Author: The Concordian

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How low can you go, Concordia?

Since problems first came to light about the Concordia China Student Recruitment Partnership Program, Concordia’s administration handled itself very nicely.

They expressed their desire to look into the matter, they collaborated with other campus groups to form a ‘working group’, they reached out to international students and they offered to have all the documents relating to the homestay program translated into Mandarin. These were all proactive moves which indicate that the people running this institution give a damn about the welfare of students.

And then on Nov. 9, a press release was sent out most likely in response to the attention this issue has garnered by national media.

Needless to say, few were impressed with what Concordia had to say about the “miscommunication” between international students and Director of the CCSRPP Peter Low.

There have been reports surfacing about how Low requested money from international students on behalf of Concordia and then did not transfer it directly. At the same time, documents have come to light indicating that Low told students the homestay program, which is independent from Concordia, was mandatory when it is not.

In these homestays, students say they were mistreated and their accommodations were gravely misrepresented. And yet, the press release issued by our university reads: “Peter Low, […] has adhered to the highest standards while helping students from China begin their studies at Concordia.”

Seriously? Is anyone actually going to buy into that? And that’s not all.

“Mr. Low, who directs students to homestay as an option and receives no remuneration from homestay providers, has delivered to the university key correspondence with Concordia students placed in homestays [which suggests] that the complaints reported on by the media are likely the result of miscommunication.”

If this doesn’t make you feel like the administration took a huge step back, then you have not been paying close enough attention. Students may not have been wronged by Concordia University officially, but the CCSRPP represents the Concordia brand and it’s not a stretch that students would put their trust and their dollars into the hands of a man who does legitimately work for the university.

Since Low’s contract is just about up and currently under review, we were hoping Concordia would have the good sense to slash their relationship with Low’s consulting company entirely and start fresh. Instead, we get the impression that they are coming to Low’s defense in the face of widespread media criticism.

So, why can’t he stand up for himself ? As far as we know, Low has made no public comments on the issue and has chosen to hide behind Concordia.

As student press with a knowledge that merely covers the tip of the iceberg on this issue, we want Peter Low and his recruitment company to be fired. If anyone should be left out in the cold here, it should be the parties responsible for misleading and abusing students.

If the university really has students’ best interests at heart, that is the only acceptable option.

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Opinions

Tweets of the Week: Nov. 6, 2012

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Opinions

Part-timers don’t grow on trees

What Concordia needs is a feel good story about an administrator rescuing a group of students from a burning building.

The last thing this university needs is for all of the school’s part-time professors to go on strike. Not only would that put yet another black mark on Concordia’s reputation, but for those who have taken classes here know, it would cripple most programs at the school.

Since the Concordia University Part-Time Faculty Association voted last Sunday in favour of a strike mandate by 95 per cent, discussions taking place at the negotiating table seem to have heated up substantially.

A collective agreement is something this union is entitled to and the fact that, last time around, it took seven years to negotiate one is not a point of pride for anyone.

There are a lot of part-time professors at this university and if last year’s McGill University Non-Academic Certified Association’s strike is anything to go on, things could get ugly, fast.

There are more than 800 part-time faculty members teaching at Concordia according to CUPFA President Maria Peluso.

We don’t know about the rest of you, but crossing a picket line on the way to class is not the way we like to start the day. In fact, we’d go as far as to say that if CUPFA did decide to strike, Concordia’s other recent mistakes would pale in comparison.

So where do we go from here? Concordia doesn’t have a great record with collective bargaining and now with this majority vote, CUPFA has a powerful bargaining chip.

Currently, the deal that the university is trying to push upon members of CUPFA includes parts about isolating salaries from other universities at Montreal, imposing restrictions on retirement and leaves, and restructuring the seniority system.

We students know that part-time professors already have it pretty rough. When your teacher is holding office hours in a cafe down the street because they don’t have another option, that’s a sign that these people probably deserve more for the work they do.

