Author: The Concordian

Letter to the editor by ASFA president Jenna Cocullo

Post author By The Concordian
Post date November 3, 2015

The Arts and Science Federation of Associations demands that Concordia University’s faculty members and administration drop all charges against students facing expulsion, that they allow our students to protest in the upcoming strikes without legal or academic consequences, and that article 29G of “Concordia’s Code of Rights and Responsibilities” be amended to reflect the students democratic right to strike.

In April 2015 when students of ASFA’s member associations gathered together in general assemblies to strike against austerity and its detrimental effects on their education, they were asserting the legitimacy of their political bodies. Members of faculty and the administration used this as an opportunity to silence the voices of those who were trying to defend their education by using ‘Concordia’s Code of Rights and Responsibilities’ against them. However, our member associations democratically voted to hold a hard picket line in front of every classroom in the departments that were on strike, something the faculty was made aware of. Students are now facing tribunals and the fear of expulsion, an oppressive tactic carried out to discourage future strikes.

When students are punished for carrying through a democratic mandate it is an obvious affront to their rights and political discrimination. Austerity is not an economic necessity it is a political choice. The faculty and administration are clearly making a political statement when they take legal action toward the students who are speaking out against cuts to the public sector.

Despite these injustices students are still choosing to protest against these neo-liberal attacks on our University and all academic institutions across the province. The faculty should be protesting alongside them because these cuts affect them and every other level at Concordia. Instead of support, there have been reported physical threats by faculty towards our students who have once again legitimately voted to be picketing in classrooms in the upcoming weeks.

Austerity measures have taken a toll on the entirety of the public sector, all aspects of our educational institutions included. In light of the seriousness and depth of these attacks it is worth understanding what we stand to lose and what future generations stand never to have in the first place. Students in the humanities are facing a job market that barely allows for them to use their degrees in any way. Grad schools in Quebec and the rest of Canada have fewer seats and a lower quality of education today compared to a decade ago. Due to cuts in government subsidized services, it has become nearly impossible for self-reliant students from all walks of life to fully immerse themselves in their studies only allowing for the financially stable to have the chance to show their full potential at school and be part of academic discourse. These are just a few ways students are affected by budget cuts.

Professors are forced to take on growing classes without teaching assistants and larger workloads for the same pay or less because many teachers were pressured to leave. Those coming into the job market will also find little opportunities for employment. These are just a few ways professors are affected by budget cuts. Students all over Quebec have noticed how their education is lacking in quality due to lack of funding and it’s time the school’s faculty and administrators acknowledge this as well.

It is for all these reasons above that ASFA is calling on the faculty to drop the charges and threat of expulsion that are facing our students. ASFA stands in solidarity with its member associations and the students of FASA, one of our fellow faculty associations, as well as the students of UQAM who are also facing similar oppressive measures carried out by key players in their university. We are calling on the faculty and administration to support our member associations’ strike mandates, to act in the interest of students education and support the fight against austerity.

-ASFA president Jenna Cocullo

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Opinions

Editorial: Public priorities, not private projects

Post author By The Concordian
Post date November 3, 2015

Philippe Couillard promised to take care of “les vraies affaires” during the last provincial election campaign—apparently he meant taking care of private businesses, instead of the public sector. Quebecers are now facing tougher financial times than ever, with cuts to essential services across the board.

People heard the Premier’s song and dance, featuring his finance minister Carlos Leitão, more than once on how our province is so in debt that we need to reduce our expenses.

Couillard announced last week that Quebec will be investing an astonishing $1.32 billion of taxpayers’ money into Bombardier—which recently announced a $6.46 billion loss—to help them develop the CSeries Jet. Quebecers are right to question whether their billion dollars is being spent the right way.

This investment is especially controversial and unwelcome at a time when public-sector employees are on a rotating strike; at a time when teachers are losing money; at a time when students are being denied more and more services.

This announcement comes at the same time as a Montreal high school has been in the spotlight for needing help from a Protestant church after harsh budget cuts.

What transpires from this bailout is that the provincial liberal government is more concerned with injecting taxpayers’ money into the private sector—money the population will likely never see again—whilst services to the population get worse and worse week after week.

