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JAN. 11, 2024 • VOLUME 76 • ISSUE 9 @THEMARTLET @THEMARTLET
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Pet Café Pg. 6-7
EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW with beloved "The BalladReading o ur F of SnakesList 2024 UVic to eventscelebrity
and Song Pg. 5 Bird s": Ins & outs Review 2024 pg.8 Pg. 11
CADBORO BAY DOG PARK P. 4
UVIC'S SPECIAL COLLECTION P. 7
the p. 11 get in a ho li d y spirit pg.9
PRIDE ON THE MAINLAND P. 8
NEWS
As changes to financial requirements for international students come into effect, what do the new regulations mean for UVic? Some say the changes represent transparency, while others worry about reinforcing barriers SYDNEY LOBE SENIOR STAFF WRITER Canada’s immigration minister has announced an increased financial re q u i re m e n t f o r i n t e r n a t i o n a l students applying to study in Canada effective this year, as well as a cap on international students’ work hours, which will be reinstated in April. Some praise these new regulations for being transparent about the cost of living in Canada, and/or measures against fraudulence. However, others are concerned that they will further marginalize middle class and existing international students at institutions like UVic, which are still working to recoup their international student populations to pre-COVID numbers. As of Jan. 1, 2024, international s t u d e n t s apply in g to study in Canada will need to prove access to $20 635 in addition to tuition and travel expenses to have their applications approved. Previously, the requirement was $10 000, which remained consistent for two decades. Now, the amount will be subject to annual change as the cost of living in Canada trends upward. Additionally, a waiver dictating that international students were allowed to work for more than 20 hours per week while studying was supposed to end with the calendar year, but has been extended until April 30, 2024 for current students. After then, the 20 hours per week cap for international students will be reimposed. A UVic spokesperson says anecdotally they have heard that inter national students at UV ic welcome this extension. According to Immigration Minister M a r c M i l l e r, t h e C a n a d i a n gover nment is open to further extending this cap, but resists facilitating 40-hour work weeks for international students because it w o u l d d i s c o u r a g e t h e m f ro m focusing on their studies. Miller also highlights another concern: some colleges or institutions provide prospective students with opportunities to procure jobs with a student visa, while they barely scrape by in their studies, for the promise of eventual immigration. A 20 hours per week cap on work hours prevents this kind of exploitation.
Photo by Artem Bellakin via Unsplash.
About the combined effect of these regulations, the UVic spokesperson says, “It is too soon to draw any conclusions about how this might impact UVic students.” On the contrary, Scott Watson, associate professor of international relations at UVic, says that some of the effects of this policy will be obvious. “The goal of raising the amount of money that students [need access to] will further prioritize … privileged international students,” he says. “International student mobility [is] not going to the most disadvantaged, who have a difficult time already accessing international student experiences.” Tr i c i a B e s t , d i re c t o r o f t h e International Centre for Students
at UVic says that, on the other hand, these measures represent a step toward transparency about the cost of living and studying in Canada. “It is very important that prospective international students have a realistic idea of the cost of living in Canada before they arrive,” she writes in an email to the Martlet. “The new financial requirement for study permit applications, $20 635, is a realistic estimate of what students will need for one year of living expenses.” Watson agrees that the number of students who experience serious financial constraints upon arrival to Canada because of already sky-high international tuition and living costs may lessen with this new regulation. “One would hope maybe it leads
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to fewer international students facing challenges finding places to live, having to rely on food banks, and other forms of vulnerability.” However, according to Watson, the regulations still discourage international students who might have otherwise attended postsecondary institutions and relied on working while they study as their main source of income. In fact, international students who are already studying in Canada will face a double-barreled threat to their ability to live and study here as the cost of living increases when the 20-hour per week work hour cap is reinstated in April. For international students at UVic, says Watson, “It means that they may not be able to finance their
education, or they may live in a very precarious situation as food and housing prices go up.” For applicants, he explains that the cumulative effect of these two regulations will mean that prospective international students from middle class backgrounds who might have otherwise had access to an international study experience will be “squeezed out.” “It’s either going to make students more vulnerable or it's going to discourage students who don't have the financial means to finance their entire university education,” explains Watson. Maria Vasquez, an international student from Mexico, says that international tuition alone, which is significantly more expensive than domestic tuition, is a financial burden, never mind added living costs. “I know that a lot of international students work to pay for their expenses. Now that it's hard[er] for them, maybe some students might just have to go back [home],” she says. As these federal regulations change, UV ic is continuing to enhance its recruitment strategies and expand certain programs that the university “can deliver better than other institutions,” in hopes of seeing its international student body increase in size and return to i t s p re - C O V I D n o r m a l . T h e s e include health programs, professional programs, microcredentials, and short-term graduate credentials. Watson says that while diversifying the student body is undoubtedly important to universities, as institutions, one of their main interests is their finances. “The amount that the government has been contributing to postsecondary education has been stagnant,” he explains. “Domestic tuition fees have not risen all that significantly, and so really the only way that universities can increase their sources of funding is either to find additional external donors or to bring in more inter national students.”
NEWS OPINIONS
Why cash is still king
The benefits of using cash in a world ruled by tap ATUM BECKETT SENIOR STAFF WRITER It’s just a few days before Christmas. You’re getting ready to relax with some eggnog, when suddenly it hits you: you forgot to get a gift for Secret Santa. A quick trip to the store should fix that, right? So you find something that fits the $20 price limit, stand in line for the length of a Friends rerun, and finally make it to the cashier. But guess what? The card readers are down. Moneris, a major payment processing system across Canada, went down for an hour on Dec. 22. I’ve always said that cash is king, but as I stood there paying for some overpriced artisanal goat cheese with a few bills — allowing me to stroll out of the store leisurely while the other shoppers stressed about how they’d pay — just how much I love physical currency was cemented in my mind. Credit cards, debit cards, tap, Apple Pay, Google Pay; it just gets to be too much to keep track of sometimes. I’ll admit, though, once I was able to pay for things by just waving my phone around, I couldn’t stop. It’s convenient, almost too convenient. It takes the realness out of paying for things. I wouldn’t even look at how much the total was. I just tapped and went about my day. But then the credit card bill hit me, and I realized that too much tapping might not be a good thing. I love pulling out a few bills at the grocery store to pay for my food. Yes, perhaps I love flipping through a wad of cash because it makes me feel like
Illustration by Chloe Latour.
