Volume 27 Issue 4: Mythos

MARS’ HILL

Mythos

Volume

TWU at COP27

Issue

Taylor Swift’s Midnights

removed from the season

Two TWU students head to the UN climate

conference.

Two perspectives on the new album.

Spartans respond to removal of rival women’s soccer team.

FROM THE EDITOR

Have you ever wondered where the name “Mars’ Hill” comes from? It is a question I am often asked when I talk with people about the paper. It usually goes something like this: “What does “Mars’ Hill” mean?” which is then immediately followed with, “Does it have any thing to do with that church in Seattle?”

We take our name from the King James Version of Acts 17. In that chapter, Paul visits the city of Athens where he preaches the gospel to the Jews and Greeks there. The people of the city are taken aback by his radical theology, and they demand to know what god he speaks of. Paul notices the religiosity of the Greeks and points out the statue that they have dedicated to an Unknown God. There, on Mars’ hill—or in newer translations, the Hill of Ares or the Areopagus—he tells them about the God they do not know.

The story of Acts 17 has always struck me as being one of the most interesting stories in the New Testament and one of the best examples of Christianity relating to the culture at large. When approaching the people of Athens, Paul never demeans or insults the religion of the day. He never shames the people for their faith in the Olympian gods. Instead, Paul enters into the mythology of the day to share the gospel.

Mars’ Hill’s explicit mythological connection is partially what inspired this issue’s theme, “Mythos.” Here, we discuss all sorts of ideas related to myths, legends, and theology. Sadie McDonald explores her personal relationship with a popular contemporary fairy-tale, Harry Potter. Contributor Christopher Whitford talks about how The Lord of the Rings, on both the page and the screen, uses its fairy-tale-like story to share Christian themes. Diego Bascur explores the religious connotations of the word “mythos” with two articles about worship.

As per usual, the issue does not stop there. Over in news, Hope Evans discusses the rise in wildfires across the Pacific Northwest and David Witzke takes on the recent local elections in the lower mainland. In Arts & Culture, contributors Elaine Ries and Bret van den Brink take two distinct perspectives on Taylor Swift’s new album, Midnights. Elsewhere in the issue, Juli anne Jones reports on MacEwan University’s recent soccer disqualification and how it impacts the TWU Spartans. Lastly, read a fascinating insight into the mind of the creator of BeReal.

MISSION TO MARS

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.

CONTRIBUTORS

MARS’ HILL

Mars’ Hill is a student publication of Trinity Western University located on the traditional ancestral territory of the Stó:lō people. 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

EDITORIAL POLICY

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, the Statement of Faith, the Student Handbook, 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.

Seth Schouten Editor-in-Chief Ava Gili Cheif Copy Editor

David Witzke Arts & Culture Editor

Hope Evans News Editor Juilianne Jones Sports Editor

Sadie McDonald Opinions Editor

Bailey Frose Humour Editor

Berk Berkeliev Staff Writer

Diego Bascur Staff Writer

Jared Klassen Web Editor

Zaeya Winter Illustrator

WRITERS Elaine Reis Bret van

Brink Christpher Whitford

Kristian

Stefan Rousseau

Spartans

Tomiwa Oyedokun Photographer

DECLASSIFIEDS

Too scared to ask out that hot girl from Rels class? Have a thought you’re dying to share? Did a professor say something strange or funny? Do you have some information that you want to get out to the student body? Whatever it is, the declassifieds are here for you.

Submit yours at www.marshillnewspaper.com/declassifieds

Im not into notebook culture

Taste the biscuit

Taste the goodness of the biscuit

“Someone needs to make Russian nesting dolls of Cavalli’s seven sons. Sold!”Mars Hill declassifies 2012.

TWU should’ve rebranded to Texas Woman’s University

BOYCOTT THE CENSOR ING OF TWU CONFES SIONS

I challenge any student to walk from point A to B on campus without looking at their phone

Line ‘em up... SEND IT!!!!

If anyone speaks Italian please respond to this and maybe we can find each oth er. I need lessons and some speaking practice that isn’t Duolingo!

Make him beg for his life

They were so preoccupied with whether or not they could, that they didn’t stop to think if they should.

OH MY GOSH! I LOVED

THE SCREAM FRONT COVER OF MARS HILL! THE CALVIN AND HOBBES VIBES ARE REAL!

“I am not flourishing” -a foundations student

You know what TWUSA needs? A hamster.

Someone told me that twusa is getting a hamster and I just want to say I am here for it

I KNOW WHAT YOU DID!

Jin Sarah Roy has the sweetest and kindest heart. Someone please give her a big kiss for me <3

Anyone give out free tattoos? Asking for a friend. It’s me I’m the friend.

Your mom

“I actually was potty trained on shrek m&ms”

I woke up from a nap feeling like myself, a ceramic mug with the tiniest bit of coffee, and a cat just got out of a washer set on “whites”

I never share this opinion out loud for fear of being reject ed, marginalised, and outcast but.... I really like the bells!

Editor’s note: Whoever wrote this should write an opinions article! -Sadie who or what is fned

Who needs a boyfriend when you’ve got a heated blanket?

what’s with the GIANT drag onfly stuck to the ceiling of the reimer girl’s bathroom??

If this were medieval times I have no doubt Bret van den Brink would be my liege lord.

Dude’s gotta be a brilliant military tactician Hot take. Picasso sucks

To all the collegium people attempting to write 50 000 words in a month… wow. Just wow.

“These all rhyme, they’re easy to remember. You just have to mispronounce one of the words.”

-Brent Groen

Don’t forget to submit your creative writing/art to [spaces] Literary Journal by Nov 5! Great opportunity to get published pieces on your resume!

That one guy who wears the blundstones I think you’re cute.

Tahlia is the single most sexiest person on campus It should have been me

We get it. You’re hiring. Anyone can write for you. We understand Seth. Editor’s note: The promo grind never stops. -Seth

Everyone google “Texas Wes leyan University logo” stream flower boy by jeffrey wong

to the red suzuki who made eye contact with me in the canil parking lot, I’m in love with you.

Marissa is made of gold. No touchy.

Downtown Ottawa LLC > Suburban Langley campus

The exclusive artsy camera creatives think they are God’s greatest gift to humanity. Relax.

That Bret guy who loves Milton is nicer than you, nicer than me, and probably nicer than that Milton guy that Bret loves. We love Bret.

My friends has a crush on Ben and is in class with him… Andrew’s cute

Remember that everyone needs #love

TWU why is there not more women faculty? Why do you keep hiring white men? You must do better!

The air is thick with the stench of ignorance Seth don’t block my IP address

Anyone else miss the egg and bacon ciabatta from the bookstore cafe?

Read! Books! For! Fun!

“I’m so glad I’m not a moose.” - Goose

Yowie wowie

Hot take: I hate Shakespeare It’s a bit chilly innit

Who else follows Sparknotes Instagram page for the memes.

“You toucha ma bike, I brea ka ya face.” -Dwight Friesen egg

For those who don’t know, John Milton is a 17th-century English poet.

I recommend screaming at least once a week. By your self. In a car. With only the strangers passing by to judge you. It is perfection.

Who the heck decided that the bell should go off every so much? Like plz, I don’t need to be audibly reminded that I have just stared at my homework without writing anything for the past 15 min utes since the last freaking time the bell rang

Hanging white holiday lights around a building (RNT) should not be a substitute for proper outdoor lighting for the safety of the TWU community. Nor, are spot lights on trees.

Cory from the volleyball team do be looking like Lu ther from Zeke and Luther

Wow someone should write some Taylor Swift reviews for next issue. It would be great to get some dual perspectives and get that guy Bret to do a review he seems fun.

Feeling extremely grateful for my friends and professor, and in general people who genuinely care about others well-being :) Please keep spreading the kindness

Is TWU really not gonna ad dress the drama surrounding Dr. Jule’s resignation? The silence is deafening

Bleh

I think I’m gonna get the old logo tattooed

Anyone else watch bluey? It’s the only thing keeping me together aeiou

starting a campaign for amateur Miltonist Bret to be TWU’s next president

people need to make more declassifieds this year. too many newbs not partici pating

Come to the West Coast Collegium (or the Marlie is fine too). We’re nice [RED HEART EMOJI] Editor’s note: Mars’ Hill regrets to inform you that we cannot print emojis. -Seth

Those people setting off fireworks late at night are so cool. I’m sure they live very meaningful and fulfilling lives.

I saw The Miracle Worker yesterday. All I can say is shame on you Trinity. How dare you get rid of a thriving department and blatantly lie about the reasons.

Mars’ Hill reserves the right to edit or reject submissions based on content and/or length. A printed submission does not reflect an endorsement of any kind, nor does it reflect the opinions of Mars’ Hill or its staff, the student association, or Trinity Western University.

Contributor of the Issue: Bret van den Brink

Where are you from?

I hail from Rosedale, BC. (There are many Rosedales in the world, but mine is particularly aptly named as it is, indeed, a dale with roses.)

What’s your year and major?

I am in my fourth year of English Honours.

What’s been your favourite piece you’ve written for Mars’ Hill?

