The Voice • March 19, 2015 • Volume 47 • Issue 23

Langara falcons jump to defend national title.........8 Tournament wild card keeps men’s basketball team in the running despite loss in provincials

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Kiddies get free lunches

MARCH 19, 2015 • VOL. 47 NO. 23 • VANCOUVER, B.C.

Faculty say yes to strike

Vulnerable kids in South Vancouver elementary schools get subsidized lunch program Lunch2go JOURNALISM

By XIAO XU

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he Vancouver school board has changed its subsidized lunch program in three South Vancouver elementary schools to help feed more vulnerable children, said a spokesperson from the VSB. The board reviews distribution of funds every five years. After last year’s review, the VSB decided to decrease the number of elementary schools receiving full subsidized lunch programs down to 15 from 19 schools, and reallocate funds to a new program called Lunch2go.

Three South Vancouver Schools are in the new program: Captain James Cook Elementary, John Henderson Elementary and Sir Sandford Fleming Elementary.

According to Kurt Heinrich, public relations for the VSB, the universal subsidized lunch program follows a pay-what-you-can model, which means the students’ families are expected to pay all or most of the lunches’ cost if they can afford to do so.

Meanwhile, the Lunch2go program only serves lunch to the targeted vulnerable children. These children’ parents are not expected to pay but can contribute.

“The Vancouver school board food services recommended that we transition service delivery models for elementary school lunch and breakfast programs beginning September 2015 to improve the ability to provide nutrition services to hungry children, wherever they attend school,” Heinrich said.

The principals of the three South Vancouver elementary schools are currently away for the two-week spring break, and could not be reached for comment by press time.

TONY SU photo

Dave Scougal, a Langara photography instructor, signed up to participate at the Langara Faculty Association strike vote last Friday.

Langara College and its teachers’ union continue bargaining talks

By TONY SU

L LYNN CARTER President of the Langara Faculty Association

XIAO XU photo

Printed on recycled paper

She added that Langara needed to be more serious about their demands regarding salary and benefits for instructors.

The faculty has been without a contract since March 31, 2014.

“The college appears to not fully understand how very expensive it is to live in the Lower Mainland,” she said.

However, the provincial government has set guidelines for Langara to follow when it comes to collective bargaining.

See LFA STRIKE VOTE, page 3

Fraser levels rise with temperatures B.C. government puts forward programs addressing climate change’s impact on Fraser River banks

By DUSTIN GODFREY

F A South Vancouver school with a high concentration of poverty.

angara College faculty voted 91 per cent in favour of a strike vote last week, following collective bargaining talks that began in January.

The Langara Faculty Association (LFA) initiated the strike vote after about a dozen meetings because Langara and the LFA had not agreed on a number of issues such as daycare fee hikes.

Fifty-one per cent of LFA members

had participated in the strike vote.

Instead of picketing, a strike vote could mean instructors going through with other job actions.

“Several years ago, we went to our members because we couldn’t get any movement to get a deal,” said Lynn Carter, the president of LFA. “[We] had a discussion with them and we decided to withhold grades.”

Carter said they conducted a survey of the faculty to see what’s important for them and what they should prioritize.

looding may occur in South Vancouver along the Fraser River, as a result of rising sea levels and increased rainfall, according to the BC Climate Action Toolkit.

An internal memo from the B.C. Ministry of Environment was recently released that recommended work to be done on low-lying areas like South Vancouver to prevent potential flooding resulting from climate change.

In a statement, the ministry said they are working with governments along the coast to further research on

the effects climate change may have.

“B.C. is taking action to manage the risks associated with climate change, including sea level rise, a changing water cycle, and the possibility of more frequent and intense weather extremes,” it said.

Brad Badelt, City of Vancouver senior sustainability specialist, said the necessary work outlined in the memo mostly applies to new buildings being built.

“It requires new buildings within the city’s flood plain areas to have all habitable space around 4.6 metres [above sea level],” Badelt said in an email.

“Any electrical equipment must also be located above 4.6 metres.”

Badelt said the city is dealing with the problem of rainfall in a few ways.

“Trees provide a number of benefits, one of which is collecting and retaining stormwater,” he said, also pointing to a

storm water plan that will look to “provide more absorptive space in our streets.”

According to Katrina Erdos, Langara College environmental studies instructor, there is a lot of uncertainty as to when the effects of climate change may cause flooding problems.

“It depends on so many factors,” she said, noting rainfall as a major contributor. However, as the years warm, she also said, shrinking glaciers will contribute less.

Erdos also said that rainfall could contribute to flooding issues around the Fraser River.

“What happens to storm water, once it enters the storm sewer system, it just goes into the nearest stream or river,” she said. “The more water you have going into the storm sewers, the more water eventually is going to end up in the river.”

BC GREEN programs

BIKE BC - MOVING CYCLING FORWARD Province of B.C.

COMMUNITY ENERGY AND EMISSIONS PLAN: QUICKSTART BC Hydro

GREEN BUILDING EDUCATION Cascadia Green Building Council

LED STREET LIGHTS ACROSS B.C. Province of B.C. Source: BC Climate Action Toolkit

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THE VOICE, THURSDAY, MARCH 19, 2015

Marpole ticked off at transit Concerned residents aired grievances about the transit referendum at Marpole community meeting

EDITOR ALICE D’EON

Organic crops shielded from curve-ball climate

Warmer weather means early harvest for outdoor winter produce

Markets

By BAILEY NICHOLSON

all week 1

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arpole citizens voiced their frustrations to city officials during a community transportation meeting on March 11 at St. Augustine’s Church.

City planners at the meeting aimed to educate the community about Marpole’s Transportation Implementation Strategy and how they would be positively affected by a ‘yes’ result in the transit referendum, which is asking voters to approve a 0.5 per cent provincial sales tax increase.

