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

Just hanging aroundLearn where students go to relax.Page 9

New iPhones hit stores

But some students aren't crazy about the new models. Page 8

Rec centre renovations plannedFour different proposals look at expanding, removing or adapting existing facilities

BY CODY STEEVES

Big changes are coming to Conestoga College’s rec cen­tre.

At a College Council meet­ing on Sept. 16, Conestoga Students Inc. president Jason Wright talked about four different proposals regarding the centre that focus on renovating the entire building or tearing it down and rebuilding it. They also include the expansion and possible removal of exist­ing facilities.

“The rec centre was built basically for 2,500 students back in 1980 and now we are at over 11,000 students and there is not a lot of free time in the gym for students who all pay athletics fees,” said Paul Osborne, executive director of marketing, corpo­rate communication, athletics and alumni.

The proposals are still in the discussion stage. Over the next few weeks, meet­

ings between CSI and the college’s board of directors will be held to discuss all suggestions. The four pro­posals were written after CSI conducted a survey of

the student body last year. The proposals were created by Conestoga architecture project and facility manage­ment students using the survey results and were the

students’ final project in the 2013/2013 school year.

“By increasing our facili­ties we hope that we can have one gym free at all times for drop-in while still

being able to offer enough time for varsity practice, varsity games and intramu­rals,” Osborne said.

Wright said in an e-mail, “The No. 1 thing we want to see is a larger fitness area for the students. As well, we’d like to have a triple gym instead of the current double gym. This would allow us to section off the gym for students to use while our varsity teams have practice or games.”

It is currently unclear if an expansion would be included in any renovations, however, if the rec centre was expand­ed it is a possibility that a sports field would have to be removed in order to create an appropriate site for the build­ing, Osborne said.

Wright said, “We have seen some proposals that say leave the site unchanged, and then we have seen some that say to expand the site out a little bit.”

SEE CHANGES, PAGE 2

PHOTO BY CODY STEEVESThe rec centre is currently a hot topic as college administrators and CSI begin renovation discussions.

Designer’s success inspires Conestoga studentsBY STEPH SMITH

Montreal-based fashion designer Simon Chang visited Conestoga College interior decorating and visual mer­chandising students on Sept. 23 at the Kitchener Studio Project (KSP) to talk about creativity, colour and the highlights of his career.

Located in downtown Kitchener and designed with creativity in mind, the KSP is a unique centre started by Conestoga College in partner­ship with Christie Digital, the University of Waterloo, Wilfrid Laurier University and some companies within the nearby Lang Tannery. A centre for academic and tech­nological collaborations, the KSP includes artists, story­tellers, animators and prod­uct designers. The building is also equipped for music, film and video game production.

Chang is one of Canada’s most commercially successful designers. In 2008, he was named to the Order of Canada by Governor General Michaelle Jean for “his contributions to

the fashion industry as well as his philanthropic and social engagement,” according to a press release on his website, simonchang.com.

Chang gave advice to the audience, which included an alphabetical list of qualities that he believed were impor­tant for success at becoming a better student, as well as how to learn more in their chosen field.

“It is very important for me to highlight these points for you. I’ll make it easy, A through Z,” Chang said. “A, ambition. Do you have the drive, do you have the desire? This is something very impor­tant to understand.”

Other qualities that Chang listed were: believing in your­self and the product, quality vs. quantity, giving back and passion, to name a few. But the one quality that Chang felt he couldn’t stress enough was being unique.

“Why be ordinary, when you can be extraordinary,” Chang said. “Be in the two per cent. Don’t be a follower.”

Many students left the event

with a greater feeling that they’ve made the right deci­sion with their chosen careers, especially Melissa Pereira, a first-year interior decorating student at Conestoga College.

“He inspired me because I wasn’t too sure that this was

what I wanted to do. I just kind of jumped into it and started doing it, “ Pereira said. “I realized that I did become more interested in this. He made me have more goals and motivation, and I guess that’s what I really needed.”

“We’re very fortunate (to have Simon Chang come for a visit),” said Margie Hedges, professor and co-ordinator of design programs at Conestoga College, in a press release. “This is an inspirational event for our creative students.”

PHOTO BY STEPH SMITHConestoga College interior decorating student Melissa Pereira talks to Simon Chang about his pre­sentation on Sept. 23 at the Kitchener Studio Project in Kitchener.

NEWSPage 2 ‘ SPOKE Monday, September30,2013

Now deep thoughts ... with Conestoga College

Random questions answered by random students

What is your favourite horror movie?

“I don’t like horror.”

Jessica Robinson,pre-health science

“Cabin in the Woods.”

Matt Corbett,architect construction

engineering technology

“Resident Evil.”

Michael Couture,computer programmer/

analyst

"I don’t like horror.”

Brett Eckert,computer programmer

“The Conjuring.”

David Coros,computer programmer

“I don’t like horror films.”

Courtney Pomeroy,interior decorating

Smile Conestoga, you could be our next respondent!

It’s raining menConestoga’s Cambridge campus

being referred to as an ‘all boys school’BY HAILEY MERKT

There is a lack of ladies at Conestoga College’s Cambridge campus, and many male students don’t like it.

The believed cause of this issue is, “the lack of female- directed programs,” said Barry Vlasmin, a third-year civil environmental engineer­ing technology student.

A dozen male students were asked if they have noticed a radical male to female ratio and all responded with a very strong yes. Third-year architecture construction engineering technology stu­dent, Josh Marques, said, “it’s kind of sad really, everywhere you look it’s just dudes ... it’s definitely

a huge downside to being on this campus.”

A few students, who referred to the campus as an “all boys school,” said that there are some advantages to it. When asked if the lack of ladies improved their stud­ies the majority felt it had a positive effect. Third-year civil environmental engineer­ing technology student, Josh Xiong, said, “it’s less distract­ing.” Aside from school stud­ies, Marques also noted, “it definitely makes picking out clothes in the morning easy because you know there’s no one to impress.”

Two students had a dif­ferent point of view, argu­ing that, “guys are lazy ... if we had some more girls they would probably make us do

more stuff,” and, “maybe it would make me more excited to come to school.”

“I don’t really feel like I’m getting the true college expe­rience, I find myself thinking how much I miss high school,” said Joey Sack, a second-year architecture construction engineering technology stu­dent.

