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NEWS
Movember hits close to home at BCIT BCIT looking for best student moustaches as Movember campaign kicks into gear CHAD KLASSEN Assistant Editor It’s time to get those moustaches growing, boys – and girls. Movember is back for another year and the BCIT Student Association is hoping to raise the bar in their campaign to raise awareness and money for prostate cancer and men’s health. The Student Association brought in $10,000 last year – part of the $22.3 million from across Canada and $76.8 million worldwide. The target for 2011 is $15,000 and the campaign begins November 4 at Professor Mugs. “As much as we want to raise a ton of money, we also want to get the awareness out around BCIT for Movember,” says Student Association Vice President of External Relations Tara Johnson. Movember is a relatively new phenomenon, launching in 2004 in Melbourne, Australia when two friends wanted to help moustaches
Movember 2010 participants show off their ‘staches. make a fashion comeback. The campaign is now trending in 10 countries with men around the world growing their best moustaches every November. For men or women who can’t grow the moustache, fake ones will go for $2 each in the Great Hall at BCIT’s Burnaby campus with all the proceeds going to the Movember Foundation of Canada. The fundraising efforts are to ensure there are more survivor stories like that of 27-year-old Brandon Barrett, a graduate of the automotive service technician program at BCIT. Barrett was diagnosed with a form of muscular cancer at just 12 years old. Af-
ter a year of chemotherapy and radiation, he came out on the other side against all odds – despite a 10 per cent chance of living and a mere one per cent chance of ever walking again. Barrett is now managing an auto repair shop in Port Coquitlam. “All these things that happen to people like losing your job or whatever, all I can say is ‘I’m alive.’ Every day is a gift from that point on. I could die now and would be happy,” says Barrett, who enjoys outdoor sports like snowboarding and quadding. Movember is close to Barrett’s heart, even though he’d like to see people sup-
BCITSA
port every type of cancer, not just male-specific cancers, during the month of November. Either way, he plans on growing the thickest, fullest moustache ever. The BCIT Student Association is challenging current students to show off their best moustache online. Students can post their picture on the BCIT Student Association’s Facebook page. Men are encouraged to grow their best moustache, while women can get creative and draw their own funky moustache to get involved. To wrap it all up, there will be a giant fundraising at Doolan’s Pub on the last day of the month, November 30.
CAMPUS QUERY
How do you feel about facial hair?
TARA JOHNSON Business
CARLOS PALACO Mechanical Engineering
SIMER AUJLA Marketing Management
STACEY GODDING Prospective student
I think it’s really sexy and I am looking forward to seeing moustaches all over campus this month!
I have never had it. Maybe I could try it this year [for Movember]
I am not a big fan of shaving so I usually just end up growing it out for two or three weeks. Last year I had a mustache. It was kind of for Movemeber but also because it was funny.”
It seperates the boys from the men!
NEWS BRIEFS
Shipbuilding contract good for BCIT grads The federal government awarded Seaspan Marine, a North Vancouver company, an $8 billion shipbuilding contract estimated to create 4,000 new jobs in British Columbia over the next eight years. This deal is expected to increase the number of career opportunities available for graduating BCIT technical professionals. Paul Dangerfield, the VP of Education, Research and International stated, “This [contract] means there will be more employment opportunities for, past, present, and future BCIT students, in the trades, and in a vast array of other areas.” It will increase demand for journeymen, apprentices, project managers and engineers across a wide range of industries. Vessel construction will start in late 2012 but economic activity will start immediately as $150 million has been allocated for immediate infrastructure renovations. BCIT was integral in planning the contract announcement and are building relationships with various contract stakeholders. - Dave Swanson
Vancouver PD accused of soliciting prostitutes The Vancouver Police have been accused of coercing prostitutes into performing sexual favours in exchange for letting them work the streets. Kate Shannon, University of British Columbia public health researcher and expert witness told the Missing Woman Inquiry, “One of the problems faced by streetlevel sex trade workers was that Vancouver Police Department members would force them to engage in sexual services in exchange for not arresting them or fining them.” Based on in depth interviews, Shannon believes that prior police solicitation increased a sex workers chance of encountering violence. - Dave Swanson
With files from BCIT Commons & Montreal Gazette
November 2, 2011