Volume 25 Issue 5: Aftermath

Aftermath

Truth is Relative PG. 6

TWURise’s Call to Action PG. 8

VOLUME 25 ISSUE 05

Academic Prioritization PG. 10-11

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MEET THE

TEAM SBR

LETTER FROM THE

EDITOR

It is no secret that COVID-19 sucks. As humanity currently exists in a world of tragedy, worry, and angst, we have often felt barraged by the other events that have occurred in this strange year of 2020. As COVID-19 shows no sign of slowing at the moment, the current mentality of blaming all misfortune on the year does nothing to inspire a stronger outlook on life.

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Acknowledging tragedy is the first step in footstooling past nightmarish scenarios. Once this recognition takes place, solutions may seem dim. Do I, the most average man, have any idea, let alone say, in ending COVID-19? No, neither do you. With that considered, doing our job is important. Wearing your mask in public settings, listening to health officials, and retaining hope for the future are all vital. Solutions to the current status of our nation do not place us in positions of authority over others, but governance over our daily action does the trick.

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Keep your chin up; we are not done here yet. r

“They had us in the first half, [I’m] not gonna lie.” - Apollos Hester

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MARS’ HILL

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MEDIA ADVISOR: Loranne Brown 22500 University Drive, Langley Twp, British Columbia, Canada V2Y 1Y1 marshill@gmail.com marshillnewspaper.com IG @marshillnewspaper Twitter @marshillnews facebook.com/marshillnewspaper

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Mars’ Hill is a student publication of Trinity Western University located on the traditional ancestral territory of the Sto:lo 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.

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.

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.

CONTRIBUTORS

Sydney Dvorak Alisha Pinto Malar Chandran Tegan Peterson Adriene Duguay Micah Morgan

Bethany Haynes Adam Gehrig Frits Kuhn Emmett Hanly Alice Jun

DECLASSIFIEDS SUBMIT YOUR OWN AT MARSHILLNEWSPAPER.COM/DECLASSIFIEDS

Thank-you to Janae Gartly for your article “Science is not your opinion”, I would further highlight that the Bible contains four different creation accounts. Ancient writers wrote history as a form of meaning, not literal events.

Jake and Amy from Brooklyn 99 have set my relationship standards too high

Ellie Forsyth, you’re a sweet, deep, compassionate, inspirational human.

Excited for your grad!

Yeah, sex is great, but have you ever handed in a paper within a minute of the deadline?

Collegiums are either super crowded or they’re dead there’s no in between

to the boys in Fraser 3G: you are all extremely fun to look at

y’all we need another pass/fail semester

If you’ll notice, on your student card, there’s a deliberate spot for you to put a sticker, and you should put a sticker there ( :

give me the epidural.- JPK

dream job is to be spiritual guidance counsellor for Kanye west. God know he need it “ngl I kinda love cancel culture.” -Jakob P. Krause “I love angsty dads” - Our VP, Abigail Sefzik , 2020

yea, I have my own (super old fashion) vacuum cleaner in my apartment :) stay clean DECK HIM JASKAR When will the SAMC theatre do a musical production of “Jesus Christ Superstar?”

Is a rubber band a soup or a sandwich?

“Am I attracted to this person? Or are they just the first eligible person I’ve flirted with in 9 months?” #quarantineproblems

A good gender neutral phrase to substitute for “hey guys” is “hey y’all.”

Can we stop calling inanimate objects and abstract ideas “she”?

Heh

CJ Schuetz, you’re fun

Matthew Dennis is the greatest CF of all time Ranting in the declassifieds is like screaming into the void not so fast, u fool...... slow down and enjoy God’s rest (: Hi eleanor, hope ur thriving To the person who submitted that beautiful poem as a declassified: you’re talented. Submit your work to Spaces. -Mars’ Hill Production Team Shoutout to my brain for depositing my negative first-year memories into the stratosphere never to be seen again

A person who criticizes others harshly is a hypocrite and a double standard I’m the kind of girl who has no idea whether someone is attracted to me or not unless they say it to my face. I feel like I offended some people b/c of this... #sorry #somegirlsarelikethat Okay Gilmore Girls fans, let’s settle this. Logan, Jess, or Dean?

“We hope you’ll read the entire paper next time!”

That’s so true for all my courses, not just the newspaper :o hbd bb v #23 <3

WHAT IS SOMETHING GOOD THAT HAPPENED TO YOU IN 2020?

Adventured to my heart’s content Learning that change is o.k.

The LLC Got to live my introverted dream of being a secluded hermit for several months I learned to love my body and recovered from years of disordered behaviors.

Got engaged!

I met some pretty cool people and got a car for a bit Gotten even closer to my friends even though we are apart often <3

My Abbotsford riding unseated the longtime Liberal incumbent and turned NDP! voting works I got a pet fish!

Time with family

came out to my family as queer & a huge burden was lifted off me because of it!

Certain profs finally started using moodle

I trained my squirrel to sit on my head :D

I golfed a lot. Good for the fun, bad for the bank account.

I started going to counselling! So challenging but so worth it.

Got a really cool job

I finally learned how to put on fake eyelashes I realized which people in my life matter most and are willing to stick with me through it all I got a job during quarantine at a plant nursery and got to help people plan out their gardens :)

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.

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NEWS OP-ED: THE PROBLEM WITH HUAWEI EMMA DYKSTRA Canada is now the only member of the Five Eyes intelligence alliance that has not formally banned Huawei from its 5G networks. After a failed $2.3 million quest for a UN Security Council seat, Canada seems to be in search of a calling on the international level. Its lack of a stance on Huawei leaves one wondering why it will not cease the opportunity to forge a new path of international identity when it has the chance.

For those who do not know, the Five Eyes is an intelligence alliance composed of Australia, Canada, the United States, New Zealand, and the United Kingdom. The five nations have a treaty for joint cooperation in signals intelligence.

What is Huawei? The controversial telecommunications company is the world’s largest supplier of network equipment. It employs about 180 000 people and is based in the Chinese tech hub of Shenzhen. Huawei is the second largest smartphone supplier after Samsung, responsible for 18 percent of the smartphone market.

But Huawei has not been welcomed in Western nations with open arms.

U.S. intelligence agencies have linked the company with the Chinese government, the communist People’s Republic of China (PRC). Due to rising tensions between the PRC and Western powers, there are concerns that the technology being developed by Huawei could be used to spy and that the equipment may contain “backdoors.”

There is no evidence for these claims; however, the concern remains for several reasons. The United States has raised concerns about China’s 2017 National Intelligence Law, which states that organizations and businesses must “support, co-operate with and collaborate in national intelligence work.” Huawei would have to comply with any government demands the PRC made. The UK set up a security evaluation centre to monitor Huawei and noted in March of 2019 that it had not found any

evidence of Chinese state activity, but did find some defects in Huawei’s software engineering and cyber security competence. But on July 14, 2020 the UK announced it had significantly changed its security assessment and effectively banned Huawei technology from its 5G systems.

Many countries are moving from 4G to 5G mobile networks. The new 5G network will be faster, cleaner, and will improve the way we work and communicate with our mobile devices. Letting Huawei play a part in the installation of these new networks could give it the ability to spy and disrupt telecommunications as tensions rise between countries. Networks control everything, from our cell phones to flights, remote surgeries to fire alarms. If a foreign government with malicious intent had a “backdoor” and access to the networks that control our everyday lives, it would be disastrous.

If one of the Five Eyes decided to allow Huawei into its 5G networks, the other eyes might get uneasy or, even worse, remove a nation from the alliance making it the Four Eyes (which has significantly less of a ring to it).

Canada has delayed this decision which has made it difficult for Huawei to become a part of the country’s 5G development, but it has not made it an impossibility.

It is no secret that Canada and China have had a frosty relationship recently. Tensions between the United States and China have put Canada in an awkward position. However, four of Canada’s closest allies have taken steps of extreme caution in the name of protecting their citizens from violations of privacy. Canada should remove itself from the chess game between the U.S. and China by taking the firm stance that the U.S., U.K., Australia, and New Zealand already have. Four of five eyes are wide open. To paraphrase Conservative leader Erin O’Toole, Canada should question why it insists on keeping its eyes shut.

COLUMN: FEMINIST NEWS FEMALE LEADERS IN NIGERIA’S #ENDSARS PROTESTS

SYDNEY DVORAK

Content Warning: sexual violence.

