The Cascade Vol. 22 No. 28

Vol. 22 Issue 28

October 29, 2014 to November 4, 2014

Two paper airplanes flying, flying, flying since 1993

Colourful community A portrait of public art in the Fraser Valley

p. 2, 10-11 ufvcascade.ca

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NEWS 4

Opinion

7

Culture

14

Arts in Review

15

Storyteller review

Sports & Health

19

Getting a full-body workout the fun way

Briefs

UFV’s Student Union Society (SUS) is asking students if they want an expansion of the existing Chilliwack connector service (an additional $3.50 per semester) and/or a new connector travelling between the Abbotsford campus and Langley Centre ($5.45 per semester). The referendum will be active through MyUFV from October 30 to November 4.

EUGENE — At the University of Oregon, the institution’s graduate teaching fellows (over 700) have voted to go on strike for better pay, dental coverage, and paid leave, the Daily Emerald reports. Once tuition waivers are accounted for, “GTFs make somewhere between $9000 and $12,000,” GTF Federation president Joe Henry says. “People are struggling, selling plasma, going into debt.”

Carleton students subvert social media promotion OTTAWA — A hashtag leading into celebrations for Carleton University’s 75th anniversary recently became a target for frustrated students, instructors, and alumni, the Charlatan reports. Tweets from the university’s graduate students association and union representing contract instructors and assistants, among other accounts, filed comments under #DistinctlyCarleton, many of them directed at the institution’s “tonedeaf” operations. The outburst encapsulated a number of issues, most prominently tuition raises and poor treatment of academic workers, suggesting the fault lies with an unlistening administration and student union.

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Mark Evered presented UFV’s 2015-16 budget last week, and the message that came with it was a rumination on the future of the institution, Katie Stobbart reports.

Marijuana: useful or too easily abused?

Thoughts about the use of marijuana are varied throughout society. Is it good? Is it bad? It’s illegal — but should it be? Flip over to Opinion and read what Vanessa and Martin have to say about it.

Gwynne Dyer discusses impact of WWI on Canada The world-famous journalist and historian gave a talk about Canada ‘s military policy, where it has come from, and where it’s going.

Northwest coastal painter, carver, speaker, and storyteller Roy Henry Vickers’ new book of art is passionately spiritual and political.

Nadine Moedt discusses the themes and ideas brought forth from Vickers’ Storyteller.

Rowing is a team-building, muscle-challenging sport that you don’t necessarily need prior skills to start. Check out Catherine Stewart’s article on the rowing team and see if you have what it takes to join them.

Public art paints picture of a community’s identity, history, and culture KATIE STOBBART

THE CASCADE

UO graduate teaching fellows go on strike

www.ufvcascade.ca

Provincial funding cuts continue

News

News

SUS transit expansion goes to referendum this week

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 29, 2014

Earlier this year, a fantasy mural was whitewashed without fanfare on South Fraser Way. The painting on the back of the Ford dealership was there as long as I can remember, and I was surprised to see how quietly a feature of the Abbotsford cityscape slid into memory.

The mural’s erasure upon the exchange of the building’s ownership raises questions about the permanence and ownership of public art.

How much of a right does the public have to art and to the public spaces it occupies? Is public art important or meaningful to the community beyond the original intent of the commissioner and the artist?

There are over 40 installations of public art around Abbotsford, including murals, sculptures, and benches. According to the City of Abbotsford website, public art is a practical addition to the com-

munity as well as being eyecatching.

“Public art creates safety, by putting eyes, and people onto the streets where it is located.

It also attracts tourists, skilled workers, and businesses that desire to visit and work in an environment that places a high value on aesthetics and place making,” reads the website.

Public art also contributes to a community’s sense of identity. It gives flavour to a neighbourhood, serves as a landmark, encourages creativity, and sometimes even reminds us of events that shouldn’t be forgotten as time passes.

Shared art suggests a sort of symbolic unity; an image can represent collective history and values. The nondescript building is transformed into a canvas for expression — a canvas which is intended to have some permanence.

While students are part of the local communities surrounding UFV campuses and can enjoy the art featured

throughout the Fraser Valley, there’s little to iterate the artistic character of UFV on its homeground. It’s not that there’s no art on campus — in Abbotsford at least, framed works hang in the halls, occasional installations emerge on the Green and in other open spaces, and as of last year there is a mural on the wall in the space AfterMath currently occupies (though I’m not sure what its fate will be when the campus lounge moves to the new Student Union Building this spring). Another impermanent addition to campus public art is the recent art conversation wall in C Building. But I don’t know of a single mural, sculpture, or statue that’s here to stay.

The Abbotsford campus is mainly characterized by unappealing maroon stucco.

Students don’t come here for the colour of the walls, but the physical landscape doesn’t say anything about the character of the place, nor the creativity of the people who oc-

News Writer megan@ufvcascade.ca Megan Lambert Staff Writers vanessa@ufvcascade.ca Vanessa Broadbent

Editor-in-Chief katie@ufvcascade.ca Katie Stobbart

News Editor michael@ufvcascade.ca Michael Scoular Opinion Editor brittney@ufvcascade.ca Brittney Hensman Culture Editor nadine@ufvcascade.ca Nadine Moedt

Managing Editor valerie@ufvcascade.ca Valerie Franklin

Arts in Review Editor sasha@ufvcascade.ca Sasha Moedt

Varsity Writer nathan@ufvcascade.ca Nathan Hutton

Director of Business Development joe@ufvcascade.ca Joe Johnson

Sports Editor catherine@ufvcascade.ca Catherine Stewart

Arts and Culture Writer martin@ufvcascade.ca Martin Castro

Webmaster ashley@ufvcascade.ca Ashley Mussbacher

Production and Design Editor stewart@ufvcascade.ca Stewart Seymour

Copy Editor kodie@ufvcascade.ca Kodie Cherrille

Art Director anthony@ufvcascade.ca Anthony Biondi

Contributors Remington Fioraso, Jeremy Hannaford, Sean Holden, Daniel Holmberg, Alex Jesus, Jasmin Sprangers, Tori Thistlethwaite, and Damian van Woerden

Volume 22 · Issue 28 Room C1027 33844 King Road Abbotsford, BC V2S 7M8 604.854.4529

Production Assistant shyanne@ufvcascade.ca Shyanne Schedel

alex@ufvcascade.ca Alex Rake

Cover image: Anthony Biondi

cupy it.

The minimal public art is not due to a lack of ability.

Even as an older mural was painted over in one part of the city, a new one has been added outside ARC. This art project came about as part of a UFV course in community art practice (ENGL 390) in which students propose public art projects to the City, then make art happen.

Yet we don’t commission permanent art for UFV’s walls, outside or in. When we were coming up with ideas for this week’s cover, we bandied about images of paint spilling into city streets, splashes of colour on brick, or simply a picture of public art. In the end, we opted to open up the conversation with a little dream: one of the walls facing the Green sporting a new look.

The former mural on South Fraser Way is now a blank white wall. But UFV’s walls don’t have to be.

Printed By International Web exPress The Cascade is UFV’s autonomous student newspaper. It provides a forum for UFV students to have their journalism published. It also acts as an alternative press for the Fraser Valley. The Cascade is funded with UFV student funds. The Cascade is published every Wednesday with a circulation of 1500 and is distributed at UFV campuses and throughout Abbotsford, Chilliwack, and Mission. The Cascade is a member of the Canadian University Press, a national cooperative of over 50 university and college newspapers from Victoria to St. John’s. The Cascade follows the CUP ethical policy concerning material of a prejudicial or oppressive nature.

Submissions are preferred in electronic format through e-mail. Please send submissions in “.txt” or “.doc” format only.

Articles and letters to the editor must be typed. The Cascade reserves the right to edit submissions for clarity and length. The Cascade will not print any articles that contain racist, sexist, homophobic or libellous content. The writer’s name and student number must be submitted with each submission. Letters to the editor must be under 250 words if intended for print. Only one letter to the editor per writer in any given edition.

Opinions expressed do not necessarily reflect that of UFV, Cascade staff and collective, or associated members.

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NEWS

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 29, 2014 www.ufvcascade.ca

New study from UFV concludes that children with incarcerated parents need more support ALEX RAKE

THE CASCADE

Earlier this month UFV released a study on children with incarcerated parents, concluding that “until Canada develops specific policies and practices designed to recognize and support the rights and needs of children affected by parental incarceration, these children will continue to face serious challenges to their successful development.”

The effects that having incarcerated parents can have on children include disruptions of — or relocations from — their home, social, and family lives, as well as broken contact with parents.

The study was conducted by faculty from UFV’s criminology and social work deparments, in collaboration with the Centre for Safe Schools & Communities at UFV. Amanda McCormick, lead author of the study and member of criminology faculty, explains the origins of the study began with funds held by the research office at UFV. “We were lucky enough to receive some funding that was dedicated towards the life situations of families and children in the Fraser Valley, spe-

Images: Province of British Columbia/ flickr

Successful convictions always have another side — as a UFV study finds, children often hurt the most. cifically,” she says. “We wanted to take this funding and look at an issue that children were being faced with these days, and make recommendations on how to improve their situations.”

McCormick notes that children with incarcerated parents currently have very little support. “One of the things

that we realized was that children of incarcerated parents are very unrecognized — an invisible population. They exist, but people don’t have a good way of identifying who these children are, and therefore providing them with the services that they need.”

McCormick emphasizes that the current state of support

for these children reveals a lot of gaps. “[There is] not a lot being done, and [there are] a wide range of services that need to be activated,” she says.

Some of the study’s recommendations include recognizing the few groups that currently provide support to children with incarcerated

parents (such as the Elizabeth Fry Society of Greater Vancouver), establishing a “National Child Rights Advocate,” and creating a system of support that activates as soon as a child’s parent becomes incarcerated.

The study suggests that Canada falls behind other countries with regards to its support for these children.

“You look at Australia, or South Africa, or the UK, for instance,” McCormick says. ”These other countries recognize these children and provide them with supportive services — and that’s a way of preventing them from developing their own problems down the road.”

As a follow-up to the study, UFV faculty members Hayli Millar and Yvon Dandurand are developing a criminal justice decision-making series exploring international approaches to considering the children involved with adults in the criminal justice system.

The full study can be read online through the UFV Centre for Safe Schools & Communities website.

UFV Trades holds joinery open house JASMIN SPRANGERS

course — he now runs a furniture-making business and offers bowl-turning classes.

For kinesthetic learners, joinery engages a different education style from most classroom settings — each work assignment, a student will be confronted by physical material made of unique knots, grain structure, and imperfections.

The program pairs new technology together with older or classic woodwork machines — machines such as the CNC and edge-banders as well as the classic jointer, table-saw, and lathe were on display.

CONTRIBUTOR

UFV’s joinery program’s open house was an exciting and enlightening function for future students.

The open house started with a tour of the facility and a brief talk about a few of the specialized machines, as well as a game in which attendees had to label different types of wood in as little time as possible (the fastest time was 11 seconds), with a pocket knife as a prize. Mark Ryan and Ted Zak, instructors for both carpentry and carpentry apprenticeship, spoke about program lengths and the types of skills and projects a student will complete throughout the course of a certificate.

The joinery program at UFV covers two main learning components over 34 weeks.

Images: Jasmin Sprangers

Instructor Mark Ryan was at an open house to talk to students about what joinery has to offer.

Technical knowledge, basic training, and small piece construction make up the first half; the second half tasks stu-

dents with designing and creating their own project.

