Over The Edge
UNBC’s Independent Student Newspaper est. 1994
Action for Change
Colten Boushie Vigil, pg 6 Open Letter to Students, pg 12
Volume 24, Issue 7
Free overtheedgenewspaper.ca
March 6, 2018 over.the.edge.unbc@gmail.com
Letter from the
have been to far too many rallies and vigils lately. This is not to complain about that fact, as they have been deeply moving, emotional experiences of community coming together over shared feelings. But that is precisely the point. As I’ve stated many times before, the
In August of 2016, Colten Boushie of Cree Red Pheasant First Nation was shot in the back of the head by Gerald Stanley, dying instantly. Stanley was acquitted on February 9, 2018. The body of 15 year old Tina Fontaine of Sagkeeng First Nation was found at the bottom of the Red River in August of 2014. Raymond Joseph Cormier was charged with her murder, and was acquitted on February 22, 2018.
to like us on Facebook. For more information, please visit our website www.overtheedgenewspaper.ca.
d
ney Watk Tier in
Next deadline: March 21, 2018
Alexan
Support is always needed and no experience is required; help make Over The Edge better. We want to hear from you! Call us at 250-960-5633, tweet us @overtheedgeunbc, email us at over. the.edge.unbc@gmail.com and be sure
rame | DC
n so
| News Dir
uttosi | AC T ra
|M
C
Ge
ndron | PC
e r
Every year, we provide employment as editors, designers, and managers to students with a passion for journalism and are always looking for motivated individuals to work and volunteer in our collaborative environment. Over The Edge offers competitive advertising rates for space in our print publication as well as online.
D el
and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls was held at the Courthouse on Valentine’s Day. This event is held every year to honor and demand justice for the unreasonably high number of Indigenous women and girls whose fates remain unknown across the country. This has been a heavy, sad, and angering month. I cannot give enough thanks to the warriors of our community, who continually show up, organize, and come together through such turbulent times. Now please, get some rest.
cto
Over The Edge is the University of Northern British Columbia’s independent student newspaper. Our office is located on the 2nd floor of the NUSC building in room 6-350. We are an equal opportunity publication which represents students in the UNBC and Prince George community. Our publication supports student writing by welcoming news, arts, sports, culture and opinion articles, as well as photography, comics, and creative writing submissions.
Adding to an emotional February, the annual rally for Missing
Emman u
Over The Edge
Around the country and beyond, vigils for each were held shortly after the verdicts were announced. Again and again, we mourn. Each vigil in Prince George was held at the Courthouse, and was filled with powerful speakers from our community, as well as songs and drumming. Everyone there faced the bitter cold as a united front, holding dearly the knowledge that Indigenous youth are not safe in our justice system. Again and again, we rise up.
Hanna h
I
Edge itor
Moniq ue
world feels especially large and terrifying lately, especially for our Indigenous peoples.
ier
a
IC E | ll
Tim Hill
Sam W
Masthead
| Publish er iR zun
News
3
Student Highlights of the Fiscal Budget for 2018 Trevor Ritchie Contributor
O
n February 20, the BC provincial government released its budget for the fiscal year of 2018. The government consistently claimed that the budget works for all British Columbians, but there was little to satisfy students hoping for additional support paying for post-secondary education. The largest investment in post-secondary education was the confirmation of the tuition waiver program for students who had been in government care. Former youth in care are now able to attend any post-secondary institution in British Columbia and have their tuition covered by the province. Of less direct importance to post-secondary students is the decision to remove fees for all Adult Basic Education and English Language Learning classes, which are courses that can be taken to complete or upgrade high school education in preparation for a college degree. Outside of direct post-secondary investment, post-secondary students may be interested in a few other policy decisions in the budget. Many of these changes will have direct impacts on the different kinds of students who attempt to complete post-secondary degrees, and the support provided could allow many more people to pursue their studies. Students with small children, including many mature students, will be pleased to note that more than one billion dollars is being invested over the next three years into the initial steps in creating a universal child care program. This program will
provide significant subsidies for lower income families, drastically reducing the costs of providing childcare. These reductions in costs are being paired with direct spending that is projected to create twenty-two thousand more licensed childcare spaces throughout British Columbia. It’s a commonly understood fact that housing remains one of the largest concerns for British Columbians, and that the inflated housing market found in the Metro Vancouver area is expanding to other metropolitan areas of the province. The government has chosen to expand the BC Liberals’ foreign ownership tax to Victoria, Nanaimo, Kamloops, Kelowna, and the Fraser Valley, and has increased the tax to twenty percent of the property’s sale value. This additional tax income is being used to fund investments in affordable rental housing, and to finance the construction of student housing on post-secondary campuses. Renters will also want to note that the rental income assistance program has been given additional funding, and that rental laws are being strengthened. In particular, strata corporations are going to be allowed to impose more fines and penalties on people who break the rules in their strata complexes. In order to pay for these new spending priorities, a number of new taxes have been created or expanded. The provincial carbon tax is set to be increased by an additional five dollars per ton, while the Medical Services Plan is being phased out in 2020 and
replaced with a payroll tax paid by businesses with a payroll of more than one and a half million dollars. New taxes will also be placed on properties where the owner does not pay income tax in British Columbia, and the property transfer tax will also increase on properties valued over three million dollars. These three million-dollar properties will also be assessed at a higher school tax to help pay for education funding in the province. Cigarette prices will also be increasing due to an increase in cigarette taxes. Recent news has been focused on the idea of dirty money being laundered through British Columbia’s casinos, and more recently through the real estate economy. The budget proposes a series of policies to help eliminate tax evasion and fraud. Key to this is the creation of a database on pre-sale condos to determine taxes are paid on initial purchases, and forcing numbered companies that do not identify their purpose to now declare who benefits from transactions made by the company. Business groups expressed concern about the rise in taxes, particularly the payroll tax used to eliminate the medical services plan, as that was not an expected tax increase and is seen as harmful to small businesses that are also having to absorb increased labour costs due to the movement to raise the minimum wage to $15.20 an hour by 2021. In contrast, non-profit housing and childcare organizations were pleased with the investment in rental housing and creating new childcare spaces. Both groups
acknowledge that the current levels of investment do not match the election promises of the New Democrat government, but that these are good starts and represent an increase in support for their concerns. Lost in the shuffle of the big ticket spending items in the budget were the funding made available for the preservation of Indigenous languages in British Columbia, and the support provided for women and children affected by violence. The budget allocates fifty million dollars to preserve Indigenous languages. Eighteen million dollars was pledged to provide outreach and counselling support for domestic violence victims. Finally, the BC government projects a modest budget surplus over the next three years, with each year’s surplus being projected at two hundred to three hundred million dollars. There appeared to be universal agreement that the financial problems at ICBC and the effects of this year’s wildfire season reduced the size of the budget surplus in meaningful ways, and these increased costs have been budgeted into the next budget cycle.
