MARTLET THE
UVIC LIFE
UVicresearcherreceivesfve-year granttodevelopsyphilisvaccine PG. 2
FEATURE
Residencestafspeakoutabout inadequatetraining PG. 6-7
SPORTS
Three little-known Vancouver Island hikes to check out this season PG. 10
Residence staf began requesting naloxone training in
ANNILEA PURSER SENIOR STAFF WRITER
MELODY POWERS
CONTRIBUTING WRITER
SYDNEY LOBE EDITOR - IN - CHIEF
Namesandidentifyinginformationhave beenalteredtoprotecttheprivacyof thoseinterviewed.
Aurelia, a UVic community leader (CL), joins the Martlet on Zoom from her dorm, where she lives and works as residence staf. She sits next to a window. The bright sky dims her image on the screen, appropriately refecting the solemn tone of our conversation — and the considerable risk she has taken in speaking to the Martlet.
Following the tragic death of Sidney McIntyre-Starko, a frst-year general sciences student at UVic who passed away in January due to fentanyl poisoning, many of UVic’s emailed communications with CLs regarding the incident included
“CONFIDENTIAL” tagged in the subject line. As a result, CLs have been unsure what might happen should they share information regarding the incident, which occurred in residence.
Aurelia, Maxim, and Quinn have all been employed as CLs (live-in residence staf) at UVic for diferent lengths of time, in diferent residence buildings, and come from diferent walks of life. But they share a singular perspective following the tragic loss of Ms. McIntyre-Starko: the university should have trained CLs to administer naloxone — a drug which reverses the efects of an opioid overdose — years ago.
In a statement provided to Postmedia by UVic following Ms. McIntyre-Starko’s death, the university said that no time was wasted by Campus Security (CSEC) in giving McIntrye-Starko the help she needed during her overdose. However, records obtained by Ms. McIntyre-Starko’s family revealed that it took CSEC nine minutes before administering naloxone after arriving at the scene, and 12 minutes to initiate CPR — Ms. McIntyre-Starko's family emphasizes that this delay is just one of the many failures on the university's part in this
tragedy.
In the event of an opioid-related overdose, every second before naloxone administration counts. Additionally, there is little-to-no risk in giving the fast-acting drug, which reverses the effects of an opioid overdose.
Statistics from the B.C. Coroner’s Service state that 26 people have died
"We fear losing our position"
due to toxic drug overdoses on high school, college, or university campuses since 2016. The B.C. Coroner’s Service also states that Greater Victoria is one of three townships experiencing the highest number of unregulated drug deaths in B.C.
Toxic drugs are now the leading cause of unnatural youth deaths in B.C., and naloxone is one of the most valuable tools in treating a toxic drug
overdose. In Ms. McIntrye-Starko’s honour, her family created a website which calls for province-wide changes to naloxone availability at university campuses to prevent another death like their daughter’s.
Lisa Beare, Minister of Post-Secondary Education and Future Skills, has announced, following the death of Ms. McIntyre-Starko, that B.C.’s 25 public post secondary institutions will roll out overdose prevention measures in fall 2024. Minister Beare says that general prevention measures will include more distribution and training for naloxone and posting naloxone in all resident buildings and high-trafc buildings.
In a statement to the Martlet, a UVic spokesperson says, “We continue to learn and adapt from the events of that tragic night and our policies and approaches are evolving accordingly. In addition to making improvements internally on campus, we are working with the B.C. government and other post-secondary institutes in B.C. to ensure there are systemic changes made that will help improve safety on university campuses throughout the province.”
More information about the university’s impending actions and policies will be revealed in the coming
weeks, says the spokesperson. What these prevention plans don’t account for, according to Aurelia, Maxim, and Quinn, is that CLs are often frst responders in dormitory emergencies like overdoses, yet they are not procedurally trained on the administration of naloxone — and whether or not that will change come fall is still up in the air.
“CLS ARE ON THE FRONT LINES”
Residence staf have been requesting that UVic train them on how to give the overdose-reversal medication for years. “[But] we cannot push too hard. We fear losing our position. A lot of people rely on this position for housing,” says Aurelia. “I just think it's this real lack of recognition that CLs are on the front lines, and you need to give them the tools to be able to support students. That's the job,” says Quinn.
A UVic spokesperson says, in an emailed statement to the Martlet, “UVic does not train CLs to assess someone’s medical condition..." [Read the full article on pg. 6-7]
Photo by Sydney Lobe.
UVIC LIFE
Ten restaurant patios to check out in Victoria this
summer These
downtown gems offer views and vibes — and a chance to enjoy the summer
MANMITHA DEEPTHI CONTRIBUTING WRITER
CRAFT BEER MARKET
Budget: $$
Open: Daily 11:00 a.m.–midnight, 11:00 a.m.–1:00 a.m. Friday and Saturday.
One of the most popular open patio restaurants in downtown Victoria is Craft Beer Market. It opened its doors in September of 2022, replacing Canoe Brewpub, and has been buzzing with tourists and locals alike ever since. This multi-level establishment offers impeccable views of the water and a wide selection of beverages: wines, cocktails, and 110 draught beers on tap.
THE LOCAL
Budget: $$
Open: Daily 11:30 a.m.–10 p.m., 11:00 a.m.–midnight Friday and Saturday.
Located on Wharf Street in downtown Victoria, the Local boasts a sunny patio decorated with flowers. Ideal for people watching or catching the sunset by the water while sharing a meal with your loved ones — as long as the bustle of downtown does not bother you.
BREAKWATER CAFE + BISTRO
Budget: $
Open: Wednesday–Sunday, 9:00 a.m.–10:00 p.m.
The Breakwater Cafe + Bistro on Dallas Road is the perfect open patio restaurant set against the dreamy backdrop of the Pacific Ocean and the Breakwater Lighthouse. You can expect to see cruise ships and boats galore. If you are lucky you might even catch a glimpse of some marine life like otters, seals, or an orca! And, best of all, you need not break the bank while dining here.
FRIENDS OF DOROTHY
Budget: $$
Open: Varying hours Wednesday–Monday.
This eclectic and visually appealing gay bar opened its doors in 2020 and has since become the premier restaurant where LGBTQ2s+ folks and allies can enjoy a meal. Their open patio space is perfect for savouring their wide selection of artisanal cocktails and mocktails while soaking in the lively ambiance of lower Johnson Street.
WIND CRIES MARY
Budget: $$
Open: Daily 4:00 p.m.–1:00 a.m.
Located in the heart of downtown Victoria, the rustic patio of Wind Cries Mary is ideal for crafting your first novel while sipping an old fashioned.
BOOM + BATTEN
Budget: $$$
Open: Daily 9:00 a.m.–9:30 p.m., 9:00 a.m.–10:00 p.m. Friday and Saturday.
Boom + Batten is an upscale, over-water restaurant with perfect waterfront views that offers west coast-inspired culinary options. This eatery is wheelchair and scooterfriendly, boasting ample accessible seating for everyone to enjoy the panoramic view without spatial limitations.
GLO RESTAURANT + LOUNGE
Budget: $$
Open: Daily 11:00 a.m.–9:00 p.m., 11:00 a.m.–10:00 p.m. Friday and Saturday.
Located near Selkirk Landing, Glo Restaurant + Lounge is just a short water taxi ride away from downtown Victoria. Offering waterfront views, their open patio is ideal for catching sunsets away from the bustle of downtown.
SPINNAKERS BREWPUB
Budget: $
Open: Daily 9:00 a.m.–11:00 p.m.
The oldest brewpub in Canada, Spinnakers opened in 1984 and has been serving delicious meals with spectacular views ever since. Their multi-level dog-friendly patio space provides a stunning backdrop of downtown Victoria’s skyline.
LURE RESTAURANT & BAR
Budget: $$$
Open: Daily 7:00 a.m.–11:00 p.m., 7 a.m.–1:00 a.m. Friday and Saturday.
Like its name suggests, LURE beckons tourists and locals alike.
With a spectacular view of the inner harbor, this restaurant — located inside the Delta Ocean Pointe Resort — offers fine local cuisine and creative cocktails. With live music every
sun
AURA WATERFRONT
RESTAURANT & PATIO
Budget: $$$
Open: Daily 3:30 p.m.–10:00 p.m.