A graduate from the program was also in attendance

to promote joinery to students, speaking about his experiences in the program and how far he has gone since taking the

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NEWS

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 29, 2014 www.ufvcascade.ca

Budget cut to the bone UFV struggles to distribute the brunt of slashed funding KATIE STOBBART

THE CASCADE

“I hope I am not the secondlast president of the University of the Fraser Valley,” Mark Evered said grimly at the 201516 budget update forum on October 24. It’s a hope he said he has voiced before when asked about what keeps him awake at night, what troubles him about UFV’s future.

The tone of the forum was equally grim. It was the second such event in two days, the first held at Canada Education Park (CEP) in Chilliwack the day before. On Friday, B140 in Abbotsford was packed with nearly 100 faculty and staff.

The last handful to trickle in minutes before 11 a.m. sat on the floor, with little standing room left in the back.

In the front of the room, UFV’s chief financial officer Jackie Hogan and vice-provost Eric Davis shared a table facing the assembly. Evered stood dead-centre and called the room to order. The din of conversation hushed immediately.

The black cloud looming over UFV’s fiscal plans for the next year involves additional budget cuts from the provincial government. In 2013-14, $5 million were cut. In the subsequent year, $20 million. In the year to come, a further $25

Images: Katie Stobbart

Mark Evered’s 2015-16 budget forum addressed faculty and other members of the UFV community. million will be plucked from post-secondary pockets in BC. Evered noted costs are increasing simultaneously, and tuition income raises are capped at two per cent. At the same time, there’s high pressure to perform.

“As our costs are going up and our income is capped, we’re also facing increased expectations from both the government and from employers in terms of what everyone else believes we should be doing with our declining resources,” Evered said.

He also explained there is more competition for universities than ever before: UFV must compete not just with Canadian institutions,

but with schools around the globe, and today’s technology means anyone, anywhere, anytime can access the world’s knowledge in one’s palm. But a university offers more than just knowledge, and UFV intends to be a competitor.

“We, as a relatively new university that’s very much student-focused, [are] very well-placed to serve the needs of our students and to compete effectively in this rapidly changing world, but we can’t imagine it’s going to be business as usual.”

The budget is in its preliminary stages. Initially, the cuts meant UFV would start next year with a deficit of $1,310,000. After enrollment

plans were examined, that deficit fell to $630,000. It costs about $115 million for UFV to run each year — less than half of which is funded by the provincial government, according to Evered. Students pay for about a quarter of their education, and UFV makes up for the remaining quarter by other means.

After Hogan went through the preliminary budget and environmental scan (examining the fiscal climate of next year) slide-by-slide, the floor opened for a range of questions. Does UFV need to fund sports programs? A research office? The answer was yes on both counts. What about class sizes?

That question, Hogan explained, is harder to answer, because UFV’s position on class sizes is about more than just numbers. Davis added that if every class increased in size by a single student, the university would gain about $800,000.

“The easiest way to make more money is to put more students in a class. So it’s an easy budget calculation, [but] there are other issues … you need to discuss before you change class sizes,” Davis said.

Evered admitted UFV’s model prioritizing class sizes is an expensive one, but it’s part of the institution’s character.

“You add students, you open up additional sections. That is who we are, that is what we value, and that’s why we’re working hard to protect that.”

Evered also acknowledged the belt-tightening approach to last year’s budget had its merits (the budget was balanced) but also more personal costs.

“Our goal here is to find a budget that doesn’t require that anyone lose their jobs — that’s what we’re trying to do here ... And it’s not easy when you’re already cut to the bone.”

Non-profits host first all-candidates debates in Abbotsford VANESSA BROADBENT THE CASCADE

Two all-candidates meetings were hosted this week by local non-profit organizations to discuss Abbotsford’s homelessness problem, public transit, and arts community, among other topics.

As the Abbotsford mayoral ballot is only made up of two names, the meeting of incumbent mayor Bruce Banman and city council member Henry Braun was highly anticipated.

But Banman announced the evening before the mayoral debate through his Facebook page that he would not be attending the meeting. After people left comments criticizing the move, this was later changed, with Banman clarifying that he would be in at-

tendance only between 8 and 9 p.m. because he would be attending Diwali celebrations in the city.

Moderator Justin Goodrich opened the meeting by addressing the issue.

“I have heard a great many rumours about things that may or may not transpire tonight,” he said. “Let me be clear: I will not allow tonight to become a spectacle. We will conduct ourselves with integrity, and we will honour ourselves with respect.”

Although the debate was scheduled to end at 9:30, Banman left at 9, as he previously said, to attend another Diwali celebration.

The debate started at 7, as scheduled, without Banman.

Mayor candidate Braun answered questions concerning various issues in the city.

When Banman arrived an hour later, he and Braun answered questions from three moderators before answering audience questions.

Questions focused on the Kinder Morgan pipeline, where a plan has proposed doubling the pipeline through the Fraser Valley, as well as a proposed supportive housing project from Abbotsford Community Services (ACS) that Banman rejected earlier this year. Braun was supportive of the ACS proposal at the time, and shared that he still is. He believes that because of Abbotsford’s size, it should already have three homeless shelters. “We are no longer the ‘City in the Country.’ We are a city of 140,000 people, and unless we start acting like one we will be in trouble,” he said.

The debate was one of two

meetings hosted this week by various local non-profit organizations including ACS, the United Way of the Fraser Valley, the Abbotsford Community Foundation, the Abbotsford Arts Council, Women’s Resource Society of the Fraser Valley, MSA Museum Society, the Reach Gallery Museum, and the Fraser Valley Conservancy. Both meetings were hosted at the Matsqui Centennial Auditorium.

The first of the two meetings was an all-candidates meeting for city council candidates, who were asked a variety of questions on topics ranging from homelessness to public transit and environmental issues. The ACS housing project was discussed at length during this debate as well, as candidates were questioned on how they would have voted

on the issue or, if they were incumbents, how they did vote on the issue. With 30 candidates for city council in Abbotsford, the majority of the evening was spent discussing the proposal. Candidates were also asked about their support of arts and culture in the community.

Both events were wellattended by the community, with over 300 people at each meeting. The city’s Chamber of Commerce is hosting another set of debates for both council (Wednesday) and mayoral (Thursday) candidates this week. Both start at 7 p.m. and will be held at the MCA. There will also be a mayoral debate at UFV’s Abbotsford campus on November 4 at 6 p.m. in room B101.

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NEWS

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 29, 2014 www.ufvcascade.ca

Gwendolyn Point named UFV’s second chancellor Educator appointed to position after various teaching roles in BC

MEGAN LAMBERT

THE CASCADE

From her humble beginnings in Chilliwack to hosting the royal family as BC’s Chatelaine, Gwendolyn Point has had a remarkable path through the province as a student and educator. Now, she’s returned to her roots as chancellor for UFV — the university where she started her career in education.

A chancellor is a figurehead who also acts as a member of the university’s Board of Governors and Senate. Succeeding Brian Minter, Point will confer student degrees and admit them at convocation.

“It’s really special,” she says.

“After students have spent three, four, even five years to get a degree, [it’s] important to have some ceremony to acknowledge their work.”

Point grew up in the Chilliwack area, which gave her a foundational link she still feels today. “You have a responsibility,” she says. “When you are connected to the land, you’re connected to the people.”

Point spent most of her childhood indoors at her home in the Chehalis community, as the West Coast climate gave her earaches due to a hole in her eardrum. When her peers were outside playing, Point remembers staying inside reading to keep herself occupied.

“If you can imagine, in our homes, we didn’t have a lot of books,” she says, but because her mother was the janitor of her elementary school, she would read while her mother worked.

Point says the difference in how education is perceived between Western society and First Nations culture adds to the challenges aboriginal students face while pursuing public education. “[School] meant abuse, it meant fear, it meant being hungry,” she says.

She explains that the fear of residential schools inhibited many parents from encouraging the idea of school, let alone university, in the first place.

Residential schools were institutions for aboriginal children, where they were taken away from their families so Western culture could be imposed upon them at an early age. In recent years, stories of abuse, neglect, and racism are surfacing from students who attended — some of whom are Point’s relatives.

“It didn’t just happen 150 years ago, my mother went to residential school, […] my sister went to residential school — it’s very recent, right?” she said.

Although her passion for learning made her an eager student, Point failed to complete her Dogwood diploma in high school.

“I was young and I had my one son, and I didn’t get to graduate,” she says, noting that school for First Nations students was exceptionally difficult. According to Point, the dropout rate for aboriginal secondary students was over 90 per cent when she was attending school.

She came to UFV to finish her Dogwood diploma and pursue social work, but she soon found inspiration from mentors Betty Urquhart and Heather Commodore, who encouraged her to further her education. Point tested for her

“You have a responsibility – when you are connected to the land, you’re connected to the people.”

GED high school equivalency and eventually moved to Vancouver with her family to continue at UBC. After her parents’ death while she was still young, Point’s grandparents and extended family took care of her and her siblings. Point describes her relationship with her grandmother as one that was very close. Even though her grandparents didn’t practise traditional ceremonies while she was growing up, Point said her grandmother passed on knowledge about ancient Stó:lō practices, like traditional shoemaking or boating, through storytelling.

Before attending UBC’s Native Indian Teacher Education Program (NITEP), Point struggled with leaving the support of her family and community.

She remembers a particular conversation with her grandmother where she expressed her fear of possible discrimination or racism that could result from her leaving her

fellow Stó:lō classmates and going to a larger campus. “[She said] no. You go. Don’t you be afraid.” Point says, remembering her grandmother’s advice. “She said you’ll do good — just don’t forget who you are. And when you’re finished, you come home and you use what you learned to help your people.”

After her experience at UBC, Point began teaching at an elementary school in Chehalis.

“I was teaching the dancing and the singing and our own stories,” she says. “My children were attending school [in Chilliwack], and they didn’t have any of that.”

After seeing the lack of Aboriginal culture within larger schools, Point began working as a native support teacher in Chilliwack. As well as teaching, Point also managed First Nations programs with the Stó:lō Nation Education Department at the local, regional, and provincial level.

As well as her bachelor’s degree from UBC, Point also has an honourary doctorate from the University of Victoria, a master’s degree from the University of Portland, and a post-baccalaureate diploma from SFU. “I’m still a student,” she says, mentioning that she’s finishing her PhD in Education at SFU. “I know first-hand the struggles and the challenges and sacrifices.”

Commenting on her success, Point says, “For me, it’s about working with people, and honouring other people’s strengths.

“That’s how the university operates,” she continues, explaining that students contributing their individual research and passion serves the broader community.

“Everybody’s got to do their part.”

Point currently teaches social work courses at UFV — her subjects include aboriginal history before European contact, residential schools, and the Stó:lō worldview.

However, in order to take on the chancellor position, Point will have to resign from teaching.

“I will miss the students,” she says, adding that she feels she has learned as much from her students as she has in her experience teaching.

As for her installment as chancellor, Point says, “It’s exciting — and it’s a nice way for me to wind down my teaching career at this point.”

Image: University of the Fraser Valley / Flickr

Point started work at UFV as a sessional instructor in 2002.

6

OPINION

WEDNESDAY,OCTOBER 29, 2014 www.ufvcascade.ca

SNAPSHOTS

Beard nets

Curtailed commentary on current conditions

Bad breath Daniel Holmberg

Jeremy Hannaford At my food retail establishment, a change of ownership has removed the “clean-shaven” requirement at my work place. Everyone including myself has groomed a very fashionable beard. But now, due to upper management decisions, the idea of beard nets are being introduced. This whole situation is absurd, as we have no hairnets.