Part-timers work hard and don’t deserve to be treated like dirt because their contracts leave them vulnerable or exposed. If they feel that the university might not be operating in good faith, then that is a serious concern which they obviously believe is worth striking over.

To the university administration, we say this: swallow your pride and get ready to grin and bear it because we don’t want our professors on the picket line any more than you do. They are reasonable people and if Concordia can offer them a reasonable deal, then this nightmare can be avoided. Faculty members are more important to this university than the administration likes to believe and if CUPFA isn’t happy, you better believe no one will be.

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Sports

A Look at Pre-Game Rituals and Superstitions From Your Stingers

For as long as there have been sports, there have been pre-game rituals and superstitions to go along with it. No sport in the world is immune to these types of strange antics done by players, coaches and fans alike.

Every year, different media outlets publish articles compiling all of the strangest pre-game rituals or superstitions from around the world of sport. Some of the best athletes in the world make the lists with their quirky habits.

In the hockey world, Wayne Gretzky, considered to be the best player of all time, had a number of pre-game superstitions that included putting his equipment on in a particular order, firing his first warm-up puck in the same spot, and putting baby powder on his stick before the game started. Former Montreal Canadiens goaltender Patrick Roy, considered his posts to be his best friends. During the national anthems, he would have a regular conversation with his metal friends and tap them for good luck.

Concordia Women’s Hockey team shares some similar pre-game rituals. Like Gretzky, many players put their equipment on in a special order. It is also fairly common to see some of the players dance before and after the game in the dressing room.

Forward Veronique Laramee Paquette said that she makes a point to never touch the goalie at all on game day. Whether this works or not, she has scored in four straight games.

Soccer players are no strangers to superstitions and rituals either. One of the most common ones includes grabbing the grass when walking on the pitch and making a sign of the cross right after.

“I have a little turtle around my neck and I kiss it before a game,” said Men’s Soccer striker Andrew Bryan. “And I usually put white socks over black.”

Defender Enos Osei turns to technology to get himself ready for matches.

“I like to watch soccer games on YouTube,” he said. “That gets me pumped before, and it gives me an idea of what I can do on the field.”

Although they could be seen as a pre-game ritual, many athletes will always have the same meal on gameday. Pasta dishes seem to be the food of choice, but the professional sports world has seen some weirder snacks. Baseball Hall of Famer Wade Boggs went out of the way to eat chicken before games, while current Montreal Impact defender Zarek Valentin always eats gummy bears before taking to the pitch. Other athletes turn to soft drinks like NBA player Caron Butler. Butler drinks half a two-liter bottle of Mountain Dew prior to games and finishes it at halftime.

Members of the Concordia Stingers football team related to this. Some players stuck to the same pre-game breakfast, while another would only drink coffee on game days.

Pre-game rituals are not only subject to individuals. Professional teams in any sport will do team events hours before the game. Whether it is a team walk around the city or mini-games inside the locker rooms, the Concordia Men’s basketball team also have their way of preparing for games.

Last season, before every game, the entire team would do some yoga to get in the right mind-set. Fourth year forward Taylor Garner confirmed that the team still does this regularly. He says the group does it more for the mental aspect of it.

Athletes are a crazy breed and it is no secret. Players at all levels, be it professional, varsity and even every day recreational athletes have their own unique ways of preparing for games. Whether these pre-game rituals and superstitions actually work remains to be seen, but one thing is certain that every athlete will do whatever it takes to get lady-luck on their side.

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Opinions

Editorial: You do your job and we’ll do ours

Last Monday, student journalists covering a protest march taking place in the downtown core were stopped by police and ticketed. These Concordia students protested that they were covering the event for a class and tried to show their passes, but their explanations fell on deaf ears.

This is the type of thing that really makes us mad. While the journalists ticketed were not on The Concordian’s masthead, they were journalists nonetheless and being tossed in with the rest of the protesters is extremely unfair.

Young reporters often have a hard time proving to Montreal police that they are covering a protest, and not participating in it, and the last thing any journalist wants is to be arrested or ticketed for doing their job.

