The Cadre

The official home of The Cadre, UPEI's Student News Empire.

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You Park Like An Asshole: The Finale

By Bob Deziel

Things are wrapping up this semester at UPEI. There is only one more week of classes after the four day break, and then it’s onto exams, term papers, and the traditional chili lunch at the Chaplaincy centre. Today is also the final day of official publications for the Cadre this year. Since I had promised another instalment of the series to the editors before the end of the semester, I whipped up a fresh batch of hate earlier this week. To write these articles I usually go to the UPEI parking lots over lunch, or snap pictures of cars when I’m in Charlottetown doing other business. Often, though, people send me pictures to [email protected]. To those of you who have sent it pictures, I offer my sincere thanks. You have made these rants easier for me to write. But, with offering an e-mail to the public you risk receiving unkind e-mail. So, I’m introducing a new segment to my article this week: hatemail and responses to hatemail. Anyhow, on to the pictures:

Once again we find ourselves in the CARI parking lot. I have highlighted in yellow where the parking line actually is, meaning that all three of these cars are outside the line (the two silver cars and the Nissan Sentra), are all blocking the flow of traffic.

“I don’t support plan B (look at the window sticker)! And to protest, I am going to park in the middle of this crosswalk until this issue is resolved!”

Whoa buddy! Wouldn’t want to have a knick on your mid-priced compact car! You go ahead, take up two spots in a relatively busy parking lot. You’re worth it, unlike the rest of us scum.

This picture was a twofer. I’d like to imagine this situation having happened such that the Jetta came in and took up the two spots, and then the GMC came in and was super pissed that the Jetta stole two spots. So, in retaliation the GMC parked in a no-parking spot directly beside the Jetta.

This was sent in by my buddy Mitch. This was in the CARI parking lot after a snowfall and before all the lines were made clear by the plows. The cars in the middle lane are completely blocked in by the cars in front and behind them.

Another one of those situations where there was a faint snowfall the night before and the lines were not made all that clear. However, everyone seems to have received the memo about figuring out what to do in this situation, except for one…

I wanted to get multiple angles of this car just to show how badly parked it was. There was also a folded note under the car wiper blade (seen in picture 1), but since it wasn’t mine I declined to remove it and read it. I'd like to imagine it was an apology letter.

Do people just not see these enormous words highlighting “No Parking”? STOP DOING THIS; THIS IS THE CARI PARKING LOT. I HAVE NEVER SEEN IT FULL ON A WEEKDAY. YOU ARE JUST LAZY.

This one is my favourite. Again, it’s almost like you can see their thought process: “Well, I don’t want to park over the gigantic ‘no parking’ text… I know! I’ll park on the grass next to a fire hydrant BESIDE the ‘no parking’ text! Genius!

And finally, hatemail!

One reader, named sickaspam at gmail.com writes:

Subject: speaking of assholes…­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­

Message:  ...I don't see any pictures of the farmers market where all those other assholes parked ???? Keep up the good work, moron.

First off, you use four question marks even though you’re not asking me a question, and you’re using an alias. Are you by chance a frequent poster in the Guardian comments section? Secondly, I highly suspect that you were featured in one of the articles and you’re indignant about it. I have received legitimate complaints about the cars that I choose for display. You, however, seem like a bit of a whiner, upset that their car was chosen when all of those other cars at the market were even bigger assholes. Tough tamales, learn how to park. No one sends me pictures of cars at the market, I don’t park there (except on Saturdays), and so I rarely get pictures from that area. Also, there are no parking lines (and barricades) at the market, it is a giant free-for-all. So, unless it’s plainly obvious it makes for a shitty picture. But hey, who am I to question the sense of humour of sickaspam? Anyhow, to my other readers I’m glad you have enjoyed the articles. I’ll see you all next year.

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Panthers Curling Proud To Represent UPEI At Nationals

By Jennifer Brenton

( From left to right: Veronica Smith, Jane DiCarlo, Emily Gray and Aleya Quilty with coach Paul Smith. Photo: G. Wycherly Photography. ) The UPEI women’s curling team recently flew to Kamloops, British Columbia to compete at the 2013 Canadian University Curling Championship. The ladies won the right to compete at the National level after capturing the AUS banner back in February. UPEI finished the round robin 2-5, opening up the tournament 0-2 with losses to Thompson River and Alberta, before a victorious 11-6 third draw against the Western Mustangs. Unfortunately, the Panthers could not find any momentum after that, falling in their remaining 3 games 7-6, 8-2 and 8-7, respectively. UPEI ended the round robin with a 12-4 win against Guelph, and finished 6th overall in the standings. Third Jane DiCarlo spoke to The Cadre about representing the University at a National level. “It was an incredible experience; we had a lot of really good games against great players," said DiCarlo. "Representing UPEI was very rewarding, and the event was very well done.“ While the season may not have ended the way the women hoped, these Panthers can more than take solace in knowing that they won the AUS title as a team comprised entirely of first years. All four women will return to the ice for UPEI next season.

