SKANKS

I have a huge secret obsession with Danny Devito and I accidentally yelled out “Danny!” during sex instead of my boyfriends… Now he’s really pissed and thinks I’m cheating on him… What should I do?

-Devito Lover Dear Devito Lover

This sounds like quite a pickle you have yourself in. I can see how your boyfriend could easily misinterpret that for something much worse.. especially because it’s hard to explain you got a thing for the Devito… (seriously? Devito? I’m not one to judge fetishes or anything but that is one of the weirdest things I’ve ever heard…) All I can really say is try sitting him down and explaining your secret crush and hoping he’s understand. If that doesn’t work then I’m sorry babe but you’re pretty screwed and have to just wait until he cools down and sees the light and that you’re a good faithful girlfriend (I’m assuming.)

My boyfriend gets really jealous when my dog jumps on the bed during sex. Help.

-Frustrated

Oh girl… This is seriously fucked. You need to tell your boyfriend he needs to calm. the fuck. down. It’s a dog. Not another man. Is he off his rocker? In my personal point of view I would run away from that boy as fast as I could. He sounds like a psychopath. If he’s jealous over a DOG then what do you think he’s going to do if another man talks to you when you’re out with your girlfriends? Sounds like way too much trouble for you to deal with. Especially this young in life. I say ditch him and then you and your dog can cuddle all you want in bed. Remember, you’re a strong independent woman who don’t need no man.

Love and Lube,

The Skank

Tags: Skanks

College gets active for charity

For their final class project, Third-year Dawson Social Service students have collaborated with Saint Columba House to promote physical activity amongst children, raise money for the charity’s recreation equipment, and to ensure the wellbeing of low-income families living in the community of Saint Charles.

Teachers Rosemary Barrett and Patricia Murphy organized the event “Improve the Move” with the help of their students in the Atrium on April 10, where loud music was blaring and snacks were being sold in hopes of raising $2000.

“Students in two classes, Developing Services and Community Intervention, decided on a collective,” Murphy said. “They wanted to do a cumulative project. They wanted to go out and do a real life intervention.”

The students agreed on a project about child poverty, she said. “They decided to do a fundraiser, partnering with Saint Columba House, which is a charity organization trying to find solutions for low-income families in Saint Charles.”

This is just the beginning of the fundraiser,  one of the classes is promoting the charity  in the college, but it will continue until May 8, where there will be a fundraiser during the After-School Program for school-aged children at the Saint Columba House.

“During the after-school program, Saint Columba house offers homework help, nutritional snacks, as well as recreational activities that they would otherwise not have,” Murphy said. “That is one of the reasons why we chose to collaborate with them.”

“It’s pretty hard to grade us, but we are graded on our participation,” Nicole Clayton, a student in the social services program, said. “But, it’s mainly so that we learn how to create and develop a community organization.”

With this project, students are learning how to be committed to something, how to build an organization or a fundraiser from scratch, how to give it a name, and how to come up with ideas to get people to donate.

“It’s hard work, but you have to be committed and that’s what our program is all about,” Samara Ben Sabat, a student in the social services program, said. “We’re learning self-endurance, but it’s definitely something that I would like to pursue in the future.”

Donation can also be made online, through the Saint Columba House website, where an “Improve the Move” account has been set up, or direct contact with the teachers can be arranged for cash or check donation.

Written by: Sarine Moumdjan

Tags: Dawson, news, sarine, social service students

Genocide awareness week comes to a close with seminar

Friday April 20 marked the end of Dawson’s Armenian Genocide awareness week, the last event including a talk regarding the Armenian genocide in Conrods, given by Vana Nazarian, a Member of the Armenian National Committee of Quebec.

Regardless of the subject, the talk’s turnout was poor with very few people in attendance.

“I’m a bit disappointed, I wish that there would have been more campaigning or interest to learn about the Armenian genocide, or other genocides and the impact that it has on the community today,” Stephanie Vezina, a fourth semester, Social Services student, said.

The discussion concerned a more contemporary issue focusing on the Darfur genocide, which is currently happening in Sudan at the moment.

“We’re just trying to inform people,” Manoug Alemian, a second semester, Law, Society and Justice student, said.  “People should know what genocide is and what happens after genocides and get informed.”

Nazarian spoke about Hitler and the role he played in the Armenian genocide as well as how the genocide is still affecting Armenians today.

She explained that during the early 1900’s Hitler moved to Vienna in hopes of becoming an artist, however when he got rejected from art school twice, his motivation changed.

“[Hitler] started to do this very odd kind of thing. He had this vision that he wanted to build this museum in Linz,” Nazarian said.  “His aim was to go through Europe, which he did and steal all kinds of artworks, like the Mona Lisa, or anything and everything he could find and put them in this museum which he would call his own.”

