SPOKEMONDAY, SEPTEMBER 28, 2015 CONESTOGA COLLEGE, KITCHENER, ONT. WWW.SPOKEONLINE.COM 46TH YEAR — NO. 15

Terry Fox Run participants run, walk and bike route. Page 9

A 35-year tradition

A L E A R N I N G N E W S R O O M F O R J O U R N A L I S M S T U D E N T S

Music brings people together once again.Page 8

Music Is My Weapon

Bus service frustrating

BY SARAH VEENSTRA

Dear Grand River Transit, Conestoga College has stu-dents too.

After an article published in the Waterloo Region Record in May shed light on the price gap between what local uni-versity students pay for tran-sit in comparison to college students, the student body of Conestoga College saw red.

The four-month Universal Pass, or the UPass, is offered to Wilfrid Laurier University and University of Waterloo students for $90, a fee which is tacked onto their tuition. Conestoga students are offered a pass for the same four-month term for $227.

Ken Ram, a first-year pub-lic relations student at the college, was comfortable with the Conestoga pass price but became outraged when he learned of the difference, which was not the only thing he was concerned with.

“I live in the Hespeler area and busing is terrible,” Ram said. “I bus an hour to and from school. That’s an hour each way, not in total. If I were to drive here, it would take 20 minutes maximum. If I have an 8 a.m. class and I miss one step, it’ll take even longer and I’ll be late. It’s ridiculous.”

Earlier this year, the Region of Waterloo announced they were working on developing plans to increase bus routes around Conestoga College, as well as offering the UPass to college students at the same rate as university students.

According to Waterloo Region Coun. Sean Strickland, in order to make this plan a reality, GRT would require 12 additional staff members, 14 new buses and 14,000 new service hours, racking up an annual bill of $6.5 million.

“If we would have approved this line item in 2014, it would have been implemented this fall,” he said. “We deferred it to the new GRT business plan that is currently underway.”

The business plan is an ongoing annual evaluation to modify or expand current routes or add additional ones

throughout the entire region based on ridership observa-tions and the yearly budget.

“There are challenges with respect to Conestoga com-pared to the universities, and the first is the geography and the lack of existing bus routes in that area.”

Isolation isn’t the only issue to be discussed at a meeting taking place later this month between Waterloo Region councillors, GRT manage-ment and Conestoga Students Inc. president Jeff Scherer.

“What happens when it becomes more affordable is rid-ership and purchases increase, significantly increase,” said John Cicuttin, manager of tran-sit development for Waterloo Region’s GRT. “That’s some-thing we learned when we offered the UPass to the uni-versity students.”

In the fall of 2014, Wilfrid Laurier University had 14,182 students with UPasses, and Waterloo had 27,099. Conestoga had 2,525 students purchase passes, a number Cicuttin expects will increase.

“We have to make sure we can accommodate the stu-dents we sell to, which means adding more lines or increas-ing staff and we have to make sure it will be worth it for the students, while still making it affordable for them and for the city,” said Cicuttin.

Scherer said, “Part of the process of having this pro-gram successful at Conestoga will be holding a referen-dum where students will be able to vote on whether they would like the program to be available or not, and if they approve the addition of the fee onto their tuition.”

In the meantime, GRT has reduced its Conestoga pass from $267 to $227 to try and increase ridership.

For now, any public and alternative transportation changes are on hold until at least 2016, while decisions, solutions and budget approv-als remain up in the air.

“We are taking the chal-lenge in providing regular and increased bus service to Conestoga College quite seri-ously,” Strickland said.

HUNDREDS ATTEND TAKE BACK THE NIGHT MARCH

PHOTO BY EMMIE SIORKY Over 500 people took part in this year’s Take Back the Night march and rally on Sept. 17 in Kitchener. For story and more photos, see Page 5.

BY JESSICA HAMMER

Students will have to deal with the renovations of Conestoga’s athletic and rec-reation centre for a while lon-ger.

Many students are tired of the various construction projects at the college, espe-cially when it affects parking around the recreation centre. Some are also feeling frus-trated because of the limited use of the recreation centre.

“I was here during the sum-mer for my program and we didn’t have the rec centre at all, and it kind of messed up our gym class so we didn’t get the same training that we should have been getting that semester,” said Calvin Meredith, a second-year police foundations student.

Kata Nemeth, a first-year

registered practical nursing student, said, “I had a class there on Thursday and didn’t know how to get there.”

Students currently pay a recreation/athletics fee of $68.15 per semester.

Matthew Maguire, man-ager of athletics and recre-ation, said the facilities that students were able to access last March are still available, including the gymnasium, fit-ness room and squash courts.

“One of the big things is that because this is such a new facility and we have so many offerings it’s really going to take us a little time to make sure that our programming best meets the needs of the stu-dents and the pricing reflects that. It’s something that will be reviewed over time.”

He added they haven’t increased fees because stu-

dents haven’t been given access to the full space yet.

“Once the full space is avail-able that’s when a fee increase will be put into effect,” Maguire said. “We want to make sure that students are not being penalized.”

The project was supposed to be completed by the begin-ning of this month. Now, completion is expected by the end of this semester.

Once the 80,000-square-foot recreation centre is finished students will have access to the new and improved fitness centre, a triple gymnasium, a health and wellness centre, a lounge area and a Pita Pit.

For construction updates visit the athletics homepage on the Conestoga website or contact the athletic and rec-reation centre at 519-748-3512.

Students upset by rec centre renovations

Page 2 s SPOKE Monday, September 28, 2015NEWS

Now deep thoughts... with Conestoga College

Random questions answered by random studentsWhat is your philosophy for living

a successful life?

“The brave may not live forever, but the cautious do not live at all.”

Mwenda Ball,first-year

public relations

“Passion and effort are fundamental to ongoing success.”

Derek Lenos,first-year

accounting

“You may not need as much as you think to be happy.”

Sarah Kuntz,third-year

accounting

“Don’t bow down to pres-sure – do what you think is right.”

Paul Kelly,second-year

public relations

“I try and simplify my life and focus on one thing at a time.”

Brian Kim, second-year

accounting

“Be positive, no matter what!”

Bitna Won,first-year

English for academic studies

Smile Conestoga, you could be our next respondent!