This is a problem many reporters faced covering the Maple Spring last year and into this summer and it can make for some close calls. Police seem to think that just because the student press isn’t as high profile as other mainstream publications, it isn’t “real” or “legitimate.”

The same thing can happen with freelancers and young people trying to break into the field itself. Often they find themselves alone, taking photos and getting quotes, until all of a sudden, the police are surrounding the area.

The tickets people can be charged with for participating in a protest that doesn’t give a route beforehand, or doesn’t respect the flow of traffic can run pretty high, with one Concordia student getting charged almost $500.

How is the press supposed to effectively cover demonstrations like this and inform the public when we have to worry about getting arrested? The Service de Police de la Ville de Montréal is becoming more infamous than ever for brutality and reporters should not have to be scared to be out in the streets at a non-violent protest.

The other concern that comes to mind is ‘why now’? Why is the SPVM choosing to crack down on student and journalists now when protesters flooded the streets nightly only a few months ago. Now that demonstrations have become rare, and the energy of the student movement has ebbed, what message are they trying to send?

As far as we are concerned, it feels like the SPVM is trying to silence people who are simply exercising their right to protest and have their opinions heard. Our staff reporters covered dozens of demonstrations this year and it is worrying to us that police are back to treating students like dirt now that the Maple Spring has come to an end.

Rest assured, though, we have no intention of stopping anytime soon. Where student interests are at stake, student reporters will be there to cover it, and a few unfounded tickets and SPVM scare tactics aren’t going to change that.

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#TweetsOfTheWeek Oct. 23, 2012

 

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Music

Quickspins: Sky Ferreira, Black Moth Super Rainbow, Martha Wainwright and more

MUSIC - SkyFerreira - AlbumCover

Sky Ferreira – Ghost EP (2012; Capitol)

“What does Sky Ferreira even do?” some ask, in mention of the hipster icon’s second EP, Ghost. In short, model-turned-musician

Sky Ferreira – Ghost EP (2012; Capitol)

Ferreira makes her living by looking pouty and occasionally singing. But she isn’t some auto-tuned, over produced pop fairy, like one may have suggested prior to Ghost.

The opening number, “Sad Dreams,” is an acoustic lullaby, featuring a tambourine, stand-up bass and ukulele. Ferreira’s alto drips over the bass line like a pro. The EP’s second track, “Lost In My Bedroom,” could make 12-year-olds squeal into their hairbrushes while prancing in front of a mirror, reminiscent of Ferreira’s earlier electronic singles. The title track, “Ghost,” is a soft rock ballad with just enough country to make you sway. Another song channels Courtney Love. The last track features lo-fi pop with an ‘80s drum machine twist. With such variation, you could say Miss Ferreira has a little something for everyone.

Trial track: “Lost In My Bedroom”

Rating: 8.7/10

– Leah Batstone

 

Black Moth Super Rainbow – Cobra Juicy (2012; Rad Cult)

From the second the aptly titled “Windshield Smasher” takes you into Black Moth Super Rainbow’s 6th full length album in nine years, it

Black Moth Super Rainbow – Cobra Juicy (2012; Rad Cult)

prepares you for the rush. With experimentally eloquent wide bass lines, you can feel your neck pushing your head along to its heavy vibes, slowly coming in layer upon layer. The Cobra Juicy rush calms and then jolts you for a second wind, loud and exalting, followed by a preparation for a crash. Instead of reaching a plateau, the album gets you high once again, breaking all further expectations, before it suddenly comes to an end.

The album follows suit, with highs, lows and atmospherical invitations in “The Healing Power of Nothing” and dance-friendly numbers like “Gangs in the Garden.” If you like a variety of musical stylings, lush vocals and flowing, engaging electronica, you can’t go wrong with Cobra Juicy.