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NHL Recap: Calgary Moves Down, Iginla Moves Out

By Ally Harris

( Shh, don't tell anyone: We're on a five-game win streak. (Photo: Gerry Kahrmann / PNG ) The NHL season is winding down almost as quickly as the school year, and we’re now less than a month away from the end of the regular season. The trade deadline is next week, and teams are preparing to begin their playoff runs. Pittsburgh and Chicago still sit atop their respective Conferences. Pittsburgh’s continuing win streak gives them a five point advantage over second place Montreal, and Chicago is five points safe over Anaheim. Five of the seven Canadian teams currently sit in playoff position. For the final time this season, let’s see how they’re doing: TOR – 18-12-4 The Maple Leafs have not made the playoffs since the 2003-2004 season, but there is a chance that they could break their drought this season. The team currently sits 6th in the Eastern Conference standings and have 7 points more than the Islanders in 9th place. They picked up 3 points in two games against Boston this week – including one victory, which was their first over the Bruins in nearly two years – and then added another win over Florida on Tuesday. The Leafs will look for more important points when they face Carolina on Thursday night. OTT – 18-9-6 Ottawa started off the week with a loss to Boston, but woke up to pick up important two victories over Tampa Bay and New Jersey. Ottawa is looking to make the playoffs despite skating without some of their keys players – however, they have 15 games left to play and are a mighty nine points clear of 9th place. The Sens play next against the New York Rangers on Thursday.  MTL – 21-7-5 Montreal and Boston have been swapping positions in the Northeast Division all week, but the Canadiens currently hold top spot after a shootout win over the Bruins last night. The team will soon be looking to clinch a playoff spot, which will be a relief after coming dead last in the Conference last season. The Canadiens picked up a win over the New York Islanders on Thursday, but followed with two losses against Buffalo and Pittsburgh on Saturday and Tuesday, respectively. They play again on Saturday against the New York Rangers. WPG – 18-14-2 Winnipeg has built up a nice six point cushion at the top of the Southeast Division, and currently sits 3rd in the East. The Jets' lead was hindered slightly this week after back-to-back home losses to Washington, but they came back with wins over Tampa Bay and Carolina. The team is looking for its first postseason berth since 2005-2006. They face off against the Penguins tonight. EDM – 12-13-7 With 16 games remaining, Edmonton is currently sitting on the outside looking in, way back in 13th. It doesn’t help that the team has just come off a three-game losing streak, only snapping it Tuesday night with a 3-0 win over St. Louis. Time is running out for the Oilers to turn it around and make the playoffs for the first time since the 2005-2006 season. They will look to start by picking up two points against Columbus tonight. CGY – 13-15-4 It’s going to be a tall order for Calgary to make the playoffs – although they sit just 6 points shy of the eighth and final playoff spot, they would have to leapfrog 6 teams in order to get there. With 16 games left, it is certainly possible, but the Flames will have to write their own script. They lost to Nashville, Columbus, and Chicago this week, but were also able to pick up victories over St. Louis on Sunday and Colorado last night. The Flames will also have to adjust to life without their captain Jarome Iginla: he was a healthy scratch for last night’s game and it was announced this morning that he had been traded to Pittsburgh for two prospects and a first-round draft pick. VAN – 18-9-6 Vancouver is the highest-standing Canadian team in the Western Conference, and has been alternating the lead of the Northwest Division with Minnesota. Minnesota is on a 7-game win streak and retook the lead last night, but the Canucks are also on a 5-game winning streak, earning victories over St. Louis, Phoenix, LA, Colorado and Columbus over that stretch. The Canucks have a history of disappointing exits from the playoffs, something they’ll hope to rectify this year. If you need another excuse to procrastinate as final exams approach, here are some games to keep an eye out for: Anaheim-Chicago on Friday, Toronto-Ottawa and Vancouver-Edmonton on Saturday, and Calgary-Edmonton on Monday.