Granted, most establishments do, and we would too if we had complaints, but surprisingly we haven’t had a complaint yet.

The idea of instating beard nets is ridiculous if hairnets are not a necessity.

As long as they are groomed, we should be able to have beards, especially if terriblelooking mustaches have been allowed in the establishment.

In regards to hair sanitation, it’s either everything or none at all, especially when it comes to some obscure notion of customer appeal rather than actual Food Safe regulations.

Jungle breath. That’s what my grandfather calls the funk your breath turns into after a cup of coffee. For those of you breathing into your hand to try and smell your breath, don’t try to hide it — we already noticed.

But coffee is not the only cause of jungle breath. Drinking, forgetting to brush your teeth, eating spaghetti that is more garlic than pasta: whatever the cause may be, it is awful.

If you wonder why people don’t sit next to you on the bus, why no one wants to talk to you, or why your favourite partner in class avoids you like the plague, your jungle breath may be the cause.

Solutions are simple. Pop a breath mint.

Get some gum. Maybe even brush your teeth in the morning. Do it for me, please. If not for me, do it for the sake of the people sitting next to you.

Plague of Halloween

Image: “We Got A Badass Over Here/ Meme

“Hands-free” distractions

Sean Holden

Damian van Woerden

Carving pumpkins is a passion of mine. I like to create intricate designs of spooky, fiery-eyed fiends and cultivate my own store of pumpkin seeds. Yet this tradition has become warped in North America by the disguised pumpkin smasher. They stalk for evening “kicks,” and strike as if trained in lethal guerrilla warfare. The lack of morality these individuals have disgusts me, as they chuckle while rendering a grinning Jack-o’lantern into a pile of sad mush.

If they are adamant to enter my property and destroy my festivities, what is there to stop me from doing the same to them during another holiday? Perhaps while they gather around the Christmas tree with their family singing “Noël,” I shall slide down their chimney dressed as Father Christmas and lay waste to their coniferous idol. Of course doing this would likely violate several laws, but it points out the same kind of sporadic behaviour we see from pumpkin-smashing imbeciles.

Seriously, what’s going on with all these “hands-free devices” in our vehicles? I’m finding myself more distracted than ever trying to coordinate my iPhone with my Bluetooth stereo at the same time that I’m trying to drive properly on the road.

I’m not a fan of texting and driving, but when I actually held my phone by my steering wheel I could still see the road while scrolling through my contact list. This is just my phone. The less said about my GPS, the better.

I drive with hands-free gear, yet my car is more distracting than ever before.

In defense of the “basic bitch” Is liking average things really worse than being able to enjoy yourself?

VALERIE FRANKLIN

THE CASCADE

It’s October, and like most other 20-something women, you’re celebrating by posting pictures of pumpkin spice lattes on Instagram and taking #nofilter selfies in the fallen leaves. Beware — if this sounds like you, you may be the internet’s latest favourite stereotype: a basic bitch.

For those of you who haven’t seen the College Humor video that went viral earlier this year (“How to Tell if You’re a Basic Bitch”), the basic bitch epitomizes middle-class, white-girl youth culture. She has a wedding board on Pinterest despite being single, idolizes Kate Middleton and Audrey Hepburn, posts twee Taylor Swift quotes on her Facebook, and finishes every sentence like it’s a question? Her tastes are generic, materialistic, and brandbased: Starbucks, Lululemon, North Face, Apple. If you wear Ugg boots and infinity scarves, if

you genuinely enjoy Top 40 hits, if you’ve ever unironically uttered the phrase “I can’t even,” the internet now has a label for you.

And it’s not a nice label. While the basic bitch phenomenon may have started as a somewhat tongue-in-cheek description of overly trendy college-age women, it’s quickly devolved into a sincerely slung insult. Condemning articles like Ecocult’s “The Truth About Basic Bitches: They Will Ruin Your Life” have become popular, as well as a slew of men’s dating blogs warning men away from “basic” women and slamming most of the 20-something female demographic for — what?

Liking traditionally girly things like sparkly nail polish and romcoms? Appreciating the coziness of an autumn sweater and leggings?

It’s obviously unfair to pigeonhole a woman as being bland, unintellectual, and worthless based on her commercially feminine appearance and tastes. Many feminist writers and bloggers

have pointed out that the term “basic” is just another way to put pressure on women for the usual crimes: being too much, not being enough. (And it’s only women; men aren’t punished for blandness, the same way they aren’t punished for sexual promiscuity.)

What makes “basic” such an effective insult is that it applies in some way to practically everyone by attacking averageness — and we’re all average to some degree.

Instead of building themselves into more interesting individuals, people use the word “basic” to push away what they fear being: boring, predictable, mainstream.

The problem is that the basic bitch isn’t judged for the way she behaves or thinks; she’s judged for the way she presents herself to the world. Under her shell of Lululemon gear, that basic bitch in the hallway might be a scholarship-winning polyglot who does AIDS relief work overseas. Who knows?

Calling someone basic also rings of snobby hipster sentiment:

if too many other people like something, whether it’s a drink or a musician or a clothing style, it’s no longer cool to enjoy it. It’s an attitude that makes people afraid to be caught loving something, and builds a culture of negativity where pretending not to be passionate about anything keeps you from being vulnerable to others’ opinions, giving you power. It’s insecure and immature and verges on bullying.

What a shitty world it would be if we all thought like that.

Fortunately, we don’t. “We’ve reached a tipping point where there is something incredibly refreshing about admitting that you love what is popular,” Daisy Buchanan writes in the Guardian. The geek movement is a prime example: a subculture where members unabashedly love what they love despite others’ opinions.

“Being a geek is all about being honest about what you enjoy and not being afraid to demonstrate that affection,” actor Simon Pegg said famously last year. “It means

never having to play it cool about how much you like something.”

Let’s take a page from the geeks and try not to care so much about what the world thinks. It doesn’t matter what some blogger says — you’re entitled to love your leggings, Friends boxed set, and “Live, Love, Laugh” wall plaque as much as you like. Is liking average things really worse than being afraid to enjoy yourself?

No, materialism isn’t great. No, trendy cultural appropriation of symbols like the yin-yang or the hamsa — another hallmark of the basic bitch’s taste — is never cool.

But let’s stop slamming people for their tastes, and start realizing how cool it is that we all like the same stuff.

Now go drink your pumpkin spice latte and reflect on the #blessed life you lead, if worrying about being basic is the worst of your troubles, and let’s try to forget this term ever existed.

www.ufvcascade.ca

Is stoner culture giving youth the wrong idea about marijuana?

VANESSA BROADBENT

THE CASCADE

I still remember taking Drug Abuse Resistance Education (DARE) classes in elementary school. Afterward I always thought drugs were the worst thing in the whole world and knew I would never ever use them because I would probably die instantly. I’m pretty sure all my classmates thought the same, yet this mindset did not stay with most of us through high school.

As we got older, we also got cooler, and smoking pot seemed pretty cool. Although we didn’t always make the right decisions, there was still a healthy fear of substance abuse. This has disappeared and is no longer present in today’s youth.

A survey done by the Canadian Centre on Substance Abuse has shown most teens don’t view marijuana as a drug anymore.

Rather, they believe it’s harmless and helps them relax and be creative. Despite drug education in schools, young people still think marijuana is a harmless herb. So what is causing teens to think this way? The answer is, we are. With the recent debate over the legalization of marijuana, society has gone from portraying drug use as dangerous and illegal to “not that bad” and “not a big deal.” How many of them actually know if they use marijuana, according to Washington Post, they’ll be 60 per cent less likely to graduate? Not enough.

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OPINION

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 29, 2014

Legalization of marijuana is a recent issue; it hasn’t been around that long. Think back to the ‘60s, when drugs were illegal and there was no chance of that changing. Marijuana became more common as the hippie movement progressed, but it didn’t cause the government to question whether or not they should legalize it. Refuting marijuana won’t stop young people from using it, but it will remind them it’s not a healthy habit. Legalization will only raise those numbers. Young people will see the legalization of marijuana as the government’s stamp of approval, as their way of saying, “We don’t think it’s that bad for you.”

Popular culture has also portrayed marijuana as a drug with harmless side effects. The “stoner culture” is an ever-growing industry. It’s nothing new to watch movies that show marijuana use among young people, but it’s rare films portray the harm the drug can have on them. There was no sequel to the ‘90s cult classic Dazed and Confused which showed how those drug-using characters ended up not graduating or became users of more illicit drugs. And it’s common to hear drug references on the radio as if it’s no big deal.

Is this really the message we should be sending to young people? We may not be able to stop all young people from using marijuana, the least we could do is stop negating its seriousness.

Marijuana: next to alcohol, the lesser of two evils MARTIN CASTRO

THE CASCADE

There are, by and large, two main substances that are abused by people ranging from their teens to adulthood: alcohol and marijuana. One of these substances is illegal, the other is not. Alcohol, though, is far more dangerous, both to the person consuming it and to those around them.

Let’s start with addiction. Marijuana is somewhat addictive; however, alcohol is far more so.

Even coffee is more physically addictive than marijuana. Daily coffee drinkers will feel withdrawal symptoms in the absence of coffee for just one morning. They get headaches and become irritable.

The same is true for chronic alcohol drinkers. Although there are arguably as many, (if not more) abusers of marijuana as there are of alcohol, marijuana (although still somewhat addicting,) does not cause anything that even remotely equates to alcoholism or tobacco dependence. Cannabis instills less physical dependence and causes less physical harm than either alcohol or tobacco.

Does this mean marijuana is not an addictive substance? No, but it is the least harmful compared with cigarettes, coffee, and alcohol.

In an article published by Leafscience.com, Mitch Earleywine, a professor of psychology at the University at Albany, speaks on the lethality and addictiveness (or lack thereof) present in marijuana: “Although the authors

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pitch [pregnenolone, a hormone that weakens THC’s effects on cannabinoid receptors in the brain, which is released when the brain is stimulated by high doses of THC] as a novel way to treat cannabis abuse, it’s actually a superb — if partial — explanation for why cannabis appears to have no potential lethal dose and why its capacity for creating addiction is more like caffeine’s than that of any illicit drug.”

But there is one aspect of marijuana that is not shared by coffee and cigarettes — its psychoactive properties. This refers to the high.

Where this is not present with tobacco or coffee, there is an intoxicating effect of liquor, which is comparable to the high caused by cannabis. So why maintain marijuana’s status as an illegal drug when alcohol is so widely legal?

As a teenager, I have witnessed the effects of marijuana and alcohol on those around me at parties, and what I have seen supports my opinion that alcohol is more harmful than marijuana.

I have witnessed countless fistfights where both participants were under the influence of alcohol. Marijuana, on the other hand, has never (in my immediate experience) led to any sort of violent confrontation or outburst on the part of someone under the influence of the drug. This isn’t to say that marijuana doesn’t affect people, it does. They might laugh giddily, or retreat within themselves in an introspective episode. Or depending on their state of intoxication, they might just be contemplating their situ-

ation. People who are stoned are very rarely violent; I have yet to see someone commit a violent act that stemmed from their marijuana use.

One major difference between being drunk and being high is a person’s ability to function. All of the things which might help you stay out of trouble and get home safe are compromised by your use of alcohol, but not by your use of marijuana. Your ability to speak properly, walk in a straight line, and gauge the possible danger or seriousness of a given situation are unaffected, unlike alcohol.