Located at the Inn at Laurel Point Hotel, Aura Waterfront offers a panoramic view of the inner harbor along with a selection of seasonal Pacific Rim inspired cuisine, wines, and microbrews. Their patio is the prime spot to witness the harbor boats, seaplanes, and whale-watching
Illustration by Natasha Jackson.
UVic researcher receives fve-year grant to develop syphilis vaccine
Dr. Caroline Cameron leads team of researchers to combat ancient disease
KIERA CLARK VOLUNTEER STAFF WRITER
Dr. Caroline Cameron, researcher and professor in the department of biochemistry and microbiology at the University of Victoria, is leading a team of international researchers to develop a vaccine for syphilis.
While the exact origin of syphilis is still debated amongst scholars, the first recorded outbreak was from the Battle of Fornovo in 1495, which occurred after King Charles VIII of France invaded Italy in September 1494. Despite being centuries old, syphilis cases are rising both in Canada and around the world. According to the Government of Canada, rates of infectious syphilis have increased by 109 per cent in the last four years, and congenital syphilis, which is passed to a fetus during pregnancy, has seen a 599 per cent increase. In 2022 alone, there were almost 14 000 reported cases of infectious syphilis in Canada, which is approximately 36.1 cases per 100 000 people.
In an interview with the Martlet, Cameron explained that the rise in syphilis cases is multifactorial.
“In the 1980s, in general this disease
B.C.'s
was close to being able to be eliminated because the numbers were dropping so much. … That was partially because HIV was such a significant disease and so condom use was very high.”
“So during the 1980s,” Cameron continued, “people that were working on this disease started working on other things, because it was accepted that we wouldn’t need to work on this disease anymore, so that’s part of why there’s a dearth of investigators.”
"However, as HIV has become a manageable disease since the introduction of antiretroviral therapy, condom use has decreased, causing rates of syphilis cases to increase," said Cameron. “From a public health standpoint, it’s very important to take this disease seriously.”
Not only does having syphilis increase the risk of contracting HIV and other sexually transmitted infections (STIs), if left untreated, it can cause complications even decades after infection, negatively afecting various organs such as the heart, brain, and liver. Untreated congenital syphilis can have severe complications for infants, including neonatal death, stillbirth, and lifelong health problems.
There are also technical reasons for the lack of research on syphilis.
Conservative
“We only recently were able to start culturing this bacterium. … You need to be able to have a source of the bacteria to be able to study it, but even now that we can culture and in vitro, it’s very difcult to grow it and you don’t get many bacteria, so it’s hard to work on.”
Cameron has dedicated her research to helping people, especially those from underrepresented groups whose voices are often overlooked or ignored. Cameron explained that syphilis and other STIs disproportionately afect people who do not have access to proper healthcare, making these diseases particularly prevalent in middle and low-income countries.
While many labs work on the disease itself, Cameron's is the only lab in Canada currently studying the bacterium that causes syphilis. Cameron began studying syphilis almost 30 years ago during her post-doctoral research at the University of Washington, which she describes as a “hub for research on sexual and reproductive health and STI research.”
Though Cameron is the lead researcher, her team is also invaluable to the process.
“I am completely dependent upon my lab personnel,” she told the Martlet. “They do all of the actual experimentation, and
Party proposes
it’s incredibly important to have a strong research team and that’s luckily what I have here, including graduate students and undergraduate students from UVic, and postdocs and lab technicians that went through the UVic program.”
One of the most meaningful aspects of Cameron’s work is training the next generation of scientists through her research.
“Seeing their enthusiasm — that to me is success,” she said. Beyond this, she is also hopeful that the research will be successful. Though they are not the only lab developing a vaccine for syphilis, Cameron believes that regardless of who
to re-allocating
develops this vaccine, it will positively beneft public health.
“It feels like you’re contributing to something good, and it’s a real good thing,” Cameron said.
Cameron’s research has been supported by the US National Institutes of Health (NIH) since 2002, but recently the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), which is part of the NIH, has begun supporting Cameron’s research with an additional fve-year grant of $7.8 million USD.
funding "essential
felds"
in post-secondary education UVic students speak out: which programs could take a hit?
FERNANDA SOLORZA SENIOR STAFF WRITER
With the provincial election coming in October, the B.C. Conservative Party has updated its proposals regarding their goals, should they be elected.
Aiming to address critical “skill shortages,” the Conservative Party has plans to reallocate post-secondary funding to promote training in “essential felds” such as medicine, engineering, and skilled trades. This shift is poised to signifcantly affect universities across the province, including UVic.
Students at UVic have expressed mixed reactions to the proposed changes. While some welcome the increased investment, others are concerned about the potential consequences for programs that may see reduced funding. Some students fear that
these programs will include arts and humanities.
“I’m biased in this [proposal] being from a STEM field myself,” said Tim, a mechanical engineering student. “The money obviously has to come from somewhere, which is not ideal, [but] I don’t necessarily think that it is a bad change.”
Engineering students questioned how much of a priority their faculty is for the budget reallocation proposed. “Canada is lacking doctors right now, so incentivizing [the medical feld] sounds like a smart idea to me,” said Tim.
Leslie, a software and computer science engineering student, said, “I can’t speak too much to other trades or medicine, but I have a pretty good idea what the [engineering] department is like, and money is defnitely not a problem. ... There are many systemic issues in the department,
but money wouldn’t fx any of them.”
“Although we get more money and we are getting a new building for the engineering department,” said Nour, another computer science student, “we are still losing quite a few of our professors, and UVic hasn’t been ofering as much incentive for them to stay.”
To this, a UVic spokesperson says, “UVic is committed to supporting and retaining our faculty,” in an emailed statement to the Martlet. They add that 15 faculty positions have been added to the engineering and computer science programs in the last fve years, and that their “number of resignations is extremely low.”
The Conservative Party’s proposal has not been well-received by students from other faculties, who wonder how this proposal could negatively afect them.
“I think incentivizing people to do necessary jobs is important,” said Rae Weber, a visual arts student. “But I think there’s other ways than taking budget away from those who are not in those felds.”
“It’s a very superfcial idea to consider art as something nonessential,” said Matt Smith, a writing student. “I feel like we are focusing on the wrong thing when we are considering moving funding away from educating people about art.”
“As someone in visual arts at UVic, we’ve already had signifcant budget cuts, and it has afected the program already,” said Weber.
A UVic spokesperson declined to comment on Webers’s claim that the visual arts program has been afected by budget cuts.
“I think it is important to point out that programs are not always completely
segregated,” Weber mentioned. “Visual arts and computer science is a very popular combined major.”
Nour also referenced combined studies. “I know a lot of people doing dual majors such as taking computer science and psychology, which are from completely diferent faculties.”
“Having funding taken away not only limits people that aren’t in engineering and computer science, but also limits people that are,” Nour continued. “People have various passions they want to pursue, and not being able to do that further limits the people that are in any faculty in the university.”
June may be almost over, but Pride events in Victoria are not Five LGBTQ2S+ pride events to attend this July, from dog walks to drag in the park
BIG GAY DOG WALK
Pride month might be coming to an end, but you can still celebrate with these fve LGBTQ2s+ pride-themed events in Victoria this July!
MEMORIAL DRAG BALL GAME
A community favourite, the Drag Ball Game began in 1993 during the AIDS epidemic to honour the lives of those lost with a baseball game played in drag. In the 30+ years since its creation, the game has grown in popularity, drawing up to 1 000 spectators annually. This free event will be held on July 1 at 12:00 p.m. in Vic West Park.
Celebrate pride with the Big Gay Dog Walk around the Gorge Waterway on July 3 at 5:30 p.m. in Banfeld Park. Before the walk, there will be a dog costume contest and dog trick competition. There will also be food trucks and vendors in the park. They have even created a special memorial area to commemorate departed pets.
PRIDE IN THE WORD
Join Victoria Pride Society on July 5 for the largest pride literary event in Canada. It features various LGBTQ2s+ writers and presenters, including Kahsenniyo, a multidisciplinary artist from the Mohawk Nation Wolf Clan, and Lindsay Herriot, adjunct assistant professor at UVic. Doors open at 6:30pm at the Victoria Conference Centre and tickets are pay what you can, with a
suggested donation of $10–$40.
PRIDE PARADE
The annual parade is on July 7 at 11:00 a.m. This year marks the 30th anniversary of the Victoria Pride Parade, which was frst held in June 1994. Indigenous and TwoSpirit guests of honour, as well as guests of honour from the Songhees Nation, will open the parade at Fisgard and Douglas. Is it your frst pride? Find “My First Pride” at Fisgard and Douglas before the parade and join a “People-powered contingent to help celebrate and connect new community members and their supporters.”