Demonstrations against the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS), a Nigerian police force unit, broke out in Nigeria beginning on October 8, 2020. Amnesty International documented at least 82 cases of torture, ill treatment, and extra-judicial execution by SARS between January 2017 and May 2020. While police violence has been predominantly directed at young Nigerian men, members of the police have also perpetrated sexualized violence and attacks against women. As a result, young Nigerian women are mobilizing and leading the #EndSARS movement.

After a video of a SARS member killing a man extrajudicially was posted to social media, Nigerians took to the streets to protest against police brutality. Peaceful protesters have been shot at, beaten, illegally arrested, and even killed by police.

Amid the protests, the Inspector-General of Police claimed that any errant officer would face punishment, but those protesting #EndSARS are not content with this as a solution. Nicholas Alabi, the coordinator of Concerned Nigerian Youths said: “We are calling for a total end to SARS.

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The personnel cause more harm than good in Nigeria. They have embarrassed, harassed, kidnapped, extorted and killed thousands of Nigerian youths.”

Nigerian woman Olorunrinu Oduala was one of the organizers who slept in front of the Lagos Government House in protest. She told the Punch Newspaper, “We are coming out because we are tired of being harassed

by SARS men; we are speaking out to show our grievances to the government.”

Women’s rights activist and organizer behind Stand to End Rape, Oluwaseun Ayodeji Osowobi, says: “Young women are having a critical role in sustaining this movement, and young people across Nigeria feel like leaders in their own right. Nobody is really safe. I know mothers who have lost their children, I know women who have been raped by these people, I know those who have died, so I have a responsibility too to make sure I fight for the rights of young Nigerians.”

At every area of these protests, it is women who are bravely organizing to end police brutality in Nigeria.

COLUMN: WHAT THE HONK?

PRESIDENTIAL PIPELINE POLITICS: BIDEN WIN SPELLS END OF KEYSTONE GRACE GIESBRECHT

Environment or economy? That is the perennial question at the root of debate on the expansion of the fossil fuel industry today.

Though the two policy pursuits are not mutually exclusive, they tend to conflict.

Economies based on natural resources are not environmentally sustainable, and policy to protect the environment and curb climate change handcuffs them.

One of the major conflicts of this nature is the world of pipeline politics, and such pipeline politics will be the root of the effect that Biden’s victorious presidential campaign will have on Canada.

Alberta’s Keystone XL Pipeline project teeters on the brink of failure once again in the aftermath of the 2020 American presidential election. The project, which the Alberta government invested heavily in both financially and politically for a decade, was approved via presidential permit by the Trump administration after being cancelled in 2015 by President Obama.

The US’ $8 billion project proposes a pipeline that would transport up to 830 000 barrels of oil a day from Alberta to Nebraska before the product goes to refineries on the Gulf Coast. Despite Trump’s permit, the project has continued to face legal and regulatory hurdles. According to the Canadian Press, as part of a much more effective environmental action plan than that of the Trump administration, Biden has promised to end the project.

The Biden platform promises sweeping environmental action, including massive investments in clean energy, a commitment to net-zero carbon emissions by 2050, and a return to the 2015 United Nations Paris Agreement on Climate Change. This international agreement requires party nations to commit to reducing greenhouse gases. These are commitments already made by the Canadian government under Trudeau, and the Biden platform on climate change matches—even outpaces in some areas—Canada’s current climate policy trajectory.

Biden has promised to end the Keystone XL project, something that he has the authority to do by Presidential permit and therefore would not require the approval of the Republican-led senate. This is a high profile, high impact, and highly doable environmental move, but cancelling a major project in difficult economic times affects people both in the United States and beyond its borders.

“This is one of the few issues where a stark difference between the candidates will have a tangible effect on Alberta,” writes energy journalist Markham Hislop with Energi Media. “Biden has promised to cancel [the project.]” This tangible effect looks like lost jobs for oilfield and pipeline construction workers.

The effect of Biden’s climate policy, though it may spell the end of this pipeline project, projects interesting results for competition between the two nations. Where Canadian companies have previously faced environmental policy handicaps compared to American companies under Trump’s pro-business model, the two will now operate on a level playing field with Biden’s introduction of similar environmental restrictions.

Alberta Premier Jason Kenney, however, is still optimistic for the future of the project: “Canada and the United States must work closely together to protect lives and livelihoods through the COVID crisis, and to return our economies to growth,” Kenney said. “Alberta looks forward to doing our part in advancing that growth agenda, working with the next U.S. administration and Congress.”

WHAT THE HONK IS FIRST PAST THE POST? EMMA DYKSTRA

If you were talking with someone about the electoral college two weeks ago and they said “Yeah, but doesn’t Canada kind of do the same thing?” it is now your job to send this column to them, because they are wrong.

Canada’s voting system is very different from the electoral college. Canada uses a system known as First Past the Post (FPTP), also known as a single member plurality system. The FPTP name refers to a horse race, where the horse that passes the post first is the winner. It doesn’t matter how closely behind the other horse was, you just have to pass that sacred post before anyone else.

The United States tallies votes by state, whereas in Canada, we tally votes by riding. Each state is worth a certain number of electoral votes that a candidate needs to win the presidency, which was linked to the population of the state at the time, but is no longer representative in this way. In Canada, each riding represents roughly the same number of people, and is worth one seat in the House of Commons. There are 338 ridings across Canada.

When you vote in your riding, you are voting for a Member of Parliament (MP) who will represent your riding and the party they belong to. When Canadians vote, they are voting for an MP on the ballot instead of a Prime Minister. A leader of a party becomes a Prime Minister after their party wins the most seats.

The one similarity between the Canadian and American voting systems is that just like there are safe states for candidates, there are also safe ridings. A vote for the Green Party in an Alberta riding is about as useful as a vote for the Republicans in California. But ridings are much smaller than states. Canada’s system is not foolproof, but it arguably does a better job trying to represent all citizens than the Electoral College does.

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TRUTH IS RELATIVE: COVID-19, DONALD TRUMP, AND TRUTH ON TWITTER GRACE GIESBRECHT

In the new world of social media, truth is relative. It is mediated by screens, algorithms and popular opinion designed to provide not the best information possible, but the information that is most likely to persuade, frustrate, or scare you. Truth has become solely what social media platforms think will keep us interested, addicted, and obsessed.

This dynamic is questionable in average years but this year is far from average. COVID-19 has had an extreme impact on the way some social media platforms handle the infamous “fake news” spiralling out of control on their platforms.

to Donald Trump’s tweets. But Facebook and Google have both remained neutral, and outsource debunking rumours and fake news to third parties.

According to Reuters, Twitter has been tightening content policies for several years after recognizing that abuse had grown rampant. The smaller social media giant began adding fact-checking labels to tweets with potential misinformation about COVID-19 in early 2020, then applied these labels to President Donald Trump’s tweets, both about COVID-19 and claims of election fraud and mail-in ballots.

Twitter differs from larger social media companies in its willingness to add fact-checking labels to politicians. Until recently, it remained in the broader camp of Facebook and similar sites, who allowed great impunity to most political figures. Until COVID-19, “[Twitter had] decided that heads of state will have their own set of rules, which basically have been until now, no rules,” according to Vaidhyanathan. Regular Twitter users cannot condone or champion violence and would have been checked for obviously misleading information, but until recently heads of state have had free reign.

Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg has resisted calls to fact-check politicians, saying that social media networks should not be “arbiters of truth.”

He has a point: fact-checking, whether third-party or Twitter’s own team, is not a silver bullet that will stop the werewolf of misinformation in its tracks.

It simply moves responsibility for truth from one source (the users and the algorithms that determine what they see) to another (the fact-checkers themselves). This is certainly a move in the right direction, but it is not perfect.

“To a degree, fact-checking is subjective. It’s subjective in what you pick to check, and it’s subjective in how you rate something,” said Aaron Sharockman, executive director of U.S. fact-checking site PolitiFact, who said Twitter’s process was opaque. Twitter has been working to develop their fact-checking process into something transparent and public, but is still a work in process, according to a statement made to Reuters.

“The fact that you can have misinformation about a public health emergency and very quickly contribute to the demise of hundreds of thousands of people raises the stakes.” Siva Vaidhyanathan, a University of Virginia media studies professor, told CBC. “Disinformation and fighting disinformation, once we have a global pandemic, is no longer merely a political matter—something that might affect an election and have some downstream effects. [It now] in fact, can have direct effects on people’s lives.”

