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Jan. 13 - Jan. 19, 2012
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WORLD
Illustration by Chris Foster
Zombies, pg 6 | Self-Sufficiency, pg 12 | Men’s hockey, pg 14
January 13 - January 19, 2012 •
Dylan Matthias, Editor-in-Chief
staff
editor@dalgazette.com
Erica Eades, Copy/Arts Editor
copy@dalgazette.com
WEEKLY DISPATCH Katrina Pyne, News Editor
Torey Ellis, Assistant News Editor
news@dalgazette.com
Here is a list of upcoming events that you will want to mark your calendars for: Matthew Ritchie, Opinions Editor
opinions@dalgazette.com
Leslie Gallagher, Assistant Arts Editor
Slowcoaster at the Grawood arts@dalgazette.com
Friday, January 13
Ian Froese, Sports Editor
Winner of the 2011 Alternative Rock Album from the ECMA, Cape Breton's finest, sports@dalgazette.com
Slowcoaster, has been tearing up the East Coast music scene for over a decade and they just Angela Gzowski, Photo Editor
keep getting better. Their unique, eclectic fusion of rock, reggae, and ska is just the kind of photo@dalgazette.com
danceable tunes we need to kick off another semester of Feel Good Fridays at the Grawood. Leilani Graham-Laidlaw, Online Editor
Get ready to jam. Rob Sangster-Poole, Assistant Online Editor
online@dalgazette.com
Tickets go on sale January 5th at the Info Desk in the SUB for $7.00. Jenna Harvie, Creative Editor
creative@dalgazette.com
Open to Dal students, staff, alumni and their guests
Jonathan Rotsztain, Art Director
Wet/dry (must show valid Dal ID if under 19) design@dalgazette.com
Ben McDade, Business Manager
Shad at the Grawood business@dalgazette.com
Friday, January 27
Whether you call him a rapper, a poet, or an artist, Shad K has taken Canada's hip hop
contact us
www.dalgazette.com
community by storm. Shad is the recent winner of the Juno for Best Canadian Hip Hop Artist, The SUB, Room 312
and a two time nominee for the coveted Polaris Music Prize. January 27th he is coming to 6136 University Avenue
the Grawood, in celebration of the Brains For Change weekend, and will be playing Halifax NS, B3H 4J2
alongside the pride of Halifax - Three Sheet. Advertising Inquiries
Aaron Merchant, Ad Manager
Tickets will be $12.00 advance/ $15.00 at the door and will be on sale next week 902 449 7281
at the info Desk in the SUB. advertising@dalgazette.com
Get yours early, they won't last long. the fine print
Open to Dal students, staff, alumni and their guests The Gazette is the official written record of Dalhousie This publication is intended for readers 18 years of age
University since 1868. It is published weekly during the or older. The views of our writers are not the explicit
Wet/dry (must show valid Dal ID if under 19) academic year by the Dalhouse Gazette Publishing
Society. The Gazette is a student-run publication. Its
views of Dalhousie University. All students of Dalhousie
University, as well as any interested parties on or
primary purpose is to report fairly and objectively on off-campus, are invited to contribute to any section of
The Arkells at the Grawood issues of importance and interest to the students of
Dalhousie University, to provide an open forum for the
the newspaper. Please contact the appropriate editor
for submission guidelines, or drop by for our weekly
Thursday, February 2 free expression and exchange of ideas, and to stimulate volunteer meetings every Monday at 5:30 p.m. in room
meaningful debate on issues that affect or would 312 of the Dal SUB. The Gazette reserves the right to edit
Since winning the Edge 102's CASBY award, the Arkells have been pumping out top 20 hits otherwise be of interest to the student body and/or society
in general. Views expressed in the letters to the editor,
and reprint all submissions, and will not publish material
deemed by its editorial board to be discriminatory, racist,
while staying true to their rock roots. Winner of the Juno for Best New Group of the Year in Overheard at Dal, and opinions section are solely those of sexist, homophobic or libellous. Opinions expressed in
the contributing writers, and do not necessarily represent submitted letters are solely those of the authors. Editorials
2010, they are coming to The Grawood on February 2nd, as a special THURSDAY show, in the views of The Gazette or its staff. Views expressed in in The Gazette are signed and represent the opinions of
the Streeter feature are solely those of the person being the writer(s), not necessarily those of The Gazette staff,
celebration of your Monroe Day vacation. quoted, and not The Gazette’s writers or staff. Editorial Board, publisher, or Dalhousie University.
Arkells tickets will go on sale January 23rd at the DSU Info Desk
$12 advance/ $15 at the door
Open to Dal students, staff, alumni and their guests
Wet/dry (must show valid Dal ID if under 19)
ELECTIONS NEWS
A MESSAGE FROM YOUR CRO
Dear Students,
As many of you may be aware, the schedule for the 2012 DSU Elections has now been set. Nominations
will run from January 23-February 1st, campaigning from February 6-13, and voting from February 14-16
with results announced the evening of the 16th.
As these dates are earlier than usual, we want to remind anyone interested in proposing a referendum for
this election that this process must be initiated immediately. While nominations do not open until January
23rd, anyone interested in putting a referendum on the ballot must first present the proposed question
to Council, allow for it to be discussed between the Board of Operations and the Elections Committee,
and then have 2/3rds of Council agree that the question be included on the ballot. Once a question is
approved by Council, campaigns will be free to nominate their referendum question through the same
process used to nominate candidates and will be able to pick up their nomination forms as of January
MMPA
23rd. Master of Management
In order to allow enough time for all of this to occur, any potential referendum campaign team must have & Professional Accounting
a brief proposal explaining your referendum question to present to Council during the upcoming January
11th meeting. The Board of Operations and Elections Committee will meet the following week, and the
Council vote will take place on January 25th. You will then have a week from this date to complete your
nomination forms and collect the necessary signatures. For your reference, the process of introducing a • Designed primarily for non-business undergraduates
referendum or plebiscite question on the ballot can be found in By-Law XIV of the DSU Constitution. • For careers in Management, Finance and Accounting
• Extremely high co-op and permanent placement
I thank you for your understanding, and please don’t hesitate to contact me with any questions or
concerns. To learn more about the MMPA Program, attend our information session:
Sincerely, Wednesday, January 18, 2012 11:00 am – 1:00 pm
Katelynn Northam, Chief Returning Officer, DSU Elections 2012 Council Chambers, Student Union Centre, Dalhousie University
Katelynn.northam@dal.ca | 902.449.5454 www.utoronto.ca/mmpa
news
news
news covers Dalhousie and
the greater Halifax community.