FILBERT CARTOONS

Vegans have few choices

PRICE OF TEXTBOOKS SKY HIGH

PHOTO BY TAYLOR SCHWEITZERAlex Cutler, a second-year civil engineering technology student, selects a textbook at the Conestoga College Bookstore on Sept. 18. For a video story on the cost of books, go to www.spokeonline.com.

BY KANDACE GALLANT

When you think of what to have for lunch, you’re proba-bly imagining a nice, big, fat, juicy burger, or perhaps just a ham and Swiss sandwich. But not everyone includes these types of meals into their diet.

For the past few years, more people have switched over to being vegetarian or vegan. Even big name celebrities and professional athletes are promoting veganism such as Venus Williams, Mike Tyson, Ellen Degeneres, Scarlett Johansson and Samual L. Jackson, just to name a few.

What’s the difference between vegetarian and vegan? Vegetarians, though they do not eat meat, still include dairy into their diet. Vegans, however, do not eat any animal byproducts.

A common question people who are vegan are asked is, “Where do you get your pro-tein from?” Any professional athlete who is vegan will tell you he gets his protein from pretty much anything. Soy products like tofu and tem-peh are packed with protein, as well as grains like qui-noa, brown rice and oatmeal and different kinds of nuts.

All these things are high in calcium and vitamins too.

But are foods like this being offered in the cafete-ria at Conestoga College for students who have different dietary needs? Are they pro-viding an equal amount of nutrition for everyone? Many students have the option of walking into the cafeteria and being able to grab a ham-burger, poutine and salad. But even those salads are not vegan friendly as many of the dressings include animal products like milk or honey. Surprisingly, even a bag of chips may include dairy prod-ucts.

The student body was asked for their opinions as well as what they thought the cafete-ria should offer.

Kyle MacDonald, a first-year student in fitness and health promotion, said veg-etarians definitely have an advantage over vegans when it comes to food in the cafete-ria. “There are things being offered like a vegetarian omelet, but vegans can’t have that.” He added it is defi-nitely a lot harder for vegans to find food but the cafete-ria shouldn’t feel obligated to offer them items, since they are in the minority.

Another student said she actually tried both diets.

“I tried being vegetarian for a couple weeks and vegan for a few days,” said Heather Caron, a first-year bachelor of business administration student. “It was hard to even find bread that was made without eggs or cheese, or buying a simple microwave meal that didn’t have chick-en in it. There would be about three options to choose from.”

When asked if the cafeteria should offer different fare for students, she said definite-ly, particularly more vegan options and maybe different salads that do not have meat in them.

As the vegetarian and vegan population grows, so are restaurants and their menus. Many are either offer-ing options for specific diets, or there are some that are just dedicated to vegan foods. Some have even received a top rating on TripAdvisor, a site that rates the top hotels, restaurants, etc., in various cities.

For local vegan restaurant options in Waterloo Region, visit www.happycow.net/north_america/canada/ontar-io/kitchener_waterloo/

BY SARA SASILA

Parking at Conestoga College is a big headache for students and they aren’t happy about it.

The parking lots have become more of a battlefield than anything else. Students aggressively driving around in hopes of finding a spot have become a problem.

“I’m usually here an hour earlier than my class starts because I worry that I won’t find a parking spot,” said Aidan Boileau, a second-year graphic design student. “It usually takes me a half-hour to find one.”

However, the school can’t actually do anything about it. There are limited spaces, which means that students aren’t guaranteed a spot.

That being said, students are always leaving the park-ing lot, so it’s just a matter of luck and how good your stalk-ing skills are.

“I usually just wait until I see someone and then I fol-low them to their car,” said Boileau. “You just have to be quick so no one else follows

them as well.”Another student said it’s

always a hassle trying to find a parking spot. “I’ve been late to almost all of my classes since I park so far away,” said Alexandra Liliana Berescu, a first-year nursing student. “There’s never any parking spots unless I’m an hour earlier than everyone else.”

In the winter, snow banks cover some of the parking spots, which makes finding one even more of a chal-lenge.

“It’s always harder in the winter,” said Ryan Borman, a second-year police foun-dations student. “Snow banks, plus the big section that’s blocked off because of construction in the blue lot, makes it nearly impossible. It’s an inconvenience leaving my house 30 minutes early just to guarantee I get a spot.”

When asked, Borman said that it usually takes him 20 minutes to find a spot. “It’s really infuriating. I almost always end up late in the end.”

Due to the construction on

the rec centre, a section in the blue lot is blocked off for safety reasons.

“It confuses me that we pay $429 when a quarter of the parking lot isn’t accessible because of construction,” said Borman. “It makes sense to reduce the price, so I don’t know why they won’t.”

For some students, finding a spot to park isn’t the only issue.

“The blue lot is too con-gested with only two exits,” said Chris Tulloch, a sec-ond-year public relations student. “The school needs to make more ways out.”

Will Jacobs, a second-year police foundations student, said the biggest problem he faces is trying to leave the blue parking lot. “Between 4 and 6 p.m., it can take upwards of 40 minutes to leave. I’m a second-year stu-dent at Conestoga and I’ve never seen an issue as bad as this.”

Jacobs said he would like to see Conestoga improve the parking experience for stu-dents.

“Conestoga should invest in some traffic lights at the first main entrance. It would help solve a great deal of the after-school parking issues,” he said. “Throwing a few security guards out in the parking lot after hours to help direct traffic would also help cut down on the wait time it takes to leave

the school parking lot every day.”

Boileau said, “I think that the school needs to make more parking lots. It would benefit the students more. We are already paying a pretty penny for tuition and parking, might as well help out by making more spots available.”

Monday, September 28, 2015 SPOKE s Page 3NEWS

Students vent about lack of parking

BY ASHLEY NEQUEST

Now that the new school year at Conestoga College is underway, Condors are hav-ing their first experiences with the much-anticipated ONE card.

Throughout the final months of the 2014-2015 school year, and the subsequent sum-mer, both students and fac-ulty received multiple emails informing them of the coming changes in college identifica-tion. Emails contained both important information as well as reminders to upload a headshot to be used as their new form of identification.

This card is drastically dif-ferent from previous student cards, not just in appearance but in functionality. The card will eventually grant students access to Conestoga Students Inc.’s Health Services (a chiropractor and massage therapist), the Athletics and Recreation Centre, the Library Resource Centre (LRC) and printing around campus, as well as discounts with off-campus vendors.

