vol. 2 issue 05 | October 20 2009 | page seven
THE RUNNER
Opinion & Editorial
OPINION: HALLOWEEN The Runner is student owned and operated by Kwantlen Polytechnic University students, published under Polytechnic Ink Publishing Society
All Hallow's Eve: A tradition gone wrong
Vol. 2, Issue no. 05 October 20 2009 ISSN# 1916-8241 #205-12877 76 Ave. Surrey, B.C. V3W 1E6 www.runnerrag.ca EDITORIAL DIVISION: Co-ordinating Editor Denny Hollick editor@runnerrag.ca News Editor Kassandra Linklater news@runnerrag.ca Culture Editor Melissa Fraser culture@runnerrag.ca Media Editor Christopher Poon media@runnerrag.ca Production Editor Cat Yelizarov production@runnerrag.ca Bureau Chiefs: Arts & Design (Vacant)
MICHAEL O’MORROW
There was a time when Halloween was about tradition.. The history of Halloween dates over 2000 years ago when it was first celebrated by the Celtic people. The Celts believed that on Oct. 31st of every year, the barrier between the real world and the after world blurred, and the ghosts of the dead returned to Earth. Living people and spirits
OPINION: OLYMPICS
Current Events Natsumi Oye Entertainment Jeff Groat
Langley Campus (vacant) Politics Pinder Mandair Sports Michela Fiorido Student Affairs Patrick Brouwer Travel: Anastasia Kirk Contributors: Tianna Kwong, Mitzi Lacsamana, Mae Valesco, Todd Easterbrook, Avneet Mann, Chris Yee, Jessica Pambid Cover Art: Agatha Entote BUSINESS DIVISION: Operations Manager DJ Lam ops@runnerrag.ca Advertising Director Mat Huff ads@runnerrag.ca Office Co-ordinator Victoria Almond office@runnerrag.ca Distribution (Vacant)
are we still celebrating it? The significance of the holiday is no longer the same. We no longer remember our dead on Halloween or celebrate community. Halloween has become another corporate juggernaut, fueled by candy companies, party planners and costume designers. Halloween bears no significance on our lives. There are other corporate holidays – Valentine’s Day, Mother’s and Father’s Day for example – but at least they have a good intention. Halloween has become nothing more than an opportunity for North Americans to indulge in excess and gluttony. As our population ages and obesity rates increase, the annual health care costs associated with diabetes in Canada is expected to surpass $8 billion by 2016. The National Retail Association in the United States reported that in 2008, Americans spent
over $5.77 billion on Halloween items. As a result of rising food prices, the World Bank estimates that in 2009, 100 million more people will fall into poverty. The World Food Program, a branch of the United Nations, estimates that an annual increase in funding of $3 billion would provide school feeding daily to every poor child. We need to change our priorities. There was a time when Halloween had a cause, a reason for being on the calendar. It served a purpose for those people who celebrated it. It’s only purpose today is for a quick sugar fix and to promote our kids getting fat. On Halloween do the right thing and spend your money on healthy food for kids. Better yet, send your money to those people who really need it.