FESTIVAL IN THE PARK
After the Pride Parade, visit the festival from 11:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. in McDonald Park. There will be over 130 vendors, a large food court, a bar, and a sober bar (which will
ofer non-alcoholic drinks and mocktails). There will also be entertainment, including drag artists Coco Klein, Ella Lamoureux, and Shelita Cox, owner of Victoria’s Drag
Sunday Productions. The grounds open at 11:00 a.m. and entertainment starts at 1:00 p.m. Trust us, you don’t want to miss it!
KIERA CLARK
VOLUNTEER STAFF WRITER
Photo by Colin Smith.
Courtesy of Dr. Caroline Cameron.
UVic Faculty of Humanities launches new school, amalgamating four existing departments
Students frustrated about lack of consultation as their departments are intergrated into new School of Languages, Linguistics, and Cultures
KIERA CLARK VOLUNTEER STAFF WRITER
In September, UVic’s Faculty of Humanities will launch the School of Languages, Linguistics, and Cultures (SLLC), which will integrate four departments: Linguistics, French and Francophone Studies, Germanic and Slavic Studies, and Hispanic and Italian Studies.
The SLLC aims to create new interdisciplinary courses and research opportunities to enhance students' experiences in these four departments, while preserving current programs and course oferings, according to Annalee Lepp, Dean of Humanities. However, the consultation and development process for the new school has rubbed some students the wrong way.
The SLLC was ofcially announced in March 2024, though consultations with faculty have been underway for the past year.
“All the faculty from the four departments were invited and included
in the decision making around governance models, unit standards, all the various processes that we’ve had to go through have had the consultation of the colleagues and have gone through voting processes,” said Dr. Émile Fromet de Rosnay, acting chair of French and Francophone studies, in an interview with the Martlet.
However, a lack of communication and minimal student involvement in the consultation process has caused concern and frustration among students in departments anticipating integration.
Justin Salinas, a fourth-year French and Francophone studies major, explained that students have many unanswered questions due to the limited information that’s been available to them throughout the SLLC’s development.
“I think if this were to happen again,” Salinas said, “the faculty really should have communicated with students as early as possible, because not only are faculty implicated in this, but obviously students are the … users of these programs.”
Haley Greenhalgh, a Germanic studies
student, expressed a similar sentiment in an interview with the Martlet. “I think we were all just scared about our own degrees and our own cherished [professors]. … We didn’t know what was at stake, and I think if we’d had a little bit of prior notice, it would’ve smoothed things over.”
When asked about the lack of student input, Lepp said, “Throughout the process, the units involved in the creation of the SLLC were given the opportunity to explain the project to their constituents, including students. Diferent units opted for diferent ways of responding to this opportunity.”
Additionally, students have been confused about why some departments such as Pacifc and Asian Studies and Indigenous Studies are excluded. “If we’re calling this the School of Languages, Linguistics, and Cultures, but we aren’t including at the very least four languages that are in Pacifc and Asian Studies, I think that feels a little bit murky and unclear,” Greenhalgh said.
Lepp explained that while the work in
some of these departments may partially align with those involved in the merger, they are “outside the scope” of the SLLC.
Students also raised concerns about a loss of individual identity with the amalgamation, particularly in regards to their course unions. “I think that if we’re all suddenly one department we might have less of a specifc voice ourselves, because our course union standing is unclear at the moment,” Greenhalgh said.
In a statement to the Martlet, Hemal Sharma, UVSS Director of Student Afairs, explained that the decision regarding course unions for these departments largely lies with the faculty. “Currently our policy is that each department is allowed their own Course Union. We will be consulting with the Course Unions on how this change will afect them and what next steps they would like to see next.” Based on this, the SLLC would only qualify for one course union.
He adds, “As we approach the new school year, I am dedicated to supporting students who may be impacted by this decision through my role in whatever way
I can.”
Dr. Silvia Colás Cardona, chair of Hispanic and Italian studies and recentlyelected chair of the SLLC, discussed students’ concerns about the SLLC with the Martlet.
“It is true that this past year students weren’t as involved, and that is only because we were setting the foundational policies, the documents, [and] the governance,” said Cardona. “They will defnitely get contacted this year as we start working toward the curriculum, because it is very important to have their input.”
“I would really encourage anyone who has any doubt, any frustration, any problems, any suggestions, to come and contact us, because it would be actually great to hear what students say, because if it doesn’t get to us we don’t really know what they’re thinking,” she told the Martlet. “It’s an important part of the process.”
Renewed School of Indigenous Governance sees first graduates
UVic's renewed School of Indigenous Governance has frst Master's program graduates since its closure in 2018
ANNILEA PURSER SENIOR STAFF WRITER
The frst graduates of UVic’s School of Indigenous Governance (IGOV) Master’s program have crossed the stage since its temporary closure in 2018.
IGOV is internationally recognized for its contributions to the study of Indigenous governance.
“Our Indigenous governance program is recognized worldwide for its accountability and relevance to Indigenous communities,” reads the IGOV admissions website.
IGOV is made up of three streams: the Master’s in Indigenous Governance, the PhD in Indigenous Governance, and the Indigenous Nationhood certifcate, the latter of which is available for UVic
graduate students enrolled in Indigenous governance, political science, or law.
In 2018, IGOV was suspended due to concerns surrounding discrimination and hyper-masculinity. Following the receipt of a student complaint in June 2017, UVic administration launched a formal review of IGOV, which included interviews with 30 students and faculty members. The review resulted in Dr. Taiaiake Gerald Alfred, the director at the time, resigning and the program’s temporary suspension.
In 2021, Dr. Hōkūlani K. Aikau was hired alongside Dr. Dawn Smith and Dr. Gina Starblanket to rebuild the program. Aikau, who was a mid-career senior scholar at the time, took over as the Director of the renewed IGOV School.
She was previously a professor at the University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa, and later, a senior fellow at the University of Utah, where she helped lead the establishment
of the Pacifc Islands Studies certifcate. While at the University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa, Aikau became familiar with UVic’s IGOV School due to the schools’ partnership at the time.
Dr. Devi Dee Mucina and Dr. Heidi Stark joined Aikau, Smith, and Starblanket to collectively rebuild the program. Aikau says that the vision of the group was to continue the previous community work done by IGOV while bringing in the element of gendered analysis.
“The fve of us were the team tasked with the responsibility of reopening IGOV, again with th[e] same vision for continuing to do innovative graduate student training, being Indigenous grounded and Indigenous centred — that means centering Indigenous knowledges, practices, values, beliefs – and also centering a gendered analysis, and specifically an Indigenous feminist
analysis to the work,” said Aikau.
Michael Chutskof, who is now a PhD student in UVic’s Department of Political Science, was the first graduate of the renewed program and crossed the stage in the Fall 2023 graduation ceremony.
Chutskoff decided to apply for the program right as applications were re-opening.
“My understanding [of IGOV] at the time was, oh, well, it’s not like Indigenous studies, it’s a little bit diferent, a little more, in some ways, political,” said Chutskof.
Chutskof says being a part of the frst cohort also meant being the “guinea pigs.”
Challenges to the renewal of the program included the COVID-19 pandemic and fguring out the program structure.
However, Chutskof says the program renewal has been successful.
“It’s very inclusive and … you can tell
that the work has been done to really reshape how this program is operated and it’s really refreshing that this IGOV program is by and for Indigenous peoples,” said Chutskof. “It’s really nice to have that space for Indigenous scholars and activists to further their education and push themselves in a way that isn’t dismissive of their prior experiences.”
Like Aikau, Chutskof has witnessed the renewed IGOV’s focus on Indigenous feminisms and gendered analysis, noting an inclusivity toward queer, gender nonconforming, and gender diverse experiences.
“[The IGOV program] has been a very integral, informative program that’s launched me in the direction that I’m in, as somebody whose now doing a PhD,” said Chutskof.
Let's kick cancer's butt 'Push For Your Tush' race brings awareness to colorectal cancer
“Push For Your Tush” is Colorectal Cancer Canada’s (CCC) largest annual fundraising event, dedicated to reducing the incidence and mortality of colorectal cancer (CRC) in Canada. The event consists of a 5K and a 10K walk/run race and fosters a fun, family-friendly atmosphere where survivors are celebrated, those we've lost are honoured, and supportive communities come together.
