Features

Jade Edwards will be at the 2010 Olympic Games in Vancouver. But much to her chagrin, she’ll be there as a spectator rather than a participant.

Edwards, 19, said participating in the 2010 Olympics as a ski jumper was a realistic goal for her. But with the recent International Olympics Committee (IOC) ruling that women’s ski jumping will not be included in the Games, Edwards is left wondering what could have been.

Despite winning back-to-back Olympic gold medals, Canada’s national women’s hockey team doesn’t get as much publicity as its male counterparts. Still, they might once again represent the nation’s best opportunity at winning a medal at the upcoming Winter Olympics in Vancouver.

And they have a particular colour in mind.

“We’re always expected to win gold,” assistant captain Jayna Hefford said, via phone from Calgary. “That just goes without saying when you play hockey for Canada.”

Back in December the Charlatan printed a comment in its “Overheard at Carleton” section that read: “I’m sure there are people who have raped the disabled.”

As a disabled young woman, I was heartbroken and outraged to see that type of comment published in my school's paper for 20,000-plus students to see.

I struggle with self-esteem issues that are focused on my disability and I often wonder whether or not it's even possible to meet someone who'll see past it and fall in love with me.

There is a strange yet earnest sort of equality that abounds in the Carleton Disability Awareness Centre (CDAC) office. A few minutes lounging on the couch and one is likely to see punishment meted out for insolence, regardless of how able-bodied the perpetrator might be. CDAC co-ordinator Graham Perrin strolls across the room, kicks Tim Rose’s wheelchair into manual and wheels him over to the corner to face the wall.

“Tim loves getting his face out there. He’s shameless,” John McRae says.

When you hear the word “punk” you instantly think of rebellious teens in leather and safety pins banging their heads to The Clash’s “London Calling.”

While it might seem far-fetched for educators to use this anti-authority image to promote their vision for academia, the idea of “edupunk” has its roots in the punk attitude of using what you’ve got to make something new.