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DUNGEONS AND DRAGONS..........................5

A shop in South Vancouver draws many on a weekly basis to play the popular tabletop game

PINNACLE | COLLEGE MEDIA AWARD TWO - YEAR WEEKLY

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PRODUCED BY LANGARA JOURNALISM STUDENTS

NOVEMBER 17, 2016 • VOL. 48 NO. 25• VANCOUVER, B.C.

Rats enrage residents

Langara may look at YMCA space The LSU is hoping the college will try to buy property when it goes for sale By BONNIE LEE LA MADELEINE

CHERYL WHITING main photo/SANDIE BROWN photo insert

Sandie Brown in the neighbourhood of the Fire Hall No. 5 demolition site. Brown said she found a dead rat (insert) in her yard.

Neighbours of Fire Hall No. 5 blame demolition for rodent infestation By CHERYL WHITING

ome residents in Champlain Heights are wondering why the City of Vancouver is doing nothing about a rat problem they say has been caused by the demolition of a nearby building. Sandie Brown, a resident and board member at Killarney Gardens Housing Co-Operative, said that rat sightings went up drastically after Fire Hall No. 5 was demolished in July. “I was looking outside my patio door and there were four young rats frolicking on my patio deck,” she said. “I was livid.” After some sightings and the desecration of her vegetable garden, Brown said she called city hall, and they sent a technician out. Instead of fixing the problem, Brown said the technician

blamed her for having the vegetable garden, and said that it was the cause of the rat problem. “He didn’t put down bait traps or anything. His attitude was like, ‘you have no proof, it’s up to you to deal with them,’” she said. Brown said that the Co-op had to have exterminators come after the recent sightings to put down additional rat traps. The City of Coquitlam enacted a policy after receiving numerous complaints about rats from neighbours adjacent to demolition sites. Jim Bontempo, manager of building permits and approvals for Coquitlam, confirmed that rat sightings were due to increased demolition in the city, and that all property owners are now required to submit an inspection report from a pest control company before

qualifying for a demolition permit. “The program is fairly successful, in that we have not really been getting a lot of complaints from adjacent neighbours since,” he said. While Vancouver does not have the same law as Coquitlam, City of Vancouver spokesperson Tobin Postma said that possible solutions are being discussed. “Staff are currently reviewing the permit requirements and looking at how a similar sort of rodent policy could be incorporated,” he said in an email statement. Brown said she feels frustrated with the lack of action from the city. “I know that all large urban areas have problems with rodents but I don’t feel it should be to the extent that it is now,” she said. ‘[The city has] just dragged their heels.”

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There were four young rats frolicking on my patio deck. I was livid SANDIE BROWN CHAMPLAIN HEIGHTS RESIDENT

LSU surveys students about their needs POSSIBLE services

Those at Langara will have their say on new student services

By ALYSE KOTYK

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Advocacy Office: Will provide guidance to students who are in formal conflicts with the college. Campus Cogs — Langara Bike Shop Expansion: Will provide free bike repair and maintenance for students. Games Room: A place to relax and play video games.

Source: LSU, Report of the General Manager

ew services, ranging from a student advocacy group to a campus radio station, may be coming to Langara College, depending on a survey being administered by the Langara Students’ Union. This process is part of the LSU’s Democracy Project, which includes the survey that will gauge student interest in 21 potential services. LSU general manager Desmond Rodenbour said the project emerged from students’ hopes of what the LSU could do for the school. “What do you think of your student union? What has it done for you lately?” Rodenbour said he had asked students around campus. “I took a lot of notes, and from that comes the Democ-

Printed on recycled paper

racy Project.” Rodenbour compiled the responses from those he talked to into a survey for students, with the top 10 being brought to a campus-wide referendum in February. The referendum will include a breakdown of how much each service would cost, and if any receive 51 per cent student approval, they will be implemented. Langara College design student Pablo Corry said he would be interested in having more study space, a games room or a radio station on campus, as long as it was easy to access. “That’d be cool, I’d just want to know where I could listen to it,” Corry said of the radio station. “Maybe a podcast, or something on the computer.” Rodenbour suggested that some services, like a student advocacy office, might not receive as many votes, but EDITOR CHANDLER WALTER

would still be valuable for students. Other post-secondary institutions, including UBC, find an advocacy office is helpful for supporting students in conflicts with the university. “As a student, sometimes you get intimidated,” said UBC’s advocacy coordinator, Letitia Chu. “Having that support is really helpful [knowing] that someone is there for you.” Rodenbour said these services have the potential to be long lasting, and hopes that students will be proud of their contributions. “That was my question to students and to elected officials,” he said. “What if you came back 25 years later? What service would you have been involved in starting? Would you be proud to say ‘hey, I helped start that’?” LISTEN IN TO AN EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW ON OUR PODCAST AT langaravoice.ca

hen the YMCA announced last spring that its Langara facility would be moving to Cambie Street, a member of Langara Students’ Union saw an opportunity for the college. Space at Langara campus is in high demand, and with more than 22,000 students currently enrolled, it is difficult to find free space to study. Unfortunately, the college’s expansion options are limited. To grow, the college would need to expand upwards, or buy space as it becomes available. Acquiring the YMCA property, if it goes to sale, is a possible solution. Kelly Walker, manager of communications for the YMCA, said the organization has filed a rezoning application with the City of Vancouver to put the building on the market, which is currently under review. “Proceeds of the sale would support programs at the YMCA,” she said. After learning about YMCA’s move, Harsimran Malhi, a student affairs officer at the LSU, worked with the union to explore Langara’s options for expansions. Malhi said one option was housing, and they circulated a petition on campus. The positive findings were presented to provincial government representatives. Communications director for the Ministry of Advanced Education, Rodney Porter, said that if the conditions are right, then approval of purchase would be DESMOND RODENgiven. BOUR “If Langara Col- General lege and their Manager, LSU board of governors has the desire and funding, and the land or building is for sale, then the decision to purchase would be up to the college to manage,” said Porter in an email. “Only the disposal of assets would require provincial government approval.” Desmond Rodenbour, general manager for the LSU, said the province may support Langara’s expansion goals, but it will not allow the college to add to the provincial debt load. The LSU is now looking for other ways for the college to grow — by either building up, or expanding out. “We are thinking of having a meeting with the Mayor’s Office to discuss how feasible these two options are,” Malhi said. “Or asking the Mayor’s Office to let Langara build higher.” Zoning bylaws currently limit the height of buildings on campus.