However, marijuana will probably distract you from your quest of arriving home safely. You’ll probably stop to eat, talk to people, and watch different things you think merit your attention, so though you might get there late, you’ll get there safe. If you’re completely drunk, you may pass out on the street. If you have your wits about you, you might call a cab, and if you can manage to mumble your home address correctly and pay for the cab, you would get home relatively safely.

When you get up in the morning, will you have a hangover?

If you drank all night long, yes, but if you smoked, ate, or vapoUrized marijuana, no. Numerous cannabis users report though there’s always the possibility of waking up still high, but there is no “marijuana hangover.”

All in all, if teenagers are going to use a substance, marijuana is a much safer choice than alcohol.

How human activity is destroying Canadian wildlife and identity SEAN HOLDEN

CONTRIBUTOR

Thousands of species, including our Canadian geese, are dwindling annually at astonishing rates according to a World Wildlife Fund study. This change in climate has ruined ecological sights around the world and has done so since the industrial revolution. Unfortunately, our true great white Canada goose may enter that category in the near future.

But how could this have happened? These iconic birds have flown across the great snowy plains of North America for centuries and are now being plucked out of their existence by — you guessed it — people!

So what is causing this sudden shift? Well it all comes back to climate change through landfills, agriculture, deforestation, changes of land use, and fossil-fuel

Image: Pembina Institute

“Will we see the proud Canadian goose fade from existence, except on our dollar coin?” burning. These transformations are unfortunately confusing our winged friends.

During summer, many Canadian geese return home in the northern regions of Canada. But there’s an issue, most noticeably with those that land within the Hudson Bay region. Due to premature

heat, our now-discombobulated geese come seven weeks before their food supply is ready. Marsh plants — the goose’s diet — grow only through the process of time, regardless of temperatures. As the geese have just completed the Tour de North America, they land exhausted and ravenous. Grumpy

and impatient as they are, they begin snapping and pecking at the ill-prepared sprouts of their diet.

This practice destroys the plants’ ability to replenish for the next season. In short, climate change is causing Canadian geese to starve themselves for future seasons.

NASA climate observations agree that “human activity since 1760 has contributed, with a 90 per cent likelihood, one third of increase in global temperatures.”

However, ecological sustainability is being ignored, mainly because of competitive marketplaces. Enterprises and other operations are reluctant to switch practices because of the loss in revenue from being unable to contend against other, just as reluctant companies.

People are shoving the truth of climate change aside for the sake of convenience rather than face the issue — denying geographical truths and professional opinion.

North America is only now unwinding the entangled preference of “economy over ecology.” The question remains, though: Can we salvage this meltdown? Or will we see the proud Canadian goose fade from existence, except on our dollar coin?

Despite overwhelming circumstances, environmental maintenance can be assured with the participation of industries conforming to a more eco-friendly approach, better control of landfill and agriculture emissions, and public attempts at conserving fuel and energy as well as switching to alternate sources. Protecting the environment is not simply an obligation we carry. But it is also defending, in essence, our pride as people. As Canadians, the Canada goose represents that pride.

The sooner we realize that, the faster we can begin to take flight toward a better future.

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OPINION

WEDNESDAY,OCTOBER 29, 2014 www.ufvcascade.ca

Letters to the editor

Re: “Provost accuses The Cascade of ignorance” Volume 22, Issue 27, October 22, 2014

I wish to enter into the discussion regarding prior editorials in The Cascade. I do so with trepidation because I do not think that it is proper for faculty to comment on a student publication in a manner that makes it seem as if we are sitting in judgment of it. My intent therefore is to offer support for the editors of The Cascade, and encourage them to continue to explore and comment on issues that are of relevance to students at this institution. However, there appears to be confusion surrounding the original editorial written by Katie Stobbart. As I see it, her article points out that government’s alteration of its funding formula may distort or upset existing understandings of education, especially in regard to the liberal arts. The contrast with trades she provides is apt to the extent that the government desires a model of job training most likely to be assigned to the trades.

The reference to ‘creativity’ that informs her commentary is meant to show that this model makes little room for what some might see as an aspect definitive of the liber-

al arts. Such a claim is not equivalent to asserting that the trades are devoid of creativity nor does it entail that the arts have a monopoly on creativity. Rather, her position implies that education construed strictly as the preparing of students for industry specific occupations has little room for basic conceptions of creativity.

If the government’s plan requires reassigning resources based on its narrow construal of education, then the anxieties voiced by the editor of The Cascade seem warranted. In the process, she may not have given the trades their due, but one could suggest that the government has an even more limited grasp of the potential for education in the trades. In the end, even though we may not all be familiar with the nature and origins of the liberal arts or with the fundamentals of the trades, we should not be taken to task for commenting on the potential significance of major changes in budgetary priorities.

Glen Baier Department of Philosophy

UFV SPEAKS

government has either the responsibility or the foresight to intervene in university structures to produce the economic outcomes they desire.

In reporting and commenting on these matters, The Cascade is doing its job well. The Cascade has not only a right but a mandate to report the political news as it impacts students and the university community. I am dismayed and alarmed when the good judgement, integrity, and intelligence of our best student writers are called into question, publicly.

Hilary Turner Department of English

What’s your worst nightmare?

Sarah McNeil

“That Halloween will be on a week night and I will eat so much candy that I will sleep in and miss my exam.”

Jenna Crews

“Failing a midterm or a course.”

Steven Ahuja

“An army of rabbits approach me while i’m studying, and eat my biomechanics homework.”

Will Sutherland

I was present at the forum in question, and I can attest to the accuracy of The Cascade’s editorial (“Provost Accuses The Cascade of Ignorance,” 22 October 2014). To my mind, the most unfortunate aspect of this embarrassing incident is that it tends to frame the debate around an irrelevant issue — that is, the relative prestige of different disciplines. No one loses any sleep over stuff like this, and it represents a huge distraction from the real issue, which was well expressed in the original Cascade editorial (the one that for some reason incited an official rebuke). Here’s the key line: “the government has put in and paid for an order of one million employees, and post-secondary institutions shall provide” (“A University in Name Only,” 1 October 2014).

Recent developments in the economy suggest that the muchvaunted LNG industry in this province is shaky at best. It follows that the need for a bumper crop of workers skilled in the trades is equally uncertain. I strongly object to the notion that

“Being stranded in the middle of the ocean with no boats or islands around me, and slowly drowning to death.”

Keegan Nagai

“My worst nightmare is having surgery. I had surgery when I was three and I don’t like that memory.”

Miranda Monosky

“Not getting into grad school.”

Alexis Datema

“Editing papers.”

Maxwell Peacock

“Dying without accomplishing what I want to accomplish in life. I want to do the things that God has called me to do before I die.”

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CULTURE

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 29, 2014 www.ufvcascade.ca

ASMR videos offer a warm, tingly, mysterious sensation NADINE MOEDT THE CASCADE

Last semester I had an instructor whose lectures put me to sleep.

Something in her manner of speaking — her soft, almost whispery voice, the way she tapped her nails on her desk — made me feel relaxed to the point of a pleasant sleepiness.

You may have experienced a similar phenomenon when getting a haircut, visiting the eye doctor, or even watching classic Bob Ross painting tutorials on PBS. A burgeoning online community seeks this very calming sensation, commonly known as autonomous sensory meridian response (ASMR). A simple YouTube search for “ASMR” brings about thousands of role-playing videos; suit-fitting sessions done in a whisper, hair appointments, eyebrow tweezing (why anyone would want to roleplay that is beyond me), facials, doctor appointments, chess tutorials, or simply people with lisping, lilting voices talking earnestly to a camera.

What induces ASMR is very individual; common stimuli include things like soft, accented voices, light brushing, and tapping nails.

Responses vary individually as well, and often include sleepiness, relaxation, and tingling of

Image: Stewart Seymour/The Cascade

You might have experienced ASMR while receiving a massage or haircut. the spine and scalp.

It’s unknown exactly what causes ASMR. Steven Novella, an assistant professor of neuroscience at the Yale University School of Medicine, suggested to Time that ASMR could be a “mini seizure.” Seizures can be triggered by many different stimuli and can be a pleasurable experience.

People use the videos to alleviate the distress of anxiety issues and insomnia. While ASMR is a

very individual experience, it has created a huge online community; its Reddit page has over 60,000 subscribers. Its online presence is unique, with users requesting specific stimuli and others responding with attempts to satisfy their ASMR needs and achieve a calmed state.

I found one that suited my preferred stimuli criteria by a woman memorably named Heather Feather. The sounds of ice clink-

ing in a glass, whispering, brushing, and humming were cleverly incorporated into a makeover scenario. Using headphones allows for a binaural sound that makes the roleplay feel very authentic.

Another popular channel, named ASMR requests, features a soft-spoken woman who visits a thrift shop in search of “tingly items.” She shows viewers each find, gently running her nails over the texture of the object while softly describing how much she found it for and what purposes it might serve.

While I felt self-conscious for much of the video, once I got over my “is-this-weird?” reservations, I found it to be a relaxing experience. I found that it was impossible to fall asleep during the video because of the computer light, but the videos served to distract me from the stress that would normally keep me awake.

So the next time you have difficulty getting to sleep, want to soothe some bottled-up anxiety, or just want a unique sort of brain wind-down, experiment with your ASMR preferences. Some recommended channels include Heather Feather and ASMRrequests, as well as MassageASMR and Springbok ASMR, though the possibilities are almost endless.

Below the Belt

X marks the spot: the criss-cross position ALEJANDRO ACROBAT SEXPERT

While Men’s Health strongly recommends it, I think the creators of the “criss-cross” or X position intended their audience to be unrealistically flexible people. After attempting it, I learned very quickly I am not one of them.

Beginning by lying opposite my partner, I had to place her left leg over my right, and her right leg over my left shoulder. This created an awkward position for me — my right leg was on top of her left, causing me to twist my body away from her. On top of this, I was balancing on one hand trying to correct my body angle, while at the same time manually stimulating my partner.

Right off the bat, we noticed that getting into the correct layout was the most difficult part of the X position. It only works if both players are positioned perfectly and are directly in line to each other. By the time we were finally ready to go, we had to get ourselves back into the right mindset because we had begun to lose our

“Think we are ready to try the X position?”

Image: creative commons

The X position is supposed to provide extra stimulation for the man, but fails to please either partner. sexual appetite.

In theory, the X position does have some positive points. The shallow thrusting creates a longer sexssion, which definitely outlives any form of traditional sex. The rhythm is also very controlled and timely, allowing a slow buildup for a potential climax.

Having said that, the X position didn’t light any fireworks. The strange angle of penetration and shallow-diving didn’t hit any of the main soft spots that create an amazing orgasm. Plus, since both sets of feet are so close to each other’s faces, if either partner has a fear of feet, then this position can quickly become irritating. We

tried it all — changing position, increasing the rhythm, manual stimulation, everything — and nothing worked. Although this position is supposed to benefit the male, the shallow thrusts didn’t create a stimulating experience.

This position honestly wasn’t that great. Even though the sex is slow in progressing, both participants are so focused on being in the correct position that it takes away from the overall sensation.

I had a difficult time keeping my balance, and my partner was getting more and more frustrated because the key female components were being left unattended. Sure, the sex is slow, and that’s great.

But when you’re spending more time focusing on the position than the actual activity, I think that’s when you’ve missed the entire point of sex.

I found the X position wasn’t really rewarding, but it did offer a challenge that some people might look for in sex. If you are scared to look silly or can’t laugh at the little failures that come with trying a new situation, then the X position probably isn’t for you.

