also in this issue

More ballet foryour buck p. 8

Miguel Sullivantakes the net p. 13

.dojo breaks ontothe MTL scene p. 10

A tale of two phone bills p. 15

The best Mac nCheese in Mtl p. 6

Concordia University’s weekly, independent student newspaper theconcordian.comVOLUME 33, ISSUE 23 | TUESDAY, MARCH 15, 2016 � /theconcordian ¬ @theconcordian theconcordian

life arts music sports opinions

News p. 3

to the Frigo Vert

theconcordian The CSU gives

$100,000

NEWS EDITORS /// news@theconcordian.comGREGORY TODARO (¬ @GCTodaro) & LAURA MARCHAND (¬ @Marchand_L)

news

The Quebec liberal government announced a plan to spend $400,000 to ease religious ten-sion at Collège de Maisonneuve on Sunday. Quebec higher edu-cation minister Hélène David and Montreal Mayor Denis Coderre said the funding would be used to hire staff to mediate conflicts, according to the Montreal Gazette. Two students from the CEGEP were arrested by the RCMP in 2015 on suspicion that they might commit a terrorist attack. After an altercation between prominent muslim leader Adil Charkaoui and a Collège de Maisonneuve security guard in February, the CEGEP called on the provincial government to step in. The Montreal Gazette reported that the provincial government announced a separate $500,000 initiative earlier this month to fund an anti-radicalization centre.

Bixi announced a new three-year sponsorship by the Canadian insurance company Manuvie on Monday. The announcement made by Montreal Mayor Denis Coderre and head of the board of Bixi Marie Elaine Farley at city hall did not reveal the value of the new sponsorship, according to CBC News. However, it was revealed that starting this year there will be a valet service during festivals and events to ease the process of borrowing and returning the bikes. CBC News reported Bixi stands will be up and running by April 15 and that the number of Bixi trips increased 9.4 per cent in 2015.

The Jewish General Hospital announced it’ll be closing 22 beds next month. Citing a second year of budget cuts, the hospital said it had no choice but to close a unit, according to CTV News. The hospital hired an outside firm to advise them, and the beds being closed are reserved for older patients with relatively minor medical issues. CTV News reported the hospital cut $23 million from its budget in 2014-2015.

CEGEP receives funding to ease religious tensions

BY GREGORY TODAROCO-NEWS EDITOR

Bixi gets new sponsorship deal

Jewish General Hospital losing 22 beds

C I T Y I N B R I E F

CSU calls on sanction bylaws changeC A M P U S

Currently, students charged at tribunals cannot sit on university bodiesBY LAURA MARCHANDCO-NEWS EDITOR

The Concordia Student Union is calling on the university to change bylaws that bar certain students from sitting on deci-sion-making bodies. Currently, students sanctioned under the Code of Rights and Responsibilities in the past three years are disal-lowed from sitting on bodies such as Concordia’s Senate and Board of Governors. It’s a rule that the CSU claims breaks provincial laws—and one they will take to court to challenge, if necessary.

The decision was formally passed at council on March 9. The CSU claims Concordia’s bylaw, forbidding sanctioned students, conflicts with the Quebec law titled “An Act Respecting the Accreditation and Financing of Students’ Associations,” also known as the Accreditation Act. Specifically, the CSU executive claims that it contradicts Article 32 of the Act, which asserts that “an

accredited students’ association or alliance may, alone, appoint students who … are called upon to sit or participate as student representatives on various councils, committees or other bodies in the institution.”

By restricting the autonomy of who the student association can nominate, CSU general coordinator Terry Wilkings believes the Concordia bylaw violates the Accreditation Act, with rules “significantly more stringent than any other university in this province.”

“There is a large number of students who have been charged under the Code over the past year,” said Wilkings, referring to the charges laid against students who participated in anti-austerity protests on campus last year. “I’ve been on the executive [team] of the CSU for two years and both [executive teams] have had students charged, and sanctions have been delivered.”

With so many student leaders

charged, Wilkings expects the bylaws to have an influence on future candidates for these posi-tions. “Given that it’s an election cycle right now, the immediate impact of this will be clear as a result of how those elections go,” said Wilkings.

Alan Shepard, president of Concordia University, said the tribunal and sanction process is fair and not controlled by the administration. “It’s independent—it’s meant to be independent,” said Shepard. Complaints against students are weighed by a panel of two students and one professor, and overseen by a volunteer law firm to ensure due process.

“Students can appeal their finding, but you don’t have a world where the president or the vice-president or whoever can swoop in and arbitrarily change the findings of independent panels,” said Shepard. “It doesn’t work like that.”

But Wilkings asserts the uni-versity did have a role to play in

bringing up these sanctions. “The university is acting as a

co-complainant [in these charges],” said Wilkings. “And that’s a decision. Someone made a decision for them to act in that capacity.”

On March 10, Wilkings met with Shepard to discuss addressing the bylaws. “I would say it was a productive meeting,” said Wilkings, who will be meeting with university representatives in the future to elaborate on their reading of the Act. “It’s very clear that this is a priority [for us].”

Further meetings between student representatives and the administration are planned for this week. However, if no progress is made, the CSU is willing to go beyond Concordia to address these issues.

“If the actions taken by the university are insufficient to address the issues, [then] we have approval from our board to take legal action if necessary and seek a formal judgement from the court,” said Wilkings.

Café downsizes downtown bookstoreC A M P U S

Remaining bottom floor of bookstore to be replaced with “community space”BY LAURA MARCHANDCO-NEWS EDITOR

Students heading to the library may have noticed a new edition to the LB building: a compact Starbucks café has taken over a chunk of the bookstore.

The new space—operated by Concordia’s food services provider, Aramark—opened Feb. 29. It is one of the many of the licensed food providers currently operating on Concordia campuses. The project has been in the works for over a year.

“The Starbucks was in the original plan when Aramark won the bid on campus,” said Sabrina Lavoie, Concordia’s executive director of budget planning and business development. “It just took a little longer than expected to open.”

According to Lavoie, the café was slated to open in September 2015—but struggles with the licensor and renovations pushed the date back.

“The way [Starbucks] is man-aging their brand is very strong and it takes a long time for them to design the plan, approve the plan,” said Lavoie. “It takes a lot of back

and forth, and that created a lot of delays.”

While Lavoie said that this exchange is not uncom-mon, the LB Starbucks took an unusual amount of time. “They’re very strict on their design so they keep a certain standard,” said Lavoie. “Starbucks seemed to be particularly long … we were expecting a bit of a delay, but it was way longer than we thought.”

“Choosing a site for a Starbucks location involves many factors,” said a Starbucks spokesperson. “We often work with licensees to bring the Starbucks experience to new locations like [universities].”

Lavoie also confirmed that the reno costs were included in Aramark’s initial bid to the univer-sity. As part of the bid, Concordia University agreed to pay a sum to cover renovations—a total of $2.1 million for five spaces across both campuses, according to Lavoie. “Starbucks was one of them,” she said.

Lavoie added the renovation fund was also used in areas such as the Buzz cafeteria, the Tim Hortons

in the SP building, and the Green Beet café in the Hall building.

“These contracts are set up to ensure that the university will make a modest profit on the activities,” said Concordia University president Alan Shepard. “The key goal is to make sure we have food and beverages that our community wants to have … and not to lose money on it.”

The Starbucks café is one of many changes coming to the bookstore in the near future. The store will be condensed onto a single floor on its upper level—though Shepard said that there are no concrete plans for what else will be moving into the bottom level.

“We’re still trying to imagine how the bookstore is getting a renovation, bringing it to the digital age,” said Shepard. “There will be something else for the ground floor of the bookstore in the coming year.”

Shepard said community feedback will be taken into account as the final decisions are made. “What we heard ... were calls for more collaborative space, so we’re working now on what the programming will look like for that space.”

Shepard confirmed that by the summer, the plans for the ground floor of the bookstore should be more concrete, hopefully in time for the next academic year.

The new Starbucks in the LB building basement.Photo by Marie-Pierre Savard.

3MARCH 15, 2016 theconcordian

Two uniformed Canadian Forces members were stabbed at a Toronto military recruitment centre on Monday, according to the Canadian Press. Police are currently investigating whether the attack could be terrorism-related. Six to eight soldier were able to neutralize the attacker, according to the CBC. According to the Canadian Press, the suspect, who is 27 years old, made comments that led police to investigate whether the incident was terrorism related. Both the RCMP and CSIS have been contacted on the matter.

A new study by the U.S.-based National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration suggests climate change could cause increases in toxic algae bloom along Canada’s Pacific coast. The study, which looks at algae toxins in marine mam-mals along Alaska’s coastline, indicates that climate change could encourage longer and more frequent blooms. Study author Kathi Lefebvre told the Canadian Press that the study looked at more than 900 Alaskan mammals to look for the presence of domoic acid and saxitoxin, two potentially lethal algae-produced toxins. The study examined 13 Alaskan mammal species. Low levels of domoic acid was found in all of them and 10 of the species had saxitoxin. In 1987, more than 100 people in Prince Edward Island became ill from toxins caused by algae blooms.

The Tobacco Control Directorate (TCD) is looking for a contractor to run a cost-benefit analysis to implementing plain cigarette packaging in Canada. The TCD is in charge of administrating the Tobacco Act. Health Minister Jane Philpott said this marks an initial step toward chang-ing the act to make cigarette packaging void of colours, logos or trademarks, according to Global News. These changes would be in line with similar laws implemented by Australia and incoming laws in the United Kingdom, Ireland and France. Cigarette manufacturers have unsuccessfully tried to challenge these types of laws.