Sure, there is a lot at stake; Bombardier employs more than 18,000 workers in the province. But is this investment worth the cost of not giving enough to the next generations and the ones to follow? The Quebec government is partnering with one of Bombardier’s three divisions that faces great difficulties—the CSeries Jet division is already two years behind schedule.

Did Couillard ask for the people’s opinion on investing money that will primarily benefit executives and shareholders?

Of course not.

It can be argued Quebec is going to save 18,000 jobs, but will they be saved in the long term? With such a risky investment, no one can predict whether those employees will still be working at Bombardier in five years time.

So what happens to these public funds when everything falls apart again?

It seems Quebecers have better ideas about what to do with such an amount of money.

This past week was not about our provincial government investing in some company with a long-term plan in mind. This past week saw another example of a Quebec Liberal majority government stealing money from the population—from our pockets.

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Opinions

Our new Prime slice of Minister

Post author By The Concordian
Post date October 27, 2015

It isn’t often that Canada makes it into international headlines, and rarer still that we actually blow up the internet. Sure, there is your share of Bieber-hate or the brief flash of fame with Rob Ford’s comment about being well fed at home, but nothing has ever set a precedent for this international attention.
The upside: the world, like never before, is talking about Canadian politics rather than pop culture. The downside: the world, like never before, is talking about how “bangable” our Prime Minister is. Or, should we say, Prime slice of Minister.

But hold on here. Yes, Justin Trudeau is an attractive gentleman and, yes, we did just elect him into office to run Canada for five years, but this doesn’t mean we have the right to sexually harass him.

Isn’t sexually harassing someone who you gave a job to entirely not okay?

Trudeau is a Prime Minister, not a prime rib.

Feminism calls for equality of the sexes, and if it is wrong to critique Hillary Clinton on her shoes, her outfits or her hair then it is definetly wrong to openly sexualize Trudeau.

The world, from Pakistan to Australia, is thirsty for our Prime Minister. His hair, tattoos, boxing abilities, what he looks like topless, that “fine” smile and sense of style are all we have heard about lately.

Who knew the news would be even more Trudeau-centric post-election than pre-election?

But the important thing to emphasize here is that sexually objectifying anyone, in public office or not, is wrong.

Just because someone looks good in their clothes—be it a suit or a skirt—does not give you the right to comment, compliment or critique their looks. Just because someone is attractive does not give you the right to take to social media and talk about if you would bang said person or not. Just because you feel like you have the right, does not authorize you to take action.

It does not matter if you think someone is delicious or disgusting, your opinions are your own and should remain within your own head. Voicing them out loud moves so fast from a compliment to sexual harassment it isn’t even funny.

Equality is something feminists have been battling for for years. And just as unacceptable as it is for someone to yell on the street, “hey baby you look better when you smile,” it is equally unacceptable for people to keep taking to Twitter to call Trudeau “hot.”

We elected our new Prime Minister for more than his looks. Well, maybe we elected him to kick Stephen Harper out of office, but still. Just because we elected him does not give us the right to sexually objectify him.

Even if it isn’t in the name of feminism that you cut back on cat-calling “tasty Trudeau,” do it for the tax dollars it will cost if Trudeau actually files workplace harassment complaints against every single one of his employers.

Trudeau is attractive, but is in no way asking for your sexual attention. This is a man we just elected to run our country—leave the #shirtlessleader hashtag to Russian President Vladimir Putin.

No one deserves to be harassed, and our Prime Minister is no exception. This man runs your country. Stop taking to the internet to say if you would “bang” him or not.

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Opinions

We have a new Prime Minister

Post author By The Concordian
Post date October 20, 2015

The second Trudeau to ever hold office, Justin Trudeau steps in as our 23rd Prime Minister, as defeated Conservative leader Harper stepped off stage, too cowardly to announce his own resignation during his concession speech.

“The people are never wrong,” said Harper during the live broadcast by CBC. And so ends the nine-year reign held by the Conservative Party of Canada spearheaded by Harper. Hallelujah.