4
News
UNBC Senate Update for February 28 Trevor Ritchie Contributor
A
s we near the end of the academic year, Senate continues to focus on preparations for the next school year. This month, Senate will be receiving initial information about the university budget, and will have further deliberations at the March 28 meeting. Students should be aware that a UNBC town hall will be hosted on March 29 where they can provide input into the university budget for the upcoming year. The Senate Committee on Academic Affairs presented an abundance of changes to various courses. Courses to be considered for deletion: NURS 652-6 (Chronic Disease Management), NURS 653-3 (Nursing Practice with Older Persons), NURS 656-3 (Mental Health and Addictions), NURS 702-6 (Continuing Community Care), HIST 749-12 (Graduate Project), INTS 798-9 (MA Project), and POLS 205-3 (Philosophy of Science). Many of the courses being considered for deletion are being brought back in a different form as part of the Senate meeting, and other courses have not been offered in many years. These deletions will create a more accurate showing of what is available at UNBC. Proposed new courses: WMST 298-3 (Special Topics in Women’s Studies), NURS 328-1,2 (Nursing Laboratory), ENGL 298-3 (Special Topics in Literature or Visual Media), HIST 760-12 (History Master’s Major Research Paper), HIST 545-3 (Historical Methods and Approaches), INTS 7020.5 (Graduate Colloquia), INTS 797-3 (Research Paper), POLS 230-3 (International Relations), ENVS 230-3 (Introduction to Environmental Policy), ENVS 339-3 (Carbon and Energy
Management), and ENVS 431-3 (Environmental and Sustainability Politics). Courses with changed course descriptions: NURS 412-3 (Women and Health), NURS 435-6,8 (Pediatric Nursing), NURS 606-3 (Developing Nursing Knowledge), NURS 610-3 (Quantitative Research in Nursing and Health), NURS 612-3 (Women and Health), NURS 703-3 (Health Program Planning, Community Development and Evaluation), POLS 298-3 (Special Topics in Political Science), POLS 405-3 (Topics in Society and Democracy), POLS 472-3 (Seminar in Political Philosophy), POLS 499-3 (Independent Study), POLS 600-3 (Classics in Political Philosophy), POLS 605-3 (Topics in Society and Democracy), POLS 672-3 (Seminar in Political Philosophy), POLS 698-3 (Special Topics in Political Science), and POLS 704-3 (Independent Study). The rationale for most of the changes is to clarify the wording and reduce student confusion of what is required to take the courses. Changes also reflect some differences in the material being presented in the courses. Courses with changed course title and descriptions: NURS 329-1 (Third Year Objective Structured Clinical Examination), NURS 607-3 (Applying Research and Evidence to Practice), NURS 6803,6 (Special Topics in Nursing), NURS 701-6 (Advanced Clinical Practice in Community Health Nursing), and ENVS 225-3 (Global Environmental Change: Science and Policy). Similarly to the last section, these changes are mainly for clarity and to reflect the changes in what is being taught within the course. Courses with changed to credit hours: NURS 317-5.5 (Nursing
Theory and Practice: Maternity), NURS 318-5.5 (Nursing Theory and Practice, Pediatrics), NURS 323-5.5 (Nursing Theory and Practice, Older Adult), and NURS 326-5.5 (Nursing Theory and Practice: Mental Health). Each of these courses is being changed to be five credits, instead of five and a half credits. Changes to Course Prerequisites: HHSC 301-3 (Pathophysiology), HHSC 490-6 (Honours Thesis), HHSC 497-3 (Senior Seminar), and HIST 750-15 (MA Thesis). INTS 700-3 is a unique case where only the course title was changed, while PSYC 202-3 (Philosophy of Mind) has been changed to note that PHIL 210-3 is precluded from taking the course. The Honours Computer Science Program requirements are being changed to make clearer the overall GPA requirements to enter and stay in the program, specifically the requirement to maintain the 3.3 GPA throughout the degree. The third year of the Nursing program is being changed to reduce credit hours for four of the theory and practice courses, as well as the inclusion of an additional two credits of lab work, while the Master of Science in Nursing program academic calendar entry is being changed to reflect the change in the name of NURS 701-6. The admissions section of the Family Nurse Practitioner Stream is also being revised to include new course requirements and program recommendations. The Master of History program requirements are being changed to address changes in courses also being considered by Senate and to clarify the meaning of the academic calendar, and
the Bachelor of Arts Honours in History academic calendar entry is being amended to be clearer for students. The Master of International Studies program calendar entry has been changed to reflect the changing programming of the degree and the resources available for students in that degree program. Three programs related to Environmental Studies are being changed. The standard BA in Environmental Studies is being changed to reflect the new name of the degree being offered, the new courses being offered by the degree and a change in the course requirements for graduation. These changes are being made because of the long period since the last major update for the program. The Joint Major in English and Environmental Studies program and the Joint Major in Environmental Studies and Political Science are being updated to reflect the new course offerings in the department. The last major program change being considered are the course requirements for the BA in Nature-Based Tourism Management, and the Honours in Nature-Based Tourism Management. These changes are meant to address the change in course offerings provided by the department, based on revisions to the BSc in Outdoor Recreation and Conservation. Finally, five new scholarships have been approved by the Senate Committee on Scholarships and Bursaries, and these scholarships will be active for the 2018-2019 academic year. Details can be found on the scholarship website.