Trial track: “Windshield Smasher”

Rating: 8.5/10

– Jamie Klinger

 

Martha Wainwright – Come Home to Mama (2012; V2 Records)

Martha Wainwright – Come Home to Mama (2012; V2 Records)

Come Home to Mama confirms that Montreal-born Martha Wainwright still has a voice as incredible as when she used to musically interject her father, Loudon Wainwright, with the feisty “Bloody Mother Fucking Asshole.” The record is powerful and deep with hoarse edges, and then suddenly turns airy, almost fragile, when she whispers the lyrics of “Everything Wrong.”

Musical arrangements throughout the record vary in unexpected ways, though the unusual-for-Martha electronic twist lacks unity. With her voice and guitar, Wainwright takes us on a musical journey, discussing what it’s like to settle into “adult life” and navigate from the loss of a mother to the birth of a son. The resulting record is intimate and poetic. Some parts of the album are full of energy, love and hope, but others hint at pain, as life often does.

Trial track: “Proserpina”

Rating : 7/10

– Flora Hammond

 

Various Artists – REWORK_Philip Glass Remixed (Orange Mountain Music; 2012)

In celebration of his 75th birthday, Philip Glass approached Beck to create a remix album.

Various Artists – REWORK_Philip Glass Remixed (Orange Mountain Music; 2012)

Unlike most tribute albums which predictably create a dance remix of the artist’s ”greatest hits” catalog, REWORKwas conceived to do as its name implies, rework Glass’ pieces into something new. With this in mind, Beck collected an impressive group of collaborators: Tyondai Braxton, Amon Tobin, Dan Deacon, Johann Johannsson, Peter Broderick and Beck himself, to name but a few.

Each artist reinterprets the avant-garde composer’s tracks. Not an easy feat, considering Glass’ extensive body of work, from minimalist piano pieces and film scores, to operas, theater and dance performances. Beck’s ”NYC: 73-78” incorporates over 20 of Glass’ compositions creating a ”distillation of the composer’s entire career as a continuum,” while Icelandic composer Johann Johannsson constructs a solemn film score with ”Protest.”

iPhone users be on the lookout for the interactive app, created by Scott Snibbe Studio (Bjork’s ”Biophilia” project), set to be released with REWORK.

 

Trial track: ”NYC: 73-78”

Rating: 9/10

– Paul Traunero

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Opinions

Editorial: Put your money where your keyboards are

A quick word about the Internet.

Recently we have begun to feel pretty disheartened about the way people interact with the Internet. This amazing advancement of technology which can offer us so much has actually brought out the worst in some of us.

There is so much incredible knowledge and tools that didn’t exist fifty years ago. We have so much to be thankful for in this computer-driven age and yet humanity can’t seem to stem the flow of bad news, tasteless humour and threads upon threads of trolling.

There’s a buzzword to watch out for. Not trolling, that’s not important in the grand scheme of things, the other one: humanity. If you have been following this media circus that is the Amanda Todd story, then surely you will understand where a lack of faith in the good of humanity is coming from.

Being able to hide your face on an anonymous forum is one thing, but posting mean-spirited things about a 15-year-old girl because she was sexually exploited and killed herself from your Facebook account is truly bewildering and shocking.

Someone is dead. This is a tragedy, and the fact that hundreds of people have so little compassion for her and so little shame about what they are saying, that they have the nerve to post malicious things using their own name, is bizarre. It is inexplicable.

How is anyone allowed to get away with that?

They can’t, that’s the point. One man in Ontario lost his job over a negative post he made concerning Todd’s untimely death.

We don’t mean to get on our high horse about this, but it just doesn’t seem logical or ethical. What kind of person hears about a teenager committing suicide and thinks, ‘I should probably post something degrading on her Facebook memorial page.’

Your co-workers will see that.

Your friends will see that.

Amanda Todd’s family might see that.

We wouldn’t stoop to publish some of the comments made on the multiple memorial pages that have sprung up in the last two weeks but, take our word for it, we are not overreacting.

