The Concordian

Teachers unfazed by Di Grappa's warnings

Tue, 08 Apr 2008 04:00:00 GMT

Concordia's announcement last week that the university's deficit is skyrocketing is raising complaints and disbelief from its part-time faculty union.
According to interim president Michael DiGrappa, Concordia's deficit has risen by almost 50 per cent - from $7 to $10 million - since the budget set down at the January Board of Governors meeting.

'Sign here' for sustainability

Tue, 08 Apr 2008 04:00:00 GMT

Quebec will match student funds to set up sustainable campuses across the province, announced Quebec's Environment Minister Line Beauchamp before a crowd of students and environmentalists at the Biosphere on April 3.
The provincial government will contribute $250,000, matching sustainability funds already in place at Concordia, McGill and HEC universities.

Student leaders spell out Concordia's woes

Tue, 08 Apr 2008 04:00:00 GMT

With recent teachers' strikes, rising fees and budget deficits, outgoing CSU President Angelica Novoa and VP Communications Noah Stewart consider the current state of affairs at Concordia.

The debt and deficit
It is no secret at Concordia that the university owes over $400 million in bond debts.

Kohail indicted by the Saudi media

Tue, 08 Apr 2008 04:00:00 GMT

It is no secret to anyone who has read or heard anything about the case of Mohamed Kohail and Mehanna Sa'd can safely say that they have been dealt an unfair hand in Saudi Arabia.
After the story broke several months ago, the international outrage that followed is nothing new in the long line of incidents similar to this one, where punishments have been dealt unfairly in comparison to the cases.

The No Nonsense Stance on Science (N2S3)

Tue, 08 Apr 2008 04:00:00 GMT

Another month, another study on the risks associated with using cell phones. It seems the prospect of brain damage from using the ubiquitous communication device is a myth that won't die off.
This time, independent neurosurgeon Dr. Vini Khurana announced that portable devices could claim more lives than asbestos and smoking.

Canadian universities abandoning the CFS

Tue, 08 Apr 2008 04:00:00 GMT

Cracks are starting to show in Canada's largest national students' group. In the past month, three student unions from all across the country have held successful referendums to abandon the Canadian Federation of Students (CFS) - a multi-million dollar student lobbying organization.

"The Tibet Problem"

Tue, 08 Apr 2008 04:00:00 GMT

In the days immediately following the Lhasa riots, an engineering student in the Northeastern Chinese city of Harbin spoke forcefully on the issue. "The problem in Tibet is something that [is] impossible for foreigners to understand. This is because it is so closely tied to our many thousands of years of Chinese history and culture.

News briefs

Tue, 08 Apr 2008 04:00:00 GMT

Sports complex gets green light

The Cote-des-Neiges-Notre-Dame-de-Grace council adopted the resolution allowing Concordia's plans for the new sports complex on Loyola campus.
The resolution authorizes the demolition of certain existing buildings and an expansion of the current athletics complex on the southeast part of the campus.

Ignatieff : "Canadians have a responsibility to act"

Tue, 08 Apr 2008 04:00:00 GMT

Michael Ignatieff, deputy leader of the Liberal Party and one-time front-runner for its leadership, called for a re-emphasis on human rights and Canadian identity at a lecture Friday evening at Concordia.
"Canada is in the world and the world is in Canada," stated the Etobicoke-Lakeshore MP, expressing his belief in Canadian multiculturalism and the special insight it confers upon Canadians.

Natural doesn't necessarily mean safe

Tue, 08 Apr 2008 04:00:00 GMT

Natural health products could pose serious health risks to students taking them in order to stay awake during exam period.
Natural health products are more accessible than ever - they can even be found in dépanneurs - but just because something is natural doesn't mean it's safe.

GRIP anti-Drug campaign stirs up controversy

Tue, 08 Apr 2008 04:00:00 GMT

A new ad campaign warning about the dangers of drugs is raising concern that it may actually entice people to use them.
The campaign was launched in March by Montreal non-profit Psychosocial Research and Intervention Group (GRIP) and is aimed at educating people about recreational drugs such as speed, ecstasy, cocaine, ketamine and GHB.