“We’ve worked hand-in-hand with CSI to make sure this is something that is meant for the students and to add benefits to their daily lives,” said Adam Hustwitt, manager – retail, campus and testing services.

The idea behind the ONE card is to connect many of the

technologies around campus to a single card. According to Hustwitt, in future this should include things beyond the LRC, such as the Welcome Centre, vending machines and potentially bus passes.

The addition of a bus pass to a universal student card is something that would have to come through CSI, though, according to Hustwitt, from an administrative perspec-tive, “it is a potential, it has happened in other areas.”

Students at Conestoga College who want to use their student card as a bus pass do not have this luxury. Each stu-dent must pay over $200 per semester to receive a sticker on their card to allow them to ride a GRT bus without paying.

Receiving a ONE card is fairly easy and time efficient. Students may upload their own photo through their stu-dent portal, or head into the

ONE card office, located in Room 2E08, to have their photo taken. Their student card will be created right in front of them. For some stu-dents who have completed the entire process it took only five minutes. Students must bring a form of government identifi-cation and proof of enrolment.

Those students who upload-ed their photos in time to pick up the new card in September were entered into a draw to win one of five iPad minis.

“The giveaway was to encourage the photo upload so we could preprint the cards,” said Andrea Stevenson, man-ager/ONE card. “We felt we could improve the card pickup experience for the students and make it faster. We felt this was a success as the lines were short and fast.”

For more information about the ONE card go to www.con-estogac.on.ca/onecard.

PHOTO BY SARA SASILAStudents arriving after 9 a.m. often have to drive around to find a spot in the orange lot.

REMEMBERING COLIN DICASTRI

PHOTO SUBMITTEDColin DiCastri, 71, a part-time faculty member in Conestoga’s School of Trade and Apprenticeship, teaching in the industrial mechanic millwright program, passed away on Sept. 15. Above, he is shown enjoying one of his favourite pastimes – fishing in the Florida Keys. For video story, go to www.spokeonline.com.

PHOTO BY ASHLEY NEQUESTAdam Hustwitt, manager – retail, campus and testing services, and Andrea Stevenson, manager/ONEcard, helped launch the card.

ONE card finally a reality

Page 4 s SPOKE Monday, September 28, 2015COMMENTARY

There’s a worrying trend developing in the world today. In the platform of social media, it spreads, growing and growing until it’s just accepted as a part of life. It causes people to make poor decisions, to limit themselves in ways that may be harmful to their mental health and to make poor decisions that impact the people around them. Entire organizations have sprung up to combat these trends.

I am, of course, writing about unsubstantiated infor-mation and, particularly, opinions which are passed on as fact. These ideas are often created based off of incomplete or fabricated information. They affect the decisions that we make every day. They have become a cul-tural norm.

Recently, I once again saw a message being passed around Facebook warning women of $100 bills stuck in the handles of their cars. The bills, as the message claims, are coated with a drug that causes people who touch them to fall unconscious where they are at the mercy

of the one who planted the bill.

A simple fact check can prove that this is noth-ing more than nonsense. Organizations like Snopes.com have sprung up as a means to combat these rumours.

At first this seems harmless and in a way it is. However, some rumours or non-factual rants have dire consequenc-es. While a Facebook post about $100 bills is harmless, a Facebook post about the supposed connection between vaccines and autism could lead to outbreaks of disease and even death.

To decide if a post has any truth to it, all you have to do is weigh the probabilities in your head.

How likely is it that a $100 bill in the handle of your car is drugged? You may say 90 per cent. Then compare it to

how many times you’ve seen $100 bills in the handles of cars. As Conestoga students, we see thousands of cars a week. I have never seen one with money in the handle, so zero per cent of cars have been targeted.

Then you compare the numbers – 90 per cent multiplied by zero per cent leaves us with zero per cent.

If you’ve seen 10 cars with money under the handle out of the last 100, it becomes 10 per cent.

The exact numbers are not important, only wheth-er they are large or small matter in most situations. Both zero and 10 are small numbers, indicating you don’t have much to worry about.

This is a simplified ver-sion of what is known as the Bayesian method, a way of interpreting evidence rationally. It is not a perfect method and, being imper-fect people, it will never be applied perfectly but it can help people to weigh infor-mation, and to sort through nonsense as a way of learn-ing.

Critical thinking in a critical time

UberX, taxis battle

BY JENNA BRAUN

Life isn’t fair. We are constantly told this as children when we are

unhappy with a situation, and to a large degree, it is true. However, what we are also taught as children is how to problem solve.

Our local taxi drivers and new UberX drivers need to do some problem solving.

On the UberX website, it states that to become a driv-er, the only necessary requirements are to be at least 21 years old, own a personal licence as well as auto insurance and to own any medium- to full-sized four-door vehicle in “excellent condition.”

The requirements to be a taxi driver are much more intricate. According to Waterloo Region’s website, a police check and driving record check must be carried out, proof of English literacy given and taxi drivers must obtain a spon-sorship from an existing company. Afterward they undergo training and must renew their taxi licence annually.

Taxi drivers in Ontario are throwing enraged tan-trums at the unfair conditions UberX has been operat-ing in. This summer, limousine owners in Toronto filed a lawsuit against UberX, wanting them prohibited from operating in the province and stating they have “creat-ed an enormous marketplace for illegal transportation.”

Recently, Waterloo Region taxi drivers purchased and placed “Your Legal Taxi” signs on their vehicles in an attempt to discourage passengers from using UberX.

The ongoing strife between these transportation driv-ers isn’t going to be solved simply by making things fair. Cities could force UberX drivers to undergo the same application process as taxi drivers. While this would be reasonable, UberX would still run taxi busi-nesses into the ground. Why? They’re simply easier to use and much more modern.

The UberX app allows users to book, track and pay for a ride with their smartphone in seconds.

It works well, and passengers love it. However, we do think these new drivers should have

to prove they are safe, knowledgeable, fully qualified drivers. It’s a bit alarming that the requirements to be an UberX driver are minimal.

In turn, taxi companies really need to refurbish them-selves if they want to keep up.

The views herein represent the position of the newspa-per, not necessarily the author.

JoshVan Ostrand Opinion

Spoke welcomes letters to the editor. Letters should be signed and include the name and telephone number of the writer. Writers will be contact-ed for verification.No unsigned letters will be published.Letters should be no longer

than 500 words.Spoke reserves the right to edit

any letter for publication.Address correspondence to: The Editor, Spoke, 299

Doon Valley Dr., Room 1C30, Kitchener, Ont., N2G 4M4

Letters are welcome

This city isn’t big enough for both of us.