Illustration by Chloe Latour.
a mob boss paying off a hitman, but that’s not the only reason. There’s an aspect of a game to it: how can I most efficiently pay with the bills I have on hand? More importantly, I know exactly how much I’m spending. If I have to run some errands or do some shopping, I know that my budget for the day is determined by the
amount of cash I slip in my wallet. Obviously, if something comes up, I can always use my card, but having that cash limit to stick to helps me think about just how much I’m spending, and according to a 2023 poll, I’m not the only who thinks that way. This is money, not just some number on a screen. At the end of the
day, after I’ve paid for everything and emptied my pockets, my bank account is still the same. Not to mention, I now have some change to pay for parking. I’m not going to pretend that cash doesn’t have its downfalls. It’s dirty. Probably really dirty. Who knows how many grubby, unwashed paws have passed this old 20 around? Nothing
gets rid of my appetite faster than handing a barista a bill and then seeing them give me a muffin with that same hand. If you’re at all scatterbrained or tend to misplace things, then the greatest flaw of cash becomes very apparent: you can lose it. Did I really spend all my cash? Or has someone luckier than me picked it up off the ground to pay for their lunch? But, in my opinion, the pain of losing cash is narrowly beaten out by the joy that comes from finding a forgotten bill in an old jacket. If your credit card is stolen, you’re luckily covered. Having cash stolen is much harder to get back. But hey, at least you can’t lose it all by accidentally giving your password to some scam online. While having a bit of change can be great, it starts to pile up fast when using cash. What am I supposed to do with this jar of nickels? Even with all the downsides of cash, I’ll never stop loving our country’s colorful pieces of plastic. Being able to pay and slip out of a restaurant as soon as my bill is ready feels like something out of your favourite sitcom. Owe your friend some money for lunch? Skip the e-transfer, slip them a 20, and it’ll make their day. No level of technological convenience will ever beat the feeling of telling a cab driver to “just keep the change,” or being able to pay for something with exactly what’s in your pocket. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: cash is king.
Illustration by Chloe Latour.
JAN. 11, 2024 // 3
CULTURE
Q&A with singer-songwriter Nate Silas
The former UVic student's new single comes out next week HANNAH LINK SENIOR STAFF WRITER Nate Silas is a UVic grad whose passion for music has followed him since high school. His latest project is a self-written song titled “Wandering Lunacy” which pays tribute to an old friend. I interviewed Silas to discuss the inspiration and message behind the single.
TELL ME A BIT ABOUT YOURSELF AND HOW YOU STARTED MAKING MUSIC. I grew up on Vancouver Island and did my undergrad at UVic. I’ve been playing music since I was probably 12 or 13. I started playing in garage bands doing pop-punk, and then in high school I was in a classic rock cover band. I really have always loved travelling. I’ve always enjoyed going to different places, meeting people, learning different languages, and all that entails. I really got into teaching seven or eight years ago and through that I found my way over to the U.K., where I live now. I went through some personal stuff very shortly after moving to the U.K. I finally started doing a bit of work on myself, and for the first time in quite a while started actively writing songs. That was where it really started. I thought, ‘I’m in London. I don’t really know anyone here. I’m pretty much on my own. I need to find something to keep myself going.’
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CAN YOU TELL ME ABOUT THE PERSON WHO INSPIRED YOUR NEW SINGLE, “WANDERING LUNACY”? Shauna was someone that I knew in high school. She was genuinely quite a remarkable person, she just had that energy of really making a good impression on everyone who got to know her. I'd say she was kind of on the shyer side. But if you did strike up a conversation with her, she just had this warmth and transcendent quality about her. And she was very, very creative. She was really influenced by Salvador Dali, so her own sketches were really very surreal. When I moved to the U.K., I was a little bit isolated. I was on a video call with a friend from high school, and she talked about how Shauna had died earlier that year. I hadn't heard that. And so I had to absorb that information at the darkest, dreariest time of the year with no friends around. I just googled her, and her MySpace came up. And yeah, it actually hit me very hard because it was exactly as she looked in high school, and I hadn't seen her for a number of years after we graduated. Just having that physical image of what she looked like when we were teenagers. I could remember exactly what kind of a person she had been and what it meant to connect with her, to speak with her. That was very, very emotional for me.
IS THERE A MESSAGE IN YOUR SONG THAT YOU WANT LISTENERS TO HEAR? I think certainly a lyric that I feel encapsulates the whole thing is, ‘I’d forgotten how beautiful you were — I guess you forgot that too.’ But I didn't really mean it romantically, more sort of just beautiful as a human being. I think that idea of just remembering how beautiful you are is [my] message for all listeners. Only as an adult, I've come to realize that [self-love] is categorically not what a lot of people are brought up with. Everyone does have their beauty and [should] just remember to share it and do everything they can to take care of themselves and keep spreading their beautiful light with the world.
HOW DID YOU SHARE “WANDERING LUNACY” WITH SHAUNA’S MOM, AND WHAT DID SHE THINK? A mutual friend heard the song in the original version, and said, ‘Would you mind if I pass this on to Shauna's mom?’ That was when I knew, ‘Okay, I actually am comfortable releasing this as a single,’ because her mom said, ‘Thank you so much for doing this. You really got it just right.’ The origin of “Wandering Lunacy” was her old email address, which her mom remembered as well.
