his co­driver, Chris Willet, made the trek from Las Vegas, Nevada to take part in their first Targa Newfoundland. They came to take part in the race and become heroes.

Pledger and Willet have day jobs but have some experience in motorsports - a BMW driving school.

The two had quite a task of getting their 1963 Austin Mini in order.

"It was a disaster, a mess, light coming up through the floors, and basically we had the entire car done over this year:' said Pledger as he was preparing to add a rear toe hook to the Mini.

After hundreds of hours put in completely overhauling the

entire car, Pledger and Willet's overhaul project hit a big speed bump.

"Four weeks before we were supposed to leave, I blew the motor:' he said.

Another competing team at Targa, Richard Paterson and Jim Keith, both from Ontario, heard what had happened and stepped in.

"Just out of the goodness of their heart, they had heard what had happened to us, and they said send us your car and we will fix your engine:'

The last-minute repairs needed did not leave Pledger and Willet much of an opportunity to test -drive the car, which has lowered their expectations for this year's Targa.

"Our goal for the event is to try to make it to the end, its not going to be necessarily to make a fast time:'

"If we get stuck in a ditch, we can both jump off and carry it over:' said Willet jokingly.

Co-driver Steve McKelvie is making his sixth appearance at Targa, and fifth with driver Rick McCleod in their 2000 Ford Mustang. The two hope to finish in the top three in their division.

Last year, the team failed to make it through day two of the race after their aluminum block V8 engine blew.

"The problem was that it was

a very sophisticated engine and the parts are very difficult to get:'

Only one other person in the province had an engine like it, however the team couldn't persuade the owner to sell it.

This year, the team opted for a simpler engine to allow for the team to get parts if need be. This at least gives the team a fighting chance to finish the race if any part of the car fails.

"It's less horsepower but more reliable and easier to fix;' said McKelvie. "I don't think it's going to hurt us:'

McKelvie and McCleod started coming out of their interest in cars and the ability to drive fast on open roads, however the team has found that with each year, their reasons for coming become more personal.

Another driver, Edison Wiltshire, who happens to be a Pastor, nicknamed the "Faster Pastor:' conducted McCleod's wedding last summer.

This Saturday, McCleod's wife and baby daughter are coming to Newfoundland to be baptized.

"It's the relationships, the friends ... [that keeps us coming back]. When it gets to be September, it's time to go to Newfoundland:'

Will Atkinson and Nick Papayianis of Texas, who are making their sophomore return with their 1988 BMW M3, are

looking to win it all this year in their division.

The two first heard about the event on TV, and the rest was history.

'' [Papayianis] was sitting there and said, 'We've got to do that thing next year for real: and I was like 'sure, ok' and he said 'No really let's actually do if We looked into it and said, why not:' said Atkinson.

Like many of the other past competitors, Atkinson sees Targa Newfoundland as the Ironman of Motorsports.

PHOTOS BY AJ SMITH AND DANIEL SMITH

"Last year, we were in the car ten hours per day everyday for a week in all kinds of road conditions, all kinds of weather conditions and you've never seen the road you are going on before:'

Atkinson says that both he and Papayianis switch back and forth between driving and co-driving even though it is out of the rules.

"We are both drivers by nature ... we've just got to figure out the co-driving part:'

Like all the others involved, they can't wait to start.