“Right now I pay a federal tax, a provincial tax and a municipal tax,” said Bryan Farrar, who has lived in Marpole for 75 years. “Why the hell am I paying another tax when I haven’t seen anything from those?”

Lon LaClaire, manager of strategic transportation planning with the City of Vancouver, said he understands citizens’ mistrust in the government to utilize DELLA BIRBILIS their tax dollars Marpole resident properly, but for 39 years that the proposed transit tax would be different from others because There are the funds colmany lected would be spent more redissapointstrictively. ing meetLaClaire told attendees that a ings where ‘yes’ vote would our conresult in a Canada Line expancerns are sion of 20 trains. whisked This would solve problems aside for Marpole’s pedestrians by taking 5,000 people out of cars and off congested roads, like Granville and Cambie.

Aside from the tax, the predictions of a ‘yes’ vote outcome raised further frustration for some citizens, who said the government isn’t presenting figures in a way that makes sense to them.

“Don’t give us percentages. I have no idea what five per cent fewer cars looks like,” said Gudrun Langolf, a 30-year resident of Marpole.

Della Birbilis has lived in Marpole for 39 years. She said she faces challenges using her wheelchair, and doesn’t always feel like her needs, or those of the rest of the community, are a priority.

“There are many disappointing meetings where our concerns are whisked aside,” Birbilis said.

Amongst all the issues presented at the discussion, Lisa Leblanc, senior engineer of community plans with the City of Vancouver, assured the crowd that their voices have been heard loud and clear, but that solutions require patience.

“We’re doing the best we can,” Leblanc said. “We can’t do things all at once, but we can identify the priority things and work on them.”

The meeting was held at St. Augustine’s Church and 32 citizens attended.

News

Main St. Station 1100 Station St. Wednesdays, June 3-Oct. 7

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Yaletown 1200 Mainland St. Thursdays, May 7- Oct. 29 Trout Lake Lakewood Dr. and 13th Ave. Saturdays, May 9-Oct. 24 Mt. Pleasant 2300 Guelph St. Sundays, June 14-Oct.11

By OWEN MUNRO

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endors at the Winter Market in South Vancouver said that organic farming techniques are protecting their crops against some of the adverse effects of an overly warm winter.

While increased winter temperatures might otherwise have destabilized crop yields — growing fruits or veggies in controlled temperature greenhouses or storing products from previous seasons has helped organic farmers keep up with demand.

Lydia Ryall of Cropthorne Farm in Ladner grows over 40 organic fruits and vegetables. Not all of her produce is grown in greenhouses. Thanks to the warmer temperatures, she said she’s actually noticed a bigger than typical harvest this winter for the outdoor veggies.

“We’re getting a bit higher yield, with winter kale and things like that,” Ryall said.

She said that there are a few new organic vendors every

year at the markets, but she doesn’t see it as a competition as there is always a demand.

“Vancouver likes greens, people are juicing and things like that, so that’s been kind of the trend the past couple of years.”

The warmer and drier conditions this winter have also been beneficial for Ryall’s soil. She said this time of year is drier, which is good because soil has a tendency to hold moisture and rain in the winter months. The lack of precipitation will sometimes require them to use enhancements like fertilizer and lime, but it is generally seen as a good thing.

“It means in April when we do get our equipment on, it’s had a head start in drying,” Ryall said. “The healthier the soil you have, the better the yield.”

For farmers who don’t stick to organic growing methods, warm winters may call for a shift in harvest times.

Surinder Randay, of Beckmann Berry Farm in Mission, is in his third year as a vendor at the Winter Market. Randay said that he hasn’t noticed the weather having much of an effect on his blueberries, although he noted that they started picking three or four weeks earlier last season.

Vancouver Farmers Markets is a local society bringing together over 200 vendors.

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ALICE D’EON photos

Most veggies found in winter market stalls are grown in greenhouses

Transit talk draws few students Panel of experts weighed in on transit referendum under students’ radar

By BAILEY NICHOLSON

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LENA ALSAYEGH photo

Panellists explained the details of the transit plebiscite to the audience at Langara College on March 18.

panel held Wednesday by Langartra College faculty members to encourage the youth vote on the transit plebiscite barely drew any students.

Members of the panel, who discussed the issues surrounding the plebiscite drawing from their specific areas of expertise, spoke to a crowd of some 45 people, many of whom appeared to be staff or faculty.

“The sad thing for a lot of young people is they don’t think they have an impact,” said panel member Frances Bula, journalism department chairwoman and leading political commentator. “It’s too bad because, really, they’re the ones who are going to have to live with this decision the longest.”

According to Murray Mollard, Langara criminal justice instructor and former executive director of the BC Civil Liberties Association, the event wasn’t advertised well enough.

“Even before this event, why don’t

we have a bullhorn going into the cafeteria saying come and learn more about the plebiscite, so that we could fill these seats rather than seeing so many empty seats,” he said.

The panel consisted of Bula, Mollard and Colin Mills, a Langara geography instructor specializing in Why don’t issues related to urban transporwe have a tation. bullhorn Fulton Tom organized the going into event as an inithe cafetetiative of Langara’s Academic ria saying Plan Action come and Group, which has set out to learn more create awareabout the ness of the plebiscite among stuplebiscite dents.

MURRAY MOLLARD “Transit and transportation is LANGARA so integral to INSTRUCTOR students’ wellbeing [and] to the lives of young people in this region,” Tom said. “The student vote is extremely critical.”

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Campus news

EDITOR CHARLOTTE DREWETT

THE VOICE, THURSDAY, MARCH 19, 2015

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Co-ops now accredited Work term programs receive six-year accreditation status

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angara College co-op students will have a wider selection of employers when looking for a placement now that many co-operative education programs are nationally accredited.

The recognized Langara co-op programs join only two other B.C. colleges and institutes that are accredited by the Canadian Association for Co-operative Education.