News
5
Biohacker Presents Poor Lab Technique Lon Kerr Contributor
J
osiah Zayner, an ex-NASA biochemist, founder of The Odin, and PHD graduate from the University of Chicago, has become the focus of the scientific community over his recent biohacking endeavors. Since early 2017 Zayner has been attempting the removal of the myostatin gene to improve muscle growth, by using CRISPR. Zayner received praise and criticism for his experiment, but his goal is not to be controversial, he just wants to make it easier for people to control their genes. Zayner’s story, as presented by IFLS and other news social media sources, is never accompanied by an evaluation of his risk assessment, experimental design, or the goal of his activism. Without addressing lab practices, the media encourages and promotes dangerous lab practices. Josiah Zayner is a biohacker, someone who modifies or experiments on their own genes outside of ethical and legal channels, but breaking the rules for progress is nothing new. One of the first versions of the smallpox vaccine was attempted by Benjamin Jesty in 1774. His experimental process was met with criticism and disbelief by the scientific and local community, and resulted in dozens of deaths and amputations, however, without his work we wouldn’t have the modern vaccine. In the 1950’s, researchers from Massachusetts conducted the first oral contraceptive tests in Puerto Rico as “fertility trials” because it was illegal to create contraceptive drugs. Over 1500 women were involved in the trial, and only three reported deaths were linked to the drugs. This might seem like a great achievement, but these trials were some of the least ethical studies ever performed, as
the women often didn’t speak English and weren’t properly informed about the side effects. The lessons learned from Jesty’s experiments and others have lead scientists and governments to build a framework that allows for imaginative and risky experiments when the outcome is great, however Zayner’s experiments have no potential benefit to himself or to others. Not having a good reason for a dangerous experiment should lead any researcher to question his methods. Zayner’s experimental process is poorly represented in most articles. Previous research has shown that myostatin limits muscle growth, therefore Zayner plans to turn the myostatin gene off by using CRISPR. The CRISPRCas9 system was introduced in 2012, and quickly became the focus of many researchers for its potential in treating disease. CRISPR is a bacterial defense protein that works by identifying a target template of DNA, or RNA, and cutting it at a precise location. Modifying CRISPR allows researchers the ability to remove a chunk of DNA and replace it with another. This time last year, when Zayner would have performed his trials, an Invitrogen webinar for CRISPR, indicated that with current technology 20-40% of all cuts would be off-targets. If CRISPR cuts a wrong gene, or performs a DNA insertion in the wrong location, it can lead to the development of cancer. Zayner goes through his experimental design on his blog, Science, Art,
Beauty, and indicates that he only intended to use knockout methods to eliminate the myostatin gene, not replace it, neo-ren.com which lowers the risk by avoiding unwanted DNA insertions. He also makes a point of calculating his risk factor for developing cancer by single point knockout, indicating that there is only a 0.001% creating an undesired mutation, and that the cell regulatory systems would likely repair the damage. Even though Zayner estimates the risks involved with CRISPR are low, most scientists would consider it reckless to play with genetic tools when official human trials only started last year in China, and are expected to begin this year for North America and Europe. So with nothing to gain, and a lot to lose, why would Zayner undergo a personal CRISPR experiment? Zayner repeats in interviews with The Atlantic and CBC, acknowledging that CRISPR is in development, but that he wants to speed up the process. CRISPR has been held up in a legal patent debate since its arrival in 2012, slowing the technological progression. Even if CRISPR technology was to be fast tracked, a proper three phase trial could cost hundreds of millions of dollars and still take ten to twenty years before being available to public. The unfortunate truth about drug development is that it is a long, onerous, and very expensive process. Only in rare cases are promising drugs accelerated and even then, they run a high risk of not reaching the market for flawed or dangerous human trials. Zayner’s
ultimate goal is really to ensure that gene editing techniques like CRISPR aren’t subject to such strict regulation that the technology could never be used. Modifying your own genes is dangerous, but compared to some of humanity’s previous studies, Zayner’s studies so far aren’t evil. This biohacker doesn’t have a good reason for his research, but he has made steps to ensure the safety of his experiment. He does raise a good point, that medication development could use some reform and that bioengineering should have a new format of regulation built around community feedback. Even though CRISPR’s abilities will have a role in treating diseases such as cystic fibrosis, Huntington’s, and many forms of cancer, it is not yet safe for use in humans. Zayner’s actions could potentially weaken lab safety practices. In Zayner’s vlogs, you can see his experiments are performed in either a dirty apartment or garage. In a recent live-stream for the company Ascendance Bio, a spokesperson attempted Zayner-like-behavior to prove the safety of their newly designed HIV medication by injecting it into his HIV negative self. Presenting unsafe techniques, will create dangerous scientists globally, and dangerous scientists will create strict regulations and slow scientific progress. Peer-review and controlled environments are essential to keeping people safe. As Canada and many other countries develop proper legislation around gene editing, we look to those with training and experience, but in their absence, we must follow best, safe practices.
6
News
Rally and Vigil for Colten Boushie Robin Sui Contributor
L
ocals held a vigil and rally for Colten Boushie on the steps of the Prince George Courthouse following the notguilty verdict in the trial of Gerald Stanley, the farmer accused of the second-degree murder of Boushie. Speakers at the rally denounced the acquittal, the lack of indigenous representation in the all-white jury, and the negligence of the investigation in preserving and processing the crime scene. Speakers called for urgent reform in the legal system, especially with regards to limiting the powers of legal teams to eliminate potentially hostile jurors with a “peremptory challenge” during jury selection. For those who attended the rally, the all-white jury and the power of the defence to manipulate the jury composition in their favor seemed to emphasize a worrying weakness in the judicial system. In a discussion of the Boushie case, Indigenous rights activist, Erica Violet Lee said, “We looked up at the front of the courtroom and you could see everyone in charge of our fate was white. And above it all, there is a picture
expecting this,” Quigley said in an interview with CBC, adding: “An appeal court cannot overturn a jury acquittal, it will be difficult for the family to get any sense of justice on Colton Bolshie’s death.”
Robin Sui | OTE
of the Queen looking over the courtroom. We realized this is not a system set up for us: this is not a system set up to keep us safe.” Another key aspect touched on by speakers was that in Canada, the use of a firearm is not permitted in order to defend private property, even in self-defense which the accused did not claim - the use of lethal force is rarely permitted under the law. Gerald Stanley admitted to discharging his pistol twice in the air, claiming the third shot that was fired into the back of Colten Boushie’s head
from a half meter away was an accidental discharge. However, based on witness’ accounts as well as Gerald Stanley’s own account, Boushie and his group were already in the process of fleeing the scene and presented no threat in that moment of time. Legal pundits such as Tim Quigley, a law professor at the University of Saskatchewan, are surprised by the outcome of the trial and are contending that negligence with a weapon should have resulted in a manslaughter charge. “I knew an acquittal was possible, I wasn’t
Speakers at the rally also called out Justin Trudeau on his low prioritization of Indigenous issues, indicated by his failure to follow through on his campaign promises of true reconciliation, preserving Indigenous rights, and investigating missing and murdered women and girls on Highway 16, also known as the Highway of Tears. There seemed to be a pervasive atmosphere of disappointment which loomed over the rally; speakers acknowledged the racial divisions that had been exposed. They expressed their uncertainty for the future, saying “More than we’d like to admit, we still have a ways to go in Canada before we can live in harmony.” Currently the Boushie family are fighting for a federal appeal.