Upcoming

Events

October 28-30

Halloween on campus SUS’s events committee is determined for you to celebrate Halloween on campus this year with a line-up of free events starting Wednesday with a haunted UHouse, running from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Later in the week, head to AfterMath for a chance to debut your Halloween costume for a dress-up themed pub night Thursday night at 7:30 p.m.

Festivities continue until Monday, when the annual pumpkin smash will find enthusiasts throwing pumpkins into cement and then cleaning it back up again; if that’s your jam, head to the U-House at noon for the pick of the patch to smash.

October 30

Halloween blood drive Eat some spinach, drink lots of water, and grab a friend; UFV is is hosting its fourth blood drive! The Canadian blood services will be in the small gym on Thursday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. If you’d like to donate, check out the UFV blood drive Facebook event for details on if you are eligible and how to book an appointment.

November 1 Jazz at the Monk As part of the Envision Financial Coffee House series, the Wired Monk on McCallum Road is hosting a night of live music with Abbotsford-based musician Brennan Sinclair. Sinclair’s style is described as folky and acoustic with undertones of jazz. Stop by for a specialty coffee and local music; the night starts at 7:30 p.m.

November 1-2 That Land Beyond the Waves

The world premier of That Land Beyond the Waves has its opening night on Saturday at the Matsqui Centennial Auditorium this week. The play, written by UFV’s own Rajneesh Dhawan, centres around the 100th anniversary of the Komagata Maru incident, where a ship full of Sikh men who hoped to immigrate to Canada were turned away, only to be killed or imprisoned upon their return to India. The play runs Saturday at 7 p.m. and Sunday at 2 p.m. Tickets are $10 for students and $15 for the general public.

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FEATURE

Public art lends a splash of colour to Mission and Abbotsford

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 29, 2014 www.ufvcascade.ca

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By Alex Rake

Public art makes a community more colourful, and gives the public something to talk about and a reference point by which to relate to each other. Mission and Abbotsford have both established policies related to supporting public art and raising cultural awareness in their communities. This has made it so that it is impossible today to walk through the major downtown areas in either city and not come across some work of public art. Here are a few examples.

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First Nations/Christian mural

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What a delightful mystery! I discovered this mural taking a shortcut though the wide alley between Railway and First Avenue. It’s a picture of downtown Mission in earlier days. The colour gives it a bright, nostalgic feeling, and removes any drabness usually associated with alleys. I was unable to find any information associated with the origins of this one, but it just goes to show there are surprises everywhere; all you need to do is leave your house once in a while.

4.

This mural depicts the mixing of First Nations and Christian culture. The figures of the spirit in the sky, the crucifixion on the rock, and the men in the canoe are sort of incongruously set opposite each other, but in a way that makes the work more interesting, rather than unreadable. Framed by painted totem poles, this is one of the more enigmatic works on Railway Avenue. Unfortunately, this one is obscured by a wire fence and a dumpster. Perhaps this is an (unintentional) statement in itself?

2.

“Rights of Passage” mural This mural on Railway Avenue, just outside of Station X, commemorates the Japanese citizens of Canada whom the government sent to internment camps during World War II. The art itself shows the pain this movement caused many Canadian citizens, including many from Mission; the tense way the Japanese girl holds the Canadian flag speaks to the trust betrayed by those in power at the time.

The wall that the mural is painted on is becoming mouldy, which on one hand gives the work a rightfully eerie feeling, but on the other indicates an unfortunate lack of upkeep. An interpretation of the work and credits hang beside the mural, and also seem to be peeling off.

Alleyway mural

Roundabout First Nations sculpture The sculpture that towers over the McCallum roundabout in Abbotsford was created by Ralph Silver in 2011 as part of Abbotsford’s newly established public art policy. Despite the controversy that surrounded the piece at the time of its creation, the work remains an impressive fixture in Abbotsford. The structure is clever; at least one circle of the work can be seen from any angle in the roundabout.

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“Three Men Telling Tales” bench I love these guys! Though not the only wonderful piece of bench art in Downtown Abbotsford, this farmer, railway man, and logger have something special about them. They sit a couple strides away from Hemingway’s book store, their bright colours making up for the usual rainy grey that covers the valley. Sometimes I mistake them for real men out of the corner of my eye, and it is a spooky experience to say the least. They were created by Vladimir Chved. The Bench Art Project for Downtown Abbotsford has been going on since 1998.

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FEATURE

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 29, 2014 www.ufvcascade.ca

6.

Mission’s heritage mural This mural was revealed June 15 of this year on the side of Mission’s community archives building on Second Avenue. Painted by Dean Lauzé for the city’s 120th anniversary, the mural depicts several aspects of Mission’s heritage and culture, including Hatzic Rock and the soapbox derby. The Mission museum is located right beside it, so the theme of the work fits its setting nicely.

7.

“Rise” mural This mural popped up recently in the back parking lot of Eleni’s restaurant on Railway Avenue. It features several notable people from Mission doing their thing on a natural backdrop. Pop star Carly Rae Jepsen dances with what appears to be Raven in the centre. The word “RISE” heads the picture, so it seems that this is meant to inspire the people of Mission to get famous, too.

Choice of central figure aside, the way the water spills out of the mural is pretty cool.

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STUDY CULTURE BREAK

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 29, 2014 www.ufvcascade.ca

CROSSWORD Horrorshow

by VALERIE FRANKLIN and MARTIN CASTRO

ACROSS 3.

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An iconic murderer armed with a chainsaw and a hockey mask. (6) Computers don’t get much scarier than ____ 9000. (3) The clown who probably made you afraid of clowns. Thanks, Stephen King. (9) The titular character of the Child’s Play series, this evil doll is possessed by a murderer’s spirit. (4) Originally appearing in an 1897 novel, this iconic vampire just appeared in a new film this fall. Talk about eternal life. (7) This bald, clawed vampire originally appeared in a 1922 film. (9)

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The sadistic antagonist of the Saw franchise. (6) H.P. Lovecraft’s most famous creation; he lies deep under the sea, dead and yet dreaming. (7) This giant spider makes us glad we don’t live in Middle Earth. (6) This vengeful burn victim kills people in their dreams with a razor-clawed glove. (6) This famous, fictional cannibal wants to eat your liver with fava beans and a nice Chianti. Fffffftp-tp-tp-tp. (8) A rabid St. Bernard dog which terrified a family in a 1981 horror novel (later a 1983 film). (4) A bloody, telekinetic teenager who never fit in — and made everyone pay for it. (6)

SUDOKU 5

ACROSS

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4. MARBLES 6. TRACK 10. APPETITE 11. SHIRT 13. HEAD

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DOWN 1. JOB 2. TEMPER 3. VIRGINITY 5. GAME 7. KEYS 8. FAITH 9. WEIGHT 12. WAY

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The Weekly Horoscope

Sudoku solution

7 4 1 2 9 5 8 3 6 9 8 5 3 7 6 1 4 2 3 6 2 8 1 4 5 9 7

6 2 8

Last issue’s crossword

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2 1 3 6 8 7 4 5 9 8 5 4 9 2 1 7 6 3 6 9 7 5 4 3 2 1 8

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5 2 6 1 3 8 9 7 4 1 7 8 4 6 9 3 2 5 4 3 9 7 5 2 6 8 1

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Star Signs from Sybil la Clair

Aquarius: Jan 20 - Feb 18: Ghoul-gle your answers to your test on Thursday.

Gemini: May 21 - June 21: RIP: our tearable puns.

Pisces: Feb 19 - March 20: You’ll probably find a good costume at a bootique.

Cancer: June 22 - July 22: This week will be a bloody mess.

Aries: March 21 - April 19: I hope you find this humerus.

Leo: July 23 - Aug 22: Your mummy will start wrapping at your party.

Taurus: April 20 - May 20: You’ll have good looks until you start goblin all the candy.

Virgo: Aug 23 -Sept 22: Your jokes will be a-maze-ing this week, no corny dead-ends.

Libra: Sept 23 - Oct 22: Don’t let a skele-ton of classes drive you batty this week.

Scorpio: Oct 23 - Nov 21: If you invite ghosts into your living room, they’ll probably get offended.

Sagittarius: Nov 22 - Dec 21: You’ll fail your art class if you can only draw blood.

Capricorn: Dec 22 - Jan 19: Your little Gemini friend will try not to be a pain in the neck this week.

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CULTURE

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 29, 2014 www.ufvcascade.ca

Double-billed concert attracts large audience at House of James

League of Legends championship takes AfterMath by storm DANIEL HOLMBERG CONTRIBUTOR

ALEX RAKE THE CASCADE

The House of James in Abbotsford hosted another night of great music on Saturday, put on by the Abbotsford Arts Council as part of the 2014 Envision Financial Coffee House concert series.

The free concert featured two acts: pop-rock band of siblings Her Brothers at 5:30 p.m., and Celtic/jazz trio Elsay at 7:30. Her Brothers joined the bill after their planned Coffee House series performance on August 30 was cancelled due to rain. This time, the band was accompanied by their father Jonathan Penner (“Her Dad”?) on keyboard.

An engaged audience packed the space for the entirety of the concert, singing along with Her Brothers’ call-and-answer choruses and stomping to the beat of Elsay’s cross-cultural tunes.

While many faces seemed to come and go as the acts changed, numbers remained consistently

Image: Alex Rake

Celtic jazz trio Elsay delights the audience at House of James. high throughout the night.

As an additional incentive to come see the show, Envision Financial provided a $5 gift card toward House of James to the first 50 arrivals.

Besides providing the public with an opportunity for cultural

engagement and the House of James with more business, Saturday’s concert also served the Abbotsford Food Bank; concertgoers were encouraged by organizers to bring non-perishable food or cash donations. Lyle McClelland, branch manager at Envision Financial’s Abbotsford Village location, says that “Envision Financial is pleased to be actively involved in supporting our local food bank through our community program, the ‘Full Cupboard,’ and our partnership with the Abbotsford Arts Council.” Just after the show started, there were already two and a half shopping bags full of donated items.

The next concert of the series happens November 1 at the Wired Monk on McCallum Road, featuring Abbotsford’s Brennan Sinclair. The series continues weekly until the end of November. Check the Abbotsford Arts Council’s website for schedules and more information.

League of Legends (LoL), popular multiplayer online battle arena game, recently held its world championship in Seoul, Korea.

How popular is LoL? The people attending the world finals filled a soccer stadium, 40,000 strong.

And those were just the live attendees. People all over the world streamed the finals match to watch at home. Some even threw viewing parties, like the one hosted by eSports Valley at AfterMath on Saturday, October 18.

ESports may be a relatively new phenomenon for some, but there is no denying its popularity. Some may still doubt the legitimacy of eSports, but I will tell you this: we have our own commentators, and they are an absolute riot to listen to. A solid crowd of nearly 70 people, myself included, that stayed up all night in AfterMath, watching Samsung White (SSW) and Star Horn Royal Gaming Club (SHRC) battle it out 8200 km away. Before the match, we were treated with a live performance of “Warriors,” a new song written by Imagine Dragons just for Worlds.

It was a raucous event, with louder spectators than any football fans I’ve ever seen. Every close call, every kill, every inch closer to victory had the house in an uproar. AfterMath provided a free buffet, as well as never-ending soda all night long. The buffet was cleared out in no time, as the crowd was twice as large as anticipated. To make things a little more interesting, they even had a free competition where we were all invited to predict the winners of each match. I, along with six others, were lucky enough to guess that the series would go SSW, SHRC, SSW. There was a draw, and of the seven of us who guessed correctly, I managed to win a signed picture of Dignitas, a popular team based in Great Britain.

