Volume 22 Issue 3: Justice

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MA R S ’ H I L L

JUSTICE VO LUME 2 2

ISSU E 3

OCT. 18 / 17


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THE TEAM

ALEX GUST

TORI AHRENDT

BROOKE PATTYN

CHRISALEEN CIRO

Managing Editor

Layout Editor

NIKI MARA

Academy Editor

JAMISON DERKSEN Sports Editor

HANNAH DEVRIES Chief Copy Editor

MAYA JUSMAN Illustration Editor

FROM THE EDITOR

Visual Editor

News Editor

JOEL REDEKOP

Arts & Culture Editor

SABINE HENDERSON Humour Editor

MADISON POWERS Photo Editor

BAILEY MARTENS Web Editor

Often, I feel small. As though the problems our world currently faces are untouchable. Despite their ever-relevant push in my news feed and the way these problems seem to creep closer to home each and every day, I ask myself,

tistically based or not. He doesn’t ask us to sit back waiting for others to serve us the option of fighting injustice but, instead, calls us to use what we have, whether it be big or small, to serve Him in love.

“How could one person ever change the world?”

I leave you with one final story that shifted my thinking recently. At the end of September, I found myself in Los Angeles, listening to a talk from Lou Engle. While his words about the fight against one of America’s most serious and relevant issues (abortion) were convicting, it was something else from his speech that stood out to me more.

How could I, Katie Maryschuk, contribute to the fight of social injustice when the world around me seems to be filled with change-makers and pace-setters, running away with the very ideas of justice that I am only trying to grasp? I think practicing justice starts with recognition, and often, without knowing it, starts small. It starts with a stirring in your heart, or maybe even in a friend’s heart who sees something going on, and says, “This isn’t okay.” Whether it’s in your own home, fighting to uphold the integrity of Christian love, or traveling overseas to help, it’s something small that sits unsettled because something is happening that is not okay. Your neighbour doesn’t receive the same treatment you do because of their skin colour. Jokes are made because of orientation, or gender, or height, or any other thing because we have a human nature that is so utterly broken. Your country explodes in malicious protests over an issue so incredibly disastrous you don’t know where to even begin picking up the pieces. It’s an insane brokenness that I know God gives peace to but, at the same time, I want to know what I can do about it. Recognizing justice goes beyond being aware of what is going on around you. It turns personal when you ask God, “What is the proper response according to who I am and what you’ve given me?” Instead of asking, “How could one person ever change the world?” ask instead, “What did He already give me, so that I could join with others to fight injustice?” In reality, it isn’t about figuring out how on earth to do it all by yourself, but instead, recognizing and understanding what He has given you to fight injustice with, alongside others who are passionate to do the same. Perhaps it’s resources or time. For some, it could be prayer and fasting and the authority of intercession. For many, it is the giving of money; for others, it is talent, whether it is ar-

RYAN SCHAFFRICK Advertising and Finance Manager

For the first twenty minutes, he bordered on talking about politics. I had never been in a place where the issue of Trump was so heavily embedded into society. I kept thinking to myself, don’t do it, please do not talk about politics, this isn’t the place! And then he talked about politics. Engle paused for a moment after the crowd reacted to his words, then continued. “What if we prayed for our leaders, regardless of our support for them?” Jaw dropped and heart convicted. I don’t get to even play a Trump card, I get to play a Trudeau card…and a love card, and a justice card. We get a choice to extend grace and love, even in situations that are often void of it or where we “just don’t feel like it” because our own personal convictions keep us from doing so. That means praying for our leaders, whether we like them or not. Praying for our administration and professors, whether we agree with them or not. Praying over situations, whether we have the confidence of Christ or the doubt of Peter and Thomas. Until next time, Katie Maryschuk

MARS’ HILL

MISSION TO MARS

EDITORIAL POLICY

CONTRIBUTORS

Mars’ Hill is a student publication of Trinity Western University, floated with funds raised by the Student Association. Mars’ Hill seeks to be a professional and relevant student publication, reflecting and challenging the TWU community, while intentionally addressing local, national and international issues.

The mission of Mars’ Hill, as the official student newspaper of Trinity Western University, is to inform and entertain its readers, cultivate awareness of issues concerning the TWU community and provide a forum for purposeful, constructive discussion among its members in accordance with the Community Covenant, Statement of Faith, and Core Values of the University.

Mars’ Hill encourages submissions and letters to the Editor. Mars’ Hill reserves the right to edit submissions for style, brevity and compatibility with the Mission, Statement of Faith, the Community Community Covenant, and the Core Values of the University. Anonymous authorship of any material may be granted at the discretion of the Editor-in-Chief. Opinions expressed in Mars’ Hill belong to the individual authors and do not necessarily reflect those of the editorial board, Trinity Western University, its officials or its Student Association.

Madeline Gallard Jordan Koslowky Andrea Beatriz Rodriguez Rachel Burgis Alice Best Mason Geddes Heather Twele Gillian Mohammed Amanda Haggett Matthew Tucker Emilio Rodriguez Aubree Farrell Kyle Baker Jughead Jones Becca Carscience

M AR S ’ H I L L

STUDENT MEDIA ADVISOR Loranne Brown

What keeps you up at night?

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C O M M U N I T Y CO R N E R

DE-CLASSIFIEDS

can I use my guest swipes on myself? #takingmeout#happyvalentines

I can do this. I am a dude. I am a hunky dude! I’m a badass hunky dude.

Dear girl that makes pancakes in the west coast collegium on Wednesdays mornings, I hope I will one day have the courage to ask for your name and not just a pancake.

I want to learn Spanish for the sole purpose of knowing what Gaby and Ramón are saying about me behind my back.

What do you call a pastor in Germany? A German Shepherd! Douglas Boy with the White Mesh Laundry Basket: I emptied your clothes from the dryer and they smell so good. I don’t know what cologne you use, but I am 43.25% in love with you. Sarah Quinn, your outfit looks great! you can stop looking for more stuff online now. who farted? Can y’all stop plagiarizing off each other so I don’t have to keep catching you? I’ve got better things to do. Love, a Tired TA I think Jim Scott is my spirit animal. I’m dying. Watching kids do Fort Week is more fun than doing Fort Week. >prof low key chirps catholicism >tries not to act offended

Does anyone know who the cute guy in the cowboy boots is? – That’s my roommate, Kyle Guenther. He’s single. – Alex

I have never been bored enough to post multiple declassifieds in one sitting. But then I took Cross-Cultural Comm with Ruth Anaya.

Rachel was the prelude, Tobin was the story, Riley is the appendixes

when the prof sees you texting and starts walking towards you oh god relatable fort week joke Cassey the CA in the West Coast Collegium has a lonely shift every night! Single boys come on ovaaaah!!! p.s. this is not her! – Cassey, Cassey, Cassey. Your first mistake was thinking the Declassifieds were anonymous. – Alex are declassifieds anonymous they better be The one thing Christ cannot do is remove a fence #misheardinIDIS400 Opened up the first issue of Mars’ Hill expecting the taboos and then I was surprised by the way it just shifted right back to where it was before Cavalli is currently averaging 2.0 continuums per class. (18 continuums, 9 classes)

all I want is for someone to confess their secret love for me on a declassified.. then in person...too much to ask??? #FourthYearFeels

Clue 2/5: Stop and get me on the ride up to the celestial and you’ll find me in the middle.

SUBMIT YOUR DECLASSIFIEDS AT: WWW.MARSHILL.CA

Now that Fort Week is here, we have an explanation for the random screaming heard outside the apartment at night. That feeling when you open the new issue of the Mars’ hill and your declassifieds aren’t published #rejected – Almost rejected this one, just to keep the streak going. <3 – Alex Which lights did Noah have on his arc? Flood lights! Big Booty Degrooty is crushing CF this year... Holy!

Jared Gruenhage is the most eligible bachelor on campus

Leading the boys to victory. Well done Braeden! #secondtimesthecharm

“I promise never to be funny again” – Declassifieds

Bailey Martens is amazing!

I fart because it’s the only gas I can afford Does anyone have sour cream? Hey Trinity, try using chromosomes in your advertising. because you know, sex cells Mars’ Hill seems to be on the path of getting worse #sad OK, we get it. You have a vehicle with a very loud, very obnoxious, very irritating megaphone built in it. Wanna give us some peace and quiet now? -Sincerely, every Fraser and Skidmore resident All hail the Fraser Puddle

#letKodaoncampus2k18

Calling all writers, artists and photographers. Submit your creative work at spaces. literaryjournal@gmail.com by November 5! TRANSFIX the TWU community with your imagination! Once upon a time, there was a ___ and a ___ who went on an adventure. They discovered ___. It was an incredible experience! To this day, they will never forget the story of ___. #declassifiedmadlibs “It seems people tend to remember me for my ‘Death and Toilets’ lecture”- Dr. Andrew Perrin “Last week we were talking about death and toilets, and this week we’re talking about uncle-niece marriages. I promise it’s all uphill from here.” Dr. Perrin

The mars hill is boring this year. Bring back Aline Bowman. Bring back the controversy.

“Anyways, dualism, cosmology, waffles, the Noah movie… we move on.” - Dr. Andrew Perrin, 2k17

1472 sarahs on campus = 1472 reasons to date

please help to populate / r/ TWU it’s lonely in here

YOU WERE MY BROTHER, ANAKIN. I LOVED YOU.

[insert Andrew Kimball’s phone number here.]

Seeing my de-classified in the paper boosts my ego.

Another year in residence, another year of Glenn Hansen’s “Good Morning, Commuter” emails.

I thought not. It’s not a story the Jedi would tell you. It’s a Sith legend. Hey girls Guys are stupid Ask us out

One time, Joey Schweitzer called me an idiot. It was AWESOME

Mars’ Hill editors reserve the right to edit or reject submissions based on content and/or length. A printed submission does not necessarily reflect an endorsement of any kind, nor does it necessarily reflect the opinions of Mars’ Hill staff, the student association, or that of the University. In fact, probably not.

LOOKING TO CONTRIBUTE? Go to marshill.ca

In this issue ...

