Varsity Design Portfolio
Content
THE V arsiTy
back pag e
The got nOnion’ o oth s see n us in’
Vol. CXXXII, No. 22
University of Toronto’s Student Newspaper Since 1880
26 March, 2012
We review Rich Aucoin, Cloud Nothings, PS I Love You, and more at Canadian Music Week p10
THE DESIGN ISSUE
THE VarSITy MaGazINE
IN THIS ISSUE
6 FEbrUary 2012
VOL. V NO. 2
toronto designers profiled
10
How to brew your own beer 22 tHese people dress better tHan you 27
Vol. CXXXII, No. 20
THE V arsiTy
University of Toronto’s Student Newspaper Since 1880
5 March, 2012
Bernarda Gospic/THe VarsiTy
No Holds Barred
UTSU ELECTION 2012
Candidates clash over the undergrad bar, multi-faith spaces, and drop credit proposal
Simon Bredin
ASSOCIATE NEWS EDITOR
Shouting matches dominated UTSU’s fourhour all-candidates debate Wednesday night in Hart House, where a large yet divided crowd argued about issues like an undergraduate bar, clubs funding, study space, and budgetary transparency. The debate was a face-off between Team Unity, a slate led by current VP external Shaun Shepherd, and StudentsFirst, the first opposition team to qualify for office in two years headed, by Brent Schmidt. Public notice of the debate wasn’t issued until a day before despite the room being reserved since February 10. A “wrong version” of an announcement had been sent out and used widely, according to chief returning officer Daniel Lo, resulting in the short notice. Due to this, UTSU decided to live-stream the debate for viewers, Lo added. A UTSU staffer told The Varsity that the video would remain available for students to watch online but it was quietly removed from the website on Friday with no explanation.
Hostilities hamper proceedings Despite an opening plea for civility from moderator and Multi-Faith Centre director Richard Chambers, the raucous debate and heated rhetoric left many students disappointed. Chambers was forced to expel at least one student from the room. When Team Unity presidential candidate Shaun Shepherd spoke, some students jeered and held up posters saying “No More Dirty Tricks, Mr. Shepherd.” CRO Daniel Lo later penalized StudentsFirst over these tactics, although Schmidt had publicly denied his slate’s involvement in the posters’ production and distribution. Team Unity released a statement the following day, expressing their frustration with the “barrage of yelling, screaming, racist, and Islamophobic attacks” that occurred throughout the evening. During the debate, independent presidential candidate Rohail Tanoli repeatedly railed against the hostilities on display, calling it a “sad state of affairs.”
CONTINUED P7
ELECTION apaThy
UTSU ELECTIONS 2012
VaRSITy EDITORIaL
Is this the change we want?
James Finlay diagnoses why the UTSU elections are failing to connect with students see page 14
Candidates weigh in
UTSU’s presidential hopefuls outline their visions for a better U of T see page 9
“A concrete and attainable platform”
In this UTSU election editorial, The Varsity explains why this candidate is the best one for the job see page 10
Arts & Culture
vAR.st/ARts
27 FEBRUARY 2012
[email protected]
ONLINE EXCLUSIVE
GOON GETS FINGERED: DOES THE POSTER DESERVE A LICKING?
Check it out: http://var.st/arts19a
JADE COLBERt/tHE vARsitY
Madeline Thien writes on one of the 20th century’s unknown genocides in her novel Dogs at the Perimeter
p14
REVIEwS
Born to Die by Lana Del Rey The voice of Lana Del Rey can be summed up in one charged word: sultry. Her sophomore album, Born To Die, is so intimately engaging that after just one listen to provocative tracks like “Lolita,” you will inevitably be seduced. However, due to the recent criticism of the artist’s infamous Saturday Night Live performance and the subsequent dissection of the “Lana Del Rey” persona, you may be hesitant to download her tracks. With just one look at the artist it is easy to see that her image may not be as authentic as one would hope. Try abandoning those high expectations of genuine “indie” music and just enjoy Lana Del Rey’s album for what it is: heavily-produced yet extremely enjoyable happy-to-be-sad ballads. Personal favourite off the record: bonus track “Without You.” —Monica Carinci
A brush up on Bresson
The TIFF Bell Lightbox’s latest retrospective Poetry of Precision: The Films of Robert Bresson goes to show that the roots of true auteurism in cinema are firmly set in France, with the irreplaceable talents of Robert Bresson. Notoriously guarded about his personal life (historians are not sure of Bresson’s actual date of birth), Bresson quietly passed away in 1999 at the suspected age of 99. Nearly 33 years after his last film, we celebrate this artist-cum-director for his profound ability to represent his spiritual doctrine in a way that translates remarkably well to film. Bart Testa on A Man Escaped or: The Wind Bloweth Where it Listeth In a special introductory screening to Bresson’s 1956 transcendent prisoner-of-war piece A Man Escaped or: The Wind Bloweth Where it Listeth, University of Toronto professor Bart Testa addressed a packed theatre to explain why we should honour both the film and Bresson’s pioneering sensibilities. Although Bresson’s Escaped is based on the memoirs of French resistance soldier Andre Devigny, Bresson himself also spent time in a German POW camp during WWII, which may be why Testa describes Escaped as the definitive example of Bresson’s films. He likens the meticulous pace, of a “precise
U of T professors spoke at the TIFF Bell Lightbox for The Poetry of Precision: The Films of Robert Bresson
style that devotes itself to repetition and narration,” to the filmmaker’s affinity to translate complex feelings and sensibilities on screen. “Freedom, flexivity, rigour all exist in literature,” Testa explains, “and Bresson brought these [feelings] to the screen.” Escaped is undeniably bleak and lacks an emotional charge one might associate with the life of a prisoner. Instead, we adopt the dauntless, straightfaced desire for freedom that drives Fontaine, the film’s protagonist. We come to be as brave as Fontaine but soon find ourselves sharing also in Fontaine’s sober panic which Bresson achieved in his advanced use of sound. Whenever Fontaine hears the jingle of keys, fast-paced footsteps, or other ominous noises, Bresson enacts a Pavlovian-like response of alarm from both the protagonist and viewers alike. Fontaine stands out as the only prisoner actively trying to pursue freedom, while others such as a Protestant priest (Rolan Monod) passively wish for God’s divine grace to deliver them from captivity. Testa describes this as the greatest struggle in Escaped: the active title, Escaped, and Fontaine’s perseverance juxtaposed CONTINUED ON P15
Purple Naked Ladies
by The Internet The Internet’s Purple Naked Ladies boasts an impressive pedigree. Syd the Kid and Matt Martians (both hailing from the indie hip hop consortium Odd Future) venture into more soulful territory with their debut. At the group’s best, like on “She DGAF” (as in “don’t give a fuck,” FYI), the rhythms and synths blend with Syd’s R&B vocal stylings. However, those moments are few and far between. On “They Say/Shangrila” and “Cunt,” the taut rhythms and solid vocal performances are weighed down by unnecessary electro flourishes. It’s as if The Internet is throwing shit at an already ample wall of sound and seeing what sticks. The end result sounds like a shallow attempt at progressing Erykah Badu’s sound. —JP Kaczur