Is it the responsibility of technology companies and their social media platforms to fact-check content in order to curb the spread of misinformation, or should they strive for neutrality? Twitter has begun to pursue fact-checking on misinformation about COVID-19 and has been attaching fact-checking labels

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Though moving in a positive direction, fact-checking specific tweets from Trump about COVID-19 is not the entire solution. Social media platforms are still designed to make money, which requires constant use by its users and therefore their constant fascination and obsession. They are not built for truth.

“Nothing has changed in any measurable way.” Vaidhyanathan said. “Twitter has decided to take Donald Trump’s specific tweets to task in certain circumstances. That’s not going to have a macro effect on the spread of disinformation and confusion, which is really the goal here on Twitter.” Furthermore, Twitter is a small fish compared to Facebook. For every Twitter user, there are 8 Facebook users. If mis-and dis- information can be curbed on social media, according to Vaidhyanathan, “Facebook is where the game is.”

ARTS & CULTURE ALL VOTES ARE CREATED UNEQUAL EMMA DYKSTRA

All of the world was frantically Googling how the electoral college worked on the evening of November 3, as this age-old system was about to decide the fate of the free world. The electoral college has been a heavily-debated system of counting votes in the past, especially with President Donald Trump’s win in 2016 where he won through electoral votes, but not the popular vote, which he lost by nearly two million votes.

ho. Idaho is a classic red state. “I’m a left-wing voter,” he explains, “who lives on the border between Idaho and Washington. Idaho is one of the reddest states in America; we haven’t voted for a Democrat for president since the Vietnam War,” he says. “The end result is that voting sometimes feels like little more than a waste of a good Tuesday.”

If you vote blue in a red safe state or vice versa, chances are your vote is not going to have much of an impact. It is difficult to encourage Americans to vote when in some states, their vote will have little to no impact.

“I don’t think I’ve ever met a person whose vote has genuinely mattered,” concludes Pernsteiner when speaking of his blue Idaho friends. “Our votes are either drowned out by the overwhelming majority of voters in our state, or they join those voices and simply add one more meaningless vote for a candidate who was going to win their state anyway.”

First, a quick summary for those who do not know what the electoral college is: the electoral college is a system in the United States where different states have a different number of electoral votes. If a president gets the majority of the votes in a state, they win that state’s electoral votes. For example, Trump won 58 percent of Utah, which means he won Utah’s six electoral votes. The winner needs to get 270 out of the 538 total electoral votes.

The system is arguably permeated with unnecessary complications that have led to four elections in American history where a winner claimed the presidency even after losing the popular vote. Rather than chasing voters, candidates chase states. States that are classified as red and blue (Republican and Democrat) are safe places for candidates, whereas swing states could go either way. These unsettled states become the focus of both the electoral college and the candidates. In the 2016 election, 90 percent of Trump and Clinton’s campaign stops were in these battleground states.

Alex Pernsteiner, a former Trinity Western University political studies student, experiences this situation every election like déjà vu in his home state of Ida-

At the end of a successful election, the phrase “we did it” gets thrown around.

Sadly, for Democrats and Republicans who live in safe states which never swing, the way they vote can barely take credit for their successes due to the antiquated format of the electoral college. How can Americans feel inspired to vote in a system that does not seek to represent every single American?

A SUPREMACIST SITCOM: THE CALCULATED WHITENESS IN FRIENDS ALISHA PINTO

Friends, a sitcom first released in 1984, remains one of America’s most beloved TV shows. It tells the story of six individuals in their mid to late twenties trying to make it through life’s challenges. I have rewatched this show about four times now and have been entertained each time. I consider myself an activist, a body positivity enthusiast, and a feminist. However, everytime I rewatch this show, I manage to put aside my entire personality and submit myself to looking for at least six examples of white, privileged, homophobic, and body shaming individuals.

from syndication revenue. If anything, this money shows how easy it is for Hollywood to thrive on a foundation of white-based stories––the stories that garner no cries for explanations and apologies.

Friends filmed its last episode in 2004 but not once does it respect and accurately portray any person of color or their story. To provide context, on August 28, 1963, some 250,000 people, both Black and white, participated in the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom, the largest demonstration in the history of the nation’s capital and the most significant display of the civil rights movement’s increasing strength. Here, Martin Luther King Jr. delivered his “I have a dream” speech. In 1965, Malcolm X was shot to death after being incarcerated for six years. In that same year the Voting Rights Act was passed in August. In 1968, MLK was shot on a balcony of a motel where he had gone to support a sanitation worker’s strike. In 2001, Colin Powell became the Secretary of State making him the first African-American to serve as a diplomat.

Is there any excuse for the blatant lack of Black representation in the show?

Once again, this show ended in 2004 which means the third wave of feminism was strong and active in the world of film and television. Despite the political and social climate, the producers manage to continue glorifying the irrelevant stories of these white individuals.

This show has no business existing in 2020, yet it continues to be Netflix’s proudest achievement. There is one reason for that: money. According to Business Insider, “for the show’s first season, the six stars were reportedly each paid $22 500 per episode. For comparison, that would be close to $600,000 today. In the second season, some were making up to $40 000 per episode.” Today, each Friends actor earns $19-20 million from royalties each year, meaning the company Warner Bros is pulling around $1 billion a year

Despite all this, actress Lisa Kudro mentioned in an interview with E! that Friends should be looked at as a “time capsule” and that at the time the show was progressive as it included two lesbians, one Asian lady, and one Black lady. Looking at where the world is right now, there is no reason for this “time capsule” to exist. By existing on Netflix and other streaming services, it is legitimizing the white experience while making billions of dollars for the privileged actors and producers tied to the show.

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DEAR ABLE-BODIED AND NEUROTYPICAL STUDENTS: TWURISE’S CALL TO ACTION TEGAN PETERSON AND ADRIENE DUGUAY Dear able-bodied and neurotypical students, There is no sense in going over how the ongoing pandemic has caused hurt and harm to every individual. There is no sense in shouting over each other how one group of people’s problems are more challenging, more unique, or more serious than another’s. We are all exhausted. However, I humbly ask you to consider the experiences and perspectives of a historically marginalized group, a group of people who yell––and continue to yell––yet struggle to be heard. Our struggles are not more important than yours, but they need to be heard.

Health-wise, people with disabilities are disproportionately affected by COVID-19. Men who are disabled are over six times more likely to die from COVID than able-bodied men, and that rate rises to eleven times more for women who are disabled. What has been called a human rights scare by disability activists occurred right at the start of the pandemic in the UK. The NHS released guidelines which assessed COVID patients on a Clinical Frailty Scale in order to determine whether they would be permitted critical care. An overwhelming number of people with disabilities have too low a score on the scale as they need assistance in daily functioning. In this case, they would receive end-of-life care as opposed to their high functioning or able-bodied counterparts. While this guideline was specifically designed to be used if there was a critical care bed shortage, the dismissal of the lives of people with disabilities is undeniable.

This is just one example of the ways in which accessibility and quality of care has been diminished or made unavailable for many individuals with disabilities.

to understand you hits rock bottom. Now with the essential need to wear masks, my crutch of lip reading is gone. The idea of entering a social situation where people will be wearing masks––which is essentially any situation outside of my bubble––causes me anxiety beforehand, extreme stress during, and exhaustion afterwards. Often it is easier to just not put myself in that situation, but you can imagine the negative implications for my mental health that come from that. So, after many months of lockdown, I push myself to go to the cafeteria, to coffee shops, and to hangouts with friends. I then am forced to deal with the mixed emotions of joy that I get from these experiences as well as the pain from the extreme stress I am experiencing––pain I am experiencing alone.”

“I am so alone,” says TWURise member, Adriene Duguay, who shares her experience of social isolation as an individual with a learning disability.

“Before COVID, there were times when I felt alone, but now I am alone. I attend classes alone, I prepare for exams alone, and I study alone. But the most painful part about doing school alone is the part where I listen to all of my thoughts alone. I have a learning disability that affects my learning in several different areas. Because of this, it takes me about double the time to achieve a passing grade, I read a single paragraph about three times before I begin to understand it, and I lose my train of thought more often than you lose your car keys. We are all alone in our thoughts, until we invite someone to hear them, but when there is no one to hear them, you are back to being alone in your thoughts.” Adriene continues: “The feeling of being alone is a particularly common feeling among individuals with disabilities. Unfortunately, COVID has only increased this feeling as individuals have lost access to their go-to communities, support systems, and peers. Every day I sit down for school and I have to dig deep for some ounce of courage because the most painful thoughts are the thoughts that I have when I sit down in that chair as I attempt to complete my journey through education, alone.”