Check out our web exclusives at http://langaravoice.ca

THE VOICE, THURSDAY, NOV. 17, 2016

EDITOR ALYD LLEWELLYN

At large

Karaoke coming to South Van First restaurant-bar to offer nightly sessions coming to Fraser Street By ALYSE KOTYK

outh Vancouver’s karaoke enthusiasts will have a new venue to sing their favourite tunes sometime in the future. Asian fusion restaurant, Indochine Kitchen + Bar, has received a permit to open a location at 6231 Fraser St. While some pubs have karaoke in South Vancouver on the weekends, Indochine will offer it much more frequently. “I think we’ll have karaoke every night,” said Ray Huynh, the restaurant’s contact for the development project. According to their permit application, the restaurant believes that Fraser’s vibrant ethnic community makes it an up and coming neighbourhood that they would like to be a part of. The restaurant will offer a daily happy hour and private social rooms in addition to nightly karaoke. As part of their permit and neighbourhood bylaws, the restaurant must ensure that noise from the establishment can’t be heard outdoors and that karaoke and live music are wrapped up by midnight. Construction on the new location is not yet underway. Some Langara students showed interest in a neighbourhood karaoke bar. Miguel Moya, an applied sciences student at Langara, showed a lot of interest. “Yeah, I’d go to a karaoke bar,” he said. “I’d sing a Sam Smith song, any Sam Smith song, because I know that would get everyone in the mood.” Linden Kyaw, a Langara computer science student, said he wouldn’t typically go to a karaoke bar but might give this one a chance. “I know for a fact that I’m not a great singer,” Kyaw said. “But if I were to go I’d sing along the lines of hip-hop or R&B or even pop, something that a lot of us can sing along to.”

ALISON PUDSEY photo

Metro Vancouver is working with TransLink to plan for an increase in affordable housing units near transit as part of a 10-year plan.

Renters use transit the most

Metro Van study shows how transit usage increases with lower incomes

By ALISON PUDSEY

enters are more likely than homeowners to use transit, no matter their income level, says a recent Metro Vancouver housing study. And low-income renters are the most likely group of all to use transit. As federal and provincial funding is poured into transit and housing during the next decade, it’s crucial these renters are able to live near transit, said Metro senior planner Raymond Kan. Kan said the study shows that the region can maximize transit ridership if it’s able to accommodate these households. As well, it could provide relief

for low-income households, which often spend most of their available money on housing and transportation. “You could be paying up to two thirds of your pre-tax income on housing and transportation. It’s a significant burden,” said Kan. Previous Metro reports have projected that the region needed about 185,000 new units of housing between 2011 and 2021 to accommodate new residents moving in. About 65,000 of those need to be for low income to moderate income households. However, there is no overall plan for where those should go. The region has also seen the loss of some low-income rental near transit, as cheap apartments have been torn

down in Burnaby and Coquitlam, replaced by new condo towers. Vancouver Coun. Geoff Meggs agreed it’s critical to have more affordable rental housing in the city, especially close to transit. “A very important Metro Vancouver study has demonstrated that overall costs drop significantly if commuting can be done without a car.” Meggs said Vancouver has a wide range of rental measures in place. The city has asked staff to make recommendations to further tighten protection. “Most developable land near transit in the city is industrial… but we encouraged rental along the Canada Line and [are] having some success.”

STUDY

findings 1 2 3

Prov. Gov’t has committed $246 million for transit capital in the region. Roughly 5500 new rental housing units needed annually over next 10 years. Transit usage generally rises as income declines. Source: Metro Vancouver transit/housing study

Rotary club in desperate need of fresh blood North Vancouver Rotary Club’s general membership is starting to age itself out By SIMRAN GILL

Courtesy of ROTARY CLUB

The North Vancouver club has been helping the community for 65 years.

ne of the North Shore’s most active service groups that has raised millions over the years for low-income families is dwindling away. Members of the Rotary Club of North Vancouver, which started in 1951 and was a thriving presence for decades, say that the club is losing members and it is increasingly difficult to get new members to join. Kamyar Filsoofi, who has many friends in the club, said he has become so concerned about the decline that he is now planning to participate in order to ensure that the group’s community activities can continue. “They are losing members and not many new people will join anymore,” said Filsoofi. “Members are retiring. It is sad to see how young people are not interested in joining a community group to help others. People who move

here don’t seem to care enough about community and don’t want to get involved.” Leslie Hendrick, a student who has recently moved from Victoria to the North Shore and who is familiar with the Rotary Club, doesn’t feel obliged to join. “I think the Rotary Club has done great things but I would not join it simply because I feel like it’s not something common for youth to participate in,” said Hendrick. Service clubs have been seeing a decline throughout North America, after hitting a peak in their membership and activities in the 1950s and ‘60s. But the North Vancouver Rotary Club’s current president, Kevin Evans, is hopeful about the future. “The North Vancouver Rotary Club remains extremely vital and we continue to make a difference in our community,” said Evans. The club focuses mainly on raising money for struggling families in the North Shore. Many years ago, club members helped build an apartment complex for families by the Lions Gate Bridge.