Double stabbing at Toronto military site

Climate change could increase toxic algae

BY GREG TODAROCO-NEWS EDITOR

N AT I O N I N B R I E F

Fed looking into plain carton packaging

BY LAURA MARCHANDCO-NEWS EDITOR

B roken walls, regular flooding, a leaking ceiling and a lack of accessibility: these are just some of the

reasons the Frigo Vert pre-sented itself Concordia Student Union (CSU) at council on March 9. The student-owned health food co-op, long located across from the Hall building, hoped to resolve these issues by moving to a new location. The CSU agreed it was within their mandate to help f inancially, granting the Frigo Vert a one-time $100,000 contribution.

The money was earmarked not only to assist in moving costs, but also to renovate the new space—a total cost of approximately $150,000. To date, the co-op has accepted $30,000 from various grants to pay for the improvements. The CSU contribution brings the total funding provided to the co-op at $130,000, covering all but $20,000 of the expenses.

The Fr igo Ver t acknowl-edges that it has an emergency fund totalling $200,000, but its report presented to council claims depleting the fund is “not organizationally responsible [or] financially sustainable.” The rent in the new space is reportedly “much higher” than that of the old location, leading them to seek out alternative sources of funding.

The motion to assist the co-op was met with resounding support at council.

“This is a no-brainer,” said Marcus Peters, a CSU councillor representing Arts and Science. “We have the mandate, we have the funds, and this is exactly the k ind of thing we should be promoting.”

“This project is super awe-some,” said Gabrielle Caron, CSU sustainability coordinator. “I think that accessibility is some-thing that’s lacking on campus … and I think that this is a great role model that we can look up to , and I h o p e t h a t i t ’s s omet h ing t hat can keep going.”

T h e C S U motion cited the union’s mandate to “actively [sup-port] affordable, sustainable, and student-run food service initiatives on campus,” and claimed that the accessibility initiative “cre-ates a unique space on campus acce s s i b le to a l l s t u d e nt s , raising awareness for inclu-sivity of all types of bodies on Concordia’s campus.”

T h e v o t e p a s s e d w i t h no opposition.

The changes proposed by the Frigo Vert include interior ramps for wheelchair acces-

sibility, a second cash register to shorten lines, an accessible gender-neutral bathroom and space for allergen-free products.

Prior to the decision to move, the co-op went to their landlords to ask them to repair the old space. However, despite legal letters and formal addendums to the lease, “no repairs have been done” according to the Frigo Vert’s council report. “Short of taking the building owners to court for negligence of urgent and necessary repairs,” reads the

report, “[the Frigo Ver t] exhausted all other reason-able avenues.”

Renovating the old space them-selves would have c o s t t h e c o - o p a n e s t i m a t e d $200,000—a figure that made the deci-sion to move into t h e n e w s p a c e “easy” according to the report.

Two real estate agents were hired to find the organization a new space, which culminated with the Frigo signing a 10-year lease at 1440 Mackay St. However, the space was reportedly not ready for use.

“Our landlord gave it to us as an empty concrete box,” said Frigo representatives at the March 9 CSU council meeting. “So we’re here to ask for help.”

The Frigo Vert accepted a mid-level bid from MRCO Construction, who has experience previously working on grocery stores. The total cost of the renovation and move was budgeted at $151,967.39. The accessibility features alone cost more than $43,000. According to the Frigo Vert report presented at council, the majority of the cost comes from “necessary amenities like gyprock, drywall, bathrooms, and lighting, [which amounts] to at least $80,000 to $100,000.”

Despite the renovat ions , representatives for the Frigo Vert said the space was worth it.

“In general, it’s going to be a newly-painted, welcoming clean space,” said a Frigo Vert representative. “Considering that our current space is falling apart, it’s been very difficult to maintain a clean, friendly and welcoming atmosphere.”

“I’m really enthusiastic about the project,” said CSU general coordinator Terry Wilkings. “I look forward to frequenting the space once it’s done.”

The space was slated to open for business March 14. However, the project reportedly encoun-tered construction issues that delayed the opening. “We are hoping to open at some point this week but we are not sure yet when that will be,” wrote the Frigo Vert on its Facebook page. It is unclear if the delays will result in a higher cost associated with the project.

The co-op claimed its new space was “an empty concrete box”

CSU gives Frigo Vert $100,000 for move, renovations

C O V E R S T O R Y

“Considering that our current space is falling apart, it’s been very difficult to maintain a clean, friendly and welcoming atmosphere.”FRIGO VERT REPRESENTATIVE

Photo by Marie-Pierre Savard.

4 MARCH 15, 2016theconcordian

On Monday, Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered a large portion of Russian troops to leave Syria, saying he believes the military has served their duty in the region. Putin said Russia plans to contribute more towards peace efforts in Syria, as the removal of troops comes into effect Tuesday, according to Vice News. Putin said during televised comments on Monday, “the task that was set before our defense ministry and armed forces has as a whole been completed and so I order the defense ministry to, from tomorrow, start the withdrawal of the main part of our military contingents from the Syrian Arab Republic,” as reported by Vice News.

A father and his son were killed in Mana Pools National Park, Zimbabwe on Sunday by wildlife rangers. The father was from Italy, but lived in Zimbabwe for more than 30 years working as a professional hunter, organizing safaris for travelers from Europe. BBC News repor ted that the Board Chairman Tichafa Mundangepfupfu and Director General Edson Chidziya said in a statement, “The rangers ... saw movement in the thicket, heard voices and opened fire, accidentally shooting and killing on the spot the pair.” The shooting is currently under examination.

Financial services company Morgan Stanley has increased the rates for anticipation of a world recession from 20 per cent to 30 per cent, blaming the change on the slowing of U.S. market growth. The U.S. economic growth, which was recorded at 2.4 per cent in 2015, is predicted to slow to 1.7 per cent this year and 1.6 per cent in 2017, reported by CNBC. Earlier this month the International Monetary Fund pressed governments to act against the increasing danger to the world economy. Political risks that may occur from this include conflicts in the Middle East and worsening of the European refugee crisis.

Putin removes majority of fighters in Syria

BY SAVANNA CRAIGASSISTANT NEWS EDITOR

Two from anti-poaching unit killed in Zimbabwe

Likelihood for global recession increases

W O R L D I N B R I E F

The journey to ending HIV and AIDSH E A L T H

Medicine and harm-reduction techniques could make them a thing of the past

BY SAVANNA CRAIGASSISTANT NEWS EDITOR¬ @savannacraig

The last recorded national statistics for those living with HIV/A I D S i n C a n a d a reported 2,570 new

cases, according to the Aids Committee of Toronto. As found by national HIV estimates, by the end of 2014 an estimated 75,500 were living with HIV in Canada according to the Community AIDS Treatment Information Exchange website. The province with the highest rates of new reported cases was Ontario with 39.6 per cent; Quebec followed close behind with 21.7 per cent.

M.J. Milloy is a research scientist and infectious disease epidemiologist from the British Columbia Centre for Excellence in HIV/AIDS and an assistant professor of medicine in the AIDS division at University of British Columbia. On March 10, he spoke at the Leacock building on McGill campus to discuss ending HIV/AIDS, organized by the Concordia University Community Lecture Series. Milloy spoke to The Concordian to share his knowledge on Vancouver’s approach of harm reduction techniques.

Milloy said rates of HIV in Vancouver decreased due to changes in the way the virus is being addressed. “Vancouver decided to treat [drug use] as a public health problem and not a public order problem,” said Milloy. “Not a problem for police, but a problem for doctors and nurses in the healthcare system.” Milloy said this lead to a number of programs being created to address issues surrounding drug use. This includes educating users on the risks and consequences associated to unsafe

drug use, such as contracting HIV/AIDS, rather than focusing on how drug use itself is bad.

To Milloy, abstinence is often seen as the first step—a view which often gets in the way of addressing the issue. Instead, people have suggested harm reduction. “Harm reduction is really the [central] idea behind Vancouver’s fight against HIV,” said Milloy. “Because of the commitment to harm reduc-t ion, what we’ve seen in

Vancouver are a number of programs t h a t h a v e lowered the [transmis-sion] of HIV.”

O n e o f t h e s t r a t e -g ie s u s e d in C a n a d a t o bat t le t he spread of HIV i s needle exchange, but this wasn’t making a sufficient enough impact said Milloy. Instead of needle exchange, which is where users can give their used needles in exchange for sterile needles, Vancouver now practices needle distribution.

According to a study found by the American Journal of Public Health in 2010, needle sharing has decreased in Vancouver by 40 per cent.

Another program tackling harm reduction is supervised injection facilities. “That’s a way of not only reducing the [transmission] of HIV, but trying to get people [who are] using injection drugs into the healthcare system,” said Milloy. There are currently no supervised injection centres in Montreal, while Toronto is moving forward to be

the second city in Canada to open supervised injection centres.

According to Toronto Sun journalist Jenny Yuen reporting via Twitter, Dr. David McKeown has announced at Toronto Public Health, on Monday, that super-vised injection sites will be placed in the “[Toronto Public Health], South Riverdale Health Clinic and Queen West.”