As Elizabeth May, leader of the Green party said in a in a video on CTV’s Twitter, “[we’re] very happy to start imagining the beginning of the post-Harper era.”

And what a post-Harper era it could be.

To start, contrast the loud shout of “NO” from the crowd when Gilles Duceppe, leader of Bloc Québécois mentioned Québec Solidaire, the provincial party known for their separationist ideals, to Trudeau’s comment of, “Ce soir, le Québec fait un véritable retour au gouvernement du Canada,” which translates into, “tonight, Quebec is returning to the government of Canada,” during his victory speech broadcast on CBC.

Who just won the election Duceppe? Read the crowd, geese.

Trudeau took to the stage beaming and waving to the the crowd—ducking to not just to shake the hands of the people cheering him on, but to hug them.

“This is what positive politics can do,” said Trudeau during his victory speech broadcast on CBC. “Canadians from all across this great country sent a clear message tonight: it’s time for change in this country tonight my friends, a real change.”

Concordians, for the majority of their political memories, have had a Conservative government running their country. After approximately a week, when Trudeau is officially sworn into office, Canada will have a Liberal government for the first time in a decade.

It’s a great time to feel like our votes actually mattered, that students can actually participate in politics. But it’s not time to check-out again from politics quite yet.

It is important to remember how the Liberal party did not pledge to repeal the controversial Bill C-51, which was passed by the Conservatives and allows the government to collect information on it’s citizens. Trudeau does not support stemming pipeline development, or free tuition.

We have a new Prime Minister. And Canada is entering a new era where we lean left rather than to the right. But this does not mean Canadians can turn away from politics.

The Harper Conservatives changed our country, and rarely for the better. Now we have a Liberal leader and Canada is back on track. But it’s not fixed yet, and it’s going to take our continued attention and participation to help guide the Liberal party.

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Sports

Habs start the season on the right foot

Post author By The Concordian
Post date October 20, 2015

Statue of Maurice “The Rocket” Richard outside of the Bell Centre. Photo by Andrej Ivanov.

The Canadians are 5-0 and new commitments to the Bell Centre are the talk of the town

Last Thursday, the Montreal Canadiens played their first home game of the season where they defeated the New York Rangers 3-0.

The game was filled with early penalties and incredible saves by goaltenders Carey Price and Henrik Lundqvist that kept fans on the edge of their seats. However, it was what occurred prior to puck drop that was most meaningful.

The Habs held their annual passing of the torch ceremony where all the passion, respect and pride that the Canadiens organization embodies is represented by a single flame. The flame is handed down from old timers and legends to the current team.

This year, the torch was passed from Habs alumnus and ex-coach Guy Carbonneau to new captain Max Pacioretty, who held it high above his head at centre ice as the crowd rose to their feet. All of the players on the 2015-2016 roster were then introduced individually to raise the torch.

Loud cheers emerged from the crowd as they met the team who has gone undefeated since then. Cheers were extra loud for fan favorites Brendan Gallagher, PK Subban and for Carey Price, who was the last player to be passed the flame.

Captaincy appears to be suiting Pacioretty well as he has been a major contributor to the Habs early success. The team has set a franchise record with four wins on the road to start the season and set another record by going 5-0-0. In the first five games, Pacioretty scored four goals and had two assists, proving that he can be a true leader.

On Wednesday, the Canadiens president and CEO Geoff Molson announced that the organization is investing close to $100 million to renovate the Bell Centre.

During a broadcast press conference, Molson said the renovations are being done in order to maintain the organization’s standard of excellence and he explained that the Bell Centre is “one of the busiest arenas in North America,” bringing approximately $338 million annually to the Quebec economy.

Among the planned changes is the replacement of all the seats, improved WiFi access, the renovations of the arena’s loges and turning avenue des Canadiens-de-Montreal into a pedestrian street.

Cassidy Swetland, a Habs fan, believes the pedestrian street will make things easier around the arena. “I think the renovations will be great,” she said. “There will be less traffic around the Bell Centre after a game.”

Kevin Galarneau, another fan, was happy with the new seats in the Bell Centre. “I like that they found the place for one extra seat,” he joked in reference to the now 21,288 seats in the building as opposed the previous 21,287.