Heather Associate of Workman, chair Science Degree of co-operative Diploma in education at Computer Studies Langara, said Accounting the accreditaDiploma Program tion means Financial students in the Management co-op programs Diploma Program have a larger Marketing pool of employManagement ers to choose Diploma Program Bachelor of from.

Business “Some Administration: employers will Accounting, only deal with Business Management, accredited Marketing Management, schools,” she & International Business said.

Management Workman also said the accreditation helps to get Langara recognized in the community, showing that it has quality students.

Students in all co-op programs who transition from Langara to other postsecondary institutions can use the credits towards that schooling.

“Any co-op work term that’s completed with Langara is fully transferable to other schools,” Workman said.

All of the programs that were awarded six-year accreditation status are outlined in the accompanying information graphic.

CO-OP

programs

JOCELYN ASPA photos

Top left: Triple O’s on campus will be offering a deal on vegetarian burgers on Tuesdays. Top right: Chicken being served at the cafeteria run by Chartwells. Bottom: Pasta options on campus don’t come meat-free right now.

Meatless Mondays on order

Langara Earth Stompers want more vegetarian options on campus

By JOCELYN ASPA

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There needs to be more variety, like having pasta that doesn’t have meat in it EMILY McBRYAN LANGARA FINE ARTS STUDENT

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ood options in the cafeteria at Langara College are being reevaluated to include more vegetarian choices, in addition to Meatless Mondays on campus.

The Langara Earth Stompers environmental club met with Chartwells on March 11 to ask for more vegetarian options in the cafeteria as well as more healthy and environmentally friendly selections.

“We want things like less eggs, less cattle and alternatives for milk,” said Adam Kelliher, the club’s leader.

According to Rizwan Bandali, director of food services for Chartwells at Langara, the beginning stages for Meatless Monday on campus is set for March 30. He said they will start with the 2.mato and Global Village stations.

“We were approached by the environmental club to partner in creating

awareness of the environmental impact of global meat consumption,” Bandali said. “We will also be encouraging students to go meatless at Triple O’s and at Artisan Deli.”

Also present at the meeting was Anna Pippus, special projects director with the Vancouver Humane Society, who gave a presentation about the benefits of Meatless Monday.

“There’s a surge in healthy contemplations and actions on Monday,” she said. “It’s like having a New Year’s Resolution at the start of the week.”

According to meatlessmonday.com, the movement began in 2003 in the United States and launched in association with the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health.

In her presentation, Pippus said eliminating meat even just once a week has a variety of benefits.

“It reduces the risk of preventable conditions like cancer, cardiovascular

disease, diabetes, and obesity.”

Bandali said customers will also be encouraged to go meatless on Tuesdays at Triple O’s with a veggie burger option as part of its $3.69 Triple “O” Tuesdays original burger feature.

Emily McBryan, a vegetarian and first-year fine arts student at Langara, said she isn’t happy with the current food situation in the cafeteria and is hopeful it will change.

“The options right now aren’t very great,” she said. “There needs to be more variety, like having pasta that doesn’t have meat in it.”

Bandali said they will continue working with the marketing department to develop promotional material, and believes Meatless Monday will be successful with students.

“We are constantly working on developing new menu items and alternatives to increase products available to non-meat-eaters,” he said.

LFA STRIKE VOTE,continued from page 1 “The college remains confident that we will reach an agreement that meets the need of LFA members and is within the government’s economic stability mandate,” Dawn Palmer, associate vice-president of human resources at Langara College said in an email. “[Langara] can’t do anything because the provincial government said ‘this is what you’re going to do,’” Langara photography instructor Dave Scougal said. “They’re just the pawn stuck in the middle.”

Bargaining talks will continue on March 26, with six additional dates currently planned. ­— with files from Rebecca Phair

Choosing ease over environment Waste totals on campus are decreasing but paper cups are an easy option for busy students

By JULIA WICKHAM

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espite the efforts of some environmentally savvy students and a gradual decrease in waste on campus, the convenience of to-go cups and containers means garbage continues to pile up in the bins at Langara College.

According to data provided to The Voice by Joyce Robson, facilities services manager at Langara, approximately 120.18 tonnes of waste was collected from campus garbages last year alone — which is down by almost 30 per cent since 2012.

“Most students do make an effort to

recycle properly, but unfortunately some don’t and it’s the ones that don’t that contaminate other people’s efforts,” Robson said.

Some people take sustainability seriously, like Daniel Crough, a fourth-year marketing management program student at Langara, who aims to live as waste free as possible.

“It requires me to make everything from hummus to toothpaste but it is something that I feel strongly about,” Crough said.

To reduce the amount of waste he produces while at Langara, Crough brings his own containers, instead of using the materials that are provided.

“I bring a reusable water bottle, coffee cup and spoon with me wherever I go and I have been doing this for years,” he said.

But sometimes convenience can overpower the social responsibility of

being environmentally sensible. Kayla Meadows, a first-year design formation student at Langara, said she gets a tea on campus five days a week but she’s forgetful and doesn’t always bring a travel mug.

“If I could remember my cup I would definitely bring it every time, because this is just a waste,” she said pointing to her Tim Hortons paper cup. “This is just a convenient, easy thing.”

To continue eliminating the amount of waste produced at Langara, Crough said that the cafeteria should offer reusable plates and more sustainable takeout options for students who choose to take away.

“I feel that students who choose to dine-in should be rewarded for good behaviour (a discount) and students who choose to be wasteful should be charged for the cost of the container,” he said.

SHANNON LYNCH photo

Some students are too busy or forgetful to bring reusable containers and travel mugs for their on campus meals.

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THE VOICE, THURSDAY, MARCH 19, 2015

EDITOR JAMES GOLDIE

Entertainment

Dragons soon to be unleashed Fans of Magic: The Gathering are gearing up for a new deck of cards

By KELVIN GAWLEY

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KELVIN GAWLEY photo

Players engrossed in a game of Magic: The Gathering during a weekly league night at Players Wanted Games & Collectibles in South Vancouver.