According to CBC News, Montreal Mayor

Denis Coderre s a i d l a s t

S e p t e m b e r t h a t h e would open supervised injection centres in Montreal—regardless of if the federal gov-

ernment approves or not. Justin Trudeau—who was the liberal party leader at the

time—agreed with Coderre’s efforts to implement supervised injection sites in Quebec.

Matthew Halse from the AIDS Community Care Montreal (ACCM) said “there are some great com-munity advocates pushing for supervised injection sites in Montreal, but we aren’t quite there yet in terms of finance and legislation.” This is supported through organizations offering support to those with blood-borne infections, including ACCM, Dopamine and Cactus.

A third contributor to harm reduction is HIV medication. “We’ve learned that over the past 10 years or so, if someone is living with HIV but they are on HIV medications, they not only are going through remission ... but they also won’t pass along the virus to other people,” said Milloy. He said that by getting

more drug users carrying the virus on HIV medication, the virus will no longer be contagious, reducing the spread of the virus by preventing its reproduction.

Montreal, along with Vancouver, has adopted needle distribution aimed at reducing rates of HIV and AIDS among drug users. “There are bins all around [the Gay Village and Downtown Montreal] where you can deposit used needles, it’s not an exchange,” said Halse.

Halse said organizations such as ACCM are financially struggling to maintain programs and services.

The Concordian spoke with Daniel Jonathan Laroche, who is living in Montreal with HIV and also works as outreach for the ACCM. When discussing the issues of government support to those living with HIV, Laroche said, “I find personally they don’t have [many] services.” He said the government lacks emotional support towards those living with HIV in Quebec. However, organizations such as the ACCM, which is funded by the government, provides these services. Laroche said that the support could be more beneficial with greater financial aid.

Treating drug use as a medical problem, rather than a criminal problem, has resulted in a number of substantial benefits. “The lesson of Vancouver is that the best response to the health dangers of injection drug use [and] addiction … is a public health response,” said Milloy. “What I hope people take away from my talk is that good harm reduction is always a product of its local environment.”

The Concordian reached out to the City of Montreal for an update on the status of supervised injection sites but received no response by this article’s deadline.

Graphic by Thom Bell.

M.J. Milloy discusses ending HIV in the Leacock building at McGill University. Photo by Marie-Pierre Savard.

Notice. Ask. Intervene. Step up to stop sexual violence

Bystander intervention:How to look out for each other and party safely Thursday March 24, 20164 – 6:15 p.m.Rooms H-763 and H-765Henry F. Hall Building, 1455 De Maisonneuve Blvd. W.

Julie Lalonde is the manager of draw-the-line.ca, a campaign that aims to end sexual violence by engaging bystanders. Join her for this interactive presentation where we talk about consent, safe partying and how bystanders can safely intervene.

This event is free and is being organized by Concordia’s Sexual Assault Resource Centre.

concordia.ca/sarc #bystanderintervention

Advertise in The Concordian and reach over 45,000 students

advertising@theconcordian.com

lifeLIFE EDITOR /// life@theconcordian.comCRISTINA SANZA (¬ @Cristina_Sanza)

F O O D

Mac n Cheese Week takes over MontrealDozens of restaurants participated in this food festival dedicated to one of the best comfort foods

Mac n Cheese Week was back for another year with dozens of participating restau-rants in Montreal, Quebec City and Toronto. The participants took Mac n Cheese to the next level with their interesting takes on the basic dish. Our writers got to try a selection of them.

Deville DinerbarDeville puts a unique spin on many of

their dishes, and that is not limited to their crispy Mac n Cheese wonton entrée. It comes with five crunchy, deep-fried wontons with a side of diablo marinara sauce. The wontons had the perfect amount of crisp to them, and they didn’t crumble apart with every bite, making them easy to eat. Inside was a saucy, light Mac n Cheese. It was creamy and smooth in texture as opposed to really cheesy. However, be warned—the taste of the cut up shallots inside will really take over your tastebuds. Some moments it felt like that was all I tasted, which was a downfall for me. That being said, be prepared for crazy onion breath afterwards. The diablo sauce really packs in the heat, so if you’re a weakling when it comes to spiciness like myself, dip your wontons sparingly. The entrée doesn’t leave you completely full, so I would rec-ommend a second entrée to accompany it. Though advertised for this food festival, the entrée is part of their permanent menu.$13 7/10Photo and story by Cristina Sanza

Les Enfants Terribles“Attention, c’est chaud!” the waitress

said to me before handing me an enormous brown paper bag with a small aluminum container in it to go. I left Les Enfants Terribles with elation as I was about to devour a very simple-sounding yet appealing Mac n Cheese.

I was trying to imagine how a combination of homemade cheese sauce, poutine cheese (which we can only assume are melted cheese curds), kale, bacon and macaroni would melt warmly in my mouth. When I got home, I opened the container and to my great disappointment found that a small portion took up roughly a third of the con-tainer. As I started eating, I immediately found that the combination of cheese and kale was too sharp and bitter. The bacon was completely lost in the other flavours. Overall, it was underwhelming and I felt dejected that I had just paid roughly $15 for something that was simply unsatisfying.$156/10Photo and story by Andrej Ivanov

My local grocery store“The lighting in the grocery store is

absolutely appalling,” I murmur to myself as I make a quick dash through the maze of aisles. I search for what seems like hours just to find the treasure I had been yearning for all week long: Kraft Dinner. I snatch a box and run to the cash. I arrive home and sit in my dimly lit kitchen, analyzing the contents of the box, just as Gollum idolized the one ring of power. I then begin the painstaking process of making this delicacy. Fumes of processed cheese and petrochem-icals soon fill my nostrils as I watch the orange liquid boil viciously in the pot. I sit impatiently waiting for my precious dinner to finish cooking. Seduced by the orange glow, I grab a fork and begin to devour the food in a savage fashion. Unable to contain my joy, tears stream down my face. This is Mac n Cheese Week. Satisfaction at last.$1.501/10Story by David Easey

Griffintown Café Tucked away in the quickly gentrifying

borough of Griffintown is a mean caesar and Mac n Cheese, which everyone needs to try. Forget the rest of the tasty frittatas, French toasts, and fruit this sunny café offers, hit that brunch menu with the sole intent of having a steaming plate of Mac n Cheese. It’s served up with a fried egg, several slices of bacon and a handful of arugula—just to make sure you get some green in your diet. This cheesy bad boy packs a punch with aged cheddar curds from l’Île-aux-Grues, swiss gruyere and local Bierbrier beer. The macaroni noodles are broken up by a generous helping of curds and crumbling the bacon also adds a salty crunch throughout. Paired with a gin caesar on a sunny Sunday morning is about as close to cheese heaven as Quebecers can hope to achieve. Luckily this is a steady feature on the café’s menu. $169/10Photo and story by Michelle Gamage

Le CheeseLe Cheese Truck is one the founders

of Mac n Cheese Week. Their Mac n Cheese was a Sriracha Fried Chicken Mac. It con-tained three things I love: cheese, sriracha sauce and chicken! It is made with roasted cauliflower, sweet green peas, homemade béchamel sauce, sriracha, bread crumbs, flour, chicken and Louis d’Or cheese. There were five pieces of fried chicken covered with sriracha sauce layered over the Mac n Cheese. The quantity of sriracha might be too much for someone who’s not a fan of spicy food but I loved it. There was just enough chicken as well—more pieces would have been overkill. The Mac n Cheese is extremely rich by itself. The béchamel sauce was heavenly and synced perfectly with the cheese. It was hot, cheesy and delicious. It was quite filling but I managed to finish my plate. I don’t often give perfect grades for dishes but this Mac n Cheese deserves it. $14.5010/10 Photo and story by Nicole Yeba

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7MARCH 15, 2016 theconcordian

BY JESSE STEINSTAFF WRITER

“I experienced my own death,” said Gonzo Nieto.

It was the summer before he was leaving for university. Taking his parents car and picking up a few friends, they went to the local head shop and bought a bong, a torch flame lighter and a bag of Salvia.

Salvia Divinorum, is a plant that when smoked leaves a person in a haze of hal-lucinations. It’s often the choice for people experimenting because until recently, it was legal to buy from head shops.

Smoking was not a new experience for Nieto as he had started smoking pot the year before. He didn’t feel anything until he exhaled the psychotropic smoke.

“I was looking over the horizon, seeing something larger than my field of view. A ball made up of hundreds of tiny coloured bricks was rolling in my direction. I knew it would crush me,” he said. He came to in the forest and everything was the way he left it.

Soon he’d leave for school and his life would change forever.

“Salvia scared the shit out of me,” he said. Nieto is the co-chair of the Canadian

Students for Sensible Drug Policy, or the CSSDP. The organization is a grassroots movement driven by students motivated to change global drug policy. It aims to bring awareness to the benefits and challenges of the legalization movement.

Born in Montreal, Nieto’s childhood revolved around his family constantly being on the move. It would take him until the age of 11 before he would set down roots in Toronto.

Like many families, his parents did not support drug use. However, this didn’t stop him from experimenting with drugs as he got older.

“I started smoking cannabis at 16 and had a large hand at introducing my brother to it,” he said. But it wasn’t until his experience with Salvia, his first psychedelic drug, that he became curious about drugs and drug policy.

Following his psychedelic awakening, Nieto went back to Montreal to study neu-

roscience at Concordia. Disappointed by the lack of discussions about psychedelic use and their potential positive benefits, he continued to do his own research. “We don’t have a culture of thinking about altered states of consciousness,” he said.

