Alan Turing, an English mathematician, logician, cryptanalyst and computer scientist, is considered by many to be the father of computer science and artificial intelligence. Turing has been credited for his substantial contributions during the Second World War, in which he was instrumental in deciphering the Enigma Code for the Allied forces.

He also is largely responsible for the development of the first reprogrammable computer. Yet many of Turing’s achievements remained classified until after his death, due to their pivotal tactical... Read more

You’ve heard the cliché over and over, “everyone’s texting but no one’s communicating!” We are communicating, and we are connected. In fact, we are more connected to world news and current events than ever before. With a click of a button we can check the weather in Bangladesh, update our status or on occasion speak face-to-face with our mothers via Skype.

The problem is the way we communicate. It’s almost impossible for us to speak to one another without hiding... Read more

Recently, Canadian parents were charged in Jamaica after the body of their two-year-old son was found decomposing in a suitcase. What’s more alarming is that these parents had been charged with the mistreatment of children before. The Warrens are the same parents who were guilty of leaving their eight-month old daughter “baby Angelica” in a cold Toronto stairwell.

These parents also had other malnourished and developmentally delayed children, all under the age of six. What was their punishment? The mother,... Read more

Online anti-strike petition biased against faculty

In response to the current WLU/WLUFA labour negotiations, a petition against a faculty strike has been circulated online. At the time of this writing, the petition has over 1000 signatures. However, the wording of the petition is extremely biased. Though intended to target WLU administration, it singles out faculty as the cause of this possible disruption. It fails to mention that WLU administration is just as much at fault for failing to produce a... Read more

With the potential of a full-time faculty strike at Wilfrid Laurier University, many students are worried about what will happen to their semester of work. Both the faculty and WLU administration are aware of these anxieties and assure the student body that, although there is a very complex nature to these negotiations, a solution is the main goal of both sides.

In the context of present economic realities the WLU administration’s proposed budget is a response to increased competition as... Read more

Since October 2011 there has been over a dozen instances of violence within minutes of campus. Although most of these occurrences have been concentrated in the Northdale area, its indirect effects can be felt throughout the tri-city region. People feel that, while the frequency has not changed significantly, the nature of these encounters have become more dangerous. Victims have increasingly reported involvement of firearms and knives in altercations and this has caused fear to escalate. With Waterloo’s student population continuing... Read more

Holidays are great. Everything from the big ones like Christmas, to the trivial superficial ones like Valentine’s Day, there is no denying everyone has some love for these occasions. Decorating, giving cards, eating food, spending time with loved ones, etc.; they’re great. However there is one other thing that is often overlooked as a great part of the holidays — the day after.

We’re often so caught up in preparing for that one day to celebrate. We buy decorations and... Read more

It is soon to be Valentine’s Day and the air will be filled with what will be a blissful buzz in classrooms, humming in living rooms and bedrooms across Canada. It is the day when we are invited to express our feelings of affection for people we like, or even love and it is a fine sentiment reminding us of how much we do care about the people in our lives. But, the sub-text of Valentine’s Day is even... Read more

Is it surprising to anyone that the Conservative government passed a bill infringing on human rights without much fanfare?

In July 2011, Prime Minister Stephen Harper and the Conservative government agreed to regulatory changes in the Aeronautics Act that, intended or not, would forbid transsexuals from boarding airplanes.

Some may argue that this is a deliberate misinterpretation from the bill, which reads: “5.2 (1) An air carrier shall not transport a passenger if … (c) the passenger does not appear... Read more

Dr. Rajendra Kale, temporarily editor-in-chief of the Canadian Medical Association Journal, recently wrote an editorial in which he lamented that Asian communities in Canada seek sex-selective abortion. To combat this, Dr. Kale insisted that doctors not reveal the sex of an unborn child until at least 30 weeks gestation, at which point it is quite difficult to get an abortion.

Since abortion is completely legal in Canada, even if the baby still has a toe in her mother’s birth canal,... Read more

Warning, the content that you are about to read is going to be extremely soft. Those in the “Lonely Hearts Club” must be aware: this article may make you cringe.

Only the brave ones who are willing to be loving and optimistic can continue. Or, just read and make faces showing your disgust. Do as you wish, I have no control over the reactions caused by the readers.

It is a week before Valentine’s Day, and already the moaning and... Read more

Later this month, Waterloo city council will hear a recommendation to temporarily stop allowing development in the highly-disputed Northdale area. And they would be wise to take this recommendation.

The motion will come from the Northdale Special Project Committee (NSPC), who voted last week to appeal to the city to pause development in the region until the spring when their study is completed. For just over a year the NSPC has been working with a consulting group carrying out the... Read more

With 39.7 per cent of first year arts students below a 5.0 grade point average (GPA) there are worries that these individuals entering university straight from high school will continue to struggle throughout university if they are able to stay in their program. When the increasing amount of students leaving high school for post secondary education is taken into consideration, it is hard to ignore an intensifying environment of competition. But then why aren’t these students worried?

Focusing on the... Read more

Music, as we now know it in North America, developed out of a long history of social and cultural movements. The evolution can be traced back hundreds of years so for the sake of relevance I will jump right into twentieth-century, post-WWI society.

American music has its roots buried deep into jazz, blues, folk, country and gospel music, all of which emerged out of the Caribbean and the southern-most rural states during the 1920s. Many white, middle-class Americans were having... Read more

Almost at the end of my first month in this position, I’m reflecting on what has transpired during this period.

I’m learning new things and I have broadened my perspective about who we are as an arts faculty. Even as a department chair, I never had this perspective.

One of the things I love most about my job is the students and their ways of trying to survive in a sea of unknown expectations and new ways of doing things.

LMT review inaccurate Re: “Terrifically trashy” January 24 I am a musical performer. By the time this issue is published, I will have performed musically — this means you’re about to tell me to “get off my high horse” like you did several other music students and the Dean.

Our aim was never to bash LMT or The Cord, but to correct an insulting mistake The Cord made for the second consecutive year.

We rightfully expected apologies, but received quite... Read more

This past week, Prime Minister Stephen Harper, cabinet ministers, bureaucrats and over 400 aboriginal chiefs met in Ottawa at the Crown-First Nations Gathering.

Since the general public was made aware of living conditions in Attawapiskat nearly two months ago, the Canadians watched eagerly as the summit unfolded.

By the end of the day, an agreement on a five-point plan had been reached. This plan includes five “pledges” ranging from education reform to steps to encourage improved governance, accountability and financial... Read more

Re: Legacy of media distorting Soviet Union January 25

It is true that Russophobia is a legitimate problem, judging by the abhorrent depiction of Russians as callous villains in western media (the Modern Warfare games being the worst offenders by far). It is also true that the United States did many bad things during the Cold War (McCarthyist witch hunts, Vietnam).

America also deserves flak for abandoning Russia when the Soviet Union collapsed, allowing Russia to become overtaken by corruption... Read more

Re: LMT impresses with theatrical talents

Last year the The Cord reviewed the annual Laurier Musical Theatre production and made the absurd observation that “LMT is the last frontier for musical performers at Laurier.” A music student leader wrote to The Cord, pointed out the inaccuracy, a retraction of sorts was printed, and life goes on.

This year The Cord again reviewed the LMT production and repeated the same absurdity as last year. Do you simply cut and paste from... Read more