Between Pacioretty’s leadership, Price’s strong start, the team’s record and the arena’s renovations, Habs fans have a lot to look forward to this year.

Arts

Five famous mis-quotations and mis-attributions

Post author By The Concordian
Post date October 20, 2015

Highly-recognized phrases you didn’t know were said by someone else, or never said at all

“Take a lover who looks at you like maybe you are magic.”

Writer: Sara King-Abadi (Contributor)

Have you seen this, heard this, thought this? (Though if you thought it, it’s probably because the sentiment seeped into your subconscious, not because you are some magnificent Voltaire).

Frida Kahlo, right? The quote is usually—basically always—attributed to the Mexican painter.

The truth is, the line came from a poem written by author Marty McConnell where she personified Kahlo, according to an interview on CBC. The quote is virtually huge and McConnell now takes steps toward correcting the issue, specifically when people are selling merchandise with her work on it.

“Be the change you wish to see in the world.”

Writer: Lydia Anderson (Co-arts editor)

Its sentiment is undeniably positive and inspiring, but is it actually what Mahatma Gandhi said? Negative. According to The New York Times, Gandhi’s actual words were, “If we could change ourselves, the tendencies in the world would also change. As a man changes his own nature, so does the attitude of the world change towards him … We need not wait to see what others do.” So technically the famous phrase is just a simplified paraphrasing of a more complex thought, but it’s still a false attribution. Before you volunteer abroad for one summer and whip that quote out to all of your Facebook friends, try to remember that just because it’s set in pretty typography online doesn’t mean it’s an accurate quotation.

“Well-behaved women seldom make history.”

Writer: Brianna Ballard (Contributor)

Who hasn’t seen this quote on at least one social media platform, usually pasted onto a vintage black-and-white photo of Marilyn Monroe in fancy italics? It may be hard to believe, but the ‘50s actress never actually said that. This quote has been misattributed to several iconic women over the years, from Eleanor Roosevelt to Anne Boleyn. But who really said it? Laurel Thatcher Ulrich, a student at the University of New Hampshire and a Pulitzer Prize recipient, first used this phrase in 1976 in an academic paper on women’s accomplishments that had been overlooked in history.

“I disapprove of what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it.”

Writer: Paul J. Traunero (Contributor)

This famous line about freedom of speech is famously misattributed to Voltaire, but it was in fact written by Evelyn Beatrice Hall (under the pseudonym S. G. Tallentyre) in The Friends of Voltaire, a biography of sorts on the life of Voltaire. Though the quotation itself never appears in any of the French philosopher’s work, the line does manage to articulate the essence of Voltaire’s views on the subject in a condensed and simplified manner.

“Insanity is doing the same thing over and over again, but expecting different results.”

Writer: Elijah Bukreev (Co-arts editor)

Really? Einstein never said that? Or was it Benjamin Franklin? I’m never falling for an inspirational quote again. Seriously, if you can’t trust motivational posters and Internet memes, who can you trust? It’s not clear where the quote even comes from. There is no mention of it anytime before 1980, and no evidence that anyone famous ever said it. It was attributed to Jane Fulton in Rita Mae Brown’s 1983 novel Sudden Death, but that’s about it. Internet, I thought your job was to make our lives easier, not mislead and confuse us!

Music

My strangest, unexpected concert experience

Post author By The Concordian
Post date October 20, 2015

Three writers confess, demonstrating just how odd shows can be

The last thing one would expect when walking into a concert organized by one of the biggest guitarists in heavy metal is to find rows upon rows of chairs for seating. Even less so would you expect an army of men and women wearing biker cuts with patches and tattoos to actually use them. This is exactly the sight that hit concert-goers who attended “An Evening with Zakk Wylde,” an acoustic set orchestrated by the Black Label Society and Ozzy Osbourne’s guitarist. “Uncle Zakky”, as he affectionately calls himself, played most of his hits on an acoustic guitar and piano, showing his musical prowess does not limit itself to shredding metal riffs and belting into the microphone. His showmanship was also the opposite of what one would expect from a show named after what is synonymous with the height of class; he regaled fans with stories about having sex with his wife upon his return from the tour as well as Ozzy Osbourne’s erectile dysfunction. The irony of it all need not be elaborated upon.