Join Michael Butterfeld, a proud UVic and Martlet alumnus, and fellow advocates on Sunday, July 7, at Clover Point Park to combat CRC through knowledge, awareness, and early detection.
CRC is the second leading cause of cancer death in Canada. About 26 Canadians die from the disease every day. While traditionally considered an older person's disease, recent statistics reveal a troubling
rise in incidence rates among younger adults. The American Cancer society reported that diagnoses in 2019 doubled in patients under age 55 compared to the number of cases in 1995.
As a CRC survivor who triumphed over the disease four years ago, Butterfeld is on a mission to raise awareness and educate the community about this increasingly prevalent health threat. This year, Butterfield is bringing “Push For Your Tush” to Victoria for the frst time.
“I decided I wanted to do something out of the fact I’m surviving by spreading the word,” says Butterfeld. “You just have to be aware of what the symptoms are, and when you get the symptoms, don’t be embarrassed, and get help.”
“Donations are great but participation is better,” Butterfeld adds. “Getting people out brings the issue into the spotlight and out of the shadows.”
Butterfeld provided the promo code, PFYTVictoriaSpecial, for people to register
for the event for free. Face painters, balloons, snacks, refreshments, and even live music will be available at the event based on pre-registered attendance. Butterfeld hopes that more people join the fundraiser.
"I could have avoided this disease with more awareness," Butterfeld refects. His journey underscores the critical importance of early detection, which can only be achieved by awareness of the disease. Awareness is the fundraiser’s and Butterfeld’s ultimate goal.
The welcome and warm-up will start at 10:00 a.m., and the race will be inaugurated at 10:15 a.m. Registration is open now online — regular fees are $35 for individuals or $75 for families.
FERNANDA SOLORZA SENIOR STAFF WRITER
Photo courtesy of Michael Butter feld.
We need to feed our readers snacks in between meals.
Canadian universities raise concerns over foreign infuence Some institutions say new legislation may afect international r esearch
ETHAN BARKLEY SENIOR STAFF WRITER
The Canadian Parliament has recently tabled Bill C-70, a comprehensive bill that seeks to address the threat of foreign interference in Canadian politics. Members of U15, an association of 15 major Canadian research universities, fear that the bill could compromise international research opportunities. UVic is not a member of U15, but, as a researchfacilitating institution, it is not immune to the bill’s potential impact.
The Charter Statement states that foreign interference in Canada has increased in volume and complexity in recent years. Additionally, although foreign states typically advance their interests legitimately, they sometimes do so in ways that are deceptive and covert, or harmful to Canada’s national interest.
Included in Bill C-70 is the Foreign Infuence Transparency and Accountability Act (FITAA). This Act has set of alarm bells for many Canadian universities, who fear that it may seriously impact international research eforts.
So, what does FITAA do? Simply put, FITAA would require any arrangements
The goals of the bill, according to its Charter Statement, are to create a “number of measures that would modernize and fll gaps in existing legislation, strengthening the tools available to combat foreign interference and to protect national security.”
between individuals or organizations working with a “foreign principal” (a foreign power, state, entity or economic entity) to be registered with the federal government if the arrangement relates to an ongoing political or governmental process in Canada, and if it involves communication either directly to the public, or with a public ofcer.
The bill would also impose new criminal and fnancial penalties on those who fail to report such arrangements.
The U15 group has requested clarifcation if the Act’s definition of “arrangement” would include international research activities such as partnerships and funding agreements, given that publicly funded research universities in other countries would likely fall under the defnition of “foreign entity” used by the Act.
Notably, FITAA specifes the need for registration if the arrangement would communicate or disseminate information to the public “by any means, including social media”. As such, U15 also wants to know if published research, conferences, or other public forums would be considered “communication” to the public under the Act’s defnition.
FITAA requires all arrangements be reported to the Foreign Influence Transparency Commissioner within 14 days, a requirement that the U15 group says is “simply impossible” given the size and scope of modern universities and their research activities.
While the new legislation would not prohibit research arrangements with foreign institutions, U15 warned of a potential
“chilling efect” that may harm Canadian researchers’ chances of participating in ongoing international research. Faced with FITAA’s 14-day reporting requirement, Canadian universities may instead choose to abstain from participating in research with international partners, meaning Canadian researchers might miss out on opportunities to do important work. UVic declined to comment on the Bill and its possible impact on research at the university.
As of June 19, Bill C-70 has passed a review by the Senate and awaits Royal Assent before it becomes law.
Graduate Students Society referendum introduces gender afrming care
Other health and dental coverage also added to re-vamped plan
ANNILEA PURSER SENIOR STAFF WRITER
On June 7, 2024, UVic’s Graduate Students Society (GSS) passed a referendum that will introduce gender afrming care and other amendments.
The health and dental referendum had six questions, including whether to include gender affirming care, increase vision exam coverage, increase physiotherapy coverage, and increase dental coverage. The last two questions concerned the structure of funding increases, including whether health and dental care should be tied to infation.
All of the amendments passed, resulting in the introduction of gender affirming care coverage, as well as increases in vision, physiotherapy, and dental coverage. The new funding structure will mean a 4.4 per cent overall increase for one year, and further increases tied to infation — resulting in a lessened need for future referendums.
The referendum saw a 16 per cent voter turnout; around 422 voters out of the eligible 2633. This is a signifcant increase upon the last health and dental referendum, which saw a 6.49 per cent voter turnout.
The GSS Director of External Relations, Jitendra Palaparty, led the referendum’s development. Palaparty explained that the new health and dental fees mean that graduate students who are a part of the plan will have both an overall increase in coverage and an improvement of existing
coverage.
For dental care, this means that students will be able to have care covered every six months, rather than the previous nine month cycle. Further, eye exam coverage will increase from $75 per exam to $100 per exam, and physiotherapy coverage will increase from $200 to $500 per year.
Notably, gender afrming care will be covered for a lifetime amount up to $15,000 per student. This amendment will mean an $8 per year increase will apply to graduate students’ health and dental insurance costs.
According to the World Health Organization, gender afrming care exists on a continuum, and may include “social, psychological, behavioural or medical (including hormonal treatment or surgery) interventions designed to support and affirm an individual’s gender identity.”
Palaparty attributes becoming involved in the GSS to being passionate about securing gender afrming care for graduate students.
Last year, Palaparty noticed that the UVSS had gender affirming care coverage, but it was absent from the GSS. Palaparty, a graduate student herself, tried to access the UVSS’ insurance plan. According to Palaparty, she went to the UVSS insurance ofce and asked how she could access the plan but was met with barriers. From there, Palaparty took a formal position with the GSS where she worked hard to pass the referendum, including personally speaking with over 200 graduate students.
“I did literally everything I could for this to pass, and it did,” said Palaparty. Still, she adds, “There is just not enough awareness about what gender afrming care is. I’ve spoken to at least 50 students who do not know what is gender afrming care.”
Although the gender afrming care amendment had fewer afrmative votes than the other points, Palaparty’s opinion is that there are few people against the amendment at UVic. “The [lack of] awareness piece is where I believe most of the ‘No’ votes are
coming from.”
The referendum results will be put in place for graduate students at UVic beginning in the fall semester of this year.
Residence staf began requesting It took the death of a student UVic Community Leaders are not naloxone
ANNILEA PURSER SENIOR STAFF WRITER
MELODY POWERS CONTRIBUTING WRITER
SYDNEY LOBE EDITOR - IN - CHIEF
Namesandidentifyinginformationhave beenalteredtoprotecttheprivacyof thoseinterviewed.
Aurelia, a UVic community leader (CL), joins the Martlet on Zoom from her dorm, where she lives and works as residence staff. She sits next to a window. The bright sky dims her image on the screen, appropriately refecting the solemn tone of our conversation — and the considerable risk she has taken in speaking to the Martlet.
Following the tragic death of Sidney McIntyre-Starko, a frst-year general sciences student at UVic who passed away in January due to fentanyl poisoning, many of UVic’s emailed communications with CLs regarding the incident included “CONFIDENTIAL” tagged in the subject line. As a result, CLs have been unsure what might happen should they share information regarding the incident, which occurred in residence.
Aurelia, Maxim, and Quinn have all been employed as CLs (live-in residence staf) at UVic for diferent lengths of time, in diferent residence buildings, and come from diferent walks of life. But they share a singular perspective following the tragic loss of Ms. McIntyreStarko: the university should have trained CLs to administer naloxone — a drug which reverses the efects of an opioid overdose — years ago.