Through a mix of curiosity for drugs, the policies surrounding them and a desire to educate, Nieto discovered the CSSDP. It seemed like the perfect organization to channel his interests. It was not long before he decided to apply for the national chair position. “It was a ballsy decision since I was still so new to the organization but I felt like I was qualified,” he said.

Since his involvement with the CSSDP, he has helped organize a number of events and three local chapters have already sprung up at Concordia, McGill and Université de Montreal.

A recent initiative was an event called Envisioning Cannabis Legalization, hosted by the McGill chapter. Pillows littered the floor as a crowd of close to 40 people, mostly students, gathered to drink tea and share their views on all things cannabis.

Nieto led the conversation, standing tall and encouraging the audience to get involved.The meeting was entirely devoted to talking about how cannabis legalization should be done. “There are a lot of ways society tries to make you afraid of being open about your drug use,” he said. “There’s the impression that all drug users are addicts.”

Andras Lenart, a member of the McGill chapter, feels that it’s about time for a change. “Look at alcohol. I don’t think the way society views drugs is fair and I want to work to change that.” Lenart, like many members, feels strongly about the movement and has spent a fair amount of time working alongside Nieto. “You can tell how passionate he is,” said

The highs and lows of legalization

Lenart. “He’s not in for the pride, he really wants to make a difference.”

While the temptation to idealize drug use was definitely a theme at the event, Nieto did say drug use could come at a cost. “I’ve struggled with cannabis dependency for six or seven years,” he said. Nieto has been making an effort to turn a new leaf, literally.

Eric Widdicombe, a mental health counselor at Concordia, said marijuana should be treated similarly to alcohol and more emphasis should be placed on educating people about the risks and warning signs associated with drug use.

“I think alcohol is more disruptive than marijuana,” he said. Widdicombe has spent a lot of time with youth and has developed a strong interest in the field of addiction. “With the younger population, a lot of experimentation is happening and at an earlier age than ever before,” he said.

Often drug problems are associated with deeper mental health issues and a lot of casual users take advantage of the substance to self medicate, he said. He believes that the field of addiction is still young and as more research comes out there is strong evidence showing environment and genetics are major factors.

The gathering marked the lead-up to an event that may just be the turning point the CSSDP has been dreaming about. On April 19, the United Nations is convening a special assembly that plans to address the world drug problem. Nieto will be one of the crusaders heading into the charge alongside NGOs like the Drug Policy Alliance and the National Council Against Drug Abuse. He plans to push for more language related to harm reduction. “I’m really optimistic” he said. “This could be where we finally move away from [the war on drugs].”

A PORTRAITGonzo Nieto is the co-chair of The Canadian Students for Sensible Drug Policy. Photos by Jesse Stein.

Gonzo Nieto and the Canadian Students for Sensible Drug Policy aim to change global drug policy

H E A L T H

artsARTS EDITORS /// arts@theconcordian.comLYDIA ANDERSON (¬ @LydiaAndersonn) & ELIJAH BUKREEV (¬ @ElijahBukreev)

F I L M

Disney takes on diversity in the big-city jungleZootopia is another success from the animation studio, a familiar but thematically rich delightBY ELIJAH BUKREEVCO-ARTS EDITOR

The Walt Disney Animation Studios may have done it again, but no, they’re still not Pixar. Yet, it’s hard not to give them credit for the way they’ve reinvented them-selves in the 10 years or so since they embraced computer animation. While Zootopia does follow familiar narrative tropes, it may be the most thematically bold and accomplished film of the studio’s new era. When you think of Disney, you expect princesses and cute animals, not a fine parable on multiculturalism and race rela-

tions, which their new film surprisingly delivers—even if it does focus on cute animals, such as Judy Hopps (Ginnifer Goodwin), the first rabbit police officer in an entirely animal-populated Zootopia.

Although you may have to think twice about calling her “cute”—rabbits can call each other that, but other animals shouldn’t. You get the idea—with so many species living side by side, most of them carrying some form of prejudice, things are bound to get ugly. Not ugly enough for them to eat each other—predators and prey seem to have achieved some sort of harmony in that regard—but an elephant might refuse to

serve a fox in an ice cream store, because everyone knows foxes are up to no good.

Case in point: Nick Wilde (Jason Bateman), a smart-mouthed but utterly charming con artist fox who Hopps will have to team up with to investigate a series of mysterious disappearances across the city. Having two seemingly incompatible beings—rabbits and foxes are natural enemies—work together to solve a crime despite their differences, predictably becoming the best of friends in the process, makes Zootopia a model buddy cop comedy. The plot is straight out of the ‘80s—it’s hard not to think of 48 Hrs.—but its timely social commentary makes it unfit for any other decade than our own.

You may choose to read very closely into the film’s allusions and metaphors, in which case you might be disappointed to find some questions are left unad-dressed—namely, what do predators have for lunch, and why are there no interspecies couples?—or you may enjoy the film for its wonderful comedy timing and engrossing world. If there’s a criticism to be made, it’s that for the many wonderful touches that make Zootopia so pleasurable, screenwriters have also recycled a device that has grown increasingly tiresome. Has Disney retired its career baddies? Sorry for the spoiler, but this is the studio’s fourth animated film in a row to use a plot twist in which a positive

character is unmasked as the main villain, and by now all it deserves is an eye roll.

For the most part, the film truly works by presenting you with an unusual world you’d actually want to explore. There have been many other fictional metropolises in animated films, many variations of that archetypal “big city”—Monstropolis in Monsters, Inc., Robot City in Robots or an unnamed insect-populated town in A Bug’s Life—but none as cleverly detailed as Zootopia, which lends its name to the film mostly because the city itself often outshines the characters. Which isn’t to say anything bad about the characters—they’re the ones that make it all come alive, and through them, the film achieves a delicate balance between stereotype and self-determination. Are you ever justified in expecting a rabbit or a fox to behave as such? Films aimed at children typically offer easy answers to complicated questions, but this one is so contagiously optimistic it might just get a pass.

!�!�!�!�

Directed by Byron Howard, Rich Moore, Jared Bush Starring Ginnifer Goodwin, Jason Bateman, Idris ElbaReleased on March 4, 2016 Duration 109 min

ZOOTOPIA

Judy Hopps will have to face discrimination and prove her worth as the firstrabbit police officer in Zootopia.

B A L L E T

BY LYDIA ANDERSON CO-ARTS EDITOR

It’s an evening that will lead you from forest fog and dawn-light to the exotic jungles of Cambodia, guided by the evocative flow of elongated forms. Préludes is Les Grands Ballets Canadiens de Montréal’s latest double-bill of modern ballet—two works by two talented choreographers.

For the first portion of the evening, Ken Ossola—a successful freelance dancer and choreographer—presented Dim Light of Dawn as Les Grands Ballets’ seasonal creation. Inspired by the music of pianist Sergei Rachmaninoff, the 50-minute piece premiered as part of Préludes on March 10.

Following this came RE-(II)—a piece by Shen Wei—which had premiered on March 15, 2007 but now graces the stage once again with its mesmerizing and unique nature in Préludes. Wei is quoted by Les Grands Ballets as saying that “RE-(II) is based on my visit to Angkor Wat in Cambodia in 2006. It reflects my impressions of the temples and the trees, the sounds of the land, the children and the culture of that country.” Wei designs his own sets, costumes and makeup for his productions and for this performance he also recorded his own sounds and images of the jungle around Angkor Wat, Cambodia.

Préludes: dawn and jungle, beauty and balletA captivating double-bill presented by Les Grands Ballets until March 19

The curtain rises, but an audience prepared for a traditional introduction of music is surprised as Dim Light of Dawn commences void of any accompanying sound. It’s a lack of musicality that is immediately captivating. Groups of dancers enter and exit the stage in complete silence—a dancer’s a cappella.

A meditation on the first light of day, Dim Light of Dawn is synopsized in the show’s pamphlet to be a work that “offers the spec-tator a contemplation of light and darkness, a lyrical and romantic new work, filled with emotion.” It is marked by its seamless transitions, each number blending together as dancers who had just performed slowly and steadily walk away while another takes the stage. This slow, controlled treading accented every scene and unified the work in its style and mood.

The piece as a whole places you in what could be the outer recess of your mind, putting you in an almost surreal and dreamlike state with its mixture of piano, strings, abstract soundscapes and incredibly beautiful movements.

RE-(II) begins as the sounds and croaks of the jungle echo throughout the theatre and the line of dancers onstage enact a graceful, soft-hitting style that is juxtaposed by spastic, calculated movements. The sound mixing of the piece is experimental and dazing. With

recorded sounds from Cambodia and over-lapping voices laden with static, it maintains an abstract musicality.

Furthermore, RE-(II) as a whole seems to resist being an instance of cultural appropriation or a piece that utilizes exoticism to amplify itself. It truly appears as if Wei has translated his appreciation of the experience he had in Angkor Wat into a beautiful artistic expression.

The two pieces differ in mood, content and style but together they somehow com-pliment each other as they showcase two ways the medium can reach into the depths of concepts and display them with beauty.

Préludes is showing at Théâtre Maisonneuve until March 19. Tickets start at $54, but you save 20 per cent when you buy tickets for two ballets.

In RE-(II), images from Ossola’s travels are projected on screen behind the dancers.