My favourite piece that I’ve written for Mars’ Hill is probably my playful poem “A Brief History of Western

Theology” because I love poetry and the history of theology.

What is something that you’re passionate about?

In the past, I have twice appeared in the Mars’ Hill declassifieds as the “Bret guy who loves Milton,” and, indeed, I am passionate about John Milton, the 17th-century poet who wrote, among other things, Paradise Lost. As some one particularly excited by exploring webs of intertextual influence, Milton is particularly delightful to me: Milton read just about everything he could

get his hands on, and he has influ enced just about every notable poet in English who followed in his wake.

What other things are you involved in across campus?

I am the President of the IBIS Society, a Review Editor for [spaces], and I regularly attend the meetings of the TWU Chapter of the Thomistic Institute.

What was the last thing you ate?

I recently dined on meatballs, brocco li, and fries at the cafeteria.

ACADEMY

A Vision for Chapel: Conversations with Ed Gerber and Brittany Martin

Diego Bascur

Many see Student Ministries as the lifeblood of Christian living on campus, a source which Jesus moves through. Without it, we lack an integral connection not only to God but to each other as a unified body of Christ. As I talked with Ed Gerber, the University Chaplain, and Britta ny Martin, the Associate Chaplain of Worship, they shared with me their vision for Student Ministries, specifically for Chapel this year.

Here, in this time, as students, as people, we can be unified, exploring and growing in faith together. This is what student ministries is to me, and with leaders such as Martin and Gerber, I believe worship—in every sense of the word—is being encouraged and carried out in the name of Jesus.

Brittany Martin Associate Chaplain of Worship

Part of my job is to facilitate [sung] worship in Chapel. The main part is leading the student leaders to do that, developing them as leaders and building a team. That’s a really big focus for me . . . building a team that trusts and supports each other.

My vision for Chapel is for it to be a meeting place, for it to be a place of unity—particularly com ing out of the past few years— but also coming out of a place where I feel like our culture has been taking us lately, which is a lot of division on different is sues. Whether that’s in the faith or politically, I

think people tend to forget the unifiers: the gospel is the great equalizer and unifier. Chapel is a place where I really want us to see each other, to actually see each other as people.

That’s one reason why gathering is so important because you actually see people face to face, get to know somebody’s name, maybe pray for them, and praise God together. In particular with the songs that we sing, I think that when we sing “Worthy is the Lamb” or those choruses that are everlasting—that we will sing in heaven—it is incredibly powerful in impacting our day to day interactions with people. Because we meet as humans, people who are all made in the image of God.

TWU Students Sarah Demian and Rea Klar Head to COP27

Seth Schouten

On November 6, some 30 000 attendees will arrive in the city of Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt for the annual United Nations Climate Change Conference, more commonly referred to as COP27. Amongst the attendees will be Rea Klar and Sarah Demian, two thirdyear biology students from Trinity Western University. COP27 aims to tackle some important issues stand ing in the way of global responses to climate change. It will deal with the implementation of the goals set out in the Paris Agreement of COP21 and discuss a variety of issues including compensation towards countries disproportionately affected by climate change, water and food security, and climate finance issues.

Klar and Demian take on the official role of observers in the proceedings which, according to a press release from Young Evangelicals for Climate Action, “will allow them to help influ ence negotiators, report back to their students and other constituents in BC, and further mobilize for climate action.” They are among a select few observers invited to attend COP27.

consequences are visible now. The recent uptick in wildfires in the Pacific Northwest and mass flooding in Pa kistan are continual reminders of the ways in which environments around the world are being affected.

Ed Gerber University Chaplain

In my role as University Chap lain, my hope, desire, and dream, is to be a relational presence on the campus and to invite people into spiritual growth in ways that I can. To say God in the university, and to say it with the accent of Jesus of Nazareth. Chiefly, I think, my call is to be with the students, being available for things like we’re doing right now: for prayer and, of course, oversight of Chapel. One main objective I have this year is to be an invested, friendly, relational presence on the cam pus so that trust is built up in the chaplaincy.

The other mandate I have is to revitalize Chapel. Over the summer, faculty surveyed quite a wide variety of students, asking, “Where’s your heart? What would you like to see?” I am try ing to do my best to incorporate the results of that survey and to also keep an ear toward those who maybe wouldn’t have had a voice there to say, “Where are you at? How is this going

for you?” So far, it looks like it’s going pretty well.

The desire is to have a variety of speakers come out, both from the community but also getting faculty members—who are good speakers and whom the students love—speak on a more regular basis. What about some of our executive leadership and hearing from them and hearing about their spiritual journey? I’d love to hear those stories. Not only for me, but for the students so that spiritual friendships can be developed on campus. It’s great to have a celebrity preacher come in, but a celebrity preacher comes and leaves. I would like something that has an impact over a longer period of time. With professors speaking at Chapel, you see that their faith is vibrant, their faith is real, their faith is fraught with all the strug gles that each of us go through. This is powerful.

I would also like to put an invite out there to say if you want to come and talk about Christianity, or [if] you have doubts, come bring your doubts. I’ll help you doubt your doubts.

In their first year at TWU, Klar and Demian both joined the Trinity Western Environmental Club (TWEC) born out of a long-standing interest in climate change issues. They have been greatly involved with TWEC—in cluding the recent Langley mayoral candidates meeting about environ mental issues held at TWU—and with other sustainability projects across TWU’s campus. The two have also worked with David Roy Clements, a professor of biology and assistant dean in the faculty of natural and applied sciences at TWU. Clements originally encouraged them to apply for observer status at COP27.

Going into COP27, Klar and Demian are well aware of the importance of their role and how vital their presence is to represent the younger gener ation in discussions surrounding climate change. “I think that [COP27] is . . . priming us and setting us up as future leaders,” said Klar. “As the youth, we are going to end up experi encing definitely the worst end of all the consequences of global warming.”

“[Climate change] is a present thing and it’s not something that’s going to happen in the future,” said Demian, adding to Klar’s comments. Demian went on to stress that climate change is not a problem that we will have to deal with in the future—those

At COP27, Klar and Demian are officially representing the Christian Reformed Church of North America as part of the Christian Climate Ob servers Program (CCOP). The CCOP works in collaboration with other organizations including A Rocha Canada, Care of Creation, Climate Stewards USA, Climate Witness Proj ect, Eden Vigil Institute for Adaptive Leadership and the Environment, Houghton University, William Carey International University, World Evan gelical Alliance, and Young Evangel icals for Climate Action, and Youth with a Mission Scotland.

Klar and Demian are excited about the conference as they discuss how their passions and interests intersect with climate change. Klar draws atten tion to the impact of climate change on pharmaceutical drugs and physical health. She notes how climate change has impacted the effects of season al allergies as well as the spread of diseases. Demian is interested in how climate change interacts with food and nutrition, including the continual problem of food waste.

“[People often] don’t understand all the different components that are affected [by climate change],” said Klar. “I feel like a lot of people are un aware how even . . . medicine, health concerns, food, and even air quality [are going to be affected].”

After the conference, Klar and Demi an will be presenting their findings and learnings with the organizations they represent, as well as local leaders in B.C. They continue to advocate for more actions on the individual and community levels to counter the ongoing effects of climate change.

“As the youth, we are going to end up experiencing definitely the worst end of all the consequences of global warm ing.”

B.C. Local Elections Lead to Lasting Change Despite Low Voter Turnout

David Witzke

On October 15, 2022, the citizens of British Co lumbia voted in their local civic elections—or they would have, if they had turned out to vote.

Despite being amongst the most important and most directly impactful election, civic elections often have the lowest turnout. The election cycle felt almost quiet with the only real advertisements being on signs and YouTube videos for the two weeks before the election. Even Mars’ Hill neglected to give the election promotion amidst the turmoil of worldwide events.

turnout, while Surrey and Vancouver stayed relatively consistent at 32 per cent and 39 per cent respectively. Despite low turnout, vast change has covered British Columbia with a series of new mayors and city coun cillors across the province.

Vancouver elected the newly-formed ABC party led by billionaire-backed Ken Sim—whose new position as mayor has led to some people calling Vancouver “Sim City.” ABC gained majorities on the city coun cil, parks board, and school trustee positions. Sim’s party drew an endorsement from the Police Union, but strong rebuttals from NGOs and non-profits working in the Downtown Eastside, highlighting discrepancies between the priorities of the wealthiest and poorest citizens of Vancouver.

In Surrey, Brenda Locke won against Mayor Incum bent Doug McCallum by a margin of only 973 votes. Locke’s controversial platform promised to keep the RCMP in Surrey after McCallum’s government had begun the transition to a local police force.

Municipal governments are critical to the function ing of society and create the most sweeping change on a local level. Local policing, firefighters, water, facilities, community centres, parks, and zoning are all under the purview of local governments. While change in provincial or federal governments may seem drastic and widespread, local governments have a larger impact on people’s daily lives than federal or provincial governments ever could.

There was far-reaching change throughout the Fraser Valley in this year’s election with multiple incumbent mayors losing their races and multiple parties gain ing a majority of seats in a race normally dominated by independent candidates. Such enormous change was made possible by less than 50 per cent of the population in Vancouver and throughout the lower mainland, meaning that much less than half the people living in our cities wanted these politicians in office. There is a depressing melancholy that sur rounds these elections; they are of grave importance, yet there seems to be limited investment from the public as a whole.