South Vancouver store is hosting a series of events this weekend to celebrate the release of Dragons of Tarkir, a new set of cards being released in the game Magic: The Gathering.

Players Wanted Games & Collectibles is hosting games and inviting members of the public to play with the new set of cards at their store on Friday night (starting at midnight), Saturday and Sunday.

Magic is a strategy game where players use cards to summon spirits and cast spells in an imaginary battle to the death.

“The challenge is you have a bunch of cards with a bunch of decisions to make,” said Magic player, Kelvin Ng. “The challenge of making the right decisions and formulating the right strategy is why people like this game.”

These cards introduce new components to gameplay and advance a narrative that has been progressing since the game first came out in 1993. In this new chapter, dragons have killed off humans and now dominate the world.

Events like these, in which fans come to play, are a regular occurrence at Players Wanted. Social gatherings are at the core of the store’s goal of fostering friendship, according to owner Edward Wong, who opened the store just eight months ago.

He said he was inspired to start a games store focused on inclusivity after seeing his cousins and siblings become avid players of games he introduced them to.

“Everyone’s friendly, everyone’s WEEKLY BOARDequal; there are no GAMES FEATURE formalities. That’s Cutthroat Caverns March 19, 7 to 9 p.m. my main focus,” he said.

FRIDAY NIGHT Wong said he MAGIC was tired of games Weekly Magic league stores in the Lower March 20, 6:30 to 10 p.m. Mainland that were exclusive and cliquDRAGONS OF ey and opened his TARKIR PREstore to be differRELEASE EVENT ent.

Play with new deck Wei Chang, who March 21, 12 to 4:30 a.m regularly particiMarch 21, 1 to 5:30 p.m. pates in tournaMarch 22, 1 to 5:30 p.m. ments at Players Wanted, said that DROP-IN D&D playing Magic is Weekly Dungeons & different from vidDragons night. eo games in that it March 22, 5 to 9 p.m. depends on face-toface play.

“It’s a lot of interactions based on personalities,” Chang said. “Some people have certain tendencies; some like to play the percentages, some are bluffers.”

See langaravoice.ca for exclusive video!

PLAYERS wanted

Talmud Torah troupe going under the sea School to stage version of Disney’s The Little Mermaid

By ALEXANDER HOEGLER

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outh Vancouver theatre-goers will be taking the plunge this month and ending up under the sea. Vancouver Talmud Torah community school is preparing for their production of The Little Mermaid Jr. at the Norman Rothstein Theatre.

“We started [rehearsing] in January, and we’ve been rehearsing on Sundays and professional development days,” stage manager Chalene Scott said.

According to Scott, the show’s directors Keri Smith and Elana Jacobson wanted to try something new by going with an underwater theme.

“It’s a classic story. But the songs and the dances are so much fun,” she said. The production’s underwater setting will be depicted by having cast members wave blue fabric to appear as water and waves.

Colin Katz, the father of 11-year-old Keren who plays, Ariel said he and his wife discovered their daughter’s acting talent at a young age.

“There wasn’t much encouragement from us. She came and stuck to it naturally,” he said. “She’s pretty self-motivated.”

Katz said they never enrolled Keren into any formal theatre training programs.

Keren said that watching the movie helped her prepare for the auditions.

“I’ve watched it many times. When I heard we were doing The Little Mermaid at school, I was very excited,” she

said. Keren wasn’t expecting to land the part.

“When I auditioned, I actually [tried out] for Ursula, the villain. I received a call back, this time to be Ariel.”

The directors were pleased with what they saw from her, and gave her the starring role.

“After I got my call back, I kind of realized maybe Ariel is the right and best thing for me,” she said.

The show runs March 24 to 26. Tickets are available on Vancouver Talmud Torah’s website.

HELENA WADSLEY photo

A visitor to the Ranger Station Art Gallery views Helena Wadsley’s latest exhibit, Terra Infirma.

Artist explores impact of humans In Terra Infirma exhibit, paintings depict land use and nature’s fragility

By SARA RABEY

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NICOL SPINOLA submitted photo

Keren Katz is excited to be playing Ariel in The Little Mermaid Jr.

ith its beautiful, natural mineral pools, Harrison Hot Springs has been a tourist attraction since 1886. For Helena Wadsley, a fine arts instructor at Langara College, it is the perfect place to showcase her exhibit Terra Infirma, paintings that explore human interaction with nature.

Wadsley was selected by the Kent Harrison Arts Council to feature her group of paintings at the Ranger Station Art Gallery in Harrison Hot Springs. The exhibit depicts the impact humans have on nature.

Wadsley named her exhibit Terra Infirma (which means fragile earth) because the work is all about land use.

“It’s meant to be about how we use land and how we think of nature. How when we are in it we think it’s wild, but it never really is,” Wadsley said.

In an email, Aimée Brown, artist-inresidence with the Kent Harrison Arts Council, said Wadsley’s work was se-

lected from a competitive application process and has been well received.

“One of the comments I found most interesting was from a visitor who enjoyed how Helena’s organic landscape elements edge toward the abstract,” Brown said. “Her rendering of abandoned shacks, cars, and industrial interventions in the environment ground the viewer in the reality of the scene she is painting.”

Wadsley began the project by painting ports in Vancouver and Barcelona, and went on to paint in Iceland, which she said was quite barren by comparison. “I would look for signs of human activity in what is otherwise perceived as a pristine landscape,” she said One of her paintings depicts an orange hut in the middle of sparse Icelandic plains. She chose to paint that scene because she “was specifically looking for single signs with nothing else around, just to show that there is always a mark of human activity.”