Photo provided by Nate Silas.
WHAT IS COMPASSIONATE FRIENDS, AND WHY ARE THE PROCEEDS FOR THIS SONG GOING TOWARDS THEM? The fundraising element was my mentor's suggestion. She said, ‘Because it is a song about a friend that you lost, is there a charity you think might be connected that might benefit from whatever revenue comes from streams and downloads?’ And so I thought about it, and then it was actually quite obvious because I know that Shauna’s mom has, for years, been going to sessions with Compassionate Friends. Their whole brand is that they're not a [counselling service], but they're a group session for parents who have lost a child. I was afraid that going to Compassionate Friends, that they’d say, ‘Oh, well, no, we don't need your help. We're fine.’ But someone got
back to me within a day or two and said, ‘That's really lovely.’ They said they would mention it in their newsletter, and they were really grateful for any donations I can make.
WHAT ELSE DO YOU HAVE PLANNED AS A MUSICIAN? Likely there'll be another single late February, beginning of March. I've recorded with a friend of mine at his university studio. I'm hoping that I can get that EP produced by April 30, my birthday, and I can have four or five songs available. “Wandering Lunacy” can be found on all music platforms starting Jan. 19. Nate’s Instagram is @nate_silas_music, and he streams twice weekly on Twitch @nate_silas.
CULTURE
Six Canadian-written triumphs for your 2024 reading list
There is something for everyone in the Martlet's guide to the Canada Reads longlist This is one for the comic fans. Denison Avenue, co-written by Daniel Innes and Christina Wong, is a two-part graphic novel-novella hybrid that follows Wong Cho Sum, a recent widow, through her long walks through Toronto’s Chinatown and beyond. The novel deals with grief, aging, and gentrification.
SYDNEY LOBE SENIOR STAFF WRITER Attention New Year’s resolutioners! If 2024 is the year you aim to read more, look no further than the Martlet’s January book guide. In this guide you’ll find a few picks from CBC’s Canada Reads longlist, which was announced in December. The shortlist is soon to be announced. Whether you prefer novels, short fiction, memoir, graphic novels, or young adult, there’s something in this guide for everyone.
Set in Scarborough, Ontario, this collection follows a single protagonist through various coming-of-age tales as she navigates life as a young Black woman in the 21st century. Shut Up You’re Pretty is Téa Mutonji’s fiction debut.
Photo via Amazon.
HAPPY HOUR BY MARLOWE GRANADOS Another novel worth a read if you enjoy a meandering plot and all the glittering literary mise-en-scène in the world. This novel follows best friends and New York City party girls Isa and Gala through one summer in the early 2010s. The pair bounces from job to job, barely making ends meet, with the singular goal of finding the next fabulous party or occasion for an aperitif. The author, Granados, calls the pair adventurers, and says the novel seeks to explore the journey of female friendship. Photo via Goodreads.
JUNIE BY CHELENE KNIGHT An offering for novel-lovers, and those in search of a literary love letter to Vancouver. This novel is a period piece, set in 1930s Hogan’s Alley, where Junie, the novel’s protagonist, moves with her mother as a child. Knight, the author, says it was important to her to decentralize narratives of crime, pain, and trauma when writing about Hogan’s Alley and revisit the history of this Black immigrant community in a testament to the joy that also exists there. Junie follows its protagonist into adulthood as she explores her different facets and grapples with the fates that befall both her mother and her neighbourhood.
Illustration by Sage Blackwell
Photo via Goodreads.
SHUT UP YOU’RE PRETTY BY TÉA MUTONJI If you read on your commute to work or school, or prefer not to read for lengthy periods of time, this collection of short fiction might be for you. Photo via Amazon.
Photo via Milkweed Editions.
WOKE UP LIKE THIS BY AMY LEA
MAMASKATCH BY DARREL J. MCLEOD
For those who enjoy a light-hearted, easy read, consider this YA rom-com to kick off 2024. Woke Up Like This follows Charlotte Wu and T.J. Renner, high school archnemeses, as they try to turn back time after a freak accident ages them both 13 years overnight. Think 13 Going on 30, but in fabulous novel form.
This pick is for any nonfiction lovers, and for those interested in reading the lived experience of an Indigenous author. Mamaskatch pieces together stories of McLeod learning to take pride in his Cree heritage, and his mother's tales of her experiences in residential schools. McLeod says that he collaborated with his family to recollect the writing in this book, and that these research and writing processes gave him moments of great healing. Sharing and owning this story is according to McLeod, in some ways his confession in the form of a memoir.
If nothing in this list appeals to you, visit the CBC’s website to find the full longlist. And for the rest of this year, we at the Martlet encourage you to honour Canadian literature in your reading by both working through CBC’s list, and checking out the Canadian section of your local bookstore on your next visit!
Photo via Amazon.
DENISON AVENUE BY DANIEL INNES AND CHRISTINA WONG
Illustration by Sage Blackwell.
Quadra ONLINE SESSIONS & COMMUNITY WORKSHOPS McKenzie Study
ANT WE W AR E TO H OU! Y M FRO
We are seeking your input on draft planning concepts for the Quadra McKenzie area. DR
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Online saanich.ca/QMS
McKenzie Corridor Dec. 2, 2023 Land Use and Housing 1:00pm - 4:00pm
Reynolds Secondary 3963 Borden St.
Quadra Corridor Dec. 9, 2023 Land Use and Housing 1:00pm - 4:00pm
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Jan. 20, 2024 1:00pm - 4:00pm
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Land Use & Housing Focus Areas
Jan. 27, 2024 1:00pm - 4:00pm
Reynolds Secondary 3963 Borden St.