The Township of Langley saw only a 26 per cent turnout, a full four per cent less than 2018. Maple Ridge plummeted even further with a 22 per cent

The Township of Langley elected semi-controversial candidate Eric Woodward and his Contract with Langley party, edging out TWU’s own Professor Blair Whitmarsh for the mayoral seat. Woodward’s party has built its platform on a need to move away from the status quo of past Township Councils and upgrades to infrastructures including roads and fire halls. However, Woodward himself is best known for his disputes with the Langley Township Council about the development of his properties throughout Fort Langley. Nine out of ten Contract with Langley candidates were elected in Langley, giving Woodward a majority on both the city council and the school board.

fixing water supplies in North Langley, creating new transport initiatives, staffing the fire departments, and properly protecting Langley’s natural lands.

Yet one highlight comes from a Twitter interaction Pratt had after the race with a Fraser Valley Current reporter. The reporter complained that “for a mu nicipality of more than 100,000, it’s really incredible how bad the Township of Langley’s website is when it comes to meeting agendas and the like”—a similar complaint that has been near and dear to TWU students’ hearts for some time now. Pratt responded that he hoped to do his best to change it.

Perhaps there is hope after all.

Of interesting note is 25-year-old councillor-elect Michael Pratt, the youngest candidate who ran for a Township of Langley council seat. He was elected as a city councillor in Langley after a failed election run as a 21-year-old in 2018. His latest platform focused on the urban development of Langley, including

The Josh Report

Date and time: 2022-10-31, 19:02.

Location: UNKNOWN. Secturity Risk: High.

REPORT: ALERT, ALERT. THE JOSH HAS GONE MISSING. HE HAS GONE ROGUE. REPEAT, THE JOSH HAS GONE ROGUE. IF YOU SEE HIM, DO NOT APPROACH. JUST TAKE A REALLY BLURRY PHOTO AND SEND IT TO MARS’ HILL WE WILL NOTIFY THE ADMINISTRATION RIGHT AWAY.

“While change in provin cial or federal governments may seem drastic and widespread, local govern ments have a larger impact on people’s daily lives than federal or provincial gov ernments ever could.”

“Despite low turnout, vast change has covered British Columbia with a series of new mayors and city coun cillors across the prov ince.”

U.K. PM Liz Truss Resigns After Chaotic Six-Week Tenure

Seth Schouten

On the morning of Thursday, October 20, Brit ish Prime Minister Liz Truss announced her resignation, just 45 days after being sworn into office. The announcement came just one day af ter Truss proudly declared in the House of Commons that she is a “fighter and not a quitter.” She is the fourth Prime Minister in a row to resign during their term, following David Cameron in 2016, Theresa May in 2019, and Boris Johnson earlier this year. Truss is now the shortest-serving Prime Minister in British history.

Truss assumed the premiership on September 6, following a two-month-long leadership race with in the Conservative Party. She inherited a deeply unstable political situation from her conservative predecessors following the chaos of the Brexit vote and several ethics scandals within Johnson’s govern ment, which she only continued to aggravate. Truss’ government made several controversial economic decisions that caused U.K. financial markets to crash and created extreme division within the party, ruin ing an already-tarnished reputation for the Tories.

to a Thatcher-era, “trickle-down” economic platform which would only further exaggerate the ongoing cost of living crisis in the U.K. The International Monetary Fund issued a statement condemning the mini-budget, saying that “the nature of the U.K. measures will likely increase inequality.”

The first two weeks of Truss’ six-week premiership were marked by the official period of mourning following the death of Queen Elizabeth II. This puts the collapse of the Truss government into a window of just four weeks.

Without warning, on September 23, then-chancel lor, Kwasi Kwarteng unveiled the government’s new “mini-budget,” a condensed version of the govern ment’s budgetary plans. It promised sweeping tax cuts to corporations and high-income households. However, within the mini-budget, the government proposed no plans to compensate for the loss in tax revenue.

Within three days, the British pound crashed to its lowest value against the U.S. dollar since 1971. By ear ly October, the housing market took an immediate hit. BBC News reported that the average mortgage rate was at its highest since the 2008 financial crisis. According to CBC News, inflation rose to 10.1 per cent.

Critics quickly took aim at Truss’ attempt to return

By mid-October, Truss fired Kwarteng and replaced him with Jeremy Hunt who swiftly announced a re versal on all of the mini-budget’s proposed tax cuts. A few days later, Home Secretary Suella Braverman announced her resignation after a rules breach involving confidential documents being sent from her personal email address. In her departing letter, she noted her “concerns about the direction of this government.” Following the firing of Kwarteng and the resignation of Braverman, the division only increased within the Tories regarding Truss’ style of leadership. Polling since Truss assumed office has shown a distinct lead for the Labour Party with as much as a 30-point advantage.

Things came to a head for Truss on Wednesday, October 19, the day before her resignation, when a Labour Party-sponsored anti-fracking bill went to a vote in the House of Commons. While the Tories de feated the bill, it was not without cost to the party’s confidence in Truss as its leader. Fracking has long been a contentious topic amongst the Conservative Party. Reporting from the BBC speaks of allegations of bullying towards Tory MPs who felt forced into voting against the bill. Video footage of the voting process demonstrates a chaotic, disorganized envi ronment.

Following the vote, Con servative MP Charles Walker expressed his anger at the proceedings to the media. “I’m livid and, you know, I really shouldn’t say this but I hope all those people that put Liz Truss in No. 10—I hope it was worth it,” said Walker. “I hope it was worth it to sit around the cabinet table, because

the damage they have done to our party is extraor dinary. . . . I’ve had enough. I’ve had enough of talentless people putting their tick in the right box, not because it’s in the national interest, but because it’s in their own personal interest to achieve ministe rial position.”

The next day, Truss resigned. On October 24, MP and former chancellor Rishi Sunak was elected as leader of the Conservative Party. He assumed office on October 25. Among Sunak’s first actions was to reinstate Braverman as Home Secretary.

The future of the Tories’ reign is uncertain. With their house majority, a general election does not have to be called until 2025. However, with the re cent collapse of Truss’ government and the increas ing lack of confidence in the Conservatives by the British public, an election may be in the cards soon er. Labour leader Keir Starmer has publicly called for a general election, calling the Conservative Party a “revolving door of chaos.”

On October 14, seven days before Truss’ resignation, U.K. tabloid Daily Star set up a live stream on their YouTube channel with the title, “Can Liz Truss out last a lettuce?” The average lettuce has a supermar ket shelf-life of about seven to ten days. There was much rejoicing online when it was decided that the lettuce had defeated Truss.

Lettuce 1, Truss 0.

“[The mini-budget] prom ised sweeping tax cuts to corporations and high-in come households. Howev er, within the mini-budget, the government proposed no plans to compensate for the loss in tax revenue.”

“I hope it was worth it to sit around the cabinet table, because the damage they have done to our par ty is extraordinary.”

—MP Charles Walker

Liz Truss giving her resignation speech outside 10 Downing Street, London.

As Wildfires in the Pacific Northwest Worsen, Scientists Fight for Answers and Solutions

Hope Evans

In recent years, residents of Western Canada and the United States have become increasingly famil iar with orange skies and the smell of smoke in the late summer and early fall. The simple answer for why the severity of wildfires is increasing is climate change, but that does not tell the full story.

The number of large wildfires in the Western United States doubled between 1984 and 2015. This year specifically, Vancouver had the worst air quality in the world on September 11 with 193 active wildfires in B.C. as of the following day. A little over a month later, Seattle took that title for two consecutive days on October 19 and 20, according to the city’s Air Quality Index (AQI). On October 20, the top ten places in the U.S. with the worst air quality were all in the Pacific Northwest according to AirNow, a federal website that reports data from the U.S. AQI. The ef fects of wildfires are growing and will likely continue to do so; a report from the UN earlier this year found that the “probability of catastrophic wildfires could increase 57 per cent by the end of the century.”

“The number of large wildfires in the Western United States doubled be tween 1984 and 2015. This year specifically, Vancouver had the worst air quality in the world on September 11 with 193 active wildfires in B.C. as of the following day.”

The second-hand effects of wildfires are not fully understood, but experts worry about the ongoing health risks from smoke inhalation. For those who experience chronic exposure to this smoke, risks in clude an increased possibility of lung cancer, stroke, heart failure, and sudden death, and the smoke can also cause asthma and pneumonia. The risks are greatest for the oldest and youngest members of society. These health risks stem from the inhalation of microscopic bits that can become embedded in the person’s lungs or find their way into the person’s bloodstream.

The most obvious cause of the increase in wildfires is the warmer temperatures, low humidity, and resulting droughts that come from climate change. An annual 1 C rise in temperature could lead to the area burned by wildfires increasing by 600 per cent in the Western U.S. While this number might seem extreme, there are many aspects of nature affected by climate change that compound the situation.

