COVER

September 2010

Today’s  genera-on  of  students  post  links  to  their  Facebook  pages,  pick  fights  with  trolls  on  YouTube,  and  thousands  contribute  their  unique  exper-se  through  blogs  or  Wikipedia.  And  the  ques-on  remains,  why?

I  recently  read  an  interview  with  authors  Daniel  Pink  and  Clay  Shirky  that  explains  the  benefits  our  genera-on  has  considering  what  these  two  deem  the  Cogni-ve  Surplus.  Basically,  in  the  1960s,  spare  -me  was  spent  watching  television,  whereas  in  the  21st  century,  our  genera-on  no  longer  passively  consumes;  instead,  we  are  engaged  with  social  media  that  requires  input  from  users.  

All  of  the  aforemen-oned  ac-vi-es  promote  communica-on  that  goes  beyond  solitary  consump-on.  Our  genera-on  is  able  to  spread  messages  and  ignite  trends  very  quickly  because  we  spend  our  spare  -me  engaging.  

The  ques-on  is  why  anyone  bothers.  No  one’s  geSng  paid  to  spend  hours  upda-ng  Wikipedia  or  for  instruc-ng  the  world  on  the  intricacies  of  hamster  racing,  so  why  are  approximately  1000  million  hours  of  human  labour  being  invested  in  such  things?  

It’s  because  people  are  intrinsically  mo-vated.  The  guy  wri-ng  Saved  by  the  Bell  fan-­‐fic-on  online  does  it  for  the  sake  of  doing  it.  Because  it’s  fun  for  him,  and  because  he  gets  to  be  an  expert  in  a  realm  he  controls  and  creates.  

Just  consider  that  for  years  the  only  way  businesses  had  been  trying  to  get  people  to  do  things  had  been  to  wave  a  reward  in  front  of  people  to  mo-vate  them  to  produce  results.  Ul-mately,  this  narrow  approach  is  too  simplis-c  and  doesn’t  account  for  all  types  of  behaviour.  

Our  ac-ons  as  a  community  changed  to  become  more  engaged  over  the  years  because  of  the  avenues  made  available  to  us.  We  

now  have  mobile  phones  designed  to  allow  us  to  capture  streaming  video  and  make  informa-on  available  to  our  networks.  These  types  of  opportuni-es  have  made  connec-ng  easy,  instant,  and  provide  us  with  a  different  kind  of  reward.  

And  so,  it’s  with  the  cogni-ve  surplus  in  mind  that  I  ask  you  to  spend  your  spare  -me  being  an  expert.  Pink  and  Shirky  have  confirmed  for  me  that  you’ve  got  this  -me  on  your  hands  and  I’d  love  for  you  to  contribute  whatever  you’re  passionate  about  to  this  publica-on.  My  intent  is  for  AtC  to  become  a  crea-ve  outlet  for  whatever  makes  you  -ck.  

I  thank  all  of  experts  in  this  issue  and  I  hope  that  they  inspire  you  to  consider  contribu-ng  or  making  the  AtC  a  permanent  staple  of  your  spare  -me.  

All  the  best,Jen  Pepper  -­‐  AtC  Editor

Here’s your pep Talk...I Need you to be an Expert

[AtC]Across  the  Creek  is  a  crea-ve  publica-on  funded  by  the  St.  

Jerome’s  Students’  Union.

[In  this  Issue]

The AtC Bulletin - You’ve got mail! (from the SJU admin) [2]

AtC Feature - Life in 4 by 6 - Are you Broadcasting yourself? What’s the deal with YouTube fans and what is everyone watching? Our columnist, Samantha Grayson, provides some insight into the appeal of this popular channel. [3]

Why I Like to Travel- a blog excerpt from Rashesh Kumar, University of Waterloo recent graduate and traveller. [4]

Restaurant Review - Vincenzo’s: An Authentic Experience - All you foodies lookin’ for good eats need to check out Aleena Khan’s review of Vincenzo’s. [5]

AtC Featured Artist - Check out amazing artwork by SJ’s own Sarah Southcott-Whyte! [6]

A September Soundtrack - Music recommendations by Andrew Liu [7]

The Gift of Running - Richard Moran shares his experience and some advice. [8]

Society and...Children’s Sports - sociologist student Caterina Van Herpt reveals the benefits of letting kids be kids. [9]

Word Salad - poetry by Jessica Van de Kemp [10]

Zombie Librarian Cover Design by

Mel Martins!Mel Martins is a quirky science student by day, saucy fem cee by night, and totally didn’t write this about herself in the third person. Her turn ons include disco, good grammar, thick glasses, and the living dead. Mel hopes that someday the dean of admissions for McMas te r ’ s med i ca l p r o g r am accidentally places her application in the ‘accepted’ pile, so she can become a doctor. Until then, Mel will continue to hang around UW’s engineering buildings, hoping to marry rich.

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[Le9er  from  the  Editor]

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Hello  students  and  welcome  back  for  another  exci-ng  year!  A  special  welcome  to  our  first  year  students  as  you  start  the  next  chapter  of  your  life  here  at  St.  Jerome’s!  