10

CAN THERE BE JUSTICE WITHOUT GOD? Feature

19 Part 2

“My bladder” – Andrew Richmond

DECLASSIFIEDS


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NEWS POST-LEADERSHIP RACE: THE PARTISAN’S PERSPECTIVE

dinate legislation to address systemic gender-based violence, and increase benefits to persons with disabilities. He has an impeccable political track record from his time in Queen’s Park. He is relatively young, well-spoken and able to

MADELINE GALLARD

party-faithful could have probably told you that the race was predicted to come to a showdown between Singh and Angus, but the average Canadian likely would not know, or even care, who was on the ballot. If this race was supposed to garner significant positive attention for the party (both from the media and the public), insiders are probably sorely disappointed.

On October 1st, Jagmeet Singh, the Member of Provincial Parliament of the Ontario electoral district, Bramalea-Gore-Malton, pulled out a (relatively) surprising win on the first ballot of the New Democratic Party (NDP) leadership race with over 53% of the vote. (Northern Ontario MP, Charlie Angus, came second, Manitoba MP, Niki Ashton, came third, and Québecois MP, Guy Caron, was fourth.) This represents the finish of a race that started this past July, and saw six candidates put their names forward to lead the NDP. (Former Veteran’s Ombudsman, Colonel Pat Stogran, and New Westminster-Burnaby MP, Peter Julian, both left the race before its conclusion.)

Singh’s election as party leader therefore leaves a lot of questions for NDP stalwarts. The NDP suffered in the 2015 election when young voters were courted by the “sunny ways” of Trudeau’s Liberals. It is therefore no surprise that 53% of the party’s voting membership voted to bring more youth, energy and excitement to the NDP – in essence, to play the Liberal Party and Justin Trudeau at their own game. Will Singh successfully help to breathe new life into a party that comes off as stale, stuffy, and irrelevant? Will the newly revitalized NDP play well with that largely disaffected cohort, the youth voters? And, crucially, will Singh lead the party to pick up the seats it lost in 2015—and then some?

From a partisan perspective, there is much to celebrate about this result. For one thing, Singh represents many of the values that could—and likely will— revitalize the arguably stagnant NDP. He campaigned on inclusivity, including a call to end the ban of blood and tissue donation from homosexual men and transgender women, and a promise to emphasize the need for safe and accessible housing stock for LGBTQ+ people. Similarly, he promised that if elected to government, he would work to coor-

It is too early to tell. But if there is anything this leadership race could tell NDP members, it is that the party is not lacking for fresh ideas, a commitment to hard work, and even just amongst the leadership candidates, a full slate of excellent politicians to work with. Perhaps moving forward, we should take Singh at his word, and look ahead with “love and courage.”

VIOLENCE AND COVENANTS CHRISALEEN CIRO Harvey Weinstein, a producer who has incited several discussions in popular culture, has now provoked a conversation about sexual assault. In order to grasp the influence he wields, it must be said that he has a history of fundraising for several Democratic Party candidates, such as Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton, according to The New Yorker, as

On the other hand, the end of the leadership race does not represent the end of the NDP’s struggle for relevance. It is no secret that the NDP was devastated by the 2015 election, losing much of its

command a room — at the same time, he manages to come off as warm and personal as he shakes your hand. And, perhaps most importantly, Singh gives a strong representation of the diversity that the NDP should strive for, as a practicing Sikh from a large urban centre.

stronghold in Québec and in urban centres across Canada. For many, the party had already faded from the political landscape after the untimely death of Jack Layton. Likewise, the public did not seem to take much notice as the leadership race proceeded—politicians and

well as receiving more than three hundred Oscar nominations. Unfortunately, as a thorough New York Times investigation has revealed, he has a thirty-year history of using this influence to coerce vulnerable women into performing sexual favours. The accusations against Weinstein range from requesting a naked massage to non-consensual penetrative sex. Lisa Bloom, a lawyer working closely with Weinstein, told the New York Times that Weinstein was “an old dinosaur learning new ways.” She goes on to say that she had to explain to him the “power difference between a major studio head like him and most others in the industry…” This “power difference” plays a significant role in the accusations of sexual misconduct, which upwards of thirteen women have brought against Weinstein.

vulnerable to an individual of influence, could I too be vulnerable?

The list of women accusing Weinstein consists of, but is not limited to: Angelina Jolie, Gwyneth Paltro, Ashely Judd, and Cara Delevingne. All of whom have wielded incredible influence over an understanding of feminine power, beauty, talent and intelligence. Despite not being able to comprehend a fraction of their pain, I cannot deny their testimonies have left me feeling slightly vulnerable. Each of these women professes to have had an inappropriate interaction with Mr. Weinstein. If women of their capability, strength and grace could be

Not only is sexual assault pervasive in the workplace and in Hollywood, but it is also pervasive on university campuses. The presence of alcohol and other mind altering substances work to further create an unsafe culture for students. For these victims, like most victims of sexual assault, their odds of receiving justice are dismal. Evidence for sexual assault is often circumstantial, difficult and invasive to gather and relies on the testimony of the victim. Therefore, few students are compelled to report for fear of stigma or retaliation. TWU claims to be different. The Community Covenant strictly enforces a ban of alcohol on campus, and forbids sexual intimacy outside of marriage. These sanctions by the covenant are thought to create a culture on campus, which protects students. Indeed, previously, the Community Covenant was our sexual assault policy. The Covenant holds TWU students to a standard, which requires them to show respect to fellow students as brothers or sisters in Christ. Therefore, any unwanted sexual advances would be in violation, and the student would be subject to disciplinary action. However, this argument that the Community Covenant makes our campus safer does not necessarily mean that our

“Worrying about if my bottom question answer is funny or witty enough” – Martin Garcia

community is safer. Unfortunately, a significant percentage of sexual assault in university communities takes place off campus, outside the jurisdiction of the Community Covenant. A second reason why the Covenant may be responsible for a lack of reported sexual assault is that the Covenant itself could be a deterrent for a victim to report. Due to the fact that many sexual assaults occur when the victim is under the influence of a mind altering substance, the student may fear punishment if they come forward. They may also fear disciplinary action if they are a sexual minority or have previously engaged in consensual intimacy. Last spring, TWU was given a deadline to implement an independent sexual assault policy. Robynne Healy, a professor in the history department, who has been working to implement a sexual assault policy on campus, says: “A policy can’t fix something totally, but it can help to protect members of the community from sexual assault. Properly implemented, it can create an environment that acknowledges the reality of sexual assault at TWU and supports victims in an effort to bring about healing.” Since the jurisdiction of the covenant only extends on campus, now might be a good time for TWU to join this unfolding conversation about how to keep each other safe.


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TRINITY REFUGEE AWARENESS CAMPAIGN

MH: Where do you derive your definition of justice? What experiences do you have that has affirmed this definition? JK: My personal understanding of justice is based on Matthew 25:40: “And the King will answer them, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me’” (ESV). My faith leads me to believe that justice means impartially extending the love of Christ to people in all situations—not just by caring about their eternal fate, but by meeting their physical needs. My view and application of justice is also influenced by what I study. I am an International Studies student, and I have a heart and appreciation for people around the world. Therefore, I seek to extend justice on a global level by loving and empowering people of all nations and learning from their histories, beliefs, and worldviews. My understanding of justice is the culmination of a variety of experiences that challenged me and expanded my perspective. However, the most recent and powerful experience happened on the day the Kapanda family arrived. We picked them up from the airport, and when we gave them the key to their new home, tears welled in the father’s eyes. They hadn’t had a home of their own since they fled the Congo six and a half years ago. When they walked into their new home, the first thing they did was stop and pray. In the weeks since, I have seen the family embrace the opportunity of being in Canada. They are learning English with fervor, embracing Canadian culture and they are doing everything they can to ensure a successful, independent future. This is justice: extending an opportunity for someone to flourish who otherwise may not have had that opportunity. It is just to love our neighbours, globally and locally, and restore hope by walking alongside them and engaging in mutual learning. Sponsoring the Kapanda family is a substantial commitment, but we are continually witnessing the power of justice and the power of loving your neighbour.

MH: What motivated you to travel to Palestine with Global Projects? JK: Curiosity. I had a deep itch that I needed to go to the Middle East because I knew more was happening in this place than I was aware of and there were stories I needed to hear. Israel/Palestine is a centre of contemporary conflict, and it was easy to be overwhelmed by the sheer volume of injustices committed by numerous parties.

INTERVIEWS WITH JORDAN KOSLOWSKY & ANDREA BEATRIZ RODRIGUEZ

However, it was there that I experienced hope. This hope planted in me a deep understanding that temporal and eternal justice can be accomplished in the most volatile of places. Now, I seek to do my best to pursue justice and share the power of this hope. MH: How has TRAC allowed you to leverage your position here in the West to act justly towards refugees in the Middle East?

MH: Where do you derive your definition of justice? What experiences do you have that has validated your definition?

JK: The purpose of TRAC is to mobilize the members of a diverse community to use their unique interests and abilities in order to create a comprehensive and effective response to the refugee crisis. We have already witnessed the power of collective action within the TWU community, as enough money was raised to support the Kapanda family in two and a half months.

ABR: My definition of justice is deeply rooted in the message of the Gospel and my understanding of God’s vision for the world. The message is clear and radical – for us to love each other as He has loved us. He calls us to be righteous and compassionate, and that has motivated me to fight indifference and to actively seek ways to promote justice and healing where there is brokenness.

Through the platform TRAC provides, we can work collectively to make a tangible impact in the lives of those forced out of their home, giving them a chance to live in a way which maximizes their joy, hope, and potential.

In addition to that, I grew up in El Salvador, a Latin American country that unfortunately deals with a lot of injustice. I saw injustice in many forms growing up, including corruption, violence, and sexism. MH: What is next? What does But these close encounters with injustice only reassured me that as TRAC’s future look like? Christ followers, we are called to JK: Moving forward, we are fundrais- act upon it. ing for a scholarship. The Sharing Inspiration scholarship seeks to make For me, fighting for justice is not it possible for a student who has ex- about solving big worldwide conperienced life as a refugee to attend flicts or crises, but rather it is about TWU. This scholarship addresses the constant actions we take when a real need, as only 1% of refugees we choose to love and care for worldwide receive a post-secondary one another. education. We are also continuing to provide volunteer opportunities for students to make a difference locally.