Rising temperatures and more frequent and longer heat waves lead to drier summers, earlier snowmelts, lower soil moisture content, and forest detritus that can act as fuel for fires. As of last year, the average summer wildfire season had grown to be 40–80 days longer than it was 30 years ago. Climate change also allows the spread of insects like the mountain pine beetle that can harm plants and trees. Extreme weather events such as lightning storms and strong winds enable more fires to start.

“Between 35 and 40 per cent of wildfires in B.C. in 2021 were caused by peo ple; in the U.S., however, the average number jumps to more than 80 per cent.”

While natural causes—exacerbated by climate change—factor into the increase in wildfires over recent years, they are not the only causes. Between 35 and 40 per cent of wildfires in B.C. in 2021 were caused by people; in the U.S., however, the average number jumps to more than 80 per cent. With drier conditions and an increase in plant-based debris, a fire started by accident has a higher likelihood of spreading out of control.

Another cause of this problem is probably the most counterintuitive. There are actually fewer wildfires in the U.S. now than there have been in past years, but the fires that do spark burn more acres. Having fewer small fires allows dry brush, dead trees, and similar natural debris to build up, which, as mentioned before, then creates an easier spark for a wildfire to rage out of control. Historically, lightning strikes and Indigenous burning practices allowed for periodic fires that created a natural patchwork of landscapes and aided in forest regeneration, as well as limiting forest detritus.

In the modern day, however, the U.S. and Canada suppress 97–98 per cent of wildfires before they grow large. While this sounds like a promising statistic, the small percentage that manage to start are the ones at the peak of the fire season that defy people’s best ef forts to suppress them. The emphasis on short-term fire prevention has ironically created a situation ripe for wildfires to burn in the worst conditions possible.

In response to this ongoing issue, experts such as Paul Hessburg, the Senior Research Ecologist with the Pacific Northwest Research Station, and Dr. Su san Prichard, a research scientist at the University of Washington, have advocated for a change in perspec tive when it comes to fighting wildfires. Instead of attempting to squash every blaze, they recommend

strategies that promote forest resilience to wildfires and minimize the severity of future fires. Some examples of actions that align with these ideas are the thinning of dense forests as well as allowing pre scribed burnings and managing fires to reduce nat ural fuel and restore the typical patterns of nature’s life cycle. A review commissioned by the government of B.C. in 2018 agrees: it discovered that in the years when forestry officials promoted prescribed burn ings, the following years saw less severe wildfires.

These solutions have been shown to be highly effec tive when used in tandem in a few different types of

forests, such as dry ponderosa pine and mixed-coni fer forests. Due to the diversity of the region’s nat ural landscape, there is no one-size-fits-all solution, but combining such efforts could create positive changes in the future.

“Instead of attempting to squash every blaze, [sci entists] recommend strat egies that promote forest resilience to wildfires and minimize the severity of future fires.”

Dual Perspectives on Taylor Swift’s Midnights

David Witzke

Taylor Swift is one of the giants of the music industry and has been for over a decade. Her chart-topping albums and incredibly smart business acumen have skyrocketed her to ever-increasing fame. Her new album Midnights is no different in this respect. Swift commands an exceedingly loyal fanbase that is ravenous about her music. I knew simply writing a review of the album myself might mean sudden death for my journalism career, lest I be mauled in the de classifieds by loyal swift fans or by similarly loyal anti-Swift fans. Ergo, I devised a devious plan. Elaine Ries, English honours student and [spaces] Editor-in-chief, is a diehard Taylor Swift fan that I knew would write a cunning and informative

review but would likely be from an entirely positive perspective. Yet I also knew that Bret van den Brink, also an English honours student on the [spaces] staff as a review editor, would bring a completely different perspective, not necessarily a negative one, but one we would have never considered before. A classical renais sance man, Bret’s world is that of the classical poets and theologians, a combina tion not readily conflated with Taylor Swift, but both requiring a cunning mind to analyze. With their two reviews in concert, it is my hope that our readers can be surprised, delighted and educated on the cultural event that is Taylor Swift’s Midnights

A Perfect 13: A Fan’s Review of Taylor Swift’s Midnights

Elaine Reis

Iam sure I am not the only Swiftie who listened to Taylor Swift’s newest album, Midnights, three times within the first day of its release. I think all Taylor fans can agree that Midnights is a glittering addition to Taylor’s discography and a breathtaking dive into that cataclysmic hour when creativ ity, tenebrosity, and wonder reach a wild convergence. The album’s core 13 songs, a fitting nod to the number that has marked so many highlights in Taylor’s career, masterfully weaves together worlds that can only coexist under moonlight.

““Lavender Haze” launches us into a vibrant nightlife of new love thrust un der the spotlight of fame. The club beat carries the lyrics along the story of an intoxicating romance that defies society’s presuppositions.”

“Lavender Haze” launches us into a vibrant nightlife of new love thrust under the spotlight of fame. The club beat carries the lyrics along the story of an intoxicating romance that defies society’s presuppositions. Next up is “Maroon,” a moody dive into passionate love gone wrong. The song explores the darker shade of a “Red” love, focusing instead on the betrayal, morti fication, confused expectations, and heartbreak of a fervid romance. The next song, “Anti-Hero,” continues deeper into the darkness of midnight by giving voice to the late-night intrusive thoughts we all wish we could ignore. Already a chart-topper and TikTok trend, “Anti-Hero” expands the album beautifully.

Never one to disappoint, Taylor surprised fans with a Lana Del Rey collabo ration for “Snow On The Beach.” The song is a worthy addition to the ranks of Taylor’s legendary track fours and is the first song in Midnights to traverse the dreamy, lullaby side of night (a mood revisited later on in “Sweet Noth ing”). The lilting melody combined with Lana’s mystical vocals feel precisely like snow settling on sand under the cover of starlight, creating an other worldly experience that will dance through your head for days.

Fast forward to “Midnight Rain” and “Vigilante Sh—,” two songs that take the album to the darkness of a new moon. “Midnight Rain” explores the painful clash of two souls in love on hopelessly irreconcilable paths while “Vigilante Sh—” sees Taylor calling back her bold Reputation persona for a bass-heavy look at the dangerous ground where justice and revenge collide.

After glimmering “Bejeweled,” wistful “Labyrinth,” and a collection of other whimsical hits, Midnights glides to its finale with “Mastermind,” a catchy con fession of the machinations laying the groundwork for true love. The twist of the last chorus, which reveals that the seemingly ignorant lover was wellaware of their partner’s scheming, is a perfect wrap-up that brings listeners to the end of the midnight hour and back into reality.

And yet, three hours after the release of Midnights, Taylor assured her fans that a night with her music does not end so quickly. On October 21, 3 a.m. saw the release of seven bonus tracks that kept listeners enthralled in a good dream that keeps getting better. And thanks to the replay button, that dream can continue as long as listeners want—I know for me, it will be difficult (if not impossible) to listen to anything else for the foreseeable future!

Carnations and Incarnations: Reflections on Taylor Swift’s Midnights

Bret van den Brink

Ilisten to almost no contemporary music, and a week ago, I could not name a single Taylor Swift song for the life of me. On the basis of my ignorance, I was asked to share my thoughts on Midnights—Swift’s latest album. I would not have listened to it were I not requested to, and having lis tened to it, I would not seek to listen to it again. I do not dislike it. In short, I am ambivalent towards the album. Nevertheless, moments in the album fascinate me.

I am particularly enthralled by one of Swift’s poignant metaphors for mistak en love from “Maroon:” “Carnations you had thought were roses, that’s us.” Carnations are pink flowers whose name also means “the colour of flesh.” The flower’s name derives from the Latin carnātiō, meaning “fleshlikeness,” and so is related to the English word “carnal.” Though gorgeous, and tradi tionally associated with love, there is something mundane and fleshy about carnations. One thinks of Paul’s exhortation from 1 Corinthians: “flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God, nor does the perishable inherit the imperishable.”

Roses, on the other hand, are associated with divine love. According to Northrop Frye’s Anatomy of Criticism, “In the West, the rose has a traditional priority among apocalyptic flowers.” Frye notes that the rose is used “as a communion symbol” and is associated “with the risen body of Christ and the sacramental symbolism which accompanies it.” Swift’s metaphor captures the tragic consequences of mistaking the spiritual for the temporal in romantic love and the consequent perishing of what one thought to be imperishable. Occasionally, Swift expresses sentiments I find myself ruminating over, such as in “Snow on the Beach”: “It’s fine to fake it ‘til you make it / ‘Til you do, ‘til it’s true.” In a world obsessed with originality and authenticity, such a sentiment strikes a discordant note. Still, it is harmonious with the venerable tradition of virtue ethics, wherein people strive to habitually conform to a moral standard, which for Christians is exemplified through Christ. In Mere Christianity, C.S. Lewis recommends that Christians pretend to be like Christ with the intention of becoming Christlike. Lewis explains that when we do so, “The Christ Himself, the Son of God who is man (just like you) and God

(just like His Father) is actually at your side and is already at that moment beginning to turn your pretence into a reality.” Personally, I prefer Lewis’ version of the sentiment, but I suspect that among 21st-century young adults, I am in the minority on that front.