Contributions are welcome!
E-mail Katrina and Torey at
news@dalgazette.com
Katrina Pyne News Editor
Faculty and administration
call for help in negotiations
Province appoints mediator
Faculty Association president Anthony Stewart says meeting
aren’t accomplishing much. • • • Photo by Calum Agnew
Calum Agnew to the faculty, he says, but neglected one of two ways to evaluate the health such an exemption, says Walsh, but plan. Although the board of gover-
News Contributor by the administration. Although of the pension plan, the second being only if the plan is jointly sponsored. nors has put their “cards on the table,”
some informal programs have arisen a solvency test. If the university were Under that structure, plan members says Walsh, a specific proposal has
The Dalhousie Faculty Association in various departments to address to close tomorrow, the plan would be would be partially responsible for not yet been made to the DFA.
(DFA) has called for conciliation in specific issues, Stewart says the DFA unable to meet its obligations, and benefits and liabilities of the plan, as Stewart says they don't want peo-
their ongoing contract negotiations would like these codified “for equal- would face a $270 million shortfall. well as its governance. In that case, ple to worry about the call for con-
with the university’s board of gover- ity’s sake.” Currently, the university is exempt the plan’s ongoing deficit would likely ciliation. “And we certainly don’t
nors. The provincial government has At the start of the bargaining pro- from making solvency payments to be covered in part by increased con- want students to worry,” he adds.
appointed John A. Greer from the cess both sides agreed to tackle non- address the problem, but that tem- tributions from its members, or by a Walsh says that conciliation is a “nor-
Department of Labour and Advanced monetary issues, such as child care porary exemption runs out in 2013. change in the benefit structure. mal part of the bargaining process,”
Education to mediate between the and paternity leave, before moving By law, the university will then be Kevin Grundy, the chief negotia- and that the two sides are not at an
two sides’ bargaining teams. The DFA onto the financial ones. However, required to pay $72 million per year tor for the DFA, says in a newsletter impasse.
represents over 800 members of fac- Stewart says the administration now into the plan, amounting to 32 per that “there is no reason that a sol- But Stewart says it is a shame to
ulty, including professional librarians refuses to address those concerns cent of Dal’s annual payroll costs, vency exemption cannot be applied” call for conciliation again, and that
and members of faculty from all of before the problems surrounding the says Jasmine Walsh, chief negotiator to the pension plan in its present, the university has had a poor track
Dal’s departments. The previous con- governance of the Dalhousie Pension for the university. sole-sponsored form, and that the record in labour negotiations. He
tract expired in June. Plan are addressed. Both the DFA and the administra- DFA has “at no point” ruled out the says that the “common denominator”
DFA president Anthony Stewart This move, he says, has “hamstrung tion have lobbied the provincial gov- possibility of increased contributions amongst the various faculty groups
says the 40 hours of meetings thus negotiations.” The pension plan ernment for a permanent blanket to address the plan’s deficit. However, is that they feel they are “not being
far have accomplished “shockingly serves over 3,000 full-time and part- exemption from solvency tests, argu- Walsh says the administration wants valued for what we do.” Morale is
little.” He says the board of governors time members of university faculty, ing that it is extremely unlikely Dal to move to a jointly sponsored sys- “disturbingly low around here,” says
and administration are “not as seri- and is currently underfunded and will shut down. Similar exemptions tem in order to “achieve a sustainable Stewart.
ously engaged with the non-mone- insolvent. The plan cannot fully cover for universities are common through- defined benefit pension plan.”
tary issues as they should be.” its payments, and as the sole sponsor out the country. Walsh says this is a question of fis-
Parental leave and other benefits of the plan, Dal is responsible for the The provincial government has cal sustainability, and of the sustain-
are “important on a day to day basis” difference. This 'going concern’ test is indicated it would be willing to grant able and stable governance of the
news briefs JOIN
Dal prof joins
President’s Circle
told DalNews that despite the fact
that he is a mathematician, it never
Employers for 2012, an award orga-
nized by the editors of Canada’s Top
ognition are its counselling and sup-
port services available for families,
US!
occurred to him that his donations 100 Employers. and the health benefits package that
Dalhousie welcomed Dr. Karl had added up to such an amount. Award-winners are also qualified employees receive.
Dilcher into the President’s Circle on Dilcher was among five others to win further recognition including Employers must apply to win this
Dec. 14, 2011. The President’s Circle
is a group of donors who donate
who became members of the Presi-
dent’s Circle that evening.