According to Wadsley, Harrison Hot Springs is a very fitting place to display Terra Infirma. “The town has arisen from this natural geographical feature so it goes really well with my idea.”

The exhibit is at the Ranger Station Art Gallery until March 29.

HELENA WADSLEY Langara fine arts instructor

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I would look for signs of human activity in what is otherwise perceived as a pristine landscape

Lifestyles

EDITOR SANDY POWLIK

THE VOICE, THURSDAY, MARCH 19, 2015

Student’s future looks bright Studio 58 star Olivia Hutt heads straight to work after graduation

By MONA BUTLER

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ot yet a graduate, Studio 58 actress Olivia Hutt has already successfully landed a professional contract to work with the Chemainus Theatre Festival on Vancouver Island.

Hutt has shown promise during her time at Langara College, performing in several Studio 58 productions, and standing out to her instructors.

Studio 58 artistic director Kathryn Shaw said she would not hesitate to recommend Hutt to any director, casting agent or artistic director when she graduates in April.

“Her passion and talent will ensure she has a long and rich professional career,” Shaw said.

Hutt most recently played the major supporting role of Aunt

Eller in Oklahoma!, which she considers to be her most difficult role yet. She said that outside of school, she would have never been cast for the role of someone twice her age.

“It was difficult to give truth to a character older than me without making it a caricature,” she said.

Hutt is from the theatre hub town of Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ont., a half hour outside of Toronto. The daughter of actors, Hutt said she grew up surrounded by theatre, which played a large role in her upbringing.

Hutt said she wanted to study theatre but decided it would be good to have experience in something other than the dramatic arts.

“I loved it but I wanted to learn other things and went to university for four years to study things totally not related to theatre,” she said.

Before coming to Langara College she studied sociology and English at Western University in London, Ont. Hutt said that she wants to expand her horizons to include film and TV and use her remaining time at Langara to learn as much as possible.

“I am tapping into everything I can before I graduate.”

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It was difficult to give truth to a character older than me without making it a caricature OLIVIA HUTT Photos courtesy of PINK MONKEY STUDIOS

Above: Studio 58 actress Olivia Hutt is set to graduate this April. Below: Hutt (front row, second from right) with the college’s Oklahoma! cast.

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VEGAN PIZZA HOUSE 2119 Kingsway Source: The Voice staff

Local restaurants, stores are increasingly accommodating with animal-free food and products

By JAMES SMITH

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Changing volunteer profile, says new report Statistics give incomplete picture of volunteering

STUDIO 58 ACTRESS

Vegan living takes root in South Van VEGAN

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eganism is on the rise in Vancouver, if the growing number of businesses courting vegan customers is any indication.

Joanne Chang, co-owner of vegan shoe store Nice Shoes, said most restaurants in the city now accommodate vegans even if the menu doesn’t. Customer requests to modify menu items, such as with no meat or dairy, for example, are frequently obliged. She also said more stores carry vegan goods and more companies are manufacturing animal-free product lines.

“These are not vegan brands, these are just mainstream brands that are now capitalizing on that [trend] by marketing to vegans,” said Chang. “For a company to go and do something like that, there has to be a demand.”

Vegan-centric businesses are in-

creasingly commonplace in Vancouver.

A quick online search reveals several local restaurants, grocery stores, bakeries and boutiques catering to people who choose, as per The Vegan Society website, “to exclude…all forms of exploitation of, and cruelty to, animals for food, clothing or any other purpose.”

There are even social networks, online forums and dating websites (such as veganpassions.com, vegandating.ca and theJOANNE CHANG saucyvegan.com) Co-owner, Nice based around aniShoes mal-free consumer preferences.

Chang said she credits celebrities openly adopting vegan lifestyles and the omnipresence of social media spreading information with the current rise in veganism. She said unlike five or ten years ago, people know what vegan means.

Sheryl Chau, Langara College envi-

ronmental studies student and a coordinator for Langara Earth Stompers environmental club, agreed veganism is increasing. Although people choose to go vegan for a variety of reasons, such as animal rights or environmentalism, Chau said veganism’s popularity has grown because more people are becoming more health-conscious.

Despite what meat-lovers and other non-vegans may think, said Chau, “a lot of the veggies actually contain the nutrients that we need already.”

Amy Yiu, founder and president of Libra Nutrition and registered dietician, said in an email that studies have shown vegan diets can lower rates of obesity, heart disease, high blood pressure, high blood cholesterol, Type 2 diabetes and certain types of cancer.

However, Yiu said vegans are “more susceptible to several types of nutrient deficiency,” as their diet may not include certain vitamins and proteins commonly found in meat and other animal products.

“Extra effort should be made to get adequate nutrients,” said Yiu. “[A] vegan diet is health-beneficial if planned properly.”

recently released Statistics Canada survey on volunteer demographics is looking at volunteerism the wrong way, according to a South Vancouver volunteer coordinator.

The survey states that while student-age youth tend to volunteer more frequently, it is seniors who volunteer the most hours. Fifteen- to 24-year-olds volunteer an average of 110 to 154 hours annually, compared with 231 hours by seniors ages 65 to 74.

However, Shelley Jorde, coordinator of the Seniors Hub program at the South Vancouver Neighbourhood House, said she feels that is the wrong way to look at it.

“We should recognize efforts, regardless of age, or the time that’s offered,” she said. “These are decisions people are making to have their free time to better the lives of others.”

Jorde also spoke to the diversity of volunteers at the SVNH. “They come with very different backgrounds, but really with that same sense of wanting to give back,” she said. “You see that time and time again, whether they’re younger people or they’re older people.”

Maggie Stewart, Volt volunteer program coordinator, said she hasn’t noticed a reflection of the Statitics Canada report at Langara College either.

“I haven’t seen a correlation between age and hours, but I understand that in a college environment it’s very demanding on students, time-wise,” Stewart said. “So, I understand why Statistics Canada might have those numbers in terms of college students.”