9MARCH 15, 2016 theconcordian

BY TIFFANY LAFLEURASSISTANT ARTS EDITOR

Explore the ephemeral yet invisibly ominous nature of borders, the myriad conventions of female representation and the fragile tension between wildlife and human devastation. Take a step back and view the world through the perception and perspective of another at the Faculty of Fine Arts Gallery where intricate and exciting exhibitions from the Concordia community are on display.

Canada and the United States are two very distinct countries with their own ide-ologies, currency and even measurement systems. And yet the only real, tangible thing keeping both nations separate is the 8,891 kilometers of border, the longest shared land boundary in the world.

But what does it actually consist of? Andreas Rutkauskas explores this impos-sibly long stretch of land in Borderline, in which he photographs the six-metre-wide cleared path winding through forests and over 5,500 obelisk monuments peppering the terrain. Rutkauskas’ work explores the subtle surveillance technologies that have been put in place in a post 9/11 world,

discouraging people from lingering in these vast, empty areas. His documentary-style photographs of improvised barriers, gates and X-Ray scanners show that a border doesn’t necessarily mean simply putting up a wall to block access, and that the concept of a border might be more powerful than the physical representation of one. His subject is the border itself, regardless of what form it has taken in a defined space. This can be a border crossing, a cleared patch of land through a forest, or any number of monuments, small or large. What’s also interesting is the way that Rutkauskas approaches his subject, delving into the history of the border and examining the trials and tribulations of choosing where exactly one country ends and where another begins.

In a different exhibition, the intricately designed and well-constructed stop-mo-tion animation Boreal, Mandi Morgan explores, through delicate paper cutouts, the vulnerability that wildlife faces when confronted with human engineering and expansion. Morgan’s animation explores different ecosystems complete with forests, deer, birds and butterflies, and how human development sweeps nature away in order

to replace it with machinery, altering the environment in the process. The landscape, background and animals are all brightly coloured with intricate and detailed bodies. Knot work, parallel lines, vivid colours and markings of all types weave together to bring about a light-hearted representation of woodland creatures, which contrasts with the seriousness of the theme at play.

The soundtrack of the piece pulls the viewer in with its playful and melancholy harmony, which downplays the sadness of the destruction and instead replaces it with nostalgia for things as they once were.

Morgan uses an interesting way to con-ceptualize the animals losing their territories. Red and black balloons descend upon the earth to air-lift the wildlife out of the area, replacing them with pipes belching toxic

fumes into the once-pristine air.The airlifting out of the area

is fitting, because it highlights the animals’ roles as unwilling bystanders left powerless to try and avoid the situation they’ve been forced into. This helplessness, vulnerability and lack of understanding are further highlighted when a woodland creature tries to offer a mechanical petrol machine the last fruit of the last tree. The horse-like creature picks the fruit and places it on the ground, nudging it closer and closer to the black machine, which is oblivious both to the animal and to its peace offering. Finally, the animal is airlifted

as well, and brought out of frame. The strength of this piece stems from the very real problems of deforestation, habitat loss and natural resource depletion the world is currently struggling with.

The codes and conventions of female depiction are thoroughly explored in Belle de Jour III: Dialogues with Notman’s Portraits of Women, the third installment of Marisa Portolese’s photography series. An associate professor in the photography program at Concordia, Portolese creates art that blends portraiture and autobiography in her representation of the women she photographed for this project, which has been going on since 2002.

Inspired by the work of 19th-century Canadian photographer William Notman, the project brings past and present together, as Portolese’s depictions of contemporary women are framed side by side with Notman’s, showing the same fierceness, vulnerability and strength through the ages. Through this juxtaposition, new and old merge through the passage of time and express womanhood in a wide spectrum, each subject posing in her own personal way for the camera.

W Borderline, Boreal and Belle Du Jour III are on display at the FOFA Gallery now until April 8. Make sure to go by and explore how these different artists have approached their subjects, be they creative depictions of wildlife, an investigative look at female representation or even using an invisible border as a subject. Admission to the gallery is free.

E X H I B I T I O N

Through the eye of the beholderSee the world through three different lenses at the FOFA Gallery

FACULTY OF FINE ARTS GALLERY(1) Marisa Portolese has photographed women for this project since 2002. (2) Mandi Morgan crafted this touching animation about wildlife. (3) Andreas Rutkauskas reflects on the Canadian-American border using photography.Photos by Marie-Pierre Savard.

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musicMUSIC EDITOR /// music@theconcordian.comSAMUEL PROVOST-WALKER

ROOTS OF .DOJOWith experience on the guitar, alto sax and trombone, .dojo has applied his musical knowledge to modern tools like Maschine.

BY EMMETT STOWESTAFF WRITER

Shimmering synths and popping percus-sions emanate from the basement of Concordia’s Grey Nuns residence, where 18-year-old producer/DJ .dojo works on both biology homework and electronic melodies. These sounds travel across the globe to his almost 15,000 followers on SoundCloud as well as his buddies in res-idence. His cheerful style is reflected in his artwork, which consists of flower and heart emojis emphasized by backgrounds of pastel pinks and blues. These lighthearted attributes should not com-pletely fill your expectations of .dojo’s world as they are contrasted with heavy hitting, synth-filled drops.

.dojo said his inspiration is drawn from artists such as Lido, Cashmere Cat, and Giraffage and their abilities to “mix together genres, without you even knowing that it’s happening, to create new sounds and genres.” TONAK, another producer, DJ, and member of the collective that .dojo is a part of, added, “you build a lot of layers that can remind you of random things that happen during the day such as a ringtone, a text notification, or a “Yeah!” All these little sounds blended into the melody is a significant characteristic.”

In more general terms .dojo said, “I make a lot of happy music. The vibe I try and give off is reflective, so that people reflect on what the music means to them, without making them feel melancholy, so I guess you could say it’s a happy nostalgia type of vibe.”

.dojo’s music started in elementary

school with the guitar and alto sax. In high school he went to Canterbury in Ottawa where he was part of the music program, learning the trombone. “That’s where I got my core founda-tion of music theory, so that’s where the production side of me started,” he said. “I realized there, that I can’t perform for shit because I get so nervous so I needed to figure out a way to make music where I didn’t need to worry about performing every time I wanted to express what I had. So

I learned Maschine inside and out and started making electronic music.”

. d o j o d e s c r i b e s SoundCloud as the platform that really facilitated the sharing of his music. “It’s almost like an underground collective of friends and if your sound is refined enough, you’re automatically a part of it. If you just keep making friends and putting out quality sound, then you’ll grow.” Not only has .dojo been able to

accumulate almost 15,000 followers on SoundCloud but he’s made friends and exchanged ideas with artists such as Ryan Hemsworth, Y2K and StéLouse among others.

Within .dojo’s first week at Concordia he met TONAK, DJ and founder of the collective Evenire, a Montreal-Paris joint collective of artists who offered .dojo a spot on the team. “He was walking by my room and my door was open because it was Frosh and I was being friendly, and he saw my set up and asked about it and it went from there. Now we’re best friends doing what we love,” said TONAK. “It’s not even that we

both love music. We’re just both trying to promote an underlying message of happiness through music and through art in general.” Since joining Evenire, .dojo has played his first two shows at events they’ve organized. “It’s helped me reach out to venues, put on shows, build a local following and in general just share my love for music,” he said.

On March 24, Evenire is putting on another event at Le Belmont that will include the talents of .dojo along with DJs TONAK, Ryan Playground, TALLBOY, and jåmvvis. These musical talents will be complemented by Charline Dally who will VJ the event by projecting different visuals she’s designed as a backdrop for the artists.

On top of adding Charline’s talents to the event, .dojo and TONAK said they both feel that this event will facilitate a specific atmosphere that they are passionate about, which they describe as a relaxed and open mood. “Our main passion is obviously for art but we also have a passion for creating this vibe. I feel like what we do with the art will reflect on the vibe and I care a lot about that,” said TONAK.

c To hear a full set by the man himself and a whole event filled with good vibes, be at Le Belmont on March 24.

P R O F I L E

The aromatic vibes of .dojo

Macklemore’s follow-up to 2012’s The Heist is by all means a mixed bag. On one hand, songs like “Light Tunnels,” “Growing Up” and “Kevin” offer emo-tional perspectives into fatherhood and making it in the music industry. In these songs, Macklemore offers vivid recol-lections of his experiences that both inspire and evoke emotion. However, songs like “Let’s Eat” and “Brad Pitt’s Cousin” just make you shake your head as Macklemore’s bars are at their corn-iest. The song “White Privilege II,” while offering a fresh perspective on race relations, fails to come to a solid point or offer any real substantial solutions on these issues. Despite a few short-comings however, Macklemore proves himself as a vivid storyteller, aided by the colourful production of his partner in crime Ryan Lewis.

A Trial track: “Light Tunnels”

— Alexander Cole

This Unruly Mess I’ve Made

MACKLEMORE & RYAN LEWIS 1

(Macklemore LLC, 2016)

7/10

Post Pop DepressionIGGY POP2

(Loma Vista, 2016)

As unexpected as its central collaboration seemed, Post Pop Depression is uniformly predictable, its distinct Joshua Homme-tinged production quirks on full display. Tentatively Iggy Pop’s final album, Post Pop Depression is adept where it matters, showcasing glimmers of the singer that was while putting his contemporary, shaky baritone to great use. Lead single “Gardenia” injects a haunting quality to the singer’s timbre, its jangly, jagged guitars riding into the sunset. Though unashamedly an effort to channel the glory days of Pop’s early solo years, Homme’s attempts to pare down his desert rock stylings ultimately fall flat. The results are undeniably “Homme rock,” often sounding like little more than an Iggy Pop-fronted Queens of the Stone Age. Not that there’s anything wrong with that. At 68, Pop is still a powerhouse presence and Post Pop Depression mostly highlights his livewire talent.