Whats Up Concordia

Tue, 08 Apr 2008 04:00:00 GMT

April 8

-COMSGuild BBQ and Volks Wagon Test Drive
Free burgers, chips and soft drinks with Volkswagon representatives. 11:30 a.m. - 5 p.m. CJ Terasse.

April 9

-JAZZ CHOIR. Students directed by Jeri Brown, jazz repertoire. 8 p.m. - 10 p.m. Oscar Peterson Concert Hall.

David Suzuki: Up close and swearing

Tue, 08 Apr 2008 04:00:00 GMT

Over his 30-year career, David Suzuki has gone from geneticist to human rights activist to passionate environmentalist. At 72 years of age, Suzuki is still pushing the envelope, trying to educate the public about science and mobilize youth to demand justice from his generation - a generation that failed to address the environmental crises now threatening their children's planet.

Even fashionistas can O.D. on Canadian Fashion Weeks

Tue, 08 Apr 2008 04:00:00 GMT

My head starts to swim as I near the end of my second drink. I'm at my first magazine launch party, and it's nothing if not a learning experience.
The last two weeks have been a learning experience, as I've shamelessly used my status as a student journalist to steep myself in the fashion world, spending a week in Toronto covering L'Oréal Fashion Week, hitting the shows in Montreal, and rounding off my in-depth fashion experience with Zink magazine's launch party.

After the tears and the laughter

Tue, 08 Apr 2008 04:00:00 GMT

Plan B: Chapter 5

Tue, 08 Apr 2008 04:00:00 GMT

My date opens the door and I get into the limo.
Drunkenly, I muse to myself, "I didn't know you could just get into a limo like this."
A second later I hear someone yell, "Get the fuck out of the car!"
I guess you can't.
I jump with surprise and scurry out, standing up so suddenly that I bump my head against the doorframe.

Plan B: Chapter 6

Tue, 08 Apr 2008 04:00:00 GMT

I'm sitting at a cafe waiting for my blind date, a man who may or may not have a penis.
Steve, my trans friend, set me up with François. I didn't ask Steve if François had a penis, because I was afraid of being politically incorrect. Not all of Steve's friends are trans - I'm not, for example, but many of them are.

Forme gets emotional

Tue, 08 Apr 2008 04:00:00 GMT

Montreal musicians Forme are best enjoyed live, especially when you're in the mood for something loud, intricate and melodic, all at once.
Self-described as a "progressive experimental fusion," the notion of synthesis is particularly fitting to their sound - a song can range anywhere from hushed acoustic strumming to heavy crunching riffs, often with lengthy solos or delicate finger-picking stuck somewhere in between.

The Reign - Keep it Regal

Tue, 08 Apr 2008 04:00:00 GMT

Last edition of this school year, last column; therefore this should be a good one, I'll try my best but I'm not making any promises.
I'm convinced that Weezy has lost his mind. My guess is either to martians or to that lean-the horrible trend from the south of drinking cough syrup.

Cadence Weapon

Tue, 08 Apr 2008 04:00:00 GMT

Just when I thought I couldn't take Montreal's vicious 2007/2008 winter anymore, I called Rollie Pemberton, better know as Cadence Weapon, at home in Edmonton. The 22-year-old DJ/rapper/producer said it was cold and windy, and I imagined frosty arctic air whistling through Edmonton's downtown streets - making me glad I was in la belle province.

A tribute to the bands we lost this year

Tue, 08 Apr 2008 04:00:00 GMT

"Gone but not forgotten," is what we always find ourselves saying when giving our condolences to a friend or family member loses a loved one.
When I called my mom in Toronto on Feb. 19 to tell her one of my favourite bands from my teenage years had broken up, she said, "That's too bad honey, but there are lots of other good bands out there.

Bonjour Brumaire says 'Hello English fans'

Tue, 08 Apr 2008 04:00:00 GMT

It's a fact; French people listen to English music.
I have always listened to the French rap group TTC for the obvious reason that they rule life. But I have always wondered how much French music the English people outside of Quebec actually listen to.
French Montreal-based band Bonjour Bumaire got back from Canadian Music Week (CMW) a few weeks ago and lead singer Youri Zaragoza was able to shine some light on what it's like for a French band to make it in the English-speaking industry outside of our province.