— Andrej Ivanov

The Unicorns, the acclaimed Montreal-based indie pop band, were reunited, which ensured a night of nostalgic embrace at the Metropolis. I scurried to the front of the pack and, for the next 50 minutes or so, relived my childhood memories as I danced my butt off surrounded by close friends. As the band returned to the stage for the final song of the night, the entire crowd, myself included, thrashed about playfully.

Suddenly, a man drenched in sweat and stripped down to his skivvies propelled himself before me, assuming a crowd-surfing position much to the dismay of those under him. I started to panic as he was pushed back, his legs spread wide open and aimed squarely at my now frightful gaze. As the annoyed crowd below were working to rid themselves of the sweaty mess above, their nudging and tugging unintentionally caused the man to expose himself as he came barrelling towards me. Just in time, my flight instinct took over, causing me to combat roll out of the way and into an unsuspecting person. Goodbye childhood memories, hello deep-rooted anxieties!

— Samuel Provost-Walker

Upon the release of Canadian folk band Timber Timbre’s Hot Dreams in March 2014, the band played a show in Montreal. Having previously vowed to never go to a show alone, I decided to attend against my instincts.

Partway through the set, the lights went low, a disco ball was dropped and lead singer Taylor Kirk said something along the lines of, “We’re gonna slow things down … find yourself a partner.” The album’s title track, a rather smooth and sultry piece, began as I stood centre stage amongst the crowd. As everyone paired off, I was instantly alone in a sea of slow dancers and stoners. The anxiety one should only ever feel at an elementary school dance welled inside of me. I quickly made my way upstairs to sit with the 35-year-old crowd, vowing to never go to a show alone again.

— Oneida Crawford

News

The election night in photos

Post author By The Concordian
Post date October 20, 2015

Our photo editor Andrej Ivanov and photographer Keith Race were respectively at the Liberal’s election headquarters and the NDP’s headquarters.

News

Liberals soar, NDP falters, Harper steps down

Post author By The Concordian
Post date October 20, 2015

Source: Elections Canada. Graphic by Pierre A. Lepetit.

Trudeau’s party claims overwhelming majority
By Laura Marchand

On Oct. 19, Canadians elected a Liberal majority government, ending nearly a decade of Conservative power and electing Justin Trudeau as Canada’s 23rd Prime Minister with 184 seats in the House of Commons. The Liberal party surged from third-party status after taking only 34 seats in the 2011 federal election.

“Sunny ways, my friends—sunny ways,” said Trudeau, addressing an exhilarated crowd of supporters in Montreal. “Canadians from all across this great country sent a clear message tonight: it is time for a change. A real change.”

The “crimson tide” that swept across the country left few standing, with a media release from the Conservative Party of Canada announcing that the party would begin the process for selecting a new leader.

Stephen Harper did not address that he would be stepping down from the leadership during his concession speech. “I had the incredible honour of serving as your Prime Minister,” said Harper, surrounded by supporters from the party’s base in Calgary. “The disappointment you feel is my responsibility and mine alone. When the time comes, we will offer a strong alternative, based on our conservative values.”

“We put it all on the line,” added Harper. “We gave everything we have to give, and we have no regrets.”

Thomas Mulcair, leader of the New Democratic Party, entered the campaign the front-runner. The NDP ended the night in third place, holding onto only 44 seats and losing 59 from the 103 they held in 2011. “The roots of the NDP continue to develop,” said Mulcair, who added the NDP offered “historical contributions to this country.”

“The next chapter begins in our effort to build a better Canada,” he said.

Mulcair did not announce any plans to resign as leader of the NDP.

The Bloc Quebecois took an additional six seats to 10 (from four), and Green party leader Elizabeth May held onto her seat in British Columbia.

During his speech, Trudeau credited his party’s lack of divisive and negative politics for their overwhelming win.

“We can appeal to our better angels, our better nature, and win while doing it,” Trudeau said. “Conservatives are not our enemies, they’re our neighbours. Leadership is about bringing people of all perspectives together.”

