How to keep you identity—or get it back

Lisa Dewsberry

It’s that time of the school year again—the end. Parties following the stress of exams; but don’t let the party be overshadowed by theft. Having your identity stolen is as easy as leaving your purse near the door. And if this should happen, what do you do? When it happened to me, I was more worried about someone using my credit cards or my ID than I was about the cash. Worst of all, if I hadn’t been living at home, I wouldn’t have known the steps for ensuring that the theft of my purse would not result in the theft of my identity.

The first thing I learned was that I should never have been carrying my social insurance card. If you have one, memorize the number and lock it away in a safe place because you will rarely—if ever—need to have your actual card. In addition, you should scan the front and back of all your cards because when you report it stolen (which you have to if you want to prove that the 1500 dollar purchase is not a television in your house) the officer will ask for the numbers of all credit cards, bank access cards, government issued identification (health card), et cetera so they can prove theft if they catch someone with those card numbers. Now, if your wallet is stolen (which in an open-door residence setting is entirely possible), prepare to spend a lot of time on the phone. The first call is the credit card agencies—not the police—because then you can prevent your stolen cards from being used (the phone number will be on the photocopies of the credit cards that you have). Next, call the police (the Thunder Bay non-emergency number is 684-1200), because all you can do for now is report and wait. Be sure to get the case reference number and badge number of the officer you are speaking to, just in case you have follow-up information to give them at another time. The officer will ask you for a detailed list of what was in your wallet or purse. It’s a good idea to write everything down ahead of time and just read it to the officer (ie: TD Canada Trust debit card # 1305 ********). If you’ve missed anything important, the officer will ask you. Be sure to note the time your wallet was stolen as well as the location from which it was taken. After you’ve spoken to police, call major credit agencies like Equifax and Transunion so that anyone applying for a line of credit with your identification (including you in the future, unfortunately) will be flagged and will have to prove their identity. And finally, arrives the most daunting task of all: replacing all your stolen items. When you call your credit card agency, they will cancel you current number and send a new card immediately that will take 7-10 business days to arrive at your house. For access cards, you can go to your bank where they will replace it for you so long as you have identification (time to bring out the passport you keep at home except when travelling). Health cards and driver’s licences can be done at Ontario Ministry of Transportation outlets. There is one in Thunder Bay located on Memorial Ave across from Intercity Mall.

Global warming is not a fact and the precautions being made are far from necessary

Michael Ragotte

Through media, movies, and ill informed politicians, people are beginning to believe global warming is not a scientific debate, but rather an impending doom. The latter is far from true. Although no one can say for sure whether Global Warming does or does not exist, taking this phenomenon as fact is certainly not the correct response. As scientists dig deeper into their research, both sides become stronger. Although there is evidence that supports the existence of global warming, there are also many scientists in agreement the warming that occurs is only cyclical, and the earth can heat up and cool down with or without human activity.

Society is leaning more and more towards global warming issues and taking them as fact. Science and researchers that devote time, money and their efforts to disprove global warming are being shunned within the media. In films like ‘An Inconvenient Truth,’ scientists that oppose global warming are seen as bad guys, people working for massive oil companies that don’t care about the world. Considering a lot of the research disproving global warming was developed by scientists working under government grants, one should be aware these scientists are far from the evil ones as seen on cartoons. It is not fair for society to scourge these scientists that work so hard trying to understand the world around us.

At the conference on climate change in 2009 located in Copenhagen, many countries were told that global warming is an immediate threat and must be handled accordingly. According to Chad Everett of Business Green, Denmark proposed that developed nations should cut their emissions by 80 percent to combat the problem.

In order to do this massive reduction in emissions, the economies of the world would take a colossal hit, and suffer enormously under the constraints to reduce global emissions. This huge reduction in emissions and the economy is a big price to pay for a disaster that may not ever occur. Evidently, the task was removed from the Copenhagen agreement because countries were not willing to make a large commitment to something that is not scientifically proven.

Although it is good to be environmentally aware, it’s not always good to jump at the first sign of smoke, maybe it is better to see the fire first. There are many other environmental problems where there are fires burning that need to be made aware in the media. The issues regarding over fishing and over population are much more severe environmental problems that need to be attended too. Remember, just because Al Gore says that global warming is going to kill us, doesn’t mean it’s true.