Dir. David Wain Producer Judd Apatow has finally hit the jackpot. The premise behind Wanderlust, the latest product doled out by the frat pack’s (pipe) dream factory, is a convenient vehicle for everything Apatowian: recreational drug use, free love, a bold display of human sexual organs, and people acting plain stupid. After job-related setbacks, a yuppie New York couple (Paul Rudd and Jennifer Aniston) settle into the chilled and cheap lifestyle offered by the Elysium hippie commune. The residents there prefer the term “intentional community” because, you know, hippies are so politically correct. Wanderlust is great fun and provides some guaranteed chuck-
Wanderlust
les thanks to an array of colourful, likeable characters in bizarre situations, even if they are predictable. But the humour wears off quicker than a hippie on hash. Every joke is a constant reminder of its source, the fish-out-of-water couple and the zany flower children, rendering most of the gags repetitive. The movie tries so hard to be funny that even awkward becomes awkward. I’m talking to you, Paul Rudd, and your “voices.” Despite the personal philosophy of Alan Alda’s communefounder Carvin, who remarks, “Money buys you literally nothing,” the price of your movie ticket will earn you a solid date night but also a solid reason to reevaluate comedy’s direction. —Daniel Horowitz
A statue fit for a queen
TANYA DEBI unravels a U of T discovery of artifacts from ancient Egypt
niversity of Toronto professor Mary-Ann Pouls Wegner of the Near and Middle Eastern Civilizations department and her team conducted a dig in Abydos, Egypt last summer that unearthed majestic treasures consisting of an offering chapel, a monumental building with animal remains, and a statue believed to be of the “female king” Hatshepsut. Hatshepsut was an Egyptian ruler in the 18th dynasty (about 3,500 years ago) that assumed the otherwise male title of “pharaoh.” She co-ruled with her stepson Thutmose III because he was too young to take the throne at the time that his father, Thutmose II, died. In art and other artifacts, Hatshepsut is portrayed as a male with the traditional false beard — a symbol of power — although delicate features like her small waist and chin are distinguishably female. Hatshepsut’s co-regent and eventual
Science
vAR.st/sCIENCE
successor, Thutmose III, did his best to wipe out the female ruler from history after her death, possibly because she kept him from power for more than 20 years. Her 22-year reign places her as the longest ruling woman of Egypt in her time. The wooden statue is a magnificent and rare find both because of the attempted eradication of Hatshepsut’s image during Thutmose III’s reign and the rarity of existing royal wooden statues. Osiris, god of the afterlife, was held in high esteem and worshipped by the ancient Egyptians in Abydos. Interestingly, the offering chapel discovered by the team was built near the processional route of the festival of Osiris. The wooden statue is also thought to have been part of a ceremonial procession and festival celebrating Osiris. Monuments were created along the processional route to show their life-long dedication and
2 APRIL 2012
[email protected]
ONLINE EXCLUSIVE
Cold-Blooded Roommate is the last in our Science Illustrated series!
Check it out: http://var.st/dinoroomie
U
participation to this god. However, if one built too close to the route, he could face the death penalty. The team also recovered a repository of 80 animal mummies. The remains were mostly of dogs but included cats, sheep, and goats. It is suggested that these animals were part of a sacrifice — the number of dogs discovered at the site implies that they were probably sacrificed to the jackal god Wepwawet, leader of the Osiris festival and the one who guided the deceased to the underworld. The team believes that these sacrificed animals belong to an undiscovered tomb and that the remains were displaced during tomb robberies. The discovery of these artifacts in Abydos contributes to the understanding of Ancient Egyptian ritual activity and sheds light on the mysterious past of a once-powerful female leader.
tARANEh zARIN/thE vARsIty
Rawr!
Cool dinosaur facts
text by Fiona Tran illustrations by William Ahn
The Cretaceous–Paleogene mass extinction occurred 65 million years ago and took out dinosaurs, pterosaurs, and marine reptiles. What happened after the meteor that supposedly drove the dinosaurs to extinction? Turns out they may have survived for another 700,000 years afterward. If the whole history of the universe until today were compressed into a 365-day year, dinosaurs only lived about 5 days. In the same universe-compression model, the first mammalian ancestors appeared on December 25. The oldest dinosaur fossils found come from rocks in Argentina and Brazil and are 230 million years old. One of the earliest known birds, the Archaeopteryx, appeared in the late Jurassic period and shared the skies with flying reptiles. The smallest dinosaur egg measures 3 cm long and its species remains unknown. Heaviest dinosaur: the Brachiosaurus weighed 80 tonnes, equivalent to 17 elephants. Smallest dinosaur: the chickensized Lesothosaurus fed on plants. Its fossil is the smallest discovered of any fully-grown dinosaur. Biggest brain: the Troodon’s brain was comparable in size to modern mammals and birds. It also had stereoscopic vision and hands capable of grasping. Not-so-big brain: a Stegosaurus’ weighed 75 g and was 3 cm long.
Organic tomato gardening on campus
The Dig In! Campus Agriculture network gives you the lowdown on growing tasty tomatoes
Sarah Lin
VARSITY CONTRIBUTOR
Delicious and easy to cultivate, the tomato is a popular choice when it comes to vegetable gardening. A few key steps for organically growing tomatoes are as follows: obtain seedlings, find a sunny spot, dig in some compost, and water them regularly. Make sure you set the seedlings outside after the last spring frost because tomatoes love heat. Seedlings, which are basically sprouts, can be purchased or grown from a seed. To start from a seed on your own, use a commercial seedling starting tray or a biodegradable egg carton. Once the seed germinates and the seedlings grow a couple of sets of leaves, move them into larger contain-
ers that contain a mixture of soil and compost. Typically added to the soil to aid growth, compost is central to organic gardening as it supplies the nutrients plants need to grow and supports the diverse life in the ground below, without the need for chemical pesticides, fertilizers, or herbicides. Tomatoes are warm-weather plants and frost-sensitive — therefore, the seedlings need to remain indoors until the last spring frost is over and the soil is warm (generally around May 10 in Toronto). When it’s time, seedlings are transplanted to a sunny outdoor space. Tomatoes generally start ripening in late July and then throughout August and even into September, depending on weather conditions. Growing food is a great endeavour — plants not only feed our bod-
ies but also nourish our minds and souls. Since 2008, green-thumbed students with the Dig In! Campus Agriculture network have been growing a variety of common garden organic edibles across smallscale plots on campus. Seed varieties such as pineapple, yellow pear, peacevine cherry, and many more are being sown in the greenhouse of the anthropology building and are eventually transplanted to the Hart House, Sid Smith, and Hart House Farm Committee plots. Campus produce is consumed by volunteers, is incorporated into Hart House menus, is served up by the Hot Yam! food collective, and is donated to the U of T Food Bank. By growing produce locally, organically, and seasonally, sustainable food production is demonstrated at its best.
Growing food is a great endeavour — plants not only feed our bodies but also nourish our minds and souls.
Comment
var.st/comment
16 JanUarY 2012
[email protected]
ONLINE EXCLUSIVE
The trouble with Wikipedia
Protect your skin from the sun’s harsh rays.