At a glance: party leaders’ performances

By Michelle Gamage

Elizabeth May

Green Party of Canada leader Elizabeth May won her riding, Saanich—Gulf Islands, with over 35,000 votes (54 per cent). She beat out Conservative candidate Robert Boyd (20 per cent), Liberal Tim Kane (17 per cent) and NDP candidate Lisa Cormier (9 per cent). May is the only Green party candidate to win a seat in the House of Commons. She’s represented this riding since 2011.

Gilles Duceppe

The leader of the Bloc Québécois, Gilles Duceppe, lost in his riding in Laurier—Sainte-Marie. He only received 28 per cent of the vote. Duceppe was ousted by NDP candidate Hélène Laverdière who won 38 per cent of the votes. However, Bloc Québécois won 10 seats in Quebec—4.7 per cent of the total votes—a sure improvement from their previous four seats from the 2011 election.

Thomas Mulcair

The leader of the New Democratic Party won his riding in Montreal’s Outremont with 25.57 per cent of the votes. He was challenged by Liberal candidate Rachel Bendayan coming in with 20.37 per cent of the votes. The NDP party suffered a crushing defeat at the poles, only winning 43 seats after holding 103 seats from the 2011 election, which is a decrease in 60 seats. This means the NDP have dropped from the official opposition to just holding 19.7 per cent of the votes.

Stephen Harper

Stephen Harper won in his riding of Calgary Heritage in Alberta with 63.7 per cent of the votes, beating out Liberal candidate Brendan Miles who won 25.9 per cent of the votes. Despite winning 99 seats in this election, 31.9 per cent of the total votes, an official party letter was sent out during the prime minister’s concession speech announcing his resignation as Conservative party leader. Harper neglected to comment on the letter before exiting the stage.

Justin Trudeau

The Liberal Party of Canada leader—and new Prime Minister of Canada—received a majority of votes in his riding, Papineau (51.79 per cent). He beat out NDP candidate Anne Lagacé Dowson (26.07 per cent), Bloc Québécois candidate Maxime Claveay (12.19 per cent), Conservative Yvon Vadnais (4.86 per cent) and Green party candidate Danny Polifroni (2.82 per cent).

Opinions

Ask a Wizard: be not foul, but share thy fowl

Post author By The Concordian
Post date October 13, 2015

A truly magical advice column

Dear Grand Wizard,

I’m not looking for advice today but I was hoping you could share a bit about wizardly ethics. For instance, do you think it’s a waste to use magic to sweep, dust and do the dishes? Does being a wizard change how you celebrate Thanksgiving?

Curious about jowly fowl

A fine question, a fine question indeed—and curious.

I was so curious upon receiving it that I considered consulting a crystal ball to ascertain your motives. Unfortunately I sent all mine away with a local faun to be polished, at least I think he was local. If he was a traveling faun I’m unlikely to see those crystal balls ever again, but that’s neither here nor there—unless the faun is actually here, somewhere.

Oh fine yes, I’m stalling. I’m embarrassed, but I’m not so proud as to withhold my wisdom, or at least not what little I have managed to glean from the practice of domestic upkeep.

As a young wizard I had great ambitions. Though my ambitions were great in force, they were quite small and mean in nature. Yes, I picked up my first book of spells in the pursuit of vice. Some might have called the vices small, but a drop of poison spoils the whole well, and I was soon mastered by these small vices.

I thought of no higher use for my magical abilities than to serve myself. It is peculiar frailty that humans and wizards share, that we will break our backs to win ourselves freedom from burdens. Such is the temptation of sweeping, dusting, and scrubbing.

So I pursued my studies and my training, and set the sponges to work for me—and the spoons and the wash basin and whatever else I could press into service. Then I took my rest, but it was a rest without ease, with no restoration. Soon my rest made me restless but I could not see the source of my unease.

I went back to my books seeking the answer for what ailed me. I sought an answer to the pain of my effortless life. For the first time in my wizarding career, my dusty tomes failed me, but my rescue came one evening by the hearth.

