Produced by the Mohawk College Journalism Program

Issue 3

WHO

LovessuperCrawlSludge Attacks

Ghost Walk

Anna RitinsP.2

Teresa FriesenP.6

Photo: Noah Salo

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NEWS

Can SAM keep you safe?Scott SummerhayesIgnite News

In response to some truly horrifying events over the past few years—events like the Virginia Tech shooting, and Sandy Hook—“many large organizations are looking for better ways to communicate with their community,” according to Matthew Little, operations manager for security at Mohawk College.

SAM (Security Alert Messenger) is just that—a mobile commu-nications service, send-ing students and staff real-time information if/when an emergency occurs on campus.

It works like this: Ifan emergency situa-tion were to occur on campus, the system would notify every staff member and student at once, prompting everyone already on campus to get to a safe place, and suggesting those who are not on campus to stay away.All current students and staff are already subscribed into the system via their current Mohawk College email addresses, but they can also

opt in with their mobile phone numbers to get phone calls and/or text messages. The way the system communicates is entirely up to each specific user.

Little says as of Tuesday, approximately 600 people had already submitted mo-bile phone numbers into the system, but said they are still trying to reach people through Facebook and Twitter.

“The more people that are in there, the better the service will provide our community,” said Little. “Communica-tion is always the key in emergencies… the faster we can get information out to people the better equipped they are to make decisions about their safety and to get themselves into safe places.”

According to Sean Coffey, communications manager

for the President’s Office, the messages will be short and simple, and will hopefully have the appearance and comfort of an actual personality—that’s why they chose the dog as their logo.

“This is really a proactive step. This isn’t

coming out of a need to say that our community is unsafe… this is just look-ing forward and putting the emphasis on preparing so we have this service in case something happens,” said Little.

One of the biggest selling features of the SAM system is that it will also be used to announce snow closures, which means students might not even need to get out of bed to find out if the college is closed.

Also, students with mobility impairments will be able to register for specific alerts if there is an elevator down in the school.

“Every college and university is probably now looking at something like this. As far as I am aware Mohawk may be one of the only colleges in Ontario that has some-thing like this right now, others are prob-ably definitely looking at it,” said Coffey

The system is expected to cost $95,000 over 4 years, which Coffey called, “a reasonable expense for what we’re getting. It’s all about safety.”

Sludge ATTACKS!... Anna RitinsIgnite News

If you’ve walked through the F-wing in the past week you have probably noticed brown liquid oozing from the ducts des-tined to drip into blue bins stationed in the middle of the hall.

And on Wednesday, you could have been disturbed by the sight of milky brown water spewing out of the tap.

So what is it? Confused students with squinted eyes and heads cocked to the side have been asking this question all week.

“I saw it dripping from the ceiling and it freaked me out,” says jazz student Zakary Clark.

“The ceiling leak is caused from work filling a new mechanical heating/cooling system we are installing,” according to chief building and facilities officer Ron Baskin. “Any water spills in this area of the mechanical penthouse causes the wa-ter to run through the roofing membrane and it picks up colour.”

As for the brown discolored water flowing from the fountain, it is not related to the leak and poses no risk. Baskin says the clouded rust tinted water is a result of

water shut down last night.

Bill Rolfe, an instructor for Industrial Or-ganic Chemistry says that since our bodies need iron anyway, the water should cause no harm

But even with that reassurance, students were still unwilling to drink the water.

“That is disgusting, the water is actually yellow so I am going to have to walk across the school to another fountain,” said one thirsty student.

But don’t worry students of Mohawk, the water is safe.

but don’t worry

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NEWS

City council rejects proposed rental housing by-lawRachael WilliamsIgnite News

After a nine-hour meeting at City Hall, councillors voted not to endorse a law that would see landlords pay a $100 fee to license rental dwelling units.

On September 17, the planning com-mittee struck down a motion that would have seen landlords subjected to stringent fees for buildings with six or fewer rental units. Instead, the councillors sanctioned an intensification of the existing structure already in place – the proactive enforce-ment program.

“I just don’t understand why we would give up on the enforcement program when we haven’t even seen it through yet,” said Ward 9 Councillor Brad Clark.