the Top Family-Friendly Employer
honour, says DalNews. This award
award, according to the Canada’s
Top 100 Employers website, Any CONTRIBUTOR’S
more than $100,000 to Dalhousie
within their lifetime. A “family-friendly”
acknowledges establishments that
aid their employees in harmonizing
organization in either the public or
private sector is eligible. MEETINGS
Dilcher, chair of the mathemat- both work and family commitments. —Alesia Hebb
ics and statistics department at Dal,
university 20 employers throughout Canada News Contributor
MONDAYS, 5:30PM
was astonished to be announced a Dal was recently chosen as one managed to make the list. ROOM 312, The SUB
new member of the Circle. Dilcher of Canada’s Top Family-Friendly Among the reasons for Dal’s rec-
The Void Part 6 by Chase Veinotte— He became strangely talkative. “They’ll be coming soon.” The cloaked man warned, standing up and touching the serrated edges of the cell bars lightly. “Who’ll
4 news January 13 - January 19, 2012 •
Tuition caps up three per cent
New MOU signed spells out tuition hikes
Katrina Pyne MOU announcement Marilyn More, Associations, representing about
News Editor Minister of Labour and Advanced 35,000 students, says this MOU is
Education, said the current funding extremely different from its 2008
The province of Nova Scotia and formula is “outdated.” predecessor. The last MOU, which
Nova Scotia universities signed a The MOU was signed by More and provided a tuition fee freeze, expired
new Memorandum of Understanding the Council of Nova Scotia University in 2011. “This MOU does not guaran-
(MOU) Jan. 5 that is leaving much to Presidents. It took effect Jan. 1, 2012 tee university stable operating fund-
be desired for students. and will expire March 31, 2015. ing,” he says. “We are also learning
The government of Nova Scotia “You can’t cut your way to quality,” that if there is another three per cent
announced it will allow tuition for says Peter Halpin, executive director operating cut coming to universi-
Canadian students to increase by of the Council of Nova Scotia Uni- ties in the future years that we wont
three per cent per year for the next versity Presidents. “The universities have any idea about it until up to four
three years. This limit will not apply have to absorb all of their inflation- months before they have to set their
to medicine, dentistry or law facul- ary costs, the operating cost and ever budget.
ties, or international students. Over increasing salaries. Something has to “For international students, den-
the next year, the possibility of lifting give somewhere and we are deeply tistry students, medicine students
the cap for domestic out-of-province concerned that it is going to be on the and law students, they are going to
students in 2013/14 will be examined quality front.” see more unregulated increases on
as well. According to the Canadian Federa- top of the tens of thousands of dollars
Operating grants to universities tion of Students, tuition fees in Nova they already pay.”
will also be cut by three per cent Scotia are currently $5,731. That’s Coffin says students can expect
for 2012/13. Last year the operat- $365 dollars more than the national larger class sizes, fewer classes taught
ing grant was cut by four per cent. average. by full-time faculty and declines in
The Council of University Presidents The MOU also outlined the role the services the university can pro-
estimates that by the end of 2013, of a newly established partnership vide on top of the burden of increased
universities will be expected to have between all university presidents and tuition.
absorbed $75 million over the three up to five deputy ministers. Halpin He says the “neediest students” will
years of the MOU. says one of the first things to be dis- be the hardest hit. In Nova Scotia
To replace the cuts, the government cussed will be student tuition pol- there are about 2,200 students who
will be pumping $25 million into a icy and whether the three per cent have $3,000 in unmet need. “’Unmet
University Excellence and Innovation increase will last for more than one need’ means they cannot pay the cost
program that will require projects year. of groceries, tuition, rent, books and
to bring out their competitive edge In regards to the $25 million Excel- living. There has been no indication
to receive the funds. The strategic lence and Innovation Program, Hal- that student loans or grants provided
objective of the fund is to reduce the pin says it is an opportunity for a by the government will be directed to
total annual cost structure of the uni- greater university partnership. How- the high need students.”
versity system by $25 million. At this ever, he isn’t sure just how much “We know these reductions may be
time the government is not accepting more collaboration could be expected challenging for the institutions,” says
project proposals for the funds. from already stressed university pres- More, “but we believe they are neces-
The MOU also hopes to establish a idents. He says the fund will in no way sary to make our university sustain-
sustainable, system-wide cost struc- cushion the full blow of the MOU. able and affordable.”
One of hundreds of protestors demonizes NS Premier Darrell Dexter at last year's ture that takes into account the fis- Mark Coffin, executive director of
Feb. 2 Student Day of Action against tuition fee increases. • • • Photo by Pau Balite cal capacities of the province. In the the Alliance of Nova Scotia Student
2012 ROSEMARY GILL AWARD
CALL FOR NOMINATIONS
In June of 1995 the President approved the establishment of the Rosemary Gill
Award in memory of Dr. Rosemary Gill, Director of University Health Services,
who exemplified a high level of commitment of service to students, both in terms
of her responsibilities as a physician on campus and as a member of the larger
University community.
Awards are presented annually to a member or members of faculty or staff of the
University who have provided outstanding service, other than teaching, to students.
Up to four awards can be made each year. The selection of recipients is made by
a committee consisting of the President; the Vice-President, Student Services; the
Chair of the Student Experience Committee of the Board of Governors; and a
student appointed by the Dalhousie Student Union.
The first Rosemary Gill Awards were presented in February, 1996, and nominations
are now being sought for awards to be presented in 2012. Nominations should be
made in writing and include the rationale for the nomination and up to three letters
of support, preferably including at least one from a student or students. To assist
you in planning your submission, a nomination form can be found on the Student
Services website, studentservices.dal.ca.
The Rosemary Gill Award is a plaque presented to the recipient at a spring reception
hosted by the President. In addition, a permanent plaque bearing the names of annual
recipients is displayed in the Henry Hicks Academic Administration Building.
Please submit nominations to:
The Office of the Vice-President
Student Services
Room 325A
Henry Hicks Academic Administration Building
Dalhousie University
6299 South Street, P.O. Box 15000 INTERACT ONLINE
Halifax, NS B3H 4R2
The deadline for nominations is Friday, January 20, 2012.
• January 13 - January 19, 2012 news 5
Frosh, take two
The buzz on Frost Week 2012
“The goal is to
break up cliques
before they form.” A group of Risley students enjoy swimming in
the DalPlex pool for Frost Week. • • • Photo Pau Balite
Paige Black they realize that their first semes- everyone helping organize the event First-year students are hav- around over the holidays,” she says.
News Contributor ter friends might not always be their accepts that there is always the ing mixed reactions to the week of However, participation may be down
friends all the way through university. chance of unforeseen problems when events. Some students are excited because, unlike Frosh Week, during
To start 2012 in style, the Dalhousie The goal is to break up cliques before running an event for the first time. for the week of activity and are really Frost Week there will still be classes
Student Union has decided to host they form.” He says they will be ready to deal with impressed with the line-up of events and homework to deal with.