“my joey” – Joel Gajdos

MH: What is your vision for your role with TRAC? ABR: As Director of Volunteering and TRAC’s ministry leader, my hope is to provide concrete opportunities to those students who care about the refugee crisis and want to take action, but simply don’t know where to start. It can be overwhelming when there is so much information in the media about the refugee crisis, but little said on what to do about it. With TRAC, we are making our best effort to change that, by providing concrete opportunities to help refugees here in the Lower Mainland. MH: How do you connect students with volunteer opportunities? ABR: If you are a TWU student, the best way for you to get connected is through TRAC’s ministry. On Saturdays we teach English to adult refugees, we have settlement teams you can join and we have other individual ESL and childcare opportunities. We have monthly ministry meetings where we debrief, discuss, and pray about the refugee crisis and our experiences within the ministry. If you would like more information, we would love to connect with you via email at volunteer.trac.twu@ gmail.com.


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INTERVENORS, IMPLICATIONS AND INCOMPLETE JUSTICE CHRISALEEN CIRO Since 2012, TWU has been embroiled in a battle to accredit their proposed school of law. While TWU remains largely successful, two cases remain outstanding. In one case, TWU is the respondent and the Law Society of Upper Canada is the appellant; in the other, TWU is the respondent and Law Society of BC is the appellant. Despite the contrasting cases, they both concern themselves with groups which are allegedly marginalized. TWU contends that the Christian community is at risk of facing oppression, while both law societies argue

the LGBTQIA+ community has faced, and continues to face, oppression from TWU. We are not dealing with a simple case of an accusation and defense. As has become the norm in conversations about rights, religion and identity, it seems impossible to fully realize TWU’s religious freedom without infringing on the LGBTQIA’s freedom of expression. As this is a complex issue, which impacts several communities and diverse individuals, the court has sought the insight of “intervenors.” The Oxford Dictionary defines “intervenors” as those whose “interposition or interference in a suit in the ecclesiastical court in defense of his own interest is so termed, and a person

is at liberty to do this in every case in which his interest is affected either in regard of his property or his person.” The participation of intervenors proves how relevant this conversation is to the broader community of Canada. Intervenors have come forward on behalf of both sides.

BC’S CASE APPELLANT LAW SOCIETY OF BRITISH COLUMBIA “…Adhering to the evangelical faith is not a condition of admission to TWU, and TWU does not prevent persons who hold and express different views, including different views on same-sex marriage, from attending TWU. “To the contrary, on TWU’s own evidence, evangelical Christianity does not require isolation from those of different faiths or from persons who engage in practices of which they do not approve.”

FACTUM OF THE INTERVENER, BC LGBTQ COALITION “The question raised in these appeals is not whether a religious institution or person can do or believe whatever it or he or she wants, but whether the British Columbia Law Society…must accredit a proposed law school purportedly available to the public which seeks to marshal religious beliefs in a way that creates two classes of prospective law students in Canada: LGBTQ persons, who have access to only some schools because of their sexual orientation, and everyone else, who has access to every school.”

RESPONDENT TRINITY WESTERN UNIVERSITY “The belief that people reach their fullest potential by participating in a community committed to observing Biblical ethics and morality is foundational to TWU’s approach to education. As a means of preserving, enhancing, and strengthening their distinct religious identity, Christian communities commonly adopt codes of conduct that prescribe normative behavioural standards for community membership based on Biblical ethics and morality. “The Covenant is a practical manifestation of evangelical religious beliefs: it “organize[s] the Bible’s directions about how to live as a Christian with regard to many aspects of daily life as individuals and as members of a shared community.” FACTUM OF THE INTERVENER, CHRISTIAN LEGAL FELLOWSHIP “To decide otherwise would mean the obliteration of institutional diversity; there could never be educational institutions designed to serve a specific group – be they based on language, gender, sexual orientation, or religion. “That an institution serves primarily people who affirm its beliefs, mission, or principles does not mean it does so at the expense of others. A religious university that encourages and helps students within a particular community to obtain an education is a social good.”

UPPER CANADA’ CASE FACTUM OF THE RESPONDENT, LAW SOCIETY OF UPPER CANADA “As the Ontario Courts unanimously found, the answer must be “no”. By requesting that the Law Society exercise its jurisdiction to accredit its proposed law school, TWU is stepping outside its private sphere and seeking a public benefit from the Law Society. It must therefore accept that the Law Society is obligated to apply its statutory mandate in a manner consistent with the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms, including the duty of state neutrality, and with the Ontario Human Rights Code (the “Code”). In light of its statutory mandate and obligations, the Law Society’s refusal to accredit TWU’s proposed law school is an entirely reasonable decision (the “Decision”).” FACTUM OF THE INTERVENER THE UNITED CHURCH OF CANADA “Unlike natural persons, corporations and institutions are unable to hold beliefs and do not have consciences. The United Church is concerned about efforts to expand in a manner that would give such organizations license to discriminate against those who disagree with the precepts of the organization’s principals. “The fundamental purpose of s. 2(a) of the Charter is to protect individuals’ rights to entertain and manifest their religious beliefs without fear of reprisal. Broadening its scope to protect organizations would enable those organizations to defend their own opaque and discriminatory decisions in the name of faith.” In their argument, both the Law Society of Upper Canada and the Law Society of British Columbia take issue with the TWU Community Covenant. They argue that admission to TWU favours students who base their identities on practices, which align with the Covenant. In contrast, TWU’s argument focuses on the values and beliefs held by individuals in the Trinity community. If TWU contends this

case it could potentially sanction their freedom of conscience, and the beliefs and values, which form our identities. By choosing to focus on solely beliefs, or solely practices, TWU and the courts are effectively having different conversations. Trinity’s focus on beliefs, and the law society’s focus on lifestyle, both fail to acknowledge the inseparable relationship between these two concepts.

FACTUM OF THE APPELLANTS, TRINITY WESTERN UNIVERSITY AND BRAYDEN VOLKENANT “All universities have codes of conduct, but Christian universities, including many universities with accredited law schools in the United States, commonly base their codes of conduct on Biblical commands or principles. “Consistent with evangelical Christianity, TWU affirms that the Bible is the authoritative and divinely-inspired word of God and that people reach their fullest potential by participating in a community committed to observing Biblical teachings. These beliefs are foundational to TWU’s approach to education.” FACTUM OF THE INTERVENERS, THE EVANGELICAL FELLOWSHIP OF CANADA AND CHRISTIAN HIGHER EDUCATION CANADA “The decisions at issue in these appeals – like in TWU 2001 – effected the categorical exclusion of members of a religiously informed educational community from state-controlled accreditation based solely on the content of a voluntary, religiously-informed code of conduct. Evangelicals have a long history of being excluded and discriminated against by majority communities – both religious and non-religious. This coercive imposition of the majority view is a straightforward breach of freedom of religion.”

While our beliefs inform our behavior, our community and lifestyle informs our beliefs. One could even argue that the TWU community focuses on the inner life, while the secular law school institutions focus on the outer life. Therefore, it could be argued, that caught up in our passionate pursuit of justice, we have begun to have two different conversations. We need to reconcile these

“Missing Nancy” – Bailey Martens

two conversations, and create a definition of justice which accommodates the whole person. Therefore, the insight of the “intervenors,”—concerned citizens who are qualified to speak into the implications of incomplete definitions of justice—could not be more necessary.


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ACADEMY THE INJUSTICE OF DOUBT VICTORIA AHRENDT We all have those days where everything just seems to explode in your face and you are left holding the tattered remnants of something that you expected to last. It’s in those moments that expectations are crushed and you are left to move on as gracefully as possible - taking what you can and learning from it. I’ve had those days so many times it would astound you. It can be so painful when you are met with stubborn disappointment for days on end, but I would argue those are the moments I grow from the most. “No pain, no gain,” as my sister would say. Many would agree with this statement. It’s the age old: “it will build character” statement your parents used to make when you were a kid whenever they were trying to convince you to do something you hated. If you were anything like me, you would have internally rolled your eyes and grumbled about how consuming brussel sprouts probably would not build your

PEPPER LUNCH RACHEL BURGIS I’m sitting in a Triple O’s at the APM shopping mall in the sprawling city of Hong Kong thinking, “We came all the way to Hong Kong and they want to eat a cheeseburger, are you kidding me?” It took me a week to realize how smug I sounded; how closed-minded I was being to these travellers who were homesick, had never left their country, and were exposed to an entirely new environment and culture for the first time in their lives. These Americans were fumbling to learn the unspoken rules of this foreign country and merely wanted to find respite in a familiar “American” cheeseburger.

character in any way. I mean, how can something so disgusting benefit me? While this standard is adopted into our daily lives, why is it not adopted into our spiritual lives?

In all the time I spent being an “injustice” to my faith through my bitterness and doubt, I have learned that the real injustice is found in some parts of the Christian community, where there is refusal to face these doubts and As a child raised in the Christian disappointments head on. We church, the idea of being disap- continue to sit in judgement of pointed with God was like a ta- others while denying our own boo to me - an injustice to the fears. faith. It was synonymous with saying I was ungrateful for the We need to have those hard life God had given me. Disap- conversations and we need to pointment and God were par- cultivate a feeling of safety in adoxical - opposites. If I had a our own communities, so those shred of doubt, I would bury it who have doubts can bring so deep, it would never see the them forward without fear. Bring light of day and I would hope down your walls of judgement it would wither with time. Over so other’s doubts do not have time, I had doubts upon doubts to fester inside of them. Let your buried within my soul that tore fears and doubts be free, as God away at me and continued to does not love you any less for go unanswered due to fear of them nor are they something to judgement and fear of hatred be ashamed of. from fellow Christians. It is when we close our doors So, I walked away. I stood faith- to questioning that we become less for years because I was dis- stuck in our ways, so open your appointed in God and I was a heart and let your stiff opinions blemish of unjust ways on the be challenged. It is in these moface of Christianity as a result. ments of disappointment that It took years for me to reach a growth is imminent, because, as place with my faith that allowed they say: “this will build characme to find a balance. I would be ter.” God loves us - doubts and lying if I said all my doubts have all. So, do not hide your face been cleared and I am devoid from Him but, instead, come to of skepticism. I still have doubts Him with these questions. The and get disappointed, but I have longer you ignore them, the learned that it’s acceptable. harder they will be to answer. an organization called ELIC. When I arrived, I did not expect to find out that all of my colleagues would be from the US, predominantly the mid-west and deep south, and have limited foreign cultural exposure or curiosity. Courtesy of my American co-workers, for the rest of my four weeks teaching English, I endured daily McDonalds’ outings, several awkward encounters, and ignorant remarks. Throughout this experience, I learned about my own ignorance. I am no different. As I sit here writing this article, I’m instructing my friend on the “only way” to cook farmer’s sausage.