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Members are retiring. It is sad to see how young people are not interested in joining a community group to help others KAMYAR FILSOOFI PROSPECTIVE ROTARY CLUB MEMBER

Campus news

EDITOR CHANTELLE DEACON

THE VOICE, THURSDAY, NOV. 17, 2016

Long waitlists put futures on hold Some Langara students’ studies are being delayed as they wait months to get into a class By MICHELE PAULSE

MICHELE PAULSE photo

Students multitask while walking to and from class on the Langara College campus.

Carr driving for change Once a Langara teacher, now a city councillor, Carr’s love for the environment keeps her focused By LAUREN BOOTHBY

reen Party of Vancouver Coun., Adriane Carr has been passionate about the environment since she was a child. The former Langara instructor spoke to students last Wednesday about her career in politics, education, and her interest in the environment as part of a seminar series presented by the environmental studies department. Carr did not always want to be a politician, but nature has always been important to her. She has fond memories of swimming under waterfalls and looking at the stars with her dad. “We used to go out every weekend and walk the streams with him, and he would catch trout,” Carr said. “I fell in love with [the] streams.” Carr went into politics because she was disillusioned by the lack of focus

on environmental issues by the B.C. New Democratic Party. “I felt betrayed. I felt angry at what I witnessed. And then at the same time, empowered,” Carr said. “Because the NDP wasn’t going to be a party that I could trust to champion [the environment] didn’t mean that [it] couldn’t happen in politics.” But Carr does not want to be a politician forever. “If I’m going to ever retire, I’m going to take up music again,” she said. “Anything that gets a little more technical [I think] ‘my fingers aren’t working properly!’” The campus has changed since Carr was an instructor, and she delivered a speech in a classroom that she used to teach in. Katrina Erdos, the instructor who organized the seminar series, said she enjoyed the speech from her former colleague. “Adriane of course, has a long history of bringing about positive change,” Erdos said. “Its always great to hear someone say: stick with it, persevere, don’t be afraid to take a new opportunity. Because we tend to be kind of cautious.”

CAREER highlights

Adriane Carr has a master’s degree in urban geography.

Coun. Carr taught for 12 years at Langara College.

Carr is a well-known leader in Green politics.

From 2000 to 2006 she led the B.C. Green Party and became the first Green leader in Canada to be included in televised leaders’ debates. Source: Vancouver.ca

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I felt betrayed. I felt angry at what I witnessed. And then at the same time, empowered ADRIANE CARR GREEN PARTY OF VANCOUVER COUNCILLOR LAUREN BOOTHBY photo

Coun. Carr giving a speech about her journey of becoming a politician.

lass waitlists at Langara are forcing some students to delay their academic goals because the seat they want may take months to become available. The college introduced waitlists more than four years ago and although some students get into their desired classes, many do not. When a seat becomes available, students receive automated messages and have only 24 hours to accept their spots. How quickly a waitlisted seat might become available is unpredictable and having to remain on hold is stressful for students. Rajan Baliwal, a student in computer science, dropped out of Langara because the class he was waitlisted for was a prerequisite for other classes he wanted to take. “I had to wait for a semester to take other subjects in this college so I dropped one session,” Baliwal said. “I [feel] like I can’t take any courses, it was sad for me. I’m late [by] four months to go to university.” Jane Thatcher, a student in general arts, was number 60 on a waitlist for a criminology class. “I was on the wait-

list but I did eventually end up getting into the class, two weeks before classes started,” she said. Thatcher was optimistic about getting into the class because of assurances she received from other students. Without waitlists students would have to frequently check the status of classes, said Melia Fernandez, an administration assistant at Langara. Fernandez said Langara monitors waitlists but, “Just because a class has a really long waitlist doesn’t mean RAJAN BALIWAL we can open up a Computer science student at new section.” Space and and Langara instructor availability are only two of the several reasons related to resources, that prevent the college from adding more courses when a class develops a long waitlist. To help students understand how waitlists function, Langara introduced an online video on its website two years ago.

Parents like freedom to choose against vaccines Potential health risks, side effects of vaccines make some parents less likely to immunize their toddlers By CLARE HENNIG

everal vaccine-preventable diseases, like measles and whooping cough, are on the rise in Canada as more people opt out of immunization says Katharine Browne, an instructor of philosophy at Langara. Browne led this month’s Philosophers’ Jam, which focused on vaccinations and whether they should be mandatory. The speech also focused in on many parents who are choosing against vaccination for their children. B.C. has one of the lowest vaccination rates in comparison to eastern provinces, according to the Statistics Canada website. “People who choose not to vaccinate are in fact acting rationally,” Browne said. “I’m not claiming that they are acting morally, but it is rational.” Sarah Carrey, a mother of two school-aged children, said she likes having the choice to vaccinate her sons or not. “They have the important ones, like tetanus and measles,” Carrey said. “But I don’t give them the flu shot … getting the flu is normal for kids.” The key point is that having the flu shot is a choice rather than enforced, said Alex Boston, coordinator of the talk. He said the availability of flu vaccines on campus this past week is a good example. “They’re literally giving you access to vaccines but it’s not that a student would lose grades or not be allowed to come to Langara if they did not have vaccines,” Boston said. “It’s not a case of the government forcing anyone to take vaccines, they’re just making them very easy to get.” Boston said he doesn’t know if that kind of enforcement would happen in Canada, but pointed out other laws restricting people’s freedom in the name

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of public safety. “It’s about balancing individual autonomy with I’m choosthe collective ing not good,” said Browne. to vacciHailey Clyde, a nate my mother of a 4-year-old girl, child, it’s a said she lacks the choice and desire to believe in vaccines, speI should cifically the flu have the vaccine. “If someone right to gets a flu vaccine make my shouldn’t they be protected by peoown ple who choose HAILEY CLYDE not to get the flu shot? That’s alMOTHER ways been the thing thats confused me the most about vaccines,” Clyde said. “I’m choosing not to vaccinate my child, it’s a choice and I should have the right to make my own.”