The issue of licensing was brought to the planning committee last year in an effort to keep landlords who rent out substan-dard housing accountable to their tenants. According to Ward 1 Councillor Brian McHattie, who represents the area around McMaster University, the issue has become very serious as student enrolment at the university has increased.

“The Westdale neighbourhood has been completely transformed by student housing as Mac went from a smaller campus to one with 24,000 undergrads. A lot of them live in houses purchased by absentee landlords.”

The by-law would have affected ap-proximately 30 per cent of Hamilton’s apartments.

Roughly 20 speakers appeared at council chambers to voice their concerns about licensing. Renee Wetselaar of the Social Planning and Research Council says forcing landlords to pay licensing fees would displace approximately 10,000 people in Hamilton.

Landlords who showed up at council chambers agreed, adding that the burden should not fall on responsible landlords just because of “a few bad apples.”

Hamilton property manager Alok Pathak, says to increase building stan-dards, the by-law must not be limited to rental dwellings.

“I think it’s completely unfair that licens-ing would only apply to rental proper-ties. Why should social housing units

be set at a different standard? I think there’s some major oversights here,” says Pathak.

With licensing off the table, councillors agreed to add an extra four full-time workers to the proactive task force, cost-ing the city an extra $275,000 per year.

Ward 8 Councillor Terry Whitehead, who represents the Mohawk area, was a huge advocate of the licensing by-law, but he does not see this loss as a death sentence.

“I’m certainly not willing to abandon it completely, but I’m willing to park it for now,” said Whitehead.

Photo: Rachael Williams

Terry Whitehead argues for change

Tech fixes available on campusMegan FacciuoloIgnite News

Most students have experienced the gut-wrenching mishaps that come with owning tech devices… cracking the screen of a phone, spilling a drink on a laptop, or an iPod that just mysteriously stops working (and by “mysteriously” I mean, right after dropping it on the cement floor). Not only is it expensive, but also it affects students’ daily routines.

Today’s world relies heavily on technology and it is almost crucial for jobs and school. Waiting for a dud computer to be sent off and fixed can delay finishing an assign-

ment. Mohawk College’s MSA understands these student woes and has teamed up with the college toopen up a new autho-rized Apple service provider, Campus Tech Repair.

“With the school moving more towards a laptop and tablet school, there is definitely a need to have their products repaired right here…MSA businesses are here to support you. We are less expensive, faster, and we care about you as students,” says MSA Marketing and Communication Manager, Stephen Kosh.

Despite Apple being a leading technol-ogy provider, Campus Tech repairs PC

products too.

The MSA has hired a full-time techni-cian to run the Campus Tech Repair and as it grows they hope to hire Co-op and part-time students from IT and Computer Engineering programs to staff the facility.

The MSA has hired a full-time techni-cian to run the Campus Tech Repair and as it grows they hope to hire Co-op and part-time students from IT and Computer Engineering programs to staff the facility.

If you’re looking to fix your technology, you can find Campus Tech Repair in the Student Centre, room G08.

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SPORTS

NHL player stays (fashionably) true to Hamilton rootsRachael WilliamsIgnite Sports

NHL star Zac Rinaldo is using his Hamil-ton roots to launch a new clothing line.

The Philadelphia Flyers left-winger was born and raised on the East Mountain. He has made a name for himself in the hockey world with his fearless style of play and has created a network of fans. However it is his Hamilton roots that have helped him find success in the business world.

“I’ve been working with a few of my friends on this line for awhile now. We’re all Hamilton boys and we see a great mar-ket for our product,” says Rinaldo.

The line is called “Nineties World Ltd”. It is a partnership between Rinaldo and a few of his friends: Shawn Dunsmuir, Luke Coitti, and Pavle Vlahic.

The inspiration for the line came from his date of birth – 1990.

“There are a lot of people that were born in 1990 that are going to be real difference-makers. We’re just trying to represent the generation,” says Rinaldo.

The solidification of the company took place in July. Ac-cording to Rinaldo, the partners signed the documents and paid a fee to become incorporated. How-ever, Rinaldo and his partners have already been seeking spon-sorships from local athletes and talking to stores about selling the products.