For some, understanding the effects of COVID on an individual with a disability may feel very unrelatable as it is not just about the virus itself.

Our goal is to increase awareness on this topic one step at a time. We want to break down the barriers of stereotypes and biases by building an understanding of the commonly unthought factors of life affected amidst the pandemic.

Let’s start small. People with disabilities and exceptionalities are all around you. Like that really smart kid in your bio class, or that cute girl in the cafeteria. TWURise is Trinity Western University’s accessibility club.

Our members are the smart kid in bio and the girl in the cafeteria, and we are facing an abundance of everyday hurdles brought to us by COVID. The hurdles we face might be small in comparison to being denied critical care or being unable to access routine healthcare, but they are major factors of our lives that cannot continue to be overlooked.

Tegan Peterson, a member of TWURise, asks: “have you ever thought about how stressful it is to not understand language?” She implores readers to “imagine entering every social situation struggling to hear what someone is saying to you, asking you, and laughing about.” Tegan explains her experience on relying heavily on lip reading during the pandemic, sharing that,: “understanding speech is difficult and exhausting enough when I am in a quiet environment and can lip read, but add in factors like other conversations, cars driving by, or music and my ability

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Dear able-bodied and neurotypical students, the first step to being an ally is listening. Amplify disabled and neurodiverse voices, diversify your news and social media feeds. Educate yourself about ableism, accessibility, and how the world is built for a very specific and narrow level of functioning and ability. Take us seriously. Listen to the yelling, but tune into the whispers.

Sincerely, Your dormmate, your classmate, your teammate, your friend.

AFTER ALCOHOL MALAR CHANDRAN

Content Warning: addiction, substance abuse, suicide.

I remember sitting in an addictions class that I was taking in Spring 2020 wondering if I was an alcoholic.

I thought: surely, it could not be possible. How could I, a student of the Masters in Counselling Psychology program, also be an addict? Surely, my problems were not as serious. Surely, my desire in drinking to numbout was normal and healthy. I held the idea that counsellors were supposed to be perfect and not struggle, especially not with something as stigmatized as an addiction.

When I first admitted to myself and those close to me that I had an addiction to alcohol, there were mixed responses. My family was anxious.

Some of my close friends seemed to treat me differently. I lost trust in my then therapist’s ability to help me. It was a hard decision to choose to change and get help for myself; and not to add to this, there was also the shame that came with being an alcoholic and pressure from others to change.

I thought back to my own first experience with alcohol. I remember it clearly––I had first started drinking while at my grandparents’ house at the age of 14. I had decided to drink without them knowing, because I felt dark and empty inside, and desperately wanted to feel different. And I did feel different. Alcohol allowed me to escape into an alternate reality which was free of the pain of this world. Soon, I became addicted to the pleasure that came with drinking, and particularly the distance it provided between myself and my own problems and traumas. Some days, I even believed that it could help me perform better at school and in life in general.

That did not mean that alcohol did not also bring me harm. I thought that drinking more would bring me more freedom from pain, but the opposite was true. I found myself feeling ashamed every time I drank too much and experienced blackouts. I felt as if I betrayed myself when I was sober enough to say no and stand up for myself. I noticed how I was unable to recall what I had studied when I attempted an exam while drinking at the same time. I found myself deep in the depths of emotional pain and attempting suicide. My body felt worse and worse. Maybe, alcohol also made it worse for me.

I noticed more and more that my drinking was becoming a problem. I felt like I was going down a very slippery slope––possibly one that I would not be able to come up from. Was it okay that I was the one in pain, the one in need of help? Was it acceptable that I had a problem, that I was not perfect?

Today, I am 80 days sober. The cravings still come, especially on days when my mental health is worse and on already difficult days. Now, I have to learn to stay in the present even when it feels unbearable. Today, I am sure that alcohol will make life worse for me. Today, I choose to stay sober for my own physical and mental health. Life is hard, and being an international student during a pandemic is hard. But I choose to believe that the future can be better, that I can grow into a healthier me.

THE ART OF SHOPPING LOCAL MONICA RAWLEK

Whether it be tithing to your local church, sponsoring a child overseas, buying a really cute pair of leather boots, a bluetooth speaker with tons of bass, or a subscription to The New Yorker; where we direct our finances often signifies what we care most about.

One of my top love languages is gift-giving. I love giving people gifts, big and small, that remind me of them and our friendship. Christmas time is an excellent opportunity for reflecting back on the year’s joys and challenges and letting those who are close to you know how much they mean to you. For some people, this looks like intentional conversations, written letters, or quality time. However, Christmas in North American culture is characterized by the exchanging of gifts.

Shopping local is something that is often advertised, especially in small towns (shout out to Williams Lake). We have a choice of where we spend our money and the choices that we make show what we value. One of the internet giants, Amazon, is a major competitor to shopping local and supporting those in your community as it offers free shipping, fast turnaround time, and cheap prices.While local shops work hard, Amazon Prime appears to work harder. Although this may all be true we must hold ourselves accountable to considering the “true cost” of Amazon which presents major challenges to our environment and small businesses alike.

COVID-19 has brought financial hardship for many people: if you cannot afford to shop local and support small businesses then there is no shame in that. In our efforts to support one another, we must be careful not to condemn those who are unable to show their support in the same way we do.

November 28 is “small business Saturday,” the day after Black Friday. This is the perfect time to pick up gifts for the holidays and support local businesses at the same time.

Here are some things to keep in mind (stats provided by Nettlestale, a great small business based out of Vancouver): 97 percent of businesses in Canada have less than 100 employees, classifying them as small businesses. 70 percent of the country’s total private labour force is employed by a small business. Canadians on average, aim to spend one third of their holiday budget at a small business. As a result of COVID-19, one in seven small businesses are at risk of closing for good.

There are different facts and statistics that circulate this time of year and it can be hard to determine what best accurately reflects our current situation. Nevertheless, the underlying question behind these statistics remains the same: what is important to you and how are your actions demonstrating this? Supporting small and local businesses often gives you the opportunity to not just buy a product but to build a relationship with those in the community around you. With local businesses come local stories, dreams, and challenges. Although it may require a greater financial investment, some things are worth investing in. However you decide to spend your money I urge you, as I remind myself, to keep that in mind this holiday season.

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FISCAL PRUDENCE OR FLAWED PRIORITIES? A CALL FOR CONTINUED ACADEMIC DIVERSITY AT TWU TYLER JONES AND MAKENA WARDLE There are a variety of reasons a student would choose to make Trinity Western University (TWU) their place of study: academics come for a specific esteemed field of study, athletes come for its renowned sports programs, and others attend for the concept of a Christian-based education. However, one of the most prominent features that sets TWU apart from other universities locally, and many others across North America, is that it classifies itself as a Liberal Arts University.

departments into revenue-based quintiles, resources are reallocated to academic programs that gain the most money in order to increase profit for the institution as a whole.

This concept is currently being applied at the University of Saskatchewan (UofS). Professor Eric Howe of the Economics Department details the process taken by the UofS in his article “The Emperor Isn’t Wearing Any Clothes: Intellectually Bankrupt Academic Prioritization.” Howe displays the methodology used by the UofS. The quintiles were laid out as so, organizing programs from highest revenue earned to lowest by 20 percent intervals:

1. Highest 20 percent of revenue earned within the program are awarded with additional funds.

2. Second highest 20 percent of programs are maintained as is.

3. Middle 20 percent will undergo a reduction of funds.

A Liberal Arts education is one that incorporates a variety of fields of study into the edification of a student. As its own website states, while at TWU students will “take courses in Foundations, Academic Research and Writing, Logical and Ethical Reasoning, Religious and Spiritual Thought, and Scientific Method and Lab Research.” These categories all include an array of different academic programs. For example, many philosophy courses would fall under Logical and Ethical reasoning, and a variety of biology courses would fall under Scientific Method and Lab Research. Though students still pick a major (and often a minor or a concentration) in a specific field of study, students at TWU are required to partake in courses that fall outside of the academic program they have selected.

Though TWU prides itself on its designation as a Liberal Arts university, the infamous concept of “Academic Prioritization,” which is referred to as the Institutional Prioritization Process (IPP) at TWU, has been brought to the attention of faculty at the institution. Stemming from the administrative body of TWU, it seems as if this is becoming a possible reality for our institution. Before diving into the logistics of how this affects TWU, explaining the meaning behind Academic Prioritization is paramount.

Unlike traditional academia, Academic Prioritization bases itself on the revenue generated by each academic program. Categorizing

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4. Second lowest 20 percent are subject to reconfiguration of the program.