CLARE HENNIG photo

Langara student gets vaccinated by a nursing student.

EDITOR SIMRAN GILL

THE VOICE, THURSDAY, NOV. 17, 2016

Entertainment

Live music a hit at local pub Dublin Crossing Vancouver engages customers with entertainment By EMELIE PEACOCK

ne of South Vancouver’s only bars was a full house on Saturday as local music veteran Jacob Dryden performed a solo show. The Dublin Crossing Irish Pub Vancouver at the Marine Gateway centre opened in February and has been hosting performers every weekend since March. Brittany Rovati, a server at the pub who works on weekends, said the music always draws a crowd. The Dublin Crossing Vancouver is one of the only spaces in South Vancouver offering guests a live music experience. On Saturday, guests were treated to three 45 minute sets as Jacob Dryden, lead singer and guitarist of local band Quickness, performed a solo show. Dryden, who plays close to 150 shows a year across Western Canada, sees live music shifting away from concert venues and into pubs. “It’s something I’ve seen grow a lot on the West Coast, a lot of music has switched to microbreweries and gastropubs and that kind of thing. And that’s a really huge market out here, and that’s where I’ve focused a lot of my solo performances,” Dryden said. Ottawa native Tim Francoeur is staying in south Vancouver temporarily for work and comes to the pub regularly to listen to the performers. “You get different musicians every week which is good,” Francoeur said. “I like the live music compared to just the regular old music, just over the speakers type of thing.” George Franklin, a Richmond resident, has been coming to the Dublin Crossing Vancouver since March specifically for the music. “It’s the live music. I love these guys. I’ve been coming here for a few months now, all the guys that play here are very entertaining,” said Franklin, who also enjoys the ease of getting home by transit. “I think it’s just brilliant, putting a pub [by] the SkyTrain station.”

Courtesy of DAVID COOPER

Actors prepare for their roles in Shakespeare’s Troilus and Cressida play. Raylene Harewood as Cressida & Teo Saefkow as Troilus.

Modern spin on old tale Studio 58 anticipates its sold-out show of Troilus and Cressida

PLAY points 1 2 3

By KRISTYN ANTHONY

The first time Troilus and Cressida was recorded to have been peformed was on Feb. 7, 1604. The theme of the play is tragedy, but it’s also considered a dark comedy. The setting of the story is during the Trojan War.

Source:William -Shakespeare. info

t’s a story of love, war and tragedy and in the midst of a divided modern world, Studio 58 presents Shakespeare’s Troilus and Cressida which opens Nov. 17 and runs until Dec. 4. Written in 1602 and set in the seventh year of the Trojan War, Troilus and Cressida has long been considered one of Shakespeare’s more problematic plays. The questioning of intrinsic values of honour and love gives the story a distinctly modern feel. Troilus is a Trojan prince who falls in love with Cressida, the daughter of a Trojan priest. The Studio 58 actors are preparing for their sold out first show tonight. Director Kevin Bennett, a graduate of Studio 58, returns to stage in a full-

scale production, inspired by his recent world tour with Shakespeare’s Globe. “A lot of these principles [employed at the Globe], I’m bringing into this production,” Bennett said. “For example, I want the actors to be able to see the audience and the audience to see the actors equally.” Some people who attend the play will find themselves in seats lining the stage, evoking a direct connection with the actors. Bennett said it is a simple concept, but creates a profound experience for the audience. “I never considered myself a Shakespeare nerd,” Bennett said. “But I realized, if you crack it – if you have the skill and the ease and the techniques, anyone can understand Shakespeare.” Comprehending the text to better

present the story was something thirdyear student Raylene Harewood faced in her role as Cressida. “When I first read it, I thought it was about how all women are false, or unfaithful,” she said. “But now, because of my position in the show I think it’s a lot about how women don’t have power, and how men really have the power.” Sound designer and composer Benjamin Elliott, also a Studio 58 alum, said one of the challenges of his role was writing music to fit around the lyrics of songs Shakespeare wrote in the play. Elliott wanted the audience to imagine themselves in another time without distracting them from the story. “I used guitar, but also trumpets and synths so it’s a cool mash-up,” he said. PHOTO GALLERY AT langaravoice.ca

Free movie event attracts an excited crowd New event at community centre makes it accessible for everyone to watch movies free of cost By CAITLIN O’FLANAGAN

CAITLIN O’FLANAGAN photo

One of many families who gathered last Saturday to watch Monsters, Inc.

s cinema prices continue to rise, families are looking for cheaper, new ways to get the movie theatre experience. Sunset Community Centre, in South Vancouver, has started hosting a free event called Family Movie Madness, that’s ongoing until Dec. 17. Whether it’s parents bringing their children, or teens looking for something fun to do on the weekend, many people can gather to watch a movie of their choice and are provided with snacks, such as popcorn. Last week on Nov. 12, the audience chose to watch Monsters, Inc. Kanika Bhatt lives in the area and uses the centre on a regular basis. Bhatt has come, with her two-yearold in tow, to enjoy the free movie. “I’m watching for the first time

and I’m very excited,” Bhatt said. Front desk worker Serena Rai sees many parents and young kids coming to the Saturday movies. “There’s usually 20 or more people who come watch, lots of kids come watch after their other programs at the centre are over,” she said. The movie also offers some entertainment for parents waiting to pick up their children from birthday parties and other centre programs they may be participating in. Joe Wong, recreation programmer, tries his best to offer as many free services and programs for individuals in the community. “A goal I have at Sunset Community Centre is to help build a welcoming environment and a sense of community here,” Wong said. “The weekend is usually a family time for families with children and showing family movies in a public space is a great way to accomplish these all at once.” Running since fall of 2015, Wong hopes to keep the event going with the continued help of community volunteers.