This is an overarching problem which ties into how we view the Internet as a society. On one hand, we want to stop cyber-bullying and the sharing of child porn, on the other, we want freedom of information and privacy rights.

So where do we draw the line then? When do things become so bad that people stop and think for a minute before posting some idiotic and offensive opinion online for the world to see? It’s not your personal Internet, it’s a massive network which connects billions of people. What you say and do has an effect, and anyone with a shred of respect for other people must agree that these are not the kind of posts we want popping up in our newsfeeds.

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Sports

Stingers soccer season goes from bad to worse

Photo by Marie-Josée Kelly

The Stingers men’s soccer team suffered their sixth straight loss on Sunday, losing 6-2 at the hands of the province wide second-place Montreal Carabins.

The Carabins came out strong and dominated the first half. Their advantage in speed and height was absolutely no match for Concordia’s sloppy play.

The visiting Montreal side wasted no time getting on the score sheet. In the ninth minute, midfielder Paolo Demanga out-ran a Stingers defender to play a perfect ground cross to Damir Rosic, who then managed to squeeze it past Remo Taraschi in goal.

“We gave up an early goal, which is not the script you want to begin a game,” said Assistant Coach Greg Sutton.

The Carabins showed no signs of letting up the pressure. In the 18th minute, Abdoul Bah fired a shot that just went over the bar.

Concordia struggled offensively, sending long balls that had almost no hope of finding a striker. Their best chances would come in the form of free-kicks, all taken by midfielder Joseph Couto. The only goals scored off these chances were field-goals.

The Carabins had a free kick of their own in 27th minute. Maxime Laurey showed the Stingers how it’s done by perfectly placing the ball in the bottom left corner of the net, leaving Taraschi with no chance.

Photo by Marie-Josée Kelly

The visitors kept on their relentless pressure, backing a hopeless looking Stingers defense to the goal line more than once. Just as the first half was about to end, Rosic was found alone with the Stingers keeper and effortlessly placed a shot in the right corner, putting the Carabins up 3-0 at the half.

The second half was a completely different game.

It started much like the first did. A perfect cross from a Carabins midfielder saw Vincent de Bruille completely unmarked and he smoothly tucked the ball into the right corner. It was now 4-0, and all hope was lost.

That’s when the game changed, and the Stingers found a spark.

“We had to change our game plan up, going into the second half,” said Sutton.

It took but one minute for Concordia to get a goal back. Stingers defender Enos Osei found himself with the ball after a nice passing play in midfield. He had time, picked his spot, and triggered a low shot that found the back of the net. The goal ended Montreal’s chance of keeping a clean sheet.

The goal sparked the fire even more, and with 40 minutes remaining, the Stingers took control of the game and became the dominating team. They won one-on-one battles and were first on the ball – aspects of their game that were non-existent in the first half.

“The guys were committed a little bit more and I think that we worked harder than Montreal in the second,” said Sutton. “We were able to come back and get some goals.”

The Carabins keeper, frustrated with the relentless pressure coming from the Stingers, went on to kick Stingers defender Jayson Gallahue, earning him a yellow card and giving Concordia a penalty kick in the 60th minute. Ramin Mohsenin easily put it in the back of the net, and Concordia were well on their way for an amazing comeback. At least, the fans thought so.

Head coach Lloyd Barker put on another striker to try and make the pressure stronger. A pair of chances in the 66th and 70th minutes saw Concordia’s attempts miss just wide.

As the time wound down, Carabins striker Alexandre Kénol took matters into his own hands, outrunning Stingers defenders to then tuck it in off the post on the keeper’s right side.

To make matters worse, Stingers defender Mohsenin committed a foul in the box in stoppage time, earning him his second yellow card and a sending-off. The game ended with Carabins striker blasting it in from the spot to make the final score of 6-2.

 

Concordia now sits dead last in the conference with only three games remaining. Their next game will be on Sunday, Oct. 21, against UQÀM at Concordia Stadium. 