All the male students inter­viewed came up with the same solution to this ongoing issue. “Bring over nursing.”

Vlasmin jokingly said, “Maybe if they brought in nursing, the Doon campus boys would be crawling over here.” He also suggested Conestoga Students Inc. hold some events at the Cambridge campus to entice female stu­dents to come there.

Big changes are inthe rec centre’s future

♦ FROM PAGE 1

“We are very open to work­ing with the college and mak­ing sure that the building will suit the needs of not only the students but the college as well in the long term.”

The proposals also include making physiotherapy acces­sible to the general student body instead of having it exclusively for the varsity teams. Whether this means a physiotherapist will be on campus for a majority of school hours or just certain days of the week has yet to be determined. It is also unsure whether he or she would be located within the rec centre or in the wellness centre located in the main building.

“We would also like to see our health and wellness office moved into the rec centre,” Wright said. “That way we are promoting a healthier lifestyle for people and allowing them to take care of themselves.”

The college is currently exploring all options for the rec centre, including the repur­posing of existing facilities.

“With any construction you look at the possibility of just adding onto existing build­ings,” Osborne said. “There’s also the chance to repurpose a building.”

At the College Council meet­ing members were told a tenta­tive completion date has been set for September 2015 and that it is unlikely any rec cen-

“If we were in construction ... we would keep the cur­rent gym open. It would stay open so we could facilitate all of our academic classes,” Osborne said.

PHOTO BY CODY STEEVESConestoga’s rec centre is a multi-purpose facility. Above, a drop-in basketball team uses the basketball court while students in the police foundations program use the indoor running track.

tre changes will be made dur­ing the 2013/2014 school year. College Council is a group of staff and students who pro­vide advice to the president on matters of importance.

NEWS SPOKE ♦ Page 3Monday, September30,2013

BY TASHA LUNNY

Whether you want a place for fun or fear this fall, Snyder’s Family Farm is the place for you.

The Snyder family has been running the farm for 12 years and is determined to make the 2013 season the best one yet. Located only 15 minutes out­side the Kitchener-Waterloo area, Snyder’s Family Farm offers both day and night­time attractions.

The daytime atmosphere is family-oriented and has many activities to keep customers entertained for hours. For one entrance fee, you can experi­ence 15 different attractions including a corn maze, hay- ride, petting zoo, haunted house and a bouncy castle. They also offer interactive clown and puppet shows, which will have the whole family laughing.

Melanie Widmeyer had never been to the farm until the opening weekend on Sept. 21 and 22, but said the variety of activities kept her and her chil­dren entertained all afternoon.

“... I think it’s about the whole overall experience, being outside and experienc­ing the animals, train rides and hay,” Widmeyer said.

Once the sun goes down, the attractions transform from family to frightening. Recommended for custom­ers 12 and up, Fear Farm offers three terrifying attrac­tions for anyone looking to test their bravery. Dr. Doom’s hayride, the condemned corn­field and the haunted Hiller house will have hearts racing and palms sweating.

With over 50 staff members per night, the Fear Farm has expanded, and has its own

PHOTOS BY TASHA LUNNYThe Innis family enjoys the country hayride at Snyder’s Family Farm on Sept. 22.

Three-year-old Brynn Kennedy has fun driving a tot-sized tractor through a course.

Everyone a winner at CSI Vegas nightBY COLE FROUDE

Conestoga College students got a chance to hold ’em, fold ’em and hit lucky 21 dur­ing Conestoga Students Inc.’s unique casino night on Sept. 19.

The sounds of slot machines beeping, cards being flipped and shuffled and the cheers and groans of students were all part of this exciting night.

“We wanted to do something a little bit different, rather than the typical dance party,” said Rebecca Saba, program co-ordinator at CSI.

She added no money was exchanged. Instead, CSI gave

students free entry passes which entitled them to four pink tickets. Each pink ticket was worth 10 poker chips, and if students lost all their chips CSI would give them one more pink ticket.

Students could go all in during poker or play it a bit safer at a blackjack table, roulette table or at two slot machines.

Students could cash in their chips for raffle tickets throughout the night. CSI had $1,000 in prizes which they raffled off at the end of the evening.

CSI pulled out all the stops for the event, with real casi­no-style poker and blackjack

tables along with easy jazz music playing. They even hired real dealers to make the night as authentic as pos­sible.

“The dealers we hired, they come from the com­pany Hart Entertainment and they are professional dealers. They also do some explanation of the game if students aren’t sure how to play,” Saba said.

Harrie Chadda, a first-year computer engineering stu­dent, said, “I came out with my friends for the first time. I’ve been playing my first game of blackjack. It’s also one of my favourite games here.”

PHOTO BY COLE FROUDEGreg Palmer, an accounting student at Conestoga College, tries his luck at a slot machine during Conestoga Students Inc.’s casino night held Sept. 19.

Snyder’s offers fun and fear

Lucas Parobek feeds a goat at the farm.

time slot, from 7 to 10 p.m.Meghan Snyder and her

husband work throughout the year planning and organiz­ing for the six weeks that the farm is open. It’s their goal to send everyone home with great memories.

“I think as owners the best part about this place is that we care so much about it .... We’re thinking about people’s experiences. For both day and night we go above and beyond to offer the best experience,” Snyder said.

From .apple fritters made fresh at Aunt Flo’s Fritter House, to free coffee for the season, there are no cutting corners on quality.

Now that fall has arrived another great place to stop at is the Snyder’s pumpkin patch. The patch features pumpkins in every shape and size. Pricing varies on size and type.

The farm is open every Friday, Saturday and Sunday in October, but is available to large groups, corporate events and school tours throughout the week.

For more information on Snyder’s Family Farm, including hours, age restric­tions and pricing, check out funorfear.ca.

COMMENTARYPage 4 ♦SPOKE Monday, September30.2013

Harper should bluntly answer burning questions

BY JOSH BURY

When Justin Trudeau and the Liberal Party of Canada brought the issue of marijuana legalization forward, it initially looked like a gaffe by an inexperienced politician who was riding high on charismatic leadership.

The truth is the opposite. This is a master stroke by Liberal party tacticians which has made the prime min­ister look out of touch with the electorate.

While the prime minister treated the topic as contro­versial, the data shows that voters believe otherwise.In an August 2013 poll of over 1,100 Canadians, Forum Research found that the majority of Canadians across the country support either legalization or decriminal­ization of marijuana.

