From the return of alumni events on campus, to an attempt to throw cake at the famous Mona Lisa painting, this is what The Ontarion noticed in the news this week.
Man attempts to smear cake on the Mona Lisa
No one expected their trip to the Louvre Museum in Paris to end with a helping of cake, let alone having it smeared on one of history’s timeless pieces.
On Sunday, an unidentified man disguised as an elderly woman threw a piece of cake at the famous Mona Lisa, a 16th century painting by Leonardo Da Vinci, leaving a large white streak atop of it. Protected by a glass casing, the artwork was left unharmed by the incident.
The man, claiming to be a climate activist, was reportedly escorted out of the museum by security as he shouted at onlookers to “think of the Earth.
“There are people who are destroying the Earth. Think about it. Artists tell you: think of the Earth. That’s why I did this,” he said.
Security was then seen wiping the cake off from the glass case.
The Mona Lisa has been subject to many attacks throughout the years. In 1911, it was stolen by a museum employee and Italian nationalist. In the 1950s, the painting was hit with acid and partially damaged before being placed behind glass. And finally, A woman threw a teacup at the Mona Lisa in 2009 which only hit the casing.
According to philstar Global, the perpetrator has since been placed under psychiatric care, and the Louvre has refused to comment on the incident.
Trudeau announces gun control measures to lessen impact of violence inflicted with firearms
Following a mass shooting in Uvalde at a Texas elementary school that left 19 children and two teachers dead, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced several new laws and measures for gun control in Canada.
Called Bill C-21, these new laws will instate “some of the strongest gun control measures in over 40 years,” states a release from the Prime Minister’s government website.
Some of the measures include implementing a national freeze on handguns, taking away firearms licenses from those involved in domestic violence or criminal harassment, fighting gun smuggling and trafficking, and addressing intimate partner violence, gender-based violence, and self-harm involving firearms.
Although Bill C-21 was announced promptly after an American shooting, it ultimately addresses some recent instances of gun violence in Canada.
“One Canadian killed by gun violence is one too many,” said Trudeau in the release. “I’ve seen all too well the tragic cost that gun violence has in our communities across the country.”
Namely, Trudeau invoked the memory of Alfred Wong, a B.C. teenager who was shot by gang members in 2018 and who died two days later in the hospital. He was only 15 years old.
“Canadians certainly don’t need assault-style weapons that were designed to kill the largest number of people in the shortest amount of time,” Trudeau said. “Losing a child to gun violence, or a brother or a sister or a spouse or a parent or a friend — it should never happen.”
Alumni Reunion Week to make a return to campus this June
After three years of the pandemic stalling most in-person activities, the University of Guelph’s Alumni Reunion Week is finally back on campus and embracing a hybrid format. Virtual events will run from June 20 to 23 while in-person activities will take place from June 24 to 26.
Alumni Reunion Week is the largest annual event by U of G and is run by Alumni’s Affairs and Development (AA&D). It offers alumni the chance to “reminisce on their university experiences while reconnecting with classmates and building new skills through various activities,” according to a U of G release.
Virtual events will range from Thai-inspired cooking classes and webinars on growth and happiness, to alumni interviews by AA&D on Instagram Live. Meanwhile, the in-person events will focus on class reunions and college celebrations.
There will also be campus tours, a craft beer social, and an unveiling of a new exhibit at the Barker Veterinary Museum that will mark the Ontario Veterinary College’s 100th anniversary.
A grad gala will be held for the graduating classes of 2021 and 2022 from June 22 to 25, and those unable to attend on those dates can instead attend a ceremony on Oct. 10.
Winners of the 2022 U of G Alumni Award of Excellence will be announced on AA&D’s social media platforms on June 24.
To attend any of the events during Alumni Reunion Week, participants must follow U of G’s COVID-19 protocols, and they must also register for events. To RSVP a spot for any of the virtual events, visit AA&D’s Alumni Reunion Week webpage.