Categories
Music

Quickspins: Tame Impala, A.C. Newman, Ultraísta, Three Days Grace

Tame Impala – Lonerism (2012; Modular Recordings)

In 2010, a quartet of skinny, shaggy-haired Aussies burst onto the indie-rock scene with a distinctive blend of loud, synth-driven, psychedelic rock. Melding melody with heavy distortion, Tame Impala’s music conveyed the image of a stadium arena, filled exclusively with beer-swinging, pot-smoking bros. Two years down the line not much has changed.

Although their single “Elephant” seemed to promise a change of direction for the band, their sophomore effort Lonerism continues in a similar vein as their debut Innerspeak. Digging even deeper into their signature sound, Lonerism has amped up the weirdness, burying their songs in psychedelic tangents and studio tinkering. Simultaneously, singer Kevin Parker’s eerily John Lennon-like vocals, paired with the trippy melodies, makes one wonder how Magical Mystery Tour would have sounded with today’s technological innovations. Nevertheless, Lonerism lives up to its name, leading the listener in a solo adventure down the rabbit hole.

 

Trial track: “Elephant”

Rating: 6/10

-Cora Ballou

 

A.C. Newman – Shut Down The Streets (Matador; 2012)

A.C. Newman – Shut Down The Streets (Matador; 2012)

Best known as the frontman of Canadian indie rock group The New Pornographers, Carl Newman is finally showing a more personal and intimate side to his songwriting. Newman said that Shut Down The Streets “is all about birth, death, happiness and sadness, chronicling a time in my life where all those things had to learn to coexist side by side.”

Following a year of joys and sorrows, the heartbreaking “They Should Have Shut Down The Streets” was written after the death of his mother, while the blissful “Strings” and “Hostages” are about the birth of his son.

Inspired by classic ’70s folk and pop singer/songwriters, and featuring vocal contributions by fellow bandmate Neko Case, Shut Down The Streets is a beautiful album, full of timeless string arrangements, acoustic and synthesized instrumentation, and a brutally honest sentiment that is sure to win your heart.

 

Trial track: “I’m Not Talking”

Rating: 8/10

– Paul Traunero

 

Ultraísta – Ultraísta (2012; Temporary Residence Records)

Nigel Godrich, of Radiohead producing fame, formed Ultraísta with famed session musician Joey Waronker and vocalist Laura

Ultraísta – Ultraísta (2012; Temporary Residence Records)

Bettinson. The band’s name takes its inspiration from a former Spanish literary movement.

Though Godrich’s involvement has certainly spurred the media’s hype over this obscure three-piece band, the attention is well deserved. The vocalist’s prowess keeps you listening to every second of each track. There is heavy use of vocal looping and digital cut-and-paste production, creating a unique vibe.

The result is an excellent debut, sure to please fans of Radiohead, Zero 7, and electronic enthusiasts. Some might find the music a little too abstract for their taste, as a result of overproduction.

 

Trial track: “Smalltalk”

Rating: 8.7 / 10

-A.J. Cordeiro

 

Three Days Grace – Transit of Venus (2012; RCA)

A ‘transit of Venus’ is an astronomical phenomenon by which Venus passes in front of the Sun, becoming visible to Earth. With Three

Three Days Grace – Transit of Venus (2012; RCA)

Days Grace’s new album, aptly titled Transit of Venus, the band does just that. They reach for the sun and increase their visibility without burning themselves. Instead, they shine.

Each song sounds carefully structured and ached over, and each lyric bleeds perfectly into the next through frontman Adam Gontier’s voice. The lyrics are what have improved the most since 2009’s Life Starts Now. Each song is heavy, honest and raw. From breakup anthem “Chalk Outline,” all the way to closer “Unbreakable Heart,” the band shows just how much of themselves has been poured into this album. Having been in the industry for 20 years and in the mainstream for the last decade, it is a true testament to their skill that this new release may come to be remembered as the group’s best yet.

 

Trial track: “The High Road”

Rating: 9/10

– Ryan Demberg

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Opinions

Is Concordia’s president worth his weight in gold?