A Trial track: “Gardenia”

— Samuel Provost-Walker6/10

QuickspinsGet the playlist: http://spoti.fi/1pkn5hH

With a burgeoning online following, this local DJ is set for success

“I needed to figure out a way to make music where I didn’t need to worry about performing every time I wanted to express what I had”.DOJO

11MARCH 15, 2016 theconcordian

G U I D E

Under SummerYNDI HALDA3

(Big Scary Monsters, 2016)

It only took 11 years but Canterbury post-rock outfit yndi halda has at last followed up their acclaimed tearjerker Enjoy Eternal Bliss. Though Under Summer doesn’t exactly reinvent the wheel, yndi halda provide a melancholic tapestry caked in blissful crescendos and gorgeous indulgence, often recalling the glory days of the genre. Centerpiece “Helena” explodes with catharsis only to amble onwards with a gorgeous krautrock-in-spired groove, its strings providing a tasteful, passionate decor. This also happens to be the only track without vocals, an addition that, while com-mendable, doesn’t feel particularly necessary; “Golden Threads From the Sun” feels at odds with itself, its bois-terous climaxes often interrupted by muttered, non-descript vocals. It’s a testament to the band’s careful affinity that crescendos this overladen and predictable can still instill a sense of awe and wonder. Welcome back.

A Trial track: “Helena”

— Samuel Provost-Walker7/10

For a series of outtakes, Kendrick Lamar’s untitled unmastered. is remarkably assured. Recorded sometime during the To Pimp a Butterfly sessions, Lamar explores similar themes while embracing an almost suf-focatingly moody backdrop of jazz rap instrumentals and experimental form. “untitled 02” features hauntingly disem-bodied vocals from the rapper, its instrumental rattling with an absolutely guttural bass hum. Most impressively, untitled unmastered. showcases an incredibly diverse array of sounds; “untitled 06” expertly utilizes Cee Lo Green over a soulful Ali Shaheed Muhammad-produced beat while “untitled 07” fuses jazz and trap rap stylings to stunning effect. It’s yet more proof that Lamar is truly in a league of his own. If anything, untitled unmastered. just makes Kanye West’s The Life of Pablo, a purportedly finished product of scattershot mixtape-like quality, look worse for wear.

A Tria l track: “untit led 06 | 06.30.2014”

— Samuel Provost-Walker

untitled unmastered.KENDRICK LAMAR 4

(Top Dawg, 2016)

BY CALVIN CASHENASSISTANT MUSIC EDITOR

Your parents may know it as slam dancing, but nearly everyone knows what moshing is. Regardless of your position on this physical expression of enjoyment, moshing can draw a lot of negative backlash due its violent nature. That doesn’t mean it can’t be enjoyed freely and safely. There are rules to a mosh pit that you have to abide by to make sure concert attendees walk away with minimal damage.

Know protocol, even the unwritten laws of etiquette. Moshing is by no means a way to hurt someone. Moshing is about the release of pent-up aggression, and having a fun outlet to vent or celebrate the music being performed. The rules of carrying out a mosh pit are fair ly self-explanatory, but they are commonly forgotten amidst the insanity.

If a fellow mosher falls, lift that person back up, check to make sure they are not hurt and continue to bump bodies. They will probably just laugh it off and thank you before joining back in or stepping out if they are hurt. This is the most essential rule of all and ensures the mosh pit is a mostly safe experience.

Moshing is a communal experience, a synergy formed between music and ambience that evokes reaction. Most importantly, moshing should be a ground of equal opportunity.

Don’t throw punches—it’s not a fight. If you hurt someone it is common

courtesy to shake their hand or tap their

shoulder. Do a friendly gesture and apol-ogize. Also bare in mind that if you incite a fight, you will be surrounded, greatly outnumbered and will be expelled from the venue accordingly.

Know what you’re getting into. Put the situation into perspective and subjectively recognize that you may get hurt, and you’re definitely going to get covered in sweat—a lot of sweat. Foreign substances, blood or otherwise, may make contact with your favorite merch T-shirt. While the prime purpose of a mosh pit is to make physical contact with the intention of having fun and not getting hurt, there is also a certain level of unpredictability present throughout. Much of the risk derives from the musical genres being played or represented. Alt-rock will be more relaxed, while metal and some punk will be rougher. Moshing is a punk rock staple after all. If you’re considering making your debut in a mosh pit, be aware of the potential consequences and make sure you’re physically and mentally capable because it is a demanding practice.

Wear the right outfit. Wear clothes that you don’t mind getting roughed up a great deal. Your outfit should also be comfortable, practical, and lightweight since it will get hot in the pit. Make sure your shoes fit tightly because if a shoe falls off, there’s lit tle to no chance of getting it back and your unprotected foot will suffer as a result. Hi-tops are highly recommended, as those suckers won’t slip off even if you try.

Remove any spiked wristbands or other hazardous accessories, such as

pocket knives or keys, as they could injure a fellow mosher. Avoid wearing anything that can be easily grabbed and yanked off, like an earring. Piercings may look edgy, but they will be a liability in the pit. Remember, mosh pits are a mostly no-holds-barred experience with a few minor, though important laws here and there.

Get ready to rumble. Whether delib-erately in the mosh pit or not, you need to be prepared.

Don’t look like you’re ready to strike someone, but certainly don’t put your-self in a position where your hands are going to be stuck to your sides; you may accidentally get your face sucker punched by someone’s unsuspecting fist or foot.

Watch and observe. Don’t be afraid to take it easy. How brutal is the music and the individuals around this particular pit? Are people just casually moshing, or are they on the prowl for blood? Know the difference between those who are “slam dancing” and the jacked up jerks who are running around smashing people in the face with their knuckles. There are many different types of moshing that have adapted to modern times. To that extent, this is an important step if you want to enjoy it. You’re allowed to participate from afar by pushing people back to keep the natural sway of the pit going. There are going to be people flying back and forth, side to side, up and down and all over the place.

Do what you will with this information. Having fun is a matter of how you approach it. A proper mosh pit is an exhilarating way to unite as a collective and just let loose.

MORE LIKE THIShttp://theconcordian.com/

?s=Quickspins

8/10

A survivor’s guide to mosh pitsFollow these unwritten rules and you’ll have a great, mostly safe time

MOSH PIT MADNESS(1) A crowdsurfer at Warped Tour. Photo by Ted Van Pelt from Flickr. (2) Mosh pit in West Berkley, 1981. Photo by Stephen L Harlow from Flickr. (3) A mosh pit in a more intimate venue. Photo by Chey Rawhoof from Flickr.

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sportsSPORTS EDITOR /// sports@theconcordian.comALEXANDER COLE (¬ @a_cole39)

BY FRANK PAVANSTAFF WRITER

Over 40 football athletes gathered at Concordia’s Loyola campus on March 9 in hopes of turning their performance into a shot at making it to the CFL national combine in Toronto.

The Canadian Football League eastern regional combine, in Montreal, had three Concordia Stingers showcasing their skills in front of a jam-packed audience.

The combine was held at the Stingers Dome, which instilled a state of solace and ease in Stingers cornerback Rashawn Perry’s mind while performing his drills.

“Playing on our home field gave me a sense of comfort,” said Perry. “I’m here all the time and I didn’t have any jitters, it was just like any other day for me.”

Perry went on to say that he was very proud of his fellow teammates at the com-bine and felt like their success lied on the shoulders of the Stingers coaching staff and the football program in its entirety.

“I thought our Concordia players were some of the best athletes out here today,” said Perry. “I think it’s a huge testament to the direction of our program. They prepared us to be ready for this moment and they achieved that with the hard work we put in all season.”

“As for my individual performance, I did alright, but I felt like I could’ve done better,” Perry said. “I was really upset with my 40-yard dash but I was very happy with my special teams drills. I felt like I excelled with those.”

Daniel Skube, Concordia’s fourth year slot receiver, felt like he kept his composure

throughout the day and expressed a strong sign of approval and respect towards the nature of the combine and the players within it.

“In my opinion, Quebec’s where the best pool of talent is in the whole country,” said Skube. “That’s why we compete for so many national championships and send guys to the CFL. It’s nice to know that you’re playing amongst the best players.”

The drills which took place after lunch saw increased spectatorship and it was quite obvious that the players on the field were feeding off of the ambience. Whenever a big block was made by a running back in the one-on-one drills, or a big hit was registered by a linebacker, the crowd sent a howl that rebounded off of the dome walls which added a dynamic flare to the event.

The combine saw several different faces attending such as scouts, coaches and even former players rooting for their friends. Current Winnipeg Blue Bomber and former Concordia Stinger Kris Bastien attended the event and was cheering on his longtime friend Daniel Skube.

“I know Skube is the kind of guy that performs when he’s calm, so I just told him to be confident and do what he’s been doing his whole life,” said Bastien.

Bastien, who skipped the regional stage altogether and moved straight to the national combine in his final year of CIS football, mentioned the jump from college football to professional is not an easy process and takes time.