Everyone has food they firmly believe should be eaten in a particular way, because if you grow up with that recipe, it must be the right way. I looked down on these teachers for travelling halfway across the world and keeping to This summer I taught English their comforting routines and eatoverseas in Hong Kong through ing habits; for not reaching out

and trying new food or striving to learn some of the cultural rules and taboos. In my mind, I was superior because I was a true traveller. I actively learned about Hong Kong culture and food before my arrival and pursued a deeper knowledge of the culture through my students and the people I encountered in the city. The truth is that I’m not superior to any of them. It is incredibly difficult to take the first step in being culturally curious, and these American travellers were trying their best while faced with a completely new context. If you’re still being curious and pursuing new ways of living and seeing the world, then that is more important than having any kind of travel experience. So, I shouldn’t be feeling superiority over people with less cultural knowledge or people with less travel experience; rather, I should be respecting and looking up to those peo-

“Chemtrails” – Joel Redekop

ple for taking the hardest step, the first step, in engaging their cultural interest and questioning their lifestyle and habits. A fellow teacher told me in class last week, “I can try new food here as long as I have a glass of Coke because as long as I have one familiar thing grounding me, I feel like everything else can be different or weird.” After saying this, she and two other teachers and I walked to the mall food court and got some Pepper Lunch. With Coke.


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SLAVA PETLITSA ON THE IMPACT OF STUDYING THE RUSSIAN LANGUAGE NIKI MARA NM: Can you tell us a bit about your history at TWU? SP: I came to Trinity in 1999, as a student in the ACTS program. However, as fate may have it, Trinity’s current Russian teacher had just retired and the university was feverishly looking for a replacement. At first, they approached my wife, Joanne Pepper, in hopes she would agree to teach Russian. She immediately directed the administration to me, pointing out that I was a native speaker and had a degree from a Russian pedagogical university. On Thursday that week I was interviewed for the job and the following Tuesday I officially gave my first Russian language class. Later on, I added Spanish and Testament Greek to my teachable subjects. NM: Why would you recommend Russian as an elective language course? SP: Actually, I would recommend students to take any foreign language as an elective, because it is an essential part of a well-rounded education. Why Russian? Because it is one of the most widely spoken languages in the world. As one of the languages of the UN and the common language of the states that formerly comprised the So-

viet Union, Russian is an immensely practical language to have under one’s belt when travelling in Eastern Europe and in other regions of the world. Apart from this, the Russian language has many things to offer in all areas of life – literature, science, academia, politics, sports, education - there are many articles being published in Russian on a daily basis that the bulk of them go untranslated. Knowing how to read and understand Russian will become an unprecedented aid in any form of research. The way Russian people view these different areas of life is completely different from the North American way; it is unorthodox and unparalleled in many ways. Being able to wield information in two languages will give you the capability to think outside the box and retain new and fresh insights on topics that interest you. Besides being simply useful, the Russian language is beautiful, flowing and flexible; it has the power to explain subtle emotions and thoughts. It is the original language of countless literary and cinematic masterpieces, and the only way to indulge in these arts fully is to enjoy them in their original language. Russia is still one of the biggest missionary fields, and because most people who live in rural Russia do not speak English, your knowledge of their native tongue will help you communicate with those you have come to help.

Because of every country’s individual view of their participation in the Second World War, history is often portrayed in partial and one-sided way in North American and European resources. Being able to read in Russian will give you the opportunity to access reliable Soviet articles and resources and gain a new understanding of the exploits of the Soviet army and their immense part in winning the war. Russian literature and history is so rich and diverse that I do not even attempt to cover all of it in my language course, so I have a separate course called Russian Literature in Translation. In this course, we view Russian history through the works of selected Russian authors and poets. This is arguably one of the most effective ways to study Slavic history because of the close connection many of the Russian writers had in their works with the historical events that were occurring at the same time. NM: What are some of the biggest struggles a novice language learner might come across in your RUS 101 class? SP: The common opinion is that Russian is a difficult language, but we always evaluate the difficulty of a language compared to our own. However, despite the fact that English and Russian have completely different alphabets, learning Russian would be easier for a native English speaker than attempting, for example, Chinese. Yes, there are some Russian sounds that do not exist in the English language, like “ы” – a sound similar to one you would make when being punched in the stomach. However, with diligent practice, anyone can learn to read Russian within just a few weeks.

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Another struggle may be the cases and inflections of the Russian language that do not exist in English, but this is exactly what makes Russian so flexible and beautiful. As long as your language learning process is systematic, learning Russian will prove to be no more difficult than, for example, learning Spanish.

www.athabascau.ca/course

“Waiting for him to reply.” – Ere Santos

If you attempt to study Russian as an elective, your progress will not be as swift and visible as it would be if you had chosen to take French. In my teaching experience, my 200 level Spanish students and 200 level Russian students end up on pretty much the same level by the end of the year, proving that any language is within your power to master. NM: What are some facts about Russian culture that are sure to entice even those that never considered taking Russian language as an elective course? SP: Russian culture is very personable. The Russian understanding of friendship, Christianity, family ties, relationships in general, are unique in their intimacy. Russian culture is more social and less individualistic. For centuries, we have helped each other survive the darkest parts of our history. We have had to learn to support each other and stand together in times of war, famine, and revolution. Over time, this grew into our very nature, and now we not only sincerely love the ones closest to us, but we also eagerly share our love with those who genuinely want to be closer to us. Russia has never been an easy place to survive, let alone prosper, and Russians can be very critical about their own country; however, despite this, Russians will always be ready to sacrifice their lives for the Motherland. This paradoxical love is what makes Russians so unique, and their culture worth studying and appreciating. NM: Do you have any general advice for those of us that have always found learning a new language a difficult task? SP: When you begin learning a new language, you have to understand that you are embarking on a new journey. There will be many ups and downs, but the end of the journey is always rewarding. In my teaching career I’ve taught four languages, and I have never seen a hard-working person fail. That is the beauty of learning a new language – the guarantee of success is 100%. We have a saying in Russian – “Дорогу осилит идущий.” You must run to win the race. If you want to know more about taking Russian language at TWU or have more specific questions for Slava Petlitsa, you can reach him at Vecheslav.Petlitsa@twu.ca.


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FIGHTING SLAVERY WITHIN THE HALLS OF POWER ALICE BEST LLC STUDENT A room filled with social status climbers who care more about what office they work in rather than their first names. Sound appealing? Not to me. In the first week of my internship on Parliament Hill, I found myself at an Israeli wine & cheese lobbying event. It was as you can imagine: a beautiful hall filled with powerful people, smartly dressed, mingling amongst tables of Israel’s finest wines and fanciest cheeses, eager to find the most important hand to shake, and it all gathered to… to do what, exactly? What was the point of these events? To be honest, this is the very thing that I have been struggling with in my experience here in Ottawa this superficial culture, where 80% of marriages fail and alcoholism dwells. That evening, I couldn’t stop thinking, “Here I am in a room filled with people who have the power to make tangible changes and be voices for those who don’t have one, yet here we are, wasting away thousands of dollars on wine and cheese for an event that seems quite pointless and only exists to feed the egos of those who care to attend it.” So where is the passion? Where are the people who lift up their heads and actually care about the issues that matter, such as the value of human beings? Well, you can find

such people in Arnold Viersen’s office - the MP’s office where I am blessed to work. His is an office that exists to fight exploitation and has the passion necessary to push for change in our system - a passion to prevent and protect. Our government exists to serve its citizens, and one way should be to protect the value of all individuals. Human trafficking issues are what brought me to Ottawa and the Lord could not have placed me in an office better suited than this one. Human trafficking, more recently termed as modern slavery, is a social and global issue that affects both adults and children. According to the International Labour Organization’s research, there are an estimated 40 million slaves in the world today. There are more slaves in the world today than there have ever been in world history. Human trafficking profits around $150 billion dollars a year (according to the UN) and it covers industries such as prostitution, pornography, sex tourism, forced marriage, sweatshop work, child soldiers, and migrant farming, to name a few. Most, if not all, trafficked individuals suffer violence, exploitation, and abuse. In Canada, human trafficking often takes place in large urban centres, usually for the purpose of sexual exploitation. Women are the majority of victims, but it also includes youth, children, aboriginal women, and migrants who are usually recruited by male gang members who promise affection and provisions in order to recruit them. This happens in our backyard – not only on East Hastings, but also in suburban neighbourhoods. So what can I do? How can I put an end to modern slavery? I have

asked this question so many times, trying to figure out a real way to help and create change on an issue that continually breaks my heart. On the Hill this semester, I have been honoured to work on a number of impactful anti-human trafficking projects on a federal level. Some of these include creating founding documents for an All Party Parliamentary Group to End Modern Slavery that hopefully will be proposed this fall; helping organize a parliamentary screening of Joy Smith Foundation’s documentary Human Trafficking: Canada’s Secret Shame; sitting in on Justice Committee meetings; and helping to draft potential human trafficking bills. So, there are people who are working long days to fight for human value. Despite my frustrations earlier, now I know that there are people who are here for the right reasons - people who step out in faith to stand up for those who are unable to fight for themselves. God will move regardless of our work, so for that I am hopeful. So, what can you do? The Streetlight and Nightshift ministries are amazing ways to get to know beautiful people and their stories in Vancouver, particularly the Downtown Eastside and Surrey, both high-risk areas

for human trafficking. Lighthouse Voyage, a non-profit, anti-human trafficking organization with a focus in India, started by a Trinity alum, David Punnamannil, is always looking for volunteers and artists! There are so many ways to get involved. Just by making eye contact and smiling at someone on the street establishes their value. Be encouraged that there are people in our government making movements while many citizens, like you, can help make social change. I am right there with you and in the process of hopefully volunteering with a women’s shelter for trafficking victims while here in Ottawa, being able to physically serve those for whom I am fighting for in the office. It’s huge, it’s heartbreaking, and it’s horrendous. But God is bigger.

why llc? REASON #8

THE CHANCE TO MAKE A POSITIVE IMPACT IN THE PUBLIC SPHERE

APPLY TODAY! twu_llc | twu.ca/llc | #LLCottawa Laurentian Leadership Centre

“A real life adult job, stay in school kids. Not worth.” – Sam Park


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can there be justice without god?