Wrap Up/Overview
Feb. 7, 2024 12:00pm - 1:30pm or 6:30pm - 8:00pm
Online saanich.ca/QMS
» » » »
Identifying the location of new housing options Designing corridors to support sustainable transportation Providing walkable access to community amenities and services Identifying how the redevelopment of major sites can contribute to the area
A QU
PATR
Nov. 29, 2023 Introduction/Overview 12:00pm - 1:30pm or 6:30pm - 8:00pm
The Quadra McKenzie Plan will guide change over the next 20 years. Key items we will be exploring include:
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UNIVERSITY OF VICTORIA
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Stay informed, get involved, and register for events at saanich.ca/QMS
Phone: 250-475-5471 Email: qms@saanich.ca
JAN. 11, 2024 // 5
'They emit so much love': Pet Café brings community and connection to campus
Photo by Paul Voll.
Therapy animals like those hosted at UVic's Multifaith Center can boost optimism and wellness for students PAUL VOLL CONTRIBUTING WRITER Baron Von Hamburglar, or Bear for short, is a miniature schnauzer with the black-masked eyes of a racoon and the fluffy ears of a teddy bear. Inside UVic’s Multifaith Centre, four students sit on the floor in a circle around Bear, stroking his soft, brown coat. Around Bear’s neck hangs an official sky-blue Pacific Animal Therapy Society (PATS) kerchief that looks a couple sizes too big. A few feet away, Jura, a Bernese Mountain Dog, rolls onto her back for belly-scratches — legs sprawled, tongue shamelessly drooping onto the floor — while Sadie, a Boxer-Lab, sits stoically, side-eying Jura’s shenanigans with skeptical maturity. Tea, coffee, and sweets cover two tables at the edge of the room, which Piper, a hound-mix, watches with unfazed dedication (just in case). Welcome to Pet Café. UVic’s Anglican spiritual care provider, Reverend Ruth Dantzer, founded Pet Café in 2017 after hearing about a cat café in Vancouver. She hoped to replicate something similar at UVic that could help bring attention to the Multifaith Centre’s programs and resources. Now, seven years later, Pet Café — which is fully
managed by the Multifaith Center and funded by the Anglican Diocese of B.C. and PATS — attracts an average of 150 students every Wednesday to the centre for afternoon cuddles with therapy dogs. No fee, no sign up, no appointment required. Bear and his owner Jenni Aitken have been regulars at Pet Café since 2019 when Bear became certified by PATS, a volunteer organization that connects volunteers and their pets to health care facilities, care homes, and schools across Vancouver Island. When Aitken got Bear, it wasn’t with the intention of volunteering him as a therapy dog. However, “The Hamburglar” had other ideas. “We would walk in the neighborhood and just randomly he would choose people to approach,” says Aitken. “‘I’m going to sit beside you or touch your feet.’ And more often than not, people were like, ‘oh my gosh, I needed this’ and ‘I've just lost my dog’ or ‘I'm going through a tough time.’” Aitken, whose background is in social work, quickly picked up on Bear’s gift and began the PATS application process to have Bear therapy certified. Part of this process includes a veterinarian assessment to ensure that each dog has a calm, gentle demeanor and enjoys being
touched. Bear allowed the vet to pick him up, pinch his toes, and touch his teeth. And when the vet began screaming and waving her arms, Aitken says Bear wasn’t fazed, only looking back at Aitken as if to ask, “Is she okay?” According to Psychology Today, therapy dog sessions for students at North American universities have become popular in recent years as a low barrier, evidence-based way to boost student wellness. A growing body of research shows that therapy dog interventions at universities help reduce student stress and boost relaxation. A 2023 study co-authored by Dr. John-Tyler Binfet — founder and director of UBC’s dog therapy program, Building Academic Retention through K9s or B.A.R.K. — found that students exposed to therapy dog interventions on campus also experienced an increase in optimism. Binfet suggests that this finding “holds the potential to recalibrate how students think about their ability and potential as a student within the post-secondary context” and, in turn, “may foster a more positive outlook on their university experience and their ability to cope with the academic demands being placed on them.” Photo provided by Ruth Dantzer.
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Kneeling on the floor beside B e a r i s 2 1 - y e a r- o l d H a n n a h S c h l o s s e r- H a l l , a t h i r d - y e a r s o c i o l o g y s t u d e n t w h o ’s b e e n coming to Pet Café every Wednesday for almost two years. “Me and Bear are tight,” Schlosser-Hall says nonchalantly, as if speaking about another student. “I make sure I don't have any classes at this time. This is my favorite thing.” S c h l o s s e r- H a l l , w h o h a s a labradoodle back home at her parents’ place in Seattle, says that Bear and the other dogs at Pet Café not only help fill her furry friend void when she’s away from her family dog, but also act as a midweek re-energizer when her school workload becomes intense. “I miss my dog a lot. So, it's really nice to just come hang out,” says Schlosser-Hall. “But when I'm really stressed … I feel like it helps me sort of reset a little bit. When I leave, I feel like I'm ready to start another wave of studying, or work on an assignment, or whatever it i s . I t h e l p s k i n d o f re f re s h m y energy.” Rebecca Myk, a third-year psychology major, pours steaming coffee into a mug and takes a seat, content to watch a group of students huddle on the floor around Sadie — whose wrinkled short snout and drooping eyes seem to suggest charming disinterest. Myk has been coming to Pet Café ever since she stumbled upon the Multifaith Centre on a spring afternoon in her freshman year. That fateful day, she noticed a group of students outside standing around several dogs and, on that particular Wednesday, a few ducks that a past employee used to bring. Like Schlosser-Hall, Myk also left a family dog back home to attend university. “I got [Holly] when I was seven or eight, so she’s been a big part of my life. Definitely super weird going away for university and not seeing her all the time,” says Myk, explaining that she has to settle for daily pictures of Holly, texted from her mom, because FaceTime only confuses Holly. “She can hear my voice, but she doesn't know