SPOKEI S P U B L I S H E D A N D P R O D U C E D W E E K L Y B Y T H E J O U R N A L I S M S T U D E N T S O F C O N E S T O G A C O L L E G E

The views and opinions expressed in this newspaper do not necessarily reflect the views of Conestoga College. Spoke shall not be liable for any damages arising out of errors in advertising beyond the amount paid for the space. Letters to the editor are subject to acceptance or rejection and should be clearly written or typed; a MS Word file would be helpful. Letters must not contain any libellous statements.

Editor: Paul BorehamAssignment Editors: Leah Morrow, Garrett BurchettAdvertising Managers: Sarah Veenstra, Sara SasilaSpoke Online Editors: Kandace Gallant, Joe Weppler, Christel Allison, Matt Linseman

Production Managers: Jessica Hammer, Ashley Nequest, Ethan KompfPhoto Editors (print): Jenna Braun, Marissa Cuddy, Adam Schwartz, Brea BergenPhoto Editors (online): Emmie Siroky, Sean Malinowski, Jason Mota, Jessica Pett

Social Media Editor: Chris Hussey, Mike Stromme, Josh Van OstrandCirculation Manager: Michelle Maisonville, Taylor SchweitzerFaculty Supervisor and Adviser: Christina Jonas

Spoke’s address is 299 Doon Valley Dr., Room 1C30, Kitchener, Ontario, N2G 4M4. Phone: 519-748-5220, ext. 3691, 3692, 3693, 3694Fax: 519-748-3534Email: spoke@conestogac.on.caWebsite: www.spokeonline.com

Monday, September 28, 2015 SPOKE s Page 5NEWS

Women unite, take back the nightBY EMMIE SIROKY

“Two, four, six, eight, no more date rape!” was the call at this year’s take back the night event in Kitchener. Downtown was flooded with over 500 people for the 32nd annual Take Back the Night march and rally on Sept. 17.

The walk was held to raise awareness for women, children and transgender people who aren’t able to walk down the street at night for fear that they may be attacked.

Sara Casselman, the public relations manager at the Sexual Assault Support Centre of Waterloo Region (SASC), said this was one of their biggest years yet.

“Sexual violence has been on the radar a lot the past year,” Casselman said.

There were over 629 sexual assaults reported in Waterloo Region in 2014. This has touched the community and the local colleges and universities, and was shown by the high attendance of students from Conestoga College, the University of Waterloo and Wilfrid Laurier.

“We’re seeing a lot of increased community support and a lot of colleges engaged,” said Casselman. “It has a lot to do with the province’s sexual violence action plan. A lot is happening on campus to address this topic.”

The march itself was a women’s only event, to show that women don’t need to be escorted by a man at night, but inside city hall there was a men’s program put on by the male allies against sexual violence (MAASV).

“Violence against women is usually started by men,” said Conestoga College student Vincent Edemoni. “I feel that it’s very important for men to come out to this.”

Stephan Scoucie is the program co-ordinator for MAASV, which was launched in 2008 by SASC. The program is designed to show men that feminism isn’t just for women. MAASV does public education workshops for men and boys.

“Feminism fights for men too,” said Soucie. “If you want healthy girls you need healthy boys. You can’t do half of the equation and get the results you want.”

Whistles and hats were handed out at city hall as a way to show support for the cause. There were many safety precautions in place as well. A mobility van was driven behind walkers in case anyone needed to stop and people wearing green

arm bands were available to speak to in case the walk brought forth troubling emotions.

The walk was led by the Tri-city Roller Girls, who showed up in full uniform, roller skates and all.

As the march began, local shop owners couldn’t help but stop what they were doing and step outside for a look. Local bar goers put down their drinks to head outside and cheer on the women marching. There were also posters in the hands of ever walker. This group of passionate women had a lot to say and wouldn’t be silenced. There were screams and chants throughout the crowd as the women took their 40-minute walk up King Street and back.

At city hall there was music being played by the Tala Drumming Group and the musician Jessie Treneer. After the walk there was lots of food and refreshments as well as a photo booth set up. This year included prizes for the largest group, the best dressed and the most creative idea.

The Sexual Assault Support Centre’s services are available to anyone who needs support at all times.

PHOTOS BY EMMIE SIROKYWomen took to the streets at the annual Take Back the Night march on Sept. 17 in Kitchener.

Above, even some dogs came out to show their support for the cause.

Left, Sharita Henry, a third-year University of Waterloo environ-ment and business student, shows off the sign she made for the event.

The Sexual Assault Support Centre’s 24-hour hotline can be reached at

519-741-8633. www.sascwr.org

NEWSPage 6 s SPOKE Monday, September 28, 2015

COUNSELLING SERVICES HERE FOR YOU

PHOTO BY MATT LINSMANStudents can suffer from loneliness, depression and other troubles during the school year. However, Conestoga’s counselling department offers numerous programs and services that can help. For video story, go to www.spokeonline.com.

SECURITY SERVICES HELPS YOU STAY SAFE

PHOTO BY JOE WEPPLERConestoga security guard, Eduardo, who couldn’t give his last name due to Security Services’ policy, is shown beside an emergency response button at Conestoga College’s Doon campus on Sept. 18. For video story, go to www.spokeonline.com.

CSI FEST ATTRACTS STUDENTS

PHOTO BY MARISSA CUDDYConestoga students attended CSI Fest in the lower atrium at Conestoga College Sept. 16. For video story go to www.spokeonline.com.

GETTING DOWN TO WORK

PHOTO BY BREA BERGENStudents got right back at it, studying and doing assignments after their return to classes. Above, two students enjoy the quietness of the Atrium at the Doon campus..

Monday, September 28, 2015 SPOKE s Page 7NEWS

The wolf that fights for changeBY JASON MOTA

If you walk into Room 1A103 at Conestoga’s Doon campus, just off of the atrium, chances are high that you’ll come face to face with a wolf.

Myeengun Henry is the wise, silver-haired, culture-clad co-ordinator of Aboriginal Services, and when a person as driven as him is put in charge of making change hap-pen, change happens.