Summer Show Off

Tue, 08 Apr 2008 04:00:00 GMT

"It's a pity if someone . . . has to console himself for the wreck of his days with the notion that somehow his voice, his work embodies the deepest, most obscure, freshest, rawest oyster of reality in the unfathomable refrigerator of the heart's ocean,
but I am such a one, and there you have it.

Juno Interviews and Pictures coming soon!

Tue, 08 Apr 2008 04:00:00 GMT

Pumpkinseed fish and other curiosities

Tue, 08 Apr 2008 04:00:00 GMT

Gleaming white fish mounted on dark wood panels protrude from the wall. Scattered among them are other whimsical objects, such as a silver deer head and a chair-like sculpture. A white tag informs the viewer that pumpkinseed fish "have an excellent flavor and are low in fat and high in protein.

¡Cuba Si!

Tue, 08 Apr 2008 04:00:00 GMT

For those who enjoyed the ¡Cuba! art and history exhibition at the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts, here's something else to tickle your fancy and bring you back to the rich and vibrant culture of Cuba after exams are over: Eduardo Muñoz Bachs' collection of Cuban cinema posters.

McCord museum hosts Historic Cities

Tue, 08 Apr 2008 04:00:00 GMT

In a world where modernity pushes forth our collective systems at stifling speeds, art exists as rare moments of reflection, commenting on where we are, where we came from and where we are headed.
The Muslim world has a rich cultural and artistic history and a somewhat turbulent present.

Bookin' it across the land

Tue, 08 Apr 2008 04:00:00 GMT

The Montreal Blue Metropolis Festival will celebrate its 10th anniversary by celebrating readers and writers who find inspiration on the road. The festival takes place from April 30 to May 4, and this year, it focuses on the journeys that writers must take, literally and imaginatively in order to produce their work.

Summer Show Off

Tue, 08 Apr 2008 04:00:00 GMT

"Art is coming face to face with yourself."
- Jackson Pollock

Literature
� 10th Blue Metropolis Montreal International Literary Festival - April 30 - May 4 @ Delta Hotel (777 University)

Performing Arts
� The Mystery of Maddy Heisler by Daniel Lillford - March 25 - April 20 @ Centaur Theatre (453 St.

Summer with CUTV

Tue, 08 Apr 2008 04:00:00 GMT

You might be going away on vacation this summer, but Concordia University Television (CUTV) is sticking around to give at-risk Montreal high school students an opportunity to learn about television and movie producing.
CUTV's Summer Video Bootcamp is a two-week intensive interactive training session on digital video.

The Mystery of Maddy Heisler

Tue, 08 Apr 2008 04:00:00 GMT

Expect spies, ghosts, and romance in Roy Surette's directorial debut, The Mystery of Maddy Heisler.
The play is set during the Second World War in Nova Scotia, where Jacob Meisner is a washed-up writer trying to come up with the perfect story. Meisner is haunted by the memory of his youth until he becomes romantically involved with an enigmatic older woman, Maddy Heisler.

Surfacing from obscurity

Tue, 08 Apr 2008 04:00:00 GMT

The second floor of the National Film Board of Canada swarms with excited viewers preparing for the premiere of Surfacing, a film that fuses the creative and technical expertise of its director with the artistic vision of its choreographer.
This short film has no spoken script, yet the combination of dance and music translates into an interactive relationship on screen.

200 metres to Beijing

Tue, 08 Apr 2008 04:00:00 GMT

While his teammates at the Pointe-Claire swimming club anxiously looked on the slow start, head coach Peter Carpenter wasn't worried. He knew what was going to happen; it was only a question of when.
When Tobias Oriwol leaped from the starting line last Saturday at the CN swimming trials at Olympic Stadium, he knew he wasn't going to lead from the beginning.