Frost Week, a week of events for first Exposing frosh to new people those problems if they happen. the DSU has chosen to host. Arron also hopes this week of
year students. DSU vice president wasn’t the only reason the DSU The other potential problem the First-year student Katherine Ever- events will help recruit Frosh leaders
(student life) Jamie Arron says the decided to host Frost Week. “People DSU sees is attendance at these ett says she’s excited for the winter for September. “We plan to use Frost
goal of the event is to get students come back from the holidays and it’s events. “This is the first year we’ve events. “There are some really neat Week to plant the seed in first-year’s
active and to make opportunities for easy to fall into a lull, stay in and have done it, so small scale problems might and exciting events that are the kind minds that they can be Frosh Week
them to meet new people. unhealthy habits. We’re hoping this happen. Getting students from other of things you don’t get to do every leaders. This week will also show
“Frosh week was divided up into week will get students out and active campuses involved may be difficult day. And especially for students who them the opportunities there are
floors in residence, and we want to and show them all the opportunities because we’ve been working mostly aren’t from the area, the Mooseheads to get involved in other things on
mix it up a little more this time so they have to be active at Dal this win- with hall councils. But we hope every- will be a really great opportunity.” campus.”
people aren’t always with the people ter,” Arron says. one, even non-residence students, Fellow first-year Keriann Mac-
they hang out on a day-to-day basis,” With Frost Week being a new will participate,” says Arron. As of Naughton-Seguin has a different rea-
says Arron. “We think it’s a great idea idea, the DSU realizes things may press time, just under 400 bracelets son. “I'm doing it to get myself back
for first years to meet new people so not always go smoothly. Arron says were sold for the week. up to university speed after lazing
Olivia Schneider be published. Although the initial plan was to find choir, currently under the direction of
Funding News Contributor
Discovering the funding to save the
“I was delighted that everything
came together the way it did,” says
Leavitt. “I believe that Father Thorne
internal funding, Robertson says the
job was made considerably easier
because people stepped forward on
Paul Halley.
“I think what Gary Thorne and
Paul Halley together are doing in
found for chaplaincy at the University of King’s
College turned out not to be a mat-
ter of “seek, and ye shall find.” Instead
brings some wonderful gifts to stu-
dents by way of counselling and spiri-
tual guidance.”
their own. the Chapel is an amazing benefit to
the King’s students in terms of giv-
ing them access to a rich and vibrant
“knights came in on horses and saved In the fall, King’s was confronted “Knights came aspect of religious life,” Robertson
King’s the day,” says King’s professor Neil
Robertson.
The “knights” are donors from the
with the possibility of losing 50 per
cent of the funding for the chaplain’s
salary. A committee, which included
in on horses and
says.
Robertson also says the connection
between the identity of King’s and
chaplain community who have ensured that
those who rely on the guidance of
Reverend Gary Thorne, the chaplain
Robertson, was formed by the Board
of Governors to look at the univer-
sity’s internal budget to see whether
saved the day.” the Chapel is something he person-
ally values. Leavitt echoes this senti-
ment, saying she is extremely happy
at King’s, have a lot to be thankful for budget cuts elsewhere could come up with the outcome of the complicated
Local donations this week and for the next five years. with the money the Diocese would no “We didn’t go on a fundraising situation.
University president Anne Leavitt longer be providing. campaign, the campaign came to us,” “King’s is an interesting place
secure Reverend’s and the Anglican Diocesan Bishop Robertson says the committee’s he says. because it attends to its origins and
of Nova Scotia and Prince Edward mandate was to maintain the chap- Many members of the King’s com- traditions,” she says, “and in a way
salary Island have signed an agreement laincy for the benefit of the univer- munity see the chaplaincy as an that’s in keeping with its curricu-
that guarantees five-year funding for sity community, but also to respect integral part of King’s. In an inter- lum, which pays an awful lot of atten-
Thorne’s full-time salary. The Diocese the funding challenges facing the view with the Gazette in October tion to old books. I think chapel life
will pay half the salary, while local Diocese. He says the issue of exter- 2011, Thorne confirmed that his job at King’s has always represented an
donors have pledged to cover the nal funding is relevant to other uni- is about more than the chapel. For invitation to spiritual life.”
remainder. Leavitt says the donors versity chapels, many of which are example, a major magnet bringing
have requested that their names not also affected by budget constraints. students into chapel life is the King’s
be coming soon?” I asked, raising an eyebrow. The stranger put the sole of his boot against the bars, kicking it several times. “These bars are sturdy. They’ll do.” What? I thought, slightly confused
opinions
opinions
gazette opinions welcomes any
opinion backed up with facts; but we
don’t publish rants. E-mail Matthew at
opinions@dalgazette.com
to contribute
Matthew Ritchie Opinions Editor
THE SHOPPING DEAD
Zombies are wreaking havoc
on popular culture
Matthew Ritchie love this show hate it.” This is mostly
Opinions Editor due to a lack of zombies and a bor-
ing plot. But even though the fans
Like a lot of people who didn’t get all that watch the show actually hate it,
the presents they wanted for Christ- The Walking Dead remains popular.
mas, I went online early on Dec. 26 The show even inspired The Centre
to browse for deals. The main gift I for Disease Control and Prevention
was looking for was The Walking (CDC) to issue a mock guide on how
Dead: Compendium One, a 1088- to survive a zombie apocalypse as a
page graphic novel by Image Comics way to teach people who are obsessed
writer Robert Kirkman. with zombie techniques to actually
Now, I don’t particularly have a fas- prevent outbreaks (zombie or other-
cination with zombies. But I am fasci- wise).
nated by how many people are enam- Let’s not forget relatively innocu-
oured by them. I read a few of the ous uses of zombies in fiction, such as
22 reviews online and this collection Seth Graeme-Smith’s Pride and Prej-
seemed popular. In fact, it currently udice and Zombies, a book that com-
sits at number one on Amazon’s list bines stuffy British literature with
of graphic novels, and has main- zombie fiction purely because the
tained a spot in the Top 100 graphic Jane Austen novel was public domain
novels sold by Amazon for 721 days and, hey, people seem to like zombies.
at the time of writing. (Seven more (It became a New York Times best-
Walking Dead titles occupied the Top seller.)