MASON GEDDES

LLC STUDENT “mars’ hill” – Sabine Henderson


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T

he idea of justice has taken hold of our imaginations. Questions of social justice dominate conversations and online discussions, philosophy, news headlines and public policy.

And I love it. I’m working toward a career in law because I believe justice is a beautiful thing — I hope to contribute to a more just world. I believe that our culture is asking itself a lot of important questions. I appreciate that helping others and putting them ahead of ourselves is popular. We are attempting to address issues at the structural level to create just systems and bring justice to those who need it most. As Christians, this is absolutely something we should celebrate! We serve a just God. We see countless examples in the Bible of acts of justice, ultimately culminating in Jesus’ death on the cross. We are taught that love precedes justice and demands justice. We also look forward to a day when God will make things right and bring justice to all people. We have seen, in the Christian tradition, some of the most beautiful and selfless acts of justice and Christian principles and leaders that have precipitated so much of the movement we see today. But we have also seen some of the worst miscarriages of justice perpetuated on supposed biblical principles, even performed in the name of Jesus. We need to evaluate how we are pursuing justice as Christians and how we align ourselves with the notions of justice our culture is trying to champion.

society, myself included most of the time, subscribe to at least most of the tenets of humanism. We implicitly believe that by working together, we can limit injustice and create a world based on the generous inclinations of the human heart. It is an inspiring, positive message that makes us proud of ourselves — proud to be human and to be a part of this movement. So much of this flies, however, in the face of Christian thought and biblical principles. The primary difference is the acknowledgement that we are sinful. Whether it’s a belief that we are inherently sinful, or that we are created good but are corrupted, Christians cannot escape the idea of sin. Humanists, myself often included, tend to blame structures, authority and mental illness, and while these do often have a hand in violence and inequality, they do not come close to explaining and rationalizing a history of cruelty and injustice.

The social justice movement we see today is driven largely by a secular humanist philosophy. Humanism has been defined by the American Humanist Association as “a progressive philosophy of life that, without theism, or other supernatural beliefs, affirms our ability and responsibility to lead ethical lives of personal fulfillment that aspire to the greater good of humanity,” or more succinctly, the “religion of humanity.” The essential idea is that people can be good without a belief in a god. Humanists found their beliefs on reason; they understand the world through reason and rationality, and base their philosophy of ethics upon this supreme good. They believe human nature is good, and injustice is created only by structures and systems of inequality, which force people to act in ways contrary to their own interests and the interests of others. Therefore, they contend that by fixing race and class systems, by correcting the market to achieve equitable outcomes, and by eliminating the structural roots of crime and poverty and hatred and hierarchy, we can essentially create a utopia in which people will be free to (and will) make rational decisions for the greater good of all humanity. Their focus is on distributive justice, which is essentially equality, a fair distribution of resources and opportunities to all people. Knowingly or not, I think that most people in our

Instead, Christianity instead must focus on spiritual poverty and injustice as well. And I am not talking about transactional evangelism where we provide for people’s physical needs just to create an avenue to preach the gospel. It is a simple acknowledgement that the root of our problems is not structures or hierarchy, it is sin; sinful humans create systems of oppression, and sinful humans deviate from good laws and widely-held social ‘norms’ to achieve their own desires. Christianity also notes that we need to focus on our own sinfulness as well as that which is in the world around us — no matter how hard we work for justice, we each participate in it in our own ways. My life may indeed be marked by the pursuit of justice precisely because I cannot escape the injustice I play a part in. I try to escape my own depravity

by making up for it in other ways, to tip the scale back towards justice. How is it that we can be so closely aligned with our culture on the need for social justice while the worldviews we find our motivation in are so fundamentally disparate? Do the differences in our worldviews even matter, if we arrive at the same actions? I believe they do. The Christian perspective on justice matters because we have both a motivation and an obligation to give a voice to those who don’t have one, to bring freedom to those who need it, not just those who deserve it. We also have a higher standard to which we are held; we are not just directed by our whims and our current cultural values which are constantly changing. It matters because the battle is spiritual, and therefore our intentions and our means matter. If we compromise ourselves spiritually (e.g. pride, as culture would have us do), we ultimately worsen the problem, even if we counter physical injustice; if we compromise ourselves ethically (e.g. vigilante justice, or unethical business practices), we perpetuate injustice. How then do we live marked by Christian justice rather than simply conforming to humanist standards of justice? First, I believe we pray. We pray for the Lord to return and provide true justice; we pray for the alleviation of those who are suffering; we humbly pray that God will work on our own hearts to bring about love and justice and righteousness — we cannot do it on our own. This is a powerful reminder to myself, because this is not the first place I turn, and I regularly omit it entirely. Second, we need to care for people spiritually as well as physically. Christian justice must be holistic because Christ came not just to rescue our souls but to redeem the world. Third, we need to love and respect and advocate justice for everyone — not just those in poverty, but those who are obviously in need. We have an obligation to our families, neighbours, and friends, to the wealthy and powerful, even to those who do practice injustice. Christian justice is not just based on fairness, on what people deserve — God has given each of us an opportunity to receive His loving justice, even though none of us deserve it. Social justice efforts marked by these values is radically different from the justice espoused today. To make a lasting and eternal difference in the world, we need to not just focus on the world around us and on human efforts, but to hold in view what the world will become, and the God who will bring justice to all nations. I believe that Christians engaged in public justice have an amazing opportunity to work beside our humanist brothers and sisters in the pursuit of justice, while contributing a crucial perspective on what justice can look like.

“The irresistible urge to run across the Douglas roof screaming like a banshee” – Andrew Kimball


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ARTS & CULTURE LET’S TALK FILM: BLADE RUNNER: 2049 JOEL REDEKOP & RYAN SCHAFFRICK JR: So Ryan, what did you think of Denis Villeneuve’s much anticipated film, Blade Runner 2049 (BR2049)? RS: Much like the original 1981 sci-fi classic - which I love - it was a lot to process. But I thoroughly enjoyed it. It was, without a doubt, one of the most visually captivating films I’ve seen in a while. JR: I’m in total agreement. From the first sequence of shots, which capture K’s (Ryan Gosling) flight over a Californian wasteland, I knew it was a film I was not going to forget any time soon. It was stunning. And in the most horrible way possible. This is a bleak film – even bleaker than the original. Yet, I adored every moment of it. It had the rich, beautiful frame compositions you would expect from an an old Andrei Tarkovsky film (and the pacing to match, though we’ll get into that later).

have a tendency to rebel against their human creators, and were therefore outlawed on earth and hunted down. In the years following, a new model of more obedient replicants was created. An event known as the “Blackout” also has taken place, which destroys all digital records and information, allowing for replicants to take new identities and blend into society. JR: Ryan Gosling’s performance as K is phenomenal. His character arc is incredibly challenging: he starts out as an android programmed to follow orders - we won’t spoil anything here - but he makes discoveries that bring about a new consciousness in him, and he starts to wonder if he has more of a past than he thinks he does. So Gosling must slowly, believably bring humanity to a robotic character. I’ll admit, his performance had me very emotional by the end of the film. RS: Harrison Ford also gives an excellent performance, and manages to portray a character that has evolved since the last time we saw him. Even though he’s an actor who has started to make a habit of appearing in low-risk sequels, this is the first time I felt like he actually belonged in one. Speaking of which, do you think BR2049 works as a sequel?

RS: Without a doubt, the cinematography was a highlight. I often found myself briefly drifting away from the narrative because I was mesmerized by the breathtaking visuals. French-Canadian director Denis Villeneuve really succeeded in creating a sense of evolution in the Blade Runner world. The masterfully constructed sets allowed for the same sense of immersion that Ridley Scott achieved in his original film, with locations that I wanted to walk around in and explore. Abandoned post-apocalyptic casinos have never seemed so appealing. JR: Speak for yourself. L.A. seems like it’s going to get real depressing in the next thirty-odd years. And even smoggier too. The outskirts - i.e. San Diego - especially struck me with a feeling of dread. But I agree. The world of Blade Runner and Blade Runner 2049 is flawlessly designed. It’s just not one I ever want to live in. RS: Cleary it’s a beautifully shot film - but what about the plot? JR: 1982’s Blade Runner is a notoriously slow film - some people admire its pacing, some loathe it. I expect that BR2049 will be met with similar reactions from filmgoers. But there is plenty of plot in there. I think that we can both agree that BR2049 is best viewed blindly, so we should probably keep the details to a minimum. But essentially, the plot involves an android - or replicant – named K, who is sent to kill a runaway NEXUS-8 replicant. During this assignment, he makes a discovery that leads him to question his own history - and his own soul. RS: A fair amount has happened in between the two films as well. In the Blade Runner universe, replicants exist as a source of slave labour for a dying humanity. In the original film, it was shown that replicants

FILM REVIEW

BLADE RUNNER:

JR: My gut reaction is that it will go down as one of the greatest sequels of all time. It feels like it exists in the same world as the original, while expanding upon it. The storytelling and pacing are comparable to the first film as well, and while I would say that more happens in BR2049, it still maintains the meditative aura of the original. What do you think? Were you satisfied? RS: I was immensely satisfied. I recently re-watched the original, and I remember thinking how much potential there was to expand the world and explore it further. And this film does exactly that. I think it works well as a standalone film too, though having seen the original will no doubt provide more emotional depth to the scenes involving Harrison Ford. Is it better than the first? It’s a tough call. I wasn’t there in 1982 to experience Blade Runner on opening night, when it painted a picture of a future that had never been seen before. Visually, I’d stick with the original for its gritty, pre-digital special effects and its originality. While it may not have the same impact as the 1982 classic, I do think that BR2049 tells a more compelling story and has a more complete narrative structure, making for a more satisfying watch. JR: Agreed. I think it speaks to the quality of BR2049 that we are even having this conversation right now. I’ll be gutsy, and say that, in time, BR2049 may be considered equal to the original. The only drawback for me was Jared Leto. He tries so hard to be taken seriously as an actor, and his insistence on method acting - he literally blinded himself with opaque contacts for BR2049 - comes off as self-indulgent. But in the film, he does a fine job. Seriously, the worst thing I can say about this film is that a supporting actor “was fine” in his role.