Students’  Union  has  been  working  hard  this  summer  and  is  excited  about  the  year  planned  and  our  three  major  events.  You  can  look  forward  to  star-ng  the  year  off  with  our  Trivia  Night.  You’ll  have  a  chance  to  team  up  with  staff,  faculty,  and  SJ  Alumni  to  win  great  prizes  and  own  bragging  rights!  Our  second  event,  now  an  official  SJ  tradi-on,  is  the  Parade  of  Lights  held  around  Christmas,  and  finally,  the  year  will  wrap  up  with  the  biggest  party  of  the  year  at  the  St.  Jerome’s  Gala.  The  Gala  is  a  chance  for  everyone  to  come  together  and  celebrate  the  year  with  a  dinner  and  dance.    

Also,  I  am  thrilled  to  announce  that  the  student  catholic  community,  Residence  Life  and  Students’  Union  will  be  teaming  up  this  year  to  hold  community  service  days.  Stay  tuned  for  more  informa-on  about  when  and  where  you  can  come  out  and  give  back  to  the  Kitchener-­‐Waterloo  community!

Students’  Union  does  more  than  hold  events;  we  represent  all  of  you  academically  by  serving  on  various  commi[ees  such  as  College  Council  and  the  St.  Jerome’s  Board  of  Governors.  To  represent  you  to  the  fullest  extent,  we  will  be  holding  monthly  informa-on  sessions  where  you  are  free  to  come  and  ask  ques-ons  or  raise  concerns.    You  can  also  come  visit  any  member  of  Students’  Union  during  office  hours  in  room  2010.    

I  wish  all  of  you  a  successful  term  both  academically  and  socially!  If  there  is  anything  that  I  or  my  team  can  do  to  make  your  year  be[er  please  let  us  know  and  we  will  get  to  work  on  it!

All  the  best,

Andrew  LessardStudents’  Union  

President

The  summer  flew  by  and  a  brand-­‐new  

academic  year  is  underway.  Welcome  

to  all  of  our  first-­‐year  students  who  are  

beginning  their  university  studies!  We  

are  happy  you  are  here  and  look  

forward  to  geSng  to  know  you  be[er  

in  the  coming  months.  And  welcome  

back  to  all  our  returning  students.  We  

hope  you  had  a  good  summer  and  are  

ready  for  another  great  year.

During  your  -me  with  us,  you  will  be  

learning,  studying,  building  friendships,  

and  exploring  new  interests.  This  is  an  

amazing  -me  in  your  lives  –  one  that  

you’ll  never  forget.  St.  Jerome’s  will  be  

a  big  part  of  those  memories  you  are  

crea-ng.  As  one  of  our  alumni,  Doug  

Jack  (BA  ’80),  told  a  group  of  students  

one  evening  last  winter,  “Most  

students  won’t  recognize  the  impact  

SJU  has  on  their  lives  un-l  they  

graduate.”  At  our  SJU  Alumni  events,  I  

hear  stories  from  people  who  were  

students  here  20,  30,  or  40  years  ago.  

These  graduates  went  on  to  have  

interes-ng  careers,  raise  families,  and  

pursue  other  adventures,  but  they  s-ll  

remember  their  -me  at  St.  Jerome’s  as  

an  important  period  of  their  lives  –  this  

is  the  place  where  they  discovered  a  

passion  for  something  that  led  to  all  

kinds  of  opportuni-es  aeer  gradua-on.

I  encourage  you  to  get  involved  in  

ac-vi-es  beyond  the  classroom  while  

you’re  here.  There  is  something  for  

everyone  –  sports,  cooking  classes,  

clubs,  fitness,  local  excursions,  the  

University  Catholic  Community,  and  

ways  to  serve  others  here  in  Kitchener-­‐

Waterloo  and  abroad.  The  list  is  

endless!  Find  an  ac-vity  that  matches  

your  current  interests  or  try  something  

new.  You’ll  make  friends,  have  fun,  and  

learn  more  about  yourself  along  the  

way.

Best  of  luck  se[ling  in  to  the  new  year  

at  St.  Jerome’s.  See  you  on  campus!  

Dr.  David  B.  Perrin

President  and  Vice-­‐Chancellor

The Time of your Life

Shout out from Students’ Union

“To  every  thing,  there  is  a  season,  and  a  Fme  to  every  purpose  under  heaven”(Pete  Seger,  paraphrasing  Ecclesiastes  3:1)As  we  look  forward  to  the  new  academic  year,  we  close  the  door  on  the  summer.  For  those  of  you  coming  to  SJU  for  your  first  year,  you  close  the  door  on  your  high  school  experience.  For  me,  this  academic  year  marks  my  last  year  as  Vice  President/Academic  Dean,  so  I  will  be  closing  the  door  on  this  phase  of  my  career  and  opening  the  door  back  into  full-­‐-me  du-es  as  a  member  of  faculty.  