In a statement provided to Postmedia by UVic following Ms. McIntyre-Starko’s death, the university said that no time was wasted by Campus Security (CSEC) in giving McIntrye-Starko the help she needed during her overdose. However, records obtained by Ms. McIntyreStarko’s family revealed that it took CSEC nine minutes before administering naloxone after arriving at the scene, and 12 minutes to initiate CPR — Ms. McIntyre-Starko's family emphasizes that this delay is just one of the many failures on the university's part in this tragedy.
In the event of an opioid-related overdose, every second before naloxone administration counts. Additionally, there is little-to-no risk in giving the fast-acting drug, which reverses the efects of an opioid overdose.
Statistics from the B.C. Coroner’s Service state that 26 people have died due to toxic drug overdoses on high school, college, or university campuses since 2016. The B.C. Coroner’s Service also states that Greater Victoria is one of three townships experiencing the highest number of unregulated drug deaths in B.C.
Toxic drugs are now the leading cause of unnatural youth deaths in B.C., and naloxone is one of the most valuable tools in treating a toxic drug overdose.
In Ms. McIntrye-Starko’s honour, her family created a website which calls for province-wide changes to naloxone availability at university campuses to prevent another death like their daughter’s.
Lisa Beare, Minister of Post-Secondary Education and Future Skills, has announced, following the death of Ms.
McIntyre-Starko, that B.C.’s 25 public post secondary institutions will roll out overdose prevention measures in fall 2024. Minister Beare says that general prevention measures will include more distribution and training for naloxone and posting naloxone in all resident buildings and high-trafc buildings.
In a statement to the Martlet, a UVic spokesperson says, “We continue to learn and adapt from the events of that tragic night and our policies and approaches are evolving accordingly. In addition to making improvements internally on campus, we are working with the B.C. government and other post-secondary institutes in B.C. to ensure there are systemic changes made that will help improve safety on university campuses throughout the province.”
More information about the university’s impending actions and policies will be revealed in the coming weeks, says the spokesperson.
What these prevention plans don’t account for, according to Aurelia, Maxim, and Quinn, is that CLs are often first responders in dormitory emergencies like overdoses, yet they are not procedurally trained on the administration of naloxone — and whether or not that will change come fall is still up in the air.
“CLS
ARE ON THE FRONT LINES”
Residence staf have been requesting that UVic train them on how to give the overdose-reversal medication for years. “[But] we cannot push too hard. We fear losing our position. A lot of people rely on this position for housing," says Aurelia.
“I just think it's this real lack of recognition that CLs are on the front lines, and you need to give them the tools to be able to support students. That's the job,” says Quinn.
*Continue readin here from pg. 1*
A UVic spokesperson says, in an emailed statement to the Martlet, “UVic does not train CLs to assess someone’s medical condition; we emphasize that 911 and CSEC need to be called in medical emergencies.” CSEC Officers carry naloxone with them at all times while on shift.
Aurelia, Maxim, and Quinn corroborate this, saying that in their training that UVic instructs them to contact CSEC in the event of an overdose. They add that they are also explicitly instructed not to administer naloxone while on shift.
“I do have co-workers that are trained in naloxone independently, but we’re instructed it's not our responsibility, and that's something we're supposed to call Campus Security to deal with,” says Aurelia. “We kind of just stand there.”
“We’re told that when a serious incident happens, your job is to call security,” adds Quinn.
In a written statement to the Martlet, a UVic spokesperson denies that this is instructed to CLs. “If a CL has frst aid or naloxone training, they can administer naloxone as a private citizen under the Good Samaritan Act, but their role as a staf member is to always ensure they contact 911 and Campus Security in emergency situations.”
Before CLs enter their positions for the school year, they undergo two weeks of mandatory training that includes topics related to mental health awareness
and how to file reports Security.
Notably absent from a harm reduction module training on naloxone
According to Aurelia, requesting naloxone university as a part of occupational preparation Allegedly, the answer staf has consistently
To this, a UVic spokespersons “Exploring ways we can reduction training for is part of the work we’re our August 2024 training
Following the death Starko, CL Charles petition for CLs to receive harm reduction training, to handle “when a situation medical or safety emergency.”
“We cannot let the this under the rug, it … We deserve to have dealing with any situation upon,” says Kjer’s petition.
The petition was sent UVic, and signed by 60; whom answered that naloxone training.
The petition was presented to Residence an exclusive bargaining agreement between University of Victoria Employees Union
However, due to interest naloxone training
McIntyre-Starko’s university promoted Safer Use training sessions staf, and permitted time should they choose
Yet the optional conflicted with the schedules of some intended for personal still not encouraged naloxone as a part of was during the week so I couldn’t even make of the April training Isabelle Easton, UVSS Campaigns and Community explains that the facilitating frequent workshops for members community on campus Easton says Residence contact UVSS regarding session. The session attendance.
“UVic tries to act don't happen on campus, every single year,” says want more training. We to help.”
RESIDENCE STAFF OTHER UNIVERSITIES TRAINED TO GIVE NALOXONE
The B.C. Federation which represents colleges, universities, vouches for training in naloxone availability. executive committee the Martlet, “The B.C. Students is proposing kits be installed and accessible locations wherever students would everybody knows where in an emergency.”
Mercedes Guerra, of Human Resources
Photos by Sydney Lobe.
requesting naloxone training in 2022. for UVic to listen
naloxone trained despite being first
reports to Campus from this training is module — including naloxone administration.
Aurelia, CLs have been training from the of their mandatory preparation since 2022.
answer from university consistently been “No.” spokespersons says, can improve harmour CL community we’re doing ahead of training sessions.” death of Ms. McIntyreCharles Kjer created a receive mandatory training, including tools situation becomes a emergency.”
the university sweep is time for change. have the tools for situation we may come preamble to the sent to 100 CLs at 60; 100 per cent of that they wanted
was not formally Residence Services due to bargaining clause in the between UVic and The Victoria Educational Union (CUPE 4163). interest from CLs in training following Ms. McIntyre-Starko’s overdose, the promoted upcoming UVSS sessions for residence permitted CLs to use work choose to attend. training sessions the class and work some CLs, and were personal use — CLs were encouraged to administer their postings. “It during class time, make it,” said Maxim session.
UVSS Director of Community Relations, UVSS has been naloxone training members of the UVic campus since 2017. Residence Services didn’t regarding the April 25 session had 10 in
like those things campus, but they do, says Aurelia. “We We want to be able
STAFF AT UNIVERSITIES
GIVE Federation of Students, students at 14 universities, and institutes, training and an increase availability. Cole Reinbold, committee member, tells B.C. Federation of proposing that naloxone clearly marked at across campuses, would be [so that] where to fnd them
the Vice President Resources at NaloxHome
— an organization dedicated to harm reduction education — says that there are no health risks to administering naloxone to someone who is not actively overdosing.
“Naloxone only interacts with opioid receptors. So if there are no opioid receptors, there's no opioid in your system, nothing really happens,” said Guerra. “[Opioid overdoses are] the leading cause of death,” they continue. “There's always a way to make it safe for everybody.”
Many other Canadian universities have been leading by example — training their residence staf on naloxone use, and encouraging them to administer it in the event of an overdose. Institutions like the University of Alberta did so to prevent a death like Ms. McIntyreStarko’s from happening on their campus.
Jared Larsen, former Students’ Union Vice-President at the University of Alberta, helped lead the implementation of the Residence Assistant (RA) naloxone training fve years ago, in 2019.
“During my tenure with the Students’ Union, we worked with the University of Alberta Residence Services to ensure Residence Assistants were properly trained to administer the naloxone nasal spray,” reads a written statement provided to the Martlet by Larsen. “These initiatives arose as a precautionary measure with the opioid issues across Canada.”
At other universities across the country, including Vancouver Island University, Western, Carleton, the University of British Columbia and University of British Columbia Okanagan, Humber College, McGill, and Queen’s, residence staf are either trained on the administration of naloxone or permitted to administer it as a part of their posting. They either carry the drug with them or can access it in residence buildings.
Fletcher Thandi, a spokesperson for UBC, wrote to the Martlet that RAs in Student Housing on both of UBC’s campuses are given substance overdose training, which includes locating and using naloxone in student residences.