This isn’t a recent development and it shouldn’t come as a surprise to the prime minister. Since 2003, various polls have shown that a majority of Canadians are in favour of either legalization or decriminalization.

The resulting reaction from Stephen Harper has made him appear out of touch. It’s exactly what the Liberal party wanted.

After deciding in early August to prorogue the September session the majority Conservative party government was effectively in the clear. The genius of the Liberal party’s move is that, despite the government’s best efforts, policy continued to be discussed during the summer break.

Initially reacting to questions about marijuana usage by asking “do I seem like I smoke marijuana?” Harper then claimed that Trudeau is “promoting marijuana use among children.” He said his government’s focus is on job creation and failed to really address the issue.

More recently, Harper made a joke while addressing an audience in Vancouver when, evoking the spirit of our first prime minister, he said that Sir John A. Macdonald believed in “economic growth, not grow-ops.” But Harper’s decision to jokingly compare Macdonald’s legacy with the marijuana issue takes on a potent sense of irony when you recall Macdonald’s very public struggles with alcoholism.

Harper’s comments continue to show he is either not aware or not concerned with the prevailing opinion about marijuana, even among his own party. In that Forum Research poll, 62 per cent of Conservative voters were in favour of either legalizing or decriminalizing marijuana.

Regardless of his personal views, the voters of Canada believe this is a valid issue that should be discussed in a serious and mature manner. It’s time the prime min­ister started treating it like one.

The views herein represent the position of the newspa­per, not necessarily the author.

Letters are welcom e

Spoke welcomes letters to the editor. Letters should be signed and include the 5 name and telephone number of the writer. | - Writers will be contact- ed for verification.No unsigned letters will be published.Letters should be no longer

than 500 words.Spoke reserves the right to edit

any letter for publication.Email letters to:

— www.spokeonline.com with the subject line

“Letter to the Editor,” or bring them to Room 1C30 at the Doon campus.

Hand sanitizer, friend or foe?Study finds it contributes to superbugs

Becky Sheasby Opinion

" Do yourself a favour

and keep the cooties at

bay this school year."

flu germs. Clean your hands after you touch your desk, keyboard, door and anything that might be a home for those rebel bugs.

However, I would like you to think twice before you squeeze that foam or gel into your hands.

Research at the University of Ireland in Galway has shown that when a bacte­rium such as pseudomonas aeruginosa is added over time to a disinfectant such as benzalkonium chloride, the bacteria learns how to survive. Pseudomonas aeru­ginosa is a common bacte­rium that leads to urinary tract infections or respiratory problems and benzalkonium chloride is found in hand sanitizers.

“What is more worrying is

that bacteria seem to be able to adapt to resist antibiotics without even being exposed to them,” said Dr. Gerald Fleming, the lead author of the study.

Bringing that back to Conestoga College, by overus­ing hand sanitizers we are putting ourselves at risk of creating resistant bacteria that we will have a hard time fighting off. It may seem like the quicker alternative to washing your hands, but in the long run, I think it’s worth avoiding hand sanitiz­ers to prevent future harm.

So, do yourself a favour and keep the cooties at bay this school year. Just keep in mind the method that you use to deflect bacteria; the benefits of hand sanitizer only go so far.

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

Editor: Steph SmithAssignment Editors: Casey Schellenberger, Josh BuryAdvertising Managers: Brandon Hommel, Kelsey DunbarSpoke Online Editors: Ashley Kowitz, Greg Stamper, Tyler Batten, Mark Lorentz, Cody Steeves,

Bruce ChessellProduction Managers: Scott Dietrich, Cole Froude, Randi Clarke

Photo Editors: Spencer Beebe, Aaron Creces, Katrina Edlefsen, Devon Hayes, Laurie Snell, Hailey MerRt, Tony McLellan, Tasha Lunny

Social Media Editor: Jody Anderson

Circulation Manager: Callie Wrigglesworth, Becky Sheasby

Faculty Supervisor and Adviser:Christina Jonas

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

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

I’ve always been under the impression that hand sanitiz­ers were poison, in part due to their toxic smell stinging my nostrils and their tingly effects on my skin. But alas, there are always two sides to every story.

Hand sanitizers serve a solid purpose in our world, helping decrease the spread of harmful bacterias and other tiny organisms. The other side of the coin shows that hand sanitizers are also vastly overused and can have harmful side effects. They also contain certain ingredients that are contributing to the creation of superbugs.

As Conestoga College rolls into the fall and winter sea­sons, colds and flus are going to run rampant. It’s going to be crucial to keep your germs to yourself; we students have too much on our plates to have to try and beat a cold at the same time. This is one of those occasions that hand sanitizers are a great contri­bution to society as they pre­vent the spread of cold and

NEWS SPOKE ♦Page 5Monday, September 30,2013

Living on minimum wageBase pay lagging behind as cost of living increases effect workers’ ability

to afford housing and stay out of debt in Waterloo Region

■ Minimum wage in Ontario is $10.25 an hour.

■ The minimum affordable housing wage for a bache­lor apartment was $12.38 in 2012.

■ Someone would need to work 63 hours a month just to be able to cover the rent on an average bachelor apartment with the current minimum wage.

■ It has been almost three years since a wage increase.

BY LAURIE SNELL

This is the second of a three- part series on the cost o f liv­ing in Waterloo Region.

It appears as though the harder you work, the less you get paid in Waterloo Region. Flipping burgers, brewing coffee and working retail requires little to no skill, and shows the direct imbalance of high stress and low pay for minimum wage workers.

A report released to region­al council on Sept. 6 sug­gested that the cost of living in Waterloo Region greatly exceeds average wages earned. By taking into account rising housing costs in the area alone, minimum wage is insufficient for most living expenses - a factor that direct­ly corresponds to the increase in demand for emergency food and shelter services.

Deb Schlicter, director of housing for the Region of Waterloo, said, “the cost of a bachelor unit has gone up over the years and what peo­ple’s income is has not gone up to the same extent.”

With the regional, report indicating a declining stan­dard of living for a large part of the area’s population, and no immediate plans by the province to hike minimum wage, it comes as no sur­prise that individuals balanc­ing multiple jobs have started demanding change.