“We’ve been in talks with Martha’s Closet in Burlington…we’ve also been talking to heavyweights from the MMA [mixed martial arts] for sponsor-ships,” says Rinaldo.

One of those MMA athletes is Jayce Gould, another Hamilton-native.

Marcus James of Martha’s Closet says he’s very excited for the opportunity to add Rinaldo’s new line to the collection.

The product line consists of t-shirts, tank tops, sweaters and wristbands, with the

tops all costing around $20 to $25 dollars. Rinaldo and his partners hope to expand the line to include everything from pants and shoes to outerwear.

The line is in the process of being trade-marked and the team is starting to iron out the details to ship the products all across North America.

Rinaldo says, “to be honest, I’m not even a huge hockey fan. I don’t even watch it when I’m not playing. But I do love clothes and having a clothing line has always been one of my goals.”

Photo: Nineties World LTD.Zac Rinaldo modelling a tank for his clothing line.

Varsity women’s soccer: still time to find chemistryDimitri PerdicarisIgnite Sports

The Mohawk Mountaineers women’s soc-cer team is learning on the go.

Already into their season, the young Mountaineers have had their fair share of experiences to learn from, including a 6-0 loss to the reigning Provincial Champion Humber Hawks.

“Humber is a good team so it’s always a difficult game, especially when you play them at the beginning of the season before you have a chance to gel as a team,” said centre midfielder and team captain Shari Leavitt.

Fellow teammate and veteran Shelby Dawdy echoed those words, and believes that playing against top-end teams like Humber at the beginning of the season only benefits the team moving forward.

“We have so many new young players to our team this year,” said Dawdy. “I think it showed the girls that the pace of the game is a bit faster than what they may be used to.”

Despite being a young team that is still learning, Leavitt has very high expecta-tions for the team’s overall success.

“The season is just getting started so my expectations for the team are high this year,” said Leavitt. “We have so many young and talented players that work well with our experienced vets to create a great team dynamic.”

The team’s veterans understand the poten-tial that this team has and are confident in their will to win and ability to learn from mistakes as the season progresses.

“We have a great group of girls again this season,” said Dawdy. “So I know I can expect everyone’s best effort all the time.”

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SPORTS

Dimitri PerdicarisIgnite Sports

Even as varsity tryouts come to an end and final cuts are made, Mohawk Athletics is on the search to add one more member to the team.

Mo the Hawk, the fun-loving and energetic mascot for the Mo-hawk Mountaineers is a position that Mohawk Athletics is looking to fill. Athletics Assistant Terri Deline says it’s important to have a mascot like Mo representing the college.

“Crowds love Mo the Hawk because they never know what to expect,” said Deline. “Mo the Hawk gets the crowd going and everyone cheering.”

Deline also stressed what kind of person Mohawk Athletics is looking for to fill the paid position.

“Obviously someone who is outgoing and in good physical condi-tion because the costume weighs a lot,” said Deline. “They have to be able to walk for extended periods of time.”

Glen Cuthbert is a Mohawk graduate of the Journalism program and former Mo the Hawk mascot who says it takes a lot to do the job right.

“It can get really hot in the suit after you’ve been wearing it for a while, but you get used to it,” said Cuthbert. “You have to get to know what your body can take, and teach yourself to notice when you need to take a water break or just to rest.”

For varsity athletes, playing in front of a lively crowd can provide that much-needed boost, says second-year centre midfielder and captain of the women’s soccer team Shari Leavitt.

“When you have home field advantage, an energized crowd acts as the extra player on the field, court, whatever it is,” said Leavitt. “It can make the difference between a win and a loss.”

Students interested in the position can contact the Mohawk Athletics department, or visit the office in the new David Braley Athletic and Recreation Centre.

The search for a new Mo continues …

Photo: Mohawk MattersDo you have what it takes?

Hamilton Bulldogs: Have Fans Forgotten About Dustin Tokarski’s Résumé?Dimitri PerdicarisIgnite Sports

Canadian hockey fans are all too familiar with the nation’s struggle to recapture gold at the annual World Junior Cham-pionships. Come this Boxing Day when the 2014 WJC begins, Canada will enter the tournament having not touched gold since 2009. John Tava-res, Jamie Benn, and P.K. Subban were all a part of that 2009 team who have since reached star status at the NHL level.