The Ojibwa native’s very name means wolf – an animal which was deemed a vicious creature when humans first encountered it, and that stigma still lingers today. He connects this to the way the damage caused by residential schools long ago continues to linger like a scar, never truly going away.

Henry was born 55 years ago in Detroit to parents who had been stripped of their cul-ture. Both his mother and his father grew up in residential schools, and had been robbed of even the ability to show the love they felt for their family.

Residential schools were institutions with a simple pur-pose; for native children to have their culture, teachings, beliefs and values plucked away and replaced with Christian ones. These institutions were infa-mous not only for their reason for existence, but also for the nearly endless list of cases of abuse, both physical and sexu-al, toward the students by the teachers. Students were even taught not to show affection to the ones they loved.

Henry’s parents moved to Detroit, away from their cul-ture altogether. He and his five siblings were sent to a “normal” school. His parents sternly discouraged their chil-dren from taking interest in their native culture.

As Henry grew up, howev-er, he began to wonder more

about his culture. He started to meet and talk to elders, and his interest only grew – much to his father’s displeasure.

Throughout his teen years, his relationship with his father became increasingly strained. As Henry’s invest-ment in Ojibwa culture grew deeper, he and his father grew further apart, until they stopped talking altogether.

“A couple years ago when my dad was passing away, it was really tough to be in a room with him,” Henry said. “I didn’t know what to say to him because our paths took such a different road.”

But his father told him it wasn’t that he didn’t want his son to be involved in their culture; in fact, he was hon-oured that Henry took the path he did. But the way he had been raised to hate his culture and the pain he had suffered because of it were things he didn’t want his chil-dren to have to face.

“He hid that his whole life,” Henry said. “So I realized how deep the wounds that residen-tial schools laid on our people were.”

Henry’s mother died of a broken heart a year and a half later. His parents loved each other deeply, but they never showed affection to each other, because the residential schools had also taught stu-dents not to show affection for their loved ones. Henry grew up without being hugged by his parents or being told that he was loved by them. This was normal to him, and he found it curious how other families were so different.

When Henry had his own family, however, he realized how much this had affected him when he found it diffi-cult to show affection to his own children. Even today, Henry said, it feels complete-

ly unnatural for him to hug his daughter.

He developed a deeper and deeper interest in helping other native people after know-ing of the pain his parents experienced. He saw people in his reserve living in poverty, he saw reserves in northern Ontario where people struggle to get clean drinking water. He saw elementary schools in reserves that are used as stepping stones for beginning teachers who rarely stay longer than a year, with children as young as eight learning tactics to scare away teachers they don’t like. Henry realized that he wanted to make people, both native and otherwise, more aware of aboriginal matters.

When he was offered the position of co-ordinator of Conestoga’s Aboriginal Services six years ago, Henry decided that this was an excellent way to work toward his dreams.

Henry’s next goal is to put together a class specifically focused on Aboriginal Studies at Conestoga, because of how little most people seem to know about the matter. And it’s important that people know, Henry said, because of how close it is to us as Canadians.

For now, Henry both orga-nizes and takes part in cer-emonies and other cultural events through the college, such as a teepee rising, where a teepee is erected on school property, and is left there for students to investigate and experience. The teepee reg-ularly stands for the entire year, withstanding the ele-ments without issue.

This year’s teepee was erect-ed on the morning of Sept. 18. Henry chanted a native prayer song as he beat a drum before the work began, ask-ing the wildlife to allow us to borrow a bit of their ter-ritory. He told everyone who

was pitching in that a hawk always shows up when the teepee is put up, and it’s a good sign when it does. Sure enough, a few minutes later, a red-tailed hawk flew over the field, circled a couple of times, and then departed as quickly as it came.

“It’s like the Earth and sky are connected,” said Jerry Cardinal, a graduate of Conestoga College, as he sat inside the completed teepee looking up through the open smoke flaps.

The teepee is sure to last for months. It can be found by the satellite dishes behind the A-wing building for anyone interested in checking it out.

So our school’s local wolf may not have razor-sharp canines or fur, and he cer-tainly doesn’t bark or growl. But his spirit is as strong as the wolf is hardy and loyal, and he fights to achieve his goals with as much strength as the wolf when it hunts.

PHOTO BY JASON MOTAMyeengun Henry, co-ordinator of Conestoga’s Aboriginal Services, sits at his desk in the Aboriginal Services office, with native culture covering the walls around him.

BY LEAH MORROW

It’s beer, bratwurst and Bavarian culture time as Kitchener-Waterloo gets ready to celebrate its 47th annual Oktoberfest. The official opening ceremonies will be held Oct. 9 at 11:15 a.m. outside Kitchener Civic Square. The event will be hosted by none other than Onkel Hans, Miss Oktoberfest and the newly inaugurated president of K-W Oktoberfest Inc., Alfred Lorwick.

Oktoberfest embodies and cel-ebrates Kitchener-Waterloo’s German roots and the spirit of gemutlichkeit, which means warmth, friendship and good cheer. The festival attracts approximately 700,000 people

each year, is home to 19 fest-hallen venues and features 50 different events to attend.

According to Dave MacNeil, executive director of K-W Oktoberfest Inc., ticket sales have been brisk this year, with 1,000 more sold than at this time last year. MacNeil urges students to get their tickets soon. “Don’t sit back, go out and get a ticket,” said MacNeil. “Especially if you have a favourite event or fest hall that you want to attend.”

The Concordia Club’s ticket sales have also been through the roof this year.

“All weekend nights are sold out,” said Ruth Rajna, general manager of the Concordia Club.

“They have been since May.”Tickets range from $13.27

for a one-night pass at Cambridge’s Bavaria Haus to $99 for the Bingemans Wunderbar Pass, which guar-antees admittance to any night that the Kool Haus is open.

Oktoberfest will also have many exciting events going on downtown. One is the Rogers Hometown Hockey Tour, which is kicking off its second year as a part of Oktoberfest from Oct. 9-11. The three-day festival offers free outdoor hockey activities for all ages, and ends on Sunday, Oct. 11 with an outdoor viewing party of an NHL game hosted live by CBC’s Ron MacLean.

The OktoberFEAST Food Truck Event will take place from Oct. 9-11 featuring some of the region’s favourite food truck vendors. If that doesn’t satisfy the taste buds there are 29 restaurants participat-ing in Oktoberlicious, the fes-tival’s newest addition to the Taste of Oktoberfest series.