“Nothing, I don’t live in dorms anymore.” – Jamison Derksen


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TRANSFIX

The [spaces] team chooses a theme that is concrete as well as abstract; narrow enough to provide direction for writers and viHEATHER TWELE sual artists yet without the burden [spaces] Literary Journal has not of limitations, as well as a theme always chosen themes for its current for our times. This year, annual publication. The first of- we offer you one word: Transfix. ficial pre-chosen theme began with [spaces] volume six in 2012: One definition in the OED im“[sub]urban or Rural: Where do plies a keen sense of wonder, you come from?” Last year, the astonishment, and shock. Such theme for volume eleven was intense emotions that can be Balance & Excess, combining two either positive or negative: “To words with opposing concepts to pierce through (esp. with pain, create tension and excitement. grief, or other emotion); also, to Deciding on a theme is a difficult render motionless (with astontask, one fraught with late night ishment, horror, etc.).” The verb team meetings, throwing words “transfix” allows the reader open and phrases back and forth, as interpretation: you can transfix well as tedious research, comb- something or someone, or, allow ing through the pages of the Ox- someone or something to transford English Dictionary (OED). fix you. Whether it is through visual arts or creative writing, stu-

dent submissions could include an event of transfixion, or could aim to transfix the reader with their prose, poetry or painting. The word also implies change and transformation, delving into the moment immediately before the crossroads of change. As human beings, our transformation depends on what we do next or whether we do anything at all. We have freedom to move one way or another - to step back into the familiar and remain stagnant or to choose to undergo change. Or, maybe we are too shocked to do anything at all and will merely remain transfixed. The ideas revolving around change are relevant to our current times, particularly young university students who often experience many new, transformative events.

An older definition of transfix in the OED describes a permanent state of brutal fixation: “To pierce through with, or impale upon, a sharp-pointed instrument . . . to fix or fasten by piercing.” However, despite the violent nature of this definition, the word still implies change and transformation. We chose the present active usage of the word rather than “transfixed” because it does not limit submissions to the past tense or infer that the subject is passive.

sic industry, especially for African American females who have idolized her over the years. She knows that the African American community needs the influence of the music industry to give them a GILLIAN MOHAMMED voice, and she uses her platform With legs for days and the abili- to stand with her people, who ty to perform full shows in heels, have lost countless loved ones Beyoncé has not gone without to a biased incarceration system recognition in the music industry. and police brutality. Her soulful voice and backbreaking iconic dance moves make her The project includes a collaboraa role model to all walks of life. tion with celebrated rapper KenBut the R&B and pop stylings of drick Lamar, who has long taken a Sasha Fierce are now something stance on social issues, using his of the past: Beyoncé’s 2016 album own fame to end the cycle of vioLemonade displays the evolution lence in his hometown of Compof an artist. But not in the tradi- ton. Unafraid to confront injustional sense: she is not becoming tice, Kendrick Lamar’s status as something new; she’s returning hip-hop royalty has allowed him to what she always was. She is to push other artists – including not a rebel; you simply forgot she Beyoncé – to stay “woke.” His was black and proud. No longer verses are poetic, full of originaldeluded by the blonde hair and ity, his crossover appeal growing generic output of the early stages as he continues to break barriof her solo career, Lemonade is a ers. Throughout his four LPs, his letter to the people that forgot lyrical genius and down-to-earth that she has “Jackson 5 nostrils.” perspective has led to his songs becoming anthems for the AfriLemonade is a return to her roots, can American community.

stance against the police brutality that plagues the African American population across the U.S. Full of urgency, Beyoncé makes her ability to “break chains all by [herself]” known, insisting that she won’t let her “freedom rot in hell.” As she sings her manifesto, Lamar delivers observations on media bias and the realities of the street, detailing the version of America that Beyoncé is rejecting. Together, they remind the black community that the fight for freedom is not over. Although the flash of red and blue lights may mean wrongful incarceration or death, as a community, they must fight, not flee.

Lamar’s latest album DAMN, but it also goes beyond that. Beyoncé and Lamar are artists utilizing their voices, exercising their free speech, reminding their listeners that they too possess the ability to make change happen. It’s more than just music; it’s a rally call. So, before you get “boxer braids” and appropriate black culture, allow Beyoncé and Kendrick Lamar to educate you through their music.

LET THEM MAKE LEMONADE

Through their influence, Lamar and Beyoncé remind this generation – one that would otherwise think that the fight against oppression ended with Martin Luther King Jr. and Malcolm X – that they where she accepts and embraces Lamar’s collaboration with Bemust remain openminded African culture through poetry, dance, body art and symbolism. yoncé, which comes in the form and hopeful. “Voice” exists She redefines the tone of African of the track “Freedom,” contin- in the form of popular music, Americans’ presence in the mu- ues to resound as an unwavering artwork such as Lemonade or

“How many people from past years have farted on my apartments couch” – Cheyanne Makelki

The call for submissions is open until November 5. [spaces] accepts prose, poetry, plays, fine art, digital art and photography. We look forward to receiving your submissions. Transfix us!


14

THE 1940’S WOMEN’S SURVIVAL GUIDE: LOUISIANA EDITION AMANDA HAGGETT Hey, you! Yeah, you. The exhausted, hungry and (most likely) extremely caffeinated female university student. Are you tired of 2017? Want to go back to a simpler time for a bit, say, to the 1940’s? Maybe pay a visit to, I don’t know, rural Louisiana? Well, look no further! We may just have a way to help you get there. But first, you need to learn the tips and tricks of the trade: 1) Make cornbread. Eat cornbread. Repeat. Ladies, it’s no secret that at your age in the 1940s, you would probably be married. So, it is imperative that you learn to make cornbread so good that even your husband’s own mama will flap a lip over it. In my experience, this means a whole lotta margarine. 2) Listen to your mother-in-law. Repeat after me: His mother is always right. You do not disagree with your mother in law, not if you hope to live another day. Men in this time seemed to have rather severe Mommy-issues, partnered with an overwhelming desire to “marry their mama.” 3) Accept the fact that you cannot buy makeup with ration stamps. I know. This is a hard pill to swallow, but your ration stamps are not for mascara, lipstick or blush. They are in fact, only for less important items like meat, sugar, and cooking oil. Because, who needs to eat anyway, right?

4) Iced tea is good for the soul. And I ain’t talking no Nestle iced tea powder that you buy in bulk at Costco for $9.99. No, I’m talking about the real “steeped tea leaves in boiling water and then chilled” kinda deal. The legit stuff is most likely caffeinated, and depending on your desire for sweetness, may not need much sugar. Speaking from my own experience, it is so good it would probably knock your papa down. 5) Try not to laugh if your husband shoots off his finger nger. I’m sure this is quite self-explanatory. Your husband will most likely have a gun. And he will, most likely, never actually shoot it. The only time he will ever actually handle it will be when he polishes it. And he might just proceed to accidentally pull the trigger and shoot off his one good finger… Who am I kidding? It’s hilarious. Laugh as much as you want. Congratulations! You’ve made it past the five main steps to being a successful Louisianan woman in the 1940s! Now, the only thing you need to know is how to get there. That’s the simplest part: Come see The Cover of Life, running from October 24-November 4 at SAMC Theatre. You will be transported into a world where you will see all of these extremely useful tips being implemented. Tickets are being sold at the SAMC Theatre Box Office or at twu.ca/theatre. Women, prepare to be inspired. Men… buckle up.

“thinking about how jet fuel can’t melt steel beams” – Abi Mattam


15

STORIES FROM THE NATIONS This issue’s topic is: Justice

EL SALVADOR

not convenient, or safe, or flashy or “Instagrammable.” It was the cold reality, the death and oppresEMILIO RODRIGUEZ sion lived in one´s own skin, side by side with those who were sufMy country is a land of Christian fering. And Romero was not alone; martyrs. The Salvadoran twelve- dozens of other priests were muryear civil war in the ‘80s and early dered during the civil war. ‘90s brought immense pain to our nation and its people. However, Jesus’ own ministry was so conin the midst of bullets, voices like troversial, shocking, radical, and Archbishop Oscar Romero´s call- strong that it only took three years ing for love and peace were more for the authorities of his time to powerful than a million guns. It crucify him. In a similar, but in an is truly my conviction that, in the extremely more flawed way, these context of extreme violence and brave people of faith shared the war, love shines even brighter message of the gospel unapolothrough the Christ-like actions of getically, even if it discomforted faithful individuals. the perpetuators of violence. This Oscar Romero was a bishop of the Catholic Church in El Salvador. He spoke against poverty, social injustice, assassinations and torture. During the war, he stood beside the poor and oppressed while preaching the Gospel of Christ, which promoted human dignity and called for a cease of fire. In 1980, Romero was assassinated while offering Mass in a chapel.

is the greatest form of human sacrifice, the highest and most ideal form of Christian justice: to give your own life for your friends. To be a martyr.

Justice, in my opinion, is intrinsically linked to Christianity. Being present where there is injustice and pain, just like Jesus did, is what Christian ministry should look like. Even if we are not willing to make such sacrifices, we should This, in my opinion, is what real esteem and admire those actions Christian ministry looks like; it was of extreme love as the ideal.