Since 2010 the general mini­mum wage in Ontario has been $10.25 per hour, which is a 75-cent increase from 2009. The general minimum wage applies to most employ­ees, with the exception of self- employed individuals, liquor servers, hunting or fishing guides and students.

The student minimum wage applies to everyone under 18 who works less than 28 hours per week. The Ontario Ministry of Labour increased the student minimum wage from $8.90 per hour in 2009 to $9.60 per hour in 2010.

The liquor servers’ mini­mum wage is notably lower than the other categories - something that stimulates great debate over the fairness of the practice. The liquor servers’ rate has increased from $8.25 in 2009 to $8.90 per hour in 2010 and can often be heavily supplement­ed by generous gratuities.

Regardless of the category a minimum wage labourer falls into, the report states these rates per hour are inad­

equate in sustaining a normal (or positive) standard of liv­ing. The report specifically looks at housing as an indi­cator of unfit wages - the minimum affordable housing wage for a bachelor apart­ment in 2012 for the region was $12.38, which is $2 more than the current minimum wage of $10.25. With the average bachelor apartment going for $644 per -month, someone working for general minimum wage would need to work a minimum of 63 hours per month just to cover rent.

The report fails to directly state or examine that it has been almost three years since the Ministry of Labour has increased wages, despite the fact that each individual’s financial output - gas, grocer­ies, medical expenses, insur­ance, heat, hydro, water and housing - continue to inflate each year.

The cost of gasoline is one of the most obvious examples of inflation - in 2010 the cost of fuelling your vehicle was about $1.10 per litre and has steadily increased to the cur­rent average of about $1.33 per litre. With the rise in fuel prices, other elements of every day life - like the costs associated with importing food and goods - have also increased.

With expenditures on the rise and income remaining the same, there is no question that debt or mismanagement of money is also an emerging trend. The ease and acces­sibility of borrowing money is becoming a necessary evil for low-income individuals looking to enhance or sustain their standard of living in the short term. Unfortunately, most people who do decide to borrow become caught in the trap of high interest and an inability to balance a cheque­book.

In an economy that is still recovering from the 2008 recession, the debt cycle is becoming a harsher reality for minimum wage workers who provide for families, and indi­viduals such as students, who

“A credit card is the most simple way to start your cred­it history because (credit rat­ings) are a big thing in life now. Eventually you want to get your own home, you want to get a mortgage to do so and your credit weighs that (option) because it just shows if you’re going to be able to pay back what you’re borrow­ing,” Guevara said, adding that even putting away $5 when possible will help indi­

just above minimum wage. The Conestoga College stu­dent paid almost $4,000 for tuition, and with books, transit, food and other daily expenses, this is a clear exam­ple of the difficulty in finding balance with a never-ending list of responsibilities.

With protesters demanding a minimum wage increase to $14 per hour, many overlook the downside to such a dras­tic change. Local businesses often cannot afford to pay many employees, so part-time staff members are usually the first to be laid off while busi­nesses adjust to higher wages; fewer employees means lon­ger days for business owners, and ultimately, there would be increased difficulty for cur­rently unemployed individu­als who are actively looking for a job.

While most people would love to make more money and the local economy reaps the benefits of the initial spend­ing impulse, the Ministry of Labour needs to calculate a figure that is a sufficient compromise, taking into con­sideration rising living costs, unemployment rates, the pov­erty line and development trends in the province as a whole.

PHOTO BY LAURIE SNELLElysha Van Muyen, a second-year journalism broadcast student, provides service with a smile at Starbucks in Kitchener on Sept. 22, despite making just a little more than minimum wage.

have financial responsibilities such as school or rent.

Students are often misguid­ed by the idea of a line of credit, credit cards or loans because they appear to be free money. Financial conse­quences are not emphasized enough when these contracts are drawn up. But students and non-students alike need to be aware that if they choose to supplement their income with any type of borrowing, the consequences of ruining your credit rating will stay with you for many years.

With banks offering post­secondary students introduc­tory credit cards with lim­its ranging from $500 at TD Canada Trust to $1,500 at BMO, and average interest rates at about 19 per cent for cards with no annual fee, TD Canada Trust financial ser­vices representative Imelda Guevara urges borrowers to understand the types of deals they are agreeing to before signing up.

“A lot of institutions offer ... student line of credit, stu­dent accounts and Visas too, so (students) have a lot of options,” Guevara said. She added that these post-sec­ondary packages generally include a free bank account and lenience on payments for lines of credit - where pay­ments (not interest) begin 12 months after graduation.

viduals get into the routine of saving money - something she believes youth should be taught at a young age.

“People are not told enough about the value of saving money ... economics are so important, but the everyday things that people deal with when it comes to credit and how you deal with your money - most people don’t know ... There’s a reason why nowa­days most people are in debt. Most people can’t afford it and are stuck in a dead end job and the mistakes you do early on really do effect you for a long time,” Guevara said. She added that if the Ministry of Education mandated a basic economics for everyday liv­ing at the high school level, most people would avoid ever having poor credit scores, understand the repercussions of missing credit card pay­ments and what interest truly means long term.

Second-year journalism broadcast student Elysha Van Muyen works part-time to pay for school after being denied OSAP for this school year. “Minimum wage is not a livable wage,” Van Muyen said.

The 22-year-old is a supervi­sor at Starbucks and makes

ENTERTAINMENTPage 6 ♦ SPOKE Monday, September30,2013

Shadow of the PlatypusWhere illusion and reality converge

BY TONY MCLELLAN

In a silent, pitch dark room, a virtual diorama flickers to life. The display is titled Shadow of the Platypus, and with clear, echoing audio and soothing natural sounds, it depicts the life of the platypus by way of unique, unorthodox artistic illusions. Although it appears to be 'Just a nature documentary at first, The Lost Minutes, Stage One: Shadow of the Platypus exhibit has a far greater depth to it, giv­ing its viewers the chance to view the unique ways it examines time, evolution and the ever-changing world that surrounds us.

The installation, located in the Eastman Gallery at the Kitchener-Waterloo Art Gallery (KWAG), is certain­ly not presented in a way that one would expect typi­cal museum exhibits to be presented. David Hoffos, a Canadian-born visual artist from Lethbridge, Alta., com­bines various technologies, new and old, to create the strange, enchanting visuals shown in the presentation of Shadow of the Platypus.