All  transi-ons,  like  these,  fill  us  with  expecta-ons  for  the  future  and  memories  of  the  past.  So  as  I  look  forward  I  wanted  to  reflect  with  you  on  some  of  my  memories  of  the  past  which  allow  me  to  say  that  SJU  is  one  of  the  best  post-­‐secondary  ins-tu-ons  in  the  country.  I  have  been  on  faculty  in  three  different  universi-es  and  have  directly  experienced,  for  brief  periods  at  least,  three  others.  All  of  those  experiences  have  had  their  posi-ve  elements.  However,  SJU  is  something  special!  My  first  taste  of  the  SJU  spirit  came  during  a  visit  to  the  campus  aeer  being  hired,  but  not  yet  having  started:  it  was  Awards  Night.  I  was  overwhelmed  by  the  camaraderie  and  spirit  of  the  students  –  it  was  breathtaking.  Although  an  occasion  marking  par-cular  achievements  of  individual  students,  the  atmosphere  was  magical  and  the  sense  of  

solidarity  and  community  celebra-on  unparalleled.  It  is  an  experience  I  remember,  but  also  re-­‐live  at  every  Awards  Night:  although  we  mark  individuals,  there  is  no  jealousy,  no  envy  –  it  is  a  community  that  rejoices  in  everyone’s  excellence  and  effort.  In  a  similar  vein,  I  recall  when  one  of  our  graduates  received  a  scholarship  to  do  graduate  work  at  Oxford  University.  Once  again  the  en-re  community  celebrated  in  unison:  he  had  a[ained  an  impressive  academic  milestone,  but  it  symbolized  our  communal  pride  in  the  level  of  academic  excellence  at  SJU.  Academic  excellence  which  was  front  and  centre  this  past  spring  at  Convoca-on  when  our  SJU  students  received  a  propor-onally  high  number  of  academic  achievement  awards  in  Arts.So,  these  memories  fill  me  with  joy  and  pride,  but  they  also  fill  me  with  expecta-on  of  another  great  year  of  academic  excellence  and  community  celebra-on.  We  are  going  forward  into  an  academic  year  that  will  have  its  challenges,  but  it  will  have  more  successes,  it  will  have  many  achievements,  it  will  demonstrate  that  you  are  all  SJU-­‐ers  both  by  your  academic  achievement  and  your  community  commitment.  Get  ready….it’s  going  to  be  a  great  year!  

Dr.  Myroslaw  Tataryn  Acting Chair, Dept. of History and Vice-President and Academic Dean

You’ve got mail...from the SJU administration!

{AtC Admin Bulletin}[AtC] September, 2010

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Life in 4 by 6Samantha  GraysonYouTube Columnist

• • •August  29th  2008  I  did  something  a  li[le  weird.  I  commented  on  a  YouTube  video  and  when  the  creator  of  that  video  commented  back  I  took  a  screen  shot  and  set  it  as  my  desktop  background.  

Perhaps  not  the  most  shocking  confession  of  the  century,  but  apparently  it’s  kind  of  a  kooky  thing  to  do.  

The  video  I  commented  on  wasn’t  a  music  video  or  something  posted  by  a  mainstream  personality.  Instead  it  was  the  crea-on  of  a  lone  individual,  filming  himself,  at  home.  So  how  did  he  get  me  to  giggle  like  a  13  year-­‐old  with  (sigh)  Beiber  Fever?  Ah  the  power  of  YouTube.  

While  this  reac-on  makes  complete  sense  to  me,  if  you’re  like  my  friend’s  co-­‐worker,  named  here,  “Clueless  Joe,”  you  may  not  be  buying  the  concept.

Aeer  being  stuck  in  a  cubicle  with  Clueless  Joe  for  months  on  end,  this  inevitable  exchange  occurred  with  my  friend,  a  fellow  YouTube  addict.  

Joe  asked,  “so  like,  what  else  do  you  do?”

“I  dunno,  watch  YouTube.”  An  honest  reply,  but  what  followed  was  far  less  transcribable.  

Joe  actually  burst  into  laughter  and  proceeded  to  ques-on  the  sanity  of  my  dear  amigo.  “What  do  you  mean  watch  YouTube?  You  just  go  home  at  night  and  scroll  through  pages  of  videos?  Who  does  that?”

Yikes,  apparently  not  everybody  gets  excited  about  an  endless  spectrum  of  User  Generated  Content  (UGC  for  those  in  the  biz).  

In  the  defense  of  unbelievers,  it  is  tricky  to  explain  to  your  roommate  why  they  walked  in  on  you  watching  a  video  of  someone  ea-ng  wine  gums,  applying  makeup,  or  mowing  their  lawn.  Yet,  my  life  would  not  be  the  same  without  all  

these  strange  and  wonderful  fragments  of  life.

Most  people  I  know  see  YouTube  as  a  place  to  watch  random  clips  of  earthquakes  or  people  flipping  over  in  ATVs.  While  I  can’t  personally  deny  the  appeal  of  a  good  ki[en  video,  what  makes  YouTube  really  special  is  the  immense  crea-ve  community  that  the  site  has  produced,  something  I  am  proud  to  take  advantage  of.

As  a  student,  YouTube  is  a  form  of  entertainment  ideally  suited  to  my  lifestyle.  It’s  free,  except  bandwidth,  but  who’s  really  coun-ng?  Most  content  is  rela-vely  short  and  makes  for  the  perfect  study  break.  What  I  like  most,  though,  is  coming  home  to  a  buffet  of  entertainment,  custom-­‐made  for  my  own  interests.  By  clicking  “subscribe”  on  my  

favorite  channels,  each  video  that  channel  uploads  goes  directly  to  my  subscrip-on  box  for  my  viewing  pleasure.  