This resulted in the loss of many historical artifacts, paintings, and photographs belonging to Armenian and other communities.

Nazarian also explained that every year around April 24 the Armenian community is in mourning because genocide isn’t recognized by the government, which is why they continue to protest in Ottawa during this time, and many people remain oblivious to what the genocide is she explained, and pretend that it never happened.

“A few years back in Afghanistan, the Taliban’s were digging up and going to little villages and asking people if there was anything in [their] area, and the people would answer yes, so they would pay them to go dig up their village and they would find a lot of archeological artifacts and they would send those to Europe and get money to pay off their arms,” Nazarian said.  “So this is a very common and sad reality.”

“Friday’s event [was] a wrap up of everything. [Nazarian] talked about the cultural and artistic restitution after the aftermath of the genocide,” Alemian said.

Written by: Alexandra Eschweiler

Tags: Alexandra, genocide awareness, news

Is the FORCE with you?

You’ll think you have the capacity to use the Force when you will get out of the Star Wars: Identities Exposition at Montreal Science Center. Unfortunately, even though it won’t be the case, you’ll be able to say that you created your own Star Wars character, because during your journey through the exhibition, you are the hero.

The whole exposition revolves around the theme of identity, and how the environment we lived as children, our entourage, and our values built who we are and justify the decisions we have to take during the course of our lives.

When you’re about to enter the exposition area, they loan you a bracelet and a little radio, in which you can hear narration in different parts of the exposition if you step in certain zones. As for the bracelet, you’ll use it to create your identity by scanning it at different places on the exhibition floor.

Throughout your visit, you’ll have to go over 10 identity stations to choose your race, your hereditary background, how you were raised, your planet, your mentor, your occupation, and many more to create build your character. For example, you can decide to be a Gungan from Naboo and your mentor is Han Solo, or a Ewok from Endor with Boba Fett as a mentor.

Between the identity stations, you’ll be able to admire the original costumes, space ship models and drawing of George Lucas’ world. Also, videos are presented to explain how Anakin and Luke became such different people, despite the fact they grew up on the same planet and even though they shared similar genetic makeup.

For the true Star Wars fan, you’ll be amazed and maybe turn hysteric when you’ll enter.   It also teaches you a lot about the film and the whole process of identity behind the story. As for the “not-so” Star Wars maniacs, you may find the exhibition boring if it wasn’t for the creation of your own character part. But, we never know, maybe you’ll enjoy the experience, and you’ll be seduced by this whole new world.

Overall, the exhibition is so cool, it’s worth spending another $23 to go back. You’ll feel like a child in there, and you’ll see if you’re the type of person who’s tempted by the dark side of the Force… aside from that, the Star Wars’ songs will be stuck in your head the rest of your day (Ta-ta TA! TatataTA)! The exhibit will be running until Sept. 16.

Now, carry on, and may the force be with you.

Written by: MJ Cromp

Tags: arts, MJ, montreal science center, star wars, yoda

Tee-hee-pee-pee movie

The weekend of April 6 kicked off with a blast from the past with the release of the new American Pie movie titled American Reunion.

The title pretty much says it all, the kids from East Great Falls, Michigan have grown up and are having their high school reunion.

If you’re a fan of the old American Pie movies you will probably like this movie. All the characters from the first couple of movies are at the rendezvous. Jim, Michelle, Jim’s dad, Oz, Heather, Kevin, Vicky, Stifler, Finch, Stifler’s mom and many others reunite and fall back into their old ways.

Most of the class of ‘99 are married or have a little routine which they break out of for the weekend and like the previous movies they go through quite the ordeal to figure out what they really want in the end. We watch them all work out their issues in different and crazy ways.

The few people that where in the theatre were all laughing their heads off for just about the whole movie. Although the plot is quite similar to the other movies, as someone who enjoyed the original American Pie movies, I recommend it to others like me. This reunion keeps you wondering what their going to do next throughout the whole movie.

As always Jim gets himself into some crazy, embarrassing situations. Stifler finds that once again he is the one person in the group of friends that is stuck in the past and that just has not grown up at all. Oz is still in love with Heather, Kevin is dealing with his feelings for Vicky and Finch well he is working on his identity and getting over Stifler’s mom. Jim’s dad plays a bigger part in this sequel, which I was happy about. He is just so funny! Towards the end we also see some other minor characters such as Jessica and The Sherminator with in my opinion could have been more present in the rest of the movie.

If you have no idea what I’m talking about maybe it’s time you have a movie night and watch some good old classic teenage comedy. Of course it’s not everyone’s cup of tea if you are not into these mindless teenage comedies where most of the time sex is the focal point then don’t watch it. This movie is good for a good laugh but if you looks for deep content and meaning this movie just won’t cut it for you. It does touch on some issues that are less of a joke but gives them a humorous.