“In a world obsessed with originality and authenticity, such a sentiment strikes a discordant note. Still, it is harmonious with the venerable tradition of virtue ethics, wherein people strive to habitually conform to a moral standard, which for Christians is exemplified through Christ.”

Though high and low points were both rare for me in the album, I found the album to reach its lowest depth in the song “Labyrinth,” as it takes its title from a symbol pregnant with millennia of associations and squanders it to repetition and near-banality. In Pleasure Reconciled to Virtue, Ben Jonson rec ognizes love to be “the subtlest maze of all,” but that is no excuse for Swift to repeat the phrase, “I’m fallin’ in love,” 15 times in three minutes.

By dwelling on three lines and a repeated phrase of particular interest to me from an album of thirteen songs, I have no doubt barely scratched the surface of Swift’s work. Moreover, I may have skewed aspects of it by looking at it from my perspective as a Christian poetry critic in his time off. Nonethe less, I think I have shown that despite my ambivalent response to the album, even I have found it to have moments of richness. I would recommend listen ing to it (at least once).

Les policiers drôles du Québec: The Funny Cops of Québec

David Witzke

The “buddy cop” movie is a fun sub-genre of comedy that feels uniquely American in style. Gun-toting and wise-cracking cops take to the streets to solve crimes and engage in shenanigans to the highest degree. It is a kind of movie that simul taneously lauds police officers as much as it paints them as complete bell-ends. Unbeknownst to most people, there is another type of buddy cop movie that takes the tropes of the American style and makes them completely Canadian, through and through: the Québecois buddy cop movie.

While most western Canadians do not spend much time dwelling on Québec or its media industries, the Québec film industry is actually a massive market that routinely makes quality films that are almost solely aimed at francophone populations around the world. Québec is a large province with incredibly var ied landscapes and generous tax benefits, so media productions of all kinds find their home in Québec, but the Québecois buddy cop film has its own distinct tone and flavour.

Some of these distinctions are only because the film takes place outside of America. Instead of uncovering a secret undercover FBI agent, the characters—work ing for SQ or the Sûreté du Québec, aka Québec Provincial Police—instead uncover a secret agent working for the GRC (or the RCMP, for you anglo phones). If a big double twist is revealed, a character might actually be working for SCRS (or CSIS in English), deep undercover the entire time. The most likely villains of the stories is not the gangs of New York or Wall Street billionaires, but gangsters within the Montréal mob, a group that covertly shaped the city’s history for a long time. Even then, the villains of the story are quite easy to find, if only because

they are perfectly bilingual but are among the only characters to speak in English.

“While most western Cana dians do not spend much time dwelling on Québec or its media industries, the Québec film industry is actually a massive market that routinely makes qual ity films that are almost solely aimed at franco phone populations around the world.”

One of the easiest films to digest is Bon Cop Bad Cop (2006) and its higher-quality sequel Bon Cop Bad Cop 2 (2017). Both films are about an SQ officer and an Ontario Provincial Police officer forced to work together thanks to criminal plots that have crossed provincial borders. The films feature a mix of English and French throughout, which neatly delves into the complex relationship Québec has with its English-speaking neighbours. Although it is not just the combative side of language relations that is displayed, there are certainly some satisfying mo ments for the bilingual speaker as almost all Québec buddy cop films manage to be surprisingly profane in both official languages. Bon Cop Bad Cop 2 also has a

particularly hilarious scene making fun of American police, a refreshing change from the usually compe tent and often blitheringly respectful American view of police officers in cinema.

The small world of the Québec action/comedy scene means that the same seven or eight actors all-star in similar films with each other and also look surprisingly alike—you cannot tell me that Louis-José Houde and Patrick Huard do not look exactly the same. Despite small acting pools, there is actually a surprisingly wide variety of films available. De père en flic 2 (2017), another favourite of mine, is a delightful and surprisingly emotional romp that ends up at a couples retreat in the Québec wilderness amidst an intense gang war in Montreal. Overall, while Bon Cop Bad Cop 2 takes the top spot in my list for pure fun, spectacle, and bilingual writing, all of these films are incredibly fun and refreshing.

Some notable mentions go out to both Omertà (2012) and Le Sens de l’humour (2012). Neither are technically buddy cop films, as they are an action/thriller and comedy/thriller respectively, but I consider them buddy cop adjacent, leaning slightly more into the comedy or action sides of the genre. They also both have a series of surprisingly shocking twists that make them both slightly uncomfortable and a great joy to watch.

The hectic action and Canadian trope-flipping of Québec cinema is an unmitigated joy that feels almost alien to watch. After becoming so used to the classic tropes of American cinema, seeing something that is uniquely Canadian fills the heart with a truly bilingual pride.

The Lord of the Rings and the Problem with Christian Movies

Christopher Whitford

I am forever grateful that my parents have support ed my desire to make movies as a career. From the very beginning, my mother was especially excited at the possibility of me making Christian movies. The very wholesome and Christ-centered kind of film entertainment that PureFlix thrives on. While I do believe that God has given me the gifts necessary to make this a career, I have never felt the pull to make Christian movies. This can be boiled down to one core issue within Christian movies.

While Christian movies can be good for Christians, unsurprisingly, they do not reach beyond that scope. Believers will watch these films to encounter God in a fresh way and to receive a message like a Sunday ser mon. There is nothing wrong with this, but non-be lievers are not going to be interested in watching a sermon in the form of a movie. In making a movie that is too focused on Christianity, you immediately limit the people who will view it to primarily Chris tians.

A better solution is not through espousing doctrine, but through the promotion of ideas. As Christians engaging with such films, we can identify the spiritu al issues prevalent in our culture today. This can in form our outreach to the world by guiding our focus. We can use film to portray spiritual concepts through the beauty of our own art. Using secular narratives to tell stories of spiritual truth impacts a much larger audience than the limited reach of Christian movies.

One of the most successful movie franchises with an overtly Christian message is The Lord of the Rings. The trilogy is inarguably a powerful force in pop culture which redefined the fantasy film genre. The Return of the King (2003) in particular won eleven Academy Awards that year. The reach of the trilogy is exten sive, and its core is uniquely Christian.

It is a story about a great evil, Sauron, and the power of temptation to distort and disfigure creation in

Gollum. The environmen tal subplot speaks of the destructive power of rapid industrialization found in Saruman and the fortress of Isengard. This story presents a reflection of the brokenness found in the real world. How ever, the story’s core is about the brotherly love of Frodo and Sam and the acceptance of one’s identity, as with Ara gorn. It is a story of courage despite stature as Merry and Pippin transform from troublemakers to positions of honour in the kingdoms of men. And ultimately, this story is a demonstration of the very Christlike concept of one person carrying the burden of the whole world. These ideas are inherently Christian but are present ed in a format that will reach a much larger audience than a traditional Christian movie.

“J.R.R. Tolkien himself was a Christian, and so it comes as no surprise that his fantasy series would explore Christian ideas within it.”

J.R.R. Tolkien himself was a Christian, and so it comes as no surprise that his fantasy series would explore Christian ideas within it. One such idea is a concept that he named the “eucatastrophe.” In other words, a eucatastrophe is the moment in a narrative where evil appears to be insurmountable, but it is in

this moment, however, where an act of pure good emerges from within the darkness. It is a moment of sorrowful joy that shows humanity at its best. Tolkien referred to the resurrection of Jesus in his letters as “the greatest ‘eucatastrophe’ possible in the greatest Fairy Story”: a moment so powerful that it remains thoroughly ingrained in our art.

The most effective method of evangelism for the modern Christian filmmaker lies in secular indus tries and stories. We must provide a reflection of the brokenness in the world but also show the audience a way out. There are so many popular narratives that include the recurring theme of redemption despite past actions. This is at the heart of our entire faith, and it is already prevalent in secular storytelling. Films like The Shawshank Redemption (1994) and the Star Wars franchise exemplify redemption arcs. The best evangelism a filmmaker can enact is having Christian ideas and concepts be at the core of their storytelling. A film does not have to be overtly Chris tian to promote Christlike ideals.

Who Ya Got?: Predictions for the 2022/2023 NBA Season Diego Bascur

NBA Champions: Without a doubt, the Golden State Warriors are top of my list to win the championship title this year. The current defenders of the Larry O’Brien Cham pionship Trophy are looking strong coming into this season. With the core of the team very much intact, chemistry and championship experience go a long way when playoff time comes around. With quite possibly the greatest backcourt of all time, as well as the greatest shooter of all time, this team can make a deep run into the playoffs. Not to mention integral young talent coming from Jordan Poole and Andrew Wiggins, who both showed their worth last year in the Warriors’ successful playoff run. Let’s just hope their chances do not get sucker-punched by any ill-mannered disputes off the court.

Most Valuable Player:

Luka “magic” Doncic! What else is there to say? The Slovenian superstar is entering into his fifth season and just cannot seem to stop getting better. Every season he shows us a new level: dominating the court and taking his team deeper into the playoffs. This just might be the year where Doncic takes his game to a level that no one can match and finally receives the recognition of being the best basketball player in the world. Plus, he is on my fantasy team, so it is a win-win for me if he gets the MVP award.

