Produced by the Mohawk College Journalism Program Issue 3

P2/United Way launches its Mohawk campaign

P3/Mohawk upgrades medical equipment

P2/Future Ready Loyalty Cards for incoming students

Photos: Jake Matthews

201211

October

Goodbye Ivor Wynne!

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The United Way kicks off campaign

Mo the Hawk poses with spacial guests at the launch

The United Way and Mohawk College have a relationship that dates back over 20 years. In that time, Mohawk has donated over $1 million to the United Way.

This year for the first time ever, Mohawk in conjunction with the United Way, did a formal launch for the year’s campaign. At the launch, it was announced that the goal for the year is to raise $67, 000, a higher goal than ever before.

Co-chair for The United Way at Mohawk, Troy Heath, says he’s excited about the launch and what he hopes to be a great campaign.

“In previous years we never did a formal kind of ‘hey, here we come,’” said Heath. “This year we have a free concert with The Elwins, we’re doing some giveaways, just to try and build up that much more excite-ment.”

CEO of United Way of Burlington, and greater Hamilton Len Lifchus, who was on hand for the event, says the partnership between Mohawk and the United Way is important to the community.

“The $67,000 goal is significant to us because it will impact the lives of over 222,000 residents in Hamilton and Bur-lington,” said Lifchus. “So, it really is a very important relationship and we’re very proud of the partnership.”

The United Way will have events on campus throughout the campaign for both staff and students to get involved. These events include a silent auction, and the annual spaghetti lunch.

Shawn McGuire & Kelly KotulakIgnite News

Photo: Shawn McGuire

Newmarket’s The Elwins performed at the event

Photo: Shawn McGuire

Not in college yet? Mohawk can help!Amber WarrenIgnite News

Students in high school and elementary school can be afraid when taking that leap into college. The Future Ready Loyalty Card is being offered to students to pro-vide them with an opportunity to help pay their tuition before they begin college.

The Loyalty Card is a two-year pilot bursary that allows students to earn up to one thousand points, converted into one thousand dollars, which goes towards a tuition payment. In order to receive this card, students must have a financial need. Students can collect points by participat-ing in events around Mohawk like a skills camp or open house to reduce the stu-dents’ financial burden.

The College in Motion Team helps local neighborhoods with financial needs by making students and parents aware of the Loyalty Card. Community Outreach and Education Advisor; Samara Young says that the team wants to get students started off early in grade 7, to develop a relation-ship within both elementary and high schools.

“They don’t have to know what they want to do with the rest of their life,” she said.

Access Project Manager, Rose Gilles says that this is a way for students to decide what they would like to do when they get to Mohawk. “The bridge program helps students decide what you like and what you don’t like and it puts you a step closer to deciding what you would like to do,” she said.

Access Transitions Advisor at Mohawk, Judy-Anne Sleep says that students can participate in these events to help them get a better view around the college when they do come to Mohawk.

“Once they get into the campus and see themselves there, they sometimes get a better feel for it,” she said.

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Radiation simulator stimulates successCourtney MacDonaldIgnite News

Studying health sciences isn’t just about hitting the books.

Students in the Medical Radiation Sciences program at Mohawk-McMaster’s Institute for Applied Health Sciences now have their own radiation therapy simulator on campus—equipment worth 1.2 million dollars.

The Varian simulator is an exact replica of the high-energy linear accelerator used in operational cancer clinics today. The technology mimics the move-ments and controls, without generating electrons, for radia-tion therapy.

“For three years, we’ve been working towards getting this equipment,” said Lyn Paddon, coordinator for the Radiation Therapy program. “So it’s a huge acquisition that’s really going to benefit the students’ learning.”

Previous to the arrival of the simulator, students would have to travel off campus to the Juravinski Cancer Centre after hours to complete their skills labs. The arrival of the simulator means more flexibility for the students, since the equipment is entirely for their use.

“It’s really exciting to have state of the art equipment that’s dedi-cated just to us students,” said Kristopher Kieraszewicz, Radiation Therapy student at IAHS. “It’s much more convenient. We’re going to have much more opportunities to practice.”

Hands-on learning is a large focus in Medical Radiation Sci-ences. Students also have access to a CAT scanner and a treatment planning lab, giving them experience every step of the way before

completing a practi-cum at the McMas-ter hospital.

“Medical radiation sciences is a very equipment oriented training program,” said Diane Barrafato, Associate Dean for the Radiation Sci-ences program.

“Without the equipment, it’s impossible for our students to ac-quire the required skills they need.”

Kieraszewicz says more practice with the simulator will only put the students ahead.

“I think it’ll really pay dividends when we’re out on our clinical terms in the hospital.”