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No New Money, No Operating Grant Cuts For UPEI In Provincial Budget

By Travis Gordon

( Provincial Finance Minister Wes Sheridan. Image via CBC ) UPEI’s operating grant will not be cut in the 2013-2014 fiscal year. The news came with the release of the 2013-2014 provincial budget, announced yesterday in the Legislature by Minister of Finance Wes Sheridan. Though Sheridan’s budget address shed little light on the state of the UPEI’s funding, the numbers – or, as they are known, ‘Estimates’ – gave a much clearer picture. UPEI’s core operating grant will remain at the same level as fiscal year 2012-2013: $30,269,600. The University will not be receiving any new money from the latest provincial budget, a fact which is cause for immediate concern. President Ala Adb-El-Aziz recently announced that UPEI is falling short by an estimated $5.5 million, and another $3.5 million at the Atlantic Veterinary College. By law, the University is not allowed to run a deficit. This means that, despite no cuts to its currently operating budget, it will be forced to make significant cuts to meet the estimated $9 million shortfall. This could mean cuts to programs, courses, and sessional lecturers, as well as rising tuition. “We are acutely aware of the impact a 0% increase has on the University budget, and what that means in terms of student supports, course offerings and tuition,” said UPEISU President Kate VanGerven. “However, we’re also looking at this provincial budget as a confirmation of the importance of the Student Union Councils decision to not only strengthen, but increase, our provincial lobbying activities.” UPEI’s restricted funding – funding provided for specific purposes – will rise by a little over $45,000.  $6,375,300 will be allocated, compared to last fiscal year’s allocation of $6,328,500. What does this all mean? UPEI's provincial operating grant will remain the same for the 2013-2014 year, despite declining enrolment and increased costs.  As previously reported, the introduction of HST alone will cost the University over $400,000. Throughout the next year, total government expenditure increases will have a 2% ceiling, and revenue is projected to see a 2.7% increase. All government departments are expected to hold spending levels stable, except for Health PEI and the Department of Community Services and Seniors. The 2013-2014 budget deficit tops $58.9 million; however, the current provincial government expects to be back in surplus territory by 2015-2016.

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The Cadre Reviews: Someday, Someday, Maybe

By Olivia Robinson

( Image via amazon.ca ) Lauren Graham of Gilmore Girls and Parenthood fame is set to release her debut novel, entitled Someday, Someday, Maybe, on April 30th. Though it may not seem all that strange for an actress to write a book, what makes Graham’s endeavor different is that she has elected to write a young adult novel -- a far cry from the celebrity cookbooks, memoirs, and self-help guides which seem ever-present in bookstores today. To my surprise, Graham graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in English Literature from Bernard College of Colombia University, and suddenly her writing seemed to have more potential. The synopsis of the novel is, admittedly, far from intriguing or ingenious. It depicts yet another young woman moving to New York City to try to make it big on Broadway, following in the steps of her "idols of Diane Keaton and Meryl Steep." There's a cute boy, of course, best friends, and hair product mishaps. Regardless, the power of Graham's name and her long-standing television fame will certainly result in high sales for her debut novel -- and as it turns out, they may be warranted. Someday, Someday, Maybe follows the tale of an aspiring actress named Franny who has moved to New York and given herself a three year deadline to make it big on Broadway. Franny, who is named after the character in J.D. Salinger’s famous short story Franny and Zooey, lives with her best friends Dan and Jane in a run-down apartment. However, though the premise of the story seems basic, Graham’s seemingly effortless wit and ability to write snappy dialogue have the words leaping off the pages. Jam-packed with cultural references (Hello, Dolly anyone?), rants that rival the famous Lorelai Poptart Rant, and hilarious day planner doodles drawn by Graham herself in between all the chapters, Someday, Someday, Maybe had me laughing from beginning to end. The dash of romance, some experiences based on Graham’s real life as an actress, and the wonderful parallels between Graham’s Franny and Salinger’s Franny made for a truly entertaining read. So if you have been missing the wonderful show with the slogan “Life’s Short, Talk Fast”, or if you’re looking for a great, light, and amusing summer read, Someday, Someday, Maybe may just suit the bill. Graham's debut novel hits stores April 30th.

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Canadian Soccer Roundup: The League's Best