where I am.” Myk adjusts her clear-framed g l a s s e s , t a k e s a s i p f ro m h e r coffee, and reflects. “They emit so much love, whether they know you or you’re first meeting them … I definitely feel that every time I come here,” says Myk, who prioritizes attending Pet Café every week because of the “instant results” she gets. “I get a lot of energy to go back [to studying],” says Myk. “I had four hours of classes this morning and then this as a break, and I'm l i k e , ‘ o k a y, I h a v e s o m u c h brainpower to get back into it now.’” Aitken, Bear’s owner, recalls an instance when an inter national student from Iran came to Pet Café and disclosed to Aitken that she had left all her family back home to come study in Canada. Aitken says that she could tell the student felt “very alone and needed some physica l connectio n , ” w a n t in g Bear to sit on her lap. “ G i v e h i m c re d i t ; B e a r ’s n o t always going to do that. But he got up for a couple minutes so she could have a moment,” says Aitken, smiling. “It was delightful.” Jura, the Bernese Mountain Dog, rolls back over and sits up, her tall frame towering, almost comically, next to Bear. A student in a faded pink hoodie remarks that it looks as though Jura is smiling. Jura’s owner tells a group of students that not only can dogs smile, but domesticated dogs have evolved expressive faces that allow them to lift their inner eyebrows, making their eyes appear larger and more “puppy-dog-like.” It’s a result of human selection, he explains, that doesn’t exist in wolves. Accurate or not, some students continue to listen as Jura’s owner transitions into explaining the breeding history of Bernese Mountain Dogs. But as Pet Café nears closing time, most of the remaining students have gathered in small groups of their own. The room is alive with chatter, and the plates of cookies on the table are now mostly gone, apart from a collection of crumbs that still have Piper the hound’s attention. Aitken says it’s this sense of community that’s her favorite part
Photo provided by Ruth Dantzer.
of coming each Wednesday. “I really enjoy seeing the connections made between students. The dogs can be front and center on occasion … but there [are] other times where the dogs are more secondary,” says Aitken. “If others can find a moment to come here and connect with each other, that's gold.” Reverend Dantzer, the Café's founder, says she’s also noticed this benefit of student connection at the Pet Café, explaining that the dogs serve as icebreakers, but conversation and connections will often extend beyond them. D a n t z e r s a y s s h e ’s s e e n a n d heard a lot of stories from students who’ve made lifelong friendships
that started at the Pet Café. Before the pandemic put a temporary stop to the tradition, Dantzer partnered with Beacon Hill Children’s Farm every spring to bring baby goats to campus, an event that proved to be wildly popular, once reaching upwards of 1 500 student visitors over the c o u r s e o f o n e h o u r- a n d - a - h a l f session in 2018. Dantzer says she is working on bringing baby goats back in an effort to diversify the animals who attend and is even speaking with a person who has llamas who are trained as therapy animals. Bear and Aitken are the last to leave, alongside a group of four students who linger for last-minute
pets on the way out. After promising to return when Pet Café resumes sessions on Jan. 24, the students wander back to their own c o r n e r s o f t h e c am p u s , t o th e demands and deadlines that the end of the semester requires. Bear toddles to a bush for a well-deserved pee.
Photo by Pina Messina via Unsplash.
Photo provided by Ruth Dantzer.
JAN. 11, 2024 // 7
LIFESTYLE & SPORTS
Four tips to prepare your stress for the next semester
Get ahead of mid-semester burnout while you can MELODY POWERS SENIOR STAFF WRITER Just like that, the holiday season is over. After a long fall semester, a few short weeks are not enough to recoup before the spring semester starts. Even though we’re back to hitting the books, it’s important to stay on top of stress as early as you can to avoid mid-semester burnout. Here are five tips to help you minimize stress as we enter the new semester.
KEEP ACTIVE While cliché to mention, physical activity is one of the best tools out there to successfully combat stress. According to a six-week study published by Frontiers in Psychology, university students who performed low to moderate intensity aerobic exercise on a regular basis reported a significant decrease in depression and stress. While hitting the gym is not always feasible, even just going for a short walk each day can help relieve some tension.
GO OUTSIDE Another easy way to relieve stress and anxiety is spending time outside. Research from the Cornell University shows that spending anywhere from 10–50 minutes outside is an effective way to improve your mood and focus. It even has physical benefits, such as
lowering blood pressure and heart rate. Luckily, it’s easy to spend time outside, especially on and around campus. If you’re looking to sit down and breathe in the fresh air, Finnerty Gardens is a great place to enjoy some seclusion, surrounded by beautiful and diverse plant life.
TAKE UP A HOBBY A hobby is any activity you enjoy that is separate from your work and school life. It can be as simple as doodling or a more developed skill such as knitting or rock climbing. While different hobbies can have different benefits, overall those who have hobbies are likely to experience less stress and depression and are generally happier. If you currently have no hobbies but are wondering where to start, I would recommend making art, whether that is painting, drawing, or even coloring, as research has shown that creating art can lower participants' cortisol levels. I know it can be difficult to squeeze an extra thing into your already busy schedule, but even if you have an extra 10–15 minutes of downtime, it could be beneficial to focus on a hobby that can relax you.
READ A BOOK According to WordsRated, 51.57 per cent of American adults questioned had not read a whole book in the 12 months prior. It seems that people have been reading less and less over the years, and the benefits of reading are lost on many.
Illustration by Sage Blackwell.
Research shows that reading has numerous mental and even physical health benefits. People who read regularly have a 20 per cent reduced mortality rate compared to those who only read periodically. What’s more, reading for even six minutes has shown to reduce stress by 68 per cent, which is higher than listening to music or even taking a walk. Finally, reading before bedtime can improve your sleep quality and
School of Health Information Science
quantity. Next time you’re trying to fall asleep, try picking up a book instead of scrolling through social media.
can have lasting physical side effects on your health. Hopefully this list can help you avoid that mid-semester burnout.