“David uses CRT monitors, VHS footage, and bounc­ing images off of glass,” said

Crystal Mowry, the curator at KWAG. “So there are a lot of illusionary strategies that are actually quite lo-fi. In this exhibition, we’re deal­ing with more digital forms of media and also sophisti­cated architecture that David has designed for this gallery.” With this current installation in particular, Hoffos uses a classic illusionary trick, called the “Pepper’s Ghost” effect, to give off a 3D illusion, when in reality, no 3D is actually used. The technique has been used for over 200 years, and Hoffos manages to incorpo­rate it with relative ease into the modern technologies of the 21 century.

Shadow of the Platypus is “one chapter in a series of chapters that will unfold over time,” Mowry said. The exhibit is intended to be the first part of The Lost Minutes series, with an unspecified number of parts planned to succeed it in time.

“We don’t know exactly what they’ll be yet, and David may not know exactly what they’ll be yet,” Mowry said. “This could take years to unfold.”

A work of art that spans multiple years is nothing new for Hoffos. In 2003, he launched a project he called

Scenes from the House Dream, a project which ended up tak­ing over six years of work to complete, all the while cre­ating ideas he would put to use in the years to come. The project, according to Mowry, “used strategies similar to this {Shadow of the Platypus) exhibit, but also dioramas, and model environments that incorporate video as well.”

While Shadow of the Platypus is clearly a very visually-focused work of art, even more appreciation can come when the art is studied on an intellectual level.

“The platypus could easily be a stand-in for something else,” Mowry said. “The subject of the platypus reminds us of natu­ral history, of evolution and the strangeness of the animal world, but also by the virtue of its relationship to evolution, it relates to time in a much larger expanse of time in which things are happening. So we’re not talking about a couple of minutes literally, but we’re talking about billions of min­utes that happen or that quan­tify evolutionary time.

“David’s work ties us back to ideas about evolution and natural history but also cul­ture of display, such as muse­ums and musicological envi­

ronments where we might learn about creature like the platypus.”

The Lost Minutes, Stage One: Shadow of the Platypus is currently on display at the Kitchener-Waterloo Art Gallery until Jan. 5, 2014. Admission is free, but dona­tions are welcome. The gal­lery is located just inside

the main doors of the Centre in the Square in downtown Kitchener. The hours are: Monday-Wednesday and Friday, 9:30 a.m.-5 p.m.; Thursday, 9:30 a.m.-9 p.m., Saturday, 10 a.m.-5 p.m.; and Sunday, 1-5 p.m. KWAG can be contacted by calling 519- 579-5860 or visiting them online at www.kwag.ca.

PHOTO COURTESY OF DAVID HOFFOS AND THE TREPANIERBAER GALLERYThis work of art, which shows Earth and two images detailing the life of a platypus, is on display at the Kitchener-Waterloo Art Gallery. The exhibit was created by David Hoffos and features three-channel video, audio and mixed media installations.

PHOTO BY TONY MCLELLANK-W Art Gallery curator Crystal Mowry stands outside the exhibit, The Lost Minutes, Stage One: Shadow of the Platypus.

ENTERTAINMENT SPOKE ♦Page 7Monday, September30,2013

Rain dampens Artist Alley eventBY CASEY SCHELLENBERGER

Flyers advertising The Artist Alley of Uptown Waterloo included a bolded “Rain or Shine!” So, despite the down­pour on Sept. 21, the event still took place.

It just did not take place in the alley next to the Button Factory, otherwise known as the Waterloo Community Art Centre (WCAC), located at 25 Regina St. Instead, all 18 art­ists and vendors set up their work inside the building.

This wasn’t the first time inclement weather disrupted the event, according to Heather Franklin, the executive direc­tor of the WCAC.

“We’ve had two or three rained out this year. It’s very frustrating.”

Artist Alley has been held several times over the summer. It took place .on every other Friday in June and July and the first Friday of the month in both August and September. In addition, there have been three Saturday Artist Alley events, each corresponding

with another event, such as the Jazz Festival in July.

Some of the vendors at the event noticed that the weather caused a drop in attendance from the previous Artist Alleys.

“... Usually we go all the way from Regina Street to King Street, so it's a little more spread out and we get a lot more walk-by traffic,” said Melissa Kristensen-Smith, a vendor who has participated in the Artist Alley all sum­mer. ‘The rain’s been a damper on things, but at least we’re dry.”

However, Desi Lichty, anoth­er vendor, said she didn’t real­ly notice a drop in attendance.

“Waterloo Community Art Centre has other events run­ning as well, like Doors Open ... and they have the live sym­phony members upstairs, so it kind of brings people in,” Lichty said.

Franklin said, “We’re all going ‘Oh, rain.’ Not much we can do about it.”

The last Artist Alley of the year will be held Friday, Oct. 4 between 5 and 8 p.m.

That’s why they call it the bluesBY MARK LORENTZ

The sound of heavy rain hit­ting the tarps and tents wasn't exactly the sound the organiz­ers of the sixth annual Preston Music Festival were hoping to hear.

Matt and Jillian Storch, the festival’s co-founders, almost saw six months of planning wash away, as heavy rain threatened the event on Sept. 21. There were technical issues with the electric wires, a small crowd in the morning, and an army truck which would be used to load food donations had yet to arrive. For a few hours, it seemed nothing would go right for this previously successful festival.

“We really can’t complain - this is the first year we have had rain. Every time we always just say, it won't rain,” Jillian said.

The festival started off six years ago, when the Business Improvement Association approached the Storches, who at the time owned a small res­taurant in downtown Preston, asking if they would be inter­ested in helping organize an outdoor music festival. From the small beginnings when they asked friends to donate time and money, the event has grown to having more than 25 local sponsors. The festival itself costs around $12,000 to

it blows over soon and peo­ple start coming out. It helps we're right by the beer tent,” Ramijak said.

As the weather finally start-, ed to clear, people did come out to listen to the evening sets. Around 2,000 people attended the event overall, even with the wet and muddy conditions.

Cambridge city council mem­ber Nicholas Ermeta said events like this should happen more often. “Events like this bring the community togeth­er, it’s fantastic to see people enjoying themselves and talk­ing to their neighbours.”

After the last song was played and the final tent taken apart, the organizers looked back on what went right and what they could improve on for next year’s festival.