In the dim light of the hearthfire, I saw the shadow of a monstrous figure play against freshly painted walls. I thought a beast had stolen in; that in my well-managed insularity I had not sensed the approach of a rabid carbuncle or feral manticore. I stumbled and fell as I jumped to meet my foe and there, facedown on my freshly mopped, I came face to face with a tiny dormouse.

He had a bag of woven grass slung across his back and he looked tired. He wiped his brow with ball of lint and readjusted his load.

“What’s in the sac?” I asked, not minding my manners. He gave a start and turned to reply. “The day’s forage m’lord, some thread for my lady’s apron and the last elderberry of the season for my young Susie.”

At that moment the chains of my small ambitions were broken.

I gathered my cloak and staff, put on an old pair of boots, and packed a few books into a satchel. I left my home in the care of Lewis, the dormouse, and his small family and promised them a generous stipend to be delivered by owl twice monthly.

I set out that day to see what good I could do, and what truth I could learn in doing so. I hope that answers your question about the ethics of magical housework.

As to your second question, wizards display their thankfulness in much the same way as everyone else. They go home and have big dinner with a large and lovely family of dormice and they invite whoever’s hungry.

Opinions

Elections Canada fumbles

Post author By The Concordian
Post date October 13, 2015

Why’d you have to go and make voting so complicated?

It’s well documented that students are bad at voting. It’s not that we have a problem drawing check-marks or an x, it’s just that life is terrible. Between classes, registering to vote for the first time, homework, part-time jobs, trying to unravel party platforms’ meanings, essays and whatever bad luck life decides to throw at us, voting can feel like a pain in the ass.

It doesn’t help that Elections Canada has been dropping the ball this year. They’re the people charged with making the exercise of democratic rights as painless as possible, and we’re seeing lots of people, students in particular, working up a sweat.

Politicians have learned how to tweet, take snaps and make Vines. Apps have adapted to organize voter information to tablets, smartphones, and likely Google Glass too. So why has Elections Canada not evolved similarly?

Voting by text message is probably too much to ask for (and would likely be a fraudster’s dream) but that doesn’t mean voting shouldn’t be as easy as possible. Advance polling days and absentee ballots have done a lot to increase the opportunities we have to vote but keeping the public informed about all these options—especially students who place a premium on attention—is quite a task.

Still, these are things we’ve all learned to live with. The situation gets worse when you add on Elections Canada spreading misinformation.

On Oct. 8, Concordia students received internal emails saying campus polling stations would be open to all students before Oct. 19, not just students living in the campus ridings: Ville-Marie—Le Sud-Ouest—Île-des-Sœurs and Notre-Dame-de-Grâce–Westmount. This is pretty big deal if you’re from out of town, because one less ounce of stress in an already complicated student life is worth its weight in gold.

But as it turns out, this information, which Concordia says they were given from Elections Canada, was wrong.

An email sent out on Friday afternoon stated that the university was initially told that all staff, faculty and students eligible to vote in the federal election could cast their ballots on campus during the early voting period, no matter the riding they were registered in. In actual fact, the advance polling station in the LB building was restricted to those living in the Ville-Marie–Le Sud-Ouest–Île-des-Sœurs ridings and whose Voter Information Cards listed the LB Building as an advance polling station, according to an email from the university sent to students on Friday afternoon.

Because of the miscommunication, early voting at the LB Building was open to students registered in all ridings between Oct. 5 and Oct. 8, but did not continue through Oct. 12.

Now first-time-voters and other Concordians in the least-likely-to-vote demographic are all in a tizzy. Elections Canada, tasked with ensuring free-and-fair democratic elections happen, is harming the chances of students voting.

Clear and straightforward information would be appreciated so students know exactly when, where and how they can cast their vote. We’re tasked with decoding politicians’ platforms already, and that’s more than enough misinformation to go around.

Tags Editorial

Sports

Impact look to shake up the MLS landscape

Post author By The Concordian
Post date October 13, 2015

The Impact’s stadium has been busy this year with many fans enjoying soccer over hockey. Photo by Andrej Ivanov.

Montreal soccer is back in the forefront under Mauro Biello

After assuming the reigns from Frank Klopas, Mauro Biello has managed revitalize the Montreal Impact resulting in the team’s newfound a playoff position.