Robin Sui | OTE
Culture
7
Into the Woods: A UNBC Musical Production Tierney Watkinson News Director
U
NBC Musical Productions Club is rounding off an impressive seventh year of shows. With a portfolio that includes the musicals Dr. Horrible’s SingAlong Blog, The Nightmare Before Christmas, The Addams Family Musical, and Young Frankenstein, to name a few, audiences can anticipate another amazing show this year. The chosen main production for 2018 is Into the Woods, a celebrated Broadway production that has also been made into a Disney film. The music and lyrics are by Stephen Sondheim, and the book is by James Lapine. Into the Woods is the story of a baker and his wife who must collect a number of fairy tale items to please a witch, and thus break a curse. But there is more to the play than that one sentence— thank goodness, or it would be incredibly short and confusing. The story features many beloved characters from classic fairy tales (for instance Cinderella, Little Red Riding Hood, and Rapunzel) and, of course, some of their associated villains (with a twist). I spoke with Veronica Church, President of the UNBC Musical Productions Club, about the upcoming show just last week. Into the Woods was the optimal choice of musical for this year, Veronica said, because it has a fairly large number of lead roles, allowing more than one cast member to enjoy that spotlight. On the flip side, she admitted, the lack of “extra” (or chorus) roles in this musical did initially pose a potential problem; when over twenty people show up to auditions and you want to give everyone a place on stage, it is
very difficult to cast everyone. But they made it work. A blessing of this year’s musical is that it involves a significantly smaller number of set changes than previous productions, meaning the play can roll a little more quickly between scenes. Give or take a brief intermission, the production is roughly 2.5 hours long. The club’s take on Into the Woods also involves some gender-blend casting, Veronica revealed, “I was watching Hamilton with friends, and I was like, ‘Man, I would really love to play Lafayette.’ Well why shouldn’t I be able to play Lafayette?” As a result, characters were not cast with gender in mind. We also spoke about a major problem that the club faces every year: the lack of an affordable, easily-accessible theatre with an ample stage. The size of the Canfor Theatre, the only “theatre” at UNBC, severely limits the possibilities and capabilities of the club. “There are very few plays that have a lot of leads and a big chorus that we can do in such a small theatre like the Canfor,” Veronica confirmed. It would be wonderful if Prince George had more support for the arts, such as hosting a community facility devoted to theatre, perhaps similar to the Shadbolt Centre of Vancouver, said Veronica. Prince George is not entirely vacant of theatrical production hubs (the PG Playhouse and Theatre Northwest), but these spaces are not always viable options for small university theatre clubs; the amount of fundraising and preparation involved just to afford a space for shows in
an off-campus facility is nearly unfeasible, especially when one considers the fact that the Musical needs to bring in enough revenue from those shows to support the club for a following year. The costs accumulated from production rights, set-building, and sound systems alone make the Canfor Theatre seem like the only viable option, for now. However, despite the lack of a “Broadway budget”, as Veronica called it, the play is still looking to be spectacular. The music alone should blow audiences away. Veronica also noted that audiences should listen carefully to each character’s scenes within the play. “The theme music for each character is like a hidden clue about what the characters are up to, what they’re thinking, what they’re feeling. It’s a very cool show.” Although Veronica admitted that not everyone is into musical theatre, she said that once you try it, you are hooked. She spoke about how, for the past few decades, movie musicals (such as Footloose, Les Miserables, Mamma Mia, and of course Into the Woods) have brought the musical genre further into the spotlight by being more accessible and generally cheaper to go watch than a typical musical theatre production. Even so, Veronica added, “Movie musicals are great, but there’s always something magical about seeing a show live.” The club also traditionally presents another, smaller musical towards the end of the UNBC Fall semester each year—in November 2017, they put on Monty Python’s Spamalot. Many of the cast members from that play will also be starring in Into the Woods.
Most, but not all, of the club members are students at UNBC. “I think that it’s important to have people that are not a part of the school be a part of the musical,” Veronica stated, emphasizing that bringing people in from across the city is key because, as she said, it “Fosters a sense of community.” The club is open to any and all prospective members. “You don’t have to be a triple threat.” The club members are coached on the “tips and tricks” of the theatre throughout the school year. And, if you want to be involved but don’t want to be on stage, the club always needs help with sets, lighting, sound, and the other technical aspects of putting on a musical. “Anyone can be in a musical.” Returning as stage manager and sound manager respectively are Jackson Talbot and Tim Hillier. In charge of the lights system this year are Neil Brooks, Alex Pinette, and Jake Marcial. Bradley Charles will be helping with set construction. Joining Veronica on the Club Executive are Rylee Spencer (Vice President), Maddie Corbett (Secretary), and Lluvia Lopez (Treasurer). Show dates are March 16-18 and 23-25. There is a 7 pm show each night, with additional matinees on both Saturdays (1 pm). The doors to the Canfor Theatre will open a half hour before every show. Tickets are $10 for students and $15 for the general public and can be purchased right now in the UNBC Wintergarden, at Books and Company, or online at centralinteriortickets.com. I said, right now. GO GET YOUR TICKETS RIGHT NOW.