“Definitely knowing how to deal with the rain better, being more prepared for any weather that day, would help,” Matt said.

The success of the festival is ultimately measured by how much food is raised for the food bank. This year was a disap­pointment, with less than 100 pounds donated

“(It’s) something we need to work on in future,” Matt said.

The Preston Music Festival is held the third week of September every year in the downtown core of Preston at Central Park.

Preston Music Festival co-founder Matt Storch thanks the band Scarlett Jane for braving the elements on Sept. 21. Scarlett Jane recently finished a cross-Canada tour. Storch is pictured with one of the singers, Andrea Ramolo.

PHOTO BY CASEY SCHELLENBERGERMelissa Kristensen-Smith poses next to one of her favourite pieces displayed at The Artist Alley of Uptown Waterloo on Sept. 21 at the Waterloo Community Art Centre. Kristensen-Smith was selling original photography printed directly onto glass and recycled wood.

PHOTO BY MARK LORENTZ

run every year.“At first we had to knock on

a lot of doors to get sponsors, but this year TD Bank actually came to us, that’s a huge corpo­ration,” Matt said

The event features local tal­ents, performing one-hour- long sets from noon until 11 at night. Every band that played this year also got paid, thanks in large part to the various sponsors. The festival had 11 performers, headlined by Bill Durst, the recent winner of the Blues Underground for best live blues album There was no admission price, however, it was recommended that specta­tors bring either a cash dona­tion or a non-perishable food item to help the Cambridge Food Bank.

“We’ve always had the Cambridge Food Bank as our charity; we usually raise between 400-700 pounds,” said Matt.

The Cambridge Food Bank wasn’t the only charity at the event. Kin Canada was in charge of the food and bever­age kiosk with proceeds going to cystic fibrosis research. Eric Ramijak, representing the Cambridge branch of Kin Canada, said they were hop­ing to at least break even for the event. In years past they served between 400-800 people.

‘This event is so weather dependent, so we're hoping

NEWSPage 8 ♦SPOKE Monday, September30,2013

Conestoga not raving about new iPhonesBY CALLiE WRiGGLESWORTH

Conestoga College students won’t be rushing out to pur­chase the latest Apple prod­ucts.

The new iPhone 5C and iPhone 5S launched Sept. 20, but despite being designed to catch your eye and featuring some of the most advanced technology, they don’t seem to be excit­ing students.

The results of a survey done at Conestoga found that eight out of 10 students asked were not interested in buying either of the phones in the future.

Phil Kornilov, a first-year computer programming stu­dent, is content with his cur­rent phone, the iPhone 5.

“I’m fine with mine. I don’t like the iOS7,” he said.

Both new phones come with the new operating sys­tem, the iOS7. It is the most advanced operating system, which includes new features to make things faster and easier.

Lizzy Perrie, a first-year fit­ness and health promotion student, was one of the two who said she would be inter­ested in getting an iPhone in the future. She currently uses a Galaxy S4, but used to have an iPhone.

“I definitely would consider going back to the iPhone,” she said.

The iPhone 5C, which retails for $599, comes in a variety of colours, an all new plastic design, and a steel-reinforced frame for a solid structure. It is designed to be energy efficient and

have a long-lasting battery life. It also comes with faster download and upload speeds and an 8 megapixel camera for sharp photo quality and panorama.

“Generally people who are coming in asking about the 5Cs are students and par­ents looking to buy phones,” said Jordan Young, a cus­tomer service representative at Rogers Plus in Cambridge Centre.

The store sold out of the iPhone 5S on launch day within the first five hours of the store being open.

“Most people are ask­ing for the 5S,” said Mike Zimmerman, a customer ser­vice representative who also works at Rogers Plus.

He said people have been waiting for this phone, and

want it specifically.The iPhone 5S retails for

$719. It comes with advanced technology, featuring a fin­gerprint identity sensor on the home button. Instead of entering a pass code, the phone takes the owner’s fin­gerprint to unlock the phone. The home button is made of sapphire crystal with a stainless steel ring sur­rounding it, which detects your finger.

Young said because of this high-tech security system, the phone is basically not return­able, but he doesn’t think this will be an issue with custom­ers.

For further information on the new iPhones 5C and 5S, or the new operating system, visit www.apple.com or visit a local retail outlet.

INTERNET PHOTOiPhone 5C and 5S are now available at retail stores across North America.

MOTHER NATURE p u t s o n a f i r e w o r k s d i s p l a y

PHOTO BY DEVON HAYESAccording to National Geographic, you have a one in 3,000 chance of being struck by lightning in your lifetime. Fortunately, there are no thunderstorms forecast for the foreseeable future and no rain until Saturday.

NEWS SPOKE ♦Page 9Monday, September30,2013

Hanging out around ConestogaBY BRANDON HOMMEL

Are you new to Conestoga College, a returning student still trying to find the per­fect spot to hang out before class, or just looking for a nice convenient spot to relax, breathe and take in the college experience? Look no further, Spoke has the latest and greatest hang­outs around the school.

The first spot Conestoga offers is truly the heart of the school. It can be seen from the Tim Hortons line, CSI, and even when walk­ing in from the bus. It is the stadium-style seating area located on the first floor of the A-wing. Because of its carpeted seating, projector, the colourful mural paint­ed on the wall, and as the location where most student meetings are held, this truly is the place for any first- year student to visit.

Why relax on the big stairs? Annie Binicki, a first-year early childhood education student, said, “I’ve been coming here since the first day of school with my friends. It has a nice environment and it’s quiet.”

A second spot at the college is Conestoga Student Inc’s Sanctuary, located on the second floor in the A-wing.

The Sanctuary is a magi­cal place where entertain­ment and food combine. The entertainment comes from the huge stage where stu­dents play music, perform stand-up comedy and watch movies. The food comes from the little cafeteria within the Sanctuary. The cafe sells pizza from Pizza Pizza, homemade burgers, wraps, salads and enough coffee to keep students awake for their next class.

So why visit the Sanctuary? Lucas Mason, a first-year fitness and health promo­tion student, said, “I like that it is cool, I mean the temperature though. It really has everything from food to entertainment and they even sell alcohol on Tuesdays and Thursdays.”