Photo: Courtney MacDonaldMohawk-McMaster’s Varian simulator

Mohawk bigger than everSarah AitchisonIgnite News

Mohawk College reached a record high for enrollment this fall with 6500 first-year students – six percent more than last year.

“The hike in population isn’t a surprise,” said Fred Nickner, Mohawk’s Registrar. “As Mohawk has definitely taken their recruitment and admissions effort more seriously.”

Mohawk has recruited 1100 international students this semester alone; many of these students are from China, India and Nigeria.

Much of those recruitment efforts are focused on the college’s advertising cam-paigns like “futuready,” which is displayed around the world.

“It is important to us to bring the world to the college and hopefully the community as well,” said Mohawk’s Communications Director, Jay Robb. “It is important that we make a good first impression and they come here as students and they immigrate here once they’re working professionals.”

To make the move to Canada more at ease, Mohawk provides international education clubs and services that allow students to find others that speak their language.

“If your English is not that good or you don’t understand the teacher, they can help

you,” said Balqee Awan, a Mohawk College student from Pakistan. “I like that Mohawk has many students from my culture who understand.”

Nickner said the admissions effort coupled with economic trends explain why the numbers keep climbing every year.

Photo: Wade McKenzie

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Catching up with Aminu BelloMike BlackIgnite Sports

Last spring, Aminu Bello helped the Mountaineers var-sity basketball team win their first ever national title. Half of a year later, the now-graduated Bello still struggles to realize just

how amazing the entire experience was.

“It’s been so crazy busy that I didn’t really have much time to reflect,” says Bello. “In my mind still it hasn’t really sunk it yet. Just trying to progress with life and take that next step.”

Now living and working in Edmonton, Bello is taking on the challenge of living in a new city and dealing with the changes it has brought.

“It’s different in a lot of ways; a complete new lifestyle. When I was in school, I was living at home and in my comfort zone in terms of my family around. Now I’m in a new city and don’t really know many people out here so it’s definitely a change of environment.”

Despite being in a new city and working

for a living, Bello is still finding time to enjoy the sport he left such an imprint on at Mohawk.

“I live in Edmonton but work in Wetaski-win, which is like 50 kilometres away, so I’m commuting quite a bit so its kind of taking away my time to be active in the gym and stuff. So joining men’s leagues and connecting with other people in Ed-monton, it kind of gave me an opportunity to meet people here.”

Brian Jonker, a former mentor of Bello and coach of the Mohawk Varsity men’s Basket-ball team praised the young man not only for his contributions on the court, but for his personality and strength off the court.

“He’s extremely in-telligent. He doesn’t do anything without thinking everything through,” Coach Jonker stated. “He is generally just a very nice person and an extremely hard worker.”

“I would wish him all the best but I know he’s going to have success in whatever he does in life.”

Aminu Bello receives his OCAA athlete of the year award.

Photo courtesy of Mohawk College

Almost mercifully, the 2012 season for the Toronto Blue Jays is over. It did, however, end on a good note, with a three-game sweep of the Minnesota Twins. The Jays finished the season with a record of 73-89, good for fourth in the American League East division.

Their record means they finished 20 games out of a wild card spot, and 22 games behind the first-place Yankees. It also means Canada’s baseball team hasn’t made the playoffs since repeating as World Series champions in 1993.

Let the dissection begin. Why did the Blue Jays struggle so mightily? Usually, fans are quick to point out the Jays play in a division with two of the highest spenders in Major League Baseball, but the Boston Red Sox finished behind the Blue Jays in the standings, making that argument invalid.

Anyone who followed the Jays or baseball in general, knows Toronto was bitten by a swarm of injury bugs. The Jays finished the season with 12 players on the injured list, including Jose Bautista, pitchers Kyle Drabek, Sergio Santos, and Dustin McGowan. Brandon Morrow, J.P. Arencibia, and Canadian Brett Lawrie also missed time this season.

Taking the injuries into account, do the Toronto Blue Jays get a free pass? All teams deal with injuries, but what happened to the Jays this year is almost unprecedented.

Should fans be more forgiving of the team for their struggles and welcome them back next year with open arms? Or is it the exact opposite?

Are fans more likely to be just as disappointed with the team’s performance?

Regardless of who’s in the line-up, the players are still being paid handsomely to play baseball, so fans should hold them accountable, right?Bello won the OCAA championship with Mohawk in 2011.

Photo courtesy of Mohawk College

Black and Blue JaysDiego FlamminiIgnite Sports

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Say It, Play It, Pay It Forward!

Charley Johnson, Head of the global Pay it Forward Foundation, and Trever Arthur, Vice President of the Mohawk College Pay it Forward SOS Group.

Connie Smith was the emcee for the evening.

Above: The Mohawk College Pay it Forward SOS Group.