“It’s a pretty big step ... the game speed is faster [and] the size of the players is different but you adjust,” said Bastien. “For me, it was a learning experience. It took a

couple weeks but once you get in, it’s just work as usual.”

When asked about how the popularity and player caliber of CIS football has developed over time, Bastien had nothing but good things to say.

“Football has been on the rise every year and you see guys improving and even the combine itself is getting better,” he said. “It’s just fun to come back and see these guys impress everyone.”

With great talent comes great opportunity, however, third-year Concordia linebacker Arto Khatchikian knows very well that education undoubtedly comes first.

“I won’t be returning next season, I’m done. It’s time to focus on school and get a degree,” said Khatchikian.

He also mentioned he worked extremely hard for this day and put in countless hours with his coaches to prepare.

“I did pretty well, but could’ve done a lot better though, that’s 100 per cent certain,” Khatchikian said. “I was training hard, probably every day for this. I was constantly repeating drills to get me prepared

F O O T B A L L

Concordia hosts regional CFL combineThree Stingers players participated in drills in front of pro scouts and coaches

for this event.”Stingers offensive line coach Ted

Karabatsos mentioned he was very proud of the way his players performed, despite not having any Concordia athletes moving on to the regionals in Toronto.

“The biggest thing for me is that they compete and that they don’t give up,” said Karabatsos. “Whatever the drill, whatever the exercise, I want them to mentally pro-cess what they’re being told and not make a mistake.”

When the combine concluded, four players were selected for the nationals in Toronto. This included McGill fullback Devon Stewart, St. Francis Xavier University fullback Donald Tabor, Ottawa linebacker Marc-Antoine Laurin and Carabins defensive back Maiko Zepeda.

Stingers defensive back Mikael Charland and offensive lineman Roman Grozman both earned a spot at the national combine without having to attend this year’s regionals. They’ll both look to impress the eyes of CFL scouts and improve on their draft stock. This year’s CFL draft will take place May 10 in Toronto.

PICTURED(1) Stingers cornerback Rashawn Perry waits to do a drill during the CFL combine. (2) Stingers slotback Daniel Skube lines up for a drill during the combine. Photos by Marie-Pierre Savard.

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13MARCH 15, 2016 theconcordian

Stingers goalie Miguel Sullivan sets high goals for himself

From Cape Breton to Concordia University

P R O F I L E

BY ALEXANDER COLESPORTS EDITOR

When the Concordia Stingers hockey team took on the McGill Redmen in the 29th annual Corey Cup at Ed Meagher Arena on Feb. 12, the Stingers were perceived as the underdogs. The Redmen came into the game ranked second in the East Division while the Stingers were ranked seventh. However, the Stingers came away with a 4-2 victory, which brought the Concordia crowd to their feet.

The first-star in that game was rookie goaltender Miguel Sullivan, who stopped 25 of the 27 shots he faced against a high-power McGill squad. For Sullivan, this victory was a major step for him when it came to starting in the playoffs.

“That last game against McGill was obviously a huge confidence boost,” Sullivan said. “Going into the playoffs playing them—I knew as a team we could beat them.”

While Sullivan did end up getting the start over goaltender Robin Billingham, Sullivan knew the job could have gone to anyone.

“[Billingham’s] a very good goalie,” Sullivan said. “It was up in the air [who would start] but it just happened that I had played a good game right before playoffs so I ended up with the start.”

In their playoff series against the Redmen, the Stingers lost 9-2 in game one, with Sullivan being pulled after the seventh goal. However, Stingers coach Marc-André Element stuck with Sullivan in game two, where the Stingers eventually lost in game two during overtime, 4-3. In Sullivan’s eyes, being able to play in game two despite the rough loss in game one was great for his confidence. Getting the chance to play in the playoffs was an experience that Sullivan wasn’t expecting.

“I’m one of the younger goalies in the CIS and my experience is definitely more than what I was hoping for,” Sullivan said. “I came into training camp last minute and they barely knew who I was. Being able to play a lot of games and even the playoffs is obviously a huge boost for me and is helping me grow as a player and as a person.”

Before joining the Stingers this season, Sullivan played for the Cape Breton Screaming Eagles of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League. Sullivan, who comes from the small fishing town of Petit-de-Grat, N.S., said that he enjoyed being able to play so close to his hometown.

Prior to joining the Screaming Eagles for the 2014-2015 season, Sullivan played for the Acadie-Bathurst Titans, but was traded to Cape Breton in the off-season.

For Sullivan, tran-sitioning from small town junior hockey to university-level

hockey has had its ups and downs, especially when it came to his education.

“Hockey wise, there is obviously a jump but I didn’t find it too dramatic,” Sullivan said. “When you start having to look at putting school on the same level as hockey, for a lot of people that is a struggle. School used to come second even though it shouldn’t have.”

“Having to come into the CIS, the biggest impact on a player’s life is trying to perform well on both the ice and in the classroom,” said Sullivan.

Sullivan has not yet declared a major and is currently taking science classes. The Stingers goaltender said that he would like to do a major in biology. Although, as someone who had concentrated much of his teen years on performing well on the ice, Sullivan admitted that he hasn’t had much time to figure out what he wants to do as a career.

During the off-season, Sullivan plans to go back home and make some money lobster fishing. After working for a few months, Sullivan will be coming back to

Montreal at the beginning of August to start training camp with the Stingers.

As of right now, it is uncertain whether or not coach Element will be coming back to the team which could have an effect on who the starter will be next year. Regardless of who the coach is, Sullivan knows that he is going to have to work hard to become the starter.

“Whether [coach Element] is here or not, my role doesn’t change,” Sullivan said. “I still have to come in and prove myself in training camp next year. Whether it’s Billingham or someone else, they’re going to be knocking at the door trying to take the job.”

Moving forward, the Stingers will be without captain Olivier Hinse and assistant captain Jessyko Bernard, who combined for 28 goals during the season. The team, which is mainly comprised of first and second-year players which according to Sullivan, is nice because the team will have the chance to to grow together over the next four years.

“When guys play together for [four years], you create a pretty strong bond,” Sullivan said. “Some guys are going to have to take bigger leadership roles but the leaders are in the room so I’m not worried.”

Before graduating from Concordia and moving on from the Stingers, Sullivan’s main goal is to win a national title.

“Right now I have my sights set on winning at least one nation title, if not more,” said Sullivan.

As a teenager, Sullivan’s goal was to be able to make a living out of hockey and go pro. However, in recent year’s his priorities have shifted to getting an education out of hockey. While education is currently on his mind, Sullivan admitted that he would still like to go pro one day and live out his childhood dream.

“Hopefully I will get the chance to play pro at some point, whether it’s in North America or Europe or wherever,” said Sullivan. “To be able to play hockey for a living when you think about it, it’s not a job, it’s something that I love doing. If I could get the chance to play hockey every day, I’ll take it.”

PICTURED(1) Miguel Sullivan was a rookie on the Stingers this season. Photo by Marie-Pierre Savard. (2) Miguel Sullivan sets up for a face off in his own zone. Photo by Brianna Thicke.

opinionsOPINIONS EDITOR /// opinions@theconcordian.comDAVID EASEY

A S T R O L O G Y

Why I choose to believe in astrologyExploring the synergy between planetary positions and human connectionBY SANDRA HERCEGOVÁASSISTANT LIFE EDITOR

As a curious Aquarius, astrology has always fascinated me, yet when I share my knowledge and passion about it with others, very few take me seriously—I mainly get laughed at, sassy eye rolls, or rude comments.

My genuine feeling is that most people are confused and misguided when it comes to discussing astrology.

I met with Duncan de la Montagne, a prominent astrologer in Montreal. He has his own tarot and astro shop in the heart of the Mile End, right on the corner of St-Joseph Boulevard and Parc Avenue.

As I entered the shop, I could smell incense burning, and could see natal charts and astrological figures plastered all over the walls.

“Astrology is a wonderful tool for achieving self-awareness and for under-standing where one is likely to encounter opportunities or difficulties in their journey,” said de la Montagne. “It reveals the person’s core strengths and weaknesses,” he added.

“Astrology was trying to forecast what was happening, what is going to happen, things that couldn’t be understood. [Ancient humans] looked at the sky for correlation and explanation. It has always been tied in with spirituality,” he said, as I tried to absorb the vast amount of information.

One thing I personally question is, why

would someone pay to see an astrologer when you can get all your readings online for free?

At that moment de la Montagne stared at me skeptically. “Do you believe every-thing you read on the Internet?” he asked. “I hope not. I certainly don’t,” said de la Montagne. While some people used to get their astrology updates from newspaper, this was written more for entertainment, like a fortune cookie, he added. “Where astrology becomes relevant is when you are inputting your place, date, time and year of birth. Only then will you obtain valid and pertinent information,” de la Montagne said.

I’ve personally always enjoyed astrol-ogy because it provides me with a better understanding of the world. I’m able to gain bits of information about people before I’ve even met them in person. It has also allowed me to gain a new understanding of my own behaviour and emotions through the careful analysis of my astrological signs.

Being an intellectual Aquarius, astrol-ogy has really helped me understand the surrounding world. I’m able to gain bits of information about people based on their signs, making interactions, such as a first date, easier to navigate.

When I analyze a potential suitor’s sign, I can tell if we’re going to gel and what aspects of their personality I should be mindful of.

You may choose to believe in astrology, and my enemies may continue to laugh in my face, but astrology provides a fascinating

outlook on our complex and confusing world. I’ve been reading about astrological signs since I was 10 years old and I regret nothing about this great passion of mine.