5. Lowest 20 percent are considered candidates for elimination.

While the figures may look different for each institution that decides to implement Academic Prioritization, the aforementioned quintiles display that one in five programs were given up to the discretion of dollar value at the UofS. In multiple interviews with professors who may find themselves on the wrong end of the IPP at TWU, numerous concerns were raised against the possible forthcoming changes. As enrollment increased this year, faculty members were astounded at the timing of the deployment of IPP. Coming in the thick of major adjustments made due to the COVID-19 pandemic, professors are now worried about the security of their jobs, and the students who struggle with online learning. In summary, the timing of IPP could not be worse for professors. In one interview, a professor stated: “I am not opposed to fiscal prudence, but the ideals of the institution are being thrown into question with the IPP.” The professor proceeded to state that the nature of these decisions do not make sense based on the academic performance of these programs, even stating that post-graduate programs could take a hit in addition to many undergraduate ones.

Professors are currently being asked to plead their case to the TWU administration about why their programs deserve to remain active.

Asking professors to justify the existence of their own fields of study to the very same university that hired them to teach it is not only confusing, but lacks any form of linear logic.

Through the IPP’s possible manifestation, the priorities of TWU’s administration seems to be very clear: money and development. Any current or prospective student at TWU should be extremely concerned about the IPP. Not only does it affect the current nature of our Liberal Arts institution, but goes against the notion of academic diversity within TWU. From what we have seen occur at other universities that undergo Academic Prioritization, the elimination of these fields of studies as degrees does not necessarily mean that one will not be able to take courses in these subjects at all. A student may still be able to take a few history courses within their Liberal Arts education, even if history is one of the programs that is abolished. However, the prioritization of the programs based solely off of the revenue provided to TWU goes against the foundational aspects of a Liberal Arts education. As a university which claims that “no matter what program you choose, [its] chief goal is to support, inspire, and equip you for success and personal growth,” eliminating programs that many students show interest in for the sole reason that they do not produce as much money goes against TWU’s own values.

Professors are pleading for their jobs, calling for unity from the student body to rally behind them in response to the IPP. With all of these factors in mind, it is now time for students and alumni to speak up against the IPP. Contributions can vary, but dialogue must be respectful. Consider sending a letter to a TWU administrator, and sharing why your field of study has had a profound impact on your life, personal growth, and education. The weight of this responsibility should not rest solely on our professors’ shoulders.

COLUMN: TWUSA A SERIES OF UNFORTUNATELY CANCELLED EVENTS FRITS KUHN Big crowds, loud dance parties, lavish galas; these were the things I had come to expect from TWUSA’s events after three years at Trinity Western University (TWU). And these were the things I was hoping to give back to TWU when I was hired to organize TWUSA’s events for this year, all the way back in February. Less than a month into the job, however, a little thing called COVID-19 ruined everyone’s plans and bankrupted the market for big social gatherings. “No worries,” I thought to myself. “By the time September rolls around, this will all be sorted out.” That is exactly what happened and all of TWUSA’s great events were carried out just as any other year.

Sike! They weren’t. Whereas previous events directors have spent their summers arranging rental agreements and full-year plans, I got to tackle the juggernaut of Health and Safety proposals. After a lot of spilt ink and a large order of burger patties repealed, TWUSA’s traditional start of the year, the Welcome Back BBQ and Book Sale, was cancelled. The Banana Challenge and Dorm Skits, however, did pass the Health and Safety exam, and with the help of some cooperative RA’s and the TWU’s BlueJeans experts, both events were able to roll quite satisfactorily.

After this initial success, we decided on a philosophy of trying to create events aimed at three demographics of students: on campus, commuters, and remote online students. In October, we put on Park n’ Praise in collaboration with the Praise, Arts, and Worship team (PAW), and an online event, Babel, together with Intercultural Programs (ICP).

But it was time for something bigger. We hadn’t had any truly big events with a lot of people. With the Banana Challenge, we had circumnavigated the rule of having only 50 people at an event, by rotating dorms across two different fields. Half way through October, however, a new public health order specified that it had to be the same 50 people at one place without rotation. Our solution for Late Night Underground (combining the traditional Late Night with TWUSA and Robson Underground) was to have three separate parties of fifty people going on at the same time but at different locations. It would have worked great if the event had not been canceled three days prior to its execution.

We are not giving up, though. The hope is still to put on the Christmas Gala with this same tactic of 3 groups of 50. As of writing this column, however, Bonnie Henry has just issued a strict public health order. If she decides to extend it by an additional two weeks, we will have to add an extra notch to our list of cancellations.

I will not pretend that TWUSA’s events are as great as they were before COVID. But we can try to keep alive the traditions that form the TWU experience common to all generations that pass through here. Because, one day, this pandemic will be over, and we shall rave in the mosh pits once more.

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OPINIONS IT AIN’T CHRISTMAS YET TYLER JONES

Take down the stockings, the lights, the tree, and do not even consider playing Michael Bublé’s Christmas album no matter how smooth his voice is. That is right: Christmas has not started, and it should not be celebrated until the month of December arrives.

Before diving deeper, I must state that I truly adore Christmas. As a time of family, love, and sheer joy, Christmas stands alone as one of the most special holidays on the calendar. Although this Christmas may look very different for all of us, positivity can still be found in the splendor of Christmas.

the joy is spread far too thin if the tree is up far too early. Instead of the tree being a necessary inconvenience for a span of three or four weeks, it may appear to be more of an inconvenience than a welcome addition to the household. To all my fellow clumsy walkers: do you truly want to worry about one more thing you could knock over? Me neither.

Besides the months of the summer, each month of the year is special in its own way. As people existing in the differing mood that each month brings, we must enlighten ourselves to the different perspectives that are brought by each of them. Thus, November stands alone as something that deserves its own recognition and agency within the year.

November is something of an in-between month. North Americans currently find themselves in the midst of a busy schedule, a football season in full swing, and most importantly a month owing dedication to those who have fought and died defending the freedom of generations to come. By handing out candy canes––or GIFs of candy canes considering our current state of being––people succumb to the popular perception that November is boring and irrelevant in itself. Celebrating Christmas within the month of November only distracts from the present.

On another note, spreading the joy of Christmas into the month of November may weaken the actual enjoyment of the day itself. In a sense,

Do I hate Christmas? No, I love Christmas: I am not the Grinch of December, but call me the Grinch of November all you want. Celebrating Christmas too early has become an illness in itself. Put your head down, finish your semester, and take in the wonderful month of November as it is. Christmas will be gifting all of its wonder and significance in due time, but not yet.

WHY I LOVE POLITICS EMMA DYKSTRA

Everyone has that one politically inclined friend. They are handy to have around when you need someone to explain the electoral college to you or want to know what proportional representation is, but in the end it is best to not bring up politics around them.

opted this idea of non-partisan respect for politicians. My motto was “respect person and position before attacking party and policy.” That became difficult as my paristianship grew, but it is still an ideal I hold to today.

I take full responsibility for being that friend.Some people wait to find out what the new Taylor Swift album is, while I wait to find out who the new Finance Minister will be. For most, this is a dull thing to anticipate and I would agree with you if I did not think the way I do now.

The reason I love politics and follow it so closely is not really a simple reason. It comes from this desire to soak up as much experience and witness as much of humanity as I can before my time is up. For me, politics are everything. They touch every aspect of our existence, from a tangible perspective to a philosophical one. Music is political, relationships are political, and education is political. I cannot live a day without some aspect of my life being influenced by the government. This morning I took an Advil that had to go through a stringent drug review process conducted by Health Canada’s Health Products and Food Branch (HPFB) before I was able to legally purchase it.

My love and passion for the political world began back in February of 2018 after the school shooting in Parkland, Florida. I watched Emma Gonzalez get up at a rally with tears in her eyes, shouting and nearly screaming “We call BS.” Her speech sent me into the world of U.S. firearm politics and trying to understand how a 17 year old could legally purchase a gun that had the power to kill dozens of people in just minutes. I was convicted and quickly earned a reputation in my dorm. There was a silent understanding to not bring up the United States and their guns around Emma, unless you wanted to be stuck in a 20 minute conversation that had her spouting off the problems with American gun culture and reciting the second amendment.