Learn how here: http://var.st/8ov
Bernarda Gospic/tHe varsitY
orge Luis Borges’ classic short story “The Library of Babel” is about a universal library that contains all possible permutations of every book that has, is, or will be produced in the future. This means that it contains all potentially useable information, mixing books that are pure gibberish with versions in a more coherent form. The moral of the story is that there is a distinction to be made between knowledge and information and that without any coherence, order, or pattern imposed on a universal library, all of its information becomes quite useless. This is the problem that faces Wikipedia. Its dream to one day bring the sum total of all human knowledge under one accessible roof has forced articles about mathematical formulae and scientific discoveries to like alongside articles about every possible species of Pokémon and other trivia. The issues of relevance and meaning persist as some articles on Pokémon are more fleshed out and better written than those on scientific discoveries. Furthermore, Wikipedia still can’t be cited as an academic source due to its low level of reliability. Even the claim that Wikipedia’s science articles have fewer or the same number of errors as those in Encyclopedia Britannica is demonstrably false when you survey how many need substantial cleanup and editing. However, there are still those who hope that
J
Wikipedia can one day become a useful epistemological tool. Last semester, I was in a class that participated in a Wikipedia pilot project designed to improve Wikipedia as a learning site and to foster a new generation of content creators. The final draft of the final essay had to be uploaded to Wikipedia to be subject to the evaluation and editing of the Wikipedia com-
injecting bias into the work since I described Fox News as a conservative network (which Fox News CEO Roger Ailes readily admits) and that Sun Media’s Sun News Network utilized a similar style. The complaints on my article’s talk page didn’t deal with the central point of the article, which is that Fox News has made being political profitable and that model is being reproduced in other
Its dream to one day bring the sum total of all human knowledge under one accessible roof has forced articles about mathematical formulae and scientific discoveries to be placed alongside articles about every possible species of Pokémon.
munity (though our essay grade was determined by the professor). My topic was the “Foxification” of news, specifically, how both print and broadcast news sources were becoming more partisan in order to reap larger profits. My paper received an excellent grade, but its Wikipedia counterpart was promptly deleted. The cause for my article’s deletion was its somewhat argumentative structure. I had imposed a pattern on the work that did not sit well with Wikipedia’s guidelines on neutral point of view. I was accused of news sources looking to appeal to a niche audience. One of the central problems of Wikipedia is its community. It’s not as welcoming as it should be to newcomers. There’s a certain aggressiveness that seems to come with anonymity. Reading some of the comments on my article’s talk page, it was as if I had committed some gross violation against knowledge just because my submission presented a specific line of reasoning. Not all of the comments were that angry. I received kudos for contributing such a lengthy and well-written
article. However, the conclusion was that its argumentative structure disqualified it from being a Wikipedia article. One commenter went as far to say my piece was “a well-written, well-sourced analysis that does not belong in Wikipedia.” An encyclopedia doesn’t just have to be a static reference book. It can also critically engage with its subject matter. A good online encyclopedia that is academically rigourous and useful is the Stanford Online Encyclopedia of Philosophy. Its authors are philosophers who don’t just offer you passive information about Plato, Kant, and David Hume but present specific arguments that help to elucidate the positions of the philosophers and concepts they are profiling. Academia is about critical engagement that involves a specific thread of reasoning. Other wikis on the web dedicated to books, travel, and video games surpass Wikipedia in terms of content and coherence. And why is that? It’s because they are organized around a specific context that informs and shapes the content of the site. As long as Wikipedia continues trying to be all things to all people, it will continue to be a Library of Babel — a repository of information and trivia that may or may not be useful to its readers — and as long as its founders and the community that surrounds Wikipedia banish any kind of critical thought, it will remain that way.
Facts & Figures
3 ,846,319
Number of Wikipedia content pages
510,457,900
Number of edits made since Wikipedia was set up
131,514
Number of active registered users
19.65
Average number of edits per page
The VarsiTy asks...
If U of T doesn’t work out for you, what is your backup plan?
compiled by Stephanie Travassos
matko, 2ND YEAR MECHANICAL ENGINEERING
aLvina, 3RD YEAR CRIMINOLOGY
JimmY, 1ST YEAR LIFE SCIENCES
aminata, 4TH YEAR ART HISTORY
“Clown college.”
“I’ll go to college or beg for a job.”
“I’ll work at McDonald’s.”
“Starving artist.”
Arts & Culture
var.st/arts
26 MarCH 2012
[email protected]
ONLINE EXCLUSIVE
Classical spirit
We interview Gareth Evans, director of the upcoming gun-fu flick The Raid: Redemption
Read our review at var.st/raid
Canadian orchestra Esprit reflects on their 30 years performing in Toronto
BO HYUNG/tHE varsItY
Emma Jones
VARSITY CONTRIBUTOR
When I walk into the Esprit head office, there is a flurry of activity. Alex Pauk has a stack of compositions on the chair beside him while his wife Alexina is proofreading an email that will go out later this week about their group’s performance on March 29. The compositions beside Alex, I later find out, are all written by U of T students and were performed for Alex and Alexina, the co-founders of Esprit, earlier that day. One student’s piece will be included in the upcoming performance — a great opportunity for new talent to exhibit their work. This is the heart and soul of Esprit: finding new Canadian compositions and bringing them to life. “This is music that is seldom heard live,” Alex explains. “The musicians and audience share the excitement of being part of these rare performances.” At performances, the composers are usually present in the music hall, giving audience members a rare chance to speak to them about the performances. When the orchestra started in 1983, there was little room for
new Canadian classical composers. Esprit’s goal was to revitalize the new music industry and fill a gap in the opportunities available to the composers at that time. “It was an audacious idea,” Alexina comments, “The Arts Council gave us two years.” But now in their 30th year, Esprit has created a legacy of Canadian music encompassing two generations of composers. Many composers have grown with the orchestra, having their first creations played by Esprit and faithfully returning time and time again to present their latest compositions. Alex and Alexina are both composers themselves. One of their compositions (performed by Esprit) for the movie Pearls of the Far East recently won Best Film Score at the California Independent Film Festival. This is not to say that Esprit, and the classical music industry is not without its challenges. Budget cuts mean radio stations do not commission orchestral music nearly as often as they used to, causing Esprit to rely more and more on audience attendance to survive. But Alex and Alexina remain optimistic. They are consistently planning new and innovative performances that will entice audiences; “Dream in
a Bar” is their upcoming performance featuring saxophonist Wallace Holiday and percussionist Ryan Scott, as well as trombonist/leader Scott Good leading an acid brass group (a mix of jazz and electronic music). The performance is aimed at a younger crowd, proving the resilience of the Canadian music scene. Esprit is also dedicated to the composers they have worked with throughout their existence. Their 30 Anniversary season, beginning in October, will feature new and innovative programs as well as composers who are close to their heart. Esprit is as original as the music they play. Dedicated to outreach, development, and supporting Canada’s current composers, the 65-piece orchestra gives audience members a rare chance to hear the music played in both its own time and country. “Dream in a Bar” will be performed at Drake Hotel Tuesday March 27 — no cover. Esprit’s 30th anniversary season will be announced at concert, on Thursday March 29; special student rates are available.
Sculptor Tibi Neuspiel reflects on his successful art piece at Nuit Blanche
Stars in a white night
MAR 26–APR 1
MONDAY
CLara HUGHEs Unique Lives & Experiences lecture by the Olympic athlete at Roy Thomson Hall 7:30 pm $36.00
FrEE sPIrIt BY tIBI NEUsPIEL
Anne Rucchetto
VARSITY CONTRIBUTOR
Although Tibi Neuspiel has gained mass media attention and praise with his 2011 Nuit Blanche performance piece, “The
Tie-break,” in collaboration with Geoffrey Pugen, his creative career actually started with a short immersion into artistic counterculture. “I remember realizing, the summer I was fifteen, that I could just take my bike and go out all
night long, and my parents didn’t really care or notice. After a couple weeks [of doing this] I ended up in this extended suburban area, and I wanted to do something to fill the time.
