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Poutine in peace

In defence of poutine

By Idrian Burgos, Contributor

nan unusually bright day,

with people going to and
fro in their business, I walked
down the street. All my class
days fortunately have two-hour
gaps between them, which
means enough time for lunch
and some rest. One crosswalk
and I was at the River Market,
my regular lunch spot. A
renovated community market,
it now houses several shops
and dining places. Anything
from usual grocery merchandise
to difficult-to-find wines can
be bought, and anything from
Hispanic food to fish and chips
can serve as a filling meal. In the
mood for something exotic I was
not. Rather, I went to a stall that
serves diner food and ordered
one of my favourite eats. A few
minutes later and I took a small
bowl of poutine to my table.

Other eateries at the market
offered variations on the poutine
dish—like the Japanese curry
poutine from the eatery that
serves seafood—but I had no
inclination towards trying those
variations. Classic poutine felt
more comfortable, and it was a
rich treasure to behold and taste.
The sight of creamy, melted
blocks of cheese accompanied
by arich and shiny helping
of earthy gravy, covering the

lightly wood-coloured fries like
drapes, was only a preliminary
to the subsequent experience
of eating the whole thing. The
whole decadent image was a
preview of what was to come,
if a pale preview. The warm
tastiness of the gravy, coupled
with the dairy luxuriousness

of the cheese curds, and the
fries that provided the needed
hardiness to the whole affair. It
was a homely paradise, where
one feels cozy and sheltered
without needing to do anything.
My body received its needed
nourishment and defence
against the cold weather. I
continued eating the poutine
with only a few breaks to let my
tongue cool off.

“Looks like you’re eating
one of those kinds of things.”

I was kicked out of my
dream. A gentleman stood near
the table. He looked normal,
but he was probably one of
those fitness-crazy people, so
widespread these days. I asked
him if he had a problem.

“Would you mind me
sitting with you at this table?”

I told him it didn’t matter.
Once seated, he took a sandwich
out from his small bag. It was
one of those sandwiches that
physically active people eat,
and he ate it with obvious
satisfaction and delight. I
resumed eating my greasy
comfort food as normally as
possible.

School of Thought

Passing judgement
on the U-Pass

By Natalie Serafini,
Opinions Editor

Imost since the inception of

the U-Pass, the little blue
tickets have been a polarizing
force. For students who use
transit everyday, the U-Pass has
been a much cheaper alternative
to FareCards, which cost $170
for three zones. For students
who either cannot or do not
use the U-Pass, the addition to
student fees is unappealing.
Now, with the arrival of the
U-Pass referendum—which
answers the question of whether
the program should remain in
effect or be dissolved—money
and the monthly passes are on
the minds of many students.

Voters in the referendum
had to also consider how they
felt about the planned increase
in pricing. Where the U-Pass
currently costs $30 per month,
it is slated to increase this year
to $35, followed by another
increase to $36.75 in 2014,
and $38 in 2015. Although the
subsidized program will remain
cheaper than FareSaver tickets
($42 for 10 three-zone tickets) or
the aforementioned FareCards,
it will still be a considerable
cost for the students who don’t
benefit from it. The referendum
will count up the votes of the
people, but what do the people
have to say about it?

Asked how she felt about
the program, one student stated,
“T think that it is really good,
and it is more beneficial for the
students of the college, so that
they travel conveniently from

 

“You know what, just a
word of advice, if you won't
mind me saying. You really
have the potential to shed a few
pounds.”

I asked him what he meant.

“Like, you know, more
exercise, improved diet, cut back
on some foods.”

“Like this poutine?”

“Not that I’m insulting you
based on what you're eating,
but you can really shed a few
pounds by eating less and better.
Cutting back on grease, for
instance.”

college to house and from house
to college.”

Michael Zwierzchowski
felt similarly that the program
was advantageous to students.
He said, “I think it’s a fine
program. It helps those who are
close to the SkyTrain or close
to the school come much faster
than sometimes a car would.”

Asked what he thought
of the increase in pricing,
Zwierzchowski suggested that
the increase was reasonable: “1
think it’s normal for the inflation
to go up as time goes by. It’s
still a really subsidized program
compared to buying a two-zone
or one-zone pass, depending on
where you live.”

Although they were
appreciative of the U-Pass,

Kara Wong and Celina Martin
were also conflicted about
students who have to pay for

Photo courtesy of Matthew Burpee/Flickr (Creative Commons)

I tried to assure him with
my posture that I didn’t take his
words insultingly. “You're right.
Exercise and a better diet are not
bad things. But you know what?
I can only do that out of my
own volition. What I’m eating
here is not so much grease as it
is comfort. It’s not something
cool or fashionable or with
decor, but plain, unadorned
food, for those who don’t care
about embellishments or calls
to fitness. It’s not like one of
those trendy dishes nowadays,
but something for plain-minded

the program without reaping
the benefits. Wong stated, “1
don’t think there’s anything that
I dislike about [the program].
Maybe have the option for
people who don’t want the
U-Pass to not get it.”

Martin explained her
uncertainty about the program:
“1 don’t know for people who
don’t even need the U-Pass ...
they’re just spending the money
for, really, nothing. But for
people who live far away and
they need the U-Pass, it’s kind of
a good thing for them.”

Chris Anderson, who
doesn’t use the U-Pass, was
decidedly against having to
pay for the monthly passes. He
asserted, “I'd rather not have it,
and put that money towards gas
or something else.”

The U-Pass has been cheap,
easy, and convenient for myself

folks. Yes, it does add a few
pounds, but then who cares? It’s
all about simple satisfaction!”

I attempted to say those
words politely, and he seemed
to reciprocate the politeness. We
both went back to our eats, and
my lunch break ended without
much trouble, but I was left to
think: suddenly asking about
one’s meal is infringing. Then
again, a proper explanation
of poutine’s advantages is
sometimes necessary.

and many other students. The
problem is that unnecessary
expenditures like this program
can become a financial burden
for students who do not or
cannot use the passes. That
additional $30 a month—to
eventually become $38—adds
up. For students who use the
U-Pass in their daily transit, or
who need a convenient way to
get home safely after a night of
“studying,” these passes will
remain beneficial. For students
who neither want nor need the
U-Pass, perhaps discussions
could turn towards an opt-
out. There’s a medical / dental
insurance opt-out for students
who are covered through work
or their parents, and who
don’t want to pay more money
for unnecessary insurance.
Similarly, maybe some students
could take a pass on the U-Pass.

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