The event surely would have been a little confusing for an outsider. But fear not — if you want to come to an event such as this, there will be no shortage of people who are more than happy to explain the basics of the game. All you need to know are the basics to be able to enjoy watching any sport. So come and join us next time; it’s sure to be even bigger and better next year.

Image: Elsay / Facebook Image: : Marv Watson / redbull.com

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CULTURE

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 29, 2014 www.ufvcascade.ca

Journalist Gwynne Dyer hosts guest lecture, speaks on history of war in Europe and Canadian military policy MARTIN CASTRO THE CASCADE

“Nobody sees war as a problem … they’re the way [countries] did business.”

On Wednesday October 22, UFV was visited by journalist Gwynne Dyer, who spoke to a crowd of around 40 to 50 people in B101. Dyer spoke primarily on the effects war has had on Canada and how the methods of fighting wars have changed through the years, especially in Europe. He focused on Canada’s involvement in the First and Second World Wars, as well as touching on more modern conflicts such as those in the Middle East.

Dyer made the point early in his lecture that Canada’s involvement in wars has been, for the most part, unnecessary: “At no point in any of the major wars [was Canada] threatened in any direct way … Nobody was casting lascivious eyes on Winnipeg,” he said.

But although Canada has

been largely ignored by enemies throughout conflicts in our history, its involvement in WWI shaped certain reflexes about war.

These reflexes that Canada had, Dyer reasoned, were at least partly created by a perceived American threat to Canada.

“The belief in Canada that there was an American threat persisted [all the way up to and including] the 20th century,” Dyer said. He pointed out that as a result, Britain convinced Canada to support them in exchange for their support defending Canada against the US. Even after confederation, Canada has remained at least partially loyal to Britain as a Commonwealth country, and, since the US has now become an ally, we are also economically and politically supportive of them.

After detailing the history of Canada’s military exploits up to and including the 20th century, Dyer commented on our attitude toward wars at the turn of the century. WWI was thought to be another in a “cycle of wars between

Image: Martin Castro

Dyer noted we still fight wars with a 20th century mindset. the great powers … politically, it’s an identical phenomenon [to all preceding wars],” he said.

WWI was much more violent

and brutal than anyone involved had anticipated it to be. This shock, argued Dyer, helped to form our idea of war as something

to be avoided. He also argued that WWI, particularly the Treaty of Versailles, almost guaranteed the onset of a second war.

“We went in to the Second World War, because not to have gone in would have been to betray the dead of the first,” he observed.

Dyer noted that we still fight wars with the same mindset that was created by the results of WWII, and therefore are caught in another cycle. The difference is the focus is now on the Middle East, not Europe.

During the Q&A session at the end he addressed the current state of world conflict. He said terrorism’s goal is to lure the West “into doing something large and stupid … [like] invading the Middle East.” Dyer suggested ISIS is not a real threat largely due to their extremism, which he argued will be their undoing.

“The best thing we can do ... is to stop intervening.”

Komagata Maru’s 100th anniversary commemorated with a play NADINE MOEDT THE CASCADE

One hundred years ago a ship carrying some 376 immigrant hopefuls of South Asian descent arrived in Vancouver. The ship, named the Komagata Maru, was denied entry into Canada as a result of exclusion laws designed to keep out immigrants of Asian origin. The ship was forced to return to India, where passengers — who were considered political agitators and lawbreakers by the local government — were shot at.

Most of those who were not killed were imprisoned.

To commemorate the anniversary of the Komagata Maru’s rejection from Vancouver’s port, UFV instructor Rajneesh Dhawan has written a play on the incident and the impact it had on a local level, titled That Land Beyond the Waves.

Earlier conceptualized as a one-act play, the production now spans two hours and features 25 characters.

The play jumps back and forth in time to illustrate the contemporary relevance of the incident.

“What I find very particularly interesting is the very contemporariness of the thing ... the rejection of those passengers are pretty

Image: Public Domain

That Land Beyond the Waves is described by director and UFV professor John Carroll as a “real Canadian play” that bridges cultural differences. similar to what people are still facing,” Dhawan said.

He hopes to express the particular emotional poignancy experienced by the local Sikh population; the Abbotsford Sikh temple where the play takes place is the same one that stood one hundred years ago.

“When those people were looking at that ship, which was, say, 200 metres from the shore, how would they feel?” Dhawan said.

“How would they feel to know that there’s my sister there, my brother, my friend, who is starving ... They would feel so helpless. That pain is what we are try-

ing to portray.”

After some six months of research and four months of writing, Dhawan recruited friend and colleague John Carroll to direct the play, with UFV student Thomas Smith assisting.

“The directing process is very tricky because there are so many

characters ... We’ve worked to cut it back to some 20 actors, with several double roles,” Carroll says.

“It’s a big panoply of action. ” Carroll noted that all the people involved in the play are volunteers, with an interesting combination of international and local UFV students, high school students, as well as UFV staff and faculty.

“It’s bringing together a whole group of people from UFV and the larger community to work on this production of a historical event that affected Abbotsford,” he said.

Rehearsals for the play have been touch-and-go, Carroll says, with no real infrastructure to work with. The set is minimalistic as a result.

Dhawan describes the production as authentically Canadian.

“It’s not an Indo-Canadian play, it’s not a Chinese-Canadian play, it’s not a Caucasian Canadian play, it’s a real Canadian play.

“I want people to go out with this idea that when cultures come together, especially in the Fraser Valley, these things can happen,” says Dhawan.

The show will debut Saturday at 7 p.m. at the Matsqui Centennial Auditorium, with another performance on Sunday at 2 p.m.

Tickets can be bought online.

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ARTS IN REVIEW

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 29, 2014 www.ufvcascade.ca

Film

Action-packed John Wick is satisfyingly suspenseful JEREMY HANNAFORD CONTRIBUTOR

It is always a satisfying surprise when a film turns out much better than people predict it to be.

Everything on the surface of John Wick made this film look like utter trash. The cheesy trailer, the complete lack of early publicity — in addition to having Keanu Reeves as its lead (consider how poorly 47 Ronin did last Christmas). The thought of stuntmen-turned-directors David Leitch and Chad Stahelski helming this film also raised alarm bells.

But all that bad mojo is forgotten within the first five minutes — even though not a single shot is fired. Leitch and Stahelski create a convincing, pulsepounding, and fluid action flick about a hitman avenging his dead dog.

Just mentioning that plot point sounds idiotic at first, but this film makes it work! This is due in part to some fantastic editing by Elísabet Ronaldsdóttir, especially in the opening minutes. In a similar fashion to Steven Soderbergh’s The Limey, Ronaldsdóttir is able to convey

John Wick is about a top-notch hitman avenging his dead dog.

Wick’s history, loss, and present situation in rapid time, all the while keeping the narrative in perfect motion. Along with great use of text translation that feels right out of Crank, the film never slows down.

What is probably the most admirable part of John Wick is

how simple it is. Derek Kolstad’s script’s truly no different from that of his Dolph Lundgren flicks. But with Leitch and Stahelski behind the camera, this simplistic film is essentially perfected. The action scenes are meticulously crafted with some fantastic gunplay and a great

use of mixed martial arts. While it certainly isn’t on par with films like The Raid, it provides some great moments. Keanu Reeves commits to his character by performing many of the stunts himself, and this constant participation heightens the film’s authenticity.

Probably my favourite part is the world John Wick resides in.

His reputation as “the guy you hire to kill the fucking Boogeyman” is both subtle and humourous. There is no need for flashbacks, just solid acting and great text use. There is no need for a pre-show of violence. Simply through word-of-mouth and his demeanour, a solid hitman character is built.

Every time the film’s crime lord antagonist (played by Sweden’s own Michael Nyqvist) appears on-screen, he talks about John Wick. Much like how Tom Cruise built up the intrigue with his hitman character in Collateral, Reeves builds up great tension by holding off the violence until the perfect moment. And when it does happen, it is brutally awesome.

There are hitman revenge films and then there are hitman revenge films, and John Wick is definitely one of the best entities in this genre in recent years.

It doesn’t try to change the game or offer something new. It takes a run-down method and proves itself as an extremely well-made film. John Wick is one of the best surprises of the year.

Book

Storyteller beautifully explores coastal First Nations culture NADINE MOEDT THE CASCADE

I was first introduced to the enigmatic art of Roy Henry Vickers at the Eagle Aerie Gallery in Tofino. The prints and carving affected me deeply.

They spoke with urgency about the cultural genocide experienced by Aboriginal peoples of the Northwest Coast, about the quiet erosion of the interconnectedness of people and land, about families trapped in cycles of abuse. Yet while Vickers touches on these issues with emotion, his art is filled with hope, and with stories of resilience. He draws on a blend of modern European realism and the clean lines and bold colours of traditional Northwest Coast art to tell a story of reclamation of identity.

Vickers’ new collection of prints, entitled Storyteller, commemorates his 40th year as a painter, carver, author, and speaker. Each print is accompanied by Vickers’ notes on the piece’s conception, process, and a discussion of significance

Vickers’ new collection of art invites his audience to “Stop, look and listen to the heartbeat of life.”

within the Northwest Coast culture.

Vickers is inspired by a medley of heritages: Tsimshian, Haida, Heiltsuk, and British.

Through his prints we are given a unique insight into a vibrant culture. His art spans across coastal nations, drawing insight from stories told since time immemorial. “The Trickster” depicts an opaque raven; Vickers writes that it is told that the Raven was born white, but one day snuck into the smoke hole of a chief’s house and ate so much salmon that it couldn’t squeeze back through, and the smoke blacked its white feathers.

Time isn’t linear in Storyteller; the past and present find themselves one and the same. “The Matriarch” honours the matriarchal tradition of the Northwest Coast society, and depicts their vital role as carriers of story and strength in modern communities. Scenes of West Coast beauty are haunted by shadows of translucent traditional symbolism.

Throughout Storyteller we see

a strong spiritual connection with coastal wilds and a callto-arms in its defense. “Baby Orca” takes a passionate political stance against the introduction of oil tankers to BC’s waters, and reminds us of our responsibility as inhabitants of the land.

“I am reminded of the fear I carry for the generations to come,” writes Vickers. “Stop, look and listen to the heartbeat of life.”

Storyteller invites its audience toward a deeper understanding of not only the artist and art, but also of the stories and culture of the Pacific Northwest peoples.

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ARTS IN REVIEW

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 29, 2014 www.ufvcascade.ca

TV

Cartoon Clarence is simple but charming

CHARTS 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13

Cold Specks Neuroplasticity Lana Del Rey Ultraviolence Sloan Commonwealth Exodus Blood In, Blood Out

Blood God Blood Is My Trademark

Bishops Green Pressure

Kin Health Oh Village To Rely Sinoia Caves Beyond the Black Rainbow White Lung Deep Fantasy

Thru Colorado Ephemera Busdriver Perfect Hair Death From Above 1979 The Physical World

14 15 16 17

Cheap High Ego Wholesale Mac DeMarco Salad Days Demos Flying Lotus Never Say Never

The New Pornographers Brill Bruisers

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Jay Arner T.S.A.T.S. (RSD Flexi)

Shuffle

DESSA BAYROCK CIVLIAN

When Dessa isn’t hanging around the Cascade offices like an unemployed bum, she’s working two jobs and ingesting CanCon of all shapes and sizes at an alarming rate. Today she brings you a ghost-themed shuffle of catchy tunes you can play at your totally sick Halloween party. (Dessa is a staunch believer that one person hanging out with a cat is a party.)