There was another key piece to that team that was outstanding in the 5-1 win over Sweden in the gold medal game. That player was Dustin Tokarski.

By that point, Tokarski was already coming off a Memorial Cup winning season in 2008 with the WHL’s Spokane Chiefs. He also earned a Hap Emms Memorial Trophy as the tournament’s out-standing goaltender, and the Stafford Smythe Memorial Trophy as the most valuable player to his credit.

Things were looking nowhere but up for the eventual 5th round pick of the Tampa Bay Lightning. Tokarski was even a part of the 2012 Norfolk Admirals that won the AHL Calder Cup, posting a personal dominant 12-2 record with three shutouts and a 1.46 GAA and .944 SV%.

However, after not being able to solidify himself as a standout goalie within an already weak goaltending crop, Tampa Bay elected to send Tokarski to the Montreal Canadiens organization in exchange for Cedrick Desjardins earlier this year. Tokarski would go on to finish the season with Montreal’s AHL affiliate, the Hamilton Bulldogs, posting a modest 6-8 record (with a 2.22 GAA and .927 SV%) on a team that finished dead last in the AHL standings.

There is no doubt that the upcoming season is crucial for Tokar-ski if he has any plans to eventually earn a roster spot with the Canadiens. After signing a one year, two-way deal with the club in August, Tokarski will be counted on to be Hamilton’s starting netminder this season.

We already know that Tokarski is capable of being a big-game goaltender, the question is, can he do it for the Hamilton Bull-dogs?

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ENTERTAINMENT

Teresa FriesenIgnite Entertainment

Imagine it’s a dark cold night, and you’re walking through a forest, with no light to guide you save the lantern carried by an eerie ghost guide, who shares stories and tales of failed love and dark mystery. As you walk along the gravel path, was that something fluttering off to the right? No, must have just been your imagination.

Ghost walks have been taking place on the grounds of the Hermitage ruins located in Ancaster for ten years now. George San-ford, also known as ghost guide George, is an English actor who gives a haunting per-formance telling ghost stories and bringing the ruins back to life.

“And as they got closer, the sound came louder, ‘Help me!’ And there was their

Daniel Cumerlato is the creator of Haunt-ed Hamilton and has been involved from day one in organizing the ghost walks and bringing them to the Hermitage ruins. He describes the ruins as the perfect place for a ghost walk.

“This area is known for trespassing, so when you come to a place with an idea for a ghost walk that’s already known for the ghosts and the trespassing associated with it you have to come in a certain way. We are going to tell exactly what happened here, we’re going to talk about the legends, we’re going to promote the location and, at the same time, talk about how it’s danger-ous to be here at night.”

For paranormal enthusiasts, the last two ghost walks at the Hermitage ruins for this year will be on October 12th and Novem-ber 2nd.

Ghost guide George leads a tour through the Hermitage ruins.

Scary night in the forest

Photo: Teresa Friesen

DINING: Karma ChaMEALeon

Are you a vegetarian or a vegan ? Have you ever been able to look at a menu with the freedom to choose any item?

Hamilton’s Karma ChaMEALeon is a food truck giving you a host of choices.

Cindy and Chase Thomson own the bright green, eco-friendly truck that leaves no carbon footprint on the environment. (In order to combat carbon emissions, the couple purchases carbon offsets to give back to the environment. And all the ma-terials they use are compostable.)

An appreciation of nature and the environ-ment, coupled with Cindy’s 25-year-long vegetarianism, inspired the unique concept for Karma ChaMEALeon, the only truck of its kind in Ontario.

“Looking at the food truck revolution, we thought, ‘How could we fill a void that was definitely there as far as vegetarian and vegan food went?’” Chase, a Mohawk grad, says of the truck’s concept.

“For us, it’s about being who we are as peo-ple … It was about creating a business that we felt had no harm,” Cindy continues. “[A business] that was completely harm-free, no eco-footprint, and being compassion-ate to our planet, and to animals, and to people.”