This  descrip-on  of  convenience  may  lead  you  to  believe  YouTube  is  about  siSng  at  home  watching  videos  alone,  but  while  Clueless  Joe  may  not  have  understood  my  friend,  I  really  really  do.  It  gives  us  something  to  laugh  about  and  share.  It  gets  us  talking  about  things  we  never  would  have.  

When  it  is  my  turn  to  be  asked  that  inevitable  ques-on  again,  “what  else  do  you  do,”  you  can  expect  a  fully-­‐loaded  answer.  “I  watch  YouTube,  don’t  you?”    If  they  seem  confused,  I  may  have  to  direct  them  here.  There  are  more  lessons  to  come.  Don’t  you  wish  you  could  just  click  subscribe?

Channel Surfing...[what’s Sam Watching?]

youtube.com/user/WHATTHEBUCKSHOW

Michael Buckley is the poster boy for

success on YouTube. He was one of the

first to make online video a full time job,

and after watching him satirize celebrities

for a video or two you will understand why.

Not  sure  where  to  start?  Check  out  these  two  channels  that  should  help  you  to  clue  in  to  the  awesome  powers  of  the  YouTube  community.

youtube.com/VlogBrothersThis channel is a staple of the community (these brothers ran the first ever conference for online videos this summer). I picked this channel for the simple fact that it oozes love for our favorite video sharing platform.

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Some  people  travel  because  it's  a  break  from  their  normal  flow  of  life.  Some  people  travel  because  they  like  to  expose  themselves  to  new  places,  new  food,  and  new  cultures.  Some  people  like  to  travel  because  it  makes  other  people  feel  jealous.  Some  people  like  to  travel  for  the  sake  of  traveling.  Just  because  they  can.

But  recently  I  realized  that  I  like  to  travel  not  for  any  of  the  above  reasons  but  because  I  like  feeling  lost.  I  like  the  discomfor-ng  feeling  of  not  knowing  where  I  am.  I  like  having  to  figure  things  out  by  looking  at  a  map.  I  like  not  knowing  where  I'm  going  to  be  having  lunch  or  dinner  un-l  it's  -me  for  lunch  or  dinner.  I  like  losing  track  of  -me  and  not  knowing  the  day  of  the  month  or  the  week  of  the  day.  In  short,  I  like  not  having  an  agenda.

I  actually  like  maps  a  lot.  So  much  that  I  once  considered  becoming  a  cartographer.  That  explains  why  I  like  spending  so  much  -me  on  Google  Maps.  There  was  once  a  -me  in  2006  when  I  used  to  spend  more  -me  on  Google  Maps  than  on  Facebook.  And  on  every  Google  interview  I've  had,  when  the  interviewer  would  ask  me  what  team  I'd  like  to  be  on,  I'd  instantly  reply  "the  maps  team!"

The  other  reason  I  enjoy  traveling  is  because  I  like  it  when  I  have  no  idea  what  people  around  me  are  talking  about.  I  guess  this  is  a  feeling  I'm  really  used  to  having  grown  up  in  Dubai.  Everywhere  I  went  in  Dubai,  people  around  me  used  to  speak  in  Arabic,  Malayalam  and  Sindhi,  none  of  which  languages  I  actually  have  any  knowledge  of.

So  I  guess  I  can't  really  tell  people  I  like  traveling.  It  would  be  more  appropriate  of  me  to  tell  people  that  I  like  visi-ng  foreign  places  instead.  Because  visi-ng  foreign  places  puts  me  outside  my  comfort  zone.  Except  this  means  that  I  wouldn't  want  to  spend  more  than  2-­‐3  days  in  any  city  while  traveling  since  aeer  that  I  will  have  accustomed  myself  to  the  city,  figured  out  my  bearings,  and  figured  out  the  public  transit  system.  At  which  point  things  get  boring  quite  quickly.

That's  why  I'm  glad  that  when  we  went  on  our  tour  of  Europe  this  summer,  we  only  stayed  in  each  city  for  a  maximum  of  2.5  days.  Constantly  changing  ci-es  every  third  day  was  fun.  And  by  the  end  of  the  trip  we  got  really  good  at  figuring  out  new  ci-es,  really  good  at  reading  maps,  and  really  good  at  figuring  out  how  the  public  transit  system  worked.

There's  nothing  like  being  lost  in  a  random  city  half-­‐way  across  the  world  where  everyone  speaks  a  language  you  don't.  And  that  is  the  true  experience  I  get  from  traveling.

FROM THE EDITORRajesh recently graduated with a degree in nanotech engineering from the University of Waterloo. If you liked this blog excerpt, be sure to check out his other UW related posts

at: www.meetrajesh.com

Why I like to Travel

{AtC Discovers...}

a blog excerpt from UW alumni Rajesh Kumar

"VisiFng  foreign  places  puts  me  outside  my  comfort  zone.”

[AtC] September, 2010

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Aleena  Khan  -­  Restaurant  critic

LocaFon:  150  Caroline  Street  South,  WaterlooPhone:  (519)  741-­‐1437

Website:  vincenzosonline.com

Vincenzo’s  is  a  gourmet  grocery  store  and  restaurant  located  in  Uptown  Waterloo.  I  got  to  know  of  this  place  a  few  months  ago  when  they  relocated  and  expanded  their  store.  They  offer  hot  foods,  deli  style  sandwiches  made  with  unique  breads,  cheeses  and  toppings,  and  their  bakery  is  a  

true  hidden  gem.    