Spring semester is starting to ramp up, your stress doesn’t have too. It might seem daunting to try and do anything other than homework for these next four months, but it’s important to try and focus on your well being for at least a few minutes everyday, as stress
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LIFESTYLE & SPORTS
Which streaming services are still worth the money?
With price hikes and ads, it might be time to rethink your subscriptions CRAVE
ATUM BECKETT SENIOR STAFF WRITER
$9.99–19.99/month
Streaming services used to feel like the silver bullet solution to overpriced cable television. H o w e v e r, t h e s e d a y s t h e y ’ v e devolved into a confusing, ad-filled mess that can make you miss the simplicity of just turning on the TV and watching whatever was on. With so many options to choose from, climbing prices, and companies cracking down on password sharing, it can be hard to pick what to spend your hard-earned money on. Here is a guide to which streaming services might still be worthwhile in 2024.
NETFLIX $5.99–20.99/month Netflix, the one who started this all. The selection on Netflix in the old days used to feel endless. I don’t know about you, but now just finding something good to watch on here feels more like a chore than anything. They spend endless amounts of money on original content, with vastly varying degrees of quality. But at the end of the day, who’s actually going to get rid of Netflix? If you enjoy watching a lot of mediocre programming with the occasional gem, then this is definitely the streaming service to hold on to.
Illustration by Chloe Latour.
And if you really hate yourself, you can just get the $5.99 plan that has ads. Just don’t get too attached to any series, because there’s nothing more Netflix than cancelling shows.
AMAZON PRIME VIDEO Free with Amazon Prime Chances are you pay for Amazon Prime for the free shipping and Prime Video is just an added bonus. This streaming service always surprises me with the amount of content on it. Unfortunately, not all good things
last, as it has been announced that Prime Video will soon start showing ads, which can be removed for a $2.99 monthly fee. Ignoring that, Prime Video has a very solid and varied selection to choose from with lots of classic movies and original content. If you’re made of money, you can also subscribe to additional channels with more niche content. You’re also able to rent or buy just about any movie or TV show if it happens to be unavailable on any streaming service.
Over the holiday slump and into the New Year
Crave is the only way to stream HBO content here in Canada, so that alone gives it a pretty big advantage. While the content on here is only of the highest quality for the most part, there isn’t a ton to choose from. Additionally, the amount of content added on a regular basis pales in comparison to other services like Netflix. While there are cheaper plans available, the most expensive one is the only one that doesn’t have ads. But if you like blockbusters, critically acclaimed movies, and high-quality series, then the steep price tag might be worth it. Subscribing for an entire year does give you a slight discount, and getting to watch through awardwinning shows like Succession and The White Lotus is worth almost any amount of money.
DISNEY+
BE COGNIZANT OF HOW YOU SPEND YOUR TIME
CONTRIBUTING WRITER Trying to stick to your New Year’s resolutions is like trying to do math: extremely difficult and a little boring (apologies to all you wonderful people in STEM, but it’s just not for me). Many people fall into a slump after the holidays, almost like a Christmas hangover, and the last thing they feel like doing is work. Ironically, this period is also supposed to be when we start working towards the goals we set for the New Year. It’s probably for this reason that a reported 25 per cent of people give up their New Year’s resolution within the first week. There are a lot of different statistics on this topic, and many of them are discouraging. Those who aren’t weeded out in January typically give up in mid-February. As for myself, I was making great progress on my goals leading up to Christmas break. I was going to the gym consistently, eating healthy, and taking good care of my mental health. However, as soon as classes ended and I was back home, all of my progress went out the window. According to my research, I’m not alone. I put out a survey to my 611 Instagram followers, and only 20 responded (my 20 real friends, including my sister, dad, and cousin). Twenty-five per cent of these people said that they’ve been lazing about over winter break. A further 35 per cent said that they’re in the planning stage. A majority of respondents also claimed that they’ve had resolutions before but have never fully accomplished them. It’s not that we don’t know how to achieve our goals. There are an infinite number of resources to help us
To achieve your goals, you should put much of your free time into them. You already know the steps you need to take, but everyday distractions are holding you back. A tool that you can use to hold yourself accountable is a habit tracking app. They can help you see the progress you’ve made towards achieving your goals. Try I Am Sober if you’re trying to quit something, or Habit Tracker if you want visuals that show how many days you’ve met your goals and checklists to keep you consistent. If you’re a physicalover-digital kind of person, print out a habit tracking template that you can colour it in yourself. Photo via Vecteezy.
available at our fingertips. We don’t lack knowledge, we lack motivation, drive, and grit. We want instant gratification and easy dopamine, rather than long, drawn-out results. In order to counter this plight, here are some tips to help you buckle down this January and actually prioritize your goals.
MAKE A VISION BOARD A vision board is a tool that can help you visualize your goals. Come up with very specific objectives, like “get my first pull-up” or “make three friends” that can be easily identified when achieved. Search for pictures that match exactly what you imagine achieving your goal will look like and arrange them into a collage using a printer or an app like Phonto or Canva. It can be digital or physical, but make sure you put it somewhere where it will be easily noticed, like on your desktop or near your front door.
ACT LIKE YOU’VE ALREADY DONE IT If your resolution will be putting you into a new environment, like a club, gym, or friend group, don’t feel like a poser. You’re a beginner! You just need to act like everyone who is already comfortable in this environment until you are as well. And don’t just walk the walk, talk the talk! If you want to run every day, start identifying as someone who does. Tell people you run every day (if it comes up — just don’t brag about it), and you’ll feel more of a drive to do it. Let's not be a part of the laughably poor statistics surrounding the holiday of fresh starts. Try to stay consistent for at least the whole year. That way, when you look back and see all the improvements you’ve made in 2024, you’ll feel compelled to follow your resolutions going forward. This year, I’ll take my own advice, and hopefully it’ll work, since I’m telling you to do it too.