Like most people who attend the Laurentian Leadership Centre, my fondness for Canadian politics came after a semester in Ottawa. After watching leaders debates, visiting embassies, and meeting Members of Parliament, I was convinced that Canada was doing it right. I ad-

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I do not speak for all political nerds, but I can take a guess at why most of us are interested in the political sphere. Everyone has a passion, and that passion is the subject they use to interpret humanity and society. For some it is music, for some it is sports, and for others it is psychology. For me, it is politics. History is made in the hallowed halls of government buildings. People shout in the streets until their voices are carried into the offices of law makers. Politics is about understanding history as it happens and the process of electing officials that reflect what society believes its government should be. To me, that is a beautiful thing and is the reason I interpret the world through politics.

CULTURAL CONNECTIONS IN THE AFTERMATH OF COVID-19 ALICE JUN

The cultures of East and West are becoming more alike, and COVID-19 can take the credit. Take South Korea and Canada as an example: wearing masks as protection against flu and dust was common in South Korea, whereas in Canada, wearing masks used to be reserved for people with infectious illnesses. On the other hand, there was no concept of a personal bubble in South Korea but there is and has been in Canada. With a policy recommending people stand two meters apart, a new idea of personal space amongst South Koreans is taking root. People in Canada were accustomed to the concept of personal space earlier on, just as wearing masks was a habit for a lot of people in East Asia. Countries around the world are becoming assimilated to different portions of each other’s cultures.

It was common for South Korean adults to gather late at night for dinner and drinks. However, due to the pandemic, South Koreans are not able to meet in groups as they once did. Additionally, students in South Korea are not able to face each other when eating lunch and are being seated per social distancing guidelines, further influencing individualism. This is drastically changing culture as South Koreans have a tendency to perceive others as related to themselves. According to the government of Canada, people should “stick to a small and consistent social circle” which is exposing people in Canadian culture to an intimate group environment, which can reflect South Korean culture.

Overall, people in the world may feel a sense of connection towards each other because they are going through hardship together. The communal atmosphere of the past is gaining its momentum in the modern day. Nineteenth century novelist Elizabeth Gaskell wrote, “If they came sorrowing, and wanting sympathy in a complicated trouble like the present, then they would be felt as a shadow in all these houses of intimate acquaintances.”

Eastern and Western cultures, which were once polarized, are becoming balanced and modified into an universalized norm. COVID-19 may be a medium to a new culture that will prevail in the aftermath of COVID-19. The world has an opportunity for a fresh starting point, with newly adopted cultural values and thus a unified foundation of a global culture.

Like any disaster, COVID-19 entails tragedy. However, COVID-19 is also educating people about new cultures. Through empathy and understanding, the world can become a better place. The growing pains of the world may be difficult, but the aftermath could have a positive impact, creating an invisible social net that connects people through the shared experience of COVID-19.

LAURENTIAN LEADERSHIP CENTRE: PREPARED TO FACE THE WORLD MONICA RAWLEK ELIZONDO

The Laurentian Leadership Center (LLC) located in Ottawa, Ontario is arguably one of the greatest experiences Trinity Western University (TWU) has to offer.

chess set, as well as beautiful bedrooms with large windows, and lots of other fun surprises as well (secret doors to secret rooms, time capsules, etc.).

However, what I find most surprising about this program is how little we hear about it on the Langley campus.

This is the sort of place that I would have never dreamed of visiting, let alone live in—and the mansion is just the beginning.

Over my time at TWU, I have had many opportunities that have grown and challenged me in different ways, but nothing quite compares to my current experience at the LLC.

The classes offered by the LLC provide practical knowledge about Canadian Parliamentary proceedings, but they also cover topics such as moral philosophy, policy development, and other global issues currently facing our world. The professors are thoughtful, engaged, and provide guidance and mentorship throughout your time in the program.

I am not the only one who thinks so: time and time again, I have found myself at the LLC speaking with the other students of the program, all reflecting on how astounded we are regarding the quality and experience of the LLC program.

When I was first accepted to the LLC, I began to mentally prepare for the semester ahead, which meant coming up with some certain expectations regarding what the program would have to offer. I have some friends that had done the LLC in the past so I felt like I knew what to expect: live in a mansion, take part in a really cool internship, and make new friends.

To say the LLC has met my expectations would be an incredible understatement.

The mansion is absolutely gorgeous. Its features include, but are not limited to, the following: a ballroom, a piano room, a prayer room, a reading nook, a huge kitchen (with five stoves), a gorgeous dining room, a downstairs den, free laundry, a classroom, a study room, a library, a wooden

Additionally, there is a Community Life Coordinator (CLC) who lives in the house. The CLC helps to plan group activities, arrange outings, and serve as a resource throughout our time in Ottawa. Right now the CLC is named David and he is pretty great at making sure we are never bored here in Ottawa.

The internships themselves are varied. The program director, Dr. Janet Epp-Buckingham, is incredible for this and ensures that every student is assigned an internship placement that is both fitting and challenging.

As I reflect on the time spent at the LLC thus far, I think back to one of TWU’s slogans: “It’s not just what you do––it’s who you become,” and I sincerely believe that the LLC is a program that prepares students to face the world.

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ARTIST SPOTLIGHT: BETHANY HAYNES WHAT IS ONE OF THE HIGHLIGHTS OF YOUR CREATIVE CAREER? Last year I interned as a Curatorial Assistant at the Reach Gallery and Museum in Abbotsford. It turned out to be a wonderful experience in learning how to act as an interpreter between the artist and community. It also allowed me to further develop my love of writing, public relations, and art theory.

WHAT ARE YOU CURRENTLY WORKING ON? I have two things I’m playing around with: sculptural interventions and drawings in abandoned buildings that will contribute to an installation on the theme of suffering within the human condition and embodied sorrow; my other main work right now is a socially engaged piece having to do with families separated by the Canada/US border and giving voice to their stories.

WHAT IS YOUR YEAR AND MAJOR? I’m in my fourth year and I’m an Art + Design major.

WHAT IS YOUR ART FORM? I’m primarily a mixed-media artist and depending on my mood this begins with drawing or acrylic painting. Currently my materials of choice are graphite powder, spray paint, and anything cheap at Home Depot.

WHAT IS YOUR MANIFESTO? Away with low level, shock-value, vulgar work. Away with pretty pictures and sentimentality. Away with poor communicators; they only contribute to chaos. Away with egocentric artists; they should be expelled.

I believe art humbles the artist, causes them to get on their knees, and tell honest stories with simple words. It is not flashy; it is not

made to impress; it is often inadequate and never complete.

A way of confession: art heals and restores.

A way of acknowledgement: art seeks to advocate for and elevate the lowly and the other. A way of storytelling: art contains worlds and brings forth revelation. A way of liturgy: art is a practice for people of all classes, cultures, and religions.

I believe art is for the sake of the public, a generous giving of the self to the other. Art bruises, offends, and reveals while seeking to understand and break down divides. Fictional work is only permissible when honest; there can be no half-truth tellers.

Through dissent, art brings revolutions of unity. The artist is both explorer and priest; art is the ancient orthodox practice of discovery. Art brings forth cosmos from chaos, light from darkness. The artist is created out of nothing, brought forth and reciprocates; creates, brings forth, returns to nothing. Art is to tear down and to rebuild.

WHERE CAN WE FIND YOUR ART? My handle is @bethanyhaynes_ , my website is in the works, but most of the work I create shows up on my story.

ATHLETE SPOTLIGHT: ADAM GEHRIG

HOW DID YOU FIRST GET INVOLVED WITH BASKETBALL? I first got involved through my family. My sister was playing basketball and I went along to one of her training sessions. From there I kind of wanted to join in. I was probably like 10 when I first started, but I didn’t decide to take it seriously until high school.

WHAT IS YOUR GREATEST BASEKTBALL-RELATED ACCOMPLISHMENT? Probably winning our high school championship when I was 14 playing in an under-15

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league, because our school had never won before. I was a bottom age player, too. I was playing a year up and was also a big part of the team. There were big crowds. It was my first experience playing in an environment like that. It was awesome having that many people come up to talk to me after the game. That was a neat experience.

WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO YOU TO BE A SPARTAN? I definitely take pride wherever I go. Being recruited and the fact that I was wanted gives me motivation. I want to represent the school and the community in a positive way and be able to contribute in whichever way I can.

HOW DID YOU FIRST HEAR ABOUT TRINITY WESTERN UNIVERSITY AND THE BASKETBALL PROGRAM? I was playing in Portland at a junior college for two years. I graduated with an associate’s degree and then was recruited

by Trevor from Clackamas Community College. My coach there had a connection with someone who knew Trevor and sent some film to him and eventually sent me a DM on Instagram. Usually you get a phone call or email, but I received a DM instead.