Stewart said there are a few aspects of volunteering that appeal to students, including the idea of giving back and meeting new people.

Amirabbas Yousefi, a commerce and business studies student and volunteer at Volt, said that giving back was the core of volunteering, while meeting new people was an added benefit.

“I was mostly introverted, so to stop being the sort of spoiled child brat I was, and start talking to people,” Yousefi said he started volunteering, “Throughout my life, I have made great friends through volunteering.”

However, Stewart said that the college does offer further incentive for students to volunteer, including credits toward a continuing studies transcript.

“This is perhaps the one that I would say students respond most to,” she said.

6

THE VOICE, THURSDAY, MARCH 19, 2015

EDITOR NICH JOHANSEN

viewpoints

Eat veggies, save planet

Laziness leads to lack of younger H volunteers A

ccording to Statistics Canada information from 2013, volunteering hours among young adults are decreasing, while those among people over 55 are increasing.

Laziness is a key factor in this decrease of volunteer hours by younger people.

The statistics reflect how technology is changing how we spend time on other activities rather than volunteering. It’s not great because we should be helping out the community.

Last week in The Voice, we covered people binge watching television.

Binge watching is one of the excuses people use to lay on the couch and do nothing. In addition, video games contribute to laziness. People will spend countless hours in front of a screen mindlessly staring, until it’s already three in the morning.

The Vancouver School Board requires students to earn 30 hours or more of work experience to graduate. This is one reason why the number of volunteer hours has dropped. Once TONY SU high school students complete the 30-hour requirement the students will likely stop volunteering.

Laziness is The good thing a key facis that the number of volunteer hours tor in this is going up for decrease of people over 55. volunteer Perhaps it’s because people are hours by closing in on younger retirement, and are starting to look people for a new hobby or to meet new people.

When you’re getting older, staying active should be a priority because old age comes with challenges. One challenge is Alzheimer’s disease. It doesn’t just affect very old people, it can start as young as 40. Simply volunteering a few hours a day will cause the brain and body to be used constantly, keeping it healthy.

Volunteering can fit in with anyone’s schedule. Plus, it brings people together and creates lasting friendships.

ow can you tell if someone is a vegan, the old joke begins. Don’t worry, they’ll tell you.

While the self-righteous and holier-than-thou vegan stereotype persists, in many cases for good reason, veganism or at least more veggie-heavy diets have become mainstream in western society. And this is for the best.

According to the United Nations, raising and transporting livestock globally is one of the largest emitters of greenhouse gasses on the planet. It is also the leading factor in biodiversity loss. A pound of beef requires almost 50 times more water than a pound of vegetables and meat requires 11 times the energy to produce than vegetables. Clearly, the satiation of the global need for cheeseburgers has

negatively impacted our planet.

This is largely due to the way animals are raised in 2015. By raising animals in a way that is focused primarily on lowering cost, the overall impact is not taken into consideration.

Namely, the impact this system of farming has on the global environment.

We’ve all met the vegan that single-handedly NICH JOHANSEN turns everyone else off from considering such a lifestyle due to their preachy tone and high-horse demeanour. But in

OPINION

most cases their heart is in the right place.

Putting down the bacon-wrapped bacon and chewing on a carrot may seem blasphemous to some, but by simply reducing your meat intake you can have a profound impact on the environment. The Meatless Monday campaign was started in 2003 by the Center for a Livable Future at The Johns Hopkins University in an attempt to reduce meat consumption by 15 per cent.

Langara is looking to adopt more meatless options, thanks to pressure by the Langara Earth Stompers club.

Reducing the amount of meat you eat by any amount can have very real impacts on the planet.

So spread the word! Tell your friends! Just don’t get too preachy.

We welcome letters to the editor. All letters must be signed. They may be edited for brevity.

Names may be withheld in special cases, but your letter must include your name and phone number.

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EDITORIAL STAFF THIS ISSUE: MANAGING EDITOR/ PAGE 6 Nich Johansen

PAGE EDITORS PAGE 1 Vivian Chui

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Alice D’Eon

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ANNA DIMOFF and MICHAEL LYLYK comic

Journalism instructor Erica Bulman oversees The Voice. Email her at ebulman@langara.bc.ca

Editorial opinions are those of the staff and are independent of views of the student government and administration.

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OPINION

We want to hear from you

V

the oice

Sex assault apathy is dangerous I

t’s hard to imagine yourself or anyone else being publicly sexually assaulted. But all too often these instances, which do occur, are dismissed as harmless.

There is vast spectrum of the types of sexual harassment, specifically on public transportation. Regardless of whether it’s a disrespectful “cat call”, unwanted comment or physical assault, all should be taken seriously and viewed as a real issue.

Unfortunately, a passive view seems to have accumulated around sexual assault, suggesting that if it is not

actual rape then it is not serious enough to warrant voicing concerns.

Many people may fear that if their claim isn’t severe enough, authorities won’t take them seriously and their case won’t be pursued.

The appalling REBECCA PHAIR level of apathy has left victims without justice, and criminals without punishment and

OPINION

this trend shows no signs of stopping any time soon.

Admittedly, I began to visualize my own personal boundaries. How far can my limits be stretched before I would seek help?

Sadly, many people think in terms of limits and boundaries. But why should our boundaries ever be tested? Sexual assault has no grey area, either it is or it isn’t. There is never a reason to dismiss something that makes a person feel uncomfortable or objectified as anything less than sexual harassment.

Jocelyn Aspa Mona Butler Tanya Commisso Anna Dimoff Kelvin Gawley Dustin Godfrey Alexander Hoegler Michael Lylyk Bryan Mc Govern Owen Munro Bailey Nicholson Rebecca Phair Sara Rabey Ethan Reyes James Smith Tony Su Julia Wickham Xiao Xu

Contact us: Online at langaravoice.ca

Twitter at @LangaraVoice

Issues & ideas

THE VOICE, THURSDAY, MARCH 19, 2015

EDITOR NATASHA CHANG

7

C’mon, what’s sexier than consent Sex-ed updated to include tech talk for children A revamped curriculum clarifies what kind of contact is not ‘okay’

By MICHAEL LYLYK

S

oon primary school students in B.C. will learn about “sexting” and the meaning of consent.