UNITED KINGDOM

a revolt against immigrants, demographic shifts, and all that threatened these bigots’ vision of what they want MATTHEW TUCKER Britain to be. They, much like their counterparts in the US, are unable to National protests are a clear sign of see the reality of what their nation is problems in need of immediate resand will be. olution. The slow and quiet growth of toxic nationalism and xenophobia In countries like mine, revolutions is far less easy to detect. Over the rarely occur on the streets, but what years, I have watched as my nation happens instead is just as dangerous, has moved from whispered suspiif not more so. Ideologies such as nacions about foreigners to overt ractional supremacy sow the seeds of ism with alarming ease. mistrust deep into receiving minds. Deep-seeded mistrust turns to susA suburban revolt against immigrants picion, suspicion turns into paranoia, and faiths such as Islam has slowly and paranoia eventually turns to acbuilt up for years in the UK and was tive xenophobia and bigotry. Such is brought to a head last summer in the the process of protest and revolution form of Brexit. The break from the EU in the UK. brought out the worst in my nation and increased the amount of hate Street protests dissipate quickly, but crimes to the highest recorded level beliefs linger on and resurge evenin the UK yet. Both the left and right tually in one form or another. These found a scapegoat for our national revolts are not a one-time issue. They troubles in the form of immigrants, will continue until the UK finds its particularly Muslims and Poles. sanity again. This was a revolt, though not one of violent protests. It was a revolt of fear, “Where Cavalli gets his fashion inspiration” – Niki Mara


16

SPORTS Before anyone realized what was happening, Carol grabbed her by the neck, threw her on the ground, and started punching her in the face while screaming explicit insults. After two punches, the referees, along with my coach, pulled Carol off and told her to leave the game immediately. We were all shocked at what had happened, and felt bad for not only the player, but also the team we were playing against. This is not how we wanted to be represented nor the way we wanted to treat our opponents. We collectively apologized to the girl, her teammates and the parents on the other side, and continued with the game as normally as possible.

So, what does this have to do with justice?

accountability, which then create a sense of fair competition.

When it comes to justice and sports, I am aware of the NFL teams and players who controversially take a stand (or knee) on recent social justice matters. However, beyond all of that I began to realize that it was not just social justice in a political sense that was worth thinking about, but more importantly remembering the basic root of what justice is. It is the idea that fairness will be administered. Carol acted wrongfully towards another player, and when being called out for it, she overreacted. Justice makes up the backbone of sports because it calls for the responsibility of power, integrity, and the ability to do what is right from all involved. Justice allows sports to be equal by placing a set of rules and a sense of

Athletes offer diverse talents and abilities though, so it’s questionable how these differences allow for equity. People find sports entertaining because despite the differences of the athletes, they are all given an equal playing field. This competitive nature is what drives athletes to be physically and mentally stronger and is what separates them from other types of performers or individuals. Watching teams or players grow and seeing their process of becoming competitively stronger is often what catches attention and garners support. When injustices take place, however, we may see the inner Carol arise from some players or fans, but this is the competitive nature that drives sports. Those involved just need to realize that there is a line, and do their best not to cross it.

joined Kaepernick’s protest. By the end of the 2016-2017 season, almost every team had at least one player who was sitting or kneeling during the national anthem. Public opinion of the protests was mixed, but most polling showed that the majority KYLE BAKER of Americans did not agree with the protests and viewed them Whether or not you watch the as disrespectful to the current NFL, you are most likely aware of military and veterans. the protests that have been taking place prior to games in which The new season began this certain players have been sitting, August with many players once kneeling or raising their fists again vowing to not stand for during the national anthem. The the anthem. One player who protests are focused on raising would not be protesting during awareness and encouraging the anthem was once again conversation about racial injustice in the United States.

Kaepernick himself - not because of a change of heart, but rather because he went unsigned in the offseason and thus did not have a team to play for. Many perceived his failure to be re-signed as a direct result of his protest, with some going so far as to accuse NFL owners of “blackballing” Kaepernick from the league.

disrespect of everything we stand for.” These comments were followed by a week of player protests like nothing seen before. Record numbers of players sat for the anthem and three teams - the Seahawks, Titans and Steelers – simply refused to come out of the locker room until the national anthem was finished. These increased protests, however, were met with increased backlash from the fans. The three teams who stayed in the locker room were “booed” heavily when they came out and many fans said they would no longer attend games or even watch football until the protests stopped.

JUSTICE WITHIN SPORTS AUBREE FARRELL The score tied at 2-2 during our first round of soccer playoffs at the 2014 Southern California State Cup. Right after the opposing team scored, one of my teammates, Carol, was given a yellow card for elbowing the striker in her ribs. After a minute of talking with the referee, she walked away and rolled her eyes, mumbling that he “wasn’t being fair.” As she walked away, she noticed the striker had a grin spread across her face, while talking to her teammate. “What’s so funny?” Carol asked angrily as she began to walk up to her. “Nothing. Relax,” the girl giggled back.

NFL PROTESTS: SUCCESSFUL OR DISREPECTFUL?

The NFL anthem protest moved to a new level following President Donald Trump’s comments at an Alabama rally in mid-September where he called for NFL owners to “fire” any player who refused to stand for the national anthem and called the protests “a total

The protest began at the beginning of the 2016/17 season with Colin Kaepernick, the quarterback of the San Francisco 49ers at the time, choosing to sit on the bench during the anthem. Following the first wave of media coverage surrounding his protest, Kaepernick said, “I am not going to stand up to show pride in a flag of a country that oppresses black people and people of colour.” From that point on, various players from different teams

“Blankets that are too short” – Matt Hayashi

Historically, the use of protests as a vehicle to achieve justice has been confined to areas outside of the sports and entertainment worlds. That era is now officially over. While the issue of racial equality is of great importance, the perception that the national anthem is a country’s way of showing honour and respect to the military has turned this protest into not just a sporting issue, but a national issue. Right or wrong, perhaps that is the point.


17

KEEP ON CHEERING JAMISON DERKSEN One of the things that makes sports so beautiful is the fact that it is cyclical. In the major North American sports, the least successful teams are given earlier draft choices for incoming players, giving first pick on incoming stars. The most successful teams get the last draft choices, which usually means acquiring rookies that are not as good. This, more or less, helps the losing teams climb the standings, and causes the teams at the top to eventually fall (some would argue). This is a double-edged sword not only for teams, but for their fans as well.

they win. And when you and your team have been through tough times, it makes success that much sweeter.

meaningful to you. Plus, being a student, odds are you cannot afford to purchase all new team merchandise anyway!

I know it is tough when your team is constantly losing. Every sports fan has been there. If your team keeps losing, it is so frustrating that you almost want to jump ship and cheer for someone else. But, I challenge you to stay true to your team! The fact is, there will always be a new year. If you jump on the bandwagon of the most recently successful team, the victory and celebrations will be much less

So, what do you do if your team is failing? My recommendation is to enjoy the sport and league as a whole, and be patient. Eventually your team will become successful again; every team does. The Warriors, or the Penguins, or any other dominant team, may be the attractive choice for sports fans these days, but eventually they too will find themselves near the bottom of the

standings. The Oilers missed the playoffs for a decade but now their fans finally have something to cheer about after drafting phenom, Connor McDavid. So, if you cheer for the Vancouver Canucks, New York Knicks, or the Oakland Athletics (like me), remember that good things come to those who wait. There are brighter days ahead. And hey, if watching your team has disappointed you that much, there are a few teams representing Trinity that you can come out and support!

Being a sports fan is special because it makes you feel like you are a part of something bigger. You feel pain when your team loses and you rejoice when MEN’S SOCCER Canwest Pacific Standings (W-L-T)

Recent 4-0 W vs UFV (Oct. 6)

1 UBC (9-3-1)

5 UNBC (45-6)

2 UBCO (5-5-3)

6 UVIC (57-1)

vs UBC (7:15PM, Oct. 20)

3 TWU (6-4-4)

7 UFV (4-6-3)

vs Victoria (7:15PM, Oct 21)

4 TRU (5-3-5)

2-1 L vs UFV (Oct. 8) Upcoming

The Spartans will wrap up preseason play against Eastern Oregon on October 21, starting their regular season the following weekend against Alberta.

73-40 W vs UBC Okanagan (Oct. 7) 97-78 L vs Thompson Rivers (Oct. 14) Upcoming

at Alberta (7:00PM, Oct 27)

at Eastern Oregon (5:00PM, Oct. 21)

at Alberta (6:00PM, Oct 28)

MEN’S VOLLEYBALL The Spartans finished their preseason undefeated, including winning both the “Blue Team Cup” and the “Gryphon Men’s Volleyball Invitational”. Regular season play starts on October 20 against Saskatchewan.

3-0 W vs UBC (Oct. 12) 3-0 W vs UBC Okanagan (Oct. 13) 3-0 W vs Mount Royal (Oct. 14)

Recent

Canwest Pacific Standings

5-0 W vs UFV (Oct. 6)

1 TWU (10-2-0)

4-0 W vs UFV (Oct. 8)

2 UVIC (7-1-3)

5-0 W vs Regina (Oct. 13)

3 UBC (7-2-2)

5-0 W vs Saskatchewan (Oct. 14)

4 MacEwan (7-4-1) 5 UFV (4-4-4)

at Victoria (5:00PM, Oct. 20)

6 UNBC (3-7-2)

at UBC (6:30PM, Oct. 21)

7 TRU (3-7-1) 8 UBCO (0-9-2) WOMEN’S BASKETBALL

Recent

74-45 W vs UBC Okanagan (Oct. 7) Upcoming at Multnomah (8:00PM, Oct. 20)

at Alberta (5:00PM, Oct. 27)

at Warner Pacific (6:00PM, Oct. 21)

at Alberta (4:00PM, Oct. 28)

at Western Washington (12:30PM, Oct. 22) MEN’S AND WOMEN’S CROSS COUNTRY Recent

WOMEN Regan Yee finished 3rd, Mirelle Martens and Joanna Williams also had Top 10 finishes.

Upcoming at Saskatchewan (7:00PM, Oct. 20)

vs UBC Okanagan (8:00PM, Oct. 27)

at Saskatchewan (5:00PM, Oct. 21)

vs UBC Okanagan (7:00PM, Oct. 28)

Caleb De Jong finished 3rd, Levi Neufeld and Nick Colyn also had Top 10 finishes, Upcoming

BCIHL

5-1 W vs Van. Island (Oct. 7)

1 Selkirk (2-0-0-0)

2-1 L vs Van. Island (Oct. 13)

2 TWU (2-1-0-0)

Upcoming

3 SFU (1-1-0-0)

vs Victoria (7:00PM, Oct. 20)

4 VIU (1-1-0-0)

vs Simon Fraser (7:00PM, Oct. 26) vs Eastern Washington (7:00PM, Oct. 28)

MEN

UVic Invitational:

MEN’S HOCKEY Recent

The Spartans will wrap up preseason play against Western Washington on October 22, starting their regular season the following weekend against Alberta.