20 graphic novels sold by Amazon as
well.)
Upon receiving my Amazon ship-
ment (which at more than a 1000
“As a collective
pages was pretty heavy—so heavy I
could probably kill a zombie with it),
society, zombies
something on the back of the book
caught my eye.
now dominate our
“The world we knew is gone,” wrote
what I assume to be the collection’s
popular culture.”
author, Robert Kirkman. “The world
of commerce and frivolous necessity Now, I can somewhat understand
has been replaced by a world of sur- the interest behind zombies. They’re
vival and responsibility.” kind of creepy, kind of gross, and
This seemed pretty humourous to allow viewers to witness mind-numb-
me, considering that five days ago I ing violence without empathy for the
had ordered this graphic novel with things being murdered. What I don’t
my frivolous credit card, as I assume understand is why it has become so
many early-morning Boxing Day ingrained in popular culture that
shoppers had. anytime I browse the book section
As a collective society, zombies now at HMV I’m not only likely to find
dominate our popular culture. I’m books on Chuck Norris and picture
not really sure how this happened, books of Cats with hilarious captions,
being that the idea of zombies and but products with zombies associated
the zombie apocalypse has been in with them that seem only to mention
our collective consciousness for a zombies to make their product quirky
long time. and sell more copies.
It began with the indie horror Like jokes about Chuck Norris and
breakthrough Night of the Living those I Lyke Cheezburger Cats, zom-
at the
END
Dead by director George A. Romero, bies and the zombie apocalypse have
and continued into the 1980s with become this meme whereby having
the director’s seminal Dawn of the any kind of interest in the undead
Dead, an apocalyptic zombie thriller makes the shopper somewhat more
set in a suburban shopping mall. interesting than before.
Then the whole fascination with I think of the Kirkman collection
zombies seemed to die down, except that discusses a world without frivo-
among goofy teenagers who enjoyed lous goods. I think of the people at
of the cult horror flicks about the undead. AMC, a television channel that made
WORLD
But in the mid-2000s things its big break with a show about mar-
started to heat up. A remake of Rome- keting schemes in the 1960s, releas-
ro’s Dawn of the Dead was a hit at the ing an otherwise redundant show
box office; British director Danny about a zombie apocalypse. And then
Boyle (yes, of Slum Dog Millionaire I think of George A. Romero and his
fame) released 28 Days Later; even Dawn of the Dead, a movie that was
funnyman Simon Pegg released a sat- awesome because it had zombies in
ire on zombie culture with Shaun of it, but more so because it was a nicely
the Dead. packaged social commentary on
By 2010, zombie fiction really American shoppers.
broke into the mainstream. The I think about all this stuff and I
aforementioned Robert Kirkman’s wonder: Have we become the zombie
The Walking Dead was commis- shoppers in Dawn of the Dead, except
sioned as a series by AMC, a show we’re shopping for things about zom-
that, as Cracked.com editor Dan bies?
O’brien points out, is weird because, I think about this paradox and
“The people who don't like the show begin to feel brain dead.
don't watch it, but the people who
Have a topic you want to see covered?
Brrrrrainnnns!!! • • • Photo by Angela Gzowski Tell us about it: opinions@dalgazette.com
by the man’s sudden interest in the cell. “Look, I don’t know where you came from, or who you are, or what you’re doing. Just please tell me something.” The stranger refocused his attention back
• January 13 - January 19, 2012 opinions 7
Fear of an apathetic planet
Reflections on the year of the protester
These LEGOs occupy 1% of my bedroom. • • • Photo by Angela Gzowski
Samantha Elsmley slant of the article, the data spoke for this seems to somehow take away the oppressed deserves to be upheld. The puts it, “This year, instead of plug-
Opinions Contributor itself: recently graduated from liberal credibility of the Occupy movement. Arab Spring fought for a more tan- ging in the headphones, entering an
arts college Occupiers, compared to These critics fail to pick up on the gible kind of freedom, while Occupy Internet- induced fugue state and
For their final issue of 2011, TIME Tunisian fruit sellers just barely mak- subtleties of anything that is not fights oppression of a different sort. It quietly giving in to hopelessness,
magazine named “the Protestor” as ing a living? The stakes, of course, presented as a physical threat. The demands a right to rethink our values [protestors] used the internet to find
Person of the Year. (Don’t worry, Kate seem exceedingly different. And crit- Occupy movement is fighting some- as a social whole—whether we believe one another and take to the streets to
Middleton was a close fifth.) Given ics of the Occupy movement certainly thing more subversive, murkier, that CEOs should increase their pay insist on fairness, and (in the Arab
the numerous riots, rallies and oust- did not fail to pick up on that point. and less physically present than the 27 per cent per year while that of the world) freedom.” Comfort should
ing of dictators, it seemed like a fit- In response to the Halifax Occupy oppression thrown off in the Arab working class increases by 1 per cent, never be an excuse for apathy. As cit-
ting choice. Tunisian liberator, Lon- arrests, one anonymous commenter Spring. It is operating on the level of or whether we think that education izens of a relatively free country, we
don rioter, Occupier—they were all on an online Globe and Mail article ideology and values. Like the protests should remain accessible. should be more aware and involved
featured side-by-side, the meaning of written by columnist Margaret Wente in the Middle East, it is calling into And yes, I WILL sip my fair-trade and critical than ever—because no
their existence reflected upon in the sneered: “Next time, they should be question our very notion of justice. latte in my warm, safe house as I one is aiming a sniper rifle at us while
context of the closing year. shown what police brutality really And it still doesn’t know the answer. talk about this, because when should we do it.