With the Olympic Games having come to an end just over a week ago, sports fans and writers have resumed an ongoing debate that has many North American athletes and fans up in arms: let’s take women’s hockey out of the Olympics.
“It’s just too one-sided,” many critics have stated, and to some degree, that statement is true.
Since women’s hockey was included at the 1998 Olympics in Nagano, Japan, Canada has won three gold and a silver medal, while the United States ranks second with a gold, two silvers and a bronze medal to their credit. Meanwhile, only two other teams have won a medal, with Finland recording a pair of bronze, and Sweden receiving a silver and bronze for their efforts.
Sure, Canada and the United States have dominated the tournament, with Canada, for example, scoring 41 goals with only two against in the round-robin portion in Vancouver, but it’s not like this kind of domination hasn’t been seen in the Olympics before.
When men’s hockey was added to the 1920 Summer Olympics in Antwerp, Belgium, the Canadian team cruised to an easy gold medal, scoring 29 goals while allowing just a single marker in three games.
In fact, Canada’s domination in the early days of Olympic men’s hockey is astounding. Between 1920 and 1952, a span of seven Olympic Games, the Canadian team captured six gold medals in ice hockey, loosing only in 1936 to Great Britain, a team which was, for the record, made up of many Canadians living abroad.
In the ten Olympics that followed the 1952 games, the Soviet Union became the benchmark for success in men’s hockey, winning eight gold and a pair of bronze medals, effectively making any team that beat them a huge upset (1980 Miracle on Ice anyone?).
Looking at these stats, two teams won 14 of the first 17 gold medals awarded for ice hockey, yet not once did anyone consider removing the men’s game from the Olympics. Quite the opposite, actually, as the dominance of these teams forced the remaining nations to strengthen their efforts and build much stronger hockey programs. Several years later, the effects have been seen, with eight or nine teams being very competitive in the men’s hockey pool, creating an exciting spectacle in which anything can happen.
Sure, many fans expect to see an always exciting Canada vs. USA final in women’s hockey, however, stranger things can happen. Ask the 2006 USA team that was defeated by Sweden in the semi-finals whether or not women’s hockey is a two-team game. I’m sure they wouldn’t even have to think before disagreeing.
Many critics also argue that it could take several decades for other countries to catch up to the dominant Canadian or United States team, however, a look at some of the competition may prove otherwise.
Finland, this year’s bronze medalists, fielded a team in which half of the players were ages 21 or under. Now, call me crazy, but once the younger players become more experienced, the Finnish team will only become more and more competitive. And, with the team being that young, they have the potential to stick together for two to three more Olympic games, which will only build more chemistry and overall potential.
It is not as if other sports at the Olympics haven’t been dominated by a single nation. The half-pipe competition in snowboarding has seen a total of  24 medals awarded since its conception at the 1998 games, and the United States have won 14 of them, effectively amounting to seven times more than any other nation.
Luge, on the other hand, has seen a total of 120 medals awarded in three categories since it’s inclusion in the 1964 games, and Germany has run away laughing, collecting a total of 70 medals, 52 more than Austria, who clocked in at second place with 18. Yet, has there been any discussion to remove luge from the Olympics? Not a chance.
Not only is it unfair to take a sport out of the Olympics because of domination by a single nation, but it would also be doing an injustice to the female hockey players who compete day-in and day-out for their chance to be in the spotlight. While men’s hockey has the NHL, World Championships, World Juniors, and countless other events televised on a regular basis, women’s hockey receives international coverage for just two weeks every four years.
Removing women’s hockey from the Olympics would do more damage to the sport than good. Sure, the entire world would not have to watch Canada demolish a lower ranked team by 10 or more goals, but how are any other teams supposed to get better without constantly having to face the world’s best team? Just as other nations became stronger in the men’s portion of Olympic hockey due to constantly having to face the Canadians or Soviets over the years, the women’s teams will only improve as well. Remember, just two Olympics ago the thought of Canada’s men’s team loosing to Switzerland or Belarus was laughable at best, and yet, just 8 years later, both nations have held their own against the best in the world, beating a few of the stronger teams along the way.
The dominance of Canada and the United States in women’s hockey is easily explained: both countries currently have leagues in place that are superior to those of other nations. Just like in men’s hockey, where it took nearly 40 years for other countries to catch up to the dominant Canadian squad, women’s hockey will eventually have more than a couple teams consistently considered threats to win gold.

Hopefully everyone noticed how unreal our Varsity sports teams are this year. Our wrestling and Nordic skiing teams recently won championships. The women’s and men’s basketball team both won thrillers at home this week to advance to the next round of the playoffs. Our hockey team also beat Guelph to advance into the next round of the playoffs. So there is some incentive to get your homework done quick, because the Thunderwolves hockey team will be hosting another playoff game, and potentially the men’s basketball team will be hosting another playoff game.
Winter Carnival has recently just wrapped up, and I can say confidently that everyone had a great time. Especially with dog sledding, one of the most popular events LUSU has run this year. Mostly because, well, who doesn’t love dogs? LUSU takes the hill at Loch Lomand was slightly lower in attendance than the last time we ran it – which isn’t always a bad thing. Lower numbers mean more rentals. So thanks to Trevor Cava for setting up Winter Carnival this semester, if you see him walking around – give him a high 5.
You also have St. Patrick’s day to look forward to in March. LUSU will be running a few drink responsibly campaigns soon. Why run drink responsibly awareness events? Well…unfortunately drinking and driving is still a large issue, students need to be aware where their drinks are at all times. The sad reality is, some people out there might try to slip something in your drink. I would hope no one at Lakehead would ever do that, but better safe than sorry. At the end of March/beginning of April we will also be doing some stress busters for exams. April exams, in my opinion, tend to be the hardest. Summer is about to start, weather is warming up, and it seems hard not to feel worn out sometimes. Don’t worry though! We provide some stress busters that will help you get through April exams. Then when it’s done, four lovely months off. Unless you’re in summer courses, well then…good luck in your studies.
Until Next week,