By Christopher McCollum

( Montreal fans have a lot to be happy about this season. Image via Peter McCabe / Canadian Press ) Vancouver finally had some weaknesses exposed, but Montreal continued to cemented its status as a true contender after taking their fourth straight win to start the season. Montreal Impact: 4-0-0 The Impact put in a clinical effort against visiting New York this past weekend, notching another victory and their second shutout. Marco Di Vaio was the hero again on the counter attack, as Montreal's flawless defensive effort stymied their opponents to preserve the best record in the league so far. Even without their defensive leader Alessandro Nesta, Montreal played a solid team game with incredibly well disciplined defence and a deadly counter attack. Patrice Bernier's performances have been getting better and better, and after a great game against New York, he's beginning to look like an All Star. Montreal's six goals to date have been scored by five players, and their +4 goal differential is second best in the league behind the Galaxy. They are one of only two undefeated teams left in the league along with LA, but have played one more game than the Galaxy. Next week Montreal goes on the road to Kansas City to face the struggling mid-west giants. Vancouver: 2-0-1 The Whitecaps came back from their week off and blew a first half lead to take their first loss of the season. Despite a beautiful Darren Mattocks goal, the team's defence was not able to hold off the surging Dynamo attack in the second half, and they finished with a 2-1 loss.  The game revealed some of the weaknesses of the Whitecaps team, namely that while they're incredibly athletic, they are lacking the killer instinct to get goals on the opportunities they are given. They must improve their scoring efficiency, but it was a good sign from Mattocks that he may be finding his shooting touch. Next week Vancouver will be in Los Angeles to play Chivas USA, a surprisingly good team this season, despite all odds being against them. Toronto FC: 1-0-2 Toronto had the week off, giving more time for Justin Braun and Luis Silva to return from injury. The two should be able to help Robert Earnshaw on offense, and could make Toronto a semi-dangerous team as the season wears on. Next week Toronto is back in action as they host the defending champion Galaxy. 

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Dr. Don Desserud Stepping Down As Dean Of Arts

By Lindsay Handren

( Dr. Don Desserud. Photo: The Cadre. ) Dr. Don Desserud is stepping down from his position as Dean of Arts at the University of Prince Edward Island. Originally from Bathurst, New Brunswick, Dr. Desserud has a BA and MA from Dalhousie and a PhD in Political Science from the University of Western Ontario. He was a former professor of Political Science, director of the Urban and Community Studies Institute, and associate Dean of Graduate Studies at UNB Saint John prior to accepting the Deanship at UPEI. Dr. Desserud began his term as Dean of Arts on July 1, 2011. His resignation from the position has already been tendered and accepted by the University. The campus community appears to have been left largely in the dark on this internal shift; however, faculty members aware of Dr. Desserud's sudden resignation vocalized support of his decision to step down. "He is making the decision that he believes to be in his best interests, and in the best interests of this University," said one faculty member, commenting on the condition of anonymity. "As far as I know, he will continue to be an asset to UPEI within the department of Political Science." Though an official announcement has yet to be made, all signs point to Dr. Desserud continuing his career at UPEI under the title of Professor of Political Science. This would be good news for the department, which has relied increasingly on sessional lecturers in recent years. UPEI will now look to hire a new Dean of Arts in the coming months.

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Spoof Video Goes Viral: Local Man Merges Star Wars With Conspiracy Theory

By Bethany Koughan

( Photo: Mikey Wasnidge ) Charlottetown hepcat Graham Putnam recently came into internet fame when a spoof video he created went viral. The video, which follows the template of the 9/11 “truther” video “Loose Change”, presents “an examination of some questionable events and circumstances leading up to the destruction of the Death Star”. After only two days online, the video had been featured on such sites as theforce.net, metronews.ca, and mtv.ca, at the three day mark Putnam was contacted for an interview with Backstory Magazine. Four days in, and the video has been shared by thousands, including George Takei, best know for his role as Hikaru Sulu, in the television series Star Trek. At the time of publication, the video had over 1.8 million views. The Cadre sat down with Graham to chat about his process.