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I’m watching for the first time and I’m very excited KANIKA BHATT RESIDENT OF SOUTH VANCOUVER WHO FREQUENTS SUNSET COMMUNITY CENTRE

Lifestyles

EDITOR JAKE WRAY

THE VOICE, THURSDAY, NOV. 17, 2016

Students weigh in on ‘ghosting’ Blogs claim millennials are most likely generation to drop a relationship without explanation By TANNER BOKOR

STUART NEATBY photos

Top left: Langara business student Parmeshar Toor with a tapered cut. Bottom left: Langara history student Craig Tilloston with a closecropped textured cut. Right: Satish Kohli, owner of Kohli’s Master Cuts, says most of his customers prefer a very close cut.

Men still fond of classic cuts Modern twists on 20th century hairstyles trending in fall of 2016 By STUART NEATBY

ike most things with men, according to Stewart Anderson, hairstyles don’t change much. Anderson is the assistant program director of hair art design at the John Casablancas Institute. He said the well-groomed look has been popular for a long time, although specific wellgroomed styles vary in prominence. “The very barbered look is almost vintage looking, you have that sort of 40s sort of look where they’re super cropped and tapered around the base,” he said. Classic 1950s styles like the pompadour or the quiff are also experiencing resurgence, according to Anderson. Hani Shilimon, owner of Mario’s Bar-

ber Shop on the corner of Oak Street and 67th Avenue, has been cutting hair since he was 14 years old. Although he agreed that tapered, cropped looks are in style, he noted that the fauxhawk has largely disappeared from the scene of men’s hairstyles. “A couple years ago or something, all day it was fauxhawk, fauxhawk, fauxhawk. Now they have changed,” Shilimon said, adding “The most popular these days? I would think it would be a comb-over.” Many barbers would agree that sidepart styles have been a reliable classic for longer than most Langara students have been alive. Shilimon tends to update that classic hairstyle by tapering the sides. Tapered sides are also increasingly

becoming shorter, according to Satish Kohli, owner of Kohli’s Master Cuts, located near the corner on Main Street near 49th Avenue. “For men, it’s usually short hair, tapered, using a one or two razor,” he said, in reference to length settings on his trimmer. Modern barbers must be increasingly flexible and knowledgeable about an increasing number of hairstyles. Sultan Hall, owner of Sultan’s Hair Design on 49th Avenue near Main Street, noted that many men often suggest their own twists on popular styles. “Before we kept pictures [of styles]. Now we don’t keep the pictures. Every customer, they have phones!” he said. “I follow the customer. What they say, do it!”

COST

men’s cuts 1 2 3 4 5 Oslo, Norway US$77.72

Jakarta, Indonesia US$4.50 Taipei, Taiwan US$26.89 Paris, France US$26.31

Montreal, Canada US$23.14

Source: businessinsider.com

he dubious practice of ending relationships without explanation wasn’t pioneered by millennials, despite a stereotype that they are using the tactic more than any other generation. Fortune published a blog post in March alleging that ‘ghosting’ – or a sudden halt in contact between friends, lovers or family members – has become more prevalent among millennials over the past few years. The post cited a 2016 Plenty of Fish poll, which found that 78 per cent of millennials reported having been ghosted. The Voice set out to determine the validity of these claims. A Langara student named Veronika, who asked that her full name be withheld to protect the privacy of her expartner, said contact with her boyfriend ended so abruptly that she was left with more questions than answers. “It was like a light switch was turned off,” she said. “One day, they just stopped talking to me, and that was it. Done.” Sarah Wong, a Langara marketing student who admitted to having ghosted someone in the past, said part of the practice stems from an urge to avoid direct confrontation. “A lot of people are afraid to reject others, I feel, so they’ll say yes at first, but when the days come, they’ll make up an excuse,” Wong said. Mahfuja Dewan, a Langara nursing student, said that her experience of being ghosted was an isolating one. “Friends just started not talking to me anymore and pulled away,” said Dewan. “I just felt ignored.” The Voice reached out to six sociology and psychology professors from UBC, SFU and Langara to ask whether millennials are more prone to seeing relationships end in such an abrupt manner. None of them had heard of ghosting as a phenomenon or of any mainstream research on the topic.