Despite being open just over three months, Karma ChaMEALeon has built up quite a reputation. It has been all over Hamilton recently during Mohawk’s Orientation Day, Holy Food Truck events, and Supercrawl. Also, the husband-wife duo recently got confirmation that they’ll appear on an up-coming episode of the popular food-truck series Eat Street.

Customers with all types of diets enjoy Karma ChaMEALeon’s ever-changing menu, which includes Taquito Dogs, Chili Cheese Fries, a Sunshine Burger, and one of their best-sellers, a Philly Cheese Steak Sandwich. Even meat-eaters, such

as Peggy, find the vegan-ized sandwich appetizing.

“If I didn’t know better, I’d swear it was just real Philly Cheese Steak made with real meat. It was absolutely wonderful.”

Sinead is a recent vegetarian, and has visited Karma ChaMEALeon a few times. She hopes to get them to cater her wedding next year.

“The food is very, very delicious. I just think it’s a really great, healthy choice,” Sinead says.

Despite finding quick success, Chase and Cindy remain humble entrepreneurs. They are both ecstatic about the response they’ve received and the curiosity they’ve sparked within consumers about animal-free options.

“The response has been fantastic and it inspires us to continue on and try to grow the business and feed more people,” Chase says.

(And yes, they DID name their truck after Culture Club’s smash hit from the ‘80s.)

Photo: Alicia GallantGuilt-free dining on the go.

friend, blue, with a rope around his neck,” Sanford recites dramatically.

Alicia GallantIgnite Entertainment

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ENTERTAINMENT

REVIEWS

Prisoners Nothing was the SameDrake continues growing on his third album.

Chris LuckettIgnite Entertainment

Hugh Jackman (right) will stop at nothing to find his daughter.Photo: Warner Bros. Photo: OVO Sound

Brittney MedeirosIgnite Entertainment

Luckily for us, one of the most anticipated albums of the year leaked this past Sunday. Drake’s newest album Nothing was the Same was set to be released on September 24th, but fans got a chance to listen right away.

The intense storytelling of Drake’s last album Take Care elevated his superstar status in the rap game. Once again, Drake brings that same intense vulnerability to his new album. That said, it seems Drake has really grown since the last album and his confi-dence throughout the 15-track album is undeniable.

“Tuscan Leather” sets the tone with its six-minute prologue that flips a sample of Whitney Houston’s “I Have Nothing” three differ-ent ways and really establishes what is to come for the rest of the album: success will change everything.

Drake seems to be telling an ongoing story throughout the album of how he literally “Started from the Bottom” and how successful he has become, and all the stuff that came in between. Each song tells a story of how success is great but it’s lonely at the top and really, nothing is the same.

He brings a thoughtful sensitivity to mainstream rap, something that most rappers lack. Let’s face it: Drake is a lyrical genius and whatever this guy touches turns to gold. Of course, it’s no surprise that Drake has stayed true to his girl-friendly lyrics and we love him oh, so much for that.

There’s kind of a Wu-Tang vibe during the album and rightfully so. A track titled “Wu-Tang Forever” really brings back Drizzy’s vocals that we all adore.

The song “Worst Behaviour” is prominent for its Kanye-ish style while ‘80s-esque “Hold on, We’re Going Home” graces us with brilliance and can be labeled as a pop track, but somehow blends in perfectly with the rest of the album.

As far as Drake’s mic skills, he’s never sounded so at ease, so force-ful without straining to prove the point.

Well, Aubrey Graham. You started from Degrassi, now you’re here.Well done.

There is a great movie hidden in Prisoners.

Unfortunately, it’s smothered by an overabundance of red her-rings and a running time nearly 45 minutes too long.

The cast boasts four Oscar nominees, one Oscar winner, one Golden Globe nominee, and an actor who co-starred in two Best Picture nominees. The movie certainly can’t be accused of lousy casting. With the pedigree onscreen in Prisoners, hardly a scene fails to grip. Sadly, the movie also makes a great example of “too much of a good thing.”

Maria Bello and Hugh Jackman play Grace and Keller, the par-ents of a Pennsylvania family who are spending this particular Thanksgiving evening with their friends (Terrence Howard and Viola Davis) and children. The evening takes a sudden and dark turn when the youngest daughters of both families go missing while walking outside.