Theriault, Buckley take home top awards

Tue, 08 Apr 2008 04:00:00 GMT

Damian Buckley stepped up to the podium ready to thank people when accepting the Dr. Robert J. Broderick Award for outstanding male athlete at the Concordia University Athletics Awards Banquet ("Buzzies"). He eventually thanked his brother Dwayne who had a season-ending injury in the first game.

Habs Report

Tue, 08 Apr 2008 04:00:00 GMT

Cheers to the Habs for winning the Eastern Conference. Last Tuesday's win against Ottawa gave Montreal its first division title since the 1991-1992 season, and their first 100-plus point season since the last time they took home the Stanley Cup in '93.
The game was music to every fans' ears.

By the Book

Tue, 08 Apr 2008 04:00:00 GMT

Two years ago, when I attended my first "Buzzies", I took the time to sit next to Les Lawton. I didn't know very many people, and had just finished my first full season covering Lawton's women's hockey team.
Lawton threw out that he would nominate me for a Director's Shield award for contribution to the department of Recreation and Athletics.

- summer sports action -

Tue, 08 Apr 2008 04:00:00 GMT

Get out there
and catch:

Montreal Impact
The Impact play their first home game on May 19 against the Vancouver Whitecaps. Season tickets ranging from $150 to $425 are still available in the pitch sections at the Impact's brand-new Saputo Stadium in Olympic Park.

Harper's false promises

Tue, 08 Apr 2008 04:00:00 GMT

Don't even bother with the West's economic expansion; it seems that no matter what happens in Canada, it's always all about Quebec. And that's the way it should be, because we're the only province that knows how to complain, threaten and negotiate correctly.

The Great Game

Tue, 08 Apr 2008 04:00:00 GMT

It's election season in America, and pundits everywhere are busy predicting what the future will look like without George W. Bush. While Democrats are salivating for a return to the relative peace of the Clinton administration, Republicans pray for the resurrection Ronald Reagan's commie bashing glory days.

Ms. Demeanor

Tue, 08 Apr 2008 04:00:00 GMT

What is it about entering and/or exiting an enclosed space that seems to boggle the minds of Montrealers?
How many times have you gotten manhandled trying to work your way out of a bus or a metro, when you were merely trying to get off at your stop?
How about when you see a feeble old woman getting knocked over by a massive influx of people rushing into the metro when all she wants to do is get the heck out?
How many times have you been that patient person waiting by the metro's door to kindly let the people already in the metro exit before you fight your way to a seat, only to find you're getting royally screwed by those impatient imbeciles who work their way against the crowd to get in before everyone has had the chance to exit? It friggin sucks, right?
Who gives a shit if that poor lil ole' lady gets trampled in the process? She ain't my grandma.

ROC loves our "intolerance"

Tue, 08 Apr 2008 04:00:00 GMT

Quebec has been getting it bad lately. With the whole reasonable accommodation debate, the rest of Canada (ROC) now thinks French Quebecers are a bunch of intolerant complainers who don't understand the glory that is multicultural Canada.
Just recently, a Léger poll showed that Quebecers were "not as open as the rest of Canada.

Facebook is the least of our worries

Tue, 08 Apr 2008 04:00:00 GMT

Have you read Facebook's privacy policy? Neither had I until I came across a YouTube video entitled, Does what happen in the Facebook stay in the Facebook?
The video was posted on the profile of a friend who was about to take a stand and do the unthinkable for most university students, deactivate.

Stoking the fires of Islamophobia

Tue, 08 Apr 2008 04:00:00 GMT

If there is such a thing as certainty in this world, it is that Geert Wilders will not be chosen as Time's "Person of the Year." The infamous Dutch politician and Party for Freedom leader released a documentary titled Fitna, meaning, "disagreement and division among people," on the Internet last week.

Turtledove

Tue, 08 Apr 2008 04:00:00 GMT

I do not you know who you are
or where you may be. Certain I
am as winter turns to spring that
one day when the stars align,
you will know my name and I yours.

Hand in hand we will walk through
this life, facing whatever obstacles that
come our way, always enduring
together.

Student's Corner seeks submissions!

Tue, 08 Apr 2008 04:00:00 GMT

If you would like to submit your work, please e-mail theconcordianonline@gmail.com