The  store’s  appearance  can  be  misleading  because  upon  entering  it  looks  like  a  regular  grocery  store,  but  the  restaurant  is  in  the  back.    The  grocery  sec-on  has  various  sauces,  snacks,  pastas,  and  other  ethnic  ingredients  from  countries  such  as  Italy  and  India,  for  example.  Vincenzo’s  varie-es  of  cheeses  and  breads  are  definitely  unique  in  the  KW  area.    They  offer  deli  sandwiches  for  about  six  dollars,  so  the  price  is  definitely  worth  the  new  and  different  tastes.    

The  reason  I  have  ended  up  at  Vincenzo’s  again  and  again  is  the  ever-­‐changing  selec-on  at  their  bakery.    They  offer  tradi-onal  -ramisu  and  cakes  for  special  occasions,  but  what  sets  this  bakery  apart  from  the  rest  in  the  area  is  the  fact  that  there  is  no  generic  baked  good  in  the  store.    The  cupcakes  come  in  flavours  like  cookie  dough  and  hazelnut,  and  their  pastries  look  like  something  right  out  of  a  café  in  Italy.  The  mini  treats  are  reasonably  priced  for  those  who  are  looking  to  try  something  new.    If  you’re  not  feeling  too  adventurous,  they  also  have  real  Italian  gelato.    Another  thing  to  note,  however,  is  that  Vincenzo’s  is  not  open  on  Sundays,  which  limits  us  busy  students  a  li[le.          

Vincenzo’s  is  not  as  well  known  as  it  should  be  because  of  its  loca-on,  but  this  restaurant  has  not  yet  ceased  to  amaze  me,  so  if  you  are  ever  in  the  area  it  is  definitely  worth  dropping  in  for  a  quick  mul-cultural  experience.

Vincenzo’s

Try the smoked turkey on a croissant with swiss cheese and bruchetta - one

of the best sandwiches I’ve ever had. Less than 6 bucks and it’s packed with

fresh ingredients.

For dessert, try Dulce le leche mini cheesecake. (Although I’m not the biggest fan of caramel, it was the

perfect size with coffee flavoured chocolate pieces on top!)

{Aleena’s Picks

An authentic experience

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Featured Artist:

Sarah Southcott-Whyte

[AtC] September, 2010

}{The  pain-ng  to  the  right  is  en-tled  

SJ  1209:  A  Memory  of  Home

“Where  some  of  my  best  UW  

memories  were  made”  -­‐  Sarah

6

Society  is...  well  we  know  what  it  is-­‐  a  diverse  and  assorted  mix  of  people,  groups,  cultures,  things,  ideas,  beliefs,  places,  and  most  importantly  it  is  whatever  defines  society  for  you.      As  a  sociologist  I  can  tell  you  it  is  important  to  view  society  through  different  social  and  cultural  contexts,  such  as  technology,  religion,  media,  or  work.  Some  contexts  may  bring  more  insight  than  others  but  what  is  important  is  the  different  insight  each  context  brings.  I  think  you  have  to  look  no  further  than  games  of  hockey,  baseball,  and  soccer  everywhere  to  find  one  very  cri-cal  perspec-ve.  

I  am  talking  about  sports.  They  are  a  facet  of  everyday  life  which  contains  a  wide  framework  of  contexts  which  must  be  split  into  more  specific  contexts  in  order  to  gain  insight  into  society.  These  athle-c  ac-vi-es  may  be  looked  at  as  they  pertain  to  issues  and  controversies  such  as  violence,  deviance,  gender,  race,  or  ethnicity  (all  very  healthy  fare  for  sociological  study).  However,  one  type  of  spor-ng  remains  oeen  overlooked  despite  its  incredible  poten-al  for  all  kinds  of  insight.  Children’s  sports  are  not  usually  viewed  as  an  issue  or  controversy;  however,  looking  at  them  cri-cally  can  allow  us  to  understand  things  about  society  which  we  would  have  not  considered  before.  

To  provide  a  background  for  this  argument  it  is  important  to  note  that  a  majority  of  youth  sports  today  are  organized  by  adults  and  parents  who  are  becoming  increasingly  involved  in  their  child’s  par-cipa-on  in  organized  sports.  This  trend  could  possibly  be  explained  by  a  new  defini-on  of  what  a  good  parent  is:  being  involved  in  your  child’s  life,  keeping  your  child  safe  by  knowing  where  they  are  and  what  they  are  doing  all  the  -me,  keeping  your  child  healthy  by  encouraging  physical  fitness,  and  ins-lling  good  values  such  as  -me  management.  Each  of  these  can  be  achieved  through  par-cipa-on  in  organized  sports  and  none  of  them  is  necessarily  bad.  However,  the  issue  that  arises  is  that  of  the  child’s  experience.  