The third spot is truly a hidden gem that every stu­dent and gamer should know about. It’s called the Den and it’s located just above the Sanctuary. The Den is every gamer’s dream, as it is a place where playing video games during school hours isn’t only accepted, but encouraged. The Den rents out every gaming system too, including Xbox, Ps3 and the Nintendo Wii. Don’t like those systems? Don’t worry, bringing systems from home

is welcomed. Inside the Den, leather sofas, flat screen televisions and Conestoga’s fastest Internet connection can be found.

Still wondering why you would visit the Den? Jacob Belanger, a first-year police foundations student, said, “I’m a gamer. I need the background noise and the

Den has that. It just has this homey feel to it as well. Me and my friends come here all the time. I think first-year students should come here because you meet people, get the pulse of the school and there is a balco­ny that gives an overview of the Sanctuary so you know what is going on.”

One more spot Conestoga offers really is the piece de resistance. The nurs­ing lounge is located in the F-wing and, contrary to pop­ular belief, it’s not just for nursing students. So don’t be afraid to pop by, say hello and sit down on the most comfortable couches Conestoga has to offer.

PHOTO BY BRANDON HOMMELStudents sit in the stadium seating area, known as the Atrium, and take in the coilege experience during their breaks.

PHOTOS BY BRANDON HOMMELAbove, as Conestoga students wait for their next ciass, they take a breather and eat, relax, hang out and catch up with friends in the Sanctuary. Left, gamers can play video games, watch television or simply just come and enjoy the comfy chairs in the Den. . _

NEWSPage 10 ♦ SPOKE Monday, September 30,2013

No pets allowed: Is it really legal?Apartm ent landlords

can’t threaten evictionBY TYLER BATTEN

Almost 500 Kijiji apart­ment rental ads in the K-W area alone state, “No Pets Allowed,” but, according to Ontario real estate law, most of these have no legal merit.

It’s early autumn and stu­dents are back in school; they’ve rented apartments and moved in — some into places smaller than dog houses. Many students have pets and many used to. We all know, or have heard of someone, who was threat­ened with eviction if they didn’t get rid of their pet.

But here’s a shocker: your landlord can’t evict you just because they don’t like your fuzzy friend.

“You can only evict a ten­ant if their pet is bothering other tenants, damaging the place or if the landlord is allergic to it and is living there,” said real estate lawyer Mark Weisleder, who writes a real estate law column for the Toronto Star.

The law originates in part two of the Residential Tenancy Act (RTA) where it clearly states that any provi­sion regarding a no-pet pol­icy in a tenancy agreement is void. If a tenant signs the contract it still has no legal merit.

The RTA does have clear boundaries.

“Condominium rules are different,” said a representa­tive from the Landlord and Tenant Board of Ontario’s call centre, “so it’s possible that it would apply that you’re not allowed to (have a pet).”

Condos are essentially shared common properties where each resident owns a particular space in that building. They are chartered by a separate set of rules called the Condominium Act. A condo’s pet policy is decided by an association of owners and can be enforced

"even if the condo is rented out.

The Landlord and Tenant Board of Ontario is the authoritative body behind the RTA, and resolves most dis­putes between landlords and tenants.

”If you’re covered (by the RTA) than you do have protection regarding pets even if you signed a no pets clause. The landlord cannot terminate the tenancy just because you have a pet, but if the pet is causing a prob­lem like with maintenance or damage or interfering

with other tenants’ enjoy­ment by barking, under our act the landlord can get the tenant to stop the behaviour of the animal.”

For any realistic pet owner the difficulty is not win­ning the case in court, but in actually moving into an unfriendly pet apartment successfully.

Landlords can easily explain why they don’t want pets without breaking any rules.

The RTA only protects ten­ants from being evicted. It does not give any obvious sug­gestion on how to move-in in the first place.

“I know the law, I know how that stuff works,” said a landlord who’s currently seeking a non-pet-owning- tenant for his 33 Lilac St., Kitchener apartment.

“I had a bad experience with one dog a few years ago. It took a chunk out of my leg and now when I get near certain dogs and they start barking my allergies start acting up, especially my asthma.”

The Canadian , Federation of Humane Societies’ most recent National Shelter sta­tistic showed that 143,000 pets were admitted to shelters across the country in 2010.

That massive figure is caused by, in part, the two most common reasons for sur­rendering a pet to a shelter - moving and landlords not allowing pets, according to an American study conducted by the National Council on Pet Population.

The misconception that a landlord has the right to evict a tenant because of a personal preference is clearly all too prevalent.

Despite the RTA’s clear and exact wording on the matter, Kijiji still uses a search filter called “pet friendly” which allows users to choose their preference. Condominiums and apart­ments are compiled under one category so it’s difficult to tell who’s actually break­ing the rules.

Kijiji representatives were unavailable for comment.

Pets are a part of a lot of Canadian families. In fact, recent figures suggest that over half of Canadian house­holds have either a dog or cat and sometimes both. Many of these pets end up being surrendered to shel­ters simply because of ten­ant ignorance or landlord distortion.

This Sept. 21 Kijiji apartment ad for 33 Lilac St. says no pets or smokers allowed and prefers work­ing people. The landlord, when asked, said dogs scare him and give him allergies which in turn cause his asthma to act up.

PHOTO BY TYLER BATTENBlue the dog sits in front of 120 Old Carriage Dr., an apartment building that is owned by someone who does not respect the Residential Tenancy Act. Ads for apartments in this building say no pets are allowed.

STUDENT LIFE SPOKE ♦Page 11Monday, September 30,2013

Conestoga gets activeSports, fitness and fun, all under one roof

BY GREG STAMPER

Close your books, shut your laptops and put away your cellphones; it’s time for you to get active!

The Conestoga College recreation centre, located at the Doon campus, offers students a wide variety of exciting activities, not only providing them with an excel­lent approach to avoiding the dreaded freshmen 15, but, also with a great way to have fun with their friends during the busy school year.

“Physical exercise acts as a natural stress reliever for students while dealing with the pressures of school work,” said Paula Feddema, admin­istrative co-ordinator of the rec centre.

Most of the services avail­able to students are free of charge, with the only require­ment being that you hand in a valid student card to the front desk staff.

The activities open to stu­dents vary on a day-to-day basis; however, the fitness centre, which is visited by the most students, is open every day of the week.

“I usually go there (the rec centre) three to five times a week and use the weight room. They have everything there that I need,” said Jordan Bajar, a first-year practical nursing student at the col­lege.