Below: Charley Johnson, Head of the global Pay it Forward Foundation, and Stephanie Slye, President of Mohawk College PIF.

Pay it Forward SOS Group Vice President Trever Arthur, Composer of the Pay it Forward song Brian Asselin, and Pay it Forward SOS President, Stephanie Slye.

Mayor, Bob Bratina, presents the proclamation for a Pay it Forward Day on behalf of Ted McMeekin.

All Photos: Kara Wilson

Head of the Global Pay it Forward Foundation, Charley Johnson, spoke about the simplicity and importance of the movement.

Leon’s Furniture paid their associates to volunteer at the event.

Mohawk’s first Pay It Forward event - All developed, presented and directed by Mohawk College Graduates and Students.

Ken Daultrey, Pay It Forward SOS Entertainment Coordinator and Sound Engineer.

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Hunter Valentine’s drummer may have been on crutches, but that didn’t stop her from playing a sold out show at Hamil-ton’s Casbah Lounge. Instead of cancelling shows after she suffered a sprained right ankle, Laura Petracca practiced her kick drum parts with her left foot in the van using a pillow. Hunter Valentine bring this level of dedication to everything they do, and this is why they’re quickly developing a rabid fan base.

The girl-punk band’s participation in Showtime’s reality show, The Real L Word, has certainly been a part of their suc-cess. The program follows several lesbian women as they go about their daily lives. Hunter Valentine starred in the third sea-son.

“We were strapped with mics every day for three months straight,” Petracca said. “You’re eating dinner and you have to pre-tend there aren’t eight people in the side-lines of your house.”

The show gave the band the opportunity to be themselves for the world to see. The producers even filmed some of Hunter Valentine’s concerts for use on the show. Lead singer Kiyomi McCloskey says the

experience had a profound effect on the band’s musical career.

“It’s affected our experience with fans. We’ve been selling out a lot of venues that we used to not pull that many people to, and it’s been a really positive experience,” she said.

Hunter Valentine are openly gay. Through their music and personal correspondence with fans, they continually try to encour-age young people to be who they are with-out fearing judgment.

“It’s always been a part of our job to en-courage young girls to play music rather than carry their boyfriends’ guitars,” Mc-Closkey says. “It’s really important to be a positive influence within the Queer com-munity and within the music community.” Petracca echoes these sentiments.

“As much as you can, you have to be your-self,” she says. “By pretending that you’re not or feeling like you’re accommodating other people because they don’t under-stand is only gonna make this harder for everybody else. We have to shake the world and be strong as a team.”

Music with a message

The Catcher in the Rye, To Kill a Mocking Bird, The Diary of Anne Frank, and The Kite Runner: these are all books that have been banned at some point in countries across the globe. This week is the an-nual celebration of the freedom to read, ‘Banned Books Week’. Libraries and book-stores draw attention to censorship and encourage people to open their minds to banned books.

“Banning doesn’t happen much in Canada anymore. Libraries tend to be protective of intellectual freedom. It’s not supporting banning books, it’s more bringing peoples awareness to the fact that books are being challenged and why they are being chal-lenged,” said Mohawk College’s collection and access management librarian Cynthia Williamson.

According to the American Library As-sociation (ALA), ‘Banned Books Week’ brings together entire communities, librar-ians, booksellers, publishes, journalists, teachers, and readers of all types.

“It happens more in public school and it is often fiction. I used to work in a Catholic high school and we had to be careful of what we put on the shelf. I remember I wanted to do a freedom to read display and the principal had said ‘no, you can’t do that, we practice censorship here,’” Wil-liamson said.

Although censorship and banning books does not happen as often in Canada as it does in other countries, it still exists. ‘Banned Books Week’ is a movement to support awareness.

According to the Freedom of Expression committee, Banned Books Week encour-ages people to think about and reaffirm their commitment to intellectual freedom, which is guaranteed to them under the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms.

Censorship in the spotlight

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Photo: Noah Salo

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Hunter Valentine guitarist Kiyomi McCloskey performs at the Casbah

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Hamilton’s entertainment and convention venues are getting an overhaul after coun-cil voted unanimously Tuesday that Hamil-ton Place and Copps Coliseum will be run by Global Spectrum and Live Nation, two entertainment industry giants, while Peter Marcanti and The Carmen’s Group will take control of the convention centre.

City council first had talks about the switch back in 2010, when Hamilton En-tertainment and Convention Facilities (HECFI) reported they needed $11.6 mil-lion in subsidies to stay functional.

“In the early 2000s we started targeting a hopeful opportunity to do business with the city of Hamilton, they issued an RRSP but it never went anywhere,” said Frank Russo, senior vice-president of Global Spectrum.

Russo also said they are going to invest half a million dollars in capital improvements to upgrade the facility for more revenue generating events and are looking forward to working closely with Carmens in a co

operative effort on the convention centre.

