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Once a mild-mannered university office building, the Spire, now well into its construction, seems to provoke strife and and conflict in all quarters. Is this the strange effect of the radical new building material used in the building? Biological Concrete, which is actually composed of bacteria which grow a keratenous shell, forms the outer shell of the tower. Could the computers, guided by two elegant mathematical

Junctions, be causing these problems? What really is going on at Carleton University, the scenic, seemingly |

innocent university campus? Read on, in the second instalment of...

The Spire By James Foley May 23, 1998 Mr. Mitchell Morien Construction Director, Carleton Spire Project Dr. A. Trevor HodgePresident, Carleton University Ottawa, Ontario

Re: Union Negotiations

Dear Dr. Hodge:

I am afraid that the possibility of a walkout is nearer than ever. Negotiations are still open, but little progress is being made. In the interests of preserving amiable relations between the staff of the university and the administration, I draw to your attention these demands of the union negotiators as of their meeting with me, May 20.

Their principle difficulty is with our hiring ofnon-union labour in the form of students from the Engineering faculty. The other specialized workers —electricians, contractors, truckers, etc., along with the chemists, biochemists, computer programmers, and mathematicians necessary for such an unusual project have protested to me ever since work began. They have even managed to gain some student membership, although | think their support from that quarter is slight.

Another point of contention concerns health and safety hazards. Many of our workers complain of having to be in close proximity to the bacterio- logical and chemical substances we have assembled in our project, contending that the health hazards have not been properly researched. I have cited to them several times the many lab hours--years--of work which have gone into the development of our system, but with little effect. Certain of them, being more troublesome than the rest, have left already, but of the remaining, we have several who must be dealt with. Perhaps if Professor Gradshal and Professor Herman could give a formal talk to the unions, explaining the biological basis for our sys- tem, it might have more effect than my persuasions.

Of course, we have also received many complaints about our extensive use of computer and biotechnology. Many say that we are taking jobs away from traditional workers. Of course, every new technology displaces people, even the transi- tion from stone and brick buildings to steel girder high-rises. Despite all my efforts, I am sorry to say that the project has become somewhat of a magnet for popular environmental protest. I hope that our professors, equipped as they are with all the facts, will be able to dispel all unfounded fears.

Aside from these considerations, lam happy to say that construction is proceeding by schedule. The conventional concrete base of the tower is finished, the Bio-colony vats have been fired up, and the Electro_growthing of the structure may begin whenever these other difficulties are dealt with.

Please give my regards to your wife and family. With sincerest thanks for your continued patronage, I remain,

Sincerely,

Mitchell Morien cc/wjv

ctober ;

Ottawa Citizen Aug. 1, 1998 Section D3 Monster Needle Won’t Stop Growing

In the most unusual development yet in the short history of the Carleton Spire, scientists report that the material used to build the Spire, dubbed Bio- logical Concrete TM, won’t stop growing. The concrete is actually composed of millions of micro- scopic bacteria which are genetically manipulated to grow along magnetic and electrical fields. The workers at the Carleton project have found that, despite all projections, the concrete exterior of the building continues to grow at an exponential rate. The building was slated to stop at 2,400 feet, but as of this writing the structure has reached a height of 2,600 feet and shows no signs of stopping. In fact, the entire building is continuing to grow at the rate of 10 feet per day, and scientists say that this rate will only increase as the building becomes taller. The Director of the project, Dr. M. Morian, was unavailable for comment, but sources report that the director of biochemistry on site is planning to try various measures to cease the wild growth. Mean- while, computer scientists at the Carleton research department are attempting to rewire the computer program which directs the reproduction of the bac- - teria.

Independent mathematical sources report that the two equations used to guide the computer in its program have a fundamental flaw. Apparently, both equations, (one shown to the left in a compu- terised reconstruction) are infinite in their extent. That means that following its program precisely, the computer would never be able to end the con- struction of the building. In fact, according to this mathematician, the very pinnacle of the building is ‘‘undefined’’ by either equation. ‘‘Even if that Carleton Spire were to grow to the very edges of the known galaxy, it would still be unable to stop,”’ our

expert reports. ; Official reports from Carleton University

say that the situation is not serious, and that they hope to have all parameters of the project under control by the weekend. In the meantime, the public is advised that there is no danger, and that the building is very stable.

FOR YO

22 Brides

s/t

(Zero Hour/Attic) This debut album is an unspectacular though not uninteresting listening experience. Sisters Carrie and Libby Johnson create moody, disturbing songs through their use of murky chords and intense lyrics. Emotional, harmonized vocals also help to set the album’s dark tone. The songs are well written, with unnerving, poetic lyrics about sub- jects ranging from poor families selling their chil- dren in India, to a horrifying journey through the mind ofa serial killer. My only complaints concern the overall sameness of the tunes, and the weakness of the instrumentation.

(3.5)

--Mike Beagan

Sarah Craig Sweet Exhaust

(Attic)

Sarah Craig does tend to be a tad imitative of Kate Bush, but she pulls it off with incredible ability. She bounces all over the musical spectrum, showing her immense diversity while remaining true to her influences. ‘‘Wakerife Waltz’’, for example, has a distinct sound similar to that of German cabaret music from the ’60s. She has a clear tone and her enunciation is immaculate. The album is well worth a listen. Buy it.

(4)

-- Cate Hanus

AURAL

STIMULATION...

Peter Gabriel

Secret World Live

(MCA)

lam normally a big Peter Gabriel fan, but I must sa how terribly disappointed I am with his most recent release. For one thing, Paula Cole leaves a lot to b desired in the vocal department. She hasa very air voice that doesn’t mesh with his style at all. Th instrumemtal sections were poorly done, and eve Peter Gabriel himself was far below his usué standard. That’s the trouble with live cassettes. H must have had an off day.

(2.5)

--Cate Hanus

Robbie Robertson and the Red Roa Ensemble Music For The Native Americans ) (Capitol/EM]) The Native Americans is a six-hour TBS docum tary which chronicles the history of North Amer! ca’s indigenous people. The stories are told the Native American perspective, and the proj utilizes native people in all levels of production. The soundtrack, featuring Robbie Ro! and a group of native musicians collectively kno as The Red Road Ensemble, presents an evol¥'

strength arises from the modern-traditional soun® of original vocal songs such as Ulali’s ‘‘Mahk J (Heartbeat Drum Song)’’, Kashtin’s outstandi rocker ‘‘Akua Tuta’’, and the Robertson-pe' ‘‘Words of Fire, Deeds of Blood’’. Rock-like tun® **Golden Feather’’ and ‘‘Skinwalker’’ are slig!! weak, but still quite listenable.

Each of this album’s twelve tracks is P formed with skill, love, and respect for the past. ! a strongly recommended for all true music love™

) -- Mike Beagan

Rating System: 5-- Orgasmic 4-- Oh-me-oh-my 3-- Not too bad 2-- Getting worse

1-- Oh god, throw this out! _~