Dungeons & Dragons thrives at South Van shop Role-playing game enjoys uptick in popularity, plenty of enthusiasts at local game sessions MATTEO SMITH Employee, Players Wanted Games & Collectibles

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[D&D is] no longer a game for nerds and geeks. If you can imagine it, you can do it

By MELANIE GREEN

urrounded by empty pop cans and well-used reference books, four players debate about whether or not they can enter the rubble of a fallen city until the dungeon master silences them with a firm “No.” They are gathered at Players Wanted Games & Collectibles on Victoria Drive near 54th Avenue. The shop supports a local community of Dungeons & Dragons players by hosting weekly open sign-up games for regular enthusiasts and curious newcomers. Employee and avid D&D player Matteo Smith said the open-world builder game is “no longer a game for nerds and geeks. If you can imagine it, you can do it.” In fact, D&D has become increasingly popular in recent years, featured in the storylines of TV series like Stranger Things, Community and The Big

Bang Theory. Smith’s friend and player, Benson Elphonsa, said he loves the vibrant hub because it is close to his home and he has “met a lot of cool people here and [they] stick together.” The first Sunday drop-in had 50 people show up, half of them new, according to Smith. He added that the numbers keep growing because of social media and because the recent fifth edition rulebook is simplified. “Now it’s easier to get into and easier to learn the game,” he said. Players Wanted currently has only two dungeon masters, which means D&D games are capped at seven to 10 players on a first-come first-serve basis. Smith said the shop looks forward to being able to host more games in the future, and they are planning to train more dungeon masters. “It’s cool to see people trying to make characters that they wish they were in real life. I like the idea of being able to create your own story, like the movies, or I guess, to be someone else,” he said. VIDEO COVERAGE AT langaravoice.ca

MELANIE GREEN photo

Dungeon master Alexandros Katanas oversees a tumultuous campaign.

THE VOICE, THURSDAY, NOV. 17, 2016

Don’t go to bars to hear live music A

t a lot of restaurants and bars that offer live music the experience can actually be very unpleasant. Depending on where you go, the venue will usually end up playing the act through extremely loud speakers, which makes it really difficult to hold a conversation with someone or even to hear your own thoughts. The appeal of live music is that you plan on paying attention to the artist, not just having it tacked on to whatever the plan is for the night. If the plan is to see a performer, go see them in a dedicated setting. For many, the BRIAN KUROKAWA opportunity to see a live music performance is a deal maker when planning on where to go for dinner or a drink. The lack of places offering live music is apparent in South Vancouver. One of the only places in the area offering live music is Dublin Crossing Irish Pub. An argument can be made that venues will blast whatever If the plan music they have is to see a playing, performer, regardless of whether it is go see live or not. them in a In most cases, unless the dedicated venue is more setting of a club setting, then they will keep the music down if it is prerecorded. Venues should do the same with live performers. If someone does want to hear the act better, then they can move closer to them, without being forced to have it drown out everything around them. A lot of the time, most venues do not have adequate equipment to support playing music loudly without distortion, which ruins the sound of the act that you hoped to enjoy. If your bar can’t support a band through their speaker system, just use the band’s amps. If venues decide to take that approach with their performers, then it would be worth planning for. But until then, a quieter place is a better plan for the night.

EDITOR BRIAN KUROKAWA

viewpoints

You should get the flu shot “ G etting the flu shot is the responsible thing to do for yourself and for your community – there should not be any excuses. The flu shot contains an inactivated virus that will provide immunity from that strain for one year. The key word is inactivated, meaning the virus is dead, and it is impossible to contract the flu from it. To reiterate: you cannot get the flu CHELSEA POWRIE from the shot. In Canada, diseases that are preventable through vaccines are experiencing a rise, with some people choosing to not to immunize themselves. What you may experience after

OPINION

the shot are side effects such as a sore arm, a mild fever, chills or a headache. These are your body’s reaction to the vaccine and will subside in a few days at most. It’s annoying, yes, but if you’re not willing to put up with some mild discomfort to help protect vulnerable members of your society, then you need to re-examine your priorities. I used to avoid the flu shot. I hated the feeling, and I didn’t understand the science. Then my brother was diagnosed with Crohn’s disease, which leaves him at high risk for complications from the flu. Now I get the flu shot every year. My brother isn’t alone in needing protection. Elderly people, cancer patients, pregnant women and infants are just a few example of vulnerable populations. Babies are especially at risk because they can’t receive their own vaccine until they

are at least six months old. Around 3,500 There are people die from the flu in no excuses Canada each to not get year. Just last May, a mother a flu shot in Ontario woke if you do up to find her not have two-year-old child dead of a medical the flu. reason to There are no excuses to not avoid it get a flu shot if you do not have a medical reason to avoid it. Think about the vulnerable people in your life, and ask yourself how you would feel if they ended up in the hospital with the flu because somebody they interacted with just didn’t like needles, or didn’t bother to educate themselves. Go get your shot.

OPINION

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VERONNICA MACKILLOP and CHANDLER WALTER comic

Culture clubs build strong connections C

lubs that have students who share a particular culture and are learning a new language are popular at Langara and benefit students in different ways. Specific culture and language clubs are the main type of clubs that promote multiculturalism on campus. People are drawn to others who are similar to them. Students who MICHELE PAULSE belong to clubs where they can interact with others who share their cultural traits gain from the experience of being with others of similar social

OPINION

backgrounds. For this reason and because the clubs are part of college life in general, they do not lead to isolation. Rather, the clubs function as a means of support, giving students a place where they can express cultural norms and behaviours. These norms might be muted when engaging with other pupils at the college at large, but they are necessary because they inform identity. In addition, members of the clubs help to educate other students through cultural events they organize. In this way, the clubs also validate multiculturalism among students. Specific culture clubs are especially useful to international students because they function as a

resource to become familiar with living in Vancouver. These clubs also offer academic support for students from different cultures that share an interest in learning a particular cultural language. Club activities such as practicing a language with other students who are also learning the tongue help students build their competence alongside their peers in a space where they don’t mind making mistakes. Because these clubs draw students from different cultures, the cross-cultural aspect of the membership adds to the benefit of the group. Culture clubs allow students to cultivate friendships with people who share their outlook and interests and can help to attract new students to Langara.