CONTINUED ON P12
TUESDAY
ErOtIC MEMOIr all-genders writing workshop with susie Bright at Come as You Are 7:30–9:30 pm $35.00
WEDNESDAY
ONE OF a KIND sPrING sHOW aND saLE at Direct Energy Centre, Exhibition Place until Apr 1
THURSDAY
CINÉFraNCO Festival of international francophone cinema at TIFF Bell Lightbox until Apr 1 $8–$12 passes: $99
FRIDAY
sHINDIG! ‘50/‘60s rHYtHM aND BLUEs PartY at The Piston 10 pm $5
SATURDAY
rONCEsvaLLEs EartH HOUr CaNDLELIGHt WaLK at Revue Cinema, 8:15 pm Free (bring candle and holder)
SUNDAY
tOrONtO sILENt FILM FEstIvaL at Various venues until Apr 3 $10-$20 passes: $65–$100
EVENT GUIDE
Arts & Culture
var.st/arts
12 MarCH 2012
[email protected]
ONLINE EXCLUSIVE
Piercing humour in Victoria College Drama Society’s A Ladylike Murder
Read our review at http://var.st/ae8
an interview with Margaret Atwood and Jennifer Baichwal
p12
MICHELLE YUaN/tHE varsItY
Payback
$10 RESTAURATEUR
with Laura KathLeen Maize
Lalibela
869 Bloor Street West
I’ve got to admit — I’m pretty sick of the whole comfort food trend. If I had it my way, poutine would have stayed in Quebec (and not become gourmet, with pulled pork or head cheese); Taco Bell would be illegal (except for maybe an occasional cheesy beefy Frito burrito); and Paula Deen — well, Paula Deen just wouldn’t exist (seriously, the whole bacon, doughnut, fried-egg burger thing is a crime against nature). Eating for comfort, though? That’s something that will never let up, and I want you to know that there are options out there other than the artery-clogging, food coma–inducing meals. Lalibela serves up Ethiopian food a block away from Bloor and Ossington. There are several Ethiopian restaurants in the neigbourhood, and I’ve eaten at them all; Lalibela wins, hands down, over the rest. It’s not the cheapest (that prize goes to Nazareth, at Dovercourt), but it’s the freshest, the friendliest, and the best. I’d suggest getting one of the platters; especially the vegetarian platter, if you are new to Ethiopian food. It’s a good way to sample all the flavours. Small heaps of split peas, lentils, chickpeas, collard greens, and veggies sit on a round plate of injera, a spongy flatbread that you use to pick up the stuff and transport it to your mouth. The meat is equally good but always a little more spicy, and expensive, than the veggie platter. It’s simple and it’s perfect. For lunch you can easily get away with splitting a veggie platter for one ($11). But if you are really hungry, this is exactly the kind of restaurant where you’ll want to splurge a little. The communal platter really lends itself well to eating with lots of friends, as long as you (like me) don’t get jealous that they’re eating too much of your food. The setting and the food all equal the best comfort food you can get. Lalibela has an awesome website about traditional coffee ceremonies and how injera is made. Check it out at lalibelaethiopianrestaurant.com
UC Drama breaks The Rules
Monica Carinci
VARSITY CONTRIBUTOR
The title of UC Drama’s latest production of The Rules by ‘90s playwright Charles Mee is misleading considering the plot of this experimental theatre piece seems to follow few rules or guidelines. At the Helen Gardiner Phelan Playhouse, award-winning director Banuta Rubess presents a collection of isolated vignettes vaguely connected through the idea of classconsciousness. Though the disorienting plot seems like it would cause the audience to lose focus, the five talented cast members from the University College drama program succeed in entertaining the whole way through. Mee’s play allows much room for variation in production, and Rubess uses this to her advantage. At the beginning of the play, we are introduced to the life of the upper-class and their world of country clubs and random luxuriousness. These haunting scenes of materialism in the first act are followed by Uxbridge native Ainslie Drew-Brook’s stand-up routine. Laced with profanity and commentary on racial stereotypes, Drew-Brook’s bit is reminiscent of comedians before her; however, her performance stands above fellow cast member Philip Furgiuele’s later routine on masturbation.
The audience participation aspect of the play seems intimidating at first but luckily plays a minimal role throughout the evening. In order to use the small stage space to their advantage, the cast has the audience move around quite a bit, which helps keep everyone awake for all the laughs. One of the highlights of the production is the quirkiness and versatility of cast member Katherine Housley. She moves from an English to an American accent with ease and provides a hilarious bit on “oriental carpet making” following intermission. Toronto-born Jennifer Fraser later shows off her charismatic dancing during the cast’s rendition of Michael Jackson’s “Bad.” Following a disclaimer from Furgiuele is a hilarious hospital scene, which is arguably the most entertaining skit of the night. The use of props is both hilarious and ingenious, and if not for the goofiness of the cast, the audience might even be fooled to believe the patient (Housley) is wide open on the cutting table. While the audience makes it through the night with ease, unfortunately the patient isn’t as lucky. The Rules plays until March 18 at the Helen Gardiner Phelan Playhouse. Reserve tickets at [email protected]
MONDAY
TUESDAY
In Conversation with… George r.r. Martin on Game of Thrones at TIFF Bell Lightbox 9:30 am Same day tickets available one hour prior to event
WEDNESDAY
static Zine #3 Launch w/ the ruby spirit, Wazu, Carnival Moon at The Rivoli 7 pm $5.00
THURSDAY
the Undrummer w/ sexy Mathematics, Fighter/Lover at Nocturne 9 pm $5.00
FRIDAY
Will Ferrell’s new movie Casa De Mi Padre at various theatres
SATURDAY
st. Party’s Day at St. Lawrence Market 11 am – nighttime
SUNDAY
Douglas Coupland Exhibition at Daniel Faria Gallery Ongoing
MAR 12–18
Comedy Girl Class recital at Comedy Bar 8 pm
EVENT GUIDE
What’s in a fee?
chart by MATTHEW D.H. GRAY text by SARAH TAGUIAM Source: ROSI
UTSU Dental Plan UTSU
Where your money goes: to UTSU club funding, programming, and administrative costs. What you could buy instead: a pair of perfectly adequate blue jeans
Amount: $66.24
Where your money goes: to dental fees not covered by provincial plans (OHIP) like oral examinations and surgery, denture cleaning, and polishing What you could buy instead: $102-worth of fuzzy peaches
Amount: $102.76
ROSI System Access Fee
Where your money goes: to keep ROSI afloat What you could buy instead: a massage (sans happy ending)
UTSU Accident/PR Drug Insurance
Where your money goes: who knows? What you could buy instead: a good vibrator
Amount: $45
Amount: $120.64
Arts & Science Student Union
Amount: $19
Hart House
Where your money goes: to arts and culture programming, club subsidy, and recreation in Hart House What you could buy instead: a decent pair of leather shoes
Amount: $143.26
Where your money goes: to printing Anti-Calendars, tutoring services for high school students, events, and annual awards and bursaries What you could buy instead: a monthly subscription for World of Warcraft and a three packets of ramen
CANCOPY License
Where your money goes: to allow students to photocopy copyrighted materials What you could buy instead: a bunch of illegal photocopies
10x Magnification
Amount: $3.38
Student Life & Programming Services
Where your money goes: to all sorts of student life and programming activities all over campus What you could buy instead: almost a PlayStation 3
Amount: $237.48
The Varsity
Where your money goes: to printing, slumber parties, and believe it or not, our private jet can get expensive sometimes What you could buy instead: a Tim Hortons breakfast sandwich
Amount: $2.66
U of T Community Radio
Where your money goes: to funding radio programming, broadcasting fees, and salaries What you could buy instead: a pint of beer
Amount: $7.50
Total: $6,413.50
UTSU Student Commons
Where your money goes: to construction of a student commons What you could buy instead: a gram of decent weed
Amount: $12.30
Course Fees
Where your money goes: to 10 Arts and Science courses What you could buy instead: a 2005 Toyota Echo Sedan with 170,000 km
Athletics
Where your money goes: to gym memberships, maintenance of facilities, and drop-in programs like yoga, archery, swimming, and field What you could buy instead: a once-in-a-lifetime bottle of Scotch
Amount: $5,372
Amount: $281.28
back pag e
The got nOnion’ o oth s see n us in’
Vol. CXXXII, No. 22
University of Toronto’s Student Newspaper Since 1880
26 March, 2012
We review Rich Aucoin, Cloud Nothings, PS I Love You, and more at Canadian Music Week p10
THE DESIGN ISSUE
THE VarSITy MaGazINE
IN THIS ISSUE
6 FEbrUary 2012
VOL. V NO. 2
toronto designers profiled
10
How to brew your own beer 22 tHese people dress better tHan you 27
Vol. CXXXII, No. 20
THE V arsiTy
University of Toronto’s Student Newspaper Since 1880
5 March, 2012
Bernarda Gospic/THe VarsiTy
No Holds Barred
UTSU ELECTION 2012
Candidates clash over the undergrad bar, multi-faith spaces, and drop credit proposal
Simon Bredin
ASSOCIATE NEWS EDITOR
Shouting matches dominated UTSU’s fourhour all-candidates debate Wednesday night in Hart House, where a large yet divided crowd argued about issues like an undergraduate bar, clubs funding, study space, and budgetary transparency. The debate was a face-off between Team Unity, a slate led by current VP external Shaun Shepherd, and StudentsFirst, the first opposition team to qualify for office in two years headed, by Brent Schmidt. Public notice of the debate wasn’t issued until a day before despite the room being reserved since February 10. A “wrong version” of an announcement had been sent out and used widely, according to chief returning officer Daniel Lo, resulting in the short notice. Due to this, UTSU decided to live-stream the debate for viewers, Lo added. A UTSU staffer told The Varsity that the video would remain available for students to watch online but it was quietly removed from the website on Friday with no explanation.