B.C. is updating its sexual education curriculum to include the topic of what is consensual.

Elementary school students will learn about safety and avoiding uncomfortable situations with a redesigned sex-ed curriculum, said Ben Green, public affairs officer at the B.C. Ministry of Education.

He said by grades four, five or six, students will have conversations about the use of technology, topics like “sexting” and what’s considered as appropriate behaviour.

“They’re trying to look at it from a very holistic view,” said Janice Neden assistant director at British Columbia Teachers’ Federation (BCTF), which works closely with the Ministry of Education regarding the curriculum.

She said the changes would address “individual identity, sexual orientation, gender, values, beliefs, etc.,” which she thinks is “a step forward.”

Morgane Oger, executive member of the Vancouver District Parent Advisory Council, said “there has been no change of policy on sexual education in quite some time.”

Oger added that one thing that needs to be taught is the meaning of consent.

“Maturing boys, don’t have a clear idea of what consent, or lack of consent is or means,” she said. “At the same time, young girls are in the same place and they have not yet learned, how to handle guys.”

What you end up with is tragic situations where somebody who was being sexually aggressive ends up victimizing somebody else, Oger added.

“What’s happening is the girls don’t have the tools to understand, where they’re empowered and where they’re at risk,” she said.

TANYA COMMISSO photo

Student Health Services recently put up a display — 50 Shades of Consent — parodying Fifty Shades of Grey to demystify sexual assault

More than birds, bees at sex fair Results from student survey prompts sexual health fair at Langara

By TANYA COMMISSO

A

s the first event of its kind at Langara College to address the issue of consent, Langara nursing students are collaborating with Langara’s Student Health Services to host a Sex Matters Health Fair on March 25.

The decision to host the fair was based on data collected from surveys circulated throughout the student body that demonstrated a lack of knowledge around the issue of consent. The event also follows Ontario’s recent changes to their sex education curriculum, by including education on consent.

“One misconception is that if someone you’re in an intimate relationship with does something that you don’t want to do, that’s also considered sexual assault,” said Munreet Mand, third-year nursing student involved in organizing the event.

In keeping with the theme of the event, the display case outside the

health services office took advantage of the popularity of Fifty Shades of Grey by debunking sexual assault myths in a showcase titled “50 Shades of Consent”.

Sean Ang, third-year nursing student also responsible for planning the event, said some SEAN ANG of the myths Nursing student shown in the & fair organizer student surveys involve sexual assault on men.

“When I look around, I don’t see very many advertisements for male health resources, and I feel like that’s important to bring to the forefront because we have gotten some comments from male students on our surveys about how to handle situations [of sexual assault].”

The Anti.Violence.Project (AVP), a participating organization at the fair, holds consent-training workshops at the University of Victoria, prompted by a lack of awareness regarding consent and healthy relationships.

Carol Bilson, coordinator with the group, said this lack of awareness could be partially attributed to media representation.

“In almost all forms of media, sex is represented as something that ‘just happens’ without meaningful communication.”

The fair will take place from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. in Langara’s cafeteria, and will feature booths with representatives from each participating organization.

The event currently has 12 organizations slated to attend, including the Health Initiative for Men, Women Against Violence Against Women Rape Crisis Centre and the British Columbia Society for Male Survivors of Sexual Abuse.

SEXY facts 1 2 3 4

Any unwanted sexual contact is considered sexual assault Victims of sexual assault often know their attacker Sexual assault victims are never to blame. They are victims of a violent crime Only 8% of sexual assaults are reported

Source: Women Against Violence Against Women Rape Crisis Centre

It is time to stop brushing sexual harassment to the side Shame, fear and anxiety are common responses to sexual harassment

By ANNA DIMOFF

T

he decision to file a formal harassment complaint can depend on the victim rather than the severity of an assault, according to Metro Vancouver Transit Police.

Although only about 10 per cent of offences are reported, the issue of sexual harassment on transit is receiving plenty of attention due to one report that was documented and posted to the UBC Confessions Facebook page by a secondary source. The source said she witnessed a man groping the victim and encouraged her to come forward in the post.

Humiliation, embarrassment and the fear of not being taken seriously are a few of the most common reasons victims hesitate to report incidents of assault explained Anne Drennan, media advisor for the Transit Police.

“We want women to know that we will take them seriously,” she said.

The lesson society teaches women on how to respond to sexual, verbal or physical harassment seems to be a deterrent as well, according to Lucia Lorenzi, a PhD candidate studying sexual violence at UBC. “Harassment, especially street harassment and on transit and other forms of moving through public space, is so common, but I think that often women are taught to ignore it or to brush it off,” Lorenzi said.

Khaled Sukkarie, second-year computer science student at Langara College, said women should try their best to fight the isolation they might feel after an assault.

“It happens to a lot of girls. The main point is not to be afraid because you’re important too. This won’t be swept away if you tell someone,” Sukkarie said referencing the Canada Line offence. “This is a serious crime, her personal space was disrespected, was violated, and that cannot be overlooked.”

A lot of the cases aren’t reported because of a “time factor” Drennan

KHALED SUKKARIE Computer science student

“

Her personal space was disrespected, was violated

said.

“We’re told quite often that women who are harassed on transit are on their way to work or to an important appointment and they sort of brush it off. It bothers them and upsets them tremendously, but they need to get wherever it is t h e y ’ r e going,” Drennan said.

“So, they won’t take the time to report

the offence.”