COPY/WEB EDITOR Veronnica MacKillop

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Issues & ideas

THE VOICE, THURSDAY, NOV. 17, 2016

EDITOR CHAHIRA MERARSI

Students: seeking campus culture Creating social circles at school can be a challenge but there are avenues to make friends

Making local friends tough International and domestic students at disconnect By SEAN HITREC

Clubs promote diversity CLARE HENNIG photo

Students celebrate Diwali on Thursday Nov. 10 at a party hosted by the South Asian Club and the Langara Students’ Union.

Langara students gather and connect around common languages, backgrounds and traditions By CLARE HENNIG

tudent clubs that centre around culture are helping students connect in a unique and different way. At Langara, nearly a quarter of the student clubs are focused on a specific culture or language. Whether cultural clubs are a way to practice or learn a new language or an opportunity to speak a native language, they indicate and promote multiculturalism on campus. Nathania Santoso, who moved to Vancouver a year ago from Jakarta, joined the Garuda Indonesia – Langara Association as soon as she started at the college. “It feels great if you meet people

with your own language, you’re able to engage with them more,” Santoso said. Dwiputra Yogiswara, president of the Garuda Indonesia – Langara Association, said many of the cultural clubs are focused on creating a home-awayfrom-home for international students from specific countries. “We want to help international Indonesian students get to know Vancouver a lot better … [and] help them get used to Canadian society,” said the club president. The majority of the members of the club are Indonesian, said Yogiswara, but they host events like Indonesia Independence Day celebrations for the general public Bryce Young, president of the Langara French Club, said the cultural clubs

are very much in line with the multiculturalism of the college and the nation. “Canada is such a diverse place, I think it’s really important to be multicultural – to accept and learn about other cultures and languages,” Young said. The French club is mainly focused on language and about 90 per cent of the members are enrolled in beginner French language classes. Young said it gives them a place to practice the language and learn more about francophone culture. “Canada is a bilingual country with English and French so I think it’s pretty important for people to at least understand French and their culture,” Young said.

culture clubs LANGARA CHINESE LANGUAGE AND CULTURE CLUB “...improving our Chinese language skills and gaining a better understanding of the Chinese culture.”

LANGARA JAPAN CLUB “Our goal is to introduce the beauty and culture of Japan to Langara students...” Source: http://langara.ca/ student-services/student-clubs/

lthough Langara provides programs and opportunities for international students to engage in the community, some students still feel left out. For many international students, socializing with domestic students is challenging. Tiago Brenck, an international student at Langara from Brazil, finds himself only mixing with foreign students. Brenck has unsuccessfully tried to meet Canadians, on and off campus. The class he’s taking at Langara has one domestic student. The rest are international education students. Brenck has also had bad experiences trying to find a date in Canada. “I was talking to a girl and when she realized that I was from Brazil she said, ‘oh, I’m not going to meet be- TIAGO BRENCK cause I know that Brazilian interyou just wanna national student marry me to get a Visa and then you’re gonna dump me,’” Brenck said. Jasse Malhi, a first year of computer science student from India, said all was fine until Donald Trump was elected. “...[someone] was talking to me about the [United States] election and he said he’d pray for my family,” Malhi said. He has otherwise felt accepted, though that the comment was “odd” and made him feel uncomfortable. In an email, Ajay Patel, the associate vice president of international and external development, said Langara is a good place to be an international student despite the extra challenges they face. “International students who are new to Canada, and new to Langara, face the additional challenge of adjusting to Canadian life, being independent, academic expectations in the Canadian classroom,” Patel said. “Having been a student at Langara and now serving as an employee, I think Langara College has always supported students from diverse backgrounds. It is one of the reasons I attended Langara.”

Making friends at Langara not easy Absence of spirit on campus leaves students lonely and hoping to socialize By CHELSEA POWRIE

any Langara College students have a hard time connecting with each other and making friends on campus. With a large percentage of Langara students aiming to transfer to universities, many of them are only at the college for a short time. Alex Daniels, a computer science student, said the college isn’t unfriendly, but isn’t friendly either. “There’s definitely some sort of barrier between the ability to just sort of walk up to somebody and connect with

them,” Daniels said. “I find that most of the connections I’ve made at this school is because I was in some sort of group project. “I haven’t made many friends outside of class.” Criminology student Sydney Yuers said students need to take the first step and initiate friendships. “I feel like a lot of people are shy on this campus,” Yuers said. “But if you’re the one that put yourself out there and you start talking to someone, everyone’s really friendly and willing to be your friend. “It’s just people don’t really talk to each other a whole lot.” Danielle Travassos, a busy psychology and women’s studies student from Brazil, works a mandatory 20 hours per week.

“I particularly don’t have much time to make friends and hang out,” Travassos said. The Langara Social Club was launched in 2012 with the aim of improving Langara’s sense of community. “[Last year] we had our annual Halloween pub-crawl, our annual lunchbag, a couple of other pub-crawls, we co-hosted ‘Thirsty Thursdays’ and a cookout,” said marketing management student Genevieve Fontanilla, a group organizer. However, the club is on hiatus. Fontanilla said they hope to resume soon. Jack Lin, a social sciences student, would like to start a volleyball club but is worried nobody would participate. “I know there used to be a volleyball club but they stopped operating,” Lin said.

CHELSEA POWRIE photo

Langara students often spend time on campus alone.

THE VOICE, THURSDAY, NOV. 17, 2016

EDITOR REUBEN DONGALEN JR.

sports

Bonspiel slides into Marpole The Driftwood Brewery Sportsman Men’s Bonspiel returns to the Marpole Curling Club on Nov. 24 Courtesy of SIMON DYKSTRA

Sir Winston Churchill Bulldogs senior boys basketball team roster poses for a team photo ahead of the 2016-2017 season.