Hostilities hamper proceedings Despite an opening plea for civility from moderator and Multi-Faith Centre director Richard Chambers, the raucous debate and heated rhetoric left many students disappointed. Chambers was forced to expel at least one student from the room. When Team Unity presidential candidate Shaun Shepherd spoke, some students jeered and held up posters saying “No More Dirty Tricks, Mr. Shepherd.” CRO Daniel Lo later penalized StudentsFirst over these tactics, although Schmidt had publicly denied his slate’s involvement in the posters’ production and distribution. Team Unity released a statement the following day, expressing their frustration with the “barrage of yelling, screaming, racist, and Islamophobic attacks” that occurred throughout the evening. During the debate, independent presidential candidate Rohail Tanoli repeatedly railed against the hostilities on display, calling it a “sad state of affairs.”
CONTINUED P7
ELECTION apaThy
UTSU ELECTIONS 2012
VaRSITy EDITORIaL
Is this the change we want?
James Finlay diagnoses why the UTSU elections are failing to connect with students see page 14
Candidates weigh in
UTSU’s presidential hopefuls outline their visions for a better U of T see page 9
“A concrete and attainable platform”
In this UTSU election editorial, The Varsity explains why this candidate is the best one for the job see page 10
Arts & Culture
vAR.st/ARts
27 FEBRUARY 2012
[email protected]
ONLINE EXCLUSIVE
GOON GETS FINGERED: DOES THE POSTER DESERVE A LICKING?
Check it out: http://var.st/arts19a
JADE COLBERt/tHE vARsitY
Madeline Thien writes on one of the 20th century’s unknown genocides in her novel Dogs at the Perimeter
p14
REVIEwS
Born to Die by Lana Del Rey The voice of Lana Del Rey can be summed up in one charged word: sultry. Her sophomore album, Born To Die, is so intimately engaging that after just one listen to provocative tracks like “Lolita,” you will inevitably be seduced. However, due to the recent criticism of the artist’s infamous Saturday Night Live performance and the subsequent dissection of the “Lana Del Rey” persona, you may be hesitant to download her tracks. With just one look at the artist it is easy to see that her image may not be as authentic as one would hope. Try abandoning those high expectations of genuine “indie” music and just enjoy Lana Del Rey’s album for what it is: heavily-produced yet extremely enjoyable happy-to-be-sad ballads. Personal favourite off the record: bonus track “Without You.” —Monica Carinci
A brush up on Bresson
The TIFF Bell Lightbox’s latest retrospective Poetry of Precision: The Films of Robert Bresson goes to show that the roots of true auteurism in cinema are firmly set in France, with the irreplaceable talents of Robert Bresson. Notoriously guarded about his personal life (historians are not sure of Bresson’s actual date of birth), Bresson quietly passed away in 1999 at the suspected age of 99. Nearly 33 years after his last film, we celebrate this artist-cum-director for his profound ability to represent his spiritual doctrine in a way that translates remarkably well to film. Bart Testa on A Man Escaped or: The Wind Bloweth Where it Listeth In a special introductory screening to Bresson’s 1956 transcendent prisoner-of-war piece A Man Escaped or: The Wind Bloweth Where it Listeth, University of Toronto professor Bart Testa addressed a packed theatre to explain why we should honour both the film and Bresson’s pioneering sensibilities. Although Bresson’s Escaped is based on the memoirs of French resistance soldier Andre Devigny, Bresson himself also spent time in a German POW camp during WWII, which may be why Testa describes Escaped as the definitive example of Bresson’s films. He likens the meticulous pace, of a “precise
U of T professors spoke at the TIFF Bell Lightbox for The Poetry of Precision: The Films of Robert Bresson
style that devotes itself to repetition and narration,” to the filmmaker’s affinity to translate complex feelings and sensibilities on screen. “Freedom, flexivity, rigour all exist in literature,” Testa explains, “and Bresson brought these [feelings] to the screen.” Escaped is undeniably bleak and lacks an emotional charge one might associate with the life of a prisoner. Instead, we adopt the dauntless, straightfaced desire for freedom that drives Fontaine, the film’s protagonist. We come to be as brave as Fontaine but soon find ourselves sharing also in Fontaine’s sober panic which Bresson achieved in his advanced use of sound. Whenever Fontaine hears the jingle of keys, fast-paced footsteps, or other ominous noises, Bresson enacts a Pavlovian-like response of alarm from both the protagonist and viewers alike. Fontaine stands out as the only prisoner actively trying to pursue freedom, while others such as a Protestant priest (Rolan Monod) passively wish for God’s divine grace to deliver them from captivity. Testa describes this as the greatest struggle in Escaped: the active title, Escaped, and Fontaine’s perseverance juxtaposed CONTINUED ON P15
Purple Naked Ladies
by The Internet The Internet’s Purple Naked Ladies boasts an impressive pedigree. Syd the Kid and Matt Martians (both hailing from the indie hip hop consortium Odd Future) venture into more soulful territory with their debut. At the group’s best, like on “She DGAF” (as in “don’t give a fuck,” FYI), the rhythms and synths blend with Syd’s R&B vocal stylings. However, those moments are few and far between. On “They Say/Shangrila” and “Cunt,” the taut rhythms and solid vocal performances are weighed down by unnecessary electro flourishes. It’s as if The Internet is throwing shit at an already ample wall of sound and seeing what sticks. The end result sounds like a shallow attempt at progressing Erykah Badu’s sound. —JP Kaczur
Dir. David Wain Producer Judd Apatow has finally hit the jackpot. The premise behind Wanderlust, the latest product doled out by the frat pack’s (pipe) dream factory, is a convenient vehicle for everything Apatowian: recreational drug use, free love, a bold display of human sexual organs, and people acting plain stupid. After job-related setbacks, a yuppie New York couple (Paul Rudd and Jennifer Aniston) settle into the chilled and cheap lifestyle offered by the Elysium hippie commune. The residents there prefer the term “intentional community” because, you know, hippies are so politically correct. Wanderlust is great fun and provides some guaranteed chuck-
Wanderlust
les thanks to an array of colourful, likeable characters in bizarre situations, even if they are predictable. But the humour wears off quicker than a hippie on hash. Every joke is a constant reminder of its source, the fish-out-of-water couple and the zany flower children, rendering most of the gags repetitive. The movie tries so hard to be funny that even awkward becomes awkward. I’m talking to you, Paul Rudd, and your “voices.” Despite the personal philosophy of Alan Alda’s communefounder Carvin, who remarks, “Money buys you literally nothing,” the price of your movie ticket will earn you a solid date night but also a solid reason to reevaluate comedy’s direction. —Daniel Horowitz