Hamilton City Councilor Jason Farr says although nothing will be finalized until the first or second week of February 2013, as a city we can expect to see more shows and quality productions in the downtown core.

“It’s also good for the ongoing vitality and rejuvenation of what we’re already experi-encing in Hamilton’s downtown, so if we

The curtains will soon fall for HECFI

Photo: Wade McKenzie

Jason Collett’s fifth studio album, Reckon, has strong political messages in nearly every song.

Many of the songs were written around 2008, during the most recent economic crisis. The album expresses a kind of soli-darity with the current Occupy Movement, and Collett doesn’t act ashamed of the po-litical messages he’s chosen to send.

“It seems politics are unavoidable if you choose to write about or engage with the world in front of you. I didn’t set out to make a record with these overtones, but neither did I try to stop it. I just did my best to avoid the shrill rhetoric that makes most political songwriting unlistenable,“ Collett wrote on his website.The first track, “Pacific Blue” offers a

can have more tourists come to the city to see the shows or take part in Carmens conventions then it benefits the city as a whole,” Farr said.

Peter Marcanti and The Carmens Group have plans to build a 44-storey hotel com-plete with 440 rooms, 150 condo units and three restaurants. The Carmens Group has chosen five possible locations for the de-velopment.

Wade McKenzieIgnite Entertainment

groovy pop melody depicting a depress-ing trip across a poor, struggling Canada. The album is about the absence of ethics as much as it is about the dire state of the economy. The songs express a worry about the everyday Canadian, and understand-ing of their stressful, sad times. The ironic sing-along feel returns on songs like “I Wanna Rob a Bank.”

“I wanna TKO of the CEO. I wanna fill my

tank. I wanna rob a bank,” Collett sings. A 45-year-old father of four living in Canada, Collett has toured the nation throughout the economic collapse. The juxtaposition of Collett’s obvious rage over the current dire economical conditions with the laid-back way he delivers his lyr-ics give this album a lethargic quality.

The final track, “When the War Came Home” brings the album to a tender close, drenched in the disdain that is felt throughout the record.

“The war left us broke, when the war came home,” Collett murmurs over twanging, disheartened guitar chords.

Collett combines his nonchalance, catchy guitar riffs and frustrations to create an album that will have you singing along with him and asking yourself how you are supposed to feel about the world around you.

Do Ya Reckon?Katie StonemanIgnite Entertaiment

STYLE

201227

September Managing Editor

Joanna Ward

News EditorSteve Spriensma

Sports EditorGlen Cuthbert

Entertainment EditorNoah Salo

Layout EditorTaylor Ablett

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Produced by the Mohawk College Journalism Program

Photo EditorsWade Mckenzie

Anisha Seth

If you’re still rocking shorts to school, you might be in denial.

Check your calendars, ladies. Fall is offi-cially here and once again it’s time to pack away the flip-flops and route through the depths of your closet (almost hitting Nar-nia here, but not quite) to find your scarves and skinny jeans.

If we have any-thing in common, your dresser’s drawers are stuffed to the brim with clothes, but you’ve got “nothing” to wear. And if we really have some-thing in common, you’re a broke student that can’t quite afford a thousand dollar shopping spree for the season’s trendiest new gear. It sucks, I know.

Luckily for both of us, I’ve combed through autumn’s best and worst looks to compile a list of affordable, versa-tile and stylish pieces to update your ward-robe. Mix them with old and new clothes for plenty of fresh fall looks.

The Peplum Blouse: One of Fall 2012’s biggest trends. This classy yet cool style highlights the hips for some serious curve and adds a little “oomph” to an otherwise plain top.

The Leather Skirt: No longer just for mo-torcycle chicks. Embroidered, preppy cuts, or the classic mini… The leather skirt is a staple this season, whatever your style. Again, they are a simple piece that can be mixed with anything in your closet.

The “Goes-With-Everything” Blazer: Every girl needs one. Blazers have made a huge comeback in the past year, coming in every colour, pattern and shape you can imagine. They go with just about anything, can be dressed up or down and look great on all body types.

The Army Jacket: Take on the brisk weather like a trooper. The olive green shade is per-fect for Fall and looks effortlessly cool. This jacket is so versatile—Wear it with a skirt and tights or a hoodie

and boots.

The Bold Necklace: The bigger, brighter and more obnoxious, the better. This is a statement accessory that can be worn as a necklace or décor to the collar of your fa-vourite button-down. Can you say “eye candy”?

Photo: Sarah AitchisonIgnite Style Reporter Courtney MacDonald models the latest in fall fashion.

Fashion that falls into your budgetCourtney MacDonaldIgnite Style

For information on where to buy, check out Ignitenews.ca