Dave Grad
LUSU President

Brandi Cameron

Editor-in-Chief

I was misquoted or the person heard wrong - the term is “mug-wump” I have included an explanation of what the term is and where it originated from.

“This archetypal American word derives from the Algonquian dialect of Native Americans in Massachusetts. In their language, it meant “war leader”. The Puritan missionary John Eliot used it in his translation of the Bible into their language in 1663 to convey the English words duke, officer and captain.

Mugwump was brought into English in the early nineteenth century as a humorous term for a boss, bigwig, grand panjandrum, or other person in authority, although often one of a minor and inconsequential sort. This example comes from a story in an 1867 issue of Atlantic Monthly: “I’ve got one of your gang in irons — the Great Mugwump himself, I reckon — strongly guarded by men armed to the teeth; so you just ride up here and surrender”.

It hit the big time in 1884, during the presidential election that set Grover Cleveland against the Republican James G Blaine. Some Republicans refused to support Blaine, changed sides, and the New York Sun labelled them little mugwumps. Almost overnight, the sense of the word changed to turncoat. Later, it came to mean a politician who either could not or would not make up his mind on some important issue, or who refused to take a stand when he was expected to do so. Hence the old joke that a mugwump is a person sitting on the fence, with his mug on one side and his wump on the other.

There is also a slangy sense — less known these days, I believe — of a person who has been persuaded by his possession of a minor official position into a sense of self-importance, often becoming obnoxious as a result.”  from World Wide Words http://www.worldwidewords.org/weirdwords/ww-mug1.htm.

This term was introduced to our class in my 4th year Issues of United States History class. I felt after the number of board meetings I attended as a student and watch the voting of board members last year, that this term suited a number of them.  I hope you enjoyed reading this.

I will address the issue of campaigning.  There is email, facebook, and word of mouth as avenues to campaign. This is also alot better for the environment.  Also, all you have to do is look at the bulletin boards to realize that adding posters will only contribute to the cluttered look of the boards.  There is very little space on these boards and currently no one is designated to attend to these boards from LUSU.  With only 15 people running for 14 positions, I believe that is why people were less enthusiastic about campaigning.  For me, I would like to see the term for Board of Directors run parallel with the Executives in the spring.  I believe then the board can be more effective for the school academic year.

Finally, although I did not talk to you, I have attended a few of the centres to discuss issues.  As well, I spoke with someone in your office one evening and asked questions about the Argus - distribution and readership, funding and budget losses.  I also enjoyed dinner one evening at the Residence Cafe to see what the experience was like for students living in residence.  I never took the opportunities as photo ops, but did them in earnest to search out first hand information about issues I have heard students talk about.

It is always great hearing your point of view and thanks for listening to mine,

Louise Haukeness

Board of Directors

Lakehead should become Canada’s first naked university.

Robert Carty

Whether we like it or not we all must live in a world of constraints; in fact, this rule perhaps can be considered the fundamental constraint.  Some of these constraints we face are socially constructed like rules and regulations, while others still are imposed by the natural environment such as physical laws.  Most constraints have a clear function; however, others for one reason or another can serve to make life more difficult.  Constrains act upon individual behavior, cognitions and affections, while placing limitations on us psychologically and socially.

An example of a constraint that everyone must conform to due to both social and natural pressures is the wearing of clothes.  We wear clothes as a social norm in adherence or observation of cultural standards of decency, and also not to violate the law.  In this way it is a social convention, however, we also wear clothes due to environmental conditions that we require protection from such as intense heat, cold, light, rain, snow, and hail.  Clothes help our bodies maintain homeostasis and keep us alive and well.

It is not clear whether it was social construction or natural conditions that first led to the wearing of clothes, but it is clear that the clothes we wear are now more greatly influenced by social construction.  Clothing can be used to define our identities and may reflect social status, gender, sexuality, ethnicity, age race and countless other constraints that the social world places on our identities.

It is to liberate us from these constraining articles of identity formation that I propose that Lakehead University become the first ever naked university.  However, before continuing on this exposition let me assure you that this is not an idle fantasy generated by the base desires of a sexual deviant; I am merely a student of critical sociology.