“Ghosts” Laura Marling Nothing puts you in the spirit of Halloween like a touch of British antifolk. “These are just the ghosts that broke my heart before I met you,” Marling croons. It’s sweet, and a little creepy, and kind of a love song. I currently have it on repeat in my car and you should too.

“Ghosting” Mother Mother This gem hails from O My Heart, which is full of underrated songs that ought to be played more. We follow a ghost/ex-lover protagonist who has decided to hang up his sheet for good. “You don’t need poltergeists for sidekicks,” he belts. “You don’t need treats, and you don’t tricks.” Ghosts make a surprisingly good analogy for unrequited love, as we learn in this shuffle.

“The Ghost of Genova Heights” Stars This song, as far as I can make out, is about returning to a childhood home.

Ever return to a place you used to love and feel like you don’t quite belong there anymore? Or maybe you swallow your pride and move back into your parents’ house. You know what the scariest thing is this Halloween season? Adulthood. Think about that while you eat handfuls of disproportionate candy.

“Ghosting” The Freelance Whales With a dreamy ambiance, Freelance Whales have a pretty solid handle on being cute and creepy at the same time. When I listen to this one, I think about how you never really leave a place that you’ve loved – whether it’s because you’re a ghost or just emotionally attached is irrelevant. “And oh, you caught me sleeping in the power sockets. You caught me mildewing the tiles in the bathroom,” our protagonist confesses. “And oh, you shot a glance like I was doing okay.

But I am never on my way.”

SASHA MOEDT THE CASCADE

Children really are the perfect material for an off-beat story.

Look at Calvin and Hobbes, Adventure Time, heck, even Anne of Green Gables. They don’t need to be anywhere spectacular to have an adventure, and nothing serious has to happen to them to make for a dramatic scene. It’s in their personalities and sensibilities.

Clarence’s titular main character is the perfect example of this. Clarence is a roly-poly kid who likes everyone, and there isn’t much that gets him down.

His world is the grocery store, the McDonald’s, his muddy front yard, and the school. His mom has a live-in boyfriend, his friend’s parents are in a custody battle, but hey, it’s life. And the thing about kids is that everything that happens is, to them, normal — because it’s all they know.

Clarence first aired in April 2014 on the Cartoon Network, created by Skylar Page, who was a storyboard artist for Ad-

venture Time prior to this project. It’s been renewed for a second season.

Clarence is strongly characterdriven. It’s Clarence’s personality and interactions with all the people around him that brings the whimsy to the show. Clarence’s rosy personality attracts two opposite friends: the wild and messy Sumo, and the prim and OCD Jeff. The collision of these two personalities is endearing, because though they have their differences, there is enough friendship and respect between them that they make it work.

I found I was actually a little bit put off by Sumo because his voice and facial structure make him look and sound strikingly like children afflicted by Hutchinson-Gilford progeria (a genetic disorder where symptoms resembling aging occurs early on in life). Kind of a weird observation, I know.

Jeff, however — who has a square head and square personality — is probably a hero to OCD and introverted viewers.

He’s sensitive but not afraid to

tell his friends what he’s not okay with. And Clarence does his best to respect his friend’s wishes.

Even the bully of the show, Belson, is treated with a smile and hello from Clarence. Clarence certainly isn’t the type to respond to — or maybe even understand — animosity. Belson looks remarkably like a muppet, with a funny red nose.

Clarence has a very simple style of animation that is very unimpressive. It’s even more simplistic than Steven Universe.

There is definitely something to be said about good animation — although it doesn’t have to be lifelike — but, thinking about the art behind Adventure Time or Rick and Morty, it can really enhance the experience. Maybe if the voice acting was a little bit better in Clarence, that would make up for it. But there are no stand-out voices (Clarence, voiced by Skylar Page, is good but not amazing).

If you enjoy the simple and offbeat, Clarence might be for you. Don’t expect all the works, but it definitely has charm.

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ARTS IN REVIEW

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 29, 2014 www.ufvcascade.ca

Arcade

What’s the difference between the NBA 2K14, 2K15, and NBA 2K16? Answer: not a lot NATHAN HUTTON THE CASCADE

Sports games are more or less looked down upon in the industry, and for good reason.

Every year, the annual releases are almost the same game from the year before, yet somehow fans are suckered into paying 80 bucks for something they already have. I confess that I am one of those suckers. I overpaid for NBA 2K15 to be, once again, underwhelmed.

The annual release of 2K Sports’ NBA 2K15 was enhanced by the incredible social media coverage focused on the face-scanning technology.

The system was highly touted upon its release, with fans hoping for the chance to finally put themselves among players like Lebron James and last year ’s NBA MVP Kevin Durant. It was quickly realized, however, that the technology was actually two or three years away from gaining any realism whatsoever. My personal experience with the face scan technology not only took me four attempts and at least half an hour, but also made me wildly self-conscious about my face.

Not only was the face scan a

2K Sports’ NBA 2K15 fixes many of the smaller issues in NBA 2K14, but it is, all in all, disappointing. flop, but the “My Player” customization addition — giving players the ability to increase their wingspan with the hope of making the game more realistic — was also a flop. I, along with I believe every other player in the game, increased my wingspan to the max, making my

arms extend past my knees.

The actual game however, was a nice step up from the previous year. NBA 2K14 was troubled due to the company trying to match the release date of the next-gen consoles with a game that received a graphic overhaul from their Xbox 360

and PS3 versions. NBA 2K15 for Xbox One and PS4 remedies a lot of the smaller problems, and is absolutely the best basketball simulation ever made.

However, there are a number of smaller things that, if patchedup, would make this game a must-buy.

The customization is fantastically deep, but does blur the lines between fact and fiction, and would need to be scaled back a bit before it is considered some of the best player customization in a video game and not just a sports game. They will also have to, in congruence with the customization, improve the accuracy of the face-scan technology.

There are minor gameplay details that are important. The inability for some players to finish in traffic is something that has plagued me when playing the game with guys like Andrew Wiggins and Jabari Parker, and the ineffectiveness of some dribble moves, such as the spin move and the crossover, was frustrating.

Overall, the game is one of the best examples of where the Xbox One and PS4 are headed in terms of their graphics. The gameplay needs minor improvements but caters to the basketball fan in a way that no game ever has.

Although the upgrade will be released in about 345 days and counting, people are still stupid enough to spend the money on it … including me.

Dine and Dash

Common Place Café offers cozy breakfasts and comfort food BRITTNEY HENSMAN THE CASCADE

Common Place Café 33933 Gladys Avenue Hours: 7 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Price range: $6.50 to $9.95 One of my favourite meals of the day is breakfast, but finding a place where you don’t leave feeling like your order of Belgian waffles robbed your wallet can be hard.

A new breakfast joint, Common Place Café, opened up in Abbotsford a few weeks ago.

The restaurant — located just off the side of the downtown core — is owned by MCC, but the restaurant is run through the same owners of Cookies Grill in Chilliwack. The facility has a modern diner vibe with flecks of the ‘70s, utilizing a co-

lour scheme of orange, white, and brown.

The large tables and open windows provide a great study atmosphere and the servers were friendly, helpful, and on the ball.

The menu is varied in its selection and is significantly affordable. I observed the servers delivering food to the surrounding tables — buttermilk pancakes accompanied by a vat of hot strawberry sauce and whipped cream, stuffed French toast with vanilla cream cheese, classic Abbotsford-renowned farmer sausage in a skillet served over a bed of deep-fried hash browns. These were only a few of their menu options.

Breakfast is served all day.

It was a little to my dismay that they didn’t have an espresso bar, so for the coffee lovers

out there, you’ll be faced with standard percolated coffee — which, as in most breakfast places, isn’t strong, but it is smooth.

Their selection of baked goods includes muffins, scones, and cinnamon buns made fresh in their kitchen, though there isn’t the same bakery quality of Cobs or Tracy Cakes. It may have been grandma’s recipe, but tasted and looked a little like Cousin did the baking.

Common Place Café offers a midday menu as well, which consists some classic café dishes such as soup, salad, sandwiches, burgers, fries, and poutine — all look like tried-and-true recipes, both classic and delish.

All in all, Common Place Café is worth a try, and won’t break the bank.

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ARTS IN REVIEW

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 29, 2014 www.ufvcascade.ca

Flatbush Zombies and Underachievers release joint mixtape as Clockwork Indigo MARTIN CASTRO THE CASCADE

Flatbush Zombies and Underachievers are two hip-hop groups that hail from the neighbourhood of Flatbush, located in Brooklyn.

Underachievers is a duo consisting of Issa Gold and AK, while Flatbush Zombies is a trio made up of MCs Erick “Arc” Elliot (who also serves as the group’s producer), Zombie Juice, and Meechy Darko. (Note: Meech also answers to the hilariously appropriate moniker of Fleezus Christ.)

Performing as Clockwork Indigo, FBZ and UA released the Clockwork Indigo EP in the midst of their North American tour.

The first track — “Butterfly Effect,” a seven-minute epic featuring verses by the whole gang

— exemplifies how well these lyricists work together. Over production that can only be described as eerily haunting, all five rappers spit verses that are highly indicative of their personal styles, yet work very well together. Erick delivers the first verse, speaking on everything from getting used to touring to his childhood and aspirations in music, all while keeping his cadence and rhymes consistent. Juice then adds his verse, which isn’t by any means weak, but it doesn’t necessarily live up to Erick’s. Issa’s verse is distinctly his own — fluid, passionate, and possessing a spiritual aesthetic — while AK’s verse is more thematically grounded.

The best verse on this song is definitely saved for last, as Meech’s verse speaks on own mortality, spirituality, and intel-

Image: Clockwork Indigo/ Facebook

Clockwork Indigo’s stand-out lyrics range from violent to philosophical. lectual progression, as well as being rhythmically sublime, especially towards the last half: “The chosen one, my tongue’s a

sword for ya, I brought my loaded gun / I got this ongoin’ battle with this shit, depression / The pressure is buildin’ up but fuck it, I ain’t givin’ up / And even if I did, so what?”

“LUAM” follows, featuring more mainstream production.

Issa opens up the track with a hypnotic tidal wave of lyrics, and as always, Meech is on-point, although he could have done more with his verse. He gives way to AK, whose cadence really shines in this track.

“XYNO” kicks off with a short chorus performed by the Architect, followed by a verse from Fleezus Christ and his trademark gritty-as-all-shit delivery: “Pass me the OE, pass me a tab / Pass me a blunt, I won’t pass that shit back / Pass me a gat, and a ski mask / I click-clack rat-tat-tat give

me that cash.” However, both Erick and AK follow up with equally impressive verses, which are in turn followed Juice and Issa’s more fluid verses. If anything, the track boasts consistently impressive verses from all five members across the board.

“Benefit Concert,” the last song on the EP, does a great job of closing up the project, while at the same time instilling in the listener a sense of excitement at the prospect of future collaborations between Flatbush Zombies and the Underachievers (although Issa will most likely be missing, as he’s dropping out of Underachievers to finish his studies).

Overall, Clockwork Indigo manages to be a solid collection of tracks, and although it feels too short, it’s more than a satisfying experience throughout.

Mini Album Reviews

SoundBites

Want to make money?

Florida Georgia Line Anything Goes

Victoria Duffield

Hozier

Florida Georgia Line broke out with the release of their debut album, Here’s to the Good Times. It was difficult to not go a few hours without listening to them on country radio; their singles “Cruise” and “Stay” were everywhere.