According to Humber College’s overdose procedure, the on-boarding of new residence life staff is not considered complete unless the staf have undergone naloxone training.
Additionally, naloxone is stocked on all foors of residence buildings, at the front desk of each residence, with designated residence life staf, and a regular auditing system of these kits is in place.
At the University of Northern British Columbia (UNBC), residence staf all receive naloxone training and CPR training, according to a statement to the Martlet from a spokesperson. Additionally, RAs at UNBC carry naloxone kits in their bags when on call and are instructed to administer the drug when necessary.
For Maxim, this training is crucial at every university with student housing, because in their experience, when residents are confronted with an emergency situation, they come directly to the dorm room of their CL.
“These 18 year olds don't know if they should call Campus Security, if they should call the police, who they should call. … CLs are meant to be there as a person in their building that they know and they trust, and they can go to and say, 'This is the problem. I don't know what to do,’" says Maxim.
“If we don't have the capability to give naloxone,” he continues, “then we have
point of contact
to go through the steps of calling campus security and wondering if they're going to administer it, or calling the police, and depending on how long it takes them to get there. It's a lot easier to have someone who literally lives down the hall from you who can do that,” he says.
HARM REDUCTION ON CAMPUS
Though naloxone accessibility and training are crucial, many agree that a more comprehensive approach to harm reduction on university campuses is necessary.
“While we are dealing with this public health emergency … we just need to remind ourselves that it takes everybody's work,” says Dr. Jamie Arredondo, Canadian Research Chair in Substance Use and Health Policy Research. And for Arredondo, harm reduction on university campuses needs to go beyond accessible naloxone kits and training.
For Maxim, harm reduction looks like drug testing sites on campus in addition to naloxone training.
Dr. Bruce Wallace, a scientist with the Canadian Institute for Substance Use Research, says in a written statement to the Martlet that the benefts of drug checking on campus are “the same benefts as anywhere else, plus meeting students where they are at and when they most beneft from the information and connection.”
Wallace adds that while there are a number of options for drug testing — from fentanyl test strips to drop-off testing — an on-campus drug checking site where spectrometers and test strips are available would provide the greatest access and most timely service, although appropriate funding would also be needed to facilitate this.
Following the call to action from McIntyre Starko’s family, Minister Beare’s promise that post-secondary institutions will roll out overdose prevention measures in fall of 2024, and UVic’s statement that they will make changes to August residence staff training, it is still unclear whether naloxone training will be made mandatory for CLs, as these changes require consultation with the staff’s union, according to a UVic spokesperson.
Training residence staf on naloxone at Canadian universities is “absolutely vital,” says Reinbold of the B.C. Federation of Students. “Anybody who is on a university campus should be trained on naloxone, and the onus is on the institution to make that happen.”
“I am currently in conversation with CLs to discuss the best way to support them so they can get the naloxone training they want,” says Easton in an emailed statement to the Martlet.
While UVic CLs optimistically anticipate the potential of mandatory naloxone training in this year’s August orientation cycle, the dismissals of their resounding calls to action since 2022 cannot be forgotten, or forgiven.
Refecting on the devastating loss of Ms. McIntyre-Starko, Aurelia says, “If we had had this training, I think things could have gone a lot diferently.”
Healthcare is a right, not a privilege The privatization
FERNANDA SOLORZA SENIOR STAFF WRITER
During my second year at university, I took a course in biological anthropology. Although I learned plenty, my strongest memory is of one Tuesday lecture when we looked at buried remains of early Homo sapiens and Neanderthals. Noting the evident love with which they were buried, the professor pointed to healed fractures and injuries, explaining that such care
of
healthcare
is a
and compassion for the injured marked the beginning of our society. I’m bafed by how our values have changed since the emergence of organized societies. The rise of capitalism and the privatization of services has led to segregation and the exploitation of the most vulnerable sectors of society. Canadians take pride in their healthcare system, but mismanagement of this system has led to advocacy for private healthcare.
Dr. Brian Day, former president of
UPCOMING FILMS
threat to the fundamental rights of Canadians
the Canadian Medical Association (CMA) launched a court lawsuit against the B.C. government in 2009 against certain sectors of the Medicare Protection Act, advocating for private healthcare for Canadians. His legal battle stretched 14 years, and was ultimately dismissed by the Supreme Court of Canada in 2023.
However, shortly after, Dr. Kathleen Ross, the new and active director of the CMA, began a series of crosscountry consultations to discuss the role of private health care in Canada’s publicly funded system.
When addressing the tension of (even partially) privatizing a public system, it is imperative to point out that privatizing healthcare not only judicially violates the Canadian Health Act (CHA) by compromising the comprehensiveness and universality of healthcare systems in Canada, but morally violates fundamental human rights. A cost for services puts more Canadians at a disadvantage than would beneft.
Article 25 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights declares that “Everyone has the right to a standard of living adequate for the health and well-being of themself and their family, including food, clothing, housing, medical care, and necessary social services.”
There are certain aspects and sectors in society that simply should not be managed for proft. The notion that someone's health should depend on their wealth is fundamentally unjust. I come from Mexico, a country where a dual healthcare system is in place. A dual or two-tier system refers to a model where both public and private healthcare services co-exist. This system is morally unfair and leads to exploitation and abuse.
My parents are medical practitioners in Mexico. I have heard anecdotes from their personal experience mentioning how their colleagues work in both public and private sectors and use their status as professionals to misinform and redirect patients to their private ofces to upcharge for their services.
As an OB-GYN, my father is concerned with the number of pregnant people who, under the misdirection of moneyoriented practitioners, pay for cesarean sections instead of opting for the safer and less invasive natural birth.
These situations are not unfamiliar in Canada either. In 2017, The Globe and Mail led an investigation that exposed many B.C. doctors who double-billed for their services. This issue has not stopped.
Although Canada is not ofcially a dual system, certain provinces like B.C.
allow private clinics to ofer services that are not covered under the Canada Health Act. That’s the case of Cambie Surgery Centre in Vancouver, a clinic founded by Dr. Brian Day, who is a vocal advocate for the privatization of healthcare.
When people cannot aford necessary medical care, or are forced to make impossible choices about their health, it leads to preventable sufering and death — outcomes that a compassionate society should not tolerate. By making healthcare public, we affirm the intrinsic value of every human life, ensuring that no one is left behind.
Moreover, a public healthcare system is more efcient and cost-efective, as it fosters a healthier population overall.
For example, vaccine programs reduce the need for treatments and hospitalizations, which are signifcantly more expensive. Regular check-ups and cancer screenings detect diseases at earlier, more treatable stages, reducing costs overall and improving the patient's survival rate and quality of life. When people have access to regular check-ups, preventive care, and early treatment, the prevalence of severe and chronic illnesses decreases.
This not only improves individual quality of life but also reduces the long-term burden on the healthcare system. In a public system, the focus can shift from treating illnesses to promoting wellness, leading to a more productive and resilient society. Healthy people can work and produce more than injured or ill individuals.
Critics argue that public healthcare systems can lead to longer wait times and decreased quality of care. After losing the lawsuit, Dr. Brian Day stated to CBC News that “Wealthy Canadians have always gone down to the United
by
States [for care], but where do middleincome and lower-income Canadians go? The answer is they're not allowed to go anywhere. They stay and sufer and die on wait lists.” However, these long wait times are often the result of underfunding and mismanagement rather than inherent faws in public healthcare. Additionally, it has been proven that privately-funded healthcare doesn’t solve this issue.
Australia expanded private insurance and found that these changes did not decrease wait times. Rather, in regions where private insurance was most often used, wait times in the public sector rose as resources, personnel, and funding were diverted to the private sector, leaving the public sector with greater challenges in meeting patient needs efficiently. Additionally, the argument against public healthcare based on potential wait times ignores the reality that millions of people in private healthcare systems, like the U.S., currently face indefinite wait times because they simply cannot aford care.
If Canada’s healthcare system changes to a dual or fully private system, it would mark a major drawback in its commitment to equality, efciency, and the well-being of all Canadian residents. Certain faws in the public system still need to be resolved, such as underfunding or lack of doctors, but those issues will not be solved by segregating the population between those who can afford healthcare and those who can’t. People should always be placed over profts. Canada must ensure that healthcare is a right, not a privilege.
Photo
Fernanda Solorza.
ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT
UVic Live Music Club president releases debut album 'In Subtle Ways'
In conversation with musical artist Charis Tazumi
ETHAN BARKLEY SENIOR STAFF WRITER
UVic student and musician Charis Tazumi’s debut album In Subtle Ways draws on indie, pop, folk and R&B infuences in its contemplative, often dreamy tunes. InSubtleWays is Tazumi’s first full-length album and features a range of musical contributions from other UVic-based musicians.
The album, along with its two singles, "Eyeline" and "Delusional", were both released earlier this year. Join the Martlet in conversation with Tazumi about her musical journey, collaboration, and the release of her new album.
This interview has been edited for brevity.
MARTLET: How did you get into making music?
TAZUMI: I’ve done music for a big part of my life. I actually started when my dad forced me to join a local children’s choir. At frst I thought I’d hate it, and then I spent the next fve years there. Since then, I’ve loved to write little songs and do musical theatre. But I started producing and making my own music when I started university. It was very low stakes. I was in my bedroom, just making little songs, not using any metronome or timing, I was just being creative. I had a lot of freedom, because no one had heard my music. My frst song I ever put out was in 2021; it’s called “everything was fne.” Over the next two years I put out a couple more singles, but honestly I feel like this chapter of my life in music really started when I joined the UVic
Live Music Club.
MARTLET: When did you start working on InSubtleWays?
TAZUMI: By around April or May, [co-producer Brendan Wong and I] started having conversations about doing a longer project. We started recording the album in August 2023. Originally it was supposed to be an EP, so a much shorter project, but I kept writing songs and I felt like they needed to be in the project, so it evolved into an album. I’m very grateful to Brendan for being so open to it. I feel like the way that the album is now, to me, is exactly what it needed to be. We started recording in August with a lovely group of people; the band consists of Leo, Kristof, Will, and Matt. I met all of them through the Live Music Club, they’re all incredible musicians and have done some of their own things. We’ve been working, playing gigs, and jamming out for about a year now.
MARTLET: What did you learn from working on a full-length album?
TAZUMI: I learned that good things take time. Things take longer than you think they’re going to, and that’s not in a negative way. You just have to be patient and go with the process, because you want to serve the song as best you can. If you rush it and you push things when it doesn’t feel natural, it shows up in the music.
MARTLET: How has being part of the Live Music Club (LMC) infuenced you as an artist?
TAZUMI: In so many ways. The reason I met all of these people is because of the Live Music Club. A lot of the songs I was writing for the album I
would just sporadically share at LMC songwriting events and open mics. The encouragement, support, and feedback I got on those songs is the reason why I was able to fnish them. And that’s what I love about the album: it doesn’t feel like it’s just mine. It feels like there’s so many people that infuenced it in some way.
MARTLET: What would you tell students who might want to get involved with music?
TAZUMI: Not to be afraid to share your original stuf. Not that anything is wrong with covers, but people want to hear your thoughts and your feelings, and you deserve to have that space to do so. And to not be afraid to ask for help and ask questions, because it is really intimidating. We all want to help each other. Ask questions and ask for support.
MARTLET: What’s next for you?
TAZUMI: I always write music, but I’m not letting myself plan another project because it’s so fresh. After putting out an album, there’s still so many things to do in terms of promoting it, and also just sitting with the experience. I want to feel and remember everything. But yeah, we have a few gigs lined up throughout the summer. I’m super excited.
In Subtle Ways is available on most major streaming platforms. Information about Charis’ music and upcoming shows can be found on her Instagram @ctazumm.
IzzieRamos-Foley(CFUVVolunteer,co-host ofSwimClub)andRowanGrice(CFUVStaff, host of Bench Mob) provide their thoughts on Charli XCX’s sixth studio album, BRAT , releasedJune7,2024withAtlanticRecords.
IZZIE
Charli XCX lyrically centres BRATaround the complexities of fame, womanhood, and navigating mainstream success. Sonically, BRATtakes you on a journey through the club. Her last album, Crash , was a glittery, conventional pop-star moment for Charli, with shallow, commercially consumable singles like "Good Ones" and "Baby." Charli has been riding the high of her incredibly successfulsingle"SpeedDrive"fromBarbie, Greta Gerwig's 2023 film. With the release of BRAT , Charli has begun revitalizing her careerinanindustrythatperpetuallyreplaces femme artists with each other. BRAT headbutts listeners with abrasive lyrics like, "ShouldIstopmybirthcontrol?"and"I'dgo back in time to when I wasn't insecure." BRATisalyricallyvulnerableclubpoprecord thatexceedsexpectationsfromherprevious albums.
A.G.Cook,ahyperpoppioneer,produces many tracks on this record. He is known for running PC Music and working with artists like Hannah Diamond and GFOTY. Cook's
production adds a bumpy, harsh texture to BRAT. Charli's vocals manage to convey dynamic emotions through thick layers of autotune. Her delivery is addictively blunt, particularly on her track "I think about it all the time”. Other production efforts come from electronic music giants such as GesaffelsteinandTheDare.BRATseamlessly combinesexistentialvulnerabilitywithcallous rave music; a huge win for party girls worldwide.
ROWAN
My eyes unexpectedly begin to water as I listen to “So I,” track nine on Charli XCX’s new record BRAT . The track is a candid meditation on love and regret, honouring the late musician Sophie — a visionary producer and frequent Charli collaborator who passed away suddenly in 2021. Comparedtothefun,cheekilybraggadocious singles “Von dutch” and “365,” the sheer sincerity of tracks like “So I” is jarring, but refreshing.Thisthemecontinuesthroughout BRAT: moments of indulgence and hubris pitted against moments of insecurity and grief. On BRAT , Charli XCX masterfully asserts the oneness of these seemingly disparate emotions. Even in the club, we carrysorrow.Eveninthedepthsofself-doubt, we carry swag — a net win.
Top Ten Played Albums May-June 2024
Gillian Hay* Magnolia Baby (Self-released)
Sunglaciers* Regular Nature (Mothland) Parlour Panther*
(Coax)
The
It was brought to my attention yesterday that Cedar Hill Rec has applied for a "Liquor Primary" license so that they can use their squash courts, concession area, and patio to serve alcohol. This usage seems very strange to me and my frst reaction was that it couldn't be true. However it is true. There is a "Notice of Intent" sign on the NE corner of Cedar Hill and Finlayson which I expect not many people have not seen.
illegal
drug-induced death of a UVic student is appalling and our system needs to change
I do not understand why the death of an 18-year-old young woman, a frst-year student, by an illegal drug overdose in a UVic dormitory in late January was not made public knowledge until mid-May. Something is very strange here.
I don't believe a publicly funded recreational facility should be in the business of selling alcohol in competition with local pubs. I think public recreation facilities should be focused on community ftness and health.
Do you want the police to carefully investigate how the students involved obtained the drugs? Someone obviously was distributing them.
There is little point in complaining about this to the Liquor and Cannabis Regulation Branch but I think that some may wish to complain about it to Saanich municipal council. I would encourage others to do the same.
It could also have ramifcations for our dance community. We rent space at Cedar Hill Rec and would fnd it uncomfortable if inebriated members of the general public came by our classes and practices and decide they would like to show us their moves! Other users of the facility may have similar concerns about security and parking at a site licensed to serve alcohol to 174 patrons.
The public needs to know more about this. The students themselves need to know how this happened. In my opinion, anyone sharing or persuading someone to use these dangerous drugs is guilty of serious harm, and a criminal court needs to decide punishment for cultivating fear among the student body of convictions to prevent further events like this. What about prevention? Are you considering required attendance at appropriate workshops/talks on what illegal drugs contain and how dangerous they are to experiment with? The university seems to underscore drug recovery, not prevention. I, a senior citizen in Victoria, would like to see the university take a public step in that direction.
-
Raymond Rusk
-Janet Doyle, Community Member
Illustration by Neha Saxena.
Photo by Donovan Topacio.
Three little-known Vancouver Island hikes to check out this season
Looking to add some new hikes to your summer? Look no further than these hand-picked gems
JAMIE HELLARD CONTRIBUTING WRITER
In January 2023, my New Year’s resolution was to complete 52 hikes in a year. I ended up completing over 125 hikes, many of them on Vancouver Island. As summer approaches and you begin to plan your season of adventure, consider these recommendations — all located right here in your backyard!