-- Cadre: Would you consider yourself a conspiracy theorist? Graham: Iʼm a bit of a recovered ʻtrutherʼ, ten years ago when the issue was heavily discussed and people were searching for answers, I was too... But I donʼt buy into the propaganda one way or another, when it comes to the politics of it all. Iʼm not sold on the official story, but Iʼm also not totally convinced by ʻLoose Changeʼ. That experience helps with a project like this because it shows how easy it is to manipulate a story, and also sends a message not to be swayed by absurd facts presented convincingly.” Cadre: What experience does it take to craft such a masterpiece? Graham: I started fooling around with editing software 11 or 12 years ago, I began helping friends and eventually got some assisting editing jobs at low end T.V. productions. Iʼve also developed comedic sensibilities over the years through stand-up and improv experience -- pair that with weed and science fiction and you get an interesting mix. Cadre: Did you collaborate on this with anyone, or was it a solo mission? Graham: I ran the idea by a couple friends, and Eric Fortune helped with some audio recordings, but it was mostly a personal project. Cadre: How long did it take you? Graham: The idea has been in my mind for a few years, but once I decided to really do it, it took about four days to write it, make notes, manipulate some film to look a certain way ... I wanted to present it as if I was a loner from the star wars universe who had taken it upon myself to collect this footage and put it together, so I added a grainy/security camera/ cellphone effects to some of the film. Cadre: How would you respond to critics who think you have too much free time on your hands? Graham: I think this is a great way to spend free time. I feel bad they have less free time, and would love to see what creative works they produce when they do. Cadre: What was your inspiration? Graham: There might have been a seed planted when I first saw Clerks. Thereʼs a standout conversation where they discuss the injustice of the construction workers being blown up on the Death Star. Other than that it just kind of popped in my head and stuck. The title “Lukeʼs Change” just struck me as I was uploading it, but was so fitting. I think that has really contributed to the response, and the fact that itʼs gone viral. Cadre: Any hopes for the future of “Lukeʼs Change”? Graham: Figure out how the monetization on youtube works (chuckles). The response has been pretty inspiring, before this happened it seemed a bit less tangible. Iʼve been involved in a number of different web series (Jiggers, Profile PEI, Sketch 22, Bunker Down, etc.) and we were happy to get like 7000 views total, so I wasnʼt expecting much more than that. Cadre: Final thoughts? Graham: I do acknowledge a couple mispronunciations and factual errors, however, even though the mistakes were honest I feel theyʼre fitting to the video Iʼm parodying. Also: I know itʼs alderaan, not alderbaran. BUT alderbaran is a real star in our galaxy, often referenced in Star Trek, and Iʼve been confusing the two for years. Check out Graham's video, "Luke's Change", here.

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Difficult Dialogues: Transgendered Individuals In Contemporary Society

By Fallon Mawhinney

( Image: Jeff Green/The Toronto Star ) The Atlantic Veterinary College building recently played host to an educational evening on the lives and difficulties of transgender people. The event was hosted by UPEI’s Rainbow Alliance, UPEI Action Committee on Sexual and Gender Diversity, UPEI Women's Studies Department, and the PEI Human Rights Commission. The evening opened with two guest speakers, the first of whom was Tom Hilton, a Masters of Education student working on a Law Foundation of PEI-funded contract at the Human Rights Commission. Hilton works within PEI’s education system to ensure human rights are equally given to all people. Gregory Howard, Executive Director of the PEI Human Rights Commission, also spoke on the need for the change of PEI’s laws regarding transgender people. A thirty-minute documentary called “Toilet Training” was shown, exploring the issue of public washrooms and the difficulties caused by today’s binary sexual system for people who identify as transgendered. While the film was by no means a high-budget production, it was informative and eye-opening, highlighting a serious issue in contemporary society that the majority populace continue to turn their back on. Out-of-place and bullied in either bathroom, some transgender individuals have developed serious health problems from not being able to use the washroom on a regular basis. Today, many human rights and transgendered rights groups are advocating for gender-neutral washrooms. Gender-neutral washrooms do currently exist on several Canadian university and college campuses, including Dalhousie University, the Nova Scotia Community College, University of Regina, and University of Victoria. To end the evening, four volunteers shared their own personal experiences and received questions from the audience in a panel discussion. Included on the panel was co-organizer Jay Jonah, who was born female but now identifies as a male. There was no shortage of interest, and the evening went well past its scheduled stoppage time questions from professors, students, and visitors to campus alike. Questions focused on the issue of labels, and whether or not they hurt, harm, educate, or confuse.  The event was a well-needed reminder of the issues that transgender people face each day. Professionally organized and covering powerful and eye-opening material, Difficult Dialogues was a resounding success.

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Yukon Poet Clea Roberts Visits UPEI

By Fallon Mawhinney

( Image via Fallon Mawhinney ) Clea Roberts, an up-and-coming poetess from Whitehorse, Yukon, graced the UPEI Faculty Lounge last week. The visit was part of a tour to promote her first poetry book, Here Is Where We Disembark. Roberts herself is a quiet, happy woman, and her poetry seems to reflect that personality. She writes to embody the spirit of the natural Yukon, and to capture the heart of the Yukon gold rush. Roberts described one of her favourite poems in her new book, entitled “Transmutations,” with great affection. “It is as much a love letter to winter as it is an orientation guide,” she said, speaking about her first winter experience in the Yukon. She described her poetry as a way to find her place in the vast territory. Roberts’ poetry has been recognized by nomination for, and receiving of, multiple awards. However, she is most honoured by a nomination for the Gerald Lampert award, a prestigious award for the best first book of poetry by a Canadian poet. Born and raised in Vancouver, British Columbia, and haven penned lines such as “The empty thuds of mittens meeting in applause,” and “held the good story of wood smoke in your mouth,” she is in many ways the embodiment of Canadian poetry. Speaking to budding poets at UPEI, Roberts advised to make reading, writing, and listening to poetry a priority. She herself struggles to remember this in her busy life with a young family and full-time job, as well as her time-consuming passion for poetry. Roberts is in the process of completing a second book of poetry, which she anticipates will be ready for release this coming Fall.