When FGL released “Dirt” prior to their follow-up album, I was excited because it showed more emotion. Upon listening to Anything Goes, however, there was a slight disappointment — Florida Georgia Line follows the same formula as their first release. They show minimal growth. With a few exceptions like “Dirt,” it is “brocountry.” Yet FGL manages to make it work. “Sun Daze” has a laid-back, country-reggae vibe. The track does not necessarily fit the FGL formula nor the season, but it is definitely the stand-out track alongside “Dirt.”

If you didn’t enjoy their first album, don’t go out of your way to listen to it; however, Anything Goes will satisfy fans.

I initially heard Abbotsford’s Victoria Duffield on season three of YTV’s The Next Star. Since her appearance on the show, she has released her debut album and toured with the likes of Faber Drive and the Backstreet Boys. The pop singer released her sophomore album, Accelerate, in June 2014. The 11-track record includes singles “More Than Friends” and “Paper Planes.” For the release, she again places an emphasis on dance songs. Falling subject to the typical pop song, some tracks like “That Somethin’” and “Holographic” feel familiar. The tracks “Sawdust” and “Bulletproof” are pleasant additions to Accelerate. Rather than being upbeat, the tempo is slowed down to allow Duffield to truly show off her vocal chops. As a whole, Accelerate falls short in comparison to her debut album. Nonetheless, I still enjoyed the catchy and danceable tracks.

With just a year under his belt of being a solo artist, Hozier’s selftitled album hit charts all over the world, including hitting number two in Canada and the US Billboard 200. What you’ll find on Hozier is a goldmine of raw twang and blues straight from the heart (along with a few violins and cellos) that will get you swaying your head, tapping your feet, and buying tickets to his concerts. From lighthearted tunes like “Someone New” to the doomsday blues of “It Will Come Back,” he’s got you covered when it comes to moods in need of acoustic guitars and a loud voice.

“In a Week” takes you to grassy knolls and roving hills, while “To Be Alone” contains a delta-blues tone that hasn’t been heard quite some time. All in all, Hozier delivers the goods with Hozier and leaves us asking two questions: Where have you been hiding all these years?

And when does the next album come out?

Accelerate

Hozier

We’re hiring for an ad sales rep!

If you think you have what it takes, email your resume and cover letter to joe@ufvcascade.ca.

Application deadline is November 14.

REMINGTON FIORASO

REMINGTON FIORASO

ALEX JESUS

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 29, 2014 www.ufvcascade.ca

19

SPORTS & HEALTH

Row, row, row your boat over one kilometre and try not to die CATHERINE STEWART THE CASCADE

It certainly takes dedication to be a rower, but it’s not as hard as you may think.

Saturday morning saw the UFV rowing teams out on the water with teams from UBC and SFU. It seems the cold and rain was nothing new for the teams, who took this as just another day of practice.

While usually it would be a neck-to-neck day of racing for these teams, today they got together to help each other practice. Nothing pushes you to do better than having your competitors nipping at your heels, even if it is just a practice. It gave the teams a good idea where they were at in their training, whether they needed to keep improving, or if they were right on target.

Ben Frizzo and Katelyn Offereins gave the lowdown of what it’s like to be a rower. First off: yes, rowers really are as fit

Image: Holly Wingert

It was cold and wet during practice, but this was nothing new for the UFV rowing team. as you might have thought.

“It’s actually very easy,” Of-

fereins said. “Even if you’re not athletic, it can get you pretty

fit without needing skill. It’s a full-body workout that works

your legs, arms, and even your core. Instead of skill, it’s more about coordination.”

But rowing is for the commited; there is no designated season, as they meet year-round.

For winter training, the team usually sticks with weights and machines. While summer training is casual, it’s no time to slack off, as the fall and winter seasons are the most intense when it comes to racing.

Currently the focus is on devlopment, according to Frizzo and Offereins.

“We’re recruiting right now and trying to get newcomers up to the varsity level. We’d also like to get better boats,” Offereins said.

Frizzo and Offereins also offered advice for students interested in rowing: sign up for the learn-to-row program to get a basic understanding and feel of the sport. Participants in the program are likely to be trained by varsity members.

Kale 101: all you need to know about this superfood TORI THISTLETHWAITE CONTRIBUTOR

If you are into healthy eating (and even if you’re not), you have probably heard a lot about kale and how it’s a miracle food.

You might have even started eating it because someone told you it was healthy, but you never really looked further into why it is called a superfood. So let’s take a look — what are the health benefits, and why should we eat kale rather than plain old iceberg lettuce?

Kale is a descendant of wild cabbage, and is a relative of cauliflower, broccoli, and Brussels sprouts, all of which garner attention due to their sulfurcontaining phytonutrients. The recommendation for consumption is one to one-and-a-half cups of steamed kale (steaming enhances the value of the nutrients, but it’s not necessary) two or three times a week in order to receive optimal health benefits.

The website MindBodyGreen. com lists 10 health benefits of eating kale, some of which aren’t important, such as how the vegetable is low in calories and has zero fat — neither of which makes it remarkable —

Image: anotherpintplease/flickr

Among other benefits, kale has been shown to help prevent five types of cancer. but the points which detail the high iron and vitamin K, A, C content, the amount of cancerpreventing antioxidants, and high level of calcium (kale has more than milk!) do make this food something to consider adding to your diet.

WHFoods.org goes to great lengths to detail the amazing

benefits of kale, and provides an in-depth analysis of the different nutrients and how they affect several areas in your body. The website provides an explanation for how this simple stalk and leaf has become a super food: “Kale’s nutrient richness stands out in three particular areas: (1) antioxi-

dant nutrients, (2) anti-inflammatory nutrients, and (3) anticancer nutrients in the form of glucosinolates.” Furthermore, researchers have found links between the consumption of kale and the prevention of five types of cancer: bladder, breast, colon, ovarian, and prostate.

There are many other ben-

efits that come from eating kale, but both of these sites and many others provide great information, and cover the criticisms of kale as well as the benefits. One I would like to note is the level of pesticide residue found in non-organic kale. In 2013, the Environmental Working Group brought attention to the levels of contamination in kale, which ranked number three on their list along with other leafy greens. The USDA found 55 different pesticides in kale, and according to WallStCheatSheet.com, “9 are known or probable carcinogens, 27 are suspected hormone disruptors, 10 are neurotoxins, 10 are developmental or reproductive toxins.” Many popular fruits and vegetables are on this list, including apples, strawberries, and cucumbers, so it is not a cause for high alarm, but it is important to know what you are consuming. When the pesticide count is so high, do your best to clean the product rigorously, or buy organic. That way you can be assured that your nutrient-rich kale truly is doing wonders for your health.

20

SPORTS & HEALTH

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 29, 2014 www.ufvcascade.ca

Victoria: the hunt for national soccer title begins NATHAN HUTTON THE CASCADE

This past weekend was the chance for our men and women’s soccer teams to qualify for the Canada West final four.

This second trip to Vancouver Island was a great opportunity for growth and improvement — but was it enough to increase their chances of getting to nationals?

The rain was falling fast and strong, making the field conditions some of the worst in recent memory. But, as Coach Rob Giesbrecht told Cascades media, the team adapted well.

“One of our culture statements is, ‘Whatever it takes,’ and today wasn’t a day for pretty football. Today was ‘pull your sleeves up and get after it.’ And I think we did that,” he said.

The Cascades were led once again in the playoffs by Carley Radomski, who dominated in the rain. The second-year forward has been performing incredibly all season long, and her place as one of the biggest offensive weapons from the

Image: APShutter.com

“The Cascades are ready to show the country that they deserve more national recognition...”

Cascades was unchallenged this game. She registered a goal in both the first and second half, which were her only shots on the net. Her play has represented the Cascades well all season long; the team is known to step up when it is most necessary and are extremely tough to beat, even when their backs

are up against the wall.

Previously this year in the Cascades’ two games against the University of Victoria, they struggled to beat the Vikes, tying both games 1-1. This game was different; it was win or go home. This game was about beating the fifth-ranked team in the country. It was every-

thing the Cascades play for — and they thrived. Their offense was dominant; they pitched a shutout and scored three goals.

If this game is anything to go by, the Cascades are ready to show the country they deserve more national recognition than they have received all season, never having been ranked

higher than 10th nationally and only having ranked once in the eight different ranking weeks.

For the Cascades men’s team, it was a strange weekend. They were originally scheduled to play after the women’s game on Saturday night, but that didn’t happen. Their game was moved to noon on Sunday due to field conditions. The game was once again changed early Sunday afternoon when it was announced the game would be changing playing fields.

After all the delays and distractions, the game finally started on Sunday afternoon for a chance to reach the Canada West final four like their female counterparts.

The game, a back-and-forth affair, headed into overtime with the score tied at 1. The men’s hopes were crushed by the Vikes’ Cameron Stokes, who scored in extra time to give his team the 2-1 lead. It proved to be the nail in the coffin for the Cascades, whose season ended with the loss.

The women’s soccer team will continue their playoff run next weekend in the Canada West Final Four.

UFV men’s and women’s volleyball teams continue winning streak NATHAN HUTTON THE CASCADE

The men’s and women’s volleyball teams continued their winning ways this weekend with an incredible showing against the College of the Rockies Avalanche.

The women were the first to take to the court both nights, and pulled out convincing wins in three and four sets, respectively. Friday’s action saw the Cascades cruise in three sets against the limited competition the Avalanche put forward.

Standout performances from Amy Davidson and Michelle Zygmunt (PacWest female athlete of the week) were some of the highlights of the night.

The Cascades’ Saturday night action highlighted the team’s ability to come from behind and improve every set. In the first set the women trailed by as many as six points, and were unable to consistently serve well. Registering three aces but four serves straight into the net, they lost the set 26-24. They diminished their highest deficit in the second game to five points, which they were able to overcome this time around with a true showcase of resilience. They would go on to trail

Image: Nathan Hutton

Both teams travel to Vancouver Island next week to take on the VIU Mariners. only once in sets three and four, and win them both, giving the women the four-set victory.

“We played very well,” said coach Dennis Bokenfohr. “The ladies came out to play tonight.

By the look of that result, I think we played a lot better than the score showed.”

The Cascades saw strong efforts from a number of players, but it was rookie Kelly Robertson from Regina who excelled;

her playing in both games earned her the Cascade volleyball player of the week.

The men also excelled against the Avalanche, and were able to reward first-year head coach Kyle Donen with wins, improving his career record to 3-1, most likely the highest winning percentage of any PacWest men’s volleyball coach.

On the first game of the weekend, the Cascades domi-

nated the net with their size.

It was clear that the Avalanche had no answer for 6’8 Robert Koenig, the second year MEI graduate.

The Cascades were able to easily win in three straight sets.

The second game of the weekend seemed — for a while, at least — to be a repeat of the previous night. The Cascades stormed out of the gate, grabbing victories in their first two

games, dominating against the Avalanche. Coach Donen would later credit the dominance to the Cascades’ serving.

The third set was highlighted by a long break in the middle, where both teams seemed confused as the referees sorted out some problems with the Avalanche lineup. The Avalanche turned things around this set, knocking down the Cascades and winning the set by 10 points.

It was apparent in the fourth that the Cascades weren’t going to let the game get away from them. They dominated once again in the new style indicative of head coach Kyle Donen.

Donen addressed his newfound coaching success.

“It’s credit to the guys. [They] rebounded this weekend. To get a sweep in our own gym like that is a huge confidence boost for us. We head into a difficult weekend next week, so it is exactly how we want to finish a tough week, and we hope we can carry this momentum into next week.”

Both teams travel to Vancouver Island next week to take on the VIU Mariners. VIU’s men sit at three wins and one loss, and their women invert that stat with 1-3.