8
Culture
How to Nail Job Interviews Jade Szymanski Contributor
Getty Images
S
ummer hiring season is upon us, and whether you’re applying to work at Cobs Bread or as a ziplining guide, you will have to go through the horrible process of sending out dozens of resumes and (hopefully) scheduling job interviews either via Skype, phone, or in person. Personally, I always find this taxing process to be very stressful each year, and boy can I tell you that it never gets better. There’s the huge pressure of deciding which city you’ll want to spend your alluring summer in, finding a job that aligns with your specific interests, making sure the job pays decently well, being able to plan time off (even though it’s a seasonal position) so that you can also have time for that trip down the Oregon Coast you’ve always wanted to do… my list goes on and on, and if I’m not absolutely alone in my crazy overthinking, you probably have similar anxieties as well. Once you get over the daunting task of sending out your resumes to companies that match your capabilities and are realistic enough in helping you attain your personal goals at the same time, the emails should come rolling in with their managers and directors wanting to meet
you! Now this is where the true agony sets in; you are no longer able to hide your monstrous looks and hideous personality behind your glamourous resume that is honestly just all smoke and mirrors. My first tip is to be quick to respond to all communications with the company and be professional in your emails. This establishes a good first impression before the interview in order to demonstrate positive work ethics such as punctuality and competent communication skills. After both parties have agreed on a date, time, and method of interview, it is time to pull yourself together and start formulating beauty pageantworthy answers to some predictable questions pertaining to the realm of the job you are applying to. While it may seem a little obvious and redundant, never underestimate the effectiveness of prepping some answers to basic questions, such as your personal and professional goals for the summer, strengths, weaknesses, why you’re interested in the job, why you’re the best candidate for the job, where you hope to be in five years… blah blah blah. You can never be too prepared for an interview, so consistently run
through your answers in your head until you can recite your answers without hesitation. How well you speak will have a bigger impact than what you say. Be sure to show up 15-30 minutes early for your interview if it is in person, as punctuality is a subtle clue about attitude and behaviour. Tardiness, no matter the excuse, is a major faux pas. Research in advance what your parking options are and allow plenty of time. If your interview is over Skype, allow yourself to have 15 minutes before your scheduled interview as well in order to account for any technological problems such as needing to update the app or making sure your camera and microphone is working. Fashion time! Whether over in person or even over Skype, your appearance is a large part of what makes a successful interview, as it will be the first thing your interviewer notices when they first meet you. Formal attire such as a collared shirt and dress pants or a modest skirt can give off the image of the classiness you desire without the arrogance of a broach or monocle. While you’re at it, run a comb through your hair and splash on a touch of rouge
as well. As an optional piece of advice: while wearing no pants during your Skype interview is extremely thrilling and makes a great story to tell once you’ve snagged the job, I would also consider the odds of you requiring to stand up at any point during the interview and accidentally flashing your possible employer the snow white cheeks of an amateur gym-obsessed squatter. When it comes to answering all of the interviewer’s questions, aim to take 1-2 minutes per question, as this demonstrates your intellect, a strong ability to reflect on oneself, and shows your contentions. To bulk up your answers, you can provide examples of real life situations you’ve been in. By supporting statements about yourself with specific examples, you can provide legitimacy to your claims. Without them, the interviewer won’t accept them as valid. Lastly, composure is the final element that is necessary for that picture perfect interview. The key is to be confident but not cocky, and to be enthusiastic but not forceful. Balance is the key in this, and if you are doubtful in yourself at any moment, fake it ‘til you make it babe!
Culture
9
A Senior’s Life in University Denis Gendron Contributor
Videoblocks
S
o, what does one do in retirement?
Go back to school, naturally. Well not really. I heard recently on a PBS documentary that the brain, much like a muscle, needed to be stretched and strengthened or it would go into decline; as the old adage goes, “use it or lose it.” So how does one stretch and strengthen their mind, delaying the onset of dementia and senility? Attending classes would definitely do it. Since my daughter is attending UNBC and mentioned one of her courses was Astronomy, I thought why not share an experience with her? I eagerly signed up, anticipating my first classes in over 20 years. I walk into my first class and look around the room. It is half the size of my grade ten class 45 years ago. Has it really been that long? I guess that dates me. Kids are chatting away until the professor arrives. He is junior to me by ten to fifteen years, or so it seems. My fellow students, who were a few minutes early to class and were loud and boisterous, suddenly become silent. There is a crackling anticipation in the air. The class is spent mostly listening to the rules of the game and a synopsis of what’s to come. No one seems too excited, but everyone endures the routine well. Our hesitant yet jovial leader scans his timepiece frequently, as if lacking in time. Rather, it seems he has too much time on his hands. “Any questions?” he asks repeatedly, as if to spur us out of our cosiness; but no one
bites, at least not until the end of the hour long introductory class when someone asks “What’s the username and password to the course web page?” He had unfortunately forgotten to include the precious tidbit in our syllabus. Apologetically, he writes on the chalkboard, the chalk dust floating down to the holder at its base. There is no SmartBoard in use here, no complicated application of technology. It brings back memories. Day two eased us into a set of presentation slides and some mathematics on the chalkboard. I thought to myself that it wasn’t so bad, it was only twenty five years since I last sat in a room with like minded people. Mind you, most of those present in the classroom were a third my age and to my surprise, a majority of them are texting and working on their phones, tablets, and laptops. I lean over my left and see my neighbour is playing some game on their iPad, and to my right another is avidly reading and texting, with the odd look up to see where the lecture is at, then switching apps suddenly and drawing a manga figure. I am flabbergasted by what my fellow students are doing around me. How can they be learning anything this way? The teacher seems to be taking this in stride, still asking every now and then if there were any questions, and still no takers. Day three, I am a bit confused by now, no mention of star charts or constellations, even local galaxies and gas clouds have failed to be
acknowledged. Thus far my brain has not been too taxed yet by the old names like Eratosthenes, Tyco Brea, Kepler, Hubble, and the likes. The math is getting slightly more complicated, reminiscent of Pythagoras, algebra and geometry, but still within the realm of my knowledge. The pop quiz has yet to materialize, and the assignment as well, both of which were so pointedly indicated in the syllabus. Not that I am complaining at this point. Week two brings more talk about the history of how this science came to be, from early astronomers believing the Earth was the centre of the universe to the discovery that, no, not everything was centred around us, then eventually to the realization that the third rock from the Sun was nothing more than a dust mote in the universe. There’s still no talk of star charts or of the cosmos in general. There is, however, more mention of physics, which is far less enticing than what I anticipated, but still I take it in stride. We got our first pop quiz that day. It was beyond easy, but as we end the quiz the professor states that, well this is what they will be like, and this was just a practice run. Why, what a cruel world. Then he began spewing words about light and wavelength, frequency and photons (compact little packets that carry both wavelength and frequency), electromagnetic fields and magnetic fields. Wait a minute. Back the truck up. What have I gotten myself into here?! What happened to talking about those bright spots in the sky, and the comets? Instead, we are talking about light years, Doppler effects, telescope
resolution, air distortion, the whole gamut of wavelengths from far infrared to x-rays and the likes, gamma radiation… Yikes! This is physics, not just astronomy! The math had seemingly leaped forward in complication, and then it seemed that Sheldon from the Big Bang Theory began dropping information like the electronjumping Balmer emissions, and the laws of Stefan-Boltzmann and Wein. I’ve never heard of their precedent-setting court cases… The real pop quizzes come and go with great success, and assignments one and two follow close on their heels. They’ll only take an hour or so, the professor claimed. Four hours later and I was still trying to slog my way through the questions. I was beginning to wonder if my mind really does need all this strengthening and stretching after all. The following week is the reading break, but what kind of a break is it if all I can do is cram the spare time I have with studies and preparation for the midterm, which is to be thrust upon us immediately upon our return? My daughter seems unfazed by this, chatting with her friends or playing video games most of the time. Perhaps seniors were not meant for higher education. I will let you know how I fared after I have fended off the midterms and we begin the final stretch towards the end of the term. I fear for these young ones’ sakes, for if I struggle with this first year course, I cannot fathom how my fellow students can juggle four or five courses at a time. Perhaps, with more mind stretching, I could attain that level of intellectual prowess.