WHAT IS YOUR ALL TIME STARTING FIVE? Curry at the point, Michael Jordan at the two, Kevin Durant at the three, LeBron James at the four, and Shaquille O’Neal at the five.

WHAT ARE YOUR GOALS THIS YEAR AS A STUDENT AND ATHLETE? As a student, I’m trying to take advantage of the business program because it’s one of the best; being able to establish connections and get into internships. I would also say connecting with my professors is another goal. With basketball, I’m trying to get game to a professional level because a goal of mine is to go back and play professionally in Australia.

IF YOU COULD HAVE THREE OF YOUR TEAMMATES TO HELP YOU IN A ZOMBIE APOCALYPSE, WHO WOULD THEY BE? I’d go Q, Big Bird, and Mitch––those are my three.

WHO IS YOUR FAVOURITE BASKETBALL PLAYER AND WHY? I’d say KD, Larry Bird, and Kobe when I was a kid––those were the big three for me.

SPORTS

HOW TO BEAT A DOPING TEST 101 LUKE RATTRAY The Olympic Games showcase the pinnacle of what a human can accomplish in the athletic realm. Every two years, the world turns to witness the Olympics in its summer or winter format, and over the years, has grown to become one of the most popular events on Earth, with nearly every nation having been represented by someone. However, as the Olympics have been home to some of the greatest moments in sport, they have also been home to one of sports most controversial issues: the use of performance-enhancing drugs (PEDs).

the heart of the entire doping scandal. Rodchenkov at this time was helping amateur cyclist Bryan Fogel, develop his own doping program to see how easy it would be to cheat on a doping test that the Haute Route – the most intense and prestigious amateur cycling competition in the world – had prepared for the athletes competing. From this chain of events, the Academy award-winning documentary Icarus was created.

PEDs were not banned from the Olympics until the early 1960s and, from there, we have seen countless numbers of Olympians being caught and serving suspensions for the use of PEDs. Some of the most notable athletes to get caught include Tyson Gay, Ben Johnson, Mariya Savinova, and Lance Armstrong. However, the height of this controversy came with the infamous Russian doping scandal in 2015 that was investigated upon and concluded in 2019.

The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) launched an investigation into the suspected nation-wide doping ploy involving Russian athletes. The initial report included a 335-page document in November, 2015, that included statewide doping ploys and cover-ups by the Russians themselves. Furthermore, the Federal Security Service (FSB), formerly known as the KGB, visited Russian laboratories regularly and told the staff to not cooperate with the WADA investigation.

With this, the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) council voted 22-1 to prohibit Russia from track and field events across the globe just over a week later after the initial WADA report was brought to light. Furthermore, former IAAF President Lamine Diack was investigated and had allegedly accepted a €1 million bribe from the All-Russian Athletic Federation (ARAF) in a ploy to cover-up positive PED results from at least six different Russian athletes. Following these events, the IAAF started handing out lifetime bans to a former head of the Russian Athletics Federation and a top coach in Russia. To make things even more concerning, the two former directors of the Russian Anti-Doping Agency (RUSADA) both died abruptly. Furthermore, one of the directors, Nikita Kamayev, revealed that he had intended to write a book detailing the truth behind the Russian doping scandals that have occurred in the country’s history. Despite all of this, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) decided to let Russian athletes compete in the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympics, despite the outstanding evidence against the Russians. This decision was met with a lot of controversy and scrutiny from the sports community.

Fortunately, former director of the Moscow testing lab for Russian athletics, Grigory Rodchenkov, escaped from Russia after being fired and fled for his life to the United States. The lab that he had run for almost 10 years was the only WADA-accredited lab in Russia and was

Rodchenkov served as a whistleblower. His claims were published in a New York Times article in May, 2016, and since then, Rodchenkov has remained in protective custody. Icarus not only looks at the entire Russian doping scandal from a wide-angle lens, but it also gives a perspective into the system of what anti-doping really looks like. Needless to say, “with certain knowledge, you can get around the testing all the time. It’s really easy to beat,” stated Dan Catlin, the developer and operator of the UCLA Olympic laboratory, and a good friend of Rodchenkov. Once hearing one of the most prominent figures trying to catch the athletes in doping say that beating a doping test is very basic, that’s when it’s time to question the system as a whole.

Seeing how potent doping is actually in arguably the most prestigious competition in sport is nothing short of frightening. Doping has found its way into sports with the likes of Lance Armstrong, who was able to test negative on countless tests, to prominent North American sports, most notably in Major League Baseball, where we have seen dozens of suspensions and Hall of Fame ineligibilities because of athletes doping. The sheer prominence of doping in the Olympics very well has the potential to discredit any sport and any athlete at a given time. When asked if he thought it was just Armstrong doping, Catlin replied: “They’re all doping. Every single one of them.”

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STUNTED GROWTH: THE NBPA’S LACK OF FINANCIAL LITERACY TYLER JONES

There is no shortage of money in North American sports. The National Football League sits atop the highest revenue generated from 2019 to the present day with an astounding $13 billion amassed. World-renowned giants like the UEFA Champions League, English Premier League, and La Liga still sit behind three of four major North American sporting leagues. Currently generating approximately $7.4 billion throughout the past year, the National Basketball Association (NBA) seems to be rapidly growing while other leagues around the world surrender their interest to the world’s premier basketball league.

In wake of the growth seen in the world’s interest for basketball, the NBA decided to pour money into each team’s salary cap. The leap was substantial as the cap jumped from $70 million to $94 million in the offseason prior to the 2016-2017 season. As a result, players like DeMar DeRozan and Mike Conley received contracts from their affiliated organizations. However, the most prominent example lies in the Golden State Warriors’ signing of Kevin Durant, which broke any chance of parity in the NBA for the next two seasons.

With all of the drastic events that would come as a result of this massive increase in spending, what was the reasoning behind this not being spaced out over a given amount of time?

The problem lies in a decision made by the players of the NBA. As owners and authorities governing the NBA proposed a smooth, yet substantial increase in salary cap spanning multiple years, the National Basketball Players Association (NBPA) lobbied for a massive spike of $24 million.Were they unaware of the risk? Were they unable to fathom the pending decisions that would rupture the landscape of the NBA’s competitiveness? These questions

only leave room for speculation. At the end of the day, it seemed as if the NBPA’s decision to accelerate the spike in salary had caused enough trouble for numerous aspects of the league. Unfortunately, this was not the worst of the ramifications that would ensue due to the NBPA’s choice. COVID-19 came at a poor time for the NBA, throwing the financial world of sports into a massive frenzy.

As COVID-19 forced the NBA into the “bubble,” held in the neutral site of Walt Disney World which only allowed players and team staff to enter, the league lost significant revenue on in-game advertisements and a lack of fans.

Although the NBA returning to play stunted a more substantial decrease in revenue, the league still lost an estimated 10 percent in total revenue due to the circumstances. With the 2020-2021 season set to commence on December 22, the league has to worry about gate revenue from its fans, which accounted for nearly 40 percent of the league’s total revenue in the 20182019 season. In response to the lack of revenue that will be generated by the league, NBA executives sought to get the upcoming season started as soon as possible in hopes of having a 2021-2022 season with fan-filled arenas once again. While this goal may seem somewhat unrealistic, the rationale behind this executive-led idea rang true with players who now understand the importance of these finances corresponding with their promised salaries.

With the 2020-2021 season shaping up to be a massive loss in expected revenue for the league, the NBPA has quickly realized that its promised salaries will be taking a hit. Although the ramifications of COVID-19 are somewhat unclear pertaining to the projected salary cap of the 2020-2021 season, players and owners are expecting back-dated payments to be the avenue of choice within the next couple of seasons. In addition to this uncertainty regarding players under current contracts, new contracts signed over the next couple of seasons are anticipated to be of lesser value than the current contracts players are functioning under. The massive jump in spending voted by the NBPA in 2016 is now weighing down current and future contracts with the lack of flexibility in which it has left the NBA. With revenue projected to plummet even further for the upcoming season, the league could be launched into a fiscal frenzy after the current offseason.

Although NBA Commissioner Adam Silver has been applauded for his stellar adjustments to keep the players focussed on basketball and social justice since March, a massive financial upheaval could be on the horizon for the entire world of sports. The NBA, which was spending money on numerous aspects of the organization in preparation for the growth it was experiencing, seems to be at the forefront of revenue-loss in sports. As assets for each franchise in sports seem to be diminishing due to the complications of COVID-19––which shows few signs of slowing down––poor financial decisions made by athletes without a financial background may have burnt any chance of a safety net. The NBA, like many other leagues, seems to be treading in deep water.