“Restaurants will be cre-ating different spins on Bavarian food,” said MacNeil. “We encouraged them to cre-ate at least one specifically Oktoberfest-themed item.”

There are many things to do and see at Oktoberfest. These include the 5k Fun Run that raises money for Big Brothers Big Sisters of Waterloo

Region, the Tour de Hans that offers a 100k or a 50k route, and, of course, the Oktoberfest Thanksgiving Day Parade.

This year the parade will follow a newly revised route, beginning in downtown Kitchener at the intersection of King and Cedar streets on Monday, Oct. 12 at 8:45 a.m.

The official keg tapping will take place Friday, Oct. 16 at 11:30 a.m. outside of Kitchener Civic Square. There will be free transit both weekends of the festival to make sure everyone has a safe and fun time.

“We urge people to take the bus on us,” said MacNeil.

For more information go to www.oktoberfest.ca

It’s keg-tapping time in the region

Page 8 s SPOKE Monday, September 28, 2015ENTERTAINMENT

Music Is My Weapon

BY CHRIS HUSSEY

It was a warm Friday night in downtown Kitchener, and a battle was being fought. But these soldiers used a weapon that might just be more powerful than any gun could ever be.

That weapon was music. The community-based ini-tiative Music Is My Weapon held its first annual unplugged concert series at the Registry Theatre in Kitchener. It provides access to music programs for low-income youth, and the con-cert featured performances from a number of different artists, including three local youth who took part in the Music Is My Weapon men-torship program.

This program, held at Ideas Exchange, gave these youth the chance to develop skills in a variety of areas, including song writing. These youth performers had the chance to each perform original songs they had written at the concert.

Sam Soga, 21, was one of the performers, and he was happy with the way they per-formed.

“As a performer, you always go to these things nervous,” he said. “But that felt really good.”

Tristan Hopkins, 16, played alongside Soga during the concert, and he praised the event for raising awareness.

“When there’s (an event) like this, there’s more out-reach, more connections being made,” Hopkins said. “And that’s what is really important at this point in the game.”

Along with the youth musi-cians, one of the more rec-ognizable performers was genre-defying vocalist Joni NehRita, who earned the love of the crowd early on with her show. She cycled through a variety of differ-ent styles throughout her set, at one point even play-ing reggae.

The third performance came from Rufus John, more commonly referred to on stage as simply, “Rufus.”

His performance also earned the crowd’s affection, but his contributions went far beyond just the stage.

In fact, Music Is My Weapon was founded by John, a child and youth worker by day and an R&B singer-songwriter by night. A few years ago, he was trying to think of a way to combine these interests and help youth. He started a music program where kids came in, wrote songs, and

then were given the means to turn those songs into pro-fessional recordings. After a couple of years doing this, he founded Music Is My Weapon.

The name has a personal meaning for John as well. He found that music was the weapon he was able to use as his voice and he wanted to be able to do the same for other people. More specifically, he wanted to give a voice to the youth and to put them under the umbrella of Music Is My Weapon. “I want to show the people where their money is going and how that is impacting the youth,” he said. “Hopefully that will resonate with them a lot more than, ‘I donated but I have no idea where my money went.’”

Many people took time to give credit to John for his work in this endeavour.

During the final stages of her performance, NehRita made an effort to describe how thankful she was to be able to be a part of some-thing like Music Is My Weapon. As her band con-tinued to play behind her, she acknowledged Rufus and what he had done.

Soga also took time to thank John, particularly for the mentoring he received from him.

“It’s good to know that someone believes in the tal-ent of the youth,” said Soga. “… so we really appreciate him for that.”

After the concert, Hopkins kept it short and sweet.

“Rock on!” he said with a wide grin.

PHOTOS BY CHRIS HUSSEYTristan Hopkins, Christine Advokat and Sam Sago perform an original song during the Music Is My Weapon: Unplugged Concert Series in Kitchener on Sept. 18.

Rena John and Giovanni John show off some merchandise that was for sale at the event. Conestoga student Wesley Butler was the event’s communications co-ordinator.

Event raises money for low-income youth

Monday, September 28, 2015 SPOKE s Page 9NEWS

Terry Fox Run another successBY ETHAN KOMPF

Bicycles, rollerblades, wheelchairs and feet were just some of the forms of transportation at this year’s sixth annual Terry Fox Run on Sept. 20 in Kitchener. There were approximate-ly 152 participants and the run raised about $14,460 for cancer research, accord-ing to Margaret Dickson, the marketing manager for Sportsworld and the lead organizer of the Kitchener event.

Participants of the run met in a parking lot at the corner of King Street and Sportsworld Drive on the warm, sunny morning. The event began with registra-tion and opening ceremonies. Dickson spoke about Terry Fox and his influence, before handing the mike off to Doug Ertel, a cancer survivor and run participant. Ertel was diagnosed with bone cancer in 2011. After surgery, which replaced the bones in his right leg from his hip to his knee, Ertel has been cancer free for a year. According to him, his optimism and willpower was what got him through the ordeal.

“The doctor said, ‘hopeful-ly you get out of this walk-ing with a cane,’” Ertel said in his speech. “‘Doc, I don’t think that’s good enough because I’ve jogged horses for 30 years,’ I told him. ‘Within a year I’ll be back jogging horses.’ He looked at me and

didn’t say nothing.” Within the year Ertel was jogging his horses again and despite the limp he walks with now, he managed to walk four kilome-tres at the event.

After Ertel, Kitchener Mayor Berry Vrbanovic addressed the crowd.

“Terry Fox came through this community in my Grade 9 year,” said Vrbanovic. “We were talking about mythologi-cal heroes in English class at the time ... and my hero proj-ect was actually about Terry Fox.”

After the speeches there was a group warm-up and the run began. Police officers helped the long procession of participants cross busy King Street, while Dave FM, which was on scene, fittingly played Run Terry Run by Ray Keating. Most events like this require paid duty officers, but because it was the 35th anni-versary of the Canada-wide event, the police volunteered their time, so the money they would have been paid could go toward cancer research.

The route began at the cor-ner of King Street and Pioneer Tower Road and continued down to the beginning of the Grand River Trail and back for a total of five kilometres. The make or break moment was at the steep hill beside the Waterloo Pioneers Memorial Tower. It was at the 2.5-kilo-metre mark and though it was easy to run down, it was a trek to get back up. Bravery won through though, with

even participants in wheel-chairs braving the climb.