Displayed across the pages of means.” Case in point. For many, the fight against dicta- physical comfort ever give a citi- This isn’t the end of history,
TIME, in comparison to the situation Obviously, Occupiers had less torship is an obvious cause to throw zen an excuse to say we don’t have a because history exists so long as peo-
in Tunisia, Libya, or any of the pro- risk of physical harm than the Arab oneself behind. Without downplay- right, and a duty, to be critical of and ple are there to make it happen. We
tests in the Middle East, the Occupy people out to remove an oppressive ing the enormity of the decision, thoughtful toward the state of soci- reached seven billion on this planet a
movement seemed downright cute. government. For many—snide com- it seems quite clear to those of us ety? few weeks ago. It isn’t over, not by a
Although it was certainly not the menters, media, and students alike— in Canada that the right not to be As TIME writer Kurt Anderson long shot.
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8 opinions January 13 - January 19, 2012 •
Doing the Local-Motion
A student living in residence attempts to go locavore
Alesia Hebb I spent most of my week feeling slug-
Opinions Contributor gish, angry and hungry and began to
wonder if it was impossible for a stu-
Last semester I took part in a chal- dent in residence to eat a 100 per cent
lenge to become a locavore—some- locally sourced diet. It wasn’t until my
one who eats only local foods—as locavore week finished that I began to
part of an environmental ethics proj- realize where I went wrong.
ect. The challenge was to eat locally I’ve been taking environmental sci-
for one full week to see how feasible it ence and sustainability courses since
is for university students to adopt an I began at Dal and I’ve learned a lot
environmentally friendly diet. about preserving the natural world
Being the only student in my group through sustainable living. In fact,
who lived in residence, I was tasked I felt I knew so much that I walked
with trying to eat as locally as possi- into my week as a locavore feeling
ble. This was difficult considering I overconfident. Looking back, I real-
have a meal plan and couldn’t always ize I would have benefited more had
be sure if my dining hall meals were I done research ahead of time. Also,
locally sourced. instead of just giving up the foods I
The week did not go as smoothly relied on that were not locally grown,
as I hoped, as I soon discovered a I should have found snacks or meals
number of products I consumed were to replace them.
hard to find locally. It is possible for students living
One of my favourite things to on or off campus to introduce more
drink is herbal tea, which is usually local food into their diets—if they do
imported from other countries, such their research. As mentioned before,
as India and Sri Lanka. But after The Campus Green Guide is an excel-
I finished my week as a locavore, I lent place to start for university stu-
found there are ways to make your dents, and definitely should remain
own tea by purchasing locally grown under the pillow of anyone who takes
herbs from places such as the Sea- on this kind of challenge. Websites
port Farmer’s Market (1209 Marginal to consider for those who want to
Road). Some vendors even sell pre- become a locavore include www.the-
made tea satchels, but these are con- locavore.ca, a blog by author Sarah
siderably more expensive than mak- Elton that describes methods to liv-
ing your own at home. ing a locally sourced diet and lessen-
But getting locally grown tea was ing your carbon footprint. Another
just the beginning of a number of helpful resource is www.slowfood.
problems I ran into while trying to be ca, a website for Canadians that dis-
a locavore. I’m very reliant upon pre- cusses local eating.
packaged foods because I’m not a big But students don’t have to eat 100
fan of the dining hall meals. Luck- per cent local to reduce their carbon
ily, according to Dalhousie Univer- footprint. Some other environmen-
sity’s Campus Green Guide, the food tally friendly actions include: pur-
offered in residence dining halls is chasing a Brita pitcher instead of
made up of 1/3 local food. So that’s buying bottled water; eating lower on
good news for the eco-conscious! the food chain; shopping at campus
But when it came to meals out- vendors that produce fair trade and
side of dining hall, I had to give up Rainforest Alliance Certified prod-
my stash of favourite foods, including ucts, such as Just Us!; eating in sync See our
Quaker Crispy Minis, crackers and with the seasons; urban gardening; local food
granola bars, leaving me with no mid- or shopping for fresh food rather than photo essay at
night study snacks. I practically lived pre-packaged ones.
off of locally grown apples, which This truly was an eye-opening DalGazette.com
I purchased from Goucher’s Farm- experience, and I challenge every
er’s Market (14395 Evangeline Trail) environmentally conscious student at
in Kingston, Nova Scotia. But, sur- Dal to take on a more local diet. Just
viving the week snacking on apples do your research first.
wasn’t ideal as a sole nutrient source. Elmridge Farm sells local produce at the Halifax Seaport Farmer’s Market. • • • Photo by Jonathan Rotsztain
Lending a hand
Fundraising tactics don’t sit well
organization as a paid claim, it is stated plainly on the Pub- they can get. So why is it that we feel ting me go."
job. lic Outreach Group's website: "We this sense of duplicity or, dare I say, But to me there's just something
I run away. I ignore believe that hiring the right people "shysterness," from this engagement fundamentally perverse about a
them. I don't have any- for your cause, providing excellent of the public? seemingly charitable and non-profit
thing against these training and compensating them organization disposing of employ-
people, I just don't fairly results in the highest quality ees who fail to rake in enough dona-
really want to engage
in another awkward
donor interaction."
While I'd like to side with Faber
“I have absolutely tions. The problem is that most of us
choose to take our frustrations out on
Nick Laugher
20-minute conversation with a paid
employee as they ladle on piles of
in believing that there is a force-
fully drawn distinction between vol- no idea how these innocent, well-meaning side-
walk seducers. When the majority
Staff Contributor guilt about my indulgant Western
ideals. I have a lot of trouble counter-
unteering and public outreach, the
devil's advocate in me is thrashing to engage of the employees you hire to spread
the word of your cause—something
When I'm strolling down a street and
pass by people standing on a corner
ing the charge that I could be using
my coffee money to pay for school-
around screaming, "Yeah, dude, but
they don't explicitly tell people they're with someone they would most likely do anyway
out of the goodness of their heart
dressed in brightly coloured garb and house bricks, even when I know that NOT volunteers, either!"
shaking figurative town crier bells my $30 donation—at least a percent- Unless you really question some- collecting money.” (and many do)—are still willing to
laud your efforts even after you fire
about causes like the Red Cross or age of it—will go to pay these fund- one about it, they're not going to let them for not being as machiavellian
Greenpeace, I instantaneously dis- raisers. on that they're being paid to meet or debonair as you'd like them to be
solve into an avoidant puddle of awk- "If someone is under the impres- a donation quota and just flash- "I worked for Public Outreach in to stir up donations, don't you think
wardness and confusion. sion that public outreach is volun- ing you their charming smirks and Ontario," says Faber. "I raised money you should take a moment and reflect
It's not because I'm actively against teer, they obviously haven't asked an small talk for a sympathetic drop in for the SickKids Foundation. I made on how this ruthless business model
these organizations; I think that their employee, or visited a website for that their satchel. It's no fault of the good a living wage and paid for some might not be completely congruent
strides towards ecological action or matter," says Adam Faber, a Dalhou- intentioned employee—it's part of schooling while making a difference with your mission statements of char-
disaster relief are noble in theory. sie student and former engager of the overall marketing schtick. for a deserving group. I had a quota itability and support?