Many  people  can  say  that  as  a  youth  they  met  new  friends,  had  fun,  learnt  valuable  lessons,  and  gained  respect  for  sport,  all  generally  posi-ve  experiences,  which  many  parents  hope  for  when  signing  their  child  up  for  organized  sports.  However,  with  the  common  focus  in  many  organized  sports  is  on  winning,  

coaches  and  parents  are  constantly  encouraging  children  to  improve,  become  be[er,  and  win,  which  does  not  always  lead  to  fun  or  fair  play.  

If  we  look  at  informal  children’s  sports  (such  as  tag  or  street  hockey)  in  contrast  to  organized  sports,  we  can  be[er  see  the  dis-nct  difference  in  the  child’s  experience.  Formal  sports  emphasize  strict  rules,  set  posi-ons,  guidance  by  adults,  forced  involvement,  winners  and  losers,  and  most  valuable  players.  In  contrast,  informal  sports,  organized  by  children  themselves,  emphasize  personal  involvement,  “do  overs”,  rules  created  and  changed  by  the  children,  arguments  solved  by  the  children,  crea-vity,  and  friendships.  The  outcomes  of  informal  sports  are  things  such  as  crea-vity,  coopera-on,  problem  solving,  and  a  more  rewarding  experience  for  the  child.  However,  the  outcomes  of  formal  sports  emphasize  rela-onships  with  authority  figures,  and  knowing  how  to  learn  rules  and  set  strategies.  Much  of  the  child’s  ac-ve  involvement  (other  than  playing  the  sport)  is  lost  in  organized  sports  and  the  focus  is  on  the  adult  or  parent  and  following  what  they  say.  

By  being  cri-cal  of  children’s  sport  we  have  gained  deeper  insight  into  a  specific  dimension  of  society;  although  on  the  surface  children’s  organized  sports  look  beneficial  for  the  children,  they  are  oeen  more  beneficial  for  the  parent.    Children’s  sports  themselves  also  reinforce  a  fundamental  way  of  looking  at  our  society.  

Maybe  we  can  start  to  perceive  society  and  our  social  environments  in  a  way  similar  to  the  way  we  perceive  informal  children’s  sports.    Each  player  (individual  in  society)  has  a  valued  perspec-ve,  there  are  no  final  words,  and  everyone  gets  a  chance  to  play.  If  there  were  a  guide  book  to  sociology,  this  would  probably  fit  under  the  first  rule.  

Society and...

Children’s Sports

arFcle  by  sociology  student  CATERINA  VAN  HERPT

images  curtsey  of  colvin.ca  and  hysa-­‐tn.org

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One  morning  in  March  of  2007,  I  woke  up  unable  to  walk  without  excrucia-ng  pain  in  the  arch  of  my  lee  foot.  I  was  confused.  I  had  gone  out  for  an  easy  8  mile  run  the  night  before  to  get  my  mind  off  of  some  par-cularly  frustra-ng  personal  issues,  but  I  felt  perfectly  fine  before,  during  and  aeer  my  run.  I  was  extremely  fit,  and  had  never  had  a  serious  running  injury.

I  a[ended  all  of  my  classes  that  day,  including  those  at  Wilfrid  Laurier  (to  which  I,  stupidly,  walked).  When  I  finally  made  it  to  the  doctor  later  that  aeernoon,  my  fears  were  confirmed:  I  had  a  nasty  case  of  plantar  fascii-s.  The  doctor  recommended  physiotherapy,  and  gave  me  a  prescrip-on  for  15  days  of  meloxicam,  a  strong  nonsteroidal  an--­‐inflammatory  drug.  Briefly,  I  did  all  of  the  right  things.  I  went  to  physiotherapy,  took  the  meloxicam  religiously,  did  the  necessary  exercises  while  studying,  and  even  cut  my  running  mileage  way  back.

However,  I  did  not  con-nue  to  be  smart  for  very  long.  Within  weeks,  I  was  back  trying  to  run  the  kind  of  mileage  to  which  I  had  become  accustomed.  I  clearly  had  not  learned  my  lesson:  aeer  coming  down  with  a  serious  overtraining  injury,  I  was  back  overtraining.

Two  years,  countless  plantar  fascii-s  relapses,  and  a  not  insignificant  amount  of  weight  gain  later,  I  am  back  to  running.  It  has  been  a  long  and  frustra-ng  journey  to  this  point,  but  this  -me,  I  am  doing  it  the  right  way.  I  am  building  my  mileage  slowly,  listening  to  my  body,  and  running  a  more  consistent  schedule.  The  pain  in  my  plantar  fascia  has  taught  me  many  valuable  physiological  lessons.  More  importantly,  though,  it  has  taught  me  to  be  thankful  for  the  privilege  of  running,  and  the  gies  it  gives  me  every  single  day.

It  is  oeen  claimed  that  running  is  the  largest  par-cipatory  sport  in  the  world.  I  have  no  idea  if  this  is  true  or  not,  but  I  sincerely  hope  that  it  is.  Over  the  years,  running  has  provided  me  with  more  benefits  than  any  other  single  ac-vity.  The  physical  benefits  

are  undeniable.  As  a  person  with  a  family  history  of  heart  disease,  I  am  extremely  thankful  to  running  for  the  weight  control  it  provides,  my  strengthened  aerobic  system,  and  the  countless  other  ways  in  which  it  has  improved  my  health.