At the end of the run partici-pants were met with cheers, congratulations, snacks and certificates showing they had completed the challenge. Many teams showed up, often wearing matching costumes.

One was Team Run for Fun, which was aptly named, as Stephen McGibney, a member of the team, said, “because we ain’t professionals.”

Run for Fun consisted of seven members of the McGibney and Giangualano families, as well as Shandra

Thompson. Each had felt the effects of cancer, either personally or through a fam-ily member. Their passion helped them to raise $800 for the cause. In total, the Terry Fox Foundation has raised over $700 million for cancer research in its 35 years.

PHOTO BY CHRISTEL ALLISONThe run was held on Sept. 20, beginning at Sportsworld Crossing. Approximately 152 participants raised about $14,460. For video story, go to www.spokeonline.com.

PHOTO BY ETHAN KOMPFTeam Run For Fun consisted of, from left to right, Desmond Giangualano, Stephen McGibney, Amy McGibney, Shandra Thompson, Phoenix Giangualano, Jayne McGibney and Nicole Giangualano.

PHOTO BY ETHAN KOMPFEvent organizer Margaret Dickson and Kitchener Mayor Berry Vrbanovic stand at the start line of the sixth annual Terry Fox Run in Kitchener. The event in Canada is in its 35th year.

Page 10 SPOKE Monday, September 28, 2015

BY SEAN MALINOWSKI

The hustle and bustle of school can lead to some tough mileage on the body. Students jet around campus, making every step count as they race to their classes or group meet-ings, or spend a lot of time on their feet as they wait in the Timmy’s line. This busy time of year can lead to stu-dents and faculty not focus-ing on their well-being, which includes their feet. Improper footwear can damage impor-tant muscles and tissues over time. The solution is a custom orthotic. They aren’t just for seniors, and they don’t have to be stuck in a bulky, unfash-ionable clog.

A custom orthotic is a device that is designed from your foot shape. It’s inserted into your shoe to stabilize your foot to help prevent areas being over-stressed. This helps relieve numerous aches and pains found not only in the foot but the ankle, knee, hip and lower back. Orthotics can be made for various footwear types and sizes – from sneakers to heels, to even hiking shoes. Custom-made orthotics are made from a broad selection of materials. This helps with unique needs, such as an individual needing his orthotic to be waterproof for white water rafting, or if someone needed extra sup-port to aid her arthritis.

Bob Cromwell, a Conestoga teacher and alumni, along with his wife Jane Cromwell,

operate an orthotics busi-ness called Foot by Foot in Kitchener. Bob, an account-ing graduate, focuses on sale strategies, while Jane, a Canadian certified pedorthist, deals with the patients. Every patient is assessed, then Jane decides where the issues lie.

“Sometimes they just have crappy shoes,” Jane said. “The orthotic is only as good as the shoe it’s in. It’s the whole package.”

For individuals who are assessed with alignment issues, or are experiencing unbearable pain, Jane begins the process of making the 3D mould of the orthotic. A patient will place each foot in a foam box, which forges a blueprint of the foot. Each custom orthotic is unique, made specifically for that patient’s personal needs, as well as shoe size. The average lifetime for a custom orthotic is two to four years.

Ryan McEwen, a first-year student in the software engi-neering and technology pro-gram at Conestoga, said orthot-ics are beneficial for those who deal with foot issues.

“If you’re suffering from foot pain it can definitely be a help. I know it helps a lot of parts of your body as well.”

There are a few common injuries and issues people deal with. The most common issue which can be rehabil-itated by orthotics is plan-tar fasciitis, a fancy name for heel pain developed from

inflammation of the tissue that runs on the bottom of the foot. The pain is most intense with the first steps of the day. Metatarsalgia is a fancy word for pain located in the forefoot that can lead to a fallen transverse arch or a dysfunctional big toe. It can give you the sensation of stepping on a wrinkle in your sock. Orthotics can also help with bunions, shin splints and callouses, as well as pain related to health conditions

like arthritis or diabetes.Jane is aware that most

of her customers are deal-ing with issues already, and aren’t purchasing specifically for personal well-being.

“In the past, you only went to the dentist if you had a cav-ity,” Jane said. “But now, peo-ple are becoming more aware of health care and how to look after themselves.”

Foot by Foot has several clinics including in Waterloo, Cambridge and Guelph.

There is also a new Kitchener clinic located at 690 Belmont Ave. For more information on their business, go to www.footbyfoot.ca.

Bob Cromwell, a 1979 graduate, credits Conestoga College for his life successes and opportunities.

“I had always wanted to come back to the halls I walked at Conestoga as a stu-dent,” Bob said. “It has pre-pared us well for my wife and I to open our own business.”

Monday, September 28, 2015 SPOKE s Page 11NEWS

Orthotics help relieve aches and pains

PHOTO BY SEAN MALINOWSKIJane Cromwell demonstrates how she makes a mould of a foot prior to making a custom orthotic.

PHOTO BY JESSICA PETTFirst-year software engineering technology student Nicholas Luong studies in the temporary library. For a video story on the library renovations, go to www.spokeonline.com.

LIBRARY OPEN DESPITE RENOVATIONS

Page 12 s SPOKE Monday, September 28, 2015FUN & GAMES

AriesMarch 21 -

April 19

AquariusJanuary 20 - February 18

TaurusApril 20 - May 20

LibraSeptember 23 -

October 22

GeminiMay 21 - June 21

ScorpioOctober 23 - November 21

CapricornDecember 22 -

January 19

SagittariusNovember 22 - December 21

CancerJune 22 - July 22

LeoJuly 23 -

August 22

VirgoAugust 23 -

September 22

PiscesFebruary 19 -

March 20

Don’t forget about your family. They need to know how you’re feeling. Be hon-est. They will appreciate that. You’ll become closer.

Friends will come to you with their problems. Share your thoughts instead of trying to solve them. You’ll see how well this approach works.

Get yourself off the couch and step outside – you’re getting too lazy. Take a walk on a local trail and the setting will inspire you to do great things.

Believe in yourself and don’t let others bring you down. You know where your heart lies. Follow it to the end of the rainbow.

Start moving on an idea that has been brewing in your mind for months. Now is the time to act.