10
Culture
Sara Lafleur-Vetter | outsideonlline.com
Time To Stand Up Erin J. Bauman Contributor
It’s about the fact
across North America,
that arsenic
and the rest of the world.
because it’s not just about the fact
shouldn’t be an ingredient
Even though Indigenous
that they probably wouldn’t attempt
in anything we drink,
is often synonymous
to dig up the graveyard
and any amount of methane in the atmosphere
with lowest on the socio-economic totem pole,
in my suburban neighborhood.
should be considered somewhat abnormal.
the families that got flushed
It’s not just about the fact
It’s about the fact
in the Garfield County gas rush,
that laws have been made, and upheld,
that public land
and the people who were
to prevent anyone
shouldn’t be destroyed
dicked over in Dimoc,
from poisoning the Prince George watershed
for private gain,
were largely of Caucasian descent.
(any more than the regular amount
and that if land ownership
Big oil doesn’t see color
of poison permitted
is going to be a thing
and poverty is really a rainbow problem.
for any other Canadian city).
it should mean something,
the only real cure for it
It’s not just about the fact
no matter where you come from.
is to stop buying in
that any one of you
And even though it doesn’t seem like it’s happening
to the ideologies
I stand with Standing Rock…
in your backyard,
that come with their petroleum based products
the river systems
and by products
that we all drink from
that we purchase in the hopes of producing
are as interconnected
some satisfaction
who really has the rights to be there,
as we humans are supposed to be
in our selves.
although reviewing the Treaty of 1851
to each other
Dakota Access,
should clear that up for you
and every other
Kinder Morgan,
if you still
living thing,
Encana,
have any questions.
so the whole world
Keystone XL,
It is about all of that,
is our backyard
Enbridge,
and that should be enough
and together we face the blowback
Haliburton
to make you angry,
of ingesting this fracking flowback
Etc….
of produced water,
no matter what name you know them by
no matter where it comes from,
they have us all over their barrel,
and that should make us all angry,
because everyone seems to believe
would be outraged if someone sprayed mace in the face of your defenseless grandmother. And it’s not just about who really owns the land,
so you should stand with Standing Rock…
that we need to consume constantly
but it’s also about the fact that no one
so we should stand with Standing Rock…
should be able to light their tap water on fire, or have to watch the hair
because it’s ultimately about the fact
fall off of their livestock
that class lines
or pets
that were meant to have been erased
in patches.
now cut deeper than ever
to be truly happy, and that these companies have some kind of monopoly on the production of the energy that we need to maintain consistency
cont’d
Culture in the rate of our consumption capacity and everyone needs to wake up
On Our Watch
come together to make up
Emmanuel Drame Team Member
a real system shake up, so everyone should stand with Standing Rock… because it’s ultimately about the fact that Roosevelt fracked us all in 1945 when he spent his Valentine’s Day wooing Saudi Arabia into a bad relationship. Sloboda, ufulu, libero, tipeyimisowin freedom…
We supplanted huts and caves with concrete buildings Forests are lost to paved roads and cities We found solace in religion but forgot to pray We narrowed empires and dynasties to states Anarchy usurped autocracy and made us all libertarians Knives, spears, and arrows were replaced by triggers…. we’ve made killing efficient We’ve mutually assured our own destruction as evidence of our madness in nuclear terms All on our watch! All on our watch!
no matter what language you say it in it doesn’t sound like oil to me. In the words of Immortal Technique we are all caught in a hustle lead by Dick Cheney’s Energy Task Force who spends hundreds of billions of dollars per year on oil related defense overseas, and now that they’ve dried up those possibilities… the war on terror is coming home, and being applied to any situation where someone opposes the will of the corporation,
Philosophy sought to enlighten, ideologies have become normative in actuality Science has substantiated the leftovers of discovery We remodeled feudalism to capitalism without Lords We’ve created equal opportunity in inequality managed democratically We’ve enshrined and protected the rights of all men in constitutions and charters but confined them to those pages Where Bonaparte failed, America succeeded…it smells hegemonic! We’ve set our reminders on historical calendars, But forgot the dates and events that shaped the future
and oil companies control the politicians that control our nations,
All on our watch! All on our watch!
and silence the scientists who worry about the health of future generations,
Living on the edge of our emotions,
and ignore the fact that it’s also a bad long term economic equation,
Men needed a seismic vocal reverberation to remind them:
and it’s clear there is only one solution, in light of all this scary information,
She is a person, equally and wonderfully made to be loved and respected
and that is to stand up!
From her children, she demands respect! We teach the doctrine of people
Stand up, and stand with Standing Rock!
11
But define people by labels All on our watch! All on our watch!
We clench our fists to heaven And made God abdicate His throne We’ve made ourselves the measure of all things…gods with the lifespan of candles! We’ve pinned our salvation on humanism We’ve formulated laws to uphold morality with man as reference But soon realized dogs have more morals with training We fling out our deism as chaos continuously frustrates our efforts for order We suddenly remember like Nietzsche, we killed God but yet ask, where is He in all this? Virtue and values are placed at our doorsteps with dollar signs We’ve become so capitally crazy, we’ve made earth our factory and Mars our future home All on our watch! All on our watch!