APPLE TV+ $12.99/month Wait, Apple has a streaming service? No, but seriously, Apple TV+ is home to amazing originals like Ted Lasso, Severance, and… not much else. For the premium price tag, there isn’t a whole lot to choose from on here. Like Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV+ also allows you to purchase and rent movies and TV shows. This is handy, until you find yourself accidentally spending six bucks on a movie because you thought it was included in your subscription. If you’re not using the free threemonth subscription that came with your new iPhone, then it might be time to cancel Apple TV+ until Killers of the Flower Moon is available to stream.
$7.99–14.99/month When Disney first released their streaming service, it seemed like an amazing value. Now, after several steep price increases it’s getting harder to shell out money every month to the mouse. If you’re a fan of Marvel, Pixar, Star Wars, and Disney movies (duh) then
A brief guide on how to stick to your resolutions BRYNN GEDDES
Disney+ is a no-brainer. The early2000s sitcoms and comedies selection on here is also pretty hard to beat. Disney+ is also the only way to stream certain American shows, like The Bear, here in Canada.
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JAN. 11, 2024 // 9
Illustration by Sage Blackwell.
Send a photo of your completed colouring sheet to edit@martlet.ca for a chance to win a prize pack including Martlet merch, a George the Peacock sticker, and Cinecenta tickets! Deadline to enter is Feb. 1, 2024. 10 // JAN. 11, 2024
HUMOUR
What's in and out for the new year
Let's say goodbye to ugly footwear and hello to flavoured milk as we head into 2024 HANNAH LINK
boost will turn to this treat.
SENIOR STAFF WRITER
OUT – UGGS The biggest shock of the year for everyone in the shoe world was that Uggs made their powerful return to fashion. The most popular ones with low tops and aesthetically pleasing stitching seem useless in climates with any sort of precipitation and look shockingly hoof-like, especially on large feet such as my own. Out.
IN – STICKERS There’s nothing like the satisfaction of peeling and sticking, not to mention how delightful it feels to decorate your belongings. Stickers are inexpensive packages of happiness that are the next big phenomenon in design. And I’m telling you this as a certified sticker enjoyer and nothing more. The Martlet even has George the Peacock stickers for sale, if you’re in need of a new one.
IN – WALKING IN THE RAIN WITHOUT AN UMBRELLA It’s time to start embracing the winter rain with enthusiasm. During a downpour, walking sans umbrella can be surprisingly soothing, providing you have a reliable hood. Think about what you miss when there’s something hanging right over your head. What’s more is that coming inside after a soaking wet walk is a wonderfully satisfying feeling.
OUT – GIRL PHENOMENA Terms like “Girl Dinner” and “Girl Math” have crept their way into mainstream vocabulary, despite belittling women everywhere. Even when used with positive or jovial intentions, inserting the word “girl” before or around everyday activities just isn’t the pinnacle of comedy. It’s time to leave these phrases in 2023.
OUT – NAPPING ON WEEKDAYS
IN – INSTRUMENTAL MUSIC Sometimes words can be a little too much. As the music industry continues its transition towards TikTok-fame-motivated earworms, music without lyrics will creep its way into the mainstream. The popularity of instrumental music of all varieties, notably jazz and easy listening (think elevator-style), will rise to new heights in the coming year.
OUT – TYLENOL Let’s take a moment of deep reflection. Everyone knows that Tylenol simply doesn’t work like Advil does. I suspect
Illustration by Chloe Latour.
that the only reason it’s still on shelves is to give us the illusion of choice when we’re looking to solve our various maladies. Plus, Tylenol can damage the liver — and that’s already a known side effect of university.
everywhere when they take the stage as the official animal of the coquette aesthetic revolution. The lunar year of the rabbit ends in February, but that’s only the beginning for these sweet creatures.
IN – RABBITS
OUT – PDA ON THE BUS
They’re curious, they’re fluffy, and they’re certainly underrated when it comes to popular animals. This is all going to change in the new year, though, as rabbits will steal hearts
We get it, you’re in love. And I’m so happy for you. But riding the bus is simply not the time for touching noses together and staring deeply into your partner’s eyes. It’s especially awkward
when the bus is crowded and stuck in traffic. Maybe just stick to holding hands to spare us all the discomfort.
IN – CHOCOLATE MILK Youthful, sweet, and a little bit immature, chocolate milk is the ideal drink of the new year. We all lived through the flavoured water craze of this past year, and I expect the same to happen with milk in 2024. Nostalgia for Milk2Go will hit an all time high, and millions of students in need of a
Taking a nap always seems like a genius idea. It’s a way to catch up on sleep and relax after a tough class, until you simply cannot wake yourself up and feel unnecessarily grumpy. Napping is on its way out this year as I try to convince myself that it’s cruel and unusual punishment to make my roommates wake me up in time to finish my assignment.
Martlet wrapped
Our top articles of 2023 ASHLEE LEVY EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
Photo by Kristen de Jager.
Photo by Mark Roberts.
Photo by Kiera Clark.
Photo by Sarah Roberts.
Photo via Bin 4 Burger Lounge.
#1 RANKING VICTORIA’S NIGHTCLUBS
#3 THE BEST KEPT SECRET BAYS AND INLETS IN VICTORIA, B.C.
#5 THE BEST DOG-FRIENDLY BEACHES AND PARKS IN GREATER VICTORIA
#7 IT’S CRUNCH TIME FOR FOOD SERVICES AS INITIAL FOOD SURVEY RESULTS ARE PUBLISHED
#9 SIX LATE-NIGHT RESTAURANTS IN VICTORIA THAT WON’T BREAK THE BUDGET
Photo by Nicolas J. Leclercq via Unsplash.