A statue fit for a queen
TANYA DEBI unravels a U of T discovery of artifacts from ancient Egypt
niversity of Toronto professor Mary-Ann Pouls Wegner of the Near and Middle Eastern Civilizations department and her team conducted a dig in Abydos, Egypt last summer that unearthed majestic treasures consisting of an offering chapel, a monumental building with animal remains, and a statue believed to be of the “female king” Hatshepsut. Hatshepsut was an Egyptian ruler in the 18th dynasty (about 3,500 years ago) that assumed the otherwise male title of “pharaoh.” She co-ruled with her stepson Thutmose III because he was too young to take the throne at the time that his father, Thutmose II, died. In art and other artifacts, Hatshepsut is portrayed as a male with the traditional false beard — a symbol of power — although delicate features like her small waist and chin are distinguishably female. Hatshepsut’s co-regent and eventual
Science
vAR.st/sCIENCE
successor, Thutmose III, did his best to wipe out the female ruler from history after her death, possibly because she kept him from power for more than 20 years. Her 22-year reign places her as the longest ruling woman of Egypt in her time. The wooden statue is a magnificent and rare find both because of the attempted eradication of Hatshepsut’s image during Thutmose III’s reign and the rarity of existing royal wooden statues. Osiris, god of the afterlife, was held in high esteem and worshipped by the ancient Egyptians in Abydos. Interestingly, the offering chapel discovered by the team was built near the processional route of the festival of Osiris. The wooden statue is also thought to have been part of a ceremonial procession and festival celebrating Osiris. Monuments were created along the processional route to show their life-long dedication and
2 APRIL 2012
[email protected]
ONLINE EXCLUSIVE
Cold-Blooded Roommate is the last in our Science Illustrated series!
Check it out: http://var.st/dinoroomie
U
participation to this god. However, if one built too close to the route, he could face the death penalty. The team also recovered a repository of 80 animal mummies. The remains were mostly of dogs but included cats, sheep, and goats. It is suggested that these animals were part of a sacrifice — the number of dogs discovered at the site implies that they were probably sacrificed to the jackal god Wepwawet, leader of the Osiris festival and the one who guided the deceased to the underworld. The team believes that these sacrificed animals belong to an undiscovered tomb and that the remains were displaced during tomb robberies. The discovery of these artifacts in Abydos contributes to the understanding of Ancient Egyptian ritual activity and sheds light on the mysterious past of a once-powerful female leader.
tARANEh zARIN/thE vARsIty
Rawr!
Cool dinosaur facts
text by Fiona Tran illustrations by William Ahn
The Cretaceous–Paleogene mass extinction occurred 65 million years ago and took out dinosaurs, pterosaurs, and marine reptiles. What happened after the meteor that supposedly drove the dinosaurs to extinction? Turns out they may have survived for another 700,000 years afterward. If the whole history of the universe until today were compressed into a 365-day year, dinosaurs only lived about 5 days. In the same universe-compression model, the first mammalian ancestors appeared on December 25. The oldest dinosaur fossils found come from rocks in Argentina and Brazil and are 230 million years old. One of the earliest known birds, the Archaeopteryx, appeared in the late Jurassic period and shared the skies with flying reptiles. The smallest dinosaur egg measures 3 cm long and its species remains unknown. Heaviest dinosaur: the Brachiosaurus weighed 80 tonnes, equivalent to 17 elephants. Smallest dinosaur: the chickensized Lesothosaurus fed on plants. Its fossil is the smallest discovered of any fully-grown dinosaur. Biggest brain: the Troodon’s brain was comparable in size to modern mammals and birds. It also had stereoscopic vision and hands capable of grasping. Not-so-big brain: a Stegosaurus’ weighed 75 g and was 3 cm long.
Organic tomato gardening on campus
The Dig In! Campus Agriculture network gives you the lowdown on growing tasty tomatoes
Sarah Lin
VARSITY CONTRIBUTOR
Delicious and easy to cultivate, the tomato is a popular choice when it comes to vegetable gardening. A few key steps for organically growing tomatoes are as follows: obtain seedlings, find a sunny spot, dig in some compost, and water them regularly. Make sure you set the seedlings outside after the last spring frost because tomatoes love heat. Seedlings, which are basically sprouts, can be purchased or grown from a seed. To start from a seed on your own, use a commercial seedling starting tray or a biodegradable egg carton. Once the seed germinates and the seedlings grow a couple of sets of leaves, move them into larger contain-
ers that contain a mixture of soil and compost. Typically added to the soil to aid growth, compost is central to organic gardening as it supplies the nutrients plants need to grow and supports the diverse life in the ground below, without the need for chemical pesticides, fertilizers, or herbicides. Tomatoes are warm-weather plants and frost-sensitive — therefore, the seedlings need to remain indoors until the last spring frost is over and the soil is warm (generally around May 10 in Toronto). When it’s time, seedlings are transplanted to a sunny outdoor space. Tomatoes generally start ripening in late July and then throughout August and even into September, depending on weather conditions. Growing food is a great endeavour — plants not only feed our bod-
ies but also nourish our minds and souls. Since 2008, green-thumbed students with the Dig In! Campus Agriculture network have been growing a variety of common garden organic edibles across smallscale plots on campus. Seed varieties such as pineapple, yellow pear, peacevine cherry, and many more are being sown in the greenhouse of the anthropology building and are eventually transplanted to the Hart House, Sid Smith, and Hart House Farm Committee plots. Campus produce is consumed by volunteers, is incorporated into Hart House menus, is served up by the Hot Yam! food collective, and is donated to the U of T Food Bank. By growing produce locally, organically, and seasonally, sustainable food production is demonstrated at its best.
Growing food is a great endeavour — plants not only feed our bodies but also nourish our minds and souls.
Comment
var.st/comment
16 JanUarY 2012
[email protected]
ONLINE EXCLUSIVE
The trouble with Wikipedia
Protect your skin from the sun’s harsh rays.