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UPEISU Council Recap: Whiteout

By Alex Johnston

( Image: Hannes Grobe/AWI ) Sunday night marked the third Council meeting in as many weeks, an unusual occasion for Student Union, and it showed -- the meeting was comparatively brief, light-hearted, and controversy-free. The provincial budget drops this week, and a Budget Town Hall will be held this Wednesday in AVC’s Lecture Theatre A from 11:30-12:30. Come take a gander. UPEI’s first annual Mental Health Week, which finished its rounds last Friday, was “really awesome”, according to VP Activities Jon Millington. Participation was much higher than had been anticipated, with pins and stickers circulating throughout campus all week. Wednesday saw a group of about 25 high school students sitting in on various classes – much to the chagrin of one psychology class that wrote a midterm under the judging stares, real or imagined, of the visitors. A small pack of puppies even made an appearance for Thursday, which has received some very positive feedback in spite of the lower-than-expected number of furry friends. After finally following up on its decision to deny free parking to UPEI motorists, the Farmers’ Market is “looking for feedback”. Contact VP Communications Chelsea Merry if you’ve got something to say. The Cadre’s website had over 6500 unique pageviews last month, a statistic which greatly exceeds that number of people that actually attend UPEI. Go us! Council went in-camera for a discussion surrounding New Student Orientation Policy. While no official details have been released, rumours have been flying as of late regarding the future direction of the annual program, and who will oversee it in years to come. The meat of the rest of the meeting concerned clarifications to UPEI’s Storm Closures Policy, and working out the kinks in the current document. As of now, if administration is unsure of a closing time by 7 AM on a potential storm day, a delay will be put into effect until 11, with a further announcement at 10. If campus closes, the Student Centre will be left open for students and faculty to “seek refuge.” Some councillors raised concerns over non-abidement of the current policy by faculty members, as some profs have allegedly gone on with their classes, campus closure be damned. Faculty cannot decide to close or remain open on its own, and must act in accordance with the rest of campus. Arts Rep. Amy Doyle noted that the “further announcement at 9” for one of the snow days last week did not show on the UPEI website until half an hour later, and that the website for Charlottetown radio station Hot 105.5 should not have this information before the university’s. The UPEISU plans to continue working in accordance with the University to resolve issues with the current Storm Closure document. Overheard in council: “We disposed of it in a legitimate way.”

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The Cadre Reviews: On Personhood

By Olivia Robinson

( Image via Exclaim ) Halifax-based artist Gianna Lauren is set to release her second recording, On Personhood, on April 2nd. The six song EP was put together by musicians Justin Nace, J.J. Ipsen and Marshall Bureau, and engineered by Andy Magoffin. On Personhood is a unique record, from its mysterious album cover, to the fact that its tracks were recorded in the House of Miracles, a 19th century horse-stable-turned-recording-studio in Cambridge, Ontario. Its six quiet, soulful tracks are individually just as unique as the place in which they were recorded. Lauren’s gentle vocals give the songs a peaceful, calming quality that is often difficult to achieve without seeming morose -- Lauren, however, makes it seem effortless. Even though the songs were recorded in Ontario, the lyrics draw on the artist's Maritime roots. “Anchor Down”, for example, uses a storm and anchors as a metaphor for love. Beautiful lyrics permeate all of the songs on the record. “Power Failure”, which is my favourite song on the record, is particularly potent. Overall, On Personhood is a soulful interpretation of love and life that many people will be able to relate to. It is a perfect record to listen to during a quiet weekend of studying or as background music for a date, as most of the tracks are perfectly attuned for a slow dance. Learn more about Gianna Lauren and to listen to the album's first single,“Trouble”, here.