In the first six games of Biello’s tenure, the Impact went undefeated, winning four games and drawing two. At the moment, the Impact sit in the final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference, four points ahead of Orlando City SC with only two games left to the season. With games against the New England Revolution and fierce rivals Toronto FC coming up, the end of the season promises to be an exciting one.

This season, the Impact have yet to beat Toronto but have enjoyed success against the Revolution, recently beating them with a score of 3-0. With the help of their newly-arrived superstar Didier Drogba, the Impact will look to make a deep run into the post-season. In Drogba’s first seven starts with Montreal, the former Chelsea man scored nine goals and notched one assist. The former Chelsea striker’s recent form earned him the MLS’s Etihad Airways player of the month award for September, finishing ahead of Seattle Sounders forward Obafemi Martins and Toronto FC’s Sebastian Giovinco. “The designated players that [the Montreal Impact has] brought in have been impressive but Didier is of a different breed. His winning mentality is infectious,” said Grant Needham, a former Impact player and the current voice of the Montreal Impact on TSN690 and CJAD. Prior to making the move to the MLS, Drogba won the English Premier League four times and won the UEFA Champions League once as a member of the world-renowned Chelsea FC. With his collection experience and skill, it’s understandable why fan optimism surrounding the team is at an all-time high.

Martin Binette, a season-ticket holder and passionate fan of the team for years, said that with “King Drogba” leading the line, the Impact can surprise many teams in the post-season and perhaps go all the way. The contrasting coaching methods employed by Klopas and Biello are all too evident. “From what I’ve seen and heard, Biello has been putting emphasis on communication which was really lacking during the Klopas era,” said Binette. Biello’s desire to communicate with his players has been a refreshing change for the club and has helped in their recent upturn.

Despite his success as a player with Montreal, many were skeptical about Biello’s appointment as it wouldn’t have been the first time a former player failed to make a good manager. Jason Di Tullio, the current assistant coach of the Montreal Impact, said he knew it was the right moment for Biello to assume first-team responsibilities. “It was time for Mauro to take over a team with quality players. He is a big part of the club’s history. Therefore it’s easy for him to show the players just how important it is to play for the Impact,” said Di Tullio. Given the Impact’s congested schedule, it was going to be difficult for Biello to bring new ideas to the team. As a result, a lot of his success depends on his ability to get the best out of his players in the moment. Until now he has had his team performing well but a better understanding of this strategy will be revealed after the Impact’s upcoming games. “Under him the team is playing with more confidence as he brings a calming effect. He is changing his tactics as each game warrants,” said Needham.

One issue has continued to manifest itself for the Impact under Biello. In the Impact’s last six games, they have picked up four red cards. Most recently, it cost them the three points against the Eastern Conference leaders New York Red Bulls. “It’s been a problem all year. It stems from players playing with a lot of emotion and decision-making in the moment. We are aware that we can’t be successful finishing games with a man down,” said Di Tullio. In tight games, the Impact cannot afford to make such mistakes.

If the Impact is able to eradicate these lapses of concentration, they will prove to be a tricky customer for anyone in the post-season. “Winning a championship is the ultimate goal for us. In the short term, our goal is to make the post-season and demonstrate progress,” Di Tullio said. This would mark the Impact’s second-ever playoff appearance after they made their debut in 2013 when they lost to the Houston Dynamo.

Needham said it is imperative that Montreal win a playoff game in order to host a home playoff game. “For Montreal, making the post-season is not enough. Ask the guys and they think winning it all is not out of the question. Drogba effect? Maybe,” said Needham.

Earlier in the year the Impact demonstrated their ability to get hot when it mattered and made a deep run into the CONCACAF Champions League. Montreal eventually fell short and lost in the final to Mexican outfit Club America.

In the past, Montrealers have shown their desire to get behind a winning team, as seen through the Montreal Canadiens’ playoff runs. If the team manages to get a home game this post-season, expect Saputo Stadium to be buzzing with excitement. With the support of an entire city behind them and their new-found belief, the Impact might just be this year’s surprise package in Major League Soccer.