Learn how here: http://var.st/8ov
Bernarda Gospic/tHe varsitY
orge Luis Borges’ classic short story “The Library of Babel” is about a universal library that contains all possible permutations of every book that has, is, or will be produced in the future. This means that it contains all potentially useable information, mixing books that are pure gibberish with versions in a more coherent form. The moral of the story is that there is a distinction to be made between knowledge and information and that without any coherence, order, or pattern imposed on a universal library, all of its information becomes quite useless. This is the problem that faces Wikipedia. Its dream to one day bring the sum total of all human knowledge under one accessible roof has forced articles about mathematical formulae and scientific discoveries to like alongside articles about every possible species of Pokémon and other trivia. The issues of relevance and meaning persist as some articles on Pokémon are more fleshed out and better written than those on scientific discoveries. Furthermore, Wikipedia still can’t be cited as an academic source due to its low level of reliability. Even the claim that Wikipedia’s science articles have fewer or the same number of errors as those in Encyclopedia Britannica is demonstrably false when you survey how many need substantial cleanup and editing. However, there are still those who hope that
J
Wikipedia can one day become a useful epistemological tool. Last semester, I was in a class that participated in a Wikipedia pilot project designed to improve Wikipedia as a learning site and to foster a new generation of content creators. The final draft of the final essay had to be uploaded to Wikipedia to be subject to the evaluation and editing of the Wikipedia com-
injecting bias into the work since I described Fox News as a conservative network (which Fox News CEO Roger Ailes readily admits) and that Sun Media’s Sun News Network utilized a similar style. The complaints on my article’s talk page didn’t deal with the central point of the article, which is that Fox News has made being political profitable and that model is being reproduced in other
Its dream to one day bring the sum total of all human knowledge under one accessible roof has forced articles about mathematical formulae and scientific discoveries to be placed alongside articles about every possible species of Pokémon.
munity (though our essay grade was determined by the professor). My topic was the “Foxification” of news, specifically, how both print and broadcast news sources were becoming more partisan in order to reap larger profits. My paper received an excellent grade, but its Wikipedia counterpart was promptly deleted. The cause for my article’s deletion was its somewhat argumentative structure. I had imposed a pattern on the work that did not sit well with Wikipedia’s guidelines on neutral point of view. I was accused of news sources looking to appeal to a niche audience. One of the central problems of Wikipedia is its community. It’s not as welcoming as it should be to newcomers. There’s a certain aggressiveness that seems to come with anonymity. Reading some of the comments on my article’s talk page, it was as if I had committed some gross violation against knowledge just because my submission presented a specific line of reasoning. Not all of the comments were that angry. I received kudos for contributing such a lengthy and well-written
article. However, the conclusion was that its argumentative structure disqualified it from being a Wikipedia article. One commenter went as far to say my piece was “a well-written, well-sourced analysis that does not belong in Wikipedia.” An encyclopedia doesn’t just have to be a static reference book. It can also critically engage with its subject matter. A good online encyclopedia that is academically rigourous and useful is the Stanford Online Encyclopedia of Philosophy. Its authors are philosophers who don’t just offer you passive information about Plato, Kant, and David Hume but present specific arguments that help to elucidate the positions of the philosophers and concepts they are profiling. Academia is about critical engagement that involves a specific thread of reasoning. Other wikis on the web dedicated to books, travel, and video games surpass Wikipedia in terms of content and coherence. And why is that? It’s because they are organized around a specific context that informs and shapes the content of the site. As long as Wikipedia continues trying to be all things to all people, it will continue to be a Library of Babel — a repository of information and trivia that may or may not be useful to its readers — and as long as its founders and the community that surrounds Wikipedia banish any kind of critical thought, it will remain that way.
Facts & Figures
3 ,846,319
Number of Wikipedia content pages
510,457,900
Number of edits made since Wikipedia was set up
131,514
Number of active registered users
19.65
Average number of edits per page
The VarsiTy asks...
If U of T doesn’t work out for you, what is your backup plan?
compiled by Stephanie Travassos
matko, 2ND YEAR MECHANICAL ENGINEERING
aLvina, 3RD YEAR CRIMINOLOGY
JimmY, 1ST YEAR LIFE SCIENCES
aminata, 4TH YEAR ART HISTORY
“Clown college.”
“I’ll go to college or beg for a job.”
“I’ll work at McDonald’s.”
“Starving artist.”
Arts & Culture
var.st/arts
26 MarCH 2012
[email protected]
ONLINE EXCLUSIVE
Classical spirit
We interview Gareth Evans, director of the upcoming gun-fu flick The Raid: Redemption
Read our review at var.st/raid
Canadian orchestra Esprit reflects on their 30 years performing in Toronto
BO HYUNG/tHE varsItY
Emma Jones
VARSITY CONTRIBUTOR
When I walk into the Esprit head office, there is a flurry of activity. Alex Pauk has a stack of compositions on the chair beside him while his wife Alexina is proofreading an email that will go out later this week about their group’s performance on March 29. The compositions beside Alex, I later find out, are all written by U of T students and were performed for Alex and Alexina, the co-founders of Esprit, earlier that day. One student’s piece will be included in the upcoming performance — a great opportunity for new talent to exhibit their work. This is the heart and soul of Esprit: finding new Canadian compositions and bringing them to life. “This is music that is seldom heard live,” Alex explains. “The musicians and audience share the excitement of being part of these rare performances.” At performances, the composers are usually present in the music hall, giving audience members a rare chance to speak to them about the performances. When the orchestra started in 1983, there was little room for
new Canadian classical composers. Esprit’s goal was to revitalize the new music industry and fill a gap in the opportunities available to the composers at that time. “It was an audacious idea,” Alexina comments, “The Arts Council gave us two years.” But now in their 30th year, Esprit has created a legacy of Canadian music encompassing two generations of composers. Many composers have grown with the orchestra, having their first creations played by Esprit and faithfully returning time and time again to present their latest compositions. Alex and Alexina are both composers themselves. One of their compositions (performed by Esprit) for the movie Pearls of the Far East recently won Best Film Score at the California Independent Film Festival. This is not to say that Esprit, and the classical music industry is not without its challenges. Budget cuts mean radio stations do not commission orchestral music nearly as often as they used to, causing Esprit to rely more and more on audience attendance to survive. But Alex and Alexina remain optimistic. They are consistently planning new and innovative performances that will entice audiences; “Dream in
a Bar” is their upcoming performance featuring saxophonist Wallace Holiday and percussionist Ryan Scott, as well as trombonist/leader Scott Good leading an acid brass group (a mix of jazz and electronic music). The performance is aimed at a younger crowd, proving the resilience of the Canadian music scene. Esprit is also dedicated to the composers they have worked with throughout their existence. Their 30 Anniversary season, beginning in October, will feature new and innovative programs as well as composers who are close to their heart. Esprit is as original as the music they play. Dedicated to outreach, development, and supporting Canada’s current composers, the 65-piece orchestra gives audience members a rare chance to hear the music played in both its own time and country. “Dream in a Bar” will be performed at Drake Hotel Tuesday March 27 — no cover. Esprit’s 30th anniversary season will be announced at concert, on Thursday March 29; special student rates are available.
Sculptor Tibi Neuspiel reflects on his successful art piece at Nuit Blanche
Stars in a white night
MAR 26–APR 1
MONDAY
CLara HUGHEs Unique Lives & Experiences lecture by the Olympic athlete at Roy Thomson Hall 7:30 pm $36.00
FrEE sPIrIt BY tIBI NEUsPIEL
Anne Rucchetto
VARSITY CONTRIBUTOR
Although Tibi Neuspiel has gained mass media attention and praise with his 2011 Nuit Blanche performance piece, “The
Tie-break,” in collaboration with Geoffrey Pugen, his creative career actually started with a short immersion into artistic counterculture. “I remember realizing, the summer I was fifteen, that I could just take my bike and go out all
night long, and my parents didn’t really care or notice. After a couple weeks [of doing this] I ended up in this extended suburban area, and I wanted to do something to fill the time.