If I had a million dollars…I wouldn’t be as rich as Alan Shepard will be after only three years at Concordia.

That’s what it’s like earning $357,000 a year, not including benefits. We hate to ask the obvious questions, but why does someone who makes all that money need extra money to pay for a house anyway? It’s not like Shepard would be on the street if the university didn’t give him a housing allowance.

As much as we appreciate the fact that he uprooted his life in Toronto when he accepted the position at the university, it remains unclear why anyone who works normal nine-to-five hours should be paid so much for doing, well, so little.

While Concordia’s presidential salary is, in fact, lower than both McGill’s and Université de Montréal’s, it’s still no justification. We don’t want to sound crazy here, but what if the university simply decided not to pay someone such an exorbitant amount for executing this job?

Concordia is a university with a lot of potential and it would bring us nothing but joy to see this institution flourish under Shepard’s leadership. However, this systemic problem of overpaid administrators really has gotten out of hand.

If the president needs to be flown somewhere for recruiting and schmoozing, fine. If he needs to charge a couple of working lunches now and then, that’s okay by us. If he wants to get French lessons to help his family integrate into Quebec society, be our guest. Call it a Christmas bonus.

What we really take issue with, namely because it isn’t just, is that the administration is sucking money out of students who are lucky if they can manage going to school and working part-time. All the while, the administration is complaining about how hard-up they are when they can still afford to pay such a presidential sum.

Clearly, Shepard’s salary is no big deal to the people in charge. In fact, his contract alots him $7,000 more than his predecessor Frederick Lowy, who is most remembered not for his actions, but for his condo.

Is this the leadership Shepard is referring to when he told The Gazette he gives governance at Concordia an “A+?” Probably not.

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Opinions

Editorial: We can’t wait for you forever

Last week, journalists and concerned members of the student body were asked to sit outside the Concordia Student Union’s council meeting for five hours. Five hours. Literally, outside the doors of the meeting.

This is the beauty of closed session. People attend council meetings to get informed or, Heaven forbid, inform others but they end up waiting for hours because the information being discussed is much too valuable for outside ears.

Are we the only ones getting tired of this? A person can do a lot in five hours and having to spend it wondering what on Earth is going on behind closed doors is nobody’s first choice. We understand that candidate interviews might involve private information which someone might not want broadcasted across the school, but that worst case scenario is assuming something about the student press which we don’t appreciate.

At the end of the day, journalists are not vultures circling for the kill. We are not trying to expose people for their faults, we are trying to keep them honest. Besides, if we aren’t privy to information that could prove damaging or provide a reason why someone should not be chosen for a position paid for out of students’ pockets, then you better believe we will dig for it.

As much as we’d like to assume the candidates selected to serve as Chairperson and Chief Electoral Officer of the CSU are squeaky clean and perfect for the job, we wouldn’t know either way. This, on top of the fact that in past years, students have been interviewed in open session, really pushes this over the edge.

The problem with closed session, besides it being a massive waste of our time, is that after the lengthy process has ended, the topics which people wait to discuss often get pushed to the next meeting. While being at a council meeting can be really enlightening and give a good sense of where the tensions within the CSU run high, we sometimes wonder if it wouldn’t be less frustrating, and considerably more comfortable, to watch the scene unfold from afar.

The problem? What if all the journalists gave up on the CSU completely? No live stream courtesy of CUTV and no Twitter storm brought to you by the fast-fingered journalists of the student papers. The connection between council and the student body would be all but severed. CUTV wasn’t covering this particular meeting, and we can’t blame them. After all, recording equipment doesn’t grow on trees.

These things can be tedious even during open session and it’s not a good sign when the media starts to get picked off as the hours tick by. Much to her credit, The Concordian News editor stayed for the entirety of the five hour span.

Now we’re not going anywhere and neither are our colleagues, but next time closed session drags on past the fifth hour mark, don’t expect to find a happy crowd waiting on the other side of the door.

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