Other popular activities include, but are not limited to, drop-in basketball and bad­minton, ping-pong, skating,

shinny hockey, yoga, pilates, and Zumba classes.

Intramural sports such as ball hockey, indoor soccer, vol­leyball, ice hockey and dodge ball are also offered to stu­dents, although they require a team to be put together and submitted before a deadline date, as well as a team bond to be paid. Individuals can

also sign up and will be put on a team.

“We have had an increase in students registering for all our fall intramural pro­grams, which is great to see,” Feddema said.

Although many students are unaware, rec centre programs and activities are made possible because

every full-time student at Conestoga College pays a rec- reation/athletics fee of $65.95 each semester.

Despite the fees, some stu­dents at the college do not participate in any of the activ­ities, and are still OK with being charged.

“It's not that much (the rec­reation fee) and that way if I

did want to use it, it’s there,” said Matthew Kuntz, a sec­ond-year business adminis­tration student.

For more information on the rec centre or any of the servic­es provided, drop by, visit the website at www.conestogac. on.ca/rec_centre, or call their information hotline at 519- 748-3565.

PHOTO BY GREG STAMPERTony Driever, a first-year broadcast - television student, smashes the ball into the net during an epic ping-pong match against fellow first- year broadcast - television student, Jake Chapman, at Conestoga College. Doon campus offers a wide variety of activities for students.

Department promotes accessibility

" We are personalizing

the service to the

student’s needs."

- Charlie Matjanec

BY DEVON HAYES

A whole new name means a whole new look for Conestoga College’s Accessibility Services. Formerly called Disability Services, it still allows the same accommoda­tions to students, but with a much more welcoming title. Charlie Matjanec, an employ­ment adviser at Accessibility Services, said the overall response from students and faculty has been extremely positive.

“A lot of students, and a lot of faculty said that it seems like a negative connotation to be called Disability Services,” Matjanec said. “Accessibility Services is a much more inclusive and welcoming

setting, and that’s what we want.”

Matjanec also said much of the stigma around physical and learning disabilities not only comes from assumptions made by others, but also how one might see him or herself as an individual.

“The way they feel about themselves can be flagged by the way others treat them,” he said. “There are going to

be challenges for each and every one of us, it’s just how we deal with them that dif­ferentiates us from the other person.”

That being said, Accessibility Services not only accommo­dates individual learning dis­abilities, but the individual as well.

“Those things that individu­als need to have, in terms of counselling support and adaptive technology, or other situations where an accom­modation might be required because of documented aca­demic need, we would try to provide that to the student based on individual need. The key theme there is going to be, ‘what are the student’s specific issues related to what

their needs are, and how can we address them,”’ Matjanec said. “We are personalizing the service to the student’s needs.”

There are also facilities for all students that have stemmed from Accessibility Services. The Learning Commons, located on the sec­ond floor of the A-wing, is available to all students who can either make an appoint­ment or drop-in. Additionally, welcoming programs for new students are available, such as Discovery Day, which allows prospective students and their families to learn what opportunities may be available for them as a stu­dent with a disability or not. Also available is the PASS

program - or Post-Secondary Accommodations Support Strategies - which allows reg­istered full-time students to experience college life before the semester begins. Bridges is another service available to students with disabilities that provides student volun­teers to assist them with any needs they may have.

Ultimately, Accessibility Services aims to treat all stu­dents at the college as though they are just like everyone else - because they are.

“What we help them to see is how they can be good, functioning students here at the college, regardless of what conditions they might- be presented with,” Matjanec said.

NEWSPage 12 ♦ SPOKE Monday, September30,2013

College bookstore gets freshBY KATRINA EDLEFSEN

Students were not the only ones to start the school year off with a new look - Conestoga College’s Bookstore also showed off a change.

Returning students who needed to pick up supplies were surprised to see a much larger setup, a decision that,

according to the Bookstore’s manager of three years, Adam Hustwitt, has been a long time in coming.

“From our end I had the plans laid out in February and renovations started in May and they took till almost the end of August,” Hustwitt said.

He said the major issue at first with expanding the Bookstore was finding the space to do so.

“There was no new space, it wasn’t a new build,” said Hustwitt. “So it was about moving the print shop ... we had to secure space for them, get them moved and then cre­ate the space for us.”

It isn’t uncommon with new designs and layouts for there to be complications as people have to get used to what­ever is new but according to Christian Crissien, the head of promotions and events,

everyone has adjusted quickly and the new design is offering a lot of new opportunities for the Bookstore.

“The great thing is we can move things around, we can kind of accommodate any foreseen issues,” Crissien said. “Like, we do have the space now to cater to new product coming in or product leaving the store. So we’re always shifting things around to keep it interesting and keep it fresh.”

Misha Sgro, a first-year graphic design student who remembers the old bookstore layout from her time in design foundations, said she actually didn’t give much thought to the new layout while she was picking up the supplies for her program.

It was only upon a second visit that the change really got her attention.

“It’s nice how it’s expanded - makes it look better,” Sgro said. However, she also said that she was unsure about the store’s decision to devote an entire section to clothing.

“Guess you have to put it somewhere though.”

According to Hustwitt, this decision came as part of the fact that the Bookstore has become more than just a place

to buy books for class. It is a one-stop shop for everything you may need as a student.

“We look at it as, you know, if you think you need it then,

we now have the ability to probably carry it for you, which we couldn’t before,” Hustwitt said.

If you haven’t had a

chance to check out the new Bookstore, its hours of opera­tion are Monday to Thursday, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., and Fridays, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

PHOTO BY KATRINA EDLEFSENVi Friend, an employee at Conestoga College’s Bookstore, hangs up bags in the new section of the store at Conestoga College’s Doon campus.

HAVING A S W IN G IN G G O O D T IM E

PHOTO BY CALLIE WRIG0LESWORTHLily Icaido enjoys the first day of fall at Riverside Park in Cambridge.

GRAFFITI A N D G R IN D IN G

PHOTO BY MARK LOREN1ZNineteen-year-old Jeremy Burke attempts an ollie mid-grid on a recent Saturday afternoon at the Riverside Skate Park in Cambridge. Although Burke has no safety equipment on, park offi­cials strongly recommend wearing them as the park is not super­vised.