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Harper Government Releases Eighth Consecutive Federal Budget

By Travis Gordon

( Photo: Adrian Wyld/The Canadian Press ) The Harper government released their eighth consecutive budget yesterday at 5 PM. The budget, which is very much the type that has been expected of Harper's Conservative government, is titled the 'Economic Action Plan 2013', following weeks of advertising under the same brand. This year's budget lays out a framework for balancing the budget by 2015, a much-publicized target for the restoration of federal fiscal balance. The budget also aims to reallocate $500 million dollars from existing federal-provincial labour market agreements into a new program to be called the 'Canada Jobs Grant', designed to provide skills retraining.  The new grant program will provide up to $15,000 per recipient, to be cost-shared between the federal government, the provincial government, and the employer.   Other initiatives include requiring companies who want to fulfill federal government contracts to hire more apprentices, providing money up to 5,000 more paid internships for post-secondary graduates, and cracking down on foreign tax havens to increase general revenues. The budget's projected deficit is $18.7 billion dollars. In a release late Thursday, the province stated that the federal budget would not upset any planned provincial budgetary measures. "In next week's budget, I plan to renew our Island's emphasis on modernizing health care services, building a more effective education system, and improving our long-term economic prospects," said Provincial Treasurer Wes Sheridan. The provincial budget is set to be unveiled on Wednesday, March 27th.

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Canada Drops In United Nations Human Development Index

By Beth Koughan

( Image via Tom Hansen/The Canadian Press ) It was revealed last week that Canada has fallen from the top ten most developed nations, as measured by the United Nations Human Development Index. The index combines data such as income, life expectancy, sustainability, and years of schooling to compare quality of life in each country. The first ever United Nations Human Development Report was released in 1990, and opened with a simple premise which has guided all subsequent Reports: “people are the real wealth of a nation”. Throughout the nineties Canada captured first place a total of eight times. By 2009 Canada had slipped to 4th, and now, four years later the country comes in at 11th, just above South Korea. This seemingly poor performance left many speculating about whether this was a sign of Canadaʼs decline. In response, a spokesman for the report claimed that Canadaʼs performance has not fallen, rather, other countries have developed more quickly. Emerging markets and developing economies are growing at a substantial rate, which Canada canʼt quite match. Professor Amartya Sen, Nobel Laureate in Economics has previously explained the basis of the index. "Human development, as an approach, is concerned with the basic development idea: namely, advancing the richness of human life, rather than the richness of the economy in which human beings live, which is only a part of it." The index was created to provide a more accurate picture of human development than gross domestic product could provide. To put things in perspective, Canadians should know that they enjoy a level of health, education, and income unparalleled in most of the world, and that any top-forty placing indicates a very high level of human development, and a comparatively rich standard of living. When asked for comment, Political Studies professor Dr. Barry Bartmann noted that this does not necessarily indicate a downward trend for Canada, but rather--borrowing a term from Fareed Zakaria--called it: “the rise of ʻthe restʼ.” One area where Canada can look to improve is education. Since 2005 the average years spent in school has remained stagnant at 12.3, lagging behind comparable countries including Australia and The United States.

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NHL Recap: Winnipeg Jetting Into Playoff Position

By Ally Harris

( Winnipeg handed Boston a 3-1 loss to climb six spots in the standings to take over the Southeast Division. Photo: Trevor Hagan / The Canadian Press. ) Now eight weeks into the NHL season, it is becoming increasingly clear which teams will be ready for the playoffs in May. The Pittsburgh Penguins have been grabbing headlines this week, with a victory over Washington on Tuesday extending their winning streak to 10 games. They stole the lead of the Eastern Conference, and have built a 14-point cushion over the New York Rangers, who are second in their division. Don’t expect to see them outside of the top-three in the standings any time soon. Canadian teams have stayed relatively still in the the standings this week, except for one team who has climbed up into a playoff position: TOR – 16-12-2 Toronto is holding on to a playoff position by the skin of its teeth, currently sitting in 6th place in the Eastern Conference. The team broke a five-game winless streak last night, having not won since March 6th. They fell 3-1 to Pittsburgh and 5-4 (SO) to Winnipeg this week, but redeemed themselves with a win over Tampa Bay last night. The Leafs have a chance to pick up some important points tonight when they head to Buffalo. OTT – 16-8-6 The Senators continue to battle through injuries and sit in 5th place in the Eastern Conference, with a 4-point gap over Toronto in 6th. Ottawa won all three of its games this week, facing off against Buffalo, Winnipeg, and the New York Islanders. However, they lost forward Milan Michalek once again, who is out indefinitely after undergoing knee surgery.  MTL – 19-5-5 Montreal was knocked out of first place in the East by the surging Penguins this week, but remain second in the conference, and top of their division. The Canadiens played only two games this week, but picked up three points with a win over New Jersey and an overtime loss to Buffalo. They will be back in action tonight against the Islanders. WPG – 16-12-2 It’s been a great week for Winnipeg, who has moved from 9th in the standings to 3rd after taking the lead of the Southeast Division. The Jets’ upward surge was aided by recent victories over the New York Rangers, Toronto, and Boston, although they lost at the hands of Ottawa in between. Winnipeg has two home games against Washington today and tomorrow, where they will look to finish their week on a high. EDM – 11-11-7 The Oilers played three games this week, but remain in 12th place despite picking up four points. They lost in overtime to Detroit before defeating Nashville on Sunday, but dropped their game against San Jose last night in a shootout. Edmonton now had a couple of days off to rest before playing St. Louis on Saturday. CGY – 11-12-4 Calgary continue to sit way down at 14th place in the tight Western Conference standings, though the team is a mere six points shy of 8th place. The Flames defeated Nashville over the weekend, but lost 4-3 to Dallas on Monday night. They will have a couple of chances to gain some ground over the next couple of days, facing off against Nashville tonight and Columbus tomorrow. VAN – 14-9-6 Vancouver lost its division lead to Minnesota this week, as the Wild have played one less game than the Canucks although the two teams are tied on points. After losses to Detroit and Minnesota, and a victory over St. Louis, the Canucks currently sit in 6th place in the West and will look to snatch the division lead back when they play Phoenix tonight. There are some great games to watch out for over the coming weekend, including: Boston-Ottawa tonight, Vancouver-LA and Boston-Toronto on Saturday, and Philadelphia-Pittsburgh on Sunday.