12
Opinion
Open Letter to the Student Body: Step Up For Election or Sit Down Seth Jex Chairperson, OTE
I wish to make it clear that I am not critical of any individual and that I believe all those who have put themselves up for election are doing so for noble causes. I wish them the best of luck in their endeavors.
D
ear UNBC Undergraduates;
From the Chartwells food services contract to the closing of the pub, students here at UNBC are passionate about many issues. As a liberal post-secondary school, many times our students participate in activism based initiatives, like standing with Local 40 union for higher wages for cafeteria staff and initiating a divestment campaign for UNBC’s investments. Yet when it comes to getting into the gears
of our system, and in that way making meaningful change, our students are absent. Yet again, our current student elections for representatives are in every situation by acclamation, or even worse left unfilled. That means that those responsible for making decisions such as keeping the Thirsty Moose Pub open or not, have not had to argue an opinion. Who knows if this year those “elected” will keep the Pub open, or challenge the food services contract or anything, because we never got to press them on those issues. The Chartwells contract, current president Dan Week’s re-hiring, and the Chancellorship of James Moore are all up for review by the Board of Governors; all decisions I am sure we can agree student voices are needed in. Yet this
year, there will be no election for the undergraduate student rep, as only one individual ran for the position. The same is true of the Undergraduate Senate positions, where six people ran for six positions. It is inarguable that 99% of tangible changes affecting students here at UNBC are made through the systems of bureaucracy and crafted directly by those who sit at the table. While undergraduates at UNBC seem willing to walk the picket line, we fail where it really matters, in the ballot box. It is hard to say that these individuals actually have the democratic legitimacy to call themselves student representatives when no one has challenged them. Fundamentally,
democracy and its systems, such as they exist here at UNBC, are only effective and responsive to popular needs and issues if those filling the positions have to earn their place. If a government runs unopposed how then how can it profess to be the chosen representatives when no other option was offered? Will these people be able to call themselves “elected” when all it has been is a rubber stamp process? A call for action is useless unless the voice calling is willing to be an active participant in that actionable change. I hoped to see students go farther than a Facebook post and to nominate themselves as a champion of students, and seize this opportunity to face UNBC administration and the PG community to advocate for
Getty Images
Opinion positive changes. As students, we are a unique stakeholder group with significant ability to affect all aspects of student experience from future academic programing and course offerings to budgeting on renovations and the future direction of our school. While I recognize that this statement does not encapsulate those working in advocacy positions outside of student representatives at UNBC, I must reply that working in student government or as a student representative is one of the easiest, and yet most impactful ways to make change in our community. If these positions are falling vacant or apathetically run, how can we suggest that we deserve better? Further to that point, when a representative who is elected without competition speaks to administration they lack democratic legitimacy. Is this person really representing our community, are they really our “elected” spokesperson, or as I see it, they were the only person to throw their name in the hat. This is not meant to undermine the work of past representatives. Counter to my point, I will say that Kasandra Mae in her roles as both Women’s and Aboriginal Rep has been, in her over two years on the NUGSS board, an inspiring peer leader and we are lucky to have had her serve on NUGSS. But that’s exactly it, we were lucky that she ran, that she held that torch and used it to work for students and our community. Equally likely however, is the event where someone not nearly as inspired and dedicated fills the position at the apathy of students, leading to, at best, an ineffectual job done, at worst, a person who argues everything counter to the benefit of students. Can we call upon administration and others to be better in any number of issues if we are not willing to participate? We recognized at one point as a liberal society the need for “affirmative action” based
positions for marginalized or less advantaged groups in our universities and governments. For example, here at UNBC, the Aboriginal and Women’s representatives have been created to ensure that those voices have a place in discussion on many important decisions. Yet when it comes to UNBC’s undergraduates stepping up to fill these positions, we are nowhere to be seen. This brings into question the need for such positions. Why have a women’s or aboriginal representative position if those groups seem apathetic to their fulfillment? This year, NUGSS board elections, as of the deadline on February 19, had no candidate for aboriginal rep, international rep, or accessibility rep and only one for the women’s, and LGBTQ rep positions. In fact, for at least the past 5 years, both the women’s and aboriginal rep positions with NUGSS have been vacant or won without contest. Maybe now we can say that these groups no longer need racial, gender or sexuality separated representation? Perhaps we can remove all student aboriginal and women’s representative positions here at UNBC. Based on the apathetic contest for these positions its clear to see those identifying as part of these groups don’t feel there is any need to fill that position. I am cynical to think that we have alleviated all challenges facing these groups but maybe I am wrong. Some will argue that activism and progressive change is best made by subverting the system rather than engaging in it. Recognizing that these colonial systems have a very real, and all recent record of oppression and assimilation, does not necessitate our “unsubscription” from them. Instead I would say that by recognizing this view it should further motivate us to engage in, so as to evolve, the bureaucracy. If you feel that today’s systems have elements of oppression or colonial sentiment in them, as a modern
citizen, you are bound to seek to change that. By choosing to not get involved you make a decision far worse than apathy, you in fact, choose the side of the oppressor. Unless students are willing to get up and put their name forward here at UNBC, we don’t deserve to be critical of any decisions made, from who is our food service provider to who is our Chancellor. As a soon-to-be former director of NUGSS, I am tired of begging students to get involved, to sit on committees or to run for office. If you don’t step up, sit down. If this letter has lit a fire in you, use it, get involved, ask questions, scrutinize and advocate for a better UNBC and Prince George because no one else is going to do it for us! Respectfully, Seth Jex
13
14
Opinion
Parents Should Put Their Kids in Multiple Sports Marcus MacKay Contributor
A
s a current USports retiree from the sport of basketball, I would strongly recommend striving to play post-secondary sports to any aspiring kid in whatever they choose. Sports are a very common extracurricular activity for a huge amount of Canadians, ranging from elementary school all the way up college. The desire to play a university sport has caused an unfortunate trend in kids starting to play one specific sport at an earlier age each year. This epidemic is known as “specializing” or becoming a one-sport athlete at an early age. Parents and teens have an incorrect belief that this specialization creates the ultimate opportunity for the athlete, as they have been putting 100% of their time into one sport. This common misconception causes