However,  I  am  even  more  thankful  for  the  mental  and  emo-onal  gies  that  running  has  given  me.  My  runs  provide  me  with  perspec-ve  when  life  gets  overwhelming.  Whether  it  is  an  easy  45  minutes,  a  two  hour  long  run,  or  running  hard  repeats  at  the  track,  running  is  the  most  effec-ve  stress  buster  I  have  ever  tried.    During  and  aeer  a  run,  I  achieve  the  kind  of  clarity  that  I  need  to  perform  my  best  academically.  I  find  myself  with  increased  pa-ence  and  understanding  in  my  rela-onships  with  others.  In  short,  running  makes  me  a  be[er  person.

If  you  are  physically  able,  and  you  have  never  tried  running  as  a  recrea-onal  ac-vity,  I  implore  you  to  join  the  world’s  largest  support  group.  It  doesn’t  ma[er  what  your  goals  are.  Whether  you  want  to  lose  weight,  increase  your  fitness  for  other  sports,  enjoy  the  aforemen-oned  emo-onal  benefits,  or  just  get  that  elusive  beach  body,  there  is  a  place  for  you  in  the  running  community.  Whether  you  want  to  race  5Ks,  100-­‐mile  ultra-­‐marathons,  anything  between,  or  not  race  at  all,  the  running  community  will  support  you.  Fast  or  slow,  young  or  old,  tall  or  short,  male  or  female,  the  running  community  wants  you  to  be  a  part  of  it.

I  won’t  sugarcoat  it:  running  is  hard.  It  is  going  to  hurt.  There  are  days  you  won’t  want  to  get  out  the  door  for  whatever  workout  you’ve  planned.  Just  remember  that  running  is  one  of  the  absolute  best  things  you  can  do  for  your  mind,  body,  and  overall  life.  I  am,  admi[edly,  not  an  inspira-onal  person,  so  I  will  leave  you  with  a  quota-on  from  George  Sheehan,  former  columnist  for  Runner’s  World  :  “The  more  I  run,  the  more  I  want  to  run,  and  the  more  I  live  a  life  condi-oned  and  influenced  and  fashioned  by  running.  And  the  more  I  run,  the  more  certain  I  am  that  I  am  heading  for  my  real  goal:  to  become  the  person  I  am.”

A September Soundtrack

by  Andrew  Liu  With  school  star-ng  and  everyone  transi-oning,  things  can  get  a  bit  depressing.  We  all  miss  the  great  weather,  the  -me  spent  with  family  and  friends,  and  the  unforge[able  memories.  But  lucky  for  you,  I’m  here  to  make  that  transi-on  a  li[le  bit  easier.  Here’s  a  playlist  that  I  created  from  the  songs  that  I’ve  been  listening  to  for  the  past  couple  of  months.  All  the  songs  have  amazing  beats,  singers,  lyrics  and  memories  a[ached  to  them.  This  list  includes  a  couple  of  my  new  favourite  bands  like  The  Temper  Trap,  Example,  Vampire  Weekend,  and  The  Wombats.  The  Temper  Trap,  whose  album  has  been  stuck  on  repeat  on  my  iPod,  is  an  alterna-ve  rock  band  from  Melbourne,  Australia.  The  band  recently  released  their  first  debut  album  called  Condi<ons  which  had  Jim  Abiss  (produces  the  Arc-c  Monkey’s  albums)  flown  in  to  help  create  the  record.  Having  Abiss  take  the  lead    has  created  amazing  results  with  songs  that  echo  and  haunt  you  even  aeer  you  finish  listening  to  the  album.      I  hope  you  enjoy  The  Temper  Trap,  but  more  importantly  I  hope  you  enjoy  this  playlist  and  that  it’ll  be  a  cure  for  any  summer  blues!  

In  the  Club  –  Just  InPony  Pony  Run  Run  –  Walking  on  a  LineExample  –  KickstartsThe  Temper  Trap  –  FaderDavid  Gue9a,  Chris  Willis,  Fergie  &  LMFAO  -­‐  GeSn’  Over  YouPendulum  –  Watercolour  Vampire  Weekend  –  CousinsCharlo9e  Gainsbourg  b.  Beck  –  Heaven  Can  WaitUffie  b.  Pharrell  Williams  -­‐  ADD  SUVThe  Gossip  –  Pop  Goes  the  WorldThe  Wombats  –  Kill  the  DirectorLilly  Wood  &  The  Prick  –  Down  the  DrainBiffy  Clyro  –  BubbleArcFc  Monkeys  –  Brainstorm

The Gift of Running

by Richard Moran

“I achieve the kind of clarity that I need to perform my best academically. I find myself with increased patience and understanding in my relationships with others. In short, running makes me a better person.”

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Anhedonia:  Dragging  herself   through  the  peyote  streets  at   dusk:  a   li[le  bleak  of   brain,   like  a   lost  ba[alion.  The  heterosexual   dollar   humping   the  hand  of  a  friar.  A   rye   field’s   dark  whisper   falling  upon   tarnished   taste  buds.  God   lying   in   a   galaxy,   dead   as   a  doornail.   The  madhouse   pilgrims  begging   for   a  quick-­‐fix   lobotomy.  Waving  breasts  and  manuscripts  at  misogynis-c  men.