Defensive Player of the Year:

With Marcus Smart win ning last year’s defensive player of the year award, everything is up in the air as far as who is going to take home the trophy. Smart is one of two point guards to have won the award in the NBA. As exciting as it is to see the award go to a smaller guy, it may be back in the massive hands of a 7’1” giant from France this year. That is right folks, Rudy Gobert, the “stifle tower,” is taking home defensive player of the year. It is a new team and a fresh start for the Frenchman; fans are sure to see some new-found energy which seemed to be lacking in Gobert’s game last year. Though Gobert will be playing alongside another all-star big man, Karl-Anthony Towns, I believe Gobert will still be the defensive anchor on defence and show us why he has won three of the last five DPOY awards.

Rookie of the Year:

Did someone say the future face of the NBA? Or perhaps the last chance the Orlando Magic have of

ever making the playoffs? Look no further than the American-Italian power forward from Duke Univer sity. Since the beginning of his NBA career—which started only in October—Paolo Banchero has shown why he was the number one pick in this year’s draft. He is the first player since Lebron James to put up over 25 points, 5 rebounds, and 5 assists in his debut game, which places him in legendary company. If this “Italian stallion” can stay healthy, he has a real shot of not just winning rookie of the year, but also being a league MVP in years to come. I probably should have picked him for my fantasy team too.

Must-See Upcoming Home Games

Julianne Jones

VOLLEYBALL

WOMEN’S: Trinity Western vs. UBC Friday, November 25 – 6:00 p.m. @ Lang ley Events Centre.

MEN’S: Trinity Western vs. UBC Friday, November 25 – 8:00 p.m. @ Langley Events Centre.

HOCKEY

WOMEN’S Trinity Western vs. UBC. Thursday, November 10th - 7:15pm @ George Preston Recreation Centre.

MEN’S: Trinity Western vs. MacEwen. Friday, November 4th - 7:15pm @ George Preston Recreation Centre.

RUGBY

WOMEN’S: TBA

MEN’S: Trinity Western vs. Port Alberni. Saturday, November 19 – 1:00 p.m. @ Langley Events Centre (Northwest Field).

BASKETBALL

WOMEN’S HOME OPENER: Trinity Western vs. Lethbridge. Friday, November 11th - 6:00pm @ Lang ley Events Centre.

MEN’S HOME OPENER: Trinity Western vs. Lethbridge. Friday, November 11th - 8:00pm @ Lang ley Events Centre.

MacEwan University Women’s Soccer Team Removed From U Sports Playoffs and What This Means for the Spartans

Julianne Jones

In early October 2022, unfortunate news regarding U Sports women’s soccer was announced to the public. After a successful start to the season, the MacEwan Griffins’ season came to an instantaneous halt. Ranking first place in the Prairie Division ear lier this month, MacEwan has lost the potential for what could have been another impeccable season.

At the beginning of the season, the Griffins achieved 12 wins and two losses. After their placing in the Prairie Division, the Griffins had no choice but to for feit their wins due to a player eligibility issue. For 11 games of their season, the Griffins had an ineligible player who contributed to their games. This forced U Sports to forfeit the Griffins’ nine wins from the 11 games that the ineligible player was fielded for—se verely setting them back.

The Griffins attempted to appeal the issue on “com passionate grounds” given the misunderstanding that occurred. The athlete transferred from the NCAA mid-season last year and played approximately eight minutes during the 2021/2022 season. Due to chang es made in transfer policies during the pandemic, the MacEwan athletics’ administrative team missed a small detail on the athlete’s transfer forms. Because the forms were filled out incorrectly, U Sports had to decline MacEwan’s appeal and forfeit their wins.

Coming off of a U Sports national title in the 2021/2022 season, the Griffins were looking to reclaim their title as U Sports champions. Unfortu nately, their forfeited wins concluded their season with a sixth place standing and a total of three wins and 11 losses.

In November of 2021, the Spartans fell to the Griffins 3-2 in the U Sports Championship game. After an exceptional season, the Spartans were devastated by this loss. With reason, there has been an undeniable tension between the Spartans and the Griffins since this game. Our Spartans have been training this season with a drive and passion to redeem themselves after falling to the Griffins. With the Griffins’ season now terminated, the Spartans are prepared to take back the title as U Sports champions.

To gain some insight into the Spartan perspective regarding the end of the Griffins’ season, Mars’ Hill interviewed fourth-year midfielder Grace van den Brink. In the interview, we discussed MacEwen’s regrettable circumstances and how that might affect the playoff season for the Spartans. Van den Brink shared how the Griffins have become a competitive asset to U Sports’ women’s soccer. The midfielder explained, “MacEwan has come out in recent years and [they have] been a lot stronger than they used to be.” Since last year, the Griffins’

champion status has been looming over the heads of our Spartans.

Losing to the Griffins in the finals last year, the Spartans cannot deny the fact that this situation will come to their advantage. When discussing the Grif fins’ recent removal from playoffs, Van- den Brink stated that “if anything, it does give us a better shot at making nationals because there’s one less stronger team in Canada West to grab one of those top three spots.” Even though this gives the Spartans leverage for the playoff season, it is difficult to deny the fact that they would have made it to the playoffs regard less of the Griffins’ involvement.

“I think we will lose the opportunity to . . . redeem ourselves a bit and estab lish who we are against them. We have a lot of high emotions against [MacEwan], and we want ed that opportunity in the playoffs to take them down and show them what we’re made of after that whole . . . debacle last year in finals.”

— Grace van den Brink

Returning for their 2022/2023, the Spartans were prepared to face the Griffins again to confront the “unfinished business” from last year. Van den Brink stated, “I think we will lose the opportunity to . . . redeem ourselves a bit and establish who we are against them. We have a lot of high emotions against them, and we wanted that opportunity in the playoffs to take them down and show them what we’re made of after that whole . . . debacle last year in finals.” Despite the Griffins now being removed from this opportunity, there is still an important competitor in the running.

Even though the Griffins came out on top last year, the UBC Thunderbirds have been one of the

In August, the Spartans lost 2-0 to the Thunderbirds, and more recently, the Spartans fell 3-0 against the Thunderbirds on October 14. This was a nerve-wrack ing loss for the Spartans, especially considering the Thunderbirds’ approach to playoffs this sea son. When reflecting upon their battle against the Thunderbirds, van den Brink stated, “They’re a very strong force and we just haven’t shown up to those games and . . . proved our best; playoffs will be a great opportunity for us to show off to them—hope fully in the finals because it might be a bit easier now that MacEwan’s gone.” Hoping to face the Thunder birds in the finals, the Spartans know that they have to ensure mental and team stability over the next two weeks.

When asked about their recent losses against the Thunderbirds, van den Brink explained, “It’s been a mindset issue—I think we have been a little naive. We have some younger players this year and it is always hard making the jump from youth soccer to U Sports and being in those really intense, emotional games.” Even though the Spartan rookies have been excep tional this year, it is fair to say that they have not faced the intensity of nationals yet.

Van den Brink also noted that fifth-year Anna Dunn was not present for their most recent game against the Thunderbirds. The player shared, “I think [Dunn] brings a lot of maturity and leadership to our group. [She] settles us on the field a lot, so I think we didn’t have anybody really leading us against UBC.” With this, the Spartans are more than ready to face the Thunderbirds again this season—but with a cham pionship title on the line.

Without a doubt, the Spartans’ women’s soccer team has presented their fans with countless successful seasons, regardless of the colour of the medal around their necks. With the Griffins being out of the run ning, the Spartans are anticipating battling in the finals once again. Even though the Thunderbirds will be in competitive spirits during playoffs, the Spartans are approaching their next match fearlessly as they dominate the field this November.

Spartans’ top competitors prior to the 2021 season. These circumstances have definitely left a gap in the standings, but the Spartans are not denying the skill of the Thunderbirds this season.

The TWU Women’s Soccer team at the 2021/22 finals match against MacEwan University.

OPINIONS

For Liberty and Libel

Sadie McDonald

It was the epitome of injustice. The heartbreak that trumped all heartaches. But the question was not a matter of what, but who: an “attractive blonde, . . . forty-three, whose savage quill has punctured many inflated reputations.”

I absolutely despised Rita Skeeter. I still do, actually, even ten years later.

The first and only time a book has ever made me cry was when I was nine years old and reading Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, the fourth book in British author J.K. Rowling’s famous fantasy series.

I eagerly tore through the books so fast that my parents had to pace me to prevent me from reading through them all too quickly. Much to my dismay and growing impatience, they set a predetermined read ing break in between each book so I would not finish the entire series in a flash. Because they could not keep up with me, they had only skimmed the books to make sure there was not any material too scary for a young child to consume, because at the time those fictional books were just as real as any other nonfic tion book was. So, when I ran into their bedroom one evening and crawled up beside my mom, sobbing, it was immediately assumed that the substance of nightmares had infiltrated my elementary-school brain.

“But the question that should have been asked was not a matter of what, but who: “Attractive blonde, . . . forty-three, whose savage quill has punctured many inflated reputations.” I absolutely despise Rita Skeeter.”