The process of reporting harassment can be very frustrating, according to Lorenzi. “Especially if [victims] don’t know if any sort of justice will be achieved.”

ANNA DIMOFF photo

Harassment on transit and the streets is very common.

See langaravoice.ca for exclusive video!

8

THE VOICE, THURSDAY, MARCH 19, 2015

EDITOR MARY BEACH

TODAY

game one FIRST ROUND FOR FALCONS Langara Falcons vs.

Humber Hawks

TIP-OFF Falcons take the court at 3 p.m. (EST), Noon (PST)

COURTSIDE Championships take place in Hamilton, Ont.

sports

Parents can add jitters When parents have high expectations, student athletes can experience additional stress say experts

By BRYAN Mc GOVERN

ETHAN REYES photo

Players Glenn Ruby and Devante Williams have fun at practice before heading east to defend the team’s title.

Now Falcons fight back for another crack at gold After silver at provincials, basketball team aims for different colour

“

It’s a new year, so you can’t win on past glory PAUL EBERHARDT, HEAD COACH FALCONS MEN’S BASKETBALL

By ETHAN REYES

D

espite falling short at the provincial level, Langara Falcons men’s basketball team has a chance to defend its CCAA Men’s Basketball National Championship title.

The Langara Falcons were awarded their spot at the nationals this year by being selected as a tournament wild card.

Each year two provinces are randomly selected, and teams that place second in those provinces’ respective provincial tournaments, as the Falcons did this year, are allowed to compete.

While thrilled about his team’s spot at nationals, Paul Eberhardt has had little time to celebrate. The veteran coach knows the rigors of the road ahead, and has been busy preparing his team to meet them.

“It’s a new year, so you can’t win on past glory,” Eberhardt said.

According to Eberhardt, he and his team have been studiously dissecting their prospective opponents’ past performances on YouTube, with as much of their preparations taking place online as on the court.

Langara’s athletic therapist, Jessica Dudas, said the team

has suffered fewer injuries than last year.

“We’ve had a few [concussions],” said Dudas, who explained how they’ve been the most problematic injuries this season.

Dudas recently attended a seminar on post-concussion treatment in North Carolina, and the knowledge gained while away will be put to good use at home.

If they continue to win, Dudas will be sitting courtside for the Falcons’ redemption against the number one ranked Holland College of P.E.I., who defeated the PAUL EBERHARDT Falcons by one point in the semi-finals of Head coach, the 2013 national championship. men’s basketball “I know our boys would like [another] crack at them,” said Eberhardt.

The tournament is scheduled this year in Hamilton, Ont. from March 19 to 21.

Today’s game is scheduled for 3p.m. (EST), Noon, here in Vancouver.

For an update on the outcome of today’s game, check the Langara Voice online: http://www.langaravoice.ca.

P

arental expectations can add to the high level of stress and pressure faced by student athletes.

A new study by the School of Health Sciences and Human Performance at Ithaca College in New York, found the anxiety levels of athletes between ages six and 18, were affected not only by their own anxiety but also by a parent expecting them to compete at a higher level than other players.

Langara women’s basketball coach Mike Evans said he agrees with the research and has dealt with some intrusive parents. “[Players] have pressure at school; they have pressure from the competition, their position on the team, plus they have a parent who’s on their case because they didn’t play well enough.”

Evans said. “It’s not a healthy environment at all.”

Langara women’s soccer coach Ryan Birt said most players at the college level don’t deal with the pressure from a parent, since they’ve been playing for a long time and they have shown a personal commitment to the SHARECE sport.

THOUTENHOOFD S h a r e c e Guard, Falcons Th o u t e n h o o f d , guard for the women’s basketball team, said her parents made her practise basketball every day, until Grade Six when she was given the option to continue or quit.

Teammate Emily Rowlandson said she has never felt pressure from her parents but has seen the effects of an angry parent during a game.

“I have seen at this college, parents scream at the coaches from the stands why isn’t my player getting more time.”

Aiming high for next year’s women’s basketball Team needs height, and hopes to find it at an ID camp here on Langara campus

By TANYA COMMISSO

Courtney Nicholls shows that height gives an important edge, one that head coach Mike Evans will try to gain for next year’s recruits.

LAURA MAY submitted photo

A

fter a rough season, the Langara Falcons women’s basketball team is hosting an ID camp in the hopes of recruiting taller players with higher basketball IQs. Finding players over six feet is a challenge for the Falcons, especially with increased competition from universities, head coach Mike Evans said.

He added that universities recruit anybody over six feet regardless of their skills – which cuts into the target area.

Though he normally handpicks players from the high schools, Evans said he hopes that the forthcoming ID camp

will introduce the team to a few more recruits than the previous process.

Placing seventh in the 2014-15 PACWEST league season, the Falcons faced many hurdles, including player injuries and a rookie-dominated team.

As well, the team played only two of the 21 league games with its five best players on the floor according to Evans.

“The other 19 games, we were missing two or three starters – for MIKE EVANS a team that wasn’t Head coach, women’s basketin the top half of ball the league talentwise anyways, it just made it really difficult for us to perform with those players out of the line-up,” he said.

Carly Sangha, first year player, said she believes the Falcons need to work

on bonding more in practice and ensuring the team is on the same page with plays, to achieve success.

“You should be able to run every play that you have on a team, in your sleep,” she said.

“It’s one of those things where it has to be second nature, or you are going to miss out on that cohesiveness.”

Sangha, described by coach Evans as an “outstanding leader,” said she thinks the unique experience of being a Falcon should draw players into considering Langara.

“If you go somewhere else, you don’t have as many chances to be showcased as you could be here,” she said.

The open ID camp will take place on March 28 and 29 from 12 p.m. to 3 p.m.

Coaching staff will evaluate prospective players based on skill level, competitiveness, basketball IQ and team play. There will also be a tour of the school and an optional one hour parent orientation.