The problem is that I have absolutely the public for the SickKids Founda- University students, especially in to hit, and I stopped making that
no idea how to engage with some- tion through fundraising organiza- this surge of economic downturn, quota, so I was let go...but I certainly • • • Photo by Photo Rack
one collecting money for a non-profit tion Public Outreach. True to Faber's are pretty much swooping up any job don't blame Public Outreach for let- via FreeStockPhotos.biz
with fringe pirates, captured and reprogrammed for more… bloodless tasks. I remember hearing tales from my father as a child, of things I thought meant just to scare me to sleep: entire worlds
arts&culture
arts&culture
arts covers cultural
happenings in Halifax.
E-mail Erica and Leslie at
arts@dalgazette.com
to contribute.
Erica Eades Arts Editor
VENUE VACANCY
Halifax struggles to find
a place for mid-level talent
Nick Laugher where to play in our (un)fair city.
Staff Contributor Sadly, with Halifax and venues it
has become a "chicken or the egg" sit-
Halifax has lost another of its infa- uation: can we not get bands because
mous, charming and inimitable ven- we don't have venue space, or do we
ues. A full-on, apocalyptic assault by not have venue space because bands
liquor boards and fire boards alike left don't come here? Halifax musical
our beloved Tribeca with no choice alumnus and soothsayer Joel Plas-
but to pack it up, forcing us to find kett on 2007's Ashtray Rock sang
another spot to stumble around the that he "Walked home across the
floor, drinking and swaying the night bridge when the Marquee shut down,
away. Following an already relentless there's a reason that I love this town,"
string of unfortunate cabaret closings and it appears he just kept walking—
and clamourings about licenses, the because even Plaskett isn't making
loss of Tribeca has left Halifax in the room on his upcoming Canadian tour
lurch as students wander around list- for Halifax.
lessly at night, drunken and aimless, Halifax is experiencing a marvel-
while promoters scratch their heads lous musical renaissance right now,
as they scramble for somewhere else but only at extreme ends of the spec-
to book their bands. trum. The local independent scene in
OK, so it's not that bad; Halifax Halifax is healthier than it has been
still has plenty of venues, many of since Halifax was coined the "Cana-
them beautiful, bustling staples of dian Seattle" in the mid 1990s, with
the scene, but Halifax really is caught quick-witted, irreverent bands like
in an unfortunate catch-22 situation Quaker Parents achieving a lush local
when it comes to mid-level venue infamy and pop powerhouses like
space. Since the closure of the Mar- Rich Aucoin being catapulted to an
quee—for the second time—in 2008, international level. Not only that, but
Halifax has been severely hurting we've been rolling around in cash and
for a medium sized venue and, as a dilapidated Dad-rock as we cart in all
result, we've been missing out on a the affluent and acclaimed over-the-
multitude of great mid-level bands hillers like Paul McCartney and Elton
as well. Venues in Halifax have basi- John, also pushing hard for big-name
cally had to cater to a particular facet "movers and shakers" like Weezer,
of the ever-fickle music scene: go the Rihanna or the Black Eyed Peas with
overtly indie route and only book up- the yearly mainstream onslaught on
and-comers, or go belly up. the Commons, setting up Halifax as
When the Weakerthans swooped the hot-spot for huge acts you would
into Halifax in 2009, I remember totally go see—back when they were
wondering why the hell they were relevant.
playing at the Palace, which I had no While Gus' Pub is perpetually rau-
idea even booked bands, and then cous, dancy and absurdly fun, and the
realizing that there was really no Seahorse maintains its historical and
other place that could cater to them. ubiquitous foothold on the down-
The Paragon took over the building town scene, they both have their own
that housed the Marquee a while later, niche crowds and a lack of space.
and there was a short-lived glim- The Company House is warm, cozy
mer of hope as great acts like Plants and serves up affected indie folk like
and Animals and The Most Serene no one's business, but they refuse to
Republic were tearing up the place, book certain genres and again, capac-
but ultimately the Paragon folded ity is a problem. Their next door
due to stunted income and atten- neighbour, the Bus Stop Theatre, has
dance. Reflections has been hold- a great intimate space that's seriously
ing its own in this increasingly hos- under-used and under-appreciated,
tile climate, but following the denial but maintains a certain charming air.
of their cabaret license for their pro- Unless you're someone who can fill
posed move to the ill-fated building the bleak and dour concrete box we
on Gottingen that previously housed call the Metro Centre or the equally
both the Marquee and the Paragon, lacklustre footage of the Cunard Cen-
it could get rough. This year's Pop tre, you might convince Molson to
Explosion saw the city relying heavily quickly convert the Olympic Com-
on venues like St. Matthew's Church munity Hall or that seedy place at the
and Olympic Community Hall for Forum next to the bingo hall into an
bigger shows like Chad VanGaalen or expensive, sponsored bar and stage.
Rural Alberta Advantage, bands that But as it stands, you're pretty much
otherwise might be at a loss for some- Trouble With Andrew play Reflections during the 2011 Halifax Pop Explosion. • • • Photo by Angela Gzowski
screwed.
tunes review Björk—Biophilia
Matthew Ritchie for some to stomach. Many of you album yet? multi-layered vocals and sounding
Opinions Editor will remember her appearance at the Recorded in part on an iPad, Bio- like a final stage in Final Fantasy IV.