“What’s wrong, Sadie? What happened?” I struggled to find the words to express my anguish, and when I finally choked out a coherent explanation, my par ents were empathetic but amusedly relieved. “What was it?” you might ask.

Even the name itself conjures up disgust more than her crocodile-skinned handbag and pouting smile— complete with three golden teeth. For readers unfa miliar, Rita Skeeter is a reporter at the Daily Prophet, the wizarding world’s newspaper in the Harry Potter books. Skeeter makes her appearance in the series’ fourth book, tasked to report on the Triwizard Tour nament and their champions, with Harry Potter as the feature story. During her rampant course of jour nalistic malpractice in which she takes photographs of minors without their consent, illegally eavesdrops, and misrepresents the truth in all of her articles, she commits what I believed as a nine-year-old to be a grievance of the highest offence.

After yet another slanderous article is published in the tabloid magazine, Witch Weekly, which paints Hermione Granger as a heartbreaker toying with the affections of Harry Potter and opposing contestant Viktor Krum, Hermione receives a pile of hate mail.

If that were not painful enough, tears fell from both mine and Hermione’s eyes when she opened the last letter, only to be assaulted by undiluted bubotuber pus, causing her hands to break out in many excruci atingly painful, pus-filled blisters.

“It was in Rita’s favour to write what she believed people wanted to read rath er than what they ought to, and she wrote those sto ries skewed in a way that constitutes libel. Rita did everything I hope to never do . . . all with the scratch es of her acid green QuickQuotes Quill.”

I cried because Hermione did not deserve that hostility, for she had done nothing wrong. Not only was the unjust punishment cruel, humiliating, and intimidating, but it was a result of a fabricated story written to look as intriguing as possible, even if that meant her own reputation was grossly misrepresent ed in the process.

As a child, it broke my heart to see Hermione hurt in such an unfair way. I still do not understand why bad things happen to good people, but that day I learned that they did. Now I know that the world is not one that operates under the order of a greater good. It was in Rita’s favour to write what she believed people wanted to read rather than what they ought to, and she wrote those stories skewed in a way that constitutes libel. Rita did everything I hope to never do—writing defamatory statements, deliberately omitting or ignoring facts, acquiring and publishing off-the-record information through illegal means, misrepresenting the subject and creating unethical ly absurd stories—all with the scratches of her acid green Quick-Quotes Quill.

It is widely assumed that Rowling based the charac ter of Rita Skeeter on the British press. The media is commonly described as a wake of vultures, and Skeeter used her unregistered amaginagus status to transform into a beetle to spy on the Triwizard Tournament contestants. There are many names I could call that evil woman, but stink bug—a much more apt depictor—and mosquito—the slang term being Skeeter—will have to do. Is that libel? It might not matter. Fortunately, she is not a real person, and I have reason to defend my claims.

In The Elements of Journalism, Bill Kovach and Tom Rosenstiel write that “the purpose of journalism is to provide people with the information they need to be free and self-governing.” The book continues by outlining ten principles to achieve this goal, with the first being an obligation to the truth. Rita Skeeter will forever be looked down upon with disdain, even twenty-two years after that fateful incident. I could go on and on about all the reasons I am infuriated by her, from her know-it-all egotistical persona to the damage inflicted on everyone who came into contact with her during her stint as a reporter. But what truly hurts me the most, and is a reminder of the small innocence I lost, is her blatant disregard for what is honourable, good, and true.

I know that the stories we tell can be heavy, but they do not need to be written in a fabricated or cruel fashion to have a major impact. Above all, journal ists have an obligation to the truth and loyalty to their readers. Rita Skeeter failed Hermione Granger, but she failed me too. And so, I will do everything in my power to report ethically and stomp down on injustice while never following in her footsteps. Mark my words, and, no, a Quick-Quotes Quill is not necessary.

“But what truly hurts me the most, and is a remind er of the small innocence I lost, is her blatant disre gard for what is honour able, good, and true.”

Elon Musk is Living in a Free Speech Fairy Tale

Seth Schouten

After much legal ado, Elon Musk’s fight to buy social media platform Twitter has gone through. Musk, the current richest person in the world, spent about $44 billion to acquire the website. In a letter to potential advertisers shared via a tweet, the self-avowed “free speech absolutist” stated that he bought Twitter to “help humanity,” as if the regulations on Twitter were the greatest threat facing human existence. His actions happen in the light of several notable figures being banned from the social network, including former U.S. president, Donald Trump.

Musk clearly envisions Twitter as being a common space for people to freely share ideas without the risk of being deplatformed. In the same letter, Musk said that “it is important to the future of civilization to have a common digital town square, where a wide range of beliefs can be debated in a healthy manner, without resorting to violence.” Now, his interpreta tion of what is and is not “free speech” is in line with an ultra-libertarian understanding of the term where words are devoid of consequence or repercussion. As history has most definitely proved, in the great “marketplace of ideas” that is the unchecked online discourse, the “best” ideas always prevail.

That is, of course, if we ignore the continual exam ples of how disinformation and dangerous rheto ric spread through social media leading to some disastrous outcomes. Trump was banned from the platform after his cult of personality led to mass riots and the storming of the U.S. Capitol Building on January 6, 2021. Lest we not forget the rise of the “Pizzagate” or “QAnon” conspiracy theories or the mass glut of COVID-19 misinformation that has gladly made itself at home on the internet. There is, of course, the outrageous moral panic surrounding “critical race theory” perpetrated by misinformation about the school of thought online.

Brynn Tannehill, writing for The New Republic, points to several mass shootings whose perpetrators were influenced by dangerous online content. She points outs that the shooting in Christchurch, New Zealand in March 2019, the shooting at a Pittsburgh syna gogue in October 2018, as well as the Charleston church shooting in June 2015 were all perpetrated who had been radicalized by online content. It is obvious that Musk’s dreams exist in some sort of fairy-tale land where all online interaction is perfect ly civil and never leads to damaging outcomes. The problem is that the alt-right cesspool of content that led to these tragedies will thrive with unmoderated, uncensored social media.

Musk has also failed to realize the scope of his am bitions. As Nilay Patel, Editor-in-Chief of The Verge, points out in his article “Welcome to hell, Elon,” that the current biggest threat to free speech in the U.S. is the government itself. Patel mentions recent exam ples of school districts in Texas and Florida banning books. According to a study by PEN America, these bans primarily target books written by or are about LGBTQ+ people, people of colour, and religious minorities. Has Musk ever cared about these issues? No, he has not. Musk proves himself to not be this great champion for free speech; rather, he just likes to make transphobic comments online.

And that’s just from within the U.S. itself. Musk’s American-centric mindset has prevented him from realizing the folly of his actions in an international context. I am curious to see how Musk’s new and improved Twitter will handle Germany’s Network En forcement Act or India’s recently passed laws which give the government power of social media modera tion. Musk’s lack of scope is particularly worrying. It is easy for him to talk a large game in the U.S., but I would be doubtful if he were to stay strong when his foreign markets are threatened.

This is the exact same problem that so many “alter native” social media platforms—like Parler, GETTR, and the Trump Media & Technology Group’s Truth Social—have encountered. These sites quickly turn to intense moderation, even more so than Twitter’s rules, after they become flooded with bots, spam, porn, and other unwanted content. In a study done by Public Citizen, Truth Social was found to have more rules than most social media platforms and seemed to hand out bans more frequently and with little to no justification. Despite what Musk claims Twitter will be, the track record of these sorts of social media networks is not promising.

At the time of writing, Musk has yet to unveil the new rules for the network. I am curious to see what form Musk’s free speech promises will take. He enters into an incredibly challenging situation—one entirely of his own making—that will put his promises to the test. But the myopic view of free speech that Musk so desperately clings to will put Twitter under serious stress and might just break it.

What Does It Mean To Worship?: An Interview with Grey Zander

Diego Bascur

Worship is connection: to God, to each other, and to the world around us. As a Christian, I have found immense impor tance in the act of worship. Deepening my faith and surrendering to Christ have been products of my own personal worship. Grey Zander, a talented musician and student at Trinity Western University, sat down with me for a conversation on what worship means to him.

As I ponder the conversation which took place between Grey and I, feelings of new meaning and rejuvenation fill me. Worship in a musical sense is so open—free to be experienced in every possible way— and connects with each individual uniquely. That is the beauty of worship-filled music; it transcends differences and issues, seeping into the soul regard less of who we are.

Grey Zander:

“In general, worship is really anything that has heart and chords, which seeks to glorify God. I think the key word, personally, is grat itude. It’s expressing your gratitude for God. There’s a lot of worship that asks good ques tions, and I may not have it all figured out, but for me, worship is musical. It always has been. It’s an opportunity to tell God, “Thank you, for all you’ve done”—to proclaim truths, simple gospel truths.

“I grew up in a very performance-based church. There was worship, but it was always something you had to get into. That’s one thing that I’ve started to learn about: there can be a lot of over-spiritualization with worship. The idea of having a moment when the music starts is a very formal structure in its own sense. It’s supposed to feel free. And those moments do happen. But it’s almost like every moment has to be like the Pente cost. It puts the spirit into a cage, and so I started to realize, yes, there’s a lot of spiri tuality in music, and it’s amazing. But there’s also so much outside of it. It’s trying to shift to how we can make the music the most

spiritually inviting and take the other ele ments around it and make sure that those are complementary and just as important. Beforehand, I had to be in the music, and if I wasn’t in the music, and if I didn’t feel it, then I was a bad Christian. So, to me, what became really important [about] music is the way that I personally worship to be visible, and through that visibility, encouraging others to find their own way.