COLUMN: TAKE OF THE ISSUE LUKA FOR MVP

LUKE RATTRAY

Imagine a 20-year-old averaging nearly 29 points per game, 9.4 rebounds per game, and 8.8 assists per game, all while shooting a solid 46 percent from the field. While this is an incredible feat, Luka Dončić ended up leading the Dallas Mavericks to a playoff berth by capturing the seventh seed in the Western Conference. These numbers in the basketball world are nothing short of incredible, and Luka Dončić has already achieved that in only his second season in the NBA. Luka Dončić has had a meteoric rise in the NBA and has already established himself as a top 10 player in the league. An already incredible premier season--which was good enough for him to receive the Rookie of the Year award--sparks questions about the potential bright future ahead. By only his sophomore season, Dončić has risen to the very top of what an elite NBA offensive player should look like: the ability to create and make shots from all areas on the court, lethal court vision, incredible basketball IQ, and insane playmaking abilities. His sophomore season serves as one of many stepping stones as Dončić is cementing himself into basketball legend, and the MVP award next season.

Having already finished fourth in MVP voting this past year, Dončić has the individual capability, and the right team to lift him to the most coveted individual trophy in the NBA. Dončić’s Mavericks had the greatest

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offensive rating of all time, shown by the amount of offensive weapons that they possessed. Kristaps Porzingis showed himself to be a helpful number two option to Dončić, and it also helps that the Latvian, standing at seven foot three, was sound from outside the arc, shooting a respectable 35 percent. Role players such as Dorian Finney-Smith, Tim Hardaway Jr., and Seth Curry are all very adept shooters, which also added fuel to the fire in regard to Dallas having the greatest statistical offence the NBA has ever seen.

In addition to Dončić’s individual success, Dallas impressed in the playoffs Although the team lost in the first round to the Los Angeles Clippers in six games, Dončić proved himself as a solid performer in clutch situations by hitting a game-winning buzzer beater in game four. Needless to say, dropping a series-high 43 points on top of the buzzer beater in game four is a feat that other teams should take note of.

Dončić and the Mavericks are on the come up, and in my opinion could very well be a dark horse to challenge for the title in an extremely competitive Western Conference this upcoming season. If the Mavericks are able to take the league by storm, we will see Dončić not only post more than 30 points per game, but we will see him take home the first of his many MVP awards at the age of 21.

HUMOUR SURVIVOR’S LOG, DAY 69420 EMMETT HANLY Dear diary, It’s me again, broadcasting into the post-apocalypse just in case anyone out there is still alive and could be listening. Here is another log entry for another boring day in the waste once known as “Earth.” I came out of 50-year cryosleep just a couple weeks ago to see if things were any better in 2210, and here is another stupid freaking update that is the same as all the rest: it keeps getting worse.

The sand worms have gotten bigger, the insect armies have gotten scalier, the flying piranha swarms have gotten hungrier, same old, same old. It is not even interesting anymore. I gotta say, I miss the before-times when people would think: “this must be the worst of it.” Oh, how naive we once were.

Sometimes, I think back to 2020. That was the year we all thought was going to be the nastiest, and honestly it was pretty bad. But the next few years with natural disasters caused by the rapidly changing climate, followed by the mutant hordes climbing out from the fractured crusts, then the invasions from Andromeda––that REALLY sucked. I don’t even want to think about the kinds of headaches we dealt with in the decades following that. And I do mean literal decades-long headaches.

In any case, there is another undead army trying to break into the base again.

Some brainless necromancer lord I think––I really could not care less at this point. It is just more dumb crap I have to deal with. Oh, and more importantly,

I need to empty out the trash chute, which is weird since everyone else is supposed to be in perma-stasis. My bet is that someone has been waking up midcryo-sleep and eating all the emergency rations. Whatever the case may be, I would rather deal with the zombie guy than have to take out the trash AGAIN. I don’t even know who else is gonna be reading these entries in the future, but I am sure one day I will look back at these old logs and think to myself, “I didn’t know how easy I had it.” I am sure I will be telling myself the exact same thing when I am being chased around by a plague of flesh-eating locusts or getting face-hugged by a chest-burster even later on. So I just want to take this opportunity to say screw you, future me, you condescending jerk. Let me be miserable when I want to be! Just cuz you have got it worse does not mean I don’t have it bad now! So #$%* you, a$$*&#%!

All right. Got that out of my system just like when the sun ejected Earth from its orbit. I guess once I am done with my chores I’ll set my cryo-tube to 100 years instead of 50. I think at the very least I have earned a little extra sleeping-in time. Goodnight, and see you in a century when things will either suck even harder than they do now or maybe life will actually start looking up for a change and our crustaceans overlords will be sharing piña coladas with us on sandy moon beaches while a mole man band plays a lazy ukulele tune during a multi-sunset. Here’s hoping.

2020: A YEAR OF HIDDEN GEMS NYSSA MORGAN

2020 has been a tumultuous year full of plenty of changes, but every cloud has a silver lining. Instead of focusing on the things that will make us want to curl up on the floor of the shower while listening to “Falling” by Harry Styles on repeat, let’s take a look at all the blessings we have received this semester: 1. The new sliding doors: This may be one of the smaller changes this year, but as an exhausted, overworked student, there is no better feeling than gliding into a building without having to exert enough energy to reach out and pull a door open.

2. There is actually parking available: It might be sad to have such a small student population on campus this year for those who miss vibing with tons of people, but no one can complain about there not being enough parking this year. There’s so much parking now that the school is talking about building three more new business buildings in the lots that are left.

3. Not getting shamed for missing chapel: Pre-pandemic, at 10:59am, if you were seen anywhere other than heading towards the gym for chapel, it was a guarantee someone would give you some hardcore side-eye and whisper about you to their friends. Now, the fear of your RA guilt tripping you to go sing “Reckless Love” with the rest of your dorm is gone. Watch the stream online or just don’t. Who’s going to know?

4. They haven’t put the speed bumps back yet: Safety is definitely important and it is cool that the school doesn’t want cars ripping through on the road behind Skidmore. However, the speed bumps they put in last year were literally just designed to demolish the underside of your car no matter how slow you drove over them. Ever since construction started on that road, they have been temporarily taken out, so here’s to hoping they forget to put them back for all our sakes.

5. Avoiding people you do not want to see: For anyone who craves an excuse to get out of hanging out with people, this pandemic has been stellar.

Didn’t want to go to your coworker’s birthday party? Tell them you have to self-isolate for two weeks. Your mom wants you to visit your weird aunt? Say your throat feels a little scratchy. Your licenseless friend wants you to drive them somewhere? Well, you are not in the same bubble so it’s a shame but they will just have to walk. Introverts, it is finally your time to shine so take advantage of the moment and cancel any plans that come your way, baby!

This year may not be even close to what we expected but take a second to appreciate all the good that has come out of it. If nothing comes to mind, just know that the semester is ending soon and 2020 will be over before you know it so keep your heads up, your masks on, and keep sleeping through those 11 o’clock bells.

APPLE CONFIRMS DOZENS OF NEW CASES MICAH MORGAN

Shocking the public with the sudden uptick, Apple has confirmed a bevy of new cases. Though officials were not pleased with the announcement, it seems that society will nevertheless be overrun with a large swath of new cases. Though no one should have been surprised, people continue to express shock at the rampant increases.

“I really wish people would just stay home, relax, and not be so eager to go out and get all these new cases,” said Jeremiah Marlin, a professional phone repairman. “They make it so hard to open up iPhones.” Marlin went on to describe how after one person came back with a case from the Apple store, other cases would soon start popping up in the person’s friend group. “As soon as one person gets it, everyone else gets ‘case fever’ too,” Marlin said.

Cases also tend to pop up whenever someone takes a trip. “I didn’t even know what these cases were,” said office assistant Rosie Linden, “but after seeing how fashionable they looked on my trip overseas, I made sure that my whole family would have cases after my return.” While some are receptive to the new cases, others don’t appreciate getting them simply because they talked to someone who had been exposed to other cases. “My son recently gave me a case,” said local mother Ann Ritter, “but I only liked it for a short time. I probably had it for a week or two until I was over it. Then I met up with my friend so that she could get it from me. She uses it much more than me now.”

Some sources claimed that supply was currently exceeding demand, but it is impossible to know for sure, as Apple was currently masking sales figures.

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