Bulldogs become underdogs Sir Winston Churchill senior boys basketball team falls out of top 10

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We’re going to be flying a little low, under the radar SIMON DYKSTRA HEAD COACH SENIOR BOYS BASKETBALL TEAM

By JESSICA PURVER

he Sir Winston Churchill senior boys basketball team is entering the season in an unfamiliar position: coming from behind. The Bulldogs are known as heavyweights in high school basketball throughout Vancouver. Although they have been in the top 10 of the BC High School Boys Basketball Association for years, the team has fallen off the radar after last season’s loss to the No. 1-ranked, Kelowna Owls at the provincials. Despite this, senior guard Syris Apdian believes the team is motivated to

uphold Bulldog tradition. “We hope to show them that we can still run with all the big teams,” he said. “Just because we lost a bunch of big names and talents doesn’t mean we’re out of the running.” Apdian said that it puts pressure on the Bulldogs and makes them want to work harder. Some of these big names included star forwards Izaiah Ugoalah and Harry Liu, who both graduated last year. Another significant change came as Simon Dykstra, the Bulldogs’ junior boys coach for the past 10 years, began his first year coaching the senior team. “What’s up to us is that we maximize

our development,” he said. Dykstra said that the upcoming season is a new beginning for the program. “We’re going to be flying a little low, under the radar,” he said. For Grade 12 forward, De’Andre Butler, he sees the new season as a chance to grow. “I want to see the whole team shine so we can go further,” he said. Grade 11 forward Aleksa Marinkovic has no problem being labelled the underdog. “I like it personally,” he said. “We can show up and show that we’re not that rank and we’re better than that.”

FALCONS schedule 1

Vs Douglas College Royals, Nov. 18

2 3 4 5

Vs Capilano University Blues, Nov. 19

At Camosun College Chargers, Jan. 6

At Vancouver Island University Mariners, Jan. 7

By BALA YOGESH

he Marpole Curling Club’s annual bonspiels have been a way for Vancouver’s curling community to come together for a mix of fun and competition. The club has been hosting annual curling tournaments since 1958. This year’s Driftwood Brewery Sportsman Men’s Bonspiel will start on Nov. 24 and will go on for four days. The tournament will offer cash prizes and various side activities apart from the curling. Kevin Blackmur, one of the regulars at the Marpole Curling Club, said that the organized bonspiels are about connecting curlers from across Vancouver. “These curling bonspiels were kind of a way of creating a social get-together for other curling clubs to come together and compete against each other in the sport of curling,” he said. The organizers have received entries from 24 teams as of Nov. 16. Last year, the tournament saw 31 teams competing, including one from Seattle. Ron Stedman, coordinator for this year’s bonspiel, said the tournament sees familiar faces every year. “There’s also a lot of returning teams, especially the Marpole teams. You tend to get the same 15 or 20 Marpole teams that play every year. The teams from other clubs change a little bit, but you get the same teams coming back,” he said. Dale Cameron, one of the organizers and players, said that most teams are participating simply for the fun. Cameron, on the other hand, also wants to be competitive. “I’m in the middle. I always want to do well, but we go in to have fun,” he said. Blackmur said that his team will be competitive, but won’t let the outcome dictate their overall experience. “To me now, whenever we go to the ice, we try to win. If we don’t win, it’s okay. We come up and have few drinks, and have fun. That’s what it’s about to me.”

At Quest University Kermodes, Jan. 12 Source: http://langara.ca/ athletics-intramurals

SEAN HITREC photo

Langara Falcons forward Jamie Madewan staves off hoards of VIU Mariners’ defenders for a shot.

Game-winning shot sinks the Mariners “ We were in a bad position and we managed to pull it out somehow

PAUL EBERHARDT HEAD COACH MEN’S BASKETBALL TEAM

The men’s basketball team overcame a 12-point deficit for the victory

By SEAN HITREC

he Langara Falcons men’s basketball team earned a 95-94 comeback victory against the defending champions thanks to the heroics of guard, Harry Brar. It marked a four-game winning streak after beating Camosun College, 113-83, the night before their matchup with the Vancouver Island University Mariners. The Falcons have had a long-standing rivalry with the VIU Mariners. Paul Eberhardt, head coach of the Falcons, said that in the last four years, each team has won two PacWest provincial-

championships and one national championship. Last season, VIU beat Langara three times in a row. The Falcons came out of the first half ahead 41-40. However, as the second half progressed, they began to show signs of fatigue and were down by as much as 12 points. In the final quarter, the Falcons made a late surge including a five-point swing to cut into the double-digit deficit after an off-the-ball foul, as forward, Jamie Madewan made a three-point shot. With the Falcons down 94-92 in the final moments, Brar was the hero of the evening, making a three-point jumper with 15 seconds left on the clock; eventually the game-winning play. “It was a much needed shot, but the two free throws I missed after will

haunt me,” Brar said, unable to capitalize on another five-point chance. Drake Downer, a forward for the Falcons, scored a team-high 26 points in their comeback win. “During the end it was like, we’re down, adrenaline took over and the game kind of came to us,” Downer said. “It’s a very good feeling right now.” After the game, coach Eberhardt was surprised at the win, crediting excellent defence in the last part of the game in addition to the five-point play. “It was a pretty improbable win to be honest with you,” Eberhardt said. “We were in a bad position and we managed to pull it out somehow.” The Falcons are scheduled to play against Douglas College on Friday, Nov. 18, and then a key matchup against undefeated Capilano University on Saturday, Nov. 19. Both games will be at Langara.

BALA YOGESH photo

A curler delivers a stone as his teammates prepare to sweep.

Falcons’ Tally WOMEN’S BASKETBALL W-L

MEN’S BASKETBALL W-L

1-3 Ranked: 6th

4-0 Ranked: Tied for 1st