Photo by Wellcome Images from Flickr.

E D I T O R I A L

It’s been yet another long year for ASFA. The student organization has faced problem after problem over the years; in fact many students have had time to graduate and these issues have still not been resolved. ASFA is tearing apart at the seams, and is filled with distrust, tension and anger from both its own council and executive team, as well as from students who watch their money flow into an organization that can’t seem to get its act together.

ASFA needs a change, plain and simple. The priority for ASFA should be to become functional again, whatever it takes. Students deserve better than the mess caused by countless people over the years—regardless of their intention—and without a major change, that will never happen.

It’s true that these changes are going to be difficult. ASFA’s new structure would mean orientation events won’t be organized by a central organization. But this is far from the end: it’s up to ASFA’s member associations to step up to the plate, either as a group or for individual programs. MAs can choose to unite and keep Launch Week alive. If it’s in their interest, they can even choose to hold their own orientation events for their students. For some MAs, holding an orientation event that appeals to their student base is a more

attractive option than using funds for one big event. The amount of work, finances, and planning needed to host these big orientation events won’t change, just who takes the lead on them. Besides, most fun activities happen at the MA level anyway, such as JSSA trivia nights, or a PSSA 5 à 7. And those MAs can choose to recreate these big events if they want.

The restructuring plan up for vote isn’t perfect—even ASFA’s lawyers thought it could use another work-over before it was proposed, and it’s not going to fix everything, but voting “no” is taking a step backwards.

ASFA needs to change. We can’t allow the association that pays $16,000 for Laci Green to hold a talk at Concordia to continue on business as usual according to an access to information request filed by The Concordian. To put that amount into perspective take another ATI request which revealed the some $1,700 offered to Peter Mansbridge to come talk at Concordia, which was eventually donated back to the university by Mansbridge. We can’t allow an organization with a toxic culture in which a student can be targeted for their race or gender to go on business as usual. We can’t allow an organization whose own president, Jenna Cocullo, can say “we don’t have a clear idea of where ASFA’s finances are” to continue on business as usual.

Even if the first step is far from perfect, this seems to be a genuine attempt to fix the institutional issues this organization has faced. If this referendum doesn’t pass now, when will change occur? The “no” camp says the plan needs more work, but when the new council takes on their roles in September, the risk of ASFA falling back into its old habits is too high. The astronomical turnover rate could lead to a new council who is unable

to take on this heavy burden and send ASFA careening further into the abyss. For ASFA’s sake, vote ‘Yes,’ and be prepared for a bumpy road ahead.

The Concordian would like to note that Co-arts editor Lydia Anderson disagrees with this editorial. Regardless of your stance remember to vote for the referendum March 16 to 18.

Why you should vote ‘Yes’ for the ASFA referendum

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S A F E T Y

Officer, someone stole my identityIdentity theft left me disoriented and wandering in circles

BY MELANIE PROULXCONTRIBUTOR

I was emotionally exhausted and fought back tears as I headed straight to the Virgin Mobile kiosk. I had just spent hours on the phone arguing with them, and it was hard to believe that my final semester had taken such a dramatic turn for the worse.

It all began a few months ago. I loved my classes, my teachers were wonderful mentors and for the first time in my life, I had A’s in all my classes, which was very important since I was applying to graduate school.

Unfortunately, my joy eventually came to a halt when I received a letter from a phone company I never dealt with. The letter stated that I owed them hundreds of dollars. When I called them to inform them this had to be a mistake, they told me someone must have stolen my identity and I had to go to the police.

I did go to the police. I skipped class and waited five hours for the officer to arrive because all units had an emergency to deal with. He called back a few days later saying the case was cold and would remain that way unless new evidence arose. In other words, the police were no help at all but I

was determined to prove my innocence.The next step was even more time

consuming and frustrating; I had to notify all my creditors and it took hours on the phone. I called seven different numbers to finally get the right one, and sometimes, when I’d call the wrong one, they would just tell me I hadn’t reached the right department and had to call elsewhere. They wouldn’t transfer me or tell me how to reach said department! When I finally got through to them they told me there was nothing that could be done because according to the phone company the account was valid.

The worst part of the whole ordeal how-ever, was the countless times I contacted the phone company to argue that my account was not valid. They kept transferring me from department to department. Each time I had to re-explain my story until I eventually spoke to the proper representative. She kept going around and around in circles telling me there was nothing I could do. The last time I called, my boyfriend noticed I was on the verge of tears so he took the phone and was more forceful, but no matter what he said the representative would not hear me out nor let me speak to her manager. After many hours completely wasted on the phone, and my finals quickly approaching, I gave up. My grades were starting to slip and I could not let that happen.

The next morning, I headed down to the phone company’s office and told them that I was the victim of identity theft, but wanted to pay the bill to clear my credit record. The representative refused to let me pay the bill and started to argue with me, “But that’s not right,” to which I responded, “What do you want me to do? I can’t get a job now because of my credit!” Her co-worker then asked, “Why don’t you call the identity theft department?” That was the first time, in all the hours and painstaking days I spent talking to them, that I was told the phone company had an identity theft department. It turns out only employees of the phone company can call the department, which is why I couldn’t find it. Still, why didn’t they transfer me there in the first place?

The theft specialist and I were finally able to find out who stole my identity. My knees buckled underneath when I realized who it was… someone very close to me. I don’t blame her for what she did, she couldn’t get a phone because of her bad credit rating, so she used my name instead. I didn’t press any charges and in fact I’m still friends with her today. Why? I sincerely believe that people can change. However, take it from me, be very careful who you trust.

Victims of identity theft spend an average of 600 hours recovering from the crime, often over a period of years according to idalerts.com.

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The reality of the Arts and Science Federation of Associations belies its name. Rather than being a true federation that offers support to its member associations and allocate their funding, ASFA is a top-down dysfunctional organization. Not only does it restrict the autonomy of its member asso-ciation, but it also does not work!

Anyone who has been involved on their respective association executive team knows and now sadly expects the struggle of getting anything done with ASFA, which can be extremely problematic in the case of funding activities. In one instance, the Liberal Arts Society has waited over five months for a cheque requisition.

Last year, no executive was elected at the occasion of the general elections, leading to the appointment of an interim executive, most of which had resigned by the end of the summer. In the fall, we elected a new slate that promised to bring radical change to ASFA. Despite their efforts, and some welcome improvements, ASFA remains the same, unless if we vote yes in the upcoming referendum. Since the fall, several executive resigned, the office manager resigned; in one year, we have had three successive VP finance, and long intervals without one. This is revealing of a pattern of dysfunctions that cannot just be patched up but needs to be addressed structurally.

The restructuration proposal brought to referendum will not solve every single issues at ASFA, but some changes need to be done, and this is a necessary step in the right direction. A reduced executive with clearer mandates and not bogged down by the organization of events will allow to reshape ASFA into what it should be: a funding body and a provider of institutional knowledge and support for the student association of the Arts and Science. The member associa-tions are the best suited to cater to the needs of the students of their departments, and this proposal goes some way into turning ASFA back to real federation.

Please vote on March 16, 17 and 18!

Aloyse Muller, president of the Liberal Arts Society.

When I first became the Women’s Studies Undergraduate Student Association (WSSA) councillor to ASFA council I was warned that I would either have to be ready for a fight or chose to dis-tance myself from the proceedings for my emotional sanity. The aims of WSSA, which has placed its focus on intersectionality and direct democracy, were at odds with many of the other associations within ASFA. But I was determined to go in with fresh eyes, it was a representative body and not an individual, it’s members changed year to year, surely people who had chosen to dedicate their time to student organizing could be open to discussion and criticism? In that I wasn’t entirely wrong, I met many dedicated students who took their role as their student associations representatives seriously and worked for their students interests very actively. But what I observed was that in the minds of many of the councillors and executives ASFA had become something of a political party that knew better than the students what they wanted or required. Instead of acknowledging what a privilege it was to be entrusted with student money and advocating for its students it came to be understood that we were the dedicated few whose opinions mattered because we did the leg work. It became clear that this had been the operating procedure for a while, as individuals came forward with motions and proposals from their students, only to have them shot down because of how it might make ASFA look. If the feelings in the room leaned in one direction, councillors would aggressively use their knowledge of the by-laws to try and have it tabled, go to a sub committee, or be dismissed entirely. Reform can take a long time and anyone who works with social justice will be familiar with the struggle, but why would you actively seek creating that structure? To be more finan-cially viable to get corporate funding? We are not the federal, provincial, or municipal government. We have the opportunity to create a different structure that is more inclusive; we can be on the ground and we don’t have to exist in a vacuum. It is ridiculous to think that one individual will ever completely represent hundreds of students, but we need to try and to do that we need that focus to be always on students. That means encouraging dissent and discussion and being open to it. Having a voice shouldn’t be limited to those students who have the time to play parliament and sink hours into finding a loopholes to fight those whose only interest is to obstruct them. It might appear that the present structure brings MA’s together, but often they are together in uneasy partnerships. There have been many efforts this year to address these concerns and towards renewing the integrity of ASFA, but the body itself remains broken. We need significant change and investing more power in individual MA’s is a great place to start.

Natasha Melbrew, Finance coordinator and councillor, last year’s VP external and councillor

Vote Yes to ASFA restructuring

Yes for ASFA’s Bylaw Change—My Experience at Council