An important opportunity will present itself this week. Go for it. You will lead many on a fantastic journey.

Take a new acquaintance out for a coffee or movie. A long-lasting friendship will develop and become fruitful.

Go forth and make all these things happen. It is written in the stars.

Horoscope Week of Sept. 28, 2015

You will meet a like mind this week. Embrace them with all you’ve got, and don’t let go.

Hold your tongue on an important matter dominat-ing the week. Listen to oth-ers for a change, and see where it leads.

Take in all the information you can and get ready for a massive undertaking. You will need energy and focus.

Initiate or join a group and use your skills and ideas to make a difference. You will be rewarded for your efforts.

Find a secret place in your new surroundings to relax and rejuvenate. A time out will mean the difference between success and failure.

Useless FactsOh Cliff!

Sudoku Puzzle

Word Search

Fill in the grid with digits in such a manner that every row, every column and every 3x3 box accommo-dates the digits 1-9, with-out repeating any.

Americans are responsible for about one-fifth of the world’s garbage annually.

Banging your head against a wall uses 150 calories an hour.

In Utah, it is illegal to swear in front of a dead person.

It’s estimated that at any one time around 0.7 per cent of the world’s population is drunk.

If you yelled for eight years, seven months and six days, you would have produced enough sound energy to heat one cup of coffee.

Monday, September 28, 2015 SPOKE Page 13

Page 14 SPOKE Monday, September 28, 2015

Monday, September 28, 2015 SPOKE s Page 15STUDENT LIFE

Conestoga Students Inc. held a welcome back BBQ Bonanza at the Doon, Guelph, Waterloo and Cambridge campuses. At the Doon campus it featured a beer garden, inflatable games, a dunk tank and vendors.Clockwise from right, Brett Rideout, a first-year software engineering technology stu-dent, and Emily Langeveld, a design foundation student, try out the inflatable trampoline; Texas King, an alternative rock and soul band from London, Ont., entertains students; an inflatable waving arm wel-comes the crowd; CSI president Jeff Scherer talks to Oliveah Friesen, a second-year bachelor of public relations student and CSI staff member, after being dunked; and a long line of stu-dents, waiting for a free hotdog or hamburger, snakes around the yard.

PHOTOS BY MATTHEW BENTLEY

CSI’s BBQ Bonanza draws a crowd

Page 16 SPOKE Monday, September 28, 2015SPORTS

BY ADAM SCHWARTZ

Although opening no time soon, the City of Cambridge and Conestoga Sportsplex project is underway.

The $56-million project is set to break ground sometime in 2016, but the project won’t be completed until around 2018. The facility will be 150,000 square feet on 12 hect-ares of land leased from Conestoga College for the next 50 years. The project, which will be built on the Cambridge campus, is being initiated with longevity in mind and will have two ice rinks, a swimming pool and a walking track once completed.

“We have a few goals in this that are being negoti-ated,” said Mike Dinning, Conestoga’s vice-president of student affairs. “One clearly is access for our communi-ty into the facility. We don’t want something there that the college isn’t engaged in.”

The facility could provide

ample opportunities for the students of Conestoga College, like internships and chances for hands-on learning. These, however, are still up in the air and are being negotiated between the college and the City of Cambridge.

One opportunity would be a living lab where students could get placements as a part of this project, Dinning said. “Conestoga has architecture students, maybe they could have a hand in the design or in the planning. It’s opportunities like that which could be ben-eficial for us and the students.”

The location is key for the City of Cambridge.

“Being by the 401 is fantastic, it’s what sometimes I like to call the main street of Ontario,” said Cambridge Coun. Frank Monteiro. “Cambridge is in a location where you’re only an hour drive from about six mil-lion people.”

Some other locations were looked at, including on Hespeler Road, but it was found that the parcel of land there was contaminated and a good part of the project’s budget would have gone into cleaning it up.

BY MIKE STROMME

What makes intramural sports great?

Conestoga students looking to make new friends and stay in shape, all while balanc-ing their course load, should look into playing intramural sports.

Starting today, Conestoga College will offer co-ed intra-mural volleyball, squash, flag football, dodgeball, indoor soccer, ball hockey and ice hockey. All intramural sports leagues, with the exception of ice hockey, will be played on campus. Intramural ice hockey will be hosted at the Activa Sportsplex, located at 135 Lennox Lewis Way, Kitchener. Ice hockey will begin on Oct. 7.

Intramural sports have always been a staple to the active campus experience. It may come across as cliche, but the spirit of intramural sports is all about having fun. Winning trophies, receiving accolades or on-court glory isn’t why most students sign up. According to first-year design foundations student Jessica Cook, a successful year for her volleyball team isn’t solely tied to a championship.

“Making new friends and having a good year, winning or losing … I think if you have a good team, you’ll have a good season. Win or lose, it’s all about having fun as a team,” said Cook.

For those who have a heavy course load and are busy with other prior commitments, intramural sports are an ideal way to stay in shape. With each sport scheduled once a week, students can maintain balance in their lives while keeping up with their busy schedules.

“It’s really great for those of us that have rather busy lives,” Cook said. “I was going to try out for varsity, but with my program workload and working (a part-time job) on top of everything, varsity was not an option. With intramu-ral sports, I can still be active and play the sports I love, but on my own time and when I’m available.”

The main reason why people come out to play intramural sports is to run around and play sports in a relaxed envi-ronment. These sentiments were echoed by first-year international business man-agement student Ben Ratz, who plans on playing both

dodgeball and ball hockey this fall.

“(Intramural sports) are fun and interactive. You can get fit while playing, you can meet new friends,” said Ratz.

Part of the fun that comes with participating in intramu-rals is coming up with a fun, catchy team name. Names such as “The Brolympians” or “The Beta Blockers” have provided inside jokes among teammates in seasons past.

According to Ratz, a good team name should consist of something that people will remember.

“It (should be) catchy, every-one knows it. Something that’s fun.”

Cook, on the other hand, believes that good team names incorporate everyone on the team in some way.

“It’s got to be something that incorporates everyone on the team, not just one person. So, it wouldn’t be something like ‘Ben and the squad.’”

Volleyball games will be played on Monday nights, squash and flag football games will be held on Tuesdays, dodgeball and indoor soccer on Wednesdays and ball hock-ey take place on Thursdays.

Intramural sports a blast Sportsplex coming to Conestoga

Dinning