This movie can be enjoyed by people who have not seen the previous ones but I definitively recommend watching the other ones first, reason being it is a reunion and if you don’t know the characters background it’s just not as funny. It would be like going to someone’s high school reunion that you didn’t go to school with, it would be entertaining but not quite the same as going to your own.

So, if you ever watched American pie and wondered what they would be like in 13 years, go see it. If not well go see the hunger games or some other movie.

Written by: Rachel Pochat Selby

Tags: american pie reunion, arts, movie review, rachel

Fashion show pictures

Tags: Dawson, fashion show, pictures

Song of the week (4/20)

Tags: 4/20, bob marley, mgmt, song of the week

SUPER HAPPY CRAZY FUN

Tags: funny, funny funny

Protesters storm the streets

An estimated 200 protestors assembled outside the National Film Board of Canada’s (NFB) Cinérobothèque on March 10, protesting the federal government cuts that would force the agency to close the doors to their free theatres and lay off 73 employees.

The protest was announced following a press release from the NFB  which stated that the $6.7 million cuts (or 10% of their annual budget from the federal government) led to some “tough choices”. In addition to the closing of the Cinérobothèque and the loss of staff, the NFB will also be cutting funding to independent filmmakers, festivals and events. According to an anonymous source who spoke to the Montreal Gazette, funding to the NFB amounts to about 0.2 percent of the federal budget.

Many at the protest were voicing their frustration with signs condemning the Harper government, such as “Less F-35s, more 35mm” and “Stop your theatrics, Harper”.

“The head of the NFB decided that films are no longer deserving of a social space,” Pablo Alvariz, a protestor at the sit-in, said. “They have the mandate to foster cultural spaces. Filmmakers will definitely be affected by this short-sighted decision. [The NFB] is blind and deaf to us.”

Others rallied in support of the NFB’s decision, such as Annabelle Aubin. “We aren’t angry at the NFB,” Aubin said. “We are friends of the cinema. We are against Harper, for culture. He’s the one we’re protesting.”

The protest, which was publicized as an event on Facebook, began as a sit-on on the sidewalk. However, around noon, the protestors took to the street, blocking St. Denis from Emery St. to De Maisonneuve. The police were able to divert traffic away from the crowd and did not interfere with the sit-in.

For several years, the Cinema/Video/Communications department at Dawson College participated in “DocShop”, a documentary-creating workshop funded and hosted by the NFB and the CBC. It allowed the two entities to find new talent, while giving new filmmakers a chance to study with more advanced equipment. Both the NFB and the CBC suffered multi-million dollar cuts by this year’s federal budget.

According to the Montreal Gazette, an estimated 23,000 people visit the Cinérobothèque every year to watch one of 10,000 films or documentaries free for viewing, not counting those who visit its sister-cinema, the Mediatheque, in Toronto.

Written by: Laura Marchand

Tags: Dawson, laura, news, NFB, protest

Ergathon Enthusiasm

The Dawson Rowing Team hosted the Tony Proudfoot Rrgathon on Friday April 13 in order to raise funds for themselves and to support research in Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS).

The event took place in 5b.16 and began at six thirty with the recreational relay team competition which saw a team composed of Proufoot’s family members take on rowers, friends, and a team of teachers from the physical education department.

Each team was composed of between four and five rowers who took turns on an air rower for five minutes each until the end of the sixty minute-long competition.

The winner was determined by the team who could row the largest distance display on the machine’s electronic system.

I’m here to support my friends on the rowing team and furthering the research for ASL, ” Monika Cefis, an attendee, said.

The twenty dollar fee permitted participant to take part in the event and for the first time ever, have access to a buffet. To raise further funds for both causes, there was once again a silent auction at the entrance containing various bottles of wine, paintings, and even a $2000 bicycle.  All proceeds collected at the event were evenly distributed between the rowing team and ASL research.

“The event is fun but I’m here because I believe in raising funds for a good cause like ASL research,” Juan Pablo Hernandez, a fourth semester Pure and Applied Science student and participant, said. 

The second part of the charity event was an actual competitive event geared to mostly professional and experienced athletes. The 90 minutes-long event saw the participation of various rowing teams such as Dawson, Brebeuf, McGill, Lachine,and Boucherville. Each team has not been active since rowing season came to an end in late fall therefore the competition was perceived as a warm up for competitions to come.

“I’m doing it for a good cause and because it happens to be quite a fun event,” Eric Saragosa, a member of the Dawson Rowing Team said.  “The team hasn’t done any competition since the beginning of the winter so this event gets us back in shape and permits us to show off our great team spirit.”

Written by: Karl Ussakowski

Tags: Dawson, ergathon, monika dying, news, rowing