Adulthood:  Five  dollars  and   forty-­‐three  cents:  gratethecheese  gratethecheese  gratethecheese.  The  grim,  the  grime,  the  gemma  fixed  star.  Please  master,  please  pater,  please  mater:  soeness.  Push  back  my  legs  from  this  kneeling  breech   birth.   Kiss  me  on   the   throat   chakra,  the  solar   plexus,   the   root.   Twenty-­‐one   years  old   and  hoping  your  liver  will  hold.

Innocence:   The   bus   terminal.   The   $1.99   all-­‐you-­‐can-­‐eat   breakfast   special.  Bags   buzzing   in   the   electric   air  before   a   storm.  The   baggage.   I   knew   a  woman   who   was   tender   in   her   bones,   a   quivery   sort   of   sorrow.  Some-mes  I  can  almost  see  the  souls  of   children,  indigo   and  blue,  circling  above  our  heads.  Only  my  mouth  takes  in  your  scent:  ambrosial.  May  we  sail  through  this:  a  dream  so  white  it  whispers.  The  unborn  stars  of  the  distant  other.

Silence:   A  cat   named  Quietus.  The  Stoic  whose   slender   smile   could  wither   nightshade.  The   bowing  of   the  teapot's   extraterrestrial   spout.  We   glance   at   each   other,  wordless,  wringing  our   hands:   two   white   savages  ea-ng  Chow  Mein  noodles  on  a  Monday.  Understanding  rivers.  The  vo-ve  candles:  lit,  as  if  by  themselves.  On  your  knees,  repen-ng.

ICU:   The   name   on   the   marker   board   s-ll   says   "Bill."   Did   they   even  change  the  sheets?  Bags  of  IV-­‐fluid  hanging  overhead  like  baby  mobiles.  Nurse  says,  “Just   a  li[le  prick.”   In   the  examina-on  room:  pulling  down  my  gown   in   front   of   an   intern.  I  should   have  shaved  my  legs  before   I  tried  to  kill  myself.  Looking  up  at  the  ceiling  with  bright,  Van  Gogh  eyes.  The  paramedics  who  don't  know  which  floor  the  Psychiatric  Ward  is  on.  The  fourth,  you  idiots.  Lying  pell-­‐mell  on  a  gurney,  sad  faces  floa-ng  by.  I  think  I  know  them.

Feminine:  Ma[resses  of  moss,  writhing.  Girl   in   the  bathroom  stall   too  embarrassed   to   take   a   piss.  Girl   who   doesn’t   want   to   be   a   mother.  Hearts  flicked  into  -n  can  ashtrays.  Mary  losing  both  breasts  to  cancer.  Mary   geSng   a   hysterectomy.   I   don't   even   know   if   she's   a   woman  anymore.  I  just  keep  telling  her  to  forget  Joseph’s  tongue  at  her  nipples.

Thinking:  These  are  my  bones  breaking,  my  muscles  tearing,  my  body  splayed  like  a  luminescent  locust.  Bald  cranium  bathing  in  the  starlight.  Living  in  the  Corpus  Callosum,  the  white-­‐ma[er   in-­‐between,  aphasic.  There's  one  clean  cup   lee  in  the  cupboard.  The  door  fell  open  and  my  ghost  almost  rapped  again.  I’ve  forgo[en  who  I  was  supposed  to  be  this  morning.

Masculine:  High   collars.  Ties   like   li[le  nooses,  eager   to   feel   the   guillo-ne's  grace,  the  death   erec-on.  That  blessed   bundle  of  nerves.  Making  love  to   a  Seraph,  some-mes   holding  her   shoulders.  Feeling  like  a  violent  star  in   the  presence  of  a  pebble-­‐bearer.  PuSng  another   notch  in  Orion’s  belt.  The  first   half-­‐twist   container   of  fire.

WriFng:  Everything  is  sdrawkcab.  Words  from  constella-ons,  marshes.  Words  from  dei-es,  dreams.  Think  this:  we  have  burned  our  bodies.  Think  this:  we  have  burned  our  bodies  and  the  souls  within  them.  Think  this:  we  are  Buddhist  Monks.  Write  this:  Memento  Mori.  Write  this:  this  sentence  is  my  mouth.  Write  this  on  the  walls.

Memory:  Method   of   Loci.   Immortality:   a   dolorosa   room.   An   aSc   full   of   Navajo’s.   A   closet.  A   con-nent.  Airplanes,  like  Icarus,  that  fly  too  close  to  the  sun.  Taking  my  skull  and  bashing  it  into  a  wall  on  Georgian  Bay,  when  the  moonlight  moves  under  the  co[age,  and  Nyx  stands  on  poles.  Sensing  two  worlds  at  once.  Dropping  my  body  on  the  cobblestones.

Life:  Urinals.  Mixing  in   the  peas  with   the   potatoes.  Drawing  up  divorce   papers   just   to   see  if   she   loves   you.  Microwave  bu[ons.  Garbage  truck  wake-­‐up  at  6:30am.  Pulling  out  the  ice-­‐cube  tray  just  to  find  it  empty.  Lilies  closing  at  dusk.  Hushed  cicadas.  Bu[erfly  clinging  to  the  window  screen.  Error  message.

Word Salad }by Jessica Van de Kemp

[AtC] September, 2010

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