LETTER: CHARTWELLS
Olympic apathy DEAR EDITOR:
Creative Writing Adam Vincent
Environmental (vacant)
would walk together. Afraid of the ghosts, people would dress in masks and costumes to disguise themselves to avoid harm. Families would leave baskets of food outside their homes to appease the spirits and send them away. As the Romans conquered Europe and Christianity spread, people began to recognize and celebrate All Saints Day, a Catholic holiday to remember the dead. October 31st became All Hallows Eve, and eventually was contracted to Halloween. Halloween first appeared in North America following the Irish potato famine in 1846. Many Irish immigrated to North America, bringing along their customs and traditions. Halloween became a North American holiday, with a focus on entertainment and community. Many of us today do not know the history of Halloween. So why
DENNY HOLLICK CO-ORDINATING EDITOR
Lately, I have been hearing much apathy regarding the Olympics coming to town, and can’t quite seem to understand why. Most my friends that I talk to talk about how they are going to leave town for those two weeks of “hell” in February. I’m not exactly sure where this apathy comes from, but I think it’s time that someone sheds a bit more light on the subject. The Olympics aren’t coming to town to be a time of chaos. The Olympics, will be a massive time of celebration where nations from hundreds of different countries convene in one place: Vancouver. Many people see this as just an annoyance. I feel that Vancouver really hasn’t had the opportunity to collectively come together and celebrate anything major like the Olympics. I think this is why so many people curse it. Think of the energy in the air when you are at a concert, hockey game, or some other mass gathering. You find yourself many times, celebrating with the complete stranger beside you, drinking beer, and throwing out random high-five’s. The air can be electric, and leave you floating for days (not in reference to the second hand pot buzz you received at your last concert). Usually during the Olympics, the only side we see are the sporting events on TV. But don’t be fooled. This is only a small por-
tion of what the Olympics will portray. The rest will be flooding out in to the streets of Vancouver and Whistler – That contagious electric buzz. “Traffic will be horrible” my one friend says. “I guess I’ll go to Mexico that week.” I cursed at him for being so naive. I told him, “Think of all the foreign ladies that will be here my friend! Vancouver will be blessed with some of the most beautiful people for two weeks!” He promptly changed his mind. Of course, the Olympics will be much more than the worlds biggest party, but an opportunity for Vancouver to showcase to the world what were made of. Not to mention the public benefit we should expect to see (infrastructure improvements such as Canada Line and economic development) The opportunities are grand and endless. Not only will this bring an awesome opportunity to grow economically and improve infrastructure (We have a very large infrastructure deficit right now) but it might get Vancouverites in the habit of taking transit and living a positive alternative lifestyle. Bottom line is, the Olympics seem to be misunderstood, and until you experience it, I’m not sure you’ll understand. This is why so many nations, have applied for the Olympic bid more than once. If it didn’t bring them so much benefit and opportunity, why would they keep going back for more? Give it a shot, and tell me then that I was wrong. And lets be honest – you have quite a stake and investment in the games. Don’t you want to get your moneys worth out of it?
Have an opinion? Maybe a grudge? Don’t like what you read? Maybe you do? Write US! letters@runnerrag.ca
Hey Denny, I read your article on Chartwells in The Runner and appreciate you making mention of the terrible food and service we suffer daily, buying food that has very little taste or nutritional value. We are students! On tight budgets of both money and time. Sometimes we canʼt help but grab a quick bite to eat at school. I canʼt believe this is happening today to a collective of the most potent and powerful people in all of the province. STUDENTS. You are the next wave, generation, the future. You are numbers of people. You are communicators. You are savvy with Facebook, Twitter, and all the other vehicles of electronica. Get the word out. Make noise. Push your weight. I challenge everyone to do something about it. A petition has to be organized to have Chartwellʼs removed or renewed with nothing less than edible and nutritional food at an affordable price - purchased from our own greenhouses and the local farming community as much as humanly possible. I am a horticulture student and we grow and harvest vegetables just across the street from the cafeteria in Langley where people grumble but pay exorbitant prices for plastic
and unappetizing food. We need and deserve better than that. Why canʼt we eat the food we produce just steps away? Fresh picked from seed to plate? Why not buy and support local grown, fed, bred and farmed? Reduce our carbon footprints, and support the local community and economy. I have mentioned many times to the KSA in Langley that I would like to start a petition. They have told me that if I got it started they would take it over. The plastic used by Chartwells to serve the food in is scary indeed. Oh, and while we are at it? Why is there no recycling containers in the Cafe for all those who bring their lunches? Where does the refuse and recyclables go? Directly into one garbage can.... with the paper cups, Styrofoam, cardboard containers and plastic cutlery. We pay over $2.00 for a plastic bottle of water. Our precious resource, our life support. Large corporations that draw water for free, put it into plastic bottles and sell it to you and I making only profit. Whoʼs water are they taking and who do they sell it back to? You and I. - Cynthia Colligan, Horticulture Student
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