CENTURY SAM
Distance: 6.6 kilometers
Location: Strathcona Park
Difculty Rating: Difcult
This hike is hands down one of the best little hidden gems on Vancouver Island. For much of this hike you will follow a relatively well traveled footpath that winds through dense forest. The view from the summit is otherworldly! You will fnd yourself in a bowl-like valley with a turquoise blue glacial lake in the middle. Take a few moments to go for a dip in the freezing waters or wander beyond the lake and explore the snow caves before making your descent. Fair warning: if you don’t have a good four wheel drive system in your car you will need to park roughly two kilometers away
from the ofcial trailhead. This will add some distance to your journey, but it will also save your suspension!
COWICHAN RIVER TRAIL
Distance: 8.4 kilometers
Location: Cowichan Valley
Difculty Rating: Moderate
This hike is always on my summer to do list because of its amazing views! This trail is not especially difcult, and it only takes about two hours to complete, but it packs a lot of beauty into a relatively short path. The trail follows the Cowichan
River toward Duncan before turning around at a trestle and following the river back towards Cowichan Lake. The path is a great mixture of forest tranquility, riverside views, and rolling hills. Make sure you bring your bathing suit for a refreshing dip in the calmer sections of the river!
EAST SOOKE COAST TRAIL
Distance: 12.3 kilometers
Location: East Sooke Regional Park
Difculty Rating: Difcult
This trail is a grind! It is also stunning and a great way to test your endurance if you are planning to attempt one of the longer coastal trails such as the Juan de Fuca or West Coast Trail. East Sooke Regional Park is a gorgeous location, and this trail captures its essence well. This trail takes roughly four hours to complete, taking you through coastal vistas, secluded coves, beaches, and dense forest environments. This trail is also known for its wildlife, both marine and terrestrial. Keep your eyes peeled, as whales and sea lions are known to frequent the area! Please note, if you are planning to hike this trail from
Take yourself out to the ballgame
The Victoria HarbourCats are back
ERIC KWAKERNAAK
CONTRIBUTING WRITER
During the seventh inning of the Victoria HarbourCats 2024 season home opener, with the score deadlocked at 2-2, the crackle of a microphone echoed through the loudspeakers of Royal Athletic Park. It was longtime HarbourCats announcer Dan Salmon, informing the crowd that it was time to sing baseball’s most iconic anthem.
“Take Me Out to the Ballgame” began to play, and within seconds, the arena was flled with the deafening chorus of over 3,000 fans. It didn’t even matter if you knew the words. Entire groups of schoolchildren, most of them born more than a full century after the hit was released, hummed along to the tune.
The HarbourCats are members of the WCL, a summer collegiate league designed to provide post-secondary athletes a space to maintain and sharpen their skills. Since joining the WCL in 2013, the HarbourCats have led the entire league in attendance a whopping six times, proving themselves to have one of the most dedicated fan bases
out there. The players have paid that dedication back in droves, making the postseason finals on three separate occasions, though they have yet to bring home a trophy.
But if you’re still yet to make your way over to Royal Athletic Park to catch a game, this summer is the perfect time to start.
The June 7 home-opener –– the frst of 32 games that the HarbourCats are slated to play at home this summer — demonstrated perfectly the passion Victoria has for their baseball club. The game would end up going to extra innings, where the HarbourCats were eventually felled by their division rivals, the Wenatchee Applesox, by a score of 3-2. Despite this, the crowd never disappeared. Even in the bottom of the twelfth, with the sun well over the horizon, chants of “Let’s go, HarbourCats!” echoed through the bleachers.
There is real optimism surrounding the HarbourCats this season. This is due in large part to the leadership of third-year manager Todd Haney. A former second baseman who played fve years in the MLB,
Haney helped spur the HarbourCats to a frst-place division fnish last season, where they led the league in both hits and batting average. Despite eventually losing the 2023 championship series to the Corvallis Knights — who have won the league for seven consecutive seasons –– Haney was awarded the WCL coach of the year.
Last season's successes have allowed the HarbourCats to have their pick of collegiate talent, and they’ve responded by bringing in some fresh faces. Back in April, the team made waves throughout the league by announcing the signings of Manny Ramirez Jr. and Lucas Ramirez.
The Ramirez brothers are the sons of Manny Ramirez Sr., the 19-year MLB veteran considered by many to be one of the best right-handed hitters of all time.
“These are notable signings, not just for us, but for the entire West Coast League,” HarbourCats partner Jim Swanson said in a press conference following the Ramirez announcement.
The Ramirez sons, alongside the rest of their teammates, will hope to be the next in a large group of WCL alumni currently
playing in the pro leagues. There were 38 former WCL players on MLB opening rosters this year, and the HarbourCats alone have 34 alumni currently playing for major league organizations. Notable among them includes Nick Pivetta, the Boston Red Sox pitcher and Victoria native who joined the HarbourCats for their inaugural season and Abbotsford native Cade Smith, who made his Cleveland Guardians debut on March 30 of this year.
Whether you’re brand new to the sport or a diehard fan yearning to catch a glimpse of baseball’s newest stars, HarbourCats games are a blast for all. There’s plenty of mid-inning entertainment, from trivia to hot-dog eating contests, and enough triedand-true stadium eats to satisfy anyone’s appetite for nostalgia. With general seating tickets for only $15, HarbourCats games are well worth the price of admission. Plus, with a few extra voices in the crowd, the HarbourCats might fnally bring home that long-coveted championship banner. So this summer, do yourself a favour, and take yourself out to a ballgame.
end to end two cars are needed to return from one end of the trail to the other.
PRO TIPS
While Vancouver Island is a haven for hiking, it is important to keep a few factors in mind. First, many trails on Vancouver Island are built in ecologically sensitive areas. This means that by venturing of of the designated trail or leaving your trash behind, you are potentially disturbing a delicate ecosystem. Always pick up after yourself and stay on marked trails.
Larger animals such as bears, cougars, and wolves are common on Vancouver Island. To protect yourself and keep these animals safe, ensure that you are aware of what to do in the case of an encounter, BC Parks has a detailed section on wildlife safety, and always carry bear spray. Finally, many hikes on Vancouver Island take place in relatively remote locations, meaning that cell service and assistance can be hard to come by. Ensure that you are properly prepared with food, water, and first aid supplies before embarking on your hiking adventures. Happy hiking!
Comic by Pariris Mook-Sang-Forbes.
Photo by Jamie Hellard.
Illustration by Sage Blackwell.
Graduating Difculty
DOWN
1. Imitate or copy
2. Grind your teeth in rage or pain
3. House, for example
4. Music streaming service formerly owned by Jay-Z
5. Slang for someone who's getting older
6. The underlying principle of the universe in Chinese philosophy
7. Deal with something
8. Type of beer
9. Evergreen coniferous tree
10. "Is" in Spanish
12. Start of the alphabet
13. Elegant or refned, especially for British people
17. What Sam Altman develops
20. Abbr. type of beer that has 8 down in its name
21. What you must do before you reap
22. It's in the eye of the beholder
23. Large percussion instrument
26. See 19 across
27. Rural street signs usually say this on them
28. A ghost or ghostlike image of someone
29. The Canadian association of aerospace work, abbr.
30. Who mostly tends to you in a hospital
31. "I won't read that whole paper, I'll just ___ __"
33. ____ California, Mexican state
38. Orange drink mix, famously used by astronauts
40. Pretentious way to say "therefore"
42. Yearly meeting held by the UVSS, abbr.
43. Questionnaire you're asked to fll out about classes at UVic, abbr.
ACROSS
1. "Kids" and "Electric Feel" band
5. University in Canada's largest city, abbr.
7. Bean There or Munchie Bar
11. Capital with its state's name within it
14. Rapper Young __
15. Infamous plane jacker who escaped using a parachute
16. Video game The Binding of 18. Opposite of NW
19. With 26 down, musical name of Donald Glover
22. The greatest province
24. The Dragon Warrior
26. Homogenous colour spelled diferently across the border
28. Capital of Poland
32. Levine or DeVine
33. Extreme edge of land
34. When you should probably stop drinking cofee
35. Synonyms for "mistake" or "baby bear" end in these letters
36. Grade given to video games or beef
37. Stephen King novel about a clown
39. Not Alpha or Sigma
41. Root vegetable known as the Mexican turnip
43. _____ Gane, French MMA fghter
44. Common preposition
45. Root used in Chinese medicine
46. This card game has islands, swamps, forests, mountains, and plains, abbr.
47. Black powder that is a result of burning things
by Abby Koning.
Cartoon by Liam Razzell (@chiseled_mongoose).