many unwanted side effects for the athletes’ careers and everyday life moving forward. My parents put me in every sport possible growing up, as their belief was to promote an active lifestyle, however, they also let me decide what I enjoyed and wanted to pursue. These are both small cogs in the psychological machine that is a multi-sport athlete. What I discovered are three key elements that make multi-sport athletes develop more in their sport and everyday life. Firstly, playing multiple sports benefits you with a high IQ. Crosstraining (training for multiple sports over a period of time) invokes creativity in the athlete, which could mean using part of a football route to make a cut on the basketball court. Many athletes also train in boxing to
apply fast footwork to any sport with an underlying emphasis on that skill. Rob Bell, PhD, a sports psychologist, recently reported that in 2015, that 85% of the NFL players drafted that year were multi-sport athletes, either in college or high school. Single sport athletes suffer from not learning different movements, and remain somewhat robotic and predetermined in their activity on the court/field. Secondly, learning how to compete is more easily learned as a multi-sport athlete. When you are presented with so many different conditions and variables, it presents different levels of focus and resiliency. These two skills are maybe the most transferable to your everyday life, teaching you how to endure slowpaced and drawn out pressure
(baseball), or quick action with quick reads (basketball). The most important aspect for me personally is how to be a good teammate, as this is something I prided myself on in my university basketball career. The more sports your child plays, the more personalities they will have to deal with. Being able to read and adapt to personalities on and off the playing field is such a lost art. If you have the ability to comply and battle with all types of team members, the better leader you can become. Coincidently, being able to lead and be an outstanding teammate is usually what holds a great team together. This whole principle also applies to how responsive you are to your coach, the more experience you have with separate coaching styles, the more willing you will be to adapt. Single sport athletes often suffer from having to be carried along with the team, and are less able to adapt and play for anyone but themselves. Sports shape who you are: they give you life experience that you cannot ever replace. Like most extra-curricular activities, you are selling yourself short if you just involve yourself in one. I’ve gained most of my experience on the basketball court from playing sports like soccer, volleyball, and badminton, which I hadn’t realized until thinking about this scenario more deeply. Specialization in one sport before post-secondary education is a mistake: give yourself or your child the right experiences to succeed.
familyeducation.com
Column
15
For the Love of Sex: Trustworthy, Ethical, Sexual Life Advice Pollyanne Marie Columnist
I
am currently on my way back to Prince George after three weeks in London and Paris. Besides all the beauty I saw and the amazing foods I tasted (mostly chocolate croissants), it was really an eye opening experience to be in a city where I did not speak the official language. I know I only got a very small taste of this, since Paris is a very tourist friendly city and most people do speak enough English to serve you your meal or help you with directions when you’re lost. That being said, I am one of those people who tried my hardest to speak French and learn the etiquette of the culture I was stepping into and there were still times when people literally turned away, refusing to deal with my lack of French language skills. Though I am embarrassed to admit, I will tell you that on a date, my first night in Paris I managed to throw myself down a set of stairs. I found a staircase just around a corner that I imagined was going to lead to a hallway and somersaulted down 25 steps with a loud scream of confusion and terror. I’ve thought a lot about that night and how lucky I was. For one, I could have really hurt myself, I walked away with some pretty extreme bruises and some anxiety around staircases but that’s about it. I also could have been alone or in a country where English was a lot less common, what would I have done then? Luckily my Parisian date also spoke English and was able to help me in getting some ice and a comfortable place to rest. I also saw a lot of refugee families begging for spare change, suitcases and kids in tow. I
wondered how long they had been there and how long they would stay. I know one day I will be in a country where the conditions are much worse and I will really have to come out of my little bubble of first world problems. The closest thing I have to being a second class citizen is that I am a woman and even in that I am extremely lucky to be a woman in Canada. I saw these things and I felt the confusion, fear, frustration of being a non-native speaker in a place as friendly as Paris and I felt empathy for those in a similar situation, albeit a much more difficult one, who have been coming to my country. When you grow up in a different culture, speaking a different language, with a different way of life and you are thrown into a completely new environment and expected to know how to do something as simple as buying groceries. Buying groceries is hard when you can’t read anything! Going to a restaurant is even worse... I digress, what came to me through all of these new experiences, was an understanding and empathy for those without a voice. While I have been making my way home and contemplating my travels I have thought a lot about what it feels like to not be able to have your needs understood. Whether that is stemming from some form of mental illness, from speaking another language, or something as simple as not being understood by your partner, your family, your boss, it can feel painfully frustrating and at times can even be dangerous. I actually had an experience between the lines of this article
that was a perfect example when it comes to kink and the importance of communication between partners. I went into subspace (the result of the chemical release from BDSM “play”). I couldn’t speak, I couldn’t open my eyes, all I could do was moan and...well... that’s about it. I tried my best to communicate with my partner but when you can’t speak or move, you’re gonna be pretty out of luck. At one point I started to become verbal again, but this was after some time of my partner trying to understand what I needed. In the end we actually ended up referring to the article I had written at the beginning of this column which was all about subspace, subdrop, and aftercare. Where better to find a list of personalized aftercare ideas? I now plan on making a specific list to keep on my phone or in my wallet for just such occasions. It will have simple and probably obvious things, but I honestly couldn’t remember them when I was in that space. I felt scared and helpless, unable to communicate with my partner about what I needed to come out of subspace safely. Unfortunately, because I couldn’t communicate what I needed I ended up going into subdrop. I was scared and confused, afraid that my partner would be embarrassed by the way I was acting, that he might even be mad at me for it. Of course my partner wasn’t upset and only held me lovingly until I felt well enough to wipe my tears, eat some chocolate, and have a shower with them. Once again, I was lucky to be with someone who spoke my language and who put forth the effort to
understand what I needed and how they might be able to help. That short trip, to a not so different place, changed my perspective immensely and I wish I could give it to everyone I know that they might be able to find a little more patience and understanding for those who might seem different than themselves. In every text that covers love and relationships, it is well understood that “communication is key,” but figuring out how to communicate, how to understand and to be understood, is something we could all spend a lot more energy on. Have you had similar experiences? Suggestions on books that helped you or someone you know? I know that not everyone can afford to travel but that would surely be in my top 5. Until next time, Keep it kinky, Keep it consensual. ~Pollyanne Marie
The Last Word
Hey, you! The one who is paying attention!
Professors A to Z need you! Have a burning questions about your finals? Got a query about something that happened in class? Confused about term papers? Send them your inquiries! They want to help! Send your questions to over.the.edge.unbc@gmail.com
Printed Using UNBC Copy Services