Clothing is a technology that imposes often unattainable and unreasonable standards of beauty that may actually be male defined on individuals which can lead to various psychological pathologies such as low self-esteem.  It also individualizes and builds the ego, as every morning when we dress for school we must consider our social-self and take the place of the other when we consider if we are dressed appropriately.

Clothes also represent the repression of desire that post-modern critical theorists attribute to modern industrial hyper-capitalism. It’s not a coincidence that it was the production of cloth that ushered in the current mode of industrial production. When we consider the constraints modern capitalism places on us and prevents us from having healthy relationships with each other, perhaps the argument can be put most simply by saying:  if we weren’t so concerned with sexualized outer appearances and with seeing what we conceal inside our clothing, we could all concentrate more on what’s on the real inside.

It is for these reasons that I make this wholehearted appeal to our school’s administration that they take the first and most obvious step and immediately and without hesitation change the name of our university to Nakehead.

I had intended to let the controversy over the Professor X article play itself out on the pages of The Argus without any intervention on my part. But I have been compelled to respond by the anguish that many faculty, particularly some female faculty, have expressed.

Healthy debate is the underpinning of a university, whether that debate takes place on the floor of Senate, in the corridors, lecture halls or offices of the academy, or in the more public realm of the media. All are entitled, indeed encouraged, to articulate their views, without the fear of ridicule or other disparagement. Whether Professor X crossed any line is open to individual interpretation. The primary point is that all are entitled to express their opinions, one hopes in a respectful way, and that includes Professor X’s supporters and detractors. Often controversy is a vehicle to facilitate a meaningful, open sharing of thoughts and thus healthy debate.

Professor X has used his/her pen (or keyboard) to castigate me in the past and I always viewed it as his/her prerogative to do so. The combination of irony, humour and pointed jabs often makes for interesting, albeit sometimes controversial, reading. At the end of this discussion I hope that everyone casts aside the heat of the moment, considers what was said and what wasn’t (but inferred in some peoples’ minds), and then be thankful that we live in a society where everyone can express their views without fear of retribution. Lakehead University, as an important symbol of our society, must be a place where we value, indeed cherish, freedom of expression. The Argus, as an independent student newspaper, has been serving its role by reporting all opinions in this situation. I believe the editor has reasonably responded to the criticism surrounding publication of the piece. It is up to others to point out their particular issues with the content. Such is the role of debate in a democratic society.

Frederick F. Gilbert

President

Everything you need to know about Scotland’s greatest gift to mankind.

Andrew WC Brown

“I love scotch. Scotchy, scotch, scotch. Here it goes down, down into my belly‚” is Ron Burgundy’s opinion of the smokey drink. If that Anchorman’s opinion isn’t enough to convince you that this is a worthwhile experience you should indulge in, let me wet your whistle in a world you’re never imagined.

The basic rules for anything bearing the label of scotch, is that the drink must be distilled in Scotland, and have matured for at least three years and one day in oak casts, be at least 40% alcohol by volume, and other technically elaborate requirements. If you’re concerned about the legitimacy of your scotch, I strongly recommend asking your nearest internet search engine, as they are the best resource.

Much like wine, the region in which it is made identifies scotch. There are four regions: Highland, Lowland, Islay and Campbeltown. Scotch from Islay may have the strongest smell, scotch from the Lowland will generally be lighter, and scotch from the Highlands will be sweeter.

It is recommended you use an old fashion glass when serving scotch, so you can grip it firmly below and swirl it, like a true millionaire with a trouble past who sits in his study where no studying ever occurs but just the sound of faintly echoing unfulfilled childhood dreams.

We have two scotches to talk about today to bring you into the world that is well known by all the high and lowlanders (and log throwers). The first is the PEAT MONSTER (a favourite of Ed’s) distilled by Compass Box Whiskey Company. 46% alcohol by volume, you can pick this bottle up at your local LCBO for around $65 CAD. It’s a very, very smokey blended scotch.

If you’re new to scotch, you may be thrown off by its overwhelming audacity. When this beverage passes your nose, you’ll know its much stronger tasting than your average scotch, but experiencing this taste will assist your palette in knowing the distinction of a very strong scotch.

Our second selection of scotch is BOWMORE ISLAY Single Malt, which is my favourite. The title says it all for this scotch. It’s distilled by BOWMORE, on the island of Islay. It’s at 40% alcohol by volume and you can pick this bottle up at your local LCBO for around $55 CAD. It’s smooth, very well balanced and very rich in flavour. It’s a very safe choice and an enjoyable experience.

Whether you like Scotch or not, be respectful of the drink, and remember what Lt. Archie Hicox of Inglourious Basterds said: “There’s a special rung in hell reserved for people who waste good scotch.”