Oscars in 2001—in which she wore philia is one of the most easily digest- But the enjoyment of Biophilia
At a time when music critics are put- a dress resembling a swan—and the ible records we’ve heard from Björk doesn’t only come from listening to
ting the finishing touches on their media backlash that followed. (Yet in a while. The compositions are elec- the album on CD or vinyl. Apple users
year-end best-of lists, one album years later when Lady Gaga wore a tronically minimalist, usually involv- are able to download video games
oddly underrepresented is Icelandic dress made out of meat, people just ing sparse strings and blips and and multimedia applications online
singer Björk’s eighth studio album, thought she was trying too hard.) bloops alongside the singer’s unique that allow the user to interact with
Biophilia. But through all the ups and voice. “Crystalline” recalls late 1990s the album while listening to individ-
For whatever reason, Björk has downs, critics have always responded Aphex Twin with its staccato drum- ual tracks.
always had a bit of a lackluster fol- favourably to Björk’s experimental ming (a welcome change consider- A creative album by a creative artist
lowing in North America. Even at songwriting. Why then, did so few ing this year was dominated by the that will shed some light on her too
her height in the trip-hop-heavy pay attention to her latest record sounds of dubstep). Meanwhile “Dark often misinterpreted mind.
days of Post, she remained difficult when it is arguably her most creative Matter” has the singer crooning over
burned, moons cracked in half and hollowed out, and whole civilizations reanimated from the dead to build massive warships with planet-piercing lasers. “No.” I lied. I felt the slop from hours before
10 arts&culture January 13 - January 19, 2012 •
at the
Prof Talk
END of the
Dr. Stephen Snobelen
Samantha Chown
Arts Contributor
greater now since the world is so
dependent on technology.
Harold Camping predicted the
WORLD Rumour has it the world is going to
end this year—at least according to
theories that say when the Mayan’s
long count calendar ends on Dec. 21,
Rapture—when believers of Christ
would be raptured from the earth to
heaven with the rest of humanity left
to presumable doom—would occur
2012, so does the world. May 21, 2011. He had a following:
But what does the end of the world people sold their houses, quit their
mean? According to Stephen Sno- jobs and followed him around the
belen, an associate professor of his- United States. But the Rapture never
tory of science and technology at came, so Camping pushed the date to
the University of King’s College, “it October. Still didn’t happen.
means different things to different Snobelen said no one is immune to
people.” And the Book of Revelation, this kind of end-of-the-world think-
the last book of the New Testament, ing.
states the end of the world is just the “It’s not just religious people who
end of the age, says Snobelen. present these kinds of scenarios. You
“Apocalypse” is actually the Greek also have secular depictions of the
name for “Revelation”, referring to end of the world and actually those
the unveiling of God’s plan. And are a lot scarier...At least with the
Armageddon is the final battle in religious scenarios there’s a peaceful
Revelation, not that doomsday Bruce outcome.”
Willis film. Their meanings have Sir Martin Rees, an English astron-
been confused by pop culture; they omer, says in his book Our Final
don’t actually mean the end of the Hour that humanity has a 50/50
world. (Phew!) chance of surviving the 21st Century.
The Book of Revelation is actually There’s potential for mass extinc-
meant to provide comfort to believ- tions, a nuclear holocaust and the
ers, says Snobelen. The end of the age possibility of comets or asteroids hit-
brings the end of corrupt government ting the earth. And don’t forget cli-
and war. It’s therefore meant to pro- mate change.
vide hope for what’s to come, he adds. “That’s pretty depressing when you
But doomsday theories are always think about it,” said Snobelen.
popping up. The end of the world idea is insecu-
Remember Y2K? It was the end of rity about our situation as a species
1999 and massive computer software and the health of the earth—a fear
malfunctions were expected when the Snobelen says resonates with people.
calendar flipped from ’99 to ’00. The By the way, the Mayan’s calendar rolls
thought of automated systems failing over to a new year after December 21,
put people into a tailspin. Some com- just like a regular 365 day calendar
panies changed or updated their soft- would.
ware. Snobelen said he remembers So the end is near—of the calendar,
people heading for isolated islands anyway. The end of the world? That’s
and completely unplugging. He says anyone’s guess.
the potential for another Y2K is even
Dr. Stephen Snobelen on the end of the world. • • • Photo by Angela Gzowski
HOT: NBC’s Community
not cancelled
NOT: Whitney is also not cancelled
HOT: At the Drive-In reunite
NOT: The Mars Volta had to exist
HOT: Supercuts
NOT: Funding cuts for
Nova Scotia universities
HOT: Rick Santorum is done
NOT: Mitt Romney is still
blandly handsome
HOT: Dalhousie making big
changes on campus
NOT: That constant sound of
construction for the next two years
HOT: The Oval is open
NOT: You can only skate
counter-clockwise
HOT: Sasquatch and the Yeti
NOT: The Jakalope (he’s from
a warmer climate)
Artsy News
Briefs
online at:
roll in my gut, and smirked. “Are they here for the cuisine?” The stranger was unfazed. “They’re here for me. The planet is already surrounded and your father’s flagship stands no chance of escap-It’s the end of the world:
What’s your last meal?
by Katrina Pyne and Jonathan Rotsztain
”Something I’ve never ”All you can eat sushi” ”Quiznos‘ steak sandwich” ”Subway’s chicken ”Wendy’s burger combo”
tried before” bacon ranch”
Kara Crestwell Marie Mullens William Hutton Daniel Rankin Elaine Li
1st-year science 3rd-year neuroscience 2nd-year mangement 2nd-year mangement 2nd-year commerce coop
”Family dinner” ”Chicken penne” ”Spaghetti and meat sauce” ”Steak with sauted onions and ”McDonald’s McGriddle”
mushrooms and a baked potato”
Lulu Yao Tala Mir Andrew Pringle Geordi Finlayson Andrew Kennedy
5th-year recreation management 1st-year commerce 1st-year arts 1st-year science 5thv-year neuroscience
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