Photo by Hannah Link.
Photo provided by Caden Teneycke.
Photo via andreww.me on Instagram.
Photo by Jazmine Quaynor via Unsplash.
#2 STREAMING SERVICES HAVE DUG THEIR OWN GRAVE, NOW THEY MUST LIE IN IT
#4 INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS ENCOUNTER UNEXPECTED BARRIER WHEN USING NEW TRANSIT SYSTEM
#6 MEET THE UVIC STUDENT WHO HAS GAINED OVER 650 000 FOLLOWERS ON TIKTOK
#8 STOP IDOLIZING CELEBRITIES
#10 GAY BAR TO CAUTIONARY TALE: THE PAPARAZZI STORY
JAN. 11, 2024
// 11
FUN STUFF
Easy, media, hard
SEE THIS ISSUE'S CROSSWORD ANSWERS MARTLET.CA/CROSSWORD
ATUM BECKETT CROSSWORD WIZARD
LAST ISSUE CROSSWORD ANSWERS DEC. 7, 2023
DOWN
ACROSS
1. Sealant material 2. Constellation that is part of a larger constellation 3. Pastry also known as a Napoleon or vanilla slice 4. Old woman played by Tyler Perry 5. Zodiac sign for 2024 6. Lazy person 7. Give permission 8. Fish sperm 9. Actresses Mendes or Longoria 10. Alien alien 11. One million bytes of information abbr. 12. Someone who fixes military drones 13. Othello antagonist 20. What some poetry is written in 21. Science fiction character now played by Ncuti Gatwa 22. A raven's favourite saying 23. Question you might ask yourself after a bad date 26. Scranton's state abbr. 28. Actor Gary 31. Who you pay rent to abbr. 34. Straight 36. "Tell me" 41. Article of clothing that can be used as a bra or headband 44. App for sending disappearing pictures abbr. 45. Wire thickness abbr. 48. Out-of-focus effect in pictures and movies 50. The nut of an oak tree 52. Perished 54. Ice cream store in Calgary 57. The circled letters 59. How Japanese cats meow 60. Sports league that Shohei Otani belongs to 62. Horror movie with Octavia Spencer 63. Half of Rihanna's nickname 64. American bank abbr. 65. Apple's video calling abbr.
1. A run-on sentence needs one 5. DS Lite successor 7. Prestigious credit card abbr. 11. Name of a saint 12. Web address abbr. 13. Lady Gaga song "__ __ for the Applause" 14. What you do in Fortnite or Minecraft 15. Roadside assistance in America 16. Ken's friend 17. Lululemon competitor 18. International college in Vancouver 19. Show that takes place in Westeros abbr. 20. When bread is keeping secrets from you? 23. Every DnD group needs one abbr. 24. Bay area city abbr. 25. Actress Zellweger 26. Excrement 27. Outdated slang for a cell phone 29. Bathroom abbr. 30. Something you drive for fun abbr. 31. Where a villain resides 32. Moldy variety of cheese 33. Paul Levesque's wrestling name 35. Courses international students might take abbr. 37. Used to denote a page range 38. Indian fermented lentil and rice cake 39. How many 13-letter answers there are in this puzzle 40. Will tell you to be quiet in your dorm abbr. 41. __, humbug! 42. Stock name of Comtech Telecommunications Corp. 43. __ __ __, or the highway 46. Horror movie starring Octavia Spencer 47. Provincial legal help abbr. 49. Projecting corner or angle of a wall or building 51. The Never Ending Story author 53. It can be quite crude? 55. Movie review aggregator website abbr. 56. Video game add-on abbr. 58. Nier character 60. Explanatory document 61. It requires your immediate attention 65. Budget airline 66. Spicy root vegetable 67. Raunchy Jacob Elordi movie
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The The Martlet Martlet Publishing Publishing Society Society is is an an incorporated incorporated B.C. B.C. society society and and operates operates based based on on our our Statement Statement of of Principles. Principles. We We strive strive to to act act as as an an agent agent of of constructive constructive social social change change and and will will not not publish publish racist, racist, sexist, sexist, homophobic homophobic or or otherwise otherwise oppressive oppressive copy. copy.
EDITOR-IN-CHIEF EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Ashlee Ashlee Levy Levy edit@martlet.ca edit@martlet.ca OPERATIONS OPERATIONS MANAGER MANAGER Anna Anna Alva Alva business@martlet.ca business@martlet.ca DESIGN DESIGN DIRECTOR DIRECTOR Sie Douglas-Fish Sage Blackwell design@martlet.ca design@martlet.ca
ISSUE 92 ISSUE
STAFF ILLUSTRATOR ChloeSENIOR Latour STAFF WRITERS Kristen de Jager, Sydney Lobe SENIOR STAFF WRITERS STAFF Atum VOLUNTEER Beckett, Hannah Link,WRITER Brianna Sydney Lobe, Bock Melody Powers STAFF WRITER EDITOR VOLUNTEER SENIOR STAFF Yo'ad Eilon-Heiber Brianna Bock
SENIOR STAFF EDITORS VOLUNTEER STAFF EDITORS Christian Romanowski, Rowan Watts Julien Johnston-Brew, Hannah Seaton VOLUNTEER STAFF EDITORS CONTRIBUTORS Julien Johnston-Brew, Hannah Seaton Cooper Anderson, Sage Blackwell, Kiera Clark, Mary MacLeod, Aidan Nelson-Sandmark, CONTRIBUTORS Sarah Roberts, Brynn Geddes, Paul Voll Paul Voll
Our paper is written and published on the unceded lands of the Lekwungen peoples, and the Songhees, Esquimalt and WSÁNEĆ peoples whose historical relationships with the land continue to this day.
12 // MAY 25, 2023
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