Detective Loki (Jake Gyllenhaal, in one of his most layered performances) takes on the case to locate the missing daughters and spends the first third of the movie investigating a creepy man in an RV (Paul Dano) who had been lurking in the neigh-bourhood around the time of the abduction.

The movie really starts moving when Keller, irate at the lack of progress in locating his daughter, takes a pivotal action in vigilante justice that dims Prisoners even darker. (If neither Jackman nor Gyllenhaal receive an Oscar nomination, it’ll be very surprising.)

The movie gets continuously darker as it marches to its final frames, at which point the bleakness completely swallows the movie, leaving just the closing credits.

What starts as a tense ride to the climax, though, slows to a crawl as Prisoners takes countless dead-end turns following red herrings and keeps continuing past the natural end points of the movie. It’s a real shame, because with a few thorough edits, Prisoners could have been one of the best movies of the year.

Rating: 4 out of 5.

ETC.

Maker’s marketNeil ReyesIgnite Entertainment

the church becomes Maker’s Market, a space for local vendors to sell their wares.

Lisa Bell, founder of Nerdbiskit.com, started her Supercrawl experience at Maker’s Market. She had sold custom-made buttons online, but her tent at the Market has helped her business expand. This year, her Nerdbiskit brand took its place on the main vendor strip.

“It’s my best show of the year,” said Bell. “It’s my favourite show of the year; everyone is so friendly and I just love everything about it. I look forward to it.”

Jeni Darling, a member of the church’s choir, says the impact of Supercrawl and things like Maker’s Market are great for the changing culture of James Street North.

“Musicians and artists and restaurants are happening on the street, it’s a very happening place, and we’re really proud as a community, as a church community, to be part of that.”

For its fifth incarnation, Supercrawl aimed to be the biggest and best arts and music festival southern Ontario has to offer. This year’s event welcomed over 100 000 people into the James Street North community over two days of street art, local vendors, art installations, food trucks, buskers, and musicians.

Bands like Passion Pit and Yo La Tengo drew a massive crowd by King William Street while METZ and Chelsea Light Moving played the stage at Colbourne and James. Just down the road, Christ’s Church Cathedral openly participates in James Street events like Supercrawl.

“We have participated in the Art Crawl for many years, so when Supercrawl came we thought we should participate,” said Sandy Darling, a member of the parish. “We try to look outwards and do stuff in the community.”

At Supercrawl, the church functions as a venue for speakers, artists, or musi-cians. The courtyard garden in front of

Photos: Neil ReyesSupercrawl 2013

Hamilton World Film Festival begins this weekendChris LuckettIgnite Entertainment

Toronto may have TIFF, but Hamilton has the World Film Festival.

Now in its fifth year, the AGH BMO World Film Festival brings films from around the globe to Hamilton and runs September 20-29.

Thirty-nine films will be screened this year, including the Southern mystery Mud starring Matthew McConaughey, Acad-emy Award hopeful Fruitvale Station, and director Joss Whedon’s adaptation of William Shakespeare’s Much Ado About Nothing.

Eight local venues are participat-ing in the festival, including Empire Theatre Jackson Square, the Ancaster and Hamilton Mountain SilverCities, the Art Gallery of Hamilton, and the Burlington Centre for Performing Arts.

Joining for the first time is Starlite Drive-In, located in Stoney Creek. AGH Programming Manager Annette Paiement, who organizes the World Film Festival every year, said, “We’re excited about having a drive-in theatre experience at Starlite. And we’re very happy that they came on board. They were very interested in being a part of the festival.”

One local theatre that won’t be partici-pating this year is the historic Westdale Theatre. With the emergence of digital film projection, very few movies are released on film anymore. 2013 marks the first year the line-up of the World Film Festival is entirely on digital hard drives, which the Westdale Theatre isn’t equipped to screen.

“We’ve gone from using 35-millimetre film in the industry to a digital hard drive or a ‘DCP,’” said Paiement. “We loved showing films at the Westdale Theatre, though, and we look forward to showing films there again once they’re equipped for digital.”

With 2011’s attendance estimated at 6500 and last year’s at 7500, this looks to be the World Film Festival’s biggest year yet.