68-57 W vs UBC Okanagan (Oct. 6)

at Northwest (7:00PM, Oct. 20)

Recent

WOMEN’S SOCCER

Upcoming

MEN’S BASKETBALL Recent

G AME STAT S

BC Cross Country Championships (Oct. 28 at Clearbrook Park in Abbotsford) WOMEN’S VOLLEYBALL Recent 3-2 L vs Thompson Rivers (Oct. 12) 3-0 L vs Alberta (Oct. 13) 3-1 L vs Calgary (Oct. 14)

Upcoming

5 EWU (0-2-0-0) 6 UVIC (0-1-0-0)

The Spartans wrapped up preseason play with the “West Coast Classic” this past weekend, and start regular season play on October 20 against Saskatchewan.

at Saskatchewan (6:00PM, Oct. 20)

vs UBC Okanagan (6:00PM, Oct. 27)

at Saskatchewan (4:00 pm, Oct. 21)

vs UBC Okanagan (5:00PM, Oct. 28)

“I’m a standing sleeper” – Nathan Stein


18

HUMOUR DEAR FIFTH YEAR

THE RIVERDALE HAZE DESCENDS

Dear Fifth Year,

JUGHEAD JONES

I’d like to have a ring by spring. How should I go about achieving this goal? Also, where is the best place to DTR? I’ve heard the pond is best, but what do you suggest?

This past weekend, a fog drifted over the campus of Trinity Western University, as in many other places with highly concentrated numbers of young adults and teenagers all over the world. Filling the minds of students with its hazy tendrils, this fog silently crept in and is reported to have wiped away all memory of homework and responsibilities for a couple hours Thursday night. “A very strange phenomenon, yes. It’s been several months since we last encountered this, but we are hard at work to determine

Sincerely, Single and Ready to Mingle

Dear Phrase-Yelled-Frequently-at-Bachelorette-Parties,

miere and has since been denounced by the United Nations and RogerEbert. com. Only recently has the Who told you of this “ring phrase become popularby spring?” That damned ized, with dangerously igand dangerous thing… norant alternate meanings. And why on God’s green earth would you voluntari- Should you genuinely dely lust after it? Before we sire a “ring by spring” proceed, I need to confirm (which I do not recomthat you actually know what mend—campus security is it means. far more effective than pagan rituals), you must acThe “ring by spring” quire three narcissus, three originated in the middle hyacinths, and three lilies of ages, shortly after the fall the valley. Grind them into of Rome. The ritual was a fine powder. On a large thought to ward a house- stone near your domicile, hold away from danger and sprinkle the powder in a cirbring prosperity for a cal- cle with a six inch diameter. endar year (until the next You must kiss the centre of spring), but at the cost of the circle without touching the life of a random local the powder, else you will resident. When word be- be struck dead immediategan to spread, everyone ly. This action seals the spell sought to perform the ritual for a full year, and the anonon their own household to ymous sacrifice will take ward against the misfortune place within 24 hours. of being the unlucky victim of another household’s ritu- Oh, and the best place to al. The rapid popularization DTR is, as you suggested, of the ritual gave way to the by the pond. disease now known as the Black Plague. Sincerely, Abe, a fifth year Igor Stravinski’s 1913 ballet, “Ring by Spring,” a fic- Need advice? tionalized retelling of the Submit your questions and origin of the ritual, caused pleas for help at marshill.ca mass rioting at its Paris pre-

how many people have been affected,” states a local school psychologist, Karen Blossom. Lack of motivation to complete assignments and other duties are not uncommon among high school and university students, but the timing and duration of this occurrence were particularly similar among a great number of students. Coincidentally, the premier to season 2 of the television show Riverdale aired on Netflix that same night. Whether the two are related is still unclear. “It’s got to be a spurious correlation” says Justin Andrews, a student at a local university. “Yes, it is popular, but

7 WAYS TO BE THE COOLEST PERSON AT ROBSON

UNDERGROUND

“Post-Ironic Trinity Memes” – Sam Rosenau

the plot is so far from the original Archie comics, and the characters so much more angsty that I can’t possibly imagine university students falling for such a typical teen drama.” However, based on reports of witnesses, we did see a general migration towards lounges and dorm rooms at Trinity Western University as all recollection of responsibility faded away. Elizabeth Lodge, a current TWU student, seems to lean more towards this explanation. “I mean, what’s more important than small-town (university) drama? We don’t constantly talk about DTRs for nothing” she states. We will be continuing the investigation of this strange event in the following weeks.

BECCA CARSCIENCE Whether it’s your first year or fifth, Robson Underground is one of the most hype nights of the year. So, obviously, you need to make sure everyone knows you’re the life of the party. Here are 7 quick tips to get you started. 1. Think of a super original costume like a sexy cat 2. Throw water on everyone near you right before the bass drops 3. Unplug everything 4. Talk to no one the whole time so that they know you’re better than them 5. Bring the party upstairs to the pods – they’ll love it 6. Dab 7. Go to the Bombers game instead


19

OVER THE HILL DE-CLASSIFIEDS PA R T 2 SUBMIT YOUR DECLASSIFIEDS AT: WWW.MARSHILL.CA

Fraser 229, stop pranking people. Broken-foot boy, talk to the girl in bio-lab. Love is an open door (to the lab). Professor: “Describe your personality.” Student: “Unstable.” Welcome to Plastic Surgery Addicts Anonymous. I see a few new faces here this week and I must say I’m disappointed. “if someone were to give me a shoutout in declassifieds, that would complete my trinity experience.” -Naomi Willett

She’s stealthy. She’s smart. She’s single. 1A is now accepting applications to date Stephanie Ko. Naomi Willett is SO COOL. One time she tackled me in Dodo. IT WAS AWESOME! Stephanie Ko you put the stud in Bible study “What’s your biggest fear?” “Not finding my spouse at Trinity” I want to learn Spanish for the sole purpose of knowing what if snap chatting was an olympic sport, steph ko would get the podium finish for canada

Monique Bouchard has so many guys after her it’s insane. There’s like a weekly lineup of gifts throughout Hey Levi Friesen, there’s 1A. a girl from 1A you need #Thanksforthecookies to meet. Please contact the RA of 1A for Hey McMillan 102 still further information or waiting for you to step up call 1-800-hot-strawberyour game? ry-blonde ;) Speaking as a completely third-party objective with absolutely no personal interest in the matter, I’m not really sure that you and Olivia really mesh well together.

STORIES FROM THE NATIONS Every issue, we publish Stories from the Nations, and we want you to be a part of it. What unique angle or story do you have from your background, country or upbringing that speaks to CONTEMPLATION? We want to know! Send us an email at marshill@gmail.com by Oct. 24 with the subject line: Stories from the Nations.

Bree Simes has such a joyful smile it makes you question if you have ever actually been happy before.

Mars’ Hill editors reserve the right to edit or reject submissions based on content and/or length. A printed submission does not necessarily reflect an endorsement of any kind, nor does it necessarily reflect the opinions of Mars’ Hill staff, the student association, or that of the University. In fact, probably not.

Trinity Western University

SHUTTLE Sunday Mornings | Fall & Spring Semesters 11:30am pick up | 1:30pm drop off Mattson Building Traffic Circle lwchurch.ca “I sleep perfectly fine” – Ryan Schaffrick


ALEX’S ANNEX CHOOSE YOUR OWN ADVENTURE CHAPTER 3

You turn to face the beast. You try to pick out more details, but the only thing you can see are its red eyes. Everything else is shrouded in a cloud of darkness, surrounding the eyes, like a cloak.

midway down the wall. You rush over, placing your hands against the wall, bending down to see what’s causing the glow. It’s a hole. A keyhole. Time seems to slow as the beast draws closer.

Hand. Key. Keyhole. Beast. Dark. Getting closer, now. You push the key into the keyhole.

The beast is featureless, but the red eyes track you. You shudder.

A rushing, staticy sound emanates from the beast, like water flowing over a waterfall mixed with the sound of an old television that can’t find a channel. Your vision darkens. The darkness surrounding the beast seems thick, like water. Your actions become a series of thoughts. You watch your hand move toward the door, frame by frame, as if watching a slideshow.

The wall pushes in and slides away with a hiss and a clunk. Light springs from the opening, cutting through the darkness of the beast. It’s no more than ten feet behind you now. It reaches for you, grasping, darkness blossoming from it like smoke.

Angry. It seems angry. The darkness surrounding the beast seems to follow it as it rushes down the hallway towards you. The beast is moving faster. You can’t fight it – it doesn’t even have a body. You need to escape. Your eyes catch a soft glow to your left,

year: 4 THE Gian HIMNAL Steenkamp age: 22

Turn.

Do you: 1. Land on sand 2. Land on grass 3. Land on metal Cast Your Vote by Oct. 23 at marshill. ca See what happens next ... in Issue 4, out Nov. 1/17!

You leap forward, into the light.

height: 6’4’’ Major: Human Kinetics Hometown: Pretoria > Horseshoe Bay > Langley

Age limit (max/min)? I’m not sure what this question means, so if it refers What to theskill maxwill diffyou erence age between me and potential then probably do you plan todatee, take family photos? 8 passinonto your How Skill that makes you “the one”? How long before you years. Not with a selfie stick! future children? I am going to be a chiropractor propose? When I have enough money for a ring. Best pick-up line? Hi, my name is Gian. It is spelled like giant without the “t” but it sounds like gun with an “i” between the “g” and the “u.” How do you know it’s love? When we coordinate cheat meals

#bestmassagesEVER

Beautiful hair.

How would you make up after your What type of animal represents first fight? you? I would admit that I was wrong and that Tarzan she was right of course…. Your favourite band? Idea of a perfect date? Heavy duty hair elastic bands. In my backyard under fairy lights with What is your signature dish? hot chocolate and blankets. Vetkoek (look it up). “My upstairs neighbor playing their recorder” – Brooke Pattyn

Top quality in a future mate? Hair more beautiful than mine. Favourite movie? The Faith of the Furious What is your love language? Not talking to me in the morning.


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