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The Cadre Reviews: Foolish Blood

By Josh Coles

Three years after their last full-length album, Charlottetown indie rock poster boys Two Hours Traffic are back with Foolish Blood, which dropped officially on February 19.  Foolish Blood is Two Hours Traffic’s first full album without former lead guitar player Alec O’Hanley, who left the band in late 2011. O’Hanley’s departure—about ten years after having founded the band with front man Liam Corcoran—marked the beginning of their first-ever lineup change.  Bassist Andrew MacDonald switched to lead guitar while “North Lakes” front man Nathan Gill took over on bass. With the lineup change came a new, more polished and mature sound.  Foolish Blood lacks the sharp hooks that brought the band national attention years ago with Little Jabs (maybe PEI’s best pop album…ever?), but in its place is a strong rhythm section and lyrics that are notably better than on Territory.  Like the rest of their albums, Foolish Blood has its high and low points.  “Amour Than Amis”, in which the strong rhythm section is most evident, which was released in August and included on the band’s Siren Spell EP, got a lot of well-deserved attention.  Its lyrics are simple and innocent (“we went to the city cinema/we watched a movie made in French/and I made you laugh with my stupid comments”), and the production is great. Based on Twin Peaks heartthrob Audrey Horne, “Audrey” is one of the strongest tracks on the album, and holds a familiar, bright Two Hours Traffic tone throughout.  “I Don’t Want 2 Want U” blends 60’s pop (see: the 60's reincarnated in The Wonders’ 1996 hit “That Thing You Do”) with a bass line straight out of either The Shins’ Chutes Too Narrow or Oh, Inverted World. Again, some songs can be skipped.  Neither “Last Star,” “Adventureland,” nor “Strangers On The Street” carry their weight, but in the end don’t take much away.  Foolish Blood was never going to have the pound for pound hits that Little Jabs had, but it’s a step in the right direction with a more mature, polished sound. However, “Ready For A Look” could have come right off Little Jabs, and as a whole this album could put Two Hours Traffic back on track after the rather unfortunate detour that was Territory. Two Hours Traffic just returned from playing SXSW, and is currently on tour with Saskatchewan band Rah Rah (listen to this band).  They will be playing the following shows this week:

WEDNESDAY - The Casbah , Hamilton ON

THURSDAY - Lee's Palace , Toronto ON

FRIDAY - Divan Orange , Montreal QC

SATURDAY - Zaphod Beeblebrox , Ottawa ON

Their new album, Foolish Blood, can be streamed on their website. 

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UPEI Business Professor Due In Provincial Court

By Travis Gordon

( UPEI Professor Sean Hennessey.  Photo via UPEI. ) UPEI Professor Sean Hennessey, co-author of the Principles of Corporate Finance textbook and former Faculty Director for the Tourism Research Centre at UPEI, is facing trouble with the Canada Revenue Agency. Hennessey is due in court next month pending six charges under the Income Tax Act and three charges under the Excise Act. The charges involved filing false statements and evading the payment of taxes. It is alleged that the Professor failed to make the Canada Revenue Agency aware of over $45,000 in personal income. Hennessey previously came under fire in 2011, when then-Opposition MLA Jim Bagnall made allegations that the province was paying Hennessey personally for work done by the UPEI Tourism Research Centre.  It was alleged that Hennessey set up his own company, also called the Tourism Research Centre, to received those payments. The allegations were refuted by both the province and UPEI. Hennessey is due in court on April 29th.