“I don’t like saying that performances are necessarily not worshipful. It’s all [about] where your intentions are. Some musicians or theatres will put on the most amazing performances, and if it’s in the name of the Lord, it’s absolutely right. I think where the line is drawn is in your desire. Are you per forming to glorify yourself? Or are you per forming to glorify God and to make others look up towards Them? I’ve noticed [that] we have to stop limiting worship in music, or even worshipful art in general, instead of just pushing contemporary music. It’s great music and a lot of people connect with it, which is awesome. But there’s so much more creation God called us to create, and enabled us to create, so all of its worship.”

“As history has most definitely proved, in the great “marketplace of ideas” that is the unchecked on line discourse, the “best” ideas always prevail.”

A Brief History of Western Theology

Bret van den Brink

“Deus autem est sua essentia, ut ostensum est. Si igitur non sit suum esse, erit ens per participationem, et non per essen tiam. Non ergo erit primum ens, quod absurdum est dicere.”* Thomas Aquinas, Summa Theologiae

Behold the tantrum of the god, Throwing lightning as his rod— Hear his thunder: hear his rage, Echoing from some disowned age!

How he mopes! His wives are gone And all of that old pantheon: To cheer him up, we raised him much, Not some being, but Being as such.

How well He reigned as pure Act: Myth interpenetrated Fact; Alas, when we conceived potential In Him, he had to fall.

When myth became mere myth again, We revolted against his reign, And as we pictured him with a head, We cut it off, and he was dead.

Alas, some of us still fear ire (Eternal hate, eternal fire), And so, as old, we bring him food To appease his swings of mood.

Of course, his hate is sempiternal And that flame merely diurnal, But what modern could be so thick As to use terms scholastic?

Impassible? Impossible! Simple? Simply not! Such would be a naïve Return to antique thought.

We are far wiser than past ages: They were bigots; we are sages— It is best to leave god’s reign And leave being unexplained.

*Editor’s Note — Using a quick Google search, this translates to: “But God is his own essence, as has been shown. If, therefore, it is not its own being, it will be a being by participation, and not by essence. Therefore it will not be the first being, which is absurd to say.” —Seth

HUMOUR

In Order to be Oxfordian

Sadie McDonald

Author’s Note: This is a satirical piece written in the role of C.S. Lewis—who once referred to himself as “The Old Woman of Oxford”—in response to his novel, Out of the Silent Planet

In order to be Oxfordian, one must first realize that the term “Oxfordian” is not limited to Oxford University’s campus nor England as a whole. What constitutes the label of Oxfordian is not a man’s dress code, status, or residence but his mind. Anyone can become an Oxfordian if they so please, but I warn you, it is only a desirable position for the bent ones.

First, one must devote themselves to the ma terial, because “seeing is believing.” Anything that is illusive or metaphorical must go, unless it is a three-hour tutorial with a prestigious professor whose multiple degrees allowed them to become smarter than most. Little Ox fordian, pick up your textbooks and put down your Bible, for it is time to become educated, where you will leave the top university in the world with nothing more than the conditioned morals with which you shall force on the peo ple around you.

Second, please know that the bestowment of your title is only temporary in your under graduate years. It would be silly to think a life-long label can get stuck on for good after four years of pressing. There is a world outside of your own that will try and rip that label off

and you must keep smoothing it down, despite all of its accumulated wrinkles.

Put yourself in a position where you have power and a platform to speak. The best way to learn is to teach, so why not become a professor yourself? Imagine the déjà vu that you would feel when returning to England to indoctrinate yet another set of twenty-some thing-year-olds, who attempt to seduce you by writing their thesis on your special topic of interest. (Which is everyone’s topic of interest because what is an individual? We are not a collection of individuals; we are an army of academics! If you were in a lecture right now, you would write that down, not because it means something, but because the person beside you did.)

You may question my qualifications for speak ing on this and point out my comedial tone, but I assure you that I am completely serious when discussing this pressing matter. From mentor to mentee, I wish you all the best in this world, one that will continually evolve into the same thing it has always been and always will be: the educational institute for the broken.

Yours truly, The Old Woman of Oxford

I Am The BeReal Man The BeReal Man

Oh, hello there, dear Reader. It is I, the BeReal Man.

Who am I? That is a complicated question. It seems silly that you ask, because I see you every day—well if you have the BeReal app. I see your feet behind the driver’s seat of your friend’s car, the hurried grins and peace signs of your peers as they rush to be a part of your post after class, and your bleary eyes at 3 a.m. because for some reason you are awake enough to post a selfie and have not set your phone to Do Not Disturb—I see it all. It makes me smile, how real you be, with not the slight est regard for whoever might be watching.

I am watching. I am always watching. Watching for her.

She left on a Thursday night. The wind was dancing, waltzing with the trees, whipping them back and forth with such zeal. The way I used to dance with her. She loved to dance. She loved to take pictures of herself dancing. The last I heard of her was the door of her 2012 Kia Soul slamming. As the Soul drove away, my soul departed with it. Death had never looked more desirable. All I could do was scroll through her social media accounts. She called herself an aspiring photographer, and her favourite subject was herself. She said it was her way of being real. Her pictures were my lifeline. Until she blocked me.

I made sixty alternate accounts. Somehow she figured out that every single one was me and

blocked them too. Maybe I shouldn’t have put her name in some of them. Or our old address, in case she had forgotten it. Perhaps “@mypre ciousdarlingpleasereturntomewhereareyou” wasn’t exactly subtle, but I was desperate at the time. She was all I could think about. The agony eventually drove me to madness, which is what led me to a genius idea.

I created a new app. An app that required peo ple to post pictures of themselves at seemingly random times, no matter where they were. An app to Be Real on. My masterpiece, my gift to her. My consolation and hope.

Every day, I sift through every photo, basing the times I request them on where I last see her. This is how I will find her, tracking her location through photographs. It takes me a while to find her among all the other users, and sometimes I go whole days without a glimpse of her, but I think I’m getting close. Someday I will wind up in the same place as she is. Someday her BeReal will feature me in the distance, running towards her, screaming her name, and holding out an enormous bou quet of forget-me-nots, her favourite flowers. Hopefully, her next BeReal after that will be me holding her instead, dancing like we used to, together at last.

Oh fiddlesticks, I meant to send this to The New York Times. She loves The New York Times I must have gotten the wrong email address. What is Mars’ Hill?

If you’re in . . .

BUSINESS

You look tired. The toil of corporate culture is running you down; why, you could slap a Herschel logo on those bags under your eyes. The best remedy for your fatigue is to venture through the Back 40 until you find the perfect tree. Once you find it, climb it. For best results, bring a friend and pretend you’re Edward from Twilight (2008), carrying Bella on your back until you reach the top. Hold on tight, spider monkey.

NURSING

I predict that one of your business major friends will soon ask you to climb a tree with them. They will probably prefer it if you hold onto their shoulders, and they may ask you to watch Twilight (2008) beforehand. You should do it. Might be fun.

EDUCATION

You have a long and stressful career ahead of you, so take this time to chill out, literally. Make your living space as cold as possible. Buy a mini fridge. Borrow some ice from Sodexo. Find fans, air conditioners, frozen pizza, anything that

will transform you into the coolest person on campus in every sense of the word.

HKIN

Be prepared for an unexpected drop in tem perature. Your dorm room will be freezing, and no amount of warm-ups, push-ups, or pull-ups will help. Any attempt you make to heat your living space will be shut down by the many Education majors that populate TWU. The best solution is to ask your smartest friends for help. Do you know any Science majors?

NATURAL & APPLIED SCIENCES

The best way to better yourself this week is to help others. I predict that your HKIN friends will have an unusual problem for you to solve. Never mind the question—I have the answer already. What your friends need is to harness the power of nature. What’s warmer than a good old-fashioned wood fireplace? Go find a sharp tool from one of your labs big enough to chop down a tree in the Back 40.

SOCIAL SCIENCES

You of all people know how important it is to better your mental health. Exercise and nature do wonders for the spirit while boosting physi-

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Opinions (Spicy Takes)

Sports (Athletics Updates or Musings)

Arts & Culture (Stuff That’s Popular or Should Be) Humour (The Funny Stuff)

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cal stamina. Go take a nature walk in the Back 40 this week. Why don’t you bring some friends too? Then the experience can be socially en riching too; you can relax with loved ones while admiring the beautiful trees.

HUMANITIES

You are about to witness a terrible tragedy very soon. Might as well go to the gym and practice your vocal projection skills, because you will need to prepare to run screaming for help.

SAMC

Take some time for self-care this week. If someone runs to you screaming for help, ignore them. It’s not your problem. No matter how many sirens you hear or signs of emergency you see, don’t let it rub off on you. Just breathe and let go. You deserve this.

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