CONTINUED ON P12
TUESDAY
ErOtIC MEMOIr all-genders writing workshop with susie Bright at Come as You Are 7:30–9:30 pm $35.00
WEDNESDAY
ONE OF a KIND sPrING sHOW aND saLE at Direct Energy Centre, Exhibition Place until Apr 1
THURSDAY
CINÉFraNCO Festival of international francophone cinema at TIFF Bell Lightbox until Apr 1 $8–$12 passes: $99
FRIDAY
sHINDIG! ‘50/‘60s rHYtHM aND BLUEs PartY at The Piston 10 pm $5
SATURDAY
rONCEsvaLLEs EartH HOUr CaNDLELIGHt WaLK at Revue Cinema, 8:15 pm Free (bring candle and holder)
SUNDAY
tOrONtO sILENt FILM FEstIvaL at Various venues until Apr 3 $10-$20 passes: $65–$100
EVENT GUIDE
Arts & Culture
var.st/arts
12 MarCH 2012
[email protected]
ONLINE EXCLUSIVE
Piercing humour in Victoria College Drama Society’s A Ladylike Murder
Read our review at http://var.st/ae8
an interview with Margaret Atwood and Jennifer Baichwal
p12
MICHELLE YUaN/tHE varsItY
Payback
$10 RESTAURATEUR
with Laura KathLeen Maize
Lalibela
869 Bloor Street West
I’ve got to admit — I’m pretty sick of the whole comfort food trend. If I had it my way, poutine would have stayed in Quebec (and not become gourmet, with pulled pork or head cheese); Taco Bell would be illegal (except for maybe an occasional cheesy beefy Frito burrito); and Paula Deen — well, Paula Deen just wouldn’t exist (seriously, the whole bacon, doughnut, fried-egg burger thing is a crime against nature). Eating for comfort, though? That’s something that will never let up, and I want you to know that there are options out there other than the artery-clogging, food coma–inducing meals. Lalibela serves up Ethiopian food a block away from Bloor and Ossington. There are several Ethiopian restaurants in the neigbourhood, and I’ve eaten at them all; Lalibela wins, hands down, over the rest. It’s not the cheapest (that prize goes to Nazareth, at Dovercourt), but it’s the freshest, the friendliest, and the best. I’d suggest getting one of the platters; especially the vegetarian platter, if you are new to Ethiopian food. It’s a good way to sample all the flavours. Small heaps of split peas, lentils, chickpeas, collard greens, and veggies sit on a round plate of injera, a spongy flatbread that you use to pick up the stuff and transport it to your mouth. The meat is equally good but always a little more spicy, and expensive, than the veggie platter. It’s simple and it’s perfect. For lunch you can easily get away with splitting a veggie platter for one ($11). But if you are really hungry, this is exactly the kind of restaurant where you’ll want to splurge a little. The communal platter really lends itself well to eating with lots of friends, as long as you (like me) don’t get jealous that they’re eating too much of your food. The setting and the food all equal the best comfort food you can get. Lalibela has an awesome website about traditional coffee ceremonies and how injera is made. Check it out at lalibelaethiopianrestaurant.com
UC Drama breaks The Rules
Monica Carinci
VARSITY CONTRIBUTOR
The title of UC Drama’s latest production of The Rules by ‘90s playwright Charles Mee is misleading considering the plot of this experimental theatre piece seems to follow few rules or guidelines. At the Helen Gardiner Phelan Playhouse, award-winning director Banuta Rubess presents a collection of isolated vignettes vaguely connected through the idea of classconsciousness. Though the disorienting plot seems like it would cause the audience to lose focus, the five talented cast members from the University College drama program succeed in entertaining the whole way through. Mee’s play allows much room for variation in production, and Rubess uses this to her advantage. At the beginning of the play, we are introduced to the life of the upper-class and their world of country clubs and random luxuriousness. These haunting scenes of materialism in the first act are followed by Uxbridge native Ainslie Drew-Brook’s stand-up routine. Laced with profanity and commentary on racial stereotypes, Drew-Brook’s bit is reminiscent of comedians before her; however, her performance stands above fellow cast member Philip Furgiuele’s later routine on masturbation.
The audience participation aspect of the play seems intimidating at first but luckily plays a minimal role throughout the evening. In order to use the small stage space to their advantage, the cast has the audience move around quite a bit, which helps keep everyone awake for all the laughs. One of the highlights of the production is the quirkiness and versatility of cast member Katherine Housley. She moves from an English to an American accent with ease and provides a hilarious bit on “oriental carpet making” following intermission. Toronto-born Jennifer Fraser later shows off her charismatic dancing during the cast’s rendition of Michael Jackson’s “Bad.” Following a disclaimer from Furgiuele is a hilarious hospital scene, which is arguably the most entertaining skit of the night. The use of props is both hilarious and ingenious, and if not for the goofiness of the cast, the audience might even be fooled to believe the patient (Housley) is wide open on the cutting table. While the audience makes it through the night with ease, unfortunately the patient isn’t as lucky. The Rules plays until March 18 at the Helen Gardiner Phelan Playhouse. Reserve tickets at [email protected]
MONDAY
TUESDAY
In Conversation with… George r.r. Martin on Game of Thrones at TIFF Bell Lightbox 9:30 am Same day tickets available one hour prior to event
WEDNESDAY
static Zine #3 Launch w/ the ruby spirit, Wazu, Carnival Moon at The Rivoli 7 pm $5.00
THURSDAY
the Undrummer w/ sexy Mathematics, Fighter/Lover at Nocturne 9 pm $5.00
FRIDAY
Will Ferrell’s new movie Casa De Mi Padre at various theatres
SATURDAY
st. Party’s Day at St. Lawrence Market 11 am – nighttime
SUNDAY
Douglas Coupland Exhibition at Daniel Faria Gallery Ongoing
MAR 12–18
Comedy Girl Class recital at Comedy Bar 8 pm
EVENT GUIDE
What’s in a fee?
chart by MATTHEW D.H. GRAY text by SARAH TAGUIAM Source: ROSI
UTSU Dental Plan UTSU
Where your money goes: to UTSU club funding, programming, and administrative costs. What you could buy instead: a pair of perfectly adequate blue jeans
Amount: $66.24
Where your money goes: to dental fees not covered by provincial plans (OHIP) like oral examinations and surgery, denture cleaning, and polishing What you could buy instead: $102-worth of fuzzy peaches
Amount: $102.76
ROSI System Access Fee
Where your money goes: to keep ROSI afloat What you could buy instead: a massage (sans happy ending)
UTSU Accident/PR Drug Insurance
Where your money goes: who knows? What you could buy instead: a good vibrator
Amount: $45
Amount: $120.64
Arts & Science Student Union
Amount: $19
Hart House
Where your money goes: to arts and culture programming, club subsidy, and recreation in Hart House What you could buy instead: a decent pair of leather shoes
Amount: $143.26
Where your money goes: to printing Anti-Calendars, tutoring services for high school students, events, and annual awards and bursaries What you could buy instead: a monthly subscription for World of Warcraft and a three packets of ramen
CANCOPY License
Where your money goes: to allow students to photocopy copyrighted materials What you could buy instead: a bunch of illegal photocopies
10x Magnification
Amount: $3.38
Student Life & Programming Services
Where your money goes: to all sorts of student life and programming activities all over campus What you could buy instead: almost a PlayStation 3
Amount: $237.48
The Varsity
Where your money goes: to printing, slumber parties, and believe it or not, our private jet can get expensive sometimes What you could buy instead: a Tim Hortons breakfast sandwich
Amount: $2.66
U of T Community Radio
Where your money goes: to funding radio programming, broadcasting fees, and salaries What you could buy instead: a pint of beer
Amount: $7.50
Total: $6,413.50
UTSU Student Commons
Where your money goes: to construction of a student commons What you could buy instead: a gram of decent weed
Amount: $12.30
Course Fees
Where your money goes: to 10 Arts and Science courses What you could buy instead: a 2005 Toyota Echo Sedan with 170,000 km
Athletics
Where your money goes: to gym memberships, maintenance of facilities, and drop-in programs like yoga, archery, swimming, and field What you could buy instead: a once-in-a-lifetime bottle of Scotch
Amount: $5,372
Amount: $281.28
